Unibet buys Maria group

[jetset]

UNIBET ACQUIRES ONLINE GAMBLING GROUP

SEK 705 million cash deal signed

The Swedish investment firm Maria Invest AB has sold its online gambling interests in the Malta registered Maria Holdings Limited to Internet gambling group Unibet plc for SEK 705 million (approximately GBP 54 million)

Maria Holdings owns the domain names mariabingo.com, mariacasino.com, carlospoker.com, carlosplace.com and bingo.se, powered by Net Entertainment software.

The acquisition is part of Unibet group's strategy to broaden its demographic coverage, London-based CEO Petter Nylander said this week.

"With this acquisition we will strengthen our position in the Nordic region as well as within the fast growing online bingo market. Unibet is today the leading private gaming company among men, and with this acquisition we will also be leading among women," he added.

Malta licensed Unibet Group is one of the largest privately-owned gambling operators in the European market and provides services in 20 languages. The group is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.