Sega offers $776 mln for Angry Birds maker Rovio (updated)

SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS

17/04/2023 07:13

(Adds share move, details on the deal)
       HELSINKI, April 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Sega Sammy
Holdings Inc  6460.T  has agreed to launch an offer for
Finland's Rovio Entertainment  ROVIO.HE , the maker of the Angry
Birds mobile game, for 706 million euros ($775.8 million), the
companies said in a joint statement on Monday.
    Tokyo-based Sega will offer 9.25 euros per share for Rovio,
a 19% premium over Friday's closing price of 7.775 euros.
        Rovio, which has been conducting a strategic review, on
Saturday said it was 
    in talks with Sega
     over a possible tender offer. The Wall Street Journal had
reported on Friday that a deal between the two companies 
    was imminent
    .
  
        Israeli peer Playtika  8II.F   PLTK.O  had made a
preliminary bid in January to buy Rovio for 683 million euros,
but the Angry Birds maker confirmed 
    last month
     talks had ended.
  

($1 = 0.9101 euros)

 (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Louise Rasmussen)
 ((terje.solsvik@thomsonreuters.com; +47 918 666 70))