Epic Games buys UK's Tonic Games; TeamViewer acquires US-based Upskill

TOP NEWS IN TMT

* Epic Games Inc. acquired London-based developer Tonic Games Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. Tonic Games will be joining the Epic Games team but will continue investing in its self-developed game Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.

* German remote connectivity solutions provider TeamViewer AG acquired U.S.-based augmented reality software company Upskill Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to strengthen TeamViewer's augmented reality solutions.

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TECHNOLOGY

* Accenture PLC agreed to acquire Brazilian robotics and automation company Pollux - Sistemas Industriais de Visão - Hahntel S.A. for an undisclosed sum.

* Upland Software Inc. acquired U.K.'s cloud-based customer data platform developer BlueVenn Ltd., effective Feb. 28. Austin-based Upland, which develops cloud-based tools, paid $51.9 million cash at closing, as well as a $2.4 million cash holdback payable in 12 months, for the deal.

* Swiss sports-focused data company Sportradar AG is in discussions to go public through special purpose acquisition company Horizon Acquisition Corp. II, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources.

* Swiss network services company TalkPool AG finalized the €2.62 million acquisition of all shares in Nordic Proptech Investment Services AB, which owns 100% of the shares in Home Solutions. Home Solutions AB is a smart metering company with 50,000 residential apartments connected in its ecosystem in Sweden.

* Video-on-demand solutions provider Odmedia Holding BV is opening an office in Paris to be headed by Vladimir Gasic, Digital TV Europe reported.

INTERNET & OTT

* The Dutch government has consulted the Dutch Data Protection Authority on whether Google LLC's G Suite Enterprise would be safe to use for government purposes concerning privacy, reported Telecompaper. According to the Ministry of Justice, there is a lack of transparency in how the Alphabet Inc. unit processes the data.

* The British Broadcasting Corp. announced a four-part adaptation of the novel The Girl Before, which is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer streamer in the U.K. and AT&T Inc.'s HBO Max in the U.S.

* Nordic Entertainment Group AB signed a deal to bring streaming service Viaplay's original Nordic productions, including films, sports, children's content and TV series, to Tet's customers in Latvia.

* Amazon.com Inc. launched its e-commerce platform in Poland, carrying over 100 million products, including its own Echo and Echo Dot speakers.

* Belgian fiber optics company Eurofiber NV launched a Point of Presence in Frankfurt, Germany. Following the expansion, international clients will be able to connect directly to Eurofiber's European fiber optic network.

MEDIA

* German media group Gruner + Jahr AG & Co KG acquired a minority share in car buying platform Instamotion, reported Meedia. The deal is being put through via its G+J Digital Ventures GmbH.

* Polska Press CEO Dorota Stanek resigned after state-run oil refiner PKN Orlen SA took over the Polish publication, Reuters reported.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

* Deutsche Telekom AG extended its NarrowBand internet of things roaming to 20 countries. The German operator signed roaming agreements with Vodafone Group PLC, Telia Co. AB, Orange SA, Telenet Group NV/SA, Swisscom AG and Telecom Italia SpA.

* Irish operator eir Ltd.'s eir Business completed its merger with Evros Technology Group for an undisclosed sum.

* The Danish government set aside concerns that the upcoming 5G mobile frequencies auction will mainly benefit TDC A/S, wrote Berlingske. Telecommunications Minister Dan Jørgensen said the March 11 5G auction will be open, fair and transparent.

* European Union member states applying for state aid to improve telecom networks should comply with applicable rules to protect competition, according to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, Reuters reported.

* Ericsson expanded its partnership with Taiwan's Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. Ltd. Under the deal, Ericsson becomes FET's vendor for 5G stand-alone and non-standalone dual-mode 5G Core and Voice over LTE services.

FILM & TV

* The BBC Three channel will resume broadcasting in January 2022.

Click here for a summary of indexes on the MI platform.

Frances Espeso, Anne Freier, Amanda Kelly, Charlotte van Hek and Gerard O'Dwyer contributed to this report.

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