Nazara Tech's NODWIN Gaming Acquires Starladder in $5.5 Mn Deal to Strengthen Esports Portfolio

-Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Roman Romanstov, The Starladder team brings over 20 years of experience in organizing esports events and boasts a diverse portfolio of iconic tournaments.

-As part of the agreement, Starladder founder Roman Romanstov will become a shareholder of NODWIN Gaming and will continue to lead the business in the future.

-This acquisition supports NODWIN Gaming's vision of providing immersive and comprehensive youth entertainment experiences globally.

NODWIN Gaming, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, has acquired Starladder, a prominent esports IP and services company, in a deal valued at $5.5 million (INR 46.75 Cr), the company said in an exchange filing.

Additional payments will be made based on earn-out targets. Following the acquisition, Starladder will become a fully owned subsidiary of NODWIN Gaming Pte (Singapore). This strategic move is set to enhance NODWIN's global footprint in AAA esports IP and event production.

Further, the acquisition will be financed through a combination of secondary sale and stock swap. The initial payment includes up to $2 million (INR 17 Cr) in cash, with the remaining $3.5 million (INR 29.75 Cr) settled through an equity share swap of NODWIN Gaming. 

As part of the agreement, Starladder founder Roman Romanstov will become a shareholder of NODWIN Gaming and will continue to lead the business in the future.

Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Roman Romanstov, The Starladder team brings over 20 years of experience in organizing esports events and boasts a diverse portfolio of iconic tournaments.

Starladder has built a reputation as a leading team of creative event producers, having successfully organized major esports events such as the Valve CS:GO Major, Valve Dota 2 Major and Minors, along with 18 seasons of the iconic StarSeries for CS 1.6 and CS:GO, and 17 seasons of StarSeries for Dota 2.

Further, according to the exchange filing, Starladder has organized numerous white label events and boasts extensive experience collaborating with some of the biggest game developers, including Valve, Tencent, Krafton, Blizzard, Riot Games, Supercell, Com2us, Moonton, Smilegate, and more.

Commenting on the acquisition, Akshat Rathee, cofounder of NODWIN Gaming, said, “StarLadder and Roman has been and remains the superstars behind the Creme de la Creme events that esports fans have loved to see. Roman is considered one of the pioneers of esports event production with his deep insight in stage design, creative broadcast solutions and entrepreneurial energy. I have been a fan of his work for the longest time and cherish the opportunity to work and build NODWIN with one of my heroes. With this NODWIN will level up our capability and envision bigger and better IPs and events for our fans and partners to love.” 

Roman Romanstov, founder of Starladder, said, “We live in an era of globalization, where the synergy of resources, expertise, and potential drives success and paves the way for future growth. We are thrilled to have found partners and like-minded individuals who share our vision and ambition. Together with NODWIN Gaming, Starladder is committed to creating extraordinary experiences for fans, delivering unforgettable events across multiple games and regions. Stay tuned for what’s to come!” 

This acquisition supports NODWIN Gaming's vision of providing immersive and comprehensive youth entertainment experiences globally. By integrating StarLadder, NODWIN Gaming strengthens its esports event and IP production capabilities, aiming to capture a larger share of mindshare within the Publisher and Brand ecosystem, the company stated.

As pioneers in the mobile esports space, NODWIN Gaming offerings resonate with the interests and aspirations of young audiences while giving them quality experiences. 

The acquisition coincides with NODWIN Gaming's ongoing expansion in India and emerging markets globally. It further strengthens NODWIN's recent strategic acquisitions, including Comic Con India, Trinity Gaming, AFK Gaming's agency business, Freaks 4U Gaming, Ninja Global, and Branded, a Singapore-based live events firm.