Ninjas in Pyjamas set to merge with Ultra Prime parent company

Steven Rondina Published 10/07/2021

Reports are circulating that major changes have come to one of esports’ most enduring organizations.

Reuters is reporting that Ninjas in Pyjamas and ESV5 have merged together via equity swap, with the intent of the new business entity being to find space listed on NASDAQ. If true, this organization would become the first publicly traded esports organization in the United States. Other esports organizations are publicly traded abroad, with the most notable example being Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends brand Astralis.

The deal is moving forward and the company may be listed on NASDAQ by the end of 2021. It is unclear whether this will mean a major rebranding for Ninjas in Pyjamas and ESV5’s various teams, or if they will all be brought under the same banner. Neither company has commented on the matter as of this writing.

Ninjas in Pyjamas is one of esports’ most enduring organizations, with a history dating back more than 20 years. The organization is best known for its legendary teams from across multiple Counter-Strike titles, and also sponsors teams across a long list of other major titles including the reigning Rainbow Six Siege world champions.

ESV5 is the parent company of League of Legends team Ultra Prime, formerly known as eStar Gaming. Ultra Prime competes in the top Chinese LoL league, the LPL. It also works with the Guangzhou Charge of the Overwatch League, sponsoring its academy team named UP Academy. ESV5 has financial backing from a number of prominent Chinese tech companies, including streaming site DouYu.

What is NiP worth?

As part of a recent report, Reuters stated that Ninjas in Pyjamas and ESV5 have a projected combined revenue of more than $61 million. It is unclear how much of that value comes from each company, but that tally is certainly a marked increase over the estimates of NiP’s annual revenue that were closer to $2 million in 2016.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile

Read Also

Counter-Strike

Team Vitality vs FURIA: Predictions and best picks for StarLadder StarSeries 2026 Owen Harsono We have a clash of titans in the StarLadder StarSeries Fall consolidation final, as Team Vitality will take on FURIA for a grand final spot. Both teams have shown signs of shakiness throughout the event, so expect some scrappy Counter-Strike. Here are our Team Vitality vs FURIA predictions. Tournament: StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 Stage: Playoffs – Lower Bracket Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: These ...

Counter-Strike

MOUZ vs FURIA: Predictions and best picks for StarLadder StarSeries 2026 Owen Harsono MOUZ are set to take on FURIA in a do-or-die match in the $500,000 StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 lower bracket. Both teams have already suffered losses at the event, but we believe one team is in much better shape than the other. Here are our MOUZ vs FURIA predictions for September 19. Tournament: StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 Stage: Playoffs Game: Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: MOUZ ...

Counter-Strike

StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026: Teams, format, schedule, and prize pool Owen Harsono Top-tier Counter-Strike is back on the menu with StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026. It’s not a 16-team tournament with every top team in attendance, but it’s still bound to entertain us for a solid four days. Here’s everything you need to know about StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026. Tier 1 Counter-Strike lands in Spain again for the first time in a while, with only eight teams in attendance. StarLadder StarSeries will be ...

Counter-Strike

Team Spirit vs Team Falcons at BLAST Open Fall 2026: best predictions and picks Owen Harsono We’re in for a treat, as the BLAST Open Fall semi-final will feature a matchup between Team Spirit and Team Falcons, with the winner booking a spot in the grand final. It’s a battle between the world number one and number two, so this is a match you definitely don’t want to miss. Here are our BLAST Open Fall Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: BLAST Open Fall 2026 ...

Counter-Strike

Is CS2 Dying in 2026? Owen Harsono Counter-Strike is one of the longest-standing esports franchises, having built a loyal fanbase over the course of two decades. However, if you’ve browsed through social media platforms across the past few months, you might have seen people claiming that the game is dying or on a steady decline. Below we’ll take a look at why people are talking about this and answer the question of “is CS2 really dying?” One ...

News

The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027 Ben Boland The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...

Esports Betting

MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...