Microsoft confirms takeover of Skype

[Ink]

Microsoft has confirmed that it has agreed to buy internet phone service Skype.

The deal will see Microsoft pay $8.5bn (£5.2bn) for Skype, making it Microsoft's largest acquisition.

Luxembourg-based Skype has 663 million global users. In August last year it announced plans for a share flotation, but this was subsequently put on hold.

Internet auction house eBay bought Skype for $2.6bn in 2006, before selling 70% of it in 2009 for $2bn.

This majority stake was bought by a group of investors led by private equity firms Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowit.

Other major shareholders include tech-firm Joltid and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Shares in Microsoft were down 1.3% at $25.50 in early trading in New York.

Read more at BBC News (Business)

Microsoft Press News Release

 

[Jack]

Not a bad deal for Microsoft with 663 million global users they are taking over a solid company.........Right now in my country Skype is a known brand...but Yahoo Messenger is more popular....thing could change now that a big name like Micorost has taken the control.....
If Microsoft paid $8.5bn for Skype they must have a solid plan for it....

 

[Tweak]

Maybe MS decided to go after them because of Google and their plans with Google Voice? Often it seems one companies actions are directly related to another's.

 

[Ink]

:lol: From isoHunt:

Microsoft buys Skype to build "The Terminator"