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 IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A POSSIBLE OFFER UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE AND THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE.  

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

17 November 2021

Playtech plc

("Playtech" or "the Company")

Statement re: media speculation

Playtech notes the recent media speculation in relation to a further possible offer for the Company. The Board of Directors of Playtech (the "Board") confirms that on 5 November 2021 the Company received a preliminary approach from JKO Play Limited ("JKO") seeking access to certain due diligence information, in order to explore terms on which an offer for all of the issued and to be issued share capital of Playtech might be made. JKO is a company controlled by Mr Eddie Jordan and Mr Keith O'Loughlin. JKO's preliminary approach indicated that it was in discussions with Centerbridge Partners L.P. ("Centerbridge"), amongst others, regarding the possibility of it providing institutional debt and structured capital funding. Diligence remains on-going and no financing commitment has been provided by Centerbridge. Other sources of debt finance are also being considered.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties, and in accordance with Rule 21.3 of the Code, the Board further confirms that JKO has been provided with access to due diligence information for this purpose. Discussions with JKO are at an early stage and ongoing. As such, there can be no certainty that JKO's approach will result in an offer for the Company, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.

As previously announced on 8 November 2021, the Company also received a preliminary approach from Gopher Investments ("Gopher") on 21 October 2021 in order to explore terms on which an offer for all of the issued and to be issued share capital of Playtech might be made. Discussions with Gopher are ongoing and there is no certainty that Gopher's approach will result in an offer for the Company, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.

On 17 October 2021, Playtech and Aristocrat (UK) Holdings Limited, a company formed on behalf of Aristocrat Leisure Limited ("Aristocrat"), announced under Rule 2.7 of the Code that an agreement had been reached on terms pursuant to which Aristocrat will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Playtech for 680p per share in cash, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including shareholder approval of the sale of Finalto. The scheme document relating to Aristocrat's offer was posted to shareholders on 12 November 2021 and contains notices of the meetings of Playtech shareholders to consider that offer, which are scheduled to take place on 12 January 2022.

This announcement is being made under Rule 2.4 of the Code and does not comprise, and should not be construed as, an announcement by JKO of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code.

In accordance with Paragraph 4(c) of Appendix 7 of the Code, the Panel will announce the deadline by which JKO and Gopher must clarify their intentions in relation to Playtech.

This announcement has been made without the prior consent of JKO, Gopher, or Aristocrat.

A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate.

The persons responsible for making this announcement are Chris McGinnis, Director of Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis, and James Newman, Director of Corporate Affairs.

Enquiries:

Playtech

Chris McGinnis, Director of Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis

James Newman, Director of Corporate Affairs

+44 (0)16 2464 5954

Wells Fargo Securities (Lead Financial Adviser and Rule 3 Adviser to Playtech)

Brian Maier, Vice Chairman

Sam Small

Chris Tucker

+44 (0)20 3942 9625

Goodbody (Financial Adviser and Joint Broker to Playtech)

Piers Coombs

Charlotte Craigie

Stephen Kane

+353 1 667 0400

Jefferies International Limited (Financial Adviser and Joint Broker to Playtech)

Tim Lloyd Hughes

Max Jones

Philip Noblet

James Thomlinson

+44 (0)20 7029 8000

Headland (PR Adviser to Playtech)

Lucy Legh

Stephen Malthouse

Tom James

Jack Gault

+44 (0)20 3805 4822

playtech@headlandconsultancy.com

Important Notice

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

The release, distribution or publication of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by laws of the relevant jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Notices Related to the Financial Advisers

Wells Fargo Securities International Limited, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company trading as "Wells Fargo Securities", is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in the United Kingdom. Wells Fargo Securities is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Playtech and will not be responsible to anyone other than Playtech for providing the protections afforded to its client, or for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

Goodbody Stockbrokers UC is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is also subject to regulation by the FCA. Goodbody Stockbrokers UC are acting exclusively for the Company and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this document.

Jefferies International Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Playtech and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and shall not be responsible to anyone other than Playtech for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies International Limited, nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither Jefferies International Limited nor any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or branches owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct, indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Jefferies International Limited in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Rule 2.9 Disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, the Company confirms that as at close of business on 16 November 2021 (being the business day prior to the date of this announcement), its issued share capital consisted of 306,356,693 ordinary shares of no par value. This figure excludes 2,937,550 ordinary shares that are held in treasury. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of the ordinary shares is IM00B7S9G985.

Disclosure Requirements of 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) of the Code 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 of the Code. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) of the Code 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 purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Code.

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 of the Code).

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)207 638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication of this Announcement

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available on the Company's website (www.playtech.com) by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 18 November 2021. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.