Sega Sammy Holdings to buy Angry Birds maker for $776 million

Video game maker Sega Sammy Holdings. offered to buy Rovio Entertainment Oyj in a deal that values the Finland-based creator of Angry Birds at about €706 million ($776 million).

Sega offered €9.25 per share in cash to the shareholders and €1.48 per option to the option holders of Rovio, according to a statement on Monday. The Finnish company’s board unanimously recommended shareholders accept the offer that is backed by 49 per cent of shareholders, including Rovio’s founding Hed family.

Rovio shares rose as much as 19 per cent to trade at €9.16 each as of 12:00 pm in Helsinki on Monday. The stock has surged more than 50 per cent for the year to date amid deal speculation. Sega fell as much as 6.1 per cent in Tokyo on Monday.