Lazard Capital Markets' Colin Sebastian issued a note on EA's financial statement last night claiming new information regarding the buyout of Take-Two Interactive would be forthcoming Monday. Sebastian, a known analyst with his ear to the "gaming industry grindstone," has been at the forefront of comments regarding a possible EA buyout since the first offer was made in April.
"Expect [an] update on TTWO bid by Monday morning," Sebastian noted. "We continue to believe that the current offer of $25.74 per share would be accretive to earnings for Electronic Arts, as well as fill several meaningful product gaps."
Last month EA extended its tender offer deadline from April 30 to May 16. The offer, if approved, would see Electronic Arts purchase Take-Two Interactive, publishers of the critical and commercial blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV, for $2 billion. Expect the internet to burst into flames Monday if Sebastian's claim comes to fruition.
[via Videogaming247]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-15-2008 @ 10:11AM
Dick said...
Can someone PLEEEEEASE Stop EA from doing this?
Shareholders? Board Members?
For the love of all that's holy, we need less consolidation and more diversification. Fascism is the streamlining we're seeing here. Capitalism is based upon (and thrives with) competition.
Stop the NazEA party!
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5-15-2008 @ 10:14AM
Edd said...
Why the govt. hasn't stepped in is amazing considering if this happens EA would have a monopoly over most sports games. EA though will not see any of my money, I will no longer buy anything that has EA on it, and I'm going to tell all my friends to do the same. Those GREEDY bastards ain't seeing a dime out this pocket.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:22AM
Kizzle said...
The government hasn't stepped in because they are not doing anything illegal.
Hey, better EA than Activision.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:23AM
adam said...
fuck em i hope ea gets em.they are claiming the next gta will be sony exclusive if ea gets em sony fans are gonna get shit.
im tired of gta games anyway.
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5-15-2008 @ 12:03PM
mcwattersm said...
I am not sure where you read this but your terribly wrong.
5-15-2008 @ 10:23AM
C. T. said...
Serious question: In addition to all the reasons we know this to be terrible, why would Take Two agree to sell for $25.74/share when it's currently openly trading at $27+?
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5-15-2008 @ 10:52AM
DjDATZ said...
If that's the case, I wouldn't be surprised if Take-Two rejected the offer. No one wants less money for the shares they own. If EA offered $27.50, that would be a different story, but I think that would be way too much for EA.
5-15-2008 @ 12:28PM
Mark said...
I think this analyst is just trying to claim that's the price to back up his "Take Two made a mistake and will NEVER see a better offer" statement he made a month ago. It seems now that any offer would have to be better than they were made initially.
5-15-2008 @ 12:29PM
Mark said...
whoops sorry. wrong analyst
5-15-2008 @ 10:27AM
DBoyFlex said...
If this happens, I hope it is just to slap their name on GTA games. As long as they don't touch Rockstar and GTA, fine. Maybe EA will give them more money to do more with the game and make the games better... Actually, I am just trying to be optimistic.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:31AM
DRock067 said...
the question is which stock do you buy? Take-Two or EA?
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5-15-2008 @ 10:38AM
miqspot said...
at this point you don't buy either. You've missed the boat on this one. What you can do is start picking out other publicly traded developers/publishers and invest in them. Seeing as how the industry continues to consolidate I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last pick up.....
5-15-2008 @ 10:39AM
Mikemyerz666 said...
i would say Take Two, support them while EA isn't attached while you can!
5-15-2008 @ 10:49AM
DjDATZ said...
Oh god. PLEASE NO.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:50AM
ZEBRA NINER said...
Nice. It's about time a company stepped in and took the reins on a dying company. I mean, what was the last thing Rockstar even came out with? Good news here. ;)
Multi-platform releases, w00t!
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5-15-2008 @ 11:06AM
DaffyDuck said...
"You wanted capitalism? You got capitalism. Now enjoy what you asked for." (c) Vladivostok FM
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5-15-2008 @ 12:00PM
joey said...
The DLC better don't cost more than 15 bucks.
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5-15-2008 @ 12:04PM
mcwattersm said...
Guys, go out and buy all the take two shares you can afford and don't let EA buy them from you.
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5-15-2008 @ 12:35PM
Bushman311 said...
A lot of you need to take an intro Finance class...
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5-15-2008 @ 12:49PM
xenocidic said...
the news: we failed
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