Posted on Sunday, August 19 2012 @ 12:52 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Word is out on the street that game publisher Electronic Arts is in contact with private equity firms KKR and Providence Equity Partners to explore a sale. The news is spread by tabloid New York Post,
the paper claims on its website that it's early days, but that EA has made it known they'd be willing to do a deal at $20 a share. EA's stock closed at $13.77 on Friday, giving the company a market cap of $4.38 billion.
While the discussions are at an early stage, the gamemaker has been approached by private-equity giants KKR and Providence Equity Partners about a potential transaction, according to sources.
“It’s early days,” said one source.
Electronic Arts said it doesn’t comment “on rumor and speculation.” Henry Kravis’s KKR declined comment, while Jonathan Nelson’s Providence did not return calls.
Providence also owns Bethesda, a leading independent gaming company.
