September 2, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Online auctioneer EBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) plans to sell a 65% interest in its Skype Technologies internet telephone software to Skype Technologies S.A. and an investor group led by Silver Lake for around $1.9 billion in cash, in a transaction valuing Skype Technologies at $2.75 billion.

Under the deal, eBay will retain the remaining 35 percent equity interest in Skype.

Skype Technologies is the manufacturer and developer of Skype software, which is used by individuals and businesses to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users.

The software also allows users to make paid calls to landlines and mobile telephone lines.

EBay has projected Skype Technologies revenues to exceed $1 billion in 2011. Skype Technologies recently introduced a Skype application for Apple’s iPhone as well as partnerships with mobile carriers such as Nokia and Hutchison.

Skype accounted for around 8% of eBay’s total revenue according to the company’s most recent quarterly filing.

San Jose, California-based EBay acquired Skype in September 2005, eventually paying about $3 billion. The company has since written most of the value of the acquisition off its books.

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