Facebook has implemented a policy prohibiting employees from selling shares to other investors.
The policy was announced last week, according to people familiar with the matter.
Jessica Vascello first reported on the policy for the Wall Street Journal.
Facebook spokesman Larry Yu said the company implemented the “insider trading policy to better comply with insider trading laws and to protect the interests of the company and its employees and shareholders.” Only a portion of Facebook’s 1,200 employees–those who hold direct share or stock options–are affected by the plan. Many Facebook employees hold restricted stock units instead of options or direct shares. Restricted stock units don’t convert into stock until the company goes public, giving those employees no holdings to trade at this time.
In short, Facebook is not subscribing to the Silicon Valley myth that insider trading rules don't apply to non-public tech companies.
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