Big Fish Caught for US$1bn by Aristocrat NORTH AMERICA
Aristocrat Leisure is buying social gaming company Big Fish Games for US$990m in cash from Churchill Downs, a global publisher of free-to-play games
Aristocrat is to buy Big Fish Games, a Seattle-based business with around 700 full time staff and development studios in Seattle and Oakland in the US
US SUPPLIER NEWS
BAHAMAS – The 299-room SLS Baha Mar hotel is now open within Baha Mar, the $4.2bn beachfront resort destination in Nassau with an elite collection of global luxury brands set along 3,000 feet of sparkling white sand beach and crystal clear waters.
Keeping in the SLS Hotel brand tradition, a Ringing of the Bell Event took place on property on November 17, 2017 to mark the official opening of the fifth SLS property.
The event, hosted by sbe Founder & CEO Sam Nazarian with remarks from President of Baha Mar Graeme Davis, and the Honorable Dr. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, showcased the best of the new SLS Baha Mar and its culinary and entertainment outlets with bites from the latest restaurant to open at Baha Mar, Cleo, and specialty drinks from Monkey Bar in the hotel lobby. Approximately 700 VIPs, influencers, media and guests gathered at the hotel to toast the launch, including Bahamas Tourism and Aviation Minister Hon. Dionisio D'Aguilar; Executive Chef of Cleo, Chef Danny Elmaleh; and actress, entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger Cara Santana.
Guests were welcomed with a steel drum band, served Perrier-Jouët champagne and evian water, and entertained by belly dancers, water sphere performers, and an electric violinist who played from a floating stage at Bungalow Pool Bar & Grill.
US – Interblock has promoted Timothy Spatharos from Senior Director of Global Operations to Vice President of Operations. Tim is responsible for overseeing the delivery of quality products to Interblock's customers and will provide insightful analysis to improve operating performance and margins. He is based in the company’s North American headquarters in Las Vegas.
“As Interblock continues to experience record- breaking growth, having someone of Tim's caliber leading our operational and manufacturing initiatives is a huge step forward for our organization,”said John Connelly, CEO of Interblock. “This announcement further stresses our commitment to improving the level of service and support we provide our customers. I look forward to what he will accomplish as VP of Operations.”
Tim comes to Interblock with an impressive background in international operations, fiscal management and lean management. Prior to Interblock, Tim served as Senior Director of International Operations for Bally Technologies, where he was responsible for monthly forecasting of multiple international business units and achieving operational objectives. Prior to that role, he held various positions at TEFTEC Corporation.
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247.COM
Aristocrat Leisure is buying social gaming company Big Fish Games for US$990m in cash from Churchill Downs, a global publisher of free-to-play games that operates across three key business lines that are focused on specific game segments, including Social Casino, Social Gaming and Premium Paid games.
Big Fish will operate as a standalone business alongside Product Madness and Plarium, minimising scope for disruption to Aristocrat’s existing businesses. Te transaction is subject to regulatory and other approvals, and customary closing conditions. Te transaction is expected to complete in the first quarter of calendar year 2018. Under the sale and purchase agreement, Big Fish and Churchill Downs have made representations, warranties and covenants customary for a transaction of this type.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Aristocrat, Trevor Croker said: “Te strategic and financial benefits from the acquisition are highly compelling. Te acquisition of Big Fish will immediately provide scale across our entire
Planet Hollywood celebrates 10 years with renovations
Nevada
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino has completed a US$100m room renovation, pairing dynamic entertainment and dining offerings with 2,496 contemporary new guest rooms and suites. Te renovation comes as the resort celebrates 10 years at the center of the Las Vegas Strip.
Te resort is the first in Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas portfolio to have all guest rooms completely renovated as part of a 23,000 Vegas hotel room renovation program that will be more than 50 per cent complete by the end of 2017.
"Caesars Entertainment is committed to offering the best experience to our guests and this includes stylish new rooms," says Bob Morse, President of Hospitality for
Caesars Entertainment. "Te Planet Hollywood renovation is a significant milestone as it is the first complete hotel renovation in Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas Resorts' larger room renovation initiative."
Designed by Bergman, Walls & Associates, the vibrant new guest rooms and suites feature a sleek, white colour palette and ‘unexpected’ décor including suspended sofas and round beds. Bold artwork throughout the rooms and corridors were inspired by the modern rock star guest, showcasing edgy imagery capturing the essence of Las Vegas nightlife. Some guest rooms and suites offer striking views of the Las Vegas Strip, a result of the resort's prime position on Te Strip.
Digital platform, following the recent acquisition of Plarium, which expanded our Digital business into the fast growing social gaming market. Our Digital revenues approximately double from A$651 million, pro- forma for the acquisition of Plarium, to A$1.3 billion for the year ended 30 September 2017."
“Our Social Casino business will become the second largest Social Casino publisher globally, with revenues increasing from A$383m to A$641m for the year ended 30 September 20176. Big Fish’s digital-first social casino content and industry-leading meta-game capability and applications are highly complementary to Aristocrat’s existing and industry-leading land based digital content business.”
“Te acquisition of Big Fish will also materially expand our social gaming footprint, positioning Aristocrat to further capitalise on growth in mobile gaming following the acquisition of Plarium. Big Fish's strength in casual and card games is highly complementary to Plarium's strategy games portfolio."
Canada
Canadian casino operator Century Casinos is looking to float 4.25m shares of its common stock at a price of $7.50 per share. Net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering costs, are expected to be $30.2m. Te company intends to use up to $25m of the net proceeds received from the offering to fund construction costs for the Century Mile project. Tis one- mile racetrack is expected to open in the second half of 2018 next to the Edmonton International Airport. With a minimum of 100 race days per year, it will also host a vibrant racing entertainment centre and will provide all forms of Pari-Mutuel wagering. Te multi-level building will offer a wide variety of slots, superior dining atmosphere and a multitude of family friendly experiences including concerts, festivals and themed events. Te state-of-the-art barns will accommodate 800 stalls.
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