Last checked at 31 Mar 2015 07:00
31 March 2015
Mercia Technologies PLC
£1m investment in Soccer Manager Ltd
Mercia Technologies PLC (AIM: MERC, "Mercia" or the "Group"), a Midlands-based leader in the funding and commercialisation of technology businesses in the UK, announces that it has made a £1m investment in Soccer Manager Ltd, a Preston-based developer of online football management games.
Soccer Manager was founded in 2004 and launched the multi-player Soccer Manager Worlds a year later. Since its launch, Soccer Manager Worlds has had 10 million registrations and is currently played in 39 languages.
Soccer Manager Ltd will use the investment to fund the development of its latest title, Soccer Manager 2015, which was launched in February 2015. Specifically, the funds will be utilised for marketing, further game development and translation of Soccer Manager 2015 into Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Soccer Manager 2015 is a single-player, multi-platform game that allows users to access their saved games from multiple devices. Users can 'pick up and play' against computer-simulated opponents, whereas Soccer Manager Worlds requires 'real' people to play.
Available on Android, desktop, Google, Facebook and iOS, Soccer Manager 2015 can be updated with new seasons and player transfer windows via its sister Wiki site, soccerwiki.org, and a data pack uploading system. It is currently available in 18 languages and has 800,000 registrations.
Soccer Manager Ltd is the latest direct investment by Mercia into a new "emerging star" from the Group's third party funds managed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Mercia Fund Management ("MFM").
Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer of Mercia Technologies PLC, said:
"Soccer Manager is a scalable business that addresses the global and expanding market for soccer-based gaming, which has an estimated value of more than $100 billion worldwide and an annual compound growth rate of 8%.
"The founders of Soccer Manager have been developing the business for the past nine years and are clearly passionate about two things: soccer and technology. We are delighted to be working with them as they move to the next stage of product development with their most recently launched title, Soccer Manager 2015."
Steven Gore, Operations Manager for Soccer Manager Ltd, said:
"2015 will be a very exciting year for Soccer Manager, as we continue to develop our product portfolio.
"Mercia's investment in our business, as well as the expertise in the digital and gaming sectors provided by their senior team, will provide strong support to our business as we expand our offering globally."
Enquiries:
Mercia Technologies PLC (www.merciatechnologies.com) +44 (0) 330 223 1430
Mark Payton, Chief Executive
Martin Glanfield, Chief Financial Officer
Cenkos Securities +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Ivonne Cantu (Nomad) / Mark Connelly
Instinctif Partners
Adrian Duffield / Kay Larsen / Chantal Woolcock +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
Note to editors
Mercia Technologies PLC
Mercia creates, funds and develops technology businesses nationally with an emphasis in the Midlands and the North of the UK. It brings technology transfer, company formation, incubation, commercialisation and investment, to technology ventures.
Mercia has a well seeded portfolio and pipeline of investments. The Group has a direct investment in 12 operating companies and access to a portfolio of 38 businesses through its third party funds, managed by its wholly owned subsidiary Mercia Fund Management.
Mercia's shares started trading on AIM on 18 December 2014.
Soccer Manager Ltd
Soccer Manager Ltd was founded in October 2004 by Andrew Gore, his brothers Steven and Chris, and Peter Adams. It is a UK-based video game studio developing online games for browser, mobile and tablet.
The company's aim is to provide the world's best football management game, with no barriers to entry.
Soccer Manager Worlds was launched in 2005. It is a tense, turn-based multiplayer contest that pits manager against manager and has over 10 million registered players.
Soccer Manager 2015 was launched in February 2015. It is a fast-paced single player version of the original title.