[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1 link=same] [bsa_pro_ad_space id=2]

Skip to Content

Supplier News

UK – Praesepe business continues to grow with acquisition of 25 AGCs from William Clark

By - 25 July 2016

Praesepe has increased its national estate of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) with the purchase of 25 venues from William Clark for an undisclosed sum.

The sites, described by Praesepe CEO, Nick Harding, as being ‘excellent businesses in top locations and managed by skilled and experienced teams’, increases the Praesepe business portfolio to over 185 trading venues, including AGCs, Family Entertainment Centres and Bingo Clubs, including Europe’s largest capacity club at Cricklewood, north London. The purchase is the latest in a line of investments in the business by parent company, Gauselmann Group and follows the acquisition of Town & County Leisure to form Merkur Engineering Ltd, July’s opening of the Largs FEC/AGCin Scotland and the acquisition of the 85 machine FEC in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, which was completed in May.

Nick Harding said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm the purchase of the Teddy’s AGC brand from William Clark. It’s very important that the businesses we acquire are of the highest calibre and that they can bring something extra to the organisation. These are large, very well run venues in good locations, concentrated in East Yorkshire. Most of the venues include tanning facilities which represent a profitable adjunct to the core business and I am keen that we apply the insight gained by the team at Teddy’s to our existing tanning operations. This is another sign of the confidence the Gauselmann Group has in the domestic gaming industry and in UK plc.”

William Clark added: “Teddy’s was launched by my father 40 years ago. I think with the sale of a business which has been in the family for such a long time it is only natural to want to hand the reins to someone you know and that you trust. We have been talking with Nick for some six months and I am truly delighted that the business we built up is now under his control.

“Nick enjoys a hard earned reputation in the industry for building and sustaining Premier League quality businesses and for delivering best in class customer service. He understands the dynamics and personality of the industry and is a ‘roll your sleeves up’ style CEO who leads from the front. I look forward to seeing the former Teddy’s businesses flourish as part of the growing Praesepe family.”

Share via
Copy link