Hall & Wilcox advises Big Ant Studios on its €35 million acquisition by French-based acquirer

Hall & Wilcox has advised sports video game maker Big Ant Studios on its €35 million acquisition by French-based company Nacon SA.

Under the deal, Big Ant Studios, one of Australia’s oldest independent game developers, will be able to develop its sports games, including those featuring tennis, cricket, the AFL and rugby, for a global audience.

Hall & Wilcox negotiated all transaction documents and worked with French law firm Fidal on advising the client on a memorandum of understanding involving Free Shares (the French equivalent to the Australian Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP)).

Hall & Wilcox Partner Oliver Jankowsky led the deal team, supported by lawyers Jasmine Koh and Ben McIver. Partner Frank Hinoporos advised on the tax aspects of the matter, while Partner Alison Baker advised on employment matters.

Partner Oliver Jankowsky said, ‘The international M&A market is very active at the moment and this was one of a number of international transactions we have advised on recently. One of the advantages of being an independent leading Australian law firm is that this allows us to pick the appropriate worldwide advisers to support our clients on international deals. This particular transaction demonstrated that international M&A deals are possible while Australia’s borders remain closed. The deal represented a great opportunity for our client to broaden the audience for its sports games.’

Big Ant CEO Ross Symons said, ‘Oliver and the Hall & Wilcox team provided timely and commercially focused advice. The team had experience in dealing with foreign parties which helped drive the deal to a successful conclusion.’

Hall & Wilcox is a leading independent Australian law firm of around 750 people including over 90 partners, delivering outstanding legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients, both Australian-based and those offshore doing business in Australia.