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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  June 15, 2022

 

SPORTS VENTURES ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   001-39842   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

9705 Collins Ave 1901N

Bal Harbour, FL 33154

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 786-650-0074

 

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  

Trading Symbol(s)

  Name of each exchange on which registered
         
Units, each consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share, par value $0.0001 per share, and one third of one Redeemable Warrant   AKICU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Class A Ordinary Shares, $.0001 par value per share   AKIC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share, each whole Warrant exercisable for $11.50 per share   AKICW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.02 below is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

As previously reported, on January 25, 2022, Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SVAC”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Prime Focus World N.V., a public limited liability company incorporated in the Netherlands (“DNEG”), PF Overseas Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Mauritius (“PF Overseas”), Prime Focus 3D Cooperatief U.A., a Dutch cooperative association (“Dutch Co-op”), and AKICV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”) (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

On June 15, 2022, the Parties entered into a Termination and Settlement Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”), pursuant to which, the Parties mutually agreed to terminate the Business Combination Agreement consistent with Section 9.01(a) of the Business Combination Agreement. Their decision took into account current market conditions, the general difficulties facing special purpose acquisition companies, and other market factors. The termination of the Business Combination Agreement became effective as of such date.

 

As a result of the Termination Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement is of no further force and effect, the Parties have released all existing claims that they may presently have against one another arising out of the Business Combination Agreement, and the agreements entered into in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, including, but not limited to, (i) the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, by and among SVAC and holders set forth on Exhibit A thereto, (ii) the Sponsor Support Agreement, by and among SVAC, DNEG and the Sponsor, (iii) the Backstop Agreement, by and among SVAC, DNEG and the Sponsor, (iv) the Stockholder Support Agreements, (v) the PFL Agreement and (vi) the Subscription Agreements by and among SVAC and certain institutional and private investors, in each case as defined in the Business Combination Agreement, have also been terminated and are no longer be effective, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms. In connection with the execution of the Termination Agreement, DNEG has paid a fee equal to One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) to Sponsor.

 

SVAC will consider other acquisition opportunities, while recognizing existing market conditions and the limited remaining time for SVAC to consummate a business combination, which must occur by January 5, 2023.

 

The foregoing description of the Termination Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, which was previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by SVAC on January 25, 2022, and the Termination Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On June 16, 2022, SVAC and DNEG issued a press release announcing the termination of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
10.1   Termination and Settlement Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2022, by and between Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp, Prime Focus World N.V., PF Overseas Limited, Prime Focus 3D Cooperatief U.S., and AKICV LLC.
99.1   Press Release, dated June 16, 2022.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  SPORTS VENTURES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Alan Kestenbaum
    Name: Alan Kestenbaum
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
Dated: June 16, 2022    

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

TERMINATION AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This TERMINATION AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of June 15, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among Prime Focus World N.V., a public limited liability company incorporated in the Netherlands (the “Company”), PF Overseas Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Mauritius (“PF Overseas”), Prime Focus 3D Cooperatief U.A., a Dutch cooperative association (“Dutch Co-op”), AKICV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), and Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Svac”) (collectively, the “Parties”). 

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on January 25, 2022, the Parties entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”); and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.1. Definitions. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

TERMINATION

 

SECTION 2.1. Termination of Business Combination Agreement and Transaction Documents. On the Effective Date, without any further action of the parties thereto or any other Person, the Business Combination Agreement and the Transaction Documents are terminated in their entirety, are null and void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of any Party or Person or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates under the Business Combination Agreement or the Transaction Documents, except that Section 5.04, Section 7.04, subject to Article III below, Section 9.02 and Article 10 of the Business Combination Agreement shall survive any termination of the Business Combination Agreement and remain in full force and effect. The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, by virtue of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and all other Transaction Documents shall terminate in accordance with their terms. The Parties also acknowledge that there are no remaining exclusivity or other limitations on the other Parties or any other Person with respect to potential transactions with any other Person, whether related to the Business Combination Agreement or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE III

 

RELEASES AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE

 

