OSLO -U.S. e-commerce firm eBay Inc said on Wednesday it would sell part of its stake in Norwegian classifieds group Adevinta to private equity group Permira for $2.25 billion in cash.

The deal comes after Austria's Federal Competition Authority (FCA) demanded eBay reduce its financial interest in Adevinta to no more than 33% to approve the tie-up of their global classified ads businesses.

In the latest deal, eBay will sell 125 million shares, or 10.2%, to Permira, leaving the U.S. firm with a 34% stake in the Adevinta. Permira has a 30-day option to buy an additional 10 million shares at the same price, reducing eBay's stake to 33%.

Under last year's deal, Adevinta was to acquire eBay's Classifieds Group in return for $2.5 billion in cash and 540 million shares, valuing the transaction at about $13 billion at current stock market prices.

The transaction between eBay and Permira is expected to close in the fourth quarter this year, Adevinta said.

  - Reuters