SKYCITY sells Darwin business ahead of book value

The sale of SKYCITY’s Darwin business to US-based, global hospitality operator Delaware North is a positive outcome that ensures the casino will have a bright future, says SKYCITY Entertainment Group Chief Executive Graeme Stephens.

The company announced today that it has signed an agreement¹ to sell its Darwin business, excluding the land it holds at Little Mindil, for A$188 million - a price slightly in excess of book value².

Mr Stephens says the sale is a good outcome for SKYCITY, the resort’s staff, and the city of Darwin. “I’m really pleased that following a very competitive tender process Delaware North has emerged as the successful bidder. They are a highly respected and well-established hospitality and gaming company and I’m very comfortable handing over the business we have built up over the past 14 years to an operator of this calibre.’’

Mr Stephens says while the resort has been performing better financially over the past 12 months, SKYCITY’s future strategy had the company looking closer to its New Zealand home base and its expanding casino facilities in Adelaide.

“Selling was not an easy decision. We’re proud of our contribution to Darwin and the Northern Territory over the past 14 years. Since we purchased the business in 2004 we’ve developed Darwin’s casino into an integrated entertainment destination, refurbishing the resort, adding new restaurants, bars and VIP facilities, a new 5-star resort hotel and supporting various community events.

“So now feels like the right time to hand the baton across to a new owner to continue the next stage in Darwin casino’s journey,’’ Mr Stephens says.

“Australia has been a second home for Delaware North for 30 years,” says Lou Jacobs, Co-CEO of Delaware North. “We are thrilled to have grown our business into a diversity of operations across the country, which has been possible because of our incredibly talented and diverse workforce of more than 10,000 people.

“With SKYCITY Darwin, we are expanding our presence in the gaming and entertainment market. We look forward to working with SKYCITY Entertainment Group to welcome their employees at SKYCITY Darwin to the Delaware North family,” Mr Jacobs says.

SKYCITY’s association with Darwin will continue for some time however, through the ongoing use of the casino’s VIP facilities for at least the next two years³ (subject to availability) and the company also retains the rights to operate an online casino in partnership with Delaware North should a licence be granted in the future.

“We see both International Business and the online space as future growth areas for us, so we see value in this outcome,’’ Mr Stephens says.

SKYCITY will also continue to own the beachfront Little Mindil site and will run a separate process to sell the prime waterfront site.

With the sale of the Darwin casino still contingent on matters,⁴ including the new owner gaining regulatory approvals in the Northern Territory, SKYCITY will continue running the business until regulatory approval is received. All the company’s 650 staff will be retained once the change of ownership takes effect.

“The sale is consistent with our “capital lighter” strategy to sell non-core assets and to allocate capital to assets and businesses which we feel are aligned with our long-term strategic objectives. As always, our top priority is to deliver attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders.

“It also allows us to concentrate our Australian activities in Adelaide, which is undergoing a A$330m expansion, due for completion in late 2020,” says Mr Stephens. 

SKYCITY has not yet determined what it will do with the sale proceeds following completion, but there are a number of strategic initiatives being pursued that the company expects would generate returns above its cost of capital.

Notes:

1. The key terms of the sale are as follows:
   • Sale price of A$188 million for 100 per cent of the shares in SKYCITY Darwin Pty Limited (SKYCITY Darwin) on a cash-free and debt-free basis; and
   • Little Mindil property (book value A$11 million), located adjacent to SKYCITY Darwin, to be retained by SKYCITY and sold separately.

2. The transaction is expected to result in a debit balance of approximately NZ$20 million relating to SKYCITY Darwin being transferred from SKYCITY’s Foreign Currency Translation Reserve (FCTR) to the income statement at completion. Net position offsetting book profit against transaction costs and FCTR is ($16m).

3. Access to VIP suites is subject to availability and SKYCITY will reimburse Delaware North for all associated costs.

4. The agreement with Delaware North is conditional upon:
   1. Delaware North obtaining the required approvals from the Northern Territory Government;
   2. Delaware North obtaining financing approval (which is well progressed) for the acquisition within 60 days;
   3. No material adverse change in SKYCITY Darwin’s business occurring prior to completion; and
   4. The Little Mindil property being transferred from SKYCITY Darwin prior to completion.