Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the manager of Premier League football club Manchester United, and sports agent Jim Solbakken have signed an agreement to become owners of Norwegian esports company ULTI Agency.
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According to the release, both Solskjær and Solbakken will acquire 12.5 percent stakes in the company each through their respective companies, Grip Management AS and Sir Solution AS. Financial details regarding the investment have not been revealed.
Solskjær commented: “Esports has become bigger than anyone would have dared to predict just a few years ago. It spreads the joy of sports worldwide. That is exciting, and Ulti Agency is a company with big plans. They’re all about seeing the players and giving them a chance.”
ULTI Agency has been operating for just over half of a year, with the firm managing a selection of esports talents, mainly in the CS:GO scene. The company also provides marketing and branding consultancy to other businesses in the field.
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Asgeir Kvalvik, Chief Executive of Ulti Agency said: “We are thrilled to have Ole Gunnar and Jim onboard. This move is a recognition of esports. They have the experience, commitment, and knowledge to push Ulti Agency forward and help define our entire field.
“We receive many inquires from many interesting investors. This coming year will be very exciting for Ulti Agency.”
Ulti Agency recently opened an office in Seattle and has plans for expansion into Asia and South America. The amount invested by the new owners is expected to help bolster these expansion plans.
Solbakken added: “I have wanted to do something in esports for a long time, but it had to be with the right people and in a way that adds something to the sport.
“I have found that here. Both Ulti Agency and we as owners have a lot to contribute. We also see that soccer clubs are currently investing heavily into esports, which makes this extra interesting for us. The possibilities are limitless.”
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Esports Insider says: This is massive news coming out of ULTI Agency, as two recognisable names in world football invest in the Norwegian agency. This will no doubt boost the popularity of the agency. It will be interesting to see how hands-on both Solskjær and Solbakken will be after acquiring a significant stake in the company.