NODWIN Gaming International Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, has completed the acquisition of Ninja Global FZCO (Ninja) for $3.57 million (approximately INR 29.8 crore) in a strategic transaction involving both cash and stock components.
The acquisition is strategically aimed at bolstering NODWIN Gaming’s presence and capabilities within the esports and gaming production domains across the UAE and Turkey. Ninja Global, recognized for its substantial influence in the esports and gaming production sectors, will now integrate seamlessly into NODWIN Gaming Private Limited.
Nazara Technologies, the parent company of NODWIN Gaming, recently secured approximately INR 510 crore from a consortium of investors, including Nikhil Kamath, the cofounder of Zerodha, and SBI Mutual Fund. Nitish Mittersain, the CEO, outlined plans to utilize the fresh capital to invest in gaming studios capable of developing high-caliber games tailored for both Indian and global audiences during an interview with Inc42.
The finalized deal, executed on June 7 via a secondary transaction, involved a cash component of $1.32 million, with the remaining stake valued at $2.24 million obtained through the issuance of preference shares of NODWIN Gaming International. According to disclosures made in Nazara’s stock exchange filings, NODWIN Gaming International disbursed $1 million in cash upfront and allocated approximately $2.24 million through the issuance of preference shares.
Nazara emphasized in February that the acquisition of Ninja Global will fortify NODWIN’s global delivery network in emerging markets, enabling the company to offer enhanced solutions to publishers and brands in the Middle East and Turkey.
This strategic acquisition underscores Nazara’s aggressive expansion strategy in the gaming sector. In October of the preceding year, Nazara acquired the games marketing services firm PublishMe for $2 million. Following this, in January, NODWIN Gaming unveiled plans to acquire a 100% stake in Comic Con India for INR 55 crore ($6 million) through a combination of cash and stock transactions, aimed at diversifying its youth-centric portfolio and extending its global entertainment footprint. Furthermore, the company committed to investing €8 million (approximately INR 71.8 crore) in Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH, a marketing services firm based in Germany.