Austria’s Novomatic Group has submitted binding offers to the MTB Privatstiftung for that company’s 16.8 percent shares in Casinos Austria AG (CASAG), as well as to the Leipnik-Lundenburger Invest Beteiligungs AG (LLI) for its 29.6 percent shares in the MEDIAL Beteiligungs GmbH—equating to an indirect equity stake of 11.34 percent in Casinos Austria AG, the monopoly casino operator in Austria.
The offers were accepted both by the MTB Privatstiftung as well as by the LLI. The conclusion of both transactions remains subject to various permissions governed by public law as well as by company law and to formal approval requirements.
“By means of these transactions we will be able to contribute as a solid Austrian partner with international expertise and become a part of a sustained shareholding structure of Casinos Austria AG,” said Novomatic CEO Harald Neumann.
If any further shares should be offered at an acceptable price then Novomatic would also be interested in acquiring them, according to a statement from the company. The parties have agreed not to disclose any purchase price.
In other Novomatic news, the company announced that Novomatic Lottery Solutions (NLS) has been selected as successful bidder in a public competition for a six-year contract by the Catalonian Lottery (Loteria de Catalunya).
The contract provides full lottery facility management services for the autonomous region of Catalunya in Spain for both online and instant lottery products and services. The contract will commence on April 1, 2016, and contains an option for an additional two-year extension.
“We are extremely pleased at the prospect of working with Loteria de Catalunya,” said Miriam Lindhorst, CEO of Novomatic Lottery Solutions. “In this full facilities management contract, we are excited about helping Loteria de Catalunya to increase sales to a level more appropriate to the stature of the region’s local economy. Through the deployment of modern technology and up-to-date solutions we are convinced we will make a significant difference to the good causes supported by Loteria de Catalunya. We look forward to a long and mutually successful partnership.”
Under the new agreement, secured through a competitive bid, NLS will provide Loteria de Catalunya with 2,300 Morpho S8 online lottery terminals, and a new-generation, fully integrated central system encompassing retail, internet and mobile in what will be the first fully omni-channel system implementation in the region.
The company will also deliver the printing and design of instant lottery tickets, complete online lottery services, warehousing and distribution, as well as sales and marketing services.
