Timeline: Novomatic and AGI

2016-18

Novomatic AG agrees to buy, and subsequently acquires, a controlling stake in Ainsworth Gaming Technology from Len Ainsworth at a price of $2.75 per share

source:

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/AINSWORTH-GAME-TECHNOLOGY-10353403/news/Novomatic-AG-completed-acquisition-of-additional-51-9-stake-in-Ainsworth-Game-Technology-Ltd-from-34858993/

2017

Novomatic AG nominates Harald Neumann as a board director of AGT

source:

Website/downloads: asx-release---agi-2017-agm-results-announcement-final-28.11.17

2019

German language publish that Novomatic AG is involved in a probe into alleged corruption involving far right politicians.  The investigation concerns the appointment of an individual to the board of Casinos Austria AG, a lottery and casino operator in which the Austrian government and Novomatic owned stakes. This board allegedly signalled concessions for changes to the law on smallscale gambling that would positively impact Novomatic AG. AGI director (and Novomatic AG CEO) Harald Neumann and Novomatic AG owner and founder Johann Graf were among those named in the probe.

Sources: 

https://ggbnews.com/article/austrian-prosecutors-investigate-novomatic-head/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-13/austrian-prosecutors-target-freedom-party-s-strache-in-probe?embedded-checkout=true

2019

Novomatic sold its 17% stake in the state-owned Casinos Austria amid the corruption scandal

source:

https://www.casino.org/news/novomatic-sells-stake-in-casinos-austria-amid-corruption-scandal/

2020

After five years as Novomatic CEO, Harald Neumann “stepped back” in February 2020 for “family reasons” and became a “strategic adviser” to Novomatic

source:

https://www.gamblinginsider.com/executive/342/harald-neumann#:~:text=Following%20on%20from%20this%2C%20Neumann,CEO%20role%20in%20October%202021

https://www.vindobona.org/article/gambling-ceo-neumann-abruptly-left-novomatic

2020

Ainsworth Gaming Technology launches its “anti bribery and corruption policy” stating to the market that “This policy is designed to inform all AGT employees that paying bribes and secret commissions to foreign public officials or to persons acting in an agency of fiduciary capacity or position of trust, is prohibited by Australian, the United States of America and other laws.”

source:

website/downloads Anti Bribery & corruption policy

2021

Houses were raided in Austria, including that of the country’s finance minister as part of the probe into “whether the People’s Party politician and two other individuals were engaged in corrupt activities”.

Source:

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/austrian-finance-ministers-home-raided-in-corruption-probe

2021

German language media release text messages between Harald Neumann and the then finance minister that were recovered in the investigation.

source:

Subscription offers | angebote.profil.at, 15 February 2021

2021

Harald Neumann stepped into the Ainsworth CEO role in October 2021. There was no disclosure to the market in Australia that Neumann was under police investigation relating to the above corruption allegations.

Source:

https://www.agtslots.com/au/news-item/ainsworth-names-harald-neumann-as-chief-executive-officer  

https://www.afr.com/companies/games-and-wagering/ainsworth-board-says-no-need-to-disclose-criminal-probe-into-ceo-20250616-p5m7oz

2022

Final data from the house searches relating to the corruption investigation were approved for analysis by the court.

2023-24

Many suspects refused to testify during the investigation or stated they would only testify after all other investigative steps were completed. As a result, some final interrogations only became possible from mid-2023, allowing the evidence-gathering phase to conclude afterward.

source:

Verfahrenskomplex CASAG: Bestechlichkeit

2024

Novomatic AG representative Dr Michael Rohregger discloses to the Nevada Gaming Board that the company is still under investigation regarding the matters in Austria.

source:

https://www.youtube.com/live/gMcUGlozfLg?si=0o1YMSEtmrOC12Fj&t=2597 – timestamp ~47minutes

2025

JAN 8

Amid ongoing corruption investigations, Novomatic AG signs an agreement to sell its gaming arm, Admiral, in Austria. The company states that it will be focusing on “international business”.

Source:

https://www.novomatic.com/en/explore-novomatic/press/press-releases/novomatic-and-tipico-sign-agreement-on-the-sale-of-admiral

2025

JAN 16

It is reported in Germany language media that while part of the investigation into corruption has been closed, the matters “concerning former Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, two other individuals, and one company—related to allegations of possible corruptibility, bribery, and the acceptance or offering of benefits to influence decision-making—is still ongoing.”

source: 

Verfahrenskomplex CASAG: Bestechlichkeit)

2025

APR 28

Novomatic AG announces a Scheme of Arrangement to buy all remaining shares it does not own in AGI from minority investors for $1 per share.

Current

The matter is ongoing and the Novomatic Scheme of Arrangement to buy AGI has not yet been voted on by shareholders.