Operator News
US – MGM Resorts announces transformational agreements with VICI and MGM Growth Properties
By Phil - 5 August 2021
MGM Resorts International has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with VICI Properties and MGM Growth Properties LLC whereby VICI would redeem a majority of MGP operating partnership units held by MGM Resorts for $43 per unit, or approximately $4.4bn in cash, and acquire 100% of the outstanding class A shares of MGP in a stock-for-stock transaction.
“In 2016 we started on our journey to become asset light and this announcement, together with our recently announced Springfield and CityCenter transactions, reflects the culmination of those efforts and a major step forward in simplifying our corporate structure,” said Bill Hornbuckle, Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts. “As a result of these actions, we are well positioned and remain focused on pursuing growth opportunities in our core business, with significant financial flexibility to continue to deploy capital to maximize shareholder value.”
This transaction values MGP at $17.2bn, inclusive of VICI’s assumption of approximately $5.7bn of pro rata debt. Adjusted for the recently announced MGM Springfield transaction, the implied 17.5x pro rata EBITDA multiple ranks among the strongest for a gaming real estate transaction to date and is a testament to the quality of the Company’s real estate assets and the Company’s strength as a tenant.
Since the Company formed MGP in a milestone transaction in 2016, the company and MGP have successfully executed multiple transactions providing for significant cash proceeds that Company has used to strengthen its balance sheet, return capital to shareholders and fund substantial investments in significant growth opportunities. Among these investments is the formation of BetMGM, which has now solidified its position as a leader in the iGaming and sports betting market in the US. These efforts also favorably positioned the Company to weather the unprecedented crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed the Company to emerge in a position of strength as the economy continues to rebound. After giving effect to the $4.4bn in cash proceeds from this transaction, as well as the Springfield and CityCenter transactions, the company expects to have $11.6bn of domestic operations liquidity available to enable execution of its goals of becoming the premier gaming entertainment company, returning value to shareholders and solidifying its balance sheet.
“The partnership with MGP over the past 5 years has provided significant value to MGM Resorts as well as MGP’s other shareholders,” said Paul Salem, Chairman of the Board of MGP. “We are thankful to the MGP management team for all of their efforts to develop MGP into a premier gaming REIT, which is evidenced by the 15.9% premium offered by VICI in this transaction, representing a 149 per cent increase to MGP’s valuation since IPO. We look forward to our new long-term partnership with the great team at VICI.”
“Since our IPO in 2016, MGP completed over $7bn of real estate transactions that grew our portfolio of premier entertainment assets, including introducing innovative transaction structures to the gaming REIT universe,” said James Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of MGP. “As a result of our completed and announced transactions, MGP’s pro rata rental revenue has nearly doubled from $550m at IPO to approximately $1bn, our annualised dividends per share increased 44%, and our total shareholder return has more than doubled. Following the strategic merger with VICI, MGP shareholders will benefit from the collective strengths of both companies.”
Ed Pitoniak, Chief Executive Officer of VICI Properties, said: “We have always admired the exceptional quality of MGP’s real estate portfolio and are thrilled this transaction allows MGM to reach its stated objectives while enhancing value for both VICI and MGP shareholders.”
As part of the transaction, the existing master lease will be amended and restated and will provide for an initial term of 25 years, with three ten-year renewals, and an initial annual rent of $860m, inclusive of the pending MGM Springfield transaction. This lease will be guaranteed by the company and will provide the company with significant flexibility to manage its operations across the portfolio of properties covered by the lease.
As part of the agreement, MGM Resorts will own an approximate 1% stake in the VICI operating partnership, worth approximately $370m. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and approval by VICI stockholders.
