EVENT DETAILS

LAVA Special Event
Funding the Future of the Video Game Industry

Tuesday May 11, 2010
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (map)

Generously Sponsored by:

Please join LAVA, Stubbs Alderton Markiles, PricewaterhouseCoopers and a distinguished panel of video game industry experts for their insights on capital sources for video game companies.

Themes:

• Description of current subsectors of the video game industry and how they are financed
• Capital Formation for Video Game Companies
• Capital Sources for Video Game Companies

Special focus on:

• Trends and investment opportunities (social games, social networking technologies and innovation, iPhone/iPad etc)
• Challenges for early-stage capital formation for game companies (especially content-oriented companies); recent success stories
• Old model vs new models
• Alternative methods for financing games outside of the traditional publisher model

Moderators

• Steve Goldstein, Senior Counsel, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP

Current Confirmed Panelists

• Brandon Beck, CEO, RIOT (Entrepreneur/Founder of Game Company)
• Marc Jackson, Founder & CEO, Seahorn Capital Group
• Christie Forgash, Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Anthony Jacobson, Vice President Business Development, Atari
  
  

Moderator Profiles

Steve Goldstein Senior Counsel Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP Steve Goldstein is a Senior Counsel of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP.  Prior to rejoining the Firm, Steve acted as Director of Business Development and General Counsel for Flagship Studios, Inc. from 2005 until 2008.  Steve co-founded and served as President, Americas & Europe for, Ping0 LLC, a digital publishing and online operations subsidiary of Flagship.  Additionally, Steve managed the founding of the Ping0, LLC affiliate, Ping0 Interactive Limited, an Ireland company. Steve’s practice concentrates on advising clients within the video game industry on a variety of issues, including the negotiation of video game publishing agreements, merchandising agreements and co-marketing agreements, alternative financing of game development, global corporate structuring, intellectual property protection and exploitation, Internet best practices, and legal issues related to the use and trade of virtual goods.

Panelist Profiles

	Marc Jackson Founder & CEO Seahorn Capital Group   Marc has 20 years entertainment industry experience in senior management roles in theme park development, new media and interactive entertainment, including 5 years as CEO of video game companies. Marc began his career working in project management for the Walt Disney Imagineering group on its Paris theme park, and pursued his MBA in Europe where he developed his passion for digital entertainment businesses. In the early 1990’s at the dawn of multimedia online entertainment, Marc carried out strategy consulting to help chart new media strategy for two of Europe’s largest media and television groups, Canal+ and TF1. Marc entered the video game industry with French group Atari/Infogrames in 1995 where he helmed product development and US expansion from the company’s Los Angeles office. From 1997 to 2001, Marc was CEO of LA-based console game developer Player 1 where he managed licensing and publishing partnerships with Sega, Midway, Interplay, and Universal – and successfully delivered eight Playstation and Nintendo console video game titles. In 2000 Marc began advising investors and media companies, and by 2002, Marc had become a pioneer and innovator of film-style production finance and risk management techniques applied to interactive entertainment and video games. Marc has since worked as a strategic advisor for clients such as Warner Bros Interactive, Film Finances Inc and THQ Inc. Since 2003, Marc has arranged and managed more than $100M in production financing of video game projects, including 2009 Studio of the Year winner Rocksteady’s first console title and several other titles for Eidos Interactive. Marc holds an MBA cum laude from the HEC School of Management in Paris and a Bachelors degree from University of Michigan. Marc is a licensed Series 63 California broker-dealer (private placements, M&A).
	Christie Forgash Senior Manager PricewaterhouseCoopers   Christie is an assurance senior manager with fourteen years of experience in public accounting. Her experience in providing accounting and auditing services includes mergers and acquisitions due diligence, initial public offerings, Sarbanes-Oxley 404 implementation, financial statement audits and SEC reporting and compliance for large multi-national corporations and privately funded growth-oriented companies. Christie demonstrates strong project management skills and ability to assist in resolving complex technical matters related to revenue recognition, business combinations, complex capital structures, stock-based compensation, income tax accounting and SEC reporting and compliance.  She currently serves clients in the technology, media, and entertainment industries, including video game publishing, digital media, internet advertising, wireless networking, and software sectors. Christie received her Bachelor of Science in mathematics, with a minor in accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a CPA in California and Texas. Representative clients served include Activision Blizzard, Boingo Wireless, Disney Interactive Media Group, DTS, Nexon, Quality Systems and ValueClick.
	Brandon Beck CEO RIOT (Entrepreneur/Founder of Game Company)   Brandon Beck co-founded Riot Games after working as a strategy consultant for Bain & Company where he specialized in media and entertainment and private equity. Brandon, whose experience extends from finance and operations to game development, brings a highly strategic perspective to the Riot’s first game project.
	Anthony Jacobson Vice President Business Development Atari Anthony is the Vice President Business Development at Atari. Prior to Atari, Anthony served as Senior Vice President of Game Studios at PlaydayTV, the Softbank funded, branded, free to play, ad-supported interactive television channel featuring casual game play. At PlaydayTV he was responsible for the creation and implementation of content programming and acquisition strategy. Prior to joining PlaydayTV, Jacobson was the CEO and Founder of the Shanghai based AAA game development company, Spicy Horse Games, as well as The Mauretania Import Export Company, the video game production company. While there he was responsible for all aspects of business development, finance, legal, partnerships as well as strategic planning. Jacobson has also held roles at Creative Planet, The William Morris Agency and Sony Pictures Classics.

