Tag Archives: Gaming

IGT’s Gaming and Digital Business and Everi to Be Acquired Simultaneously by Apollo Funds in All-Cash Transaction

Apollo logo
Companies to Move Forward Under Private Ownership
Everi Stockholders to Receive $14.25 Per Share in Cash, Representing a Significant Premium for Stockholders; IGT to Receive $4.05 Billion of Gross Cash Proceeds

LONDON and LAS VEGAS, July 26, 2024 — International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT) (“IGT”) and Everi Holdings Inc. (NYSE: EVRI) (“Everi”) today announced that they have entered into definitive agreements whereby IGT’s Gaming & Digital business (“IGT Gaming”) and Everi will be simultaneously acquired by a newly formed holding company owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) (“Apollo”) (the “Apollo Funds”) in an all-cash transaction that values the acquired businesses at approximately $6.3 billion on a combined basis.

On February 29, 2024, IGT and Everi announced that they had entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which IGT would separate the IGT Gaming business by way of a taxable spin-off to IGT shareholders and then immediately combine such business with Everi. Under the terms of the new agreements, the Apollo Funds will acquire IGT Gaming and Everi. Following closing, IGT Gaming and Everi will be privately owned companies that are part of one combined enterprise.

Under the terms of the new agreements, Everi stockholders will receive $14.25 per share in cash, representing a 56% premium over Everi’s closing share price on July 25, 2024. IGT will receive $4.05 billion of gross cash proceeds for IGT Gaming. IGT expects significant portions of the cash proceeds to be used to repay debt and to be returned to shareholders.

De Agostini S.p.A., a società per azioni organized under the laws of Italy, the majority shareholder of IGT, has committed to make a minority equity investment in the combined enterprise at the closing of the transaction.

Upon completion of the sale of IGT Gaming to the Apollo Funds, IGT will change its name and stock ticker symbol, becoming a premier pure play lottery business.

The transaction with the Apollo Funds has been unanimously approved by a special committee of the IGT Board of Directors and unanimously approved by all members of the Everi Board of Directors, and the previous transaction agreements between IGT and Everi entered into on February 28, 2024 have been terminated.

Vince Sadusky, IGT PLC CEO, said, “Our new agreement represents a positive evolution of our previously announced transaction with Everi and a successful culmination of the strategic review process that IGT launched last year. With the Apollo Funds, we have found a partner that recognizes the strength of IGT Gaming, the value of our talent and our position in the industry. This transaction will allow IGT Gaming to continue to invest in and enhance its growing core segments while providing customers with a more comprehensive portfolio of offerings. After the closing of this transaction, IGT’s shareholders will continue to own one hundred percent of IGT’s Global Lottery business, which will be positioned for long-term success as a pure-play global lottery player with a more focused, compelling business model and optimized capital structure to drive long-term shareholder value.”

Randy Taylor, Everi President and CEO, added, “We believe this transaction maintains the integrity and strong strategic rationale of our original agreement with IGT, but now also provides significant and certain value to our stockholders as we move forward with the Apollo Funds as our partner. By joining forces with IGT Gaming, we expect to continue to lead, innovate, and provide unparalleled value to our customers as a stronger player in the global gaming, FinTech, and digital industry. Apollo is a respected investment firm with a strong track record in the gaming sector, and they recognize the value of our business and see significant potential in bringing IGT Gaming and Everi together. Under private ownership, we believe we will be better positioned to accelerate the integration of our two organizations for the benefit of our customers and employees.”

Daniel Cohen, Partner at Apollo, stated, “We are excited to reach this agreement with IGT and Everi, which establishes a leading, diversified solutions provider that is well positioned across the entire gaming ecosystem. As an active investor in the gaming and leisure sector for many years, we have long admired both companies and their highly talented teams. We strongly believe in the value proposition of the combination and are confident these complementary gaming platforms will be even better positioned under private ownership to capture the opportunities ahead to grow and create value. We look forward to working in partnership with all the people at IGT Gaming and Everi to propel the combined enterprise forward.”

Apollo has a strong track record of successful current and former investments across leisure, including in the gaming and entertainment sectors.

Leadership, Governance & Structure

IGT PLC CEO Vince Sadusky will oversee the separation of IGT Gaming and support the transition through transaction completion. Post-closing, Mr. Sadusky will continue in his role, leading the lottery-focused company under its new name and stock ticker symbol. Following the acquisitions of IGT Gaming and Everi by the Apollo Funds, current IGT EVP Strategy and Corporate Development, Fabio Celadon, will serve as CFO, and current Everi CFO, Mark Labay, will assume the role of Chief Integration Officer, of the combined enterprise. The newly formed combined enterprise will be headquartered in Las Vegas.

In addition, upon closing of the transaction, the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Everi will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Approvals and Timing

The acquisitions of IGT Gaming and Everi by the Apollo Funds are cross-conditioned. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by Everi stockholders, and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2025. IGT shareholder approval is not required for the transaction.

Upcoming Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Results

IGT will release its second quarter 2024 financial results and hold its earnings conference call as planned on July 30, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Everi will release its second quarter 2024 financial results no later than August 9, 2024. In light of this transaction with Apollo, Everi will not host an earnings conference call.

Advisors

Macquarie Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Mediobanca are serving as financial advisors to IGT, and Sidley Austin LLP, White & Case LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz are serving as legal counsel to IGT.

