Trading to commence on NASDAQ under the ticker
"FAZE" on Wednesday, July 20,
2022
LOS
ANGELES and NEW
YORK, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FaZe Clan
Inc. ("FaZe Clan"), the interactive lifestyle and media brand
rooted in gaming and youth culture, today announced that on
July 19, 2022 it completed its
business combination (the "Business Combination") with B. Riley
Principal 150 Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: BRPM) ("BRPM"), a special
purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of B. Riley
Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: RILY).
In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the
combined company has been renamed "FaZe Holdings Inc." ("FaZe" or
the "Company"). Shares of FaZe's common stock and warrants commence
trading today, Wednesday July 20,
2022, on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbols "FAZE" and
"FAZEW", respectively. To celebrate FaZe's public listing, the
brand's founders, members of the executive management team and the
organization's talent roster including content creators and esports
professionals, will ring the Opening Bell at Nasdaq MarketSite in
New York's Times Square today at
9:30am ET; the ceremony will be
livestreamed HERE.
Voice of Youth Culture
Built by and for Gen Z and millennials, FaZe Clan is a leader in
youth culture and gaming entertainment. FaZe Clan has established a
highly engaged and growing fan base network of approximately 500
million across its combined social platforms that rivals
established major sports leagues.
FaZe Clan boasts a diverse and robust talent and influencer
network including global celebrities, esports athletes and content
creators. FaZe Clan's 11 competitive esports teams have won 35
championships worldwide. The company produces premium content,
merchandise, and consumer products and creates advertising and
sponsorship programs for leading national brands. With
approximately 80% of its audience between the ages of 13-34, FaZe
Clan has unlocked key relationships with a coveted demographic that
has long proven difficult to reach for traditional media companies
and advertisers.
FaZe Clan was founded by a group of teenagers who met online
playing Xbox and ultimately ended up turning their passion for
playing video games into lifelong careers, not only creating a
living out of something that had never been done previously, but
building a global brand. The founders and key members critical to
the growth of the brand since the beginning include FaZe Temperrr,
FaZe Banks, FaZe Apex, FaZe Rain, FaZe CBass, FaZe Rug, FaZe Adapt,
FaZe Teeqo, FaZe Blaze and FaZe Jev.
Executive Management Team and
Board of Directors
FaZe Holdings Inc. is led by a distinguished Executive
Management Team and Board of Directors. Lee Trink, Chief
Executive Officer, assumed his current role in 2018 after joining
the Company as an advisor in 2016. Formerly President of Capitol
Records with over 20 years of media and entertainment experience
working with artists like Kid Rock, Katy
Perry, Lenny Kravitz and The
Rolling Stones. Zach Katz,
President and Chief Operating Officer, joined in 2022 following an
over 20 year extensive music industry career including President of
BMG US, co-founder and CEO of record label and music
publishing company, Beluga Heights (a partnership with Sony Music,
Warner Music & Universal Music).
Zach began his career as a music attorney and music manager.
Tammy Brandt, Chief Legal
Officer, joined FaZe in 2021 after serving as Chief Legal Officer
at Dreamscape Immersive with a previous extensive career in
corporate counsel, corporate securities, governance, finance,
treasury, tax, executive compensation, emerging company matters and
M&A transactions. Kai
Henry, Chief Strategy Officer, joined FaZe in 2020 with
previous experience managing superstar artists, including Snoop
Dogg, as well as developing and growing several businesses,
including lifestyle YouTube platform SKEE TV, contemporary
streetwear line En Noir Clothing and Sol Republic Headphones.
The Board of Directors includes: Andre Fernandez, CFO of WeWork;
Angela Dalton, founder and
CEO of Signum Growth Capital; Bruce
Gordon, partner and member of the executive management
committee of The ExCo Group and Senior Media Advisor to
AlixPartners; Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Cordozar Broadus Jr., an
American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ,
media personality, and entrepreneur; Daniel Shribman, Chief Investment Officer of
B. Riley Financial; Mickie
Rosen, who has board experience on the Bank of
Queensland, Ascendent Digital
Acquisition Corp. I, and Fabletics; Nick
Lewin, Chairman of the Board for Establishment Labs and
General Partner of Crown Predator Holdings; Paul Hamilton, Co-Owner and CEO of Atlanta
Esports Ventures, which operates the Atlanta FaZe in the Call of
Duty League and the Atlanta Reign in the Overwatch League; and
Ross Levinsohn, Chairman and
CEO of the Arena Group and previous CEO at Guggenheim Digital Media
and Yahoo.
