(Adds details of deal, background)
Feb 14 (Reuters) - Australia's largest casino operator Crown Resorts Ltd (CWN) said on Monday it would back a A$8.87 billion ($6.3 billion) binding takeover offer from U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Inc BX.N .
Shareholders of Crown, which has faced damaging misconduct inquiries in every state it operates in and has also been hammered by a COVID-19-led drop in visitors, will get A$13.10 a share, a 5.7% premium to the stock's last close.
The news looks set to end a months-long saga which included three earlier bids from Blackstone, rival Star Entertainment (SGR) withdrawing a A$9 billion offer, and Oaktree Capital
OAK_pa.N calling off talks to buy out Crown founder James Packer's stake.The latest offer price is 10.5% higher than Blackstone's first A$11.85 apiece bid in March last year.
"The all-cash offer provides shareholders with certainty of value," Crown Chairman Ziggy Switkowski said in a statement.
The deal will go ahead after an independent expert deems the offer is suitable for shareholders, as well as approvals from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board and casino regulators, Crown said.
A shareholder meeting to vote on the deal is expected to be held in the second quarter, it added.
($1 = 1.4025 Australian dollars)
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ TIMELINE-Inquiries and bids mark topsy-turvy Crown Resorts saga
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