Event Pricing

Cancellation Policy

• Breakfast/Event cancellations must be received and confirmed by NOON the day before the breakfast/event to receive a refund. Email info@lava.org to submit a cancellation. Your cancellation is not effective until LAVA Member Services responds to confirm.
• No-shows and late cancellations will be charged the full breakfast/event price
• Late registrations (after the online pre-reg cutoff) are non-refundable

Payment Policy

Registrations must be made online via Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards are welcomed. In special circumstances, checks will be accepted before the event at the discretion of LAVA Member Services. Any checks not received in time will require credit card payment onsite.

Sponsor Profiles

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a corporate, securities and intellectual property law firm focusing on the representation of emerging growth and technology companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, investors, private equity funds, investment bankers and underwriters, and clients in the entertainment industry. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. Our strategy is to partner with our clients to provide legal services within our expertise, and identify and manage the most appropriate legal and other resources to provide expertise outside of our core disciplines. www.biztechlaw.com

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 140,000 people in 149 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the service provider of choice to venture capital and private equity firms around the world. While we are known for providing specialized tax and assurance services to clients, we also recognize that venture capitalists succeed only when their portfolio succeeds. Consequently, our approach to serving venture capital and private equity clients is oriented around helping portfolio companies turn their visions into reality.

 

In that regard, PricewaterhouseCoopers has helped countless start-up companies develop their business plans, secure financing, execute their strategy, build value and create wealth through IPOs, merger transactions and other liquidity events. www.pwc.com

About Loeb & Loeb

Videogames and the interactivity that they require have become an ubiquitous part of our social experience and of mainstream culture throughout the world. Loeb & Loeb's Interactive Entertainment attorneys are recognized leaders in this dynamic and rapidly growing area.

We represent many of the industry's leading videogame publishers, console makers and developers; entertainment companies; Internet and technology companies; media and digital content creators, producers and distributors that are working in the interactive entertainment space. Our attorneys assist a broad spectrum of clients across a wide range of platforms, including console, PC, Mac, Mobile (iPhone and Android), Facebook, massively multiplayer, and server/cloud based platforms.

Our capabilities include drafting and negotiating development, publishing, distribution and licensing agreements; negotiation and evaluation of every type of project financing; corporate formation and financing (debt and equity); mergers and acquisitions; content acquisition, development and divestiture; litigation and dispute resolution; patent, copyright, trademark and intellectual property matters; employment, trade secret, non-solicitation, and non-competition matters; advertising and co-branding; and privacy and regulatory issues.

Additionally, our Interactive Entertainment attorneys regularly serve as outside general counsel, advising clients on day-to-day business and corporate matters, as well as on the business and legal issues surrounding new content and technology trends, new platforms, converging technologies, evolving business practices, and exploitation of interactive entertainment content for new hardware and software applications via the internet and other distribution channels.

About the Graziadio School of Business and Management

Founded on the core values of integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management has been developing values-centered leaders and advancing responsible business practice since 1969, offering fully accredited MBA, Masters of Science, and bachelor’s completion business programs. More information at http://bschool.pepperdine.edu.

 

About Atenga

We have served clients spanning industries as diverse as professional services - consumer packaged goods to computer software to medical devices – all of whom share a desire to make more intelligent, higher-ROI pricing decisions. Our mission is to help companies make data-driven pricing and profitability decisions at the most granular possible level.

 

About Gemini Partners

Gemini Partners, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based boutique investment bank providing a wide range of value-added services to middle market private and public companies. Gemini is comprised of a select group of top Wall Street banking alumni, ex-corporate executives, and valuation experts with MBA’s from the nation’s leading institutions.  Gemini Partners professionals possess decades of investment banking, operational, and financial advisory experience. At Gemini, we combine the expertise of a tier one Wall Street firm with the personal attention and service of a boutique company. Our engagements are characterized by a high level of hands-on involvement at the senior level to ensure superior execution. As a firm, we aim to provide a level of personalized attention that engenders long term trust. www.geminipartners.net

 

About Loeb & Loeb

Loeb & Loeb LLP is a multi-service law firm with more than 300 attorneys focusing on select practice areas, rather than endeavoring to be all things to all clients. The firm is recognized as a leading law firm in the areas of advanced media; bankruptcy, restructuring and creditors' rights; business litigation; energy; entertainment; finance; intellectual property; mergers and acquisitions; real estate; securities; technology; and tax and wealth services. Loeb & Loeb has five domestic offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Nashville and Washington, DC, as well as a representative office in Beijing serving a rapidly growing number of Asian clients. For more information, please visit www.loeb.com.

