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

CFO Worx Named No. 448 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List, the Most Prestigious Ranking of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies13.8.2026 22:21:00 CEST | Press release

Company Recognized for 776% Three-Year Revenue Growth, Earning a Place Among the Nation’s Most Successful Independent Businesses CFO Worx today announced it has been ranked No. 448 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260813927944/en/ Brian Alvarez, CEO of CFO Worx "Earning a place on the list comes down to the trust our clients place in us and is a testament to the caliber of the team behind every engagement," said Brian Alvarez, CEO of CFO Worx. This year’s Inc. 5000 recognizes a

Andersen Global udvider sine juridiske kompetencer gennem samarbejde med Beech Incorporated13.8.2026 18:01:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse

Andersen Global indgår en samarbejdsaftale med det sydafrikanske advokatfirma Beech Incorporated og udvider dermed sine juridiske kompetencer i regionen. Beech Incorporated leverer juridisk og regulatorisk rådgivning til mine-, vedvarende energi-, infrastruktur-, olie- og gassektorerne med speciale inden for fusioner og opkøb, kommercielle forhold, projektfinansiering, sundhed, sikkerhed og miljø, ansættelsesret samt compliance. Firmaets tværfaglige team rådgiver klienter gennem hele projektets livscyklus – fra udvikling og finansiering til drift og interessenthåndtering – og er anerkendt som et førende advokatfirma af blandt andre publikationer somChambers and Partners og The Legal 500 . "Vores tilgang bygger på en praktisk forståelse af de brancher, vi arbejder inden for, og på at levere konkret og handlingsorienteret rådgivning til klienter, der opererer i komplekse regulatoriske miljøer," siger Warren Beech, der er CEO for Beech Incorporated. "Gennem samarbejdet med Andersen Global

BTG Pactual TIG and Conservation International Reach 20,000 Hectares of Cerrado UnderRestoration, Accelerating Latin American Reforestation Strategy, Increasing Biodiversity andSocial Impacts13.8.2026 17:47:00 CEST | Press release

BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG) and Conservation International today announced that native ecosystem restoration is now underway across more than 20,000 hectares of Brazil's Cerrado biome, marking a significant acceleration of the firms' Latin American reforestation strategy. According to data recorded by the Brazilian Restoration and Reforestation Observatory, an independent platform that tracks and maps native vegetation recovery, this further cements the strategy’s position as the largest ever restoration effort in the region. Conservation International serves as Impact Adviser for social and environmental outcomes. The strategy focuses on conserving, restoring and reforesting degraded landscapes across Latin America, including Brazil's Cerrado, one of the world’s most biodiverse and fastest disappearing seasonally dry ecosystems. More than half of the Cerrado has already been cleared for cattle ranching and farming. The strategy targets degraded cattle pas

Milliman names Jim Fulton next CEO13.8.2026 17:40:00 CEST | Press release

Fulton to assume CEO role in October after 11 years as CFO Milliman, Inc., a leading global actuarial and consulting firm, today announced that Jim Fulton has been named Milliman’s next Chief Executive Officer. Fulton has served as Milliman’s Chief Financial Officer since 2015 and has been a leader driving the firm’s organic growth and M&A strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260811027168/en/ Milliman, Inc., a leading global actuarial and consulting firm, today announced that Jim Fulton has been named Milliman’s next Chief Executive Officer. Fulton has served as Milliman’s Chief Financial Officer since 2015 and has been a leader driving the firm’s organic growth and M&A strategy. Fulton’s appointment reflects Milliman’s evolution from an actuarial firm to a multidisciplinary consultancy, risk management, and technology solution provider. His expertise includes stints with Big 4 accounting and private equi

Clinilabs Announces Leadership Expansion and Welcomes Laura Shannon as Chief Executive Officer and Promotion of Founder Gary Zammit, Ph.D., to Executive Chairperson13.8.2026 16:05:00 CEST | Press release

Clinilabs, a leading specialty contract research organization (CRO) focused on central nervous system (CNS) drug and device development, today announced leadership expansion. Laura Shannon joins the organization as Chief Executive Officer as Gary Zammit, Ph.D., the Company’s founder, assumes the role of Executive Chairperson. This expansion of the senior leadership team is a recognition of a growing organization with global capabilities and continuing commitment to advancing treatments for patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260813362140/en/ Laura Shannon joins Clinilabs as Chief Executive Officer as Gary Zammit, Ph.D., the Company’s founder, assumes the role of Executive Chairperson Ms. Shannon is a dynamic leader with more than 30 years of biopharma industry experience, known for her ability to build high-performing teams, forge strategic alliances, and drive

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