CiRCLE to float on
AIM
Date:
26.09.05
CiRCLE intends to seek admission of its shares to
trading on the AIM Market ('AIM') of the London Stock Exchange, with
dealings expected to commence Q1 2006.
CiRCLE plc is the parent company of CiRCLE Studio Limited (together “the
Group”), which was established in 2003 by CEO Jeremy Heath-Smith and
Managing Director Adrian Smith. CiRCLE’s development is focused on the
interactive DVD games format. DVD games exploit the interactive
capabilities of the DVD player and are family-orientated trivia, puzzle,
adventure and learning games. Jeremy and Adrian share 40 years’
collective experience in the games industry and are responsible for the
creation of one of the world’s most successful games franchises: ‘Tomb
Raider’.
CiRCLE has built strong relationships with global mass-market brands and
has the exclusive contractual right to create and publish the official
FIFA licensed DVD quiz games. Two FIFA licensed products will be
released prior to next year’s FIFA World Cup™ in Germany: A ‘Scene iT?’
branded 2006 FIFA World Cup™ edition to be published by Mattel, and the
official FIFA World Cup™‘ licensed football trivia quiz game which the
Group will publish itself. Under the terms of the licence, CiRCLE
intends to bring to the market several further FIFA branded licensed DVD
quiz games.
The Group also has an exclusive collaboration with the ‘Now That’s What
I Call Music’ brand; this is a joint venture between CiRCLE and the two
‘NOW’ partners, EMI and Universal Music. ‘NOW’ is the biggest
compilation label in the UK/US music business and CiRCLE’s agreement
allows it to create a series of ‘NOW’ iDVD titles, the first to be
released this December by Virgin/EMI.
Steve Pritchard, Co-Managing Director of EMI Television comments:
‘CiRCLE is at the forefront of this exciting new technology and their
treatment of the NOW brand looks set to provide music fans with a highly
entertaining test of their pop knowledge. We have every confidence that
our collaboration will result in chart-topping products.’
Additional multi-product licences which the Group has acquired for the
format over the coming years include ‘Discovery Channel’, ‘Discovery
Kids’ and US super-brand ‘NBA’.
The interactive DVD format emerged in late 2003 and has become one of
the fastest growing categories in the toy sector, the most recognisable
examples being Mattel’s ‘Scene iT?’ and Universal’s ‘Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire’, which have both sold circa one million units. Sales of DVD
games grew 600% between 2003 and 2004 and the category is projected to
reach $1billion in 2007. The DVD player is the fastest growing consumer
electronics device in the world; 300 million players are forecast to be
in use by the end of 2005, rising to 493 million by 2010.*
Significant advantages of games on the interactive DVD format include
shorter development periods (typically 4-6 months), smaller teams and
lower overheads in comparison to traditional computer and video games.
The CiRCLE team is a group of highly skilled developers and industry
professionals. Complementing the Smith brothers, COO Martin Carr’s
career includes record-breaking licences such as ‘Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?’, and ‘Pop Idol’. Non-executive chairman and games
industry veteran, Ian Livingstone, is co-founder of ‘Games Workshop’ and
author/co-author of the ‘Fighting Fantasy’ series of interactive books.
CFO, Ian Neal, has also been instrumental in the development and success
of CiRCLE Studio Limited. Appointed to the board in 2005, Ian has worked
intensively alongside Jeremy Heath-Smith since 2003 to set up and
develop CiRCLE. The Group’s brand portfolio now enables it to enjoy a
leading position within this young and dynamic marketplace, with further
licences expected to be confirmed over the coming months.
Commenting on the decision to float on AIM, Jeremy Heath-Smith, Chief
Executive of CiRCLE plc, said: "We are at the forefront of this exciting
new sector; our creative talent is unparalleled and we have a long and
proven track record of bringing commercially successful entertainment
software to the mass-market. We are confident that our expertise,
combined with key brands, will enable us to deliver highly compelling
interactive DVD games - and meaningful returns to shareholders."
* (Source Screen Digest) -
Ends -
For further information:
| CiRCLE plc |
|
| Jeremy Heath-Smith, Chief Executive Officer |
Tel: +44 (0) 1332 545 040 |
 |
www.circle-plc.com |
Media enquiries:
Weekend contact
| Heather Salmond |
+44 (0) 7855 018 606 |
| Chris Lane |
+44 (0) 7899 793 612 |
| Sara Dean |
+44 (0) 7970 415 337 |
Photography
Photographs of Jeremy Heath-Smith (Chief Executive Officer), Martin Carr
(Chief Operating Officer) and Ian Neal (Chief Financial Officer) are
available from Abchurch. To arrange, please contact Sara Dean on 020
7398 7712 or sara.dean@abchurch-group.com
Notes to Editors
CiRCLE is pioneering the emerging interactive DVD marketplace and has
quickly established itself as a major IP holder of global brand names.
The target hardware – the DVD player - is the fastest growing consumer
electronics device in the world. Interactive DVD software exploits the
full capabilities of the DVD player, enabling it to be used as a
multimedia family entertainment system.
 |
