THE leisure group Inspired Gaming, which makes and distributes amusement machines, is close to a deal to sell its pubs division to rival Danoptra in a move that could save 850 jobs.

Inspired is also thought to be close to completing a £40m fundraising. Part of the proceeds will be used to meets the cost of its exit from the pubs business.

The leisure group said in May it would sell or close the division, which has suffered because of a downturn following the smoking ban.

Rival Danoptra, which was recently taken over by Credit Suisse and Blue Bay, the fund manager, is in advanced talks to acquire the business and merge it with its existing operation.

The deal would result in Danoptra taking on the 850 workers in Inspired’s pubs arm, and Inspired’s 30,000 gaming machines, but it will not take over the group’s depot infrastructure.

Danoptra is expected to pay a nominal sum for the pubs operation. It may also pay a licence fee to Inspired for use of its rival’s software.

A sale of the pubs arm makes a takeover of Inspired much more likely.

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