Namco Bandai To Purchase Atari Europe

Namco Bandai has confirmed plans to finalise its acquisition of Atari's European branch after an initial stake last year.

Back in 2008 the Japanese publisher bought a 34 percent stake in the company, and will be acquiring the remaining 66% from parent company Infogrames next month. Sales and marketing staff from Atari Europe will be transferred to the newly formed Distribution Partners, who will handle all titles from Namco Bandai in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

We believe that DP will become a wholly-owned Namco Bandai games company soon, but this process requires time and we will comment further when we have an anticipated closing date. Following the buyout Atari will become US-only brand. The publisher's sole HQ will be headed up by current CEO David Gardner.

David Miller, Atari's European marketing boss.

Thanks to Edge Online.