Global Leisure Partners LLC is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Everi, and Houlihan Lokey provided additional financial advice to Everi’s Board of Directors. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is serving as legal counsel to Everi.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.

Deutsche Bank and Macquarie Capital are providing financing commitments for the transaction.

About IGT

IGT (NYSE:IGT) is a global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated businesses, from Lotteries and Gaming Machines to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivaled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 jurisdictions around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 11,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.igt.com.

About Everi

Everi’s mission is to lead the gaming industry through the power of people, imagination, and technology. As one of the largest suppliers of technology solutions for the casino floor that also has an expanding focus in adjacent industries, our commitment is to continually develop products and services that provide gaming entertainment, improve our customers’ patron engagement, and help our customers operate their businesses more efficiently. We develop entertaining game content, gaming machines, and gaming systems to serve our land-based, iGaming and bingo operators. Everi is a leading innovator and provider of trusted financial technology solutions that power casino floors, improve casinos’ operational efficiencies, and fulfill regulatory compliance requirements. The Company also develops and supplies player loyalty tools and mobile-first applications that drive increased patron engagement for our customers and venues in the casino, sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries. For more information, please visit www.everi.com.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2024, Apollo had approximately $671 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction (the “Proposed Transaction”), Everi will file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including Everi’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). This press release is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Everi may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISIONS, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF EVERI ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of such documents (when available) through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by visiting Everi’s website at www.everi.com or by contacting Everi’s Investor Relations Department at Everi Holdings Inc., Investor Relations, 7250 S. Tenaya Way, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89113.

Participants in the Solicitation of Proxies

Everi and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Everi is set forth in (i) Everi’s  proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders under the headings “Proposal 1:  Election of Three Class I Directors” (including “Board and Corporate Governance Matters,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” and “Executive Officers”), and “Proposal 3:  Approval of the Everi Holdings Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan” (including “Executive Compensation,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” “Pay Ratio,” and “Pay Versus Performance,” which was filed with the SEC on April 19, 2024 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001318568/000131856824000035/evri-20240419.htm, (ii) Everi’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including under the headings “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance,” “Item 11. Executive Compensation,” “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management, and Related Stockholder Matters,” and “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence,” which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001318568/000131856824000009/evri-20231231.htm, and (iii) to the extent holdings of Everi securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Everi’s  proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4, or Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 5, filed with the SEC (which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/category=form-cat2&ciks=0001318568&entityName=Everi%2520Holdings%2520Inc.%2520(EVRI)%2520(CIK%25200001318568).

Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the Proposed Transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the Proxy Statement carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Everi will be available free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Additionally, copies of documents filed with the SEC by Everi will be available free of charge on Everi’s  website at www.everi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, related to IGT and Everi, and the Proposed Transaction. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements for purposes of federal and state securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial or operating results of IGT and Everi. These forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and “would” and the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among other things, statements about the potential benefits of the Proposed Transaction, including future plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions; the anticipated timing of completing the Proposed Transaction; and the expected use of cash proceeds from the Proposed Transaction. In addition, all statements that address operating performance, events or developments that IGT or Everi expects or anticipates will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for shareholders and stockholders, benefits of the Proposed Transaction and the expected timetable for completing the Proposed Transaction — are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the possibility that the conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction will not be satisfied in the anticipated timeframe or at all; risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction; the ability to retain and hire key personnel; negative effects of the announcement or failure to consummate the Proposed Transaction on the market price of IGT’s ordinary shares and Everi’s common stock and on IGT’s and Everi’s operating results; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the separation and sale agreement or the merger agreement relating to the Proposed Transaction; significant transaction costs, fees, expenses and charges; operating costs, customer loss, and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining employee, customer, or other business, contractual, or operational relationships following the Proposed Transaction announcement or closing of the Proposed Transaction and the diversion of the attention of the management teams of IGT and Everi from their respective ongoing businesses); failure to consummate or delay in consummating the Proposed Transaction for any reason; risks relating to any resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crises; risks related to competition in the gaming and lottery industries; dependence on significant licensing arrangements, customers, or other third parties; risks related to the financing of the Proposed Transaction; economic changes in global markets, such as currency exchange, inflation and interest rates, and recession; government policies (including policy changes affecting the gaming industry, taxation, trade, tariffs, immigration, customs, and border actions) and other external factors that IGT and Everi cannot control; regulation and litigation matters relating to the Proposed Transaction; unanticipated adverse effects or liabilities from business divestitures; risks related to intellectual property, privacy matters, and cyber security (including losses and other consequences from failures, breaches, attacks, or disclosures involving information technology infrastructure and data); other business effects (including the effects of industry, market, economic, political, or regulatory conditions); and other risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in IGT’s Annual Report on Form 20-F on file with the SEC and from time to time in other filed reports including IGT’s Reports on Form 6-K, and those described in Everi’s Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC and from time to time in other filed reports including Everi’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

A further description of risks and uncertainties relating to IGT can be found in its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K, and relating to Everi can be found in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will in fact be consummated. If the Proposed Transaction is consummated, Everi’s stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in Everi and will have no right to participate in its earnings and future growth. Everi cautions investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Neither IGT nor Everi intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

Contacts

For IGT

Phil O’Shaughnessy, Global Communications, toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452

Francesco Luti, Italian media inquiries, +39 06 5189 9184

James Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190

For Everi

Jennifer Hills, Investor Relations, Jennifer.hills@everi.com
(908) 723-5841

For Apollo

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

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Klang raises $41m Series C round

LVP

Congratulations to our portfolio company, Klang, on their $41m Series C round! We welcome Animoca and Kingsway to join Klang on their journey to the moon (and beyond) alongside their virtual Seedlings. We also welcome the formidable Isabelle Henriques, who joins as co-CEO—a fantastic addition to the team.

