Alantra advises Plug In Digital on its sale to Bridgepoint Development Capital
SECTORTechnology
ServiceM&A
Value €70 million
Paris – Alantra, the global investment banking and asset management specialist, is pleased to announce that it has advised the shareholders of Plug In Digital (“the Company”), a well-known independent digital distributor and publisher of indie video games, on its €70m investment round led by private equity firm Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC).
Bridgepoint Development Capital will become the Company’s majority shareholder and this transaction marks the funds’ first investment in the video games market.
Founded in 2012 by Francis Ingrand, Plug In Digital supports studios and publishers on the global distribution of their games on PC, consoles and mobile. Plug In Digital is a key partner for high-profile companies such as Focus Entertainment, Paradox Interactive, Konami, Nacon, Bandai Namco, Raw Fury and Curve Digital. The Company’s noteable video games include Dead Cells, FURI and Ghost of a Tale. Plug In Digital also operates as a video game publisher with two distinct labels — Dear Villagers, built around a distinctive, playful and audacious editorial line on PC and console; and PID Publishing, calibrated for flexible publishing and co-publishing on all platforms.
The funds raised in this transaction will support Plug In Digital’s plans to scale up and become one of the leading independent video games distributors and publishers.
With a team of 35 professionals across Europe, Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC), the mid-cap fund of the international private equity group Bridgepoint, is specialized in supporting the international development of small and medium-sized companies.
This transaction marks Alantra’s fourth gaming deal in 2021, following Focus Entretainment’s acquisition of Dotemu in August, Aspyr Media’s sale to Embracer Group in April and Asobo Studio’s sale of a minority stake to Sagard NewGen in February.
Olivier Guignon, Managing Partner at Alantra, said: “We are thrilled to have assisted the shareholders of Plug In Digital on this very important step in their hypergrowth journey. Francis Ingrand and his team have built a truly unique company in the sector with great opportunities ahead of them. This deal is a milestone for Alantra in the video games sector, having have raised over €1.1 billion over the last 18 months.”
