Latest on EA & DICE

When not eyeing Ubisoft, EA still wants to buy Battlefield developer Digital Illusions and decided to waive one of the conditions in its offer to the shareholders of the Swedish company. The initial offer was only good if Electronic Arts was able to get their hands on more than 50 percent of shares, but the company will take whatever it can get now.

This means that EA will acquire all the shares tendered in the offer, regardless of whether EA reaches the 50 percent threshold (assuming that the acquisition is not hindered or rendered more difficult by circumstances beyond EA's control). The acceptance period will end on January 20, 2005, and EA does not intend to extend it any further. Payment to shareholders that have tendered, or will tender their shares before the acceptance period expires, is expected to be distributed beginning on or about January 27, 2005. [..] EA reserves the right to acquire additional shares of DICE in the market.