AS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) --VendingData Corporation (AMEX:VNX) announced today that its shareholders have approved the expansion of the Company's strategic alliance with Elixir Group Limited ("Elixir Group"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Melco International Development Limited (HKSE:0200) ("Melco"), through the Securities Purchase and Product Participation Agreement announced in June 2007, whereby Elixir Group will become VendingData's major shareholder. With the transaction now complete, VendingData has changed its name, effective immediately, to Elixir Gaming Technologies, Inc. ("Elixir Gaming" or "the Company"). In addition, Elixir Gaming will change its American Stock Exchange trading symbol to "EGT" effective tomorrow, September 12, 2007.
Pursuant to the "earn-in" provision of the Securities Purchase and Product Participation Agreement (which grants Elixir Group the right to earn a growing equity interest in Elixir Gaming based on the number of slot machines that have been placed and contracted to be placed on participation between Elixir Gaming and the gaming operators sourced and identified by Elixir Group), Elixir Gaming issued 40 million shares of its common stock and 22 million warrants to Elixir Group based on commitments to date for greater than 2,000 electronic gaming machines contracted to be placed on a participation basis in Asia-Pacific markets and current placements of at least 1,000 of the contracted for units.
Elixir Group now owns approximately 41 million Elixir Gaming shares, or approximately 53.5%, of Elixir Gaming's outstanding shares.
Gordon Yuen, who has served as CEO of Elixir Group since the Company's inception in 2002, and was today named Executive Chairman and CEO of Elixir Gaming, commented, "The transaction represents a win-win situation for Elixir Group and Elixir Gaming's shareholders as it demonstrates Elixir Group's relationships and service and distribution capabilities throughout Asia through Elixir Gaming. Elixir Gaming is focused solely on addressing the growing pan-Asian gaming marketplace with advanced slot floor and table game offerings and is the only US company focused on placing slot machines on a high-margin, recurring revenue participation model throughout Asia.
"Gaming markets across Asia are opening and/or expanding and Elixir Group has quickly established itself as the leading supplier of participation gaming devices in emerging markets such as the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. In the short period since Elixir Group has sought to address the electronic gaming machine opportunities across Asia Pacific markets, it has achieved significant market penetration with agreements for over 2,000 unit placements to date. Elixir Gaming shareholders are already benefiting from strong new placement momentum and will continue to benefit as the installed base grows and we participate on a recurring revenue basis."
New Management Team Appointments
Concurrent with the completion of the transaction, Elixir Gaming Technologies announced the following management changes and appointments, all of which are effective immediately:
* Gordon Yuen has been named Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Yuen has led Elixir since its inception in 2002. He had previously been a key managerial member of a number of major multi-national companies including HSBC, American Express International, American Express Bank and PepsiCo, as well as several other companies in Asia.
* Joe Pisano has been named Executive Director and Senior Vice President. Mr. Pisano has served as general manager of gaming operations for Elixir Group Limited since August 2006. From March 2002 to July 2006, Mr. Pisano served as business development manager-Asia Pacific for IGT (Australia) Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Game Technology.
* David Reberger has been named Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Elixir Gaming, he was a mergers and acquisitions adviser based in Australia for ten years with CIBC World Markets, Chase Manhattan Bank and Gresham Partners. Mr. Reberger was an executive director of CIBC World Markets and headed their Asia Pacific Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Group. Prior to investment banking, he spent six years in the financial services sector in both corporate and chartered accounting.
Mark Newburg, who most recently served as the Company's Executive Director, Treasurer, Chief Executive Officer and President resigned yesterday evening from executive roles at the Company, effective immediately. Arnaldo Galassi, who most recently served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of VendingData, as well as the rest of the senior management team, will support the management transition through December 31, 2007 and the Company expects to record a severance charge of approximately $2.0 million pre-tax in the quarter ending September 30, 2007.
Mark Newburg commented, "In two years the senior management team of VendingData was successful in transforming VendingData from an entity with offerings that achieved limited commercial success to one that is poised to be a leader in the fastest growing global gaming markets with a diversified product line and strong local partners and distribution capabilities."
Gordon Yuen added, "Mark Newburg and his team positioned the Company to participate in a substantial growth opportunity based on the alliances they established with Melco and Elixir Group. The successful conclusion of this transaction is testimony to the perseverance of the entire management team and we wish them well in their future endeavors.
"Joe Pisano, David Reberger and I bring a range of relevant industry, local market, financial experience and relationships to our new roles at Elixir Gaming. With Joe Pisano responsible for business and gaming technologies development, David Reberger leading our mergers and acquisitions strategy and investor relations functions, and the three of us heading initiatives to achieve long-term strategic growth, we are optimistic about Elixir Gaming's near- and long-term prospects."
Board of Director Appointments
Concurrent with the completion of the transaction, Elixir Gaming Technologies announced the following appointments to the Company's Board of Directors, all of which are effective immediately. Reflecting the resignations of former Chairman, Jim Crabbe and Mark Newburg, these appointments increase the size of Elixir Gaming's Board to six members, four of whom are considered independent under the corporate governance standards of the American Stock Exchange.
* Gordon Yuen, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elixir Gaming.
* Joe Pisano, Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Elixir Gaming.
* Lorna Kapunan, Independent Non-Executive Director of Elixir Gaming. Ms Kapunan is a senior partner of Kapunan Lotilla Flores Garcia & Castillo Law Offices, a law firm located in Manila, Philippines.
Jim Crabbe, commented "I wish to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Mark Newburg and his management team in repositioning VendingData's business and securing this broader strategic alliance with Melco and Elixir Group.
"Prior to this transaction I was the major shareholder in VendingData. I have very high confidence in the capabilities of the new management team and I personally am very excited by the prospects for significant shareholder wealth creation that this new business model offers. As a long term Elixir Gaming shareholder, I look forward to participating in the Company's growth based on execution against its well defined business plan."
Elixir Gaming Technologies Inc (Elixir Gaming) is a member of Elixir Group, an innovator of gaming technology solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Melco Group. Elixir Gaming delivers cutting-edge and market-competitive technology. Its principal products include table devices, such as the automated card verification machine, computer-based card shuffling system, and high-frequency RFID-gaming chips and plaques. Elixir Gaming products are distributed by Elixir Group in Asia and Suzo Happ in the America's and Europe.
Elixir Gaming has expanded its business model by entering the highly lucrative gaming machine participation business. The company has already established a strategic presence in Asia Pacific with its participation contracts in Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and other Asian markets.
In addition, Elixir Gaming boasts the capability of efficiently and quickly responding to the stringent and specific technical requirements of customers, in collaboration with Elixir Group's ICT, manufacturing and research and development teams. These services optimize the security, productivity and profitability within the gaming establishments.