The resulting group will exceed €700 million in turnover next year and will add more than 3,200 workers. The operation is actually a takeover of Recreativos Franco by Grupo Orenes, which is the one that contributes around 85% of the business and the workforce.
The merger will establish Spain’s biggest gambling machines manufacturer and distributor of games for casinos, arcades and café premises operating across Spain’s 17 autonomous communities.
Founded in 1965 by brothers Joaquin and Jesus Franco Munoz, R. Franco serves as Spain’s biggest manufacturer of ‘recreativos’ (fruit machines) for leisure enterprises.
A statement from founder and president, Jesus Franco Munoz, stated: “Both companies are united by very strong personal ties and a long history of success. This merger strengthens us in the face of the challenges we want to tackle and assures us of a promising future.”
Franco’s competitor since 1968, Murcia-based Grupo Orenes is a full-catalogue manufacturer of all land-based gambling machine components and systems. Furthermore, Orenes operates a managed services division for gambling and entertainment venues.
Confirming their union, R. Franco and Orenes stated that they would relaunch a new “internationalization strategy” targeting fast-growth opportunities in LatAm jurisdictions, where Orenes operates casinos in the Mexican provinces of Chihuahua, Querétaro and Guanajuato.
Further benefits will see both companies merge their online units to create a new digital offering for R. Franco Wanabet.es and Orenes Versus sportsbook brands.
“This union reinforces us and guarantees our future positioning as one of the main global operators in the sector. We are going to continue working to improve our customers’ experiences and generate value for society as a whole,” said Eliseo Orenes, president of Grupo Orenes.
Source: GMB
