Betsson lauds newly acquired sportsbook firm with operator eyeing customer diversification
Pontus Lindwall sings the praises of KickerTech after securing 80% of the company in a €14m deal
Betsson AB CEO Pontus Lindwall has championed the future synergies and growth for the firm after its €14m acquisition of B2B sportsbook supplier KickerTech.
The Stockholm-listed operator has taken an 80% share in the company, which is based in Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius.
KickerTech boasts a team of 50 staff developing “advanced odds models, trading technology and sportsbook features”, and in the 12 months to 30 September, the firm generated revenue of approximately €2.6m and EBIT of around €1.3m.
Speaking on a presentation call following Betsson’s Q3 trading update, Lindwall spoke at length as to what KickerTech could add to Betsson’s offering.
Lindwall explained the product would allow Betsson to reach different customer types through its B2B proposition and expand its customer portfolio.
Lindwall said: “By buying KickerTech we broaden our spectrum of customers we can serve with our sportsbook product. We can cover a larger part of the market now with these two products. On top of that, we will get synergies, both on the sales side and the development side.
“It is a smaller business than our sportsbook business, but it is on a strong growth path, and it has very attractive offerings,” he added.
Lindwall went on to praise the differing technology Betsson now had at its disposal to create a more holistic offering for customers.
He continued: “It’s a different technology. These are two different sportsbooks with two different natures. The acquisition will give us the possibility to integrate into several customers at the same time and we can be faster and more agile.
“We can also adapt the offering to each potential market that we want to sell to. I wouldn’t say KickerTech has a [specific geographical focus] as they are quite spread.
“They are present in European, African and Latam markets. [The sportsbooks] are overlapping in geographies; it is more about their different natures, and that they cater for different customer types,” Lindwall added.
Betsson will pay the total €14m in three instalments, beginning with an initial €6m in cash, followed by a further €4m in cash in six months and the final €4m to be paid in 12 months, either in cash or shares issued by Betsson.