Cirsa to merge its manufacturing and technology activities

With the merge of two subsidiaries, Cirsa reduces the number of its divisions from five to four. The decision implies that only one society, which will be called Business to Business (B2B), comprises the manufacturing division (which is in charge of the design, manufacturing and marketing of recreational machines for bingos, casinos, hotels, slot halls and casinos) and interactive ones (in charge of the design, marketing and operation of online terminals and systems for instant lotteries, electronic bingos and interconnection of recreational machines).

Casino, bingo and operational divisions of Cirsa will be mantained without changes. The group, headed by Manuel Lao, intends to optimize sinergies with the merge, as well as it will aim to reduce costs. “The aim is to be more competitive in these activities and to create a more efficient organization adressed to users”, pointed a spokesman of the company.

The person in charge of exploring new ways of growth for B2B will be Enric Barba, who will assume the direction of the new society. He will report to Joaquim Agut, Cirsa General Director, and was Terra ex president.

Besides, the new division will be strengthened with directors in charge of the areas of control, production and logistics. The income volume of the divisions that comprise B2B was us$ 127 million in 2006, according to estimations of the company. The staff, located in Terrassa, is of 525 employees. A spokesman of the company pointed that there will not be changes in the staff after the merger. Cirsa also intends to improve technology.

Altough Cirsa has not closed the report from the latest period, the group estimates it had obtained incomes close to 2,000 million euros, compared to 1,800 million euros registered in 2005. The group, with presence in 70 countries, has invested more than

45 million euros in Research and Development tasks in the three latest years.

Nowadays, the multinational has 22 traditional casinos (mainly in Latin America), 100 bingo halls and more than 85,000 recreational machines, in hotels and casinos.