Last month a consortium of Chinese investors led by Shanghai Giant Network Technology Co. agreed to acquire Playtika, the social and mobile gaming branch of Caesars Entertainment Corp., in an all-cash deal of $4,4 billion.
Almost half of Playtika’s staff — 600 out of 1,300 employees operating globally — work in Ukraine, noted Ukrainian high tech blog AIN.UA.
Launched in Ukraine in 2010, the company has R&D centers in Kyiv, Dnipro (formerly known as Dnipropetrovsk) and Vinnytsia, according to the recent report on the Ukrainian IT outsourcing and software R&D capacity.
Playtika also has studios and offices in Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Canada, Japan, Romania and the US.
Commenting on the deal, Playtika’s co-founder and CEO Robert Antokol said: “This transaction is a testament to Playtika’s unique culture and the innovative spirit of our employees who for the past six years have consistently designed, produced and operated some of the most compelling, immersive and creative social games in the world,”
Following the transaction, Playtika will continue to develop independently with its headquarters remaining in Herzliya, Israel.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, and is expected to close in Q3 or Q4 of 2016.