France’s La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has completed the acquisition of Kindred Group after taking control of more than 90 per cent of the Stockholm-listed operator’s share capital.

At the end of the offer period on 2 October, 195,659,291 Kindred Swedish Depository Receipts (SDRs), representing 90.66 per cent of the group’s capital, were tendered.

FDJ had also acquired 2,400,000 Kindred SDRs directly from Veralda, representing another 1.11 per cent of the group’s share capital.

With the condition precedent of controlling more than 90 per cent of Kindred’s share capital fulfilled, FDJ has now completed the acquisition of Kindred Group.

“I am delighted to announce today the acquisition of Kindred, a leading European player in the competitive online betting and gaming sector,” said FDJ Group chairwoman and CEO Stéphane Pallez. “Kindred has strong brands, recognised technological excellence and an attractive growth and profitability profile, all of which will bolster FDJ’s strengths.

“The two groups also share high standards for responsible gaming and a business model that combines performance and responsibility. This acquisition creates a new European champion that intends to pursue its strategy of sustainable and profitable growth for the benefit of all its stakeholders.”

Settlement-delivery for Kindred shareholders who have tendered their SDRs to the offer will take place from 11 October, and FDJ will implement a squeeze-out procedure on Nasdaq Stockholm.

In addition, FDJ has extended its offer until 5pm on 18 October to enable Kindred shareholders who have not tendered their shares to do so on unchanged terms (SEK130 per SDR). Settlement and delivery will take place from 29 October.

Following completion, FDJ’s international operations will now account for approximately 26 per cent of revenue, compared to 4 per cent previously.

Kindred’s digital expertise and technology platforms will also accelerate FDJ’s digitalization, with its online share of revenue expected to rise from 12 per cent to 34 per cent for the combined group.

The combined group will operate only on markets that are locally regulated or on the path of becoming regulated, with the operator to exit all the markets on which it operates on a non-locally regulated basis.

The locally regulated footprint includes in particular Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Denmark, Romania, Italy, Estonia and Australia, while in Finland there is a clear path to regulation.

Shares in La Française des Jeux SA (PA:FDJ) gained 1.74 per cent to €35.04 per share in Paris following the announcement Friday, while shares in Kindred Group plc (STO:KIND-SDB) were trading marginally higher by 0.23 per cent at SEK129.60.