On the surface, this appears to be yet another fundraising round to chase the hallowed (virtual) land of a functioning web3 game; yet another game that will see a flurry of initial purchases from crypto investors, assets that balloon in value to a stage where no normal gamer would bother to engage, followed by a rapid collapse as the influx of new users trickles away. This is not the case with Klang: we believe that they can bring a truly novel experience to gamers using blockchain, and better still, a web3 game that can stand the test of time.

In the beginning

Venture capital is said to be patient capital, with a 10+ year horizon, despite the reputation venture investors have for pushing teams towards aggression, growth and rapid pivots. Our experience with Klang epitomises this, investing into a vision that could be realised given enough time, willpower and ambition. When we first met Klang in 2014, it was a small mobile startup, working on their first game: a multiplayer version of an endless runner. What made us invest however, was the plan they had for their next game. A game called SEED.

To avoid going over the same ground, do read our previous blog post about Klang’s Series B round to learn more about our journey with Klang. Suffice to say, we were blown away by the team’s vision and are still to this day: we had the opportunity to fall in love all over again hearing Mundi’s pitch to investors earlier this year, when we joined him stateside on the funding roadshow.

Creatively destructive: Crypto gaming’s rise and fall (and rise again?)

Looking at the first generation of Web3 games, we feel vindicated in having held back, despite the potential for short term returns. We aim to be patient capital and 10x our investments over as many years, rather than speculating on tokens that have no underlying value and little utility. Most current crypto games are pseudo-gambling structures with a thin game wrapping. We could see this as a new category, for a new audience, where the name of the game is speculation and the game wrapping is a misdirection accepted by all parties; but even then, we have seen how short the product life cycles can be for these games.

We struggle to understand how blockchain alone can be the enabler for a new genre of long-lasting game services. For new blockchain tools to add value, good old fashioned gameplay with engaging and retaining loops still has to be at its core. Many current crypto games are equivalent to pay to win: selling the core progression, in the most simplistic form we have seen to date. At times, this has also descended into Ponzinomics, where unsustainable rises in NFT and token prices have led to huge boom and busts within poorly structured game economies (either by accident or indeed, design) and games that lacked any engagement outside of the ‘play-to-earn’ incentive. The widespread adoption and subsequent retreat from this phrase by the crypto community illustrates the heady mix of ideology and poor analysis that led many to believe that all players could derive a job from playing these games. Linking into this, we believe that not all game genres are suited to integrating crypto economies and that there will only be a few, at least in the short term, that have a chance of building a novel and sustainable game experience with a decentralised economy.

Looking at where blockchain can play its strongest role, there is one game that stands out, and in many ways has proven its ability to link real world cash with the in-game economy without breaking it: EVE Online. A 1st generation Web3 game would have sold the ships as NFTs, but a core part of what makes EVE Online – work despite the real cash link – is precisely that it doesn’t sell ships as NFTs… in other words, EVE does not sell the main progression line of the game. To progress and grow in EVE, you need to build the skills needed to pilot, collaborate with others and use ever larger ships and equipment, and this is not for sale. The game demands that you engage to progress. Furthermore the game, due to its depth, rich systems and world, is about so much more than your personal progression from ship type to ship type, it is about being part of a living, breathing community that is writing its own saga.

The SEED for what is to come

Pitches for crypto games often become blurred with the idea of the metaverse, and both fall prey to ill-defined aims and platitudes. The incentive for founders in a nascent market is to keep their vision as broad and nebulous as possible, so as to attract the highest valuation and not be bogged down by trivial matters such as delivering a good game. And yet, with SEED, we have a truly tangible indication of what could be realised with new technology and gameplay. Indeed, in attempting to build a huge simulation of life with AI-driven characters, replete with a living political and economic system, web3 makes sense and can enable the full realisation of that vision.

Klang’s strategy is very much to draw from the EVE experience – a player-operated economy with a community-driven narrative and one that they know well from working at CCP – and make it accessible to millions of people who otherwise would never be able to get over the steep learning curve that EVE Online forces on prospective players. If anyone can apply these learnings to web3, Klang can, and we can’t wait to see SEED in the hands of users.

Congratulations once again to Klang! For more information about Klang, SEED and job openings, visit their website: https://www.klang-games.com/.

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Chess.com Announces Growth Investment from General Atlantic

General Atlantic

Chess.com, one of the world’s largest chess platforms, today announced that General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity investor, has become a significant investor and partner in their mission to grow the game of chess. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Launched in 2007, Chess.com is a leading online destination for playing, learning and watching chess, with over 75 million registered users and more than 10 million games played every day. Chess.com offers an extensive suite of free and paid options to both novice and experienced players, including online chess gameplay, puzzles, game analysis, and hundreds of lessons taught by chess grandmasters and coaches. Members can engage with friends through a social community via the Chess.com app and website, ChessKid, Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf, and other apps. Chess.com has also become a key content provider to the global chess community, streaming some of the world’s largest chess tournaments, including the World Chess Championship. Chess.com currently has 300 full-time team members.

