Facebook's $500m Goldman Sachs deal makes Mark Zuckerberg worth $14bn

Facebook has raised $500million in a deal that values the company at $50billion, making 26-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg worth almost $14billion.

If you're worth $14billion at 26, how much will you be worth at 50? Wow!!!

Goldman Sachs invested $450million and Russian investment firm Digital Sky Technologies invested $50million, the New York Times reported, citing people involved that it did not name.

The new cash will let Facebook lure and retain employees, develop more products and possibly pursue acquisitions without being publicly traded.

The $50billion valuation would make Facebook worth more than Yahoo!, eBay and Time Warner.
Zuckerberg, who owns about a quarter of Facebook's shares, is one of the world's youngest billionaires and now one of the wealthiest of any age.

The newspaper said the deal may double Zuckerberg's personal fortune, which Forbes estimated at $6.9billion when Facebook was valued at $23billion.
Previously number 212 on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, $13.5billion would catapult him into the top 40.
Representatives for Facebook, Goldman and Digital Sky Technologies declined to comment.
Goldman has the right to sell part of its stake, up to $75million, to the Russian firm.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly looking into the booming trade in privately held shares of popular social networking sites.

Growth: The $500m injection will enable Facebook to stay private while providing it with cash to make purchases, recruit top-level employees and develop new products.

A big reason the SEC may be curious about the trading of these popular private startups' shares is because once a company hits 500 shareholders, it must disclose certain financial information to the public, even if it hasn't filed for an initial public offering.

The Times reported that Goldman is planning to create a 'special purpose vehicle' that may be able to circumvent the 500 shareholder rule because it would be managed by Goldman and considered just one investor, even though it could conceivably be pooling investments from thousands of clients.
Shares of privately held companies can be traded on private stock exchanges such as SecondMarket, based in New York, and SharesPost, based in San Bruno, California.

The shares are generally sold by former employees or early investors in these companies.
Only institutional investors or high net-worth individuals – those worth more than $1million – can buy the shares.
But for those who can sell them, the market is on fire.

On SharesPost, a completed contract between a buyer and a seller valued shares of Palo Alto, California-based Facebook at $25 each.
This implies a valuation of nearly $57billion for the world's largest social network, with 500million-plus users worldwide.

Source: Daily Mail UK

Shania Twain marries the husband of the woman who stole her own husband...yeah, it's as complicated as it sounds...lol

Shania and Frederic on wedding day

In a real-life-wife swap story, Canadian country singer Shania Twain 45 (worth $450m), married businessman Frederic Thiebaud, 40, on January 1, 2011. Their marriage comes two and a half years after they discovered their respective ex-spouses were having an affair. Twain was devastated to discover her first husband Robert Lange, was having an affair with her best friend, Marie-Anne Thiebaud, then wife of Twain's new husband, Frederic.

After initially consoling each other in the aftermath of the marriage breakdowns, Shania and Frederic's friendship developed into love, and they are now married.

Shania's ex husband is still with Frederic's ex-wife. They live together.

Sounds like something made up, huh? These oyibo people sef...lol
All the best to them.

Government to Appoint Anti Terrorism Chief

An emergency meeting of security chiefs was held yesterday behind closed doors in Abuja. The meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, was summoned to deliberate over the spate of bombings and security breaches across the country.


A source said the president ordered the security chiefs to discuss and find how to bring the violence that has become common across the country under control. It was gathered that the president expressed concern that security has become a challenge, thus leading to loss of lives and raising fears over the elections coming up in April.

On the eve of Christmas, series of bombs exploded in different areas of Jos leading to the death of over 80 people, while another exploded at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. On December 31, there was a bomb explosion at the Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja, killing four persons while several others were injured.

Source: 234Next

I’m not a lesbian —Waje

After featuring in the Zain musical challenge and the ‘Do Me’ hit track by the duo P Square, Iruobe Aituaje Ebele popularly known as Waje has continued to step up her game. When Sunkanmi Ogunade met her recently in Ibadan, she debunked rumours of her having a queer sexual life. Excerpts:

You featured in the song Do Me with the mighty duo P-Square. Was that your major break?

To be very candid, the Do Me track was my debut. It sold me out beyond my imagination. I got noticed by almost everybody. After the hit track, I decided to put more effort into my music. I had done something for them before; I remixed the Omoge Mi track as Bobo Mi. They listened to it, liked it and featured it in their album.

Do you still have a cordial relationship with them?

Yes, I do. We still relate well.

What is the next step for Waje?

The next big thing is my album. I am currently working extra hard to compose good songs and make my fans happier. The whole big thing has to do with a lot of things. My album, musical videos, my person, etc. I am working on my album and I hope to drop it as soon as I get what I want.

How many years have you spent in the music industry?

I have spent like six years but I give glory to God today. When, I started many years back, it was rough and harsh. You would sing all your hearts out and somebody somewhere would just rubbish your handwork. I felt like backing out but today, it’s a different ball game. People have come to love what we do, even if they don’t agree with your idea, they would encourage and even pray for you.

Do you have any record label right now?

I don’t have any record label but that would end pretty soon. I am on the edge of striking a deal. When it happens, you would be the first to know. I promise

One of your videos ‘Can I be your girl?’ is enjoying massive air play. How do you feel?

I feel very great. We spent a lot of money on that video. It was not shot here; we travelled out of the country to shoot the video. The expenses were just too high, but we had no choice. You also have to make enough appearances and the rest of them. It’s just on the high side.

So, if I may ask, where do you get all the funds for your projects?

To be very sincere with you, my brother, God has been so good to me in that aspect. All my life, I have been fortunate, if I may say. I have not had any reason to regret venturing into music. I have been doing some money fetching engagements and it has been colourful. I get assistance from people very well. For that video, it was just God oo. I work for my funds and God provides the rest.

Have you faced sexual harassment in the industry?

I don’t think that is new. It has been and will continue to be. It is even part of the make-up of the industry. When I hear cases of sexual harassment especially in this industry, I am not always surprised. I have never been harassed in any way before. I have been very lucky.

Are you saying it is very normal?

Yes, I am principally saying that it is normal and it is also part of the challenges we face.

Are you in a relationship?

No.

Why?

I don’t have any reason for you! I am single and I am not searching. I want to face my music totally.

Are you a lesbian?

Lol! No. I am not o! I am not a lesbian. Okay, let me say this. If I commence a relationship tomorrow, I will inform you.

Hope you know time is going?

What do you mean by time is going? I am not searching abeg. Don’t put words into my mouth (laughs).

What is the full meaning of WAJE?

Words Aren’t Just Enough.

In Can I be your girl?, are you referring to anybody?

No, it was a song I wrote naturally. I am not referring to anybody o. In this part of the world, you don’t beg to date the opposite sex, and they do that. I am not referring it to anybody o!

How was growing up like?

It was fun. It was like any other average person’s. I learnt a lot while growing up. It was fun for me and I still have those colourful memories. Growing up was peaceful and interesting.

As an artiste, how do you rate the Nigerian music industry?

The Nigerians music industry is fast growing because we are definitely not what we used to be five years back. I strongly believe that the fast growth of the music scene will make the industry very big in a few years to come and talented acts will have a platform to showcase themselves.

What should your fans expect from you soon?

They should expect more good music, the message being as positive as ever. I promise them that I will not disappoint. Finally, I thank all my fans, for their love, care and steadfastness all these years. I love them all.