KKCG and Emma capital acquired a share in Casinos Austria AG

KKCG and Emma Capital, long-term strategic investors focused on lottery & gaming industry, acquired an indirect share of 11.34% in Casinos Austria AG, Austria’s largest gaming and lottery company, via Austrian Gaming Holding, a.s.. KKCG and Emma Capital bought CAME Holding GmbH from DONAU Versicherung AG member of Vienna Insurance Group today.

KKCG and EMMA have commenced talks which could result in a partnership with a strong Austrian partner with a goal to form a joint venture with respect to CAME Holding GmbH.

Casinos Austria AG is a leading national and international gaming company with consolidated 2014 revenues over EUR 3.6 billion operating in numerous locations in Austria and other countries. Casinos Austria AG owns 68% of Österreichische Lotterien Gesellschaft m.b.H. which is monopoly operator of lottery games in Austria with 2014 revenues over EUR 1.3 billion.

„Lottery and gaming is one of strategic pillars of our business and this move is in line with the KKCG’s strategy of building large diversified European gaming group,“ said Štěpán Dlouhý, investment director of KKCG, adding that KKCG sees acquisition of CAME Holding GmbH as strategic long-term investment with the plan to sustainably develop gaming and lottery business jointly with other shareholders and potential Austrian partners having strong focus on responsible gaming and corporate social responsibility.

“We see a strong strategic fit between CASAG on one side and our activities in SAZKA and OPAP on the other side. We bring successful track record in managing large European gaming companies and we are ready to cooperate with Austrian partners.”

KKCG and Emma Capital are the largest shareholders in OPAP (via Emma Delta investment fund), one of the largest European gaming and lottery companies, listed at Athens stock exchange, with 2014 revenues over EUR 4.2 billion. KKCG owns SAZKA, a leading lottery and gaming company in the Czech Republic.

KKCG is an international investment group managing approx. EUR 1.6bn of assets and employing more than 3,000 people. KKCG is focused on long-term strategic investments in lottery & entertainment, oil & gas, technology, tourism, real estate, machinery as well as other industries. KKCG operates in 10 different countries worldwide.

EMMA CAPITAL is an investment group focused on international markets. It intends to concentrate its activities primarily on the retail sphere; the usual strategy followed by the companies associated in the EMMA Group is that of an active involvement in the management of the companies in which EMMA has invested. The EMMA Group emerged in 2012 on the initiative of its sole shareholder, Jiří Šmejc.