NODWIN Gaming Private Limited (A material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited, BSE:NAZARA) announced today that its Singapore based subsidiary, NODWIN Gaming International Pte. Ltd, (NODWIN Pte) has signed definitive agreements to increase its existing 13.51% stake in Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH, a Berlin-based Global full-service gaming and esports agency to 100% in tranches through a share swap valued at upto INR 271 crore (Euro 30.3 million)

NODWIN Pte will initially increase its existing stake in Freaks 4U Gaming to 57% and the remaining 43% held by the founders Michael Haenisch, Matthias Remmert and Jens Enders will be swapped at a later time at its option. Existing investors of Freaks 4U Gaming (Co-Investor FRE and Game.Fin S.R.L) will become shareholders of NODWIN Pte

Freaks 4U Gaming offers a multitude of agency services and best-in-case solutions to brands and publishers and generated INR 223 crores (Eur 26.9 mn unaudited) in 2023.This acquisition will significantly enhance NODWIN Gaming’s capabilities, bringing in the expertise, experience and network of the Freaks 4U Gaming team and is expected to contribute materially to NODWINs revenues going forward.

Since the acquisition of a minority stake in Freaks 4U Gaming in January 2024, NODWIN has been working with the Freaks 4U Gaming management on integration of the two businesses and evaluating the synergies they present. The two teams have already worked on jointly delivering high-profile projects such as the PUBG Mobile Global Open and Esports World Cup (EWC) and have jointly explored new business vertical opportunities. Based on the outcomes of this exercise and early traction on potential synergies, NODWIN Gaming and Freaks 4U Gaming have decided to proceed with this transaction.

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This move is set to bolster NODWIN Gaming’s access to developed markets, in addition to execution and planning capabilities in PC gaming and publishing support services. The integration of Freaks 4U Gaming’s capabilities, along with its presence in key developed markets, will serve as substantial revenue drivers. This strategic alignment will complement NODWIN Gaming’s strong execution capabilities in emerging markets, enabling the establishment of a global delivery model – a pioneering achievement in the esports sector. Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, Akshat Rathee, stated, “This acquisition is a pivotal step in our global growth strategy. By integrating Freaks 4U Gaming’s expertise and resources, we are poised to deliver unparalleled services and expand our global footprint in the gaming and esports industries. In Michael, we have a person who is highly regarded across the world for his wealth of experience and expertise in the sectors. We also welcome all existing shareholders of Freaks 4U Gaming as NODWIN Gaming’s shareholders.”

CEO of Freaks 4U Gaming, Michael Haenisch, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to be joining forces with NODWIN Gaming to create a robust network and synergies unprecedented in our industry. Akshat is an incredible visionary and leader, our partnership has been quite the ride so far and we know the best has yet to come. With our shared vision and ambition, we look forward to driving our global expansion while spearheading innovation and growth for gaming and esports.”

Abios, a global leader in esports data and odds provision, has appointed Rasmus Schmidt Christensen, formerly of Danish operator Danske Spil, as the company’s new Head of Odds Operations.

With a background in betting analytics, Schmidt Christensen is a seasoned industry veteran with a wealth of experience in esports and sports betting, spending nearly eight years improving the esports vertical at Danske Spil. Beginning his industry journey as a sports trader at the Danish betting operator, Schmidt Christensen gradually assumed more responsibility over the esports segment, ultimately taking charge of the vertical as an Esports Product Specialist.

The role allowed him to work closely with product, marketing and customer-focused teams, creating a comprehensive esports strategy for the operator. He used customer feedback to ensure the product met customer demands and ensured Danske Spil offered innovative product features early on, including player propositions.

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As Head of Odds Operations, a newly created role at Abios, Schmidt Christensen will strengthen the Abios team by providing expertise in esports from Denmark, which has long been the home of Counter-Strike. Combining his knowledge of what esports fans want and product development, he will act as a bridge between trading and Abios’ automated odds setting, creating the ultimate end product for end users.

Anton Janér, Managing Director of Abios, said: “Esports is a fast-growing segment within online sports betting. For sportsbooks to stay competitive in the area, working with people who truly understand esports is paramount.

“At Abios, we’ve historically been in the fortunate position to attract people with strong esports expertise. Rasmus is no different, having spent significant time at Danske Spil improving their esports vertical. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to seeing him taking our offering to the next level.”

Rasmus Schmidt Christensen, Head of Odds Operations, said: “Having worked in esports for years, I’m thrilled to join the Abios team. As they’re building new and exciting products on top of best-in-class data and modelling, Abios is at a very exciting growth stage. I’m happy to be part of the next step in that journey.”

The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Pepsi for a strategic partnership which will see both parties collaborate to level up experiences for fans at the inaugural Esports World Cup (“EWC”) this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As a strategic founding partner committing to a multi-year deal, Pepsi will further build on its commitment to helping unite the realms of sports, entertainment, and esports.

Centered around co-creating unmissable moments, Pepsi and the EWCF will work together to provide fans with exciting activations to elevate the esports landscape in Saudi Arabia and cement the Esports World Cup as a truly memorable event. Fans can expect interactive and immersive experiences such as the Rockstar Bar, where they can get energized with a selection of drinks and spend time in between matches in the karaoke box. In addition, Pepsi is the naming partner of the Falcons venue, called “Falcons HQ by Pepsi”.

“We are proud to partner with such an iconic brand in Pepsi to energize fans for a memorable summer at the Esports World Cup,” said Pepsi Representative “Fans are truly what bring esports events to life, and it’s great to work alongside Pepsi who shares in our vision and commitment to elevating their experiences. ”

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Beginning July 3, the Esports World Cup will transform Riyadh into the epicenter of esports fandom and gaming culture. Located in Boulevard City, fans can watch their favorite athletes and clubs compete across 22 game championships for a share of more than $60 million in life-changing prize money — the largest prize pool in esports history. Across eight weeks, the Esports World Cup will also feature festival activities that include numerous gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more.