Sunday July 22,2012 : ASTRA DANOPTRA DEAL COMPLETE (Update)
UK Office of Fair Trading gives deal the nod
Novomatic Group subsidiary Astra Games Limited has concluded the purchase of the Danoptra Group of companies following clearance from the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The Danoptra Group companies, comprising Gamestec Leisure, Bell-Fruit Games, RLMS Sales and Mazooma Interactive Games, will maintain their individual identities and continue business as usual with their existing staff compliments.
The Astra UK Gaming Group will be managed by a five-man Board of Directors comprising Zane Mersich, managing director of Astra Games since 2008 who will become the Group’s chief executive officer, joined by John Austin – managing director of Bell-Fruit Games, Chris Butler – managing director of Gamestec, Neil Paramore – chief financial officer, and Paul Terroni – who moves from Danoptra to take up the role of business development director within the new entity.
Going forward, a newly-established Technology Committee, chaired by Astra's game design director and Board member Andy Dinning, will identify and direct new innovations in both analogue and digital gaming products for research and development across all companies in the group.
A company statement said the conclusion of the deal, initiated in 2009, now creates an Astra UK Gaming Group that, based on 2011 reported figures, has a total turnover of GBP 79.68 million and EBITDA of GBP 15.73million EBITDA with a total workforce of 1 042.