Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One) | |
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 | |
OR | |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to | |
Commission file number 001-36124
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 46-2116489 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
845 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 200 Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (Address of principal executive offices) | 19610 (Zip Code) | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 401-2900
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share | NASDAQ | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o Emerging growth company o | |||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of June 30, 2017 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $7.6 billion. Such aggregate market value was computed by reference to the closing price of the common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2017.
The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of February 12, 2018 was 213,223,235.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting of shareholders (when it is filed) will be incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
IMPORTANT FACTORS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements in this document are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI") and subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company's business strategy, plans, and goals and objectives.
Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our ability to grow our portfolio of gaming facilities and to secure additional avenues of growth beyond the gaming industry, and our expectations with respect to the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (“Pinnacle”) by Penn National Gaming, Inc. (“Penn”) and the impact on our business and results of operations. In addition, statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans," "may increase," "may fluctuate," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. You should understand that the following important factors could affect future results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:
• | the availability of and the ability to identify suitable and attractive acquisition and development opportunities and the ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms; |
• | the degree and nature of our competition; |
• | the ultimate timing and outcome (including the possibility that the proposed transaction may not be completed or that completion may be unduly delayed) of the proposed merger transaction between Penn and Pinnacle; |
• | the ability to receive, or delays in obtaining, the regulatory approvals required to own and/or operate our properties, or other delays or impediments to completing our planned acquisitions or projects; |
• | our ability to maintain our status as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), given the highly technical and complex Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist, where even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize REIT qualification and where requirements may depend in part on the actions of third parties over which the Company has no control or only limited influence; |
• | the satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis in order for the Company to maintain its REIT status; |
• | the ability and willingness of our tenants, operators and other third parties to meet and/or perform their obligations under their respective contractual arrangements with us, including, in some cases, their obligations to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities; |
• | the ability of our tenants and operators to maintain the financial strength and liquidity necessary to satisfy their respective obligations and liabilities to third parties, including without limitation obligations under their existing credit facilities and other indebtedness; |
• | the ability of our tenants and operators to comply with laws, rules and regulations in the operation of our properties, to deliver high quality services, to attract and retain qualified personnel and to attract customers; |
• | the ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness; |
• | the access to debt and equity capital markets; |
• | adverse changes in our credit rating; |
• | fluctuating interest rates; |
• | the impact of global or regional economic conditions; |
• | the availability of qualified personnel and our ability to retain our key management personnel; |
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• | GLPI's duty to indemnify Penn in certain circumstances if the spin-off transaction described in Part 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K fails to be tax-free; |
• | changes in the United States tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to real estate, real estate investment trusts or to the gaming, lodging or hospitality industries; |
• | changes in accounting standards; |
• | the impact of weather events or conditions, natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other international hostilities, war or political instability; |
• | other risks inherent in the real estate business, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and |
• | additional factors discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in this report. |
Certain of these factors and other factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of this report. Other unknown or unpredictable factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are difficult to anticipate and are generally beyond the control of the Company.
You should consider the areas of risk described above, as well as those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors," in connection with considering any forward-looking statements that may be made by the Company generally. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required to do so by law.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes information regarding Penn National Gaming, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively "Penn") and Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively "Pinnacle"). Penn and Pinnacle are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and are required to file with the SEC annual reports containing audited financial information and quarterly reports containing unaudited financial information. The information related to Penn and Pinnacle provided in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been derived from Penn and Pinnacle's respective public filings. We have not independently verified this information. We have no reason to believe that this information derived from Penn and Pinnacle's public filings is inaccurate in any material respect that has not been disclosed publicly. We are providing this data for information purposes only. Penn and Pinnacle's filings with the SEC can be found at www.sec.gov.
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms "we," "us," "our," the "Company" and "GLPI" refer to Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
GLPI is a self-administered and self-managed Pennsylvania REIT. The Company was formed from the 2013 tax-free spin-off of the real estate assets of Penn and was incorporated in Pennsylvania on February 13, 2013, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn. On November 1, 2013, Penn contributed to GLPI, through a series of internal corporate restructurings, substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with Penn's real property interests and real estate development business, as well as the assets and liabilities of Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge) and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Perryville), which are referred to as the "TRS Properties," and then spun-off GLPI to holders of Penn's common and preferred stock in a tax-free distribution (the "Spin-Off"). The assets and liabilities of GLPI were recorded at their respective historical carrying values at the time of the Spin-Off in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 505-60, "Spinoffs and Reverse Spinoffs." GLPI owns and operates the TRS Properties through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, GLP Holdings, Inc.
The Company elected on its United States ("U.S.") federal income tax return for its taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT and the Company, together with GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" (a "TRS") effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. In connection with the Spin-Off, Penn allocated its accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) for periods prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off between Penn and GLPI. In connection with its election to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the year ended December 31, 2014, GLPI declared a special dividend to its shareholders to distribute any accumulated earnings and profits relating to the real property assets and attributable to any pre-REIT years, including any earnings and profits allocated to GLPI in connection with the Spin-Off, to comply with certain REIT qualification requirements (the "Purging Distribution").
As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn's former real property assets and leases back these assets to Penn for use by its subsidiaries pursuant to a unitary master lease (the "Penn Master Lease"). The Penn Master Lease is a triple-net operating lease with an initial term of 15 years (expiring October 31, 2028) with no purchase option, followed by four 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Penn) on the same terms and conditions. In April 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. ("Pinnacle") for approximately $4.8 billion. GLPI leases these assets back to Pinnacle, under a unitary triple-net lease with an initial term of 10 years (expiring April 30, 2026) with no purchase option, followed by five 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions (the "Pinnacle Master Lease" and together with the Penn Master Lease, the "Master Leases"). See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details surrounding the Pinnacle acquisition.
GLPI's primary business consists of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. Triple-net leases are leases in which the lessee pays rent to the lessor, as well as all taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses that arise from the use of the property. As of December 31, 2017, GLPI’s portfolio consisted of 38 gaming and related facilities, including the TRS Properties, the real property associated with 20 gaming and related facilities operated by Penn, the real property associated with 15 gaming and related facilities operated by Pinnacle and the real property associated with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. These facilities are geographically diversified across 14 states and contain approximately 15.2 million of rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's properties were 100% occupied.
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We expect to grow our portfolio by pursuing opportunities to acquire additional gaming facilities to lease to gaming operators under prudent terms. For example, on December 17, 2017, the Company entered into agreements to purchase two additional properties, Plainridge Park Casino and Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center, from Penn and Pinnacle, respectively. We will acquire these properties in connection with the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle by Penn pursuant to a definitive agreement and plan of merger between them, also dated December 17, 2017 (the "Merger"). Subject to and concurrently with the completion of the Merger, we have agreed to, among other things, amend our master lease with Pinnacle to allow for the sale by Pinnacle of the operating assets at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles and Belterra Casino Resort to Boyd Gaming Corporation (“Boyd”) and to enter into a new master lease agreement with Boyd on terms similar to the Company’s existing leases. The transaction is expected to add additional annual rental revenue of approximately $46 million upon closing. The transaction which is subject to regulatory approval is expected to close in the second half of 2018.
Additionally, we believe we have the ability to leverage the expertise our management team has developed over the years to secure additional avenues for growth beyond the gaming industry.
Tax Status
We elected on our 2014 U.S. federal income tax return to be treated as a REIT and intend to continue to be organized and to operate in a manner that will permit us to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income to shareholders. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that we distribute as dividends to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates, and dividends paid to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing taxable income. Any resulting corporate liability could be substantial and could materially and adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distribution to shareholders. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code, we also would be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to qualify to be taxed as a REIT.
Our TRS Properties are able to engage in activities resulting in income that is not qualifying income for a REIT. As a result, certain activities of the Company which occur within our TRS Properties are subject to federal and state income taxes.
Tenants
As of December 31, 2017, 20 of the Company’s real estate investment properties were leased to a subsidiary of Penn under the Penn Master Lease and 14 of the Company's real estate investment properties were leased to a subsidiary of Pinnacle under the Pinnacle Master Lease. Penn and Pinnacle are both leading, diversified, multi-jurisdictional owners and managers of gaming and pari-mutuel properties and established gaming providers with strong financial performance. The obligations under the Penn and Pinnacle Master Leases are guaranteed by Penn and Pinnacle, respectively, and by most of Penn's and Pinnacle's subsidiaries that occupy and operate the facilities leased under the respective Master Leases. Additionally, the real estate assets of the Meadows Racetrack and Casino (the "Meadows") are leased to Pinnacle under a single property triple-net operating lease separate from the Pinnacle Master Lease (the "Meadows Lease"). GLPI also leases the Casino Queen property back to its operator on a triple-net basis on terms similar to those in the Master Leases (the "Casino Queen Lease").
The rent structure under the Penn Master Lease includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is adjusted, subject to certain floors (i) every five years to an amount equal to 4% of the average net revenues of all facilities under the Penn Master Lease (other than Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo) during the preceding five years, and (ii) monthly by an amount equal to 20% of the net revenues of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo during the preceding month.
Similar to the Penn Master Lease, the Pinnacle Master Lease also includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is adjusted, subject to certain floors, every two years to an amount equal to 4% of the average annual net revenues of all facilities under the Pinnacle Master Lease during the preceding two years.
The Meadows Lease contains a fixed component, subject to annual escalators, and a component that is based on the performance of the facility, which is reset every two years to a fixed amount determined by multiplying (i) 4% by (ii) the average annual net revenues of the facility for the trailing two year period. The Meadows Lease contains an annual escalator provision for up to 5% of the base rent, if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, which remains at 5% until the earlier of ten years or the year in which total rent is $31 million, at which point the escalator will be reduced to 2% annually thereafter.
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The rent structure under the Casino Queen Lease also includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facility, which is reset every five years to a fixed amount equal to the greater of (i) the annual amount of non-fixed rent applicable for the lease year immediately preceding such rent reset year and (ii) an amount equal to 4% of the average annual net revenues of the facility for the trailing five year period.
In addition to rent, as triple-net lessees, all of the Company's tenants are required to pay the following executory costs: (1) all facility maintenance, (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, including coverage of the landlord's interests, (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties, (other than taxes on the income of the lessor) and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.
Our tenants do not have the ability to terminate their obligations under our long-term tenant leases prior to their expiration without the Company's consent. If our long-term tenant leases are terminated prior to their expiration other than with our consent, our tenants may be liable for damages and incur charges such as continued payment of rent through the end of the lease term and maintenance costs for the leased property. All of our tenant leases contain a limited number of renewal options which may be exercised at our tenants' option. Both the Penn Master Lease and Casino Queen Lease have an initial term of 15 years with no purchase option, followed by four 5 year renewal options (exercisable by Penn or Casino Queen, respectively) on the same terms and conditions, while the Pinnacle Master Lease has an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option, followed by five 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions. The Meadows Lease has an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option and the option to renew for three successive 5-year terms and one 4-year term, (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions.
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The following table summarizes certain features of our properties as of December 31, 2017:
Location | Type of Facility | Approx. Property Square Footage (1) | Owned Acreage | Leased Acreage (2) | Hotel Rooms | |||||||||
Tenants | ||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg | Lawrenceburg, IN | Dockside gaming | 634,000 | 73.1 | 32.1 | 295 | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora, IL | Dockside gaming | 222,189 | 0.4 | 1.7 | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joliet, IL | Dockside gaming | 322,446 | 276.4 | — | 100 | ||||||||
Argosy Casino Alton | Alton, IL | Dockside gaming | 124,569 | 0.2 | 3.6 | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Toledo | Toledo, OH | Land-based gaming | 285,335 | 43.8 | — | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Columbus | Columbus, OH | Land-based gaming | 354,075 | 116.2 | — | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races | Charles Town, WV | Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing | 511,249 | 298.6 | — | 153 | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | Grantville, PA | Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing | 451,758 | 573.7 | — | — | ||||||||
M Resort | Henderson, NV | Land-based gaming | 910,173 | 83.5 | — | 390 | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Bangor | Bangor, ME | Land-based gaming/Harness racing | 257,085 | 6.4 | 37.9 | 152 | ||||||||
Zia Park Casino (3) | Hobbs, NM | Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing | 109,067 | 317.4 | — | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast | Bay St. Louis, MS | Land-based gaming | 425,920 | 578.7 | — | 291 | ||||||||
Argosy Casino Riverside | Riverside, MO | Dockside gaming | 450,397 | 37.9 | — | 258 | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Tunica | Tunica, MS | Dockside gaming | 315,831 | — | 67.7 | 494 | ||||||||
Boomtown Biloxi | Biloxi, MS | Dockside gaming | 134,800 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino St. Louis | Maryland Heights, MO | Land-based gaming | 645,270 | 247.8 | — | 502 | ||||||||
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway | Dayton, OH | Land-based gaming/Standardbred racing | 191,037 | 119.7 | — | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course | Youngstown, OH | Land-based gaming/Thoroughbred racing | 177,448 | 193.4 | — | — | ||||||||
Resorts Casino Tunica | Tunica, MS | Dockside gaming | 319,823 | — | 86.6 | 201 | ||||||||
1st Jackpot Casino (formerly known as Bally's Casino Tunica) | Tunica, MS | Dockside gaming | 78,941 | 52.9 | 93.8 | — | ||||||||
Casino Queen | East St. Louis, IL | Land-based gaming | 330,502 | 67.2 | — | 157 | ||||||||
Ameristar Black Hawk | Black Hawk, CO | Land-based gaming | 775,744 | 104.1 | — | 535 | ||||||||
Ameristar East Chicago | East Chicago, IN | Dockside gaming | 509,867 | — | 21.6 | 288 | ||||||||
Belterra Casino Resort (3) | Florence, IN | Dockside gaming | 733,751 | 167.1 | 148.5 | 608 | ||||||||
Ameristar Council Bluffs (3) | Council Bluffs, IA | Dockside gaming | 312,047 | 36.2 | 22.6 | 160 | ||||||||
L'Auberge Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | Dockside gaming | 436,461 | 99.1 | — | 205 | ||||||||
Boomtown Bossier City | Bossier City, LA | Dockside gaming | 281,747 | 21.8 | — | 187 | ||||||||
L'Auberge Lake Charles | Lake Charles, LA | Dockside gaming | 1,014,497 | — | 234.5 | 995 | ||||||||
Boomtown New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | Dockside gaming | 278,227 | 53.6 | — | 150 | ||||||||
Ameristar Vicksburg | Vicksburg, MS | Dockside gaming | 298,006 | 74.1 | — | 149 | ||||||||
Ameristar Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Dockside gaming | 763,939 | 224.5 | 31.4 | 184 | ||||||||
Ameristar St. Charles | St. Charles, MO | Dockside gaming | 1,272,938 | 241.2 | — | 397 | ||||||||
River City Casino and Hotel | St. Louis, MO | Dockside gaming | 431,226 | — | 83.4 | 200 | ||||||||
Jackpot Properties (4) | Jackpot, NV | Land-based gaming | 419,800 | 79.5 | — | 416 | ||||||||
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino (3) | Washington, PA | Land-based gaming | 417,921 | 155.5 | — | — | ||||||||
15,198,086 | 4,345.5 | 866.4 | 7,467 | |||||||||||
TRS Properties | ||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | Dockside gaming | 120,517 | 24.1 | — | — | ||||||||
Hollywood Casino Perryville | Perryville, MD | Land-based gaming | 97,961 | 36.4 | — | — | ||||||||
218,478 | 60.5 | — | — | |||||||||||
Total | 15,416,564 | 4,406.0 | 866.4 | 7,467 | ||||||||||
(1) | Square footage includes air conditioned space and excludes parking garages and barns. |
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(2) | Leased acreage reflects land subject to leases with third parties and includes land on which certain of the current facilities and ancillary supporting structures are located as well as parking lots and access rights. |
(3) | These properties include hotels not owned by the Company. Square footage and rooms associated with properties not owned by GLPI are excluded from the table above. |
(4) | Encompasses two gaming properties in Jackpot, Nevada, Cactus Pete’s and The Horseshu. |
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
We own 73.1 acres and lease 32.1 acres in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a portion of which serves as the dockside embarkation for the gaming vessel, and includes a Hollywood-themed casino riverboat, an entertainment pavilion, a 295-room hotel, two parking garages and an adjacent surface lot, with the other portion used for remote parking.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
We own a dockside barge structure and land-based pavilion in Aurora, Illinois. We own the land, which is approximately 0.4 acres, on which the pavilion is located. The property also includes two parking garages under capital lease agreements and rights to a pedestrian walkway bridge under an operating lease, together comprising 1.7 acres.
Hollywood Casino Joliet
We own 276.4 acres in Joliet, Illinois, which includes a barge-based casino, land-based pavilion, a 100-room hotel, a parking garage, surface parking areas and a recreational vehicle park.
Argosy Casino Alton
We lease 3.6 acres in Alton, Illinois, a portion of which serves as the dockside boarding for the Alton Belle II, a riverboat casino. The dockside facility includes an entertainment pavilion and office space, as well as surface parking areas. In addition, we own an office building property consisting of 0.2 acres.
Hollywood Casino Toledo
We own a 43.8 acre site in Toledo, Ohio, where Hollywood Casino Toledo is located. The property includes the casino as well as structured and surface parking.
Hollywood Casino Columbus
We own 116.2 acres of land in Columbus, Ohio, where Hollywood Casino Columbus is located. The property includes the casino as well as structured and surface parking.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
We own 298.6 acres on various parcels in Charles Town and Ranson, West Virginia of which 155 acres comprise Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The facility includes a 153-room hotel and a 3/4-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack, a training track, two parking garages, an employee parking lot, an enclosed grandstand/clubhouse and housing facilities for over 1,300 horses.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
We own 573.7 acres in Grantville, Pennsylvania, where Penn National Race Course is located on 181 acres. The facility includes a one-mile all-weather lighted thoroughbred racetrack and a 7/8-mile turf track, a parking garage and surface parking spaces. The property also includes approximately 393 acres surrounding the Penn National Race Course that are available for future expansion or development.
M Resort
We own 83.5 acres on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, Nevada, where the M Resort is located. The M Resort property includes a 390-room hotel and a parking facility. In addition, our tenant has rights to 4.0 acres of land at the casino site.
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Hollywood Casino Bangor
We lease 2.5 acres in Bangor, Maine on which Hollywood Casino Bangor is located. We also own 6.4 acres adjacent to the casino on which a 152-room hotel and a four-story parking garage are located. In addition, we lease 35.4 acres at and around historic Bass Park, which is adjacent to the facility, and includes a one-half mile standardbred racetrack, a grandstand with over 12,000 square feet and seating for 3,500 patrons and parking.
Zia Park Casino
We own 317.4 acres in Hobbs, New Mexico, where Zia Park Casino is located. The property also includes a one-mile quarter thoroughbred racetrack.
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast
We own 578.7 acres in the city of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, including a 20-slip marina. The property includes a land-based casino, 18-hole golf course, a 291-room hotel, a recreational vehicle park and other facilities.
Argosy Casino Riverside
We own 37.9 acres in Riverside, Missouri, which includes a barge-based casino, a 258-room luxury hotel, an entertainment/banquet facility and a parking garage.
Hollywood Casino Tunica
We lease 67.7 acres of land in Tunica, Mississippi. The property includes a single-level casino, a 494-room hotel, surface parking and other land-based facilities.
Boomtown Biloxi
We lease 1.0 acre of land mostly used for parking and a welcome center and own an additional 1.5 acres in Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition, our tenant has rights to 18.5 acres of land, most of which is utilized for the gaming location and 4.5 acres of submerged tidelands at the casino site.
Hollywood Casino St. Louis
We own 247.8 acres along the Missouri River in Maryland Heights, Missouri, which includes a 502-room hotel and structure and surface parking.
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
We own 119.7 acres in Dayton, Ohio, where Penn opened Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on August 28, 2014. The property includes a land-based casino, a 5/8-mile all-weather standardbred racetrack and surface parking.
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course
We own 193.4 acres in Youngstown, Ohio, where Penn opened Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course on September 17, 2014. The property includes a land-based casino, a one-mile thoroughbred racetrack and surface parking.
Resorts Casino Tunica
We lease 86.6 acres in Tunica, Mississippi, where the Resorts Casino Tunica is located. The property is located along the Mississippi River and includes a dockside gaming facility, surface parking, a 201-room hotel and other land-based facilities.
1st Jackpot Casino (formerly known as Bally's Casino Tunica)
We own 52.9 acres of wetlands and lease an additional 93.8 acres in Tunica, Mississippi located approximately 30 miles from downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The property is located along the Mississippi River and includes a dockside gaming facility, surface parking and other land-based facilities.
Casino Queen
We own 67.2 acres in East St. Louis, Illinois, which includes a 157-room hotel, a recreational vehicle park and surface parking areas.
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Ameristar Black Hawk
We own 104.1 acres in Black Hawk, Colorado which includes a land based casino and a 535 room hotel. The casino property sits on approximately 6 acres and the remaining 98 acres which are located across the street from the casino are used mainly for overflow parking, administrative offices and a warehouse.
Ameristar East Chicago
We lease 21.6 acres in East Chicago, Indiana located approximately 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Illinois. The property includes a dockside riverboat gaming facility and a 288 room hotel.
Belterra Casino Resort
We own 167.1 acres and lease an additional 148.5 acres in Florence, Indiana. The property is located along the Ohio River and includes a dockside riverboat gaming facility and a 608 room hotel.
Ameristar Council Bluffs
We own 36.2 acres and lease an additional 22.6 acres in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The property is located across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. The property also includes a 160 room hotel.
L’ Auberge Baton Rouge
We own 99.1 acres in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The property includes a dockside riverboat gaming facility and a 205 room hotel and is located approximately 10 miles south of downtown Baton Rouge.
Boomtown Bossier City
We own 21.8 acres on the banks of the Red River in Bossier City, Louisiana. The property features a 187 room hotel adjoining a dockside riverboat casino.
L’Auberge Lake Charles
We lease 234.5 acres in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The property includes a dockside riverboat gaming facility and a 995 room hotel and is one of the closest full-scale casino-hotel facilities to Houston, Texas.
Boomtown New Orleans
We own 53.6 acres in Harvey, Louisiana. The property includes a dockside riverboat casino and a 150 room hotel.
Ameristar Vicksburg
We own 74.1 acres in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The property includes a dockside riverboat casino and a 149 room hotel. Also located on the property is a recreational vehicle park and buildings which are used for warehousing and support services.
Ameristar Kansas City
We own 224.5 acres in Kansas City, Missouri, along the north bank of the Missouri River and lease an additional 31.4 adjacent acres. The property includes a dockside gaming facility and a 184 room hotel.
Ameristar St. Charles
We own 241.2 acres in St. Charles, Missouri, along the west bank of the Missouri River. The property includes a dockside gaming facility and a 397 room hotel.
River City Casino and Hotel
We lease 83.4 acres in St. Louis County Missouri approximately 12 miles south of downtown St. Louis. The property includes a dockside gaming facility and a 200 room hotel.
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Jackpot Properties
We own 79.5 acres in Jackpot, Nevada, encompassing Cactus Pete’s and The Horseshu. In addition to these two land-based casinos, the property includes a 416 room hotel and a recreational vehicle park. These two properties sit directly across from each other with Highway 93 separating them.
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
We own 155.5 acres in Washington, Pennsylvania. The property includes a land based casino, an off-track wagering facility, a 24-lane bowling alley and a state-of-the-art 5/8- mile harness track with a 500-seat grandstand.
TRS Properties
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge is a dockside riverboat gaming facility operating in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The riverboat features approximately 28,000 square feet of gaming space with 923 gaming machines and 12 table games. The facility also includes a two-story, 58,000 square foot dockside building featuring a variety of amenities, including a grill, a 268-seat buffet, a deli, a premium players' lounge, an event venue, a lobby bar, a public atrium, two meeting rooms and 1,490 parking spaces.
Hollywood Casino Perryville
Hollywood Casino Perryville is located directly off Interstate 95 in Cecil County, Maryland just 35 miles northeast of Baltimore and 70 miles from Washington, D.C. Hollywood Casino Perryville is a Hollywood-themed facility which offers 34,329 square feet of gaming space with 822 slot machines, 14 table games, 8 poker tables and a simulcast race book. The facility also offers several third-party operated food and beverage options, including a bar and grill, a casino bar, a gift shop and 1,600 parking spaces with valet and self-parking.
Competition
We compete for additional real property investments with other REITs, investment companies, private equity and hedge fund investors, sovereign funds, lenders, gaming companies and other investors. Some of our competitors are significantly larger and have greater financial resources and lower costs of capital than we have. Furthermore, in April 2016, MGM Resorts International ("MGM") formed MGM Growth Properties, a separate publicly traded REIT, holding a substantial portion of the real estate assets associated with MGM's operations. Additionally, in October 2017, Caesars Entertainment Corporation emerged from bankruptcy and completed the spin-off of substantially all of its real estate assets to VICI Properties, a separate publicly traded REIT. Increased competition will make it more challenging to identify and successfully capitalize on acquisition opportunities that meet our investment objectives.
In addition, revenues from our gaming properties are dependent on the ability of our gaming tenants and operators to compete with other gaming operators. The gaming industry is characterized by an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of participants, including riverboat casinos, dockside casinos, land-based casinos, video lottery, sweepstakes and poker machines not located in casinos, Native American gaming, emerging varieties of Internet gaming and other forms of gaming in the U.S. In a broader sense, our gaming tenants and operators face competition from all manner of leisure and entertainment activities, including: shopping, athletic events, television and movies, concerts and travel. Legalized gaming is currently permitted in various forms throughout the U.S., in several Canadian provinces and on various lands taken into trust for the benefit of certain Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada. Other jurisdictions, including states adjacent to states in which our gaming tenants and operators are located have legalized, and will expand gaming in the near future. In addition, established gaming jurisdictions could award additional gaming licenses or permit the expansion or relocation of existing gaming operations. New, relocated or expanded operations by other persons will increase competition for our gaming tenants and operators and could have a material adverse impact on our gaming tenants and operators and us as landlord. Finally, the imposition of smoking bans and/or higher gaming tax rates have a significant impact on our gaming tenants' and operators' ability to compete with facilities in nearby jurisdictions.
Segments
Consistent with how our Chief Operating Decision Maker (as such term is defined in ASC 280 "Segment Reporting") reviews and assesses our financial performance, we have two reportable segments, GLP Capital, L.P. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of GLPI through which GLPI owns substantially all of its real estate assets) ("GLP Capital") and the TRS Properties. The GLP Capital reportable segment consists of the leased real property and represents the majority of our business. The TRS Properties reportable segment consists of Hollywood Casino Perryville and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge. See "Item 7—
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Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 15—Segment Information" for further information with respect to the Company's segments.
Executive Officers of the Company
Name | Age | Position | ||
Peter M. Carlino | 71 | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | ||
William J. Clifford | 60 | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
Steven T. Snyder | 57 | Senior Vice President of Corporate Development | ||
Brandon J. Moore | 43 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Desiree A. Burke | 52 | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
Peter M. Carlino. Mr. Carlino is Chairman of our Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Carlino joined the Company in connection with the Spin-Off on November 1, 2013. Prior to the Spin-Off, Mr. Carlino served as Penn's founder and Chief Executive Officer. He continues as Penn's non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Since 1976, Mr. Carlino has been President of Carlino Capital Management Corp. (formerly known as Carlino Financial Corporation), a holding company that owns and operates various Carlino family investments.
William J. Clifford. Mr. Clifford is our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Clifford joined the Company in connection with the Spin-Off on November 1, 2013. Prior to the Spin-Off, Mr. Clifford served as Penn's Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer since October 2001. From March 1997 to July 2001, Mr. Clifford served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance with Sun International Resorts, Inc., Paradise Island, Bahamas. From November 1993 to February 1997, Mr. Clifford was Financial, Hotel and Operations Controller for Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. From May 1989 to November 1993, Mr. Clifford was Controller for Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Prior to May 1989, Mr. Clifford held the positions of Controller for the Dunes Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Property Operations Analyst with Aladdin Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Casino Administrator with Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Senior Internal Auditor with Del Webb, Las Vegas, and Agent, Audit Division, of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Las Vegas and Reno.
Steven T. Snyder. Mr. Snyder is our Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. Mr. Snyder joined the Company in connection with the Spin-Off on November 1, 2013. Prior to the Spin-Off, he served as Penn's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development since 2003 and was responsible for identifying and conducting internal and industry analysis of potential acquisitions, partnerships and other opportunities. He joined Penn as Vice President of Corporate Development in May 1998 and held that position until his appointment to Senior Vice President in 2003. Prior to joining Penn, Mr. Snyder was a partner with Hamilton Partners, Ltd., as well as Managing Director of Municipal and Corporate Investment Banking for Meridian Capital Markets. Mr. Snyder began his career in finance at Butcher & Singer, where he served as First Vice President of Public Finance.
Brandon J. Moore. Mr. Moore is our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Moore joined the Company in January 2014. Previously, he served as Penn's Vice President, Senior Corporate Counsel since March 2010 where he was a member of the legal team responsible for a variety of transactional, regulatory and general legal matters. Prior to joining Penn, Mr. Moore was with Ballard Spahr LLP, where he provided advanced legal counsel to clients on matters including merger and acquisition transactions, debt and equity financings, and various other matters.
Desiree A. Burke. Ms. Burke joined the Company in April 2014 as our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Previously, Ms. Burke served as Penn's Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since November 2009. Additionally, she served as Penn's Vice President and Corporate Controller from November 2005 to October 2009. Prior to her time at Penn National Gaming, Inc., Ms. Burke was the Executive Vice President/Director of Financial Reporting and Control for MBNA America Bank, N.A. She joined MBNA in 1994 and held positions of ascending responsibility in the finance department during her tenure. Ms. Burke is a CPA.
Tax Considerations
We elected to be treated as a REIT on our 2014 U.S. federal income tax return and we, together with an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. We intend to continue to be organized and to operate in a manner that will permit us to qualify as a REIT. Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of stock ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code. Our
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ability to qualify to be taxed as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets that we own directly or indirectly. The material qualification requirements are summarized below. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year will satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Additionally, while we intend to operate so that we continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future.
Taxation of REITs in General
As a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our net REIT taxable income that is currently distributed to our shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the "double taxation" at the corporate and shareholder levels that generally results from an investment in a C corporation. A "C corporation" is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the shareholder level when the income is distributed. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the shareholder level upon a distribution of dividends to our shareholders. We will nonetheless be subject to U.S. federal tax in the following circumstances:
• | We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed net taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. |
• | For tax years that began prior to December 31, 2017, we may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on our items of tax preference, including any deductions of net operating losses. |
• | If we have net income from prohibited transactions, which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax. |
• | If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as "foreclosure property," we may thereby avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 21%). |
• | If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test and/or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we satisfy other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount based on the magnitude of the failure, as adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income. |
• | If we violate the asset tests (other than certain de minimis violations) or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, and yet maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to a penalty tax. In that case, the amount of the penalty tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the nonqualifying assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 21%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure. |
• | If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed net taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts that we actually distributed and (b) the amounts we retained and upon which we paid income tax at the corporate level. |
• | We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT's shareholders. |
• | A 100% tax may be imposed on transactions between us and a TRS that do not reflect arm's-length terms. |
• | If we acquire appreciated assets from a corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a corporation taxable under subchapter C of the Code) in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets in our hands is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in the hands of the subchapter C corporation, we may be subject to tax on such |
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appreciation at the highest corporate income tax rate then applicable if we subsequently recognize gain on a disposition of any such assets during the five-year period following their acquisition from the subchapter C corporation. (Notwithstanding the “Supplement to Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” section of our Prospectus Supplement dated August 9, 2016, to our Prospectus dated March 28, 2016, final regulations were issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) on January 17, 2017, confirming that the recognition period during which this tax could apply is a 5-year period and not a 10-year period.)
• | The earnings of our TRS Properties will generally be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. |
In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, gross receipts and other taxes on our assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
Requirements for Qualification—General
The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
1. | that is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
2. | the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest; |
3. | that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT; |
4. | that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to specific provisions of the Code; |
5. | the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons; |
6. | in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer "individuals" (as defined in the Code to include specified tax-exempt entities); and |
7. | that meets other tests described below, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets. |
The Code provides that conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the entire taxable year, and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (5) and (6) need not be met during a corporation's initial tax year as a REIT (which, in our case, was 2014). Our charter provides restrictions regarding the ownership and transfers of our stock, which are intended to assist us in satisfying the stock ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in the applicable Treasury regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirements described in condition (6) above, we will be treated as having met this requirement.
To monitor compliance with the stock ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our stock. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the stock (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If, upon request by the Company, a shareholder fails or refuses to comply with the demands, such holder will be required by Treasury regulations to submit a statement with his, her or its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of our stock and other information.
Qualified REIT Subsidiaries
The Code provides that a corporation that is a "qualified REIT subsidiary" shall not be treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a "qualified REIT subsidiary" shall be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT. A "qualified REIT subsidiary" is a corporation, all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT, that has not elected to be a "taxable REIT subsidiary" (discussed below). In applying the requirements described herein, all of our "qualified REIT subsidiaries" will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of such subsidiaries will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit. These subsidiaries, therefore, will not be subject to federal corporate income taxation, although they may be subject to state and local taxation.
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Taxable REIT Subsidiaries
In general, we may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly-owned, to treat such subsidiary corporation as a TRS. We generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS. The separate existence of a TRS is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS generally is subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.
We are not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by the TRS to us is an asset in our hands, and we treat the dividends paid to us, if any, as income. This treatment can affect our income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because we do not include the assets and income of TRSs on a look-through basis in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. For example, we may use TRSs to perform services or conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income or to conduct activities that, if conducted by us directly, would be treated in our hands as prohibited transactions.
The TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. Further, the rules impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT's tenants that are not conducted on an arm's-length basis. We intend that all of our transactions with our TRS, if any, will be conducted on an arm's-length basis.
Income Tests
As a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from sales of inventory or dealer property in "prohibited transactions," discharge of indebtedness and certain hedging transactions, generally must be derived from "rents from real property," gains from the sale of real estate assets, interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property (including certain types of mortgage-backed securities, other than certain debt instruments of publicly offered REITs), dividends received from other REITs, and specified income from temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, discharge of indebtedness and certain hedging transactions, must be derived from some combination of income that qualifies under the 75% gross income test described above, as well as other dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property. Income and gain from certain hedging transactions will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Rents received by a REIT will qualify as "rents from real property" in satisfying the gross income requirements described above only if several conditions are met.
