So, EA's trying to buy Take 2/2K. Wait, WHAT THE ****?! - Page 2

Ultra Peanut · 02-24-2008, 02:48 PM

http://www.eatake2.com

Jesus Christ, they are the devil.

kcxiv · 02-25-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

True. I've had an XBox Live Gold subscription for about a month out of the 2 years I've had my unit. I just can't play online, too much BS.

I have a pretty decent friends list from back in the 2k5 days. So i play alot of the top sim ballers that play. So i always have a bunch of good fun games without the BS.

Valiant · 02-25-2008, 02:10 PM

If EA can't make a great game they will go out and try to add them under their moniker..

Good for Take 2... EA alone is trying to kill the industry..

Kraus · 02-25-2008, 02:24 PM

Wouldn't some of the monopoly laws come in to effect if this takeover were to happen?

Ultra Peanut · 02-25-2008, 02:33 PM

kcxiv · 02-25-2008, 06:21 PM

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/02/25/p...-gta-is-gravy/

Good article, i mean its mostly common sense, but its still a good read.

Pachter: Sports Drives T2 Deal for EA; GTA is “Gravy”

Forget Grand Theft Auto.

According to Wedbush-Morgan analyst Michael Pachter (left), Take Two Interactive’s 2K Sports unit alone makes acquiring the company a winning deal for Electronic Arts. Pachter told GamePolitics:

This [$26 offer] is a very fair price. I do not think there’s another bidder. I don’t think there’s any prayer of a bidding war.

Only EA can can make sense of [Take Two’s] sports assets. It doesn’t makes sense for anybody else to buy Take Two to engage in a battle to the death with EA for sports games, whereas EA can consolidate all the sports games and make a profit from it.

GP: Currently, EA has an exclusive on NFL-licensed games with its Madden series. T2 tried to challenge that last year with All-Pro Football 2K8, but the unlicensed game was a retail dud and garnered poor reviews. Take Two has a third-party exclusive on Major League baseball.

For EA, sports is enough to pay for the whole [$2 billion] thing. If you get rid of sports competition, you suddenly add Take Two’s $200 million per year in sports revenue and EA doesn’t compete on price anymore. So, theoretically, they could grow that business by $100 million [per year].

Currently [EA and Take Two] compete in pro basketball, college basketball and hockey. So by taking out all of that, EA has a monopoly in sports. If these guys have a monopoly, they’re not going to cut pricing on sports games as quickly. We’ve been seeing sports games come down [in price] before Christmas the last couple of years. That’ll never happen again.

That’s worth a lot [to EA]. Everything else is gravy. GTA is just gravy…

**Rain Man** · 02-25-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv

Take-Two leads gains after rejecting EA bid
By Rex Crum, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks showed signs of life in early trading Monday as Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. shares climbed almost 50% after the video game maker turned down a takeover offer from Electronics Arts Inc.
Take-Two (TTWO:
Take-Two Interactive Software

TTWO 26.84, +9.48, +54.6%) shares soared $8.40 to $25.76 after EA said it made a $2 billion bid for the maker of the "Grand Theft Auto" videogame franchise. EA said it made the offer, valued at $26 a share, last Tuesday after offering Take-Two $25 a share earlier this month. Take-Two rejected the bids. See full story.
EA shares fell $1.50, or 3%, to $48.25.

Yeah, baby! I've got 240 shares of Take Two stock that I've had for years. I made $2,287.20 today off of this.

Kraus · 02-29-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, baby! I've got 240 shares of Take Two stock that I've had for years. I made $2,287.20 today off of this.

Nice.

It looks like T2 is considering other "unnamed" offers. Is this a tactic to make EA pay more or do you guys think other companies are also interested?

Quote:

Take-Two Reports Other Buyout Offers

By AMANDA FEHD
Associated Press Writer

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., maker of the "Grand Theft Auto" video game series, said Thursday that other companies are interested in buying it, but Take Two has not received any formal offers and is not negotiating a merger with anyone.

The company rejected a $2 billion buyout offer this week from Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts Inc.

Take-Two, which is based in New York, said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday that since EA issued a press release on Sunday expressing interest in the company, it has received other "informal indications of interest in a business combination."

Take-Two "has not engaged in any substantive discussions with any party (including EA) with respect to a business combination," the filing said.

The statement said that information was up-to-date as of Wednesday and the company does not plan to update shareholders on any merger discussions unless it is legally required to do so.

The filing was required ahead of Take-Two's annual meeting of shareholders on April 10.

A company executive said this week that Electronic Arts is undervaluing Take-Two and not factoring in the benefits of its recent turnaround efforts. Take-Two said it is open to discussions with EA but wants to wait until April 30, the day after the latest version of Grand Theft Auto hits store shelves.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

htismaqe · 02-29-2008, 02:02 PM

Who else might be interested that could offer that kind of money? I think they're trying to up EA's offer...

kcxiv · 02-29-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Who else might be interested that could offer that kind of money? I think they're trying to up EA's offer...

Microsoft. I know there wouldnt be games for the PS3, but they do have the money. 2k sports is already doing the boxing for every console but the Sony ones.

