In October last year, Allwyn announced its advanced talks to acquire the business operations of Camelot from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) for approximately £100.0m (€113.9m/$124.0m). This acquisition includes the current rights to operate the National Lottery in the UK until February 2024. Allwyn was awarded the fourth National Lottery license in September 2022, marking the end of Camelot’s 28-year tenure as operator. The acquisition aims to ensure a smooth transition of operations and provide clarity and certainty for the future of the National Lottery, its funded causes, and the employees of both Camelot and Allwyn. However, the completion of this acquisition is subject to certain regulatory conditions.
Allwyn Group’s CEO and Allwyn UK’s interim CEO, Robert Chvátal, stated, “This acquisition is an important milestone in our journey to become the operator of the National Lottery. Acquiring Camelot will help facilitate a smooth transition from the third to the fourth license, while bringing together the collective expertise and technical know-how of two highly experienced lottery operators. We are delighted to welcome Camelot into the Allwyn family, as we share a common passion to protect and improve the National Lottery and the causes it supports.”
As part of the deal, Allwyn announced several changes to the board and management team of Camelot. Clare Swindell, currently the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Camelot, and Neil Brocklehurst, Camelot’s Commercial Director, will be appointed as co-chief executives of Camelot. They will lead the business until the end of the fourth license in January next year. Clare Swindell joined Camelot in 2017 as CFO and had previously held senior finance roles at Dunnhumby and Tesco. Neil Brocklehurst has worked at Camelot for 15 years and served as the Commercial Director since 2018, with experience in various roles within Camelot Global, including interim Managing Director.
Meanwhile, Sir Hugh Robertson, the current chairman of Camelot, and Nigel Railton, the CEO, will step down from their positions and the board. Allwyn expects Sir Keith Mills to assume the role of the new chair, subject to regulatory approvals. “I would like to thank Sir Hugh and Nigel for their contributions to the success of the National Lottery,” expressed Chvátal. “I am delighted to appoint Clare and Neil as co-chief executives, both of whom have immense experience in operating Camelot and the National Lottery.”
In addition to these management changes, Allwyn has also finalized a deal to acquire the US-facing Camelot Lottery Solutions unit of companies from Ontario Teachers this month.
