Allwyn to acquire Camelot UK from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
London, United Kingdom – 18 November 2022 - Allwyn AG (“Allwyn” or the “Company”), Europe’s leading lottery operator, and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (“Ontario Teachers’ ”) today announced Allwyn has agreed to acquire Camelot UK Lotteries Limited (“Camelot”).
Upon completion of the acquisition from Ontario Teachers’, Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, the current operator of the National Lottery under a licence that runs until 31 January 2024 (“the Third Licence”), will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Allwyn. The acquisition is anticipated to close in Q1 2023 subject to regulatory approvals, including from the Gambling Commission. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Earlier this year, the Gambling Commission awarded Allwyn Entertainment Ltd (“AEL”) the licence to operate the National Lottery from 1 February 2024 (“the Fourth Licence”). Camelot will continue to be operated separately, in accordance with the terms of the Third Licence. Allwyn's ownership of Camelot will help facilitate a smooth transition as AEL prepares to take over the operation of the National Lottery from February 2024. AEL is working collaboratively with both Camelot and the Gambling Commission on its transition plan for the Fourth Licence.
Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn AG, commented, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to acquire the current operator of the Third Licence for the UK National Lottery. Allwyn and Camelot share a common goal: a passion to protect and improve the UK National Lottery, and the good causes it celebrates. Common ownership of the operators of both the Third and Fourth Licences will help ensure the successful delivery of the National Lottery both in 2023 and over the next decade
“Allwyn is committed to making the National Lottery better, raising more for good causes and improving player protection. This deal strengthens the transition process and helps support Allwyn in achieving its vision for the National Lottery.”
Nick Jansa, Executive Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ontario Teachers’, said, “We are proud to have been a strong supporter and partner of the National Lottery over the past 12 years. In that time, under Camelot’s stewardship The National Lottery has raised more than £20 billion for good causes and has supported thousands of organisations across the United Kingdom. We believe this sale best positions the National Lottery for a smooth transition to the Fourth Licence operator and wish Allwyn every success. I want to express my sincere thanks to Camelot’s management and employees for their tremendous efforts in successfully running the National Lottery over the last decade, including achieving record revenues to good causes in the last year.”
Media inquiries
Dana Dvorakova,
Allwyn
dana.dvorakova@allwynent.com
Paul Durman,
Brunswick
pdurman@brunswickgroup.com
or: +44 7973 522824
Nick Cosgrove,
Brunswick
ncosgrove@brunswickgroup.com
or: +44 7974 982306
Dan Madge
Ontario Teachers'
media@otpp.com
Oliver MannKekst
CNC
otpp@kekstcnc.com
or: +44 203-7551-607
About Allwyn
Allwyn is a leading global lottery operator. Allwyn builds better lotteries that return more to good causes by focusing on innovation, technology, efficiency and safety across a growing casual gaming entertainment portfolio. The lottery-first approach of focusing on affordable recreational play has earned Allwyn leading market positions with trusted brands across Europe in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus, and Italy. Following a successful tender process earlier this year, Allwyn is set to become the operator of the UK National Lottery from February 2024.
About Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is a global investor with net assets of $242.5 billion as at June 30, 2022. We invest in more than 50 countries in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for 333,000 working members and pensioners.
With offices in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, San Francisco, Singapore and Toronto, our more than 350 investment professionals bring deep expertise in industries ranging from agriculture to artificial intelligence. We are a fully funded defined benefit pension plan and have earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan’s founding in 1990. At Ontario Teachers’, we don’t just invest to make a return, we invest to shape a better future for the teachers we serve, the businesses we back, and the world we live in. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo.