eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) announced Tuesday it has reached a deal to sell most of its stake in Skype in a deal that values the online telecommunications service at $2.75 billion. eBay will get $1.9 billion in cash and a $125 million note from the buyer.

An investment group led by the private-equity firm Silver Lake, including Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, will buy the 65% stake in the company. eBay, which will retain a 35% stake, expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

Continue reading eBay strikes a good deal on its Skype sale

eBay strikes a good deal on its Skype sale originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Taking a cursory look at the headlines, it seems that the venture capital (VC) business is in dire straights -- and that it will take some time for things to improve. All in all, the mood is grim.

Or is it? Perhaps this may be the ideal time for VC deals?

This appears to be the case with legendary dot-com pioneer, Marc Andreessen, who cofounded Netscape. You see, this week he has launched a $300 million VC fund. Joining him in the endeavor is another Net luminary, Ben Horowitz. Yes, the fund is called Andreessen Horowitz.

Continue reading Marc Andreessen gets in the VC game

Marc Andreessen gets in the VC game originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.