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The exclusive deal, which was part of the agreement struck between Facebook and Goldman Sachs in the former's recent $500 million cash infusion, created a "special purpose vehicle" that allows Goldman's clients to invest in Facebook indirectly, thus bypassing a S.E.C. regulation that requires companies with more than 499 investors to disclose their financial results to the public.
Now, only non-U.S. clients will be able to invest in Facebook through Goldman, the financial services giant said in an e-mailed statement, citing "intense media coverage" as the motivating factor in the decision.