Penta Investments leads panel on investment opportunities

Monday 27th of March 2017

Following a year of mass industry consolidation, high-level panelists at Betting on Football 2017 will be discussing whether sports betting is still an attractive proposition for investors.

The ‘Managing Risk’ panel at Stamford Bridge on May 3 will feature Valhalla Investments chairman Mark Blandford, GVC Holdings COO Shay Segev and Dreamworx Online founder & investor Christian Edler, alongside Marek Šmrha, investment manager at Penta Investments, the central European investment group that has worked with Fortuna Entertainment since 2005 and recently made its mark by paying around GBP135 million (US$170.2 million) to acquire Hattrick Sports Group.

The 40-minute session, moderated by GamCrowd chairman Ian Hogg, will cover new propositions, managing expectations, market disruption, exit strategies and different types of investment. This includes a detailed look at venture, debt and start-up investment, alongside the comparative appeal of getting involved in the online, retail or affiliate side of the business.

Šmrha commented: "We are happy to share our experience as a long-term investor and partner for our companies in CEE. With Fortuna Entertainment Group being one of our key assets, we remain truly excited about the gaming industry in the region for years to come."

Blandford, one of the inaugural members of the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame, added: "The gambling market has always been a fluid one, but the last few years has seen major upheaval at all levels of the business. But there are still plenty of opportunities in the betting market. This panel will shed some light on what it is investors are looking for in the current environment."

Segev commented: "As a company with one of the most successful M&A histories in the gambling industry, GVC is always on the lookout for the right opportunities. Given the consolidating nature of the market, we feel GVC has an effective approach and I look forward to discussing it with my fellow investment panelists at the Betting on Football conference."

Edler concluded: “In my mind there is no doubt that sports betting still offers an intriguing and attractive range of options for investors. At Betting on Football, I’m looking forward to joining the panel to discuss the new opportunities out there and discussing what we look for as investors with industry stakeholders from around the world.”

During the three-day event (May 3 -5), Penta Investments will also be available for a few meetings with companies looking for investment.

PR & Announcements Panel BOF17