Better Collective acquires leading US sports betting media

Regulatory launch no. 14 With the acquisition of Action Network, Better Collective features clear market management inside sports betting media and affiliation within the US and now expects to extend its revenues within the US to greater than 100 mUSD by 2022. Sports betting media group, Better Collective, immediately broadcasts that it has signed an settlement to accumulate 100% of the shares in Action Network, Inc. (“Action”) for 240 mUSD (198 mEUR) on a money and debt free foundation. Founded in 2017 and launched in 2018, Action is uniquely positioned within the US market because the premium sports content material and product vacation spot for US sports bettors. A trusted supply for sports followers, Action’s media platforms present an enhanced expertise for its customers via authentic sports information content material, premium insights, deep menus of odds and proprietary betting instruments and knowledge. Action’s various income mannequin features a rapidly-growing internet affiliate marketing enterprise targeted on buyer acquisition for betting operators within the US in addition to subscription merchandise, anchored by Action Pro, Action Labs and Fantasy Labs.  Action continues to learn from the increasing authorized sports betting market within the US. In 2021, Action is predicted to realize revenues approaching 40 mUSD, a rise of over 100% year-on-year, whereas additionally producing optimistic operational earnings in 2021. As extra states legalize on-line sports betting, the potential to additional deepen and increase Action’s industrial partnerships with giant US-based sportsbooks comparable to BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet   is critical. Action is headquartered in New York, and has roughly 100 workers.  The Transaction The buy value quantities to 240 mUSD (198 mEUR) on a money and debt free foundation and will probably be settled in a money fee and a 12 mUSD issuance of latest Better Collective (BETCO.ST) shares to Action’s administration, key workers and sure different people. 10 mUSD of the money fee will probably be paid on a deferred foundation as settlement of sure current share choices in Action. The variety of Better Collective shares issued will probably be decided by the volume-weighted BETCO.ST share value 5 buying and selling days previous to the date of this announcement. Further, the issued Better Collective shares will probably be topic to a lock-up of between 6 and 24 months following completion of the transaction.   The money element of the acquisition value will probably be supplied via financial institution financing.  The acquisition is topic to customary regulatory approvals and is predicted to be accomplished in Q2 2021. Better Collective within the US While the US sports betting market has grown quickly because the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) eliminated a federal ban on on-line playing, solely 13 states have legalized on-line playing at this level. Many extra are anticipated to observe within the coming years, with the addressable market considerably increasing because of this. Total on-line sports betting revenues within the US are forecasted to achieve 4 bnUSD in 2022 and quantity to almost 40 bnUSD in 2033*. Following the execution of Better Collective’s acquisition technique and ongoing investments within the US market, Better Collective’s US enterprise has developed efficiently, with excessive development and a speedy enhance in profitability. The acquisition of Action consolidates Better Collective’s leading place within the affiliate and buyer supply verticals inside on-line sports betting, enabled via quite a few sturdy product platforms. In mild of this, and given the continued tempo of latest states regulating, Better Collective expects the US market to proceed rising and its US revenues to surpass 100 mUSD by 2022, with optimistic and growing operational earnings. Action will develop into an integral a part of Better Collective US and can proceed to function as a separate enterprise unit with its present manufacturers, administration crew, and workers, led by CEO Patrick Keane who will report back to Group Management via US CEO, Marc Pedersen. Action will combine with Better Collective’s present group the place related with a view to generate efficiencies. Jesper Søgaard, CEO of Better Collective, says:“I’m thrilled to welcome Action and its workers to Better Collective. This acquisition, which is the most important in Better Collective’s historical past, provides us a leading place inside affiliation within the US and a powerful basis for benefiting from the continual regulation of the US betting market. We add three new, very properly positioned US sports media manufacturers to our portfolio and welcome round 100 new colleagues, collectively representing a useful pool of information and experience on the US sports betting media market. By all accounts, it is a nice day for Better Collective.” Patrick Keane, CEO of Action, says: “Today marks an ideal achievement within the historical past of Action. In just some years, our crew has managed to construct a leading sports betting product and media enterprise within the US market, making us engaging to a leading worldwide participant. I’m thrilled about this end result for our workers and traders and we look ahead to persevering with to forge nice relationships with our league, media and sportsbook companions. Under Better Collective’s possession, we develop into a part of an organization with a few years of expertise and all of the sources essential to additional develop our place and develop our providing, to in the end improve the betting and leisure expertise for sports followers. We achieve new colleagues, profession paths and views. I’m wanting very a lot ahead to the journey forward. ” Financial TargetsBetter Collective will consolidate Action into the Better Collective Group from the time of closing. In reference to the acquisition, Better Collective is updating its Financial Targets for 2021: Total group income is now anticipated to exceed 180 mEUR (beforehand greater than 160 mEUR); and Operational revenue is now anticipated to exceed 55 mEUR (beforehand greater than 50 mEUR). Better Collective will share extra particulars in reference to its Q1 2021 earnings report that will probably be launched on May 12, 2021. The acquisition of Action will carry Better Collective’s estimated debt leverage (Net Interest Bearing Debt/EBITDA) above the corporate’s monetary goal of <3.0. Due to Better Collective's sturdy working money move, the Board of Directors has determined that in the meanwhile, it's acceptable for the corporate’s debt leverage to exceed the monetary goal of three.0, which goal stays in place for 2021. The Board will due to this fact determine upon any potential adjustments to the corporate’s long run capital construction in the end. AdvisorsMorgan Stanley acted as sole monetary advisor, Bruun & Hjejle and GreenbergTraurig acted as authorized advisors, and PwC acted as accounting and tax advisor in reference to the acquisition for Better Collective. Nordea Bank will probably be offering financing to facilitate the closing of the transaction.  Moelis & Company LLC acted as sole monetary advisor and Venable LLP acted as authorized advisor to Action. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as advisors to The Chernin Group, the most important shareholder of Action.  WebcastA webcast for traders, analysts and media will probably be held on Tuesday May 4, 2021 at 3.00 p.m. CET and might be joined on-line. Presentation supplies for the webcast will probably be accessible on the web site one hour earlier than the decision. Dial in particulars: Confirmation Code:            9686873Denmark:                            +45 32 72 04 17    Sweden:                +46 (0)8 56618467United Kingdom: +44 (0)8444819752International: +44 (0) 2071928338 Webcast hyperlink https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/2misgvvq * Data from Vixio and Goldman Sachs Enquiries relating to this announcement must be addressed to:Investor contact:Christina Bastius Thomsen, +45 2363 8844, [email protected]  Media contacts: Morten Kalum, +45 2349 1009, [email protected] Dave Beauboeuf, US media relations, [+1] 615-426-4764, [email protected]  This info is such info as Better Collective A/S is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The info was submitted for publication, via the company of the contact individual set out above on May 3, 2021 at 9.05 p.m CET. About Better CollectiveBetter Collective is a worldwide sports betting media group that develops digital platforms for betting ideas, bookmaker info and iGaming communities. Better Collective’s imaginative and prescient is to empower iGamers via modern merchandise and applied sciences and by creating transparency within the on-line betting market. Its portfolio of platforms and merchandise embody bettingexpert.com, the trusted residence of ideas from knowledgeable tipsters and in depth betting principle, HLTV.org, the world’s leading esports media and group specializing in aggressive Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and vegasinsider.com, a leading supply for sports betting info within the US. Better Collective is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (BETCO). BC regulatory launch no. 14_2021 Action 2021.05.03