"Clash of Clans" Maker Sells 51% Stake for $1.5 Billion

HELSINKI (AP) -- Clash of Clans mobile game maker Supercell is selling a 51% stake to Japan's SoftBank and GungHo in a $1.5 billion deal.

CEO Ilkka Paananen says the partnership will speed Supercell's goal of becoming the "first truly global games company," and help it to deliver games to hundreds of millions of new consumers.

Paananen said on the company's website Tuesday that Supercell's head office will remain in Finland.

Telecommunications and Internet company SoftBank Corp. paid 80% of the investment with GungHo Online Entertainment, which has worked before with Supercell, providing the rest.

Supercell, which started developing games for tablets in 2011, has produced more than 165 games on 12 different platforms. It is also known for the popular Hay Day game.