Both agencies trust that this process can still end this year despite the presidential elections in October. However, SEFEL and BNDES do not consider setting dates since there are several issues to be resolved. The key point to have finished the new editales depends on the approval of the controversial MP 841 that should become law in September.
Beyond the queries that BNDES will make to interested companies such as IGT, SC, Intralot and Tic Tabs, among others, in SEFEL they know that the legal uncertainty that the amendments presented to the MP 841 by deputies and senators were decisive for the non-presentation of offers on June 25, day of the closing of proposals.
The point that would have been ruled out is the return of LOTEX to Caixa. The official bank will not handle the instant lottery as was speculated although it is still Caixa's idea to be part of a consortium with international companies as a partner, something that current edicts prohibit. In fact, one of the amendments to MP 841 requests that Caixa would be able to intervene without any restriction of the bidding process.
The auction of the so-called "scratch card" has suffered several delays, changes in grant values and rules, generally with the objective of attracting a leading foreign company to operate in Brazil and compete in the lottery segment with the Caixa Econômica Federal, which was obliged to stay out of the auction.
The Provisional Measure 841 promulgated by President Michel Temer, which deals with the destination of the proceeds from the collection of lotteries for public safety actions, received 95 amendments from the deputies and senators of the Joint Commission, which should analyze it. Several of them ask to reduce the prizes and funds destined to expenses of costing and maintenance of the operative agent of the new LOTEX.
According to the bidding documents, the concession should be for 15 years, with a value of R$ 542 million (US$ 139 million). The studies prepared by BNDES pointed to the possibility of a total collection, by the concessionaire, in the order of R$ 6 billion (US$ 1.55bn) since the fifth year of operation of the service.
Source: GMB
