LAS VEGAS, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) and GTECH S.p.A. today announced that they have amended their previously announced merger agreement dated July 15, 2014.

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20131003/LA91408LOGO

IGT and GTECH entered into the amendment with the overall intent of improving the timing and certainty of completion of the transaction in the interests of both companies and their shareholders. The amendment relieves IGT of additional regulatory and disclosure requirements, which were expected to delay the completion of the transaction. The amendment also reflects a reduced number of required approvals from gaming regulators as a condition precedent to closing.

While the aggregate amount of stock and cash to be paid to IGT shareholders has remained unchanged, the amendment eliminates the mechanism for IGT shareholders to elect all-stock, all-cash consideration, or a mixed election, subject to proration. Upon completion of the merger, all IGT shareholders will receive the mixed consideration described in the merger agreement. As previously disclosed, this consists of a combination of $13.69 in cash plus a number of ordinary shares of a newly formed U.K. holding company (NewCo) equal to $4.56 divided by a calculation of the dollar value of GTECH shares prior to the transaction closing, subject to adjustments and limitations set forth in the merger agreement. The amendment and additional detail regarding the amendment are available at www.sec.gov.

About IGT
International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in casino gaming entertainment and continues to transform the industry by translating casino player experiences to social, mobile and interactive environments for markets around the world. IGT's acquisition of DoubleDown Interactive provides engaging social casino style entertainment to approximately 6 million players monthly. More information about IGT is available at IGT.com or connect with IGT at @IGTNews or facebook.com/IGT. Anyone can play at the DoubleDown Casino by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/doubledowncasino or doubledowncasino.com.

About GTECH
GTECH S.p.A. is a leading commercial operator and provider of technology in the regulated worldwide gaming markets, delivering best-in-class products and services, with a commitment to the highest levels of integrity, responsibility, and shareholder value creation. The Company is listed on the FTSE MIB at the Milan Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "GTK" and is majority owned by De Agostini S.p.A. In 2013, GTECH had approximately EUR3.1 billion in revenues and 8,600 employees with operations in approximately 60 countries. For more information, please visit www.gtech.com.

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed transactions or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and applicable European regulations. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.

NewCo will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4, which will include the proxy statement of IGT that also constitutes a prospectus of NewCo (the "proxy statement/prospectus"). INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, IN THEIR ENTIRETY CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IGT, GTECH, NEWCO, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and securityholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by the parties through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and securityholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC on IGT's website at IGT.com within the "Investor Relations" section or by contacting Investor Relations at 866-296-4232 (for documents filed with the SEC by IGT) or on GTECH's website at gtech.com or by contacting Corporate Communications at 401-392-7452 (for documents filed with the SEC by NewCo).

The release, publication or distribution of this communication in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this communication is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Participants in the Distribution
IGT, GTECH and NewCo and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the securityholders of IGT in respect of the proposed transactions contemplated by the proxy statement/prospectus. Information regarding the persons who are, under the rules of the SEC, participants in the solicitation of the securityholders of IGT in connection with the proposed transactions, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding IGT's directors and executive officers is contained in IGT's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2013 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated January 24, 2014, which are filed with the SECand can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning IGT, GTECH, NewCo, the proposed transactions and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of IGT and GTECH as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management, including statements regarding the timing and certainty of the completion of the transactions. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as "would," "expect," "will," or similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the parties' control. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include failure to obtain applicable regulatory or securityholder approvals in a timely manner or otherwise; the possibility that the transaction will not close, including by any failure to satisfy other closing conditions to the proposed transactions or a termination of the merger agreement and other risks and uncertainties described in IGT's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission Except as required under applicable law, IGT does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

IGT Contacts:

Investor Relations Contact
Kate Pearlman
Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasury
+1 866-296-4232

Media Contacts
Susan Cartwright
Vice President, Corporate Communications
+1 702-669-8076

Phil O'Shaughnessy
Director Global Corporate Communications
+1 702-669-2975

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131003/LA91408LOGO

SOURCE IGT