The Athens Securities & Exchange Commission has this morning moved to temporarily suspend the listing of OPAP SA, in light of speculation of a ‘major imminent corporate event’.
Greek business news sources this morning report that Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA Group seeks to significantly expand its holdings in OPAP, Greece’s largest lottery and sports betting operator.
SAZKA’s advance on OPAP, follows the gambling conglomerate’s ownership split sanctioned last March, which saw Czech billionaire Karel Komarek Jr take full control of SAZKA’s pan-European gambling portfolio.
Placed under the ownership of Komarek’s private equity fund KKCG, SAZKA is reported to be reviewing its European investment options, seeking to aggressively expand its holdings in established European gambling firms.
At present, SAZKA holds a reported 33% shareholding in OPAP, as Greek news sources report that Karel Komarek has personally sanctioned the offer of a ‘40% premium of €14-per-share’, to take ‘full control’ of the Athens listed operator.
Greek sources state that Komarek views OPAP as the most important asset in SAZKA’s gambling portfolio which maintains significant investments Casinos Austria and LOTTO ITALIA.
Source: SBC News
