Rovio rejected $2 billion Zynga acquisition offer

Zynga reportedly offered more than $2 billion for Rovio, but was turned down by the Angry Birds studio.

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It should come as no surprise that Zynga is in the business of acquisitions, especially in the wake of the company paying roughly $200 million for Draw Something developer OMGPOP. But not every developer is keen on being bought, as Rovio apparently balked at the publisher's offer for more than $2 billion.

Bloomberg reports that Rovio rejected the offer, according to an unnamed source. It is unclear, based on the report, exactly when this offer took place, but given the purported size of the deal it would logically have been after Angry Birds was a bona fide hit.

Currently the company has $1.81 billion in cash and short-term investments, and is looking to acquire other studios. "We're sitting in a very advantageous position," said merger chief Barry Cottle. "We have a significant amount of cash, we have no debt, and we have access to debt to be as aggressive as we need to be."

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  • reply
    April 17, 2012 4:45 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Rovio rejected $2 billion Zynga acquisition offer.

    Zynga reportedly offered more than $2 billion for Rovio, but was turned down by the Angry Birds studio.

    • reply
      April 17, 2012 4:59 PM

      Zynga will be bought in a fire sale within five years.

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        April 17, 2012 5:57 PM

        Zynga will overtake Activision and EA in 5 years

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        April 17, 2012 6:01 PM

        I just want them to finally copy the wrong game and get sued for everything they have

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          April 17, 2012 11:38 PM

          You can't own a game design.

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            April 17, 2012 11:42 PM

            Wait until Apple gets into game development business.

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              April 18, 2012 1:29 AM

              >Apple buys Valve
              >Apple sues developers of shooters with realistic visuals, guns

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              April 18, 2012 8:57 AM

              i laughed, but it was a sad laugh =(

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      April 17, 2012 5:00 PM

      Smart move on their part for now. They don't want to lose all of their creative staff. It might be better for them in the future if they get larger.

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      April 17, 2012 5:02 PM

      Only 2 billion? No wonder they didn't take it. Come on zynga, we're talking about a company that has merchandise in nearly every retail store. They know they'll make far more than 2 billion just by sitting on their current properties.

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      April 17, 2012 6:00 PM

      Show of hands, who wants to work for Zynga? We'll have to fly in more crickets.

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        April 17, 2012 6:03 PM

        I suspect there are a lot of people out there who would.

        In particular there's a large yearly crop of videogames-major graduates who can't find a job and are desperate. I guarantee you they'd dive at the opportunity to work at zynga.

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          April 17, 2012 6:10 PM

          I'd love it if they would participate. But, my argument would be, don't sell your ass to Zynga. If you're talented, you can find employment in nowheresville for real money. It's great to live in Cali, or hipsterville, Texas, but spend a few years being appreciated and growing as a professional. Being some random shitbird from Zynga is not going to sell you after they lay you off.

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            April 17, 2012 6:45 PM

            Why WOULDNT you sell out to Zynga?

            My friend works at OMGPOP who just got bought out by Zynga. He has no problems with it at all. He got a boatload of cash, enough from the buyout to pay off his student loans, his wifes student loans, and has plenty left over and still has a job. Plus his portfolio is good enough where if he wanted to, he could leave and get a job somewhere else.

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              April 17, 2012 6:52 PM

              everyone complains about how generic and lacking of quality games are these days, then hears about a bunch of money and think why wouldn't they?

              YOU, ARE THE OWN REASONS, FOR YOUR OWN COMPLAINTS.

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              April 17, 2012 6:54 PM

              If you had a position to sell then yes,sell.

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              April 17, 2012 7:41 PM

              depends if you want a good job or a pile of cash i guess

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                April 17, 2012 8:39 PM

                yeah those are totally mutually exclusive

                u sound mad brah

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            April 17, 2012 7:12 PM

            [deleted]

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        April 17, 2012 7:00 PM

        Work for one of the most progressive companies in gaming? Sign me up.

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        April 17, 2012 7:30 PM

        some would, some wouldn't. i personally wouldn't mind a ton of money and the freedom to leave and start something new if i so desired, but some might not be in it for money.

