Rovio, Angry Birds Maker, Valued at $1 Billion in I.P.O.<br />Rovio Entertainment, the company behind the Angry Birds empire<br />that encompasses video games, films and merchandise, was valued at about $1 billion as it prepared to go public on Friday.<br />The pricing of its shares equates to a market capitalization of 896 million euros, or<br />about $1 billion, when Rovio begins initial trading on Nasdaq Helsinki on Friday.<br />Angry Birds merchandise is widely available, and a sequel to the original Angry Birds film is slated for release in 2019.<br />Rovio helped usher in the rise of smartphone games, with the release of the original Angry Birds in 2009.
