Completion of the disposal of Finalto

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 0042S
Playtech PLC
11 July 2022
 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

 

THE COMPANY HAS PUBLISHED A CIRCULAR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION. ANY VOTING DECISIONS BY SHAREHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION SHOULD BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE CIRCULAR.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

11 July 2022

 

 

Completion of the disposal of Finalto

 

 

Further to the announcement made on 30 June 2022, Playtech plc ("Playtech" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the all-cash sale of its financial trading division ("Finalto") to Gopher Investments (the "Transaction").      

 

Pursuant to the Transaction, the Company has sold Finalto to Gopher Investments for an enterprise value of US$250 million. As outlined in the announcement of the disposal on 29 September 2021, the final consideration is subject to a completion accounts adjustment of up to US$25 million in either direction, which is determined by the financial performance of Finalto from 1 January 2021 to completion. On the basis of the estimated completion statement for the relevant period, the current expectation is that there will be an adjustment resulting in a lowering of the net consideration in the range of US$15 million - US$20 million. This adjustment remains an estimate at this stage and will be finalised post completion in accordance with the actual completion accounts in line with the sale and purchase agreement.

 

Completion of the Transaction has also triggered payment of a break fee of US$8.8 million which Playtech is required to pay to the Consortium that had previously agreed to acquire Finalto, as announced in May 2021.

 

The completion of the Transaction is a significant step in Playtech's stated strategy to simplify the group and to focus on its technology led offering as a pureplay business in the high growth B2B and B2C gambling markets. The sale proceeds will be used to repay the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility with the remainder of proceeds used for general corporate purposes.

 

Playtech and Finalto dedicate completion of this transaction to Neil Offord, formerly CFO of Finalto and, latterly, a senior member of Playtech's executive team.  Neil fought his illness with bravery whilst continuing to help steer the disposal of Finalto through to its conclusion and the Group is deeply grateful for his contribution to Playtech and Finalto, and to the success of this transaction, in particular.

 

Enquiries:

 

Playtech plc                                                                                                                           +44 (0) 1624 645 954

Chris McGinnis, Director of Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis


UBS Investment Bank (Financial Adviser and Joint Sponsor to Playtech)                           +44 (0) 20 7567 8000

Sandip Dhillon / Rahul Luthra / Ben Crystal


Goodbody Stockbrokers (Corporate Broker and Joint Sponsor to Playtech)                      +353 1 667 0400

Piers Coombs / Charlotte Craigie / Stephen Kane


Headland (PR adviser to Playtech)                                                                                        +44 (0) 20 3805 4822

Lucy Legh / Stephen Malthouse / Jack Gault

 

About Playtech

 

Founded in 1999 and premium listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, Playtech is a technology leader in the gambling and financial trading industries with over 6,600 employees across 26 countries.

 

Playtech is the gambling industry's leading technology company delivering business intelligence driven gambling software, services, content and platform technology across the industry's most popular product verticals, including, casino, live casino, sports betting, virtual sports, bingo and poker. It is the pioneer of omni-channel gambling technology through its integrated platform technology, Playtech ONE. Playtech ONE delivers data driven marketing expertise, single wallet functionality, CRM and responsible gambling solutions across one single platform across product verticals and across retail and online.

 

Playtech partners with and invests in the leading brands in regulated and newly regulated markets to deliver its data driven gambling technology across the retail and online value chain. Playtech provides its technology on a B2B basis to the industry's leading retail and online operators, land-based casino groups and government sponsored entities such as lotteries. Playtech directly owns and operates Snai, the leading sports betting and gaming brand across online and retail in Italy.

 

Important Notice

 

UBS AG London Branch is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. UBS AG London Branch is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Playtech plc and no one else in connection with the process. In connection with such matters, UBS AG London Branch will not regard any other person as its client, nor will it be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the process, the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

 

Goodbody is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is also subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. Goodbody is acting exclusively for Playtech and for no one else in connection with the process and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as a client in relation to the process or any other matter referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Playtech for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for giving advice in relation to the process or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.

 

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
DISEANXFFLDAEEA