Gauselmann expands in Great Britain
The Gauselmann Group, with headquarters in eastern Westphalia in Germany, has further substantially increased its business activities in Great Britain. This follows on from the initial British market comeback in 2008 with Blueprint Gaming which has grown to become very successful. As communicated by the publicly listed Marwyn Management Partners plc (MMP) on 1st October 2012, the Espelkamp family-owned enterprise has purchased Marwyn Gaming Limited for a price of approx. 100 million euros. The well-known arcade chain Praesepe belongs to this company.
Written by Redazione
The purchase price thus corresponds to just less than half of the sum that the Gauselmann Group has invested in recent years annually into the German side of the business.
“The acquisition of Marwyn Gaming is the largest so far in the history of the Gauselmann Group and will decisively inspire our business success in Great Britain. We are now able to offer our self-developed games and gaming machines as well in over 170 of our own entertainment centres and bingo clubs. This will create excellent synergy effects”, explains Paul Gauselmann, Chairman, the benefits of this transaction. “I would personally like to welcome the entire team of over 1,500 to the games maker. Together we will create a first-class range of gaming solutions for players in Great Britain”, continues Paul Gauselmann. The number of employees at the family-managed group of companies now amounts to approx. 8,000.
The Gauselmann Group has been internationally active since 1993. Approx. 40 percent of the business volume of 1.7 billion euros was generated outside of Germany in 2011. The future global focus will further gain in importance, emphasizes Paul Gauselmann: “As responsible entrepreneur, it is my duty to structure my group of companies so that they can be successful in the long-term, in particular given the dangers facing the commercial gaming market in Germany with the new arcade laws there. Thus, the purchase of Marwyn Gaming is central to this strategy in a proven long-term legally stable market”.
Furthermore, the acquisition by the newly founded Merkur Casino UK Ltd also encompasses the companies Restcare Limited, Baleday Limited and Beacon Bingo Limited that are also active in the entertainment sector. Ulrich Wüseke, CFO and Deputy Chairman of the Gauselmann Group, adds, “We are pursuing a visionary strategy that is unique in Great Britain. We are offering a broad range of gaming solutions together with Blueprint Gaming UK and the pioneering technologies of the Gauselmann Group. In this way we are excellently delivering on our commitment to offer gaming fun with stakes and prizes at any time, anywhere”, explains Mr. Wüseke. Praesepe founder Nick Harding will remain at the company and continue to lead it as CEO. “I am very pleased that the Gauselmann Group that is internally renown for its high quality standards in the gaming machine industry has invested in our company and thus also in the British gaming and amusement industry”, notes Mr. Harding.