LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Betfair, the world's largest internet betting exchange, is close to appointing Rothschild as independent adviser for a potential listing, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The appointment takes the company a step closer to an eventual initial public offering, although Betfair is not under pressure to do a deal immediately, one of the people said.
The IPO could aim to raise around 1.5 billion pounds ($2.5 billion), bankers not involved in the deal have told Reuters previously.
Betfair declined to comment.
(Editing by David Cowell) ($1=.5979 Pound) Keywords: BETFAIR/IPO (daisy.ku@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 542 5106) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The appointment takes the company a step closer to an eventual initial public offering, although Betfair is not under pressure to do a deal immediately, one of the people said.
The IPO could aim to raise around 1.5 billion pounds ($2.5 billion), bankers not involved in the deal have told Reuters previously.
Betfair declined to comment.
(Editing by David Cowell) ($1=.5979 Pound) Keywords: BETFAIR/IPO (daisy.ku@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 542 5106) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
