French powerhouse Karmine Corp, also known as KCorp, has officially entered the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) by acquiring Astralis’ franchise slot. The team will make its debut in LEC Winter 2024.
As a result of this acquisition, Astralis will no longer participate in the EMEA esports league. All of its players will become free agents starting from the upcoming offseason.
Karmine Corp will also maintain its presence in the Ligue Française de League of Legends (LFL) and utilize its LFL roster as an academy team to develop young talents.
Astralis sells majority of its LEC slot to Karmine Corp for US$18M
Astralis CEO Anders Hørsholt stated that they decided to sell the LEC slot to a new company they formed, AK-Game SAS, due to the promising price and conditions. The estimated value of the slot is US$27 million.
Later, Karmine Corp SAS will gradually purchase 66.67% of the shares in AK-Game SAS for US$18 million between 2023 and 2025. Astralis will retain ownership of 33.33% of the shares, with an option to sell more shares to KCorp by 2031.
Karmine Corp’s Rise in the LFL and ERL
Established in 2020, KCorp quickly gained prominence in the LFL and European Regional Leagues (ERL). They secured a spot in the LFL First Division in 2021 and went on to win two LFL titles and four EMEA Masters trophies. Their success has made them one of the most accomplished organizations in the EMEA Masters ecosystem.
Notable players like Martin “Rekkles” Larsson and Adam “Adam” Maanane have previously competed with Karmine Corp in the LFL.
Overall, Karmine Corp’s entry into the LEC marks an exciting new chapter for the organization, and it will be interesting to see how their dominance in the ERL translates to the LEC stage in 2024.
Source: ONEESPORTS
