Playtech hedges its bets with Mobenga aquisition

AIM-listed Playtech, an Internet gambling software maker and content developer which has a joint venture with William Hill, has acquired Mobenga AB, a mobile-phone sports-betting company.

Round-up of today’s M&A deals

AIM-listed Playtech, an Internet gambling software maker and content developer which has a joint venture with William Hill, has acquiredMobenga AB, a mobile-phone sports-betting company.

The consideration for the acquisition comprises an initial amount of £7.05 million, subject to final working capital adjustments, and a further consideration based on a 6x multiple of the profit before tax of the business in 2013, capped at £13.9 million.

The initial amount has been financed from Playtech’s existing cash resources. According to a statement Mobenga will help Playtech expand in mobile telephone gambling.

Mobenga exists as a mobile sportsbook betting platform provider with customers including PaddyPower, Unibet, Skybet, Stan James, and Nordicbet. 

The platform is designed for handheld devices such as smart phones and tablets, across Apple iOS, Android and HTML. Mobenga offers operators features such as a touch user interface (TUI) and advanced functionality, including live video streaming which is integrated with its existing platform.

Playtech’s chief executive officer, Mor Weizer, says: ‘Recent developments in mobile gaming are increasingly important in driving player acquisition and delivering demonstrable revenue streams. Sportsbetting has always been the core product for many operators – one which creates different cross selling opportunities to other gaming products.

‘This deal will position Playtech as the leading mobile gaming provider to take best advantage of the growth in mobile gaming and to integrate sportsbetting alongside its existing mobile casino, poker and bingo offerings providing the operators the ability to offer a complete multi-product mobile gaming solution.’

Stockholm-based Mobenga will give Playtech the ability to combine sports-betting, casino and poker games in one mobile- phone application, Weizer says.

Other M&A deals

  • Imtech N.V. has acquired Swedish energy and  climate business Sydtotal. The acquisition will enable  Imtech to strengthen its position in the Swedish technical services market

Value: Sydtotal valued at £70.49 million

Advisors: Koenders, Leenaers

Read more

  • Redbet Gaming, a subsidiary of Swedish online gaming provider Redbet Holding AB, has acquired HeyPoker, a gaming business focused on Scandinavia & Eastern Europe

Value: £0.26 million

Advisors: undisclosed

Read more

  • Speech and text analytics firm Verint is to acquire Vovici and its suite of online survey management and enterprise feedback tools

Value: £47.4 million

Advisors: undisclosed

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  • Semiconductor giant Intel is continuing to diversify away from the CPU with the acquisition of Ethernet switch specialist Fulcrum MIcrosystems

Value: undisclosed

Advisors: internal

Read more

  • Austriamicrosystems to acquire optoelectronics firm TAOS

Value: £198.2 million

Advisors: undisclosed

Read more

  • Spreadtrum acquires analogue mobile TV firm Telegent Systems

Value: Telegent sales reached £76.8 million between 2007 and 2009

Advisors: undisclosed

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  • Autodesk has acquired Pixlr, a free online and social photo creating, collecting, editing and sharing service

Value: undisclosed

Advisors: undisclosed

Read more

  • Chinese fabless semiconductor developer has signed an agreement to purchase a provider of semiconductor and software solutions for the reception of live, broadcast television on mobile phones

Value: undisclosed

Advisors: undisclosed

Read more

  • Logitech LifeSize division embraces the cloud for video with Mirial acquisition and adds mobile video company to stable

Value: undisclosed

Advisors: undisclosed

Todd Cardy

Todd Cardy

Todd was Editor of GrowthBusiness.co.uk between 2010 and 2011 as well as being responsible for publishing our digital and printed magazines focusing on private equity and venture capital.

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