STOCKHOLM (May 30, 2016) - Starbreeze AB, an independent creator, publisher and distributor of high quality entertainment products, today announced its agreement with 505 Games to acquire the full rights to the PAYDAY-franchise. The consideration for the acquisition amounts to 10.9 million B-shares in Starbreeze, equivalent to 30 MUSD (approx. 249 MSEK).
After the transaction Starbreeze will own the full rights to the PAYDAY-franchise for any future developments or commercialization, including PAYDAY 2 and PAYDAY for mobile platforms. Starbreeze will retain full net revenue from PAYDAY 2 on the Steam platform starting retroactively from May 1st,2016. Revenue generated by the console game PAYDAY 2: Crimewave Edition will continue to be split between the companies as before, and 505 Games will continue to publish the title.
Furthermore, 505 Games will retain a 33% revenue share of Starbreeze's net revenues from future sales of PAYDAY 3 capped at 40 MUSD, and after Starbreeze has fully recouped its development and marketing costs.
It's Starbreeze assessment that the price of 30 MUSD will be matched by corresponding revenues on the Payday franchise until such time Payday 3 is released in the future. Given the strategic value for Starbreeze to control its hit franchise it is both in the short and long term a sound investment.
"PAYDAY is very close to my heart, and has laid the foundation for Starbreeze success in recent years. We're very excited to bring our heisters home to the safe house," said Bo Andersson Klint, Starbreeze CEO. "To start with, we believe in the continued success of PAYDAY 2 and will support it for at least another 18 months continuing expanding the game."
The 10 934 211 million new B shares will, post transaction, represent 4.3% of shares and 1.4% of votes and will be issued under authority from the AGM. After the issue, the total number of B-shares in Starbreeze is 196 832 410 and the total number of shares in Starbreeze 254 298 338.
First launched in 2011, PAYDAY is a cooperative first-person shooter computer and video game franchise with more than 14 million players on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, XboxOne and SteamOS platforms.
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More information:
Maeva Sponbergs, EVP Communication and Head of Investor Relations, Starbreeze AB Tel: +46(0)8-209 208, email: ir@starbreeze.com
About Starbreeze : Starbreeze is an independent creator, publisher and distributor of high quality entertainment products. With studios in Stockholm, Paris and Los Angeles, the company creates games and other virtual reality entertainment products, based on proprietary design and licensed content. Starbreeze's most recent games include PAYDAY 2, the adrenaline fueled bank robbing co-op game and the upcoming John Wick VR shooter and survival co-op FPS OVERKILL's The Walking Dead. Starbreeze has set out to develop truly immersive virtual reality experiences, by integrating software and hardware in its StarVR head mounted display, to be produced together with Acer, displaying a unique field of vision and a mission to bring top-end VR to large audiences. Starbreeze launched StarVR with a VR-experience at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June 2015, gained by teaming up with French Infinite Eye. In January 2016, Starbreeze unveiled the StarCade initiative; centers that invites people to immerse themselves into premium VR experiences. The first cinematic VR experience "Cockatoo Spritz" directed by Stephane Barbato, premiered at the 69 th Cannes Film Festival 2016. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Starbreeze's shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm First North Premier under the tickers STAR A and STAR B with the ISIN-codes SE0007158928 (A-share) and SE0005992831 (B-share). Remium Nordic is the company's Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit http://www.starbreeze.com , http://www.starvr.com , http://www.overkillsoftware.com
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