News & Media

Embracer Group acquires critically acclaimed Tarsier Studios

Embracer Group today acquired Tarsier Studios. The purchase price is SEK 88 million in cash and SEK 11 million in newly issued Embracer B-shares, plus a conditional earn-out, payable over 10-years to certain sellers who will remain with Tarsier. The acquisition includes the development studio, all employees and Intellectual Property rights.

Embracer Group AB (publ) publishes Interim Report Q2, July-September 2019: OPERATIONAL EBIT INCREASED 133% TO SEK 241 MILLION

SECOND QUARTER, JULY–SEPTEMBER 2019 (COMPARED TO JULY–SEPTEMBER 2018)

• Net sales were SEK 1,259.7 million (1,272.7). Net sales of the Games business area increased 117% to SEK 816.0 million (376.0), whereas the Partner Publishing/Film business area decreased 51% to SEK 443.6 million (896.6) due to the absence of larger releases to match those in the same period last year. Last year’s Partner Publishing revenues included two titles that account for more than the difference to this year’s revenue.
• EBITDA increased 95% to SEK 418.1 million (214.8), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 33%.
• Operational EBIT rose 133% to SEK 240.7 million (103.4) corresponding to an Operational EBIT margin of 19%.
• The increase in EBITDA and Operational EBIT is mainly attributed to the sales growth in the Games business area.
• Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 284.8 million (–740.1).
• Earnings per share was SEK 0.21 (0.25).
• Adjusted earnings per share was SEK 0.65 (0.28).

All figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Invitation to Embracer Group’s Q2 presentation

Embracer Group hereby invites you to a presentation in connection with the publishing of the second quarterly report for the financial year, July-Sep 2019. The report will be published the same morning, well before the market opens.

Renaming to Embracer Group and share split to take effect at Nasdaq First North Growth Market

As of tomorrow, October 2, 2019, the THQ Nordic-share will be traded under the new name Embracer Group (EMBRAC). The renaming of the listed share will take effect as it has now been registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. The board of directors has also today resolved that the record date shall be on October 8, 2019 for the share split resolved on by the annual general meeting September 17, 2019.

Announcement from THQ Nordic’s annual general meeting

The annual general meeting 2019 (“AGM”) of THQ Nordic AB (“THQ Nordic” or the “Company”) was held today on 17 September 2019 in Karlstad and the following resolutions were passed by the meeting.

Invitation: THQ Nordic to become Embracer Group, presents update on organization, operations and future prospects

THQ Nordic AB’s upcoming Annual General Meeting on 17 September 2019 will, among other things, resolve on adopting the new name Embracer Group AB. You are hereby invited to a webcast as part of the AGM. At the webcast, the usual presentation will be supplemented by an in-depth look at the company’s new name, brand platform and visual identity as well as an update on the future Embracer Group’s organization, business operations and future prospects.

THQ Nordic publishes Annual Report 2018/19

THQ Nordic AB (publ) today publishes its Annual Report for the extended financial year 2018/19. The Annual Report is enclosed this press release and is also available for downloading on: www.thqnordic-investors.com/en/financial-reports

THQ Nordic completes the acquisition of Milestone

THQ Nordic AB's indirectly wholly owned subsidiary Koch Media GmbH has today entered into an agreement to acquire Milestone s.r.l., which was announced earlier today through a press release, for a upfront purchase price equivalent to 44.9 MEUR on a cash and debt free basis. All conditions for the transaction have now been fulfilled and the transaction is thereby completed.

Notice of annual general meeting in THQ Nordic AB

The shareholders of THQ Nordic AB, reg. no. 556582-6558, (the "Company") are hereby invited to the annual general meeting on Tuesday 17 September 2019 at 15.00 CET at Elite Stadshotellet, Kungsgatan 22 in Karlstad. The doors to the meeting will open at 14.30 CET.

THQ Nordic becomes Embracer Group to clarify group structure and strategy

THQ Nordic AB today presents the Board of Directors’ proposal to change the name of the parent company THQ Nordic AB (publ) to Embracer Group AB (publ). The strategic rationale behind the proposal is to clarify the group structure and strategy with the Parent Company as a holding company.

THQ Nordic acquires Goodbye Kansas Game Invest

THQ Nordic AB has acquired Goodbye Kansas Game Invest AB (“GKGI”) through its wholly owned subsidiary THQ Nordic Lager 1 AB. The favourable purchase price of SEK 42.4m on a cash and debt free basis is notably below the capital invested by GKGI in its platform and the portfolio companies. Through the acquisition THQ Nordic strengthens its platform for minority investments in promising development studios.

THQ Nordic acquires Gunfire Games – the studio behind the Darksiders series

THQ Nordic AB's ("THQ Nordic") wholly owned subsidiary THQ Nordic GmbH has entered into an agreement to acquire Gunfire Games, LLC (“Gunfire”) in Austin, Texas. Gunfire is the developer behind the critically acclaimed game series Darksiders®, Chronos® and From Other Suns® and is a long-term developing partner of THQ Nordic. Through the acquisition THQ Nordic adds a strong team of RPG experts and award-winning VR developers with an existing intellectual property (IP) portfolio and an exciting new game pipeline.

