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That's not why FB went public. They went because they had to...

• uptown 14y ago
  Going public wasn't required by their investor count, but they would have had to have audited financials, so the benefits of remaining private would have been reduced anyway: http://www.quora.com/Why-does-Facebook-need-to-go-public http://www.quora.com/Why-does-Facebook-need-to-go-public
  • sbov 14y ago
    Facebook passed the 500 shareholder mark back in 2008 and got an exemption. I've had no luck finding out why they then had to observe the rule by 2012 though.
    • mohawk 14y ago
      Passing the 500 mark means you have to hand in SEC filings, nothing more.
• muzz 14y ago
  No. No company "has" to go public
  • viscanti 14y ago
    There needs to be some liquidity event for employees who own stock. Equity is a big part of compensation in a startup. No company "has" to go public, but they could lose a significant portion of their workforce if they don't.
• RichardKim 14y ago
  Yes companies are "forced to go public" if you are private and have over 500 shareholders than you have to register its stock. you can trade otc markets but no legit company with bn+ valuation is going to do that. it was inevitable outcome.