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Capricorn Business Acquisitions Announces Letter Of Intent with Blockchain Innovations
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TORONTO, June 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Capricorn Business Acquisitions Inc. (NEX Board:CAK.H) (“Capricorn” or the “Company“), a capital pool company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent (“LOI“) dated May 25, 2018 with Las Vegas-based Blockchain Innovations Corp. (“BCI“), whereby BCI will exchange (“Share Exchange“) all its issued and outstanding common shares (“BCI Shares“) for common shares in the capital of Capricorn (“CAK Shares“) and become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capricorn. The proposed transaction will constitute the Company’s qualifying transaction (the “Qualifying Transaction” or “QT“) under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange“).
About Blockchain Innovations Corp.
BCI designs and develops market ready blockchain technology for public and private real-money wagering and peer-to-peer gaming companies across the globe. BCI’s blockchain technology consists of a fully functional crypto-currency wallet, a tipbot – PebbleGo for easily sending and receiving smart contracts, and its Smart Contracts platform – the ideal wagering eco-system for instant confirmation, where contracts are tradeable, divisible, transferable and new wagering not available in traditional retail or online markets. BCI’s technology is built around PebbleCoin, a gambling-by-design cryptocurrency that has been mined since 2015. PebbleCoin’s unique features make it the only crypto-currency that can facilitate real-time wagering.
Transaction Summary
Under the terms of the LOI, as consideration for the Share Exchange, subject to BCI completing the Pre-QT Financing and Concurrent Financing (each as defined below) Capricorn is expected to issue the following securities to BCI securityholders in exchange for their respective securities of BCI:
- 69,125,000 common shares in the capital of Capricorn (“CAK Shares“), at a deemed price of $0.32 per CAK Share;
- 3,750,000 warrants to purchase CAK Shares at a price of CAD$0.30 per CAK Share (“Initial Warrants“);
- 600,000 compensation options (“Initial Compensation Options“). Each Initial Compensation Option will be exercisable at a price of $0.20 into one initial broker unit (“Initial Broker Unit“), each comprised of one CAK Share and one half of one Initial Warrant;
- 7,812,500 warrants to purchase CAK Shares at a price of CAD$0.42 per CAK Share (“Concurrent Financing Warrants“);
- 1,250,000 compensation options (“Concurrent Financing Compensation Options“). Each Concurrent Financing Compensation Option will be exercisable at a price of $0.32 into one broker unit (“Concurrent Financing Broker Unit“), each comprised of one CAK Share and one half of one Concurrent Financing Warrant;
The totals above assume that each of Pre-QT Financing and Concurrent Financing are fully subscribed.
Prior to the completion of the QT, and subject to the receipt of shareholder approval, Capricorn is expected to complete a share consolidation (the “Share Consolidation“) of the CAK Shares on a 1.40 old CAK Shares for one new CAK Share basis, such that Capricorn would have 4,821,574 CAK Shares issued and outstanding prior to completion of the QT. FMI Capital Advisory Inc. (“FMICAI“) will act as an exclusive financial advisor to BCI with respect to the Qualifying Transaction.
BCI is currently undertaking a private placement (“Pre-QT Financing“) of units of BCI (“BCI Units“) at a price of CAD$0.20 per BCI Unit for gross proceeds of up to a total of CAD$1,500,000. Each BCI Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of (“BCI Share“) and one half of one BCI Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant being referred to as a “BCI Pre-QT Warrant“) exercisable into BCI Shares at a price of CAD$0.30 per BCI Share for a period of two years from issuance. BCI may pay a finder’s fee equal to 8% cash and 8% broker warrants to registered brokers and other finders where permitted by applicable securities legislation.
As of the date hereof, BCI has closed on the first and second tranches of the Pre-QT Financing for total gross proceeds of CAD$870,000 by issuing 4,350,000 BCI Shares and 2,175,000 BCI Pre-QT Warrants. BCI anticipates closing the balance of the Pre-QT Financing in due course. BCI has engaged Foundation Markets Inc. (“FMI“), a Toronto-based investment banking group registered as an exempt market dealer to act as an exclusive agent with respect to the Pre-QT Financing.
