Fnatic Raises $17m In Marubeni Investment Round
Esports brand Fnatic has announced a $17 million (£11.9 million) funding round led by Japanese conglomerate, Marubeni.
Fnatic says the investment will incorporate a strategic partnership to support its expansion into the Japanese esports sector, as well as the wider Asia-Pacific market.
The investment comes after an 80% year-on-year increase in revenues at Fnatic, as well as wider expansion of its brand.
The organisation has recently strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Head of Studios, Georgina Workman; Partnership Development Director, Julien Dupont; Head of Apparel, Oliver Royce; and CFO Patrick Foster. According to Fnatic, it has also expanded its digital and physical performance products, increasing revenues in those categories by 91% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021.
The new strategic partnership will incorporate the expansion of Fnatic’s base of operations in Japan and provide support for Fnatic’s Rainbow 6 Siege team who plan to relocate to the country.
Fnatic CEO Sam Mathews said: “We’re so excited to have the strategic know-how of Marubeni leading this funding round. Marubeni’s knowledge of Japan’s business landscape will be a huge asset to Fnatic as we expand our commitment to APAC.”
The current round of funding also includes a range of international family offices and institutional investors, alongside venture debt from Bootstrap. The news comes after Fnatic’s crowdfunding efforts in 2020, which saw the company raise $10 million (£7 million) across some 3,500 investors.
