Atari Closes the Acquisition of Nightdive Studios
PARIS, FRANCE (May 15, 2023 - 8.00 am CET) - Atari® (the “Company”) — one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — is pleased to announce the closing of the acquisition of Night Dive Studios Inc. (“Nightdive”), a full service game development and publishing company based in Vancouver, Washington, USA and organized under the laws of the same state, announced on March 22, 2023.
With this acquisition Atari will enrich its large library of owned IP, be able to leverage Nightdive’s proprietary technology, and utilize Nightdive’s publishing capabilities in order to support Atari’s retro-focused growth strategy.
“Our shared passion for preservation and innovation in retro gaming makes Atari the ideal partner, and our team is excited to take this next step,” said Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive. “Atari’s support is going to allow us to grow our business and expand our reach.”
“Nightdive has a tremendously talented team and they’ve earned their reputation as leaders in retro gaming,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari. “Like the rest of their fans, I’m looking forward to their upcoming releases, and I am confident we will help their business flourish.”
The purchase price of Nightdive consists of (i) an initial consideration of US$9.5 million, paid in cash for US$4.5m (€ 4.1m)1 and in newly issued Atari shares for US$5.0m (€4.55 M)2, plus (ii) an earn-out of up to US$10 million, payable in cash over the next three years based on the future performance of Nightdive.
The contribution by Nightdive's founders and Wade Rosen3 of 1,912,500 common shares of Nightdive resulted in the issuance of 38,129,423 new Atari shares. As a result, Nightdive's founders together hold upon completion of the contribution 7.9% of Atari's share capital and 7.8% of its voting rights, while Wade Rosen holds upon completion of the contribution 27.7% of Atari's share capital and 27.5% of its voting rights4.
Nightdive's founders have agreed to a 6-month lock-up on their Atari shares as from the completion of the contribution5.
The cash portion of the purchase price will be partially refinanced by the issuance of the €30 million Convertibles Bonds announced on March 22, 2023 whose terms and conditions will be released in the coming weeks, subject to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) approval on the prospectus.
| Details on the contribution in kind | |
| Contributors | Nightdive's founders - Mr. Stephen Kick and Mr. Lawrence Kuperman - and Wade J. Rosen Revocable Trust U/A/D August 18, 2010, as amended |
| Beneficiary | The Company |
| Contributed shares | 1,912,500 common shares of Nightdive |
| Total value of the contributed shares | 4,553,319.37 euros (rounded figure), based on a multi-criteria valuation approach |
| Number of new Atari shares | 38,129,423 ordinary shares, representing a share capital increase of the Company of 381,294.23 euros and having the same rights and bearing the same obligations as the existing Atari shares |
| Share capital premium | The difference between the total value of the contribution, i.e., 4,553,319.37 euros, and the nominal amount of the capital increase, i.e., 381,294.23 euros, will constitute a share capital premium (prime d’apport) of 4,172,025.14 euros. The share capital premium will be adjusted (as the case may be to deduct expenses related to the contribution and where applicable, to bring Atari’s legal reserve to the legal minimum following the contribution) and allocated as determined by the shareholders’ meeting of the Company or its Board of directors in accordance with applicable laws |
| Date of the contribution / legal framework | The contribution was approved as of the date hereof by the Board of directors of Atari pursuant to the authorization granted by the eighteenth resolution of Atari’s shareholders’ meeting of September 27, 2022 |
| Contribution auditors | In accordance with Articles L. 225-147, R. 22-10-7 and R. 225-136 of the French Commercial Code, the President of the Commercial Court of Paris has appointed, by order dated March 30, 2023, Sorgem Evaluation represented by Mr. Thomas Hachette, as well as Mr. François Pinault, as contribution auditors (commissaires aux apports) (the “Contribution Auditors”), for the preparation of the reports referred to in Articles L. 225-147 and R. 22-10-7 of the French Commercial Code and the AMF recommendation n° 2020-06. The reports of the contribution auditors on the value of the contributions and on the remuneration of the contributions have been posted on the Company's website. These reports conclude that: (i) the value of the contributions is not overvalued and, consequently, that it corresponds at least to the nominal value of the ordinary shares to be issued by the Company, beneficiary of the contributions, increased by the contribution premium and (ii) the exchange ratio is favorable to the shareholders of the Company. |
| Dilution | Based on a share capital composed of 382,534,286 shares and 385,229,626 theoretical voting rights as of April 30, 2023, a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital and 1% of the Company's theoretical voting rights prior to the issuance of the new Atari shares has seen his/her/its shareholding reduced to approximately 0.91% of the Company's share capital and 0.91% of the Company's theoretical voting rights as a result of the contribution |
About ATARI
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.atari.com.
Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
©2023 Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari wordmark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.
Contacts
Atari - Investor Relations
Tel + 33 1 83 64 61 57 - investisseur@atari-sa.com | www.atari.com/news/
Calyptus – Marie Calleux
Tel + 33 1 53 65 68 68 – atari@calyptus.net
Listing Sponsor- Euroland
Tel +33 1 44 70 20 84
Julia Bridger - jbridger@elcorp.com
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The distribution of this press release and the offer and sale of the Convertible Bonds may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The distribution of this press release and the offer and sale of the Convertible Bonds may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This press release may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States (including its territories and dependencies). This press release does not constitute or form part an offer of securities for sale or any solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities or any solicitation of sale of securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the law of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Atari does not intend to register all or any portion of the securities in the United States under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering of the Securities in the United States. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute either an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, securities of the Company.
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1 Financed by a shareholder loan made available by Irata LLC (a company controlled by Wade Rosen), to be refinanced with the €30 million Convertibles Bonds issuance (see below).
2 Based on the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Atari share on Euronext Growth as of April 28, 2023 (i.e., 0.1194 euro per share), in accordance with the transaction documentation.
3 Through Wade J. Rosen Revocable Trust U/A/D August 18, 2010, as amended, registered under US laws.
4 Shares held by Wade J. Rosen Revocable Trust U/A/D 18 August 2010, as amended being deemed held by Wade Rosen
5 No shareholders' agreement having been entered into between them or with Wade Rosen in the context of the transaction.
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