Facebook has been through some changes but is determined that Mark Zuckerberg stays in charge. C shares have been released meaning that he can keep his voting power even tough stock is being offloaded for charity. It may not be the traditional way to do business, but in Silicon Valley founders tend to keep firm control. Google has gone a step further and now as three classes of shares so that founders stay in control.
Zuckerberg believes that Facebook has been, and will continue to be a bold company. Sales have risen 52% in the last year, and profits are expected to be 77 cents per share. The idea of third class shares started last year when directors – Susan Desmond-Hellman, Marc Andreessen, and Erskine Bowles looked at the capital structure. At the end of the year, Zuckerberg and his wife said they would create a limited liability company and give 99% of shares to charity.
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The shares owed can be donated and yet voting power will not change. Class V Group founder Lise Buyer sees it as a sensible way to share wealth yet retain control. Decisions that seem strange short term will be successful long term.
C shares may trade lower than A shares, but there is little benefit from selling one over the other. As Facebook is doing so well, it will be easy to have the new shares accepted. Money is coming in from Instagram and Facebook Messenger now includes advertising, while WhatsApp could soon bring in advertising funds.
