Business Insider: Microsoft is in talks to buy GitHub

A few days ago, journalists edition of Business Insider received from unofficial sources the information that Microsoft is negotiating with the service GitHub its possible purchase. What amount in question is unknown, but in 2015 GitHub was estimated at about $ 2 billion. Then Sequoia Capital invested approximately $ 250 million in a startup. Currently, the GitHub price tag can be much higher and be $ 5 billion or more. 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, and 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, last year Chris Vanstrah repeatedly stressed 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 can become a new leader, a personality well known to everyone who is somehow connected with programming. Previously, he served as head of development of Open Source strategy and technology at Novell, and then, together 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.