In the latest twist on efforts by Skype's founders to rebuy their former company from eBay, four private equity companies have been named as willing to contribute a billion dollars to the deal. However, eBay appears to be balking at a low-ball price and is standing pat.
KKR, Warburg Pincus, Providence and Elevation Partners are listed as the private equity supporters in Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis' quest to repurchase Skype from eBay. The Bay encouraged them to make an offer, and the firms agreed to bring around $1 billion to the deal. Ebay was asked to provide financing for the balance.
However, Zennstrom and Friis' offer turned out to be "well below" the price for which EBay is willing to sell Skype, reports the WSJ. With the two sides "far apart," it looks like the latest talk of a Skype sale was indeed the most realistic to date.
For more:
- Wall Street Journal blog [1].
Related articles
Skype founders want to buy back company from eBay [2]
Will Ebay auction Skype? - FierceVoIP [3]
Skype for sale? (Again) - FierceVoIP [4]
Links:
[1] http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2009/04/13/kkr-warburg-providence-and-elevation-surface-in-skype-bid/
[2] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/skype-founders-want-buy-back-company-ebay/2009-04-12
[3] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/will-ebay-auction-skype/2008-09-12
[4] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/skype-sale-again/2009-01-27