Market and analyst opinion has raged in recent months over the true value for Facebook. Possibilities range between $120 billion and $10 billion. Goldman Sachs recently invested $1.5 billion in the company, conservatively valueing Facebook at $50 billion.
Rumours are that Facebook will give employees the ability to sell their shareholding in the private company prior to the year end, when the expected number of shareholders is expected to exceed the 500 disclosure threshold, where organisations must report results necessary under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
The Palo Alto, California-based Facebook has seen a surge in investor interest lately. Ad spend on Facebook is expected to be over $4 billion this year, according to research firm EMarketer Inc.
In the agreement, Facebook employees will be allowed to sell $1 billion worth of stock. If this is the case, Facebook is valued at $60 billion.