JBucc · 02-29-2008, 02:07 PM

Activision-Blizzard is likely the only third party company that could compete with EA. The console manufacturers could of course. How much would you pay for exclusive GTA?

htismaqe · 02-29-2008, 02:18 PM

True.

Microsoft acquiring them would be a pretty big coup. Definitely would take the sting out of losing the HD battle...

Archie Bunker · 03-13-2008, 05:24 PM

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6187712...stnews;title;0

EA's Take-Two takeover bid turns hostile

[UPDATE] The gloves are off and the megapublisher is taking its $26-a-share offer directly to the shareholders; GTA IV publisher tells shareholders to stand fast as it reconsiders offer.

By Emma Boyes, Tor Thorsen, GameSpot UK
Posted Mar 13, 2008 3:53 am PT

Back in February, Electronic Arts made a $2 billion offer for Take-Two, which Take-Two promptly turned down, stating that it didn't believe it was enough.

"Now, witness the power of this fully operational acquisition fund!"
Later in the month, Take-Two made it known that EA was not the only suitor it had and also secured severance plans for its employees in the result of being taken over and downsized.

However, by the beginning of this week, some of the company's shareholders were getting restless. Two major stockholders ditched a percentage of their Take-Two stock, and one shareholder filed a lawsuit against the company for not exploring EA's offer.

Everyone's been waiting to see what EA's next move would be: Would the company put a higher offer on the table or attempt a hostile takeover? Today, the megapublisher has decided on the latter, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Electronic Arts has now confirmed that it will be taking its offer directly to the shareholders of the Grand Theft Auto IV and BioShock 2 publisher at the same price it originally gave--$26 a share.

CEO John Riccitiello commented, "We believe Take-Two investors will see our tender offer as the best way to maximize the value of their investment in Take-Two. This tender offer provides a clear process to complete the proposed transaction."

The tender offer is set to expire on April 11. If successful, the acquisition would be the biggest prize in EA's recent buying spree, which saw it subsume such developers as BioWare/Pandemic and Digital Illusions CE last year.

[UPDATE] Several hours after EA's announcement, Take-Two issued a statement urging its shareholders to stand fast. "The board of directors...today recommended that Take-Two stockholders take no action at this time in response to the announcement by Electronic Arts that it has made an unsolicited conditional tender offer to acquire all of Take-Two's outstanding shares of common stock for $26 per share in cash," it said.

However, Take-Two also announced it will give EA's offer a second look. The company said that, "Consistent with its fiduciary duties, and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisers, Take-Two's Board will review and consider EA's offer, and within 10 business days, will advise Take-Two's stockholders of the Board's position regarding the offer as well as its reasons for that position." Assuming the 10-day period started today, Take-Two's response should arrive by or on Wednesday, March 19.

Ultra Peanut · 03-13-2008, 09:10 PM

Last summer. Good times.

Quote:

Specifically, when asked what competitors Electronic Arts was particularly looking to - a request Riccitiello echoed as which companies "keep them awake at night", one of the firms singled out by the EA exec was Take-Two.

Take-Two's 2K Sports division has just released All-Pro Football 2K8, the first football title from the company after Electronic Arts purchased exclusive rights to NFL teams and current players in 2005.

All-Pro Football 2K8 has attempted to make itself attractive, despite the lack of license, by negotiating many individual deals with former NFL stars such as Troy Aikman and Jerry Rice, and Riccitiello commented of the move:

"When you've got a competitor like Take-Two on the sports side, and they launch a football title using some of the industry legends, you want to make sure that ends up being a blip and is not repeatable, because we like to defend our franchises aggressively."

It's unclear how Riccitiello intends to stop further titles in 2K's series - the implication may be that he just intends EA Sports football titles to be so relatively successful, compared to All-Pro Football 2K8, that it will not be profitable for Take-Two to produce the game in subsequent years.

kcxiv · 03-13-2008, 09:35 PM

Makes me sad if it ends up happening. Sports gaming will be completely over for me

xbarretx · 03-13-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc

Activision-Blizzard is likely the only third party company that could compete with EA. The console manufacturers could of course. How much would you pay for exclusive GTA?

Blizzard in there Diablo I, Starcraft, and warcraft days was the shiznit.

now thanks to WoW there heads make Mr garrisons (south park) look like Pinhead (from puppetmaster.

