888 Holdings is nearing the completion of its purchase of William Hill. The firm has been preparing for a seamless changeover since revealing the agreement on September 9, 2021.

A crucial element of this readiness entails bringing seasoned management into the fold. 888 designated Guy Cohen to supervise the assimilation process as Senior Vice President and Head of Integration. Cohen, who formerly held the position of 888’s Senior Vice President of B2C, will collaborate directly with William Hill’s executive team and answer to Itai Pazner, Chief Executive Officer of 888.

The takeover remains scheduled for finalization in the initial quarter of 2022, contingent upon satisfying the outstanding requirements. 888 has already secured all essential clearances from competition and gaming authorities.

To fund the acquisition, 888 intends to gather roughly £500 million (US$668.1 million) via a stock offering. This represents one of the primary stipulations that must be met for the transaction to proceed.

Furthermore, 888 requires approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority to reinstate its common stock to the premium listing category of the Official List. The London Stock Exchange must also endorse the return of 888’s shares to trading on the principal market.

Lastly, the acquisition depends on the effective reorganization of William Hill Group, which includes dividing its UK and US businesses.

The head of 888, Itai Pazner, shared his enthusiasm for the merger, noting it would establish a worldwide online wagering and gaming leader. He stressed the remarkable size, cutting-edge technology, and varied offerings of the unified company, setting it up for significant expansion. Pazner underscored the importance of core brands and the bolstered leadership group, especially with Cohen’s placement, whose knowledge is anticipated to enable a seamless integration. He confidently declared the achievement of major acquisition benchmarks and projected a Q1 2022 completion. Pazner finished by conveying excitement for the prospects of the joint venture, emphasizing the strengths and synergistic qualities of the two uniting enterprises.