A provider of dispensing monitoring systems that measure draught alcoholic drink sales in pubs has accelerated its operations into the gambling industry after buying a rival.

Brulines plc has bought a 66% shareholding in Coin Metrics, a wireless data product specialist that allows the amusement and gaming industries to monitor the financial performance of their machines.

Coin Metrics was sold by its co-founders, Ian Daintith and Richard Adams, for £685,000. Of this consideration, more than £600,000 was paid in cash with the balance satisfied through the issue of almost 37,000 ordinary shares of 10p each.

Brulines has the option of buying the remaining shares in the business depending on its performance in the three financial years to April 2012.

The acquirer’s chief executive, James Dickson, said this acquisition is an important strategic development in the company’s growth plans.

The acquisition also strengthens Brulines’ existing Machine Insite business, which provides gaming machine data management and consultancy services to operators within the pub, club and leisure markets.

Brulines employs more than 174 people and provides its services to more than 18,000 pubs in the UK, which use its technology to capture a range of information about their business. The Stockton-on-Tees-based company made an operating profit of £2.7 million from a £12 million turnover in the year to April 2006.

Milton Keynes-based Coin Metrics has sold more than 4,000 units of its main product, Site Guardian, to 100 sites across the UK. In the year to April 2007, Coin Metrics generated an un-audited pre-tax profit and directors’ remuneration of £149,000 from a £398,000 turnover.