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Azerion successfully completes its business combination with EFIC1

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Azerion Holding B.V., a high-growth, profitable, digital entertainment and media company,  and European FinTech IPO Company 1 B.V. (“EFIC1”), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)  listed on Euronext Amsterdam, have successfully completed their business combination on  1 February 2022.

As part of the completion of the business combination, the legal form of the combined company has  been converted into a limited company (naamloze vennootschap) and it has been renamed Azerion  Group N.V. (“Azerion Group”). The first day of trading on Euronext Amsterdam under the new name  of Azerion Group’s shares and warrants will be on 2 February 2022 (today) under the new ticker  symbols AZRN and AZRNW, respectively.

The business combination received the support of EFIC1’s shareholders, with more than 95% of the  votes cast at EFIC1’s extraordinary general meeting held on 31 January 2022 (the “EGM”) approving  the business combination.

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The completion of the business combination supports Azerion Group in its ambitions to become a global  digital entertainment and media powerhouse. The business combination furthermore provides for a  strong complementary partnership accelerating future value creation for all stakeholders through  continued investments in Azerion Group’s growth, both organically and through M&A. Azerion Group  expects this listing to create a new long-term supportive shareholder base, permit Azerion Group to  incentivise the existing and future management team and senior staff and continue to attract high calibre  individuals.

The business combination resulted in approximately €93 million of gross total primary cash proceeds,  including approximately €70 million of funds from the EFIC1 escrow account (net of negative interest  and after effectuation of the share repurchase arrangement) complemented by a sponsor and co investor commitment of €23.15 million. With the completion of the business combination, Azerion Group  received approximately €56 million of net primary cash proceeds (net of transaction costs and  expenses), which will be used to continue to pursue value-accretive acquisitions (with Azerion having  a strong acquisition track record and a broad pipeline of potential targets), and to further invest in  organic growth initiatives (such as new games and features, platform investments, etc.) as well as  general corporate purposes.

Immediately after completion of the business combination and the related restructuring steps (including  the cancellation of 31,228,299 ordinary shares that were repurchased by EFIC1 from its shareholders),  the issued share capital of Azerion Group is as follows:

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Type of security #¹

Ordinary Shares (excl. treasury) 111,483,296

Ordinary Shares in treasury² 70,078,452

Total Ordinary Shares 181,561,748

Capital Shares 22

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Conditional Special Shares 1,152,886

Warrants³ 12,736,605

Please see section 6.4. “Description of Securities” in the EFIC1 Shareholders Circular dated 13 December 2021  for a description of the classes of securities of Azerion Group.

1. Excluding any conditional and unconditional option rights and Founder Warrants existing at the date of this press  release, which in aggregate entitle the holders to receive up to a maximum of 24,160,245 Ordinary Shares. 2. The Ordinary Shares in treasury can be used for acquisitions, exercise of warrants and option rights and other  general funding purposes.

3. The outstanding Warrants listed on Euronext Amsterdam at the date of this press release entitle the holders to  receive up to 12,736,605 Ordinary Shares.

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Immediately after completion of the business combination, the ownership percentages of Ordinary  Shares are as follows:

Shareholder % Ordinary Shares⁴

Principion Holding B.V.⁵ 74.3%⁶

Azerion former depositary receipt holders 7.5%

Azerion former stock appreciation rights holders 4.0%⁷

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Former EFIC1 converted special shares holders 5.9%

Other Shareholders 8.3%

Total 100.0%

Based on Azerion Group’s information. Actual share ownership percentages and regulatory filings and notifications  of ownership percentages may differ.

4. Excluding treasury shares as well as any conditional and unconditional option rights and Founder Warrants  existing at the date of this press release, which in aggregate entitle the holders to receive up to a maximum of  24,160,245 Ordinary Shares.

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5. An entity controlled by Azerion’s co-founders and co-CEOs.

6. Including shares held for settlement of future acquisition-related earn out and other obligations. 7. Excluding shares held for settlement of future acquisition-related earn out and other obligations.

