Ladbrokes gets protection from creditors as it restructures Irish retail operations

UK-listed bookmaker Ladbrokes has appointed an interim examiner to oversee a restructuring of its money-losing Irish operations.

On Tuesday, Ladbrokes announced that it had successfully applied to the High Court of Dublin to provide its Irish operations with protection from creditors “with a view to allowing the company to trade as a sustainable business going forward.” Ladbrokes estimates the process of putting together “a Scheme of Arrangement” with creditors will take up to 100 days. Deloitte restructuring specialist Ken Fennell has been appointed as examiner.

Lads says it has endured “several years of declining profits” at its Irish operations, including a €5m loss in 2014 after revenue fell 11%. The company claims it needs to restructure “to create a sustainable competitive business which is currently held back due to real estate legacy issues.” Many of Lads’ Irish betting shop leases were reportedly inked before the country’s overheated property market crashed in 2009.

Lads insists it will be “business as usual” at its Irish operations and customers will not be affected. The process will have “no impact” on Lads digital or telephone wagering business. However, some of the 840 individuals who currently work in Lads’ Irish division will likely face redundancy as a result of the restructuring.