FaZe Clan to go public after SPAC merger vote approved

North American esports and gaming organisation FaZe Clan is set to become publicly listed after shareholders at B. Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp (BRPM), a SPAC vehicle, voted to formally approve the merger.

FaZe common stock and warrants will begin trading under the stock ticker symbols FAZE and FAZEW respectively on the NASDAQ stock exchange when the deal — which is still subject to certain closing conditions — goes through on July 19th. Once the deal has closed, FaZe Clan will be renamed FaZe Holdings Inc.

The results of the vote have not yet been released. Formal results of the vote will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by BRPM with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), B. Riley said in a release.

The consequential vote, which was seen as something of a litmus test for investor sentiment in esports, could have wide-reaching industry implications. 

A public listing means FaZe will now be able to easily raise investment. This may signal that going public is a viable strategy for cash-strapped esports organisations looking to keep raising money.

However, the financial transparency obligations required of publicly traded companies means greater scrutiny of financial performance, which could also spell bad news for the industry at large if FaZe fails to perform.

FaZe Clan joins a growing list of publicly traded esports organisations, companies and conglomerates, including Enthusiast Gaming, GameSquare Esports, Esports Entertainment Group, OverActive Media and Astralis, amongst many others.

BRPM is a SPAC, or Special Purpose Acquisition Company, a type of shell company listed on a stock exchange that is used to acquire a private company and bring it public without going through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

FaZe is renowned for bypassing a pure focus on competitive gaming and diversifying into a lifestyle and gaming brand with a presence in mainstream pop culture. In turn, the organisation has branched out into new revenue streams — such as content and limited edition merchandise — that have proven more profitable than running competitive teams.