02-24-2008, 02:48 PM
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	So, EA's trying to buy Take 2/2K. Wait, WHAT THE ?! http://www.eatake2.com Jesus Christ, they are the devil.
Posts: 39,518

02-25-2008, 02:10 PM	#17
Valiant Valiant 'The Thread Killer' Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $4512380	If EA can't make a great game they will go out and try to add them under their moniker.. Good for Take 2... EA alone is trying to kill the industry..
Posts: 18,558

02-25-2008, 02:24 PM	#18
Kraus Media Center Guy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Blue Springs, MO Casino cash: $10005364	Wouldn't some of the monopoly laws come in to effect if this takeover were to happen? __________________
Posts: 3,322

02-25-2008, 02:33 PM	#19
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	No. __________________
Posts: 39,518

02-25-2008, 06:21 PM	#20
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8697996	http://gamepolitics.com/2008/02/25/p...-gta-is-gravy/ Good article, i mean its mostly common sense, but its still a good read. Pachter: Sports Drives T2 Deal for EA; GTA is “Gravy” Forget Grand Theft Auto. According to Wedbush-Morgan analyst Michael Pachter (left), Take Two Interactive’s 2K Sports unit alone makes acquiring the company a winning deal for Electronic Arts. Pachter told GamePolitics: This [$26 offer] is a very fair price. I do not think there’s another bidder. I don’t think there’s any prayer of a bidding war. Only EA can can make sense of [Take Two’s] sports assets. It doesn’t makes sense for anybody else to buy Take Two to engage in a battle to the death with EA for sports games, whereas EA can consolidate all the sports games and make a profit from it. GP: Currently, EA has an exclusive on NFL-licensed games with its Madden series. T2 tried to challenge that last year with All-Pro Football 2K8, but the unlicensed game was a retail dud and garnered poor reviews. Take Two has a third-party exclusive on Major League baseball. For EA, sports is enough to pay for the whole [$2 billion] thing. If you get rid of sports competition, you suddenly add Take Two’s $200 million per year in sports revenue and EA doesn’t compete on price anymore. So, theoretically, they could grow that business by $100 million [per year]. Currently [EA and Take Two] compete in pro basketball, college basketball and hockey. So by taking out all of that, EA has a monopoly in sports. If these guys have a monopoly, they’re not going to cut pricing on sports games as quickly. We’ve been seeing sports games come down [in price] before Christmas the last couple of years. That’ll never happen again. That’s worth a lot [to EA]. Everything else is gravy. GTA is just gravy…
Posts: 29,111

02-29-2008, 02:02 PM	#23
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8099900	Who else might be interested that could offer that kind of money? I think they're trying to up EA's offer...
Posts: 104,421

02-29-2008, 02:07 PM	#25
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	Activision-Blizzard is likely the only third party company that could compete with EA. The console manufacturers could of course. How much would you pay for exclusive GTA?
Posts: 12,016

02-29-2008, 02:18 PM	#26
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8099900	True. Microsoft acquiring them would be a pretty big coup. Definitely would take the sting out of losing the HD battle...
Posts: 104,421

03-13-2008, 05:24 PM	#27
Archie Bunker The Wait Is Over Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Random Small Town Casino cash: $-701022	http://www.gamespot.com/news/6187712...stnews;title;0 EA's Take-Two takeover bid turns hostile [UPDATE] The gloves are off and the megapublisher is taking its $26-a-share offer directly to the shareholders; GTA IV publisher tells shareholders to stand fast as it reconsiders offer. By Emma Boyes, Tor Thorsen, GameSpot UK Posted Mar 13, 2008 3:53 am PT Back in February, Electronic Arts made a $2 billion offer for Take-Two, which Take-Two promptly turned down, stating that it didn't believe it was enough. "Now, witness the power of this fully operational acquisition fund!" Later in the month, Take-Two made it known that EA was not the only suitor it had and also secured severance plans for its employees in the result of being taken over and downsized. However, by the beginning of this week, some of the company's shareholders were getting restless. Two major stockholders ditched a percentage of their Take-Two stock, and one shareholder filed a lawsuit against the company for not exploring EA's offer. Everyone's been waiting to see what EA's next move would be: Would the company put a higher offer on the table or attempt a hostile takeover? Today, the megapublisher has decided on the latter, reports The Wall Street Journal. Electronic Arts has now confirmed that it will be taking its offer directly to the shareholders of the Grand Theft Auto IV and BioShock 2 publisher at the same price it originally gave--$26 a share. CEO John Riccitiello commented, "We believe Take-Two investors will see our tender offer as the best way to maximize the value of their investment in Take-Two. This tender offer provides a clear process to complete the proposed transaction." The tender offer is set to expire on April 11. If successful, the acquisition would be the biggest prize in EA's recent buying spree, which saw it subsume such developers as BioWare/Pandemic and Digital Illusions CE last year. [UPDATE] Several hours after EA's announcement, Take-Two issued a statement urging its shareholders to stand fast. "The board of directors...today recommended that Take-Two stockholders take no action at this time in response to the announcement by Electronic Arts that it has made an unsolicited conditional tender offer to acquire all of Take-Two's outstanding shares of common stock for $26 per share in cash," it said. However, Take-Two also announced it will give EA's offer a second look. The company said that, "Consistent with its fiduciary duties, and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisers, Take-Two's Board will review and consider EA's offer, and within 10 business days, will advise Take-Two's stockholders of the Board's position regarding the offer as well as its reasons for that position." Assuming the 10-day period started today, Take-Two's response should arrive by or on Wednesday, March 19.
Posts: 6,219

03-13-2008, 09:35 PM	#29
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8697996	Makes me sad if it ends up happening. Sports gaming will be completely over for me
Posts: 29,111