Ainsworth Game Technology Limited has responded to recent media articles concerning investigations initiated in 2019 by the Austrian Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA).
The probes targeted over 100 individuals and their suspected associates, including Ainsworth’s current Chief Executive Officer, Harald Neumann, and its controlling shareholder, Novomatic AG. The company first became aware of the investigations in August 2019 following Austrian media reports and promptly notified all relevant gaming regulators to ensure compliance with its licensing obligations.
At the time, Neumann served as a non-executive director of Ainsworth. The company’s Board, after obtaining legal advice, determined that the investigations were too preliminary and lacked sufficient evidence to warrant an ASX announcement. Ainsworth has since maintained regular communication with regulators in applicable jurisdictions, providing periodic updates on the status of the investigations as part of its compliance procedures.
The Ainsworth Board, through its Regulatory Compliance Committee (RCC), continues to monitor the matter to assess whether any developments require market disclosure. The RCC also receives ongoing updates from legal representatives acting for Neumann and Novomatic AG. The investigations, which are a matter of public record, predate Neumann’s appointment as CEO in October 2021. Following a thorough probity investigation by the Compliance Division, the RCC concluded that Neumann was suitable for the CEO role from a regulatory perspective. Neumann holds licenses and has been deemed suitable in over 100 jurisdictions, all with full awareness of the investigations.
According to the latest information from WKStA, all but one of the investigations involving Neumann and Novomatic AG have been discontinued, with approvals secured from relevant Austrian regulatory authorities and no findings of wrongdoing. The remaining investigation is nearing conclusion, with WKStA expected to finalize its examination of the facts before submitting a proposal to Austrian authorities for approval to discontinue the probe.
Ainsworth emphasized that it does not typically comment on market speculation or media reports but issued this statement to clarify its position and reaffirm its commitment to regulatory compliance. The announcement was authorized by the Board of Directors, underscoring the company’s proactive approach to transparency and governance in addressing the matter.
