EA's Bid to Buy T2 Figures in Wall Street Insider Trading Charges
EA's Bid to Buy T2 Figures in Wall Street Insider Trading Charges
December 18, 2008
According to the Dow-Jones Newswire, federal investigators charged four men with today insider stock trading. One of the transactions named in the indictments was EA's bid to acquire T2 earlier this year.
No one from either Take-Two Interactive or Electronic Arts has been charged and there is no indication that the publishers had any inkling of the illegal stock trades. If government regulators are correct, however, information leaks from the Brunswick Group, a P.R. firm working on behalf of Take-Two, contributed to the crime. From the Dow-Jones report:
Four people were charged criminally Thursday in an insider trading scheme involving information about mergers or stock buybacks obtained from a Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. broker's wife who worked at communications firm Brunswick Group LLC...
According to court documents, they were among a group of clients and friends tipped by Matthew C. Devlin, a Lehman Brothers broker, about 12 planned deals before their public announcements between 2005 and 2008...
Devlin allegedly obtained the information from his wife, who worked at communications firm Brunswick Group, according to court filings. The deals included... Electronic Arts Inc.'s (ERTS) hostile bid earlier this year for Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO)...
Devlin has been charged criminally and in the SEC case... [other defendants]... referred to Devlin or his wife as the "golden goose," according to court documents.
The Guardian reports that there is no suggestion that Devlin's wife, Nina, a partner at Brunswick, knew of her husband's alleged stock market manipulations.
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Posted 07/30/10 at 10:25am
ZippyDSMlee: No lan too but that will be hack in, with 2X maps its as big as SC,so....want more now ;P
ZippyDSMlee: No lan too but that will be hack in, with 2X maps its as big as SC,so....want more now ;P
Posted 07/30/10 at 10:19am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: @Cheater: Thank you, I´ll try it later. It happened after I installed the new upgrade, btw
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: @Cheater: Thank you, I´ll try it later. It happened after I installed the new upgrade, btw
Posted 07/30/10 at 01:27am
Andrew Eisen: I got hired to sing bass for an a cappella group tomorrow night. I have nine songs to learn. Yikes.
Andrew Eisen: I got hired to sing bass for an a cappella group tomorrow night. I have nine songs to learn. Yikes.
Posted 07/29/10 at 10:53pm
E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, I thought SC2 was only 1/3 of a game? ;)
E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, I thought SC2 was only 1/3 of a game? ;)
Posted 07/29/10 at 08:59pm
ZippyDSMlee: SC2 is god! BOW DOWN TO SC2!
ZippyDSMlee: SC2 is god! BOW DOWN TO SC2!
Posted 07/29/10 at 07:50pm
Cheater87: Garcia that sounds like a A/V problem. Try turning the TV on and off or doing that with the AV changer. Thats how I fix mine.
Cheater87: Garcia that sounds like a A/V problem. Try turning the TV on and off or doing that with the AV changer. Thats how I fix mine.
Posted 07/29/10 at 06:50pm
Andrew Eisen: The urinals now have floor mats!
Andrew Eisen: The urinals now have floor mats!
Posted 07/29/10 at 04:54pm
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: My PS3 is having some kind of failure. The sound is still there but the image is totally out...
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: My PS3 is having some kind of failure. The sound is still there but the image is totally out...
Posted 07/29/10 at 03:39pm
ZippyDSMlee: SC2!!SC2!!!SC2!!!!!!
ZippyDSMlee: SC2!!SC2!!!SC2!!!!!!
Posted 07/28/10 at 02:45pm
beemoh: Farmville creator Zynga closes one of its games, customers who paid for in-game content unimpressed (Link)
beemoh: Farmville creator Zynga closes one of its games, customers who paid for in-game content unimpressed (Link)
Posted 07/28/10 at 09:49am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: He blames the internet, but not his abusive mother.
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: He blames the internet, but not his abusive mother.
Posted 07/28/10 at 09:48am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: Akihabara murderer blames cyber bullying for rampage in 2008
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: Akihabara murderer blames cyber bullying for rampage in 2008
Posted 07/27/10 at 02:49pm
E. Zachary Knight: Holy Awesome Game Trailers Batman. Superman heat visioning people in the face and Jedi using Hadouken. Awesome.
E. Zachary Knight: Holy Awesome Game Trailers Batman. Superman heat visioning people in the face and Jedi using Hadouken. Awesome.
