MEDIA RELEASE PR40239
The United States Playing Card Company Forms Strategic Alliance With Walker Digital
Gaming
ERLANGER, Kentucky, June 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
* Alliance Leverages Brand Strength and Technology Expertise *
The United States Playing Card Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH) today announced that it has formed a strategic
alliance with Walker Digital Gaming LLC, a leading technology provider of
gaming solutions. The alliance combines USPC's leading brands, such as
Bee(R), with Walker Digital Gaming's innovative table-gaming technologies,
including the RFID-enabled Perfect Pay Smart Table Network with Elite
Baccarat. Together the two companies will develop and market new and
exclusive products for the casino industry, initially for the international
Asian markets.
"Walker Digital is an innovative leader in developing enhanced
technologies for the gaming industry," noted Phil Dolci, President and Chief
Executive Officer of The United States Playing Card Company. "The strength of
our market-leading brands, combined with Walker Digital's innovations,
including Elite Baccarat and Perfect Pay, presents compelling international
growth opportunities, particularly in the Asian casino baccarat market."
"We are pleased to collaborate with USPC," stated Jay Walker, the
Chairman of Walker Digital Gaming. "Their market-leading brands, commitment
to innovation, and unparalleled relationships and reputation in the casino
market align well with our growth plans, particularly as we introduce new
technology into the casino gaming industry."
"This is an exciting investment opportunity for our United States Playing
Card Company subsidiary as we continue to invest in our playing card
operations," commented Martin E. Franklin, Chairman and Chief Executive of
Jarden Corporation. "We believe our relationship with Jay Walker and the team
at WDG will drive incremental growth opportunities for our leading playing
card brands and will increase our exposure to new, international market
opportunities. This technology-focused alliance, combined with the opening of
our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kentucky last year and the
recent capital investments in our Fournier facility in Vitoria, Spain,
underscores our commitment to driving growth through innovation in perceived
mature product categories."
About The United States Playing Card Company
The United States Playing Card Company is the leader in the production
and distribution of premier brands of playing cards, including BEE(R),
BICYCLE(R), AVIATOR(R), HOYLE(R), KEM(R) and CONGRESS(R) playing cards.
BICYCLE(R) has been the best selling playing card brand in the world for more
than 100 years. Founded in 1867, the company manufactures, markets and
distributes playing cards, children's card games, collectible tins, puzzles
and card accessories. BEE(R), BICYCLE(R), AVIATOR(R) and HOYLE(R) are
registered trademarks of The United States Playing Card Company. For more
subsidiary of Jarden Corporation.
About Jarden Corporation
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products.
Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well
recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia(R), Berkley(R),
Campingaz(R) and Coleman(R), Fenwick(R), Gulp!(R), K2(R), Marker(R), Marmot(R),
Mitchell(R), Penn(R), Rawlings(R), Shakespeare(R), Stearns(R), Stren(R),
Trilene(R), Volkl(R) and Zoot(R); Consumer Solutions: Bionaire(R),
Crock-Pot(R), FoodSaver(R), Health o meter(R), Holmes(R), Mr. Coffee(R),
Oster(R), Patton(R), Rival(R), Seal-a-Meal(R), Sunbeam(R), VillaWare(R) and
White Mountain(R); and Branded Consumables: Ball(R), Bee(R), Bicycle(R),
Billy Boy(R), Crawford(R), Diamond(R), Dicon(R), First Alert(R), Forster(R),
Hoyle(R), Kerr(R), Lehigh(R), Leslie-Locke(R), Loew Cornell(R), Mapa(R),
NUK(R), Pine Mountain(R) and Spontex(R). Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden
has over 24,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit
About Walker Digital Gaming LLC
Walker Digital Gaming LLC is a leader for technology-enabled casino
solutions. WDG develops innovations for Asian gaming markets including the
RFID-enabled Perfect Pay Smart Table Network with Elite Baccarat that adds
exciting new bet and game play options, dramatically increases game security
and dealer accuracy while minimizing losses from human error, collusion and
theft. Other products include tablet-based solutions for mass-market and VIP.
Walker Digital Gaming is part of Walker Digital Management LLC, a
privately held business solutions company based in Stamford, CT. The firm is
headed by U.S. inventor and entrepreneur Jay Walker, best known as the
founder of Priceline.com. TIME magazine has twice named Mr. Walker "one of
the top 50 business leaders of the digital age."
SOURCE: The United States Playing Card Company
CONTACT: Mike Finn,
+1-312-242-4706,
for The United States Playing Card Company
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