Churchill Downs Incorporated to Acquire Big Fish Games Big Fish, one of the world's largest producers and distributors of mobile and online games, today announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which CDI will acquire all of the outstanding stock and equity interests of the privately held Big Fish. The transaction is structured on a cash-free/debt-free basis and is valued at up to $885 million, The upfront payment represents a multiple of approximately 8.5-times Big Fish's Adjusted EBITDA (including an adjustment for changes in deferred revenue) for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2014 of $57.3 million. The earn-out payment will be calculated by applying a multiple of 9-times the increase in calendar year 2015 Adjusted EBITDA over a base value of $51.2 million, except that for purposes of the earn-out calculation the adjustment for change in deferred revenue will be reduced by subtracting expected costs associated with such deferred revenue.
"The acquisition of Big Fish and our entry into the rapidly growing mobile and online games industry gives us new products, new customers, new geographies and new sizeable growth opportunities," said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. "While many will view this transaction as a logical extension to what we currently do with Twinspires.com, what is most important to us are the strong team and the processes and capabilities that have been built by Big Fish in Seattle, Oakland, and Luxembourg. We are excited to announce this transaction and believe we will do great things together."
Paul Thelen, Big Fish's founder and CEO said, "We are extremely proud of the company we have built over the last twelve years. Churchill Downs is a company with a commitment to interactive entertainment and a track record of growth and performance. We believe Big Fish is now positioned to become an even greater force in the casual, mid-core and social casino mobile and online games industry. Churchill Downs is a great cultural fit for us and we are thrilled to be joining the Churchill Downs family."
