Austrian gaming giant Novomatic will acquire all outstanding shares in Australian slots supplier Ainsworth Game Technology that it does not already own through a Scheme of Arrangement. Novomatic already owns 52.9% of the company.
Novomatic is acquiring the outstanding shares for “best and final cash consideration of A$1.00 per share,” valuing the transaction at approximately A$158.6 million (US$102 million). The consideration represents a premium of 35% to Ainsworth’s closing share price on April 24.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025 and is currently awaiting approval from Ainsworth shareholders. At the same time, Novomatic has already received approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board, and the Independent Committee of the Board of Directors of Ainsworth has unanimously recommended that Ainsworth shareholders vote in favor of the transaction, the company explained.
“The acquisition of Ainsworth is consistent with our international growth strategy and the expansion of our presence across the Asia-Pacific and the US region,” said Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board of Novomatic AG Group. “As a long-term shareholder we are familiar with the business and believe that integrating Ainsworth into our operations is in the best interest of this strategy. We look forward to welcoming the highly qualified and experienced Ainsworth employees into the Novomatic family to become part of our international growth and success.”
In an ASX filing, Ainsworth chair Danny Gladstone said, “The proposal put forward by Novomatic, who is already the majority shareholder of Ainsworth, represents a significant premium to long term trading value and is compelling for AGI minority shareholders.
“The Independent Board Committee has carefully evaluated the proposed Scheme Consideration against the company’s medium-and long-term growth prospects and alternative opportunities, and has unanimously formed the view that the proposal represents attractive and certain value for AGI minority shareholders.”
Novomatic had previously acquired the stake from Ainsworth founder Len Ainsworth in early 2018 in a move that was designed at the time to increase the Austrian company’s presence in the US.
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