Partouche - Le groupe

BACKGROUND

1973

Arriving in France from Algeria, where he was a Philips representative, Mr Isidore Partouche bought, with the help of his brothers and sisters, the Saint-Armand-les-Eaux casino, together with its spa and mineral water source. Although restoring the casino proved difficult, success was ultimately achieved with the aid of the " family's " business acumen.

1976

Le Touquet Casino was bought from Mr Lucien Barrière and the establishment returned to its long-standing reputation.

1982

Creation of the Calais Casino.

1986

Acquisition of the Forges-les-Eaux casino, 110 km from Paris, and opening of the Boulogne-sur-Mer casino.

1988

Acquisition of the Dieppe casino. Until 1988, Mr PARTOUCHE's efforts were mainly focused on the bottling and distribution of brand waters such as Amanda, Arline in Froconville, Eau-d'Alet-les-Bains, Source Lucheux and Source Baudour in Belgium.
Casinos remained a second line of business because at the time the Group's financing resources were largely invested in spring waters bottling.

1989

Gradual withdrawal from the water business in favour of the casino sector. This strategic move enabled all the released resources to be re-channelled into boosting the casino business.
In the same year, the Fecamp, Bagnoles-de-l'Orne and Vichy casinos joined the Group.

1991

The Partouche Group casinos were finally granted their first slot machines operating licences.
The Group also took control of the Lyon Vert casino in La Tour-de-Salvigny that year, together with its subsidiaries, the Saint Galmier and Juan-les-Pins casinos.

1992

The towns of Royat and Chamalières entrusted the Group with the reopening of the Royat casino. In order to increase the Group's liquidity for investment in Lyons, the Fecamp and Bagnoles-de l'Orne casinos were sold off in that same year.

1994

The Partouche Group took control of the Aix-en-Provence and La Ciotat casinos and then in December of the same year acquired the Palavas casino.

1995

Acquisition of an equal share in the Grasse casino leaving management responsibility to the Boucau Group.
On 29 March 1995, Groupe Partouche S.A. was launched on the " Second Marché " of the Paris Stock Exchange (Sicovam Code 5354), in order to strengthen the Group's image, consolidate its position in France and provide it with additional resources to finance the development of its business, particularly on the international level.
In September 1995, The Group negotiated the acquisition of the prestigious Belgian casino and resort of Knokke-le-Zoute.

1996

The Partouche Group bought out the minority interest of the Générale des Eaux Group in Société Fermière du Casino Municipal de Cannes, listed on the spot market of the Paris Stock Exchange. This company operates the Croisette casino and controls the Hotel Majestic company and the Gray d'Albion in Cannes.
The Group opened its first casino in Agadir (Morocco) in association with Club Méditerranée.

1997

Acquisition of the 4-star Hotel which became the Méridien-Garden Beach. This transaction brought together the hotel and the Juan-les-Pins casino properties, constituting a cohesive asset.

1998

The Partouche Group celebrated its 25th anniversary in April 1998 and opened the Jerba Pasino, whose original concept as an entertainment centre, combined with a casino, is designed to provide this pearl of South Tunisia with a wide range of leisure activities catering for all types of clientele and meeting the requirement of its very large number of visitors.
In June 1998, the Group bought the Carlton Casino Club in Cannes from the English group London Clubs International.
On 2 November 1998, the Partouche Group bought out the Vivendi Group's 99% interest in Cannes Balnéaire, the company that owns the Cannes Palm Beach, with a view to reopening an establishment, know to be the most prestigious casino in France.
On 2 November 1998, Groupe Partouche S.A. was transferred on what at the time was the monthly settlement Departement, division of the " Premier Marché " of the Paris Stock Exchange.

1999

In May, Dieppe : A successful renovation of the casino, that carries from now on the colours of "Buccaneers".
Opening on 1 July of the Hilton in Lyons' Cité Internationale, which was to be home to the new casino.
Abroad, a priority focus of the Group's expansion, the San Roque Grand Casino in Andalucia , at the foot of Gibraltar, was inaugurated on 23 July, and the Hilton Bucharest's Casino was created and inaugurated by the Partouche Group on 23 October.
In July,
Cannes : The Palm-Beach comes back to life and again welcomes celebrities.
Cabourg Casino : after having operated only table games, the casino is granted its first slots authorisation.
The Hilton Lyons : This new luxury hotel, Renzo Piano's design, opens its doors to the Cité Internationale.
In October, the Partouche Group acquired a majority stake in S F C, which operates four casinos, three of which are located in Auvergne and one on the Narbonne Coast.
In November, " Société Française de Casino " Group: acquisition of 50% and 1 share of this group that operates the casinos of La Bourboule, Mont-Dore and Gruissan.
Bucharet : Opening of the Hilton Athénée Palace Casino.

