KKCG Group owner Karel Komarek is reportedly interested in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) launch for Sazka Group, with London marked down as a potential listing location.
According to Bloomberg, KKCG, Sazka’s holding group, is working with advisers on an IPO of the lottery operator, which could take place in the second half of this year.
US-based multinational investment firm Apollo Global Management is also expected to back the listing. Apollo purchased a €500m stake in Sazka back in March, resulting in KKCG receiving €200m.
However, the notion is still being reviewed, so no final decisions have been made and plans could still be delayed, whilst no comment has been made by a representative of the company or from KKCG.
The announcement comes as Sazka competes in the Fourth UK National Lottery Licence competition under its UK corporate identity Allwyn.
In the licence contest, which is being run by the UK Gambling Commission, Allwyn is competing against current operators Camelot, Italy’s Sisal and India’s Sugal & Damani. A preferred applicant is expected to be announced in September this year.
Allwyn has been on a heavy recruitment drive over the past couple of months as it prepares its bid for the National Lottery, bringing in specialists to its advisory board with expertise in a range of fields, alongside its bid chair Sir Keith Mills and recently appointed CEO David Craven.
The firm has hired Dr Mark Griffiths, Dara Nasr, Amanda Horton-Mastin, Justin King CBE, Brent Hoberman CBE, and Charles Garland to its advisory board. It has also selected technology communications company Vodafone as its connectivity partner.
Last month, Sazka published its financial results for the first quarter of 2021, with CEO Robert Chvatal noting a ‘robust performance’ following a 30% gross gaming revenue increase year-on-year.