SECTION 3.1. Svac Party Release. On the Effective Date, each of Svac and Sponsor, for itself and its officers, directors, predecessor entities, successors and assigns, parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates and other Persons that have or could potentially derive rights through them (“Svac Releasing Parties”), hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably releases and discharges the Company, PF Overseas and Dutch Co-op, and their parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates (and actual or potential investors in, and actual or potential financing sources of, the Svac Releasing Parties or the Company Releasing Parties) and their respective officers, directors, managing directors, partners, members, predecessor entities, successors and assigns, parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, stockholders, creditors, employees, attorneys and other advisors and agents (collectively, “Svac Released Persons”) from any and all obligations, restrictions, commitments, liabilities, claims, actions, causes of action, demands and charges of whatever nature, known or unknown, arising out of, or relating to any of the Business Combination Agreement, any Transaction Document, any document or agreement executed or delivered in anticipation thereof or in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby, and including any acts, omissions, disclosure or communications related to the Business Combination Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Svac Released Claims”); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to release any party hereto from its obligations under this Agreement or the provisions of the Business Combination Agreement expressly deemed to survive under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.2. Company Party Release. On the Effective Date, each of the Company, PF Overseas and Dutch Co-op, for itself and its officers, directors, predecessor entities, successors and assigns, parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates and other Persons that have or could potentially derive rights through them (“Company Releasing Parties”), hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably releases and discharges the Svac Releasing Parties, and their parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates (and actual or potential investors in, and actual or potential financing sources of, the Company Releasing Parties or the Svac Releasing Parties) and their respective officers, directors, managing directors, partners, members, predecessor entities, successors and assigns, parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, stockholders, creditors, employees, attorneys and other advisors and agents (collectively, “Company Released Persons”, together with the “Svac Released Persons”, the “Released Persons”) from any and all obligations, restrictions, commitments, liabilities, claims, actions, causes of action, demands and charges of whatever nature, known or unknown, arising out of, or relating to any of the Business Combination Agreement, any Transaction Document, any document or agreement executed or delivered in anticipation thereof or in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby, and including any acts, omissions, disclosure or communications related to the Business Combination Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Company Released Claims”); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to release any party hereto from its obligations under this Agreement or the provisions of the Business Combination Agreement expressly deemed to survive under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.3. Scope of Release and Discharge. The Parties acknowledge and agree that they may be unaware of or may discover facts in addition to or different from those which they now know or believe to be true related to or concerning the Svac Released Claims and Company Released Claims (collectively, the “Released Claims”). The Parties know that such presently unknown or unappreciated facts could materially affect the claims or defenses of a Party or Parties. It is nonetheless the intent of the Parties to give a full and complete release and discharge of the Released Claims. To that end, with respect to the Released Claims only, the Parties expressly waive and relinquish any and all provisions, rights and benefits conferred by any law of the United States or of any state or territory of the United States or of any other relevant jurisdiction, or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable or equivalent to §1542 of the California Civil Code. With respect to the Released Claims only, the Parties expressly waive and relinquish, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the provisions, rights, and benefits of §1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides: 

 

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.

 

SECTION 3.4. Covenant not to Sue. Each of the Parties hereto covenants, on behalf of itself; in the case of the Svac and the Sponsor, on behalf of the Svac Releasing Parties; in the case of the Company, PF Overseas and Dutch Co-op, on behalf of the Company Releasing Parties, not to bring any Released Claim before any court, arbitrator, or other tribunal in any jurisdiction, whether as a claim, a cross-claim, counterclaim or otherwise. Any Released Person may plead this Agreement as a complete bar to any Released Claim brought in derogation of this covenant not to sue.