2000

In January, Lyons : The Partouche Group has finally been granted the authorisation to operate a casino there. A first in French major cities.
In February, acquisition of the Lydia in Port Barcarès, Perpignan Beach.
In April, opening of the first casino in a major city by the Mayor of Lyons, Mr Raymond Barre.
In March, Acquisition of the Lydia in Port Barcarès. Sailing for a motionless cruise, it allows its passengers all living dreams.
In Aix-en-Provence, take-over of the Hotel Aquabella and then of the town's spa.
Opening of Lyons Grand Casino : Le Pharaon
In May : Acquisition of the company operating the casino of Chatel-Guyon

2001

In July, " Le Pharaon ", the caino of Lyon's Cité International is granted the authorisation to operate 200 slot machines. Opening of the Aix-en-Provence Pasino, the same month, an establishment of the very successful new generation casinos.
Also in July, The new Pasino of Aix-en-Provence was opened on the 20th of July.
Opening of the restaurant La Villa in Le Havre : a local heritage, acquired and renovated by Partouche Group.

In August, following the controversy to move the Carlton Casino to the Palm Beach and after an eight days break in operations, the casino resumed a normal activity.
At the end of the fiscal year, the Partouche Group acquired the Savoy, a 4-star hotel in Cannes with 106 rooms and a perfect ideal to the Carlton casino and the Palm Beach. The Savoy will benefit from the Group's communication and the marketing strategy.
November 2001 : As the Bucharest Casino did not comply with Groupe Partouche’s operating standards, the establishment was assigned as planned, at the beginning of the current fiscal year.

December : Contrexeville and Vittel : Groupe Partouche has just finalized the buy-out of Group Perrier Vittel's tangible & intangible assets in Contrexeville & Vittel spas as well as the Contrexeville Casino. The latter will be Groupe Partouche’s 26th casino in France.

2002

March : Public Cash Offer on the Compagnie Européenne de Casinos

Following a memorable battle on the stock market, the Partouche Group strengthened its leading position by taking control of the Compagnie Européenne de Casinos (CEC).
On January 2002, after having taken control of 36,8% of CEC, the Partouche Group launched a Public Cash Offer competing with Accor Casino's offer.
On February 2002, the Partouche Group having raised its offer on CEC, holds 54,3% of the share capital (56,4% on a fully diluted basis)
At the end of the Public Cash Offer, the Partouche Group holds 99,39% of the share capital of CEC on a fully diluted basis.
Thus, the Partouche Group has created a unique player in the European casino market, with a strong geographical fit in France.

2003

In July, Groupe Partouche’s first Swiss casino was launched in Meyrin, overlooking Geneva’s international airport. In September, the casino in Spa (Belgium) was sold.

On 28 December 2003, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux casino changed location and was transformed into a Pasino, 30 years after its acquisition.

2004

La Trinité-sur-mer casino was opened in March.

In May, Le Lydia casino was reopened in Port-Barcarès.

In June, Groupe Partouche opened the casino in Le Havre at a temporary venue. Le Palais de la Méditerranée opened its doors to patrons in Nice, followed by the opening of its casino.

2005

On 26 February 2005, the Port-la-Nouvelle casino opened its doors.

In March, Groupe Partouche sold the Cazaubon-Barbotan casino. In May, the first slot machines arrived at the Le Havre casino (50 units) and at the “Palais de la Méditerranée” in Nice (150 units) followed by the arrival of 51 machines at the Port-Barcarès casino (“Le Lydia”) in July.

On 30 September 2005, Groupe Partouche acquired Groupe de Divonne, comprising 5 casinos located in the Lake Geneva area: on the French side in Divonne-les Bains, Annemasse, Hauteville-Lompnes and Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, and on the Swiss side in Crans-Montana.