Industry News
Better Collective Acquires Skycon Limited and Upgrades its Financial Targets for 2023
In order to realise the vision of becoming the Leading Digital Sports Media Group, Better Collective expands its efforts within digital display advertising by acquiring Skycon Limited for a total consideration of up to 45m GBP.
Upgrade of financial targets 2023
Skycon Limited will be consolidated into the Better Collective Group. Better Collective upgrades its financial targets for 2023 as follows:
Revenue of 305-315m EUR (previous 290-300m EUR)
EBITDA before special items of 95-105m EUR (previous 90-100m EUR)
Net debt to EBITDA before special items <2.0 (unchanged)
About Skycon Limited
Skycon Limited (Skycon) is a British company founded in 2017 and is run out of Newcastle-under-Lyme, England. The company specialises in display advertising with an “audience-based” approach, which is paid advertising on channels such as sports media. Skycon’s approach is highly complementary to Better Collective’s existing Paid Media approach with a “search engine-based” approach. The acquisition will increase the addressable market for Better Collective’s Paid Media division and will further increase its value proposition towards the Group’s diverse business partners.
Better Collective will integrate the business into its existing Paid Media operations and will take over Skycon’s substantial recurring revenue share database. Skycon has seen great growth, which Better Collective expects to fuel further with several cross-selling synergies, while also improving its own business through operational synergies.
Synergy highlights
- Skycon has solely worked with one sportsbook and Better Collective will expand this to its global network of sportsbooks.
- Better Collective will be able to broaden the geographical scope of Skycon for instance into the US.
- Better Collective will redirect future new depositing customers (NDCs) to its best-in-class global sportsbook agreements, which will increase the value per future NDC delivered.
- Skycon will be utilised on the AdTech platform which Better Collective is currently building.
Jesper Søgaard, Co-founder & CEO of Better Collective, said: “We have invested heavily in growing our Paid Media division to reach its current significant scale, while we also have invested in moving revenues to recurring revenue share contracts. During the past year, our efforts have proven successful and acquiring Skycon will be highly synergistic to this journey. Skycon is a great business, which is built on Better Collective’s favored revenue share model. It is a perfect fit as we can leverage our leading skill set within media buying to grow Skycon’s revenues. We also see a clear path to further growth as the asset can be scaled across more of our business partners, into new territories, and optimized with our unrivaled first party data in sports media. This acquisition will further deepen our moat.”
Transaction details
Better Collective will pay up to 45m GBP on a cash and debt free basis, including an upfront cash consideration of 25m GBP and up to 20m GBP in earn outs. The earn outs are based on certain financial performance targets in the 12 months post closing period. The acquisition will be funded by cash, and the earn-out is estimated to be at least 50% financed by the existing revenue share database.
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
-
Latest News1 day ago
Make every pixel personal: Opera GX facelift lets you match your browser to your setup down to the smallest detail
-
Balkans7 days ago
EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers
-
Latest News1 day ago
Casino Management System Market to Reach USD 29.09 Billion by 2032 | Enhanced Security and Operational Efficiency Drive Growth | Research by S&S Insider
-
Asia7 days ago
Mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong ready for China’s 15th National Games
-
Australia7 days ago
ACMA: Tabcorp Pays $262,000 Penalty for Illegal In-Play Bets
-
Latest News7 days ago
AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZITRO AND GRUPO OSGA TO PROMOTE THE LABOT INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
-
Latest News7 days ago
Week 46/2024 slot games releases
-
Latest News1 day ago
Fast Track Celebrates Third Year as a Great Place to Work Certified™ Tech Company