BCI also intends to complete a further financing immediately prior to closing of the Qualifying Transaction (“Concurrent Financing“) for gross proceeds of a minimum of CAD$3,000,000 and a maximum of CAD$5,000,000 of units (“QT Units“) at a price of CAD$0.32 per QT Unit. Each QT Unit will be comprised of one BCI Share and one half of one BCI Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant being referred to as a “BCI QT Warrant“) exercisable into BCI Shares at a price of CAD$0.42 per BCI Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.
BCI Shares, BCI Pre-QT Warrants and BCI QT Warrants will be exchanged for CAK Shares, Initial Warrants and Concurrent Warrants respectively. It is expected that the net proceeds of the Pre-QT Financing and Concurrent Financing will be used to fund BCI’s buildout of its technology implementation team, sales and marketing efforts comprised primarily of targeting of specific lead market segments, marketing and branding efforts, and general working capital purposes.
A disclosure document in respect of the proposed QT will be prepared and filed in accordance with Policy 2.4 of the Exchange on SEDAR at www.sedar.com no less than seven (7) business days prior to the Closing.
Completion of the Qualifying Transaction remains conditional on completion of due diligence, receipt of all required regulatory, director and shareholder approvals, execution of definitive agreements and certain other conditions that are customary for transactions of this nature.
BCI Financial and Corporate Information
BCI has one wholly owned subsidiary – Blockchain Innovations LLC (“BCL“), a Nevada corporation, which carries out its business in the United States. BCI intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Morris Mosseri (a director of BCI), to acquire the intellectual property relating to the blockchain platform and wallet application, which enables a wagering eco-system to validate and process transactions instantly on-blockchain utilizing a decentralized network.
Each of BCI and BCL are development stage entities and have not earned significant revenue. BCL has incurred certain costs relating to development of the intellectual property that is being assigned to BCI.
Capricorn will provide further details in respect of the financial information regarding BCI in due course by way of press release. However, Capricorn will make available to the Exchange, all financial information as required by the Exchange and will provide, in a press release to be disseminated at a later date, summary financial information derived from such statements.
Proposed Management and Directors of the Resulting Issuer
The following are brief descriptions of the proposed management and directors of BCI:
David Wang – Chairman of the Board. Mr. Wang has over 15 years of executive experience in Gaming and over four years of experience with Blockchain technologies. Mr. Wang is a former executive at various gaming companies including Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts, and SEGA. He is a successful entrepreneur and previously served as CEO and Co-founder of Chipleaders, which was acquired by PartyPoker. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University).
Matt Stafford – CEO. Mr. Stafford boasts 10 years of experience in public markets, legal practice and regulatory compliance, specifically in the gaming industry. He formerly served as General Counsel of NYX, a leading regulated gaming technology supplier, and helped lead NYX’s IPO listing on the Exchange, as well as overseeing its sale to Scientific Games for $660 million USD. Mr. Stafford held gaming licenses in the United Kingdom and Province of British Columbia, and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Morris Mosseri – Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Mosseri has over 30 years of experience in technology, with over five years of experience in building blockchain technologies having founded a successful crypto mining business. He is the original architect and lead developer of BCI’s Pebblecoin cryptocurrency. Previous to that, Mr. Mosseri created a profitable sports betting arbitrage network integrated with over 80 operators. He also developed and operated one of the largest poker bot operations worldwide. Formerly, Mr. Mosseri was a quantitative futures trader at New York-based hedge fund Schonfeld Securities.
David Lubotta – Director. Mr. Lubotta has over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurial and innovative ventures. He is the founder and managing partner of DML Ventures, a Toronto-based advisory firm that performs strategic consulting for businesses at various stages of development. Mr. Lubotta is the co-founder of and a partner at Sygnus Ventures, a portfolio of venture investments and incubator of entrepreneurial activities, focused on digital sports media and interactive gaming. He serves as a strategic advisor to RYU, a leader in the active sports industry. Mr. Lubotta holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University).
Alex Storcheus – Director. Mr. Storcheus is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder with over eight years of experience in corporate finance and investment banking. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President, Investment Banking at Foundation Markets, a Toronto-based merchant & investment bank. Mr. Storcheus also serves as the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Nutritional High International Inc. and Blockchain Innovations Corp. He specializes in financial and strategic advisory including business development, M&A and going public transactions.
It is expected that after completion of the Qualifying Transaction, the board of directors of the Company (the “Resulting Issuer“) will be comprised of five individuals who will be determined at a later date.
