NODWIN Gaming, the front-runner in South Asia’s esports and gaming industry, has taken a significant step by acquiring Comic Con India, a company famous for hosting multiple pop cultural festivals targeting youth in India. This acquisition not only diversifies NODWIN Gaming’s youth portfolio but also marks a strategic expansion in the global entertainment landscape.
As part of this transaction, NODWIN Gaming will acquire 100% of the shares of Comic Con India at a valuation of INR 55 Crore through a combination of cash and share swap from the founders of Comic Con India – Jatin Varma and Karan Kalra. They will continue and remain to operate the business as part of NODWIN Gaming.
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Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, commented on this development, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome the managing team of Comic Con India as partners and shareholders in NODWIN Gaming. Their trust in our vision reinforces our commitment to expanding our entertainment offerings. Integration of Comic Con India will amplify and diversify the offering of NODWIN to all opportunities that target the youth in India. With the continued intersection of Gaming/ Pop Culture/ esports into one interactive entertainment sector, Nodwin will add a strong and robust IP that is scalable both in India and Internationally. Our quest for drawing millions of fans across the world will get another level up with Comicon.”
This acquisition is particularly noteworthy as the managing team at Comic Con India will also become shareholders in NODWIN Gaming by swapping 27.5 Crores of their Comicon India shares with NODWIN shares. Their decision to become shareholders is a strong endorsement of NODWIN Gaming’s vision and strategy for the future.
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Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India stated “For more than a decade, we have worked tirelessly to build a unique space in India for promoting and celebrating popular culture. And with that goal in our mind, I am very excited to join hands with NODWIN Gaming in taking the next step and building upon this goal together”
Comic Con India, founded in 2011, has evolved into a company orchestrating various festivals across India, celebrating a wide range of popular culture elements including comics, cosplay movies, TV shows, merch, gaming and much more. The festivals, held in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, have become cornerstones of India’s cultural calendar.
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Karan Kalra, Partner & Director at Comic Con India added “Our aim at Comic Con India has always been to put the fans first! And I am absolutely thrilled that this strategic partnership will enable us to deliver amazing events and experiences to pop culture fans across India”
The integration of Comic Con India into NODWIN Gaming’s fold is set to create a unique platform for gaming enthusiasts, comic fans, and pop culture aficionados. The plan is to expand
the number of festivals and extend their reach to more cities across India and other countries, tapping into new markets and audiences.
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Fans can look forward to an enhanced experience with a broader array of events that celebrate the intersection of gaming, esports, comics, and popular culture. This strategic move by NODWIN Gaming is set to redefine the entertainment industry, making it a global phenomenon that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
About NODWIN Gaming
NODWIN Gaming, a material and independent subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd. (BSE: NAZARA), holds a significant position in the global gaming and esports industry as a leader in emerging markets. NODWIN Gaming is valued at $349 million as of May 2023.
Since its inception in 2014 by Akshat Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has established a global presence in regions such as South Asia, Singapore, the Middle East, and Turkey. The company’s business centers around building and monetising gaming and esports IPs such as Leagues, Tournaments, Reality shows. It engages with professional esports athletes, teams and content creators. Notable investors include Nazara, KRAFTON Inc, Sony Group Corporation and JetSynthesys.
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About Comic Con India
Comic Con India is the biggest celebration of pop-culture on the subcontinent. With multiple shows held across India, attracting over 200K fans annually and an even larger digital audience of over 20 Million fans with a cumulative social reach of over 141 Million. It bring together a series of fandoms of various elements of pop culture ranging from comics, toys, merch, anime, cosplay, TV, movies, gaming & more.
