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In the casino business, large-scale acquisitions often stoke chatter about asset sales and that’s certainly true with Fertitta Entertainment Inc.’s (FEI) $17.6 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR), but the latest talk may be a prime example of don’t believe everything you read.
Recent talk on the Vegas subreddit indicates that Planet Hollywood could come up for sale after Tilman Fertitta’s entertainment and leisure company closes its purchase of Caesars next year as the buyer looks to pare debt. There was also brief mention on another social media forum of Flamingo, another Caesars Las Vegas Strip casino hotel, potentially coming up for sale, but neither rumor is accurate.
To be sure, there’s ample chatter that when Caesars and FEI, which owns the Golden Nugget casinos, are officially married, asset sales will be on the table – a scenario that could include a Strip property or the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas.
Caesars CEO Tom Reeg, who’s expected to take the helm of the combined company when the acquisition closes, has previously hinted that some asset sales may occur when the deal is finalized, but those transactions won’t be earth-shattering news.
A Reddit Rehash?
While talk of a possible sale of Planet Hollywood may be new to Reddit, it’s not a fresh rumor. That speculation surfaced in 2021, but quickly died, likely due in large part to the venue’s status as a money-maker for Caesars.
Perhaps making the Reddit rumor all the more unlikely was mention of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) possibly being the buyer of Planet Hollywood. MGM is already the largest operator on the Strip.
Likewise, conjecture about the fate of Flamingo is ancient in casino industry mergers and acquisitions terms. In 2022, reports surfaced that Caesars was shopping Flamingo, but prospective buyers reportedly balked at the unconfirmed $1 billion asking price.
At that time, reported issues centered around Flamingo needing some tender loving care, which Caesars has since committed to, and how the venue would perform upon being unplugged from the massive Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
The Real Estate Angle
If there is an element in the Planet Hollywood (or Flamingo) rumored sale equation that could validate the thesis is that, contrary to popular belief, Caesars owns the real estate, not VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI).
While VICI is Caesars’ primary landlord and the largest owner of Las Vegas gaming real estate, the Caesars Strip venues at which the real estate investment trust (REIT) owns the land are Caesars Palace and Harrah’s. Some prospective casino buyers are said to be prioritizing venues where the seller owns the real estate because the suitors don’t want to take on long-term obligations to property owners like VICI.
Where things get interesting is that when Eldorado Resorts unveiled its acquisition offer for “old Caesars” in June 2019, it granted VICI rights of first refusal on several Caesars Strip casino hotels, including Flamingo and Planet Hollywood.