Playtika to Acquire Youda Games Portfolio from Azerion

Playtika Holding Corp. and Azerion Group N.V. have signed a definitive agreement for Playtika to acquire the Youda Games portfolio of games from Azerion.

Strategic acquisition

The portfolio includes the popular social card-themed title, Governor of Poker 3. The initial cash consideration for the acquisition is EUR 81.3 million, with a potential earnout based on the acquired business’s performance, which could increase the total consideration to a maximum of EUR 150 million, subject to customary adjustments.

Playtika, a mobile games pioneer and interactive entertainment leader, plans to leverage its LiveOps expertise and proprietary technology stack to optimize and scale the Youda Games portfolio. This strategic acquisition aligns with Playtika’s incremental growth approach and aims to strengthen its market position by adding value to proven franchises.

Craig Abrahams, President, and Chief Financial Officer of Playtika, expressed confidence that the acquisition would enhance the company’s financial performance and support its strategic vision: “The acquisition of Youda Games’ card game portfolio, with its strong IP, is in line with Playtika’s strategic incremental growth approach of leveraging our unrivalled LiveOps expertise and proprietary technology stack to optimize and scale games, strengthening our market position. We believe this acquisition will be accretive to our financial performance and is part of our strategy to acquire proven franchises where we can add value.”

Largest digital advertising platform

Azerion Group’s Chief Revenue Officer Sebastiaan Moesman said: “Over the past few years, we have transformed our business by scaling our digital advertising capabilities, developing our strategic portfolio of partner-led content and extending the presence and reach of our in-market commercial teams. As a result of this dynamic shift towards our digital advertising platform, social card games have become less strategic for Azerion, whilst remaining an attractive investment opportunity for an industry partner such as Playtika. This divestment will further simplify our business and help us to continue investing in and delivering on our growth ambitions.”

Azerion Group N.V., one of Europe’s largest digital advertising and entertainment media platforms, decided to divest the Youda Games portfolio as social card games became less strategic for the company. Azerion has been focusing on scaling its digital advertising capabilities, developing a strategic portfolio of partner-led content, and extending the presence of its in-market commercial teams. The divestment will further simplify Azerion’s business and allow it to continue investing in its growth ambitions.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. Further details about the deal will be provided by Azerion alongside its interim financial results for Q2 and H1 2023.