Posted on: Saturday, December 18, 2004

eBay buys Rent.com for about $415 million

Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a diversification move, online auctioneer eBay Inc. is buying the privately held Rent.com, which specializes in Internet listings of apartment and house rentals, for about $415 million in stock and cash.

The deal, announced yesterday, would enable eBay to expand into a new segment of the online real estate market.

Rent.com, based in Santa Monica, Calif., was launched nationally in October 2001 and matches prospective renters and landlords who are charged a fee if they sign a lease as a result of their free property listings.

The company said it is profitable and expects revenues in 2004 to total more than $40 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expect eBay, based in San Jose, Calif., to report revenues of about $3.26 billion this year.

"Rent.com has been extremely successful in the apartment-rental space online and is a great match for eBay," Bill Cobb, president of eBay North America, said in a statement.

Under the deal, eBay would pay $30 million in cash and shares worth about $385 million.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005 subject to approval by Rent.com shareholders and regulators.

On the Nasdaq Stock Market, eBay shares fell 95 cents to close yesterday at $114.75.