The ancient game of chess has enjoyed a renaissance over the past few years driven by the convergence of several factors including the Covid-19 pandemic, mainstream media such as Netflix’s hit show “The Queen’s Gambit,” and the growing popularity of chess in esports channels such as Twitch and YouTube.

“Our mission is simple: help people enjoy chess,” said Erik Allebest, CEO and co-founder of Chess.com. “As a mission-driven, bootstrapped company that never raised venture funding, we knew we needed an experienced, savvy partner to help us in our next stage of growth. General Atlantic has a longstanding commitment to partnership in helping companies grow and thrive, and we are beyond excited to work with them to bring the joy of chess to millions more across the globe.”

Anton Levy, Co-President, Managing Director, and Global Head of Technology Investing at General Atlantic, commented, “As interest in chess continues to grow, we believe Chess.com has an opportunity to make this classic game even more accessible to new and existing players around the world. We are thrilled to support Chess.com’s vision to leverage technology to further build the global chess community and look forward to partnering with Erik and the team to grow the platform.”

Tanzeen Syed, Managing Director at General Atlantic, continued, “Chess.com is early in its growth story. Looking ahead, we’re excited to help Chess.com drive the continued international expansion of its platform, develop new products and features, and further build its loyal and engaged community of global chess players.”

Houlihan Lokey advised on the deal. Legal services were provided by Latham & Watkins; Paul, Weiss; Herzog Fox & Neeman; Shartsis Friese; and Poultan & Yordan.

About Chess.com

Chess.com is one of the world’s largest chess platforms, with a community of more than 75 million members from around the world playing more than 10 million games every day. Launched in 2007, Chess.com is a leader in chess news, lessons, events, and live entertainment. Visit Chess.com to play, learn, and connect with chess—the world’s most popular game.

About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $86 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of September 30, 2021, and more than 215 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Stamford. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com.

Media Contacts

Emily Japlon & Casey Gunkel
General Atlantic media@generalatlantic.com

Grant Lee
Chess.com press@chess.com

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Gaming1 partners with CVC

Gaming1, the entertainment branch of Ardent Group, has signed a transformational deal for their next phase of growth.  The active shareholders in the Liège-based company, the leader in the Belgian gaming market, have partnered with CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII. CVC will bring their expertise to support the group’s growth in becoming a global reference in the regulated online gaming markets thanks to the continued development of their own technology and through their unique omnichannel approach.

A strong company growing quickly
The history of the group’s entertainment activities started in 1992 in Liège, parallel to the development of their land-based network, the company progressively developed a digital offering through their own technology platform. Today, as well as being a Belgian leader, Gaming1 is present in 9 countries around the world, including Portugal, France and the United States with their joint venture Gamewise founded with the American giant Delaware North.

Only active in regulated markets, Gaming1 is exclusively positioned in legal, responsible and ethical gaming. Gaming1 strives to offer the best player experience, in a responsible way focused on regulated markets. The group has around 1,300 employees, including more than 400 in their digital hub in Liège.

To accelerate their growth and become a worldwide reference on the regulated online gaming market, the company wants to partner with a new shareholder capable of bringing global, sector and digital expertise. Emmanuel Mewissen, Sylvain Boniver and Nicolas Léonard, historical shareholders of Gaming1, will continue to be the reference shareholders in Gaming1 and look forward to post-completion partnering with CVC, once the regulatory approvals are in place. Throughout the process, Gaming1 was assisted by the financial advice of BNP Paribas Corporate Finance.

An experienced, first-class investor, fully aligned with Gaming1’s growth strategy
CVC is a leading global investment firm with US$125 billion of assets under management. CVC has experience in the sector through CVC funds’ investments in Tipico, the German sports betting company, the Italian operator Sisal, and the English business Sky Bet. They also have significant knowledge of the digital space through CVC funds’ investments such as ironSource, a leader in mobile advertising and mobile gaming technology markets, and Aleph, a leading global enabler of digital advertising.

CVC has an international network of 25 offices, including 13 in Europe, and an established team in the Belgian market. This choice also allows Gaming1 to stay loyal to their roots and continue to contribute to the development of the country’s economic fabric, a core element of Gaming1’s mission.

Emmanuel Mewissen, CEO and Founder of Ardent Group, explained this choice: “In a rapidly changing world, the key to success is adapting. By partnering with CVC, we will benefit from their global, sector and technology expertise, which will support our company to continue on our successful growth path and further build our digital capabilities. We will stay loyal to our values and Belgian roots, as shown by our recent move to our digital hub in the heart of Liège. This desire to anchor ourselves in and to contribute to our country’s growth is an integral part of our identity and will continue to guide us daily.”

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Flutter Entertainment to acquire Sisal Gaming

CVC Capital Partners

Acquires Italy’s leading online gaming operator from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI for €1.913bn/£1.62bn

Flutter Entertainment plc (“Flutter” or “the Group”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sisal (“Sisal”), Italy’s leading online gaming operator, from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI for a consideration of €1.913bn/£1.62bn. This acquisition fully aligns with the Group’s strategy of investing to build leadership positions in regulated markets globally. The transaction is likely to complete during Q2 2022 and is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings in the first 12 months post-completion.

Sisal is a leading betting, gaming and lottery operator headquartered in Milan. In the 12 months to December 20211, Sisal expects to generate EBITDA of €248m/£211m, with 58% coming from its online offering and the remainder coming from a combination of retail and lottery operations. Approximately 90% of Sisal’s 2021 EBITDA is generated in Italy with the balance coming from regulated lottery operations in Turkey and Morocco. The business employs circa 2,500 people today.

