A bicyclist rides by the Zynga headquarters.
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Zynga stock was soaring following the news that it will be acquired by Take-Two Interactive in a cash-and-stock deal with an enterprise value of $12.7 billion.
Zynga (ticker: ZNGA ) stock jumped 46.5% to $8.78, while Take-Two ( TTWO ) dropped 11.5% to $145.65.
Under the terms of the deal, Zynga stockholders will receive $3.50 in cash and $6.36 in stock when the transaction closes, for a total of $9.86 per Zynga share. The purchase price is a premium of 64% to Zynga’s closing price on Jan. 7.
“We are thrilled to announce our transformative transaction with Zynga, which significantly diversifies our business and establishes our leadership position in mobile, the fastest growing segment of the interactive entertainment industry,” Take-Two CEO writes.
Zelnick will remain CEO of the combined company, while Zynga’s management team will oversee the strategic direction for the company’s mobile efforts. Zynga will retain two new board seats, expanding the current board to 10 members.
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter says the deal price looks like a bargain for Take-Two, noting he has a $12 target on Zynga stock.
“I think they know that, and think Zynga guys are excited about the opportunity to gain access to various Take-Two franchises,” Pachter writes in an email. “Take-Two goes from 10% mobile to over 50%, making them a more steady grower than they were before with an unclear release schedule for their large games. I think it’s a great fit.”
Take-Two executives are hoping the acquisition positions the company to capitalize on the gaming industry’s rapid growth, especially in the mobile gaming segment, which is expected to grow by 8% annually over the next three years. Take-Two predicts that mobile will comprise more than 50% of its net bookings in fiscal 2023, compared with 12% in 2022.
Zynga’s portfolio encompasses popular mobile games, including “FarmVille,” “Words With Friends,” “Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells,” and “Zynga Poker.”
The acquisition is expected to add $100 million in annual cost synergies within the first two years after closing, and at least $500 million of annual net bookings opportunities over time, the companies said. These booking opportunities include creating new mobile games through the addition of Zynga’s intellectual property and mobile developers, optimizing live gaming experiences, and expanding Zynga’s advertising platform and geographic expansion across Asia.
The combined company could deliver a 14% annual growth rate for net bookings through 2024, and $6.1 billion in net bookings for the trailing one-year period ended Sept. 30, 2021.
Take-Two is financing the acquisition through a combination of cash from its balance sheet, a $2.7 billion loan from JPMorgan Chase, and the issuance of new debt. The deal is expected to be completed during the first quarter of Take-Two’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
Corrections & Amplifications:
Zynga stockholders will receive $3.50 in cash and $6.36 in stock when the transaction closes. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that they would receive $8.50 in cash.
Write to Sabrina Escobar at sabrina.escobar@barrons.com
