Las Vegas, Nevada (April 16, 2018) – Tropicana Entertainment Inc. (OTCQB: TPCA) (“Tropicanaâ€), a majority owned subsidiary of Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ: IEP), announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Tropicana’s real estate to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLPI) and to merge its gaming and hotel operations into Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI), for aggregate consideration of approximately $1.85 billion.
Tony Rodio, President and CEO of Tropicana, stated: “I am incredibly proud of what the entire Tropicana team has been able to accomplish over the past 8 years, taking Tropicana from bankruptcy to one of the industry’s true success stories. I would like to thank Carl Icahn, Icahn Enterprises and the Tropicana Board of Directors for their personal support, financial commitment and the confidence that they have shown in Tropicana’s management. This tremendous financial turnaround would not have been possible without it. Through their commitment and investment, Tropicana has been able to construct new casinos in Evansville, Indiana and Greenville, Mississippi and substantially renovate our other properties, including, most significantly, Tropicana Atlantic City, creating new employment opportunities and hundreds of temporary construction jobs in the process since our operations began in 2010. I would also like to thank the thousands of Tropicana team members whose hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence also played a huge part in our accomplishment.â€
The transaction does not include Tropicana’s Aruba assets, which will be disposed of as a condition to closing. The aggregate consideration of approximately $1.85 billion will be increased by the amount of the net proceeds received in connection with the Aruba disposition and will be further adjusted to pay corporate level taxes.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2018, subject to receipt of required gaming approvals, termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition.
Thompson Hine LLP acted as legal advisor to the Company and Jefferies LLC delivered a fairness opinion to the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with the transaction
The local casino had been cutting back comps, raising table game minimums, raising prices at the restaurants, raising prices the hotels and charging a “resort fee”, cutting corners on maintenance, getting rid of employees, etc. Rumor was this was to make the bottom line look good so they could sell it.
Did Tropicana receive any perks from the City when they moved to land?
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