The addition of Sisal to Flutter delivers several key strategic outcomes:

  • Secures a gold medal position in Italy by bringing the leading online brand into the Flutter portfolio. The combination of Sisal with Flutter’s existing online Italian presence through PokerStars and Betfair will result in a combined online share of 20%2
  • Increases the Group’s exposure to an attractive, fast-growing, regulated online market: Italy is Europe’s second-largest regulated gambling market and one that has seen online penetration grow from 10% in 2019 to approximately 20% today. Sisal’s online revenues have grown by a compound annual rate of 34% since 2016
  • Sisal’s omni-channel offering will deliver a competitive advantage to Flutter’s business, particularly given Italy’s advertising restrictions and the prevalence of cash deposits and withdrawals through retail
  • Increases Flutter’s recreational customer base with the addition of 300,0003 highly engaged online average monthly players and over 9.5m retail customers
  • Further diversifies Flutter’s product and geographical footprint and increases the proportion of Flutter’s revenue from regulated markets which in Q3 2021 was over 91%
  • Bolsters Flutter’s existing talent pool by adding a proven management team that will continue to lead the business and who have sought to take a leadership position in the promotion of safer gambling in Italy

Peter Jackson, Flutter Chief Executive, commented: “I am delighted to add Sisal, Italy’s leading gaming brand, to the Group as we look to attain a gold medal position in the Italian market. For some time we have wanted to pursue this market opportunity via an omni-channel strategy and this acquisition will ideally position us to do so. Sisal has grown its online presence significantly in recent years, aided by its proprietary platform and commitment to innovation. I’m excited to see how Flutter can complement these capabilities through our scale, differentiated products and operational capabilities. We look forward to welcoming Francesco and the rest of the Sisal team to Flutter in 2022.”

Francesco Durante, Sisal Chief Executive, commented: “Over the last five years, thanks to CVC’s support, we have successfully transformed Sisal into a leading digital and international gaming company. Through our commitment to digital innovation, international expansion and safer gambling, we have achieved a leadership position in Italy’s online gaming market and developed our global footprint by winning lottery tenders in Morocco and Turkey. We are delighted to join Flutter and are convinced that through its scale and operational capabilities, we will be able to further strengthen our leadership in the markets we operate in. I look forward to working with Peter and the team on the next chapter of Sisal history.”

Giampiero Mazza, Managing Partner at CVC Italy commented: “We are very proud of the success achieved by Sisal and its transformation since our acquisition in 2016. Through heavy investment in its digital competencies, Sisal has become Italy’s leader in online gaming while also growing its international operations. Furthermore, the Company is leading the Italian industry in ensuring responsible and safe gaming. We want to thank Francesco and the whole management team for their incredible dedication, focus and ambition, and for leading this successful journey in spite of regulatory challenges and the pandemic. Flutter is a fantastic new partner for Sisal and we wish them the very best.”

The full RNS announcement is available here.

1 Financial projections for FY 2021 have been provided by Sisal management and are consistent with 10 months of actual EBITDA performance (£163m) and 2 months of projected performance (£48m). FY 2021 has been used in this release as we believe it is a better reflection of the ongoing earnings power of the business; 2020 performance was materially impacted by Covid-19 related retail restrictions
2 Online market share of gross gaming revenue in October 2021
3 Average number of players in the 12 months to 30 June 2021

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BDC enters into partnership with Plug In Digital

Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint Development Capital (“BDC”) has signed an agreement to invest in Plug In Digital (“PiD”), one of the largest independent video game distributors and a rising video game publisher. Existing shareholders, including Francis Ingrand, are reinvesting significantly in the operation, while the transaction enables the opening of PiD’s capital to its employees.

Plug In Digital orchestrates a $75m funding round to finance its organic development, including the publishing of high-potential indie games meeting PiD editorial line as well as its external growth strategy, targeting notably video games’ developers with own-IP on which the company can further capitalize. Financing is provided by Eurazeo in the form of unitranche debt and includes a dedicated and committed line to finance future external growth.

Plug In Digital was founded in 2012 by Francis Ingrand, quickly growing into a full-service games distributor and publisher for today’s most exciting games across PC, cloud, console and mobile platforms. The company’s two publishing labels, Dear Villagers and PID Games, boast an impressive portfolio that spans a variety of today’s most popular genres, reaching players across all platforms and delivering playful, distinctive and audacious games to global audiences.

Francis Ingrand, CEO and Founder of Plug In Digital commented: “We are excited to work with Bridgepoint for the next steps of our ambitious development project. We are confident they are the right partner to accompany us in our growth journey, mixing organic development and targeted strategic acquisitions. We are pleased to have attracted Bridgepoint who believes in our differentiating model, our strategic direction and our people.”

Plug In Digital has seen a 50 percent+ yearly growth over the past five years, hitting a successful stride with its flagship publishing label Dear Villagers which has launched more than eight cross-platform, cross-gen titles into the global games marketplace since its inception in early 2019. One of its most recent titles, The Forgotten City, has been lauded by international critics for its unique, eye-catching design as well as its exceptional narrative and dialogue and has been a remarkable commercial hit. PID Games, the second label under the Plug In Digital umbrella, is focused on offering studios a flexible publishing or co-publishing support on PC, Console and Mobile. PID is on track to publish 30 games this year from its global development partners.

