The billionaire Coates family behind Bet365 are weighing up a sale of their online gambling empire that could value the business at £9bn [$12bn], the Guardian has learned.
The company, headed by Denise Coates, has held talks with Wall Street banks and US advisers in recent weeks about a full or partial sale, sources familiar with the matter said.
Informal discussions explored options for a potential sale, including a medium-term plan to float the business on a US stock exchange.
One option on the table includes a partial sale to a private equity investor, with the Coates family retaining a stake before an eventual listing.