February 23, 2015 – Richmond, BC – Great Canadian Gaming Corporation [TSX:GC] (“Great Canadian” or “the Company”) announced today its intention to renew a normal course issuer bid for up to 5,033,078 of its common shares, representing approximately 10% of the Company’s common shares in the public float. Purchases will be made subject to opportunities within the market.
As at February 18, 2015, there were 68,929,878 common shares of the Company outstanding. Purchases will be by way of open market purchases through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”), and other Canadian market places, and payment for the shares will be in accordance with the TSX’s rules. No purchases will be made other than by means of open market transactions during the term of the normal course issuer bid and conducted at the market price at the time of acquisition. All shares purchased by the Company will be subsequently cancelled.
“With Great Canadian’s secure and flexible financial position, this share repurchase program is an important tool for improving shareholder value,” stated Rod Baker, Great Canadian’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The normal course issuer bid will be employed opportunistically, while considering the Company’s future cash needs for operating and development purposes.”
The Company received approval from the TSX to commence this bid on February 26, 2015. The bid will end on February 25, 2016 or earlier if the number of shares sought in the issuer bid have been obtained. The Company will not purchase shares during its self-imposed blackout periods and reserves the right to terminate the bid earlier if it feels it is appropriate to do so. Pursuant to TSX policies, daily purchases made by the Company will not exceed 34,220 common shares or 25% of the prior six-month average daily trading volume of 136,878 common shares on the TSX, subject to certain prescribed exceptions.
In the event that insiders intend to sell securities of the Company during the course of the bid, the Company will not purchase such securities under the bid when advised of such sales.
During the last twelve months, the Company purchased and cancelled 800 common shares at a volume weighted average price of $14.02 per share.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless the securities are registered in the United States or an exemption from such registration is available.
ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company’s 17 gaming properties consist of three community gaming centres, four racetracks, and ten casinos, including one with a Four Diamond hotel resort. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had approximately 3,900 employees in Canada and 600 in Washington State. Further information is available on the Company’s website, www.gcgaming.com.
DISCLAIMER
This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” or statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the Company in light of its historical trends and other factors. All information or statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information including statements that address expectations, estimates or projections about the future, the terms and expected benefits of the normal course issuer bid, the Company’s strategy for growth and its objectives, expected future expenditures, costs, operating and financial results and expected impact of future commitments. Forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, or similar expressions. Such forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Although forward-looking information is based on information and assumptions that the Company believes are current, reasonable and complete, they are subject to unknown risks, uncertainties, and a number of factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors may include, but are not limited to: terms of operational service agreements with lottery corporations; changes to gaming laws that may impact our operational service agreements; pending, proposed or unanticipated regulatory or policy changes; the Company’s ability to obtain and renew required business licenses, leases, and operational services agreements; unanticipated fines, sanctions and suspensions imposed on the Company by its regulators; impact of global liquidity and credit availability; adverse tourism trends and further decreases in levels of travel, leisure and consumer spending; competition from established competitors and new entrants in the gaming business; dependence on key personnel; the Company’s ability to manage its capital projects and its expanding operations; the risk that systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to meet regulatory requirements or to support current and expanding operations; potential undisclosed liabilities and capital expenditures associated with acquisitions; negative connotations linked to the gaming industry; First Nations rights with respect to some land on which we conduct our operations; future or current legal proceedings; construction disruptions; financial covenants associated with credit facilities and long-term debt; credit, liquidity and market risks associated with our financial instruments; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; non-realization of cost reductions and synergies; demand for new products and services; fluctuations in operating results; and economic uncertainty and financial market volatility. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Information Form for fiscal 2012, and as identified in the Company’s disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date, and is expressly qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements in this press release. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a
better understanding of the Company’s operating environment. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise forward-looking information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as required by law.
ON BEHALF OF GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION
“Original signed by Rod N. Baker”
_________________________
Rod N. Baker
President and Chief Executive Officer
GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION [TSX:GC]
Suite #350 – 13775 Commerce Parkway
Richmond, BC
V6V 2V4
Phone: (604) 303-1000
Website: www.gcgaming.com
For enquiries:
ir@gcgaming.com
or
Ms. Tanya Ruskowski
Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
(604) 303-1000
