[RSTEIN]

Link

Videogame maker Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is exploring a sale as the company struggles to grow its business amid competition from free online gaming sites, the New York Post reported, citing sources. The paper reported EA has been approached by private-equity giants KKR and Providence Equity Partners about a potential deal. Representatives for EA weren't immediately available for comment. EA is the maker of such popular video games as "SimCity" and "Madden NFL" and had a market value of $4.17 billion as of Wednesday's close. Shares climbed 17% to $15.25 in light premarket trading and are down 36% this year. The paper quotes a source familiar with the company saying EA would do a deal at $20 a share. It last traded above that price in January. EA has reported mixed results in recent periods as softer demand for console videogames has hurt margins and as it faces increased competition from free-access online games. Last month, EA reported fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 9% as the company's core revenue slipped. The company is looking to transform its business model to better compete against rivals such as Zynga Inc. (ZNGA), which has expanded its business to better support Internet-based sales.

I doubt any of the hardware guys would buy.

[Jintor]

New York Post? Wouldn't call that 'officially' up for sale, just more rumours.

[Interfectum]

hilarious

[TheOddOne]

What in the world.

[TheBioLover]

What the hell.

[Kyoufu]

Maybe someone can turn them around from being the worst company in America to something...better?

[Metalic]

And who is capable of buying such humongous cooperation ?

[Twinduct]

"Now you can buy the company that America has voted as the worst Company of the year!".

[Beysus]

EA is only $4.17 billion worth ???

I thought it was more...

[DoctorWho]

Let's do it GAF.

And who is capable of buying such humongous cooperation ?

[corporate cheerleader]

EA: Sell Everything

[HawksWinStanley]

I kind of want MS to buy them just to see the reaction on the Internet.

[Neuromancer]

By my calculations, if every GAF member pitched in $52,261.53 we could buy it.

[BattleMonkey]

Sony should buy them now that they are back

[Aegus]

EA, always following Activisions lead.

[JonCha]

Let's do it GAF.

I don't think we can raise almost $5 billion.

[Danielsan]

What?!

Not sure who should pick this up.

[Seda]

Isn't New York Post a tabloid?

[dentoomw]

The company is looking to transform its business model to better compete against rivals such as Zynga Inc. (ZNGA), which has expanded its business to better support Internet-based sales.

Do they really want to look to Zynga for business model inspiration after the gigantic stock crash it just had?

[EVIL]

why would ea try to compete with zynga? they are doing pretty well in destroying themselves. just wait it out.

[iNvid02]

crazy

[Tailer]

Guys let's start up a Kickstarter project to buy up EA
/sarcasm

[ShinUltramanJ]

Amid competition from free online gaming sites? Don't they own POGO? I thought that was pretty big.

[Izick]

[shagg_187]

Peter Moore's long term plan to merge Sega, EA and Microsoft in its final stage.

[Pranay_]

Sony should buy them now that they are back

lol

[Witchfinder General]

Kicksaterter.

[Reiko]

NFL 2K RETURNS

[Metalic]

BELIEVE !

[Grakl]

Sony should buy them now that they are back

Amazing.

[Strive]

Well that's almost half of what Activision / Blizzard was on sale for. ($8.1bill)

Hypothetically speaking, even if any of the console makers would buy EA, they would most likely keep the games multiplatform (at least at first) or else have a huge revenue loss.

[1-D_FTW]

New York Post? Wouldn't call that 'officially' up for sale, just more rumours.

Yeah. Not exactly a bastion of journalistic integrity. You'd like to think it was based on solid info, but it could just be somebody trying to profit a bit from getting the "info" leaked.

[RSTEIN]

New York Post? Wouldn't call that 'officially' up for sale, just more rumours.

Well, I meant "officially" in reference to the rumours that were circulating a few months ago about a sale. This time everyone is reporting it.

[Art Teitlebaum]

Oh how the mighty have fallen...

[GitarooMan]

The Zynga comment is really weird given their massive problems.

[RoboPlato]

Activision/EA merger imminent.

[gabbre]

Activision/EA merger imminent.

Then THQ will buy it

[Darktails]

Peter Moore's long term plan to merge Sega, EA and Microsoft in its final stage.

It all makes sense now!

[markot]

Sad that zynga is considered a competitor...

[Dilly]

I can't even imagine who can buy such companies like EA and Activision.

[Metalic]

Activision/EA merger imminent.

That would be ... big. Two of the most evil cooperations in the industry joining forces, who can stop them now ?!

[Freedom = $1.05]

Man, they must've been betting big on The Old Repulic. Should've put less eggs in that basket.

[weird]

I BUY IT FOR A DOLLAR!

[StoppedInTracks]

Wait... EA is up for sale? One of the biggest if not the biggest publisher in history?

You sure that is not a typo for AE?

http://ae.com/

AE seems more likely to be sold than EA.

[Gen X]

I'll chip in $10 if someone starts up a Kickstarter to purchase it. :-P

[Phaethon0017]

I don't think we can raise almost $5 billion.

Do you know who else talked like that? Poland. And where did that land them?

We're doing this. We're doing this for America.

[Rygar 8 Bit]

hopefully if they get bought the new management will look through the back catalog and revive road rash and mutant league

[Z_Y]

Will it include an online pass?

[Iztli]

BELIEVE !

Quick!! someone go sober up evilore!!

[Protome]

So EA and Activision are up for sale? Whaaaat