• | The amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term "rents from real property" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales. |
• | Rents received from a tenant will not qualify as "rents from real property" in satisfying the gross income tests if the REIT, or a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of the REIT, directly or constructively, owns 10% or more of such tenant (a "Related Party Tenant"). However, rental payments from a taxable REIT subsidiary will qualify as rents from real property even if we own more than 10% of the total value or combined voting power of the taxable REIT subsidiary if (i) at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants and the rent paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space or (ii) the property leased is a “qualified lodging facility,” as defined in Section 856(d)(9)(D) of the Code, or a “qualified health care property,” as defined in Section 856(e)(6)(D)(i) of the Code, and certain other conditions are satisfied. |
• | Rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property will not qualify as "rents from real property" if such rent exceeds 15% of the total rent received under the lease. |
• | The REIT generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to tenants, except through an "independent contractor" who is adequately compensated and from whom the REIT derives no income, or through a taxable REIT subsidiary. The "independent contractor" requirement, however, does not apply to the extent the services provided by the REIT are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only, and are not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant." In addition, a de minimis rule applies with respect to non-customary services. Specifically, if the value of the non-customary service income with respect to |
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a property (valued at no less than 150% of the direct costs of performing such services) is 1% or less of the total income derived from the property, then all rental income except the non-customary service income will qualify as "rents from real property." A taxable REIT subsidiary may provide services (including noncustomary services) to a REIT’s tenants without "tainting" any of the rental income received by the REIT, and will be able to manage or operate properties for third parties and generally engage in other activities unrelated to real estate.
We do not anticipate receiving rent that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person (except by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales consistent with the rules described above). Our former parent, Penn, received a private letter ruling from the IRS that concluded certain rental formulas under the Penn Master Lease will not cause any amounts received under the Penn Master Lease to be treated as other than rents from real property. While we do not expect to seek similar rulings for additional leases we enter into that have substantially similar terms as the Penn Master Lease, we intend to treat amounts received under those leases consistent with the conclusions in the ruling, though there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge such treatment. We also do not anticipate receiving more than a de minimis amount of rents from any Related Party Tenant or rents attributable to personal property leased in connection with real property that will exceed 15% of the total rents received with respect to such real property. We may receive certain types of income that will not qualify under the 75% or 95% gross income tests. In particular, dividends received from a taxable REIT subsidiary will not qualify under the 75% test. We believe, however, that the aggregate amount of such items and other non-qualifying income in any taxable year will not cause GLPI to exceed the limits on non-qualifying income under either the 75% or 95% gross income tests.
We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions will generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any dividends that we receive from another REIT or qualified REIT subsidiary, however, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% gross income tests.
We believe that we have and will continue to be in compliance with these gross income tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify to be taxed as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if (i) our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (ii) following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income test for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury regulations. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify to be taxed as a REIT. Even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our status as a REIT, the Code imposes a tax based upon the amount by which we fail to satisfy the particular gross income test.
Asset Tests
At the close of each calendar quarter, we must also satisfy five tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of "real estate assets," cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, and, under some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property (such as land, buildings, leasehold interest in real property and, for taxable years that began or after January 1, 2016, personal property leased with real property if the rents attributable to the personal property would be rents from real property under the income tests discussed above), interests in mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, shares in other qualifying REITs, and stock or debt instruments held for less than one year purchased with the proceeds from an offering of shares of our stock or certain debt and, for tax years that began on or after January 1, 2016, debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test are subject to the additional asset tests described below.
Second, the value of any one issuer's securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.
Third, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer's outstanding securities, as measured by either voting power or value. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of TRSs and qualified REIT subsidiaries and the 10% asset test does not apply to "straight debt" having specified characteristics and to certain other securities described below. Solely for purposes of the 10% asset test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code. The safe harbor under which certain types of securities are disregarded for purposes of the 10% value limitation includes (1) straight debt securities (including straight debt securities that provides for certain contingent payments); (2) any loan to an individual or an estate; (3) any rental agreement described in Section 467 of the Code, other than with a "related person" (4) any obligation to pay rents from real
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property; (5) certain securities issued by a State or any political subdivision thereof, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (6) any security issued by a REIT; and (7) any other arrangement that, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, is excepted from the definition of a security. In addition, for purposes of applying the 10% value limitation, (a) a REIT’s interest as a partner in a partnership is not considered a security; (b) any debt instrument issued by a partnership is not treated as a security if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income is from sources that would qualify for the 75% REIT gross income test; and (c) any debt instrument issued by a partnership is not treated as a security to the extent of the REIT’s interest as a partner in the partnership.
Fourth, the aggregate value of all securities of TRSs that we hold, together with other non-qualified assets (such as furniture and equipment or other tangible personal property, or non-real estate securities) may not, in the aggregate, exceed 25% of the value of our total assets. Beginning after December 31, 2017, the aggregate value of all securities of the TRSs that we hold may not exceed 20% of our total assets.
Fifth, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015, not more than 25% of the value of our gross assets may be represented by debt instruments of publicly offered REITs that are not secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property.
However, certain relief provisions are available to allow REITs to satisfy the asset requirements or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. For example, if we should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter such a failure would not cause us to lose our REIT qualification if we (i) satisfied the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (ii) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset requirements was not wholly or partly caused by an acquisition of non-qualifying assets, but instead arose from changes in the relative market values of our assets. If the condition described in (ii) were not satisfied, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose or by making use of the relief provisions described above.
In the case of de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (i) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT's total assets and $10,000,000 and (ii) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.
Even if we did not qualify for the foregoing relief provisions, one additional provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (i) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (iii) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 21%) and (iv) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.
We believe that we have been and will continue to be in compliance with the asset tests described above.
Annual Distribution Requirements
In order to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to:
(i) | the sum of |
(a) | 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to our net capital gains and the deduction for dividends paid; and |
(b) | 90% of our after tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property (as described below); minus |
(ii) | the excess of the sum of specified items of non-cash income over 5% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to our net capital gain and the deduction for dividends paid. |
We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. These distributions will be treated as received by our shareholders in the year in which paid. In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirements for REITs, and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be "preferential dividends." A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (i) pro rata among all outstanding shares of stock within a particular class and (ii) in accordance with any preferences among
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different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents. Given our status as a "publicly offered REIT" (within the meaning of the Code), the preferential dividend rules do not apply to us for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.
To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary corporate tax rates on the retained portion. We may elect to retain, rather than distribute, some or all of our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. In this case, we could elect for our shareholders to include their proportionate shares of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income, and to receive a corresponding credit for their share of the tax that we paid. Our shareholders would then increase the adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (i) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, minus (ii) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.
To the extent that in the future we may have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements.
If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed net taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts actually distributed, plus (b) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid corporate income tax.
We expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges included in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we generally will have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above. However, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in determining our taxable income. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt, acquire assets, or for other reasons. If these timing differences occur, we may borrow funds to pay dividends or pay dividends through the distribution of other property (including shares of our stock) in order to meet the distribution requirements, while preserving our cash.
If our taxable income for a particular year is subsequently determined to have been understated, we may be able to rectify a resultant failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying "deficiency dividends" to shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. In this case, we may be able to avoid losing REIT qualification or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, subject to the 4% excise tax described above. We will be required to pay interest based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.
For purposes of the 90% distribution requirement and excise tax described above, any distribution must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if such distributions are declared in October, November or December of the taxable year, are payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in any such month, and are actually paid before the end of January of the following year. Such distributions are treated as both paid by us and received by our shareholders on December 31 of the year in which they are declared.
In addition, at our election, a distribution for a taxable year may be declared before we timely file our tax return for the year, provided we pay such distribution with or before our first regular dividend payment after such declaration, and such payment is made during the 12-month period following the close of such taxable year. Such distributions are taxable to our shareholders in the year in which paid, even though the distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement.
We believe that we have satisfied the annual distribution requirements for the year ended, December 31, 2017. Although we intend to satisfy the annual distribution requirements to continue to qualify as a REIT for the year ending December 31, 2018 and thereafter, economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations could limit our ability to meet those requirements.
Failure to Qualify
If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than the income or asset tests, we could avoid disqualification as a REIT if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. Relief provisions are also available for failures of the income tests and asset tests, as described above in "—Income Tests" and "—Asset Tests."
If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we would be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We cannot deduct distributions to shareholders in any year in which we are not a REIT, nor would we be required to make distributions in such a year. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for
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U.S. federal income tax purposes), distributions to shareholders would be taxable as regular corporate dividends. Such dividends paid to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates may be taxable at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., currently the 20% maximum U.S. federal rate) for qualified dividends. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief.
Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the Treasury which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our common stock.
On December 22, 2017, H.R. 1, known as the Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018 (the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act") was signed into law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes significant changes to the U.S. federal income taxation of individuals and corporations, generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. In addition to reducing corporate and individual income tax rates, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminates or restricts various deductions that, along with other provisions, may change the way that we calculate our REIT taxable income and our TRS’s taxable income. Significant provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that investors should be aware of include provisions that: (i) lower the corporate income tax rate to 21%, (ii) provide noncorporate taxpayers with a deduction of up to 20% of certain income earned through partnerships and REITs, (iii) limits the net operating loss deduction to 80% of taxable income, where taxable income is determined without regard to the net operating loss deduction itself, generally eliminates net operating loss carrybacks and allows unused net operating losses to be carried forward indefinitely, (iv) expand the ability of businesses to deduct the cost of certain property investments in the year in which the property is purchased, and (v) generally lower tax rates for individuals and other noncorporate taxpayers, while limiting deductions such as miscellaneous itemized deductions and state and local tax deductions. In addition, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act limits the deduction for net interest expense incurred by a business to 30% of the “adjusted taxable income” of the taxpayer. However, the limitation on the interest expense deduction does not apply to certain small-business taxpayers or electing real property trades or businesses, such as any real property development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, acquisition, conversion, rental, operation, management, leasing, or brokerage trade or business. Making the election to be treated as a real property trade or business requires the electing real property trade or business to depreciate non-residential real property, residential rental property, and qualified improvement property over a longer period using the alternative depreciation system. We have not yet determined whether we or our TRS will elect out of the new interest expense limitation.
The effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is highly uncertain, both in terms of its direct effect on the taxation of holders of our common stock and its indirect effect on the value of our assets or market conditions generally. Furthermore, many of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will require guidance through the issuance of Treasury regulations in order to assess their effect. There may be a substantial delay before such regulations are promulgated, increasing the uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the statutory amendments on us.
Stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other legislation may have on their investment and the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on their investment in our shares.
Regulation
The ownership, operation, and management of, and provision of certain products and services to, gaming and racing facilities are subject to pervasive regulation. Gaming laws are generally based upon declarations of public policy designed to protect gaming consumers and the viability and integrity of the gaming industry. Gaming laws also may be designed to protect and maximize state and local revenues derived through taxes and licensing fees imposed on gaming industry participants as well as to enhance economic development and tourism. To accomplish these public policy goals, gaming laws establish procedures to ensure that participants in the gaming industry, including landlords and other suppliers, meet certain standards of character and fitness. In addition, gaming laws require gaming industry participants to:
• | ensure that unsuitable individuals and organizations have no role in gaming operations; |
• | establish procedures designed to prevent cheating and fraudulent practices; |
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• | establish and maintain responsible accounting practices and procedures; |
• | maintain effective controls over their financial practices, including establishment of minimum procedures for internal fiscal affairs and the safeguarding of assets and revenues; |
• | maintain systems for reliable record keeping; |
• | file periodic reports with gaming regulators; |
• | ensure that contracts and financial transactions are commercially reasonable, reflect fair market value and are arms-length transactions; and |
• | establish programs to promote responsible gaming. |
These regulations impact our business in three important ways: (1) our ownership and operation of the TRS Properties; (2) our ownership of land and buildings in which gaming activities are operated by third party tenants pursuant to long-term leases; and (3) the operations of our gaming tenants. Our ownership and operation of the TRS Properties subject GLPI, its subsidiaries and its officers and directors to the jurisdiction of the gaming regulatory agencies in Louisiana and Maryland. Further, many gaming and racing regulatory agencies in the jurisdictions in which our gaming tenants operate require GLPI and its affiliates to maintain a license as a key business entity or supplier because of its status as landlord, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Our businesses are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations in addition to gaming regulations. These laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, restrictions and conditions concerning alcoholic beverages, environmental matters, employees, health care, currency transactions, taxation, zoning and building codes, and marketing and advertising. Such laws and regulations could change or could be interpreted differently in the future, or new laws and regulations could be enacted. Material changes, new laws or regulations, or material differences in interpretations by courts or governmental authorities could adversely affect our operating results.
Insurance
We have comprehensive liability, property and business interruption insurance at our TRS Properties. In regards to our properties subject to triple-net leases, the lease agreements require our tenants to have their own comprehensive liability, property and business interruption insurance policies, including protection for our insurable interests as the landlord.
Environmental Matters
Our properties are subject to environmental laws regulating, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges and the handling and disposal of wastes, including medical wastes. Certain of the properties we own utilize above or underground storage tanks to store heating oil for use at the properties. Other properties were built during the time that asbestos-containing building materials were routinely installed in residential and commercial structures. Our triple-net leases obligate the tenants thereunder to comply with applicable environmental laws and to indemnify us if their noncompliance results in losses or claims against us, and we expect that any future leases will include the same provisions for other operators. An operator's failure to comply could result in fines and penalties or the requirement to undertake corrective actions which may result in significant costs to the operator and thus adversely affect their ability to meet their obligations to us.
Pursuant to U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be required to investigate, remove and/or remediate a release of hazardous substances or other regulated materials at, or emanating from, such property. Further, under certain circumstances, such owners or operators of real property may be held liable for property damage, personal injury and/or natural resource damage resulting from or arising in connection with such releases. Certain of these laws have been interpreted to provide for joint and several liability unless the harm is divisible and there is a reasonable basis for allocation of responsibility. We also may be liable under certain of these laws for damage that occurred prior to our ownership of a property or at a site where we sent wastes for disposal. The failure to properly remediate a property may also adversely affect our ability to lease, sell or rent the property or to borrow funds using the property as collateral.
In connection with the ownership of our real property, we could be legally responsible for environmental liabilities or costs relating to a release of hazardous substances or other regulated materials at or emanating from such property. In order to assess the potential for such liability, we conduct routine due diligence of environmental assessments prior to acquisition. We are not aware of any environmental issues that are expected to have a material impact on the operations of any of our properties.
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Pursuant to the Penn Master Lease and a Separation and Distribution Agreement between Penn and GLPI, any liability arising from or relating to environmental liabilities arising from the businesses and operations of Penn's real property holdings prior to the Spin-Off (other than any liability arising from or relating to the operation or ownership of the TRS Properties and except to the extent first discovered after the end of the term of the Penn Master Lease) was retained by Penn and Penn will indemnify GLPI (and its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) against any losses arising from or relating to such environmental liabilities. Similarly, pursuant to a Separation and Distribution Agreement between Pinnacle's operating company and GLPI (as successor to Pinnacle Entertainment), any liability arising from or relating to environmental liabilities arising from the business and operations of Pinnacle's real property holdings prior to the Pinnacle transaction (except to the extent first discovered after the end of the term of the Pinnacle Master Lease) was retained by Pinnacle and Pinnacle will indemnify GLPI (and its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) against any losses arising from or relating to such environmental liabilities. There can be no assurance that Penn or Pinnacle will be able to fully satisfy their indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Penn or Pinnacle any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses.
Employees
As of December 31, 2017, we had 714 full and part-time employees. Substantially all of these employees are employed at Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville. The Company believes its relations with its employees are good.
Some of our employees at Hollywood Casino Perryville are currently represented by labor unions. The Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trade Union represents 161 of our employees at Hollywood Casino Perryville under an agreement that expires in February 2020. Additionally, Local No. 27 United Food and Commercial Workers and United Industrial Service Transportation Professional and Government Workers of North America represent certain employees under collective bargaining agreements that expire in 2020, neither of which represents more than 50 of our employees at Hollywood Casino Perryville.
Available Information
For more information about us, visit our website at www.glpropinc.com. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our electronic filings with the SEC (including all annual reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-Q/A, and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports), including the exhibits, are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Risk Factors Relating to Our Business
We are significantly dependent on two tenants and their respective subsidiaries until we substantially diversify our portfolio. An event that has a material adverse effect on either tenant’s respective business, financial position or results of operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations and we could be restrained from exercising any remedies under our Master Leases.
Substantially all of our revenues are based on the revenue derived under the master leases with Penn and Pinnacle. Because these master leases are triple-net leases, we depend on Penn and Pinnacle to operate the properties that we own in a manner that generates revenues sufficient to allow the tenants to meet their obligations to us, including payment of rent and all insurance, taxes, utilities and maintenance and repair expenses in connection with these leased properties and to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities arising in connection with their businesses. There can be no assurance that either Penn or Pinnacle will have sufficient assets, income or access to financing to enable them to satisfy their payment obligations under the master leases. The ability of our tenants to fulfill their obligations may depend, in part, upon the overall profitability of their operations. The inability or unwillingness of either Penn or Pinnacle to meet their subsidiaries’ rent obligations and other obligations under the master leases, in each case, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position or results of operations, including our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders as required to maintain our status as a REIT and our financial position could be materially weakened if any of our tenants are unable to meet their obligations to us or failed to renew or extend any lease as such lease expires, or if we are unable to lease or re-lease our properties on economically favorable terms.
Due to our dependence on rental payments from Penn and Pinnacle (and their respective subsidiaries) as our primary source of revenue, we may be limited in our ability to enforce our rights under the master leases or to terminate the master leases with respect to any particular property. Failure by Penn or Pinnacle to comply with the terms of their respective master leases or to comply with the gaming regulations to which the leased properties are subject could require us to find another lessee for such leased property and there could be a decrease or cessation of rental payments by either Penn or Pinnacle, as the case may be. In such event, we may be unable to locate a suitable lessee at similar rental rates or at all, which would have the effect of reducing our rental revenues.
Although we will acquire a new tenant, Boyd, if the Penn-Pinnacle Merger (described below) is completed, we will become even more dependent on Penn as a result of its acquisition of Pinnacle. Any event, including the integration of Penn and Pinnacle after the completion of the Penn-Pinnacle Merger, that has a material adverse effect on Penn’s business, financial position or results of operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. In addition, continued consolidation in the gaming industry would increase our dependence on our existing tenants and could make it increasingly difficult for us to find alternative tenants for our properties.
Our pursuit of investments in, and acquisitions or development of, additional properties may be unsuccessful or fail to meet our expectations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and face competition from other REITs (including other gaming-focused REITs), investment companies, private equity and hedge fund investors, sovereign funds, lenders, gaming companies (including gaming companies considering REIT structures) and other investors, some of whom are significantly larger and have greater resources and lower costs of capital. Increased competition will make it more challenging to identify and successfully capitalize on acquisition opportunities that meet our investment objectives. If we cannot identify and purchase a sufficient number of investment properties at favorable prices or if we are unable to finance acquisitions on commercially favorable terms, our business, financial position or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, the fact that we must distribute 90% of our net taxable income in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT may limit our ability to rely upon rental payments from our leased properties or subsequently acquired properties in order to finance acquisitions. As a result, if debt or equity financing is not available on acceptable terms, further acquisitions might be limited or curtailed and completing proposed acquisitions may be adversely impacted. Furthermore, fluctuations in the price of our common stock may impact our ability to finance additional acquisitions through the issuance of common stock and/or cause significant dilution.
Investments in and acquisitions of gaming properties and other properties we might seek to acquire entail risks associated with real estate investments, including that the investment's performance will fail to meet expectations or that the tenant, operator or manager will underperform. Real estate development projects present other risks, including construction delays or cost overruns that increase expenses, the inability to obtain required zoning, occupancy and other governmental approvals and permits on a timely basis, and the incurrence of significant development costs prior to completion of the project.
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Penn’s proposed acquisition of Pinnacle is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the timely receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, financing and other matters, and the failure of Penn and Pinnacle to complete the acquisition could negatively impact our stock price and growth plans.
On December 17, 2017, Penn and Pinnacle announced that Penn intends to acquire Pinnacle (the “Penn-Pinnacle Merger”). Under our master leases with both Penn and Pinnacle, we have a consent right with respect to any divestitures effected in connection with the Penn-Pinnacle Merger. In agreeing to the Penn-Pinnacle Merger, we will be acquiring the physical assets at Penn’s Plainridge Park Casino and Pinnacle’s Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment for approximately $315 million subject to the closing of the Penn-Pinnacle Merger. Additionally, in order to facilitate the Penn-Pinnacle Merger, we intend to enter into a new lease with Boyd Gaming Corp. (“Boyd”), whereby Boyd will become the operator for four casino operations Boyd is acquiring from Pinnacle. The Penn-Pinnacle Merger is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the timely receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, financing and other matters. If Penn and Pinnacle are unable to complete the Penn-Pinnacle Merger, we would not be able to acquire the physical assets as planned and it could negatively impact our stock price and growth plans.
We will need to repay or refinance borrowings under our senior unsecured credit facility and our senior unsecured notes with maturities in 2018.
We have a $1,825 million dollar senior unsecured credit facility (the "Credit Facility"), consisting of a $700 million revolving credit facility, a $300 million Term Loan A facility, and an $825 million Term Loan A-1 facility. Our revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility mature on October 28, 2018 and the Term Loan A-1 facility matures on April 28, 2021. At December 31, 2017, we have $230 million outstanding under the term loan A facility and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We also have $550 million of 4.375% senior unsecured notes scheduled to mature on November 1, 2018 (the "2018 Notes"). During 2018, we will need to repay, refinance, replace or otherwise extend the maturity of the portion of our Credit Facility that matures during 2018 and the 2018 Notes. Our ability to repay, refinance, replace or extend these borrowings by their maturity dates will be dependent on, among other things, business conditions, our financial performance and the general condition of the financial markets. If a financial disruption were to occur at the time that we are required to repay indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility and the 2018 Notes, we could be forced to undertake alternate financings, including a sale of additional common stock, negotiate for an extension of the maturity of our Credit Facility or delay expenditures in order to generate proceeds that could be used to repay indebtedness under our Credit Facility and the 2018 Notes. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to consummate any such transaction on terms that are commercially reasonable, on terms acceptable to us or at all.
We are dependent on the gaming industry and may be susceptible to the risks associated with it, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial position or results of operations.
As the owner and landlord of gaming facilities, we are impacted by the risks associated with the gaming industry. Therefore, our success is to some degree dependent on the gaming industry, which could be adversely affected by economic conditions in general, changes in consumer trends and preferences and other factors over which we and our tenants have no control. As we are subject to risks inherent in substantial investments in a single industry, a decrease in the gaming business would likely have a greater adverse effect on our revenues than if we owned a more diversified real estate portfolio, particularly because a component of the rent under our leases is based, over time, on the performance of the gaming facilities operated by our tenants. Decreases in discretionary consumer spending brought about by weakened general economic conditions such as, but not limited to, lackluster recoveries from recessions, high unemployment levels, higher income taxes, low levels of consumer confidence, weakness in the housing market, cultural and demographic changes, and increased stock market volatility may negatively impact our revenues and operating cash flow.
The gaming industry is characterized by an increasing number of gaming facilities with an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of participants, including riverboat casinos, dockside casinos, land-based casinos, video lottery, sweepstakes and poker machines not located in casinos, Native American gaming and other forms of gaming in the U.S. Furthermore, competition from alternative wagering products, such as internet lotteries, sweepstakes, social gaming products, daily fantasy sports and other internet wagering gaming services or games of skill, which allow their customers a wagering alternative to the casino-style, in person gaming from home or in non-casino settings, could divert customers from our properties and thus adversely affect our TRS Properties and the business of our tenants and, indirectly, our business. Certain alternative wagering products may be illegal under federal or state law but operate exclusively in certain states or from overseas locations, and are accessible to certain domestic gamblers. Present state or federal laws that restrict the forms of gaming authorized or the number of competitors that offer gaming in the applicable jurisdiction are subject to change and may increase the competition affecting our TRS Properties and the business of our tenants and, indirectly, our business. Currently, there are proposals that would legalize internet poker and other alternative wagering products in a number of states. Several states have intrastate internet gaming. Expansion of internet gaming in other jurisdictions (both legal and illegal) could further compete with our traditional operations, which could have an adverse impact on our business and result of operations.
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The operations of our TRS Properties and of our tenants in our leased facilities are subject to disruptions or reduced patronage as a result of severe weather conditions, natural disasters and other casualty events. Because many of our facilities are located on or adjacent to bodies of water, they are subject to risks in addition to those associated with land-based facilities, including loss of service due to casualty, forces of nature, mechanical failure, extended or extraordinary maintenance, flood, hurricane or other severe weather conditions. A component of the rent under our leases is based, over time, on the performance of the gaming facilities operated by Penn, Pinnacle and Casino Queen on our properties; consequently, a casualty that leads to the loss of use of a casino facility subject to our leases for an extended period may negatively impact our revenues.
We face extensive regulation from gaming and other regulatory authorities.
The ownership, operation, and management of gaming and racing facilities are subject to pervasive regulation. These regulations impact both our ownership and operation of the TRS Properties and the operations of our gaming tenants. Our ownership and operation of the TRS Properties subject us, our officers, directors and shareholders to the jurisdiction of the gaming regulatory agencies in Louisiana and Maryland. Further, many gaming and racing regulatory agencies in the jurisdictions in which our tenants operate require GLPI, its affiliates and certain officers and directors to maintain licenses as a key business entity, supplier or key person because of GLPI's status as landlord. For GLPI to maintain such licenses in good standing, certain of GLPI's officers, directors and shareholders are also required to maintain license or finding of suitability.
Many jurisdictions also require any person who acquires beneficial ownership of more than a certain percentage of voting securities of a gaming company and, in some jurisdictions, non-voting securities, typically 5%, to report the acquisition to gaming authorities, and gaming authorities may require such holders to apply for qualification or a finding of suitability, subject to limited exceptions for "institutional investors" that hold a company's voting securities for passive investment purposes only. Some jurisdictions may also limit the number of gaming licenses in which a person may hold an ownership or a controlling interest. Subject to certain administrative proceeding requirements, the gaming regulators have the authority to deny any application or limit, condition, restrict, revoke or suspend any license, registration, finding of suitability or approval, or fine any person licensed, registered or found suitable or approved, for any cause deemed reasonable by the gaming authorities.
Additionally, substantially all material loans, significant acquisitions, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions by us and our subsidiaries must be reported to and in some cases approved by gaming authorities in advance of the transaction. Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries may make a public offering of securities without the prior approval of certain gaming authorities. Changes in control through merger, consolidation, stock or asset acquisitions, management or consulting agreements, or otherwise are subject to receipt of prior approval of gaming authorities. Entities seeking to acquire control of GLPI or one of its subsidiaries must satisfy gaming authorities with respect to a variety of stringent licensing standards prior to assuming control.
Required regulatory approvals can delay or prohibit transfers of our gaming properties, which could result in periods in which we are unable to receive rent for such properties.
The tenants of our gaming properties are operators of gaming facilities and must be licensed under applicable state law. Prior to the transfer of gaming facilities, including a controlling interest, the new owner or operator generally must become licensed under state law. In the event that any current lease or any future lease agreement we enter into is terminated or expires and a new tenant is found, any delays in the new tenant receiving regulatory approvals from the applicable state government agencies, or the inability to receive such approvals, may prolong the period during which we are unable to collect the applicable rent.
Our pursuit of strategic acquisitions unrelated to the gaming industry may be unsuccessful or fail to meet our expectations.
We may pursue strategic acquisitions of properties unrelated to the gaming industry, including acquisitions that may be complementary to our existing gaming properties. Our management does not possess the same level of expertise with the dynamics and market conditions applicable to non-gaming assets, which could adversely affect the results of our expansion into other asset classes. In addition, we may be unable to achieve our desired return on our investments in new or adjacent asset classes.
Our charter restricts the ownership and transfer of our outstanding stock, which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or change of control of our company.
In order for us to qualify to be taxed as a REIT, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares of stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of each taxable year after the first year for which GLPI elected to qualify to be taxed as a REIT (2014). Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own GLPI stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year (other than the first taxable year for which GLPI elected to be taxed as a REIT). GLPI's charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes the Board of Directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve GLPI's qualification as a REIT. GLPI's charter also provides that, subject to certain exceptions approved
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by the Board of Directors, no person may beneficially or constructively own more than 7% in value or in number, whichever is more restrictive, of GLPI's outstanding shares of all classes and series of stock. The constructive ownership rules are complex and may cause shares of stock owned directly or constructively by a group of related individuals or entities to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. These ownership limits could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control of GLPI that might involve a premium price for shares of GLPI stock or otherwise be in the best interests of GLPI shareholders. The acquisition of less than 7% of our outstanding stock by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity to own beneficially or constructively in excess of 7% in value of our outstanding stock, and thus violate our charter's ownership limit. Our charter prohibits any person from owning shares of our stock that would result in our being "closely held" under Section 856(h) of the Code. Any attempt to own or transfer shares of our stock in violation of these restrictions may result in the transfer being automatically void. GLPI's charter also provides that shares of GLPI's capital stock acquired or held in excess of the ownership limit will be transferred to a trust for the benefit of a designated charitable beneficiary, and that any person who acquires shares of GLPI's capital stock in violation of the ownership limit will not be entitled to any dividends on the shares or be entitled to vote the shares or receive any proceeds from the subsequent sale of the shares in excess of the lesser of the market price on the day the shares were transferred to the trust or the amount realized from the sale. GLPI or its designee will have the right to purchase the shares from the trustee at this calculated price as well. A transfer of shares of GLPI's capital stock in violation of the limit may be void under certain circumstances. GLPI's 7% ownership limitation may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of GLPI, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for GLPI's shareholders. To assist GLPI in complying with applicable gaming laws, our charter also provides that capital stock of GLPI that is owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person will be transferred to a trust for the benefit of a designated charitable beneficiary, and that any such unsuitable person or affiliate will not be entitled to any dividends on the shares or be entitled to vote the shares or receive any proceeds from the subsequent sale of the shares in excess of the lesser of the price paid by the unsuitable person or affiliate for the shares or the amount realized from the sale, in each case less a discount in a percentage (up to 100%) to be determined by our Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion. The shares shall additionally be redeemable by GLPI, out of funds legally available for that redemption, to the extent required by the gaming authorities making the determination of unsuitability or to the extent determined to be necessary or advisable by our Board of Directors, at a redemption price equal to the lesser of (i) the market price on the date of the redemption notice, (ii) the market price on the redemption date, or (iii) the actual amount paid for the shares by the owner thereof, in each case less a discount in a percentage (up to 100%) to be determined by our Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion.
Pennsylvania law and provisions in our charter and bylaws may delay or prevent takeover attempts by third parties and therefore inhibit our shareholders from realizing a premium on their stock.
Our charter and bylaws, in addition to Pennsylvania law, contain provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage prospective acquirors to negotiate with our Board of Directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. Our charter and bylaws, among other things (i) permit the Board of Directors, without further action of the shareholders, to issue and fix the terms of preferred stock, which may have rights senior to those of the common stock; (ii) establish certain advance notice procedures for shareholder proposals, and require all director candidates to be recommended by the nominating committee of the Board of Directors following the affirmative determination by the nominating committee that such nominee is likely to meet the applicable suitability requirements of any federal, state or local regulatory body having jurisdiction over us; (iii) provide that a director may only be removed by shareholders for cause and upon the vote of 75% of the shares entitled to vote; (iv) do not permit direct nomination by shareholders of nominees for election to the Board of Directors, but instead permit shareholders to recommend potential nominees to our Compensation and Governance Committee; (v) require shareholders to have beneficially owned at least 1% of our outstanding common stock in order to recommend a person for nomination for election to the Board of Directors, or to present a shareholder proposal, for action at a shareholders' meeting; and (vi) provide for supermajority approval requirements for amending or repealing certain provisions in our charter and in order to approve an amendment or repeal of any provision of our bylaws that has not been proposed by our Board of Directors.
In addition, specific anti-takeover provisions in Pennsylvania law could make it more difficult for a third party to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions require (i) approval of certain transactions by a majority of the voting stock other than that held by the potential acquirer; (ii) the acquisition at "fair value" of all the outstanding shares not held by an acquirer of 20% or more; (iii) a five-year moratorium on certain "business combination" transactions with an "interested shareholder" (iv) the loss by interested shareholders of their voting rights over "control shares" (v) the disgorgement of profits realized by an interested shareholder from certain dispositions of our shares; and (vi) severance payments for certain employees and prohibiting termination of certain labor contracts.
We believe these provisions will protect our shareholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board of Directors and by providing our Board of Directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make GLPI immune from takeovers or to prevent a
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transaction from occurring. However, these provisions will apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some shareholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board of Directors determines is not in the best interests of GLPI. These provisions may also prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors.
If we lose our key management personnel, we may not be able to successfully manage our business and achieve our objectives.
Our success depends in large part upon the leadership and performance of our executive management team, particularly Peter M. Carlino, our chief executive officer, and William J. Clifford, our chief financial officer. Furthermore, we do not have any employment agreements in place with the members of our executive management team. If we lose the services of Messrs. Carlino or Clifford, or other members of our executive management team, we may not be able to successfully manage our business or achieve our business objectives.
We may experience uninsured or underinsured losses, which could result in a significant loss of the capital we have invested in a property, decrease anticipated future revenues or cause us to incur unanticipated expense.
While our leases require, and new lease agreements are expected to require, that comprehensive insurance and hazard insurance be maintained by the tenants, a tenant's failure to comply could lead to an uninsured or underinsured loss and there can be no assurance that we will be able to recover such uninsured or underinsured amounts from such tenant. Further, there are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, that may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Insurance coverage may not be sufficient to pay the full current market value or current replacement cost of a loss. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations, and other factors also might make it infeasible to use insurance proceeds to replace the property after such property has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds received might not be adequate to restore the economic position with respect to such property.
If we or one of our tenants experience a loss that is uninsured, or that exceeds our or our tenant's policy coverage limits, we could lose the capital invested in the damaged properties as well as the anticipated future cash flows from those properties. In addition, if the damaged properties were subject to recourse indebtedness, we could continue to be liable for the indebtedness even if these properties were irreparably damaged.
In addition, even if damage to our properties is covered by insurance, a disruption of our or our tenant's business caused by a casualty event may result in the loss of business or tenants. The business interruption insurance we or our tenant's carry may not fully compensate us for the loss of business or tenants due to an interruption caused by a casualty event.
A disruption in the financial markets may make it more difficult to evaluate the stability, net assets and capitalization of insurance companies and any insurer's ability to meet its claim payment obligations. A failure of an insurance company to make payments to us upon an event of loss covered by an insurance policy could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and holders of our common stock could lose a significant portion of their investment if the market price of our common stock declines.
The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and shareholders may not be able to resell their shares of our common stock at or above the price at which they acquired the common stock due to fluctuations in its market price, including changes in price caused by factors unrelated to our performance or prospects.
Specific factors that may have a significant effect on the market price for our common stock include, among others, the following:
• | changes in stock market analyst recommendations or earnings estimates regarding our common stock or other comparable REITs; |
• | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue stream or future prospects; |
• | strategic actions taken by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions; |
• | our failure to close pending acquisitions; |
• | our failure to achieve the perceived benefits of our acquisitions, including financial results, as rapidly as or to the extent anticipated by financial or industry analysts; |
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• | new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business and operations or the gaming industry; |
• | changes in tax or accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles; |
• | adverse conditions in the financial markets or general U.S. or international economic conditions, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism and responses to such events; and |
• | sales of our common stock by members of our management team or other significant shareholders. |
Environmental compliance costs and liabilities associated with real estate properties owned by us may materially impair the value of those investments.
