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[cja]

Seems cheap, the stock options and liabilities could bump the cost to EA up though.

On July 27, 2004, we entered into an agreement to acquire Criterion Software Group Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Canon Inc., for an approximate purchase price of $48 million, plus the assumption of outstanding stock options under certain stock option plans and certain liabilities due to Canon Europe, a subsidiary of Canon Inc., to be determined at the date of close. Based in the United Kingdom, Criterion Software Group Ltd. is a developer of video games and a provider of middleware solutions for the game development and publishing industry. This acquisition, which is subject to customary international regulatory approvals, is expected to close during our second fiscal quarter.

From EA's latest SEC filing

 

[Kleegamefan]

48 mill and you get rights to the Middleware suite that is used in about 25% of all games, not to mention you also get a scrappy British developer who are making better and better games with each release???

Its almost unfair that EA gets all this!!!

 

[Tabris]

This is funny when you compare it to RARE/Microsoft deal.

 

[sonycowboy]

What a bargain for me. I think I will buy some.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

That does seem kinda cheap. We should all pitch in and out bid them.

Hehe, I bet Wario64 tipped EA off on the deal.

 

[bogg]

Seems like a great deal for EA. I really hope they wont fuck Criterion up.

 

[Arcticfox]

They'll probably break even before this year is over with the sales of Burnout 3 and Renderware licenses.

 

[Dagless M.D.]

*hopes that they make a cube port of burnout 3 now*

 

[WarPig]

Their piece of San Andreas alone will make up for a pretty sizable chunk of that.

The Rare thing is a good point. Seven times as much for...what, exactly?

DFS.

 

[levious]

The Rare thing is a good point. Seven times as much for...what, exactly?

DFS.

1/7 of the output?

 

[dskillzhtown]

Incredible price considering the Rare deal. Criterion is going to make money and pay for itself in a short time. With that said, the EA buying spree should be just about over now.

 

[kaching]

klee's and tabris' post just about sum this up nicely.

 

[Shiggy]

And when will they close Criterion?

 

[MaddenNFL64]

$48 mill isn't bad at all . Good deal for Renderware, the Burnout series, Black, and whatever other new IP's Criterion creates.

 

[DSN2K]

thats a steal for EA.

 

[puck1337]

This is funny when you compare it to RARE/Microsoft deal.

Exactly what I was thinking when I saw the $48 million number.

 

[Shiggy]

Don't forget: Rare is much bigger than Criterion (but Criterion is making better and faster their games)

 

[Gattsu25]

And when will they close Criterion?