Olivier Nemsguern, Partner at Bridgepoint Development Capital and responsible for investment activities in France added: “We have been following the Video Games sector closely for a period of time and are impressed by Plug In Digital’s journey to-date. The company is well-positioned in a really exciting market, and has built a great brand in the Indie publishing space, relying on its committed and skilled leadership team. We look forward to partnering with the Company during its next chapter of development.”

Bridgepoint Development Capital, through its BDC IV fund, has concluded through this transaction, its fourth investment in Europe, and first in France.

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Great Canadian Gaming Corporation Enters Definitive Agreement to Be Acquired by Funds Managed by Affiliates of Apollo Global Management For C$39.00 Per Share

Apollo Global

November 10, 2020

Sponsorship from Leading Investment Manager to Bring Additional Gaming and Hospitality Expertise to Great Canadian

Apollo Expresses Support for Safe Reopening and Welcoming Back Team Members in Adherence with All Applicable Health and Safety Restrictions

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (TSX:GC) (“Great Canadian” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds (the “Apollo Funds”) managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Apollo”). Under the terms of the agreement, Apollo Funds will acquire all the outstanding shares of Great Canadian common stock for C$39.00 per share in a transaction with a total enterprise valuation exceeding C$3.3 billion.

The purchase price represents a 59% premium to the 30-day VWAP as of November 9, 2020.

Following close of the transaction, Great Canadian will remain headquartered in Toronto, led by a Canadian management team and with Canadian board members. Apollo also anticipates that certain Canadian institutions may co-invest in the transaction to become equity owners in the Company alongside the Apollo Funds upon completion of the acquisition. Apollo is a responsible sponsor and has a long track record of success investing in companies in highly regulated industries, as well as Canada-based companies.

 “The Board of Directors, based on a recommendation from the special committee of independent directors, has unanimously concluded that this transaction represents the best course of action for the Company. Factoring in our long-term prospects, this transaction will unlock value for our shareholders at a significant premium to our current share price,” stated Rod Baker, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

“We are pleased that this transaction represents a great opportunity for our shareholders, while continuing to support the success of the business longer term. We believe this transaction is beneficial for our shareholders, our team members, our guests, and other stakeholders as we continue to execute on our operational and development plans into 2021 and beyond, while we navigate through this volatile time. In addition, we believe Apollo’s extensive experience in the gaming sector will provide additional strategic benefits to help expand our gaming and hospitality offerings and to secure our position as a long-term market leader,” concluded Baker.

Apollo is committed to maintaining the Company’s current operational footprint and anticipates Great Canadian’s properties will increase under the Apollo Funds’ ownership. Apollo intends to help drive additional, incremental growth through initiatives such as expansion of non-gaming facilities, expanded loyalty and marketing programs, and gaming improvements that leverage the scale of the firm’s platform. Apollo recognizes Great Canadian’s strong track record of corporate citizenship and community involvement and will continue this legacy.

Alex van Hoek, Partner at Apollo, said: “Great Canadian is a leader in the gaming and entertainment industry and, based on our experience and knowledge of the space, we see opportunities to work with their talented team to drive additional growth and value. With an industry-leading portfolio of assets and established presence in the best geographic markets across Canada, we are excited to help bring an enhanced experience to more guests across Canada.”

Van Hoek added: “We also recognize the challenges of the current circumstances and are committed to working with the management team, regulators and health authorities to allow the Company to reopen its properties as soon as it’s safe to do so. We’re excited for the Company to welcome Great Canadian team members back to work, and we look forward to a time when employment and operations return to pre-COVID levels. We are of course also firmly committed to complying with applicable reopening rules as the health and safety of team members and guests will remain the highest priority.”

The transaction has been approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of Great Canadian, which determined that the transaction is fair from a financial point of view to shareholders and is in the best interests of the Company. The Company and the Special Committee of the Board of Directors received fairness opinions from Scotiabank and CIBC World Markets Inc., respectively, which subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations therein that, as of the date of each such opinion, the consideration to be received pursuant to the definitive agreement, is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Great Canadian shareholders. The Board of Directors of Great Canadian also unanimously resolved to recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the transaction at the special meeting of shareholders that will be called to approve the transaction, which is expected to be held in December 2020.

The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. The transaction is structured as an arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The transaction will be subject to a number of closing conditions, including customary provincial and federal regulatory approvals (including under the Investment Canada Act and the Competition Act (Canada)), the receipt of necessary shareholder approvals, the receipt of the necessary approvals from the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and the Company maintaining its credit facilities.  Further details regarding the terms of the transaction are set out in the arrangement agreement, which will be publicly filed by Great Canadian under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Further information regarding the transaction will be included in an information circular to be mailed to Great Canadian shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.

Scotiabank is serving as lead financial advisor to the Company and CIBC World Markets Inc. is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee.  McMillan LLP is serving as legal advisors to the Company and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is serving as legal advisors to the Special Committee.

Macquarie Capital acted as lead financial advisor to Apollo on the transaction. Deutsche Bank Securities and Barclays also acted as financial advisors to Apollo. Apollo’s legal advisors were Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Crestview Strategy is serving as Canadian public affairs and government relations advisors.

