So we finally managed, with a lot of pushing and heaving, to get the acquisition of the Agora chain of AGCs over the line! We took the business over in February on a management contract and have run it now for eight months all the time working towards an outright purchase. Eight tough months it has to be said as the business was in a terrible mess but clearly we could see the real value under all the confusion and my guys and girls have diligently worked away, closing some uneconomic sites, rationalising the machine estate, introducing work practices and systems for management and accounting that were required to really get the business on an even keel. So the deal was done, finally and we were able to add 63 high quality, predominantly London based AGCs to our estate, taking us up to 160 AGCs, 6 Bingo Clubs and our on-line sites. This puts us in the #1 position in this sector in the UK, from a standing start 4 years ago an achievement which we are delighted with. Its worth also adding that over the past ten years I have been involved in the acquisition of more than a dozen businesses in the UK gaming sector and Agora is without a doubt the best deal that I have landed.
I do also feel that finally the tide is turning in the direction of the UK gaming machine industry. Life has been tough since the introduction of the 2005 Gambling Act in 2007 which, coupled with the smoking ban and the removal of the Triennial review process made things very challenging but we now have the new B3 stake/prize format (going very well), we have a brand new set of regulations for Category C machines (first machines on show in January) and the promise of the reintroduction of the Triennial review process in mid to late '12. All these changes are hugely positive for us and despite the countries economic woes we are going into 2012 feeling very positive about our business.
So, with Christmas nearly upon us can I wish all our staff, customers and our colleagues in the industry a very happy holiday and a successful 2012.
Nick.
16/12/11
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