Quazal Closes Strategic Investment Round
MONTRÉAL, CANADA (September 21, 2005) -- Quazal, makers of the Net-Z and Rendez-Vous online multiplayer middleware technologies, today announced that it has received an undisclosed sum of funding from Collar Capital, La Caisse de DépTMt et de Placement du Québec, Fondaction CSN and Viavar Capital. The company will use the investments to accelerate product development and capitalize on increased demand in the multiplayer middleware market.
"The financial commitment from these first-class partners is a tremendous validation of our business potential," said Sylvain Beaudry, Chief Executive Officer at Quazal. "Quazal's rapid expansion continues as marked by our stellar results. With the additional funding, Quazal will be able to consolidate its technological leadership position, as well as to execute its ambitious plan for the next generation of consoles."
As a growing number of titles are being developed using its technology, Quazal will further expand its renowned high-quality developer services. Quazal is committed to the new console generation, providing online services to leverage the difference between PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox and PC gaming platforms for game developers. Quazal also intends to bring additional functionalities and services that go beyond the core online lobby services such as ranking and matchmaking, and into revenue-generating services for publishers.
"We are excited by the Company's momentum in the online gaming market and we firmly support Quazal's vision and its proven ability to execute on that vision," said Dominique Bélanger, Principal at Multiple Capital, representing the interests of Collar Capital.
About Quazal
Quazal is the leading supplier of multiplayer middleware solutions for the entertainment industry. World-class publishers such as Atari, Capcom, Crave, Eidos, JoWooD, THQ and Ubisoft are joining the ranks of dozens of studios and independent developers that use Quazal's products to propel the next generation of multiplayer games. In 2000, Quazal revolutionized network programming by rendering obsolete the traditional packet/socket paradigm. Programmers now have access to network-aware C++ objects that automatically synchronize themselves across any possible topology: client/server, peer-to-peer or hybrid. More recently, Quazal launched a fully featured lobby service, widely regarded as the most innovative and flexible offering on the market. Quazal's products are currently available for "PlayStation®2", "PlayStation®Portable", Xbox®, Xbox® 360, Windows®, Pocket PC, and Linux. For more information and demonstrations visit http://www.quazal.com.
Multiple Capital
Multiple Capital oversees the development and the valuation of the portfolio of Lothian Partners 27 SARL, an affiliate of Coller Capital of London, UK. Multiple Capital works closely with portfolio companies and its partners in order to find the best solution for their growth: follow-on financing round, merger, acquisition or public offering. The portfolio under its management is composed of more than 72 companies at different stages of development in information technology, telecommunications, electronics and life sciences, located mostly in Eastern Canada, with a strong presence in Montreal and Ottawa. Multiple Capital's partner team is known for their technology and business savvy, and their knowledge of the Canadian market. For more information, please visit www.multiplecapital.com.
About the Caisse de dépTMt et placement du Québec
The Caisse de dépTMt et placement du Québec is a financial institution that manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2004, it held CA$102.4 billion of net assets. The leading institutional fund manager in Canada, the Caisse invests in the main financial markets as well as in private equity and real estate. Its private equity unit focuses mainly on companies that offer predictable current income for its infrastructure portfolio. The Caisse partners with dynamic companies in various sectors, offering them a wide range of financing products, mainly equity investments and loans. As at December 31, 2004, the private equity portfolios held more than 600 investments in funds and companies, for CA$10.2 billion of net assets.
About Fondaction CSN
Founded in 1996, Fondaction, le Fonds de développement de la CSN pour la coopération et l'emploi, is in venture capital oprations to further develop Quebec's economy. Fondaction represents over 56 000 shareholders. Last May 2004, it showed net assets of $ 334M, with $ 172M in investments demonstrating a direct impact on Quebec economy. Close to a hundred businesses, from all sectors of economic activity, have Fondaction as a financial partner. Fondaction shows involvement in all the development stages of a company. It focuses on businesses subscribing to participative management processes, those targeting social economy (self-controlled, cooperative or others) and those involved in environmental issues. www.fondaction.com