This place is the Hotel California of the interwebz. No-one ever leaves! Sometimes the site gives them a little more rope to give the illusion of freedom, but they are always back eventually.

Good to see you back around GtG. It have been a period of evolution for the game and the site. We have broadened the scope of the place with the reduced reliance on GW, and - as mentioned - there are several very cool new 6mm companies to spend cash with now.

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https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond.
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It's quite possible for a public company to be bought - once a shareholder has accumulated a certain percentage of the public stock they have a right to buy the rest.

There are a few indications that someone (identity currently unknown) is trying to buy GW, and that the management team is trying to prevent it. Here's the evidence:

1. Tom Kirby's departure. Perhaps he supported the sale but was opposed by the board.
2. Lots of trading activity. The investor relations page is showing a lot of transactions mostly by various holding funds - this is to hide the identity of the buyer. What this suggests is that someone is trying to acquire enough stock to make a claim for the entire company, but in a way that doesn't inflate the share price (so that they have to pay a lot more).
3. A massively accelerated release schedule. In the last 18 months GW has put out more new stuff than they would normally do in a few years. This is a classic move by a company that wants to pump its share price to deter a potential hostile takeover. This strategy appears to be working.

Cue lots of speculation as to who the buyer is. Here's my top five:

1. A private equity fund (boring but more likely)
2. Mattel
3. Hasbro
4. Disney
5. EA

More speculation here and here.

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NetEpic Necron Army Book

[ jodrell.org | @j_plays_games | @jodrellplaysgames ]

Interesting post, thanks for the information

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www.epic-uk.co.uk - home of the UK Epic tournament scene
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NetEA Ork + Feral Ork + Speed Freak Champion

Very interresting; especially considering the chapterhouse case.

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Let there be code.

I am thinking it must be one of the smaller companies. Maybe even a company already into gaming, or have a gaming branch. To be honest Disney has so much cash if it wanted GW it could flat out buy it I suppose.

Not familiar with Tom Kirby. I really dont keep up with who's who in GW... aside from Jervis. But I remember hearing a lot of complaints about a CEO... was this the guy?

Interesting speculation. Good read - thanks!

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author of Syncing Forward and other stories...

It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I've got my Milkbone underwear on.

There aren't any companies in the industry who are big enough to buy GW. It must be bigger than the next largest company by an order of magnitude at least. That's why I think it's much more likely that a major media franchise holding company from outside the industry is likely.



Yes, the very same.

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NetEpic Necron Army Book

[ jodrell.org | @j_plays_games | @jodrellplaysgames ]

Interesting - if true it shows just how big GW is among kids worldwide today. I would be surprised if GW's background sat well with these companies though...

Disney gave me thought though - wonder if they are looking to buy in the expertise for a table top Starwars wargame...

LOTR did ok, but everyone knows SW make multiples of the film income in licensed products. Hell, maybe Lucus arts are trying to buy them !

Doesn't seem likely. Disney shut down the video game division the Lucas Empire in favor of licensing the brand to 3rd parties. I doubt they would have done that yet be interested in tabletop games.

Hasbro or Matel on the other hand are not too far fetched. Hasbro already owns WotC and may be trying to corner the market or Matel may be seeing Hasbo doing well with "niche" games and is looking to jump start a competing division.

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Thanks,
Troy


Once Upon a Midnight Dreary....