|
Poster Financial
Group Announces Sale of the Golden Nugget Hotel-Casino in
Las Vegas To Landry's
Restaurants
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS
WIRE)-2/4/05-Poster Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) and PB
Gaming, Inc. have entered into an agreement to sell the Golden
Nugget Las Vegas to Houston, Texas-based Landry's Restaurants,
Inc. (NYSE:LNY) for approximately $140 million
in cash, and an additional payment by LNY for certain working
capital liabilities.
Under the terms of
the transaction, PB Gaming, the sole stockholder of PFG, would
sell all of the shares of PFG to LSRI Holdings, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Landry's Restaurants, Inc. It is
anticipated that the transaction will close within the next
twelve months, subject to customary closing conditions
contained in the purchase agreement, including receipt of all
necessary governmental, gaming and other approvals.
The agreement provides that PFG's
currently outstanding Senior Secured Notes due 2011 will
remain outstanding obligations of PFG following the closing.
The consummation of the sale will result in a change of
control of PFG under the terms of the Notes and, as a result,
PFG will be required within 30 days of such change of control
to commence an offer to purchase any of its Notes for 101% of
the aggregate principal amount of such Notes, plus any accrued
and unpaid interest.
"This sale is
designed to capitalize on the tremendous demand for casino
properties in Las Vegas and to enhance the ability of PFG to
participate in various business opportunities," said Tim
Poster, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PFG. "We are
delighted that Landry's Restaurants, Inc. shares our
appreciation for the contributions of the Golden Nugget's
employees and customers in making this property a leader for
many years in Las Vegas," said Poster. "We believe that
Landry's will be a proud guardian of the Golden Nugget brand
and will enjoy continued financial success with the property."
"Landry's is thrilled to add casino
gaming to a varied and diverse collection of entertainment
offerings that already includes casual and fine dining,
hospitality and aquarium properties," said Tilman Fertitta,
chairman, president, and CEO of Landry's. "The Golden Nugget
is the premier property in downtown Las Vegas, has outstanding
brand recognition across the country, and is a perfect fit for
us."
Golden Nugget Las Vegas opened
as a gambling hall in 1946. It is the largest resort in
downtown Las Vegas with 1,907 guest rooms and suites; 38,000
square feet of gaming space including 1,300 slots and 50
gaming tables, and 29,000 square feet of meeting and banquet
space. Golden Nugget Las Vegas has received the AAA Four
Diamond Award perennially since 1977. Amenities of the
property include headline entertainment, five award winning
restaurants, a complete spa and salon, 12 meeting and banquet
rooms accommodating up to 400 people, and a year-round outdoor
swimming pool with cabanas. The property is a foundation
member of the Fremont Street Experience, which was developed
in 1996 to attract and entertain visitors to the area.
Additional information and online reservations and travel
packages are available at www.goldennugget.com. Information
available on this website does not form a part of this press
release.
Poster Financial Group,
Inc. is owned by PB Gaming Inc., which is owned by Timothy
Poster and Thomas Breitling, the entrepreneurs who founded the
revolutionary travel website Travelscape.com and later sold it
to Expedia.
Landry's Restaurants
Inc., is the nation's second largest and fastest growing
casual-dining, full-service seafood restaurant chain. Publicly
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Landry's owns and
operates over 300 restaurants, including Landry's Seafood
House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Cafe,
Charley's Crab, Willie G's Seafood & Steak House, The
Chart House, and Saltgrass Steak House, as well as Kemah
Boardwalk, a magnificent 40-acre, family-oriented themed
entertainment destination. The company employs approximately
30,000 workers in 36 states. Additional information is
available at www.landrysrestaurants.com. Information available
on this website does not form a part of this press
release.
|