Earlier today, Facebook announced its plans for the acquisition of the popular cross-platform messaging app WhatsApp for $19 billion, but it seems that Mark Zuckerberg wasn’t the only trying to grab the rapidly growing messaging company. According to a report by Fortune, Google also offered to acquire the messaging service for $10 billion, but unlike Facebook, it wasn’t willing to offer a seat on the board of directors.
Facebook today made the announcement that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire WhatsApp for a total of approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares. The agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing.
While Google hasn’t officially confirmed whether it actually attempted to acquire WhatsApp or not, reports have hinted that Google was in talks with WhatsApp to acquire it for $1 billion in the past.
