NexCen owns and manages seven brands covering Quick Service Restaurants ("QSR") and Retail Footwear and Accessories, generating revenue through the franchising of those brands worldwide. NexCen's franchised brands include five QSR brands: Great American Cookies, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time and two franchised Retail concepts: TAF (The Athlete's Foot) and Shoebox New York. NexCen currently has approximately 1,700 franchised stores across its brands, located in over 35 countries worldwide. NexCen Brands, Inc. strategy is to create value for its stakeholders (including shareholders and franchisees) through the franchising and marketing of its brands. NexCen, through its advertising, marketing and public relations teams, markets its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and brand equity and to grow its presence worldwide through its network of franchised retail outlets. NexCen also recognizes that, as a royalty-based business, its success depends upon the success of its franchisees and through its franchisee support network, advanced information-technology systems, real estate and store opening support teams, continually seeks to provide a turn-key solution and create value for its business partners.

Paddy Power is a leading bookmaker serving bettors in Ireland and the UK through about 250 retail betting outlets. Paddy Power plc offers betting on a wide range of sporting events, including cricket, football, horse racing, and rugby, as well as American and other international sports. It also takes bets online and over the phone. Paddy Power also offers other online gaming, including bingo, casino games, and poker. In addition to its domestic and UK activities, the company operates betting in Australia through 61%-owned subsidiary Sportsbet.

Cafe Rio serves the most delicious, award winning food that will leave you craving more!!We’re up with the sun, squeezing limes and scooping out avocados, baking our fresh desserts and making our signature sauces and salad dressings by hand. We’re not complaining, though. It’s just what we do – kind of like hand rolling every tortilla from scratch, and buying only USDA Choice meats. With no freezers or Microwaves in our restaurants, we are proud to offer the highest quality, freshest food you will find anywhere.

Lottomatica is the worldwide leading lottery operator in terms of overall wagers and, through its subsidiary GTECH, is among the world's leading suppliers of technological solutions for lotteries and games. It is directly controlled by De Agostini SpA (59,8%), operating in the editorial business for over 100 years and, more recently, in the media and financial sectors. Lottomatica - investing €3,6 billion in the second largest buyout ever secured by an Italian company in the US - acquired GTECH Corporation, a worldwide leading operator in the sector of high security processing systems for online lotteries. Also thanks to the acquisition of the US giant, Lottomatica Group is the only company operating in the lottery business capable of offering a 360° fully integrated series of services and products to its private and institutional clients.

The not-for-profit zoo occupies 55-acres in Hermann Park at the heart of Houston's cultural district. It is home to more than 4,500 animals from about 800 species and hosts about 1.5 million visitors per year. Facilities include the McGovern Children's Zoo, Kipp Aquarium, the tropical bird house, Texas Wetlands, and the Wildlife Carousel. The zoo participates in programs that oversee the breeding of more than 40 endangered animal species. Several of its facilities may be reserved for private functions and private tours are offered "behind the scenes." The Houston Zoo was founded in 1922 to house a bison donated by the US government.

Carvel provides an affordable ice cream experience and family fun for everyone by offering a variety of fresh made cakes, novelties and fountain ice cream products. This all-American favorite is the nation’s first retail ice cream franchise, and has become one of the best-loved and most recognized names in its industry. Carvel has been making ice cream fresh daily for over 75 years and is home of the original all ice cream cake. Today, Carvel-lovers still seek out our creamy, crunchy treats in more than 500 Carvel stores and over 8,500 supermarkets nationwide.

The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club has represented Canada's capital city in the National Hockey League since entering the league as an expansion team in 1992. The Sens reached the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 2007 but lost the title bid to the Anaheim Ducks. The franchise was first awarded to a group led by real estate developer Bruce Firestone and current team president Cyril Leeder. Toronto pharmaceutical billionaire Eugene Melnyk has owned the Senators club and its arena, Scotiabank Place, since 2003.

Casino Pauma is run by the Pauma-Yuima Band of Mission Indians in the Pauma Valley of California near San Diego. The 65,000 square foot casino hosts slot machines, craps games, and roulette tables, as well as blackjack and poker. Restaurants include the Pauma Bay Cafe and the Red Parrot Lounge. The company's Palm Club promotional service lets gamblers earn points for cash back or merchandise every time they play slots and table games. The Pauma tribe opened the $40-million Casino Pauma in 2001 after assisting county officials with road improvements to the site.

Gators might come to mind first when you think of Florida sports, but these big cats have a following, too. The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the National Football League as an expansion franchise in 1995, along with the Carolina Panthers. The team quickly gained respect by securing playoff berths the following four years, but the Jags have struggled to be a consistent contender in the years since. The team plays host at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Wayne Weaver, chairman and majority owner of retailer Shoe Carnival, owns 48% of the team, while a group of local businessmen owns the rest.

In 1980, inspired after a trip to the US, a Frenchman named Christian Picart opened an American-style family steakhouse with a Wild West theme south of Paris. Buffalo Grill now has more than 300 restaurants across Europe that serve affordable steaks along with such dishes as bison steaks, chicken wings, and ostrich meat. (Since it's France, there's still a cheese plate.) The restaurants are designed to resemble saloons of the American Old West, complete with oil lamps, totem poles, and wait staff dressed like cowboys. The family-friendly atmosphere even offers a game room for children. Colyzeo, a joint venture between investment firm Eurazeo and US-based Colony Capital took Buffalo Grill private in 2007.

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