The acquisition of games developer TGC creates new development capacity and expands the production spectrum
Darmstadt (Germany), December 19th 2007- In the course of their continued strategic growth 10TACLE STUDIOS AG has taken over the Berlin-based developing and marketing firm TGC - The Games Company Worldwide GmbH.
The 10TACLE STUDIOS AG executive committee today decided with the approval of the board of directors to increase share capital by 454,545.00 Euro through the issuance of 454,545 new bearer shares. The capital increase takes place in exchange for assets in kind under exclusion of the subscription rights of authorized capital shareholders. Shareholders in the Berlin-based TGC The Games Company Worldwide GmbH (TGC) shareholders were admitted to the subscription of the 454,545 new shares. In return the shares in TGC are to be transferred to the 10TACLE STUDIOS AG. The increase in capital is based on an evaluation of the TGC at five million Euros and an issue price of eleven Euros per new share. The majority of the new shares are subject to a lock-up period.
TGC is a Berlin-based internationally active developer and marketer of computer and video games for the PC and all current game consoles. The firm is under the management of Markus Malti and Carsten Strehse. TGC arose at the start of 2006 from a merger of 15 year branch veteran German development studio Silver Style and a group of experienced experts from the branch centered around co-founder Markus Malti. Today TGC employs a staff of over 25.
TGC has their own development unit in the form of renowned Silver Style Entertainment. Silver Style Entertainment has enjoyed international success with games such as "Soldiers of Anarchy", "The Fall - Last Days of Gaia" and "Simon the Sorcerer - Chaos Happens". "Simon the Sorcerer - Chaos Happens" was recently awarded the German Developer Award 2007 in the category "Best German Children's' Game".TGC also develops games for famous licences such as Europe's most successful television show "Wetten, dass..?", the DEL (German Ice Hockey League) or the HBL (German National Handball League), providing impressive proof of their commitment to high-quality productions.
With the takeover of TGC 10TACLE STUDIOS AG further expands their development capacities in the areas of Casual Gaming and Licence Realization for the mass market. In addition 10TACLE STUDIOS AG secures themselves access to a comprehensive high-quality 2008/2009 line-up featuring releases for all relevant platforms such as the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii or PC, to name but a few.
"Through the TGC - The Games Company takeover 10TACLE STUDIOS AG underlines their commitment to developing and marketing outstanding games, both nationally and internationally. With their comprehensive line-up and their pool of high-quality licence themes from the TV, movie and entertainment sectors TGC represents a first-class addition to our existing business portfolio. Markus Malti, Carsten Strehse and the entire TGC team have delivered first-class work over the last few months, work that we will now continue together. I look forward to the up-coming projects and the continued expansion of our development competence within the concern", said 10TACLE STUDIOS AG CEO Michele Pes, underlining the importance of the new acquisition.
In a joint statement TGC - The Games Company Worldwide GmbH managers Markus Malti and Carsten Strehse explained "We are incredibly pleased to be part of such a renowned and successful firm and look forward to playing an active role in the continued success of the 10TACLE STUDIOS AG. As new co-partner in the 10TACLE STUDIOS AG we have complete confidence in, and great expectations for, our joint future. Our development and marketing competence and our highly-motivated team of experts will further strengthen both the creativity and the quality of 10TACLE STUDIOS AG output.".
Further Informations:
www.10tacle.com
www.the-games-company.com
About 10TACLE STUDIOS AG:
Listed in the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, 10TACLE STUDIOS AG (WKN: TACL10, ISIN DE000TACL107) is one of Europe's leading independent developers and producers of high-end computer and video games. 10TACLE STUDIOS AG produces top-quality products that meet international development standards, and its product portfolio covers all relevant, high-growth segments in the games market. Currently, around 440 employees work for the Company at its headquarters in Darmstadt and the development sites in Berlin, Darmstadt, Duisburg, Hanover Bratislava, Budapest, Charleroi, London, Singapore and Vienna. 10TACLE STUDIOS AG's revenue increased in the first six month of 2007 to 19.4 million EUR (first six months 2006: 12.71 million EUR). During the same period, EBIT increased sharply to 3.37 million EUR (previous year: 2.3 million EUR).
About The Games Company:
TGC - The Games Company is an internationally focussed publisher of computer and video games, situated in Berlin, Germany. TGC have their own in-house development studios realizing any kind of interactive entertainment software from high-quality full-price games to commissioned productions. Since its foundation in 2006 TGC - The Games Company has been publishing licensed products as well as commissioned and proprietary productions, mainly in the full-price segment. An ambitious team with long-time experience in the games industry and a strong network of partners are TGC's great advantages. In 2007/2008 TGC will continue to publish further high-quality products for PC and next-gen consoles.