Management Commentary
Lee Trink, FaZe's Chief Executive Officer, said "This is a
landmark event for gaming culture and Gen Z, as FaZe Clan becomes
the first Gen Z native brand to go public. It provides us the
access to capital and global profile to enable our long-term growth
objectives, and for the first time gives our fans the opportunity
to own a part of our future. As this generation rises to economic
power and influence, FaZe will continue to use its voice to pioneer
and innovate at the intersection of technology, entertainment and
culture. We thank our partners at B. Riley and look forward to
engaging with our shareholders. FaZe Up!"
Dan Shribman, Chief Investment
Officer of B. Riley Financial, said "With an unparalleled level of
engagement with Gen Z, FaZe represents a strong opportunity to
invest in the future of digital-native entertainment. Establishing
a presence in the public markets provides FaZe the opportunity to
meaningfully expand its global presence across content, gaming,
entertainment, consumer products and Web3. We look forward to our
continued partnership as FaZe paves the way for the future of
gaming and youth culture."
Advisors
B. Riley Securities, Inc. acted as capital markets advisor to
BRPM and as sole placement agent on the PIPE. M. Klein and Company
and Evolution Media Capital served as financial advisors to FaZe
Clan.
Skadden, Arps, State, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal
advisor to FaZe Clan. White & Case acted as legal advisor to
BRPM. McDermott Will & Emery
acted as legal advisor to the PIPE placement agent.
About FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan is a digital-native lifestyle and media platform
rooted in gaming and youth culture, reimagining traditional
entertainment for the next generation. Founded in 2010 by a group
of kids on the internet, FaZe Clan was created for and by Gen Z and
Millennials, and today operates across multiple verticals with
transformative content, tier-one brand partnerships, a collective
of notable talent, and fashion and consumer products. Reaching over
500 million followers across social platforms globally, FaZe Clan
delivers a wide variety of entertainment spanning video blogs,
lifestyle and branded content, gaming highlights and live streams
of highly competitive gaming tournaments. FaZe Clan's roster of
more than 100 influential personalities consists of engaging
content creators, esports professionals, world-class gamers and a
mix of talent who go beyond the world of gaming, including NFL star
Kyler "FaZe K1" Murray, Lebron "FaZe Bronny" James Jr., Lil Yachty
aka "FaZe Boat" and Snoop Dogg aka "FaZe Snoop." Its gaming
division includes 11 competitive esports teams who have won 35
world championships. For more information, visit www.fazeclan.com,
investor.fazeclan.com and follow FaZe Clan
on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok,
and Twitch.
Forward Looking
Statements
The information in this communication includes "forward-looking
statements" pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements, other than statements of present or historical fact
included in this communication, regarding the Business Combination
as well as the company's strategy, future operations and financial
performance, market opportunity prospects, plans and objectives of
management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements generally are identified by the words "budget," "could,"
"forecast," "future," "might," "outlook," "plan," "possible,"
"potential," "predict," "project," "seem," "seek," "strive,"
"would," "should," "may," "believe," "intend," "expects," "will,"
"projected," "continue," "increase," and/or similar expressions
that concern strategy, plans or intentions, but the absence of
these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based
on the management's belief or interpretation of information
currently available.
These forward-looking statements are based on various
assumptions, whether or not identified herein, and on the current
expectations of management and are not predictions of actual
performance. Because forward-looking statements are predictions,
projections and other statements about future events that are based
on current expectations and assumptions, whether or not identified
in this communication, they are subject to inherent uncertainties,
risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.
Many factors could cause actual results and condition (financial or
otherwise) to differ materially from those indicated in the
forward-looking statements including but not limited to the risks
and uncertainties set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
relating to the Business Combination. These forward-looking
statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not
intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as,
a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement
of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are
difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from
assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the
control of the company. Forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date they are made. While FaZe Holdings Inc. may elect to
update these forward-looking statements at some point in the
future, FaZe Holdings Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation to
do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon
as representing FaZe Holdings Inc.'s or BRPM's assessments as of
any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly,
undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking
statements.
Contacts:
For FaZe Clan
Investors: Ellipsis, ir@fazeclan.com
Media: Chelsey Northern,
chelsey.northern@fazeclan.com
For BRPM
Investors: Dan Shribman,
dshribman@brileyfin.com
Media: Jo Anne McCusker,
jmccusker@brileyfin.com
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SOURCE FaZe Clan