NPT.L Regulatory News (NPT)

9 Jul 2009 07:55



Playtech Ltd

("Playtech" or "the Company")

Statement re NetPlayTV

Playtech notes the announcement made today by NetPlay TV, the AIM-listed interactive TV gambling specialist. 

The agreement is a binding Memorandum of Understanding where NetPlay TV Plc is to enter into a five year exclusive license agreement for the full suite of Playtech products including Casino, Poker, Bingo, TV and Mobile games. Playtech will be able to offer NetPlay's leading TV services and content exclusively across its network of online and retail licensees. NetPlay operates various different brand names including Supercasino.com, Bingos.com and EuroTeleMillions.com and will migrate all from its current software providers and in house technology, onto Playtech's online system. NetPlay's Bingo migration from its current software provider will significantly increase Playtech's Bingo liquidity and boost Playtech's bingo offering. In addition, this new agreement will position Playtech as a market leader in Live Gaming following its strategy to diversify its products portfolio and create cross selling opportunities for its licensees. 

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NetPlay TV plc 

£12.8m Placing to Fund Future Growth

Five year strategic agreement with Playtech 

NetPlay TV Plc (AIM: NPT), the 'live' interactive TV gambling specialist, today announces that it has conditionally placed 58,352,476 new ordinary shares ("Placing Shares") of 5p each at a price of 22 pence per share, raising gross proceeds of £12,837,545 (the "Placing"). The proceeds will strengthen the Company's balance sheet and provide capital for future growth. 

In addition, the Company has entered into a memorandum of understanding withPlaytech Limited ("Playtech") that has set the term of the agreement for the supply of 'live' interactive games to the Playtech network to five years. Playtech is the world's largest publicly traded online gaming software supplier. Distribution will be via both Playtech's online customers and retail clients. NetPlay TV will supply a number of 'live' games including: Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Bingo and a Live Fixed odds draw. As part of the agreement, NetPlay TV will migrate all of its services onto the Playtech technology platform, this agreement will also run for a period of five years.

The New Shares, which will be placed with investment company Directforce Trading Limited ("Directforce"), will represent approximately 29.9 per cent. of the Company's Enlarged Share Capital. The beneficiary of Directforce also has a beneficial interest in a significant shareholder of Playtech Limited.

The Placing is subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders at a General Meeting. A circular convening the General Meeting will be sent to shareholders shortly.

The Company has received irrevocable commitments from certain shareholders representing 43.4 per cent. of the Company's current issued share capital to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.

Martin Higginson, CEO of NetPlay TV plc, said: 

"This agreement will take NetPlay TV to new heights. The investment of £12.8m into our business, along with the strategic relationship, both in terms of distribution and technology with Playtech, will enable us to drive the development of our converged gaming solutions. 

"'Live' gaming is being demanded by more and more customers and this agreement will allow us to deliver our products to a much wider audience."

Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech Limited, said:

"We have been looking for a partner in the 'live' interactive gaming market for some time. Our clients and their customers are demanding 'live' products and therefore it is logical we offer them the best services available. This agreement enables us to offer our licencees unique TV quality gaming shows, this will also enrich their offering to gamers, and will also boost Playtech's Bingo offering, increasing Playtech's bingo network liquidity significantly.

"We are extremely happy to partner with NetPlay TV Plc who are the clear leader in 'live' interactive gaming. We see this agreement as a natural step in Playtech's business strategy of entering into the interactive TV gaming market and further supplements the acquisition last year of interactive mass-multiplayer live gaming assets.

"We believe 'live' gaming is going to be very big in the coming years and,as such, a significant investment in this business makes perfect sense."

Shareholder approval

A circular will be sent to shareholders in the Company. The issue of the Placing Shares is conditional, inter alia, upon the Company obtaining approval from its Shareholders to grant the Board authority to allot the Placing Shares and to disapply statutory pre-emption rights which would otherwise apply to the allotment of the Placing Shares. The Placing is further conditional upon Admission of the Placing Shares to AIM. A General Meeting will be announced in due course.

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. 

Enquiries:

Notes to Editors:

About NetPlay TV plc 

NetPlay TV plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (NPT). 

NetPlay TV operates a number of interactive gaming services under a UK, and Malta gaming license, including Supercasino.com, Bingos.com and EuroTeleMillions.com. These services can also be viewed live on television on Sky Channel 866 - 24 hours a day, Freeview Channel 48 from 9pm - 5am and FreeSat Channel 851. The Company recently took over the production of the 'Challenge Jackpot' brand on behalf of Virgin Media Television which airs 24/7 on Virgin Media, Sky and three hours per day on Bravo 2 and Virgin 1.

The Company is focused on the delivery of a converged interactive gaming experience allowing its customers to interact with its games on a variety of platforms, TV, Internet and mobile from a common integrated wallet.