PRESS RELEASE
Canadian toy manufacturer Round 5 Corporation (Round 5) in partnership with licensing agents Studio Licensing Inc and Established Brands Inc., announces multi-year exclusive licensing agreement to manufacture and produce certain categories of toys under the popular Cut The Rope brand.
Round 5 will have exclusive rights to manufacture and produce various leading toy categories including figures, plush, and playsets that will reflect the dynamic versatility of the brand and its loveable star, Om Nom, with distribution across North America, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Products will be available in most major retail outlets starting Spring 2013, while a select group of products will ship to major department stores and specialty boutiques around the world in time for Holiday 2012.
Founded in 2007 by brothers Damon and Barron Lau, Round 5 is a niche player that established itself in the toy and games category with the highly successful product offerings under the global Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bruce Lee licenses.
"Cut the Rope's global reach and Om Nom's ability to generate a significant connection with each player makes the property one of the most exciting new brands in the marketplace. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with ZeptoLab to bring a line of cutting edge products to the market that not only reflect the sensibility of the game but also enhance it," says Round 5 President, Damon Lau.
Since its launch in October 2010, Cut the Rope has been one of the fastest selling games of all time on the iTunes App store and the first iOS game to win a BAFTA Award, as well as an Apple Design Award, amongst others. Cut the Rope is now a top five bestseller, with over 100 million downloads across both iOS and Android-based smartphones and tablets. At the heart of this acclaimed puzzle game is the adorable pint sized monster, Om Nom, who has an insatiable appetite for candy.
"As we build Cut the Rope into a broader entertainment franchise, toys are a key category for us. The Round 5 team brings a level of creativity and innovation to the property that fit well with our vision of how our game translates into on shelf product," says Misha Lyalin, CEO of ZeptoLab.
Through the worldwide phenomenon of Cut the Rope and its lovable baby monster named Om Nom, the company has redefined gaming with unique, physics-based gameplay that capitalizes on touch technology. Cut the Rope has been an instant success since its debut in 2010, remains a top app on multiple platforms, and has been downloaded more than 100 million times.
