1256.   Tomb Raider Chronicles - FHM ANOINTS JOLIE SEXIEST WOMAN

More than 15 million readers of FHM Magazine have collectively anointed Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie as the sexiest woman on the planet. The 29-year-old star of Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Sky Captain & The World Of Tomorrow beat off competition from Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman to snatch pole position for the first time, reports Associated Press.

Last Updated: Mar 24, 2005  

1257.   Tomb Raider Chronicles - WAS WRITING ON THE WALL FOR EIDOS?

In the summer of 2001, U2 - led by Irish rock star Bono - lent their talent to Paramount Pictures by performing on the Lara Croft Tomb Raider soundtrack. The title of their track? Elevation. So it's kind of ironic how the Irish rocker and former Electronic Arts president John Riccitiello have joined forces to rescue beleaguered publisher Eidos - creators of the Tomb Raider video-game - in the form of a acquisition offer. To celebrate the event, collect our HDTV Elevation music video, as released by U2 in 2001.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2005  

1258.   Tomb Raider Chronicles - EIDOS' SHARE PRICE ROCKETS ON FTSE

Heavy trading on Eidos' stock spurred on by an approach from SCi and Elevation Partners has seen the beleaguered video-game publisher add 11 pence (24.58%) to its market capital as a bidding war ensued for the creator of Lara Croft. Overnight, Elevation Partners - a private equity group helmed by U2 singer Bono and former Electronic Arts president John Riccitiello and armed with a 500 million pound war chest - tendered a bid which valued Eidos at 71.0 million. As Eidos' share price rocketed during morning trade, British publisher SCi countered with an all-share offer valuing Eidos at 76.1 million. Eidos has yet to formally accept either bid.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2005  

1259.   Tomb Raider Chronicles - EIDOS SOARS ON CREST OF BUYOUT NOD

Shares in video-game publisher Eidos have climbed 14% during morning trade with analysts speculating interest from SCi responsible for the up-turn in market capital. This weekend Bloomberg.com reported SCi Entertainment Group was currently carrying out due diligence and is likely to make a formal offer for Eidos this week. Some analysts are speculating SCi has been unmasked as the mysterious suitor Eidos quoted in the company's recent interim results ending December 2004.

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2005  

1260.   Tomb Raider Chronicles - VENTURE CAPITALIST FIRM EYES UP EIDOS

Online analyst Market Watch notes that a report in the Times of London has indicated $2.5 billion California venture capital firm Francisco Partners is considering making a bid for Britain's biggest computer game-maker and creator of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider titles, Eidos plc. Numerous suitors have been tapped as likely acquirers of the British publishing house, including UBI SOFT, EA and more recently Rupert Murdock's News Corp empire. Eidos has a further ten days to secure a buy-out offer before a golden parachute tendered by Royal Bank of Scotland expires.

Last Updated: Mar 18, 2005