Posted 07/27/10 at 01:36pm
ZippyDSMlee: Ah I didnt see it down there :P
ZippyDSMlee: Ah I didnt see it down there :P
Posted 07/25/10 at 01:51pm
ZippyDSMlee: Cheater87:I do not think they see the need for it its a shame its more needed than E10.....
ZippyDSMlee: Cheater87:I do not think they see the need for it its a shame its more needed than E10.....
Posted 07/24/10 at 08:19pm
Cheater87: Zippy I sent them an email about a 15 age category a year or so ago and they said they had no plans for one at the moment. I'll send another one and see if they respond back again.
Cheater87: Zippy I sent them an email about a 15 age category a year or so ago and they said they had no plans for one at the moment. I'll send another one and see if they respond back again.
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
How much money will EA lose because of this?
Not a lot really. TTWO's market cap is only about 700 million while EA sits on a hefty 5 billion.
If you think about it, the Bioware and Pandemic buyout was actually more than the market value of TTWO, sitting at 860 million, so TTWO is actually a steal for anyone looking to buy it.
so TTWO is actually a steal for anyone looking to buy it.
Assuming that they're willing to be bought. If they aren't, then the price fast approaches unreasonable as EA found out.
-Gray17
Well you can just buy up all the stocks if you wanted to (51%) for only about 350 million and do a corperate takeover, but EA does't want that to happen since (by experience) they probebly know that it will make everyone there unhappy and leave.
You can't take the current stock price and multiply by the number of shares needed. Trying to buy up that much will trigger a price increase.
Probably none.
While it was EA's stock information that was being leaked, neither EA nor T2 had anything to do with the insider trading. This is purely a case of a middle man taking advantage of some knowledge that they were not supposed to.
Wow, more SEC problems related to Take-Two. What a freaking surprise.
By the way, the frozen turkey in the recent Mythbusters "Best of" show is the head of former T2 Chairman Paul Eibler. Somebody finally found a use for Paul Eibler.
When shall they find a use for you?
Next time you have a thought, just let it go.
ANd hey, I hear Buster needs a stand-in, sign up, now.
Keep dreaming, sparky
NAME_________________________________________________________________
EZK: Ammended to not conflict with other articles of the GamePolitics constitution.
FULL OF WIN.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
Uh-oh, Shadow. You posted a humorous picture to relate to the matter at hand. Devirous might come and insult people.
What EVER shall we do???
Pretend he does not exist? :)
Excellent option. Have a cookie.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
mmmm cookie! nom nom nom nom nom
I like your amended version just as well, EZK ;)
No ShadowDragon, this is not Jack Thompson. It pertains to him, just as Take-Two's problems pertain to him. Grow a brain.
learn2usereplykthnxbye
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I am a signature virus, please copy and paste me into your signature to help me propagate.
If you're not Jack, you certainly sound an awful lot like him. I'm guessing you're one of his like-minded toadys from over at Human Events. Either way, get lost.
That seems likly. While his support network is thin, he DOES have people who agree with him and thus feed his dillusions. Granted many of them are just as incoherent but a few can actually write.
It's Thompson...he posted the same garbage here:
http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/12/18/florida-judicial-politics-gets-eve...
I lawled. I lawled HARD. Go see my reply there.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
Yep, it is him. He's banned again.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
YAY!!!!
hooray
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
Yes, and let's keep him banned. I hate it when after a while people here go, "Oh, I miss him. Let's unban him." in the hopes that maybe he actually might be able to behave himself and contribute something useful this time. No, he never has, he never does and he never will. I say let him just stew and rant and rave over at Human Events and let him post his crazy Neocon conspiracy theories over there where all 10 of the sheeple who agree with him can read it. I would have thought after having given him a taste of his own medicine in the wake of his comments about the Mumbai attacks that maybe it would have finally sunk in. I guess it hasn't. But if it means having to play the equivalent of Whack-A-Mole and hit him with the banhammer every time he pops up his weasely little head here, so be it.
I agree with this comment. And I was just getting used to a JT-free gamepolitics, and rather enjoying it too. :P
300 Episodes and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
Do you have a job yet, Zach?
Guys, let's keep him. He's funny, unlike some other Trolls. (looks at Keddren and Deovirus)
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
"He's banned again."
LULZ-KILLERS!!!
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
Congratulations, Mr. Anonymous Coward Jack Thompson. As of today, your hypocrisy is truly, 100% complete.
-Making Porn available to kids
-Posting Anonymously on blogs
-Threatening those who apose you with death
Shall i go on? Or is the reality too much to bear?
