21 Nov 2017 07:01
Stride Gaming Plc
('Stride Gaming', the 'Company')
Stride Gaming acquires 51% stake in Passion Gaming
Strategic investment opens up growth opportunities in rapidly growing Indian skills gaming market
Stride Gaming plc (AIM: STR), a leading online gaming operator, today announces it has acquired a 51% stake in Passion Gaming Private Limited ("Passion Gaming"), a Rummy-focused online gaming company operating across India, for a cash consideration of $3.75m. The cash consideration will be invested in the company's working capital to accelerate growth.
The investment fits with Stride Gaming's stated long-term growth strategy of expanding the Company's presence into new growth markets and attractive, related online gaming product verticals. The Company has the right to acquire (at its sole discretion) the remaining 49% of Passion Gaming from the existing shareholders over a three to five year period, using a combination of cash and shares based on the future financial performance of Passion Gaming.
Passion Gaming, which was established in 2015, operates www.RummyPassion.com and is focused on the Indian skills gaming market, with a particular emphasis on Rummy. The Company's investment provides Passion Gaming with the capital needed to invest further in marketing, technology and customer service teams to capitalise on a rapidly growing market whilst diversifying Stride Gaming's portfolio into attractive new products and markets. As part of the investment, the Company has the right to appoint three directors to the Passion Gaming board.
Eitan Boyd, CEO of Stride Gaming said:
"We are delighted to announce this investment which gives Stride Gaming a highly attractive and strategic yet low risk entry to a rapidly growing and legalised market with enormous potential.
We have been monitoring the Indian market for some time as we see strong dynamics in the current environment as well as long term growth potential. Our UK market experience and proprietary technology advantage, combined with Passion Gaming's market positioning and operational focus creates a highly attractive proposition. It has been a pleasure to get to know Bobby and his team and we are excited about our shared future growth prospects."
Bobby Garg, Co-Founder and CEO of Passion Gaming said:
"We are delighted to partner with Stride Gaming who are widely recognised as a leading operator and platform provider to the online gaming industry, with an enviable growth track record. Our vision is to provide exhilarating, safe and secure skill gaming to players in India. Working with Stride Gaming places us in a strong position to bring international standards to rapidly growing Indian gaming market as we continue to focus on player acquisition, engagement and loyalty. "
Enquiries:
Stride Gaming
Eitan Boyd (Chief Executive Officer) +44 (0) 20 7284 6080
Ronen Kannor (Chief Financial Officer)
www.stridegaming.com
Shore Capital (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7408 4090
Mark Percy
Toby Gibbs
Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7523 8000
Bruce Garrow
Emma Gabriel
Richard Andrews
Hudson Sandler (Financial PR) +44 (0) 20 7796 4133
Alex Brennan
Hattie O'Reilly
Bertie Berger
About Stride Gaming
Stride Gaming plc, listed on AIM, is a leading online gaming operator. The Company operates a multi-branded strategy, using a combination of its proprietary and licensed software to provide online bingo and slot gaming and a social gaming mobile application.
Stride Gaming's real money offering is presently focused on the UK market, where it is licensed and only operates from the regulated jurisdictions of the UK and Alderney. The Company has an international reach in the mobile social gaming market with a focus on North America. With a diverse portfolio of 143 brands, Stride Gaming is the fourth largest online bingo operator in the UK, and has over 25% share of the UK online bingo landscape.
Stride operates a B2B platform, Stride Together, through which the company licences its proprietary platform to gaming operators, media partners and retailers in the UK and globally, enabling them to create an online presence for their customers and enabling Stride to penetrate new and non-bingo verticals both within UK markets and overseas territories.
Further information on the Group is available at: http://www.stridegaming.com/
About Passion Gaming
Passion Gaming is an innovative online gaming company providing the finest digital card games like online rummy to players in India. Passion Gaming was launched in 2015 by seasoned gaming entrepreneur with a focus on the real money Indian Rummy market.
The flagship site www.RummyPassion.com runs on a robust propriety platform managed by a team of over 35 experienced professionals based in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh. The Indian Rummy market remains early stage, with the broader skills gaming market expected to grow exponentially in India, the second largest country in the world by internet population. Rummy Passion continues to successfully increase player numbers month on month, thanks to its focus on enhancing user experience and engagement, to improve loyalty.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014.