As predicted by me:
- Embracer will not balance their books. There's only so much more that they can cut from the operation, and still have an operation.
- Embracer's next step will be divestment: selling off the assets that they bought, probably for a lot less than they paid for them, since it's a buyers' market right now.
As reported by PC Gamer:
That's me, two for two, with two to go: only restructuring and liquidation remain. If you shorted Embracer stock two months ago, then good for you. If you doubled down on Embracer stock two months ago, then I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.
That $500 million figure, BTW? That's wishful thinking. Embracer paid $150 up front, with $375 million in performance bonuses to follow, and there's no fucking way they're getting all of that back in a fire sale of Saber. 100%, Embracer are losing money on this deal; they're only doing it because they have no other options, and are desperately trying to survive long enough, and reduce their own prince point enough, to be bought by someone more flush.
Just bad luck that the rest of the big players in the industry are also contracting, I guess; there will be few, if any, $70 billion Activision-style deals this year. I give Embracer six more months; nine tops.
UPDATED MAR. 15TH, 2024:
Told you so:
Embracer has sold Saber Interactive for $247 million.
Embracer originally acquired Saber Interactive for $525 million in 2020.
As expected, sold for less than half what they paid to buy. This will all be going to creditors; there's no way this is going to operating expenses. Selling Saber only bought Embracer a little more time.