FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE, OR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER MIGHT BE MADE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

4 January 2021

Statement in response to press speculation

The Board of Entain plc ("Entain" or the "Company") notes the recent press speculation.  The Board of Entain confirms that it has received proposals from MGM Resorts International ("MGMRI"), its partner in the US market, concerning a possible offer for Entain. 

Under the terms of its most recent proposal, MGMRI would offer 0.6 MGMRI shares for each Entain share.  Based on closing prices on 31 December 2020, being the last trading day prior to this announcement, MGMRI's proposal represents a value of 1,383 pence per Entain share and a premium of 22% to Entain's share price.  Under the terms of the proposal, Entain shareholders would own approximately 41.5% of the enlarged MGMRI.  MGMRI has indicated that a limited partial cash alternative would also be made available to Entain shareholders. 

Entain has informed MGMRI that it believes that the proposal significantly undervalues the Company and its prospects.  The Board has also asked MGMRI to provide additional information in respect of the strategic rationale for a combination of the two companies. 

A further announcement will be made as appropriate. In the meantime, Entain shareholders are encouraged to take no action.

There can be no certainty that any offer will be made for the Company, nor as to the terms on which any such offer might be made.

Any offer for Entain is governed by the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Under Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, MGMRI must by not later than 5.00 p.m. on 1 February 2021 either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Entain in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

This announcement has been made by Entain without the agreement or approval of MGMRI.

Contact details:

Entain plc                                           

David Lloyd-Seed, Director of Investor Relations & External Communications

Tel: +44 (0) 203 938 0000

investors@entaingroup.com

Deutsche Bank (Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Entain)

James Arculus

James Ibbotson

Charles Wilkinson

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7545 8000                                                          

Morgan Stanley (Joint Corporate Broker to Entain)

Laurence Hopkins

Tom Perry

Richard Brown

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7425 8000          

Powerscourt                                                                

Rory Godson / Rob Greening 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 1446

entain@powerscourt-group.com

LEI: 213800GNI3K45LQR8L28

About Entain plc

Entain plc (LSE:Entain) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all of its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGMRI to capitalise on the sports-betting and gaming opportunity in the US. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in more than 20 countries, across five continents.

For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purposes of Rule 8.3.2.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Relevant securities in issue

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Entain confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, it has 585,030,532 ordinary shares of €0.01 each in issue and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange. The ISIN is IM00B5VQMV65.

Other sources and bases

The current value and premium implied by MGMRI's proposal per Entain share are calculated using the closing share price per MGMRI share of $31.51 as sourced from FactSet Europe Limited; the closing share price per Entain share of 1,133.5 pence as sourced from FactSet Europe Limited and the USD/GBP exchange rate of 0.7316 as sourced from FactSet Europe Limited in each case on 31 December 2020, being the last trading day prior to this announcement.

The implied shareholding of the enlarged company which would be held by Entain shareholders under MGMRI's proposal is calculated on the basis that MGMRI has 493,939,099 common shares of $0.01 each in issue, as sourced from the Q3 2020 10-Q.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available at www.entaingroup.com.

The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of Entain is Emily Carey (Company Secretary).

Important notices

Deutsche Bank is authorised and regulated by the European Central Bank and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).  With respect to activities undertaken in the UK, Deutsche Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority with deemed variation of permission. It is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. The nature and extent of client protections may differ from those for firms based in the UK.  Details about the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority's website. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates will be responsible to any person other than Entain for providing any of the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank nor for providing advice in relation to any matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Deutsche Bank in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, or otherwise. Deutsche Bank, acting through its London branch, is acting as financial adviser and joint corporate broker to Entain and no other person in connection with the contents of this announcement.

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley") which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK is acting as joint corporate broker exclusively for Entain and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or sell or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains certain statements that are forward-looking statements. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations and those of our officers, directors and employees concerning, amongst other things, results of our operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the business we operate. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, these statements involve risks and uncertainties since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. Any such forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this document. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014), the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Prospectus Rules), the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast. The Company and its directors accept no liability to third parties in respect of this document save as would arise under English law.