betbull - The European Betting Exchange Plc.
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Betbull - The
European Betting Exchange Plc ("Betbull") - announces completion of its
acquisition of leading German retail bookmaker
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
31.10.2005
Betbull has successfully completed the acquisition of the Leip Group, one of Germanys leading retail bookmakers. This landmark deal is a cornerstone in Betbulls move to establish itself as a leading privately run Continental European retail betting player.
The initial purchase consideration consists of EUR10.0 million and 700,000 Betbull ordinary shares - with the customary lock in provisions. In addition, success based earn-out payments have been agreed contingent upon the Leip Group reaching ambitious hurdles over the next five years.
In connection with the acquisition Betbull has successfully completed a EUR7.5 million private placement amongst highly reputed international institutional and private investors issuing 1,250,000 new ordinary shares at a price of EUR 6 per share. The new ordinary shares shall be listed as Austrian Depositary Certificares ("ADCs") on the Vienna Stock Exchange in due course. For further development of the retail betting business and due to the high level of further demand Betbull is considering issuing additional new ordinary shares in order to raise up to an additional EUR4 million.
Following the completion of the deal, Alexander Leip, founder of the Leip Group, has joined Betbulls Board of Directors as an Executive Director adding another 17 years of retail bookmaking experience and high visibility to the Board. He was also appointed as Managing Director of the Wettenleip GmbH.
An EGM to approve the deal was held on September 29th in London and the Board of Directors of Betbull has approved of all aspects of the transaction, including the terms and conditions of the private placement.
In the year ended 31 December 2004 the Leip Group's (unaudited) accounts showed a profit before tax of EUR1 million (EBITDA EUR 1.4 million) on bets placed of EUR51.7 million and revenue of EUR8.1 million.
The Directors believe that the Leip Group together with Betbull has the brand, expertise, personnel, outlets, licenses, and scale to continue to grow quickly in the German retail betting market and to realise imminent opportunities in other Continental European countries.
Commenting on the announcement of the acquisition of the Leip Group, Simon Bold, COO of Betbull said:
"Leips presence across Germany will give us a massive "footprint" in both the German horse racing and sports betting markets - ahead of the 2006 soccer World Cup."
Günter Schmid, CEO of Betbull added:
"This was just the first step in our endeavor to capitalize on the Continental European Retail Betting opportunity. Upon closing the acquisition of the Leip Group we are already following up on other leads."
- ENDS -
Contact
Alex Mackey, Catullus Consulting (+44 7773 787 458) Catriona MacNiven, Investor Relations Günter Schmid, CEO (upon request) Simon Bold, COO (upon request)
Phone +350 52561 Fax +350 44554 betbull - The European Betting Exchange Plc ("betbull") 1 London Wall London EC2Y 5EB
This communication can be downloaded from the website www.betbullplc.com.
About betbull Betbull has the goal to establish itself as one of the leading Continental European retail betting players.
The high caliber management team (Simon Bold, Alexander Leip, and Günter Schmid) can resort not only to state of the art bookmaking and operating know how but also relevant M&A expertise and track record.
Betbull was started in 2004 as a joint venture of betandwin.com Interactive Entertainment AG (stock quoted on the Viennese stock exchange) and Fun Technologies Plc (formerly traded as CES-Software Plc, stock quoted on the Alternative Investment Market in London) and is stock quoted since October 2004 on the Viennese stock exchange ("BETB", "BETB.VI").
For further details please refer to the company website www.betbullplc.com.
This communication contains statements about the future (prognoses). Those statements are based on the Directorss opinion, assumptions made by the Directors, and information available to the Directors. One or several factors that the Directors cannot foresee with certainty could result in outcomes and events that deviate from the prognoses. All prognoses are valid only on the date of their announcement. Betbull has no intentions to and is not obliged to update prognoses or to adapt prognoses to future events or developments.
end of announcement euro adhoc 31.10.2005 16:30:00
Further inquiry note:
betbull - The European Betting Exchange Plc.
Catriona Macniven
Investor Relations
Tel.: +350 77331
e-Mail: c.macniven@betbull.com
Branche: Casinos & Gambling
ISIN: AT0000615331
WKN:
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / stock market