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        April 18, 2012 6:48 AM

        [deleted]

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        April 18, 2012 8:06 AM

        [deleted]

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      April 17, 2012 6:03 PM

      Beanie Babies

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      April 17, 2012 6:09 PM

      lol 2 billion

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      April 17, 2012 6:12 PM

      I don't understand how they could turn this down. The people who would get the lion's share of this money would be stupidly rich - enough to ensure that their lives will be an orgy of whatever flavour they so desire for the rest of their days. Their children will be taken care of, whether that means luxury yachts in the Mediterranean or converted silo bunkers to ride out the coming Crash. There is no point in these people trying to accrue more money than this.

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        April 17, 2012 6:21 PM

        2 billion and 300 employees.

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        April 17, 2012 6:34 PM

        Oh, I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with them already being successful and maintaining their creative & corporate freedom?

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          April 17, 2012 8:31 PM

          Immortality isn't within our grasp yet, the clock ticks fast. They already did it. They won. Now it is time to buy tropical islands and ship over boatloads of hookers.

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          April 17, 2012 8:42 PM

          Sell the company, then take the money and start a new venture with the same people.

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          April 18, 2012 8:49 AM

          this is the same company that was upset ea bought popcap instead of them?

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        April 17, 2012 6:36 PM

        Yeah I'm down for $1b. Good enough, pals.

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        April 17, 2012 7:29 PM

        its not about the money

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        April 17, 2012 7:34 PM

        [deleted]

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        April 17, 2012 8:28 PM

        It wasn't for 2 billion cash.

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        April 17, 2012 8:33 PM

        They probably valued their already fat stacks + creative freedom more than a slightly larger stack + having to do things Zynga's way.

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        April 17, 2012 10:28 PM

        [deleted]

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        April 18, 2012 1:43 AM

        [deleted]

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        April 18, 2012 5:19 AM

        You're totally out of touch with reality - Zynga is the capitalistic parasite the toxin of this industry - they must be destroyed.

        You can simply leave gaming alone and pursue other interest where they like such capitalistic pigs like you. We don't need such people here.

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          April 18, 2012 5:20 AM

          They wouldn't sell their creation to some other shitty company like Zynga

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        April 18, 2012 5:28 AM

        I would sell out so hard. Living in comfort for the rest of my life - maybe I'd start a fun business to stay sane, but these CEOs etc. who earn millions are pressure-hungry maniacs and I'll never understand them.

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      April 17, 2012 6:37 PM

      2 Billion... No way I could turn that down, ever. If anyone wants to buy anything I own for 2 billion dollars, I'd sell it. Two thousand million dollars. I couldn't pass it up.

      Angry birds is a hot brand right now but it's not going to last. Sell when it's on top.

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      April 17, 2012 6:58 PM

      There's always something you can do with more money. Mercenary army, anyone?

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        April 17, 2012 7:03 PM

        How awesome would it be to open up a private military company

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          April 17, 2012 8:48 PM

          and if you already have a PMC, you build Metal Gear.

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        April 17, 2012 7:46 PM

        Personalized blojob from every member of congress

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      April 17, 2012 7:05 PM

      Goodness. How much is enough?

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      April 17, 2012 7:24 PM

      I'm heard some not so great rumors lately regarding Zynga :(

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        April 17, 2012 8:26 PM

        lately? it's well known that zynga are cunts.

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      April 17, 2012 7:26 PM

      Better to Die free than live as a slave.

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        April 17, 2012 8:12 PM

        excuse me, the proper trek quote is Better to die on our feet than live on our knees

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      April 17, 2012 8:32 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 17, 2012 9:19 PM

      Instagram seemed to have gotten a better deal at $1b in cash & stock for 13 employees. Apples/Oranges etc.

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      April 18, 2012 5:16 AM

      Best news i ever heard this year

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      April 18, 2012 5:22 AM

      you guys clearly know nothing about business, Rovio is easily a 25-50bln $ company

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      April 18, 2012 8:10 AM

      Surprised Zynga hasn't released 'Mad Chicks' or some copycat junk.

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      April 18, 2012 8:46 AM

      If I was the rovio dudes I woulda pulled this out http://shop.angrybirds.com/us/mighty-eagle-18-plush-toy.html

      and threw it at the Zynga offer

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      April 18, 2012 9:34 AM

      Because they're gonna be bigger than Disney! Yeah, until everyone gets sick of their one hit wonder Flash game rip off finally.

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        April 18, 2012 10:08 AM

        nah, they know zynga doesn't have any real money. i bet they's sign if it was ea.

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