David "DavCube" Gagnon, Mature Human Being, and You, most certainly, ARE NOT.
Not to mention the fact that he's hypocriticaly posing as someone else to make them look bad. When others did that to him, he threatened lawsuits for slander and libel.
Doing so himself makes him worse than the ones he threatened.
Do you honestly think anyone above the IQ of a GTA player thinks that was Strauss Zelnick? Please, get a grip.
Do you think any of us care? I was merely pointing out your hypocrisy.
If I need to get a grip, you need to get help. You're a sick man Jack. I know you will never realize it because your disorder doesn't allow it, but please go see a competent psychologist. Not that quack you saw years ago.
You were still falsely hiding your true identity. Oh wait, it was a joke, you say? Right, i forgot, you're the only one who can joke about anything. Everyone else who speaks that doesn't smother the sentence with the word 'figuratively' is always 100% serious. Mr. Thompson, get out of your little fantasy world. There's grown-ups talking in the real world.
By the way, Take-Two stock continues to plummet today, dropping from above $9 at today's open to now around $8.70 per share, down from the $26 EA offered me, Strauss Zelnick.
I guess this insider trading story isn't helping my company's stock any. I wonder if I can convince Barney Frank that if there is going to be an auto industry bailout then WE NEED A GRAND THEFT AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT, TOO!
I truly am a genius. I am Strauss Zelnick. I am legend.
You left out the "I am a troll" part.
And the "I am full of Epic Fail" part...
You left out the part where you, the Traitor John Bruce "Jack" Thompson, are a lazy, deadbeat, bum who is jobless and living off his surrogate mother's (wife's) hard earned income. You're no better than those who are poor, living off their Parents or government benefits AND don't try to earn their own living (as opposed to those who ARE trying to get jobs, even jobs they dread having to take).
Pathetic. Just sickenly pathetic.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Actually, I made quite a bit of money this year, but you wouldn't know that, would you Andrew in the trailer? And I didn't need a bailout. Want to see my 1040 form? Jack Thompson
1. Cashing your wife's paycheck doesn't technically count as making money.
2. You may not have needed a bailout, but your career did.
3. Yes, since you're offering, let's see that 1040, you arrogant fuck.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
How about we first subtract Patricia's earnings from the total earings reported by that jointly-filed 1040 and then see what the result is? Please, Jack. Your broke ass ain't got two plugged nickels to your name. Who you think you're fooling?
You don't make money from losing EVERY CASE YOU TOOK ON.
Yeah, nice try, Jacko.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
So wait since he got kicked off, he's trying to destroy the bar all together? Wow how mature Jack.
Figurately speaking, of course.
No, not destroy it sweetie. Replace it. Ever other profession in the state is regulated by the DBPR. Lawyers can't regulate themselves anymore than doctors can. Duh. Jack Thompson
I just love how Jack Thompson has been reduced to nothing more than an internet troll FULL TIME. He has actually become the "gamer stereotype": an unemployed grown man being supported by his mom/spouse with nothing better to do all day than spam internet forums with his nonsense. Way to go.
I especially like his habit of believing that writing a letter or submitting something somewhere automatically means it will give him the results he wants. That would be like me writing a letter to a Porche dealer telling them to sell me a car for $100 and then telling everyone about my impending purchase of a $100 porche.
Its really, truly pathetic.
No, not true. I have a job. What's your job, playing video games? Pay well?
What's your "job" Jack-Munch? Writing for Human Events? Pay well?
Sitting at home watching Oprah and eating Bon Bons like Peggy Bundy doesn't count, loser.
Practice what you preach: Grow up and get a life.
Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets, Jack Thompson can geaux chase a chupacabra.
Dennis McCauley, can't you geniuses at GamePolitics come up with some means by which to keep me off this site? Come on, let's get on it.
Secondly, you gamers are the most utterly humorous dorks in the world. I put a couple of funny posts up here, and you go absolutely ape. Can't take a joke, huh? Didn't think so. As Bertrand Russell said, "Nothing bothers a noncomformist more than a noncomformist who won't conform with the rules of nonconformity." Put so you gamers can understand it: If somebody doesn't agree with all of you, then you can't handle it. Poor babies.
I thought the Grand Theft Auto bailout idea was pretty funny. So did the police.
