Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco International Development.
Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Black Spade Capital, the Hong Kong-based family office of casino magnate Lawrence Ho, has made an undisclosed investment in real estate brokerage firm IFCX.
Hong Kong-headquartered IFCX, founded in 2014 by ex-Morgan Stanley banker Kingston Lai, helps institutional investors invest in alternative assets such as properties, fine wines, art and other collectibles. The firm also helps property developers in Cambodia, Malaysia, the Middle East, Thailand, the U.K. and Vietnam to market and sell their projects, while providing property management services to buyers.
In a statement on Tuesday, IFCX said Black Spade Capital’s investment allows the firm to tap into a wider network of high-net-worth individuals, as well as the hospitality and entertainment sectors in Asia. IFCX added that it will expand its offerings to include predictive market analytics and artificial intelligence-powered tools for investor engagement.
“With Black Spade’s backing, we’re not only expanding our footprint,” said Lai, IFCX’s CEO. “We’re redefining how real estate is traded on a global scale, bridging institutional pathways and empowering individual investors.”
Ho’s investment in IFCX marks his latest bet outside of his core casino business in Macau. Last August, the chairman and CEO of casino giant Melco International Development listed a special purpose acquisition company on Nasdaq after raising $150 million to target a merger with an AI company. It followed the New York Stock Exchange listing of another SPAC, which in 2023 completed a $23 billion business combination with VinFast Auto, Vietnam’s electric-vehicle manufacturer controlled by the country’s wealthiest person Pham Nhat Vuong.
The son of late casino legend Stanley Ho, the younger Ho has also been expanding his gambling empire beyond Macau following Beijing’s years-long crackdown on capital outflow through gambling in the Asian gaming hub. In January, Ho announced plans to pursue a license to operate an integrated resort in Thailand once casinos are legalized in the country, a move he described as a “generational opportunity.” Meanwhile, Melco plans to open a casino in Sri Lanka later this year, adding to its existing portfolio that includes hospitality and gaming complexes in Macau, the Philippines and Cyprus.
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