Retail investors once again attract the attention of stocks? GameStop Corp. Class A (GME.US) plans to acquire eBay, with the CEO aiming for a market value of one trillion yuan.

According to informed sources cited by the media, the game retailer GameStop is preparing to make a takeover offer to eBay as part of CEO Ryan Cohen's ambitious plan to transform the company into an industry giant with a market value of over $100 billion. The sources said that as of last Friday's closing, GameStop's market value was about $11 billion, and they had quietly accumulated eBay's stock before making the potential takeover offer. eBay's value is several times that of GameStop, with a market value of about $45 billion as of last Friday's close. After The Wall Street Journal disclosed GameStop's takeover plan, eBay's stock price surged over 10% in after-hours trading on Friday, and GameStop's stock price also rose by about 5%. If everything goes according to plan, GameStop may submit the takeover offer later this month. If eBay is not receptive, Cohen may choose to bypass management and make a direct offer to eBay shareholders. The specific details of the potential takeover offer are not yet known. Cohen has made it clear that he is looking for major acquisition opportunities. In late January, he revealed in an interview that he was exploring potential acquisition targets, particularly in the consumer and retail sectors, with plans to significantly expand the company's business beyond video games and collectibles. Earlier this year, GameStop adjusted Cohen's compensation plan, setting additional incentives to drive the company's market value and profitability. If certain benchmarks are met (including surpassing a market value of $100 billion), Cohen could receive up to $35 billion in stocks. Investors in GameStop, including Michael Burry, the inspiration for the character in "The Big Short," have strongly supported Cohen's plan. Burry wrote in his personal Substack newsletter that GameStop should use its huge cash reserves for transformative acquisitions. GameStop's stock price has risen by about 30% so far this year, partially due to market anticipation of Cohen's acquisition plan. eBay's stock price has increased by over 50% over the past 12 months, benefiting from its strategic focus on core categories such as collectibles and fashion. In February of this year, eBay announced a $1.2 billion acquisition of the second-hand fashion trading platform Depop from Etsy. As of the end of March this year, GameStop had cash reserves of about $9 billion, a significant increase from $4.8 billion a year ago. Cohen may mobilize his large online fan base to cheer on this deal. Cohen is the co-founder of the online pet supply retailer Chewy. At the end of 2020, he made a large investment in GameStop and publicly criticized the company for its slow pace in transitioning to e-commerce, gaining a large following. In January 2021, he joined GameStop's board of directors when the company's market value was just over $1 billion. Later that year, he was appointed as board chairman, vowing to turn around the struggling retailer. This article is adapted from "Wall Street News," Author: He Hao; GMTEight Editor: He Yucheng.