Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is apparently in negotiations to buy RuneScape maker Jagex for £900 million ($1.1 billion).
That’s according to Sky News, which reports that the finance outfit – best known for backing the Six Nations Rugby tournament – is in ‘exclusive’ talks with the games firm’s current owners, Carlyle Group.
The figure being touted is £900 million, still below the £1 billion ($1.26 billion) that Carlyle was hoping to get for Jagex when it started shopping out the RuneScape maker at the end of 2023.
This is the latest string in, frankly, bizarre companies to buy Jagex. Back in 2016, it was acquired by Chinese company Shanghai Fukong – formerly Shangdong Hongda Mining – for a reported $300 million. Four years later, the RuneScape maker was bought by another Chinese company, MacArthur Fortune Holding, for a confirmed $530 million.
Less than one year later, in January 2021, private equity giant The Caryle Group became Jagex’s latest owner. Reports pointed to a value north of $530 million.
If CVC Capital Partners acquires Jagex for the reported $1.1 billion, it will likely have more than doubled Carlyle’s money.
Disclaimer: Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who has worked with Jagex in the past.