IGT's Gaming and Digital Business and Everi to Be Acquired Simultaneously by Apollo Funds in All-Cash Transaction

On February 29, 2024, IGT and Everi announced that they had entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which IGT would separate the IGT Gaming business by way of a taxable spin-off to IGT shareholders and then immediately combine such business with Everi. Under the terms of the new agreements, the Apollo Funds will acquire IGT Gaming and Everi.

 Following closing, IGT Gaming and Everi will be privately owned companies that are part of one combined enterprise. Under the terms of the new agreements, Everi stockholders will receive $14.25 per share in cash, representing a 56% premium over Everi’s closing share price on July 25, 2024. IGT will receive $4.05 billion of gross cash proceeds for IGT Gaming. IGT expects significant portions of the cash proceeds to be used to repay debt and to be returned to shareholders. 

De Agostini S.p.A., a società per azioni organized under the laws of Italy, the majority shareholder of IGT, has committed to make a minority equity investment in the combined enterprise at the closing of the transaction. Upon completion of the sale of IGT Gaming to the Apollo Funds, IGT will change its name and stock ticker symbol, becoming a premier pure play lottery business. The transaction with the Apollo Funds has been unanimously approved by a special committee of the IGT Board of Directors and unanimously approved by all members of the Everi Board of Directors, and the previous transaction agreements between IGT and Everi entered into on February 28, 2024 have been terminated. 

Vince Sadusky, IGT PLC CEO, said, “Our new agreement represents a positive evolution of our previously announced transaction with Everi and a successful culmination of the strategic review process that IGT launched last year. With the Apollo Funds, we have found a partner that recognizes the strength of IGT Gaming, the value of our talent and our position in the industry. This transaction will allow IGT Gaming to continue to invest in and enhance its growing core segments while providing customers with a more comprehensive portfolio of offerings. After the closing of this transaction, IGT’s shareholders will continue to own one hundred percent of IGT’s Global Lottery business, which will be positioned for long term success as a pure-play global lottery player with a more focused, compelling business model and optimized capital structure to drive long-term shareholder value.” 

Randy Taylor, Everi President and CEO, added, “We believe this transaction maintains the integrity and strong strategic rationale of our original agreement with IGT, but now also provides significant and certain value to our stockholders as we move forward with the Apollo Funds as our partner. By joining forces with IGT Gaming, we expect to continue to lead, innovate, and provide unparalleled value to our customers as a stronger player in the global gaming, FinTech, and digital industry. Apollo is a respected investment firm with a strong track record in the gaming sector, and they recognize the value of our business and see significant potential in bringing IGT Gaming and Everi together. Under private ownership, we believe we will be better positioned to accelerate the integration of our two organizations for the benefit of our customers and employees.” 

Daniel Cohen, Partner at Apollo, stated, “We are excited to reach this agreement with IGT and Everi, which establishes a leading, diversified solutions provider that is well positioned across the entire gaming ecosystem. As an active investor in the gaming and leisure sector for many years, we have long admired both companies and their highly talented teams. We strongly believe in the value proposition of the combination and are confident these complementary gaming platforms will be even better positioned under private ownership to capture the opportunities ahead to grow and create value. We look forward to working in partnership with all the people at IGT Gaming and Everi to propel the combined enterprise forward.”

Apollo has a strong track record of successful current and former investments across leisure, including in the gaming and entertainment sectors. Leadership, Governance & Structure IGT PLC CEO Vince Sadusky will oversee the separation of IGT Gaming and support the transition through transaction completion. 

Post-closing, Mr. Sadusky will continue in his role, leading the lottery focused company under its new name and stock ticker symbol. Following the acquisitions of IGT Gaming and Everi by the Apollo Funds, current IGT EVP Strategy and Corporate Development, Fabio Celadon, will serve as CFO, and current Everi CFO, Mark Labay, will assume the role of Chief Integration Officer, of the combined enterprise. 

The newly formed combined enterprise will be headquartered in Las Vegas. In addition, upon closing of the transaction, the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Everi will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Approvals and Timing The acquisitions of IGT Gaming and Everi by the Apollo Funds are cross-conditioned. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by Everi stockholders, and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2025. IGT shareholder approval is not required for the transaction. 

Upcoming Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Results IGT will release its second quarter 2024 financial results and hold its earnings conference call as planned on July 30, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Everi will release its second quarter 2024 financial results no later than August 9, 2024. In light of this transaction with Apollo, Everi will not host an earnings conference call. Advisors Macquarie Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Mediobanca are serving as financial advisors to IGT, and Sidley Austin LLP, White & Case LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz are serving as legal counsel to IGT. Global Leisure Partners LLC is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Everi, and Houlihan Lokey provided additional financial advice to Everi’s Board of Directors. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is serving as legal counsel to Everi. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds. Deutsche Bank and Macquarie Capital are providing financing commitments for the transaction.