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  • Connect2Media Buys Israeli-based RayFusion

    London-based Connect2Media , a publisher of mobile content, which just merged with the European operations of Hands-On, said it has acquired RayFusion, an Israeli-based mobile content distributor. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition will enable RayFusion to expand its distribution to include carrier accounts in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, Connect2Media said in a release today. RayFusion will operate as a standalone entity with operational independence from Connect2Media. It will retain its name and corporate identity and there will be no changes to its personnel or operations. However Connect2Media will help strengthen RayFusion by assisting in developing new mobile content technology. Release. Related Hands-On Mobile Sheds European Business; Merges With Connect 2 Media As Minority Shareholder Social Media Deals Report: This 199-page report, filled with charts and data, examines the categories, number and size of VC and M&A deal in social media from 2007 through 2008. Visit the ContentNext Reports page
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  • Hands-On Mobile Sheds European Business; Merges With Connect 2 Media As Minority Shareholder

    MocoNews has learned that mobile games developer Hands-On Mobile is shedding its European game business four years after acquiring the company. This division, which also covers the Middle East and Africa, will be transferred to an expanded Connect 2 Media , a cross-platform game developer. The business goes right back into the hands of Eric Hobson, CEO of Connect 2 Media, who originally sold the earlier incarnation of the division, Blue Beck Media, to Hands-On four years ago. He left Hands-On earlier this year to join Connect 2 Media. Hands-On will retain a minority stake in the operation, which at the same time is receiving a $6.7 million investment from Acuity. Hands-On injected some cash into the deal, as well, but it was minimal since the deal was mostly pegged around the transfer of its EMEA assets. This follows Hands-On's sale of its Korean division to EA less than two months ago for $29 million in cash. Niccolo de Masi , president of Hands-On, explained the move in an interview today: "We've been looking at how we can bulk up our distributing ability in EMEA for a while now." The company had to buy or build in order to achieve that and thinks it's getting both with this deal. By "rolling ourselves into one vehicle," the company's opportunity will grow substantially by getting more boots on the ground and combining each of the parties' areas of expertise across multiple platforms. "We've effectively taken a smaller stake in a much larger entity… We don't consider ourselves to be selling anything to be honest." Hands-On wouldn't disclose how much of a share it gets in the bigger company, but said it retains all the rights that come with being a minority shareholder. Acuity and Connect 2 Media will also be minority shareholders in the newly merged company, leaving no party with a majority share . Hands-On plans to increase its equity in the company through continued investment, De Masi said, adding that...
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  • EA's Acquisition Of Hands-On Korea: $29 Million

    Last week EA announced its acquisition of the Korean division of Hands-On Mobile, the mobile gaming company formerly known as Mforma. At that time, no financial details were released, but now digging through EA's annual report, filed late in Friday, the amount is known: it is $29 million in cash, when the acquisition closes. From the filing: " In April 2008, we entered into definitive agreements to acquire certain assets from Hands-On Mobile Inc. and its affiliates relating to its Korean mobile games business based in Seoul, Korea. The purchase price to be paid for the assets at closing will be approximately $29 million in cash. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close during our first quarter of fiscal 2009." Hands-On bought MobileGame Korea in 2004, and that became Hands-On Korea after the parent company rebranded. Whereever you are, our streamlined mobile application brings you the latest headlines with unprecedented speed. Visit http://paidcontent.org/mobile to learn more.
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  • Electronic Arts Buys Korean Division Of Hands-On Mobile

    Electronic Arts ( NSDQ: ERTS ) is buying out the Korean division of Hands-On Mobile, the moble gaming company formerly known as Mforma. The Korean division is best known for its mobile role-playing game, Heroes Lore. Upon completion of the deal, the Korea team will become EA Mobile Korea , and Gilbert Kim, CEO of Hands-On Mobile Korea, will become head of EA Mobile Korea. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. EA does not expect the acquisition to impact the company's fiscal year 2009 financial guidance. Hands-On bought MobileGame Korea in 2004, and that became Hands-On Korea after the parent company rebranded. This continues the restructuring of Hands-On, which brought in a new CEO in October last year. More details in release . Looking for a job? Looking for a new hire? ContentNext's job boards match the latest industry opportunities to the right people.
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