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EBay Spurns GameStop’s Bid as ‘Neither Credible nor Attractive’

EBay Spurns GameStop’s Bid as ‘Neither Credible nor Attractive’

GameStop CEO last week offered $125 a share — consisting of 50 percent cash and 50 percent GameStop stock — to eBay shareholders.

By Spencer Soper and Cecilia D'Anastasio, Bloomberg | Updated: 12 May 2026 18:50 IST

EBay Spurns GameStop’s Bid as ‘Neither Credible nor Attractive’

Photo Credit: Reuters

GameStop submitted a $56 billion bid to acquire eBay

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Highlights

GameStop's shares fell about 4 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday
EBay’s online marketplace has 136 million users
GameStop CEO is prepared to take his plan straight to shareholders

EBay rejected a $56 billion takeover offer from GameStop Chief Executive Officer Ryan Cohen, describing the unsolicited bid as “neither credible nor attractive.”

EBay's board turned down the offer after taking into account “uncertainty” around the financing plan, the operational risks involved and GameStop's governance, Chairman Paul Pressler said in a letter addressed to Cohen. Pressler also cited GameStop's executive incentives and a takeover's potential impact on eBay's long-term growth.

A representative for GameStop didn't respond to an emailed request for comment. The company's shares fell about 4 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday, paring earlier losses. Ebay's stock fell about 1 percent.

GameStop Makes Bold $56 Billion Play for eBay, Ready to Go Hostile

The rejection sets the stage for a potential proxy fight to replace eBay's board with one favorable to a deal. Cohen had previously said that he's prepared to take his plan straight to shareholders should the board turn down his offer.

Cohen last week offered $125 a share — consisting of 50 percent cash and 50 percent GameStop stock — to eBay shareholders. That was a 20 percent premium to the stock price the previous Friday's close.

Cohen's plan has been received by investors with skepticism. GameStop's market value is about $10 billion, less than a fourth of the value of eBay. The company has said it plans to borrow $20 billion to help finance the acquisition. Cohen pledged to find $2 billion in cost savings within 12 months of the deal closing and suggested that eBay CEO Jamie Iannone's spending on marketing has been wasteful.

In January, GameStop unveiled a compensation package for Cohen that would reward him with options on more than 171 million shares if he lifted GameStop's market value to $100 billion. Cohen has said he would take over a combined entity but get paid solely based on the performance of that company.

EBay's online marketplace has 136 million users who spend about $80 billion a year on the platform. The company's 2025 revenue totaled $11.6 billion, mostly from commissions. It also sells advertising and makes money processing payments.

GameStop operates about 2,200 retail stores in the US, France and Australia after shuttering 227 locations last year. The retailer generated $3.6 billion in revenue in the 12-month period ending January 31, mostly from the sale of gaming hardware and collectibles.

In his takeover bid, Cohen said GameStop's 1,600 US stores could be used to authenticate collectibles sold on eBay as well as shipping centers for goods sold on the e-commerce platform.

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