Hard Rock to buy The Mirage Las Vegas operations from MGM Resorts for $1B

MGM Resorts today announced it has reached an agreement to sell the operations of The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to Hard Rock for $1.075 billion in cash, which would see the first tribal operator on Las Vegas Strip.

Under the terms of the agreement, MGM Resorts will retain The Mirage name and brand, licensing it to Hard Rock royalty-free for a maximum period of three years while it finalizes its plans to rebrand the property.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

"This transaction is a significant milestone for MGM Resorts, and for Las Vegas," said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO & President, MGM Resorts International. "As part of the team that opened The Mirage in 1989, I know firsthand how special it is, and what a great opportunity it presents to the Hard Rock team. I want to thank all of our Mirage employees who have consistently delivered world-class gaming and entertainment experiences to our guests for more than three decades."

"We are honored to welcome The Mirage's 3,500 team members to the Hard Rock family," said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. "When complete, Hard Rock Las Vegas will be a fully integrated resort welcoming meetings, groups, tourists and casino guests from around the world to its nearly 80 acre center-Strip location."

"This announcement marks the culmination of a series of transformational transactions for MGM Resorts during the last several years," said Paul Salem, Chairman of the Board of Directors, MGM Resorts International. "The monetization of our entire real property portfolio, together with the addition of CityCenter and our agreement to acquire The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, will position the Company with a fortress balance sheet, premier portfolio, and significant financial resources to pursue our strategic objectives."

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, The Mirage reported Adjusted Property EBITDAR of $154 million. At the closing of the transaction, MGM Resorts' master lease that currently includes The Mirage property will be amended to reduce the annual rent by $90 million. The Company expects net cash proceeds after taxes and estimated fees to be approximately $815 million.

The Mirage opened in 1989 and was acquired by MGM Resorts in 2000. The iconic property, located at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, is known worldwide for its 90-foot Strip-side volcano, as well as for its dynamic entertainment options.