Los Angeles - Following a report in a Chinese business newspaper stating it had agreed to purchase a 19% stake in Chinese online game distributor The9, Electronic Arts has denied that such a deal has been signed, Reuters reported.

The Shanghai Securities News reported over the weekend the EA would invest about $200 million in The9, which as part of the deal would receive exclusive rights to operate EA's "FIFA Online" in China.

"There is no signed agreement with The9," EA spokesman Jeff Brown told Reuters, declining to comment further.

News of the purported deal sent shares of The9 up as much as 17% to a record high on Monday.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/3236w6 (Reuters)

http://www.ea.com

http://www.the9.com/en/IR/sub.htm