files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from Electronic Arts Inc.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 12, 2011 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced an agreement to acquire PopCap Games, a leading provider of games for mobile phones, tablets, PCs and social network sites. With blockbuster titles like Plants vs. Zombies, Bejeweled, and Zuma, and a proven ability to create new hits, PopCap is a leader in the fast growing market for casual digital games.
“EA and PopCap are a compelling combination,” said EA CEO John Riccitiello. “PopCap’s great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA’s momentum and accelerate our drive towards a $1 billion digital business. EA’s global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels.”
"We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games," said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. "By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience."
“PopCap has a proven financial trajectory with sustained revenue growth and double-digit operating margins,” said EA CFO Eric Brown. “On a non-GAAP basis, this deal is expected to be at least ten-cents accretive in fiscal year 2013.”
PopCap is one of the largest and most respected digital and social gaming companies with more than 150 million games installed and played worldwide on platforms such as Facebook, RenRen, Google, iPhone, iPad and Android. In calendar year 2010, approximately 80% of PopCap’s revenue was on high growth digital platforms.
EA will pay approximately $650 million in cash and $100 million in shares of EA common stock to be issued to certain stockholders of PopCap. In addition, the PopCap sellers are entitled to additional variable cash consideration, contingent upon the achievement of certain non-GAAP earnings before income and tax (“EBIT”) performance milestones through December 2013, EA’s third fiscal quarter end.
At the upper end of the earn-out, the performance targets for EBIT are approximately $343 million in total PopCap standalone EBIT generated over the two-year period through December 2013. The exact earn-out calculation is subject to adjustments. EA will also provide up to $50 million in long-term equity retention awards to PopCap employees to be granted over the next four years.
Transaction and Financial Highlights
* The transaction is expected to close in August 2011, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
* On a non-GAAP basis, the acquisition is expected to be EPS neutral to EA’s fiscal year 2012 results, as a result of one-time transaction costs, and at least $0.10 accretive to EA’s FY 2013 non-GAAP EPS.
* For the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, EA is announcing preliminary results of approximately:
- $500 million to $525 million in non-GAAP revenue versus guidance of $460 million to $500 million of non-GAAP revenue.
- ($0.40) to ($0.37) in non-GAAP diluted loss per share versus guidance of ($0.49) to ($0.44) in non-GAAP diluted loss per share.
* EA is reaffirming its full year fiscal year 2012 non-GAAP guidance of $0.70 to $0.90 diluted earnings per share. EA is also increasing its full year non-GAAP revenue guidance to a range of $3,800 million to $4,025 million to account for the inclusion of PopCap for a portion of FY12.
* EA is announcing preliminary guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 of non-GAAP diluted loss per share ranging from ($0.15) to ($0.05).
* EA has executed a commitment letter for a $550 million senior unsecured bridge facility with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., UBS Securities LLC, and UBS Loan Finance LLC, that EA may choose to draw upon prior to closing the acquisition. EA expects to explore permanent financing options in connection with the funding of this acquisition. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC provided EA’s board of directors valuation advice in connection with the transaction. EA was also assisted by UBS Investment Bank.
In addition, the $600 million share repurchase program that EA announced in February, 2011 remains in effect. As of July 1, 2011, EA has repurchased 7.1 million shares for a total of $149 million under this program. EA is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares under the program and the repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.
Business Outlook as of July 12, 2011
The following forward-looking statements, as well as those made above, reflect expectations as of July 12, 2011. Electronic Arts assumes no obligation to update these statements. Results may be materially different and are affected by many factors, including: product development delays; competition in the industry; the health of the economy in the U.S. and abroad and the related impact on discretionary consumer spending; changes in anticipated costs; the financial impact of acquisitions by EA, including the PopCap acquisition; the popular appeal of EA’s products; EA’s effective tax rate; and other factors detailed in this release and in EA’s annual and quarterly SEC filings.
First Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Preliminary Results – Ended June 30, 2011
* Non-GAAP net revenue is approximately $500 to $525 million versus guidance of $460 to $500 million.
* GAAP net revenue is approximately $975 million to $1.00 billion versus guidance of $910 to $950 million.
* Non-GAAP diluted loss per share is approximately $(0.40) to $(0.37) versus guidance of $(0.49) to $(0.44).
* GAAP diluted earnings per share is approximately $0.63 to $0.66 versus guidance of $0.44 to $0.53.
* For purposes of calculating first quarter fiscal year 2012 earnings/loss per share, the Company used a diluted share count of 331 million for non-GAAP loss per share and 337 million for GAAP earnings per share.
* Expected non-GAAP net loss excludes the following items from expected GAAP net income:
- Non-GAAP net revenue is approximately $475 million lower than GAAP net revenue due to the impact of the change in deferred net revenue (packaged goods and digital content);
- Approximately $38 million of stock-based compensation;
- Approximately $18 million of acquisition-related expenses;
- Approximately $18 million of restructuring charges; and
- Non-GAAP tax expenses are $57 million lower than GAAP tax expenses.
Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Expectations – Ending September 30, 2011
* Non-GAAP diluted loss per share is expected to be approximately ($0.15) to ($0.05).
* GAAP diluted loss per share is expected to be approximately ($1.10) to ($0.97).
* For purposes of calculating second quarter fiscal year 2012 loss per share, the Company estimates a diluted share count of 331 million.
* Expected non-GAAP net loss excludes the following items from expected GAAP net loss:
- Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $275 million higher than GAAP net revenue due to the impact of the change in deferred net revenue (packaged goods and digital content);
- Approximately $50 million of estimated stock-based compensation;
- Approximately $25 to $30 million of acquisition-related expenses;
- Approximately $5 million of restructuring charges; and
- Non-GAAP tax expenses are expected to be $46 to $52 million higher than GAAP tax expenses.
Fiscal Year 2012 Expectations – Ending March 31, 2012
* Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $3.8 to $4.025 billion as compared to previous guidance of $3.75 to $3.95 billion.
* GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $3.725 to $3.95 billion as compared to previous guidance of $3.7 to $3.9 billion.
* Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.70 to $0.90 consistent with previous guidance.
* GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be a loss per share of ($0.04) to earnings per share of $0.26 as compared to previous guidance of break-even to $0.28 earnings per share.
* For purposes of calculating fiscal year 2012 earnings per share, the Company estimates a diluted share count of 334 million and a basic share count of 330 million.
* Expected non-GAAP net income excludes the following items from expected GAAP net income/(loss):
- Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $75 million higher than GAAP net revenue due to the impact of the change in deferred net revenue (packaged goods and digital content);
- Approximately $175 million of estimated stock-based compensation;
- Approximately $85 to $95 million of acquisition-related expenses;
- Approximately $23 million of restructuring charges; and
- Non-GAAP tax expenses are expected to be $120 to $145 million higher than GAAP tax expenses.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries. In fiscal year 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed, Battlefield, and Mass Effect. More information about EA is available at
http://info.ea.com .
About PopCap
PopCap is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across mobile, social, PC and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of approximately 475 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap’s games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.
