Cherry acquires stake in Highlight Games

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Cherry AB has today signed an agreement to acquire 25% of the gaming technology company, Highlight Games Limited, with an option to acquire a further 26%. Highlight Games offers a unique and patented product, together with multi-year rights to use footage from historical football matches to create unique virtual sports content. With this investment, Cherry further strengthens its position within gaming technology.

Highlight Games was founded in 2014 and develops innovative, sports-focused and IP-protected virtual games for online and retail gaming operators. The company's SOCCER BET product features footage from major European football leagues. Along with exclusive football rights, the company will also deploy games across other sports in line with demand, to the virtual and sports betting market in 2017 and beyond.

Cherry is acquiring 25% of Highlight Games, with an option to acquire a further 26% in three further tranches over the next 18 months. The purchase price for Cherry's initial 25% stake amounts to GBP 2.4 million, with 20% for new issued shares in Highlight Games and 5% purchased from an existing shareholder.

Anders Holmgren, CEO of Cherry, commented, "We believe that Highlight Games has significant development and revenue generating potential, which we can help it achieve within our Gaming Technology business area. We also believe that their unique product can compete with both virtual sports games and traditional slot games. The product is applicable to a variety of markets, which will further diversify Cherry's revenue sources."

Tim Green, CEO of Highlight Games, added, "We are delighted to welcome Cherry as a significant investor in Highlight Games. Cherry becomes a shareholder at an exciting phase in the company's development and will be an important strategic partner as we continue our roll-out of SOCCER BET and our other virtual sports products into our retail, online and mobile customers."