As an owner of real property, we are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. Although we will not operate or manage most of our property, we may be held primarily or jointly and severally liable for costs relating to the investigation and clean-up of any property from which there has been a release or threatened release of a regulated material as well as other affected properties, regardless of whether we knew of or caused the release.
In addition to these costs, which are typically not limited by law or regulation and could exceed the property's value, we could be liable for certain other costs, including governmental fines and injuries to persons, property or natural resources. Further, some environmental laws create a lien on the contaminated site in favor of the government for damages and the costs the government incurs in connection with such contamination.
Although we intend to require our operators and tenants to undertake to indemnify us for certain environmental liabilities, including environmental liabilities they cause, the amount of such liabilities could exceed the financial ability of the tenant or operator to indemnify us. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination may adversely affect our ability to sell or lease the real estate or to borrow using the real estate as collateral.
Changes to U.S. federal income tax laws could materially and adversely affect us and our shareholders.
The recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes significant changes to the federal income taxation of individuals and corporations under the Code, generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. In addition to reducing corporate and individual income tax rates, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminates or restricts various deductions that, along with other provisions, may change the way that we calculate our REIT taxable income and our TRS’s taxable income. Significant provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that investors should be aware of include provisions that: (i) lower the corporate income tax rate to 21%, (ii) provide noncorporate taxpayers with a deduction of up to 20% of certain income earned through partnerships and REITs, (iii) limits the net operating loss deduction to 80% of taxable income, where taxable income is determined without regard to the net operating loss deduction itself, generally eliminates net operating loss carrybacks and allows unused net operating losses to be carried forward indefinitely, (iv) expand the ability of businesses to deduct the cost of certain property investments in the year in which the property is purchased, (v) generally lower tax rates for individuals and other noncorporate taxpayers, while limiting deductions such as miscellaneous itemized deductions and state and local tax deductions, and (vi) limits the deduction for net interest expense incurred by a business to 30% of the “adjusted taxable income” of the taxpayer, but does not apply to certain small-business taxpayers or electing real property trades or businesses, including REITs. The effect of these, and the many other, changes made is highly uncertain, both in terms of their direct effect on the taxation of holders of our common stock and their indirect effect on the value of our assets or market conditions generally. Furthermore, many of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will require guidance through the issuance of Treasury regulations in order to assess their effect. There may be a substantial delay before such regulations are promulgated, increasing the uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the statutory amendments on us.
We face risks associated with security breaches through cyber-attacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology (IT) networks and related systems.
We face risks associated with security breaches, whether through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusions over the internet, malware, computer viruses, attachments to e-mails, persons inside our organization or persons with access to systems inside our organization, and other significant disruptions of our IT networks and related systems. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attack or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Our IT networks and related systems are essential to the operation of our business and our ability to perform day-to-day operations. Although we make efforts to maintain the security and integrity of these types of IT networks and related systems,
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and we have implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, there can be no assurance that our security efforts and measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. A security breach or other significant disruption involving our IT networks and related systems could disrupt the proper functioning of our networks and systems; result in misstated financial reports, violations of loan covenants and/or missed reporting deadlines; result in our inability to monitor our compliance with the rules and regulations regarding our qualification as a REIT; result in the unauthorized access to, and destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of proprietary, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information of ours or others, which others could use to compete against us or for disruptive, destructive or otherwise harmful purposes and outcomes; require significant management attention and resources to remedy any damages that result; subject us to claims for breach of contract, damages, credits, penalties or termination of certain agreements; or damage our reputation among our tenants and investors generally.
Risk Factors Relating to our Status as a REIT
If we do not qualify to be taxed as a REIT, or fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could face a substantial tax liability, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
We elected on our 2014 U.S. federal income tax return to be treated as a REIT and intend to continue to be organized and to operate in a manner that will permit us to qualify as a REIT. We currently operate, and intend to continue to operate, in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We received an opinion from our special tax advisors, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and KPMG LLP (collectively the "Special Tax Advisors"), with respect to our qualification as a REIT in connection with the Spin-Off. Investors should be aware, however, that opinions of advisors are not binding on the IRS or any court. The opinions of the Special Tax Advisors represent only the view of the Special Tax Advisors based on their review and analysis of existing law and on certain representations as to factual matters and covenants made by us, including representations relating to the values of our assets and the sources of our income. The opinions are expressed as of the date issued. The Special Tax Advisors have no obligation to advise us or the holders of our common stock of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed or of any subsequent change in applicable law. Furthermore, both the validity of the opinions of Special Tax Advisors and our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis, the results of which will not be monitored by the Special Tax Advisors. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals.
Penn has received a private letter ruling from the IRS with respect to certain issues relevant to our qualification as a REIT. In general, the ruling provides, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, that (1) certain of the assets to be held by us after the Spin-Off and (2) the methodology for calculating a certain portion of rent received by us pursuant to the Penn Master Lease will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT. Although we may generally rely upon the ruling, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification as a REIT on the basis of other issues or facts outside the scope of the ruling.
If we were to fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT in any taxable year, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and dividends paid to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any resulting corporate liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to qualify to be taxed as a REIT.
Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Code and violations of these provisions could jeopardize our REIT qualifications.
Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Our qualification as a REIT depends on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. In addition, our ability to satisfy the requirements to qualify to be taxed as a REIT may depend in part on the actions of third parties over which we have no control or only limited influence.
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We could fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT if income we receive from Penn or Pinnacle, or their subsidiaries, is not treated as qualifying income.
Under applicable provisions of the Code, we will not be treated as a REIT unless we satisfy various requirements, including requirements relating to the sources of our gross income. Rents received or accrued by us from Penn or Pinnacle, or their subsidiaries, will not be treated as qualifying rent for purposes of these requirements if the Penn Master Lease or Pinnacle Master Lease is not respected as a true lease for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is instead treated as a service contract, joint venture or some other type of arrangement. If the Penn Master Lease or Pinnacle Master Lease is not respected as a true lease for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. Furthermore, our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals.
In addition, subject to certain exceptions, rents received or accrued by us from Penn or Pinnacle, or their subsidiaries, will not be treated as qualifying rent for purposes of these requirements if we or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of our stock actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Penn stock or Pinnacle stock entitled to vote or 10% or more of the total value of all classes of Penn stock or Pinnacle stock. Our charter provides for restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares of stock, including restrictions on such ownership or transfer that would cause the rents received or accrued by us from Penn or Pinnacle, or their subsidiaries, to be treated as non-qualifying rent for purposes of the REIT gross income requirements. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that such restrictions will be effective in ensuring that rents received or accrued by us from Penn or Pinnacle, or their subsidiaries, will not be treated as qualifying rent for purposes of REIT qualification requirements.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends.
The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to income from "qualified dividends" payable by U.S. corporations to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates is currently 20%. Ordinary dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. However, for taxable years that begin after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026: (i) the U.S. federal income tax brackets generally applicable to ordinary income of individuals, trusts and estates have been modified (with the rates generally reduced), and (ii) shareholders that are individuals, trusts or estates are generally entitled to a deduction equal to 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary income dividends received from a REIT (not including dividends that are eligible for the reduced rates applicable to “qualified dividend income” or treated as capital gain dividends), subject to certain limitations and not subject to expiration as of January 1, 2018.
The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are individuals, trusts or estates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our stock, even taking into account the lower 37% maximum rate for ordinary income and the 20% deduction for ordinary REIT dividends received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.
We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains, in order to qualify to be taxed as a REIT (assuming that certain other requirements are also satisfied) so that U.S. federal corporate income tax does not apply to earnings that we distribute. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement and qualify for taxation as a REIT but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and including any net capital gains, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed net taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we distribute to our shareholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal income tax laws. We intend to make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code.
From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our cash flow as a result of differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash or the effect of nondeductible capital expenditures, the creation of reserves or required debt or amortization payments. If we do not have other funds available in these situations, we could be required to borrow funds on unfavorable terms, sell assets at disadvantageous prices or distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our stock. Restrictions on our indebtedness, including
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restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness or make certain distributions, could preclude us from meeting the 90% distribution requirement. Decreases in funds from operations due to unfinanced expenditures for acquisitions of properties or increases in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding without commensurate increases in funds from operations each would adversely affect our ability to maintain distributions to our shareholders. Moreover, the failure of Penn or Pinnacle to make rental payments under the Penn Master Lease, the Pinnacle Master Lease or the Meadows Lease, as applicable, would materially impair our ability to make distributions. Consequently, there can be no assurance that we will be able to make distributions at the anticipated distribution rate or any other rate.
Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.
Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state, and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income and state or local income, property and transfer taxes. For example, we hold certain of our assets and conduct related activities through TRS subsidiary corporations that are subject to federal, state, and local corporate-level income taxes as regular C corporations as well as state and local gaming taxes. In addition, we may incur a 100% excise tax on transactions with a TRS if they are not conducted on an arm's-length basis. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forego otherwise attractive acquisition opportunities or liquidate otherwise attractive investments.
To qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must ensure that, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consist of cash, cash items, government securities and "real estate assets" (as defined in the Code), including certain mortgage loans and securities. The remainder of our investments (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued by a TRS) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our total assets (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued by a TRS) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 20% of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more TRSs. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate or forego otherwise attractive investments. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our shareholders.
In addition to the asset tests set forth above, to qualify to be taxed as a REIT we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the amounts we distribute to shareholders and the ownership of our stock. We may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us in order to satisfy the source-of-income or asset-diversification requirements for qualifying as a REIT. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to make certain attractive investments.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively and may cause us to incur tax liabilities.
The REIT provisions of the Code substantially limit our ability to hedge our assets and liabilities. Income from certain hedging transactions that we may enter into to manage risk of interest rate changes with respect to borrowings made or to be made to acquire or carry real estate assets or from transactions to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that satisfy the REIT gross income tests (including gain from the termination of such a transaction) does not constitute "gross income" for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests that apply to REITs, provided that certain identification requirements are met. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions or fail to properly identify such transaction as a hedge, the income is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both of the gross income tests. As a result of these rules, we may be required to limit our use of advantageous hedging techniques or implement those hedges through a TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities because the TRS may be subject to tax on gains or expose us to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates that we would otherwise want to bear. In addition, losses in the TRS will generally not provide any tax benefit, except that such losses could theoretically be carried back or forward against past or future taxable income in the TRS.
We paid the Purging Distribution in common stock and cash and may pay taxable dividends on our common stock in common stock and cash. Our shareholders may sell shares of our common stock to pay tax on such dividends, placing downward pressure on the market price of our common stock.
We paid the Purging Distribution in a combination of cash and GLPI stock. Penn has received a private letter ruling from the IRS with respect to certain issues relevant to our payment of the Purging Distribution in a combination of cash and GLPI stock. In general, the ruling provides, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, that (1) the Purging Distribution will be treated as a dividend that will first reduce our accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S.
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federal income tax purposes) attributable to pre-REIT years in satisfaction of the REIT annual distribution requirement and (2) the amount of any GLPI stock received by any GLPI shareholder as part of the Purging Distribution will be considered to equal the amount of cash that could have been received instead. In connection with the Purging Distribution, a shareholder of our common stock was required to report dividend income as a result of the Purging Distribution even though we distributed no cash or only nominal amounts of cash to such shareholder.
We currently intend to pay dividends (other than the Purging Distribution) in cash only, and not in-kind. However, if for any taxable year, we have significant amounts of taxable income in excess of available cash flow, we may declare dividends in-kind in order to satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirements. We may distribute a portion of our dividends in the form of our stock or our debt instruments. In either event, a shareholder of GLPI common stock will be required to report dividend income as a result of such distributions even though we distributed no cash or only nominal amounts of cash to such shareholder.
The IRS has issued private letter rulings to other REITs (and, with respect to the Purging Distribution and as described above, to Penn) treating certain distributions that are paid partly in cash and partly in stock as taxable dividends that would satisfy the REIT annual distribution requirement and qualify for the dividends paid deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Those rulings may be relied upon only by taxpayers to whom they were issued, but we could request a similar ruling from the IRS. We cannot rely on the private letter ruling Penn received from the IRS, as described above, with respect to the payment of dividends other than the Purging Distribution. In addition, the IRS previously issued a revenue procedure authorizing publicly traded REITs to make elective cash/stock dividends, but that revenue procedure does not apply to our taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 and future taxable years. Accordingly, it is unclear whether and to what extent we will be able to make taxable dividends (other than the Purging Distribution) payable in-kind.
If we make any taxable dividend payable in cash and common stock, taxable shareholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, shareholders may be required to pay income tax with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash dividends received. If a U.S. shareholder sells the GLPI stock that it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of the stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to certain non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold federal income tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in GLPI stock. If, in any taxable dividend payable in cash and GLPI stock, a significant number of our shareholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may be viewed as economically equivalent to a dividend reduction and put downward pressure on the market price of our stock.
We could be subject to tax on any unrealized net built-in gains in the assets held before electing to be treated as a REIT and in the assets acquired from Pinnacle.
We own appreciated assets that were held by a C corporation before we elected to be treated as a REIT and were acquired in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets in our ownership is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in the hands of the C corporation. If we dispose of any such appreciated assets during the five-year period following our acquisition of the assets from the C corporation (i.e., during the five-year period following our qualification as a REIT), we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate tax rates on any gain from such assets to the extent of the excess of the fair market value of the assets on the date that they were acquired by us (i.e., at the time that we became a REIT) over the adjusted tax basis of such assets on such date, which are referred to as built-in gains. The assets acquired from Pinnacle are expected to have significant built-in-gains. Because, prior to the Pinnacle transaction, Pinnacle was a C corporation, if we dispose of any such appreciated assets during the five-year period following the transaction, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate tax rates on any gain from such assets to the extent of the built-in-gain in such assets at the time of the transaction.
We would be subject to this tax liability even if we continue to qualify and maintain our status as a REIT. Any recognized built-in gain will retain our character as ordinary income or capital gain and will be taken into account in determining REIT taxable income and our distribution requirement. Any tax on the recognized built-in gain will reduce REIT taxable income. We may choose not to sell in a taxable transaction appreciated assets we might otherwise sell during the five-year period in which the built-in gain tax applies in order to avoid the built-in gain tax. However, there can be no assurances that such a taxable transaction will not occur. If we sell such assets in a taxable transaction, the amount of corporate tax that we will pay will vary depending on the actual amount of net built-in gain or loss present in those assets as of the time we became a REIT. The amount of tax could be significant.
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Risks Related to Our Capital Structure
We may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.
As of December 31, 2017, we had indebtedness of $4.48 billion, with an additional $699.6 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. We may incur additional indebtedness in the future to refinance our existing indebtedness or to finance newly-acquired properties. Any significant additional indebtedness could require a substantial portion of our cash flow to make interest and principal payments due on our indebtedness. Greater demands on our cash resources may reduce funds available to us to pay dividends, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, or carry out other aspects of our business strategy. Increased indebtedness can also limit our ability to adjust rapidly to changing market conditions, make us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions and create competitive disadvantages for us compared to other companies with relatively lower debt levels and/or borrowing costs. Increased future debt service obligations may limit our operational flexibility, including our ability to acquire properties, finance or refinance our properties, contribute properties to joint ventures or sell properties as needed. To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our leverage, including our possible inability to service our debt, would increase.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing or financing on favorable terms or our operating cash flow may be insufficient to satisfy our financial obligations under indebtedness outstanding from time to time (if any). If financing is not available when needed, or is available on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to develop new or enhance our existing properties, complete acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We incurred additional indebtedness in connection with the Pinnacle transaction.
Our increased indebtedness could have important consequences, including the following:
• | it may limit our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements and general corporate or other purposes; |
• | a material portion of our cash flows will be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, including indebtedness it may incur in the future, and will not be available for other purposes, including to pay dividends and make acquisitions; |
• | it could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt or are less leveraged; |
• | it could make us more vulnerable to downturns in general economic or industry conditions or in our business, or prevent us from carrying out activities that are important to our growth; |
• | it could increase our interest expense if interest rates in general increase because our indebtedness under the senior unsecured credit facility bears interest at floating rates; |
• | it could limit our ability to take advantage of strategic business opportunities; and |
• | it could make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, including under the notes, and any failure to comply with the obligations of any of our debt instruments, including any financial and other restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under the indenture governing the notes or under the agreements governing our other indebtedness which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of our indebtedness under the senior credit facility and under the notes. |
We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available under our senior unsecured credit facility or from other debt financing, in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy our debt service obligations, including payments on the notes, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring our indebtedness, selling assets or seeking to raise additional capital, including by issuing equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities. Our ability to restructure or refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our
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business operations. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt service requirements, including the inability to service the notes, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms, would have an adverse effect, which could be material, on our business, financial position and results of operations, as well as on our ability to satisfy our obligations in respect of the notes.
Our shareholders may be subject to significant dilution caused by the additional issuance of equity securities.
If and when additional funds are raised through the issuance of equity securities, including under our "at the market" offering program (the "ATM Program") and in connection with future acquisitions, our shareholders may experience significant dilution. Additionally, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock, may make it more difficult for our shareholders to sell their GLPI common stock at a time and price that they deem appropriate and could impair our future ability to raise capital through an offering of our equity securities.
Adverse changes in our credit rating may affect our borrowing capacity and borrowing terms.
Our outstanding debt is periodically rated by nationally recognized credit rating agencies. The credit ratings are based upon our operating performance, liquidity and leverage ratios, overall financial position, and other factors viewed by the credit rating agencies as relevant to both our industry and the economic outlook. Our credit rating may affect the amount of capital we can access, as well as the terms of any financing we obtain. Because we rely in part on debt financing to fund growth, the absence of an investment grade credit rating or any credit rating downgrade may have a negative effect on our future growth.
If we cannot obtain additional capital, our growth may be limited.
As described above, in order to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT each year, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains, to our shareholders. As a result, our retained earnings available to fund acquisitions, development, or other capital expenditures are nominal, and we rely upon the availability of additional debt or equity capital to fund these activities. Our long-term ability to grow through acquisitions or development, which is an important component of our strategy, will be limited if we cannot obtain additional debt financing or raise equity capital. Market conditions may make it difficult to obtain debt financing or raise equity capital, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing or that we will be able to obtain such capital on favorable terms.
An increase in market interest rates could increase our interest costs on existing and future debt and could adversely affect our stock price.
If interest rates increase, so could our interest costs for any new debt and our variable rate debt obligations. This increased cost could make the financing of any acquisition more costly, as well as lower our current period earnings. Rising interest rates could limit our ability to refinance existing debt when it matures or cause us to pay higher interest rates upon refinancing. In addition, an increase in interest rates could decrease the access third parties have to credit, thereby decreasing the amount they are willing to pay for our assets and consequently limiting our ability to reposition our portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions.
Further, the dividend yield on our common stock, as a percentage of the price of such common stock, will influence the price of such common stock. Thus, an increase in market interest rates may lead prospective purchasers of our common stock to expect a higher dividend yield, which would adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Covenants in our debt agreements may limit our operational flexibility, and a covenant breach or default could materially adversely affect our business, financial position or results of operations.
The agreements governing our indebtedness contain customary covenants, including restrictions on our ability to grant liens on our assets, incur indebtedness, sell assets, make investments, engage in acquisitions, mergers or consolidations and pay certain dividends and other restricted payments. Specifically, our debt agreements contain the following financial covenants: a maximum total debt to total asset value ratio of 60% (subject to increase to 65% for specified periods in connection with certain acquisitions), a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.5 to 1, a maximum senior secured debt to total asset value ratio of 40% and a maximum unsecured debt to unencumbered asset value ratio of 60%. These restrictions may limit our operational flexibility. Covenants that limit our operational flexibility as well as defaults under our debt instruments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.
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Risk Factors Relating to Our Spin-Off from Penn and the Acquisition of Pinnacle's Gaming Properties
If the Spin-Off, together with certain related transactions, does not qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, GLPI could be subject to significant tax liabilities and, in certain circumstances, GLPI could be required to indemnify Penn for material taxes pursuant to indemnification obligations under the Tax Matters Agreement.
Penn has received a private letter ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the Spin-Off, together with the required compliance exchanges and certain related transactions, will qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (the "IRS Ruling"). The IRS Ruling does not address certain requirements for tax-free treatment of the Spin-Off under Section 355, and Penn received from its tax advisors a tax opinion substantially to the effect that, with respect to such requirements on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements have been satisfied. The IRS Ruling, and the tax opinions that Penn received from its tax advisors, relied on, among other things, certain representations, assumptions and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of GLPI's business, and the IRS Ruling and the opinions would not be valid if such representations, assumptions and undertakings were incorrect in any material respect.
Notwithstanding the IRS Ruling and the tax opinions, the IRS could determine the Spin-Off should be treated as a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it determines any of the representations, assumptions or undertakings that were included in the request for the IRS Ruling are false or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinions that are not covered by the IRS Ruling.
Under a Tax Matters Agreement that GLPI entered into with Penn, GLPI generally is required to indemnify Penn against any tax resulting from the Spin-Off to the extent that such tax resulted from (i) an acquisition of all or a portion of the equity securities or assets of GLPI, whether by merger or otherwise, (ii) other actions or failures to act by GLPI, or (iii) any of GLPI's representations or undertakings being incorrect or violated. GLPI's indemnification obligations to Penn and its subsidiaries, officers and directors will not be limited by any maximum amount. If GLPI is required to indemnify Penn or such other persons under the circumstance set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement, GLPI may be subject to substantial liabilities.
The historical financial information included in this filing may not be a reliable indicator of future results.
The historical financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 included herein reflect a full year of operations for the real estate entity and the businesses in the TRS, whereas financial results for the year ended December 31, 2013 (included in Item 6) reflect a full year of operations for the businesses in the TRS and a partial year from November 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 for the real estate entity. The historical financial statements included herein do not reflect what the business, financial position or results of operations of GLPI may be in the future.
The ownership by our executive officers and directors of common shares, options or other equity awards of Penn may create, or may create the appearance of, conflicts of interest.
Because of their current or former positions with Penn, substantially all of our executive officers, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and certain directors own common shares of Penn, options to purchase common shares of Penn or other Penn equity awards as well as common shares, options to purchase common shares and/or other equity awards in GLPI. The individual holdings of common shares, options to purchase common shares or other equity awards of Penn and GLPI may be significant for some of these persons compared to their total assets. These equity interests may create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest when these directors and officers are faced with decisions that could benefit or affect the equity holders of Penn in ways that do not benefit or affect us in the same manner.
Peter M. Carlino, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and David A. Handler, one of our independent directors, also serve on the Penn Board of Directors which may create conflicts of interest and/or create regulatory obstacles for the Company in its pursuit of additional properties.
Peter M. Carlino serves as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Penn and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI. In addition, David A. Handler, one of our directors, serves as a director at Penn. These overlapping positions could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when our or Penn's management and directors pursue the same corporate opportunities, such as greenfield development opportunities, or face decisions that could have different implications for us and Penn. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the negotiation or the resolution of any dispute between us and Penn (or its subsidiaries) regarding the terms of the agreements governing the separation and the relationship (e.g. Penn Master Lease) thereafter. Potential conflicts of interest could also arise if we and Penn enter into any commercial arrangements with each other in the future, including as a result of Penn's proposed acquisition of Pinnacle and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby. We have established a mechanism in our Corporate Governance Guidelines to address potential conflicts through the use of an independent director but there can be no
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assurance that this process will completely eliminate conflicts resulting from overlapping directors. In addition to potential conflicts of interest, the overlapping director position could create obstacles to engaging in certain transactions in close proximity to existing Penn properties and there can be no assurance that we will be able to overcome such obstacles.
Potential indemnification liabilities of GLPI pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement could materially adversely affect GLPI.
The Separation and Distribution Agreement between GLPI and Penn provides for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions required to effect the separation, certain conditions to the separation and provisions governing the relationship between GLPI and Penn with respect to, and resulting from the separation.
Among other things, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for indemnification obligations designed to make us financially responsible for substantially all liabilities that may result relating to or arising out of our business. If GLPI is required to indemnify Penn under the circumstances set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, GLPI may be subject to substantial liabilities.
Each of Penn and Pinnacle have contractual obligations to indemnify us for certain liabilities. However, there can be no assurance that these indemnities will be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Penn's or Pinnacle’s ability, as applicable, to satisfy its indemnification obligation will not be impaired in the future.
Each of Penn and Pinnacle have contractual obligations to indemnify us for certain liabilities. However, third parties could seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that Penn and Pinnacle agreed to retain, and there can be no assurance that Penn or Pinnacle, as applicable, will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Penn or Pinnacle, as applicable, any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses while seeking recovery from Penn or Pinnacle, as applicable, and such recovery could have a material adverse impact on Penn's or Pinnacle’s financial condition and ability to pay rent due under the Penn Master Lease or the Pinnacle Master Lease, as applicable.
A court could deem the distribution to be a fraudulent conveyance and void the transaction or impose substantial liabilities upon us.
A court could deem the distribution of GLPI common shares or certain internal restructuring transactions undertaken by Penn in connection with the Spin-Off, or the Purging Distribution by GLPI, to be a fraudulent conveyance or transfer. Fraudulent conveyances or transfers are defined to include transfers made or obligations incurred with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud current or future creditors or transfers made or obligations incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value when the debtor was insolvent, or that rendered the debtor insolvent, inadequately capitalized or unable to pay its debts as they become due. In such circumstances, a court could void the transactions or impose substantial liabilities upon us, which could adversely affect our financial condition and our results of operations. Among other things, the court could require our shareholders to return to Penn some or all of the shares of our common stock issued in the distribution, to return some of the Purging Distribution to GLPI, or require us to fund liabilities of other companies involved in the restructuring transactions for the benefit of creditors. Whether a transaction is a fraudulent conveyance or transfer will vary depending upon the jurisdiction whose law is being applied.
The Spin-Off agreements are not the result of negotiations between unrelated third parties.
The agreements that we entered into with Penn in connection with the Spin-Off, including the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Penn Master Lease, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement and Transition Services Agreement, were negotiated in the context of the Spin-Off while we were still a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn. Accordingly, during the period in which the terms of those agreements were negotiated, we did not have an independent board of directors or a management team independent of Penn. As a result, although those agreements are generally intended to reflect arm's-length terms, the terms of those agreements may not reflect terms that would have resulted from arm's-length negotiations between unaffiliated third parties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the terms of these agreements will be as favorable for GLPI as would have resulted from negotiations with one or more unrelated third parties.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Rental Properties
As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 36 rental properties, consisting of the real property associated with 20 gaming and related facilities operated by Penn, the real property associated with 15 gaming and related facilities operated by Pinnacle and the real property associated with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. All rental properties are subject to long-term triple-net leases. For additional information pertaining to our tenant leases and our rental properties see Item 1.
TRS Properties
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge is a dockside riverboat casino located on approximately 20.1 acres, which we own, on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the East Baton Rouge Downtown Development District. The property site serves as the dockside embarkation for Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and features a two-story building. We also own approximately 4.0 acres of land which features a railroad underpass that provides unimpeded access to the casino property.
Hollywood Casino Perryville
We own 36.4 acres of land in Perryville, Maryland where Hollywood Casino Perryville is located. The property is located directly off Interstate 95 in Cecil County, Maryland just 35 miles northeast of Baltimore and 70 miles from Washington, D.C.
See Item 1 for further information pertaining to our TRS Properties.
Corporate Office
The Company's corporate headquarters building is located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and is owned by the Company.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is subject to various legal and administrative proceedings relating to personal injuries, employment matters, commercial transactions and other matters arising in the normal course of business. The Company does not believe that the final outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company maintains what it believes is adequate insurance coverage to further mitigate the risks of such proceedings. However, such proceedings can be costly, time consuming and unpredictable and, therefore, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of such proceedings may not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Further, no assurance can be given that the amount or scope of existing insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover losses arising from such matters.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "GLPI." The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low closing prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and cash dividends per share declared and paid for the same periods.
High | Low | Dividends per Share | ||||||||||
2017 | ||||||||||||
First Quarter | $ | 33.42 | $ | 30.27 | $ | 0.62 | ||||||
Second Quarter | 38.53 | 33.33 | 0.62 | |||||||||
Third Quarter | 39.19 | 36.31 | 0.63 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter | 37.20 | 35.54 | 0.63 | |||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||
First Quarter | $ | 31.13 | $ | 24.82 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||
Second Quarter | 34.83 | 31.49 | 0.56 | |||||||||
Third Quarter | 35.89 | 32.42 | 0.60 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter | 33.17 | 29.59 | 0.60 | |||||||||
The closing sale price per share of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on February 12, 2018 was $33.31. As of February 12, 2018, there were approximately 691 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
The Company's annual dividend is greater than or equal to at least 90% of its REIT taxable income on an annual basis, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its taxable income.
On February 1, 2018, the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.63 per share, which is payable on March 23, 2018 to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2018. Cash available for distribution to GLPI shareholders is derived from the rental payments received under the Company's real estate leases and the income of the TRS Properties. All distributions will be made by GLPI at the discretion of its Board of Directors and will depend on the financial position, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, debt covenants, applicable laws and other factors as the Board of Directors of GLPI deems relevant. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further details on dividends.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial and operating data for the five-year period ended December 31, 2017 is derived from our consolidated financial statements. The selected consolidated financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the other financial information included herein.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2017 (1) | 2016 (1) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 (3) | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income statement data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 971,307 | $ | 828,255 | $ | 575,053 | $ | 591,068 | $ | 235,452 | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | 365,789 | 347,632 | 317,638 | 332,562 | 181,547 | ||||||||||||||
Income from operations | 605,518 | 480,623 | 257,415 | 258,506 | 53,905 | ||||||||||||||
Total other expenses | 215,133 | 183,773 | 121,851 | 114,586 | 23,456 | ||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 390,385 | 296,850 | 135,564 | 143,920 | 30,449 | ||||||||||||||
Taxes on income | 9,787 | 7,545 | 7,442 | 5,113 | 15,596 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | $ | 138,807 | $ | 14,853 | |||||||||
Per share data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.62 | $ | 1.12 | $ | 1.23 | $ | 0.13 | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 1.79 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.08 | $ | 1.18 | $ | 0.13 | |||||||||
Weighted shares outstanding - Basic | 210,705 | 178,594 | 114,432 | 112,037 | 110,617 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted shares outstanding - Diluted | 212,752 | 180,622 | 118,439 | 117,586 | 115,865 | ||||||||||||||
Other data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 598,711 | $ | 514,370 | $ | 319,688 | $ | 273,259 | $ | 80,632 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 698 | (3,218,616 | ) | (14,142 | ) | (317,319 | ) | (16,275 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (606,911 | ) | 2,698,927 | (299,644 | ) | (205,188 | ) | 206,302 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 123,835 | 115,717 | 109,783 | 106,843 | 28,923 | ||||||||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | 65,971 | 58,673 | 55,825 | 44,877 | 6,677 | ||||||||||||||
Collections of principal payments on investment in direct financing lease | 73,072 | 48,533 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 217,068 | 185,896 | 124,183 | 117,030 | 19,254 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures (2) | 3,256 | 3,441 | 19,102 | 142,769 | 16,428 | ||||||||||||||
Balance sheet data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 29,054 | $ | 36,556 | $ | 41,875 | $ | 35,973 | $ | 285,221 | |||||||||
Real estate investments, net | 3,662,045 | 3,739,091 | 2,090,059 | 2,180,124 | 2,010,303 | ||||||||||||||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | 2,637,639 | 2,710,711 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 7,246,882 | 7,369,330 | 2,448,155 | 2,525,454 | 2,562,362 | ||||||||||||||
Total debt | 4,442,880 | 4,664,965 | 2,510,341 | 2,570,361 | 2,303,123 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity (deficit) | 2,458,247 | 2,433,869 | (253,514 | ) | (176,290 | ) | (137,452 | ) | |||||||||||
Property Data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Number of rental properties owned at year end | 36 | 34 | 19 | 19 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
Rentable square feet at year end | 15,198 | 14,799 | 6,970 | 6,970 | 6,344 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | In April 2016, the Company purchased substantially all of the real property assets of Pinnacle for approximately $4.8 billion. The purchase of these assets, which were subsequently leased back to Pinnacle under a triple-net lease and financed through a combination of debt and equity, contributed to the Company's significant growth in asset base as well as improved financial performance during fiscal years 2017 and 2016. To a lesser extent, the purchase of the real property assets of the Meadows for $323.3 million in September 2016, (which were also subsequently leased to |
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Pinnacle) also contributed to the Company's improved operating results during fiscal years 2017 and 2016. Finally, the purchase of the real property assets of Bally's Casino Tunica and Resorts Casino Tunica for $82.9 million in May 2017 (leased to Penn) contributed slightly to the Company's increase in net revenues for fiscal year 2017. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's acquisitions.
(2) | The higher level of capital expenditures in 2014 was primarily due to the construction of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course which opened to the public on August 28, 2014 and September 17, 2014, respectively. |
(3) | The Company's 2013 fiscal year reflects a partial year of operations for the GLP Capital operating segment as GLPI was spun-off from Penn on November 1, 2013. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details. |
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our Operations
GLPI is a self-administered and self-managed Pennsylvania REIT. GLPI was incorporated in Pennsylvania on February 13, 2013, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn. On November 1, 2013, Penn contributed to GLPI, through a series of internal corporate restructurings, substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with Penn's real property interests and real estate development business, as well as the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties," and then spun-off GLPI to holders of Penn's common and preferred stock in a tax-free distribution. The Company elected on its U.S. federal income tax return for its taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT and the Company, together with an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn's former real property assets and leases back most of those assets to Penn for use by its subsidiaries, under the Penn Master Lease, and GLPI also owns and operates the TRS Properties through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, GLP Holdings, Inc. The assets and liabilities of GLPI were recorded at their respective historical carrying values at the time of the Spin-Off. In April 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle for approximately $4.8 billion. GLPI leases these assets back to Pinnacle, under a triple-net lease with an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option, followed by five 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details surrounding the Pinnacle acquisition.
GLPI's primary business consists of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. As of December 31, 2017, GLPI's portfolio consisted of 38 gaming and related facilities, including the TRS Properties, the real property associated with 20 gaming and related facilities operated by Penn, the real property associated with 15 gaming and related facilities operated by Pinnacle and the real property associated with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. These facilities are geographically diversified across 14 states and contain approximately 15.2 million of rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2017, our properties were 100% occupied.
We expect to grow our portfolio by pursuing opportunities to acquire additional gaming facilities to lease to gaming operators under prudent terms. For example, on December 17, 2017, the Company entered into agreements to purchase two additional properties, Plainridge Park Casino and Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment from Penn and Pinnacle, respectively. We will acquire these properties in connection with the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle by Penn pursuant to a definitive agreement and plan of merger between them, also dated December 17, 2017. Subject to and concurrently with the completion of the Merger, we have agreed to, among other things, amend our master lease with Pinnacle to allow for the sale by Pinnacle of the operating assets at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles and Belterra Casino Resort to Boyd and to enter into a new master lease agreement with Boyd on terms similar to the Company’s existing leases. The transaction is expected to add additional annual rental revenue of approximately $46 million upon closing. The transaction which is subject to regulatory approval is expected to close in the second half of 2018.
Additionally, we believe we have the ability to leverage the expertise our management team has developed over the years to secure additional avenues for growth beyond the gaming industry.
