Allied Esports Selling WPT to Bally’s, Cancels Element Deal

Allied Sports Entertainment is canceling its prior deal to sell its World Poker Tour assets to Element Partners, opting to sell to Bally’s Corp. after a “superior proposal.”

Allied Esports Selling WPT to Bally’s, Cancels Element Deal

Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc., a global esports entertainment company, announced that the company’s board of directors has decide to pass on an offer announced in January to sell its World Poker Tour assets to equity firm Element Partners, LLC, opting instead to sell WPT to Bally’s Corp., which the company said had offered a “superior proposal totaling $90 million.

The decision, in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has decided to accept a revised proposal from Bally’s Corp. under which Bally’s would acquire all of the equity interests of Club Services, Inc. (CSI), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company that directly or indirectly owns its poker-related business and assets, including the entities comprising the World Poker Tour, for consideration totaling $90 million in cash at the closing.

The company notified Element that it intends to terminate their stock purchase agreement unless, prior to 5 p.m. Pacific Time on March 19, the company and Element negotiate an amendment to their pending stock purchase agreement such that the Bally’s revised proposal no longer constitutes a superior proposal.

Prior to making its determination regarding Bally’s revised proposal, the company received a proposal from Bally’s to sell the outstanding capital stock of the company for $100 million, which would include the sale of the World Poker Tour and the company’s esports operations. After discussions, Bally’s updated its proposal to acquire only the entities comprising the World Poker Tour to more closely mirror the structure of the company’s pending stock purchase agreement with Element.

There can be no assurance that the company will enter into a definitive agreement with Bally’s or consummate any transaction with Bally’s, according to a press release from Allied Esports.