Sportech To Sell The Football Pools

SPORTECH IN DEAL TO SELL THE FOOTBALL POOLS
 
Consideration of GBP 97.25 million agreed in management buy-out.
 
In an advisory notice to the London stock exchange Tuesday Sportech plc revealed that it has entered into exclusivity with Burlywood Capital LLP on the proposed sale of its subsidiary The Football Pools for a total cash consideration of GBP 97.25 million on a debt free/cash free basis.
 
Burlywoods management team proposes to apply for admission to trading on AIM of a new company incorporated for the purposes of acquiring The Football Pools, and to finance the acquisition of the business through a combination of equity from institutional investors and a new debt facility, for which a credit committee approved term sheet for up to GBP 30 million has been received.
 
The agreement of sale is subject to, amongst other things, the necessary equity being raised, final agreement of the sale and debt documentation and, in view of its size, the approval of Sportech shareholders.
 
The Board of Sportech has endorsed the deal, saying it believes that it represents an attractive opportunity to realise the value of The Football Pools following the implementation of its modernisation program.
 
The proposed directors of the AIM quoted company which would acquire The Football Pools business are Ian Hogg (Chairman), Conleth Byrne (Chief Executive and current Managing Director of The Football Pools), Carl Lynn (Chief Financial Officer and current Finance Director of The Football Pools), Brian Mattingley (Non-Executive Director) and Liz Catchpole (Non-Executive Director).