Skype verkocht voor 1,9 mrd dollar aan investeerders
GROEP ONDER LEIDING VAN MARC ANDREESSEN NEEMT TELEFONIEBEDRIJF OVER
Online auction house eBay has sold the majority of VoIP service Skype to a group of private investors in a deal worth $US 1.9 billion, following days of unconfirmed reports on the internet. The deal comes after eBay announced earlier this year that as part of Skype's 2010 initial public offering, it would consider bids that offered an 'attractive valuation'.
The group of investors, which includes venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has purchased approximately 65 pct of the company.
'This is a great deal, unlocking both immediate and long-term value for eBay and tremendous potential for Skype,' eBay chief executive John Donahoe said in a statement.
'Skype is a strong standalone business, but it does not have synergies with our e-commerce and online payments businesses. As a separate company, we believe that Skype will have the focus required to compete effectively in online voice and video communications and accelerate its growth momentum.'
eBay will receive about $US 1.9 billion for the deal, placing Skype's value at about $US 2.75 billion. That figure is still below the $US 3.1 billion price tag eBay originally paid, due to devaluations after eBay failed to integrate Skype with some of the site's services.
The group of investors, which includes venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has purchased approximately 65 pct of the company.
'This is a great deal, unlocking both immediate and long-term value for eBay and tremendous potential for Skype,' eBay chief executive John Donahoe said in a statement.
'Skype is a strong standalone business, but it does not have synergies with our e-commerce and online payments businesses. As a separate company, we believe that Skype will have the focus required to compete effectively in online voice and video communications and accelerate its growth momentum.'
eBay will receive about $US 1.9 billion for the deal, placing Skype's value at about $US 2.75 billion. That figure is still below the $US 3.1 billion price tag eBay originally paid, due to devaluations after eBay failed to integrate Skype with some of the site's services.