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Summary
- Entain eyes William Hill assets to explore if it’s an interesting opportunity.
- With this move, the UK gambling market would be able to witness further consolidation.
- A £2-billion deal has been agreed upon by KKR for the John Laing Group.
M&A deals are the flavour of the season as the UK economy has started recovering. The latest deal being the consolidation in the gaming industry, with Entain making an offer for select assets of William Hill. At the same time, in the infrastructure investment space, KKR has agreed to a takeover deal for John Laing. A quick look into the deals.
Also Read: 3 Gambling Stocks in Focus as NHS Suggests Taxing Gambling Firms For Social Cause
Entain’s bid for William Hill
Entain Plc (LON:ENT) is mulling over making a bid for certain assets of William Hill (LON: WMH) that was acquired by Caesars Entertainment Inc some time back. Earlier this month, Caesars had put the William Hill assets up for sale, which included prominent UK high-street shops. Entain is the owner of Ladbrokes betting shops and currently owns a 40 per cent share of the British gambling market. With this move, the UK gambling market would be able to witness further consolidation.
A FTSE 100-listed firm, Entain is one of the largest international sports betting and gaming company operating across retail and online sectors.
Earlier listed on the LSE until its acquisition by Caesars Entertainment in April, William Hill is an online gambling firm based in London. Based out of Nevada in the US, Caesars Entertainment Inc is one of the biggest gaming firms there.
Entain’s shares were up 1.37 per cent at GBX 1,560.00 in London at 9.23 AM on Thursday.
Also Read: What Led Entain’s Two Gambling Companies Report Contrasting Result
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KKR’s deal for John Laing
The private equity firm KKR & Co Inc (NYSE:KKR) has agreed a £2-billion takeover deal for John Laing Group Plc (LON: JLG), the leading infrastructure investor. The deal has valued the firm at 403 pence per share. According to sources, the company will continue to be operated from Britain by the existing management itself.
The company's board reached at an agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition by the newly formulated firm Aqueduct Bidco Ltd. Aqueduct is owned by the firms advised by KKR.
With this move, John Laing Group has become the latest UK-based firm to be taken private as the LSE-listed companies provide a discount to global peers. Tara Davies, Co-Head- European Infrastructure, KKR, said that now John Laing would be able to take a longer-term view of its growth as an owner and operator of assets.
Headquartered in New York, KKR & Co Inc is an international investment firm. It handles multiple alternative asset classes through hedge funds and its strategic partners.
Based out of London, John Laing Group owns and develops infrastructure assets, including transportation and digital & social infrastructure across the US, Europe, and Australia. It develops and operates infrastructure projects through private financing models as well as using public-private partnership arrangements.
Buoyed with the announcement, shares in John Laing opened 6.0 per cent higher to GBX 403.8 on the morning of 20 May at the London Stock Exchange. The KKR shares had closed 0.35 per cent lower at USD 54.80 on 19 May at the New York Stock Exchange.
