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April 18, 2007 |
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| Slot makers merge to create Russian giant | |||
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Unicum and SmartGames, leading manufacturers and distributors of gaming machines and systems in Russia and the CIS countries, have merged to create the largest company of its kind in the region. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, and the new entity will trade under the name Unicum Gaming. It will be headed by Unicum President Boris Belotserkovsky as chairman. SmartGames CEO Valery Klesov will assume the post of chief executive. Peter Moffit, Unicum vice president and CTO, will be vice president for product development, and SmartGames Commercial Director Lyubov Loginova will head sales and marketing with the same title. The combination of established contacts and distribution partners, vast distribution and service networks, game portfolios and manufacturing and R&D capabilities will give the new company an “inestimable advantage over its competitors,” said a press release announcing the merger. In addition to its own line of games and systems, Moscow-based Unicum is well-known also as the Russian distributor for Atronic International, Bally Gaming, Aristocrat Technologies, Ainsworth Game Technology, Konami and WMS Gaming. Unicum Gaming plans to extend its international reach. Both companies already enjoy a presence in Latin America and South Africa, and these markets will “top the list” of expansion plans, they said. —Staff Reports |
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