At Google, Investing is a Family Affair

(MoneyWatch)  [Update: For more detail and perspective on this story, please check out Erik Sherman's take.]
[Note: This blog has been updated to correct an error in the original version. Google is investing 2.6 million in 23andMe, not 2.6 billion.]
One thing I like about Google is no matter how big and important the company becomes, it maintains a certain informality that is often quite admirable.

Take the documents it files with the SEC. Name another firm that when filing pursuant to the obscure 8.01 Other Events* category, refers to its co-founder Sergey Brin by his first name, as in the delightful:

"Prior to Google's investment in 23andMe's Series B preferred stock financing, Sergey also invested approximately $10 million in 23andMe's convertible debt financing, which was converted into Series B preferred stock as part of this financing transaction."

This investment is actually a family affair.

Last Friday, according to the document filed today, the company invested ~$2.6 million in a B-series for 23andMe,Inc., a privately-held operation "dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools."

This is in addition to Google's initial $3.9 million stake in the firm's Series-A round in May 2007, with an additional half-million thrown in later that same year.

And, of course, there's the family angle: "Anne Wojcicki, who is a co-founder of 23andMe and who is also a stockholder and member of the board of directors, is married to Sergey--"

The two firms, one giant, and one growing, also have concluded a lease arrangement, according to the filing. Sounds like a whole lot of sharing is going on down there in Mountainview.

*Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934.