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"Tomb Raider" Game Developer Circle Studios Plans London IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 26, 2005 - 7:45am.
Bolton, England -- Circle Studios, the U.K.-based DVD and video game maker behind the popular Lara Croft "Tomb Raider" franchise, announced that it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in October. The company also has the rights for the official FIFA-licensed DVD soccer quiz games and is planning to create DVDs around the "Now That's What I Call Music" collections. Circle, which develops games that use the interactive functions of household DVD players, said it expected to raise about $5.3 million with the IPO, which will value the company at about $35.6 million. "We are at the forefront of this exciting new sector," said Circle CEO Jeremy Heath-Smith. "Our expertise, combined with key brands, will enable us to deliver highly compelling interactive DVD games."
tags: Game Developer | Tomb Raider | Circle Studios | London IPO |

U.K. Poker Site PartyGaming Looks to Raise $2.1 Billion in London IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 16, 2005 - 3:06am.
London -- PartyGaming, a U.K.-based online poker site, plans to raise up to $2.1 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) on the London stock exchange, Reuters reported. The company takes about 3% off the top of all hands played for money on its sites, pulling in an estimated $100,000 every hour. However, some investors are wary due to the questionable legal status of online gambling in many nations; 87% of PartyGaming's customers are in the U.S., where online gambling is illegal. "There is a significant risk that criminal or civil judgments may be sought against the group of directors," the company noted in the prospectus for its IPO. While PartyGaming does not operate in the U.S., it does advertise in U.S. media and receives funds from U.S.-based credit card and payment processing companies.
tags: VC | London IPO | PartyGaming | U.K. Poker Site |