On April 24, 2018, a subsidiary of The Stars Group Inc. increased its equity interest in CrownBet Holdings Pty Limited from 62% to 80% and CrownBet Holdings Pty Limited acquired William Hill Australia Holdings Pty Ltd., creating a leader in the regulated Australian online sports betting market. The aggregate purchase price for both transactions was approximately US$315 million, of which US$234 million was payable in cash for William Hill Australia Holdings Pty Limited and the remainder of approximately C$103 million was payable through the issuance of newly-issued common shares of The Stars Group for the increased equity interest in CrownBet.
In April 2018, a subsidiary of The Stars Group Inc. increased, repriced and extended its U.S. dollar and Euro denominated first lien term loans and revolving credit facility and amended and restated the applicable first lien term loan credit agreement. Approximately US$250 million of the increased term loans was used to fund a portion of the acquisition of an additional 18% equity interest in CrownBet Holdings Pty Limited and CrownBet’s acquisition of William Hill Australia Holdings Pty Ltd.
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP acted as Canadian counsel to The Stars Group Inc. and its subsidiaries on the acquisition and the refinancing with a team that consisted of Eric Levy and Bastien Gauthier (Securities), Manon Thivierge (Tax) and Richard Borins (Banking).