Acquisition Will Bolster Glu's Presence in North America; Supports Goal of Becoming the Leading Mobile Games Publisher Worldwide
Glu Mobile Inc. (“Glu”) (NASDAQ: GLUU) today announced a tender offer
to acquire Superscape Group plc (“Superscape”) (LSE: SPS), a leading
developer and publisher of mobile games. The acquisition of Superscape
will considerably expand Glu’s US presence and add significant
development and publishing capabilities to Glu’s existing world-class
resources.
The offer price of 10 pence in cash for each
Superscape share values Superscape’s entire issued and to be issued
share capital at approximately $36 million, or approximately $25
million when taking into account the $11 million of cash and
equivalents held on Superscape’s balance sheet as of October 31, 2007.
Founded
in 1993, Superscape ranked among the top five mobile games publishers
in the United States during Q3 2007*, according to the Mobile Games
Report from Nielsen Mobile. With approximately 135 employees,
Superscape is headquartered in San Clemente, Calif., with a production
facility in Moscow and an office in Fleet, Hampshire, UK. The company’s
strong technical heritage in both development and publishing has led to
its success in creating industry leading 3D games as well as in
establishing innovative programs with leading network operators and
handset manufacturers. These initiatives, which include a white label
partnership with Verizon Wireless and a mobile gaming community with
Alltel, distinguish Superscape within the industry.
Superscape’s
portfolio of high quality games includes both original and branded
titles. Superscape’s original titles include Gum Blox, Capone Casino,
Sudoku, Paintball Challenge and Classic Mini Golf while its branded
titles are based on recognized brands from 20th Century Fox, Universal
Studios and Sony Pictures Mobile and include Alien versus Predator, Fox
Motocross, AMF Extreme Bowling, Dodgeball, Fight Club, Harlem
Globetrotters and Independence Day.
Greg Ballard, chief
executive officer and president, Glu, commented, “This Offer represents
an important step in Glu's strategy to become the number one mobile
games publisher in the world. Superscape’s strong market position in
the United States, heritage in 3D technology, and unique position as a
leading white label publisher are a perfect complement to Glu’s
world-class global presence.”
Larry Quinn, chairman of
Superscape, said, “I am very pleased that we have been able to reach
agreement on the terms of this transaction, which I believe is the
right strategic outcome for Superscape, offering certainty and value to
our shareholders. I am confident that Superscape will make a
significant contribution to the future of the combined business.”
Transaction Details The
tender offer of 10 pence for each Superscape share has been unanimously
recommended by the board of directors of Superscape. The offer is being
made by Glu Mobile Inc., and is for all of the issued and to be issued
ordinary shares of Superscape. Glu has received irrevocable
undertakings or letters of intent from Superscape shareholders
representing, in aggregate, 34% of Superscape’s issued share capital.
The purchase of Superscape shares in the tender offer will be funded
out of Glu’s existing cash resources.
The offer is being
conducted under the terms of the U.K. City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers and is subject to the satisfaction and/or waiver of a set of
standard terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, the
receipt by Glu of 90% acceptances to the offer by Superscape
shareholders. Any of the conditions can be waived at the discretion of
Glu.
Superscape shareholders have a period of 21 days from the
date that the tender offer document is mailed to Superscape
shareholders to accept the offer. This period of acceptance of the
offer may be extended at the discretion of Glu. A copy of the formal
announcement containing a summary of the terms and conditions of the
offer will be available on Glu’s website at www.glu.com.
Glu
will not provide financial guidance on the expected impact of the
acquisition until after the transaction has been successfully completed.
*Ranking
at the 70% confidence level of statistical significance, based on
sampling and analysis of consumer mobile bills from the top four US
mobile carriers.