Playtika establishes investment arm

Mobile software developer Playtika has established Playtika Growth Investments targeting Israeli digital entertainment and consumer internet businesses with an investment fund of up to $400 million over four years.

The investment arm will target companies that are already profitable or near breakeven and have proven business models and products.

Those portfolio businesses will be supported by Playtika’s marketing, monetization, analytics, technology and product teams to improve performance.

Robert Antokol, co-founder and chief executive officer of Playtika, said:

“For the past eight years, Playtika has gained unparalleled expertise in how to monetize and grow mobile and web products used by tens of millions of people around the world. Sharing that expertise with tomorrow’s Israeli Internet leaders will be a powerful differentiator in creating not just Israel’s, but also the world’s, next big Internet companies.”

In addition to Playtika’s operational know-how, portfolio companies will leverage Playtika’s financial and transactional expertise.

“Understanding how to manage a global business with sophisticated multinational partners is part of the skillset required for Israel to build world-leading companies and not just innovative startups; we now offer that knowledge,” Antokol said.

In related news, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is proving difficult in approving Playtika’s purchase by a Chinese private equity consortium led by Giant Network Group in 2016 for $4.4 billion over concerns that its games promote gambling.

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