THQ Nordic acquires Koch Media

THQ Nordic AB has today entered into an agreement to acquire Koch Media in a deal totaling EUR 121 million on a cash and debt free basis. Closing of the Transaction is expected to take place later today.

THQ Nordic was previously known as Nordic Games before changing its name in 2016 following the acquisition of a number of THQ properties. Now, it has regained some of the former THQ franchises back under the company name.

Koch Media’s Games business area comprises the game developer and publishing label Deep Silver which owns the IP to Dead Island, Metro (exclusive licence), Saints Row, Risen, Homefront, and Agents of Mayhem amongst others. Since 2002, Deep Silver has released more than 200 games, including its own brands, such as Saints Row IV, the Dead Island series, and the role-playing series Risen. Furthermore, the label has published titles such as the post-apocalyptic Metro: Redux and Brian Fargo’s classic RPG Wasteland 2.

Deep Silver owns three development studios: Deep Silver Volition in the US, Deep Silver Fishlabs in Germany, and Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in the UK.

THQ Nordic says it will closely monitor and delegate resources to support Koch Media’s Games business in order to ensure quality and a healthy return on investment on its large in-house development projects. Following less successful launches in recent years with substantial write-offs in the business area (primarily Agents of Mayhem and Homefront), Koch Media has made significant organisational changes in its management, internal steering and control, technology, as well as its selection process for development of IPs. Under new management, Koch Media says it will be better positioned to deliver the full potential of its development projects in the future.

Koch Media was founded in 1994 by Dr. Klemens Kundratitz and key management and has remained an entrepreneurial company since. Dr. Kundratitz will remain as CEO of the company and becomes a THQ Nordic shareholder.

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