WMS shareholders approve buyout by Scientific Games

Shareholders of slot machine manufacturer WMS Industries approved the company’s $1.5 billion buyout by lottery provider Scientific Games.

More than 99 percent of votes cast at the meeting Friday were in favor of the buyout, in which WMS shareholders will receive $26 per share.

Upon the closing of the transaction, WMS, which is headquartered in Waukegan, Ill., but has secondary offices in Las Vegas, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based Scientific Games.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 and still needs approval from Nevada gaming regulators.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.