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- ## ## ## ## ## AEO News Bulletin #6
- ####### #### ## ## Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1994
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-
- According to a press release issued today, Sega Enterprises, Ltd. is
- plunging nearly $90 million into Atari Corporation. $50 million to
- come from direct payments for worldwide access to Atari Corporation
- videogame patents for several years. The remaining $40 million will
- come from a purchase of 4.7 million shares of Atari common stock.
-
- To quell all rumors, this is -not- a "buyout" of Atari Corporation.
- The size of stock purchased is 7.4 percent of total Atari Corporation
- stock.
-
- In the same joint press release, the two videogame giants announced
- that they may come to agreement on cross-platform title licensing in
- the future.
-
- The press release follows:
-
-
- Contact: Sega Enterprises. Ltd. Atari Corporation
- Richard Brudvik-Lindner Sam Tramiel
- (415) 802-3657 (408) 745-8824
- August Liguori
- (408) 745-2069
-
- Manning, Selvage & Lee (for Sega)
- Brenda Lynch
- (818) 509-1840
-
- SEGA AND ATARI ANNOUNCE LONG-TERM LICENSING AGREEMENTS, EQUITY
- INVESTMENT, AND RESOLUTlON OF DISPUTES
-
- SUNNYVALE, Calif. (September 28, 1994) -- Sega Enterprises, Ltd., and
- Atari Corporation (AMEX:ATC) announced today an affiliation that
- includes several agreements designed to serve as the basis of future
- working arrangements between the two video game manufacturers.
-
- Under the terms of the agreements:
-
- - Sega will receive worldwide, non-exclusive rights with certain
- exceptions to Atari's extensive library of patents, a number of which
- extend beyond the turn of the century. The agreement covers Sega, its
- subsidiaries, its licensees, and its customers for more than 70 U.S.
- patents and applications, for a fully prepaid royalty to Atari
- covering the remaining 7 years of certain patents, amortized at
- approximately $7 million per year. Atari will therefore receive a
- total of $50 million, less Atari's contingent attorney fees and costs.
-
- - Sega will purchase approximately 4.7 million shares of Atari
- common stock for a total price of $40 million.
-
- - Both companies will enter into software license agreements for a
- specified number of games that would be made available on each
- company's present and future platforms.
-
- - Atari will dismiss its legal proceedings against Sega, and each
- company will release all claims against the other.
-
- The agreements are subject to approval by the United States Department
- of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission under Hart-Scott-Rodino
- and to certain other conditions.
-
- "We are extremely pleased with this relationship that has potential
- long-term benefits for both companies," said David Rosen, Co-Chairman
- of Sega of America.
-
- "We at Atari are very pleased with this new affiliation. The increased
- cash position will be used among other things to enhance our marketing
- position this fall," said Sam Tramiel, President, CEO of Atari Corp.
-
- Atari designs and markets interactive multimedia entertainment systems
- and is located in Sunnyvale, California.
-
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Tokyo, is a nearly $4 billion company,
- recognized as a leader in interactive digital entertainment media with
- operations on five continents.
-
-
- --==--==--==--==--
-
- AEO News! is a service of Atari Explorer Online Magazine, a bi-weekly
- publication covering the entire Atari community. All material herein is
- believed accurate at the time of publishing. Material published in this
- issue may be reprinted (unless specified in the article) by registered
- Atari user groups and non-profit publications, citing Atari Explorer
- Online as the originator. Other reprints granted upon approval of
- request. Send requests to <aeo.mag@genie.geis.com>.
-
- --==--==--==--==--
-
- Atari, ST, Mega ST, STE, Mega STE, TT030, Atari Falcon030, TOS, MultiTOS,
- NewDesk, BLiTTER, Atari Lynx, ComLynx, Atari Jaguar, Atari Portfolio, and
- the Atari Fuji Symbol are all trademarks or registered trademarks of Atari
- Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this edition of AEO News!
- belong to their respective holders.
-
- --==--==--==--==--
-
- AEO News! and
- Atari Explorer Online Magazine
- "Your Source for Atari News"
- Copyright (c) 1994, Subspace Publishers
-
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- :: AEO News! #6 ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE September 28, 1994 ::
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