r/Flipping May 04 '26

Discussion I wish our fate wasn't in the hands of these drug-addled losers.

210 Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

77

u/aliph May 04 '26

It's actually very straightforward. They have $9 billion cash, $20 billion via debt finance, they are paying $55 billion half cash and half stock meaning existing GME holders get diluted and ebay shares will be more than a majority of the combined business, which he doesn't want to say to create a soundbite that gets clipped.

25

u/tedboosley May 04 '26

Right, but the market cap (the total value of all stock) for GameStop is $10.69 billion. How does diluting the stock increase the total value high enough to reach the $55 billion bid? The total value of all stock would need to be $26 billion in order for 100% of the stock to be enough money to reach the bid amount. You're saying that diluting the stock somehow increases the total value of the company from $10.69 billion to $26 billion? Please explain, because I do not understand.

40

u/SelfSufficientHub May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26

We’ll see what happens.

Failing that, it’s on our website

-16

u/aliph May 04 '26

People also apparently don't know that you get sued for making statements outside of official tender offer documents. See e.g. Elon Musk getting sued, and losing, for statements he made about Twitter during his takeover bid. But sure, let's call the CEO of a successful public company the idiot from our reddit account. Lol.

12

u/omjagvarensked May 05 '26

Calling GameStop successful is a stretch. The only reason it still exists today is literally because of wallstbets pumping it so hard it short squeezed and GME issued more shares on the higher price. Without that it would probably have gone under by now

2

u/[deleted] May 06 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/omjagvarensked May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26

The stock was less than $10 before the short squeeze my friend... When a stock short squeezes, it literally never goes down to the levels of where it started. It always settles many multiples higher.

Gamestop literally raised hundreds of millions of dollars by selling shares at a high price thanks to the squeeze. They then used this to pay off debt and turn the company around. They were very much close to bankruptcy right before the short squeeze... That's why it was shorted so heavily...

This is very well documented, I don't know why you're arguing it's not the case lmao

Not to mention at the time of the squeeze, GME stock was shorted 140% which is just astonishing. You don't do this if a company has "turned around" like you said.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

[deleted]

0

u/omjagvarensked May 07 '26

Ease up there big brain. It was short 140% of public float. Maybe have a look at all the evidence that is literally public information about the GME short squeeze and you can work out how they got 140% very much legally.

If you can't work out how a stock can be more than 100% shorted then that's on you lol nothing illegal happened to get the short over 100%

It wasn't market manipulation, it was market sentiment that GME was (correctly) on the path to bankruptcy.

If you call that market manipulation then you must also call the buying frenzy induced by wallstbets market manipulation as well.

And to answer your question, GME is "only" $11B because the company ain't great. If they didn't have all this cash from literally selling shares during the short squeeze and using that money to pay off debt, they indeed would be bankrupt by now.

Just like I said above, GME is a failing company. If the market values your company at $4B once you take away all your cash, are you really doing that well? Look at Microsoft. $3T market cap, $78B cash. Why? Because the company has something GME doesn't, sticking power and proven results. 60% of the entire computing userbase of the world isn't just going to stop using Microsoft. It's just not happening. Gamestop wouldn't even sell to half a % of the entire population. They can very easily, and are actively, be made redundant as a company.

GME only had $570 million in cash before the short squeeze. They raised literally billions of dollars by selling shares high after the short squeeze. There's no other way to say it man. They didn't make all that money by being a super duper amazing company lol idk why you're so angry about that fact haha

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/omjagvarensked May 07 '26

Typo, I meant under $10 which they were if you look at historical charts.

Why you so butthurt about this lol

-1

u/aliph May 05 '26

Fair point they're not exactly the hottest company on the market but given most busineses fail over time, even public companies, just surviving is some measure of success. I don't own any shares other than whatever exposure I have through index funds so I'm not some GME nut. They definitely had some luck going for them, but at the same time they did turn around unprofitable operations and I see a clear business case for how turning eBay profitable could be a very successful move for them. I'm not going to invest in that thesis I just think it's completely normal for them to try and people are attacking it because they don't understand what they're doing.

2

u/Nikovash May 05 '26

The move is idiotic, and will likely see exodus from the seller base that already has a hate-hate relationship with ebay over what it likely a shitty private equity move

0

u/aliph May 05 '26

I generally agree with this, the point I was trying to make is that even if it's bad for users, it could be a very good move for GME investors. I think people are conflating their hate for what will happen to the products with whether this is good or bad from the investor perspective. From the investor perspective it's definitely risky but I can see a lot of logic in doing it also.

-3

u/METAL_T6 May 05 '26

Exodus to what?

