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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Angry Birds: Sega in talks to buy video game maker Rovio | Angry Birds: Sega in talks to buy video game maker Rovio |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Angry Birds games have been some of the most popular of the past decade | The Angry Birds games have been some of the most popular of the past decade |
| The maker of the Angry Birds video games, Rovio Entertainment, has held talks with larger rival Sega Sammy Holdings over its possible takeover. | The maker of the Angry Birds video games, Rovio Entertainment, has held talks with larger rival Sega Sammy Holdings over its possible takeover. |
| In February, Rovio announced it had launched a review of the business, including discussions over its potential sale. | In February, Rovio announced it had launched a review of the business, including discussions over its potential sale. |
| On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported the deal could be worth about $1bn (£810m). | On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported the deal could be worth about $1bn (£810m). |
| Rovio has declined to comment on the potential value of its sale. | Rovio has declined to comment on the potential value of its sale. |
| But it confirmed in a statement it was in discussions with the Japanese gaming giant - maker of the popular Sonic the Hedgehog titles. | But it confirmed in a statement it was in discussions with the Japanese gaming giant - maker of the popular Sonic the Hedgehog titles. |
| On Monday, Sega Sammy said in a separate statement: "This topic will be discussed by our board of directors today, April 17, 2023, and we will announce in a timely manner when any decisions are made concerning this strategic option." | On Monday, Sega Sammy said in a separate statement: "This topic will be discussed by our board of directors today, April 17, 2023, and we will announce in a timely manner when any decisions are made concerning this strategic option." |
| Rovio held talks earlier this year with Israeli rival Playtika Holding over a potential takeover. However, those discussions ended last month without a deal. | Rovio held talks earlier this year with Israeli rival Playtika Holding over a potential takeover. However, those discussions ended last month without a deal. |
| Finland-based Rovio is best known for the Angry Birds brand, which started as a popular mobile game in 2009. | Finland-based Rovio is best known for the Angry Birds brand, which started as a popular mobile game in 2009. |
| Angry Birds was the first mobile game to be downloaded one billion times, Rovio has said. | Angry Birds was the first mobile game to be downloaded one billion times, Rovio has said. |
| It has seen several spin-off versions, and the brand has also produced two Angry Birds movies. | It has seen several spin-off versions, and the brand has also produced two Angry Birds movies. |
| Last year, the company said downloads across its stable of games had reached five billion. | Last year, the company said downloads across its stable of games had reached five billion. |
| However, Rovio has yet to come up with a follow-up to reproduce the global popularity of Angry Birds. | However, Rovio has yet to come up with a follow-up to reproduce the global popularity of Angry Birds. |
| That has made it a potential takeover target for bigger gaming industry companies like Sega. | That has made it a potential takeover target for bigger gaming industry companies like Sega. |
| Rovio has around 550 employees across its eight game studios around the world. | Rovio has around 550 employees across its eight game studios around the world. |
| As of the end of trading on Friday, Rovio had a stock market valuation of $707m (£571m). | As of the end of trading on Friday, Rovio had a stock market valuation of $707m (£571m). |
| Sega Sammy is a Japanese global holding company formed by the merger in 2004 of video game giant Sega and Sammy Corporation in 2004. | Sega Sammy is a Japanese global holding company formed by the merger in 2004 of video game giant Sega and Sammy Corporation in 2004. |
| Sega has produced several multi-million-selling video game franchises and is known globally for its Sonic the Hedgehog character. | Sega has produced several multi-million-selling video game franchises and is known globally for its Sonic the Hedgehog character. |
| Sammy develops and sells amusement arcade machines. | Sammy develops and sells amusement arcade machines. |
| Sega Sammy shares were around 3% lower on Monday in Tokyo. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Gaming | Gaming |