Antix Attracts UK Investment

The Only Player in the Game - Antix Labs Completes North-East Funding

19th May 2009: Antix Labs Ltd, the British software engineering company has announced an investment in a $3m transaction led by North East venture capital firm NorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI) through its Co-Investment Fund (CoIF). The other principal investors are Hotspur Capital and Antix founder and CEO, Francis Charig.

With its UK offices in Stocksfield in Northumberland, and Reading in Berkshire, Antix Lab’s software platform, the Antix Game Player, allows consumers to play and share casual to premium quality games and other content across a multitude of different mobile phone handsets, as well as PCs, Netbooks and other multimedia devices.

Founder and CEO Francis Charig said, “The future of gaming is based around services and Antix has a major role to play in letting this happen.

“At present, while consumers can buy and then share music and video, they can’t do that with games unless their friends are using an identical device. It’s an unnecessary restriction that limits the industry’s growth, something addressed by the Antix Game Player. In other words, we make games as portable as music and video.”

Peter Davidson, who is responsible for Antix’s Northumberland operation said: “The North East has clear expertise in the digital arena which is why we have increased our activities here.

“We are actively evolving plans of co-operation with the region’s academic institutions, but we’re also targeting gaming businesses seeking to break into the mobile market who need a sustainable business model to be able to participate in the industry’s recent rapid growth. We also want to help those still in education in the region that have the ambition and the skills necessary to be successful in this market place.”

Development of the Antix Game Player began in the summer of 2007, its developer kit was launched in 2008 and first handsets incorporating the Player will be available later in 2009. With $10M already invested in product development, Antix now has multiple commercial licenses with global handset manufacturers and is currently working with numerous games developers and publishers.

Alasdair Greig, Investment Manager at NSEI said: “The Antix Game Player is an innovative and differentiated product with considerable market pull and a clear potential to transform the mobile games industry.

“With a strong board and highly experienced management, a world class engineering team and protected IP, we have every confidence that Antix will continue to build on its achievements to date. This new funding gives the business a healthy working capital in readiness for the launch of the product in the mainstream consumer market.”