Activision Set to Acquire DemonWare.Acquisition Further Strengthens Activision's Online Multiplayer Development Capabilities SANTA MONICA Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , Calif. -- Further strengthening its online multiplayer development capabilities, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI ATVI Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute ) announced today that the company has entered into an agreement to acquire DemonWare, the leading provider of network middleware technologies for console and PC games headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The acquisition will enable Activision to gain efficiencies related to online game development and positions the company to take advantage of the growth in online gameplay that will be driven by the next-generation consoles. Activision has utilized DemonWare's technologies in its games since 2005, most recently in its best-selling title Call of Duty[R] 3. DemonWare has two main products - DemonWare's Matchmaking Matchmaking Matricide (See MURDER.) Kecal marriage broker whose plans are foiled by a pair of lovers. [Czech Opera: Smetana The Bartered Bride in Osborne Opera, 32] Levi, Dolly +, which provides advanced community services for multiplayer gaming Two or more people playing a game and competing with each other via computer. Although traditional card games such as bridge and poker are played online, games with a large number of people (massively multiplayer) mix real players with simulated environments that turn the computer into a , including player matching, user profiling and gaming statistics across current-and next-gen consoles and PCs; and DemonWare's State Engine, a cross-platform network engine that ensures that console-to-console communications are secure and as lag-free as possible. "In the next two-to-four years, we expect that online gaming See gaming. will grow significantly as a result of a more seamless plug and play experience provided by the next-generation consoles," states Mike Griffith Mike Grenville Griffith, born at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on 25 November, 1943, was a cricketer who played for and captained Sussex. A middle-order right-handed batsman, he also kept wicket occasionally. , CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Activision Publishing. "The acquisition of DemonWare will enable us to eliminate many of the challenges associated with online multiplayer game See multiplayer gaming. development, reducing development time and risk, and allowing us to deliver consistent, high-quality online gaming experiences. In addition to increasing our talent pool of highly skilled engineers, DemonWare's suite of technologies combined with Activision own library of tools and technologies will enable us to easily share online development capabilities on multiple platforms Refers to two or more operating environments, which typically include the CPU family and operating system. For example, if versions of a program run on Windows and the Macintosh, the software is said to support multiple platforms. across our development studios." "Activision and DemonWare have worked together on several highly successful multiplayer titles, and we have a shared vision on where the future of online gaming lies," states Dylan Collins, CEO of DemonWare. "Our technology has been used in some of the most innovative multiplayer games on both the console and PC platforms, so consumers should be incredibly excited about the plans we have for Activision's online gaming strategy moving forward." Under the terms of the agreement, DemonWare will become a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Activision and the company's management team and key employees will sign long-term employment contracts with Activision. DemonWare will continue to be headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Vancouver, B.C. The transaction is expected to be completed no later than the close of Activision's first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of certain customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. About DemonWare DemonWare is the leading network middleware company in the computer games industry, providing online functionality to multiplayer games on all PC and console platforms. Founded in 2003 by Dylan Collins and Sean Blanchfield, the company has offices in Dublin, Ireland and Vancouver, B.C. Investors in DemonWare include Dublin Seed Capital Fund and Enterprise Ireland This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. . For additional information, please go to www.demonware.net. About Activision Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.47 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com. Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Activision's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the findings of the special sub-committee, the effect of the special sub-committee's review and conclusions on, and other developments in, the informal inquiry opened by the SEC in July 2006 and the derivative litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of the company, the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional stockholder litigation, employee litigation, and additional actions by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies, and direct and indirect expenses and diversion of management time resulting from or relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the special sub-committee review and related regulatory proceedings and litigation, the company's ability to timely file required reports with the SEC, and the possibility that the company will be subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Stock Market Nasdaq stock market The first electronic stock market listing over 5000 companies. The Nasdaq stock market comprises two separate markets, namely the Nasdaq National Market, which trades large, active securities and the Nasdaq Smallcap Market that trades emerging growth companies. due to its inability to timely file periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or failure to satisfy other requirements for continued listing. Other factors that could cause Activision's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, without limitation, other litigation (unrelated to stock option granting practices), sales of the company's titles, shifts consumer spending Consumer demand or consumption is also known as personal consumption expenditure. It is the largest part of aggregate demand or effective demand at the macroeconomic level. trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, the company's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of the company's products, adoption rate of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, natural disasters, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries, and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities. These important factors and other factors that potentially could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations are described in our filings with the SEC, including the company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. , quarterly report on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. and current reports on Form 8-K Form 8-K The form required by the SEC when a publicly held company incurs any event that might affect its financial situation or the share value of its stock. Form 8-K See 8-K. . Readers of this press release are referred to such filings. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the company as of the date of the release, and the company assumes no obligations to update any such forward-looking statement. The company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in the enumerated This term is often used in law as equivalent to mentioned specifically, designated, or expressly named or granted; as in speaking of enumerated governmental powers, items of property, or articles in a tariff schedule. factors or in the company's assumptions, or otherwise, and forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and may cause our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. |
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