Well, it a story of numbers and eyeballs equaling investment value. In this case, to the tune of a 1.6 percent stake that causes Facebook to be valued at $15 Billion.
The buyer of that portion of the company is Microsoft -- not Google -- and for $240 million. What Microsoft will do with Facebook is another guess. But for the present, Michael Arrington at TechCrunch liveblogged the press conference today. Here's the result:
Call Notes
Call is beginning at 2:07 pm
Viveck Varma, MS, Owen Van Natta, Facebook, Kevin Johnson, Facebook, Brandee Barker, Facebook are on the call.
Viveck is saying the press release below has minor errors and will be re-issued. We will update it as it becomes available. He’s actually reading the entire release to the call participants.
200,000 new users register for Facebook every day.
Microsoft ad deal was extended to 2011 early this year.
Owen and Kevin:
Owen is saying this investment will help Facebook grow. They have nearly 50 million active users. This alliance will help them create the best user experience.
Kevin - “this deal signals a major advertising syndication win for Microsoft.” This is a “win-win-win.”
Now taking questions
Q: How do you support valuation?
Vivech: Online advertising is $40b/year, will grow to $80b per year. Equity stake in facebook is a strong statement of confidence in MS’ ad platform and in facebook. If you look at FB growth and think that they will get to 200 million users in future, combine that with monetization opportunity along with modest rev/user/year, the valuation is supported.
Q: Signal a bigger partnership around other products?
A: Nothing specific, but the partners will be doing a lot more together over time.
Q: Why Microsoft over Google?
A: (Owen) We were fortunate to choose from partners. We have existing relationship with MS and we had the opportunity to expand it.
Q: Any new restrictions on platform developers?
A: No new restrictions
Q: (mine) Any other investors in this round?
A: No comment, not saying one way or the other (JMA note: this suggests there may be other investors even beyond existing ones).
Q: Will we see any reciprocity? Any FB apps integrated into any MS properties?
A: Not announcing anything right now.
Q: Josh Quitner - who else was interested in investing?
A: Not announcing anything.
Q: Why did MS only take a 1.6% stake? Does this money affect FB IPO plans?
A: No real answer. Investment was the best fit for both companies.
Q: Is this deal just for banner ads?
A: partnership extends across adcenter platform for MS, not disclosing anything around web search advertising. Deal does not include web search ads like Google/Myspace deal.
Q: Any minimum payment that is guaranteed under ad deal? If so, will it be disclosed?
A: Viveck is saying they are very pleased with current deal, but strategic deal, way collaborating together, equity position provides economic and strategic value of overall partnership. “We feel very good about the deal.” Owen is saying that they want to focus on innovation and user experience, and this deal allows them to do this.
Q: (Om Malik) What kind of performance on FB from previous ad efforts? What will FB use the money for?
A: Viveck: we continue to see monetization improve, many initiatives underway to drive it higher. We’re seeing great progress on deal so far. Won’t discuss specifics on click throughs, etc., both parties have agreed to keep that confidential. At a high level, both parties see monetization on an eCPM basis improve. Owen: We’ll use the capital to continue to fund innovation and growth; we plan to expand employee base dramatically next year to 700 employees; doubling user base every six months; international growth is very important.
Q: How did deal come together? Also, what kind of collaboration between two companies? How deep will it be?
A: Owen: we’ve been working with MS for over a year, constantly talking about evolving partnership. MS is doing a huge amount of building around adcenter.
MS is Facebook’s exclusive advertising partner, expanding from U.S. to global in today’s announcement.
Q: Does adcenter have access to profile data in serving ads?
A: user trust is core, as is providing highly relevant ads. want users to feel like trust is not violated in any way.
Call is ending at 2:38 pm PST.
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