eBay, The World's Online Marketplace (Nasdaq: EBAY;), today announced that it has agreed to acquire Shopping.com (Nasdaq: SHOP;), a leader in online comparison shopping and consumer reviews.
The combination of Shopping.com and eBay will create a premier online shopping experience for individuals and businesses of all sizes. The acquisition will give eBay's many sellers a new sales channel and access to a new set of buyers. Shopping.com will especially appeal to eBay sellers who are having success with in-season products. On Shopping.com, the shopping experience will be enhanced by the addition of eBay listings to the product selection already available, and merchants will enjoy additional traffic and leads from eBay.
Finally, the consumer-generated reviews on Epinions complement eBay's own community feedback-driven marketplace.
"The acquisition of Shopping.com will allow us to provide even more opportunities for our sellers," said Bill Cobb, president, eBay North America. "Shopping.com's comparison technology simplifies the online shopping experience and the Epinions' community of reviewers is a great match with our own. Together with the outstanding management team at Shopping.com, I believe we can accomplish some amazing things on behalf of our buyers and sellers."
"eBay will provide our shoppers greater convenience and comprehensiveness and will help our merchants increase sales," said Lorrie Norrington, president and CEO of Shopping.com. "This partnership will allow Shopping.com to accelerate our vision to dramatically improve the way people shop and sell online."
Shopping.com has been a pioneer and leader in comparison shopping for the past five years. Shopping.com brings an extensive product catalog organized to help consumers compare millions of products from thousands of stores. Additionally, Shopping.com's Epinions community of more than 400,000 reviewers has produced nearly two million detailed reviews that help consumers make informed buying decisions. This unique shopping experience results in informed shoppers and industry leading conversion to sale for our merchants. eBay has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Shopping.com stock for $21 per share in cash.
Based on the number of Shopping.com shares outstanding on May 31, 2005, the total consideration would amount to approximately $620 million. Shopping.com’s cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of May 31, 2005 totaled approximately $140 million. eBay expects the acquisition to be immaterial to its full-year 2005 pro forma diluted earnings per share, and dilutive to its 2005 GAAP diluted earnings per share due to incremental charges for stock-based compensation and the amortization of acquired intangible assets. More information relating to the impact of the acquisition on eBay's 2005 financial guidance will be provided upon the close of the transaction.
The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory and Shopping.com shareholder approvals, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2005.