UKIE Welcomes GAME Purchase
Games and interactive entertainment trade body UKIE today welcomes the news that the UK assets of GAME Group PLC have been purchased by Baker Acquisitions who have been advised by OpCapita.
2 April 2012 - London, United Kingdom – Games and interactive entertainment trade body UKIE today welcomes the news that the UK assets of GAME Group PLC have been purchased by Baker Acquisitions who have been advised by OpCapita. This will reportedly save some 3,200 jobs and keep 333 specialist video game stores open in the UK.
UKIE CEO, Dr Jo Twist said: “Baker Acquisitions’ purchase of UKIE member, Game’s UK assets is a very positive move for the UK games industry. Not having a specialist video games presence on the high street for would be a big loss to the industry. The growing games industry is now giving people so many different ways of playing games but there is still a huge role for retail in this fast moving market.”
UKIE Chairman Andy Payne said: ‘”The UK games industry needs vibrant and innovative companies across the whole value chain, and this move will prove that the UK will still be the number one market place for video games in Europe. Baker Acquisitions have the capital that GAME needs in order to both stabilise and transition their business models in an online world. Baker Acquisitions have appointed Martyn Gibbs as CEO to lead the team to ensure that this will take place, quickly and effectively.”
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Contacts:
For all press enquiries, please contact the UKIE press office on T: +44 (0)20 7534 0582 or E: press@ukie.org.uk
About UKIE
The Association for United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment or UKIE is a trade body that represents the whole of the UK’s video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 (and formerly known as ELSPA), UKIE’s membership includes games publishers, developers and the academic institutions that support the industry.
UKIE works with government to champion a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, tax incentives and protecting intellectual property rights. It also works with the media to ensure true and accurate representation of the sector by raising awareness of the industry’s positive economic contribution and the societal benefits of gaming to policy makers, regulators and consumers.
One of UKIE’s key roles is to support its members by providing them with key market information, promoting careers and offering the business support services, training and best-practice knowledge to enable them to operate most effectively.
In addition, UKIE works with GfK Chart-Track to compile weekly, monthly and annual retail charts and sales reports for the UK market.
UKIE CEO, Dr Jo Twist said: “Baker Acquisitions’ purchase of UKIE member, Game’s UK assets is a very positive move for the UK games industry. Not having a specialist video games presence on the high street for would be a big loss to the industry. The growing games industry is now giving people so many different ways of playing games but there is still a huge role for retail in this fast moving market.”
UKIE Chairman Andy Payne said: ‘”The UK games industry needs vibrant and innovative companies across the whole value chain, and this move will prove that the UK will still be the number one market place for video games in Europe. Baker Acquisitions have the capital that GAME needs in order to both stabilise and transition their business models in an online world. Baker Acquisitions have appointed Martyn Gibbs as CEO to lead the team to ensure that this will take place, quickly and effectively.”
- ENDS -
Contacts:
For all press enquiries, please contact the UKIE press office on T: +44 (0)20 7534 0582 or E: press@ukie.org.uk
About UKIE
The Association for United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment or UKIE is a trade body that represents the whole of the UK’s video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 (and formerly known as ELSPA), UKIE’s membership includes games publishers, developers and the academic institutions that support the industry.
UKIE works with government to champion a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, tax incentives and protecting intellectual property rights. It also works with the media to ensure true and accurate representation of the sector by raising awareness of the industry’s positive economic contribution and the societal benefits of gaming to policy makers, regulators and consumers.
One of UKIE’s key roles is to support its members by providing them with key market information, promoting careers and offering the business support services, training and best-practice knowledge to enable them to operate most effectively.
In addition, UKIE works with GfK Chart-Track to compile weekly, monthly and annual retail charts and sales reports for the UK market.
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