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Report: The Witcher/GOG Developer CD Projekt Acquired, To Go Public?
by Chris Remo [PC, Console/PC]
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October 1, 2009
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According to Polish-language internet reports, The Witcher developer and Good Old Games proprietor CD Projekt has been acquired by Polish computer company Optimus S.A.
An analyst quoted by Polygamia.pl believes the move is actually a way for the privately-held CD Projekt Group to transform itself into a publicly-traded company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
The acquisition is reportedly being made purely with stock, and the owners of CD Projekt will thus become equal shareholders in the company with Optimus.
In addition to its publishing and distribution operations, Warsaw-based CD Projekt Group owns CD Projekt RED, the development house behind the critically and commercially successful PC RPG The Witcher.
It also owns the digital distribution service Good Old Games, which updates and sells classic PC games on behalf of numerous publishers. Optimus is a fellow Warsaw-based company that manufactures PC and provides information technology services.
The description of the companies' alleged financial maneuvering is in some ways reminiscent of Activision's merger with Vivendi Games, which saw Activision fully acquired by Vivendi S.A., but had Activision's existing management essentially take control of Vivendi Games and head up the new resultant publisher.
According to Polygamia, CD Projekt has been in talks with Optimus for months, but talks temporarily broke down in the wake of a deal between Optimus and recruitment firm Work Service. The site claims an official announcement will be made soon.
Gamasutra has contacted CD Projekt for confirmation further details on the matter.
[UPDATE: A CD Projekt spokesperson told weblog Kotaku in a statement, "In short, this is a kind of share swap between Polish stock company Optimus S.A. and CD Projekt Investment (which is the holding company owner of CDP Publishing, CDP RED, GOG.com, Metro and Porting House). Since Optimus is a stock market company, CD Projekt will in fact go public and have access to all stock instruments. Ultimately, this means money for future development of the whole company."]
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