CET sale to Golden Nugget

Tilman Fertitta-owned firm will buy Caesars Entertainment
in a $17.6 billion deal, the companies said on Thursday, as the hospitality billionaire seeks to expand his leisure empire.

The deal, which will take one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most prized casino operators private, includes about $11.9 billion in assumed debt, the companies said.

Shares of the casino operator rose 2.5% in premarket trading and have gained about 16% since the deal was first reported in February.

Caesars faces mounting pressure as fewer visitors to Las Vegas — its core market — dent revenue at resorts, hotels and casinos, while its online betting arm trails larger rivals like FanDuel and DraftKings and faces growing competition from prediction markets.

Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino and owner of Fertitta Entertainment, offered $31 per share — a nearly 50% premium to the stock’s closing price before the deal was first reported and about 8% to its last close on Wednesday.

Fertitta Entertainment, owner of Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos and the basketball team Houston Rockets, had approached Caesars in 2018 about a merger with its gaming empire, Reuters had reported.

Through his restaurant and hospitality company, Fertitta owns more than 600 properties across 15 countries, including casual dining brands such as Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump Shrimp.

Top executives, including CEO Tom Reeg and CFO Bret Yunker, are expected to stay on. The deal includes a “go-shop” period through July 11, allowing Caesars to weigh alternative proposals.

Caesars combined with smaller rival Eldorado Resorts in 2020 to form one of the biggest casino and entertainment companies in the United States — a deal set in motion after activist billionaire Carl Icahn built a stake a year before and pushed for a sale.

The company now controls more than 50 casinos across North America, including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s and Eldorado, and also runs a retail and online sports-betting app.

If completed, the acquisition would add Caesars’ vast footprint to Fertitta’s entertainment and hospitality empire, potentially drawing regulatory scrutiny.

Fertitta donated actively to President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Ahh that makes sense. There were people on the one AC Facebook group yapping about what's going to happen to Harrah's and Tropicana. He's a businessman and if they make a profit, my guess would be nothing!

Yup heard this was going down. Guess we will have to wait and see how this is going to effect rewards members.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CPT

Ahh that makes sense. There were people on the one AC Facebook group yapping about what's going to happen to Harrah's and Tropicana. He's a businessman and if they make a profit, my guess would be nothing!

I assume they have to sell some properties...Will be interesting to see which in AC and Tahoe, possibly Laughlin aslo...I think Trop in AC, GN in Tahoe and Trop in Laughlin. Biloxi they may be abbe to keep two but if not do they Keep GN that floods or Harrahs with the small casino. Hopefully the locals are safe as that gives them access to the online sports betting in those states. Hope they keep doing the charters and keep things somewhat the same.