Recently, Business Insider journalists received information from unofficial sources that Microsoft is negotiating with GitHub about its possible purchase. What amount we are talking about is not known, but in 2015 GitHub was valued at about $ 2 billion. Then Sequoia Capital invested approximately $ 250 million in a startup. Is Microsoft willing to pay such a price? It's not clear yet.
In August, ex-CEO Chris Vanstrah said that the company receives an annual income of about $ 200 million. The company's financial affairs are quite good, it continues to grow.
In addition to the purchase, there is another option - Microsoft is investing a certain amount in the development of the company and is seeking for one of its top managers the post of GitHub director. Interestingly, Chris Vanstrah repeatedly stressed last year that the company would remain independent. Since then, the situation has changed and this is the reason that Vanstrach resigned as CEO (now he is acting as a manager).
Since October 2017, the company can not find a new leader, although the search is quite active. In February, it became known that GitHub almost succeeded in its searches. Then it was said that someone from ex-Google employees could become a new CEO. But the rumors remained rumors. Now, some media outlets write that if Microsoft makes a deal with GitHub, Net Friedman, a personality well known to anyone who is somehow connected with programming, can become the new leader. Previously, he
served as head of Open Source strategy and technology development at Novell, and then, jointly with Miguel De Icaza, founded Xamarin, which in 2016 was taken over by Microsoft.
Whatever option is real, one thing is clear: if Microsoft really becomes the head of GitHub, it will be the beginning of a fundamental change in the course followed by a startup.
UPD. Bloomberg
reports that Microsoft buys GitHub for $ 7.5 billion. The transaction will be conducted through the exchange of shares.