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Hasbro Reacquires Digital Gaming Rights from Infogrames for $65 Million; Infogrames Granted Licenses to 10 Hasbro Franchises.


PAWTUCKET, R.I. & LYON, France -- Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE NYSE

See: New York Stock Exchange
: HAS) and Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257) jointly announced today that Hasbro has reacquired the digital gaming rights for its properties for $65 million. These rights were previously held by Infogrames on an exclusive basis as a result of a license agreement entered into concurrently with their purchase of Hasbro Interactive Hasbro Interactive was a video game production and publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large game and toy company.

Hasbro Interactive was formed late in 1995 in order to compete in the computer and video game arena.
 and Games.com from Hasbro in December of 2000. As part of the transaction announced today, Hasbro and Infogrames have entered into a new licensing arrangement that provides Infogrames with the rights for 10 Hasbro franchises, including DUNGEONS Dungeons may refer to:
  • the plural form of Dungeon, part of a medieval castle that is either the keep or an underground prison
  • shorthand for Dungeons & Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game
 AND DRAGONS and MONOPOLY.

Under the new agreement:

--Infogrames is granted exclusive rights to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS in all interactive formats for the next ten years. Three new games are planned to release in 2005 and 2006 by Atari: D&D Online, NeverWinter Nights This article is about the 2002 computer role-playing game. For the AOL MMORPG, see Neverwinter Nights (AOL game).
Neverwinter Nights (NWN), produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames (now Atari), is a third-person perspective computer role-playing
 2 and Dragonshard.

--Infogrames has also secured an exclusive, 7-year license on nine major Hasbro properties, covering wireless, Internet (online games) and interactive television formats. The games are MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE, GAME OF LIFE, BATTLESHIP battleship, large, armored warship equipped with the heaviest naval guns. The evolution of the battleship, from the ironclad warship of the mid-19th cent., received great impetus from the Civil War. , CLUE, YATZHEE, SIMON Simon, in the Bible.

1 One of the Maccabees.

2 or Simon Peter: see Peter, Saint.

3 See Simon, Saint.

4 Kinsman of Jesus.

5 Leper of Bethany in whose house a woman anointed Jesus' feet.
, RISK and BOGGLE bog·gle  
v. bog·gled, bog·gling, bog·gles

v.intr.
1. To hesitate as if in fear or doubt.

2.
.

--Hasbro reacquires the digital gaming rights to all of its properties including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, TONKA, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, CONNECT FOUR, CANDYLAND and PLAYSKOOL, as well as hundreds more of its worldwide brands for maximizing across all platforms.

--Infogrames will keep the right to sell and distribute certain currently sold Hasbro titles during a transition period.

"We think this is a great move for both companies," said Alfred J. Verrecchia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hasbro, Inc. "This new agreement allows Hasbro to fully exploit its brands in a wide variety of growth platforms including next generation consoles, around the world, while at the same time giving Infogrames the rights to 10 popular Hasbro brands."

"This agreement is consistent with our objective of providing more resources for the Group's growth, while concentrating on brands with a significant potential, and investing in Atari's new products. By securing a ten-year license to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS and obtaining seven-year rights to nine major properties for wireless, Internet (online games) and interactive television formats, we have strengthened our relationship with Hasbro and taken steps in anticipation of technological developments in our industry," commented Bruno Bonnell, Infogrames Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.

"We are delighted to further continue our partnership with Infogrames," said Jane Ritson-Parsons, President of the Hasbro Properties Group. "With a built in revenue stream from this new licensing arrangement with Infogrames and the potential to further develop some of our marquis brands like TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY and MAGIC: THE GATHERING on all digital gaming formats around the world, we are very excited about the possibilities."

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST Wizards of the Coast (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes. Originally a basement-run role-playing game publisher, they popularized the collectible card game genre with in  brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

(C)2004 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari:

Infogrames Entertainment (IESA IESA Infogrames Entertainment SA
IESA International Executive Security Association
IESA Illinois Elementary Sports Association
IESA Integrated Equiangular Spiral Antenna
), the parent company of the Atari Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (ISIN Isin (ĭs`ĭn), capital of an ancient Semitic kingdom of N Babylonia. The city became important after the third dynasty of Ur fell to the Elamites and the Amorites (c.2025 B.C.). The phase from c.2025–c.1763 B.C.  code: FR-0000052573) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe, a privately-held company, and Atari, Inc., a United States corporation listed on NASDAQ NASDAQ
 in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on
 (ATAR). The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and in all existing game formats (Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony) and on CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc.
CD-ROM
 in full compact disc read-only memory

Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser).
 for PC. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries.

The Atari Group's extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Driver, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, Unreal Tournament, Test Drive, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc.) and international licenses (Matrix, Dragon Ball Z “DBZ” redirects here. For the meteorological term, see dBZ (meteorology).

Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールZ
, Dungeons and Dragons).

For more information: http://www.atari.com/

Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and  of 1995. These statements include statements concerning expectations for future business prospects and may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "think", "anticipate," and "believe." Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Hasbro's and Infogrames' actual actions or results may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in forward-looking statements. Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, Hasbro's and Infogrames' ability to manufacture, source and ship new and continuing products on a timely basis and the acceptance of those products by customers and consumers at prices that will be sufficient to profitably recover development, manufacturing, marketing, royalty and other costs of products; and other risks and uncertainties as may be detailed from time to time in public announcements and SEC filings. Hasbro and Infogrames undertake no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2005, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Jun 9, 2005
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