WhatsApp founders crashed Zuckerberg's Valentines day plans to make $19 bn deal

tech2 News StaffFeb 21, 2014 17:55:57 IST

When a whopping amount like $16 billion changes hands, we all want to know more about the deal. No piece of information is too lowly, and frankly the more bizarre, the better.

So in that spirit, we have really found a gem. According to this report in the New York Times, the Facebook - WhatsApp deal was struck over a plate of chocolate covered strawberries that were intended for Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan on Valentines Day.

According to the report:

Mr. Zuckerberg asked Mr. Koum to dinner at his home on Feb. 9, where he formally proposed a deal and invited Mr. Koum to join the Facebook board. Mr. Koum thought about it for a few days, and the two men met again on Valentine’s Day. Mr. Koum came over to Mr. Zuckerberg’s home, crashing the dinner Mr. Zuckerberg was sharing with his wife, Priscilla Chan. They negotiated over a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries intended for Ms. Chan.

By the end of the weekend, they had struck a deal.

New York Times columnist Nick Biliton, who is also the author of 'Hatching Twitter', reacted to the piece of information by tweeting, "My next book: "Hatching WhatsApp: The True Story of Two Men Who Stole Priscilla Chan's Chocolate Covered Strawberries on Valentine's Day."

The Facebook decision to acquire WhatsApp for $16 billion has predictably created waves across the tech world.  The world's biggest social networking company said that it is paying $12 billion in Facebook stock and $4 billion in cash for WhatsApp. In addition, the app's founders and employees — 55 in all — will be granted restricted stock worth $3 billion that will vest over four years after the deal closes.

In a filing to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Facebook announced the acquisition. "The acquisition supports Facebook and WhatsApp's shared mission to bring more connectivity and utility to the world by delivering core internet services efficiently and affordably. The combination will help accelerate growth and user engagement across both companies," the filing stated.

Analysts have so far hailed the deal, saying that it is a win-win situation for both companies. The only loser in this entire deal it seems, is poor Priscilla Chan, who has been deprived of her chocolate covered strawberries.