The acquisition includes the development studio that includes a team of 63 creative and technical game developers and all IP rights. The purchase price will not be disclosed. THQ Nordic expects to recoup its investment over the course of 3-4 years as current development projects are released.

THQ Nordic acquires Milestone s.r.l.

THQ Nordic AB's indirectly wholly owned subsidiary Koch Media GmbH has today entered into an agreement to acquire Milan-based Milestone s.r.l., a leading racing games developer and publisher behind successful game series such as MotoGP, MXGP, RIDE and Monster Energy Supercross. The upfront purchase price is equivalent to 44.9 MEUR on a cash and debt free basis, plus additional earn-out considerations subject to fulfilment of agreed future profitability target. THQ Nordic estimates Milestone to have net revenues in the range of 27.5-32.25 MEUR, EBITDA of 15.5-18.0 MEUR and Operating EBIT of 10.75-12.5 MEUR in its next financial year ending June 2020.

THQ Nordic AB (publ) publishes Interim Report Q1, April-June 2019: OPERATIONAL EBIT INCREASED 193% to SEK 204 MILLION

FIRST QUARTER, APRIL–JUNE 2019
(Compared to April–June 2018)

> Net sales increased 36% to SEK 1,142.0 million (837.4).

> EBITDA improved 88% to SEK 389.5 million (206.9), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 34%.

> Operational EBIT rose 193% to SEK 204.0 million (69.7) corresponding to an Operational EBIT margin of 18%.

> Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 441.3 million (164.5).

> Earnings per share was SEK 0.52 (0.42).

> Adjusted earnings per share was SEK 1.53 (0.58).

CEO COMMENTS: OPERATIONAL EBIT INCREASED 193% TO SEK 204 MILLION

We started our financial year 2019-2020 with another stable growth quarter. Net sales increased 36% to SEK 1,142 million, driven by strong back catalog sales. Operational EBIT grew 193% to SEK 204 million, raising the Operational EBIT margin to 18% from 8%. The improved margin was driven by digital sales – which collectively rose to an average TTM of 58% across our three Games business areas. We generated SEK 441 million in cash flow from operations during the quarter and had close to SEK 3.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter.

Invitation to THQ Nordic’s Q1 presentation

THQ Nordic hereby invites you to a presentation in connection with the publishing of the first quarterly report for the financial year, April-June 2019. The report will be published the same morning, well before the market opens.

Koch Media Holding GmbH divests part of holding in THQ Nordic AB (publ)

Klemens Kundratitz has notified THQ Nordic AB (publ) that Koch Media Holding GmbH has sold 611,989 shares in THQ Nordic AB (publ) in a block trade to a group of institutional investors. Koch Media Holding GmbH was previously the parent company of the Koch Media Group and is owned by Franz Koch, Founder and Klemens Kundratitz, CEO and co-Founder of the Koch Media Group.

THQ Nordic publishes Extended Financial Year Report 2018-2019 and Q5: Operational EBIT increased 217% to SEK 396 million in the quarter

JANUARY–MARCH 2019

(Compared to January–March 2018)

• Net sales increased 158% to SEK 1,630.5 m (632.9).
• EBITDA increased 174% to SEK 618.6 m (225.9), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 38%.
• Operational EBIT increased 217% to SEK 395.9 m (124.9) corresponding to an Operational EBIT margin of 24%.
• Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 777.2 m (699.8).
• Earnings per share was SEK 1.10 (1.02).

JANUARY 2018–MARCH 2019, 15 MONTHS

(Compared to full year 2017)

• Net sales increased to SEK 5,754.1 m (507.5).
• EBITDA increased to SEK 1,592.6 m (272.6), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 28%.
• Operational EBIT increased to SEK 897.1 m (202.3) corresponding to an Operational EBIT margin of 16%.
• Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 1,356.4 m (179.1).
• Earnings per share was SEK 4.68 (1.88).
• As of 31 March 2019, cash and cash equivalents were SEK 2,929.1 m. Available cash including credit facilities was SEK 4,521.1 m.

THQ Nordic acquires legendary game studio Piranha Bytes

THQ Nordic AB (publ) is today announcing the acquisition of the assets belonging to the group of companies doing business as Piranha Bytes (“Piranha”). Piranha is the developer behind the critically acclaimed game series Gothic ®, Risen® and ELEX® and is a long-term developing partner to THQ Nordic. Through the acquisition THQ Nordic adds a strong portfolio of existing intellectual properties (IPs) and an exciting new game pipeline.

The acquisition includes the development studio and all IP rights. The parties have agreed upon not disclosing the purchase price. However, the purchase price equals c. three years of what management’s estimated royalty payments to Piranha for upcoming titles would have been, if the acquisition had not occurred.

Invitation to a presentation of THQ Nordic’s Q5 and full-year report

THQ Nordic hereby invites you to a presentation in connection with the publishing of the full-year report for the extended fiscal year 2018/2019 and the interim report for the fifth quarter, the period January-March 2019. The report will be published the same morning, well before the market opens.

THQ Nordic’s subsidiary Koch Media receives statement of objections from European Commission

Koch Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of THQ Nordic AB (publ), has today received a statement of objections from the European Commission, which has also been publicly announced[1]. The proceedings origin back to business performed prior to 2015.