Sega acquires Angry Birds’ Rovio

Target the pigs.

Sega has acquired Angry Birds behemoth Rovio, the companies have recently announced.

Sega will absorb Rovio’s outstanding shares and options — at a total of around $1 billion Australian dollars — in what it’s termed a “friendly takeover” of the company.

“Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been Sega’s long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field,” said Haruki Satomi, of Sega Sammy Holdings.

“I feel blessed to be able to announce such a transaction with Rovio, a company that owns ‘Angry Birds’, which is loved across the world, and home to many skilled employees that support the company’s industry leading mobile game development and operating capabilities,” Satomi continued. “Historically, as represented by the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ series, Sega has released countless video game titles to various gaming platforms. I am confident that, through combination of both companies’ brands, characters, fanbase, as well as corporate culture and functionality, there will be significant synergies created going forward.”

“Red and Sonic the Hedgehog: two globally recognized and iconic characters made by two remarkably complementary companies, with a worldwide reach that spans mobile, PC/console, and beyond,” added Rovio’s Alexandre Pelletier-Normand.