Report: Financial backers join founders for Skype buyback

Skype's founders are reportedly encountering turbulence in striking a deal with eBay to buy back the Internet phone service, despite the financial backing from a group of large private equity firms, according to The Wall Street Journal.

KKR, Warburg Pincus, Elevation Partners, and Providence are reportedly teaming up with founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who reportedly are interested in repurchasing their company from eBay.

But eBay and the founders' group face a wide gap on price, the Journal reported, and a deal involving the private equity firms appears unlikely.

The private equity firms are reportedly interested in kicking in $1 billion toward the total purchase price, according to the report, which noted it remained unclear on the total bid price.

Back in 2005, eBay purchased Skype for $2.6 billion, asserting that it would allow customers to discuss their transactions in real-time.

eBay has since publicly stated there are few synergies between the companies and that it would be willing to sell off Skype for the right price.