Principal Shareholders of BCI
The current principal shareholders of the BCI are as follows: Matt Stafford of Las Vegas, Nevada (8.7%), David Wang of Las Vegas, NV (23.2%), Morris Mosseri (27.5%), David Lubotta (23.2%) and FMI Capital Advisory Inc. (13.0%). Following the completion of Pre-QT Financing, Concurrent Financing and the proposed Qualifying Transaction, and assuming that each of the financings are fully subscribed it is expected that they will hold approximately, 5.4%, 14.4%, 17.1%, 14.4% and 8.1% of the Resulting Issuer on basic undiluted basis, respectively.
Trading of the Resulting Issuer Shares
Trading in the CAK Shares has been halted as a result of the announcement of the proposed Qualifying Transaction. Capricorn expects that trading will remain halted pending closing of the proposed Qualifying Transaction, subject to the earlier resumption upon the Exchange acceptance of the Transaction and the filing of required materials in accordance with the Exchange policies. Following successful completion of the Qualifying Transaction, it is anticipated that the Resulting Issuer will be a Tier 2 Industrial and Technology company.
Sponsorship
The Qualifying Transaction will be subject to Exchange Policy 2.2 on sponsorship and sponsorship requirements, unless exempt in accordance with Exchange policies. Capricorn intends to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements of the Exchange, however there is no assurance that the Exchange will exempt Capricorn from all or part of applicable sponsorship requirements.
Conflict Disclosure
Mr. Storcheus is a director of both Capricorn and BCI and as such has recused himself from the approval of the LOI and the terms were negotiated by the respective boards. Mr. Storcheus is also a principal of FMI and FMICA, which have been both engaged to provide services to BCI in the ordinary course of business. As of the date of this press release, FMICA owns 6,000,000 BCI Shares, which is equivalent to approximately 13.1% of the BCI Shares currently issued and outstanding. These relationships give rise to the potential for conflicts of interest between the interests of Capricorn and BCI, however under the policies of the Exchange the Qualifying Transaction is not considered a Non-Arm’s Length Qualifying Transaction (as such term defined in the TSXV Corporate Finance Manual) since Mr. Storcheus is not a Control Person of either BCI nor Capricorn.
Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.
Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.
The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information”, as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and each of Capricorn and BCI disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.
Source: European Gaming Media
Latest News
Innovations Redefining iGaming: What Operators Need to Know
The iGaming industry is advancing at breakneck speed, driven by technological innovation and evolving player expectations. Itai Zak, Executive Director of iGaming at Digicode, emphasizes the importance of bridging client aspirations with customized business solutions. Key trends shaping the future of iGaming include live dealer games, blockchain integration, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enhanced personalization, and shifting regulatory environments. Let’s delve into how these trends influence the industry, presenting new opportunities while paving the way for future growth.
A Closer Look at Emerging Trends
- Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are revolutionizing the online gaming experience, blending the best aspects of land-based casinos with the convenience of virtual gaming. Players can now engage with real-life dealers via high-definition video streams, enhancing the social component of online gambling. This bridge between physical and virtual casinos introduces interactive features like live chat and immersive gameplay. Industry leaders like Evolution Gaming and NetEnt are setting new standards in player engagement with innovative game formats and top-tier studio setups, redefining the realism and appeal of live gaming.
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Integration
Blockchain technology is transforming iGaming by offering unparalleled transparency and security. With blockchain’s ability to enable provably fair gaming, players can verify that each round is fair via an immutable ledger. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum facilitate faster, more secure transactions, catering to tech-savvy players who value privacy. Platforms like Bitcasino.io are leading the way, leveraging blockchain to ensure fairness and seamless payments. However, the rise of blockchain also attracts regulatory attention, requiring operators to balance innovation with compliance as governments navigate this new technology.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and ML are instrumental in enhancing player experience and operational efficiency. AI algorithms analyze player behavior in real-time, offering personalized game recommendations and promotions. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots provide instant customer support, improving user satisfaction. AI-driven predictive analytics also help operators fine-tune marketing strategies based on player preferences. Companies like Bet365 are already using these technologies to stay ahead of the competition, offering more personalized and efficient gaming experiences.
- Richer Personalization and Engagement
Personalization has become crucial for iGaming operators looking to boost player satisfaction and retention. By leveraging data analytics, companies can offer tailored game recommendations, dynamic bonuses, and individualized promotional offers. This level of engagement enhances the player experience and strengthens loyalty. Industry pioneers like DraftKings and FanDuel push the envelope by offering highly customized features, such as personalized fantasy sports leagues and bespoke betting options.