 

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a corporate, securities and intellectual property law firm focusing on the representation of emerging growth and technology companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, investors, private equity funds, investment bankers and underwriters, and clients in the entertainment industry. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. Our strategy is to partner with our clients to provide legal services within our expertise, and identify and manage the most appropriate legal and other resources to provide expertise outside of our core disciplines. www.biztechlaw.com

 

About CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services, LLC and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services, LLC (CBIZ) is one of the largest providers of professional business services in the United States. CBIZ provides a full range of professional services to growing public and private companies, including: accounting, tax, valuation, M&A, internal audit services, and SOX compliance among other services. These services are provided throughout a network of more than 160 offices in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

 

Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM) provides attestation services by working through a close association with CBIZ. MHM is a national CPA firm, with more than 30 offices in key financial centers across the country. MHM was founded 50 years ago and has been helping emerging companies grow since its inception.

MHM specializes in providing high quality attest services, including auditing services for SEC registrants, companies considering going public and privately held companies with an emphasis on companies in the middle market. With a strong national presence and international capabilities through its international association, MHM provides clients with stability and access to extensive resources - all with first-rate responsiveness and personal attention.

 

MHM P.C.'s comprehensive range of services includes audits, reviews, compilations, projections, forecasts, litigation support, and agreed upon procedures. Together, CBIZ and MHM P.C. combined rank as one of the top ten accounting providers in the United States. www.mhm-pc.com

 

Toronto Stock Exchange... An exchange of opportunity

 

Toronto Stock Exchange is the right choice for issuers with solid track records of business management. Known for our high standards of transparency and fairness, and our innovative approaches to trading, TSX offers our approximately 1,500 senior issuers a dynamic market to raise capital. TSX issuers raised $46 billion in 2005, the third highest value of financings among members of the World Federation of Exchanges.

TSX is the global leader for listing mining and oil and gas companies operating around the world. Issuers list a number of different types of securities on TSX, including conventional securities and innovative equity-related products such as exchange-traded funds, income trusts and investment funds.

TSX provides opportunities to access public equity capital efficiently, liquidity for existing investors and the prestige and market exposure associated with Canada's senior exchange. www.tsx.com

 

Silicon Valley Bank is the premier commercial bank for companies in the technology, life science, venture capital/private equity and premium wine industries. SVB provides a comprehensive suite of financing solutions, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide. Through its focus on specialized markets and extensive knowledge of the people and business issues driving them, Silicon Valley Bank provides a level of service and partnership that measurably impacts its clients’ success. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., the company serves clients around the world through 27 U.S. offices and international operations in China, India, Israel and the United Kingdom. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of global financial services firm SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB), with SVB Analytics, SVB Capital, SVB Global and SVB Private Client Services.  More information on the company can be found at www.svb.com.

 

TroyGould is a prominent Century City law firm representing start-up to middle-market companies since 1970. Its corporate and securities group has considerable experience in organizing, structuring and financing early stage companies, as well as reverse mergers, IPOs, SPACs, PIPEs, Form 10 filings, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, tender offers, debt financings, proxy solicitations, exchange listings, equity compensation plans and general corporate matters. The firm also counsels these companies in IP, tax, real estate and employment matters and provides cost-effective litigation services in a variety of areas, including misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, securities and breach of contract. www.troygould.com

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 140,000 people in 149 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the service provider of choice to venture capital and private equity firms around the world. While we are known for providing specialized tax and assurance services to clients, we also recognize that venture capitalists succeed only when their portfolio succeeds. Consequently, our approach to serving venture capital and private equity clients is oriented around helping portfolio companies turn their visions into reality.

 

In that regard, PricewaterhouseCoopers has helped countless start-up companies develop their business plans, secure financing, execute their strategy, build value and create wealth through IPOs, merger transactions and other liquidity events. www.pwc.com

 

Nixon Peabody LLP is one of the largest multi-practice law firms in the United States, with 17 offices and over 700 attorneys working in 15 major practice areas.  The firm's size, diversity and state-of-the-art technical resources enable us to offer comprehensive legal services to organizations and individuals of all sizes in local, state, national and international matters.

 

Nixon Peabody's Venture Capital, Emerging Growth & Technology practice addresses California's emerging growth and technology marketing in a comprehensive and holistic manner - from the investor's side, as well as the portfolio company's side. We represent emerging growth companies from incorporation through initial public offering or acquisitions, and public companies on corporate and securities needs. We also have a nationally ranked practice representing venture capital funds.

 

Nixon Peabody's services for companies concentrate on corporate counseling, venture capital financing, domestic and international strategic transactions such as licensing and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, PIPEs and public offerings, tax, executive compensation and employment law, intellectual property portfolio review and patent prosecution, and intellectual property litigation. Our services for venture capital firms consist of fund formation and management, portfolio company investments, board of directors and executive compensation matters, portfolio review, and intellectual property audits and representation.

 

FORTUNE® magazine named Nixon Peabody as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" two years in a row in 2006 and 2007. Our San Francisco office was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the "Best Place to Work" in 2006. For more information please visit us at www.nixonpeabody.com.