Business Wire

CA-ZYNGA

5.8.2021 22:09:32 CEST | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Zynga Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Mobile Game Developer StarLark, Team Behind the Hit Franchise, Golf Rival

Zynga Inc . (Nasdaq: ZNGA), a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire StarLark, developer of the fast-growing and second-largest mobile golf game in the world, Golf Rival, from Betta Games for $525 million in cash and stock. This acquisition brings to Zynga a talented development team with the proven ability to create a global hit and additional projects in early development. StarLark also expands Zynga’s international presence by establishing a China-based studio with access to the region’s creative talent base.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210805005098/en/

In Golf Rival , players of all skill levels compete in real-time player-versus-player matches, including multiplayer tournaments on spectacular courses with customizable equipment. The game has rapidly grown to become the second-largest mobile golf game in the world with six million downloads in 2021 alone.

“With the acquisition of Golf Rival , Zynga becomes home to a talented team with the proven ability to create a global hit, while expanding Zynga’s international footprint with a new studio in China,” said Frank Gibeau, Chief Executive Officer of Zynga. “Golf Rival has rapidly ascended to become the second-largest mobile golf game in the world, with six million downloads in 2021 alone. Together, Zynga and StarLark are well-positioned to grow Golf Rival faster together with additional new projects in early development.”

“I’m very proud of the StarLark team for making Golf Rival a worldwide hit and we are thrilled to join Zynga to further accelerate the game’s incredible growth trajectory as a forever franchise,” said Henry You, Founder and General Manager of StarLark. “This partnership will provide Zynga with greater accessibility to China’s deep talent pool, while also giving StarLark access to Zynga’s global resources and expertise.”

Zynga will acquire the StarLark development studio and Golf Rival franchise for approximately $525 million, comprising approximately $315 million of cash and approximately $210 million of Zynga common stock (issued at the average closing price per share over the thirty-day trading period ended August 02, 2021). The final closing consideration will also include customary closing adjustments and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Zynga was advised by White & Case and Fangda Law. Aream & Co. acted as the exclusive financial advisor and Orrick served as legal advisor to Betta Games in this transaction.

Editor’s note:

Key art and broadcast assets available for use at the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k04y6d41bgrcw7m/AACg-NaEWZDbPEumf0s42qlIa?dl=0

About Zynga

Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment with a mission to connect the world through games. With massive global reach in more than 175 countries and regions, Zynga has a diverse portfolio of popular game franchises that have been downloaded more than four billion times on mobile, including CSR Racing ™, Empires & Puzzles ™, Hair Challenge, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, High Heels!, Merge Dragons! ™, Merge Magic! ™, Queen Bee ™, Toon Blast ™, Toy Blast ™, Words With Friends ™ and Zynga Poker ™. With Chartboost, a leading mobile advertising and monetization platform, Zynga is an industry-leading next-generation platform with the ability to optimize programmatic advertising and yields at scale. Founded in 2007, Zynga is headquartered in California with locations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.zynga.com or follow Zynga on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook or the Zynga blog .

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those statements relating to, among other things: the proposed acquisition of Beijing StarLark Technology Co., Ltd. (“StarLark)”, the Golf Rival mobile game franchise and related other games, intellectual properties, business records and specified other assets and liabilities; our ability to achieve the intended benefits of the acquisition, including the growth of the Golf Rival franchise, the development of future games, and attracting and retaining key development and other personnel; the purchase price for the acquisition and the timing in which the transaction is expected to close. Forward-looking statements often include words such as “projected,” “planned,” “intend,” “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “expect,” and statements in the future tense are generally forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and reflect management’s current expectations. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and our actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: satisfaction of transaction closing conditions and our ability to timely close the transaction; our ability to effectively integrate and achieve the expected benefits of the transaction; and risks of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the transaction. More information about these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are or will be described in greater detail in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at http://investor.zynga.com or the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov .

