I still think EA would make a nice bolt-on addition to Disney. But, when Lucasfilm only costs $4 billion, it is hard to see Disney paying $5.3 billion for EA (a 20% premium to the current market capitalization if you apply $1 billion in net cash to the purchase cost).

The refresh of the game consoles should help the game business. With Lucasfilm's characters, the new wholly-owned Marvel characters, and the classic cartoon characters, Disney may finally have the fire power to make it in the game business on its own.

Buying EA would provide Disney a wide range of family-oriented games. Being able to market Disney's small band through EA's powerful system seems like a one-plus-one situation that comes up to more than two. Disney is #1 in so many businesses it just might want to look at EA and see if it can't be #1 in game entertainment too.

Just a thought...

W.D.