CVC Capital to Acquire Gaming Laboratories International

CVC Capital Partners, a renowned private equity firm based in Jersey, has strategically expanded its investment portfolio by agreeing to acquire Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a globally acknowledged entity responsible for providing essential gaming testing and certification services. This acquisition marks a significant step for CVC, integrating a comprehensive stake that highlights the firm’s commitment to advancing within the sports and entertainment sectors. While the financial specifics of the deal remain undisclosed, CVC plans to execute this acquisition via Avalon Buyer Limited, a newly incorporated UK-based affiliated investment vehicle. This move positions CVC to enhance its services in the global gaming industry, further reinforcing the firm's extensive portfolio.

Details of the Acquisition Process

According to documents submitted earlier this month in both Austria and Malta, CVC Capital will take full control of GLI through Avalon Buyer Limited. The Austria filing from July 3, 2025, indicates that Avalon Buyer Limited will acquire more than 50 percent of the shares and sole control over GLI and its affiliates, Worldwide Laboratories LLC and Kobetron LLC. Stakeholders with economic or legal interest in the transaction were given until the end of July to respond to the merger proposal. Further confirmation from Malta’s filing on July 11 reiterates Avalon’s acquisition strategy, detailing it as a move to gain sole control over GLI entities. GLI's broad range of services, like gaming testing, pre-certification quality assurance, and test automation, aligns with CVC's goal to address and optimize security and compliance in the regulated gaming landscape. Since its inception in 1989 by James Maida and Paul Magno, GLI has consistently positioned itself as a leader in gaming compliance, employing over 1,800 professionals across 35 jurisdictions to support the integrity of gambling operations worldwide.

CVC’s Broader Financial Strategy

Separately, CVC Capital Partners is implementing a comprehensive refinancing strategy, aiming to consolidate over £9 billion in investments linked to its global sports holdings through a newly formed entity named SportsCo. This strategic financial restructuring, as reported by Sky News and the Financial Times, involves generating new debt against valued assets, thereby introducing a more favorable capital structure and facilitating potential new investments. The creation of SportsCo embodies CVC's focus on enhancing value across its sports-related investments, which include prestigious names such as LaLiga, Ligue 1, the Women’s Tennis Association, Premiership Rugby, and a minority stake in Rugby’s Six Nations. This restructuring initiative is expected to attract significant interest from prominent global financial players, including sovereign wealth funds from the Gulf region and established buyout firms, signaling a potential new chapter of growth and diversification for CVC by the end of 2025.