• Reuters, Thursday, March 3, 2011 11:53 AM

Despite reports to the contrary, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone says there are no plans to go public, be acquired, or even raise additional capital in the foreseeable future. Reports have been circulating around the Web that JPMorgan Chase was in talks to buy 10% of Twitter for $450 million, which would have valued the top microblogging service at $4.5 billion. "(The report is) made up," Stone told Reuters at a conference in Seoul on Thursday. Regarding an IPO, Stone added: "We are not even discussing it internally. It's too far off."

What about selling out? Not anytime soon, Stone insisted. "I believe there is a lot of room for another Internet giant to succeed," he said according to the Associated Press. "So our goal with Twitter is, has been, and will continue to be to remain an independent company no matter what rumors are swirling."

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google and Facebook had both held talks with Twitter about a potential acquisition. "Twitter will steam ahead then, independent and mysterious as ever," quips Fast Company. In particular, "The company is looking to expand its operations outside of North America, possibly opening a new European headquarters in London," The Next Web writes.

Feeling Twitter's pain, Wired notes: "As one of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley Twitter must suffer constant curiosity about its IPO thinking, especially as the market warms to internet start-ups again."

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