Sega Sammy to buy Angry Birds maker Rovio for 706 million euros

Japan’s Sega Sammy Holdings Inc said on Monday it planned to acquire Finland’s Rovio Entertainment Oyj for 706 million euros ($776 million) to spur its growth in the fast-expanding global mobile gaming market.

Sega Sammy will offer 9.25 euros for each share of the company behind the mobile game Angry Birds, a 19% premium over Friday’s closing price, in its tender offer bid set to be launched around May 8.

“In the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been Sega’s long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field,” Sega Sammy CEO Haruki Satomi said in a statement.