Goldman customers sent Facebook financials

Facebook earned $US355 million ($A357.4 million) in net income in the first nine months of last year, according to documents distributed by Goldman Sachs, a fraction of the online social network's $US50 billion valuation.

According to the document, Facebook generated $US1.2 billion in revenue in the same period.

That valuation is high, but not outrageous based on the glimpse into the company's financial performance and the growth that it implies, said Ryan Jacob, of the Jacob Internet Fund.

"It just shows you that these business can generate 30 percent to 40 percent, potentially, operating margins," he said.

"They probably did at least $US500 million in net income in 2010," Jacob said.

Goldman began hand-delivering copies of the 101-page private placement memorandum for a $US1.5 billion Facebook offering to its wealthy customers a little after lunchtime in New York, according to a person who received a copy.

The Goldman customer said he received a separate six-page financial statement containing information on the social networking company.

The document provides some of the most detailed financial information yet about Facebook, which Goldman recently valued at $US50 billion in a separate, $US450 million funding.

"This year you could make the case that they're probably going to be north of $800 million and probably close to a billion," Jacob said.

A Facebook representative declined to comment on the report.

The financial statements were not audited and offered little detail about how Facebook generates it revenue, said the source, who did not want to be identified because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Facebook, which was founded in a Harvard dorm room in 2004, has more than 500 million users and is challenging big Web businesses like Google Inc and Yahoo Inc for users' time online and for advertising dollars.

Goldman customers seeking to buy shares in the privately held Facebook will invest money in a newly formed Delaware entity called FBDC Investors LP, according to the source. Corporate records show that FBDC Investors was incorporated in Delaware yesterday.

Goldman customers have until Friday to commit to investing in the new entity and until next Tuesday to wire money to the Wall Street firm.

Goldman, which is investing $US450 million of its own capital in Facebook, is raising at least $US1.5 billion from its wealthy customers through the limited-time offering.

Investors are increasingly eager to buy shares of Facebook and other fast-growing Internet social networking companies on private exchanges.