{"id":1930984,"date":"2026-05-12T13:01:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1930984"},"modified":"2026-05-12T13:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:01:31","slug":"ebay-rejects-gamestop-ceo-ryan-cohens-56-billion-offer-to-buy-the-company-calls-it-neither-credible-nor-attractive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1930984","title":{"rendered":"eBay Rejects GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen’s $56 Billion Offer to Buy the Company, Calls It ‘Neither Credible nor Attractive’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

eBay has officially rejected GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen\u2019s $56 billion offer to buy the company. The eBay Board of Directors said it had rejected GameStop\u2019s unsolicited proposal following a \u201cthorough review.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Cohen had said that if eBay\u2019s Board rejected his offer, he would take it directly to shareholders, insisting: \u201cThere is nobody who is more qualified, based on my experience, to run the eBay business.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a response letter to Cohen, published in full below, eBay chairman Paul Pressler called the offer \u201cneither credible nor attractive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dear Mr. Cohen,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Board, with the support of its independent advisors, has thoroughly reviewed your proposal and has determined to reject it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We have concluded that your proposal is neither credible nor attractive. We have taken into account such factors as 1) eBay’s standalone prospects, 2) the uncertainty regarding your financing proposal, 3) the impact of your proposal on eBay’s long-term growth and profitability, 4) the leverage, operational risks, and leadership structure of a combined entity, 5) the resulting implications of these factors on valuation, and 6) GameStop’s governance and executive incentives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

eBay is a strong, resilient business that has delivered meaningful results over the past several years. We have sharpened our strategic focus, strengthened execution, enhanced our marketplace and seller experience, and consistently returned capital to shareholders. With its differentiated global marketplace and a clear strategy, eBay’s Board is confident that the company, under its current management team, is well-positioned to continue to drive sustainable growth, execute with discipline, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our team remains focused on executing our strategy and driving our business forward in the best interests of the company, our shareholders, our employees, and millions of buyers and sellers around the world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sincerely,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\/s\/ Paul S. Pressler<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Paul S. Pressler
Chairman of the Board of Directors, eBay<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/em>GameStop made the unsolicited $55.5 billion offer to buy eBay at $125.00 per share in cash and stock<\/u><\/a> earlier in May. At the time, Cohen, who would become CEO of the combined company, said he wanted to make eBay a \u201clegit competitor to Amazon\u201d as he bids to grow his business beyond games and collectibles and hit a $35 billion payout in the process.<\/p>\n

GameStop has said eBay isn\u2019t making enough money for what it\u2019s spending, and that it would deliver $2 billion of annualized cost reductions within 12 months of closing the deal, suggesting plans for significant cuts should the deal go through. GameStop believes its 1,600 U.S. retail locations would \u201cgive eBay a national network for authentication, intake, fulfillment, and live commerce.”<\/p>\n

“GameStop staff already inspect and grade hardware and trading cards every day,” GameStop said when it announced the offer. “Sellers walk in, items are verified on the spot, and listings carry a trust badge.”<\/p>\n

There are question marks, however, over GameStop’s ability to fund the deal. The cash part of the offer is expected to be funded from a combination of cash and liquid investments on GameStop\u2019s balance sheet, which totaled $9.4 billion as of January 31, 2026, and \u201cthird-party acquisition financing,\u201d with up to $20 billion in debt financing from TD Securities.<\/p>\n

With GameStop currently valued at $10.69 billion (assuming GameStop is providing all its stock for the deal), Cohen is looking at a $16 billion shortfall. But in a bizarre recent interview with CNBC\u2019s Squawk Box programme<\/u><\/a>, Cohen repeatedly refused to say where the money would come from, insisting he didn\u2019t understand the line of questioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on our website. It\u2019s half cash, half stock. But the details are on our website,\u201d Cohen replied when interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin asked him to make \u201cthe math math.\u201d The suggestion was that the proposed deal could require significant share issuances that would massively dilute existing shareholders. The Wall Street Journal<\/a> has said Cohen may turn to Middle Eastern sovereign-wealth funds to plug the money gap, but he failed to suggest that would be the case in the interview.<\/p>\n

