Ener1 Group to Acquire Game
Developer Nival Interactive US company leverages Russia’s largest game developer
to produce next generation console and wireless games
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – April 6, 2005 –
Ener1 Group, a technology holding company, announced today that its affiliate
has signed an agreement to acquire Moscow-based Nival Interactive LLC., Russia’s
largest video game developer. Ener1 Group plans to integrate Nival Interactive’s
creative studio of 140 artists, designers and programmers with its US-based
video gaming interests to develop next generation console and wireless games.
Ener1 Group also announced that Sergey Orlovskiy, Nival Interactive CEO and
Founder, has been named President of the new company, called Nival Inc., which
will be based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
“Ener1 Group has been looking for
the right opportunity to expand its video game operations. We believe that Nival
Interactive is the ideal platform and that Sergey Orlovskiy is the ideal person
to expand the new company and the Nival Interactive brand as we continue to grow
through future acquisitions,” said Mike Zoi, President of Ener1 Group.
He adds, “Sergey is an exceptional
leader who has built his company from the ground up and it is now selling
millions of video games throughout Europe and the rest of the world. He has
assembled one of the most talented creative teams and his ability to land
distribution and development deals with leading publishers such as Ubisoft shows
his strong business acumen.”
Nival, Inc. will combine the
artistic strengths and the economies of scale offered by an offshore production
team with the cultural and linguistic expertise of North American game
developers to create next generation console (Xbox 2 and PlayStation 3) and
wireless games with universal appeal. Ener1 Group will also provide the company
with entry into the Japanese market, one of the world’s biggest and fastest
growing markets for video and wireless games.
Sergey Orlovskiy, President of Nival,
Inc., stated, “This partnership provides both our companies with the optimal
solution for accomplishing our mutual goals. Ener1 Group’s resources and
international presence will accelerate Nival’s strategy for growth, developing
exceptional and creative content for the interactive entertainment industry,
exploring new distribution opportunities and attracting top talent in the global
marketplace.”
Founded in 1996, Nival Interactive
has developed eight internationally marketed entertainment titles, including
Blitzkrieg published by CDV, a game that has sold more than a million copies
worldwide and set new standards for WWII games and the RTS genre; and the
award-winning Silent Storm series. The company recently announced it is
developing game five of the legendary franchise Heroes of Might and Magic for
Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers.
Nival Interactive has achieved
critical acclaim both at home and abroad winning Best Developer 2005 at the
Russian Game Developers Conference as well as numerous Game of the Month and
Game of the Year awards for its game titles.
About Ener1 Group Ener1 Group, a
privately held, diversified technology investment holding company, understands
how to turn ideas into profits. Through its portfolio of companies, which range
from start-ups to public companies, Ener1 Group offers a range of exciting new
technologies that are poised to make significant contributions to a variety of
industries. For more information about Ener1 Group, Inc., visit
www.ener1group.com.
About Nival Interactive Nival
Interactive is Russia’s leading game developer, and also the largest, with four
development teams and staff of over 140 dedicated professionals and true game
enthusiasts. Since its inception in 1996, Nival Interactive has gained worldwide
recognition from both press and gamers thanks to its impressive lineup of highly
successful titles including the Rage of Mages, Etherlords, Blitzkrieg and Silent
Storm series, backed by a genuine commitment to creativity and innovation. For
more information about Nival Interactive, visit
www.nival.com.
