Goodgame Said to Prepare IPO to Ride Candy Crush Wave

Goodgame Studios, the German maker of smartphone game Shadow Kings, is preparing an initial public offering as soon as this year, people with knowledge of the plans said.

Goodgame, based in Hamburg, has hired Bank of America Corp., Berenberg Bank and Deutsche Bank AG to manage the IPO, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The timing and size of the sale haven’t been finalized and the owners could decide against a listing, the people said.