As of December 31, 2017, the majority of our earnings are the result of the rental revenues we receive from our triple-net Master Leases with Penn and Pinnacle. Additionally, we have rental revenue from the Casino Queen property which is
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leased back to a third party operator on a triple-net basis and the Meadows property which is leased to Pinnacle under a triple-net lease separate from the Pinnacle Master Lease. In addition to rent, the tenants are required to pay the following executory costs: (1) all facility maintenance, (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, including coverage of the landlord's interests, (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor) and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.
Additionally, in accordance with ASC 605, we record revenue for the real estate taxes paid by our tenants on the leased properties with an offsetting expense in general and administrative expense within the consolidated statement of income, as we believe we are the primary obligor. Similarly, we record revenue for the ground lease rent paid by our tenants with an offsetting expense in general and administrative expense within the consolidated statement of income as we have concluded that as the lessee we are the primary obligor under the ground leases. We sublease these ground leases back to our tenants, who are responsible for payment directly to the landlord.
Gaming revenue generated by our TRS Properties is derived primarily from video lottery gaming revenue and to a lesser extent, table game and poker revenue, which is highly dependent upon the volume and spending levels of customers at our TRS Properties. Other revenues at our TRS Properties are derived from dining, retail, and certain other ancillary activities.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe the following competitive strengths will contribute significantly to our success:
Geographically Diverse Property Portfolio
As of December 31, 2017, our portfolio consisted of 38 gaming and related facilities. Our portfolio comprises approximately 15.4 million of property square footage and over 5,200 acres of owned and leased land and is broadly diversified by location across 14 states. Our geographic diversification will limit the effect of a decline in any one regional market on our overall performance.
Financially Secure Tenants
As of December 31, 2017, substantially all of the Company's real estate properties were leased to Penn or Pinnacle and approximately 53% and 45% of the Company's collective rental revenues and income from direct financing lease were derived from tenant leases with Penn and Pinnacle, respectively. Penn and Pinnacle are both leading, diversified, multi-jurisdictional owners and managers of gaming and pari-mutuel properties and established gaming providers with strong financial performance. Penn and Pinnacle are publicly traded companies that are subject to the informational filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are required to file periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are directed to Penn and Pinnacle's respective websites for further financial information on these companies. As disclosed above, Penn has entered into an agreement to acquire Pinnacle and we expect that transaction to close in the second half of 2018.
Long-Term, Triple-Net Lease Structure
Our real estate properties are leased under long-term triple-net leases guaranteed by our tenants, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.
Flexible UPREIT Structure
We have the flexibility to operate through an umbrella partnership, commonly referred to as an UPREIT structure, in which substantially all of our properties and assets are held by GLP Capital or by subsidiaries of GLP Capital. Conducting business through GLP Capital allows us flexibility in the manner in which we structure and acquire properties. In particular, an UPREIT structure enables us to acquire additional properties from sellers in exchange for limited partnership units, which provides property owners the opportunity to defer the tax consequences that would otherwise arise from a sale of their real properties and other assets to us. As a result, this structure potentially may facilitate our acquisition of assets in a more efficient manner and may allow us to acquire assets that the owner would otherwise be unwilling to sell because of tax considerations. We believe that this flexibility will provide us an advantage in seeking future acquisitions.
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Experienced and Committed Management Team
Although our management team has limited experience in operating a REIT, it has extensive gaming and real estate experience. Peter M. Carlino, chief executive officer of GLPI, has more than 30 years of experience in the acquisition and development of gaming facilities and other real estate projects. William J. Clifford, chief financial officer of GLPI, is a finance professional with more than 30 years of experience in the gaming industry, including four years of gaming regulatory experience, sixteen years of casino property operations, and sixteen years of corporate experience. Through years of public company experience, our management team also has extensive experience accessing both debt and equity capital markets to fund growth and maintain a flexible capital structure.
Segment Information
Consistent with how our Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews and assesses our financial performance, we have two reportable segments, GLP Capital and the TRS Properties. The GLP Capital reportable segment consists of the leased real property and represents the majority of our business. The TRS Properties reportable segment consists of Hollywood Casino Perryville and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge.
Executive Summary
Financial Highlights
We reported net revenues and income from operations of $971.3 million and $605.5 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $828.3 million and $480.6 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2016. The major factors affecting our results for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, were:
• | During April 2016, we acquired substantially all of Pinnacle's real estate assets. These assets are leased back to Pinnacle under a Master Lease which is bifurcated between an operating lease and a direct financing lease, resulting in the recognition of rental income for the land assets leased to Pinnacle and income from a direct financing lease for the building assets leased to Pinnacle. Additionally, during September 2016, we acquired the real estate assets of the Meadows and leased these assets to Pinnacle under a single property triple-net lease and during May of 2017, we acquired the real estate assets of Bally's Casino Tunica (subsequently re-branded as the 1st Jackpot Casino) and Resorts Casino Tunica (the "Tunica Properties") and leased these assets to Penn under the Penn Master Lease. Rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease were $829.2 million and $684.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease increased by $145.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the Pinnacle transaction, which increased rental income, income from the direct financing lease and revenue recorded for real estate taxes paid by our tenants and the Tunica and Meadows transactions, which increased both rental income and revenue recorded for real estate taxes paid by our tenants. |
• | Net revenues for our TRS Properties decreased by $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year, due to decreased revenues at both Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville. The largest driver of the decrease resulted from lower revenues at Hollywood Casino Perryville, related to the outsourcing of its food and beverage outlets to a third party provider during the first quarter of 2017. |
• | Total operating expenses increased by $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year, driven by increases in real estate taxes, primarily as a result of the addition of the Pinnacle and Meadows properties to our real estate portfolio and land right and ground rent lease expense, primarily related to the land rights acquired with the Pinnacle and Tunica transactions, partially offset by a decline in general and administrative expenses. |
• | Other expenses, net increased by $31.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year, driven by increases in interest expense from the Company's April 2016 borrowings, which were utilized to finance the Pinnacle transaction. |
• | Net income increased by $91.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the prior year, primarily due to the variances explained above. |
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Segment Developments
The following are recent developments that have had or are likely to have an impact on us by segment:
GLP Capital
• | On May 1, 2017, the Company purchased the real property assets of Bally's Casino Tunica and Resorts Casino Tunica for $82.9 million. Penn purchased the operating assets of the Tunica Properties directly from the seller, operates both properties and leases the real property assets from the Company under the Penn Master Lease. The initial annual cash rent of $9.0 million for the Tunica Properties will be subject to rent escalators and adjustments consistent with the other properties under the Penn Master Lease. |
• | On September 9, 2016, the Company purchased the real property assets of the Meadows from Cannery Casino Resorts, LLC. Concurrent with the Company's purchase of the Meadows' real estate assets, Pinnacle purchased the entities holding the Meadows gaming and racing licenses and operating assets directly from CCR. GLPI leases the Meadows real property assets to Pinnacle under a triple-net lease separate from the Pinnacle Master Lease with an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option and the option to renew for three successive five-year terms and one four-year term, at Pinnacle's option. |
• | On April 28, 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle, for approximately $4.8 billion. GLPI leases these assets back to Pinnacle, under a triple-net lease with an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option, followed by five 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions. The Pinnacle Master Lease added 14 properties to our real estate portfolio. |
TRS Properties
• | During the first quarter of 2017, Hollywood Casino Perryville outsourced the operation of its food and beverage outlets to a third party provider. Employees of these outlets are now employees of the third party; therefore both Hollywood Casino Perryville's revenues and expenses related to food and beverage decreased during the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year. |
Critical Accounting Estimates
We make certain judgments and use certain estimates and assumptions when applying accounting principles in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The nature of the estimates and assumptions are material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain factors or the susceptibility of such factors to change. We have identified the accounting for leases, income taxes, real estate investments, and goodwill and other intangible assets as critical accounting estimates, as they are the most important to our financial statement presentation and require difficult, subjective and complex judgments.
We believe the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition.
Leases
As a REIT, the majority of our revenues are derived from rent received from our tenants under long-term triple-net leases. Currently, we have Master Leases with both Penn and Pinnacle under which we lease 20 and 14 properties, respectively, to these tenants. We also have a long-term lease with Casino Queen and a separate single property lease by which we lease the Meadows' real estate assets to Pinnacle. The accounting guidance under ASC 840 - Leases ("ASC 840") is complex and requires the use of judgments and assumptions by management to determine the proper accounting treatment of a lease. We perform a lease classification test upon the entry into any new lease, to determine if we will account for the lease as a capital or operating lease. The revenue recognition model and thus the presentation of our financial statements is significantly different under capital leases and operating leases.
Under the operating lease model, as the lessor, the assets we lease remain on our books and we record rental revenues on a straight-line basis over the lease term. This includes the recognition of percentage rents that are fixed and determinable at the lease inception date on a straight-line basis over the entire lease term, resulting in the recognition of deferred rental revenue
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on our consolidated balance sheets. Deferred rental revenue is amortized to rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the remainder of the lease term. The lease term includes the initial non-cancelable lease term and any reasonably assured renewal periods. Contingent rental income that is not fixed and determinable at lease inception is recognized only when the lessee achieves the specified target. Recognition of rental income commences when control of the facility has been transferred to the tenant. Under operating lease treatment, assets we own and lease to tenants are recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as real estate investments.
Under the direct financing lease model, however, at lease inception we record an investment in direct financing lease on our consolidated balance sheet rather than recording the actual assets we own and the cash rent we receive from tenants is not entirely recorded as rental revenue, but rather a portion is recorded as interest income and a portion is recorded as a reduction to the direct financing lease receivable. Under ASC 840, for leases of both building and land, leases may be bifurcated between operating and capital leases, with the land portion of the lease typically qualifying for operating lease treatment. To determine if the building portion of a lease triggers capital lease treatment we conduct the four lease tests in ASC 840 outlined below. If a lease meets any of the four criteria below, it is accounted for as a capital lease.
1) Transfer of ownership - The lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term. This criterion is met in situations in which the lease agreement provides for the transfer of title at or shortly after the end of the lease term in exchange for the payment of a nominal fee, for example, the minimum required by statutory regulation to transfer title.
2) Bargain purchase option - The lease contains a bargain purchase option, which is a provision allowing the lessee, at its option, to purchase the leased property for a price which is sufficiently lower than the expected fair value of the property at the date the option becomes exercisable. In addition, the exercise of the option must be reasonably assured at lease inception.
3) Lease term - The lease term is equal to 75 percent or more of the estimated economic life of the leased property. However, if the beginning of the lease term falls within the last 25 percent of the total estimated economic life of the leased property, including earlier years of use, this criterion shall not be used for purposes of classifying the lease. This test is conducted on a property by property basis.
4) Minimum lease payments - The present value of the minimum lease payments at the beginning of the lease term, excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, including any profit thereon, equals or exceeds 90% of the fair value of the leased property to the lessor at lease inception less any related investment tax credit retained by the lessor and expected to be realized by the lessor. If the beginning of the lease term falls within the last 25% of the total estimated economic life of the leased property, including earlier years of use, this criterion shall not be used for purposes of classifying the lease.
The tests outlined above, as well as the resulting calculations, require subjective judgments, such as determining, at lease inception, the fair value of the assets, the residual value of the assets at the end of the lease term, the likelihood a tenant will exercise all renewal options (in order to determine the lease term), the estimated remaining economic life of the leased assets, the incremental borrowing rate of the lessee and the interest rate implicit in the lease. A slight change in estimate or judgment can result in a materially different financial statement presentation.
Our net investment in the direct financing lease is evaluated for impairment as necessary, if indicators of impairment are present, to determine if there has been an-other-than-temporary decline in the residual value of the property or a change in the lessee's credit worthiness.
Income Taxes
We elected on our U.S. federal income tax return for our taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT and we, together with an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. We intend to continue to be organized and to operate in a manner that will permit us to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income to shareholders determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain, meet the various other requirements imposed by the Code relating to matters such as operating results, asset holdings, distribution levels, and diversity of stock ownership. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that we distribute as dividends to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates, and dividends paid to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing taxable income. Any resulting corporate liability could be substantial and could
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materially and adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distribution to shareholders. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to this statutory relief.
Our TRS Properties are able to engage in activities resulting in income that would be not qualifying income for a REIT. As a result, certain activities of the Company which occur within our TRS Properties are subject to federal and state income taxes.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate investments primarily represent land and buildings leased to the Company's tenants. Real estate investments that we received in connection with the Spin-Off were contributed to us at Penn's historical carrying amount. We record the acquisition of real estate at fair value, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost of properties developed by GLPI include costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for occupancy. We consider the period of future benefit of the asset to determine the appropriate useful lives. Depreciation is computed using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the buildings and building improvements. Additionally, the amortization of real estate assets subject to capital leases (for which GLPI is the lessee) is included within the depreciation line item of the Company's consolidated statements of income.
We continually monitor events and circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amount of our real estate investments may not be recoverable or realized. When indicators of potential impairment suggest that the carrying value of a real estate investment may not be recoverable, we estimate the fair value of the investment by calculating the undiscounted future cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the investment. This amount is compared to the asset's carrying value. If we determine the carrying amount is not recoverable, we would recognize an impairment charge equivalent to the amount required to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value, calculated in accordance with GAAP. We group our real estate investments together by lease, the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available, in evaluating impairment. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value, we must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. Factors considered in performing this assessment include current operating results, market and other applicable trends and residual values, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record an impairment loss.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
At December 31, 2017, we had $75.5 million in goodwill and $9.6 million in other intangible assets within our consolidated balance sheet, resulting from the contribution of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville in connection with the Spin-Off. Our goodwill resides on the books of our Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge subsidiary, while the other intangible asset represents a gaming license on the books of our Hollywood Casino Perryville subsidiary. Both subsidiaries are members of the TRS Properties segment and are considered separate reporting units under ASC 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other" ("ASC 350"). Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available.
Under ASC 350, we are required to test goodwill for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill may be impaired. We have elected to perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 of each year. ASC 350 prescribes a two-step goodwill impairment test, the first step which involves the determination of the fair value of each reporting unit and its comparison to the carrying amount. In order to determine the fair value of the Baton Rouge reporting unit, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model, which relied on projected EBITDA to determine the reporting unit's future cash flows. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value in step 1, then step 2 of the impairment test is performed to determine the implied value of goodwill. If the implied value of goodwill is less than the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit, an impairment loss is recognized.
In accordance with ASC 350, we consider the Hollywood Casino Perryville gaming license an indefinite-lived intangible asset that does not require amortization based on our future expectations to operate this casino indefinitely as well as the gaming industry's historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state gaming commissions. Rather, the gaming license is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, for impairment by comparing the fair value of the recorded asset to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-life intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Hollywood Casino Perryville's gaming license will expire in September 2025, fifteen years from the casino's opening date. We expect to expense any costs related to the gaming license renewal as incurred.
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We assessed the fair value of our gaming license using the Greenfield Method under the income approach. The Greenfield Method estimates the fair value of the gaming license assuming we built a casino with similar utility to that of the existing facility. The method assumes a theoretical start-up company going into business without any assets other than the intangible asset being valued. As such the value of the license is a function of the following items:
• | Projected revenues and operating cash flows; |
• | Theoretical construction costs and duration; |
• | Pre-opening expenses; |
• | Discounting that reflects the level of risk associated with receiving future cash flows attributable to the license; and |
• | Remaining useful life of the license. |
The evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the indefinite-lived intangible assets. We must make various assumptions and estimates in performing our impairment testing. The implied fair value includes estimates of future cash flows that are based on reasonable and supportable assumptions which represent our best estimates of the cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets. Changes in estimates, increases in our cost of capital, reductions in transaction multiples, changes in operating and capital expenditure assumptions or application of alternative assumptions and definitions could produce significantly different results. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from our estimates. If our ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met, we may have to record additional impairment charges in future accounting periods. Our estimates of cash flows are based on the current regulatory and economic climates, as well as recent operating information and budgets. These estimates could be negatively impacted by changes in federal, state or local regulations, economic downturns, or other events.
Forecasted cash flows can be significantly impacted by the local economy in which our subsidiaries operate. For example, increases in unemployment rates can result in decreased customer visitations and/or lower customer spend per visit. In addition, new legislation which approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions or further expands gaming in jurisdictions in which we operate can result in increased competition for the property. This generally has a negative effect on profitability once competitors become established, as a certain level of cannibalization occurs absent an overall increase in customer visitations. Lastly, increases in gaming taxes approved by state regulatory bodies can negatively impact forecasted cash flows.
Assumptions and estimates about future cash flow levels are complex and subjective. They are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors, such as industry, geopolitical and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in our business strategy, which may reallocate capital and resources to different or new opportunities which management believes will enhance our overall value but may be to the detriment of our existing operations.
We determined the fair value of our goodwill and gaming license as of October 1, 2017 utilizing the forecasted cash flow methods described above and compared these values to the carrying value of the assets on our balance sheet. In determining the fair value of each asset, we incorporated recent operating trends of both TRS properties into our current year projections. After consideration of these facts, the fair value of both assets exceeded their carrying amounts, and as of October 1, 2017, our goodwill and gaming license were not impaired.
As discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the FASB recently issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-04"), which simplifies the goodwill impairment test for public companies by eliminating Step 2 from the test. Upon the adoption of ASU 2017-04, an impairment charge is simply recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill, when the carrying value exceeds fair value. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on the new standard. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to significantly impact its goodwill impairment testing, as it has not recognized an impairment charge for goodwill or intangible assets since inception.
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Results of Operations
The following are the most important factors and trends that contribute or may contribute to our operating performance:
• | The fact that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pinnacle lease substantially all of our properties, pursuant to their respective Master Leases, and account for a significant portion of our revenue. |
• | The risks related to economic conditions and the effect of such conditions on consumer spending for leisure and gaming activities, which may negatively impact our gaming tenants and operators. |
• | The fact that the rules and regulations of U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by legislators, the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Changes to the tax laws or interpretations thereof, with or without retroactive application, could materially and adversely affect GLPI's investors or GLPI. |
The consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are summarized below:
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||
Rental income | $ | 671,190 | $ | 567,444 | $ | 392,075 | |||||
Income from direct financing lease | 74,333 | 48,917 | — | ||||||||
Real estate taxes paid by tenants | 83,698 | 67,843 | 35,050 | ||||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease | 829,221 | 684,204 | 427,125 | ||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 146,866 | 149,661 | 153,523 | ||||||||
Total revenues | 976,087 | 833,865 | 580,648 | ||||||||
Less promotional allowances | (4,780 | ) | (5,610 | ) | (5,595 | ) | |||||
Net revenues | 971,307 | 828,255 | 575,053 | ||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 80,487 | 82,463 | 85,774 | ||||||||
Real estate taxes | 84,666 | 69,448 | 36,412 | ||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | 24,005 | 14,799 | 2,812 | ||||||||
General and administrative | 63,151 | 71,368 | 82,857 | ||||||||
Depreciation | 113,480 | 109,554 | 109,783 | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | 365,789 | 347,632 | 317,638 | ||||||||
Income from operations | $ | 605,518 | $ | 480,623 | $ | 257,415 | |||||
Certain information regarding our results of operations by segment for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is summarized below:
Net Revenues | Income from Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GLP Capital | $ | 829,221 | $ | 684,204 | $ | 427,125 | $ | 578,661 | $ | 454,682 | $ | 232,701 | |||||||||||
TRS Properties | 142,086 | 144,051 | 147,928 | 26,857 | 25,941 | 24,714 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 971,307 | $ | 828,255 | $ | 575,053 | $ | 605,518 | $ | 480,623 | $ | 257,415 | |||||||||||
FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA
Funds From Operations ("FFO"), Adjusted Funds From Operations ("AFFO") and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company as performance measures for benchmarking against the Company’s peers and as internal measures of business operating performance which is used as a bonus metric. The Company believes FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA provide a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of the Company’s current business. This is especially true since these measures exclude real estate depreciation and we believe that real estate values fluctuate based on market conditions rather than depreciating in value ratably on a straight-line basis over time. In addition, in
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order for the Company to qualify as a REIT, it must distribute 90% of its REIT taxable income annually. The Company adjusts AFFO accordingly to provide our investors an estimate of the taxable income available for this distribution requirement.
FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure that is considered a supplemental measure for the real estate industry and a supplement to GAAP measures. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding (gains) or losses from sales of property and real estate depreciation. We define AFFO as FFO excluding stock based compensation expense, debt issuance costs amortization, other depreciation, amortization of land rights, straight-line rent adjustments and direct financing lease adjustments, reduced by maintenance capital expenditures. Finally, we define Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding interest, taxes on income, depreciation, (gains) or losses from sales of property, stock based compensation expense, straight-line rent adjustments, direct financing lease adjustments and the amortization of land rights.
FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP. Because certain companies do not calculate FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA in the same way and certain other companies may not perform such calculation, those measures as used by other companies may not be consistent with the way the Company calculates such measures and should not be considered as alternative measures of operating profit or net income. The Company’s presentation of these measures does not replace the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP.
The reconciliation of the Company’s net income per GAAP to FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | |||||
Losses (gains) from dispositions of property | 530 | (455 | ) | 185 | |||||||
Real estate depreciation | 100,576 | 96,074 | 95,511 | ||||||||
Funds from operations | $ | 481,704 | $ | 384,924 | $ | 223,818 | |||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | 65,971 | 58,673 | 55,825 | ||||||||
Direct financing lease adjustments | 73,072 | 48,533 | — | ||||||||
Other depreciation | 12,904 | 13,480 | 14,272 | ||||||||
Amortization of land rights | 10,355 | 6,163 | — | ||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs (1) | 13,026 | 15,146 | 14,016 | ||||||||
Stock based compensation | 15,636 | 18,312 | 16,811 | ||||||||
Maintenance CAPEX | (3,178 | ) | (3,111 | ) | (2,953 | ) | |||||
Adjusted funds from operations | $ | 669,490 | $ | 542,120 | $ | 321,789 | |||||
Interest, net | 215,133 | 183,773 | 121,851 | ||||||||
Income tax expense | 9,787 | 7,545 | 7,442 | ||||||||
Maintenance CAPEX | 3,178 | 3,111 | 2,953 | ||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs (1) | (13,026 | ) | (15,146 | ) | (14,016 | ) | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 884,562 | $ | 721,403 | $ | 440,019 | |||||
(1) Such amortization is a non-cash component included in interest, net.
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The reconciliation of each segment’s net income per GAAP to FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
GLP Capital | TRS Properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 372,832 | $ | 280,295 | $ | 119,914 | $ | 7,766 | $ | 9,010 | $ | 8,208 | ||||||||||||
(Gains) losses from dispositions of property | — | (471 | ) | 152 | 530 | 16 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
Real estate depreciation | 100,576 | 96,074 | 95,511 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Funds from operations | $ | 473,408 | $ | 375,898 | $ | 215,577 | $ | 8,296 | $ | 9,026 | $ | 8,241 | ||||||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | 65,971 | 58,673 | 55,825 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Direct financing lease adjustments | 73,072 | 48,533 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Other depreciation | 2,076 | 2,097 | 1,913 | 10,828 | 11,383 | 12,359 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of land rights | 10,355 | 6,163 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt issuance costs amortization (1) | 13,026 | 15,146 | 14,016 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | 15,636 | 18,312 | 16,811 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Maintenance CAPEX | — | — | — | (3,178 | ) | (3,111 | ) | (2,953 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted funds from operations | $ | 653,544 | $ | 524,822 | $ | 304,142 | $ | 15,946 | $ | 17,298 | $ | 17,647 | ||||||||||||
Interest, net (2) | 204,730 | 173,371 | 111,449 | 10,403 | 10,402 | 10,402 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,099 | 1,016 | 1,338 | 8,688 | 6,529 | 6,104 | ||||||||||||||||||
Maintenance CAPEX | — | — | — | 3,178 | 3,111 | 2,953 | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt issuance costs amortization (1) | (13,026 | ) | (15,146 | ) | (14,016 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 846,347 | $ | 684,063 | $ | 402,913 | $ | 38,215 | $ | 37,340 | $ | 37,106 | ||||||||||||
(1) Such amortization is a non-cash component included in interest, net.
(2) | Interest expense, net for the GLP Capital segment is net of an intercompany interest elimination of $10.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. |
2017 Compared with 2016
Net income, FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA for our GLP Capital segment were $372.8 million, $473.4 million, $653.5 million and $846.3 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017. This compared to net income, FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA, for our GLP Capital segment of $280.3 million, $375.9 million, $524.8 million and $684.1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2016. The significant increase in net income in our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by a $145.0 million increase in net revenues, partially offset by a $21.0 million increase in operating expenses and a $31.4 million increase in interest, net. The increase in net revenues in our GLP Capital segment was primarily due to the Pinnacle transaction, which increased rental income, income from the direct financing lease and revenue recorded for real estate taxes paid by our tenants and the Tunica and Meadows transactions, which increased both rental income and revenue recorded for real estate taxes paid by our tenants. The increase in operating expenses in our GLP Capital segment was driven by increases in real estate taxes, primarily as a result of the addition of the Pinnacle and Meadows properties to our real estate portfolio during 2016 and land right and ground rent lease expense, primarily related to the land rights acquired with the Pinnacle and Tunica transactions, partially offset by a decline in general and administrative expenses. The increase in interest, net was driven by higher interest expense related to the Company's additional borrowings incurred to finance the Pinnacle acquisition. The changes described above also led to higher FFO for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in AFFO for our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by the changes described above, as well as, increases in adjustments for our direct financing lease, increased amortization of land rights related to the acquired ground leases, increased straight-line rent adjustments related to our Meadows Lease and the addition of the Tunica Properties to the Penn Master Lease, partially offset by lower debt issuance costs amortization and stock based compensation, all of which are added back for purposes of calculating AFFO. Direct financing lease adjustments represent the portion of cash rent we receive from tenants that is applied against our lease receivable and thus not recorded as revenue and the amortization of land rights represents the non-cash amortization of the value assigned to the Company's acquired ground leases. These adjustments are added back to arrive at AFFO because they represent, in the case of the direct financing lease adjustments, cash we have received and recorded in taxable income and in the case of the amortization of land rights, non-cash
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charges which are non-deductible for tax purposes. Therefore, these adjustments help our investors better understand the components of our taxable income which must be distributed to our shareholders. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA for our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by the increases in AFFO described above, as well as, a higher add back for interest.
Net income and FFO for our TRS Properties segment decreased by $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to declining revenues partially offset by decreased expenses. AFFO for our TRS Properties segment decreased by $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due the reasons described above, as well as, lower depreciation expense due to certain assets reaching full depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA for our TRS Properties segment increased by $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the explanations described above, in addition to higher income taxes in the year ended December 31, 2017.
2016 Compared with 2015
Net income, FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA for our GLP Capital segment were $280.3 million, $375.9 million, $524.8 million and $684.1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2016. This compared to net income, FFO, AFFO, and Adjusted EBITDA, for our GLP Capital segment of $119.9 million, $215.6 million, $304.1 million and $402.9 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015. The significant increase in net income in our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by a $257.1 million increase in net revenues, partially offset by a $32.9 million increase in real estate taxes and a $61.7 million increase in interest expense. The increase in net revenues in our GLP Capital segment was primarily due to the portion of the rent received under the Pinnacle Master Lease recognized as rental income and as income from the direct financing lease, and to a lesser extent the rental income recognized under the Meadows Lease, as well as the impact of the Penn rent escalator and an increase in real estate taxes paid by tenants. Interest expense increased due to the Company's additional borrowings incurred to finance the Pinnacle acquisition. The changes described above also led to higher FFO for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in AFFO for our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by the changes described above, as well as, the inclusion of adjustments for our direct financing lease and the amortization of land rights, increased straight-line rent adjustments related to our new Meadows Lease and higher stock-based compensation expense, which are added back for purposes of calculating AFFO. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA for our GLP Capital segment was primarily driven by the increases in AFFO described above, as well as, a higher add back for interest, less the increase in amortized debt issuance costs, which are non-cash and excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
Net income and FFO for our TRS Properties segment both increased by $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to expense management at the TRS Properties, despite declining revenues. AFFO for our TRS Properties segment decreased by $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to lower depreciation expense due to certain assets reaching full depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA for our TRS Properties segment increased by $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the explanations described above, in addition to higher income taxes in the year ended December 31, 2016.
Revenues
Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):
Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease | $ | 829,221 | $ | 684,204 | $ | 145,017 | 21.2 | % | |||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 146,866 | 149,661 | (2,795 | ) | (1.9 | )% | |||||||||
Total revenues | 976,087 | 833,865 | 142,222 | 17.1 | % | ||||||||||
Less promotional allowances | (4,780 | ) | (5,610 | ) | 830 | 14.8 | % | ||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 971,307 | $ | 828,255 | $ | 143,052 | 17.3 | % | |||||||
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Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease | $ | 684,204 | $ | 427,125 | $ | 257,079 | 60.2 | % | |||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 149,661 | 153,523 | (3,862 | ) | (2.5 | )% | |||||||||
Total revenues | 833,865 | 580,648 | 253,217 | 43.6 | % | ||||||||||
Less promotional allowances | (5,610 | ) | (5,595 | ) | (15 | ) | (0.3 | )% | |||||||
Net revenues | $ | 828,255 | $ | 575,053 | $ | 253,202 | 44.0 | % | |||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease
2017 Compared to 2016
For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease were $829.2 million and $684.2 million, respectively, for our GLP Capital segment, which included $83.7 million and $67.8 million, respectively, of revenue for the real estate taxes paid by our tenants on the leased properties. During April 2016, we acquired the real estate assets of Pinnacle and immediately leased these assets back to Pinnacle under a long-term triple-net master lease. Under ASC 840, the Pinnacle lease is bifurcated between an operating and direct financing lease, resulting in the recognition of rental revenue for the land portion of the lease and interest income from the direct financing lease, relating to the leased building assets. Additionally, during September 2016, we acquired the real estate assets of the Meadows and leased these assets to Pinnacle under a single property triple-net lease and during May 2017, we acquired the real estate assets of the Tunica Properties and leased these assets to Penn under the Penn Master Lease.
In accordance with ASC 605, the Company is required to present the real estate taxes paid by its tenants on the leased properties as revenue with an offsetting expense on its consolidated statement of operations, as the Company believes it is the primary obligor. Similarly, the Company records revenue for the ground lease rent paid by its tenants with an offsetting expense in land rights and ground lease expense within the consolidated statements of income as the Company has concluded that as the lessee it is the primary obligor under the ground leases. The Company subleases these ground leases back to its tenants, who are responsible for payment directly to the landlord.
Rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease increased $145.0 million or 21.2% for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a full year of rent for the portion of the rent received under the Pinnacle Master Lease recognized as rental income and as income from the direct financing lease, a full year of rent received under the Meadows Lease and from the addition of the Tunica Properties to the Penn Master Lease, as well as the impact of the Penn and Pinnacle rent escalators, improved results at our two Ohio properties with monthly variable rent and an increase in real estate taxes, primarily resulting from the addition of the Pinnacle properties to our real estate portfolio. Specifically, Pinnacle contributed $103.1 million of rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease to the increase in net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The Penn properties contributed $14.5 million to the increase in net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, resulting from the addition of the Tunica Properties, the impact of the rent escalator and the performance at the Ohio properties, while the Meadows Lease contributed $11.4 million to the increase in net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year. Lastly, real estate taxes contributed $15.8 million to the increase in net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the prior year period.
2016 Compared to 2015
For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease were $684.2 million and $427.1 million, respectively, for our GLP Capital segment, which included $67.8 million and $35.0 million, respectively, of revenue for the real estate taxes paid by our tenants on the leased properties.
Rental revenue and income from the direct financing lease increased $257.1 million or 60.2% for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the portion of the rent received under the Pinnacle Master Lease recognized as rental income and as income from the direct financing lease, as well as the impact of the Penn rent escalator and an increase in real estate taxes, primarily resulting from the addition of the Pinnacle properties to our real estate portfolio. Specifically, Pinnacle contributed $164.7 million of rental revenue, $48.9 million of interest income from the direct financing lease and $23.9 million of real estate tax income to net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Meadows contributed $5.1 million of rental revenue and $0.6 million of real estate tax income to net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016, while the Penn rent escalator contributed an increase of $4.9 million of rental revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.
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Gaming, food, beverage and other revenue
2017 Compared to 2016
Gaming, food, beverage and other revenue for our TRS Properties segment decreased by $2.8 million, or 1.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, due to decreased gaming, food, beverage and other revenues of $2.5 million and $0.3 million at Hollywood Casino Perryville and Hollywood Baton Rouge, respectively. The largest driver of the decrease resulted from lower revenues at Hollywood Casino Perryville, related to the outsourcing of its food and beverage outlets to a third party provider during the first quarter of 2017.
2016 Compared to 2015
Gaming, food, beverage and other revenue for our TRS Properties segment decreased by $3.9 million, or 2.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to decreased gaming revenues of $2.0 million and $1.7 million at Hollywood Casino Perryville and Hollywood Baton Rouge, respectively, resulting from lower patronage at both properties.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):
Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | $ | 80,487 | $ | 82,463 | $ | (1,976 | ) | (2.4 | )% | ||||||
Real estate taxes | 84,666 | 69,448 | 15,218 | 21.9 | % | ||||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | 24,005 | 14,799 | 9,206 | 62.2 | % | ||||||||||
General and administrative | 63,151 | 71,368 | (8,217 | ) | (11.5 | )% | |||||||||
Depreciation | 113,480 | 109,554 | 3,926 | 3.6 | % | ||||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 365,789 | $ | 347,632 | $ | 18,157 | 5.2 | % | |||||||
Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | $ | 82,463 | $ | 85,774 | $ | (3,311 | ) | (3.9 | )% | ||||||
Real estate taxes | 69,448 | 36,412 | 33,036 | 90.7 | % | ||||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | 14,799 | 2,812 | 11,987 | 426.3 | % | ||||||||||
General and administrative | 71,368 | 82,857 | (11,489 | ) | (13.9 | )% | |||||||||
Depreciation | 109,554 | 109,783 | (229 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 347,632 | $ | 317,638 | $ | 29,994 | 9.4 | % | |||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other expense
2017 Compared with 2016
Gaming, food, beverage and other expense for our TRS Properties segment decreased by approximately $2.0 million, or 2.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to lower expenses resulting from the outsourcing of the operations of the food and beverage outlets at Hollywood Casino Perryville during the first quarter of 2017 and lower gaming and admissions taxes, resulting from lower revenues at both TRS Properties.
2016 Compared with 2015
Gaming, food, beverage and other expense for our TRS Properties segment decreased by approximately $3.3 million, or 3.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to lower gaming and admissions taxes, resulting from lower revenues at both TRS Properties, as well as a decrease in the gaming tax rate on revenue generated from slot machines at Hollywood Casino Perryville. During the year ended December 31, 2015, Hollywood Casino Perryville directly purchased slot machines in exchange for gaming tax reductions from the state of Maryland, lowering its tax rate on gaming revenues derived from slot machines for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.
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Real estate taxes
2017 Compared with 2016
Real estate taxes increased by $15.2 million, or 21.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a full year of the real estate tax expense attributable to the acquired Pinnacle and Meadows properties. Although this amount is paid by our tenants, we are required to present this amount in both revenues and expense for financial reporting purposes under ASC 605.
