Skype's owners, led by private equity firm Silver Lake, will make more than three times their investment - a total capital gain of more than $5 billion - on sale of the company to Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), a source familiar with the deal said on Tuesday. That was made in around 18 months, a short turnaround for private equity which typically invests with a time horizon of three to five years. The investor group bought a majority stake in Skype from eBay (EBAY.O) in 2009 for $1.9 billion in cash and a $125 million note. EBay retained about a third of the company. Microsoft plans to purchase Skype for $8.5 billion.
Microsoft Corporation is engaged in developing, manufacturing, licensing and supporting a range of software products and services for different types of computing devices. Shares of MSFT fell by 1.44% or $-0.3715/share to $25.4585. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.73 and as high as $29.73. On average, 61470900 shares of MSFT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 78465568.
eBay Inc. (eBay) bring together buyers and sellers every day on a local, national and international basis through a range of Websites. Shares of EBAY traded higher by 2.69% or $0.89/share to $34.01. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $19.06 and as high as $35.35. On average, 10334900 shares of EBAY exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 11120905.
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