Atari, SA

Atari, SA
Public (Euronext: ATA)
Industry Software & programming
Founded June 1983 (as Infogrames Entertainment, SA)
Headquarters Paris, France
Key people
Frédéric Chesnais (Chairman and CEO)
Laurence Betito (CFO)
Denis Bunma (Legal counsel)
Products Centipede: Infestation
Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale
Neverwinter Nights
Yars' Revenge
Test Drive Unlimited 2
Revenue Increase €7.6 million (2014-15)
Increase €1.5 million (2014-15)
Increase €1.2 million (2014-15)
Total assets Increase €8.8 million (2014-15)
Total equity Increase €-13.3 million (2014-15)[1]
Subsidiaries Atari, Inc., Atari Interactive
Website www.atari.com

Atari, SA (ASA) is an international French holding company headquartered in Paris, France. It was originally called Infogrames Entertainment, SA (IESA). Its subsidiaries include Atari London Studio, Atari Interactive and Atari, Inc..[2] Because of continuing pressures upon the company, and difficulty finding investors, it sought bankruptcy protection under French law in January 2013; its subsidiaries in the United States have sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection there as well.[3] All three subsidiaries have since exited bankruptcy, and are all going through a vigorous turnaround campaign.

Transition from Infogrames Entertainment

During their fiscal year meeting (May 2009), IESA announced that it would be changing its corporate name to an Atari-branded name, in line with the use of the name for its subsidiaries. In reference to this, Atari, Inc.'s CEO Jim Wilson said: "We've gotten rid of the Infogrames and Atari duality, the confusion around that. We are one simplified company, under one management team, under one brand."[4]

Infogrames' May 29 earnings report stated:

The Board agreed to change Infogrames Entertainment’s name to Atari. This decision will enable us to make the best use of the Atari brand, capitalizing on worldwide strong name recognition and affinity, which are keys drivers to implement the Company’s online, product and licensing strategies.[5]

A later July 24 earnings press release further clarified a name change from the May 29 report, with a change from Infogrames Entertainment, SA to Atari, SA It additionally stated the continued use of Atari Group for its Atari-branded and related subsidiaries.[6]

On April 19, 2010, Atari, SA announced Nolan Bushnell along with Tim Virden would join the company's Board of Directors.[7]

As of March 31, 2011, the Board of Directors consisted of Frank Dangeard, Jim Wilson, Tom Virden, Gene Davis, Alexandra Fichelson.[8]
Jim Wilson (COO)[8]

As of August 2014, the Board of Directors consisted of Frédéric Chesnais (chairman), Frank Dangeard, Tom Virden, Erik Euvrard, and Alyssa Padia Walles.[9]

BlueBay restructuring

On October 21, 2010, Atari announced Atari's reference shareholders BlueBay Value Recovery (Master) Fund Limited and BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund Limited are exploring a disposal of the shares and equity-linked instruments held by them.[10] However, BlueBay shareholders later interrupted the sale process of its holding in Atari.[11] BlueBay later converted the conversion of a portion of the ORANEs held by them.[12]

In 2012, Atari, SA, BlueBay Value Recovery (Master) Fund Limited, and The BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund Limited reached an agreement following their negotiations regarding the restructuring of the debt and capital structure of the Atari group. As part of the agreement, the €20.9 million Credit Facility Agreement was extinguished via €10.9 million loan forgiveness from BlueBay Value Recovery (Master) Fund Limited and Atari's payment of €10 million; the cancellation of the dilutive effect of the ORANEs held by BlueBay; €20 million capital increases to be submitted to the vote of Atari shareholders (of which €10 million with preferential subscription right).[13]

Bankruptcy

On January 21, 2013, Atari, Inc., Atari Interactive, Inc., Humongous, Inc. and California US Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the "Companies") filed petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.[14] All three Ataris emerged from bankruptcy one year later and the entering of the social casino gaming industry with Atari Casino.[15] Frédéric Chesnais, who now heads all three companies, stated their entire operations consist of a staff of 10 people.[16]

Turnaround strategy

In 2015, Atari announced a turnaround strategy that would focus on re-releasing the catalog of Atari games. The strategy is focused on " download games, MMO games, mobile games and licensing activities, based in priority around traditional franchises."

Projects currently in production or included in the turnaround strategy include:

Business strategy

Atari's overall strategy has four main focuses:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Atari, SA Annual Report 2014-2015 (PDF)
  2. "Anthony Jacobson and Pierre Hintze Hire Release FINAL" (Press release). Atari. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  3. "Nocookies". The Australian.
  4. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174457
  5. http://corporate.atari.com/MT-3.34-en/mt-static/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/052909PR_FY09_earnings_GB_FINAL2.pdf p. 2
  6. http://corporate.atari.com/MT-3.34-en/mt-static/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/D2-072409PR_FY09_1Q_revenues_GB_FINAL.pdf
  7. Nolan Bushnell, Tom Virden, Join Atari Board of Directors, That Gaming Site, 19 April 2010
  8. 1 2 Atari, SA Annual Report 2010-2011 (PDF)
  9. "Atari, SA Corporate Governance". Atari. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  10. Reuters Editorial (21 October 2010). "Atari: Proposed transfer by BlueBay of its holding in ATARI". Reuters.
  11. Reuters Editorial (31 January 2011). "BlueBay to interrupt the sale process of its holding in Atari". Reuters.
  12. 1ST HALF OF FY 2011/2012 RESULTS Unaudited preliminary data – Ongoing audit process Approved by the Board of Directors on November 4, 2011.
  13. Atari, SA and BlueBay reached a agreement for the restructuring of the debt and capital structure of the group
  14. "Atari Files For Chapter 11 To Separate From French Parent". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  15. Brett Molina (March 26, 2014). "Atari resets with jump into social casino gaming". USA Today. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  16. "Atari and FlowPlay team up to offer social casino games - GamesBeat - Games - by Dean Takahashi". VentureBeat.
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