Templeton acquires stake in JoWooD

Investee Company – JoWooD Productions Software AG (Austria)

Investee Company Business Type – Entertainment software specialist

Type of Financing – Expansion

Equity Providers – Templeton Emerging Markets Group

Equity Leader (Individual) – N/A

Debt Providers – N/A

Debt Type – N/A

Debt Leader (Individual) – N/A

Equity Amount – Undisclosed

Total Deal Value – Undisclosed

Other Advisors – CAIB, as lead manager and Q-Investment Services Ltd, as selling agent.

Comments – Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets Fund, a private equity fund managed by the Templeton Emerging Markets Group has aquired a stake in JoWooD Productions Software AG, an internationl entertainment software specialist.

JoWooD, headquartered in Rottenmann, Austria, has established itself as one of the leading brands for CD ROM games in the German-speaking market. JoWooD focuses on sophisticated simulation and strategy games for PCs.

CEO and company founder Andreas Tobler said: “Templeton’s decision to invest in HOWooD represents a highly attractive opportunity for us, both in terms of know-how and international networking. We expect this partnership to contribute decisive value in the implementation of our ambitious growth strategy. For this reason – and subject to the approval of the General Meeting – a Templeton representative shall be elected onto our Supervisory Board.”

Mark Mobius, head of the Templeton Emerging Markets Group, said: “Our objective is to gain exposure to the growing gaming software industry. Having done detailed analysis on a wide range of players in the sector, we finally decided to invest in JoWooD. Our decision was driven by the company’s excellent management as well as its promising game backlog (pipeline), which we are convinced, will result in high growth going forward.”