ATHENS, Greece, December 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The first stage of the Tender for the concession of a licence to operate and manage the State Lotteries, was successfully completed today. The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, the newly established entity with responsibility for managing Greece's privatisation programme confirms that three (3) Expressions of Interest have been received from high quality, international lottery operators.

Detailed Expressions of Interest have been received from:

1. OSTERREICHISCHE LOTTERIEN GESELLSCHAFT  m.b.H. (Austrian Lotteries)
2. Consortium of SISAL S.p.A - DAMCOENERGYS.A- DAMLOTA.E   with SISAL S.p.a. as Lead Member
3. Consortium of OPAP  INVESTMENT  LIMITED- LOTTOMATICA  GIOCHI E  PARTECIPAZIONI   S.r.L. - INTRALOT  LOTTERIES  LIMITED -  SCIENTIFIC GAMES GLOBAL GAMING  S.ar.L. with OPAP INVESTMENT  LIMITED as Lead Member

The tender, launched on November 1^st, 2011, relates to the award of a 12-year exclusive licence to operate and manage the State Lotteries, which comprise the National Lottery, the Popular Lottery, the European Lottery, the Instant State Lottery (Scratch & Win), the Housing State Lottery and management of the New Year's Lottery. 

Commenting on today's announcement Costas Mitropoulos, CEO of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, said: "The results of the first stage of the process for the Lottery Privatization are very encouraging. Despite the highly uncertain economic environment, high quality international bidders with proven technical and operational expertise in the gaming sector have expressed their interest. The fact that three bidders have expressed their interest is a sign of competition within the process."

Following the evaluation of the Expressions of Interest and the shortlist of the selected candidates fulfilling the criteria set during the first stage of the process, the HRADF will issue them with the tender documents of the second stage.

Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited and Eurobank EFG Equities Investment Firm S.A. are acting as financial advisors to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund on this tender.

For further information and updates please refer to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's website (http://www.hradf.com).

Contacts:

M:Communications
Louise Tingström
tingstrom@mcomgroup.com
+44-20-7920-23-37

Charlotte McMullen
mcmullen@mcomgroup.com  
+44-207-920-2349

SOURCE Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund