Nazara’s NODWIN Acquires 100% Stake In Game Marketing Agency PublishME For $2 Mn

Nazara Technologies’ esports subsidiary NODWIN Gaming has acquired a 100% stake in PublishME for $2 Mn from the game marketing agency’s existing shareholders – founder Ozgur Ozalp and Nazara. 

The integration of PublishME into NODWIN Gaming’s global emerging market network will enhance the latter’s existing solutions capabilities for publishers and brands, Nazara said in a release. 

“This acquisition will provide the essential tailwinds for NODWIN Gaming to drive its mission of leading the emerging market sports media landscape,” it added.

PublishME is a full-service games marketing and publishing agency which works extensively with gaming publishers in Turkey and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It connects brands with gamers through social media management, sponsorship, and activations to its partners. 

Following the acquisition, PublishME will rename itself to NODWIN Gaming in the Middle East but retain the PublishME name in Turkey. Ozalp will transition to NODWIN Gaming as the CEO of NODWIN Gaming Dubai. 

As per an exchange filing, Nazara Dubai held 82.81% stake in PublishME, while Ozalp owned the remaining 17.19% stake before the transaction.

Commenting on the acquisition, NODWIN Gaming cofounder and MD Akshat Rathee said, “This strategic acquisition not only brings in a host of new opportunities but also paves the way for a multitude of fresh possibilities for us as a leading gaming and esports media company.”

He said NODWIN Gaming continues to eye growth and expansion globally, with focus on the BRICS network, and this acquisition will propel the growth in this market. “We see significant synergies between Nodwin Gaming and PublishME and this transaction will enable Nodwin to get a stronger foothold into the Middle East esports market,” he said. 

This is the second acquisition by NODWIN Gaming this year. Earlier, it acquired 51% stake in Singapore-based mediatech startup Branded in an all-cash deal. 

In May, NODWIN Gaming also announced plans to raise $28 Mn as part of a strategic funding round from new and existing investors. Though it did not disclose the new investors’ names, it said existing investors Nazara, Krafton and JetSynthesys would participate in the funding round. 

Over the past few years, NODWIN Gaming’s parent Nazara has acquired a number of companies like Sportskeeda, Datawrkz and Kiddopia. 

Recently, the publicly listed Nazara secured INR 510 Cr from Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath and SBI Mutual Fund. Following the fundraise, Nazara CEO and joint MD Nitish Mittersain told Inc42 that a large portion of the fresh capital will be used for new investments and acquisitions, especially in the gaming studios space.

Shares of Nazara ended today’s trading session 1.36% lower at INR 823.45 on the BSE.

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