On 3 March 2004, Eidos Interactive announced that they were acquiring IO Interactive for GB£23 million in cash and stock, plus another GB£5 million linked to the studio's performance in the following four years.[18][19] The deal closed on 31 March that year.[3] At the time, IO Interactive was Europe's 10th largest video game developer, with 140 staff members employed at their offices.[5] The sale was primarily negotiated by founding member Flösser.[20]