This APEX investment is spearheaded by an incredible lineup of football stars – André Silva, Diogo Dalot, Diogo Jota, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Joris van Overeem, ⁠José Fonte, Maarten Paes, ⁠Mason Mount, Max Wöber and ⁠Vincent Janssen – drawing from its original thesis which claims that athletes are the most strategic investors in sports related businesses.

APEX, alongside the athletes, participated and invested in the €23 million series A funding round led by EQT Ventures. After a successful 1st season in Germany, averaging over 3 million spectators per matchday on Twitch, Baller League announced its expansion with the launch of two new leagues in the UK and US set to start in 2025. With the UK league launching by the end of the quarter. Promising an innovative approach to entertain digital fans, the League announced the involvement of YouTube stars KSI and IShowSpeed as the league presidents in their respective markets.

“This marks another significant step for APEX, proving that we can access the best investment opportunities in the industry of sports,” said António Caçorino, CEO, APEX. “We attended a couple of live Baller League games in Germany last year. We are confident it will be an international success, and excited to join the project at such an early stage.”

Mason Mount, English international and Manchester United player: "Baller League brings football together with social media influencers who have huge followings. It’s a great way to make the game more accessible and reach even more fans. I’m excited to see Baller League come to the UK and can't wait to watch the first game.”

Diogo Dalot, Portuguese international and Manchester United player: "As a professional football player, I'm always looking for new ways to connect with the game I love. Baller League offers a fresh perspective, combining football with exciting entertainment. It’s a great opportunity to explore a new side of the sport and contribute to the popularity of football in general."

Diogo Jota, Portuguese international and Liverpool football player: “Baller League has a lot of crossover with the world of Esports and streaming, concepts I understand well. The twitch numbers achieved in Germany in their first season are a strong indicator of the success Baller can have in the UK and US markets.”

Felix Starck, Founder & Baller League CEO: “Closing a funding round with such strategic capital is always a proud moment for a founder. APEX understands the concept and culture in Baller’s DNA, bringing valuable experience from investing in other emerging properties. Additionally, their ability to involve professional athletes as investors adds a unique layer of support.”

André Silva, Portuguese International and RB Leipzig player: “As a concept, what makes Baller League so interesting is the way it brings back the raw elements of football, the way so many of us enjoyed it while growing up. In many ways it relates more to the type of game that most fans play.”

Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Turkish international and Brighton player: “Baller League offers a new way to experience football – fast, exciting, and full of energy. It’s not just about playing football, but about creating something authentic that resonates with fans in non-traditional ways.”

José Fonte, Portuguese international, European champion and Casa Pia player: "I’m thrilled to be part of such an innovative project. Baller League combines football with influencer culture in a way that will grab the attention of fans globally. I can’t wait to see how this league will reshape football culture and continue to grow.”

APEX continues to solidify its presence in the sports industry and shape the future of football by joining Baller League, adding to its growing portfolio that includes a stake in Venezia FC and significant investments in Alpine F1 Team and the Bay Golf Club, one of the 6 franchises competing in the PGA-backed TGL golf league. This strategic investment underlines APEX's commitment to diversifying its investments in sport and continuing to invest in innovative, modern projects geared towards technology and entertainment through its risk perspective.

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