Infogrames Entertainment SA said Thursday that it had won an exclusive agreement to distribute Sega Corp. games in Europe and Australia, in a deal the company estimated would add E100 million ($86.1 million) in annual sales over the next two years.
The agreement gives Infogrames, Europe's biggest video-game maker, the right to market and distribute 13 games by Sega, including "Sonic" and "Virtual Striker 3" for two years, Bruno Bonnell, Infogrames's chief executive, told Bloomberg News.
Separately, Infogrames said it planned to reduce its work force by 20 percent, or 400 people, this year as it reorganizes businesses to focus on three product lines - action games, family oriented games and racing.
The company, which has 2,000 workers, said it planned to separate some units from Infogrames, such as its storage unit. Infogrames will also cut its production centers to three from five, Mr. Bonnell said. About 340 people will leave Infogrames and work for the new companies created, and 60 others will lose their jobs.
SOURCE:
International Herald Tribune