 

SECTION 3.5. Accord and Satisfaction. This Agreement and the releases reflected herein shall be effective as a full and final accord and satisfaction and release of all of the Released Claims.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

SECTION 4.1. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Parties hereto represents and warrants to the other Parties that:

 

(a) It has not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or transfer, to any person or entity any claim or cause of action released pursuant to Article III of this Agreement;

 

(b) There are no liens or claims of lien, or assignments in law or equity or otherwise, of or against any claim or cause of action released pursuant to Article III of this Agreement;

 

(c) It has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and is fully authorized to enter into and perform this Agreement and every term hereof;

 

2

 

 

(d) It has been represented by legal counsel in the negotiation and joint preparation of this Agreement, has received advice from legal counsel in connection with this Agreement and is fully aware of this Agreement’s provisions and legal effect;

 

(e) It enters into this Agreement freely, without coercion, and based on its own judgment and not in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the other Party, apart from those set forth in this Agreement; and

 

(f) It has the authority, and has obtained all necessary approvals, including but not limited to approval of the Parties’ respective Boards of Directors, as necessary, to enter into this Agreement and all the releases, undertakings, covenants, representations, warranties and other obligations and provisions contained in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 5.1. Publicity. Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Svac shall issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement, in the form agreed to by Svac and the Company, as well as a Current Report on Form 8-K, which shall include a copy of this Agreement as an exhibit. Except as to communications required by Law or applicable stock exchange regulation, the Parties shall, to the extent practicable, consult with each other as to the timing and contents of any other press release or public announcement in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

SECTION 5.2. Notices. All notices and other communications among the Parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours for the recipient (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

 

(a) If to Svac or Sponsor, to:

 

Svac Acquisition Corp.
9705 Collins Ave 1901
Bal Harbour, FL 33154
Attention: Alan Kestenbaum, CEO
Email: AK@bi15.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Arent Fox LLP
800 Boylston Street, 32nd Floor,

Boston, MA 02199
Attention: Tal M. Unrad; Michael Andresino
Email: tal.unrad@arentfox.com; michael.andresino@arentfox.com

 

(b) If to the Company, PF Overseas, or Dutch Co-op to:

 

Prime Focus World N.V
160 Great Portland St. Fitzrovia

London. W1W 5QA

Attention: General Counsel
Email: cpfl@dneg.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
10250 Constellation Blvd., Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention: Steven B. Stokdyk; Lewis Kneib
Email: steven.stokdyk@lw.com; lewis.kneib@lw.com

 

or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing.

 

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SECTION 5.3. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in two or more consecutive counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered (by telecopy or otherwise) to the other Parties.

 

SECTION 5.4. Governing Law. This Agreement and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 5.5. Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.

 

Any Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or any transactions contemplated thereby, shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or a New York State Court sitting in New York City (the “Chosen Courts”), so long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such Action. Any cause of action arising out of this Agreement or any transactions contemplated thereby shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of New York. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts in any such Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the Action shall be heard and determined only in the Chosen Courts, and agrees not to bring any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transactions contemplated thereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law, or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action brought pursuant to this Section 5.5. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

SECTION 5.6. Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and, subject to the preceding sentence, assigns.

 

SECTION 5.7. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable.

 

SECTION 5.8. Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, that the confidentiality obligations of the Parties set forth in Section 7.04 of the Business Combination Agreement shall survive this Agreement and remain in full force and effect. Each Party hereto acknowledges and agrees that each of the non-party Released Persons are express third party beneficiaries of the releases of such non-party Released Persons contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 and covenants not to sue contained in Section 3.4 of this Agreement and are entitled to enforce rights under such sections to the same extent that such non-party Released Persons could enforce such rights if they were a party to this Agreement. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, there are no third party beneficiaries to this Agreement, and this Agreement is not otherwise intended to and shall not otherwise confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

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SECTION 5.9. Headings. Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for convenience of the Parties only and shall be given no substantive or interpretive effect whatsoever.

 

SECTION 5.10. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” shall be deemed to mean “and/or.” The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. Each of the Parties has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the Parties, and no provision of this Agreement shall be construed against any party based on its authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]

 

5

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  SPORTS VENTURES ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  /s/ Alan Kestenbaum
  Name:  Alan Kestenbaum
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

[Signature Page to Termination Agreement]

 

Confidential

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  PRIME FOCUS WORLD N.V.
   
