Sources:
https://x.com/ryancohen/status/2051097144673665401
New WallStreetJournal article breaking down the bid: https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/gamestop-is-offering-to-buy-ebay-for-56-billion-ceo-ryan-cohen-says-fd330f5a
TL;DR: GameStop’s $56 Billion Bid for eBay
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Unsolicited Takeover: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has made a massive $56 billion unsolicited offer to acquire eBay.
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The Price Tag: The offer is set at $125 per share in a mix of cash and stock, representing a 20% premium over eBay’s recent closing price.
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Vision for Growth: Cohen aims to transform eBay into a "legit competitor to Amazon" by merging its online platform with GameStop’s physical store infrastructure.
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Physical Synergies: The plan involves using GameStop’s retail locations as hubs to collect and authenticate high-value items like trading cards and collectibles for eBay sellers.
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Funding the Deal: To pay for the acquisition, GameStop plans to use $9 billion in cash and has secured a $20 billion debt commitment from TD Bank, with potential further backing from Middle Eastern sovereign-wealth funds.
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Ready for Battle: Cohen has stated he is prepared to launch a proxy fight and take the offer directly to shareholders if eBay's board is not receptive.
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Ambitious Scale: This is a "David vs. Goliath" move, as GameStop is valued at roughly $12 billion, while eBay was valued at $46 billion before the announcement.
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Massive Payday: Cohen has a personal incentive of up to $35 billion in stock if he can successfully drive the company's market value to $100 billion.
If this goes through as planned it is very good news indeed for those of us holding GME stock. I don't think RC plans on stopping with eBay. Woohoo! I'm still stubbornly hodling my DJT and Rum stock as well. Times are changing, buckle up!
He could use the eBay accquisition to then acquire more companies. He's mentioned becoming the next Berkshire Hathaway, and is now talking about competing directly with Amazon.
Amazon is known for their cheap/fast shipping service using their own in house shipping. eBay doesnt have this, so I think RC will change that.
Larry Cheng made this post about the insane costs of shipping small items last December.
The USPS can't compete with the private sector. As an eBay seller the cost to ship 4-8 ounces from TN to CA is $9.45, eBay gives us a 35-75% discount on all shipping venues due to our high seller rating. Otherwise shipping cost would put us out of business. I think Amazon has a similar set up/arrangement with Fed Ex, USPS and UPS. Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon Centers where sellers can store their inventory with Amazon and have it packaged, labeled, and shipped from their center is not available with eBay domestically, they do offer foreign shipping that you send to an eBay forwarding service.
Same type of eBay arrangement with postal carriers however, Amazon’s AI-driven routing system automatically selects the optimal carrier for each shipment based on destination zone, delivery speed requirements, package dimensions, and cost optimization algorithms. The system analyzes millions of variables—including traffic patterns, weather conditions, delivery density, and carrier capacity—to route packages through Amazon Logistics, USPS for rural final-mile delivery, UPS for mid-size packages, or FedEx under their new partnership agreement.
Much as Jeff Bezos & Co. do not receive much love around these parts, Amazon did reset the bar on delivery logistics. Props are due to the software and warehouse teams behind the efficiency improvements. It hardly need be said that a government run postal service could never invent such a thing.
Agree with you. USPS is a dinosaur in comparison, over budget, too many bureaucrats with their fingers in the pot. RC may be the catalyst that eBay needs to enter the future and give Amazon some real competition.
It’s definitely not going to stop with EBay. It is just the first of many.