RealNetworks Announces Support for Acquisition of Rhapsody International, Inc. by MelodyVR Group PLC

Rhea-AI Summary

RealNetworks supports the acquisition of Rhapsody International, operating as Napster, by MelodyVR Group for approximately $70M. RealNetworks owns an 84% stake in Napster. The deal includes $15M in cash, $11M in stock, and $44M in assumed obligations. The acquisition aims to merge Napster with MelodyVR, enhancing live virtual reality music experiences. The transaction is set to close in Q4 2020, and RealNetworks plans to discuss the economic benefits during its Q3 earnings call.

Positive

• RealNetworks retains an ongoing stakeholder position in MelodyVR's success.
• Transaction combines Napster's platform with MelodyVR, potentially expanding market reach.

Negative

• Approximate $44M in payment obligations assumed by MelodyVR may pose future financial risks.

SEATTLE, Aug. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced its support for the acquisition of Rhapsody International, Inc., which does business as Napster, by MelodyVR Group PLC. RealNetworks is the majority owner of Napster, with an approximate 84% stake. MelodyVR Group PLC, the leading creator of live virtual reality music experiences, intends to combine its MelodyVR subsidiary with Napster to create a new differentiated entity. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.

"Rhapsody and Napster have travelled a long and winding road," said Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO of RealNetworks and Chairman of Napster. "We first became involved with Rhapsody when we acquired Listen.com in 2003, and then Rhapsody acquired Napster in 2011. We are proud of our stewardship of this pioneering business and iconic brand, and grateful for the hard work by the entire Napster team to keep the torch alive all of these years. We're delighted to pass the baton to Anthony Matchett and the innovative team at MelodyVR. We'll continue to root for Napster and are pleased that we'll be ongoing stakeholders in MelodyVR's success."

"Going forward, Real will continue to focus the operations of Real on our primary growth initiatives, such as our SAFR computer vision platform and our GameHouse free-to-play casual games business," Glaser continued. "We will also continue to nurture innovation, for example our Scener watch party service and platform."

Rhapsody was the first on-demand streaming music service to offer monthly subscribers unlimited access to a massive library of digital music. It was also the first music service to provide content from the top five major record labels of the time. RealNetworks acquired the Rhapsody service in August of 2003. In 2010 Rhapsody began operating as an independent entity, rebranding itself in 2016 as Napster, followed by a pivot to the "Powered by Napster" B2B strategy, which focused on selling the Napster music Platform-as-a-Service.

The Napster platform began 2020 with over 3 million users on four continents, delivering more than 90 million licensed tracks to consumers and the many B2B and Platform-as-a-Service partners. It served 10.8 billion streams in 2019 with revenues of $113 million.

The price of the acquisition is approximately $70M, comprising $15M in cash, $11M in MelodyVR stock, and assumption by MelodyVR of approximately $44M in payment obligations, primarily to various music industry entities. Consideration payable to RealNetworks is subject to a $3M escrow and certain further indemnity claims, as well as contingent consideration obligations associated with its acquisition of Columbus Nova's 42% stake in Napster in January of 2019. Real intends to provide additional details regarding the expected economic benefits to Real of this transaction at its Q3 earnings call in early November, or sooner if the MelodyVR transaction closes before then.

About RealNetworks
Building on a legacy of digital media expertise and innovation, RealNetworks has created a new generation of products that employ best-in-class artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance and secure our daily lives. SAFR (www.safr.com) is the world's premier facial recognition platform for live video. Leading in real-world performance and accuracy as evidenced in testing by NIST, SAFR enables new applications for security, convenience, and analytics. For information about our other products, visit www.realnetworks.com.

RealNetworks is a registered trademark of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

For More Information:

Investor Relations for RealNetworks
Kimberly Orlando, Addo Investor Relations
310-829-5400
IR@realnetworks.com
RNWK-F

 

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SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.

FAQ

What is the acquisition cost for Rhapsody International by MelodyVR Group?

The acquisition cost is approximately $70M, including cash, stock, and payment obligations.

What stake does RealNetworks hold in Napster after the acquisition?

RealNetworks holds an 84% stake in Napster.

When is the acquisition of Rhapsody International expected to close?

The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.

What will happen to Napster after the acquisition by MelodyVR?

Napster will be combined with MelodyVR to create a new, differentiated entity.

What are RealNetworks' future plans post-acquisition?

RealNetworks will focus on its growth initiatives, such as the SAFR platform and GameHouse.