The author speculates that the OMGPOP team did not hit their $30M "earn-out."
When one companies purchases another, part of the deal is often variable based on future earnings, and if the acquired company doesn't hit the projected numbers, they get less money.
"Those figures hurt all the more when put into perspective: Zynga paid between $180 and $210 million for OMGPOP. The final $30 million of the deal was structured as an earn-out."
The author speculates Zynga paid $180M, instead of the maximum deal value of $210M.
Of course, that story is from TechCrunch ("You got your speculation in my journalism! YOU got your journalism in my speculation! Wait, you're BOTH right!"), so it may not be the definitive statement it appears to be.
Yes, that was what I was saying. Given the steep writedown in less than a year, I doubt that OMGPOP hit its targets that would have earned it its full earn out. I could elab, but I really think that statement makes sense?
When one companies purchases another, part of the deal is often variable based on future earnings, and if the acquired company doesn't hit the projected numbers, they get less money.