business
Stack Overflow has been sold to Prosus. Does it still exist as a separate legal entity?
<p>Stack Overflow (the owner of the Stack Exchange network) has been sold to Prosus.</p>
<p>Once the deal closes, does that means that &quot;Stack Overflow&quot; no longer exists as a company?  Is the Stack Exchange network then just a product that Prosus now owns and operates, or does Stack Overflow/Stack Exchange still exist as a separate entity that Prosus simply entirely owns?</p>

<p>The analogy in the other answer isn't particularly helpful because a company isn't tangible property like a truck.  It is a legal entity that has not only assets and liabilities such as tangible property (trucks, computers), intangible property (trademarks), and loans, but also owners (shareholders), a board of directors, and officers.  In an acquisition, another company buys up all the stock of the entity being acquired.  The acquired company may continue to exist as a subsidiary, in which case it continues to have its board and officers, or it may be dissolved, in which case its assets and liabilities would be transferred to its new parent (or to another subsidiary of the new parent).</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Is the Stack Exchange network then just a product that Prosus now owns and operates, or does Stack Overflow/Stack Exchange still exist as a separate entity that Prosus simply entirely owns?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Both options are possible. For an entity the size of Stack Overflow, the latter is more likely. For smaller, private companies, the former is more likely.</p>
<p>Let’s imagine I own a company and the company owns a truck and the truck was funded by an unsecured loan and the company owns, owes and does nothing else (a bit of an odd arrangement but it makes the concept easier to understand). You want the truck - it’s a really nice truck. You can:</p>
<ul>
<li>buy my company including the truck and loan, or</li>
<li>buy the truck leaving the company with the cash you paid and the loan to pay off.</li>
</ul>
<p>Now imagine instead of “truck” I said “business”.</p>
