It seems the cat is out of the bag. News Ltd banner The Australian reported Wednesday on persistent rumors that gaming giant Aristocrat is set to acquire leading ETG manufacturer Interblock in a US$1 billion deal – part of its ongoing M&A strategy – with Macquarie Capital overseeing the transaction.
Talk of Aristocrat’s interest in Interblock has been doing the rounds for a year now but has gathered pace over the past month with sources telling Inside Asian Gaming that the deal is basically done. IAG had heard the deal was closer to US$1.3 billion.
It’s notable that not a single person contacted at Aristocrat’s Australian or US corporate head offices even acknowledged IAG’s inquiries over the past month – an unusual situation in itself – with sources suggesting tight non-disclosure agreements are currently in place. An official announcement is expected on or around Aristocrat’s next investor day, believed to be scheduled for May.
The acquisition of Interblock would make a lot of sense for Aristocrat, which lacks exposure in the rapidly growing ETG space. Market rival Light & Wonder has long owned a strong ETG portfolio while the likes of Aruze and Spintec have also enjoyed solid growth in recent times.
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