OFFICIAL PR
http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20130918_index_e_final.pdf
"Notice is hereby given that SEGA DREAM CORPORATION, which was newly established as a wholly owned subsidiary by SEGA CORPORATION (“SEGA”), a subsidiary of SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC. (the “Company”), has concluded a business transfer agreement with Index Corporation (“Index”) for the purpose of revitalization of the business. Under the agreement, SEGA will take over the operations conducted by Index, the bankrupt company that applied to the Tokyo District Court for the commencement of civil rehabilitation proceedings effective from June 27, 2013"
The Company believes that transfer of Index’s operations to SEGA will create synergies, on the grounds that the deal will enable the Company to:
(1) gain access to prominent IPs in the home video game software, through which the Company can expect to achieve steady flows of revenue;
(2) expect further facilitation of revenue growth for the PC Online Game Business and Content Business for Smart Devices operated by SEGA and SEGA Networks Co., Ltd. by exploiting acquired prominent IPs
(3) maximize the value of acquired IPs by effectively deploying them in the Pachislot and Pachinko Machines segment, Amusement Machine Sales and Amusement Center Operations segments.
Outline of the business transfer:
(1) Details of operations to be transferred
The operations conducted by Index including the Digital Game Business (design and development of console games and social games); Contents & Solutions Business (delivery of contents, development of systems, consigned development related to amusement machines, internet advertising, etc.); Amusement Business (development and sales of commercial amusement machines) and related businesses.
(2) Assets and liabilities to be transferred
Tangible and intangible fixed assets as well as intellectual property assets related to the above operations to be transferred. (These include shares of Atlus Holding, Inc., which is the parent company of Index Digital Media, Inc., as well as Tiger Mob Limited, Index Corp (Thailand) Ltd. and Mobi Town Ltd.) In principle, liabilities including interest-bearing debts will not be taken over.
(Note: Index Digital Media Inc is Atlus USA)
ORIGINAL STORY
The title says everything.
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD1801E_Y3A910C1000000/
Google Translate: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nikkei.com%2Farticle%2FDGXNASDD1801E_Y3A910C1000000%2F
UPDATED
After the revelation came about that popular Japanese game publisher, Atlus, and its parent company, Index Corp, were facing fraud allegations and had filed for bankruptcy, speculation began to fly about what would happen to the beloved game company. After just a few months, however, it looks like Sega Sammy Holdings has purchased Index Corp for 14 billion yen. The acquisition will happen in November, as reported by Japanese news site Nikkei, and will involve a restructuring of the company.
Additional details are scarce, but we’ll make sure to follow this story as it unfolds. No word what this means for Atlus USA.
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2013/09/17/sega-purchases-atlus-for-14-billion-yen/55909/
