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Aristocrat Leisure Limited has reached an agreement to purchase Awager Ltd from funds controlled by Oaktree Capital Management for an unannounced consideration. The deal is subject to regulatory pre-approvals and is set for completion during the coming few months.
Inroad into Live Slot Streaming Space
Awager caters to a flourishing and controlled Live Slot Streaming industry, a new and emerging segment of the overall gaming industry. Awager provides a new virtual point of contact to gaming operators that offers live casino games to end-users live, in real-time. With new-age technology and a library of third-party gaming titles, Awager provides a means for operators to reach their online and offline customers with genuine, interactive, and live modes of entertainment.
The deal is Aristocrat’s foray into its new market, fitting its overall strategy of innovation, digital growth, and player engagement. Awager’s entry into Aristocrat’s portfolio will enrich the company’s tech stack and expand its presence in its online gaming market, which is growing at a tremendous pace.
Strategic Fit and Growth Potential
Awager has, in fact, proved itself to be a market leader in the United States through its proprietary distribution arrangement with premier iGaming sites and its tested technology platform. Its position in live slot streaming provides Aristocrat a competitive edge, specifically a way of matching its high-end game content and international distribution routes with Awager’s interactive digital platform.
Following its acquisition, the alliance should bring considerable growth prospects, whereby Aristocrat utilizes its expansive portfolio to grow Awager’s presence into other regulated jurisdictions. The acquisition also strengthens Aristocrat’s moves towards diversifying its portfolio of products and creating sustainable, high-engagement digital experiences.
Operational Footprint and Transaction Information
Operational Awager is based in Israel and employs around 75 professionals across Israel, Eastern Europe, and America. Such broad geographical reach of a team is aimed at boosting technical development, management of operations, and client relationships of the live game development environment.
Even though the cash consideration of the deal is not specified, Aristocrat did confirm having UBS act as its adviser, and Oaktree having been guided by Moelis & Company LLC when it made the sale. The acquisition is set to proceed following the completion regulatory analysis and clearances required.
Improving Aristocrat’s Strategic Capabilities
This transaction is a strategic expansion of Aristocrat’s existing digital footprint. It provides new capacity consistent with its long-term growth strategy of delivering a deeper digital entertainment footprint and securing its position of leadership across both land-based and online gaming marketplaces.
By bringing together Awager’s expertise in live streaming technology and its established contacts in the iGaming market, Aristocrat is significantly poised to capture a larger slice of the expanding global gaming market. The buyout serves to emphasize Aristocrat’s further emphasis on pursuing innovation, excellence in operations, and diversification of its market base.
With the transaction being finalized, it is seen by market observers as a huge entry point for Aristocrat to explore new gaming verticals and establish itself even more as a premier player where gaming, technology, and interactive entertainment converge.
Source: Aristocrat, Indian Gaming
