As previously disclosed, on August 4, 2021, VICI Properties Inc., a Maryland corporation (“VICI”), MGM Growth Properties LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MGP”), MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“MGP OP”), VICI Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Existing VICI OP”), Venus Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Existing VICI OP (“REIT Merger Sub”), VICI Properties OP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of VICI (“New VICI Operating Company”), and MGM Resorts International, a Delaware corporation (“MGM”), entered into a definitive Master Transaction Agreement (the “Master Transaction Agreement”). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Master Transaction Agreement, prior to or on the closing date under the Master Transaction Agreement, VICI will contribute its interest in Existing VICI OP to New VICI Operating Company, which will serve as a new operating company for VICI. Following the contribution transaction, MGP will merge with and into REIT Merger Sub, with REIT Merger Sub surviving the merger (the “REIT Merger”). Immediately following consummation of the REIT Merger, REIT Merger Sub will distribute the interests of the general partner of MGP OP to Existing VICI OP and, immediately following such distribution, REIT Merger Sub will merge with and into MGP OP, with MGP OP surviving the merger (the “Partnership Merger” and, together with the REIT Merger, the “Mergers”). A definitive joint proxy statement/information statement/prospectus (the “joint proxy/information statement”) was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by MGP on September 23, 2021, in connection with, among other things, the Master Transaction Agreement.
In connection with the Mergers, nine lawsuits have been filed challenging disclosures related to the Mergers, captioned: (i)
Lin v. MGM Growth Properties LLC, et al.
, No.
(SDNY) (filed September 17, 2021) (the “Lin Complaint”), (ii)
Whitfield v. MGM Growth Properties LLC, et al.
, No.
(SDNY) (filed September 30, 2021) (the “Whitfield Complaint”), (iii)
Bushansky v. VICI Properties Inc., et al.
, No.
(DNJ) (filed October 12, 2021) (the “Bushansky Complaint”), (iv)
Kent v. VICI Properties, Inc., et. al.,
No.
(SDNY) (filed October 15, 2021)
(the “Kent Complaint”), (v)
Mintz v. VICI Properties, Inc., et. al.,
No.
(EDNY) (filed October 16, 2021) (the “Mintz Complaint”), (vi)
Hopkins v. MGM Growth Properties LLC, et al.
, No.
(ED Pa) (filed October 18, 2021) (the “Hopkins Complaint”), (vii)
Anderson v. VICI Properties Inc., et al.
, No.
(SDNY) (filed October 20, 2021) (the “Anderson Complaint”), (viii)
Brown v. VICI Properties Inc., et al.
, No.
(SDNY) (filed October 20, 2021) (the “Brown Complaint”) and (ix)
Finger v. VICI Properties Inc., et al.
, No. 2:21-cv-19213 (DNJ) (filed October 21, 2021) (the “Finger Complaint”). The Lin Complaint, the Whitfield Complaint and the Hopkins Complaint were filed by purported MGP shareholders and name as defendants MGP, MGP OP, MGM, the individual members of the MGP board of directors, VICI, New VICI Operating Company, the Existing VICI OP and REIT Merger Sub. The Bushansky Complaint, the Kent Complaint, the Mintz Complaint, the Anderson Complaint, the Brown Complaint and the Finger Complaint were filed by purported stockholders of VICI and name as defendants VICI and the individual members of VICI’s board of directors. The Lin Complaint alleges that the September 8, 2021 registration statement on Form
S-4
regarding the proposed Mergers contains inadequate disclosures in violation of the federal securities laws. The Whitfield Complaint, the Bushansky Complaint, the Kent Complaint, the Mintz Complaint, the Hopkins Complaint, the Anderson Complaint, the Brown Complaint and the Finger Complaint allege that the joint proxy/information statement regarding the proposed Mergers contains inadequate disclosures in violation of the federal securities laws. The plaintiffs in each action seek, among other things, to enjoin the Mergers and the transactions contemplated by the Master Transaction Agreement and an award of costs and attorneys’ fees. Additional lawsuits arising out of the Mergers may be filed in the future.