Zuckerberg on Snapchat Acquisition: Nope. I'm Done for Awhile

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Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook cofounder and CEO, takes the stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 24, 204.

Image: Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

By Seth Fiegerman2014-02-24 18:17:01 UTC

Mark Zuckerberg had a simple message for anyone wondering whether Facebook still wanted to buy Snapchat: Don't hold your breath.

During a keynote event at Mobile World Congress on Monday, the Facebook CEO was asked by an audience member whether Facebook planned to "bid on Snapchat again." Zuckerberg initially ignored the question in favor of another. When the moderator asked if he had any comment, Zuckerberg simply said, "No."

Finally, after being pressed one more time, Zuckerberg offered a response for the ages: "After buying a company for $16 billion dollars, you're probably done for awhile."

See also: Facebook Snaps Up WhatsApp, But What About Snapchat?

Facebook announced last week that it had entered into an agreement to buy WhatsApp, the hugely popular mobile messaging service, for $16 billion in stock and cash, plus another $3 billion in restricted stock units for employee retention kicked in for good measure.

After that announcement, some industry onlookers told Mashable that the WhatsApp acquisition made a Snapchat offer from Facebook more unlikely, not just because of the financial commitment, but because the founders of WhatsApp have openly criticized Snapchat.

"Facebook may not be away entirely as a buyer," Paul Kedrosky, a venture capitalist told Mashable in an earlier interview. But, he added, the WhatsApp deal "makes it a tricky acquisition."

Reports first surfaced in November that Snapchat had turned down a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook. Snapchat cofounder and CEO Evan Spiegel later acknowledged that there had been some offer, and said he was more focused on trying to "build a business."

Zuckerberg and Facebook have never formally acknowledged that there was an offer for Snapchat. Technically, Zuckerberg didn't acknowledge the offer in this interview either — just that there wouldn't be one anytime soon.

Topics: Business, Facebook, snapchat, WhatsApp?