eBay acquires two firms

Using its high-priced stock as currency, eBay made two acquisitions today, scooping up a credit card payment firm to help buyers and sellers settle up and a company in the auto collectibles market to push its way into pricier merchandise. eBay also signaled an interest in expanding in the auto market. eBay said it would issue shares worth a total of $275 million for Billpoint and Kruse International, with the deals due to close by July. eBay declined to specify the purchase prices separately. Billpoint enables person-to-person credit card payments over the Internet, while Kruse runs approximately 40 car auctions each year, selling about 14,000 vehicles. It also employs specialists who appraise, authenticate, and rate a wide range of automobiles and networks with collectors and dealers around the world...