| Decision | Consent granted Section 13(1)(c) Overseas Investment Act 2005 |
|---|---|
| Decision Maker | Overseas Investment Office |
| Decision Date | 23 November 2021 |
| Pathway(s) | Significant business assets only |
| Investment | Acquisition of certain assets of Weta Digital Limited, including Weta Digital Limited’s audio-visual effects development and management software tools, intellectual properties, goodwill, rights and claims. |
| Asset Value | Approximately $2,307,500,000 |
| Applicant | Unity Software Inc. and Unity Technologies SF United States of America (35.33%) Denmark (9.91%) Various regions (54.76%) |
| Vendor | Weta Digital Limited New Zealand (68.39%) United States of America (31.61%) |
| Background | Unity Software Inc. is a world leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D content. Unity Technologies SF provides software services related to Unity’s business. The transaction involves the acquisition by Unity Technologies SF of certain assets of Weta Digital Limited, including Weta Digital Limited’s audio-visual effects development and management software tools, intellectual properties, goodwill, rights and claims. Weta Digital Limited will continue to provide visual effects artist services with respect to audio-visual productions to movie, television, and other production studios, pursuant to production agreements. It will keep the following related to production activity: certain assets (production agreements, owned or leased real property, meshes, rigs, etc), liabilities, and personnel. The Applicants will employ and contract with approximately 275 of Weta’s existing employees and contractors who work in Weta’s ‘Digital Activities’ division. The Applicants have satisfied the investor test criterion. |
| More information | Annie Steel Harmos Horton Lusk Limited Level 33, Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street Auckland 1010 |