News: CWN TIMELINE-Inquiries and bids mark topsy-turvy Crown Resorts saga

Jan 13 (Reuters) - Crown Resorts (CWN) appears to be moving towards a A$8.87 billion ($6.45 billion) buyout by U.S. private equity firm Blackstone BX.N , ushering in a new era for the casino operator that has suffered devastating misconduct inquiries and received several takeover bids.

Here's a look back at some key events at Australia's largest casino operator:

October 2016: Confirmed a number of its staff were detained https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-crown-resorts-china-idUSKBN12G0Z5 in China for illegally promoting gambling trips.

March 2018: Billionaire James Packer, Crown's largest shareholder, quits its board https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crown-resorts-packer-idUSKBN1GW36I, citing mental illness.

April 2019: Wynn Resorts WYNN.O scrapped https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crown-resorts-m-a-wynn-resorts-idUSKCN1RL02G preliminary talks over a A$10 billion takeover of Crown after news of the talks was leaked.

May 2019: Macau casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment MLCO.O signs an agreement to acquire 20% https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crown-resorts-equity-melco-resorts-idUSKCN1T01A2 of Crown from Packer.

August 2019: Packer freezes https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-crown-resorts-melco-resorts-regulator-idUKKCN1VI2S3 his partial stake sale to Melco, pending an investigation into alleged criminal activity at its Australian operations.

January 2020: Crown names a new chairwoman and chief executive https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crown-resorts-moves-idUSKBN1ZN0J0 as it navigates regulatory probes.

February 2020: Melco pulls the plug https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-melco-resorts-idUSKBN2002RQ on raising its stake purchase in Crown.

February 2020: Crown stands down or lays off https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-crown-resorts-idUSL3N2C401A 95% of its employees to survive the pandemic.

April 2020: Blackstone picks up Melco's stake https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crown-resorts-equity-blackstone-group-idUSKCN22B00U in Crown, amassing 9.99% of the company.

October 2020: A government inquiry into Crown begins questioning of Packer, who admits that Crown gave incorrect public statements https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-inquiry-idUKL4N2GZ0L0 distancing itself from the so-called junkets.

October 2020: A state regulator in Victoria begins https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-regulator-int-idUSKBN26U0TT disciplinary proceedings against Crown over misconduct claims.

October 2020: Australia's financial crime agency https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-regulator-idUSKBN2740OB begins investigating Crown over failure to comply with anti money-laundering protocols.

October 2020: Crown terminates https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-inquiry-idINL4N2HC33P an agreement to share confidential information with Packer.

February 2021: Crown found unsuitable https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-idUSL1N2KF0AU to hold a gambling licence at its new flagship Sydney resort.

February 2021: Crown's chief executive resigned https://www.reuters.com/article/crown-resorts-ceo-idUSL1N2KK0ND, bowing to growing pressure. Three other directors stood down over the past week.

February 2021: A third state, Western Australia, launches an inquiry https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-crown-resorts-idUSL4N2KM4LA into Crown's Perth casino.

March 2021: Blackstone proposes to buy https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-crown-resorts-receives-62-billion-buyout-offer-blackstone-2021-03-21 Crown in a $6.2 billion deal.

April 2021: Oaktree Capital Group https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-crown-resorts-offered-23-bln-buyout-james-packer-2021-04-19

OAK_pa.N proposed funding a A$3 billion buyback of Packer's stake in Crown.

May 2021: Star Entertainment Group (SGR) proposed an all-stock buyout https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-star-makes-7-bln-play-crown-taking-private-equity-giants-2021-05-10 of Crown, valued at around A$9 billion.

May 2021: Crown rejects https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/australias-crown-spurns-65-bln-blackstone-bid-says-it-undervalues-firm-2021-05-17 Blackstone's bid, seeks more information from Star.

July 2021: Star withdraws https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-star-entertainment-abandons-66-bln-bid-crown-resorts-2021-07-22/#:~:text=July%2023%20(Reuters)%20-%20Australian,licence%2C%20sending%20its%20shares%20lower takeover bid for Crown over worries the firm may lose its Melbourne licence.

August 2021: Crown says it was no longer talking https://www.reuters.com/business/crown-resorts-reports-loss-pandemic-curbs-regulatory-costs-2021-08-30 to Oaktree over its proposal.

October 2021: Victoria state's inquiry into Crown finds it unsuitable https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-crown-branded-disgraceful-gets-two-years-fix-melbourne-casino-2021-10-25 to hold a gambling licence in Melbourne, but allowed it to run its biggest-earning casino under supervision.

November 2021: Blackstone makes fresh Crown approach https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-crown-resorts-gets-62-bln-offer-blackstone-2021-11-18 at A$12.50 per share.

December 2021: Crown rebuffed https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-crown-says-blackstones-62-bln-buyout-offer-not-compelling-2021-12-01 Blackstone's sweetened bid as not compelling enough, but offered access to its books.

January 2022: Crown says its board was likely to back https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-crown-gets-higher-buyout-bid-blackstone-2022-01-12 an improved A$8.87 billion bid by Blackstone. ($1 = 1.3742 Australian dollars)