- Regulatory Changes and Market Expansion
The constantly evolving regulatory landscape offers both challenges and opportunities for iGaming operators. As more regions legalize various forms of online gambling, companies gain access to new markets. With their large populations and increasing internet penetration, emerging markets like Brazil and Nigeria represent lucrative opportunities. However, navigating the diverse regulations in these markets requires agility and strict compliance with local laws to succeed.
- Enhanced Payment Solutions
With digital transactions becoming the norm, the demand for fast, secure, and flexible payment methods is skyrocketing. From digital wallets to instant banking and cryptocurrencies, players expect payment solutions that offer convenience and security. This growing demand is driving innovation in payment processing, giving operators more opportunities to streamline the transaction process while building trust with users.
Future Implications
The Expanding Role of AI and Blockchain
AI and blockchain are not just current trends, but they are poised to play an even more significant role in iGaming’s future. As AI technology evolves, more sophisticated algorithms will emerge, enabling real-time adaptation to player behavior and preferences. Blockchain’s application may extend beyond transparency and security, transforming game mechanics and player interactions potentially redefining how games are designed and played.
Shifting Player Preferences
Player expectations will continue to evolve toward immersive, interactive experiences. As Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) become more mainstream, they will significantly influence the future of iGaming. Players will demand more engaging, lifelike environments, pushing the industry to create innovative game formats and features that offer deeper immersion and entertainment value.
Regulatory Developments
The regulatory environment will continue to evolve, and iGaming operators must stay agile to navigate future changes. New regulations may increasingly emphasize responsible gaming and player protection, influencing platform design and operational practices. A more harmonized regulatory framework across jurisdictions could provide stability while requiring operators to prioritize compliance.
Integrating Emerging Technologies
Technologies like 5G and edge computing are set to revolutionize iGaming by enabling faster, more reliable connectivity. This will allow for more complex game designs and real-time player interactions, opening new avenues for innovative gaming experiences. As these technologies mature, operators will have greater opportunities to differentiate their offerings. The potential of these emerging technologies to revolutionize iGaming is truly exciting and promising for the industry’s future.
Final Thoughts
The iGaming industry is on the cusp of significant transformations, driven by technological advancements and shifting player demands. Innovations like live dealer games, blockchain integration, AI, ML, and enhanced personalization are just the beginning. As the industry evolves, staying ahead of these trends will be critical for operators looking to thrive in an increasingly dynamic environment.
At Digicode, we are constantly exploring new technologies and refining our solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Our focus on adaptability and foresight ensures that our clients are not just keeping pace with the industry—they’re leading it.
The post Innovations Redefining iGaming: What Operators Need to Know appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
What makes Turbo Games’ provably fair games so special?
A partnership between game developer Turbo Games and iGaming solution provider and aggregator Slotegrator began in November 2022 via the APIgrator game integration solution. Since then, the collaboration has been developing successfully — and now it’s time to analyze what made it successful.
Turbo Games has noticed how the new technologies spreading throughout the industry can work for the good of brand transparency and player loyalty: “We can already see how blockchain technology has made it possible to make betting checks more accessible to players. All you need is a blockchain-hash and a decoder service. We think we will continue to move in this direction. Many traditional online casinos do not offer the possibility to check the bet. Sooner or later we all have to come to this. Perhaps the development of artificial intelligence will help here, because we are already seeing its involvement in all spheres of human life.”
Turbo Games specializes in provably fair games. Provable fairness is a concept where players can verify their wins or losses using blockchain technology — the outcome of the game is dictated by a smart contract and is absolutely random, barring the possibility of any human involvement. Using cryptographic hashing algorithms, the gambling site and the player’s device both generate seeds (random strings of numbers). Players receive a key that allows them to check the results; if the results are the same as the game round they witnessed, it proves that there was no foul play.
According to statistics from Turbo Games, the audience for provably fair games is mostly between 18 and 25 years old. However, there are also players aged 35-40 who prefer traditional games but would like to try something new, and have turned their attention to provably fair games.
There are good odds that the technology of provably fair games will become more popular, if not even commonplace, because it gives players a feeling of transparency and proves that the business is trustworthy without the need to search through dozens of reviews. Whereas many innovations in iGaming simply add entertainment, provable fairness addresses security concerns and reassures players that they’re not being exploited, which is invaluable.
