SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov 19, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) announced today that it has successfully
completed the previously announced sale of its Skype communications unit
in a deal valuing the business at $2.75 billion. The buyer, who will
control an approximately 70 percent stake, is an investor group led by
Silver Lake and includes Joltid Limited and certain affiliated parties,
the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Andreessen Horowitz.
eBay received approximately $1.9 billion in cash and a note from the
buyer in the principal amount of $125 million. The company retained an
approximately 30 percent equity investment in Skype. The company also
purchased senior debt securities with a face value of $50 million as
part of a Skype debt financing.
About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) connects
hundreds of millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis
through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which
enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send
and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized
marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace,
and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than
1,000 cities around the world. For more information about the company
and our global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
About Skype
Skype is software that enables the world's conversations. Millions of
individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls,
send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Every day,
people everywhere also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and
mobiles.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to eBay's
future performance that are based on its current expectations, forecasts
and assumptions. Those statements involve risks and uncertainties, and
actual results may differ materially from those discussed. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not
limited to, the anticipated continuation of Skype's growth and the
potential longer-term value of Skype.
More information about factors that could affect eBay's operating
results can be found in the company's most recent annual report on Form
10-K and its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (available at http://investors.ebayinc.com).
All forward-looking statements are based on information available to
eBay on the date hereof, and eBay assumes no obligation to update such
statements.
SOURCE: eBay Inc.
Media Relations:
eBay Inc.
John Pluhowski, Media hotline: 408-376-7458
[email protected]
or
Brunswick Communications
Mike Buckley, 415-293-8461
Anisha Patel, 415-293-8461
or
Investor Relations:
eBay Inc.
Tracey Ford, 408-376-7205
[email protected]
Copyright Business Wire 2009