BlackRock increases stake in Aristocrat to 6pct

Mar 27, 2017 Newsdesk Industry Talk, Latest News, Top of the deck  

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BlackRock Group, one of the world’s largest asset managers, has increased its stake in slot machine maker Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, according to a Monday filing by the latter company to the Australian Securities Exchange.

BlackRock – via BlackRock Inc and some subsidiaries – now holds 38.4 million ordinary shares in Aristocrat, representing 6.01 percent of the gaming technology firm’s votable stock.

In December 2015, it was announced BlackRock had become a substantial shareholder in Aristocrat, with a stake of 5.01 percent.

Aristocrat – one of the larger casino technology firms in the world – has a market capitalisation of approximately AUD11.3 billion (US$8.61 billion), according to Bloomberg data.

BlackRock Group had assets worth US$5.1 trillion under its management as of end-2016, according to its corporate website.

Earlier this month, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the inclusion of Aristocrat in its index of the 50 most valuable companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The inclusion of the firm became effective on March 20.

Aristocrat’s net profit after tax jumped 88 percent year-on-year in the 12 months to September 30, to AUD350.5 million. Group revenue expanded by 34.5 percent year-on-year, to nearly AUD2.13 billion, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 54.1 percent, to AUD806.0 million.

Aristocrat has had a new chief executive with effect from March 1, when Trevor Croker succeeded Jamie Odell.

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