Introduction
In this paper, eBay’s strategy for its growth through the years 2001-2010 is analyzed. eBay has tried itself to expand and diversify through its various business strategies. This paper would analyze the major strategies that affected the eBay’s growth positively and negatively.
Mergers and Acquisitions
One of the widely used strategies for diversification is Mergers and acquisition. Companies acquire stakes in other companies and control them. Some companies follow the strategy of acquiring a company to enter a new business market.
Year | Acquisitions | Stakes | Divestitures | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2008 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2007 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2005 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2004 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2003 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2002 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2001 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Total | 35 | 10 | 10 |
*Source: Alcastore.com
In the recent times, Mergers and acquisitions have become quite common due to the fact that the competition in business has grown. Also, economic recession has led to the strategic concept of acquiring and merging businesses.
eBay is an online American company which specializes in online shopping and auction and it is one of the market leaders in the Industry. eBay has strategically acquired companies so as to expand its market. In the initial days, the focus was more on developing the company. In the recent times, it acquired stakes in Skype (Online Voice over internet Protocol Company) for $2.6 billion. The best acquisition for eBay till date is considered as its buying out PayPal.
Paypal
In June 2002, eBay acquired PayPal, an online payment company for $1.5billion. PayPal was bought so as to help eBay in getting the payments quicker and help customers have a safe and reliable payment option. Merill Lynch’s Justin Baldauf (2002) said that PayPal is the gorilla Internet payment market as to eBay, the gorilla of web-based auction Industry. PayPal was popular and famous among many net-based customers of eBay at
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