Gaming and Leisure Properties Announces the Acquisition of Three Casino Resorts in South Dakota and Nevada for $105 Million and Establishes New Tenant Relationship With Strategic Gaming Management

Transaction is Expected to be Immediately Accretive

WYOMISSING, Pa., May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLPI) (“GLPI”) today acquired the real estate assets of the Silverado Franklin Hotel & Gaming Complex (“Silverado”), the Deadwood Mountain Grand (“DMG”) casino, and Baldini’s Casino (“Baldini’s”), for $105.0 million in aggregate. Simultaneous with the acquisition, GLPI and affiliates of Strategic Gaming Management, LLC (“Strategic”) will enter into two cross-defaulted triple-net lease agreements, each for an initial 25-year term with two ten-year renewal periods. GLPI also provided $5 million in capital improvement proceeds at the closing of the transactions for a total investment of $110 million. The initial aggregate annual cash rent for the new leases is $9.2 million, inclusive of capital improvement funding, and represents an 8.4% capitalization rate. The initial annualized rent coverage ratio for the leases is expected to be 2.0x. Rent associated with the lease is subject to a fixed 2.0% annual escalation beginning in year three of the lease and a CPI based annual escalation beginning in year 11 of the lease, of the greater of 2.0% or CPI capped at 2.5%.

As part of the transaction, GLPI also secured a right of first refusal, or ROFR, on the real estate related to future acquisitions until Strategic’s adjusted EBITDAR related to GLPI owned assets reaches $40 million annualized.

Peter Carlino, GLPI’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “With our acquisition of the Silverado, DMG, and Baldini’s properties, we are pleased to further diversify our property portfolio while expanding our tenant roster through our new relationship with Strategic, a dynamic and growing gaming operator. The addition of Strategic’s properties expands our portfolio to 65 properties across 20 states with 9 tenants and is expected to be immediately accretive to GLPI’s operating results. Strategic is led by CEO J. Grant Lincoln who formed the company in 2009. Under Grant’s stewardship, Strategic operates three properties with solid leadership positions in their respective markets, while generating growth in patronage and cash flows. With the initial transaction and our right of first refusal on growth opportunities, we look forward to the start of a long-term mutually beneficial relationship with Grant and Strategic. Our initiatives to expand our portfolio remain active in the current environment as our reputation as the gaming landlord of choice is further strengthened and reinforced by this transaction.”