Finnish mobile game maker Supercell has acquired a majority stake in London-based game studio Space Ape, the British company said on its website.
Space Ape, founded in 2012, makes mobile games Samurai Siege, Rival Kingdoms and Transformers: Earth Wars, published by toymaker Hasbro Inc’s digital unit.
Space Ape said Supercell had acquired 62 percent of its shares in a deal valuing its total equity at $90 million.
The deal allows Space Ape to continue to operate as an independent company – similar to the way Supercell operates with its owner Tencent Holdings Ltd.
“Supercell works like we work: in small, collaborative teams… We are masters of our own destiny and have operational independence to run our company as we see fit, ” Chief Executive John Earner said.
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen confirmed the deal on its Twitter account.
Supercell previously acquired Finnish games start-ups Frogmind and Shipyard Games.
Supercell’s hit game Clash of Clans, a war strategy game, has remained on the list of top-earning applications since its launch in 2012.
(Reporting by Tuomas Forsell; editing by Jussi Rosendahl and Jason Neely)
