Sportech nearing completion on SGR deal

LIVERPOOL-based football pools owner Sportech said it is nearing completion of its £51m acquisition of US-based SGR.

The deal has dominated the group’s year and taken longer than expected to complete because it requires regulatory approval in several territories.

SGR is the tote pools technology provider and venue management division of Scientific Games Corporation (SGC).

Today the business said it had received approval in the US and was expecting the process to complete shortly in Holland. It is now waiting for clearance from the New Jersey Racing Commission which should come through by early October.

“Sportech expects final completion of the acquisition to take place in the near future and will update in due course,” said the company. “Sportech and SGC have agreed to extend the date by which completion of the acquisition must have occurred to October 22.”

Last month Sportech said the integration plan for SGR was well advanced.