Nazara’s NODWIN Gaming to acquire esports organizer StarLadder

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Nazara Technologies’ subsidiary, NODWIN Gaming, has announced the full acquisition of StarLadder, a renowned esports IP and services company, in a deal valued at an initial consideration of $5.5 million (INR 46.75 crore). This acquisition strengthens NODWIN Gaming’s global footprint and enhances its ability to host AAA esports tournaments and events.

Founded in 2018 by Roman Romantsov, StarLadder has over 20 years of experience in esports event management, having worked with top game developers such as Valve, Tencent, Krafton, Blizzard, Riot Games, and Supercell. The company has organized multiple prestigious esports events, including CS:GO and Dota 2 Majors, PUBG Europe League, and the StarSeries tournaments.

Deal Structure & Strategic Importance

As reported by Business Standard, the acquisition involves a combination of secondary sale and stock swap of NODWIN Gaming Pte shares. The initial payment will consist of $2 million (INR 17 crore) in cash and $3.5 million (INR 29.75 crore) in equity swap. Additionally, further payments will be made based on StarLadder achieving specific earn-out targets.

StarLadder will now operate as a fully owned subsidiary of NODWIN Gaming Pte (Singapore) while maintaining its brand identity. Founder Roman Romantsov will continue to lead the business and will also become a shareholder in NODWIN Gaming Pte.

Expanding NODWIN Gaming’s Global Reach

This acquisition comes as part of NODWIN Gaming’s aggressive expansion strategy, following its recent acquisitions of Comic Con India, Trinity Gaming, AFK Gaming’s agency business, Freaks 4U Gaming (Germany), Ninja Global (West Asia & Turkey), and Branded (Singapore). With StarLadder now onboard, NODWIN Gaming is set to enhance its global esports production capabilities and reach emerging markets.

“This deal takes NODWIN to the next level. With StarLadder’s expertise, we envision bigger and better IPs and events for our fans and partners,” said Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming. “Roman and his team have created some of the most legendary esports tournaments. Their deep knowledge of stage design, creative broadcast solutions, and production innovation is invaluable. Together, we aim to bring more CS:GO tournaments and immersive esports experiences to a wider audience.”

StarLadder & Future Plans

With access to NODWIN Gaming’s extensive industry network, StarLadder will now have the ability to expand into new markets, forge strategic partnerships, and strengthen its global reach. Despite the acquisition, the company will retain its creative autonomy, ensuring continuity in its high-quality event production.

Roman Romantsov, Founder of StarLadder, shared his excitement about the deal: “We live in an era of globalization where synergy of resources, expertise, and vision is key to growth. With NODWIN Gaming, we are eager to create extraordinary esports experiences and take our tournaments to new heights.”

Nazara Technologies & Market Impact

Nazara Technologies, India’s leading gaming and esports company, continues to expand its portfolio, which includes brands such as NODWIN Gaming, Sportskeeda, Kiddopia, Animal Jam, and World Cricket Championship. The company reported a 10.85% rise in net profit to INR 21.97 crore in Q2 FY25, with a 7.3% revenue increase to INR 318.94 crore. Following the announcement, Nazara Technologies’ stock price saw a marginal rise of 0.16%, trading at INR 941.55 on the BSE.

With this acquisition, NODWIN Gaming is set to redefine global esports event management, leveraging StarLadder’s expertise to expand its AAA IPs and tournament ecosystem. As both companies unite, esports enthusiasts can expect bigger, better, and more immersive tournaments in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events and collaborations.

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