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

REPLY: The Board of Directors Approved the Draft Financial Statements for the Year 202512.3.2026 15:38:00 CET | Press release

All economic indicators are positive.Consolidated turnover of €2,483.6 million (€2,300.5 million in 2024);EBITDA at €467.6 million (€410.6 million in 2024);EBIT at €391.7 million (€330.4 million in 2024)Group net profit at €250.9 million (€211.1 million in 2024)Approval of the proposed dividend distribution of €1.35 per share. Today the Board of Directors of Reply S.p.A. [MTA, STAR: REY] approved the draft financial statement for the year 2025, which will be submitted for approval to the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in first call in Turin on 23 April 2026. The Reply Group closed 2025 with a consolidated turnover of €2,483.6 million, an increase of 8.0% compared to €2,300.5 million in 2024. All indicators are positive for the period. Consolidated EBITDA was €467.6 million, an increase of 13.9% compared to €410.6 million at December 2024. EBIT, from January to December, was at €391.7 million, which is an increase of 18.5% compared to €330.4 million at December 2024. The Group net pro

LZE GmbH Introduces Fraunhofer’s RFicient® Technology to the Market12.3.2026 14:51:00 CET | Press release

LZE GmbH is expanding its technology transfer portfolio and making the RFicient® ultra-low-power wake-up receiver technology from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS available for the first time as a standard chip for close-to-production industrial applications. The solution enables energy-efficient IoT designs that remain continuously reachable while consuming only microamps – a key step for long-lasting, low-maintenance IoT products. LZE GmbH drives technology transfer to market: standard chip availability for close-to-production applications As a bridge between research and industry, LZE GmbH is making it easier for companies to access innovative technologies and helping them to quickly and reliably transform new developments into market-ready solutions. With RFicient®-IC (FH101RF), LZE is providing another high-tech product that comes directly from Fraunhofer research and can now be ordered in volume and integrated into close-to-production product development for t

Owkin Creates New Spin out Waiv, Formerly Owkin Dx, With $33M Financing12.3.2026 14:30:00 CET | Press release

Investment lead by OTB Ventures and Alpha Intelligence CapitalWaiv develops AI-powered precision testing to better identify and stratify patients in the clinic and in clinical trials, transforming patient careWaiv extends Owkin’s strategy of real-world validation for its AI Owkin, the AI company on a mission to solve the complexity of biology, today announced the spin out of Waiv, formerly known as Owkin Dx. The move follows significant investor interest and positions Waiv to bring AI-powered precision testing for better identification of patients in the clinic and in clinical trials, to transform patient care. This follows on from the successful launch of Bioptimus, an Owkin incubated company, in February 2024. Waiv translates AI innovation into real-world clinical impact, developing tests that predict biomarkers and patient outcomes, including RlapsRisk BC for prognostic risk profiling. With multiple tests already in use in clinical settings, its deployment platform Destra, and colla

RQM+ Launches SMART Solutions Life Cycle Partnership Model12.3.2026 14:30:00 CET | Press release

Helps MedTech Companies Navigate MDR, IVDR, and AI-Enabled Device Development RQM+, a leading MedTech CRO offering regulatory consulting, clinical trial, laboratory, and reimbursement services, today announced the launch of SMART Solutions, a life cycle partnership model designed to help medical device and diagnostics companies manage growing regulatory and development complexity. SMART Solutions introduces a strategy-led operating framework that unifies regulatory, quality, clinical, reimbursement, and laboratory expertise to support MedTech companies across the entire product life cycle to help reduce risk from early development through post-market. “MedTech companies are navigating unprecedented complexity as regulatory expectations evolve, product innovation accelerates, and post-market expectations are expanding,” said John Potthoff, Ph.D., chief executive officer of RQM+. “SMART Solutions moves beyond traditional consulting by providing an integrated life cycle partnership that h

Cryptio Raises $45m Series B as Digital Assets Move Into Regulated Financial Markets12.3.2026 14:06:00 CET | Press release

The system of record for tokenized finance – ERP infrastructure for institutions operating in digital assets Cryptio, a leader in financial data transformation and enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications for regulated digital assets, announced today a $45 million Series B funding round co-led by BlackFin Capital Partners and Sentinel Global, with participation from 1kx, Alven, BlueYard Capital and Ledger Cathay Capital. Banks, exchanges, asset managers, including Société Générale’s SG Forge, Circle, Gemini, and Securitize rely on Cryptio to ensure financial integrity across their digital assets businesses. Existing ERP systems fall short for digital assets Traditional ERP and accounting systems were not designed for blockchain-native assets, real-time reporting, or modern custody frameworks. As regulated financial institutions expand into stablecoins, tokenized securities and other on-chain instruments, these limitations create material operational and reporting challenges. Cry

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