Asian VC fund Emerald Media picks minority stake in Global Sports Commerce for $80mn

Global Sports Commerce offers sports bodies and  sports technology and management services through its network of companies

Emerald Media, a Pan-Asia company VC firm which invests in the fast-growing media, entertainment, consumer tech and B2B industries, today announced that it has acquired a significant minority stake in Global Sports Commerce (GSC), a sports technology and management company, for $80 million.

The aggregate investment will include the secondary purchase of Asia-focused private equity firm FidelisWorld’s stake in GSC’s affiliate Techfront and the primary growth capital.

The growth capital will enable GSC and its global affiliate Techfront to explore inorganic acquisition opportunities, develop next generation technologies for the sporting eco-system, and expand its operations in the fast-growing digital sporting solutions markets across the globe.

FidelisWorld, which had invested in Techfront in 2014, will be fully exiting the business as part of the current transaction.

Asia-focused private equity firm ADV Partners, which invested in GSC in 2015-16, will continue to hold a significant minority stake in the company.

Headquartered in Singapore with an office in Chennai, GSC combines cutting-edge technology solutions in the fields of LED signage, sponsorship management, premium consulting, fan engagement, AR/VR, drone-based data acquisition, wireless tech and data-sciences. It offers clients sports technology and management services through its network of companies that include Techfront, ITW, Qubercomm, Sportsgateway, Media Bay, Beyond Boundaries, Cartoon Mango and Nanoyotta.

GSC’s clients include FIFA, the English Premier League, NRL Australia, Australian Football league, IPL, Formula 1, Big Bash League, New Zealand Cricket, Cricket Australia, IMG and Asia Sports.

The company has offices in 16 cities in 10 countries including Australia, Hungary, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, the UAE, UK, and the USA.

Emerald Media is a Pan-Asian company backed by global VC firm KKR to invest in the fast-growing media, entertainment, consumer tech and B2B industries across Asia. Emerald Media is led by industry veterans Rajesh Kamat and Paul Aiello, who together have a combined experience of more than 40 years in the industry and bring a unique blend of operational and investment acumen to their business approach.

Since inception, Emerald Media has made key investments in YuppTV, Amagi Media Labs, aCommerce, and Cosmos-Maya.