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EXHIBIT 99.1
[LOGO]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT
--------------------- Geoffrey A. Sage, CFO
September 25, 2000 (702) 89-7568
ANCHOR GAMING ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE
4,596,200 SHARES FROM CHAIRMAN STANLEY FULTON, CERTAIN
FULTON FAMILY MEMBERS
T.J. MATTHEWS TO BE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD;
COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT
[LAS VEGAS] -- Anchor Gaming (Nasdaq National Market SLOT) today announced
that it has executed a definitive agreement with its Chairman, Stanley
Fulton, and members of his family to acquire 4,596,200 shares of stock owned
by the Fultons for a purchase price of $66.60 per share. The purchase
consideration comprises $240 million in cash and $66 million of promissory
notes that Stanley Fulton will receive for a portion of the shares he is
selling. Members of the Fulton Family will retain ownership of approximately
539,600 shares after the transaction.
As part of the stock purchase transaction with the Fulton family, the Company
also announced that it has agreed to sell to Stanley Fulton substantially all
of the assets relating to its Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, located in New
Mexico, and its 25% interest in a Massachusetts horse racing facility.
Stanley Fulton has agreed to pay $66 million for such assets by cancelling
the Company's obligations under the promissory notes.
Anchor Gaming expects to fund the cash portion of the stock purchase through
an amendment to its existing senior credit facility, led by Bank of America,
N.A., and through the issuance of senior subordinated notes.
The Company expects to consummate the stock purchase by the end of October
2000 and to subsequently complete the sale of the race track assets by the
end of March 2001, subject to regulatory approval.
Upon completion of the stock purchase, Stanley Fulton and his son, Michael
Fulton, and his daughter Elizabeth Jones have agreed to resign their positions
as Anchor Gaming's Board of Directors. Stanley Fulton founded the
predecessor to the Company in 1988 and has served as its Chairman since its
inception.
-more-
815 Pilot Road, Suite G * Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Phone: (702) 896-7568 * FAX: (702) 896-6221
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ANCHOR GAMING ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE 4,596,200 SHARES FROM CHAIRMAN
STANLEY FULTON, CERTAIN FULTON FAMILY MEMBERS
Page 2 of 2
Anchor Gaming also announced that upon completion of the stock purchase, T.J.
Matthews, its Chief Executive Officer, will be appointed Chairman of the
Board of Directors. In addition, Joe Murphy, its Vice President, will be
named Chief Operating Officer-Gaming Operations and will be added to the
Board of Directors which will also include the three continuing outside
directors.
"Stan's contribution to the growth of Anchor Gaming from a small private
company into an industry leader has been immeasurable." Matthews said, "our
spirit and desire to excel have been and will continue to be inspired by the
legacy of Stan Fulton's many years as a leader in the growth of the gaming
industry and as a benefactor of numerous charitable and civic causes."
This transaction has been authorized by a Special Committee of disinterested
directors. In connection with this transaction, Wasserstein Perella & Co.
acted as financial advisor to the Company and Houlihan, Lokey, Howard and
Zukin acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee.
Additionally, the Board of Directors has authorized a 2-for-1 stock split. As
a result of the split, shareholders of record as of October 31, 2000 will
receive one additional share of Anchor Gaming common stock for every one share
than owned. The new shares will be issued as soon as practical following
the record date. As of September 22, 2000, the Company had approximately
11.7 million shares outstanding, exclusive of treasury shares. After the
stock purchase, but without giving effect to the stock split, Anchor Gaming
will have approximately 7.1 million shares outstanding.
Anchor Gaming is a diversified gaming technology company with operations
around the world. It operates in three complimentary business segments;
gaming machines, gaming operations, and gaming systems. anchor Gaming's
gaming machine segment focuses on the development and placement of unique
proprietary games. Its gaming operations segment operates two casinos in
Colorado, manages gaming machine routes in Nevada and Montana and has
development and management agreements with the Pala Band of Mission Indians.
Anchor Gaming's gaming systems segment provides equipment and related
services to on-line lotteries, video lotteries, and pari-mutuel
organizations. Anchor Gaming has equipment and systems in operation in the
United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, South Africa,
and the West Indies. For more information, visit Anchor Gaming's website at
http://www.anchorgaming.com.
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THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 21e OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED,
AND OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. ALL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENTS
OF HISTORICAL FACT ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" FOR PURPOSES OF THESE
PROVISIONS, INCLUDING ANY PROJECTIONS OF EARNINGS, REVENUES, OR OTHER
FINANCIAL ITEMS; ANY STATEMENTS OF THE PLANS, STRATEGIES, AND OBJECTIVES OF
MANAGEMENT FOR FUTURE OPERATION; ANY STATEMENTS CONCERNING PROPOSED NEW
PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR DEVELOPMENTS; ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING FUTURE ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS OR PERFORMANCE; STATEMENTS OF BELIEF; AND ANY STATEMENT OF
ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING ANY OF THE FOREGOING. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
ARE SUBJECT TO INHERENT RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, AND ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED BY THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THE EXPECTATIONS REFLECTED IN ANY OF ITS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WILL PROVE TO BE CORRECT, ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED OR ASSUMED IN THE COMPANY'S
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE
NOT LIMITED TO FACTORS DESCRIBED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S REPORTS
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING ANCHOR GAMING'S
FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 AND FORMS 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999. DECEMBER 31, 1999, AND MARCH 31, 2000. THESE
REPORTS MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE WEBSITE OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION AT http://www.sec.gov.
