Job posting may hint at Facebook IPO down the road (Updated)
Social networking's current hottie, Facebook, might be considered a pretty sexy acquisition target (to put it lightly) for new media's biggest players. But if an intriguing job posting on Facebook's site is to be believed, the service may be headed for an initial public offering instead.
The job listing, which was dug up by Valleywag on Monday, reveals that the company is seeking a "Stock Administration Manager" to work in its main office in Palo Alto, Calif. The job description also asks for "proficiency in stock option administration applications," a minimum of four years "stock administration experience in an international public company, preferably a technology company," and--naturally--knowledge of the post-Enron Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.
Sounds pretty public to us, but you can never be entirely sure. If true, this would be unprecedented in the social networking realm, as its major players have either remained independent for now (like LinkedIn or Bebo) or been acquired by major media companies looking to bolster their social media offerings (like News Corp.'s famous purchase of MySpace in 2005).
UPDATE: A Facebook representative has responded to our requests for comment. Apparently, this does not indicate an IPO is on the way. "Facebook grants stock options to its full-time employees," the company rep said in an e-mail. "The company is looking to hire a few hundred people this year and we need someone dedicated to administering the grant process."
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
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