Operator News

US – Gaming & Leisure Properties completes purchase of Tropicana Las Vegas

Gaming and Leisure Properties, has completed the acquisition of Tropicana Las Vegas and provided an update on the collection of April 2020 rents for its portfolio of the real estate for 44 gaming and related facilities.

The company and some of its subsidiaries acquired the real property associated with the Tropicana from Penn National Gaming, in exchange for rent credits of $307.5m, which will be applied to rent due under the parties’ existing leases for the months of May, June, July, August, October and a portion of November 2020.

Pursuant to the terms of the transaction with Penn National, GLPI will conduct a sale process with respect to the Tropicana Las Vegas (including the casino and hotel business). If a definitive agreement for the sale is entered into during the first year of the sale process, Penn National Gaming will receive 75 per cent of the net proceeds above $307.5m plus certain taxes, expenses and costs. If a definitive agreement is entered into during the second year of the sale process Penn National Gaming will receive 50 per cent of the proceeds above $307.5m plus certain taxes, expenses and costs, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions in the Tropicana Purchase Agreement. GLPI will receive all proceeds from any sale occurring after the initial two years.

Simultaneous with GLPI’s acquisition of the Tropicana, the company entered into a lease with Penn National for the Tropicana for nominal annual rent and Penn National will continue to operate the property for two years (subject to three one-year extensions at GLPI’s option) or until the Tropicana is sold, whichever is earlier. The lease is a triple net lease relieving the Company from carrying and other costs at the property during the lease term.

In conjunction with the transaction, the Company’s credit facility lenders offered broad cooperation without a fee and with support of 83% to amend the revenue definition included in the Company’s credit agreement to allow non-cash rent to be included in all covenant calculations as cash equivalents.

While all of GLPI’s tenants’ properties as well as the Company’s two TRS properties were closed in mid-March as a result of COVID-19 related precautions, the Company collected 98.6 per cent of contractual April rent, including amounts paid by Penn National.

GLPI’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Carlino, commented: “GLPI believes its collaborative and mutually beneficial outcome with Penn National provides us and our investor base greater visibility and predictability for rent receipts over the remainder of 2020. We are also grateful to our credit facility lenders for their support in facilitating the transaction with Penn National in a manner that acknowledges the unforeseen circumstances and that represents a unified spirit of cooperation to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19.”