2016 Compared with 2015
Real estate taxes increased by approximately $33.0 million, or 90.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the inclusion of the real estate tax expense attributable to the acquired Pinnacle properties.
Land rights and ground lease expense
2017 Compared with 2016
Land rights and ground lease expense includes the amortization of land rights and rent expense related to the Company's long-term ground leases. Land rights and ground lease expense increased by $9.2 million, or 62.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a full year of amortization of the land rights associated with the Pinnacle acquisition, as well as a full year of ground rent related to these leases and the acquisition of the Tunica Properties in May of 2017. In connection with both acquisitions, we acquired land rights to long-term leases which are recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as land right assets and amortized over the term of the leases, including renewal options. We also record rent expense related to these ground leases with offsetting revenue recorded within the consolidated statements of income as we have concluded that as the lessee we are the primary obligor under the ground leases. We sublease these ground leases back to our tenants, who are responsible for payment directly to the landlord.
2016 Compared with 2015
Land rights and ground lease expense increased by $12.0 million, or 426.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to the 2016 acquisition of substantially all of the real property of Pinnacle.
General and administrative expense
General and administrative expenses include items such as compensation costs (including stock-based compensation awards), professional services and costs associated with development activities. In addition, Penn provided GLPI with certain administrative and support services on a transitional basis pursuant to a transition services agreement executed in connection with the Spin-Off from the date of the Spin-Off through September 30, 2015. The fees charged to GLPI for transition services furnished pursuant to this agreement were determined based on fixed percentages of Penn’s internal costs which were intended to approximate the actual cost incurred by Penn in providing the transition services to GLPI for the relevant period.
2017 Compared with 2016
General and administrative expenses decreased by $8.2 million, or 11.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, led by lower stock-based compensation charges in the current year.
2016 Compared with 2015
General and administrative expenses decreased by $11.5 million, or 13.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, led by lower legal expenses and stock-based compensation charges in the current year.
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Depreciation expense
2017 Compared with 2016
Depreciation expense increased by $3.9 million or 3.6% to $113.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a full year of depreciation expense on the Meadows assets, which were acquired in September of 2016.
2016 Compared with 2015
Depreciation expense was relatively flat year over year when comparing the year ended December 31, 2016 to the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company notes that only the land assets acquired from Pinnacle are recorded as fixed assets on our consolidated balance sheet, whereas the building assets acquired from Pinnacle are recorded as an investment in direct financing lease on our consolidated balance sheet. Therefore, the Company did not record any additional depreciation as a result of the Pinnacle acquisition.
Other income (expenses)
Other income (expenses) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):
Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (217,068 | ) | $ | (185,896 | ) | $ | (31,172 | ) | (16.8 | )% | ||||
Interest income | 1,935 | 2,123 | (188 | ) | (8.9 | )% | |||||||||
Total other expenses | $ | (215,133 | ) | $ | (183,773 | ) | $ | (31,360 | ) | (17.1 | )% | ||||
Percentage | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | 2016 | 2015 | Variance | Variance | |||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | (185,896 | ) | $ | (124,183 | ) | $ | (61,713 | ) | (49.7 | )% | ||||
Interest income | 2,123 | 2,332 | (209 | ) | (9.0 | )% | |||||||||
Total other expenses | $ | (183,773 | ) | $ | (121,851 | ) | $ | (61,922 | ) | (50.8 | )% | ||||
Interest expense
2017 Compared with 2016
For the year ended December 31, 2017, interest expense related to our fixed and variable rate borrowings was $217.1 million, as compared to $185.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. Interest expense primarily increased due to interest expense related to the April 2016 issuance of $400 million of senior unsecured notes due 2021 and $975 million of senior unsecured notes due 2026 and borrowings of $825 million under the term loan A-1 facility. The additional borrowings were utilized to finance the Pinnacle acquisition.
2016 Compared with 2015
For the year ended December 31, 2016, interest expense related to our fixed and variable rate borrowings was $185.9 million, as compared to $124.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. Interest expense primarily increased due to interest expense related the additional borrowing utilized to finance the Pinnacle acquisition.
Taxes
2017 Compared to 2016
Our income tax expense increased $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we had income tax expense of approximately $9.8 million, compared to income tax expense of $7.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. Income tax expense increased primarily due to adjustments at the TRS Properties related to the December 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act. Our effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 2.5% for both the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
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2016 Compared to 2015
Our income tax expense remained relatively flat during the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we had income tax expense of approximately $7.5 million, compared to income tax expense of $7.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. Our effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income from operations before income taxes) was 2.5% for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to 5.5% for the year ended December 31, 2015, as we had additional rental income in the year ended December 31, 2016 which was not subject to income tax.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash flow from operations, borrowings from banks, and proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity securities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $598.7 million, $514.4 million and $319.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $84.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016 was primarily comprised of an increase in cash receipts from customers/tenants of $129.3 million, (excluding cash received from Pinnacle and classified as an investing activity) and a decrease in cash paid to employees of $10.6 million, partially offset by increases in cash paid for operating expenses, interest and taxes of $1.2 million, $49.9 million and $4.3 million, respectively. The increase in cash receipts collected from our customers and tenants for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016 was primarily due to a full year of rent received under both the Pinnacle Master Lease and the Meadows Lease, as well as the additional rent received from Penn related to the new Tunica Properties, the performance of the Ohio properties and the impact of the rent escalators under both Master Leases, partially offset by a decrease in our TRS Properties' net revenues. The increase in cash paid for interest was related to the Company's April 2016 acquisition of Pinnacle's real estate assets and the related borrowings. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to the rent received under the Pinnacle Master Lease and to a lesser extent the Meadows Lease and the impact of the Penn rent escalator, partially offset by a decrease in the TRS Properties' net revenues and higher interest related to the Company's borrowings primarily related to the Pinnacle transaction.
Net cash provided by investing activities totaled $0.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 and used cash of $3.2 billion and $14.1 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Net cash provided by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 consisted of cash payments of $83.3 million primarily related to the acquisition of the Tunica Properties and capital expenditures of $3.2 million, partially offset by net cash received of $13.2 million from Casino Queen to retire their five-year term loan and borrow an additional $13.0 million under a new 5.5 year unsecured term loan at 15%, as well as rental payments received from tenants and applied against the lease receivable on our balance sheet of $73.1 million. Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 consisted of cash payments of $3.3 billion related to the acquisition of the Pinnacle and Meadows' real estate assets, partially offset by principal payments of $3.2 million made by Casino Queen on their five-year term loan, as well rental payments received from tenants and applied against the lease receivable on our balance sheet of $48.5 million. In addition to the cash paid for the Pinnacle assets, we also issued approximately 56.0 million shares of our common stock as consideration for the Pinnacle real estate assets (non-cash investing activity). Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 included capital expenditures of $19.1 million, primarily related to $6.5 million of construction spend related to the Company's new corporate headquarters building located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and Hollywood Casino Perryville's $5.9 million purchase of slot machines, associated with its initiative to directly purchase slot machines in exchange for gaming tax reductions, partially offset by $4.7 million of principal payments received from Casino Queen on their five year term loan.
Financing activities used net cash of $606.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, provided net cash of $2.7 billion during the year ended December 31, 2016 and used net cash of $299.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. Net cash used by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 included dividend payments of $529.4 million and repayments of long-term debt of $335.1 million, partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of common stock under the ATM Program, net of issuance costs of $139.4 million, proceeds from stock option exercises, net of taxes paid related to shares withheld for tax purposes on restricted stock award vestings of $18.2 million and proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $100.0 million. Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 included proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $2.6 billion, proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $870.8 million and proceeds from stock option exercises of $113.5 million, partially offset by dividend payments of $428.4 million and repayments of long-term debt and financing costs of $409.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we issued approximately 28.8 million shares of our common stock in a primary equity offering and approximately 1.3 million shares of our common stock under the ATM Program, as well as issuing $1.375 billion in new senior unsecured notes and
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drawing down on the $825 million term loan A-1 facility. These new debt and equity instruments were utilized to finance the acquisition of the Pinnacle and Meadows' real estate assets. In addition to the shares issued in the primary equity offering and the ATM Offering, we also issued approximately 56.0 million shares of our common stock as consideration for the Pinnacle real estate assets (non-cash financing activity). Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 included dividend payments of $251.7 million and repayments of long-term debt and financing costs of $77.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from stock option exercises of $29.7 million.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures are accounted for as either capital project or capital maintenance (replacement) expenditures. Capital project expenditures are for fixed asset additions that expand an existing facility or create a new facility. The cost of properties developed by the Company include costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for occupancy. Capital maintenance expenditures are expenditures to replace existing fixed assets with a useful life greater than one year that are obsolete, worn out or no longer cost effective to repair.
Capital project expenditures totaled $16.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and primarily consisted of construction spend totaling $6.5 million related to the Company's new corporate headquarters building located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and Hollywood Casino Perryville's direct purchase of slot machines. During the year ended December 31, 2015, Hollywood Casino Perryville made direct purchases of slot machines from the state of Maryland totaling $5.9 million, which resulted in a decrease of gaming taxes derived from slot machine revenues. Previously, all of the property's slot machines were owned by the state. As this one-time project cost was dictated by new state legislation that allowed Maryland casinos to purchase their slot machines in exchange for gaming tax reductions this expense was treated as a capital project expenditure.
During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 we spent approximately $3.2 million, $3.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for capital maintenance expenditures. The majority of the capital maintenance expenditures were for slot machines and slot machine equipment at our TRS Properties. Our tenants are responsible for capital maintenance expenditures at our leased properties.
Debt
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility
The Company has a $1,825 million dollar Credit Facility, consisting of a $700 million revolving credit facility, a $300 million Term Loan A facility, and an $825 million Term Loan A-1 facility. The revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility mature on October 28, 2018 and the Term Loan A-1 facility matures on April 28, 2021. At December 31, 2017, the Credit Facility had a gross outstanding balance of $1,055 million, consisting of the $1,055 million Term Loan A and A-1 facilities. Additionally, at December 31, 2017, the Company was contingently obligated under letters of credit issued pursuant to the senior unsecured credit facility with face amounts aggregating approximately $0.4 million, resulting in $699.6 million of available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2017.
The Credit Facility contains customary covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of GLPI and its subsidiaries to grant liens on their assets, incur indebtedness, sell assets, make investments, engage in acquisitions, mergers or consolidations or pay certain dividends and other restricted payments. The Credit Facility contains the following financial covenants, which are measured quarterly on a trailing four-quarter basis: a maximum total debt to total asset value ratio, a maximum senior secured debt to total asset value ratio, a maximum ratio of certain recourse debt to unencumbered asset value and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition, GLPI is required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth and its status as a REIT on and after the effective date of its election to be treated as a REIT, which the Company elected on its 2014 U.S. federal income tax return. GLPI is permitted to pay dividends to its shareholders as may be required in order to maintain REIT status, subject to the absence of payment or bankruptcy defaults. GLPI is also permitted to make other dividends and distributions subject to pro forma compliance with the financial covenants and the absence of defaults. The Credit Facility also contains certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default, including the occurrence of a change of control and termination of the Penn Master Lease (subject to certain replacement rights). The occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the Credit Facility will enable the lenders under the Credit Facility to accelerate the loans and terminate the commitments thereunder. At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants under the Credit Facility.
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Senior Unsecured Notes
At December 31, 2017, the Company had $550 million outstanding of 4.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2018 (the "2018 Notes"), $1,000 million outstanding of 4.875% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2020 (the "2020 Notes"), $400 million of 4.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on April 15, 2021 (the "2021 Notes"), $500 million outstanding of 5.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and $975 million of 5.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on April 15, 2026 (the "2026 Notes" and collectively with the 2018 Notes, the 2020 Notes, the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes, the "Notes"). Interest on each of the 2018 Notes, 2020 Notes and 2023 Notes, is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Interest on the 2021 Notes and 2026 Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year and commenced on October 15, 2016.
The Company may redeem the Notes of any series at any time, and from time to time, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a "make-whole" redemption premium described in the indenture governing the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date, except that if Notes of a series are redeemed 90 or fewer days prior to their maturity, the redemption price will be 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. If GLPI experiences a change of control accompanied by a decline in the credit rating of the Notes of a particular series, the Company will be required to give holders of the Notes of such series the opportunity to sell their Notes of such series at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes of such series, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date. The Notes also are subject to mandatory redemption requirements imposed by gaming laws and regulations.
The Notes were issued by GLP Capital, L.P. and GLP Financing II, Inc. (the "Issuers"), two wholly-owned subsidiaries of GLPI, and are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by GLPI. The guarantees of GLPI are full and unconditional. The Notes are the Issuers' senior unsecured obligations and rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the Issuers' senior indebtedness, including the Credit Facility, and senior in right of payment to all of the Issuers' subordinated indebtedness, without giving effect to collateral arrangements. See Note 19 for additional financial information on the parent guarantor and subsidiary issuers of the Notes.
The Notes contain covenants limiting the Company’s ability to: incur additional debt and use its assets to secure debt; merge or consolidate with another company; and make certain amendments to the Penn Master Lease. The Notes also require the Company to maintain a specified ratio of unencumbered assets to unsecured debt. These covenants are subject to a number of important and significant limitations, qualifications and exceptions.
At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants under the Notes.
Capital Lease
The Company assumed the capital lease obligation related to certain assets at its Aurora, Illinois property. GLPI recorded the asset and liability associated with the capital lease on its balance sheet. The original term of the capital lease was 30 years and it will terminate in 2026.
Outlook
Based on our current level of operations and anticipated earnings, we believe that cash generated from operations and cash on hand, together with amounts available under our senior unsecured credit facility, will be adequate to meet our anticipated debt service requirements, capital expenditures, working capital needs and dividend requirements. During 2018, we expect to refinance our Credit Facility which matures on October 28, 2018. In addition, we expect the majority of our future growth to come from acquisitions of gaming and other properties to lease to third parties. If we consummate significant acquisitions in the future, our cash requirements may increase significantly and we would likely need to raise additional proceeds through a combination of either common equity (including under our ATM Program) and/or debt offerings. Our future operating performance and our ability to service or refinance our debt will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. See "Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Capital Structure" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the risk related to our capital structure.
56
Commitments and Contingencies
Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table presents our contractual obligations at December 31, 2017:
Payments Due By Period | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2018 | 2019 - 2020 | 2021 - 2022 | 2023 and After | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior unsecured credit facility | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | $ | 1,055,000 | $ | 230,000 | $ | — | $ | 825,000 | $ | — | |||||||||
Interest (1) | 107,617 | 32,984 | 64,018 | 10,615 | — | ||||||||||||||
4.375% senior unsecured notes due 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | 550,000 | 550,000 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 24,063 | 24,063 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
4.875% senior unsecured notes due 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | 1,000,000 | — | 1,000,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 146,250 | 48,750 | 97,500 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
4.375% senior unsecured notes due 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | 400,000 | — | — | 400,000 | — | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 61,250 | 17,500 | 35,000 | 8,750 | — | ||||||||||||||
5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | 500,000 | — | — | — | 500,000 | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 161,250 | 26,875 | 53,750 | 53,750 | 26,875 | ||||||||||||||
5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal | 975,000 | — | — | — | 975,000 | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 445,454 | 52,406 | 104,813 | 104,813 | 183,422 | ||||||||||||||
Capital lease obligations | 1,230 | 117 | 252 | 278 | 583 | ||||||||||||||
Operating leases | 599,986 | 10,735 | 21,448 | 21,370 | 546,433 | ||||||||||||||
Other liabilities reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets (2) | 674 | 674 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 6,027,774 | $ | 994,104 | $ | 1,376,781 | $ | 1,424,576 | $ | 2,232,313 | |||||||||
(1) | The interest rates associated with the variable rate components of our senior unsecured credit facility are estimated, reflected of forward LIBOR curves plus the spread over LIBOR of 150 basis points. The contractual amounts to be paid on our variable rate obligations are affected by changes in market interest rates and changes in our spreads which are based on our leverage ratios. Future changes in such ratios will impact the contractual amounts to be paid. |
(2) | Primarily represents liabilities associated with reward programs at our TRS Properties that can be redeemed for free play, merchandise or services. |
57
Other Commercial Commitments
The following table presents our material commercial commitments as of December 31, 2017 for the following future periods:
Total Amounts Committed | 2018 | 2019 - 2020 | 2021 - 2022 | 2023 and After | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Letters of Credit (1) | $ | 395 | $ | 395 | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | 395 | $ | 395 | — | — | — | |||||||||
(1) | The available balance under the revolving credit portion of our senior unsecured credit facility is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We face market risk exposure in the form of interest rate risk. These market risks arise from our debt obligations. We have no international operations. Our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is not significant to our financial condition or results of operations.
GLPI’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk with respect to its indebtedness of $4,481.2 million at December 31, 2017. Furthermore, $3,425.0 million of our obligations are the senior unsecured notes that have fixed interest rates with maturity dates ranging from less than one year to eight and one-half years. An increase in interest rates could make the financing of any acquisition by GLPI more costly, as well as increase the costs of its variable rate debt obligations. Rising interest rates could also limit GLPI’s ability to refinance its debt when it matures or cause GLPI to pay higher interest rates upon refinancing and increase interest expense on refinanced indebtedness. GLPI may manage, or hedge, interest rate risks related to its borrowings by means of interest rate swap agreements. GLPI also expects to manage its exposure to interest rate risk by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rates for its indebtedness. However, the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs substantially limit GLPI’s ability to hedge its assets and liabilities.
The table below provides information at December 31, 2017 about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For debt obligations, the table presents notional amounts maturing in each fiscal year and the related weighted-average interest rates by maturity dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged by maturity date and the weighted-average interest rates are based on implied forward LIBOR rates at December 31, 2017.
01/01/18- 12/31/18 | 01/01/19- 12/31/19 | 01/01/20- 12/31/20 | 01/01/21- 12/31/21 | 01/01/22- 12/31/22 | Thereafter | Total | Fair Value at 12/31/2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate | $550,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 400,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,475,000 | $ | 3,425,000 | $ | 3,574,688 | ||||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | 4.38 | % | 4.88% | 4.38% | 5.38% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable rate | $ | 230,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 825,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,055,000 | $ | 1,045,600 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate (1) | 3.21 | % | 3.96 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Estimated rate, reflective of forward LIBOR plus the spread over LIBOR applicable to variable-rate borrowing.
58
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 16, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 16, 2018
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.
59
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2015, of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company"). Our audit also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 22, 2016
60
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Real estate investments, net | $ | 3,662,045 | $ | 3,739,091 | |||
Land rights, net | 640,148 | 590,758 | |||||
Property and equipment, used in operations, net | 108,293 | 119,427 | |||||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | 2,637,639 | 2,710,711 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 29,054 | 36,556 | |||||
Prepaid expenses | 8,452 | 7,477 | |||||
Goodwill | 75,521 | 75,521 | |||||
Other intangible assets | 9,577 | 9,577 | |||||
Loan receivable | 13,000 | 26,200 | |||||
Deferred tax assets | 4,478 | 3,922 | |||||
Other assets | 58,675 | 50,090 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 7,246,882 | $ | 7,369,330 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 715 | $ | 1,079 | |||
Accrued expenses | 7,913 | 6,590 | |||||
Accrued interest | 33,241 | 33,743 | |||||
Accrued salaries and wages | 10,809 | 10,619 | |||||
Gaming, property, and other taxes | 35,399 | 32,584 | |||||
Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs | 4,442,880 | 4,664,965 | |||||
Deferred rental revenue | 232,023 | 166,052 | |||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 244 | 265 | |||||
Other liabilities | 25,411 | 19,564 | |||||
Total liabilities | 4,788,635 | 4,935,461 | |||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||
Shareholders’ equity | |||||||
Preferred stock ($.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016) | — | — | |||||
Common stock ($.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 212,717,549 and 207,676,827 shares issued at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively) | 2,127 | 2,077 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 3,933,829 | 3,760,729 | |||||
Retained accumulated deficit | (1,477,709 | ) | (1,328,937 | ) | |||
Total shareholders’ equity | 2,458,247 | 2,433,869 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 7,246,882 | $ | 7,369,330 | |||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
61
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data)
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||
Rental income | $ | 671,190 | $ | 567,444 | $ | 392,075 | ||||||
Income from direct financing lease | 74,333 | 48,917 | — | |||||||||
Real estate taxes paid by tenants | 83,698 | 67,843 | 35,050 | |||||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease | 829,221 | 684,204 | 427,125 | |||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 146,866 | 149,661 | 153,523 | |||||||||
Total revenues | 976,087 | 833,865 | 580,648 | |||||||||
Less promotional allowances | (4,780 | ) | (5,610 | ) | (5,595 | ) | ||||||
Net revenues | 971,307 | 828,255 | 575,053 | |||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | 80,487 | 82,463 | 85,774 | |||||||||
Real estate taxes | 84,666 | 69,448 | 36,412 | |||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | 24,005 | 14,799 | 2,812 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 63,151 | 71,368 | 82,857 | |||||||||
Depreciation | 113,480 | 109,554 | 109,783 | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | 365,789 | 347,632 | 317,638 | |||||||||
Income from operations | 605,518 | 480,623 | 257,415 | |||||||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (217,068 | ) | (185,896 | ) | (124,183 | ) | ||||||
Interest income | 1,935 | 2,123 | 2,332 | |||||||||
Total other expenses | (215,133 | ) | (183,773 | ) | (121,851 | ) | ||||||
Income before income taxes | 390,385 | 296,850 | 135,564 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 9,787 | 7,545 | 7,442 | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | ||||||
Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.62 | $ | 1.12 | ||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 1.79 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.08 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
62
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(in thousands, except share data)
Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Retained Accumulated Deficit | Total Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) | |||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2014 | 112,981,088 | $ | 1,130 | $ | 888,860 | $ | (1,066,280 | ) | $ | (176,290 | ) | |||||||
Stock option activity | 2,511,639 | 25 | 34,621 | — | 34,646 | |||||||||||||
Restricted stock activity | 101,594 | 1 | 11,739 | — | 11,740 | |||||||||||||
Dividends paid ($2.18 per common share) | — | — | — | (251,732 | ) | (251,732 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income | 128,122 | 128,122 | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2015 | 115,594,321 | 1,156 | 935,220 | (1,189,890 | ) | (253,514 | ) | |||||||||||
Issuance of common stock | 86,074,167 | 861 | 2,693,939 | — | 2,694,800 | |||||||||||||
Stock option activity | 5,870,282 | 59 | 115,416 | — | 115,475 | |||||||||||||
Restricted stock activity | 138,057 | 1 | 16,154 | — | 16,155 | |||||||||||||
Dividends paid ($2.32 per common share) | — | — | — | (428,352 | ) | (428,352 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 289,305 | 289,305 | |||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2016 | 207,676,827 | 2,077 | 3,760,729 | (1,328,937 | ) | 2,433,869 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock | 3,864,872 | 38 | 139,376 | — | 139,414 | |||||||||||||
Stock option activity | 1,013,984 | 10 | 20,993 | — | 21,003 | |||||||||||||
Restricted stock activity | 161,866 | 2 | 12,731 | — | 12,733 | |||||||||||||
Dividends paid ($2.50 per common share) | — | — | — | (529,370 | ) | (529,370 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 380,598 | 380,598 | |||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2017 | 212,717,549 | $ | 2,127 | $ | 3,933,829 | $ | (1,477,709 | ) | $ | 2,458,247 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
63
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
Operating activities | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 123,835 | 115,717 | 109,783 | |||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 13,026 | 15,146 | 14,016 | |||||||||
Losses (gains) on dispositions of property | 530 | (455 | ) | 185 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes | (561 | ) | (1,535 | ) | (813 | ) | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 15,636 | 18,312 | 16,811 | |||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | 65,971 | 58,673 | 55,825 | |||||||||
(Increase) decrease, | ||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (5,332 | ) | 7,565 | (9,712 | ) | |||||||
(Decrease), increase | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable | (421 | ) | 506 | (946 | ) | |||||||
Accrued expenses | 411 | (4,672 | ) | 4,241 | ||||||||
Accrued interest | (502 | ) | 16,120 | 95 | ||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | 190 | (3,100 | ) | 1,138 | ||||||||
Gaming, property and other taxes | (517 | ) | 913 | (956 | ) | |||||||
Other liabilities | 5,847 | 1,875 | 1,899 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 598,711 | 514,370 | 319,688 | |||||||||
Investing activities | ||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | (78 | ) | (330 | ) | (16,149 | ) | ||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | (3,178 | ) | (3,111 | ) | (2,953 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 934 | 1,134 | 310 | |||||||||
Principal payments on loan receivable | 13,200 | 3,150 | 4,650 | |||||||||
Acquisition of real estate assets | (83,252 | ) | (3,267,992 | ) | — | |||||||
Collections of principal payments on investment in direct financing lease | 73,072 | 48,533 | — | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 698 | (3,218,616 | ) | (14,142 | ) | |||||||
Financing activities | ||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (529,370 | ) | (428,352 | ) | (251,732 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from exercise of options, net of taxes paid related to shares withheld for tax purposes on restricted stock award vestings | 18,157 | 113,484 | 29,686 | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs | 139,414 | 870,810 | — | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 100,000 | 2,552,000 | — | |||||||||
Financing costs | — | (31,911 | ) | (9,500 | ) | |||||||
Repayments of long-term debt | (335,112 | ) | (377,104 | ) | (68,098 | ) | ||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (606,911 | ) | 2,698,927 | (299,644 | ) | |||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (7,502 | ) | (5,319 | ) | 5,902 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 36,556 | 41,875 | 35,973 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 29,054 | $ | 36,556 | $ | 41,875 | ||||||
See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for supplemental cash flow information and noncash investing and financing activities.
64
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Business and Basis of Presentation
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI") is a self-administered and self-managed Pennsylvania real estate investment trust ("REIT"). GLPI (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") was incorporated on February 13, 2013, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc. ("Penn"). On November 1, 2013, Penn contributed to GLPI, through a series of internal corporate restructurings, substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with Penn’s real property interests and real estate development business, as well as the assets and liabilities of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville, which are referred to as the "TRS Properties," and then spun-off GLPI to holders of Penn's common and preferred stock in a tax-free distribution (the "Spin-Off"). The assets and liabilities of GLPI were recorded at their respective historical carrying values at the time of the Spin-Off in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 505-60, "Spinoffs and Reverse Spinoffs."
The Company elected on its United States ("U.S.") federal income tax return for its taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT and the Company, together with an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge) and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. (d/b/a Hollywood Casino Perryville) as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" ("TRS") effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. In connection with the Spin-Off, Penn allocated its accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) for periods prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off between Penn and GLPI. In connection with its election to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, GLPI declared a special dividend to its shareholders to distribute any accumulated earnings and profits relating to the real property assets and attributable to any pre-REIT years, including any earnings and profits allocated to GLPI in connection with the Spin-Off, to comply with certain REIT qualification requirements.
As a result of the Spin-Off, GLPI owns substantially all of Penn’s former real property assets and leases back most of those assets to Penn for use by its subsidiaries, under a unitary master lease, a triple-net operating lease with an initial term of 15 years (expiring October 31, 2028) with no purchase option, followed by four 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Penn) on the same terms and conditions (the "Penn Master Lease"), and GLPI also owns and operates the TRS Properties through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, GLP Holdings, Inc. In April 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. ("Pinnacle") for approximately $4.8 billion. GLPI leases these assets back to Pinnacle, under a unitary triple-net lease with an initial term of 10 years (expiring April 30, 2026) with no purchase option, followed by five 5-year renewal options (exercisable by Pinnacle) on the same terms and conditions (the "Pinnacle Master Lease"). See Note 4 for further details surrounding the Pinnacle acquisition.
GLPI’s primary business consists of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. As of December 31, 2017, GLPI’s portfolio consisted of 38 gaming and related facilities, including the TRS Properties, the real property associated with 20 gaming and related facilities operated by Penn, the real property associated with 15 gaming and related facilities operated by Pinnacle and the real property associated with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. These facilities are geographically diversified across 14 states and contain approximately 15.2 million of rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's properties were 100% occupied.
GLPI expects to grow its portfolio by pursuing opportunities to acquire additional gaming facilities to lease to gaming operators under prudent terms. For example, on December 17, 2017, the Company entered into agreements to purchase two additional properties, Plainridge Park Casino and Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center from Penn and Pinnacle, respectively. We will acquire these properties in connection with the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle by Penn pursuant to a definitive agreement and plan of merger between them, also dated December 17, 2017 (the "Merger"). Subject to and concurrently with the completion of the Merger, we have agreed to, among other things, amend our master lease with Pinnacle to allow for the sale by Pinnacle of the operating assets at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles and Belterra Casino Resort to Boyd Gaming Corporation (“Boyd”) and to enter into a new master lease agreement with Boyd on terms similar to the Company’s existing leases. The transaction which is subject to regulatory approval is expected to close in the second half of 2018.
In order to conform to the current presentation of the statement of income, the Company combined certain line items on the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Specifically, the Company aggregated the former revenue line items gaming revenue and food, beverage and other revenue into the line item gaming, food, beverage and other revenues and aggregated the former expense line items gaming expenses and food, beverage and other expenses into the line item gaming, food, beverage and other expenses. Furthermore, also to conform to the current
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presentation of the statement of income, the Company separated the general and administrative line item into the line items general and administrative expenses and land rights and ground lease expense on the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. This new line item includes the amortization of land rights and rent expense related to the Company's long-term ground leases. These reclassifications were made only for presentation purposes and had no impact on the Company's financial results for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GLPI and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses for the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
2. New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). This ASU amends certain aspects of accounting for share-based payments to employees, including (i) requiring all income tax effects of share-based awards to be recognized in the income statement when the award vests or settles and eliminating APIC pools, (ii) permitting employers to withhold the share equivalent of an employee's maximum tax liability without triggering liability accounting and (iii) allowing companies to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017 and it did not have a significant impact on how the Company accounts for share-based payments.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU 2017-09"). This ASU provides clarity about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require the application of modification accounting. Specifically, ASU 2017-09 clarifies that changes to the terms or conditions of an award should be accounted for as a modification unless all of the following are met: 1) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified, 2) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified and 3) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018 and does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-09 to significantly impact its accounting for share-based payment awards, as changes to awards' terms and conditions subsequent to the grant date are unusual and infrequent in nature.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ("ASU 2017-04"). This ASU simplifies an entity's goodwill impairment test by eliminating Step 2 from the test. The new guidance also amends the definition of impairment to a condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value. By eliminating Step 2 from the test, entities are no longer required to determine the implied fair value of goodwill by computing the fair value (at impairment testing date) of all assets and liabilities in a manner similar to that required in conjunction with business combinations. Upon the adoption of ASU 2017-04, an impairment charge is simply recorded as the difference between carrying value and fair value, when carrying value exceeds fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to significantly impact its goodwill impairment testing.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business ("ASU 2017-01"). This ASU provides clarifying guidance on what constitutes a business acquisition versus an asset acquisition. Specifically, the new guidance lays out a screen to more easily determine if a set of integrated assets and activities does in fact represent a business. Under the ASU 2017-01, when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, the assets do not represent a business. ASU 2017-01 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-01 on January 1, 2018 with no impact to the Company's accounting treatment of its acquisitions.
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In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, a Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force ("ASU 2016-15"). This ASU provides clarifying guidance on the presentation of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018, with no impact to its presentation of cash receipts and payments on its consolidated statements of cash flows.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instrument ("ASU 2016-13"). This ASU introduces a new model for estimating credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including loans receivable and net investments in direct financing leases, amongst other financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 sets forth an "expected credit loss" impairment model to replace the current "incurred loss" method of recognizing credit losses, which is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring timely recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-13 to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"). This ASU primarily provides new guidance for lessees on the accounting treatment of operating leases. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 also aligns lessor accounting with the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606 of the Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and is required to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis, meaning the new leasing model will be applied to the earliest year presented in the financial statements and thereafter. However, in November 2017, the FASB issued a proposed ASU, which would permit companies to apply the transition provisions of the lease accounting standard at its effective date (i.e. comparative financial statements would not be required).
The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on its financial statements but does not expect the adoption of the new guidance to have a significant impact on the accounting treatment of its triple-net tenant leases, which are the primary source of revenue to the Company. Generally speaking, ASU 2016-02 will more significantly impact the accounting for leases in which GLPI is the lessee by requiring the Company to record a right of use asset and lease liability on its consolidated balance sheet for these leases.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"). This new standard will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance on this topic and eliminate all industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 provides a unified five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. At the April 1, 2015 FASB meeting, the board voted to defer the effective date for the new revenue recognition standard to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The pronouncement was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and companies were permitted to elect the adoption of the standard as of the original effective date. When adopted, the new guidance can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.
The Company has completed its evaluation of the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on its financial statements and internal revenue recognition policies. The majority of the Company's revenue recognition policies will not be impacted by the new standard, as leases (the source of the Company's majority of revenues) are excluded from ASU 2014-09. Only the accounting treatment for the customer loyalty programs at the TRS properties will be impacted by the adoption of ASU 2014-09. Specifically, the recognition of revenue associated with these points based programs will be impacted by eliminating the current accrual for the cost of the points awarded at the time of play and instead deferring the portion of the revenue received from the customer at the time of play and attributed to the awarded points until a later period when the points are redeemed or forfeited. The revenue deferral will be calculated from the portion of the transaction price allocated to the points based upon their retail value. Under the former guidance, the cost of the points was recorded as an operating expense through the gaming, food, beverage and other expense line item of the Company's consolidated statement of income. In addition, upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09, promotional allowances representing the retail value of food, beverages and other services furnished to guests without charge will no longer be presented as a separate line item on the consolidated statements of income, rather they will be presented on a net basis within gaming, food, beverage and other revenue. This change has no impact to net revenues and is for presentation purposes only. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and recorded a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings of approximately $400,000 at the adoption date.
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3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all cash balances and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentrations of credit risk arise when a number of operators, tenants, or obligors related to the Company's investments are engaged in similar business activities, or activities in the same geographic region, or have similar economic features that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations, including those to the Company, to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions. Additionally, concentrations of credit risk may arise when revenues of the Company are derived from a small number of tenants. As of December 31, 2017, substantially all of the Company's real estate properties were leased to Penn or Pinnacle and approximately 53% and 45% of the Company's collective rental revenues and income from direct financing lease were derived from tenant leases with Penn and Pinnacle, respectively. Revenues from Penn and Pinnacle are reported in the Company's GLP Capital, L.P. reportable segment. Both Penn and Pinnacle are publicly traded companies that are subject to the informational filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are required to file periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Readers are directed to Penn and Pinnacle's respective websites for further financial information on these companies. Other than the Company's tenant concentration, management believes the Company's portfolio was reasonably diversified by geographical location and did not contain any other significant concentrations of credit risk. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's portfolio of 36 leased properties and the TRS properties is diversified by location across 14 states.
Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans receivable and the Company's net investment in direct financing lease related to the Pinnacle Master Lease. (See Note 8 for further details on the net investment in direct financing lease).
