Angry Birds creator Rovio launches IPO in Helsinki

News Wireless Global 5 SEP 2017
Angry Birds creator Rovio launches IPO in Helsinki
Rovio, creator of the Angry Birds brand, said it will be proceeding with its initial public offering (IPO) and will be listing its shares on the Nasdaq in Helsinki. The offering will probably take place via a secondary share sale by the largest shareholder of the company, Trema International, and certain other shareholders. The company also wants to issue EUR 30 million worth of shares in connection with the IPO, for private individuals and entities in Finland, Sweden and Denmark, along with institutional investors in Finland and internationally. 

The company did not give a time frame for the IPO, which it said will help it pursue its growth strategy and improve strategic flexibility, while listing will give it access to capital markets and broaden its ownership base. Operationally, the IPO is seen strengthening brand recognition. 

In terms of earnings, Rovio nearly doubled its earnings in the second quarter, with revenues rising 94 percent from the year before in the first half. 

Looking ahead, the company is guiding for revenues and EBITDA to increase “significantly” this full year compared to the last, with a group operating operating margin of 30 percent. Rovio added that it has adopted a dividend payout ratio of about 30 percent of annual net profit.

At the end of June, Rovio's games had been downloaded more than 3.7 billion times, with an average of 80 million monthly active users during the second quarter. The company is headquartered in Finland and has offices in Sweden, the UK, China and the US. 

 

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