Atilla Aytekin, co-founder and co-CEO of Azerion says: “Today marks an important step for Azerion,  and we are excited to finally enter the public markets and continue to grow and advance our platform  whilst raising our profile amongst our customer and partner groups and talented workforce globally. We  are proud to achieve this important milestone, and we look forward to our next growth phase and future

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as a public company. I am grateful to the entire Azerion team for all their hard work, which has brought  us to this pivotal moment, and for the dedicated support of our partner EFIC1.”

Martin Blessing, former Chief Executive Officer of EFIC1, adds: “The journey of our SPAC EFIC1 comes  to a successful end while the exciting journey of Azerion as a listed company starts now. The whole  EFIC1 team thanks its shareholders for their support. We look forward to continuing our partnership  with Azerion over the long term and wish the company, its founders, employees and shareholders  success as they continue their impressive growth story.”

To celebrate the completion of the business combination, the management team of Azerion Group will  ring the opening bell at Euronext Amsterdam at 09.00 CET on 2 February 2022. A live stream of the  event and replay can be accessed via this link.

Advisers

Credit Suisse Bank (Europe), S.A. acted as capital markets adviser, Hogan Lovells International LLP  acted as legal adviser and ABN AMRO Bank N.V acted as financial adviser to EFIC1.

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N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited acted as financial adviser, Stibbe N.V. acted as legal adviser, and  Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG and Jefferies GmbH as capital markets advisers to Azerion.

ABN AMRO (acting in cooperation with ODDO BHF SCA), ING Bank N.V. and Pareto Securities AB  acted as co-capital markets advisers to EFIC1, and Clifford Chance LLP acted as legal adviser to the  capital markets advisers.

Liquidity Provider

As from 2 February 2022, Azerion Group will enter into a liquidity provider agreement pursuant to which ABN AMRO Bank N.V. will act as liquidity provider for the trade in listed shares of Azerion Group.

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Compliance Updates

SYNOT Games Officially Certifies Over 140 Games in Brazil

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SYNOT Games has announced that more than 140 of its games have now been officially certified in Brazil.

“We are delighted to announce that more than 140 of our games have now been officially certified in Brazil. This significant achievement allows us to expand our reach and introduce a diverse selection of games to this dynamic market. Brazil represents a key opportunity for growth, and we are committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Brazilian audience,” the Company said.

“We are thrilled to introduce our portfolio in Brazil, offering innovative and engaging gameplay that promises to captivate and entertain players,” Martina Krajci, CCO at SYNOT Games, said.

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Gaming

SPGA Introduces Code of Conduct to Highlight Member Commitment to Compliance and Safety in Social and Promotional Gaming

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The Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA), an organization dedicated to providing stakeholder education and advocating for the responsible operation of social games offering promotional sweepstakes prizes, today announced the implementation of a Code of Conduct for its operator members.

The Code of Conduct is designed to spotlight the processes and technologies already in place at both SPGA member sites and the majority of social casinos offering promotional sweepstakes, also referred to as social sweeps games.

Social sweeps games combine the established social casino model, on which Americans have spent over $40 billion in the last decade, and add promotional prizes. No purchase is necessary to win prizes, and the vast majority of users play for free.
The foundational pillars of the Code of Conduct include the application of regulation-grade suppliers, technology, or policies to ensure: 
  • Age verification to limit real money play to users 18 and older

  • Proper identity verification (Know Your Customer or KYC) 

  • Location verification of customers 

  • AML policies to ensure proper transaction monitoring

“The pillars of the SPGA Code of Conduct highlight the technology and processes already in place at most social sweeps operators to ensure that the millions of adults who enjoy these games do so in a safe and reliable environment,” said Camilla Wright of Red Knot Communications, a spokesperson for the SPGA. 
“The standards of the Code of Conduct go above and beyond the accepted best practices for traditional social casinos.”
In the months ahead, the SPGA will release more details on the Code of Conduct, introduce additional pillars, and engage an external firm to certify member compliance with the Code.  
“We look forward to continuing to develop the Code of Conduct to further strengthen the commitment of SPGA members to compliance and player protection while providing consumers with a highly social and engaging experience that is always free to play,” said Wright.      
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Gaming

Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK

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Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.

To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.

 

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What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?

NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.

 

What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?

NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!

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How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?

NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!

 

What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?

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ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.

 

Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?

ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!

Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.

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How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?

ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!

 

What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?

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STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.

 

As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?

STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.

 

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How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?

STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.

 

The post Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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