Apollo is a leading alternative investment manager with extensive experience in the gaming sector, including control investments made by its funds to grow and enhance the operations of Aliante, Gala Coral, Gamenet and PlayAGS (formerly American Gaming Systems), collective operations of which span the US, UK and Italy. Apollo has a 30-year track record of responsible investing, with its affiliated funds successfully owning companies in highly regulated industries such as gaming, healthcare, chemicals and aerospace.

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

Founded in 1982, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is an Ontario-based company that operates 25 gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Fundamental to the Company’s culture is its commitment to social responsibility. “PROUD of our people, our business, our community” is Great Canadian’s brand that unifies the Company’s community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually supports over 1,400 charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, a significant portion of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities is retained by our Crown partners on behalf of their provincial government for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services.

ABOUT APOLLO

Apollo is a leading global alternative investment manager with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Bethesda, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Apollo had assets under management of approximately $433 billion as of September 30, 2020 in credit, private equity and real assets funds invested across a core group of nine industries where Apollo has considerable knowledge and resources. For more information about Apollo, please visit www.apollo.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTES REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s and Apollo’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, impact of global liquidity and credit availability and liquidity and market risks associated with our financial instruments; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; fluctuations in operating results; economic uncertainty and financial market volatility; outbreaks of epidemics or pandemics and the response of governments to actual and potential epidemics or pandemics, including the current outbreak of COVID-19. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Information Form, and as identified in the Company’s disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. The Company and Apollo undertake no obligation to revise forward-looking information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as required by law. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof, is subject to change after such date, and is expressly qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements in this press release.

Great Canadian Contact Information

For investor enquiries:

ir@gcgaming.com, or
Ms. Tanya Ruskowski
Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and the President, Strategic Growth & Chief Compliance Officer
(604) 303-1000

For media enquiries:

Mr. Chuck Keeling
Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations & Responsible Gaming
(778) 874-4942
ckeeling@gcgaming.com

Apollo Contact Information

For investors:

Peter Mintzberg
Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
212-822-0528
pmintzberg@apollo.com

Ann Dai
Investor Relations Manager
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0678
adai@apollo.com

For US media:

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
jrose@apollo.com

For Canada media:

Kieran Lawler
Crestview Strategy
kieran.lawler@crestviewstrategy.com
(416)-303-0799

Morgan Cates
Crestview Strategy
morgan.cates@crestviewstrategy.com
(647)-999-3024

Primary Logo

Source: Apollo Global Management, Inc.

 

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Ex-DICE & e-sports veterans raise pre-seed for new games studio NAG

LVP

Welcome to the LVP family, NAG Studios!

NAG raises pre-seed round

We are very excited to announce this $1M pre-seed round into NAG Studios AB, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The team is headed by DICE veteran Peter Stahl and esports specialist Johan Skott, and aims to deliver the next generation of competitive gaming entertainment.

Within VC and game development circles, the idea of investing into esports as some monolithic entity can form the punchline to many a joke. Not because it isn’t important within gaming, nor valid as a genuine differentiator – indeed, this was one of the key reasons why we invested into NAG – but that the sophistication of analysis has been lacking beyond platitudes about viewership, or esports was used as a buzzword tacked on without understanding what its function would be (see our previous blog post). We found that very few people were talking about esports in the right way. Is it possible to design an esport from the start? Is an esport a competitive game that has merely become popular?

On the other hand, when considering how well a game design will work as a viewing experience, or planning monetisation and balancing to make it open and fair enough to be considered by the esports ecosystem and tournament organisers, an esports focus makes sense. This also has added benefits when considering collaborating with streamers and influencers. Esports as a superstructure, being built on a competitive game with a fair balance and a fun to view format, means that getting teams in early to assist in this regard is only logical. The larger question that follows this is whether you can kickstart these communities by starting with this more hardcore community first and then expect the mass market to pick up the game as a result.

When we met NAG, we had all these thoughts running through our heads, and initially questioned why they were so explicitly targeting esports. However, as we talked further it became clear that their focus on esports was the effect, not the cause, of their wider strategy. Peter and Johan’s approach, in bringing in the community first and using them to build games from the inside out, was like music to our ears; this is how games should (and increasingly need) to be made. Their obsessive focus on integrating and engaging all users, regardless of whether they are actively playing the game or not, felt both revolutionary and natural at the same time. NAG is redefining what it means to be a competitive game, widening its scope to become a hobby activity: not merely the game, but including lots of overlapping activities including viewing and streaming integrations, flexible user engagement and community assistance in the design of the game.

To undertake this is no mean feat and luckily for us, the team assembled at NAG is more than up for the task. Together, the team has 60 years’ experience in the games and esports industry (the majority in competitive gaming), having worked on leading FPS titles such as Battlefield, Medal of Honor and Star Wars: Battlefront. Johan brings with him his deep network within esports. The creative spine of NAG, Peter and Niklas, both worked together whilst they were at DICE and the team are well positioned to draw upon the vibrant Swedish gaming ecosystem.

NAG’s first game is providing a mode and format that is different to anything that is currently out in the market today. Competitive games have always been more community-led and prone to experimentation than any other genre, thanks largely to a large and passionate core group seeking these high octane experiences. Looking back at the progression of competitive games, Counterstrike was initially a mod of Half-Life and battle royale was borne out of an Arma 2 mod. The fact that the ideas for these multi-billion dollar games have been spawned from within the community, clearly illustrates the importance of listening to and interacting with them. And this is exactly what NAG intends to do. We can’t wait to get started.

