US-based e-commerce firm eBay is mulling to spinoff its payments unit, PayPal, as early as 2015, reported by The Information.
eBay told potential candidates for the position of PayPal CEO, a post that David Marcus vacated in June, about a possible spinoff of the payments unit, according to the website.
A PayPal spinoff would mark an about-face for the company. eBay CEO John Donahoe has resisted demands by activist investor Carl Icahn to hive off the payments service, saying PayPal was integral to eBay’s business – and vice versa – and a split would not make sense.
eBay spokeswoman Amanda Miller said: "The board will continue to assess all alternatives to create that long-term value and to enhance the growth and competitive positions of both eBay and PayPal. This position has not changed."
Whether eBay has decided to spin off all or part of PayPal, and what structure that could take, remained unclear, The Information reported.
