(PRESS RELEASE) -- Intralot S.A. and Bally’s Corporation announced that their respective Boards of Directors approved their entry into a definitive transaction agreement pursuant to which Intralot will acquire Bally’s International Interactive business in a cash-and-shares transaction that values the International Interactive Business at an enterprise value of €2.7 billion. The consideration for the acquisition of the International Interactive Business will comprise a combination of cash paid by Intralot and newly issued shares delivered by Intralot to Bally’s, as more specifically detailed below. As part of the Transaction, Intralot expects to refinance part of its existing debt facilities and Bally’s also expects to repay secured debt from the cash proceeds.
The Transaction consideration to Bally’s, after assumptions of certain liabilities by the involved parties, will (subject to certain agreed adjustments) be made up of:
- €1.530bn cash consideration, and
- €1.136bn of newly issued shares in new Intralot (873,707,073 shares, at an implied value of €1.30 per share).
In order to support the €1.530bn cash consideration to Bally’s and refinance part of its existing debt, Intralot has obtained commitments from Citizens Bank, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Jefferies for debt financing up to €1.6bn (which is expected to be refinanced through the debt capital markets and is subject to certain conditions precedent) and expects to launch an up to €400mn share capital increase by way of an equity offering of shares listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, subject to corporate and regulatory approvals.
Following the completion of the Transaction, Intralot is expected to remain listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Bally’s, currently Intralot’s largest shareholder, is expected to become the majority shareholder of Intralot as a result of the Transaction with a significant equity stake in Intralot. Intralot’s founder, Mr. Sokratis Kokkalis, will maintain a significant stake in Intralot.
Following the completion of the Transaction, Intralot is expected to be a leading digital gaming operator and technology provider for lottery products with a footprint in some of the most attractive markets in Europe and North America. The combined technology capabilities of the two companies will allow Intralot to pursue new opportunities in gaming and lottery markets globally.
Intralot, following the completion of the Transaction, is expected to be among the largest companies by market capitalization listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
The completion of the Transaction is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to certain Intralot shareholder approvals, customary antitrust and gaming regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
In connection with the Transaction, Bally’s has secured commitments for a $500mn secured debt facility which, together with the cash proceeds from the Transaction, will be used to repay secured debt. In addition, Bally’s has secured commitments for a $100mn delayed draw secured debt facility, which may be used following the consummation of the Transaction for general corporate purposes, including the development of Bally’s Chicago.
Intralot has also today received notice that Bally’s and its affiliates’ ownership in Intralot has increased from 26.86% to 33.34%, following which a mandatory tender offer obligation for the remaining outstanding shares of Intralot has been triggered.
Sokratis Kokkalis, Intralot’s founder and the current Chairman, commented:
“The transaction we announced today marks a doubly important day: On the one hand, for Intralot, which is growing with the acquisition of the online division of Bally’s International Interactive, creating a company with significant multiples in operating profits and unlimited space to expand into online gaming. On the other hand, for Greece and the Greek stock exchange, where a strong large-cap company is being created with the prospect of attracting significant foreign capital, helping to establish the country as a reliable investment destination.
It is also a special day for me personally to see the company I founded 33 years ago in Greece and which has become one of the top three companies in the lottery technology industry worldwide through its technology innovation and dynamism, acquiring new vision and prospects. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Kim for his commitment to our partnership.”
Soohyung Kim, Chairman of Bally’s board and Vice Chairman of Intralot’s board, commented:
“This is a tremendous statement of intent that signals Bally’s strong commitment to establishing a global lottery and online gaming champion. By joining with Intralot, the resulting company will be anchored in Europe, and will have significantly greater financial scale from which to drive growth and compete on a global basis.”
Nikolaos Nikolakopoulos, Intralot’s CEO and board member, commented:
“Intralot takes a major step forward in becoming a global technology and services leader in the Lottery and Gaming sectors. Bally’s brings unparalleled digital capabilities, technological and operational, giving us a unique advantage in helping State Lotteries enhance player experiences and maximize returns for good causes.”
Robeson Reeves, Bally’s CEO and board member, commented:
“This transaction marks a transformative moment for Bally’s as we unite our outstanding gaming and data technology with Intralot’s exceptional expertise in lottery. Together, we are creating a unique proposition that will pave the way for a new era of innovation and growth across the entire gaming spectrum.”