I just read this interesting piece from the CBS Market Watch website.

Disney says Eisner bought $10 million in stock (DIS) By Russ Britt
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said Thursday that Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner purchased $10 million worth of company shares on Wednesday. Eisner filed a statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's shares recently hit a 52-week low. Disney shares were up 65 cents to $15.15 Thursday. CBS.MarketWatch.com

Now Im no expert on stocks and shares.But if Eisner is buying $ 10 million shares he must be confident in the Disney brand.

Or is there some other reason involved.Personally I think Eisner got himself a bargain.

Originally posted by malin
Now Im no expert on stocks and shares.But if Eisner is buying $ 10 million shares he must be confident in the Disney brand.

Or is there some other reason involved.Personally I think Eisner got himself a bargain.

$10 Million to Eisner doesn't mean a heck of a lot. That is what, about 15% of what he made last year? Now if it had been $100 Million, that would have been something.

Eisner is under a huge amount of fire for the state of the company, as well as its stock value. More than anything, it is the stock value that will decide if he stays or goes. Ultimately, it is the shareholders and the board who control his future. If you read the stories about him, and that he may be on his way out, it is the company's performance on Wall Street that always gets a mention.

Always question a public move like this. It may very well be that he believes in the brand. However, it could also be (and is more likely) that he is using this as a public relations move to help forestall criticism. If the news had been that ME had invested 95% of his personal fortune, I think that would be a sign of confidence. Given the timing and amount, I tend to believe that it is more a sign of desparation and symbolism.

The stock purchase by Eisner is a pathetic attempt to show the public that he has confidence in the company. This amount is pidling in terms of how many other options and current stock he holds and a trifle of his monetary worth. This farce is equivalent to somebody like you or I making $75K a year being told by some PR wag that we could make it look like we cared about the company we worked for by buying $100 worth of stock. No risk, no involvement, no hardship ..........

If he had had any real concern for the company he would have found ways to defer his own ridiculous income over the past few years in order to save the jobs of some of the CMs and other staff he so heartlessly let go. Instead of worrying about how heavily his pockets were being lined, he should have been worrying about how to save the jobs and careers of the employees that the company needed to keep things running smoothly and with continuity through the years.

Remember, Eisner does not ever need to work again in his lifetime ...... The only thing at stake now is his ego and the legacy he will leave at Disney and in the business world regarding his tenure at CEO there.

Status quo: Even if Eisner WERE confident in the Disney brand, it would make no difference. He clearly has demonstrated poor judgement in this matter.

Either way, it's just PR. As the LA Weekly quoted Zenia Mucha: "First we have to humanize him."

10 mil to Eisner is, to me, like the change I find in my couch cushions. He's scrambling to save face because of all the bad press. If he wants to show that the company is worth something, he should turn it around -- not make meaningless gestures like that one. Enough talk -- let's see some action.

>>If he wants to show that the company is worth something, he should turn it around -- not make meaningless gestures like that one. Enough talk -- let's see some action.<<

I'd have been more impressed with his desperation if he had invested his own ten million into restoring the Tiki Room as a gesture of good faith.

Originally posted by coronamouseman
The stock purchase by Eisner is a pathetic attempt to show the public that he has confidence in the company. This amount is pidling in terms of how many other options and current stock he holds and a trifle of his monetary worth. This farce is equivalent to somebody like you or I making $75K a year being told by some PR wag that we could make it look like we cared about the company we worked for by buying $100 worth of stock. No risk, no involvement, no hardship ..........
...and what a complete slap in the face to investors and analysts alike, assuming that people were going to interpret this as a sincere guester.

It's really a testiment to his ego and controlling nature, thinking that something as empty as this will sway public opinion. It's like he's placed himself so far above the simple, drooling masses in his mind, I think he honestly believes that people CAN'T see through his actions -- Like no one would possibly be savvy enough to do so.

>>It's like he's placed himself so far above the simple, drooling masses in his mind, I think he honestly believes that people CAN'T see through his actions -- Like no one would possibly be savvy
enough to do so.<,

This is the same arrogant, elitist mindset that gave us DCA and the animated sequels - - we are after all, a naive nation of flyover Wal-Mart shoppers - - including investors apparrently.

mj: Certainly 5 years ago you might say investors were somewhat oblivious and subserviant to the idea of growth in the stock market - every pusher of a 401K or a mutual fund would point out the fabulous returns of the last 10-20 years from 1975-1995 as evidence.

But now, post 9/11 and Enron and other corporate disasters, I don't believe the American public is in a mindset to overlook any expression of corporate arrogance or indicators of corporate misdeeds.

If American corporations want investors back, they are going to have to show those investors that they have a quality product that is going to be in demand and a corporate culture that is clean enough to stand close scrutiny ...........

I take it no one likes Micheal Eisner than?(Ouch)