When others were questioning whether Facebook was really worth $10 billion in February 2010, two Wall Street investors were quietly buying chunks of its shares at a $15 billion valuation.
The investors, Frank Mazzola and Emilio DiSanluciano, principals of Felix Investments, a Manhattan-based broker-dealer, are not part of Silicon Valley’s elite. Dressed in crisp wool suits, the two New Yorkers are more comfortable navigating the narrow streets of Lower Manhattan than on tree-lined Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, Calif., well known for its venture capital residents.
But in late 2009, the pair had a plan: buy as many shares of the largest private Internet companies as quickly as possible. And if valuations go up, just buy, buy, buy.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Crashing the Party in Silicon Valley - NYTimes.com
Author:EVELYN M. RUSLI
