Great Canadian Gaming Announces Renewal of Normal Course Issuer Bid

RICHMOND, BC, March 13, 2017 /CNW/ - 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 3,995,203 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 March 8, 2017, there were 61,466,930 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. 

"The share repurchase program is an important tool for creating shareholder value which Great Canadian will employ opportunistically while considering the Company's future cash needs for operating and development purposes and utilizing Great Canadian's secure and flexible financial position," stated Rod Baker, Great Canadian's President and Chief Executive Officer. 

The Company received approval from the TSX to commence this bid on March 15, 2017.  The bid will end on March 14, 2018 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 29,676 common shares or 25% of the prior six-month average daily trading volume of 118,705 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 4,668,925 common shares at a volume weighted average price of $17.57 per share under a normal issuer bid which expired on March 13, 2017. 

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 is a Canadian based company that operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Washington State. The Company has 21 gaming properties, which consist of thirteen casinos, including a four Diamond resort hotel in Richmond, British Columbia and a four star hotel in Moncton, New Brunswick, four horse racetrack casinos, three community gaming centres and one commercial bingo hall. A key element of Great Canadian's business model is its commitment to social responsibility. "PROUD of our people, our business, our community" is Great Canadian's brand that unifies the company's community, volunteering and social responsibility efforts. Under the PROUD program, Great Canadian annually invests over $2.5 million in our communities, and in 2016, over 1,500 charitable organizations were supported by Great Canadian. In each Canadian gaming jurisdiction, a significant portion of gross gaming revenue from gaming facilities is retained by our crown partners on behalf of their provincial government for the purpose of supporting programs like healthcare, education and social services.

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 Company's strategy for growth and objectives (including participation in Ontario's gaming modernization program and possible expansion of gaming in British Columbia), 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 beyond the terms of the signed Ontario Lease Agreements and Ontario Racing Agreements, the impact of new conditions imposed on certain VIP players in British Columbia, the impact of unionization activities, the Company's position on its claim against the British Columbia Lottery Corporation ("BCLC") with respect to the collection of marketing contributions, the Company's beliefs about the outcome of its notices of objection challenging the Canada Revenue Agency's reassessments and its tax position on its facility development commission prevailing, the terms and expected benefits of the normal course issuer bid, the Company's expected share of BC horse racing industry revenue in future years, and 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 services agreements with lottery corporations; changes to gaming laws that may impact the operational services agreements, pending, proposed or unanticipated regulatory or policy changes (including those that impact VIP play); the outcome of modernization of gaming in Ontario; 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; actual and possible reassessments of the Company's prior tax filings by tax authorities; the results of the Company's notices of objection and subsequent appeals challenging reassessments received by the Canada Revenue Agency; the Company's tax position on its facility development commission prevailing; the results of the Company's litigation with BCLC; the interpretation of the Company's rights under the Mayfair casino operating agreement and the BCLC relocation policy; 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 timing and results of collective bargaining negotiations; adverse changes in the Company's labour relations; 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; demand for new products and services; fluctuations in operating results; economic uncertainty and financial market volatility; technology dependence; and privacy breaches or data theft. The Company cautions that this list of factors is not exhaustive. 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 2016, 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, 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]
95 Schooner Street
Coquitlam, BC 
V3K 7A8
Phone: [phone] 
Website: www.gcgaming.com

SOURCE Great Canadian Gaming Corporation

For enquiries: [email protected]; or Ms. Tanya Ruskowski, Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, [phone]

Related Links

www.gcgaming.com