Interactive entertainment platform Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) is to acquire King Digital Entertainment plc (NYSE: KING) for a total equity value of $5.9 billion.
ABS Partners C.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, will acquire all of the outstanding shares of King for $18.00 in cash per share at an enterprise value of $5 bn.
The acquisition, which is subject to approval by King’s shareholders and the Irish High Court, clearances by the relevant antitrust authorities and other customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed by Spring 2016.
The addition of King’s business aims to further positions Activision Blizzard for growth across platforms, audiences, genres, and business models. The combined company will have an interactive entertainment portfolio of franchises like Candy Crush Saga®, Candy Crush Soda Saga™, Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Blizzard Entertainment’s Hearthstone®: Heroes of Warcraft™, StarCraft®, and Diablo® and Activision Publishing’s Guitar Hero®, Skylanders® and Destiny, along with over 1,000 game titles in its library.
FinSMEs
03/11/2015