NOVOMATIC AG and SAZKA Group agreed on a sale of NOVOMATIC ´s shares in Casinos Austria AG

Vienna/Gumpoldskirchen, December 10, 2019 (OTS) – NOVOMATIC AG reached today an agreement with regards to the sale of its 17,19% shares in CASAG to SAZKA Group, subject to certain conditions precedent including regulatory approvals and rights of other CASAG shareholders. This transaction is in the best interest of CASAG to have key and long term shareholders aligned.

The last six months have shown that clear ownership is essential to successful business.

NOVOMATIC AG will further keep its 11% shares in Österreichische Lotterien GmbH.

SAZKA Group publicly assures and promises to ÖBAG fair Supervisory and Management Board representation for the future, regardless of size of SAZKA Group shareholding in CASAG.

Harald Neumann, NOVOMATIC AG CEO says:
“The previous ownership structure has led to no satisfactory development of Casinos Austria. As the smallest major shareholder, we have therefore decided to sell our CASAG shares in order to allow CASAG a clear ownership structure. It is important to enable a stable and sustainable shareholder structure that secures the company in the long term for the future challenges of national and global markets".

Robert Chvatal, SAZKA Group CEO says:
„We believe it is the best solution for the company. We want to ensure stable positive development for CASAG in a long-term partnership of its two biggest shareholders.
We are committed to work jointly with ÖBAG and CASAG team to achieve well-being for its customers, employees and communities we do business with. We are prepared to focus on CASAG business and bring innovations to the market.“

About NOVOMATIC
The NOVOMATIC Group is one of the biggest international producers and operators of gaming technologies and employs more than 30,000 staff worldwide. Founded by entrepreneur Professor Johann F. Graf in 1980, the Group has locations in more than 50 countries and exports high-tech electronic gaming equipment and solutions to more than 70 countries. The Group operates around 255,000 gaming terminals and video lottery terminals (VLTs) in its some 2,100 plus gaming operations as well as via rental concepts.

Through its numerous international subsidiaries, the NOVOMATIC Group is fully active in all segments of the gaming industry and thus offers a diversified Omni-channel product portfolio to its partners and clients around the world. This product range includes land based gaming products and services, management systems and cash management, online/mobile and social gaming solutions as well as lottery and sports betting solutions together with a range of sophisticated ancillary products and services.