Austrian gaming operator and supplier Novomatic AG saw revenues from its global operations rise to a record €2.3 billion, an all-time high for the 36-year-old company and a 10 percent jump from the previous year. The supplier also reported that its workforce has risen to more than 23,500 globally.
According to the company’s annual financial report, published on the ÖKB (Österreichische Kontrollbank) website, the Novomatic AG Group’s increase was achieved in the area of gaming machine revenues, which rose by €126.7 million to €1,028.9 million. Group EBITDA came to €588.5 million (2015: €616.7 million).
The number of employees in the Novomatic Group grew by 18.1 percent last year, to a total of 23,849. The growth dynamics of the Novomatic AG Group is also demonstrated by the fact that the number of fully consolidated companies in the financial year 2016 increased to 217 (2015: 188).
“Not only did we achieve excellent financial results in 2016, but we also set out clear strategic paths that are particularly important for the further expansion of the group of companies,” said Harald Neumann, CEO of Novomatic AG. “These include the signing of an agreement to acquire approximately 53 percent of the shares in the publicly traded Australian company Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. Thanks to the strong presence of Ainsworth in Australia, Asia and North and South America, Novomatic will, in the future, also intensify its work in these markets.”
The focus on expansion of the Novomatic Group also included the acquisition of Talarius Ltd. by Novomatic U.K., and an expansion of its market position in Germany, Italy and Spain by acquiring numerous smaller companies.
Novomatic also expanded its financial scope for action in the previous year, issuing a benchmark bond in September 2016 with a volume of €500 million, the first such bond from an Austrian company in 2016.
