EA Makes a Bid for Take-Two with Strong Corporate Connections

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace)-- Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) made a $2 billion offer for Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO), a move that would cut the competition between the video game publishers.

Yesterday EA announced that it was making the unsolicited cash bid of $26 a share for Take-Two, despite the rejection of last week’s takeover proposal. EA appears to be adamant about a deal and will likely continue to push for consolidation, especially considering that the merger of Activision Inc and Vivendi SA created an even greater rival with the birth of Activision Blizzard Inc.

The latest trend in takeovers and mergers within the tech industry only adds to the pressure for EA to make a similar move.

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map to illustrate the connections between EA and Take-Two that could definitely affect the outcome of a deal.

The strongest link between the companies runs through Mark Sanders Lewis, who was a Director at Take-Two between 2001 and 2007. Prior to joining Take-Two’s Board of Directors, Lewis spent fifteen years at EA as a Senior Executive, last serving as the company’s Senior Vice President of International Operations. Recognizing the value of having spent years on the leadership teams of both EA and Take-Two, either company may very well be in touch with Lewis for insight into the potential deal.

Another noteworthy connection is shared between EA Director Leonard S Coleman Jr and Take-Two Director Robert A Bowman. The two may be well acquainted through Major League Baseball (MLB). Bowman is the President and CEO of MLB’s official interactive media company, MLB Advanced Media LP. Coleman has held various roles with MLB since 1992, and was most recently a Senior Advisor. It’s possible that Coleman and Bowman crossed paths on a few occasions, which could have lead to current interactions regarding and EA/Take-Two deal.

Readers, do you think that Take-Two will be successful in warding off EA’s advances?

Click here or copy this link into your Internet Explorer browser for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map: http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=0188f586-c3c5-40c4-b634-9480297370fb

See article by Nick Wingfield in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)