  /s/ Namit Malhotra
  Name:  Namit Malhotra
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Termination Agreement]

 

Confidential

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  AKICV LLC
   
  /s/ Alan Kestenbaum
  Name:  Alan Kestenbaum
  Title: Managing Partner

 

[Signature Page to Termination Agreement]

 

Confidential 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  PF OVERSEAS LIMITED
   
  /s/ Namit Malhotra
  Name:  Namit Malhotra
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Termination Agreement]

 

Confidential 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  PRIME FOCUS 3D COOPERATIEF U.A.
   
  /s/ Namit Malhotra
  Name:  Namit Malhotra
  Title: Director

 

  PRIME FOCUS 3D COOPERATIEF U.A.
   
  /s/ Martijn Lustig
  Name:  Martijn Lustig
  Title: Proxy Holder

 

[Signature Page to Termination Agreement]

 

Confidential

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

  

 

 

 

Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. and DNEG Mutually Agree to Terminate
Business Combination Agreement Due to
Unfavorable Market Conditions

 

NEW YORK and LONDON – June 16, 2022 – DNEG (“DNEG” or “the Company”), a leading technology-enabled visual effects (VFX) and animation company for the creation of feature film, television and multiplatform content, and Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (“Sports Ventures”) (NASDAQ: AKIC), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, announced today that the companies have mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced business combination agreement, effective immediately.

 

The companies decided to terminate the business combination agreement as a result of current unfavorable SPAC market conditions and other factors.

 

DNEG recently announced revenue outperformance in a business update with strong year-over-year growth and a record pipeline of new business reflecting unprecedented demand for its visual effects (VFX) and animation services.

 

Alan Kestenbaum, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Sports Ventures, commented, “Due to current SPAC and equity market conditions, it was mutually determined that the best option for all parties at this time is to terminate the transaction. Namit and his team are leaders in the market, producing stunning and award-winning work that swept the awards this year. DNEG has a bright future and we wish everyone there much success.”

 

Namit Malhotra, DNEG Chairman and CEO, commented, “Due to the headwinds in the SPAC marketplace and general market volatility, we have decided to terminate our SPAC process with Sports Ventures. Alan and the team at Sports Ventures have been great partners in this process, and we wish them well as they move forward.”

 

Malhotra continued, “We feel incredibly optimistic about DNEG’s future and the Company continues to demonstrate impressive financial results, with our highest-ever revenue growth announced earlier this week. Our strong pipeline reflects the significant demand for our industry-leading visual effects and animation services, as evidenced by our recently announced multi-year deal extension and VFX services renewal agreement with Netflix through 2025.”

 

Sports Ventures will consider other acquisition opportunities, subject to market conditions and timing.

 

Additional information about the termination of the business combination agreement will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Sports Ventures with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.
 

About DNEG

 

DNEG (www.dneg.com) is one of the world’s leading visual effects (VFX) and animation companies for the creation of feature film, television, and multiplatform content, employing nearly 7,000 people with worldwide offices and studios across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver), Europe (London) and Asia (Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai and Mumbai).
 

DNEG’s critically acclaimed work has earned the company seven Academy Awards® for Best Visual Effects and numerous BAFTA and Primetime EMMY® Awards for its high-quality VFX work. Current and upcoming DNEG projects on behalf of its Hollywood and global studio and production company partners include Bullet Train (July 2022), Black Adam (October 2022), Devotion (October 2022), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (December 2022), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), The School for Good and Evil (2022), “Super/Natural” (2022), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (March 2023), Haunted Mansion (March 2023), The Flash (June 2023), Meg 2: The Trench (August 2023), Nimona (2023), and “The Last of Us” (2023).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp.

 

Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company organized with the purpose of effecting a merger similar business combination with a major entertainment powerhouse. Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. is led by Alan Kestenbaum, businessman and minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Other leadership members include Robert Tilliss, who brings with him extensive sports and arena expertise, Daniel Strauss, and Steve Horowitz.

 

Contacts:

 

Investors

 

Brett Milotte, ICR

(332) 242-4344

DNEGIR@icrinc.com

 

Media

 

Eric Becker, ICR

(303) 638-3469

DNEGPR@icrinc.com

 

Tony Bradley, DNEG

+44 (207) 268-5000

pr@dneg.com