Rovio aiming for Hong Kong IPO in 2013

Fri 16 Dec 2011 11:40am GMT / 6:40am EST / 3:40am PST
MobileBusiness

Angry Birds dev believes it can be as big as Disney

Rovio Entertainment

Angry Birds developer Rovio is planning an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2013.

According to a report on Reuters, the company's chief marketing officer, Peter Vesterbacka, told Finnish publication Tekniikka&Talous that its IPO would be issued in Hong Kong, with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange to follow two or three years later.

Rovio plans to launch 5 or 6 new games based on the Angry Birds IP next year, and Vesterbacka stated his belief that, in the long-term, the company could grow to the size of the Walt Disney Corporation.

"That is the target," he said. "There is no reason why we should not be able to build a company of that size."

Vesterbacka also revealed that the company's revenues in 2011 would be around $100 million, a vast improvement over the $10 million earned in 2010.

17 Comments

Rick Lopez
illustrator, designer, DJ

Vesterbacka talks big... Im just waiting to see if Rovio can make a game thats not an angrybirds title.

Posted:A year ago

#1

Tim Carter
Designer - Writer - Producer

They believe they can be as big as Disney?

It takes more than one hit franchise to be as big as Disney. Disney was founded by Walt Disney - who was a genius as an entertainment producer.

Rovio only has one videogame under its belf.

I'm sorry, but you have to pay your dues.

Posted:A year ago

#2

Dr. Chee Ming Wong

Opus Artz Ltd

I keep saying. the masterplan must be Plush toys of each bird. Angry bird playgrounds, Angry bird musicals...muah hahahaha!

Posted:A year ago

#3

Nick McCrea
Gentleman

Pocket Starship

Even if you were possessed of sufficient crazy to actually think this, why would you go ahead and actually say it out loud? Unless the level of crazy required to think it renders any brain-mouth filtering null and void.

Posted:A year ago

#4

Terence Gage
Freelance writer

They actually sound more and more deluded with every statement they make pertaining to their own worth...

Posted:A year ago

#5

Rob Craig
Instructor / Writer

Agreeing with Nick, this is the most absurd statement. The ego is clearly inflated. Angry Birds was that hit that came at the perfect (and lucky) time. My opinion, Rovio will be lucky if they are still relevant enough to be listed on the NYSE. Are they talking 2015/2016? And to the point of Disney: Disney had a 7.5 Billion net income in 2010. 2011 revenues for Rovio estimated at 100M? Rovio should be proud they can stand up to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts revenue.

Posted:A year ago

#6

Joey Lapegna
Producer & Game Designer

XMG Studio

Rovio doesn't have the vision to be in the same league of Disney. Angry Birds has become a corporate machine all on it's own. They are just a big style guide and a butt load of merchandise. The more they disillusion themselves by thinking otherwise, the closer they get to ruining what they've created.

Posted:A year ago

#7

Mark Dygert
Lead Character Animator

Her Interactive

Wow... they seem pretty out of touch. Or is it like saying "but I'm a really big rockstar in Japan!" after someone says "but I've never heard of your band..."


Posted:A year ago

#8

Klaude Thomas
CEO

Red Redemption

He has an optimism bias attached to a great vested interest in appearing totally confident. His puffery is thus sane.

Okay, I confess I just read these Rovio articles for fun.

Posted:A year ago

#9

Paul Trowe
President & CEO

Replay Games

Wow, you guys just LOVE to hate on people don't you? Why don't you have anything positive to say like "I wish them the best of luck!" or "I hope they DO get bigger than Disney!" It would good for the entire industry, not just for Rovio. #thinkbig #dream #donth8

Posted:A year ago

#10

Oliver Birch
Director of Marketing

Hothead Games

Well said Paul!

Posted:A year ago

#11

Andrew Goodchild

I don't know if he believes Rovio will become bigger than Disney. To be honest I don't think that matters. What matters is convincing enough Hong Kong investers they have the balls to try. It doesn't even really matter if they reach the New York Stock Exchange. Right now Angry Birds is apparently massive in China, people will get caught by the hype, and current investers will cash out big. Then they either do grow, or they crash leaving some very rich pre ipo investers. And of those caught in the hype, very few won't realise it's high risk, and also I expect a lot of management will change within a year or two.

Posted:A year ago

#12

Tim Carter
Designer - Writer - Producer

@Paul: It's never positive to enable a person's self-delusions. It's not positive at all to be "supportive" when a person says nonsense. All they have is a hit game. You can't just hire or acquire your way into the size of Disney: you need vision. Who is this great visionary at Rovio?

Posted:A year ago

#13

Dr. Chee Ming Wong

Opus Artz Ltd

Rovio Birdland Sanctuary Theme Park perhaps

Posted:A year ago

#14

Bostjan Troha
CEO

Zootfly

@Paul: Because we're not in a kindergarten. We're adults, and if an adult says something as outlandish (and I am really trying hard to be polite here) along the lines of Betles' "we're bigger than Jesus" , it is correct to point out the utter lack of any perspective.

Posted:A year ago

#15

Craig Page
Programmer

What "Angry Birds IP"??? The story doesn't make sense, and after you've played the first one the rest are boring.

What kind of plan is this anyway? They want to take a mediocre game and Guitar Hero it to death with 5 to 6 more releases? Hey if the Rovio job doesn't work out for you Vesterbacka, you're more than qualified to go market Yahoo into the ground too.

Posted:A year ago

#16

Adam Yaure
Studying MSc Games Programming

University of Hull

My family is ordering angry birds cake for xmas :D
Kids love the characters. Nice to have long term targets and Good luck to them!
I would love to play non angry birds games with angry birds characters.

Posted:A year ago

#17

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