Activision Blizzard buys 'Candy Crush' maker for $5.9 bln in mobile push

* Activision makes big push into mobile gaming market

* Combined company to have over 500 mln monthly active users

* To pay $18 per share, in all cash-deal

* Deal is 20 percent below the 2012 IPO price (Adds details, changes headline)

By Eric Auchard and Leila Abboud

DUBLIN, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Video game maker Activision Blizzard is to buy "Candy Crush Saga" creator King Digital Entertainment for $5.9 billion, as the heavyweight of console and PC gaming makes a major push into the faster-growing mobile market.

The deal would be one of the biggest in the industry in recent years, more than twice the size of Microsoft (NasdaqGS: MSFT - news) 's $2.5 billion purchase of "Minecraft" maker Mojang last year, and the biggest-ever acquisition of a mobile gaming company.

The failure of King to replicate the success of Candy Crush with follow-up titles such as "Farm Heroes" and "Pet Rescue" has led some investors to worry it may be a one-hit wonder.

But Activision is betting its experience in sustaining long-running blockbuster franchises like "Call of Duty" and "World of Warcraft" can help it develop new hit series.

The deal also gives the U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . company a major presence in the mobile market, where games sales are expected to grow 21 percent this year to $20.6 billion, according to research firm Newzoo.

That compares with expected growth of 7 percent for computer games and 2 percent for TV and console games, although they will still represent the lion's share of the $91.5 billion overall industry, according to the industry researchers.

Activision is paying $18 per share in cash, a takeover premium of 16 percent over King's current market value, showing how the company's fortunes have flagged since its 2012 initial public offering at $22.50 per share.

The company's net revenue - still heavily reliant on Candy Crush - fell 16 percent in the second quarter.

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With the gaming business driven as much by hits as the movie business, some young companies like Finland's Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, and online games company Zygna have faded from prominence.

Analysts from Jefferies said the task facing King of replicating the success of Candy Crush was a "daunting task".

"We expect a heavy dose of scepticism from investors especially given the large deal size," said the brokerage, which nonetheless recommends investors continue buying Activision shares.

Activision said buying King would help broaden the reach of its games, adding that 60 percent of King's players were female, and that the combined company would have more than 500 million monthly active users across the world.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) said the deal would add to its estimated 2016 adjusted revenue and earnings by about 30 percent. It added it would use $3.6 billion of cash held offshore to fund the acquisition, and borrow the rest.

King will continue to operate as an independent unit led by Chief Executive Riccardo Zacconi, who told Reuters that Activision appealed to him because of the company's expertise in building long-lasting franchises.

European private equity fund Apax listed King in 2014 and holds a 44.68 percent stake in the company, according to Thomson Reuters (Dusseldorf: TOC.DU - news) data.

The deal, expected to be completed by spring 2016, is subject to approval by King's shareholders and the Irish High Court, and clearances by antitrust authorities. (Additional reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru, Liana Baker in New York and Freya Berry in London; Editing by Pravin Char)