The Wall Street Journal: Blackstone offers $6 billion to buy Australian casino operator Crown Resorts

United States

SYDNEY — Blackstone Group Inc. made a takeover offer for Australian casino operator Crown Resorts Ltd. valued at $ 6 billion, as regulators investigate Crown’s business practices and threaten to rescind its casinos licenses.

The U.S. investment firm has offered 11.85 Australian dollars, or the equivalent of $ 9.15, a share for Crown, a 20% premium to its closing share price last week, Crown said Monday. The deal is conditional on Australian gambling regulators allowing Blackstone to own and operate Crown casinos in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.