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Fnatic secures $17m led by Marubeni to drive further global growth

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High-performance brand will harness $1bn esports market in 2021
Fnatic, the high-performance esports brand, has announced a $17m funding round led by one of the largest conglomerates in Japan, Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni”). This investment will incorporate a strategic partnership to support Fnatic’s expansion into the growing Japanese esports sector, and the substantial Asia-Pacific market.
Marubeni’s investment in Fnatic builds upon twelve months of growth, including an 80% year-on-year increase in revenues year-to-date and expansion as a high-performance esports brand. Fnatic will now strengthen its position in the rapidly growing esports market, which Newzoo anticipates will generate $1.08bn in revenues in 2021.
The previous twelve months have also accelerated the growth of the global esports industry, particularly in cornerstone markets such as China and East Asia. Newzoo projects that the worldwide esports audience will grow to 474 million people in 2021, with 92.8 million enthusiasts in China alone. This global audience is expected to reach more than 577 million by 2024.
To tap into this global and growing market, Fnatic has recently strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Georgina Workman (Head of Studios, Previously Appear Here), Julien Dupont (Partnership development, previously Vitality/Havas), Oliver Royce (Head of Apparel, Previously Gymshark) and Patrick Foster (CFO, previously Getaround). It has also continued to develop its high-performance esports brand through expanding its digital and physical performance products – revenues from these ranges have increased by 91 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2021.
The investment from Marubeni will also accelerate Fnatic’s growth in the substantial Asia-Pacific market with a new strategic partnership that will incorporate the expansion of Fnatic’s base of operations in Japan and support for Fnatic’s Rainbow 6 Siege team who plan to relocate to the country. The Japanese esports industry is a significant and growing market, expected to increase in value by more than 250 per cent between 2019 and 2023. More than 6.9 million people attended esports events in Japan in 2020, a 42 per cent increase on the previous year.
The current round includes a range of international family offices and institutional investors, alongside venture debt from Bootstrap. The round comes after Fnatic’s groundbreaking crowdraise in 2020, which was joined by more than 3,500 investors.
Fnatic CEO Sam Mathews said: “We’re so excited to have the strategic know-how of Marubeni leading this funding round. Marubeni’s knowledge of Japan’s business landscape will be a huge asset to Fnatic as we expand our commitment to APAC.”
Founded in 2004, Fnatic is the world’s leading high-performance esports brand, with more tier-1 tournament wins than any other organisation. This focus on performance has enabled the growth of Fnatic’s pioneering esports equipment line, which grew 52 per cent in 2020. Fnatic has also expanded its high-performance teams globally, with a worldwide squad of 40 pro gamers across 8 game titles, and more than 100 staff in 6 offices globally.
																	
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Sportradar Announces Close of Acquisition of IMG ARENA and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights
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Acquisition to Accelerate Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow Growth and will be Accretive to Adjusted EBITDA Margins and Free Cash Flow Conversion
Sportradar Group AG today announced it has completed its acquisition of IMG ARENA and its global sports betting rights portfolio from Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. and OB Global Holdings, LLC. The closing marks a milestone in Sportradar’s growth strategy, further strengthening and differentiating its position as a leading technology and content provider in the most bet upon global sports, including soccer, tennis and basketball.
The acquired portfolio encompasses strategic relationships with more than 70 rightsholders, delivering approximately 38,000 official data events and 29,000 streaming events across 14 global sports on six continents. With this, Sportradar sports coverage totals more than 1 million matches annually.
The acquisition enhances the Company’s content distribution and will further fuel product development. Sportradar expects to seamlessly integrate and monetize these rights across its highly scalable technology platform and client network.
Given the unique transaction structure, the acquisition is expected to be accretive to Sportradar’s adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow conversion while accelerating the Company’s robust revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow growth. Sportradar is not required to provide any financial consideration as part of the acquisition. Instead, the deal includes total financial consideration to Sportradar of $225 million comprised of approximately $122 million in cash prepayments by the seller to certain sports rightsholders and approximately $103 million to Sportradar. The payments to Sportradar, which are subject to customary purchase price adjustments, will be made over a two-year period.
Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar, stated: “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of IMG ARENA. This marks a significant milestone for Sportradar expanding our access to premium sports content that strengthens and complements our already robust global portfolio and capabilities. With this, we are uniquely positioned to deliver even more immersive, data rich experiences to our clients, partners and fans around the world while accelerating innovation at scale across the global sports ecosystem.”
The post Sportradar Announces Close of Acquisition of IMG ARENA and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Slotegrator & Gamblers Connect enter a new partnership
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Gamblers Connect, a leading iGaming media & affiliate website connecting operators, providers, and players across the global industry, is proud to announce its latest strategic partnership with one of the most respected names in iGaming technology, Slotegrator.
Founded in 2012, Slotegrator has become a cornerstone of the iGaming B2B landscape, empowering hundreds of successful online casinos and sportsbooks with a complete suite of advanced software solutions. From its Turnkey Casino Platform and APIgrator Game Integration module to its Telegram Casino and Moneygrator payment gateway, Slotegrator has continuously set the standard for innovation, flexibility, and compliance.
This partnership marks a major step in Gamblers Connect’s evolution from a trusted affiliate platform into a full-scale media and B2B hub, one that not only connects audiences with the world’s top operators but also shines a light on the technological engines driving the industry forward.
Through this collaboration, Gamblers Connect will highlight Slotegrator’s market-leading solutions across its media channels, showcasing how their technology simplifies market entry, accelerates growth, and ensures regulatory compliance in emerging and established jurisdictions alike.
Slotegrator’s expertise in areas such as crypto casino infrastructure, white-label platforms, and licensing advisory perfectly aligns with Gamblers Connect’s mission to connect the entire ecosystem, from software innovators to decision-makers seeking trusted, efficient, and future-ready solutions.
Together, the two companies will continue to emphasise values that have defined their success: responsibility, transparency, and innovation.
Ataur Rosul Abeer, Sales Supervisor at Slotegrator, commented: “We’re excited to collaborate with top-tier partners to showcase our latest innovations and deliver even more engaging experiences to the global iGaming community.”
Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder & CEO of Gamblers Connect, added: “Partnering with Slotegrator represents more than just a collaboration, it’s a strategic alignment of vision. Both our teams share the same goal of improving and Connecting the iGaming industry through quality, integrity, and technology. We’re proud to stand alongside such a respected name as we continue expanding Gamblers Connect’s media and B2B reach worldwide.”
The post Slotegrator & Gamblers Connect enter a new partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
QTech Games maintains its gold standard with KingMidas Games
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Emerging-markets leader broadens its eclectic gaming suite with fresh content from an emerging force in the sector
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has continued to build the momentum in its premium pipeline, thanks to its latest deal with prominent igaming supplier KingMidas Games in a move set to power the studio’s aggressive international expansion strategy.
Through this partnership, more than 100 KingMidas Games titles—spanning its signature Classics, Next-Gen, Slots, and other top-performing genres—are now available to new operator partners via QTech’s definitive aggregator platform for emerging markets.
KingMidas Games is becoming known for its “next-generation content” which serves as a cornerstone of its gaming suite. Its diverse portfolio includes Cards, Chips, Classics, Dice, IP Content, Lottery, Roulette, Slots, and Virtual Experiences – and is defined by radical thinking and engaging game mechanics, as exemplified by high-speed go-kart races, animal obstacle courses, or survival-style gameplay.
This deal organically widens KingMidas Games’ international footprint, unlocking untapped jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America, where the supplier has made strong recent strides together with QTech Games.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “We’re committed to rolling out first-class content that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with KingMidas Games extends our impressive sequential pipeline into 2025. Operators are always looking for fresh and engaging titles that truly stand out, and KingMidas Games is thriving against the backdrop of a homogenised marketplace. Like us, KingMidas is dedicated to delivering experiences that combine creativity, tech, and cultural relevance to meet evolving localised player expectations and drive new revenue streams for our growing group of worldwide operators.”
Sean Auret, Global Head of KingMidas Games, added: “We are thrilled to further collaborate with QTech, one of the industry’s leading aggregators renowned for connecting high-quality content with dynamic markets. This partnership amplifies KingMidas Games’ reach across key emerging territories and marks another exciting step in our mission to deliver next-generation gaming experiences to a truly global audience.”
The post QTech Games maintains its gold standard with KingMidas Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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