Long-term investors concede that the recent interest from hedge funds is sure to drive the buyout price up higher than they ever could.

The 1988 buyout price turned out to be too high, so last year it was time for the first restructuring.

In response to the offer, the market price of Stevens stock rose above the proposed buyout price.

Analysts were divided on the question of the buyout price.

Sellers also have the option to set a buyout price for the auction.

But that buyout price was cut in November before the deal was halted last month.

The only question was whether they could realistically jack up the buyout price any higher.

This would put the theoretical buyout price at $6.2 billion, or about half of the final price tag.

That's the buyout price on the contract of their former captain, released this summer after 13 seasons.

Thus, the proposed $52.50-a-share buyout price is at a multiple of 1.67 times the firm's book value.