BoyleSports steps up buy “excess” Ladbrokes-Coral shops
Published on by Becky M.
It represents far and away one of the most long running sagas in online gambling history, as the Ladbrokes/Gala Coral merger has rumbled on for what seems like forever. Thankfully, it now looks like an end to the matter is in sight, as BoyleSports have stepped up to purchase 360 shops from the soon to be new company, which would allow Ladbrokes-Coral to appease the recent CMA ruling. While it was rumoured that Betfred were the front-runners to claim the excess shops, it seems that BoyleSports have now been able to steal a march on the competition.
‘Reviewing Our Bid’
Speaking on the plans to snap up the excess 360 shops, Jenna Boyle (BoyleSports Retail Director) said the following in an interview with the The Sunday Business Post, “In phase one, there are in the order of 360 shops that are being looked at. By Friday of this week, that’s our deadline for submitting our bid. We’re in the process of reviewing our bid with a view to making that.” She also spoke on what it will mean for Boylesports moving forward, “The plan is to expand our regional presence in Britain. What we would like to happen would be an acquisition of the larger scale. The Ladbrokes Coral merger presented an opportunity for us which we definitely need to look at, so we’re driving that process.”
Expanding The brand
Both Ladbrokes and Gala Coral have denied to comment on any deal at the present, but it is evident that it is a major move for all parties involved. For BoyleSports this represents the brand’s first major expansion effort outside of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Island. Boyle believes that the deal will go a long way in opening up BoyleSports to a new audience, “It would establish us in the UK, but it’s fairly early doors – we’re at the starting line with it.”