Hong Kong Billionaire Heiress Joins Battle For Playtech

Karen Lo

Just when things had settled down and Playtech were understood to clear all regulatory hurdles in its deal with Aristocrat for £2.7 billion which the Playtech management have approved to be acquired by the Australian casino gaming supplier, there appears to be new and multiple players building up shares in Playtech for a possible move to scupper the Aristocrat deal.

According to reports in the press over the weekend both in the UK and in Hong Kong billionaire heiress Karen Lo is buying shares in the technology company at over the value price and now has almost 5% of the firm in a possible move to offer a bid for Playtech.

Future Capital Group owned by Karen Lo who is the granddaughter of Dr Lo Kwee-seong the owner of drinks giant Vitasoy is buying shares in Playtech at £7.50 as opposed to the current share value of £6.80. Ms Lo is a well known face in Hong Kong society and has drawn huge attention in her mission to buy shares in Playtech over recent weeks with many observers believing a move to offer more than the £2.7 billion offered by Aristocrat could be on the cards.

However she is not the only figure in the Playtech merry-go-round that is the purchase of this technology giant in the online gambling world, according to those same reports a deal to share the company could happen as Paul Suen who owns 4.1% of Playtech and is also the owner of Birmingham Football Club and VIP Mayfair Casino Les Ambassadeurs could join forces with Karen Lo in a joint offer to beat Aristocrat.

So just as Aristocrat thought all was done and dusted for the battle to acquire Playtech more players are joining. Indeed still in the running is former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan and his consortium.