Rumours persist on sale of IGT

Rumours of a GTech acquisition offer worth $4 billion for gambling equipment and software manufacturer International Game Technology have surfaced again this week, although neither company have any further comment to make beyond their rather bland announcement last month that they were in talks (see previous reports).

IGT put itself up for sale June 9 and reportedly has also attracted interest from Ron Perelman’s MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, along with bids from Apollo Global Management LLC and Carlyle Group LP. The former is a major investor in Scientific Games, which recently acquired WMS.

Speculation recently had suggested buy-out bids at up to $6 billion. International Game’s opening price Thursday gave it a market value of nearly $3.9 billion.

The acquisition deal surfaced again Thursday in GTech’s home country of Italy, where the Italian newspaper La Repubblica commented on the moves by the various companies reported to be involved.

International Game traded recently at $15.64, up 3.5 percent.

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