Top Items:
skype.com:
eBay to Acquire Skype — London, September 12, 2005 - eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY; www.ebay.com) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration.
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BBC:
eBay to buy Skype in $2.6bn deal — Online auction site eBay has agreed to buy internet telephone company Skype Technologies in a $2.6bn (£1.4bn) deal. — eBay said it would pay half the amount in cash and the other half in stocks to create "an unparalleled e-commerce and communications engine".
Discussion:
Associated Press, TechSpot, Aqute Market Research, The Silent Penguin and Alex Barnett blog
Ross Mayfield / Ross Mayfield's Weblog:
The Simple Reason eBay bought Skype — In two hours, eBay is holding a conference call about buying Skype. I'm visiting the Skype guys in Tallinn a couple of hours later. Lot's of folks are scratching their heads. I have no inside information, nor really want it, but can offer …
Discussion:
The Doc Searls Weblog, Susan Mernit's Blog, The Stalwart, seanbonner, Threadwatch.org, Moore's Lore and OpsanBlog
Andy Abramson / VoIP Watch:
eBay Buys Skype — The last few days were rather quiet on the Skype Hype front. It seems my first gut reaction about Skype Was right and only over thinking caused a shift. I still view the Skype team as master marketers who played the game to the fullest and have won with eBay making the acquisition.
Discussion:
VoIP Blog and Podcast
Anne Broache / CNET.com:
eBay to nab Skype for $2.6 billion — update eBay plans to buy Net telephone provider Skype in a move aimed at boosting its sales volumes and supplying seamless voice communications to its consumers. — Company executives said Monday that eBay plans to pay $1.3 billion in cash and $1.3 billion …
Om Malik / Om Malik's Broadband Blog:
SkypeBay done for $4.1 Billion. — Update: So the deed is done - $4.1 billion. EBay will pay $1.3 billion in cash and $1.3 billion in stock for the online communications company. It will make a further payout of up to $1.5 billion if certain financial targets are met, Reuters reports.
Jeff Clavier / Software Only:
Skype + eBay = Deal! $1.3B cash + $1.3 stock + $1.5 earn-out = $4.1B! — Reuters' Eric Auchard has just reported that eBay has made a run after Skype after all, and has put a consideration that would total $4.1B if earn-out conditions are met. — This is a massive deal …
James Enck / EuroTelcoblog:
Niklas and Meg 4-ever — It's official, and I have to admit to feeling more than a bit crestfallen. Tracking the rise of Skype was one of my principal reasons for initiating the email blasts which evolved into this bloglet, and now it's going to be part of something bigger, but hopefully equally interesting.
MarketWatch:
Ebay set to seal Skype deal for over $2.6bn — By Richard Waters in San Francisco and James Politi in New York — Ebay was in the final stages late on Sunday night of sealing an agreement to buy Skype, the fast-growing provider of voice calls over the internet, for more than $2.6bn, according to a person close to the situation.
Jeff / The Jeff Pulver Blog:End of an Era? eBay to purchase Skype
Discussion:
Roland Tanglao's Weblog
W. David Gardner / InformationWeek:Execs: EBay Plans To Keep Skype 'Separate,' For Now
Discussion:
VoIP Watch
Business Week:
Oracle to Buy Siebel in $5.9 Billion Deal — eBay to acquire Skype; Wachovia snaps up West Coast bank; plus more of Monday's stocks in the news — Oracle (ORCL ) agreed to acquire Siebel Systems (SEBL ) in a deal valued at about $5.85 billion, at $10.66 cash per Siebel Systems share.
Discussion:
The Post Money Value
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Times of London:
New legal threat to Google over GMail — Google, the internet search engine, is facing a renewed threat of legal action from a company that claims to own the intellectual property rights to its GMail e-mail service. — Independent International Investment Research, a British company …