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Siglato con Namco Bandai Games Europe un accordo definitivo che crea una partnership strategica per le operazioni di distribuzione in Europa, Australia, Nuova Zelanda e AfricaLione, Francia, 3 febbraio 2009, 8:05am CET - Infogrames Entertainment S . A . ("Infogrames") annuncia la firma di un accordo definitivo tra Atari Europe S . A . S ("Atari Europe") e Namco Bandai Games Europe S . A . S . ("Namco Bandai") che dà vita a una partnership strategica . In base all accordo, Namco Bandai ottiene una partecipazione del 34% nella società oggi denominata Distribution Partners S . A . S ("Distribution Partners"), una controllata di Atari Europe che raggruppa tutte le operazioni di distruzione in Europa, Asia, Africa e America del Sud . Atari Europe detiene il restante 66% in Distribution Partners . In addition, as from the closing of the transaction, Distribution Partners will benefit from exclusive physical packaged-goods distribution rights for video games produced by Namco Bandai in Europe, Australia, New-Zealand and Africa and by Infogrames in these territories as well as in Asia and South America . The new management team of Distribution Partners will be led by Patrick Staar, Chairman and Jackie Fromion, Managing Director, and will focus on the distribution operations and strategic expansion of the company . This transaction is key to grow distribution operations as it generates a number of direct benefits:- Potential revenue growth of distribution operations through the creation of a stronger, more efficient distribution network with exclusive access to Namco Bandai s and Infogrames extensive product portfolio;- Significant cost savings and operational efficiencies in managing the distribution network;- New opportunities to establish distribution contracts with other global video game companies . Upon closing, Infogrames will receive from Namco Bandai a cash payment for this transaction, estimated at approximately E27 million, based on a E80 million enterprise value of Distribution Partners on a cash free, debt free basis, before earn out mechanism, as explained in the press release published on September 9, 2008 . Formal closing will occur after the approval by German antitrust authorities - which management does not anticipate to be withheld - and is expected to take place by the end of February . In addition, at the closing of the transaction, Namco Bandai and Atari Europe will sign a shareholders agreement including Atari Europe s put option and Namco Bandai s call option . Until June 30, 2012 Atari Europe will benefit from a put option to sell its remaining stake of 66% in Distribution Partners to Namco Bandai and from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2013, Namco Bandai will benefit from a call option over the 66% ofDistribution Partners held by Atari Europe . Namco Bandai would be entitled to anticipate the exercise of this call option, notably in the event of change of control of Infogrames to the benefit of a competitor of Namco Bandai, as per Article L . 233-3 I 1° of commercial code . For the purposes of Namco Bandai s call option and Infogrames put option, the enterprise value for 100% of the new formed entity would be in the range of E60 million and E190 million based on 7x EBIT of Distribution Partners at the time of the exercise of the option . ***About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari:The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand and the massively multiplayer online game company Cryptic Studios, is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced martphones, Personal Computers, web and online . Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www . atari . com . Atari s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Test Drive, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc . ), Cryptic Studios titles (StarTrek Online, Champions Online), publishing properties (Ghostbusters, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher, Race Pro etc . ), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc . ) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc) . For more information, please contact:Investor relations Media relationsAlexandra FichelsonIR Director, Infogramesalexandra . fichelson@atari . comCalyptusMarie Ein - Alexis BretonTel + 33 (0) 1 53 65 68 68infogrames@calyptus . netCopyright Hugin Questo comunicato é distribuito da Hugin . L emittente è l unico responsabile per il contenuto del comunicato . [CN#149038]
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