Superbet nets €1.3bn funding backed by Blackstone to pursue Giant Status

Superbet has announced that it has reached terms to secure a €1.3bn refinancing agreement to accelerate its strategic expansion.

Deal terms were agreed upon by Superbet’s principal investor, private equity (PE) fund Blackstone, and related parties managed by HPS Investment Partners (HPS).

The €1.3bn arrangement will be used by Superbet to strengthen its financial resources as the company continues to execute its growth strategy—this includes expansion into the Brazilian market, M&A optionality, and further investment in innovative technologies.

Following a year of extensive investment in the development of its proprietary technologies and systems, Superbet believes it has created a platform to expand its business aggressively in both new and existing markets.

The strategy is explained by new Co-CEO Jimmy Maymann, who leads Superbet’s global ambitions: “The core vision of Superbet is to scale at pace and become a global leader in the tech and entertainment industry through product innovation and a customer-centric approach.

“We are proud to team up with Blackstone and HPS, world leaders in asset management, on our growth journey. I am highly confident that this landmark moment will give us strong momentum to achieve our ambitious goals.”**

At present, Superbet operates in 10 countries with localised operations, having achieved ‘podium positions’ in the markets of Romania, Serbia, Belgium, and Poland.

PE giant Blackstone began its investment in Superbet in 2019, supporting the betting group’s initial expansion from its home market of Romania into new CEE and Balkan markets.

Speculation regarding a potential IPO surrounded Superbet last year, following the appointment of tech and entertainment figurehead Hans-Holger Albrecht as Executive Chairman.

Albrecht commented on the funding: “The fact that we have two blue-chip investors, Blackstone and HPS, is not only a milestone for the company but also, given our strong balance sheet, an enabler for us to continue our expansion story, driven by our unique tech and product position.

“Together with Blackstone and HPS, we will drive sustainable growth through investments in innovative technology, the enhancement of our entertainment ecosystem, and by strengthening our strong culture of responsible entertainment.”**

Superbet was founded in 2008 by Romanian tech entrepreneur Sacha Dragic, who returned to the business last year following his retirement in 2019. Upon his return, Dragic led the CEO succession, appointing Jimmy Maymann and restructuring the C-level executive team to prepare the company for its new refinancing arrangement.

Dragic maintains the ethos that Superbet can scale markets as a standalone betting brand, with the quickest ROI generated through the development of proprietary systems and platforms tailored for Superbet to engage in a hyper-localised strategy for its individual markets.

Sacha Dragic signed off the statement: “I am thrilled that we have signed this refinancing deal, a testament to our commitment to becoming global leaders in our industry. Our unique business model seamlessly integrates strategic investments in cutting-edge technology with a diversified product portfolio, carefully aligned with modern consumer trends.

“Furthermore, our strong financial fundamentals and operational excellence provide a solid platform to accelerate growth in our existing markets while also targeting expansion into high-potential future markets.”**