January 25, 2013 – 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 4,511,644 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 January 17, 2013, there were 70,452,153 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 by-laws and 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. The Company believes that this normal course issuer bid will assist in managing its balance of debt and equity for the purpose of increasing long-term shareholder value.
“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 January 30,
2013. The bid will end on January 29, 2014 or earlier if the number of shares sought in the issuer bid have been obtained. The Company 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 29,761 common shares or 25% of the prior six- month average daily trading volume of 119,045 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.
Since January 27, 2012, the Company purchased and cancelled 3,657,210 common shares under the current normal course issuer bid that will expire on January 26, 2013
at a volume weighted average price of $8.15 per share and 10,000,000 common shares under a substantial issuer bid at a purchase price of $10.00 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
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation is a multi-jurisdictional gaming, entertainment and hospitality operator with 17 gaming facilities, which include ten casinos, four horse racetrack casinos, three community gaming centres, and a Four Diamond hotel resort, located in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington State. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately 4,100 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, and the Company’s strategy for growth and its objectives, expected future expenditures, costs, operating and financial results, expected impact of future commitments, the future ability of the Company to operate the Georgian Downs and Flamboro Downs facilities and their profitability, expectations and implications of changes in legislation and government policies. 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; 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 2011, 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 investor 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
For media enquiries:
Mr. Howard Blank
Vice-President, Communications, Entertainment & Responsible Gaming
(604) 512-6066