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Brightfin Names Dan McNamara Chief Customer Officer16.9.2026 19:13:00 CEST | Press release

As Brightfin expands its platform and rides growing enterprise demand for IT spend control, the company taps Dan McNamara with a track record of scaling teams through rapid growth Brightfin, the leading platform for total spend intelligence in enterprise IT, today announced that Dan McNamara has joined the company as Chief Customer Officer (CCO). The appointment comes as Brightfin extends its platform into a broader vision of financial truth and operational clarity across the entire enterprise technology stack, and as more IT and finance leaders turn to Brightfin to make sense of fast-growing, fragmented spend across cloud, mobile, and emerging AI tooling. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916064892/en/ Dan McNamara, CCO of Brightfin McNamara has built his career on meeting increasingly complex customer expectations. Twice, he has joined a customer organization in the middle of rapid growth and left it with a

Jazwares Partners With Sanrio to Expand Its Hello Kitty and Friends Range to EMEA16.9.2026 18:00:00 CEST | Press release

Plush Toys, Figures, and More Inspired by the Beloved World of Hello Kitty and Friends to Launch in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Jazwares, one of the world’s leading toy companies, today announced a licensing agreement with Sanrio GmbH, extending Jazwares successful Hello Kitty and Friends toy line to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The agreement will bring Sanrio’s beloved Hello Kitty and Friends characters to even more fans in the region through playful, imaginative products designed for kids and collectors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916913201/en/ Jazwares partners with Sanrio to expand its Hello Kitty and Friends range to EMEA Available across key EMEA markets, the collection of trendy plush and figures, playsets, vehicles, and seasonal items reimagines Hello Kitty alongside fan-favorite friends including Cinnamoroll, Kerokerokeroppi, Pompompurin, Tuxedosam, My Melody, Kuromi, Po

Schneider Electric Concludes Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa, Highlights Energy Intelligence as the Next Phase of the Energy Transition16.9.2026 15:30:00 CEST | Press release

As AI, electrification and industrial expansion reshape energy demand across the Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric today concluded Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa by positioning energy intelligence as the next phase of the energy transition - where infrastructure becomes more connected, resilient and software-defined. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916593883/en/ Walid Sheta, President, MEA Zone at Schneider Electric, releasing the company's 2026 Industrial AI in CPG Study for the UAE, at Schneider Electric Innovation Summit MEA (Photo: AETOSWire) Held at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, the two-day summit convened over 2,500 attendees, including government leaders, industry analysts, customers, partners, students, and media, under the theme ‘Advancing Energy Tech to Power Intelligence and Resilience.’ Industry leaders explored how electrification, AI-ready data centers, cybersecurity, and digital innova

The Opening of Jayasom Wellness Resort Advancing AMAALA’s Wellness Vision16.9.2026 14:23:00 CEST | Press release

The latest addition to AMAALA’s wellness ecosystem integrates evidence-based practices with Arab and Eastern healing practices complemented by personalized wellness programs Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has opened Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, bringing a distinctive holistic health offering to the destination. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916231950/en/ Outdoor relaxation area at Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, where serene design and sea-facing spaces create a setting for rest and renewal. Designed by Heah & Co., with interiors by Studio Carter, Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA is located on Triple Bay’s largest cove and comprises 153 keys alongside 24 residences. The resort forms part of AMAALA’s secluded wellness core on the Red Sea coast, where nature and hospitality come together in a setting designed for reflection and renewal. “As we launch the first Jayasom globally, w

Rubedo Life Sciences Announces Clinical Study to Treat Hair Loss with GPX4 Modulator RLS-1496, First Human Ex Vivo Evidence Demonstrates Robust Hair Follicle Growth16.9.2026 14:01:00 CEST | Press release

AGA clinical trial to begin in Fall 2026 led by David Pariser, MD, FACP, FAAD, former President of the American Academy of Dermatology and Principal Investigator in more than 450 dermatology clinical trialsRubedo’s RLS-1496, the first and only GPX4 modulator currently in clinical trials, demonstrates superior hair follicle restoration in human ex vivo androgenetic alopecia (AGA) model, matching or outperforming finasteride; findings consistent with dual SenoAdaptive mechanism that activates dormant hair follicle Rubedo Life Sciences, Inc. (Rubedo) today announced a new clinical study of investigational RLS-1496 in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), beginning October 2026, with initial data expected in the first half of 2027. The study marks the first-ever clinical evaluation of a GPX4 modulator in hair loss, extending the program that established RLS-1496 as the world’s first GPX4 modulator to enter human clinical trials of any kind. This press release features multimedia. View

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye