In a move that the company boasted will "significantly boost its international operations and serve as the foundation for rapid expansion of its pan- European publishing and distribution business," Activision has acquired CentreSoft Limited, a UK software distributor, and NBG Distribution, a German-based software distributor.

　　Activision issued approximately 2.8 million of its shares to the shareholders of CentreSoft's parent company in a stock-for-stock exchange, an exchange worth approximately US$44 million. The deal closed on November 26.

　　CentreSoft and its subsidiaries reported revenues of approximately $70.2 million and operating income of approximately $4.0 million for its last fiscal year, which ended April 30, 1997. Activision stated that 58 percent of CentreSoft's revenues during the period were derived from Sony PlayStation-related products.

　　NBG shareholders received approximately 281,000 shares of Activision stock (worth approximately $4.4 million). That deal also closed on November 26.

　　The acquisition of NBG allows Activision to establish direct-to-retail distribution capabilities in Germany, the second largest market for PC CD-ROM interactive entertainment in the world. NBG's founders, Detlef Erhardt and Ingrid Herrmann, have inked deals to remain with Activision.

　　For the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1997, NBG reported revenues of approximately $19.3 million and operating income of approximately $400,000.

　　Activision sees the deals as a way to "(establish) a fully integrated European publishing operation and...distribution network," the company said.

　　Earlier this year, Activision acquired game developer Raven Software and Take Us! Marketing & Consulting, a German product marketing, localization, and translation firm.