GameStop to Acquire 49 Free Record Locations in Norway
Global Video Game Retailer Strengthens its Nordic Market Position
GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2008--GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today announced that it has agreed to purchase 100% of the outstanding share capital of Free Record Shop Norway.
Free Record shops in Norway will be transitioned to the GameStop brand, significantly bolstering the company's presence within the Nordic region. GameStop operates over 5,000 locations worldwide. Following the acquisition of the 49 locations, the company will operate a total of 160 locations throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
R. Richard Fontaine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GameStop, commented, "We are pleased to have worked with Hans Breukhoven and his entire management team at Free Record Shop to complete this acquisition. We look forward to expanding our productive business model in the Norwegian market and partnering with the knowledgeable and energetic store personnel at Free Record Shop. This transaction is another step in our strategy of bringing move video game stores to growth markets around the world."
Hans Breukhoven, Chief Executive Officer of Free Record Shop Holding, commented, "Free Record Shop is very satisfied with this agreement and the excellent opportunity that this sale presents us to make further investments to expand and establish our retail position in the Benelux. Besides that we are very pleased that our esteemed sales staff found employment in the GameStop organization and can help them with their planned growth."
The transaction is expected to close in early April. About GameStop Corp.
Headquartered in Grapevine, TX, GameStop Corp. is the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. The company operates over 5,000 retail stores across the United States and in fifteen international countries. The company also operates two e-commerce sites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes Game Informer(R) magazine, a leading multi-platform video game publication. GameStop Corp. sells new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise.
General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website at http://www.gamestop.com/corporate. Further information on the company's operations in the European Union can be obtained at www.gamestop.eu.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the outlook for the company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of GameStop's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause GameStop's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in GameStop's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2007 filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
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SOURCE: GameStop Corp.