EBay faces $1.5bn loss in proposed Enterprise sale

Private-equity firm Permira is tipped as the organisation that is interested in buying eBay Enterprises for a reported around $900 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

The individuals stated there was no assure a deal can be reached, the newspaper reported.

The sale, if completed, would come one month after eBay sold its 28.4% stake in Craigslist back to the classified ads firm for an undisclosed amount.

EBay said in January that it would explore a sale or public offering of the enterprise business, which did not fit neatly with its PayPal or marketplace divisions.

Recent reports had linked the unit with private-equity firm Thomas H.

GSI Commerce was acquired by eBay for Dollars 2.4 billion in 2011. Lee Partners LP to sell the unit for as much as $1 billion.

It assists the global retailers enhance their presence online and improve their e-commerce capabilities. The online marketplace has struggled with sluggish sales and user growth after a data breach past year forced customers to change passwords.

An eBay spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumor or speculation.

Shares of eBay, which also announced an additional $1 billion share buyback program, were up 3 percent at $65.37 in premarket trading.

The eBay Enterprise unit, formerly known as GSI Commerce, generated $288 million in revenue in the first quarter of this year.