Aug 7 (Reuters) - Gambling company Bwin.Party DigitalEntertainment Plc, which put itself up for sale, hasbecome the subject of a bidding war.
GVC Holdings Plc, whose offer for the company wasturned down in favour of a one from rival 888 Holdings Plc, has twice come back with higher offers.
All eyes are now on Bwin to see what it decides and whether888 will return with a higher offer.
Following are some of the key developments in thelong-running saga:
May 5, 2014 - American activist investor Jason Ader claimssupport for Bwin.Party shake-up to tackle what he describes as acontinuing decline in the business.
May 22, 2014 - Bwin.party agrees deal with investor on boardchanges.
June 26, 2014 - Bloomberg reports company consideringselling itself or part of the company as part of a strategicreview, citing two sources.
June 26, 2014 - Bwin.Party says no plans to break up or sellcompany.
July 15, 2014 - Bwin announces further cost cuts to help itto meet its targets for the year.
Oct 10, 2014 - Britain's plans to bring licensing andtaxation of online gambling companies under UK control got thegreen light on Friday when a court dismissed a legal challengeto the move.
Nov 12, 2014 - Bwin says in early talks with of parties overa "variety of potential business combinations", which couldresult in an offer being made for the firm.
Jan 30, 2015 - Bwin says new EU VAT rules to hurt 2015revenue, cashflow
March 11 - Bwin says talks about selling all or part of itsbusiness has become more serious.
March 21 - Online gambling company GVC Holdings' CEOtells Reuters that "something like" rival Bwin.party would be ofinterest.
May 15 - GVC Holdings says it has submitted a bid for biggerrival Bwin.Party.
May 17 - The Sunday Times reports British online gamingcompany 888 Holdings is to make a takeover approach forrival Bwin.Party.
May 18 - 888 Holdings says it has submitted a proposal tobuy Bwin.Party in cash and shares.
May 18 - Reuters reports GVC Holdings is preparing to make a1.5 billion euro ($1.7 billion) offer for Bwin.Party inpartnership with Canada's Amaya Inc, citing a source close tothe matter.
May 19 - Gambling firm GVC teams up with Canada's Amaya forBwin.Party bid
May 21- Bwin.Party says it expects in coming weeks to "reacha conclusion" as discussions with suitors enter a new stage.
July 8 - GVC Holdings offers to buy Bwin.Party for about 900million pounds ($1.39 billion), the Financial Times reports.
July 9 - Bwin.Party says GVC Holdings offered to buy it in acash and stock deal valued at 908 million pounds ($1.4 billion)
July 17 - 888 clinches a cash and stock deal to buyBwin.party Digital worth almost 900 million pounds ($1.4billion).
July 21 - GVC says it is considering its options regardingBwin, but there is no certainty it will make a new offer.
July 27 - GVC Holdings returns with a new 1 billion-pound($1.55 billion) bid for rival Bwin.party.
Aug 7 - GVC Holdings raises offer to buy Bwin.party Digitalto 1.03 billion pounds ($1.6 billion). (Compiled by Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru)