The Company's policy is to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution and place investments with financial institutions evaluated as being creditworthy, or in short-term money market and tax-free bond funds which are exposed to minimal interest rate and credit risk. At times, the Company has bank deposits and overnight repurchase agreements that exceed federally-insured limits.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
Prepaid expenses consist of expenditures for goods (other than inventories) or services before the goods are used or the services are received. These amounts are deferred and charged to operations as the benefits are realized and primarily consist of prepayments for insurance and other contracts that will be expensed during the subsequent year. It also includes property taxes that were paid in advance, as well as transaction costs that will be allocated to purchase price upon the closing of an asset acquisition. Other assets consists primarily of accounts receivable, deposits, food and beverage inventory and deferred compensation plan assets (See Note 10 for further details on the deferred compensation plan).
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate:
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximates the carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, due to the short maturity of the cash equivalents.
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets
The Company's deferred compensation plan assets consist of open-ended mutual funds and as such the fair value measurement of the assets is considered a Level 1 measurement as defined under ASC 820 "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" ("ASC 820"). Deferred compensation plan assets are included within other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
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Loan Receivable
The fair value of the loan receivable approximates the carrying value of the Company's loan receivable, as collection on the outstanding loan balance is reasonably assured and the interest rate approximates market rates for a similar instrument. The fair value measurement of the loan receivable is considered a Level 3 measurement as defined under ASC 820.
Long-term Debt
The fair value of the senior unsecured notes and senior unsecured credit facility is estimated based on quoted prices in active markets and as such is a Level 1 measurement as defined under ASC 820.
The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows (in thousands):
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying Amount | Fair Value | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Financial assets: | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 29,054 | $ | 29,054 | $ | 36,556 | $ | 36,556 | |||||||
Deferred compensation plan assets | 22,617 | 22,617 | 17,593 | 17,593 | |||||||||||
Loan receivable | 13,000 | 13,000 | 26,200 | 26,200 | |||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt: | |||||||||||||||
Senior unsecured credit facility | 1,055,000 | 1,045,600 | 1,290,000 | 1,272,852 | |||||||||||
Senior unsecured notes | 3,425,000 | 3,574,688 | 3,425,000 | 3,573,500 | |||||||||||
Real Estate Investments
Real estate investments primarily represent land and buildings leased to the Company's tenants. The Company records the acquisition of real estate assets at fair value, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost of properties developed by the Company include costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for occupancy. The Company considers the period of future benefit of the asset to determine the appropriate useful lives. Depreciation is computed using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the buildings and building improvements which are generally between 10 to 31 years.
The Company continually monitors events and circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amount of its real estate investments may not be recoverable or realized. When indicators of potential impairment suggest that the carrying value of a real estate investment may not be recoverable, the Company estimates the fair value of the investment by calculating the undiscounted future cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the investment. This amount is compared to the asset's carrying value. If the Company determines the carrying amount is not recoverable, it would recognize an impairment charge equivalent to the amount required to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value, calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company groups its real estate investments together by lease, the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available, in evaluating impairment. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value, the Company must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. The factors considered by the Company in performing this assessment include current operating results, market and other applicable trends and residual values, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss.
Land Rights
Land rights represent the Company's rights to land subject to long-term ground leases. The Company records land rights at the acquisition date fair value of the long-term rights purchased from sellers. Essentially, land rights represent the below market value of the related ground leases. Land rights are amortized over the individual lease term of each ground lease, including all renewal options. Amortization expense related to the land rights is recorded within land rights and ground lease expense in the Company's consolidated statements of income. Land rights are monitored for potential impairment in much the same way as the Company's real estate assets. If the Company determines the carrying amount of a land right is not recoverable, it would recognize an impairment charge equivalent to the amount required to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value, calculated in accordance with GAAP.
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Property and Equipment Used in Operations
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and represent assets used by the Company's TRS operations and certain corporate assets. Maintenance and repairs that neither add materially to the value of the asset nor appreciably prolong its useful life are charged to expense as incurred. Gains or losses on the disposal of property and equipment are included in the determination of income.
Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Land improvements | 15 years | |
Building and improvements | 5 to 31 years | |
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment | 3 to 31 years | |
Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the related lease term. The estimated useful lives are determined based on the nature of the assets as well as the Company's current operating strategy.
The Company reviews the carrying value of its property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based upon the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If the Company determines the carrying amount is not recoverable, it would recognize an impairment charge equivalent to the amount required to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value, calculated in accordance with GAAP. In estimating expected future cash flows for determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the individual property level. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of property and equipment, the Company must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. The factors considered by the Company in performing this assessment include current operating results, market and other applicable trends and residual values, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets.
Investments in Direct Financing Leases
The Company's investment in direct financing lease represents the building portion of the real estate assets acquired in the Pinnacle acquisition. As discussed in Note 8, the Pinnacle Master Lease is bifurcated between an operating lease and a direct financing lease, with the land assets qualifying for operating lease treatment and the building assets triggering direct financing lease treatment. Upon entry into a direct financing lease, the Company records the acquisition date fair value of the purchased buildings as the net investment in direct financing lease on its consolidated balance sheet. The gross investment in a direct financing lease represents the total future minimum lease payments attributable to the direct financing lease as well as the estimated residual value of the property. At any point in time, the difference between the net investment and gross investment in a direct financing lease represents the unearned income which is subsequently recognized as interest income and included in income from direct financing lease in the Company's consolidated statements of income. Unearned income is recognized over the applicable lease term using the effective interest rate method which produces a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the leased property. Furthermore, the Company's investment in direct financing leases is reduced over the applicable lease term to its residual value by the building portion of rent.
If and when an investment in direct financing lease is identified for impairment evaluation, the Company will apply the guidance in both ASC 310 "Receivables" ("ASC 310") and ASC 360 "Property, Plant and Equipment" ("ASC 360"). Under ASC 310, the lease receivable portion of the net investment in direct financing leases is classified as a loan and identified for impairment when it becomes probable GLPI, as the lessor, will be unable to collect all rental payments associated with the Company's investment in direct financing leases. Under ASC 360, the residual value portion of the net investment in direct financing leases is monitored for impairment under the same method the Company applies to real estate investments.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
At both December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $75.5 million of goodwill and $9.6 million of other intangible assets within its consolidated balance sheets, resulting from the contribution of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino Perryville in connection with the Spin-Off. The Company's goodwill resides on the books of its Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge subsidiary, while the other intangible asset represents a gaming license on the books of its Hollywood Casino Perryville subsidiary. Both subsidiaries are members of the TRS Properties segment and are considered separate
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reporting units under ASC 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other" ("ASC 350"). Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available.
Under ASC 350, the Company is required to test goodwill for impairment at least annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill may be impaired. The Company has elected to perform its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 of each year. ASC 350 prescribes a two-step goodwill impairment test, the first step which involves the determination of the fair value of each reporting unit and its comparison to the carrying amount. In order to determine the fair value of the Baton Rouge reporting unit, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model, which relied on projected EBITDA to determine the reporting unit's future cash flows. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value in step 1, then step 2 of the impairment test is performed to determine the implied value of goodwill. If the implied value of goodwill is less than the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit, an impairment loss is recognized.
In accordance with ASC 350, the Company considers its Hollywood Casino Perryville gaming license an indefinite-lived intangible asset that does not require amortization based on the Company's future expectations to operate this casino indefinitely, as well as the gaming industry's historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state gaming commissions. Rather, the Company's gaming license is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, for impairment by comparing the fair value of the recorded asset to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-life intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Hollywood Casino Perryville's gaming license will expire in September 2025, fifteen years from the casino's opening date. The Company expects to expense any costs related to the gaming license renewal as incurred.
We assessed the fair value of our gaming license using the Greenfield Method under the income approach. The Greenfield Method estimates the fair value of the gaming license assuming the Company built a casino with similar utility to that of the existing facility. The method assumes a theoretical start-up company going into business without any assets other than the intangible asset being valued. As such the value of the license is a function of the following items:
• | Projected revenues and operating cash flows; |
• | Theoretical construction costs and duration; |
• | Pre-opening expenses; |
• | Discounting that reflects the level of risk associated with receiving future cash flows attributable to the license; and |
• | Remaining useful life of the license |
The evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company must make various assumptions and estimates in performing its impairment testing. The implied fair value includes estimates of future cash flows that are based on reasonable and supportable assumptions, which represent the Company's best estimates of the cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets. Changes in estimates, increases in the Company's cost of capital, reductions in transaction multiples, changes in operating and capital expenditure assumptions or application of alternative assumptions and definitions could produce significantly different results. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from the Company's estimates. If the Company's ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met, the Company may have to record additional impairment charges in future accounting periods. The Company's estimates of cash flows are based on the current regulatory and economic climates, as well as recent operating information and budgets. These estimates could be negatively impacted by changes in federal, state or local regulations, economic downturns, or other events.
Forecasted cash flows can be significantly impacted by the local economy in which the Company's subsidiaries operate. For example, increases in unemployment rates can result in decreased customer visitations and/or lower customer spend per visit. In addition, new legislation which approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions or further expands gaming in jurisdictions in which the Company operates can result in increased competition for the property. This generally has a negative effect on profitability once competitors become established, as a certain level of cannibalization occurs absent an overall increase in customer visitations. Lastly, increases in gaming taxes approved by state regulatory bodies can negatively impact forecasted cash flows.
Assumptions and estimates about future cash flow levels are complex and subjective. They are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors, such as industry, geopolitical and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in the Company's business strategy, which may reallocate capital and resources to different or new opportunities which management believes will enhance the Company's overall value but may be to the detriment of its existing operations.
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The Company determined the fair value of its goodwill and gaming license as of October 1, 2017 utilizing the forecasted cash flow methods described above and compared these values to the carrying value of the assets on its balance sheet. In determining the fair value of each asset, the Company incorporated recent operating trends of both TRS properties into its current year projections. After consideration of these facts, the fair value of both assets substantially exceeded their carrying amount, and as of October 1, 2017, the Company's goodwill and gaming license were not impaired.
As discussed in Note 2, the FASB recently issued ASU 2017-04, which simplifies the goodwill impairment test for public companies by eliminating Step 2 from the test. Upon the adoption of ASU 2017-04, an impairment charge is simply recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill, when the carrying value exceeds fair value. See Note 2 for further details on the new standard. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to significantly impact its goodwill impairment testing, as it has not recognized an impairment charge for goodwill or intangible assets since inception.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the underlying indebtedness. In accordance with ASU 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, the Company records long-term debt net of unamortized debt issuance costs on its consolidated balance sheets.
Loan Receivable
The Company may periodically loan funds to tenants. Loans are made at prevailing market interest rates and recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at carrying value which approximates fair value. If the collectability of an outstanding loan balance is not reasonably assured, the Company will assess the loan's carrying value for potential impairment. If it is determined the loan is in fact impaired it will be written down or off completely. Currently, the Company does not have any allowances recorded against its loan receivable as the collection of the remaining principal and interest payments is reasonable assured. Interest income related to loans receivable is recorded in interest income within the Company's consolidated statements of income in the period earned.
Income Taxes
The TRS Properties are able to engage in activities resulting in income that would not be qualifying income for a REIT. As a result, certain activities of the Company which occur within its TRS Properties are subject to federal and state income taxes.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"). Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and are measured at the prevailing enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences are settled or realized. ASC 740 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The realizability of the deferred tax assets is evaluated by assessing the valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if any, as necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are the forecast of future taxable income.
ASC 740 also creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions, and clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company did not have any uncertain tax positions for the three years ended December 31, 2017.
The Company is required under ASC 740 to disclose its accounting policy for classifying interest and penalties, the amount of interest and penalties charged to expense each period, as well as the cumulative amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets. If and when they occur, the Company will classify any income tax-related penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in taxes on income within the consolidated statements of income. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized no penalties and interest, net of deferred income taxes and during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $1 thousand and $59 thousand of penalties and interest, net of deferred income taxes, respectively.
The Company elected on its U.S. federal income tax return for its taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT and the Company, together with an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, GLP Holdings, Inc., jointly elected to treat each of GLP Holdings, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc. and Penn Cecil Maryland, Inc. as a "taxable REIT subsidiary" effective on the first day of the first taxable year of GLPI as a REIT. The Company continues to be organized
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and to operate in a manner that will permit the Company to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to shareholders. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal, state or local income tax on income that it distributes as dividends to its shareholders, except in those jurisdictions that do not allow a deduction for such distributions. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates, and dividends paid to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Company in computing taxable income. Any resulting corporate liability could be substantial and could materially and adversely affect the Company's net income and net cash available for distribution to shareholders. Unless the Company was entitled to relief under certain Internal Revenue Code provisions, the Company also would be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the 4 taxable years following the year in which it failed to qualify to be taxed as a REIT.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants, including rental abatements, lease incentives and contractually fixed increases attributable to operating leases, on a straight-line basis over the term of the related leases when collectability is reasonably assured. Additionally, percentage rent that is fixed and determinable at the lease inception date is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term, resulting in the recognition of deferred rental revenue on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Deferred rental revenue is amortized to rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the remainder of the lease term. The lease term includes the initial non-cancelable lease term and any reasonably assured renewable periods. Contingent rental income that is not fixed and determinable at lease inception is recognized only when the lessee achieves the specified target. Recognition of rental income commences when control of the facility has been transferred to the tenant.
The Company recognizes income from tenants subject to direct financing leases ratably over the lease term using the effective interest rate method which produces a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the leased property. At lease inception, the Company records an asset which represents the Company's net investment in the direct financing lease. This initial net investment is determined by aggregating the total future minimum lease payments attributable to the direct financing lease and the estimated residual value of the property, less unearned income. Over the lease term, the investment in the direct financing lease is reduced and income is recognized for the building portion of rent. Furthermore, as the net investment in direct financing lease includes only future minimum lease payments, percentage rent that is not fixed and determinable at the lease inception is excluded from the determination of the rent attributable to the leased assets and will therefore be recorded as income from the direct financing lease in the period earned. For further detail on the Company's direct financing lease refer to Note 8.
Additionally, in accordance with ASC 605, "Revenue Recognition," the Company records revenue for the real estate taxes paid by its tenants on the leased properties with an offsetting expense in real estate taxes within the consolidated statement of income as the Company has concluded it is the primary obligor. Similarly, the Company records revenue for the ground lease rent paid by its tenants with an offsetting expense in land rights and ground lease expense within the consolidated statements of income as the Company has concluded that as the lessee it is the primary obligor under the ground leases. The Company subleases these ground leases back to its tenants, who are responsible for payment directly to the landlord.
Gaming revenue generated by the TRS Properties mainly consists of video lottery gaming revenue and to a lesser extent, table game and poker revenue. Video lottery gaming revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs, for "ticket-in, ticket-out" coupons in the customers’ possession, and for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive slot machines, which contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increase. Table game gaming revenue is the aggregate of table drop adjusted for the change in aggregate table chip inventory. Table drop is the total dollar amount of the currency, coins, chips, tokens, outstanding counter checks (markers), and front money that are removed from the live gaming tables. Additionally, food and beverage revenue is recognized as services are performed.
Gaming revenue is recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with ASC 605-50, "Revenue Recognition— Customer Payments and Incentives." The Company records certain sales incentives and points earned in point-loyalty programs as a reduction of revenue. See Note 2 for a summary of anticipated changes to the recognition of revenue at the TRS Properties upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018.
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Gaming and Admission Taxes
For the TRS Properties, the Company is subject to gaming and admission taxes based on gross gaming revenues in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company primarily recognizes gaming tax expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid to state and local jurisdictions in the states where wagering occurs. At Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, the state gaming tax rate is flat, while the admission tax is based on graduated tax rates that increase as gross gaming revenues increase. At Hollywood Casino Perryville the state gaming tax rate is flat. The Company records gaming and admission taxes at the Company’s estimated effective gaming tax rate for the year, considering estimated taxable gaming revenue and the applicable rates. Such estimates are adjusted each interim period. If gaming and admission tax rates change during the year, such changes are applied prospectively in the determination of gaming tax expense in future interim periods. For the three years ended December 31, 2017, these expenses, which are recorded within gaming, food, beverage and other expense in the consolidated statements of income, totaled $57.4 million, $57.7 million and $60.1 million, respectively.
Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates earnings per share ("EPS") in accordance with ASC 260, "Earnings Per Share." Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding net income attributable to participating securities (unvested restricted stock awards). Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially-dilutive securities such as stock options, unvested restricted shares and unvested performance-based restricted shares.
The following table reconciles the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic EPS to the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Determination of shares: | ||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 210,705 | 178,594 | 114,432 | |||||
Assumed conversion of dilutive employee stock-based awards | 644 | 1,699 | 3,755 | |||||
Assumed conversion of restricted stock | 155 | 171 | 170 | |||||
Assumed conversion of performance-based restricted stock awards | 1,248 | 158 | 82 | |||||
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding | 212,752 | 180,622 | 118,439 | |||||
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Calculation of basic EPS: | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | |||||
Less: Net income allocated to participating securities | (622 | ) | (668 | ) | (517 | ) | |||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 379,976 | $ | 288,637 | $ | 127,605 | |||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 210,705 | 178,594 | 114,432 | ||||||||
Basic EPS | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.62 | $ | 1.12 | |||||
Calculation of diluted EPS: | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 380,598 | $ | 289,305 | $ | 128,122 | |||||
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding | 212,752 | 180,622 | 118,439 | ||||||||
Diluted EPS | $ | 1.79 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.08 | |||||
There were 3,483, 23,954 and 24,233 outstanding equity based awards during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive.
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Stock-Based Compensation
The Company's 2013 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2013 Plan") provides for the Company to issue restricted stock awards, including performance-based restricted stock awards, and other equity or cash based awards to employees. Any director, employee or consultant shall be eligible to receive such awards.
The Company accounts for stock compensation under ASC 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation," which requires the Company to expense the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. This expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period following the date of grant. The fair value of the Company's time-based restricted stock awards is equivalent to the closing stock price on the day of grant. The Company utilizes a third party valuation firm to measure the fair value of performance-based restricted stock awards at grant date using the Monte Carlo model.
The unrecognized compensation cost relating to restricted stock awards and performance-based restricted stock awards will be amortized to expense over the awards’ remaining vesting periods.
See Note 14 for further information related to the stock-based compensation.
Segment Information
Consistent with how the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews and assesses the Company’s financial performance, the Company has two reportable segments, GLP Capital, L.P. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of GLPI through which GLPI owns substantially all of its real estate assets) ("GLP Capital") and the TRS Properties. The GLP Capital reportable segment consists of the leased real property and represents the majority of the Company’s business. The TRS Properties reportable segment consists of Hollywood Casino Perryville and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge. See Note 15 for further information with respect to the Company’s segments.
Statements of Cash Flows
The Company has presented the consolidated statements of cash flows using the indirect method, which involves the reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities.
4. Acquisitions
Current Year Acquisition
On May 1, 2017, the Company acquired the real property assets of Bally's Casino Tunica (subsequently re-branded as the 1st Jackpot Casino) and Resorts Casino Tunica (the "Tunica Properties") for $82.9 million. The Company acquired both Bally's Casino Tunica and Resorts Casino Tunica, as well as the Resorts Hotel and land at Bally's Casino Tunica. Land rights to three long-term ground leases related to the Tunica Properties were also acquired in the transaction. The Company records revenue for the ground lease rent paid by its tenants with an offsetting expense in land rights and ground lease expense within the consolidated statements of income as the Company has concluded that as the lessee it is the primary obligor under these ground leases. As the primary obligor under these ground leases, the Company will record annual obligations of $2.7 million in its financial statements as both revenue and expense. However, the Company subleases these ground leases back to its tenants, who are responsible for payment directly to the landlord.
Penn purchased the operating assets of the Tunica Properties directly from the seller, operates both properties and leases the real property assets from the Company under the Penn Master Lease. The initial annual cash rent of $9.0 million for the Tunica Properties will be subject to rent escalators and adjustments consistent with the other properties under the Penn Master Lease.
Prior Year Acquisitions
On September 9, 2016, the Company acquired the real property assets of the Meadows Racetrack and Casino (the "Meadows") from Cannery Casino Resorts ("CCR") for approximately $323.3 million. Concurrent with the Company's purchase of the Meadows' real estate assets, Pinnacle purchased the entities holding the Meadows' gaming and racing licenses and operating assets from CCR. GLPI leases the Meadows' real property assets to Pinnacle under a triple-net lease separate from the Pinnacle Master Lease with an initial term of 10 years with no purchase option and the option to renew for three successive 5-year terms and one 4-year term, at Pinnacle's option (the "Meadows Lease").
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On April 28, 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle, adding 14 properties to its real estate portfolio. The acquisition of Pinnacle's real estate assets was the final step in a series of transactions contemplated by the July 20, 2015 merger agreement between GLPI, Gold Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of GLPI ("Merger Sub"), and Pinnacle providing for the merger of Pinnacle with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of GLPI (the "Pinnacle Merger"). Following the Pinnacle Merger, GLPI contributed all of the equity interests of Gold Merger Sub to GLP Capital, L.P., a Pennsylvania limited partnership and a wholly owned subsidiary of GLPI ("GLP Capital"). At December 31, 2017, GLPI owns all of Pinnacle’s real property assets, other than Pinnacle’s Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center property and excess land at certain locations. Approval of the Pinnacle Merger by GLPI shareholders and Pinnacle stockholders was obtained at separate special meetings held on March 15, 2016.
In order to effect the acquisition of Pinnacle’s real property assets (other than the Belterra Park property and excess land at certain locations), prior to the Pinnacle Merger, Pinnacle caused certain assets relating to its operating business to be transferred to, and liabilities relating thereto to be assumed by a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle ("OpCo"). Immediately following the separation of its real property assets and gaming and other operating assets, Pinnacle distributed to its stockholders all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of OpCo. As described above, on April 28, 2016, Pinnacle merged with and into Merger Sub, as described in more detail in the joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-206649) initially filed by GLPI with the SEC on December 23, 2015 and declared effective on February 16, 2016 (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus"), completing the Pinnacle Merger. Merger Sub, as the surviving company in the Pinnacle Merger, owns substantially all of Pinnacle’s real estate assets that were retained or transferred to Pinnacle in the separation and leases those assets back to Pinnacle pursuant to the triple-net 35-year (including extension renewals) Pinnacle Master Lease. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Pinnacle operates the leased gaming facilities as a tenant under the Pinnacle Master Lease Agreement.
At the effective time of the Pinnacle Merger, each share of Pinnacle common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Pinnacle Merger was converted into 0.85 of a share of GLPI common stock, with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of GLPI common stock. Shares of GLPI common stock were also issued to satisfy GLPI's portion of the outstanding Pinnacle employee equity and cash-based incentive awards outstanding at the closing date. Approximately 56.0 million shares of GLPI common stock were issued as consideration in the Pinnacle Merger. Additionally, GLPI repaid $2.7 billion of Pinnacle's debt and paid $226.8 million of Pinnacle's transaction expenses related to the Pinnacle Merger. The acquisition of the Pinnacle real estate assets is accounted for as an asset acquisition under ASC 805 - Business Combinations. Under asset acquisition accounting, transaction costs incurred to acquire the purchased assets are also included as part of the asset cost. Inclusive of $28.3 million of the Company's own transaction expenses, the purchase price of the Pinnacle real estate assets was $4.8 billion. The Pinnacle Merger contributed approximately $352.5 million and $237.5 million to the Company's net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively and resulted in approximately $54.2 million and $36.2 million of additional operating expenses for the same periods. Pinnacle is a publicly traded company that is subject to the informational filing requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is required to file periodic reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K with the SEC. Readers are directed to Pinnacle's website for further financial information on Pinnacle.
Purchase price allocations are primarily based on the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the time of acquisition. The following tables summarize the consideration transferred in the Pinnacle Merger and the purchase price allocation to the assets acquired in the Pinnacle Merger (in thousands):
Consideration | |||
Cash | $ | 2,955,090 | |
GLPI common stock | 1,823,991 | ||
Fair value of total consideration transferred | $ | 4,779,081 | |
Real estate investments, net | $ | 1,422,547 | |
Land rights, net | 596,920 | ||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | 2,759,244 | ||
Prepaid expenses | 111 | ||
Other assets | 259 | ||
Total purchase price | $ | 4,779,081 | |
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As detailed above, the Company paid $3.0 billion in cash for the acquired Pinnacle real estate assets. In addition, as part of the consideration paid for the Pinnacle real estate assets acquired in the Pinnacle Merger, the Company issued shares of its common stock to Pinnacle stockholders and to Pinnacle to satisfy the Company's portion of Pinnacle's employee equity and cash-based incentive awards. The dollar value of the issued shares was $1.8 billion and is considered purchase price.
The real estate investments, net represent the land purchased from Pinnacle, while the land rights, net represent the Company's rights to land subject to long-term ground leases. The Company acquired ground leases at several of the Pinnacle properties and immediately subleased the land back to Pinnacle. The investment in direct financing lease, net is the Company's investment in the buildings and building improvements purchased from Pinnacle. As detailed in Note 8, the Pinnacle Master Lease was bifurcated between an operating lease and direct financing lease. The accounting treatment for the buildings purchased under a direct financing lease required the Company to record its initial investment in the buildings as a receivable on its consolidated balance sheet, which is subsequently reduced over the lease term to its estimated residual value. The purchase price allocated to prepaid expenses and other assets represents the current and long-term portions of a director and officer liability insurance policy purchased from Pinnacle.
5. Real Estate Investments
Real estate investments, net, represents investments in 36 rental properties and the corporate headquarters building and is summarized as follows:
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Land and improvements | $ | 2,057,928 | $ | 2,057,391 | |||
Building and improvements | 2,461,573 | 2,438,581 | |||||
Total real estate investments | 4,519,501 | 4,495,972 | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (857,456 | ) | (756,881 | ) | |||
Real estate investments, net | $ | 3,662,045 | $ | 3,739,091 | |||
6. Land Rights
Land rights, net represent the Company's rights to land subject to long-term ground leases. The Company obtained ground lease rights through the acquisition of several of its rental properties and immediately subleased the land to its tenants. These land rights represent the below market value of the related ground leases. The Company assessed the acquired ground leases to determine if the lease terms were favorable or unfavorable, given market conditions at the acquisition date. Because the market rents to be received under the Company's triple-net tenant leases were greater than the rents to be paid under the acquired ground leases, the Company concluded that the ground leases were below market and were therefore required to be recorded as a definite lived asset (land rights) on its books.
The land rights are amortized over the individual lease term of each ground lease, including all renewal options, which ranged from 25 years to 92 years at their respective acquisition dates. Land rights net, consists of the following:
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Land rights | $ | 656,666 | $ | 596,921 | |||
Less accumulated amortization | (16,518 | ) | (6,163 | ) | |||
Land rights, net | $ | 640,148 | $ | 590,758 | |||
Amortization expense related to the ground leases is recorded within land rights and ground lease expense in the consolidated statements of income and totaled $10.4 million and $6.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
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As of December 31, 2017, estimated future amortization expense related to the Company’s ground leases by fiscal year is as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, | |||
2018 | $ | 10,910 | |
2019 | 10,910 | ||
2020 | 10,910 | ||
2021 | 10,910 | ||
2022 | 10,910 | ||
Thereafter | 585,598 | ||
Total | $ | 640,148 | |
Details of the significant ground leases are as follows. The Company leases land at the Belterra Casino Resort under two ground leases, each with an initial term of 5 years and nine automatic renewals of 5 years each. The renewal options extend the leases through 2049 and are not terminable by the Company. The lease includes a base portion which is adjusted at each renewal based upon the CPI and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon 1.5% of gross gaming wins in excess of $100 million.
The Company leases land at the Ameristar East Chicago property under a ground lease with an initial term of 30 years and two optional renewals of 30 years each. The lease extends through 2086 with all renewals. Rent under the lease is adjusted every 3 years based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion.
The Company leases land at the River City Hotel and Casino under a ground lease with a term of 99 years that extends through 2108. The lease includes a base portion which is fixed and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon 2.5% of the annual gross receipts of the property less fixed rent payments made in the same year.
The Company leases land at the L'Auberge Lakes Charles property under a ground lease with an initial term of 10 years and six optional renewals of 10 years each. The lease extends through 2075 with all renewals. Rent under the lease is adjusted annually based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion.
The Company leases land at the Resorts Casino Tunica property under a ground lease with an initial term of 3 years and nine optional renewals of 5 years each. The lease extends through 2042 with all renewals. The lease has an annual fixed rent provision and does not include a variable portion.
The Company leases land at the 1st Jackpot Casino (formerly known as Bally's Casino Tunica) under two ground leases. The first ground lease has an initial term of 6 years and nine optional renewals of 6 years each. The lease extends through 2054 with all renewals. Rent under this lease is adjusted annually based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion. The second lease has an initial term of 10 years with ten optional renewals of 5 years each. The lease extends through 2055 with all renewals. The lease has an annual fixed rent provision and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon net gaming revenues of up to 4%, dependent on the property's operating results.
7. Property and Equipment Used in Operations
Property and equipment used in operations, net, consists of the following and primarily represents the assets utilized in the TRS Properties
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Land and improvements | $ | 30,276 | $ | 30,965 | |||
Building and improvements | 116,286 | 117,350 | |||||
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment | 114,972 | 114,965 | |||||
Construction in progress | 8 | 330 | |||||
Total property and equipment | 261,542 | 263,610 | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (153,249 | ) | (144,183 | ) | |||
Property and equipment, net | $ | 108,293 | $ | 119,427 | |||
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8. Receivables
Investment in Direct Financing Lease, Net
Under ASC 840 - Leases ("ASC 840"), the Pinnacle Master Lease is bifurcated between an operating lease and a direct financing lease. The fair value assigned to the land (inclusive of the land rights) qualifies for operating lease treatment, while the fair value assigned to the buildings is classified as a direct financing lease. Under ASC 840, the accounting treatment for direct financing leases requires the Company to record an investment in direct financing leases on its books at lease inception and subsequently recognize interest income and a reduction in the investment for the building portion of rent. This initial net investment is determined by aggregating the total future minimum lease payments attributable to the direct financing lease and the estimated residual value of the property, less unearned income. The interest income recorded under the direct financing lease is included in income from direct financing lease in the Company's consolidated statements of income and is recognized over the 35-year lease term using the effective interest rate method which produces a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the leased property. Furthermore, as the net investment in direct financing lease includes only future minimum lease payments, rent that is not fixed and determinable at the lease inception is excluded from the determination of the rent attributable to the leased assets and will therefore be recorded as income from direct financing lease in the period earned. The unguaranteed residual value is the Company's estimate of what it could realize upon the sale of the property at the end of the lease term.
The net investment in the direct financing lease is evaluated for impairment as necessary, if indicators of impairment are present, to determine if there has been an-other-than-temporary decline in the residual value of the property or a change in the lessee's credit worthiness. At December 31, 2017, there were no indicators of a decline in the estimated residual value of the property and collectability of the remaining receivable balance is reasonably assured.
The Company's investment in direct financing lease, net, consists of the following and represents the building assets acquired from Pinnacle:
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Minimum lease payments receivable | $ | 3,263,387 | $ | 3,405,131 | |||
Unguaranteed residual value | 689,811 | 689,811 | |||||
Gross investment in direct financing lease | 3,953,198 | 4,094,942 | |||||
Less: unearned income | (1,315,559 | ) | (1,384,231 | ) | |||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | $ | 2,637,639 | $ | 2,710,711 | |||
Loan Receivable
In January 2014, the Company completed the asset acquisition of the real property associated with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois for $140.7 million. GLPI leases the property back to Casino Queen on a triple-net basis on terms similar to those in the Master Leases. The lease has an initial term of 15 years and the tenant has an option to renew it at the same terms and conditions for four successive five-year periods (the "Casino Queen Lease").
Simultaneously with the Casino Queen acquisition, GLPI also provided Casino Queen with a $43.0 million, five-year term loan at 7% interest, pre-payable at any time, which, together with the sale proceeds, completely refinanced and retired all of Casino Queen’s outstanding long-term debt obligations. On March 13, 2017, the outstanding principal and interest on this loan was repaid in full and GLPI simultaneously provided a new unsecured $13.0 million, 5.5 year term loan to CQ Holding Company, Inc., an affiliate of Casino Queen, to partially finance their acquisition of Lady Luck Casino in Marquette, Iowa. The cash proceeds were net settled. The new loan bears an interest rate of 15% and is pre-payable at any time. As of December 31, 2017, the balance of the new loan is $13.0 million. The collectability of the loan balance is reasonably assured, and as of December 31, 2017, there is no indication that the obligor will not remit all mandatory principal and interest payments in full and on time. The loan balance is recorded at carrying value which approximates fair value. Interest income related to the loan is recorded in interest income within the Company's consolidated statements of income in the period earned.
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9. Long-term Debt
Long-term debt, net of current maturities and unamortized debt issuance costs is as follows:
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Unsecured term loan A | $ | 230,000 | $ | 300,000 | |||
Unsecured term loan A-1 | 825,000 | 825,000 | |||||
Unsecured $700 million revolver | — | 165,000 | |||||
$550 million 4.375% senior unsecured notes due November 2018 | 550,000 | 550,000 | |||||
$1,000 million 4.875% senior unsecured notes due November 2020 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |||||
$400 million 4.375% senior unsecured notes due April 2021 | 400,000 | 400,000 | |||||
$500 million 5.375% senior unsecured notes due November 2023 | 500,000 | 500,000 | |||||
$975 million 5.375% senior unsecured notes due April 2026 | 975,000 | 975,000 | |||||
Capital lease | 1,230 | 1,341 | |||||
Total long-term debt | 4,481,230 | 4,716,341 | |||||
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs | (38,350 | ) | (51,376 | ) | |||
Total long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs | $ | 4,442,880 | $ | 4,664,965 | |||
The following is a schedule of future minimum repayments of long-term debt as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
2018 | $ | 780,117 | |
2019 | 123 | ||
2020 | 1,000,129 | ||
2021 | 1,225,136 | ||
2022 | 142 | ||
Over 5 years | 1,475,583 | ||
Total minimum payments | $ | 4,481,230 | |
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility
The Company has a $1,825 million dollar senior unsecured credit facility (the "Credit Facility"), consisting of a $700 million revolving credit facility, a $300 million Term Loan A facility, and an $825 million Term Loan A-1 facility. The revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility mature on October 28, 2018 and the Term Loan A-1 facility matures on April 28, 2021.
The interest rates payable on the loans are, at the Company's option, equal to either a LIBOR rate or a base rate plus an applicable margin, which ranges from 1.0% to 2.0% per annum for LIBOR loans and 0.0% to 1.0% per annum for base rate loans, in each case, depending on the credit ratings assigned to the Credit Facility. At December 31, 2017, the applicable margin was 1.50% for LIBOR loans and 0.50% for base rate loans. In addition, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the commitments under the revolving facility at a rate that ranges from 0.15% to 0.35% per annum, depending on the credit ratings assigned to the Credit Facility. At December 31, 2017, the commitment fee rate was 0.25%. The Company is not required to repay any loans under the Credit Facility prior to maturity on October 28, 2018 and may prepay all or any portion of the loans under the Credit Facility prior to maturity without premium or penalty, subject to reimbursement of any LIBOR breakage costs of the lenders. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, GLP Capital is the primary obligor under the Credit Facility, which is guaranteed by GLPI.
