Saudi's PIF-owned unit buys US$265 million stake in Chinese gaming company VSPO

CHINESE esports company VSPO, backed by Tencent Holdings, said on Thursday (Feb 16) Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has bought a stake worth US$265 million in the company, as the kingdom continues its push in the gaming market.

Saudi’s Public Investment Fund will take a stake in VSPO through gaming unit Savvy Games Group and become the Chinese company’s single largest equity holder, VSPO said.

Saudi has been expanding its investments in the gaming industry by taking stakes in Japan’s Nintendo and Swedish gaming group Embracer last year.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman in September last year laid out a US$38 billion strategy for Savvy Games Group, with the aim of making Saudi “the ultimate global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030“.

VSPO, which has sought US and Hong Kong listings before, said Savvy’s investment would help it accelerate the growth of mobile esports “with a particular focus” on Saudi. Savvy said the investment would help it diversify.

“This is a significant transaction for Savvy, and gives us a major foothold in the important Asia region. We are looking forward to diversifying our geographic footprint alongside VSPO,” Savvy chief executive officer Brian Ward said. REUTERS