An American casino operator controlled by a New York hedge fund has joined the opportunists sniffing around embattled Star Entertainment Group, which is on its last legs and desperately seeking a capital injection to avoid administration. The casino operator warned that additional equity may be required as part of the refinancing of the DBC debt facility. Star first entered the deal with its the Hong Kong investors in early March, after months of warnings about its financial future — and prior to the bigger deal struck with Bally's and the Mathiesons. The Australian Financial Review reported that the company had failed to raise the funding required to meet near-term payments, including for payroll, which puts the company at serious risk of running out of cash. After a brief trading halt on Friday morning, Star shares plunged 15.4 per cent to 11¢, valuing the company once worth $5 billion at about $315 million. Star did not name the parties that are expected to provide an offer of financing, but it has confirmed previously that US finance giant Oaktree has tried to buy out Star’s debt from its lenders.
The second inquiry, dubbed Bell 2 when launched in February, was published on Friday and "validated the concerns that prompted the second inquiry" according to the NICC. The body said it is considering next steps for the future of the suspended Pullman Reef hotel casino dining operator. The financial crime watchdog says the court should disregard casino operator’s threat that it would collapse under the weight of a $400 million fine. The price of Bitcoin plummeted on Friday after the US government signalled it would not acquire additional cryptocurrencies for its strategic reserve beyond its current holdings. Overall, spending on both debit and personal credit cards rose by $207 million in the month and $3.1 billion compared to the same time one year ago. Canstar analysis of RBA figures shows credit card debt attracting interest charges has risen every January since 2015. The price of Bitcoin plummeted on Friday after US President Donald Trump's administration signalled it would not acquire additional cryptocurrencies for its strategic reserve beyond its current holdings.
"It's going to be important for both government and the Star casino, or whoever ends up taking that over, for it to be an ongoing viable solution." From now on, he says, the business will be about accommodation, retail and restaurants with gambling as a sideline. No longer listed on the ASX, its financial performance is difficult to gauge but if it had hopes of a quick turnaround and easy profit, they may have been dashed.
On Tuesday, a fresh notice showed his shareholding had increased from 5.5 per cent to 6.52 per cent. The following $200 million is subject to a shareholder vote and regulatory approvals. (It might even come in two lots of $100 million, the first after a shareholder vote and the latter after approvals). A proposed long-term funding deal with Salter Brothers last week could not be finalised. The first payment — about $100 million — will be made on Wednesday to allow the operator to stay afloat. Last month it offered Star a $250 million deal and the Australian casino group wouldn't even meet with them. Company information displayed on The Australian Financial Review is sourced from Morningstar and ASX and is subject to their terms and conditions as set out in our Terms of Use.
Star has been in talks with the owners of the other half of Brisbane's Queen's Wharf FX Twitter feed development — Hong Kong investors Far East Consortium International and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises — since mid-February. Embattled casino group Star Entertainment will stay alive, for now, after securing a $53 million lifeline in return for selling its 50 per cent stake in the new Brisbane PayID Skrill casino. The ASX 200 and the All Ordinaries index both ended Monday's session 1.8 per cent lower, wiping off about $50 billion in market value. Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Morningstar Index (Market Barometer) quotes are real-time.
The remaining funds will be paid either following a shareholder vote, or will be split into two payments before October 7. Bally’s, which operate’s 19 casinos across the US, will get a 56.7 per cent stake in Star. As Star’s search for a white knight steps up, a potential newcomer to the Australian gaming industry has taken a look at its casinos. Airtasker will look to expand rapidly overseas after a new capital raise and an expanded strategic partnership. DBC's total current drawn balance on the debt facility is approximately $1.4 billion.
Salon 95 continued to operate even after then-Star CEO Matt Bekier told regulators his company had severed business links to Suncity. Star was deemed unfit to hold its NSW licence by the first Bell inquiry in 2022. Since then, Star Sydney has since been under the supervision of a state-appointed manager – Nick Weeks. Weeks’ term has been extended multiple times and currently runs through September. Each were in breach of Listing Rule 17.5 for poker bluff practice drills not lodging the relevant periodic report by the due date.
Against all odds, Star Entertainment has managed to avoid sliding into administration for now. But its near demise poses bigger problems for a glittering world that risks being consigned to a bygone era. Hong Kong investors Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium, which each own 25 per cent of the Brisbane complex, had agreed to buy Star's 50 per cent stake for $53 million. In September last year, Star’s directors started getting advice on "safe harbour" provisions provided by the Corporations Act that would protect them from being personally liable for debts in the event that it cannot stay solvent.
The top rated Australian casino Financial Review does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy and/or completeness of such data or information. The gaming giant had called off negotiations on an earlier proposal after failing to agree on key details of a plan to sell its Brisbane project. Shares close in on fifth straight month of gains; Qantas at record high limit poker online UK on Jetstar; Ramsay’s weak Aussie earnings; IDP Education soars nearly 30 per cent on outlook; Wesfarmers dividend splurge.