Take-Two: EA Buyout Just One of Many Offers

February 29, 2008 10:13 AM

It seems that Electronic Arts isn't the only company interested in acquiring Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive.

According to an SEC filing made by Take-Two, the company has received multiple "informal indications of interest in a business combination" since EA failed to acquire the company.

Last Sunday, EA went public with an unsolicited offer to acquire Take-Two for $2 billion. Take-Two rejected the proposal almost immediately, calling the large sum "insufficient." Rival publisher Activision spoke out a few days later, claiming that it had no plans to buy the company.

While no specific details on the interested parties were provided, Take-Two did note that it "has not received any written 'offers' and has not engaged in any substantive discussions with any party (including EA)."

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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noleh8r

 reply
February 29, 2008 11:00 AM

And so the puffing-up of Take 2's stock price begins. It's not that they don't want to be purchased, it's that they want to be purchased for more $$$. Can't say that I blame 'em.
- avatar_58
  
   reply
  February 29, 2008 11:31 AM
  
  They want more than what EA offers, and Activision/Vugames isn't interested. Erm.....who else Ubisoft? Who's going to offer more than EA?
  - Kristian Joensen
    
     reply
    February 29, 2008 11:45 AM
    
    EA ?(Eventually)
  - deadhorse
    
     reply
    February 29, 2008 11:45 AM
    
    You know who....
    - zerog83
      
       reply
      February 29, 2008 12:00 PM
      
      I dunno, MS doesn't seem very interested in snapping up game devs/publishers. I mean they let Bungie go fairly easily (though there are most definitely some stipulations). They seem more interested in other endeavors at present *cough yahoo cough*
  - K1Bond007
    
     reply
    February 29, 2008 12:06 PM
    
    Viacom made an offer.
    
    I would bet a few other movie studios have tried as well. They all seem to be trying to get a foothold in the industry especially now that games are becoming far more cinematic and can make a transition to film more easily than ever before.
    - noleh8r
      
       reply
      February 29, 2008 1:33 PM
      
      Also they could be attractive turnaround target for a private equity firm.