Ubisoft Acquires SunFlowers

Ubisoft acquires German real-time strategy publisher SunFlowers.

Game giant Ubisoft announced the acquisition of the small German publisher SunFlowers for an undisclosed sum. SunFlowers is famous for its real-time strategy franchises such as Anno, which has sold over 5 million units worldwide, The Settlers and Heroes of Might and Magic. Along with gaining SunFlowers, Ubisoft will receive a 30 percent stake in developer Related Designs, who was responsible for 1701 A.D. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, explained the acquisition. "With the acquisition of Anno, Ubisoft reinforces its position in the real-time strategy market. Anno, along with Ubisoft's The Settlers, is one of the most well known franchises in Germany, reaching a wide audience that includes not only traditional gamers, but also women and families. We are proud to add another top-quality brand to our rich portfolio and we are looking forward to bringing the brand to an even wider audience."

Mr Adi Boiko, co-founder of SunFlowers, added, "I'm glad to confide Anno to Ubisoft, a company known for the innovation and creativity of its development teams. The brand will benefit from Ubisoft's global strength, allowing new audiences to discover the pleasure of empire building through new Anno games."