Sportingbet, bwin Talks Back On?

London newspaper, the Sunday Express is reporting that Austrian online gaming firm, bwin, may be ready to make a takeover offer to UK competitor, Sportingbet.  The offer is rumored to be £290 million, or 70p per share, which equates to an approximately 56 percent premium over Sportingbet’s share price at the market close on Friday. 

Monday, Sportingbet shares jumped almost 10 percent on the news, to 47.25p.  bwin shares ticked up slightly. 

The two companies were talks last year about a possible acquisition of Sportingbet by bwin, but any possibility of a deal ended in July.  Possible legal issues with the United States and Turkey were cited as sticking points in the negotiations.