Why eBay Should Consider Breaking Itself Up

Nearly five years into a steady buying binge, eBay is looking bloated, unfocused and schizophrenic. eBay owns well over 100 subsidiaries, some of which were built in-house. But many are acquisitions that have been crammed into the parent company like those Tokyo train conductors at rush hour. Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala
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Subjects: Business, Sci/Tech
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Posted by: Posted by Kaizar Campwala - Feb 14, 2009 - 10:43 AM PST
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Edited by: Kaizar Campwala - Feb 14, 2009 - 10:43 AM PST
Peter L. Combs
3.3
by Peter L. Combs - Feb. 15, 2009

An interesting quick look at the assets of eBay and the confusing disconnect between some. The writer managed to do a good job depicting the results of indiscriminate acquisitions and a convoluted vision.

SKype has already been 50% written off as a loss and the site is clearly trying to move away from the Mom and Pop sellers trying to become another Amazon. Management there can get away with it until they burn up the rest of the cash.

But corporate parent eBay, having had to write down $1.4bn already following its $2.6bn purchase of Skype back in the bubble-2.0 days of 2005, might see an opportunity ... More »

Disclosure: Peter is involved in this story (review not included in overall rating). Help
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Kaizar Campwala
3.7
by Kaizar Campwala - Feb. 14, 2009
See Full Review » (10 answers)

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