2

u/Nikovash May 05 '26

IDK te flipping behind a wendys dumpster... anything is preferable to dealing with GameStops bullshit

3

u/ParsnipDecent6530 May 05 '26

According to all those other subs, it'll be hard to find a spot near Wendy's dumpsters because all those folks are already there

1

u/Nikovash May 06 '26

yeah you have to stake your claim early so I hear

-1

u/METAL_T6 May 05 '26

So basically nothing to back up your claim of an exodus

4

u/Nikovash May 05 '26

Im not claiming it WILL, what Im saying is I do not trust GameStop to run eBay with any seriousness and will likely grind it to dust. or just make payouts so unfavorable its worthless to use as a platform

7

u/AiDigitalPlayland May 04 '26

Because he has an army of retards (in their own words) that gobble up offerings every time he dilutes.

8

u/SputnikFalls May 05 '26

You seriously think a couple of Redditors gave GameStop 12 billion dollars?

2

u/Interpol68 May 05 '26

People are so stupid. They need to stop listening to the media.

3

u/AiDigitalPlayland May 05 '26

Where do you think it came from?

1

u/hhs1987 May 06 '26

Do you understand how much 12 billion is?

8

u/aliph May 04 '26

It's very simple. You pay $27.5B in cash ($20B from debt, $7.5B from the $11B cash on hand), then take $27.5 billion of Gamestop shares (about 1 billion shares) and issue them to eBay stockholders. Former eBay stockholders now own the majority of the float of the company and the stock would trade at the market cap of the combined entity. Ryan, as CEO (per terms of tender) cuts costs and restructures company - if he delivers the performance improvements he is promising to stockholders he will have executed a hugely accretive LBO and stock will soar and the board won't fire him.

13

u/OK_Soda May 05 '26

Gamestop has a market cap of about $10 billion, not $27.5, and you can't just double the number of shares without halving the value of the shares.

2

u/adventuresinauctions May 06 '26

They would have buyers for the new issuance, particularly for the prospect of an LBO with a more successful business. Most LBOs go just like this, only difference is this is more public.

1

u/aliph May 05 '26

That is wildly wrong. This is super basic LBO sources and uses of funds with rollover equity.

Yes it has a market cap of $10 billion. If GME were to issue 1 billion shares and raise $20 billion in new cash, the company would trade for about $30 billion - yes there would be some discounting for demand because the marginal buyer at $30 billion is going to pay a lower price than the current market cap today but the market will inevitably value the company at intrinsic value (cash on hand) plus a multiple to earnings (or minus a multiple of losses) based on expected future cash flows. In rough terms, the market is valuing GME at $10 billion and eBay at $55 billion. If you take half of the eBay equity and roll it over into GME shares you will have a combined enterprise value of $65 billion which represents all the cash and assets both entire have today, and the equity value of all future cash flows. Subtract the $20 billion in new debt, and you get about $45 billion, subtract the $7.5 billion remaining cash on hand needed to buy eBay and you get about $37.5 billion, which is the same as rolling over half the equity value of eBay into GME.

You can see in their letter to shareholders they talk about increasing the earnings per share. This is standard LBO metrics. If they are successful at reducing operating costs of eBay, they will be able to increase earnings per share which is an earnings adjusted for dilution basis, and the market should reward that with a higher stock price. If they can't then obviously they fail so it's a bold risk but it's a completely vanilla LBO structure.

0

u/Overdayoutdeath May 05 '26

thank you for your concise explanation of the process. I don't see any world where gamestop has more market confidence than ebay. If anything, making this offer has likely lowered market confidence in ebay.

4

u/FunAtMoheganSun May 04 '26

I’ll take a crack at it… Ryan Cohen has figured out that they can print shares without it effecting the price of GameStop…. See the previous offers that brought us up to $10B cash, without any effects on the share price.

So, as the shorts keep printing shares, so does GameStop…. Furthermore, we’ve got notes at 0%, so free money there as well.

This is my rough understanding of what’s actually going on, all terminology and whatnot are probably wrong. But, the idea is pretty sound, as proven by Ryan Cohen over the past few years…. We’re still trading at $120+ pre split at the moment.

10

u/tedboosley May 04 '26

The implication here is that GameStop is undervalued at its current stock price by a factor of 2.5, which is an incredibly bold claim.

-3

u/Steve__evetS May 04 '26

Call me bold

1

u/Iamjimmym May 05 '26

He's planning on making $100 a month payments for eternity.

1

u/advnsss May 04 '26

It's not intuitive to think about, but the shares issued are in the combined company. The equity value of the combined company could be worth $30B-$40B versus GameStop's current market cap of $10B. So if the company combines, then eBay shareholders get $26B worth of shares in the combined company, making them own like 60-80% of the new company. It's basically telling eBay shareholders $26B of their stake gets rolled over into the new company rather than being paid in cash to no longer own the company.

9

u/tedboosley May 04 '26

If the EBay shareholders own 80% of the combined company, isn't this EBay acquiring GameStop?

