Atari agrees to purchase basic sport maker Digital Eclipse for as much as $20M

Atari has agreed to purchase basic online game maker Digital Eclipse for as much as $20 million in money and inventory.

The deal contains $6.5 million up entrance in money and inventory in addition to a possible bonus of $13.5 million over 10 years.

Atari is already the proprietor of a number of the world’s most iconic client manufacturers and interactive leisure comparable to Pong and Breakout. And now it’s choosing up Digital Eclipse Leisure Companions Co. (“Digital Eclipse”), a sport growth studio initially based in 1992.

Emeryville, California-based Digital Eclipse is targeted on the digital restoration of basic video video games.

The acquisition of Digital Eclipse will enable Atari to develop its inside growth capabilities and make the most of Digital Eclipse’s industry-leading expertise and proprietary expertise. In becoming a member of Atari, Digital Eclipse will develop its enterprise and capabilities by increasing its growth capability and entry to world-class mental property and can leverage Atari’s administration experience.

By including Digital Eclipse, together with Nightdive Studios in Could 2023, Atari will have the ability to additional assist its retro-focused progress technique.

Digital Eclipse is devoted to preserving gaming’s heritage and telling the tales of gaming historical past by means of archival releases and interactive documentaries. Digital Eclipse pioneered industrial online game emulation properly earlier than it was a family idea and immediately Digital Eclipse is considered one of a choose few growth studios acknowledged as leaders in retro-focused growth.

Digital Eclipse video games embody Avenue Fighter: thirtieth Anniversary, Mega Man Legacy Assortment, SNK fortieth Anniversary Assortment, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Assortment and Disney Basic Video games Assortment, which all bought thousands and thousands of items and have been critically acclaimed. Extra just lately, Digital Eclipse developed the Atari 50: The Anniversary Assortment which has been labeled because the “new gold normal” for video games compilations and was one of many highest rated titles of 2022.

Digital Eclipse’s most up-to-date tasks embody the launch of The Making of Karateka and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord in Early Entry on Steam.

Since inception, Digital Eclipse has produced over 250 video games and developed long-standing relationships with main publishing and growth companions within the {industry} to ship superb video video games and collections. With its revolutionary proprietary expertise, Digital Eclipse is now main this class in gross sales, crucial reception and innovation.

Wade Rosen, chairman and CEO of Atari, stated in a press release, “Digital Eclipse is the perfect on the planet at what they do. They’ve a deep love and respect for the historical past of the video games {industry}, and are famend for growing critically acclaimed tasks primarily based on historic franchises. Digital Eclipse, together with Nightdive, are in excellent alignment with Atari’s DNA and renewed objective. I’m personally excited to see the place we are able to push the boundaries of retro innovation collectively.”

Andrew Ayre, CEO of Digital Eclipse, stated in a press release, “Atari and Digital Eclipse share the identical ethos on the subject of celebration and preservation of gaming historical past. It’s an thrilling mixture, and I’m assured this can serve Digital Eclipse and our followers extraordinarily properly as we develop our enterprise and develop our capabilities.”

Mike Mika, president and artistic director added, “Our expertise collaborating on Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration was revelatory. The belief that Atari confirmed our staff, and our clear mutual love and respect for the content material, positioned us to supply one thing actually outstanding. I do know Atari will proceed to champion our method and that we’ll be bringing followers thrilling new tasks for years to return.”

Monetary phrases

The acquisition value of Digital Eclipse will include an preliminary consideration of $6.5 million payable on the closing of the acquisition, of which $4 million might be in money $2.5 million in newly issued Atari peculiar shares, in addition to a remaining earn-out of as much as $13.5 million, payable in money over the following ten years primarily based on future efficiency of Digital Eclipse.

It’s anticipated that the acquisition of Digital Eclipse might be accomplished within the coming days.

Along with the money consideration, Atari may even purchase a portion of the shares in Digital Eclipse instantly and the acquisition value of such shares akin to $2.5 million might be paid by the use of set-off in opposition to the issuance of newly issued Atari SA shares.

The reserved capital enhance will outcome within the issuance of 20,165,794 new Atari shares. In consequence, Digital Eclipse shareholders will collectively maintain upon completion of the capital enhance 4.6% of Atari’s share capital. The dedication of the variety of Atari shares to be issued is predicated on the 20-day quantity weighted common value of Atari shares on Euronext Development Paris till the signing date of the acquisition settlement of €0.1169, in accordance with the phrases of the delegation to the board of administrators.

Nearly all of Digital Eclipse shareholders, holding in mixture roughly 95% of Digital Eclipse capital, have agreed to a 1-year lock-up on their Atari shares as from the closing of the acquisition.

Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Development Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Present (Ticker PONGF).