WMS Gaming Expands International Presence to Australia and New Zealand Through Alliance With Vidco Holdings.Business Editors CHICAGO and SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2000 WMS Gaming WMS Gaming, Inc. is a subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc, which manufactures casino slot machines. The company is credited with the introduction of 5 reel video slot machines to the world-wide market, and WMS Gaming is also well known for their manufacture of pinball machines. Inc., a subsidiary of WMS WMS Warehouse Management System WMS Web Map Service (open geospatial consortium specification) WMS West Middle School (Rochester Hills, MI) WMS Workforce Management Software WMS Wechsler Memory Scale Industries Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : WMS), announced today that it has, subject to regulatory approvals, entered into an exclusive agreement with Vidco Holdings Pty. Ltd. (Vidco), a subsidiary of Kolback Group Ltd. (ASX ASX See: Australian Stock Exchange : KBG KBG Kentucky Bluegrass KBG King's Bay Gold Corporation (stock symbol) KBG Katherman, Briggs & Greenberg, LLP KBG Kick Butts Generation (Delaware anti-tobacco youth movement) .AX), whereby Vidco will manufacture and sell WMS Gaming's multi-line, multi-coin video games in Australia, New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. and Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (păp`  ə, –y . WMS Gaming will act as Vidco's sales representative for a select number of key accounts in Australia while Vidco will sell to other clubs, hotels and casinos in all three countries. The agreement is strategically important for WMS Gaming as it further broadens the Company's international presence. The agreement is valuable to Vidco, as it provides access to some of the most popular, in-demand gaming titles available today. &uot;The relationship with Vidco significantly strengthens WMS Gaming's presence in these important markets, extending our success in broadening our sales and marketing efforts outside of North America,&uot; noted Kevin L. Verner, Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. and Vice President of WMS Industries. &uot;In addition to the relationship with Vidco, in the last six weeks, we have announced a supply agreement in the Slovak Republic and opened an international sales office in Barcelona, Spain. &uot;Worldwide demand for our products is attributable to the popularity of our video titles like Reel 'em In(R) and Jackpot Party(TM). By joining forces with Vidco, an established gaming manufacturer, we believe we can successfully launch WMS Gaming products into the well established Australian gaming marketplace.&uot; Subject to regulatory approvals, the Vidco agreement with WMS Gaming commences immediately. The first WMS Gaming products are scheduled to be released in the marketplace by year-end. &uot;WMS Gaming will also establish an engineering group in Australia to adapt popular WMS titles onto Vidco's new PC III platform,&uot; continued Mr. Verner. &uot;Having an engineering base in Australia gives WMS the advantage of responding quickly to customer needs and trends unique to that market.&uot; Vidco, established in 1986, designs, manufactures and sells video gaming devices in Australia and New Zealand. The Vidco product line includes successful titles such as Sea Lion, The Chief and Mister Magic. It is currently estimated that there are 172,000 gaming machines installed throughout Australia. The Kolback Group Ltd., the owner of Vidco, is a publicly-held company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Australia's major securities market, formed when the six state stock exchanges (Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney stock exchanges) were merged in 1987. Limited. WMS Gaming Inc. is headquartered in Chicago (800/932-3021) with regional offices in Las Vegas (702/257-7020), Atlantic City (609/569-0100), Biloxi, MS (228/396-3711), Denver, CO (303/216-2945), Kansas City, MO (816/413-8700), and Reno, NV (775/827-6617), Barcelona, Spain (34-610-283-628), British Columbia (604/272-3935) and Ontario, Canada (416/485-4725). WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc., designs, manufactures and markets video and reel-spinning gaming devices and video lottery terminals. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future business conditions and the outlook for the Company based on currently available information that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the gaming industry, the expansion of legalized gaming into new markets, legislation and regulatory changes in existing gaming markets, the development, introduction and success of new games and new technologies and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, the ability of the Company to qualify for and maintain gaming licenses and approvals, the outcome of certain legal proceedings All actions that are authorized or sanctioned by law and instituted in a court or a tribunal for the acquisition of rights or the enforcement of remedies. to which the Company is a party and other risks more full described under &uot;--Factors Affecting Future Performance&uot; in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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