Aquisitions/Mergers
Gladiators Esports acquires Gods Reign in one of Indian esports’ biggest moves; signs Gujarat Titans Rising champions BGMI Team
Marking one of the most significant acquisitions in the Indian esports landscape, Gladiators Esports has officially acquired Bengaluru-based Gods Reign to unite two of the nation’s leading esports entities.
As part of this acquisition, Gladiators Esports will integrate the Gods Reign into its operations, with Gods Reign retaining its name for the esports team while all other verticals, including content creation and marketing will be under the banner of Gladiators Esports. This consolidation aims to streamline operations, strengthen brand identity, and leverage the combined resources of both entities.
Speaking on the acquisition, Gladiators Esports stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Gods Reign into the Gladiators Esports family. This acquisition reflects our commitment to elevating Indian esports and driving its growth. By integrating the renowned Gods Reign brand and its talented roster, we are not only broadening our reach and influence but also creating a nurturing space for our players and creators to excel. This marks an exciting new chapter, and we eagerly look forward to shaping a bright future for Indian esports.”
In line with this transition, Gods Reign has onboarded one of India’s most decorated Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) lineups, featuring star players who have consistently proven themselves on the biggest stages and have multiple major accolades to their name.
“This acquisition by Gladiators Esports represents a pivotal step for both Gods Reign and the Indian esports ecosystem. By combining our expertise, experience, and shared vision for advancing Indian esports, we are poised to deliver unmatched experiences and achievements. Our new BGMI roster, featuring both seasoned talent and fresh perspectives, embodies the high level of competition we’re committed to bringing. Through this strategic move, we aim to amplify opportunities for our athletes, engage our community in exciting new ways, and elevate Indian esports on the global stage,” said Rohith KR, CEO of Gods Reign.
The team will be led by In-Game Leader (IGL) Ammar Khan (Destro), joined by his former teammates Justin Nadar (Justin) and Parth Garg (DeltaPG). Together, this trio has proven to be a formidable force in official tournaments last year, capturing the BGMI Series (BGIS) 2023 title and BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) 2023 and earning runner-up position in BGMI Pro Series (BMPS) 2023.
Strengthening the roster further is Shubham Ranjan Sahoo (NinjaJOD), who clinched the BGIS 2024 championship and was a runner-up at last year’s India-Korea Invitational. Former BGMI athlete Robin Singh (Robin), who recently led Destro, Justin, DeltaPG, and NinjaJOD to victory in the Titans Rising tournament hosted by the Gujarat Titans cricket team, will be coaching this skilled lineup.
The newly assembled team, which had a combined prize pool earnings of approximately INR 2.5 crores ($276,703) in FY23, brings fresh potential to build on their impressive track record and aim for even higher accolades in the upcoming tournaments.
“Having previously played with these talented players and achieved success together, returning to Gods Reign feels like a true homecoming and it’s an honour to reunite under this banner. This acquisition unites some of India’s top esports talent, all of whom are dedicated to constant improvement and focused on victory. With our combined strengths and support, we hope to set new benchmarks in BGMI and demonstrate our potential on both national and international stages,” commented Ammar Khan aka Destro, IGL of Gods Reign.
In addition to its esports rosters in Counter-Strike 2, Pokémon UNITE, and BGMI, Gods Reign is also home to some of India’s top gaming creators, including Thor Gaming, Harshdeep Singh, Red Parasite, Miss Senorita, AJ Jeffy and many others. Collectively, they boast over 6 million YouTube subscribers and more than 1 million Instagram followers.
Together, Gladiators Esports and Gods Reign are ready to make waves in India’s rapidly growing content creation and esports ecosystems.
The post Gladiators Esports acquires Gods Reign in one of Indian esports’ biggest moves; signs Gujarat Titans Rising champions BGMI Team appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
PolarLotto Acquires Competitor and Strengthens Market Position
Polar Group Technologies (PolarLotto), one of Sweden’s leading lottery betting companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of one of its main competitors, lottoexperten.se, through the purchase of all shares in More Tech Group Ltd.
This deal is a strategic step to further strengthen our position in the Swedish market and enhance the experience for our customers.
With this purchase, we continue our growth journey and reinforce our commitment to oFering attractive and exciting lottery betting products. The two companies combined have over 85,000 registered customers, and we look forward to welcoming all the new customers that now will join us into the PolarLotto group.
“This acquisition is an important step in our development and continued growth,” says Daniel Bessmert, CEO of Polar Group Technologies AB.
“We are proud to combine the best of both companies to create even more value for our customers and partners.”
The post PolarLotto Acquires Competitor and Strengthens Market Position appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
NODWIN Gaming Expands Portfolio with acquisition of Trinity Gaming
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports and a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: NAZARA), today announced the acquisition of Trinity Gaming, a leading gaming agency and platform MCN/ CSP in a deal valued at INR 24 Crore. This acquisition will see Trinity Gaming become a fully owned subsidiary of NODWIN Gaming, marking a significant step in expanding its reach and capabilities within the Indian gaming and content ecosystem.
The acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Trinity will be a combination of secondary sale and stock swap of NODWIN Gaming shares for a total consideration of upto INR 24 Crores. The consideration would be payable partly by way of Cash consideration upto INR 4.8 Crores and balance INR 19.2 Crores by way of swap of equity shares of Nodwin Gaming. As part of this transaction, the founders would become shareholders of NODWIN Gaming and continue to lead the business going forward.
Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurial duo Abhishek Aggarwal and Shivam Rao, Trinity Gaming has quickly established itself as a cornerstone in India’s gaming influencer ecosystem. Trinity Gaming is a Creator Service Provider (CSP) for Meta and the only Gaming MCN (Multi-channel Network) for YouTube in Gaming in India, managing over 1,000 creators from across the country, with prominent partnerships with global brands such as Samsung, Realme, iQOO, and Krafton.
Trinity’s expertise in content creation, digital marketing, and agency activations makes it a valuable addition to NODWIN Gaming’s portfolio, enhancing its ability to forge impactful partnerships with gaming creators and brands.
NODWIN Gaming will expand the portfolio of Trinity to other emerging markets such as Africa, SE Asia, Central Asia and Middle East across existing businesses and verticals of NODWIN Gaming. NODWIN Gaming will also merge its Unpaused Talent business with Trinity and have the founders of Trinity lead it
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, commented: “Trinity Gaming has been a long-time partner and ally in the gaming ecosystem, and we’ve shared a strong relationship with Abhishek, Shivam, and their incredible team over the years. We are thrilled to welcome Trinity Gaming into the NODWIN Gaming family. Trinity’s deep understanding of India’s gaming creator ecosystem, coupled with their expertise in brand partnerships, agency activations, content creation, and community engagement, will be pivotal in further strengthening our footprint in the region. This acquisition allows us to offer more holistic solutions to our partners, from content creation to marketing services, while continuing to build a thriving gaming ecosystem in India.”
Abhishek Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Trinity Gaming, stated: “Joining forces with NODWIN Gaming is a momentous step for us. The synergy between our teams will accelerate our vision of creating unmatched opportunities for content creators in India, expanding the gaming ecosystem while helping brands connect more deeply with this highly engaged audience. We are excited about the future and the immense growth that lies ahead.”
Shivam Rao, Co-Founder of Trinity Gaming, added: “With NODWIN Gaming’s unparalleled expertise in esports and global reach, coupled with our focus on creators and brand partnerships, we are poised to deliver innovative and compelling solutions for the gaming community in India. This acquisition marks the beginning of a new era of opportunities for creators, and brands alike.”
This acquisition aligns with NODWIN Gaming’s vision of delivering immersive and holistic youth entertainment experiences. By bringing Trinity Gaming into their fold, NODWIN Gaming adds another critical touchpoint to engage with the youth demographic more effectively. As pioneers in this space, NODWIN Gaming continues to push boundaries, creating diverse offerings that resonate with the interests and aspirations of young audiences.
The acquisition comes at a time when NODWIN Gaming continues to grow in India and emerging markets worldwide. This deal complements NODWIN Gaming’s recent strategic moves, including the acquisition of Comic Con in India, German esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming, West Asia and Turkey-focused marketing agency Publishme, Singapore-based live events firm Branded, and Turkish esports and gaming company Ninja Global.
The post NODWIN Gaming Expands Portfolio with acquisition of Trinity Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
ENDEAVOR ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT BUYOUT OF OPENBET AND IMG ARENA
Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc., a global sports and entertainment company, today announced that it has agreed to sell OpenBet and IMG ARENA to OB Global Holdings LLC in a management buyout backed by Ariel Emanuel with participation from executives of OpenBet, including CEO Jordan Levin.
Levin said: “This management buyout allows us to continue executing our vision for increased market expansion and product innovation. Our group is extremely confident in OpenBet’s future considering the premium product offering, superior talent, and solid foundation we already have in place following a strong period of business growth.”
Under the terms of the transaction, OB Global Holdings will acquire the businesses for approximately $450 million, subject to certain adjustments, financed through a mix of cash and debt.
During the sign-to-close period and after closing, Endeavor will continue to market IMG ARENA for sale to a third-party purchaser.
OpenBet powers responsible betting and gaming entertainment for more than 200 market leading operators around the globe. Following close of the transaction, Levin will continue to lead the business as CEO.
The transaction is being pursued, and is a necessary step, for the closing of the proposed Endeavor take-private by Silver Lake. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals required under applicable gaming regulatory authority, and is conditioned on and expected to close immediately prior to the closing of the Endeavor take-private.
Oakvale Capital LLP and The Raine Group acted as financial advisors to Endeavor.
The post ENDEAVOR ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT BUYOUT OF OPENBET AND IMG ARENA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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