Συγχώνευση γιγάντων στην αγορά βιντεοπαιχνιδιών

indeed.

Activision Blizzard deal valued at $18.9 billion

 

Activision and Vivendi Games are to merge, becoming the world's largest independent videogame publisher, in a deal valued at USD 18.9 billion

 

The new company, Activision Blizzard, now boasts a portfolio bursting with some of the top-selling videogame franchises including Blizzard's World of Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo, Vivendi's Crash Bandicoot and Spyro and Activision's Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and the Tony Hawk series.

 

Activision shareholders are to receive USD 27.50 a share, a 24 per cent premium over Friday's close of USD 22.15. Vivendi Games will contribute USD 1.7 billion in cash to the company and take a 52 per cent stake.

 

"This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector," commented Jean Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi.

 

"The combined strength of the existing management teams at both companies will set the stage for further profitable growth of Activision Blizzard.

 

"We look forward to being an active and supportive majority stockholder in a company that is poised to lead the worldwide interactive entertainment industry in the years ahead," he said.

 

Shares of Vivendi Games will be converted into 295.3 million new shares of Activision, which values Vivendi Games at USD 8.1 billion. Vivendi will also purchase 62.9 million newly issued shares in Activision for USD 1.7 billion in cash.

 

"By combining leaders in mass-market entertainment and subscription-based online games, Activision Blizzard will be the only publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry and reach the broadest possible audiences," commented Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision.

 

"By joining forces with Vivendi Games, we will become the immediate leader in the highly profitable online games business and gain a large footprint in the rapidly growing Asian markets, including China and Korea, while maintaining our leading operating performance across North America and Europe," he added.

 

Kotick will remain as chief executive of Activision Blizzard, while Vivendi Games boss Bruce Hack will become vice chairman and chief corporate officer. He will also lead the merger, expected to be compete in the first half of 2008.

 

Activision also said that it will now have access to Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, "which will benefit Guitar Hero and further extend our sizeable leadership position in music-based games."

Περιμένω να δω ποιος θα ποστάρει "πέθανεi το gaming"

btw me afto to merge paizei kai na doune kai oi consolades SC2

DEN PISTEVO NA SAS XALASE?

Προς τι ο πανικός ρε παίδες;

Καλά ίσως και να μην πάρω το expansion του WoW...

...λέμε τώρα

Αλλο ένα αιμοσταγές κονσόρτσιουμ δημιουργείται και θα πατήσει με την μπότα του τον λαιμό του απλού αμόλυντου και τίμιου user που με το υστέρημά του και τους κόπους μιας ζωής,θα προσπαθεί να αγοράσει τα πανάκριβα παιχνίδια της εταιρίας-μαμούθ.

 

Η εποχή της αθωότητας πέρασε ανεπιστρεπτί.

Ο λαός είναι πλέον υποχείριο του επιχειρηματικού δαιμόνιου των Εβραίων.

Το τέλος του gaming έφτασε.

Ο υποφαινόμενος σας προειδοποίησε.

Λογική εξέλιξη αν υπολογίσει κανείς τις συνεχείς εξαγορές μικρότερων εταιρειών που κάνει εδώ και καιρό η - ιδιαίτερα αντιπαθής σ'εμένα τουλάχιστον - ΕΑ. Προσωπικά πιστεύω ότι περισσότερο κινδυνεύει το PC gaming από την εταιρεία-σούπερ μάρκετ που λέγεται ΕΑ, παρά από την κίνηση αυτή.Εκτός αν φίλε BASSstarlet εννοείς το gaming γενικώς, οπότε αυτό είναι μια άλλη κουβέντα...

Activision Blizzard FAQ

 

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=176767