EBay plans Skype IPO next year

14.04.2009
EBay plans to spin off Skype via an initial public offering (IPO) because the Internet telephony unit doesn't mesh with the company's two other businesses -- e-commerce and online payments.

EBay expects to complete Skype's IPO in the first half of next year, it announced Tuesday. When exactly that happens will depend on market conditions.

"Skype is a great stand-alone business with strong fundamentals and accelerating momentum," eBay CEO John Donahoe said in a statement. "But it's clear that Skype has limited synergies with eBay and PayPal."