SHARES in William Hill, Rank Group and 888 rose sharply on Monday morning after the trio confirmed that a £3 billion three-way merger could be on the cards.
William Hill shares spiked 11 per cent, Rank rose 2.4 per cent and 888 was up almost 3 per cent after the opening.
Online operator 888 and casino giant Rank came clean over their interest in a merger with William Hill over the weekend, with the firms adding on Monday: "The consortium sees significant industrial logic in the combination, through consolidation of their complementary online and land-based operations, delivery of substantial revenue and cost synergies and from the anticipated benefits of economies of scale which will accrue to all shareholders."
For its part, William Hill said it "would listen to and consider any proposal which might be forthcoming".
However, it added that it is "not clear that a combination of William Hill with 888 and Rank will enhance William Hill's strategic positioning or deliver superior value to William Hill's strategy which is focused on increasing the group's diversification by growing its digital and international businesses."
Just last week, William Hill chief executive James Henderson stepped down after the firm was hit by profit warnings and sliding sales under his tenure.
It came after the bookie announced in May that net revenues tumbled 3 per cent and online sales fell 11 per cent in the first quarter as the firm took a hit from punters cashing in on bets on Cheltenham and the European football.
William Hill itself failed in a bid to buy 888 in 2015 after failing to agree an offer price with a major shareholder.
888 and Rank have until August 21 to formally announce their intention to make an offer for William Hill.