Finally, let me guess: In Dennis' top five events of the year, there won't be the fact that Hal Halpin got a haircut. It will be that I was disbarred. Wow, what a boring year, huh? I'm having a ball out here. Sorry to break the bad news to you. And thanks for your condolences (not) about my dad dying. Dennis McCauley took the occasion to harass me. Thanks, Dennis. I'll remember that. Jack Thompson (so block me already)
PS: I will be reinstated by The Bar before you can say "bribery."
Finally, let me guess: In Dennis' top five events of the year, there won't be the fact that Hal Halpin got a haircut.
read Matthew 7:3-5 regarding the haircut quip, hypocrite.
PS: I will be reinstated by The Bar before you can say "bribery."
at least now we know how you intend to try.
Poor babies.
Didn't Jesus say something regarding causing babies to stumble or something? Get your swim trunks Jack
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
"If somebody doesn't agree with all of you, then you can't handle it."
Can you even look at yourself in the mirror?
his IQ is too low to comprehend the concept of reflecting photons
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
I can't speak for Dennis, but I'm sorry your Dad died . . . before you did.
What was the cause of death? Embarrassment?
You'll forgive me if I can't muster any sympathy for someone who was directly responsible for bringing YOU into this world. Considering how you turned out, I feel pretty safe about taking the low road on this one.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
"PS: I will be reinstated by The Bar before you can say 'bribery.'"
Just said it. You back on the Bar already? *snort*
BTW, I've requested that they keep you around. You see, Wacko Jacko, you are funny, unlike most Internet Trolls out there. To block you would be what we call "1u1z-killing" which is bad.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
"If somebody doesn't agree with all of you, then you can't handle it. Poor babies. "
So says the sociopath hwo wants us all put ot death.
"I will be reinstated by The Bar before you can say "bribery."
That was your ace i nthe hole? That's illegal good sir, then again ,you do endorse ilelgal activities, such as cyberstalking and harassment, if it means you get what you want.
"If you want sympathy, look in the dictionary between shit and syphillius. That's where you'll find my sympathy." - Major Benson Winifred Payne, Major Payne, 1995
Your dad gets my sympathy simply for having to deal with your worthless behind.
Go practice what you preach: Grow up and get a life.
Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets, Jack Thompson can geaux chase a chupacabra.
ANd honestly, you don't get my sympathy, because you would wish that on anyone else.
Finally, let me guess: In Dennis' top five events of the year, there won't be the fact that Hal Halpin got a haircut.
Well, duh. It's not important. Just like how being on 60 minutes doesn't exuse the fact that you're a jerk. Feared killers have been on 60 minutes. Does that make them any less of a bad person?
I put a couple of funny posts up here, and you go absolutely ape. Can't take a joke, huh? Didn't think so.
In case you couldn't tell, Mr. Thompson, we WERE laughing. Just not WITH you.
Put so you gamers can understand it: If somebody doesn't agree with all of you, then you can't handle it. Poor babies.
No, that actually explains YOU pretty well, Mr. 'Everyone who posts on here deserves the death penalty.'
I thought the Grand Theft Auto bailout idea was pretty funny. So did the police.
I doubt they knew, or cared.
Wow, what a boring year, huh? I'm having a ball out here. Sorry to break the bad news to you.
I frankly don't care.
And thanks for your condolences (not) about my dad dying. Dennis McCauley took the occasion to harass me.
Mr. Thompson, there hasn't been a mention about your dad, or truly any article directly about you, on this site in over a month. Get a life.
PS: I will be reinstated by The Bar before you can say "bribery."
You forgot the word 'figuratively,' genius.
David "DavCube" Gagnon, an adult with a life, and You're Not.
Given the utter lack of sympathy, and common bouts of gloating, over the misfortune of gamers and their families, you are in no position to expect any sympathy. I could care less about what hurts you emotionally or otherwise- you deserve every bit of it.
Also, your declarations of your disbarment being reversed are as useless as your life is. Shall we list all the other announcements you have made over the years that never came to pass?
- Your promised RICO suit against the ESA this past summer never happened.
- You said that Bully would be banned and that you were winning.
- You claimed you would never be disbarred because of the loyalty oath, gay lawyers, etc.
Shall I go on? There is plenty more.
I think Jack just gave me and everyone else here an open invitation to troll his humanevents garbage. Please excuse me while I go ahead and take that invitation.
I heard a lot of stuff went down a while back, and thought Jack hadnt posted in a while due to that. *sigh* guess he never learns.
On Jack, genuinely sorry your dad died. I may not like you one bit, but wouldnt wish that on anyone. Just because i play video games doesnt make me a monster.