At December 31, 2017, the Credit Facility had a gross outstanding balance of $1,055 million. Additionally, at December 31, 2017, the Company was contingently obligated under letters of credit issued pursuant to the senior unsecured credit facility with face amounts aggregating approximately $0.4 million, resulting in $699.6 million of available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2017.
The Credit Facility contains customary covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of GLPI and its subsidiaries to grant liens on their assets, incur indebtedness, sell assets, make investments, engage in
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acquisitions, mergers or consolidations or pay certain dividends and other restricted payments. The Credit Facility contains the following financial covenants, which are measured quarterly on a trailing four-quarter basis: a maximum total debt to total asset value ratio, a maximum senior secured debt to total asset value ratio, a maximum ratio of certain recourse debt to unencumbered asset value and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition, GLPI is required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth and its status as a REIT on and after the effective date of its election to be treated as a REIT, which the Company elected on its 2014 U.S. federal income tax return. GLPI is permitted to pay dividends to its shareholders as may be required in order to maintain REIT status, subject to the absence of payment or bankruptcy defaults. GLPI is also permitted to make other dividends and distributions subject to pro forma compliance with the financial covenants and the absence of defaults. The Credit Facility also contains certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default, including the occurrence of a change of control and termination of the Penn Master Lease (subject to certain replacement rights). The occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the Credit Facility will enable the lenders under the Credit Facility to accelerate the loans and terminate the commitments thereunder. At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants under the Credit Facility.
Senior Unsecured Notes
At December 31, 2017, the Company had $550 million outstanding of 4.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2018 (the "2018 Notes"), $1,000 million outstanding of 4.875% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2020 (the "2020 Notes"), $400 million of 4.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on April 15, 2021 (the "2021 Notes"), $500 million outstanding of 5.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on November 1, 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and $975 million of 5.375% senior unsecured notes maturing on April 15, 2026 (the "2026 Notes"and collectively with the 2018 Notes, the 2020 Notes, the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes, the "Notes"). Interest on each of the 2018 Notes, 2020 Notes and 2023 Notes, is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Interest on the 2021 Notes and 2026 Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year and commenced on October 15, 2016.
The Company may redeem the Notes of any series at any time, and from time to time, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a "make-whole" redemption premium described in the indenture governing the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date, except that if Notes of a series are redeemed 90 or fewer days prior to their maturity, the redemption price will be 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. If GLPI experiences a change of control accompanied by a decline in the credit rating of the Notes of a particular series, the Company will be required to give holders of the Notes of such series the opportunity to sell their Notes of such series at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes of such series, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date. The Notes also are subject to mandatory redemption requirements imposed by gaming laws and regulations.
The Notes were issued by GLP Capital, L.P. and GLP Financing II, Inc. (the "Issuers"), two wholly-owned subsidiaries of GLPI, and are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by GLPI. The guarantees of GLPI are full and unconditional. The Notes are the Issuers' senior unsecured obligations and rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the Issuers' senior indebtedness, including the Credit Facility, and senior in right of payment to all of the Issuers' subordinated indebtedness, without giving effect to collateral arrangements. See Note 19 for additional financial information on the parent guarantor and subsidiary issuers of the Notes.
The Notes contain covenants limiting the Company’s ability to: incur additional debt and use its assets to secure debt; merge or consolidate with another company; and make certain amendments to the Penn Master Lease. The Notes also require the Company to maintain a specified ratio of unencumbered assets to unsecured debt. These covenants are subject to a number of important and significant limitations, qualifications and exceptions.
At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants under the Notes.
Capital Lease
The Company assumed the capital lease obligation related to certain assets at its Aurora, Illinois property. GLPI recorded the asset and liability associated with the capital lease on its balance sheet. The original term of the capital lease was 30 years and it will terminate in 2026.
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10. Commitments and Contingencies
Separation and Distribution Agreements
Pursuant to a Separation and Distribution Agreement between Penn and GLPI, any liability arising from or relating to legal proceedings involving the businesses and operations of Penn’s real property holdings prior to the Spin-Off (other than any liability arising from or relating to legal proceedings where the dispute arises from the operation or ownership of the TRS Properties) will be retained by Penn, and Penn will indemnify GLPI (and its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) against any losses it may incur arising from or relating to such legal proceedings. Similarly, pursuant to a Separation and Distribution Agreement between Pinnacle's operating company and GLPI (as successor to Pinnacle Entertainment), any liability arising from or relating to legal proceedings involving the business and operations of Pinnacle's real property holdings prior to the Pinnacle Merger will be retained by Pinnacle, and Pinnacle will indemnify GLPI (and its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) against any losses it may incur arising from or relating to such legal proceedings. There can be no assurance that Penn or Pinnacle will be able to fully satisfy their indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Penn or Pinnacle any amounts for which we are liable, we may be temporarily required to bear those losses.
Litigation
The Company is subject to various legal and administrative proceedings relating to personal injuries, employment matters, commercial transactions, and other matters arising in the normal course of business. The Company does not believe that the final outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company maintains what it believes is adequate insurance coverage to further mitigate the risks of such proceedings. However, such proceedings can be costly, time consuming, and unpredictable and, therefore, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of such proceedings may not materially impact the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Further, no assurance can be given that the amount or scope of existing insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover losses arising from such matters.
Operating Lease Commitments
As part of the Spin-Off, Penn assigned to GLPI various leases on the land and buildings acquired in connection with the Spin-Off. The leases consist of annual base lease payments and, in some instances, a percentage rent based on a percent of adjusted gaming wins, as described in the respective leases. The following is a description of some of the more significant lease contracts that Penn assigned to GLPI:
The Company has an operating lease for the land utilized in connection with the operations of the Boomtown Biloxi casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The lease commenced March 3, 1994 and is for a term of 99 years. The annual rental payments are increased every 5 years by fifteen percent. The next reset period is in March 2019.
The Company has an operating lease for the land utilized in connection with the operations of Hollywood Casino Tunica in Tunica, Mississippi. The lease commenced on October 11, 1993 with a five year initial term and nine five year renewals at the tenant's option. The lease agreement has an annual fixed rent provision, as well as an annual revenue-sharing provision, which is equal to the result obtained by subtracting the fixed rent provision from 4% of gross revenues.
The Company has an operating lease with the City of Bangor for the land utilized in connection with the operations of Hollywood Casino Bangor, which opened on July 1, 2008. Under the lease agreement, there is a fixed rent provision, for which GLPI is responsible, which totals $0.1 million per year. The term of the lease, which commenced with the opening of Hollywood Casino Bangor, is for an initial term of fifteen years, with three ten-year renewal options.
During May 2017, the Company acquired the real estate assets of the Tunica Properties, including the rights to land subject to long-term ground leases. The Company assumed three ground leases related to the acquired Tunica Properties and immediately subleased the land to Penn, who is responsible for payment directly to the landlord. The Company records revenue for the ground lease rent paid by its tenants with an offsetting expense in land rights and ground lease expense within the consolidated statements of income as the Company has concluded that as the lessee it is the primary obligor under these ground leases. The portion of the ground lease rent that is fixed and determinable is included in the schedule below as a future commitment, while the portion of the ground lease rent that is variable is excluded from future commitments as the amounts are not fixed and determinable at December 31, 2017 and therefore considered contingent rent. For those ground leases with optional renewal terms extending beyond the 35-year lease term of the Penn Master Lease, the Company has included only the renewals that align most closely to the 2048 termination date of the Penn Master Lease in the schedule below, as it cannot be reasonably assured it will renew ground leases for land subleased to Penn beyond the term of the Penn Master Lease. The following is a description of the lease contracts assumed from the acquisition of the Tunica Properties:
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The Company leases land at the Resorts Casino Tunica property under a ground lease with an initial term of 3 years and nine optional renewals of 5 years each. The lease extends through 2042 with all renewals. The lease has an annual fixed rent provision and does not include a variable portion.
The Company leases land at the 1st Jackpot Casino (formerly known as Bally's Casino Tunica) under two ground leases. The first ground lease has an initial term of 6 years and nine optional renewals of 6 years each. The lease extends through 2054 with all renewals. Rent under this lease is adjusted annually based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion. The second lease has an initial term of 10 years with ten optional renewals of 5 years each. The lease extends through 2055 with all renewals. The lease has an annual fixed rent provision and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon net gaming revenues of up to 4%, dependent on the property's operating results.
During April 2016, the Company acquired the real estate assets of Pinnacle, including the rights to land subject to long-term ground leases. The Company assumed ground leases at several of the acquired Pinnacle properties and immediately subleased the land back to Pinnacle, who is responsible for payment directly to the landlord. For those ground leases with optional renewal terms extending beyond the 35-year lease term of the Pinnacle Master Lease, the Company has included only the renewals that align most closely to the 2051 termination date of the Pinnacle Master Lease in the schedule below, as it cannot be reasonably assured it will renew ground leases for land subleased to Pinnacle beyond the term of the Pinnacle Master Lease. The following is a description of the more significant lease contracts assumed from Pinnacle:
The Company leases land at the Belterra Casino Resort under two ground leases, each with an initial term of 5 years and nine automatic renewals of 5 years each. The renewal options extend the leases through 2049 and are not terminable by the Company. The lease includes a base portion which is adjusted at each renewal based upon the CPI and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon 1.5% of gross gaming wins in excess of $100 million.
The Company leases land at the Ameristar East Chicago property under a ground lease with an initial term of 30 years and two optional renewals of 30 years each. The lease extends through 2086 with all renewals. Rent under the lease is adjusted every 3 years based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion.
The Company leases land at the River City Hotel and Casino under a ground lease with a term of 99 years that extends through 2108. The lease includes a base portion which is fixed and a variable portion which is adjusted annually based upon 2.5% of the annual gross receipts of the property less fixed rent payments made in the same year.
The Company leases land at the L'Auberge Lakes Charles property under a ground lease with an initial term of 10 years and six optional renewals of 10 years each. The lease extends through 2075 with all renewals. Rent under the lease is adjusted annually based upon the CPI and does not include a variable portion.
In addition, the Company is liable under numerous operating leases for equipment and other miscellaneous assets, which expire at various dates through 2023.
Total rental expense under these agreements was $15.8 million, $11.0 million and $5.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. This includes rent expense under the leases assigned to the Company at Spin-Off, leases for equipment and miscellaneous assets and the fixed and variable rent under the ground leases discussed above.
The future minimum lease commitments, as of inception of the lease, relating to noncancelable operating leases at December 31, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, (1) | |||
2018 | $ | 10,735 | |
2019 | 10,743 | ||
2020 | 10,705 | ||
2021 | 10,691 | ||
2022 | 10,679 | ||
Thereafter | 546,433 | ||
Total | $ | 599,986 | |
(1) The above table excludes contingent rent in accordance with ASC 840.
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Employee Benefit Plans
The Company maintains a defined contribution plan under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which covers all eligible employees. The plan enables participating employees to defer a portion of their salary and/or their annual bonus in a retirement fund to be administered by the Company. The Company makes a discretionary match contribution of 50% of employees' elective salary deferrals, up to a maximum of 6% of eligible employee compensation. The matching contributions for the defined contribution plan were $0.3 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that covers most management and other highly-compensated employees. The plan allows the participants to defer, on a pre-tax basis, a portion of their base annual salary and/or their annual bonus, and earn tax-deferred earnings on these deferrals. The plan also provides for matching Company contributions that vest over a five-year period. The Company has established a Trust, and transfers to the Trust, on a periodic basis, an amount necessary to provide for its respective future liabilities with respect to participant deferral and Company contribution amounts. The Company's matching contributions for the non-qualified deferred compensation plan for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $0.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The Company's deferred compensation liability, which was included in other liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet, was $22.7 million and $17.7 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively and primarily relates to balances contributed as part of the Spin-Off as related to the Company's executive officers that were previously employed by Penn. Assets held in the Trust were $22.6 million and $17.6 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in other assets within the consolidated balance sheet.
Labor Agreements
Some of Hollywood Casino Perryville's employees are currently represented by labor unions. The Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trade Union represents 161 of Hollywood Casino Perryville's employees under an agreement that expires in February 2020. Additionally, Local No. 27 United Food and Commercial Workers and United Industrial Service Transportation Professional and Government Workers of North America represent certain employees under collective bargaining agreements that expire in 2020, neither of which represents more than 50 of Hollywood Casino Perryville's employees. If the Company fails to renew or modify existing agreements on satisfactory terms, this failure could have a material adverse effect on Hollywood Casino Perryville's business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that Hollywood Casino Perryville will be able to maintain these agreements.
11. Revenue Recognition
As of December 31, 2017, 20 of the Company’s real estate investment properties were leased to a subsidiary of Penn under the Penn Master Lease and 14 of the Company's real estate investment properties were leased to a subsidiary of Pinnacle under the Pinnacle Master Lease. The obligations under the Penn and Pinnacle Master Leases are guaranteed by Penn and Pinnacle, respectively and by most of Penn and Pinnacle subsidiaries that occupy and operate the facilities leased under the Master Leases. A default by Penn or its subsidiaries with regard to any facility will cause a default with regard to the Penn Master Lease and a default by Pinnacle or its subsidiaries with regard to any facility will cause a default with regard to the Pinnacle Master Lease. Additionally, the Meadows real estate assets are leased to Pinnacle under a single property triple-net lease separate from the Pinnacle Master Lease. GLPI also leases the Casino Queen property back to its operator on a triple-net basis on terms similar to those in the Master Leases.
The rent structure under the Penn Master Lease includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is adjusted, subject to certain floors (i) every five years to an amount equal to 4% of the average net revenues of all facilities under the Penn Master Lease (other than Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo) during the preceding five years, and (ii) monthly by an amount equal to 20% of the net revenues of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo during the preceding month.
Similar to the Penn Master Lease, the Pinnacle Master Lease also includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met and a component that is based on the performance of the facilities, which is adjusted, subject to certain floors every two years to an amount equal to 4% of the average annual net revenues of all facilities under the Pinnacle Master Lease during the preceding two years.
The Meadows Lease contains a fixed component, subject to annual escalators, and a component that is based on the performance of the facility, which is reset every two years to a fixed amount determined by multiplying (i) 4% by (ii) the average annual net revenues of the facility for the trailing two year period. The Meadows Lease contains an annual escalator
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provision for up to 5% of the base rent, if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, which remains at 5% until the earlier of ten years or the year in which total rent is $31.0 million, at which point the escalator will be reduced to 2% annually thereafter.
The rent structure under the Casino Queen Lease also includes a fixed component, a portion of which is subject to an annual 2% escalator if certain rent coverage ratio thresholds are met, and a component that is based on the performance of the facility, which is reset every five years to a fixed amount equal to the greater of (i) the annual amount of non-fixed rent applicable for the lease year immediately preceding such rent reset year and (ii) an amount equal to 4% of the average annual net revenues of the facility for the trailing five year period.
In addition to rent, as triple-net lessees, all of the Company's tenants are required to pay the following executory costs: (1) all facility maintenance, (2) all insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, including coverage of the landlord's interests, (3) taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties (other than taxes on the income of the lessor) and (4) all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.
The Company determined, based on facts and circumstances prevailing at the time of each lease's inception, that neither Penn, Casino Queen or Pinnacle could continue as a going concern without the properties that are leased to it under the respective master lease agreements (in the instance of Penn and Pinnacle) and single property lease (in the instance of Casino Queen) with GLPI. At lease inception, all of Casino Queen's revenues and substantially all of Penn and Pinnacle's revenues were generated from operations in connection with the leased properties. There are also various legal restrictions in the jurisdictions in which Penn, Casino Queen and Pinnacle operate that limit the availability and location of gaming facilities, which makes relocation or replacement of the leased gaming facilities restrictive and potentially impracticable or unavailable. Moreover, under the terms of the master leases, Penn and Pinnacle must make renewal elections with respect to all of the leased property together; the tenant is not entitled to selectively renew certain of the leased property while not renewing other property. Accordingly, the Company concluded that failure by Penn, Casino Queen or Pinnacle to renew the lease would impose a significant penalty on such tenant such that renewal of all lease renewal options appears at lease inception to be reasonably assured. Therefore, the Company concluded that the term of the leases with both Penn and Casino Queen is 35 years, equal to the initial 15-year term plus all four of the 5-year renewal options. The lease term of the Pinnacle Master Lease is also 35 years, equal to the initial 10-year term plus all five of the 5-year renewal options.
As described in Note 4, subsequent to purchasing the majority of Pinnacle's real estate assets and leasing them back to Pinnacle, GLPI entered into a separate triple-net lease with Pinnacle to lease the Meadows real estate assets to Pinnacle. Because this lease involves only a single property within Pinnacle's portfolio, GLPI concluded it was not reasonably assured at lease inception that Pinnacle would elect to exercise all lease renewal options. The Company concluded that failure by Pinnacle to renew the Meadows Lease would not impose a significant penalty on such tenant as this property's operations represent only an incremental portion of Pinnacle's total business at lease inception. Therefore, the Company concluded that the lease term of the Meadows Lease is 10 years, equal to the initial 10 year term only.
As of December 31, 2017, the future minimum rental income from the Company's properties under non-cancelable operating leases, including any reasonably assured rental periods, was as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, | Future Rental Payments Receivable | Straight-Line Rent Adjustments | Future Income to be Recognized Related to Operating Leases | ||||||||
2018 | $ | 683,054 | $ | (51,866 | ) | $ | 631,188 | ||||
2019 | 632,578 | 11,215 | 643,793 | ||||||||
2020 | 632,578 | 11,215 | 643,793 | ||||||||
2021 | 632,578 | 11,215 | 643,793 | ||||||||
2022 | 632,578 | 11,215 | 643,793 | ||||||||
Thereafter | 16,641,083 | 239,029 | 16,880,112 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 19,854,449 | $ | 232,023 | $ | 20,086,472 | |||||
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, GLPI recognized $46.8 million, $43.8 million and $43.5 million, respectively, in contingent rental income from Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo related to clause (ii) in the paragraph above. The expected future minimum rental income from these properties, as well as the portion of the expected future rent based on the performance of the Company's leased facilities that will reset after a certain passage of
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time as detailed above are excluded from the table above as they are considered contingent rental income under ASC 840 "Leases." Furthermore, during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 the Company recognized $17.5 million, $9.1 million and $4.0 million, respectively of rental income related to the annual rent escalators described above. Any anticipated future rent escalations are also excluded from the table above.
As of December 31, 2017, the expected future cash receipts to be recognized as income, as well as the cash receipts to be applied against the investment in direct financing lease from the Company's properties under the non-cancelable direct financing lease, inclusive of the fixed portion of ground lease rent and including any reasonably assured rental periods, is as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, | Cash Receipts to be Recorded as Income | Cash Receipts to be Applied Against the Investment in Direct Financing Lease | |||||
2018 | $ | 72,283 | $ | 45,244 | |||
2019 | 70,497 | 32,881 | |||||
2020 | 68,831 | 34,546 | |||||
2021 | 67,166 | 36,212 | |||||
2022 | 65,500 | 37,878 | |||||
Thereafter | 1,163,686 | 1,761,067 | |||||
Total | $ | 1,507,963 | $ | 1,947,828 | |||
The portion of the ground lease rent that is fixed and determinable is included in the schedule above as future income, while the portion of the ground lease rent that is variable, as well as, the property taxes the Company's records as revenue are excluded from future minimum revenue as the amounts are not fixed and determinable at December 31, 2017. Furthermore, any contingent rent the Company expects to receive from tenants is excluded from the above schedules as it is not fixed and determinable at December 31, 2017.
Gaming revenue generated by the TRS Properties mainly consists of video lottery gaming revenue, and to a lesser extent, table game and poker revenue. Video lottery gaming revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs, for "ticket-in, ticket-out" coupons in the customers’ possession, and for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive slot machines, which contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increases. Table game gaming revenue is the aggregate of table drop adjusted for the change in aggregate table chip inventory. Table drop is the total dollar amount of the currency, coins, chips, tokens, outstanding counter checks (markers), and front money that are removed from the live gaming tables. Additionally, food and beverage revenue is recognized as services are performed.
Gaming revenue is recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with ASC 605-50, "Revenue Recognition— Customer Payments and Incentives." The Company records certain sales incentives and points earned in point-loyalty programs as a reduction of revenue. See Note 2 for a summary of anticipated changes to the recognition of revenue at the TRS Properties upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018.
The following table discloses the components of gaming, food, beverage and other revenue within the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Video lottery | $ | 118,998 | $ | 119,390 | $ | 122,292 | |||||
Table game | 17,218 | 18,069 | 18,799 | ||||||||
Poker | 1,182 | 1,135 | 1,219 | ||||||||
Food, beverage and other | 9,468 | 11,067 | 11,213 | ||||||||
Total gaming, food, beverage and other revenue, net of cash incentives | $ | 146,866 | $ | 149,661 | $ | 153,523 | |||||
The retail value of food and beverage and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances.
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12. Income Taxes
The Company elected on its U.S. federal income tax return for its taxable year that began on January 1, 2014 to be treated as a REIT. The benefits of the intended REIT conversion on the Company's tax provision and effective income tax rate are reflected in the tables below. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided for the effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the consolidated balance sheets. These temporary differences result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. As a result of the Tax Cuts and Job Act, the corporate tax rate was permanently lowered from the existing maximum rate of 35% to 21%, effective for tax years including or commencing January 1, 2018. As a result of the reduction of the corporate tax rate, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require companies to re-value their deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the date of the enactment, with resulting tax effects accounted for in the reported period of enactment. As such, the Company revalued its net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2017. This revaluation resulted in a reduction in the value of its net deferred tax asset of approximately $1.8 million, which was recorded as additional income tax expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities, related to its TRS, are as follows:
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: | |||||||
Accrued expenses | $ | 1,597 | $ | 1,655 | |||
Property and equipment | 4,823 | 5,818 | |||||
Net deferred tax assets | 6,420 | 7,473 | |||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||
Property and equipment | (902 | ) | (2,192 | ) | |||
Intangibles | (1,284 | ) | (1,624 | ) | |||
Net deferred tax liabilities | (2,186 | ) | (3,816 | ) | |||
Net: | $ | 4,234 | $ | 3,657 | |||
The provision for income taxes charged to operations for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Current tax expense | |||||||||||
Federal | $ | 7,039 | $ | 6,004 | $ | 4,945 | |||||
State | 3,309 | 3,076 | 3,310 | ||||||||
Total current | 10,348 | 9,080 | 8,255 | ||||||||
Deferred tax (benefit) expense | |||||||||||
Federal | (166 | ) | (1,324 | ) | (533 | ) | |||||
State | (395 | ) | (211 | ) | (280 | ) | |||||
Total deferred | (561 | ) | (1,535 | ) | (813 | ) | |||||
Total provision | $ | 9,787 | $ | 7,545 | $ | 7,442 | |||||
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The following tables reconcile the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||
Percent of pretax income | ||||||||
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate | 35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | ||
State and local income taxes | 0.6 | % | 0.7 | % | 1.3 | % | ||
Federal tax rate change | 0.5 | % | — | % | — | % | ||
REIT conversion benefit | (33.6 | )% | (33.2 | )% | (31.3 | )% | ||
Other miscellaneous items | — | % | — | % | 0.5 | % | ||
2.5 | % | 2.5 | % | 5.5 | % | |||
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Amount based upon pretax income | |||||||||||
U.S. federal statutory income tax | $ | 136,636 | $ | 103,897 | $ | 47,447 | |||||
State and local income taxes | 2,284 | 2,039 | 1,702 | ||||||||
Federal tax rate change | 1,818 | — | — | ||||||||
REIT conversion benefit | (130,876 | ) | (98,459 | ) | (42,438 | ) | |||||
Permanent differences | 49 | 44 | 61 | ||||||||
Other miscellaneous items | (124 | ) | 24 | 670 | |||||||
$ | 9,787 | $ | 7,545 | $ | 7,442 | ||||||
The Company is still subject to federal income tax examinations for its years ended December 31, 2014 and forward.
13. Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock
ATM Program
During August 2016, the Company commenced a continuous equity offering under which the Company may sell up to an aggregate of $400 million of its common stock from time to time through a sales agent in "at the market" offerings (the "ATM Program"). Actual sales will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, the trading price of the Company's common stock and determinations of the appropriate sources of funding for proposed transactions. The Company may sell the shares in amounts and at times to be determined by the Company, but has no obligation to sell any of the shares in the ATM Program. The ATM Program also allows the Company to enter into forward sale agreements. In no event will the aggregate number of shares sold under the ATM Program (whether under any forward sale agreement or through a sales agent), have an aggregate sales price in excess of $400 million. The Company expects, that if it enters into a forward sale contract, to physically settle each forward sale agreement with the forward purchaser on one or more dates specified by the Company prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case the aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement will equal the number of shares underlying the particular forward sale agreement multiplied by the relevant forward sale price. However, the Company may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement, in which case proceeds may or may not be received or cash may be owed to the forward purchaser.
In connection with the ATM Program, the Company engaged a sales agent who may receive compensation of up to 2% of the gross sales price of the shares sold. Similarly, in the event the Company enters into a forward sale agreement, it will pay the relevant forward seller a commission of up to 2% of the sales price of all borrowed shares of common stock sold during the applicable selling period of the forward sale agreement.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, GLPI sold 3,864,872 shares of its common stock at an average price of $36.22 per share under the ATM Program, which generated gross proceeds of approximately $140.0 million (net proceeds of approximately $139.4 million). Program to date, the Company has sold 5,186,871 shares of its common stock at an average
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price of $35.91 per share under the ATM Program and generated gross proceeds of approximately $186.3 million (net proceeds of approximately $185.0 million). The Company used the net proceeds from the ATM Program to partially fund its acquisition of the Meadows' and Tunica real estate assets. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $213.7 million remaining for issuance under the ATM Program and had not entered into any forward sale agreements.
Stock Issued in Connection with Pinnacle Transaction
On April 6, 2016, the Company closed a public offering of 28,750,000 shares of its common stock, at a public offering price of $30.00 per share, before underwriting discount, which included 3,750,000 shares of common stock issued in connection with the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.
The Company received approximately $825.2 million in net proceeds from the offering and used the net proceeds from the offering to partially fund its acquisition of substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle, including the repayment, redemption and/or discharge of a portion of certain debt of Pinnacle assumed by the Company in connection with the Pinnacle Merger and the payment of transaction-related fees and expenses.
Additionally, on April 28, 2016, in connection with the Pinnacle Merger, the Company issued approximately 56.0 million shares of its common stock to Pinnacle stockholders and to Pinnacle to satisfy the Company's portion of Pinnacle's employee equity and cash-based incentive awards as consideration for the Pinnacle real estate assets.
The following table lists the regular dividends declared and paid by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
Declaration Date | Shareholder Record Date | Securities Class | Dividend Per Share | Period Covered | Distribution Date | Dividend Amount | ||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
2017 | ||||||||||||||||
February 1, 2017 | March 13, 2017 | Common Stock | $ | 0.62 | First Quarter 2017 | March 24, 2017 | $ | 129,007 | ||||||||
April 25, 2017 | June 16, 2017 | Common Stock | $ | 0.62 | Second Quarter 2017 | June 30, 2017 | $ | 131,554 | ||||||||
July 25, 2017 | September 8, 2017 | Common Stock | $ | 0.63 | Third Quarter 2017 | September 22, 2017 | $ | 133,936 | ||||||||
October 19, 2017 | December 1, 2017 | Common Stock | $ | 0.63 | Fourth Quarter 2017 | December 15, 2017 | $ | 133,942 | ||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||
January 29, 2016 | February 22, 2016 | Common Stock | $ | 0.56 | First Quarter 2016 | March 25, 2016 | $ | 65,345 | ||||||||
April 25, 2016 | June 2, 2016 | Common Stock | $ | 0.56 | Second Quarter 2016 | June 17, 2016 | $ | 113,212 | ||||||||
August 3, 2016 | September 12, 2016 | Common Stock | $ | 0.60 | Third Quarter 2016 | September 23, 2016 | $ | 124,262 | ||||||||
November 4, 2016 | December 5, 2016 | Common Stock | $ | 0.60 | Fourth Quarter 2016 | December 16, 2016 | $ | 124,466 | ||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||
February 3, 2015 | March 10, 2015 | Common Stock | $ | 0.545 | First Quarter 2015 | March 27, 2015 | $ | 62,072 | ||||||||
May 1, 2015 | June 11, 2015 | Common Stock | $ | 0.545 | Second Quarter 2015 | June 26, 2015 | $ | 62,348 | ||||||||
July 30, 2015 | September 14, 2015 | Common Stock | $ | 0.545 | Third Quarter 2015 | September 25, 2015 | $ | 62,456 | ||||||||
October 28, 2015 | December 1, 2015 | Common Stock | $ | 0.545 | Fourth Quarter 2015 | December 18, 2015 | $ | 62,814 | ||||||||
In addition for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, dividend payments were made to or accrued for GLPI restricted stock award holders and for both GLPI and Penn unvested employee stock options in the amount of $0.9 million, $1.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
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A summary of the Company's common stock distributions for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows (unaudited):
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
(in dollars per share) | |||||||||||
Qualified dividends | $ | 0.0543 | $ | 0.1050 | $ | 0.0698 | |||||
Non-qualified dividends | 2.2436 | 2.0746 | 1.9462 | ||||||||
Capital gains | 0.0371 | 0.0624 | 0.0012 | ||||||||
Non-taxable return of capital | 0.1650 | 0.0780 | 0.1628 | ||||||||
Total distributions per common share | $ | 2.50 | $ | 2.32 | $ | 2.18 | |||||
Percentage classified as qualified dividends | 2.17 | % | 4.53 | % | 3.21 | % | |||||
Percentage classified as non-qualified dividends | 89.75 | % | 89.42 | % | 89.45 | % | |||||
Percentage classified as capital gains | 1.48 | % | 2.69 | % | — | % | |||||
Percentage classified as non-taxable return of capital | 6.60 | % | 3.36 | % | 7.34 | % | |||||
100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | ||||||
14. Stock-Based Compensation
As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 2,755,796 shares available for future issuance under the 2013 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2013 Plan") that was approved by shareholders on October 23, 2013. The 2013 Plan provides for the Company to issue restricted stock awards, including performance-based restricted stock awards and other equity or cash based awards to employees. Any director, employee or consultant shall be eligible to receive such awards.
In connection with the Spin-Off, each outstanding option with respect to Penn common stock outstanding on the distribution date was converted into two awards, an adjusted Penn option and a GLPI option. The adjustment preserved the aggregate intrinsic value of the options. Additionally, in connection with the Spin-Off, holders of outstanding restricted stock and phantom stock units ("PSUs") with respect to Penn common stock became entitled to an additional share of restricted stock or PSU with respect to GLPI common stock for each share of Penn restricted stock or PSU held. These awards are not counted against the 2013 Plan limit mentioned above.
The adjusted options, as well as the restricted stock awards and PSUs, otherwise remain subject to their original terms, except that for purposes of the adjusted Penn awards (including in determining exercisability and the post-termination exercise period), continued service with GLPI following the distribution date shall be deemed continued service with Penn; and for purposes of the GLPI awards (including in determining exercisability and the post-termination exercise period), continued service with Penn following the distribution date shall be deemed continued service with GLPI.
The unrecognized compensation cost relating to restricted stock awards and performance-based restricted stock awards will be amortized to expense over the awards’ remaining vesting periods.
As of December 31, 2017, there was no remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $20 thousand and $2.8 million, respectively of compensation expense associated with these awards. In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 the Company also recognized $4.5 million and $11.3 million, respectively, of compensation expense relating to the $2.32 and $2.18, respectively, per share dividends paid on vested employee stock options.
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The following tables contain information on stock options issued and outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2017 :
Number of Option Shares | Weighted- Average Exercise Price | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) | ||||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2016 | 2,056,382 | $ | 20.25 | ||||||||||
Exercised | (1,013,984 | ) | 20.71 | ||||||||||
Canceled | (1,653 | ) | 24.15 | ||||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 1,040,745 | $ | 19.80 | 0.77 | $ | 17,902 | |||||||
The Company had 1,040,745 stock options that were exercisable at December 31, 2017 with an exercise price range from $17.33 to $26.45 and a weighted average exercise price of $19.80 which had an intrinsic value of $17.9 million and a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 0.77 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $14.9 million, $75.0 million and $47.8 million, respectively. The Company issues new authorized common shares to satisfy stock option exercises and restricted stock award releases.
As of December 31, 2017, there was $5.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost for restricted stock awards that will be recognized over the grants' remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.75 years. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $6.0 million, $7.3 million and $5.9 million, respectively, of compensation expense associated with these awards. The total fair value of awards released for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, was $7.3 million, $5.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively.
The following table contains information on restricted stock award activity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Number of Award Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | |||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | 463,764 | $ | 32.76 | |||
Granted | 168,966 | $ | 27.80 | |||
Released | (204,596 | ) | $ | 33.21 | ||
Canceled | (14,892 | ) | $ | 30.51 | ||
December 31, 2016 | 413,242 | $ | 30.59 | |||
Granted | 184,791 | $ | 30.89 | |||
Released | (251,313 | ) | $ | 32.05 | ||
Canceled | (1,976 | ) | $ | 30.37 | ||
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 344,744 | $ | 29.69 | |||
Performance-based restricted stock awards have a three-year cliff vesting with the amount of restricted shares vesting at the end of the three-year period determined based upon the Company’s performance as measured against its peers. More specifically, the percentage of shares vesting at the end of the measurement period will be based on the Company’s three-year total shareholder return measured against the three-year return of the companies included in the MSCI US REIT index and the Company's stock performance ranking among a group of triple-net REIT peer companies. The triple-net measurement group includes publicly traded REITs deriving at least 75% of revenues from triple-net leases. As of December 31, 2017, there was $9.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, which will be recognized over the awards' remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.68 years. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $9.7 million, $11.0 million and $8.1 million, respectively, of compensation expense associated with these awards.
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The following table contains information on performance-based restricted stock award activity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Number of Performance-Based Award Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | |||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 | 1,091,556 | $ | 20.10 | |||
Granted | 558,000 | $ | 17.22 | |||
Released | — | $ | — | |||
Canceled (1) | (543,556 | ) | $ | 22.93 | ||
December 31, 2016 | 1,106,000 | $ | 17.25 | |||
Granted | 558,000 | $ | 17.95 | |||
Released | — | $ | — | |||
Canceled | — | $ | — | |||
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 1,664,000 | $ | 17.49 | |||
(1) | The performance-based restricted stock awards granted in 2014 did not vest as the Company's performance was below the threshold for vesting. |
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15. Segment Information
The following tables present certain information with respect to the Company’s segments. Intersegment revenues between the Company’s segments were not material in any of the periods presented below.
