Supplier News
Austria – Niki Lauda and Novomatic agree long-term co-operation
By Phil - 22 January 2014
Niki Lauda, three-time Formula-1 World Champion and entrepreneur, has agreed a long term co-operation with the Novomatic Group.
The agreement provides for worldwide activities of Niki Lauda as an ambassador for the international gaming group. Apart from the branding of his famous red cap Niki Lauda will support Novomatic as an ambassador at selected national and international events.
At the official press conference at the Vienna Novomatic Forum, Novomatic CEO Dr Franz Wohlfahrt explained: “We are honoured that the long-standing friendship between our company founder Professor Johann F. Graf and the Austrian national hero Niki Lauda has now led to this co-operation. The world star Niki Lauda is the perfect communicator for our corporate philosophy as a world leading and innovative provider of technologies, products and services for the international entertainment and leisure industry.”
“I am very pleased that Novomatic chose me for their new brand ambassador”, said Niki Lauda. “And it was an elating premiere to wear the new cap for the first time at the Golden Globes Awards.” About the new partnership he says: “It is no coincidence that the words ‘winning technology’ are right next to the company logo on the cap. Novomatic is a leading international Group with headquarters in Austria and operational business activities in more than 40 countries. From its base in Lower Austria it has grown to become a global player with more than 20,000 staff, 3,000 of which in Austria only.”
In other news, Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Novomatic AG, confirmed it has acquired the renowned Dutch family business Loontjens Automaten through its subsidiary Novo Gaming Netherland located in Tilburg.
Based in Middelburg, Loontjens Automaten is one of the oldest gaming companies in the Netherlands and ranges among the top five operators in the Dutch market with a traditionally strong market position in the country’s south-western region.
Over the course of the past 20 years, Loontjens Automaten was able to gradually expand its market position and today the company operates nine arcades and approximately 1,300 AWP machines in the Dutch pub sector. The founders, Alexander and Marcel Loontjens, are to remain with the company.
With this latest acquisition Novomatic further increases its commitment to the Dutch gaming market after the successful take-over of JVH Exploitatie, JVH Gaming Products, Eurocoin Gaming , AWP – design.nl and Pierre de Jonge during 2013. This latest expansion in the arcade sector further broadens the product range in order to provide a comprehensive offering that meets the requirements and needs of Dutch operators.
Loontjens maintains its business activities under the names Loontjens Automaten and Recreatieprojecten Zeeland (including Funtastic Casino) and remains located in Middelburg, retaining the same staff and the same management. As part of the Novomatic Group the company will be able to strengthen its focus on new products for the Dutch market.
Not involved in this acquisition is Loontjens Biljarts, a strong player in the international billiards market with the production and worldwide distribution of billiard tables and accessories. This company, that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in about six years’ time, remains in the hands of the Loontjens family.
