Report: eBay targeted for potential $30 billion purchase

eBay reportedly has a suitor willing to spend more than $30 billion in an acquisition deal.

Following up on an initial report in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes reports that Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, has recently approached eBay about purchasing the e-tail giant. Since eBay’s current market cap is $28 billion, an acquisition could wind up costing ICE more than $30 billion with premiums.

ICE has reportedly offered to purchase eBay before it made its most recent inquiry. There is no formal offer on the table and the companies are not currently engaged in official discussions of the matter. ICE may only have interest in purchasing eBay’s core e-commerce business and not its less profitable classified ad business. It is unclear how or if this would affect a possible purchase price or negotiations.