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FACEBOOK HAS FINALLY closed its deal for the instant messaging service WhatsApp, a few days after the European Commission approved the deal.
The deal, which was originally announced in February, was confirmed in a document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition to it now being a subsidiary of Facebook, it means that WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum is now a member of Facebook’s Board of Directors.
He will remain chief executive of WhatsApp, and will receive $1 in an annual salary, similar to Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and restricted stock units worth nearly $2 billion.
Last Friday, the European Commission authorised Facebook’s deal with WhatsApp, and found that it and Facebook Messenger were not close competitors. It said that consumers would continue to have a wide choice of alternative consumer communications apps after the deal was completed.
It also found that the two apps had enough differences to separate them. For example, WhatsApp uses phone numbers while Facebook Messenger requires you to set up a profile before using it.
The app has more than 600 million active users worldwide and Facebook has said it will run WhatsApp as a separate entity.
According to Re/Code, the deal is now worth $21.8 billion, mainly because the value of Facebook stock has increased.
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There should be a blanket ban on under 18′s getting married. No exemptions.
What’s the hurry?
100% agree. If you look at who marries before 18… travellers and muslims.
Outlaw child marriage within the Islamic faith in the west!!
@O-’Seán: outlaw sharia on on levels in the west. The IMI have not missed a chance to try and ensure residency rights are given; can’t see that being exploited, can you? Sharia in all its forms is bad for Europe and not one iota of it should be tolerated, there are plenty of countries where it is accepted; oh wait, people are fleeing from them.
Sad state when at this hour of our democracy that we have to enact laws we’ve never needed before. The joys of muticulturalism and the gifts it brings.
@Margie Murph: Multiculturalism is based on the fact that we have to accept other cultures while ours are eroded.
How will they be able to tell if a marriage I’d “forced”? I suspect those involved will clam up.
I am so over autocorrect! *is* forced.
No one knows how many there are because they are afraid of offending minorities and being branded racist by the PC bully boys.
This is not outlawed already ?? But there are blasphemy laws? what the actual feck
Should we all not just convert to Islam, those lads have it all sown up… they seem to have the run of the place
It doesn’t really matter how many forced marriages take place or any such details or enforcement because these silly laws like blasphemy, anti prostitution, banning all abortions are not about reality, it is just to keep the ‘Do Gooders’ happy so everyone appears to be behave the way their warped minds believe Society should be organized.
Here’s a novel idea. How about not importing the problem in the first place. Then you won’t be forced to legislate in an attempt to solve it.
Why are the immigrant council welcoming this when half the problem of arranged/Forced marriages are irish nationals?
have your say