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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Eastwoods bookies in £135m sale | Eastwoods bookies in £135m sale |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Eastwoods chain of bookmakers in Northern Ireland has been bought by Ladbrokes in a deal worth £135m. | The Eastwoods chain of bookmakers in Northern Ireland has been bought by Ladbrokes in a deal worth £135m. |
| Ladbrokes has bought 54 Eastwood shops, making it Northern Ireland's largest gambling outlet with 70 shops in total. | Ladbrokes has bought 54 Eastwood shops, making it Northern Ireland's largest gambling outlet with 70 shops in total. |
| Eastwood's was established in the 1950s by Barney and Frances Eastwood and is Northern Ireland's best-known bookmaker with shops in most towns. | Eastwood's was established in the 1950s by Barney and Frances Eastwood and is Northern Ireland's best-known bookmaker with shops in most towns. |
| Joe Lewins of Ladbrokes Ireland said there were no plans to reduce the 300 staff employed by Eastwoods. | Joe Lewins of Ladbrokes Ireland said there were no plans to reduce the 300 staff employed by Eastwoods. |
| Mr Lewins, the company's managing director, said: "We are investing and growing in Northern Ireland and this will mean new opportunities for the workforce. | Mr Lewins, the company's managing director, said: "We are investing and growing in Northern Ireland and this will mean new opportunities for the workforce. |
| "Leading edge technology will be installed and the full Ladbrokes service will follow. All UK racing will be part of the service." | "Leading edge technology will be installed and the full Ladbrokes service will follow. All UK racing will be part of the service." |
| Ladbrokes already has 16 outlets in the northwest, acquired when it bought Northwest Bookmakers two years ago. | Ladbrokes already has 16 outlets in the northwest, acquired when it bought Northwest Bookmakers two years ago. |
| The betting business is a fast-changing one and we believe Ladbrokes were the best company to take the business forward in Northern Ireland BJ Eastwood | The betting business is a fast-changing one and we believe Ladbrokes were the best company to take the business forward in Northern Ireland BJ Eastwood |
| Ladbrokes' purchase also includes the Eastwood telephone betting business headquartered in Belfast. | Ladbrokes' purchase also includes the Eastwood telephone betting business headquartered in Belfast. |
| It is already the largest bookmaker in the Republic of Ireland, where it operates in 201 locations. | It is already the largest bookmaker in the Republic of Ireland, where it operates in 201 locations. |
| The £135m price tag is thought to include goodwill payments and a leaseback of the freehold properties. | The £135m price tag is thought to include goodwill payments and a leaseback of the freehold properties. |
| Barney Eastwood said: "Ladbrokes is a world-leading name in betting and all our staff can be reassured that they will be investing in the business and offering more opportunities. | Barney Eastwood said: "Ladbrokes is a world-leading name in betting and all our staff can be reassured that they will be investing in the business and offering more opportunities. |
| "The betting business is a fast-changing one and, having talked to several companies, we believe Ladbrokes were the best company to take the business forward in Northern Ireland." | "The betting business is a fast-changing one and, having talked to several companies, we believe Ladbrokes were the best company to take the business forward in Northern Ireland." |
| Mr Eastwood said the company had come a long way from humble beginnings. | |
| "We started in 1954 in Carrickfergus in a bottling store, which was the first shop that we had," he said. | |
| "Everyone bets - they love a bet, and they are fearless at times." |