Case study: Rare Limited

Corporate advice in the games industry

In 2002 Pinsent Masons advised Rare Limited on its US$375 million sale to Microsoft. Forty-nine percent of the company was previously owned by Nintendo. This was Microsoft's largest ever UK acquisition.

Chris Stamper, former Chairman of Rare Limited, said:

"When Microsoft approached us to acquire Rare Limited, the business we had founded, it was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. The global spread of the Rare shareholders, located in three continents, made it a complex transaction, and we were impressed with how quickly the Pinsents team were able to get on board, working with multiple parties across the globe and grasping the key commercial and legal issues. We appreciated the clear advice and most importantly bringing the deal to a successful conclusion."