Member Info for crookman

I think it's now safe to say that the 888 deal is dead, the price is now 10p above the offer price and 888’s price is falling. Hopefully 888 now come back with a better offer and GVC up theirs again. This is now looking interesting and 125-130 could be in the frame after all with any luck.

With Ladbrokes and Coral announcing a merger this morning, I suppose Hills may be feeling in the cold and this could lead to them looking at Bwin.party alongside GVC as a possibility now?

If this goes up any further it's going to make 888's bid at 104 tricky to swallow. Now at 109. Is the GVC offer coming soon I wonder?

I’m in favour of the 888 bid over GVC for sure. With 888 now at 172-3 the 104 offer is now net 109 so it’s pretty much on par with GVC with much less risk and some very easy cost savings early on. I have to say there has been a lot of complaining about both offers on other sites and even in the media but I think some people have short memories – it was not that long ago we we’re as low as 72 pence prior to the rumours of the sale first coming out and without them rumours I feel we still would be no better than 80 by now, so to be at 106 at this stage puts us 30% better off than we could have been. I’m not sure how I will feel about an improved bid from GVC (without Amaya) they would have to bid north of 115 which would require them to take on so much debt that I still think it’s risky, but the lure of say 120 may swing it for the shareholders. I don’t think 888 would be willing to overpay for anything and would not respond to an improved offer if it comes, that may be why GVC will take another crack at it.

Hold that thought, 888 price is up so the net offer now is closer to 1.09 with the 888 premium, so it makes sense that there are buyers of bpty above the 1.04 level. My head hurts, going to lay in a darkened room I think.

Interesting to note that the share price has now gone above 105, tells me there is still a chance of a further offer at some point? Or at least some buyers at 1.05 are taking a punt on it.?

It still has to be agreed by the shareholders, so if a better deal comes along this one could be rejected.

By the way, thanks for the kind words Kamel. I think we both gained from our early encounters, and seem to be on the same page after all that. GL

Of course, we still have the chance of a counter from GVC or a third party to look forward too as well.

Just done some more maths and concluded that if 888's share price reaches 175 we get our 110 offer anyway. Not too unhappy with this. If anything moves in the US now the new company is all over it with no serious rivals, that is all the time Amaya have issues. But at least now we have a chance against them.

Cheers Malta. QE, yes, Thorntons was not good at all, glad I was clear of that one.

Yeah, fingers crossed they keep going up, will sweeten the deal some.

Far bit of flesh on the bones here. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b9b941c-2c4a-11e5-8613-e7aedbb7bdb7.html#axzz3g8U7M500

One big plus is Teflon will NOT be on the new board!!

The offer consists of 39.45p in cash and 0.404 new 888 shares for each Bwin share. Upon completion Bwin shareholders will own 48.9 percent of the enlarged group. So yes, Malta's correct.

In the last year I can see how this has been good to trade as it had bottomed out. Back in 2009 the price was over £3 and 3 years prior it was as high as £15. The bod made a real mess with one wrong move and blind alley after another. I'm lucky I averaged down to just 115 so I'm in good shape but I know some poor souls who have lost big time. I hope for them something good comes of this. GL

I'm on the same page Havey. Although any change from the current position would be welcome. As you say as long as our current BOD are fired. As for the 888 price dropping, I can live with that for a while as I know in the medium term they will come good, best management team in the sector in my opinion and the USA will be interesting. Just hope it happens now.....false dawns and all that.

A little taste: 888 Holdings, the online casino and poker operator, is nearing victory over rival GVC in the battle to acquire Bwin.party, the Gibraltar-based internet gaming group, in a takeover that is likely to be worth more than £900m. A deal between 888 and Bwin could be announced as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter. They cautioned, however, that a deal has not yet been signed and could fall apart.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2eaeba14-2be2-11e5-acfb-cbd2e1c81cca.html?siteedition=uk#axzz3g5Ucmybl Sorry if you don't subscribe, but I don't want to copy and paste as the FT are funny about it.

QE, the problem for most (Not Kamel) is that our investments go back years rather than months and many need anything between 1.20 and 2.00 plus just to break even! This 1.10 figure really grates….