GLP Capital | TRS Properties | Eliminations (1) | Total | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 829,221 | $ | 142,086 | $ | — | $ | 971,307 | ||||||||
Income from operations | 578,661 | 26,857 | — | 605,518 | ||||||||||||
Interest, net | 215,136 | 10,403 | (10,406 | ) | 215,133 | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 373,931 | 16,454 | — | 390,385 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,099 | 8,688 | — | 9,787 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 372,832 | 7,766 | — | 380,598 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation | 102,652 | 10,828 | — | 113,480 | ||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | 78 | — | — | 78 | ||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | 3,178 | — | 3,178 | ||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 684,204 | $ | 144,051 | $ | — | $ | 828,255 | ||||||||
Income from operations | 454,682 | 25,941 | — | 480,623 | ||||||||||||
Interest, net | 183,777 | 10,402 | (10,406 | ) | 183,773 | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 281,311 | 15,539 | — | 296,850 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,016 | 6,529 | — | 7,545 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 280,295 | 9,010 | — | 289,305 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation | 98,171 | 11,383 | — | 109,554 | ||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | 229 | 101 | — | 330 | ||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | 3,111 | — | 3,111 | ||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 427,125 | $ | 147,928 | $ | — | $ | 575,053 | ||||||||
Income from operations | 232,701 | 24,714 | — | 257,415 | ||||||||||||
Interest, net | 121,855 | 10,402 | (10,406 | ) | 121,851 | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 121,252 | 14,312 | — | 135,564 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,338 | 6,104 | — | 7,442 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 119,914 | 8,208 | — | 128,122 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation | 97,424 | 12,359 | — | 109,783 | ||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | 10,252 | 5,897 | — | 16,149 | ||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | 2,953 | — | 2,953 | ||||||||||||
Balance sheet at December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 7,045,747 | $ | 201,135 | $ | — | $ | 7,246,882 | ||||||||
Balance sheet at December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 7,156,501 | $ | 212,829 | $ | — | $ | 7,369,330 | ||||||||
(1) Amounts in the "Eliminations" column represent the elimination of intercompany interest payments from the Company’s TRS Properties business segment to its GLP Capital business segment.
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16. Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Fiscal Quarter | ||||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 242,713 | $ | 243,391 | $ | 244,506 | $ | 240,697 | ||||||||
Income from operations | 150,006 | 152,696 | 152,699 | 150,117 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 93,991 | 96,334 | 97,014 | 93,259 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.44 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.43 | ||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 148,820 | $ | 207,361 | $ | 233,275 | $ | 238,799 | (1) | |||||||
Income from operations | 67,637 | 120,817 | 143,306 | 148,863 | (1) | |||||||||||
Net income | 32,749 | 73,264 | 89,600 | 93,692 | (1) | |||||||||||
Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.45 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.45 | ||||||||
(1) | During April 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle and subsequently leased these assets back to Pinnacle under a triple-net master lease, which significantly increased the Company's net revenues, income from operations and net income. The acquisition of the Meadows' real property assets in September 2016 also contributed to the Company's improved operating results in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter of 2016. See Note 4 for further details surrounding the Pinnacle and Meadows acquisitions. |
17. Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and Noncash Activities
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information are as follows:
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received | 11,646 | 7,362 | 9,785 | |||||
Cash paid for interest | 204,442 | 154,527 | 109,966 | |||||
Noncash investing and financing activities are as follows:
Year ended December 31, | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
Equity raised to partially finance the Pinnacle transaction | $ | — | $ | 1,823,991 | $ | — | |||||
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18. Related Party Transactions
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement of Sale (the "Sale Agreement") with Wyomissing Professional Center Inc. ("WPC") and acquired certain land in an office complex known as The Wyomissing Professional Center Campus, located in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (on which to build its corporate headquarters), in exchange for the payment of $725,000 in cash to WPC, plus taxes and closing costs. In addition, the Company reimbursed WPC approximately $270,000 for site work and pre-development costs previously completed per the Sale Agreement. Also in connection with the completion of construction of its corporate headquarters building, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Construction Management Agreement") with CB Consulting Group LLC (the "Construction Manager") during the year ended December 31, 2014. Construction of the Company's corporate headquarters building was completed in October 2015 and the Company did not incur additional costs related to the building with WPC or the Construction Manager subsequent to 2015.
The Company paid approximately $433,000 and $244,000, respectively, to WPC during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 in connection with construction costs paid by WPC on the Company's behalf. Pursuant to the Construction Management Agreement, the Construction Manager, among other things, provided certain construction management services to the Company in exchange for three percent (3%) of the total cost of work to complete the building construction project, and certain additional costs for added services. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company paid approximately $175,000 and $59,000, respectively, to the Construction Manager.
Upon completion of the building in October 2015, the Company became responsible for the payment of monthly common area maintenance fees to the Wyomissing Professional Center Owners' Association ("WPCOA"). During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company paid approximately $35,000, $30,000 and $10,000 to the WPCOA, respectively.
Peter M. Carlino, the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, is also the sole owner of WPC and associated with the WPCOA. In addition, Mr. Carlino’s son owns a material interest in the Construction Manager.
19. Supplementary Consolidating Financial Information of Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Issuers
GLPI guarantees the Notes issued by its subsidiaries, GLP Capital, L.P. and GLP Financing II, Inc. Each of the subsidiary issuers is 100% owned by GLPI. The guarantees of GLPI are full and unconditional. GLPI is not subject to any material or significant restrictions on its ability to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan or to transfer assets from such subsidiaries, except as provided by applicable law. None of GLPI's subsidiaries guarantee the Notes.
Summarized balance sheet information as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and summarized income statement and cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 for GLPI as the parent guarantor, for GLP Capital, L.P. and GLP Financing II, Inc. as the subsidiary issuers and the other subsidiary non-issuers is presented below.
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At December 31, 2017 Consolidating Balance Sheet | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate investments, net | $ | — | $ | 1,794,840 | $ | 1,867,205 | $ | — | $ | 3,662,045 | ||||||||||
Land rights, net | — | 58,635 | 581,513 | — | 640,148 | |||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, used in operations, net | — | 20,568 | 87,725 | — | 108,293 | |||||||||||||||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | — | — | 2,637,639 | — | 2,637,639 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | — | 6,734 | 22,320 | — | 29,054 | |||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses | — | 4,067 | 2,746 | 1,639 | 8,452 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill | — | — | 75,521 | — | 75,521 | |||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets | — | — | 9,577 | — | 9,577 | |||||||||||||||
Loan receivable | — | — | 13,000 | — | 13,000 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany loan receivable | — | 193,595 | — | (193,595 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Intercompany transactions and investment in subsidiaries | 2,458,247 | 5,087,893 | 2,959,174 | (10,505,314 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets | — | 4,478 | — | 4,478 | ||||||||||||||||
Other assets | — | 42,485 | 16,190 | — | 58,675 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,458,247 | $ | 7,208,817 | $ | 8,277,088 | $ | (10,697,270 | ) | $ | 7,246,882 | |||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | — | $ | 619 | $ | 96 | $ | — | $ | 715 | ||||||||||
Accrued expenses | — | 672 | 7,241 | — | 7,913 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued interest | — | 33,241 | — | — | 33,241 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | — | 7,832 | 2,977 | — | 10,809 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, property, and other taxes | — | 21,135 | 14,264 | — | 35,399 | |||||||||||||||
Income taxes | — | (306 | ) | (1,333 | ) | 1,639 | — | |||||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs | — | 4,442,880 | — | — | 4,442,880 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany loan payable | — | — | 193,595 | (193,595 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Deferred rental revenue | — | 220,019 | 12,004 | — | 232,023 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | — | — | 244 | — | 244 | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | — | 24,478 | 933 | — | 25,411 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | — | 4,750,570 | 230,021 | (191,956 | ) | 4,788,635 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity (deficit) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock ($.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2017) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Common stock ($.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 212,717,549 shares issued at December 31, 2017) | 2,127 | 2,127 | 2,127 | (4,254 | ) | 2,127 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 3,933,829 | 3,933,831 | 9,498,755 | (13,432,586 | ) | 3,933,829 | ||||||||||||||
Retained accumulated (deficit) earnings | (1,477,709 | ) | (1,477,711 | ) | (1,453,815 | ) | 2,931,526 | (1,477,709 | ) | |||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) | 2,458,247 | 2,458,247 | 8,047,067 | (10,505,314 | ) | 2,458,247 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 2,458,247 | $ | 7,208,817 | $ | 8,277,088 | $ | (10,697,270 | ) | $ | 7,246,882 | |||||||||
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Year ended December 31, 2017 Consolidating Statement of Income | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rental income | $ | — | $ | 398,070 | $ | 273,120 | $ | — | $ | 671,190 | ||||||||||
Income from direct financing lease | — | — | 74,333 | — | 74,333 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate taxes paid by tenants | — | 43,672 | 40,026 | — | 83,698 | |||||||||||||||
Total rental revenue and income from direct financing lease | — | 441,742 | 387,479 | — | 829,221 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 146,866 | — | 146,866 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | — | 441,742 | 534,345 | — | 976,087 | |||||||||||||||
Less promotional allowances | — | — | (4,780 | ) | — | (4,780 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net revenues | — | 441,742 | 529,565 | — | 971,307 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 80,487 | — | 80,487 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate taxes | — | 43,755 | 40,911 | — | 84,666 | |||||||||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | — | 5,895 | 18,110 | — | 24,005 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative | — | 39,863 | 23,288 | — | 63,151 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 93,948 | 19,532 | — | 113,480 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | — | 183,461 | 182,328 | — | 365,789 | |||||||||||||||
Income from operations | — | 258,281 | 347,237 | — | 605,518 | |||||||||||||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | (217,068 | ) | — | — | (217,068 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | — | — | 1,935 | — | 1,935 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany dividends and interest | — | 451,295 | 12,318 | (463,613 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total other expenses | — | 234,227 | 14,253 | (463,613 | ) | (215,133 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | — | 492,508 | 361,490 | (463,613 | ) | 390,385 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | 1,099 | 8,688 | — | 9,787 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 491,409 | $ | 352,802 | $ | (463,613 | ) | $ | 380,598 | |||||||||
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Year ended December 31, 2017 Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 491,409 | $ | 352,802 | $ | (463,613 | ) | $ | 380,598 | |||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | — | 95,058 | 28,777 | — | 123,835 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | — | 13,026 | — | — | 13,026 | |||||||||||||||
Losses on dispositions of property | — | — | 530 | — | 530 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | — | — | (561 | ) | — | (561 | ) | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | 15,636 | — | — | 15,636 | |||||||||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | — | 56,815 | 9,156 | — | 65,971 | |||||||||||||||
(Increase) decrease, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | — | (5,703 | ) | 1,268 | (897 | ) | (5,332 | ) | ||||||||||||
Intercompany | — | 317 | (317 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
(Decrease) increase, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | — | 148 | (569 | ) | — | (421 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | — | 103 | 308 | — | 411 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued interest | — | (502 | ) | — | — | (502 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | — | (79 | ) | 269 | — | 190 | ||||||||||||||
Gaming, property and other taxes | — | (505 | ) | (12 | ) | — | (517 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income taxes | — | (325 | ) | (572 | ) | 897 | — | |||||||||||||
Other liabilities | — | 6,591 | (744 | ) | — | 5,847 | ||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | — | 671,989 | 390,335 | (463,613 | ) | 598,711 | ||||||||||||||
Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | — | (78 | ) | — | — | (78 | ) | |||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | — | (3,178 | ) | — | (3,178 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | — | 10 | 924 | — | 934 | |||||||||||||||
Principal payments on loan receivable | — | — | 13,200 | — | 13,200 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition of real estate assets | — | (82,866 | ) | (386 | ) | — | (83,252 | ) | ||||||||||||
Collection of principal payments on investment in direct financing lease | — | — | 73,072 | — | 73,072 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | — | (82,934 | ) | 83,632 | — | 698 | ||||||||||||||
Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (529,370 | ) | — | — | — | (529,370 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of options, net of taxes paid related to shares withheld for tax purposes on restricted stock award vestings | 18,157 | — | — | — | 18,157 | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs | 139,414 | — | — | — | 139,414 | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | — | 100,000 | — | — | 100,000 | |||||||||||||||
Financing costs | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Payments of long-term debt | — | (335,112 | ) | — | (335,112 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Intercompany financing | 371,799 | (358,983 | ) | (476,429 | ) | 463,613 | — | |||||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | — | (594,095 | ) | (476,429 | ) | 463,613 | (606,911 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | — | (5,040 | ) | (2,462 | ) | — | (7,502 | ) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | — | 11,774 | 24,782 | — | 36,556 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | — | $ | 6,734 | $ | 22,320 | $ | — | $ | 29,054 | ||||||||||
98
At December 31, 2016 Consolidating Balance Sheet | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate investments, net | $ | — | $ | 1,863,568 | $ | 1,875,523 | $ | — | $ | 3,739,091 | ||||||||||
Land rights, net | — | — | 590,758 | — | 590,758 | |||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, used in operations, net | — | 22,598 | 96,829 | — | 119,427 | |||||||||||||||
Investment in direct financing lease, net | — | — | 2,710,711 | — | 2,710,711 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | — | 11,774 | 24,782 | — | 36,556 | |||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses | — | 3,106 | 3,629 | 742 | 7,477 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill | — | — | 75,521 | — | 75,521 | |||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets | — | — | 9,577 | — | 9,577 | |||||||||||||||
Loan receivable | — | — | 26,200 | — | 26,200 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany loan receivable | — | 193,595 | — | (193,595 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Intercompany transactions and investment in subsidiaries | 2,433,869 | 5,211,835 | 2,947,915 | (10,593,619 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets | — | — | 3,922 | — | 3,922 | |||||||||||||||
Other assets | — | 37,335 | 12,755 | — | 50,090 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,433,869 | $ | 7,343,811 | $ | 8,378,122 | $ | (10,786,472 | ) | $ | 7,369,330 | |||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | — | $ | 413 | $ | 666 | $ | — | $ | 1,079 | ||||||||||
Accrued expenses | — | 434 | 6,156 | — | 6,590 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued interest | — | 33,743 | — | — | 33,743 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | — | 7,911 | 2,708 | — | 10,619 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, property, and other taxes | — | 21,364 | 11,220 | — | 32,584 | |||||||||||||||
Income taxes | — | 18 | (760 | ) | 742 | — | ||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs | — | 4,664,965 | — | — | 4,664,965 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany loan payable | — | — | 193,595 | (193,595 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Deferred rental revenue | — | 163,204 | 2,848 | — | 166,052 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | — | — | 265 | — | 265 | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | — | 17,890 | 1,674 | — | 19,564 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | — | 4,909,942 | 218,372 | (192,853 | ) | 4,935,461 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity (deficit) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock ($.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2016) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Common stock ($.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 207,676,827 shares issued at December 31, 2016) | 2,077 | 2,077 | 2,077 | (4,154 | ) | 2,077 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 3,760,730 | 3,760,730 | 9,338,083 | (13,098,814 | ) | 3,760,729 | ||||||||||||||
Retained accumulated (deficit) earnings | (1,328,938 | ) | (1,328,938 | ) | (1,180,410 | ) | 2,509,349 | (1,328,937 | ) | |||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) | 2,433,869 | 2,433,869 | 8,159,750 | (10,593,619 | ) | 2,433,869 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 2,433,869 | $ | 7,343,811 | $ | 8,378,122 | $ | (10,786,472 | ) | $ | 7,369,330 | |||||||||
99
Year ended December 31, 2016 Consolidating Statement of Income | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non- Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rental | $ | — | $ | 383,553 | $ | 183,891 | $ | — | $ | 567,444 | ||||||||||
Income from direct financing lease | — | — | 48,917 | — | 48,917 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate taxes paid by tenants | — | 41,441 | 26,402 | — | 67,843 | |||||||||||||||
Total rental revenue | — | 424,994 | 259,210 | — | 684,204 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 149,661 | — | 149,661 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | — | 424,994 | 408,871 | — | 833,865 | |||||||||||||||
Less promotional allowances | — | — | (5,610 | ) | — | (5,610 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net revenues | — | 424,994 | 403,261 | — | 828,255 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 82,463 | — | 82,463 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate taxes | — | 41,510 | 27,938 | — | 69,448 | |||||||||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | — | 2,685 | 12,114 | — | 14,799 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative | — | 48,452 | 22,916 | — | 71,368 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 93,476 | 16,078 | — | 109,554 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | — | 186,123 | 161,509 | — | 347,632 | |||||||||||||||
Income from operations | — | 238,871 | 241,752 | — | 480,623 | |||||||||||||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | (185,896 | ) | — | — | (185,896 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | — | 169 | 1,954 | — | 2,123 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany dividends and interest | — | 318,047 | 19,670 | (337,717 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total other expenses | — | 132,320 | 21,624 | (337,717 | ) | (183,773 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | — | 371,191 | 263,376 | (337,717 | ) | 296,850 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | 1,016 | 6,529 | — | 7,545 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 370,175 | $ | 256,847 | $ | (337,717 | ) | $ | 289,305 | |||||||||
100
Year ended December 31, 2016 Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 370,175 | $ | 256,847 | $ | (337,717 | ) | $ | 289,305 | |||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 93,476 | 22,241 | — | 115,717 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | — | 15,146 | — | — | 15,146 | |||||||||||||||
(Gains) losses on dispositions of property | — | (471 | ) | 16 | — | (455 | ) | |||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | — | — | (1,535 | ) | — | (1,535 | ) | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | 18,312 | — | — | 18,312 | |||||||||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | — | 55,825 | 2,848 | — | 58,673 | |||||||||||||||
Decrease (increase), | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | — | 6,939 | (1,554 | ) | 2,180 | 7,565 | ||||||||||||||
Intercompany | — | 21 | (21 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
(Decrease) increase, | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | — | 119 | 387 | — | 506 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | — | (4,303 | ) | (369 | ) | — | (4,672 | ) | ||||||||||||
Accrued interest | — | 16,120 | — | — | 16,120 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | — | (2,817 | ) | (283 | ) | — | (3,100 | ) | ||||||||||||
Gaming, property and other taxes | — | 899 | 14 | — | 913 | |||||||||||||||
Income taxes | — | 59 | 2,121 | (2,180 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | — | 1,589 | 286 | — | 1,875 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | — | 571,089 | 280,998 | (337,717 | ) | 514,370 | ||||||||||||||
Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | — | (229 | ) | (101 | ) | — | (330 | ) | ||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | — | (3,111 | ) | — | (3,111 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | — | 897 | 237 | — | 1,134 | |||||||||||||||
Principal payments on loan receivable | — | — | 3,150 | — | 3,150 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition of real estate assets | — | — | (3,267,992 | ) | — | (3,267,992 | ) | |||||||||||||
Collection of principal payments on investment in direct financing lease | — | — | 48,533 | — | 48,533 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | — | 668 | (3,219,284 | ) | — | (3,218,616 | ) | |||||||||||||
Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (428,352 | ) | — | — | — | (428,352 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of options, net of taxes paid related to shares withheld for tax purposes on restricted stock award vestings | 113,484 | — | — | — | 113,484 | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs | 870,810 | — | — | — | 870,810 | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | — | 2,552,000 | — | — | 2,552,000 | |||||||||||||||
Financing costs | — | (31,911 | ) | — | — | (31,911 | ) | |||||||||||||
Payments of long-term debt | — | (377,104 | ) | — | — | (377,104 | ) | |||||||||||||
Intercompany financing | (555,942 | ) | (2,711,684 | ) | 2,929,909 | 337,717 | — | |||||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | — | (568,699 | ) | 2,929,909 | 337,717 | 2,698,927 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | — | 3,058 | (8,377 | ) | — | (5,319 | ) | |||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | — | 8,716 | 33,159 | — | 41,875 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | — | $ | 11,774 | $ | 24,782 | $ | — | $ | 36,556 | ||||||||||
101
Year ended December 31, 2015 Consolidating Statement of Income | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non- Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rental | $ | — | $ | 378,075 | $ | 14,000 | $ | — | $ | 392,075 | ||||||||||
Real estate taxes paid by tenants | — | 33,041 | 2,009 | — | 35,050 | |||||||||||||||
Total rental revenue | — | 411,116 | 16,009 | — | 427,125 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 153,523 | — | 153,523 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | — | 411,116 | 169,532 | — | 580,648 | |||||||||||||||
Less promotional allowances | — | — | (5,595 | ) | — | (5,595 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net revenues | — | 411,116 | 163,937 | — | 575,053 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gaming, food, beverage and other | — | — | 85,774 | — | 85,774 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate taxes | — | 33,041 | 3,371 | — | 36,412 | |||||||||||||||
Land rights and ground lease expense | — | 2,812 | — | — | 2,812 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative | — | 59,138 | 23,719 | — | 82,857 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 94,380 | 15,403 | — | 109,783 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | — | 189,371 | 128,267 | — | 317,638 | |||||||||||||||
Income from operations | — | 221,745 | 35,670 | — | 257,415 | |||||||||||||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | — | (124,183 | ) | — | — | (124,183 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | — | 10 | 2,322 | — | 2,332 | |||||||||||||||
Intercompany dividends and interest | — | 36,292 | 7,094 | (43,386 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total other expenses | — | (87,881 | ) | 9,416 | (43,386 | ) | (121,851 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | — | 133,864 | 45,086 | (43,386 | ) | 135,564 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | — | 1,338 | 6,104 | — | 7,442 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 132,526 | $ | 38,982 | $ | (43,386 | ) | $ | 128,122 | |||||||||
102
Year ended December 31, 2015 Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | Parent Guarantor | Subsidiary Issuers | Other Subsidiary Non-Issuers | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | — | $ | 132,526 | $ | 38,982 | $ | (43,386 | ) | $ | 128,122 | |||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | — | 94,380 | 15,403 | — | 109,783 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | — | 14,016 | — | — | 14,016 | |||||||||||||||
Losses on sales of property | — | 152 | 33 | — | 185 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | — | — | (813 | ) | — | (813 | ) | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | 16,811 | — | — | 16,811 | |||||||||||||||
Straight-line rent adjustments | — | 55,825 | — | — | 55,825 | |||||||||||||||
(Increase) decrease, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | — | (9,988 | ) | 1,699 | (1,423 | ) | (9,712 | ) | ||||||||||||
Intercompany | — | 2,484 | (2,484 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Increase (decrease), | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | — | (1,013 | ) | 67 | — | (946 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | — | 4,104 | 137 | — | 4,241 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued interest | — | 95 | — | — | 95 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and wages | — | 715 | 423 | — | 1,138 | |||||||||||||||
Gaming, property and other taxes | — | (898 | ) | (58 | ) | — | (956 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income taxes | — | 125 | (1,548 | ) | 1,423 | — | ||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | — | 1,934 | (35 | ) | — | 1,899 | ||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | — | 311,268 | 51,806 | (43,386 | ) | 319,688 | ||||||||||||||
Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital project expenditures | — | (10,252 | ) | (5,897 | ) | — | (16,149 | ) | ||||||||||||
Capital maintenance expenditures | — | — | (2,953 | ) | — | (2,953 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | — | 304 | 6 | — | 310 | |||||||||||||||
Principal payments on loan receivable | — | — | 4,650 | — | 4,650 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | — | (9,948 | ) | (4,194 | ) | — | (14,142 | ) | ||||||||||||
Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (251,732 | ) | — | — | — | (251,732 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of options, net of taxes paid related to shares withheld for tax purposes on restricted stock award vestings | 29,686 | — | — | — | 29,686 | |||||||||||||||
Financing costs | — | (9,500 | ) | — | — | (9,500 | ) | |||||||||||||
Payments of long-term debt | — | (68,098 | ) | — | — | (68,098 | ) | |||||||||||||
Intercompany financing | 219,403 | (219,456 | ) | (43,333 | ) | 43,386 | — | |||||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (2,643 | ) | (297,054 | ) | (43,333 | ) | 43,386 | (299,644 | ) | |||||||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (2,643 | ) | 4,266 | 4,279 | — | 5,902 | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 2,643 | 4,450 | 28,880 | $ | — | 35,973 | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | — | $ | 8,716 | $ | 33,159 | $ | — | $ | 41,875 | ||||||||||
103
20. Subsequent Events
On February 1, 2018, the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.63 per share, which is payable on March 23, 2018 to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2018.
During January 2018, the Company repaid $45 million of borrowings under its Term Loan A facility.
104
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE ASSETS AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 2017
(in thousands)
Initial Cost to Company | Net Capitalized Costs (Retirements) Subsequent to Acquisition | Gross Amount at which Carried at Close of Period | Life on which Depreciation in Latest Income Statement is Computed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original Date of Construction / Renovation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Description | Location | Encumbrances | Land and Improvements | Buildings and Improvements | Land and Improvements | Buildings and Improvements | Total (1) | Accumulated Depreciation | Date Acquired | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rental Properties: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg | Lawrenceburg, IN | $ | — | $ | 15,251 | $ | 342,393 | $ | (30 | ) | $ | 15,222 | $ | 342,392 | $ | 357,614 | $ | 124,203 | 1997/2009 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora, IL | — | 4,937 | 98,378 | (383 | ) | 4,936 | 97,996 | 102,932 | 60,978 | 1993/2002/ 2012 | 11/1/2013 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joliet, IL | — | 19,214 | 101,104 | — | 19,214 | 101,104 | 120,318 | 55,119 | 1992/2003/ 2010 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Argosy Casino Alton | Alton, IL | — | — | 6,462 | — | — | 6,462 | 6,462 | 4,302 | 1991/1999 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Toledo | Toledo, OH | — | 12,003 | 144,093 | — | 12,003 | 144,093 | 156,096 | 29,566 | 2012 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Columbus | Columbus, OH | — | 38,240 | 188,543 | 105 | 38,266 | 188,622 | 226,888 | 38,132 | 2012 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races | Charles Town, WV | — | 35,102 | 233,069 | — | 35,102 | 233,069 | 268,171 | 120,949 | 1997/2010 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | Grantville, PA | — | 25,500 | 161,810 | — | 25,500 | 161,810 | 187,310 | 68,266 | 2008/2010 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M Resort | Henderson, NV | — | 66,104 | 126,689 | (436 | ) | 65,668 | 126,689 | 192,357 | 30,973 | 2009/2012 | 11/1/2013 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Bangor | Bangor, ME | — | 12,883 | 84,257 | — | 12,883 | 84,257 | 97,140 | 28,896 | 2008/2012 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zia Park Casino | Hobbs, NM | — | 9,313 | 38,947 | — | 9,313 | 38,947 | 48,260 | 18,020 | 2005 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast | Bay St. Louis, MS | — | 59,388 | 87,352 | (229 | ) | 59,176 | 87,335 | 146,511 | 47,006 | 1992/2006/ 2011 | 11/1/2013 | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Argosy Casino Riverside | Riverside, MO | — | 23,468 | 143,301 | (77 | ) | 23,391 | 143,301 | 166,692 | 58,364 | 1994/2007 | 11/1/2013 | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino Tunica | Tunica, MS | — | 4,634 | 42,031 | — | 4,634 | 42,031 | 46,665 | 25,293 | 1994/2012 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boomtown Biloxi | Biloxi, MS | — | 3,423 | 63,083 | (137 | ) | 3,286 | 63,083 | 66,369 | 43,434 | 1994/2006 | 11/1/2013 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino St. Louis | Maryland Heights, MO | — | 44,198 | 177,063 | — | 44,198 | 177,063 | 221,261 | 63,611 | 1997/2013 | 11/1/2013 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Dayton Raceway (2) | Dayton, OH | — | 3,211 | — | 86,288 | 3,211 | 86,288 | 89,499 | 9,382 | 2014 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Casino at Mahoning Valley Race Track (2) | Youngstown, OH | — | 5,683 | — | 94,314 | 5,833 | 94,164 | 99,997 | 9,970 | 2014 | 11/1/2013 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Resorts Casino Tunica | Tunica, MS | — | — | 12,860 | — | — | 12,860 | 12,860 | 791 | 1994/1996/ 2005/2014 | 5/1/2017 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st Jackpot Casino (formerly known as Bally's Casino Tunica) | Tunica, MS | — | 161 | 10,100 | — | 161 | 10,100 | 10,261 | 234 | 1995 | 5/1/2017 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Casino Queen | East St. Louis, IL | — | 70,716 | 70,014 | — | 70,716 | 70,014 | 140,730 | 12,049 | 1999 | 1/23/2014 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ameristar Black Hawk | Black Hawk, CO | — | 238,864 | — | — | 238,864 | — | 238,864 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belterra Casino Resort | Florence, IN | — | 56,368 | — | — | 56,368 | — | 56,368 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ameristar Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs, IA | — | 78,707 | — | — | 78,707 | — | 78,707 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L'Auberge Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | — | 199,316 | — | — | 199,316 | — | 199,316 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boomtown Bossier City | Bossier City, LA | — | 77,152 | — | — | 77,152 | — | 77,152 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boomtown New Orleans | Boomtown, LA | — | 43,761 | — | — | 43,761 | — | 43,761 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ameristar Vicksburg | Vicksburg, MS | — | 97,900 | — | — | 97,900 | — | 97,900 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ameristar Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | — | 222,231 | — | — | 222,231 | — | 222,231 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ameristar St. Charles | St. Charles, MO | — | 363,203 | — | — | 363,203 | — | 363,203 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jackpot Properties | Jackpot, NV | — | 45,045 | — | — | 45,045 | — | 45,045 | — | N/A | 4/28/2016 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino | Washington, PA | — | 181,532 | 141,370 | 386 | 181,918 | 141,370 | 323,288 | 7,311 | 2006 | 9/9/2016 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | 2,057,508 | $ | 2,272,919 | $ | 179,801 | $ | 2,057,178 | $ | 2,453,050 | $ | 4,510,228 | $ | 856,849 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Headquarters Property: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GLPI Corporate Office (3) | Wyomissing, PA | $ | — | $ | 750 | $ | 8,465 | $ | 58 | $ | 750 | $ | 8,523 | $ | 9,273 | $ | 607 | 2014/2015 | 9/19/2014 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | 2,058,258 | $ | 2,281,384 | $ | 179,859 | $ | 2,057,928 | $ | 2,461,573 | $ | 4,519,501 | $ | 857,456 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The Company acquired substantially all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and subsequently leased the assets back to Pinnacle in April 2016. As discussed further in the footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, however, the Pinnacle Master Lease was bifurcated between an operating lease and a direct financing lease, resulting in the land that is subject to operating lease treatment being recorded as a real estate asset on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, while the building assets that triggered direct financing lease treatment are recorded as an investment in direct financing lease on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, at several of the properties acquired from Pinnacle, the Company acquired land lease rights only (rights to land subject to long-term ground leases). Land lease rights are recorded as land rights on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and amortized through land rights and ground lease expense on the Company's consolidated statement of income. Therefore, although the schedule above discloses the Company's real estate investments as required, the Company directs readers to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a complete understanding of the assets acquired from Pinnacle. The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes of the properties listed above was $6.92 billion at December 31, 2017. This amount includes the tax basis of all real property assets acquired from Pinnacle, including building assets.
(2) Hollywood Casino at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Casino at Mahoning Valley Race Course were jointly developed with Penn National Gaming, Inc. The costs capitalized subsequent to acquisition represent the capital expenditures incurred by the Company subsequent to the transfer of the development properties at Spin-Off. Both properties commenced operations and began paying rent during the year ended December 31, 2014.
(3) The Company's corporate headquarters building was completed in October 2015. The land was purchased on September 19, 2014 and construction on the building occurred through October 2015.
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A summary of activity for real estate and accumulated depreciation for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||
Real Estate: | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 4,495,972 | $ | 2,750,867 | $ | 2,742,845 | |||||
Acquisitions | 23,507 | 1,745,449 | — | ||||||||
Capital expenditures and assets placed in service | 32 | 82 | 8,478 | ||||||||
Dispositions | (10 | ) | (426 | ) | (456 | ) | |||||
Balance at the end of the year | $ | 4,519,501 | $ | 4,495,972 | $ | 2,750,867 | |||||
Accumulated Depreciation: | |||||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | (756,881 | ) | $ | (660,808 | ) | $ | (565,297 | ) | ||
Depreciation expense | (100,576 | ) | (96,073 | ) | (95,511 | ) | |||||
Dispositions | 1 | — | — | ||||||||
Balance at the end of the year | $ | (857,456 | ) | $ | (756,881 | ) | $ | (660,808 | ) | ||
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as of December 31, 2017, which is the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that as of December 31, 2017 the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, evaluated and reported, as applicable, within the time periods specified in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Company's management conducted an assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting and concluded it was effective as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, management used the criteria established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013).
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company's independent registered accounting firm, issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, which is included on the following page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we implemented controls to ensure we had adequately evaluated our contracts with customers and properly assessed the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our financial statements to facilitate the adoption of this new guidance on January 1, 2018. We do not expect significant changes to our internal control over financial reporting due to the adoption of the new standard.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and Board of Directors of
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, of the Company and our report dated February 16, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 16, 2018
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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item concerning directors is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "2018 Proxy Statement"), to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2017, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Information required by this item concerning executive officers is included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information called for in this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS
The information called for in this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information called for in this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information called for in this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the 2018 Proxy Statement.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) 1. Financial Statements. The following is a list of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and supplementary data filed as part of Item 8 hereof:
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
2. Financial Statement Schedule:
Schedule III. Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2017 for GLPI.
3. Exhibits, Including Those Incorporated by Reference.
The exhibits to this Report are listed on the accompanying index to exhibits and are incorporated herein by reference or are filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit | ||
2.1 | |||
2.2 | |||
2.3 | |||
2.4 | |||
3.1 | |||
3.2 | |||
4.1 | |||
4.2 | |||
4.3 | |||
4.4 | |||
4.5 | |||
4.6 | |||
4.7 | |||
4.8 | |||
10.1 | |||
113
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit | ||
10.2 | |||
10.3 | |||
10.4 | |||
10.5 | |||
10.6 | |||
10.7 | |||
10.8 | |||
10.9 | |||
10.10 | |||
10.11 | |||
10.12 | |||
10.13 | |||
10.14 | |||
10.15 | |||
10.16 | |||
114
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit | ||
10.17 | |||
10.18 | |||
10.19 | |||
10.20 | |||
10.21 | |||
10.22# | |||
10.23# | |||
10.24# | |||
10.25# | |||
10.26#* | |||
10.27#* | |||
10.28 | |||
10.29 | |||
10.30 | |||
21* | |||
23.1* | |||
23.2* | |||
31.1* | |||
115
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit | ||
31.2* | |||
32.1* | |||
32.2* | |||
101* | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and (v) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. | ||
# Compensation plans and arrangements for executives and others.
* Filed herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GAMING AND LEISURE PROPERTIES, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ PETER M. CARLINO | |||
Peter M. Carlino Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Dated: February 16, 2018
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ PETER M. CARLINO | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | February 16, 2018 | ||
Peter M. Carlino | ||||
/s/ WILLIAM J. CLIFFORD | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 16, 2018 | ||
William J. Clifford | ||||
/s/ DESIREE A. BURKE | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 16, 2018 | ||
Desiree A. Burke | ||||
/s/ DAVID A. HANDLER | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
David A. Handler | ||||
/s/ JOSEPH W. MARSHALL | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
Joseph W. Marshall | ||||
/s/ JAMES B. PERRY | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
James B. Perry | ||||
/s/ BARRY F. SCHWARTZ | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
Barry F. Schwartz | ||||
/s/ EARL C. SHANKS | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
Earl C. Shanks | ||||
/s/ E. SCOTT URDANG | Director | February 16, 2018 | ||
E. Scott Urdang | ||||
117