Provably fair games are beneficial for both players and online casinos. Vadim Potapenko, Head of Sales at Turbo Games, comments: “It often happens that the users are not satisfied with the result, because gambling is not only about big wins, but also possible losses. By allowing them to check the fairness of a bet, we make life easier for platforms and players. Of course, this allows us to communicate with partners and users that we work honestly and that’s why they should trust our games.”
Ayvar Gabidullin, Business Development Manager at Slotegrator, adds that “this type of game is now becoming more and more popular and has great potential for both players and game providers in the future. On the part of the player, the advantage is that the player can always be sure that his game is fair and he can independently check any of his bets. And for the game provider, this also simplifies the process of implementing casino games, since now it will not be necessary to obtain the appropriate certificates from independent laboratories before launching new games, they can immediately enter the market with these games and where anyone can check the result and make sure that that there is no cheating with players. Many game providers are starting to look towards this type of game. And as far as I see, many operators are starting to think about adding these games.”
What do players in 2023 need? The iGaming industry is all about reputation and trust. Players have a huge number of platforms to choose from, making them pickier and pickier. There’s an abundance of forums where players leave reviews, so if players view a brand as untrustworthy, there are plenty of places they can share their opinion. Provable fairness not only stops that from happening, it provides evidence to the contrary, giving players something else to talk about.
Slotegrator also recommends investing time and effort into localization and creating an effective and detailed marketing strategy — before trying provably fair technology players need to get to the platform, and there is no acquisition without marketing.
ABOUT SLOTEGRATOR
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
More information: https://slotegrator.pro/
ABOUT TURBO GAMES
Turbo Games — a provably fair games provider that belongs to Turbo Stars company — has an ambitious goal to establish widespread recognition throughout the iGaming world. Even though it is young, the company consists of professionals who have been working on the brand for over five years and are even planning to introduce a new brand for a wider audience soon.
Turbo Games also works in Europe, India, and South Africa, where the company sees the most potential and expects the same “hype” as in Brazil.
The portfolio of Turbo Games consists of 21 titles, including well-known games like Mines, Crash X, DoubleRoll, Hi-Lo, and Plinko. The studio releases a game every month. However, not all games are developed from scratch. Wicket Blast and Spin Strike, the last two releases, are based on cricket and the Indian Premier League. Crash X remains the most popular fast game in the Turbo Games portfolio, and the studio reports that crash games enjoy stable levels of popularity. Overall, the main focus of the brand is provably fair games.
More information: https://turbogames.io/
Baltics
Games Factory Talents has teamed up with Nordic Game to bring you Nordic Game Talents.
Looking to take your career to the next level in the games industry? Then, Nordic Game Talents is the place to be! Games Factory Talents has teamed up with Nordic Game to bring you Nordic Game Talents.
From Oct 27-29, the online and interactive event is dedicated to recruitment and career building in the creative & games industry within the Nordic region. The event empowers participants to be part of a bigger community and motivates them to explore new paths in achieving their career goals.
Hiring creative & games studios – Supercell, Funcom, Panzerdog, Tactile Games, Gamecan, Fingersoft, Dazzle Rocks, Redhill Games to name a few from the Nordic region will be participating in the event. These studios will share information on their latest projects, work culture and what it takes to be part of their team. The individual games associations from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Estonia will share insights through live sessions on the booming games industry in their respective countries. Career development topics pertinent to job seekers like – How to have a successful first interview, Creative Portfolio reviews will also be discussed.
Experienced game industry professionals and individuals beginning their careers from around the world are welcome to join the event. One-to-one interviews with the hiring studios can be scheduled through the event platform. A great opportunity to get to know the studios and network with game professionals from around the world.
Participating in the event
As a job seeker attending Nordic Game Talents, take a few minutes to fill out a simple registration form. After filling the registration form you will receive a link to the online event platform – PINE, to join the event on 27th October. Participants joining Nordic Game Talents will also receive a free-of-charge pass to the Nordic Game Conference.
To view the complete agenda, please click here and to learn more about the event please visit Games Job Fair
About Games Factory Talents
A Helsinki-based talent attraction agency dedicated to the games & creative industry. Our services include direct recruitment, organizing game job fairs and managing a community of game industry professionals through our GameDev Talent Board.
To learn more about Games Factory Talents visit – Games Factory Talents
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