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MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES TRANSACTION TO ACQUIRE THE OPERATIONS OF THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS
MGM Resorts to acquire operations for $1.625 billion
Significant expected synergies and strategic value in adding The Cosmopolitan to the MGM Resorts portfolio
Transaction advances MGM Resorts’ vision to be the world’s premier gaming entertainment company
MGM Resorts International announced that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Blackstone to acquire the operations of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (the “property” or “The Cosmopolitan”) for cash consideration of $1.625 billion, subject to customary working capital adjustments.
The purchase price represents a multiple of approximately eight times adjusted EBITDA, inclusive of expected operational synergies and identified revenue growth opportunities.
Following the close of the transaction, MGM Resorts will enter into a 30-year lease agreement, with three 10-year renewal options, with a partnership among Stonepeak Partners, Cherng Family Trust and Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (“BREIT”), which will acquire The Cosmopolitan’s real estate assets. MGM Resorts will pay an initial annual rent of $200 million, escalating annually at 2% for the first 15 years and the greater of 2% or the CPI increase (capped at 3%) thereafter.
“We are proud to add The Cosmopolitan, a luxury resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, to our portfolio,” said MGM Resorts CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle. “The Cosmopolitan brand is recognized around the world for its unique customer base and high-quality product and experiences, making it an ideal fit with our portfolio and furthering our vision to be the world’s premier gaming entertainment company. We look forward to welcoming The Cosmopolitan’s guests and employees to the MGM Resorts family.”
“With over $500 million of capital invested to upgrade the property since 2014, The Cosmopolitan offers an incredible opportunity to expand our customer base and will provide greater depth of choices for our guests in Las Vegas,” said MGM Resorts CFO Jonathan Halkyard. “We believe that we can leverage MGM Resorts’ expertise, operating platform and other highly achievable synergies to continue providing best-in-class service, while driving growth for the property.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in the trailing 12 months ended February 29, 2020, The Cosmopolitan generated $959 million of net revenue and $316 million of adjusted EBITDAR1. In the second quarter ended June 30, 2021, the property generated $234 million of net revenue and $92 million of adjusted EBITDAR1.
The Cosmopolitan, a world-class contemporary luxury resort and casino, opened in December of 2010 and underwent significant capital improvements since Blackstone acquired the property in 2014. The property features:
- 3,032 rooms and suites that were renovated in December of 2018, most of which feature a terrace that overlooks the iconic Las Vegas Strip,
- a 110,000 square-foot casino, with high-end gaming areas for VIP guests,
- 26 on-trend food and beverage offerings, with 19 new concepts introduced in the last four years,
- a 3,200 seat theater (The Chelsea),
- Marquee nightclub and dayclub that hosts top DJs from around the world,
- 243,000 square feet of centrally located meeting space, featuring state-of-the-art technology to accommodate both large and small groups,
- 21,000 square feet of leased retail space, and
- a 40,000 square foot spa and fitness facility.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
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Kambi Group plc signs Turnkey Sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap
New agreement will see Kambi initially power the operator’s online Betpro and Starplay brands in El Salvador and Panama, with plans for retail and additional markets in the future
Kambi Group plc, the home of premium sports betting solutions, has agreed a long-term, omni-channel sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap, further strengthening Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice in the region.
Under the terms of the agreement, RedCap’s Betpro and Starplay brands will integrate Kambi’s high-performance Turnkey Sportsbook into its proprietary player account management (PAM) platform, enabling a seamless sports betting experience. The operator will replace its current supplier with Kambi’s powerful end-to-end sports betting solution, trusted by market leaders across Latin America and beyond.
The initial rollout will see Betpro and Starplay launch Kambi’s technology across its online sportsbooks in El Salvador and Panama, with the agreement also including scope for retail provision and market expansion. Operating under a multi-brand strategy led by its flagship Betpro brand, the operator aims to leverage the strengths of Kambi’s sportsbook with its in-house technical capability and experienced industry leadership team to achieve success in each market.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “This partnership marks an important next step in Kambi’s Latin American growth strategy. By selecting Kambi to replace their existing provider, RedCap has shown clear confidence in our market-leading technology and ability to support scalable growth. We are excited to help them bring best-in-class sports betting experiences to players across the region.”
Oscar Henao, CEO of RedCap, added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Kambi. This agreement gives us the product and flexibility we need to compete at the highest level, offering our customers premium betting experience across all channels. With Kambi’s support, we look forward to launching in Panama and El Salvador and expanding into new markets as we execute our multi-brand strategy.”
Chicago City Council members are reviving plans to legalize video gambling in the city, introducing two ordinances that could bring hundreds of terminals to O’Hare and Midway airports and allow machines citywide for the first time.
One ordinance, introduced by Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th), targets the city’s airports, where he sees both political feasibility and high revenue potential.
“The General Assembly has provided this opportunity through the casino bill. Yet, we’re not taking advantage of capturing dollars from one of the busiest airports in the country,” Villegas said.
“People are there, in some cases, one or two hours before. If their flight is delayed or they’re making a connection and there is a delay, there’s an opportunity to capture an audience that may not even be going to the city.”
Villegas’ proposal includes a $10,000 license fee per location, plus $500 per terminal. A separate terminal license would cost $1000, with an additional $500 per unit. If 400 machines each generated $800 daily, Villegas estimates annual revenue could reach $116.8 million, with the city taking a share through licensing and taxes.
Alderman Anthony Beale (9th) is pushing for a broader citywide expansion. His ordinance would legalize video gambling throughout Chicago, including in neighborhood bars and restaurants.
“We need to do it citywide and at the airports. We need the revenue and this administration has not shown a willingness to find new revenue that’s not gonna hit the taxpayers in every household,” Beale said.
Beale’s ordinance proposes a $500 license fee per location and a $1000-per-terminal charge for both the site and the machine itself. He has criticized the administration for dismissing the potential benefits, arguing that the current tax formula could be renegotiated with state lawmakers.
“That’s because they haven’t shown the willingness to go down to Springfield and change the formula. I’m hoping that submitting these ordinances will finally convince them to send a team down there,” he said.
Boyd Interactive is live with SlotMatrix Exclusive content in New Jersey, further bolstering EveryMatrix’s US presence.
Boyd Interactive’s tier-1 brands Resorts and Mohegan have access to EveryMatrix’s library of exclusive titles from its in-house studios, including Fantasma Games and Armadillo Studios, via integration with SlotMatrix.
SlotMatrix is the provider’s proprietary game aggregation platform and the industry’s largest content library, with more than 37,000 games from 350+ studios and its own in-house studios, enhanced by EveryMatrix’s gamification and player engagement features, including free spins, leaderboards, and tournaments.
This exciting step continues EveryMatrix’s momentum in the US market, after signing its first US content aggregation deal with betPARX and launching several games in North America this year such as Glorious Diamonds.
Bjorn Sjoberg, CCO of SlotMatrix, said: “Boyd Interactive is one of the largest US gambling operators, and by providing them with our exclusive content, we’re introducing their players to a range of best performing titles, opening a whole new world of entertainment.”
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