Ultra PRO International has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Playroom Entertainment, the game company responsible for Killer Bunnies, Geek Out!, and other games, the companies announced today.  Playroom founder Dan Rowen will join Ultra PRO as Director of Playroom Entertainment and manage the Playroom portfolio for Ultra PRO.

This is the fourth acquisition announced by Ultra PRO in the past 13 months.  Previous acquisitions included Jolly Roger Games (see “Upper Deck Acquires Jolly Roger Games”); Ruby Mine, makers of TableTopics (see “Ultra Pro Acquires Ruby Mine, Inc.”); and licensing rights to the game portfolio of Stone Blade Games, including Ascension (see “Ultra PRO Licenses Stone Blade Games' Tiitles”).

Sean Lashgari, Senior Director of Ultra PRO’s entertainment division talked about the assembly of the Ultra PRO portfolio.  “This will truly complement the existing titles and our overall Ultra PRO Entrainment portfolio,” he said.  “With this acquisition, we now have a solid, diversified foundation in our Entertainment Division, and we plan to leverage our global distribution network and expand our market reach to accelerate growth.”

Playroom founder Rowen described the benefits of the acquisition from his viewpoint.  “With Ultra PRO’s global reach, incredible resources, and valuable relationships with manufacturing, and licensing partners, this is the start of an exciting next level for Playroom,” he said.

Immediate post-closing impacts will include new inventory investments to ensure deep stock levels of Playroom product lines and pursuing products that have been in development.  Several long-delayed products, including Sitting Ducks Deluxe (see “’Playroom Plans ‘Sitting Ducks’ 10th Anniversary Edition”), the Cthulhu-themed Unspeakable Words Deluxe (see “’Unspeakable Words’ Deluxe Edition”), Geek Out! Family Edition (see “New ‘Geek Out!’ Editions”) will now be released, plus Pass the Pandas, an all-ages social game.