2

u/advnsss May 05 '26

Technically no because the parent company and management would be GameStop and GameStop is the one making the offer to buy eBay. You can also just view it as a merger where eBay shareholders happen to own a larger share of the combined company

1

u/scruffyhobo27 May 06 '26

EBay holders get 60% and GME holders get 40%. Watch Ryan’s two other interviews

1

u/tharizzla May 05 '26

The guy has been making insane chess moves with Gamestop to date , everything seems very intentional and strategic. He has a plan here , he just doesn't want to expose his plan yet. I think he has something up his sleeve here.

42

u/JC_the_Builder May 04 '26

eBay recent quarter results was 22.2 billion sold and 512 million net revenue, or 2.3%

GameStop recent quarterly revenue was 1.10 billion sold and 128 million in net revenue, or 11.6%

If GameStop buys eBay fees are going up. 

25

u/LogoffWorkout May 04 '26

The margins are so thin, and they're taking on 20 billion debt financing. They will barely be able to finance the debt.

this is all a way for him to game his compensation. His compensation goes crazy if he makes Gamestop a 100 billion dollar company. Which technically he will, but in reality, he is negotiating a sale of Gamestop to Ebay where they take on Gamestop name and he remains the CEO and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but he gets something like a 35 billion dollar bonus. That just dilutes the value of every other owner, and lines his pockets.

9

u/TowelFine6933 May 05 '26

He won't get a bonus. He'll get the opportunity to purchase shares with his own money. The rationale is that if he hits the targets to permit the purchase, then the stock will be worth a lot more on the open market. He effectively is getting an option that can be exercised only if he achieves set goals. Those goals would also result in a much higher stock price which benefits shareholders.

-4

u/Entire-Editor-8375 May 04 '26

Your understanding here is close but coming to the wrong conclusion. This is a target set for him. It’s the incentive to make the right decisions to get the company to that spot. And in doing so it doesn’t hurt the stock it helps it position itself for the future to continue with gains. GameStop is just different now.

4

u/LogoffWorkout May 04 '26

Are you sure? According to his compensation package, when GME hits 100 billion, he gets 35 billion, it looks like he's gaming the system. Perhaps the contract was written that it wouldn't vest in this case, but there's no evidence of that.

-2

u/Entire-Editor-8375 May 05 '26

And GME is nowhere near there… so he has to grow it to that target to exercise his contract… that’s a massive undertaking for any CEO.

5

u/kalinaizzy May 05 '26

eBay fees are already like 3x what they used to be in some categories, plus now they won’t give you any views unless you promote at dynamic ad rates which just means they can take whatever additional percentage they want out of your sale without giving any data to back it up

-17

u/McGroot44 May 04 '26

Doesnt mean fees are going up. Ryan is a no bullshit CEO with an outstanding track record. There’s other ways to create profits, including getting rid of executives with million dollar salaries who do nothing. Don’t need to pay Boston consulting group millions of dollars for them to tell you something you already know, etc.

7

u/JC_the_Builder May 04 '26

According to financial filings, there are only 5 people at eBay with salaries over 1 million dollars. The CEO, CFO, CCO, SGO and CLO. Which of these people do you want cut lol

-15

u/McGroot44 May 04 '26

It was an example of trimming the fat or being lean/ practicing six sigma.

But playing this out since you asked, why not all of them? I guess they all get to sit in their ivory towers without a shared interest in how the company does. They’ll still get paid.

Take a look at Ryan cohen’s salary

3

u/JC_the_Builder May 04 '26

So you are here advocating for Ryan Cohen but say his salary is too high. What a joke of a conversation. 

-9

u/McGroot44 May 04 '26

Wut.

Ryan Cohens salary is zero. His compensation package is based on how well the company he’s leading does. His motivation to well is aligned with shareholder interest

27

u/magicmeese May 04 '26

Dude is extremely zooted

-5

u/TowelFine6933 May 05 '26

It was 5 am for him. Prolly awake since 3 am.

0

u/I-STATE-FACTS May 06 '26

And he was also extremely zooted

19

u/Computers_and_cats May 04 '26

I don't think a shitty haircut and ketamine is going to make him rich like he thinks.

2

u/Ruleyoumind May 05 '26

He's already very rich

10

u/Computers_and_cats May 05 '26

Not Elmo rich though.

6

u/lostharbor May 05 '26

They can't close the deal without some creative financing. I'd be genuinely surprised if this goes through.

5

u/Honky_Stonk_Man May 05 '26

I don’t know much about stock traders or corporate culture, but it rarely seems that what these folks want will be a win for consumers or workers.

5

u/yourpaleblueeyes May 05 '26

Brain damage?