Then, in a publicity stunt, Cohen said he was \u201cselling stuff on eBay to pay for eBay,\u201d<\/a> listing everything from baseball cards to a pair of socks. Each listing includes a hand-signed ‘Letter to eBay’ as a “THANK YOU for your support.” Cohen has spent the past week dumping on eBay on social media, tweeting about its financial performance, the social media activity of an eBay board member, and previous controversies, presumably in a bid to position himself as the company’s savior.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that Cohen could make up to $35 billion in stock if the company\u2019s market value hits $100 billion, among other compensation package criteria. In January, the 40-year-old billionaire told The Wall Street Journal<\/u><\/a> he wanted a \u201cbig\u201d deal that is \u201cultimately either going to be genius or totally, totally foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of January, Cohen had a stake of over 9% in GameStop and was its biggest individual shareholder. Investor Michael Burry, who sold his entire stake in GameStop after the company announced its eBay bid, said earlier this year<\/u><\/a> that Cohen \u201chas a crappy business, and he is milking it best he can while taking advantage of the meme stock phenomenon to raise cash and wait for an opportunity to make a big buy of a real growing cash cow business.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the beginning of 2025, GameStop had around 2,325 locations in the U.S., but by the end of the year it had closed 590 of them. It then kicked off 2026 by closing even more stores<\/u><\/a> as part of an effort to reduce costs.<\/p>\n

For years now some have called GameStop a dying bricks and mortar retailer as it looks to new and often bizarre ways to generate revenue. August 2023 saw the company pull out of crypto<\/u><\/a>, and it shut its short-lived NFT marketplace<\/u><\/a> just a few months later. More recently (and much to the dismay of its employees<\/u><\/a>), GameStop held its first-ever Trade Anything Day<\/u><\/a>, which saw customers bringing in literally anything for trade-in credit at their local stores.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Photo by Nikolas Kokovlis\/NurPhoto via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\n

eBay has officially rejected GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen\u2019s $56 billion offer to buy the company. The eBay Board of Directors said it had rejected GameStop\u2019s unsolicited proposal following a \u201cthorough review.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Cohen had said that if eBay\u2019s Board rejected his offer, he would take it directly to shareholders, insisting: \u201cThere is nobody who is more qualified, based on my experience, to run the eBay business.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a response letter to Cohen, published in full below, eBay chairman Paul Pressler called the offer \u201cneither credible nor attractive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dear Mr. Cohen,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Board, with the support of its independent advisors, has thoroughly reviewed your proposal and has determined to reject it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We have concluded that your proposal is neither credible nor attractive. We have taken into account such factors as 1) eBay’s standalone prospects, 2) the uncertainty regarding your financing proposal, 3) the impact of your proposal on eBay’s long-term growth and profitability, 4) the leverage, operational risks, and leadership structure of a combined entity, 5) the resulting implications of these factors on valuation, and 6) GameStop’s governance and executive incentives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

eBay is a strong, resilient business that has delivered meaningful results over the past several years. We have sharpened our strategic focus, strengthened execution, enhanced our marketplace and seller experience, and consistently returned capital to shareholders. With its differentiated global marketplace and a clear strategy, eBay’s Board is confident that the company, under its current management team, is well-positioned to continue to drive sustainable growth, execute with discipline, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our team remains focused on executing our strategy and driving our business forward in the best interests of the company, our shareholders, our employees, and millions of buyers and sellers around the world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sincerely,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\/s\/ Paul S. Pressler<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Paul S. Pressler
Chairman of the Board of Directors, eBay<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/em>GameStop made the unsolicited $55.5 billion offer to buy eBay at $125.00 per share in cash and stock<\/u><\/a> earlier in May. At the time, Cohen, who would become CEO of the combined company, said he wanted to make eBay a \u201clegit competitor to Amazon\u201d as he bids to grow his business beyond games and collectibles and hit a $35 billion payout in the process.<\/p>\n

