LAS VEGAS–Officials with Golden Entertainment, Inc. announced Monday they have entered into an agreement with Marnell Gaming LLC to acquire the Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort and the Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino Resort properties in Laughlin.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Blake Sartini said, “The acquisition of the Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort and the Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino Resort provides us with an exciting opportunity to expand our portfolio to nine wholly-owned casino resorts in Southern Nevada, solidifying our presence in this growing and attractive gaming market. The transaction is consistent with our strategy to grow our business in an accretive manner for shareholders and Golden is uniquely positioned to benefit immediately from cost synergies related to the acquisition of these properties.”

The purchase price will be based on an eight-times multiple of the combined trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA of both properties as of November 2018, with a minimum price of $168 million and a maximum price of $190 million. Including expected cost synergies and cash acquired, the purchase price is expected to represent an implied trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA multiple of six-and-a-half times.

The purchase consideration will consist of $155 million of cash and the balance in restricted stock issued at a price of $28.54 per share.

The transaction will be financed with incremental debt under the Company’s credit facility and cash on hand. Pro forma for the transaction, the Company’s net leverage is expected to be below 5x at closing. The Company expects the acquisition to be cash flow positive and immediately accretive to operating results.

The Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort and the Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino Resort collectively feature over 1,400 slot machines, 40 table games and 2,150 hotel rooms. The properties also feature eleven restaurants and dedicated entertainment venues including the Laughlin Event Center. The Laughlin Event Center is an outdoor arena with 12,000 seats and hosts multiple headline concerts and other events throughout the year.

The two properties are adjacent to Golden’s current Laughlin property, the Aquarius Casino Resort, which features over 1,200 slot machines, over 30 table games and almost 2,000 hotel rooms.

When combined, these three properties will be situated on 55 contiguous acres along the heart of the Laughlin Riverwalk.

Sartini added, “The Marnell family has a long history in the gaming industry including, designing, building and owning some of the most iconic resorts that now define the Las Vegas resort corridor. Over the past several years, Marnell Gaming has taken their expertise and created a significant hotel, casino and entertainment presence in Laughlin, and we are excited to build on these well positioned properties. As a result of this transaction, I am pleased to welcome Anthony Marnell III as a shareholder of Golden Entertainment.”

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.