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INFOGRAMES
TO ACQUIRE HASBRO
December 6, 2000
Infogrames Entertainment and Hasbro jointly
announced today that they have entered into a strategic agreement.
The agreement is comprised of three main elements, including
the Infogrames acquisition of Hasbro Interactive; a long-term
licensing agreement giving Infogrames exclusive rights to
develop and publish digital interactive games based on current
and future Hasbro properties on all existing and future digital
interactive formats; and the acquisition of Games.com.
Infogrames will purchase 100% of the common
stock of Hasbro Interactive and Games.com for $100 million
- comprised of $95 million in Infogrames Entertainment SA
securities (approximately 4.5 million common shares) and $5
million in cash. In addition, Hasbro will receive an annual
guarantee from Infogrames based on sales generated from the
licensing agreement. The agreements are subject to approval
and other customary closing conditions. The companies expect
the deal to close early in the first calendar quarter of next
year.
"Infogrames and Hasbro are truly poised to become
worldwide leaders in the digital entertainment market," said
Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of Infogrames. "Infogrames'
external growth strategy consists of three requirements: a
willingness of the prospective partner's management to share
our strategic vision, a complementary set of skills and products,
and finally, value for our shareholders. The Hasbro Interactive
and Games.com acquisition meets these criteria," said Mr.
Bonnell. "Infogrames' access to Hasbro's long list of well-known
properties fits perfectly with our long-term publishing strategy
to become the leader in family entertainment. The terms are
beneficial for Infogrames Entertainment, since they have no
direct impact on the company's future investment capacity."
Infogrames's acquisition of Hasbro Interactive
gives Infogrames a catalog of titles based on well-known properties,
including:
- The Microprose brand and titles, including Civilization,
Falcon, and Roller Coaster Tycoon, the number one selling
PC game in the US according to PC DATA'S latest report.
- The Atari name and properties, such as Centipede, Missile
Command, and Pong.
- The exclusive rights to develop and publish interactive
games based on current and future Hasbro properties, including
Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue, Risk, Boggle, Mr. Potato Head,
Tonka, Action Man, My Little Pony, Candyland, and Dungeons
And Dragons.
Under the terms of the agreement, Infogrames
gains the rights through a licensing agreement with Hasbro
to develop games based on Hasbro properties for a period of
15 years plus an option for an additional 5 years based on
performance, on all existing and future digital interactive
formats. Terms of the licensing agreement are consistent with
other traditional Infogrames' licensing agreements.
These Hasbro Interactive brands, together with
Hasbro's owned brands, make up a catalog of more than 200
family titles. Additionally, approximately 60 titles are currently
in development, including PlayStation2 and Xbox versions of
Zoo Tycoon, Monopoly, Micro Machines, Twister, Circus Maximus,
Civilization, and Grand Prix 4.
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