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-Brings Broad Regional Gaming Market Development Experience to New Position
WYOMISSING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) announced today that, effective immediately, Alex J. Stolyar, 33, has been named Vice President, Corporate Development, a new position at the Company. Mr. Stolyar will report directly to Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Steven T. Snyder.
As Vice President, Corporate Development, Mr. Stolyar will assist and coordinate with the Finance team in the identification and analysis of potential business opportunities available to Penn National including strategic acquisitions, partnerships and new jurisdictions. Mr. Stolyar will also evaluate and support potential M&A opportunities including transaction structuring and negotiations and will serve as a management liaison and provide direction for operational and corporate project teams in carrying out and completing due diligence efforts. He brings to Penn National strong corporate development experience in regional gaming markets having served most recently as Vice President, Corporate Development for Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Stolyar joined Pinnacle Entertainment in 2003, initially as a Finance Associate and was subsequently promoted to Director of Corporate Development. Mr. Stolyar’s responsibilities at Pinnacle Entertainment included identifying and evaluating corporate growth opportunities, leading efforts to secure several new competitive gaming licenses, evaluating merger and acquisition opportunities, negotiating land purchase and option agreements in various domestic locations, working with local counsel on zoning and entitlement issues and working with local partners on community outreach efforts.
Commenting on the appointment, Steven T. Snyder said, “With a strong growth pipeline of new projects already under development, Penn National remains intent on further deploying our strong balance sheet and property development skills on return-focused growth projects as we seek to create new value for shareholders. As such, Alex’s strong track record of success in evaluating new regional gaming opportunities will add to our existing corporate development capabilities and expertise as we continue to identify and evaluate opportunities to expand into new jurisdictions.”
Alex Stolyar commented on his appointment, “Penn National has proven over many years that it can identify and develop growth projects in new markets that generate solid returns and create new shareholder value. The Company’s strong liquidity and capital structure position it very favorably in the industry to further extend this success by pursuing new developments that can add to its already deep pipeline of growth projects in various regional gaming markets. I look forward to working with Steve and the entire Penn National team to continue the Company’s record of success in the development of high return casino projects.”
Mr. Stolyar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University.
About Penn National Gaming
Penn National Gaming owns and operates gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The Company presently operates nineteen facilities in fifteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. In aggregate, Penn National’s operated facilities feature over 26,300 gaming machines, approximately 400 table games, over 2,000 hotel rooms and over 959,000 square feet of gaming floor space.
In the second half of 2010, the Company plans to add table games to its facilities in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and expects to open the first video lottery terminal facility in the state of Maryland in Cecil County. Through a joint venture, Penn National is developing a full casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, which is anticipated to open in early 2012, and is also developing casinos in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio, with openings targeted for the second half of 2012. The Company recently announced the planned acquisition of Beulah Park in Ohio in a transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.