MUMBAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - India's Zapak Digital
Entertainment Ltd, part of the Anil Ambani-led ADAG group, is set
to acquire Sony Online Entertainment for about $300 million, the
Economic Times newspaper said on Sunday quoting unnamed sources.
Sony Online is the game development and game publishing unit
that is part of global electronics maker Sony Corp's <6758.T>
group. Sony Online had revenue of about $150 million, the paper
said.
"This makes perfect sense for us, as around 80 percent of
content in the gaming industry is manufactured internationally,"
said an unnamed Zapak official in the paper.
"Buying out Sony will not only give us access but also expand
our reach in the global market."
The deal is expected to be finalised by next week, the paper
said citing unnamed sources.
Sony Online, which has developed games such as EverQuest,
PlanetSide and Vanguard, in August tied up with Richard Branson's
Virgin Comics to launch a multi-player online game based on the
Hindu epic Ramayana.
(Reporting by Bharghavi Nagaraju; editing by Louise Heavens)
(([email protected]; +91 22 6636 9059; Reuters
Messaging: [email protected]))
Keywords: SONY ZAPAK/ACQUISITION