Coral report good progress on Ladbrokes merger front

Good progress is being made in Gala Coral's merger with Ladbrokes, according to the group's chief executive Carl Leaver, who hopes to have the deal completed by the end of October.

Leaver was speaking as Gala Coral revealed their third quarter update for the 12 weeks to July 2, figures Leaver described as "a good set of results".

The results are likely to be Gala Coral's last as an independent company as both they and Ladbrokes go about the process of selling the 350-400 shops the Competition and Markets Authority has asked them to divest for the deal to go through.