Game Group shares slide under a penny

High street retailer Game has put itself up for sale after shares plunged to a penny this morning amid concern over the company's future.

Game Group PLC's gloomy Monday morning saw its stock open at 1.75 pence, down from 3.51 pence when the market closed on Friday. A few minutes later and it plummeted further, continuing the decline to a record low of 0.50 pence, valuing the retail firm at £1.7m.

"It is uncertain whether any of the solutions currently being explored by the board will be successful or will result in any value being attributed to the shares of the company," the company warned.

At its peak four years ago, a single Game Group share would have set you back almost 300p. But digital distribution has grown massively since then while overall game sales have fallen, so the company's value has plummeted 94 per cent over the last year alone.

Game runs around 1270 shops in nine European countrues and Australia.

The retailer recently fell out of favour with several games publishers and cancelled plans to stock major releases such as EA's Mass Effect 3.

Game is now seeking alternative sources of funding and reviewing its assets, calling out for a rescue deal ahead of a quarterly rent bill due in two weeks. If it fails to make the payment, the company may be forced into administration, Reuters reports.

While the biggest hope for a buyout appears to be US rival GameStop, a deal is thought to be unlikely before Game enters into administration, if it does.

Failing that, it really could be the end for Game and Gamestation altogether. So long and thanks for all the discs? ®