Turkish lottery privatisation delayed
News on 8 Jan 2009
News on 8 Jan 2009
The bidding deadline for Turkey’s national lottery will be pushed back by a month at the request of investors, Reuters has reported.
“There is no shortage of interest from investors in the national lottery,” Metin Kilci, the privatisation administration chairman told the news service. “We expect that the privatisation process will be completed successfully.”
The previous deadline for pre-qualification by interested potential operators was January 15 2009, with bids for the 10 year licensing deal accepted by the Privatization Administration Board until Feb. 27, 2009.
The winner of the coveted operating license will retain 17 percent of revenue after sales and gambling taxes.
Companies expressing interest have included Intralot S.A. of Greece and Turkey’s Koç Holding. Camelot Group, which operates the United Kingdom’s National Lottery, may also bid, as well as Essnet A.B., Tatts Group Ltd., Gtech Holdings Corporation, Lottomatica S.p.A., Osterreichische Lotterien G.m.b.H. and Sisal S.p.A.