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GP Bullhound completes a follow-on investment in Challengermode

Gp Bullhound

GP Bullhound completes a follow-on investment in Challengermode
Challengermode Robel Web

Making esports accessible to everyone

26 August 2020
Founded in 2014 Challengermode has swiftly secured its position as one of the leading providers of the operating infrastructure powering esports and online tournaments. The company has grown impressively, having hosted millions of competitions and has become a regular place for gamers to congregate, practice and compete in esports.

Challengermode successfully closed an external financing round of $12m led by eWTP Innovation Fund, the global investment arm of the Alibaba Group, with additional support from GP Bullhound, Telia Ventures, Back in Black and football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 

Hampus Hellermark of GP Bullhound, said: “We have a strong vision for the future of esports and believe Challengermode has a unique opportunity to be a driving force in making that vision a reality. We are excited to continue to support Robel and the team on their quest to make esports accessible to everyone.”

 

“We are very excited to close this new financing round with the support of a strong set of investors who share our vision for esports. With the additional backing, we’re able to double down on our core mission of delivering the best competitive gaming experience to each and everyone’s home, in any game,” commented Robel Efrem, CEO of Challengermode.

GP Bullhound completed its first investment in Challengermode in 2018 through Fund IV, which focuses on growth stage businesses in the software, digital media, marketplaces and fintech sectors. Previous investments include Ravenpack, Slack, Klarna, Unity, Glovo and Believe.
Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact:

Joakim Dal, Partner

joakim.dal@gpbullhound.com Hampus Hellermark, Associate

hampus.hellermark@gpbullhound.com

About GP Bullhound

GP Bullhound is a leading technology advisory and investment firm, providing transaction advice and capital to the world’s best entrepreneurs and founders. Founded in 1999, the firm today has offices in London, San Francisco, Stockholm, Berlin, Manchester, Paris, Hong Kong, Madrid and New York. For more information, please visit www.gpbullhound.com.


GP Bullhound Fund V
Following the successful strategy of its predecessor funds, GP Bullhound Fund V recently held its first close of €125m, focusing on growth-stage businesses in the software industry. Read more here.

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CVC funds to partner with ironSource

New investment by CVC funds will allow ironSource to further accelerate both organic and inorganic growth

Leading mobile marketing company ironSource announced today that CVC Funds have agreed to acquire a minority stake for over $400 million in the company. The partnership reflects a shared long-term vision to further strengthen ironSource’s position as a global market leader in the high-growth mobile advertising and mobile gaming technology markets and will serve to accelerate strategic growth.

“As one of the world’s most respected private equity firms, CVC has a track record of successfully partnering with companies to drive global growth,” said Tomer Bar Zeev, CEO and Co-Founder of ironSource. “As such they are the perfect partner for this next phase in our journey, as we continue to scale internationally, engage with A-class partners and invest heavily in building out our offering for game developers.”

Profitable from almost day one, ironSource has grown rapidly since its founding in 2009 and is on track to finish 2019 with approximately $1 billion of revenue. Through its various technologies, the company works with a unique combination of customers including software, app and game developers, telecom operators, and mobile device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company  focuses on developing technologies for app monetization and distribution, with its core products targeting game developers.

The  gaming industry is experiencing rapid growth, and is on track to generate $180 billion in 2021, with mobile gaming experiencing a 27% CAGR. ironSource’s growth platform provides mobile game developers with the tools they need to grow and scale their game businesses.

“We’re witnessing the creation of a sector, gametech, which supports this growing ecosystem, with tailor-made tech solutions such as advertising, marketing, analytics, market intelligence, CRM and more,” says Bar-Zeev. “Our continued investment in this industry is part of a wider goal to be the go-to partner for any game developer looking to scale their game business.”

Another key growth driver for the company is Aura, ironSource’s solution for mobile carriers and device manufacturers. Aura provides a dynamic engagement and content distribution solution, empowering OEMs and telecoms operators to build ongoing relationships with their customers, ultimately turning those customers into engaged users. The technology is integrated on more than 120 million mobile devices globally, through partnerships with the top telecoms operators in the US and international mobile OEMs.

“By combining best-in-class technology with strategic acquisitions we’ve proven our ability to support the growth of our clients and create a unique experience for their users, and that’s something we plan to continue investing in moving forward,” concluded Bar Zeev.

“We are delighted to be partnering with such an innovative and exciting technology business,” said Daniel Pindur, Partner at CVC Capital Partners. “The investment in ironSource  is a unique opportunity to support a well-respected founder-led organization to accelerate its growth. We look forward to working with Tomer Bar Zeev and his team to take the company to the next level.”

Sebastian Kuenne, Managing Director, CVC Growth Partners added: “We are very excited about CVC Funds’ first technology deal in Israel. Israel is a hub for leading edge technology companies and ironSource is a prime example. We are excited by the opportunity to partner with ironSource’s founders to continue to provide leading technology solutions to its customers.”

Board members at ironSource, Shlomo Dovrat, Co-Founder of Viola Ventures and Ronen Nir, GP at Viola Ventures, added: “As the first institutional investor in ironSource, we had the honour of working with this exceptional founding team, and supporting their growth to become one of Israel’s first unicorns. We are big believers in the company’s ongoing journey to becoming a global leader and with CVC’s support, we are confident the company will sustain its rapid growth and high profitability. ironSource is a fantastic example of Viola’s commitment to backing Israeli entrepreneurs who aspire to build multi-billion dollar companies, and is an inspiration for the entire Israeli tech ecosystem.”

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