The private-equity firm is understood to have hired an investment bank to receive advice and to have begun discussions with banks to put together a debt package, ahead of a potential £3 billion bid for Ladbrokes.
Industry analysts, who expect 2006 to be a frantic year for consolidation in the gambling industry, said the biggest obstacle CVC faces is to win over the support of Hilton investors.
The group is in the process of selling its hotel business to the American Hilton Hotels Corporation. A move which would leave Ladbrokes as a stand-alone quoted company.
Calculators
