Las Vegas Sands buoyed by optimism on Hong Kong IPO

* Company spokesman confirms talks with lenders

* Shares up 15 pct

ATLANTA, July 20 - Las Vegas Sands Corp shares rose more than 15 percent on Monday on optimism an initial public offering of the casino company's Macau assets would take place in Hong Kong.

Ron Reese, a spokesman for Las Vegas Sands, confirmed last week, "that the company is having discussions with its lenders in Macau regarding transactions that have previously been reported."

He said he could give no other details.

Reuters Loan Pricing Corp reported, also last week, that the amendment package has a July 31 deadline.

Reuters reported as early as May that the world's largest casino company had hired Goldman Sachs to look at a potential Hong Kong listing for its Macau assets. ID:nHKG32201

"Theoretically, it would raise a good chunk of capital, which would help them restart their development and address issues with their balance sheet," said Robert A. LaFleur, an analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group. "I think it's a pretty realistic possibility at this point."

In Macau, Sands owns the Venetian Macau and Sand Macau, and is involved in the development of several casino-resorts on a piece of reclaimed land known as the Cotai Strip

Sands shares were up $1.32 at $9.91 at midday on the New York Stock Exchange.