GameStop has said eBay isn\u2019t making enough money for what it\u2019s spending, and that it would deliver $2 billion of annualized cost reductions within 12 months of closing the deal, suggesting plans for significant cuts should the deal go through. GameStop believes its 1,600 U.S. retail locations would \u201cgive eBay a national network for authentication, intake, fulfillment, and live commerce.”<\/p>\n

“GameStop staff already inspect and grade hardware and trading cards every day,” GameStop said when it announced the offer. “Sellers walk in, items are verified on the spot, and listings carry a trust badge.”<\/p>\n

There are question marks, however, over GameStop’s ability to fund the deal. The cash part of the offer is expected to be funded from a combination of cash and liquid investments on GameStop\u2019s balance sheet, which totaled $9.4 billion as of January 31, 2026, and \u201cthird-party acquisition financing,\u201d with up to $20 billion in debt financing from TD Securities.<\/p>\n

With GameStop currently valued at $10.69 billion (assuming GameStop is providing all its stock for the deal), Cohen is looking at a $16 billion shortfall. But in a bizarre recent interview with CNBC\u2019s Squawk Box programme<\/u><\/a>, Cohen repeatedly refused to say where the money would come from, insisting he didn\u2019t understand the line of questioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on our website. It\u2019s half cash, half stock. But the details are on our website,\u201d Cohen replied when interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin asked him to make \u201cthe math math.\u201d The suggestion was that the proposed deal could require significant share issuances that would massively dilute existing shareholders. The Wall Street Journal<\/a> has said Cohen may turn to Middle Eastern sovereign-wealth funds to plug the money gap, but he failed to suggest that would be the case in the interview.<\/p>\n

Then, in a publicity stunt, Cohen said he was \u201cselling stuff on eBay to pay for eBay,\u201d<\/a> listing everything from baseball cards to a pair of socks. Each listing includes a hand-signed ‘Letter to eBay’ as a “THANK YOU for your support.” Cohen has spent the past week dumping on eBay on social media, tweeting about its financial performance, the social media activity of an eBay board member, and previous controversies, presumably in a bid to position himself as the company’s savior.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that Cohen could make up to $35 billion in stock if the company\u2019s market value hits $100 billion, among other compensation package criteria. In January, the 40-year-old billionaire told The Wall Street Journal<\/u><\/a> he wanted a \u201cbig\u201d deal that is \u201cultimately either going to be genius or totally, totally foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of January, Cohen had a stake of over 9% in GameStop and was its biggest individual shareholder. Investor Michael Burry, who sold his entire stake in GameStop after the company announced its eBay bid, said earlier this year<\/u><\/a> that Cohen \u201chas a crappy business, and he is milking it best he can while taking advantage of the meme stock phenomenon to raise cash and wait for an opportunity to make a big buy of a real growing cash cow business.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the beginning of 2025, GameStop had around 2,325 locations in the U.S., but by the end of the year it had closed 590 of them. It then kicked off 2026 by closing even more stores<\/u><\/a> as part of an effort to reduce costs.<\/p>\n

For years now some have called GameStop a dying bricks and mortar retailer as it looks to new and often bizarre ways to generate revenue. August 2023 saw the company pull out of crypto<\/u><\/a>, and it shut its short-lived NFT marketplace<\/u><\/a> just a few months later. More recently (and much to the dismay of its employees<\/u><\/a>), GameStop held its first-ever Trade Anything Day<\/u><\/a>, which saw customers bringing in literally anything for trade-in credit at their local stores.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Photo by Nikolas Kokovlis\/NurPhoto via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

eBay has officially rejected GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen\u2019s $56 billion offer to buy the company. The eBay Board of Directors said it had rejected GameStop\u2019s unsolicited proposal following a \u201cthorough review.\u201d Cohen had said that if eBay\u2019s Board rejected his offer, he would take it directly to shareholders, insisting: \u201cThere is nobody who is more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1930984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1930984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1930984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1930984\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1930984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1930984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1930984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}