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 No takers! Tote Tasmania sale fails 

No takers! Tote Tasmania sale fails

03 Dec, 2009 03:59 PM
THE State Government has admitted defeat in its bid to sell Tote Tasmania and withdrawn the business from sale.

Treasurer Michael Aird, who announced the Government's intention to sell the business on January 8 this year, said no binding offers had been received.

Last month he said two offers had been made but neither was sufficient.

It is understood the business was valued at between $250 and $300 million by the Government although there were suggestions it could fetch upto $400 million. One valuation was as low as $90 million.

Tabcorp, the Tatts Group, Ladbrokes Plc, Intralot and online betting company Betfair were all seen as potential suitors.

Tote Tasmania turned over more than $746 million last financial year, delivering a consolidated net profit before tax of $9.8 million.

"The Government has undertaken an exhaustive sale process for TOTE Tasmania and has received strong interest in the business," Mr Aird said.

"However, the Government did not receive any final binding offers that were acceptable.

"I have therefore determined that the sale process for TOTE Tasmania should be concluded."

Mr Aird said the Government didn't intend to offer the business for sale again.

He said that TOTE would continue to consolidate its strong financial performance and look to capture its future growth potential with a number of exciting developments planned for the future.

The business has grown 50 per cent over the past 12 months, with the business recording an after tax profit of $6.5 million last financial year.

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comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Maybe if they drop the price to $3 million, Federal Hotels might put a bid in?
Posted by Barnaby Drake, 3/12/2009 5:16:38 PM, on The Examiner
No, Barnaby, Aird said he wasn't going to continue to offer the business for sale. I guess he means that he'll give it away to Federal Hotels. That could get them interested. They love licences to print money when they are freebies. A government-owned entity that makes a profit is too embarrassing. Better privatise it, eh?
Posted by neil Smith, 5/12/2009 11:21:09 PM, on The Examiner

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