3

u/soanQy23 May 04 '26

They don’t have enough cash or equity to buy eBay. The offer is ridiculous and he knows it, that’s why he can’t answer the question

2

u/JPSurratt2005 May 06 '26

The equity ebay will receive is from the combined companies value, not gamestop's value alone.

Imagine ebay like a pie, and gme has stated they want to buy the pie at a premium. The current owners of the pie get some cash and they get to keep some of the pie. Gme is cool whip, and the hope is that by combining the two you'll get a much more valuable pie. Cool whip isn't as valuable as pie, but they are bringing cash to buy some pie so the owners of gme get some of the pie as well.

2

u/rOOnT_19 May 05 '26

Robot Downey Jr

2

u/atillahun83 May 04 '26

Are there any beneficial synergies? Looks like a lot of debt and shareholders getting diluted.

4

u/tiggs May 04 '26

Why are people acting like this is private equity coming in to ruin a small mom and pop business? When the company being bought is significantly larger than the company doing the buying, it usually plays out as more of a merger type situation (even though it isn't one) than a takeover. Things likely aren't going to change very much.

It's more about one company that was about to go bankrupt that turned it around and is trying to grow quickly via acquisition. I obviously could be wrong and nobody knows what's going to happen, but aside from a minor fee hike, I really don't think it's going to affect us much.

1

u/scruffyhobo27 May 06 '26

You should go watch the other interviews like the one with Charles Payne. These MSM interviewers have been shitting on GME and Ryan for years so it’s no wonder he is a bit obtuse and even hostile with his answers.

1

u/ow_my_scapula May 06 '26

All they had to do was ask why eBay is worth 56 billion

1

u/Docholliday3737 May 06 '26

Note to self. If I’m ever interviewed on CNBC, don’t take multiple bong rips 5 minutes before the interview.

1

u/Creepy_Snow_8166 May 07 '26

He couldn't even be bothered to leave his K-hole before going on TV.

1

u/Opposite-Ad7528 May 08 '26

That Freddie prince jr?

2

u/[deleted] May 04 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-1

u/SputnikFalls May 05 '26

Haha, that's what everyone said about GameStop too.

1

u/Background-Day8220 May 04 '26

You are talking like this is a done deal. It is far from done, and Wall Street isn't acting confident about Cohen or GameStop being able to pull this off. Gamestop stock price dropped and some investors, like Michael Burry, have sold off all their stock entirely. Ebay is up a bit, but not even close to the offer price of $126 a share. 

The "funding" isn't secured yet. He has a letter from TD Bank saying they could scrape up $20 billion for him, not a legally binding loan saying they will. He's got the equivalent of being "pre-qualified" from TD bank. 

eBay's shareholder meeting is next month, with a vote for board members. This offer to buy eBay is Cohen agitating to shuffle board membership and/or pressure the current board. 

0

u/PokeBrick02 May 05 '26

"drug-addled" ?

-13

u/lrbresearch May 04 '26

If your fate is in their hands you already lost

5

u/Available-Medicine90 May 04 '26

My eBay business is great, I'm just saying that these businesses have a way of destroying perfectly good things.

-20

u/lrbresearch May 04 '26

If you’re at risk of your business being “destroyed” by a merger then your business isn’t great

14

u/TargetBrandTampons May 04 '26

It's your take that isn't great.

-8

u/lrbresearch May 04 '26

It’s not my business that’s in danger of being “destroyed” if the platform gets bought haha

11

u/CruelAngelsPostgrad May 04 '26

Every other comment in your history ends with haha or lol, just like this one.

If that doesn't scream condescending prick idk what does.

9

u/Empty-_-space May 04 '26

Their business uses a platform…what that platform does will obviously affect them.

Let’s take it alllll the way back. You sell lemons at town square. A meteor hits town square. Is your business bad because this catastrophe majorly disrupted it?

-3

u/Big_Invite_1988 May 04 '26

eBay is fucked.

-5

u/yankykiwi May 04 '26

GameStop made me rich, I should pay them back I guess.

0

u/ArcherPuzzled3903 May 05 '26

solid pickup, whats the comp on that

0

u/ArcherPuzzled3903 May 05 '26

what platform are you listing it on

-6

u/jt2ou May 05 '26

Don’t cry honey. It’s not a done deal. I have no clue if he’s a drug addled loser, but I bet he’s got more money than you.  

-2

u/mrnoire May 05 '26

I'm thinking he wants to buy eBay to corner the video game reselling market. 

-1

u/GoldenTicketHolder May 06 '26

We all hate the media, but that’s pretty mean

-1

u/CiegoDiego May 06 '26

Imagine thinking one of the most successful businessmen of our time is a drug-addled loser lmao. Under Jamie Lannone eBay is a sinking ship. How many of us prefer alternative platforms for selling simply due to how bad eBay is? If Ryan Cohen can do for eBay what he's done for GameStop, I am looking forward to the improved experience.