The ÅF Group has signed a cooperation agreement with EssNet, according to which ÅF has been commissioned to develop and maintain hardware platforms for EssNet's computer terminal products as used by gaming agents all over the world. These terminals are a very important component in the EssNet product portfolio and cooperation with the ÅF Group will enable EssNet to offer its customers terminals that use the very latest technology.

 

The agreement comes into force on 1 September 2002 and means that around a dozen or so EssNet employees currently working with development issues will be transferred to the ÅF Group.

 

"Technically sophisticated retail gaming terminals are a real growth market," explains Magnus Ankarstrand, who leads the subsidiary within the ÅF Group that will be involved in this cooperation. "Cooperative agreements like the one we have now signed with EssNet are fully in line with our ambition of being a long-term, strategic partner for our customers. And, in this instance, the transfer of such highly skilled staff from EssNet enables us to add extra muscle to our in-house resources."

 

Hans Vigmostad, Managing Director for EssNet, says, "We have been very strong on the hardware side ever since the company was first established in 1936. As with so many other companies, however, the products we have developed have required more and more software over the years. Since we have decided to concentrate most of our energies to developing software, we have been looking for a partner with specialist skills in the field of hardware development. Cooperation with the ÅF Group provides us with a practical way of strengthening our position as an all-round supplier to the gaming industry."

 

EssNet is one of the leading suppliers in the gaming industry. The company, which has its head office in Stockholm, develops on-line systems - including Internet solutions, mobile telephony and interactive television services - for lottery and betting companies all over the world who are licensed as agents for games such as Lotto, Keno, Bingolotto, Stryktipset, Oddset and other sports betting games. EssNet has customer installations in Europe, the Middle East, South America and Australia. Sales for 2001 amounted to SEK 388 million.

 

 

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