Esports Entertainment Group Signs Agreement to Acquire Helix eSports and ggCircuit in Deal Valued at $43 Million

Rhea-AI Summary

Esports Entertainment Group has announced an acquisition of ggCircuit and Helix eSports valued at approximately $43 million. This strategic move aims to create a diversified, US-listed esports entertainment asset, enhancing their Three Pillar Strategy. The acquisition is expected to add two million unique gamers and over 1,000 connected locations to their platform. FY22 revenue guidance has been raised to $42 million, demonstrating strong growth potential.

Positive

• Acquisition expands operational scale, adding two million unique gamers and over 1,000 locations.
• Increased FY22 revenue guidance raised from $25 million to $42 million, reflecting growth prospects.
• Enhanced capabilities through ggCircuit's enterprise software and Helix's esports centers and analytics.

Negative

• None.

Webinar Scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2020 at 4:15 PM ET to Discuss Deal

• Company raises FY22 revenue guidance to $42 million (Esports Entertainment is currently in FY21)

• Creates the most diversified, US-listed esports entertainment asset in the industry
  
  
• Accelerates path to a global esports entertainment leader
  
  
• Adds two million unique gamers to platform
  
  
• Adds over 1000 connected locations
  
  
• Adds state-of-the-art analytics platform
  
  
• Helix eSports owns two of the five largest esports entertainment centers in the US
  
  
• Adds safe and regulated player-vs-player wagering opportunities with Helix’s LANduel platform, which is in a pilot program with the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement
  
  
• ggCircuit provides best-in-class enterprise software solutions to the esports industry
  

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NasdaqCM: GMBL, GMBLW) (or the “Company”), an online esports tournament and gaming company, entered into an agreement to acquire ggCircuit LLC (“ggCircuit”) and Helix eSports LLC (“Helix”) in a deal valued at approximately $43 million.

"With the acquisition of Helix and ggCircuit, we have created the most diversified, US-listed esports entertainment asset in the entire ecosystem,” stated Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “These acquisitions significantly strengthen our Three Pillar Strategy, adding state-of-the-art esports entertainment centers, an esports-focused vertical enterprise software business, a best-in-class esports analytics platform, and a player-vs-player skill-based wagering platform to our diversified asset base. Together with what we’ve already built and further near-term acquisition opportunities, Esports Entertainment Group is well on its way to becoming a global industry leader.”

ggCircuit is a B2B software company that provides cloud-based management for LAN centers, a tournament platform, and integrated wallet/point-of-sale solutions for enterprise customers. ggCircuit has over 1,000 connected locations and has worked with enterprises such as GameStop, Dell, Best Buy and Lenovo as well as universities such as Ohio State, Syracuse and North Carolina. Their ggLeap product has over 60 million hours of usage by over two million unique gamers on tens of thousands of public gaming screens inside centers worldwide.

Zack Johnson, founder of ggCircuit, commented, “We are excited to join forces with Esports Entertainment Group! With our combined state-of-the-art platform and resources, I am confident that we will rapidly scale growth in the quarters ahead.”

“Esports are already a billion-dollar opportunity and expanding at a CAGR of 24%,” added Murphy Vandervelde, founder of Helix. “With growing mass market appeal and a wealth of untapped opportunities, I am eager for Helix to become part of Esports Entertainment Group, where we can capitalize on the significant macro trends that will help catapult us to global leadership in this dynamic industry.”

Helix eSports owns five esports centers, including two of the five largest centers in the US, where they deliver world-class customer service, esports programming and gaming infrastructure. Helix offers a variety of experiences including casual play, competitive tournaments, STEM programming, high school leagues, large groups and esports bootcamps all with the goal of leveling the playing field in esports and providing equitable access to technology. Their centers have become the destination for social and competitive gamers alike with monthly tournaments and unique experiences.

Helix also owns Genji Analytics (“Genji”), an esports-proven, publisher-trusted analytics provider. Using sophisticated computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning tools, Genji delivers cutting-edge broadcast optimization and talent scouting analytics. Genji works with leading esports publishers and sports leagues, such as FIFA and the NBA 2K League, to power activities like combines, drafts and data-driven business decisions. Genji has also launched products into Helix eSports Centers that create customized tournament experiences, leveraging both idle computing capacity and unique proprietary data sources. Revenue streams include platform sales to publishers and leagues with plans to expand to all competitive players looking to enhance their gameplay through analysis, fair competition, and roster optimization.

“Some of the best publishers and leagues already rely on Genji as the trusted analytics provider,” commented William Collis, founder of Genji. “I am thrilled with the opportunity to work together with the Esports Entertainment Group team to build on our extensive successes as we seek to become the dominant player in the global market.”

The acquisition also includes LANduel, Helix’s proprietary player-vs-player wagering platform, built in Unity, that allows for skill-based wagering on third-party video games. LANduel’s consumer facing application enforces strict four-factor authentication to ensure fair play and ID verification. LANduel also holds close relationships with several major game publishers to ensure events and wagering follow community guidelines. LANduel is currently working alongside the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement on a pilot program.   Once the model is proven at the Helix eSports locations, LANduel can easily be scaled to other centers throughout the US across the ggCircuit network, and eventually into the homes of gamers through ggCircuit’s proprietary at home product suite.

The Company plans to provide an update to its fiscal year 2021 guidance (currently in FY 21) of $13 million after closing this transaction. Fiscal year 2022, ending June 30, 2022, has been raised from $25 million to $42 million.

A webinar is scheduled Monday, October 26, 2020 at 4:15 pm ET. Please register for the webinar at: https://www.redchip.com/corporate/webinar_register/77

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. is a licensed online company with a specific focus on esports and gaming. Esports Entertainment offers fantasy and pools on various esports events in a licensed, regulated and secure platform at vie.gg. In addition, Esports Entertainment intends to offer users from around the world the ability to participate in multiplayer mobile and PC video game tournaments for cash prizes. Esports Entertainment is led by a team of industry professionals and technical experts from the online gambling and the video game industries, and esports. The Company holds a license to conduct online gambling and 18+ gaming on a global basis in the UK, Ireland, Malta and Curacao. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations 
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

FAQ

What is the value of the Esports Entertainment acquisition of ggCircuit and Helix?

The acquisition is valued at approximately $43 million.

How much has Esports Entertainment raised its FY22 revenue guidance?

Esports Entertainment has raised its FY22 revenue guidance to $42 million.

What are the key benefits of the acquisition for Esports Entertainment Group?

The acquisition adds two million gamers, over 1,000 locations, and enhances their analytics and wagering capabilities.

When is the webinar discussing the deal scheduled?

The webinar is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2020, at 4:15 PM ET.