Destination Brisbane Consortium and Queensland Government enter into agreements for Queen’s Wharf Brisbane

Echo Entertainment Group Limited (Echo)1 today announced that the Destination Brisbane Consortium (DBC) has entered into development agreements with the Queensland Government for the delivery of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project. This follows the Queensland Government’s selection of DBC as the preferred proponent on 20 July 2015.

As announced previously, Echo has partnered with pre-eminent Hong Kong-based organisations Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTF) and Far East Consortium (Australia) Pty Limited (FEC Australia), a wholly owned subsidiary of Far East Consortium International Limited (FEC), to form the DBC joint venture for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Project. The parties have formed two joint venture vehicles (the IR Joint Venture and the Residential Joint Venture), which together are responsible for completing the development of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Project.

The development of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane remains subject to the planning approvals process and the granting of all necessary planning and development approvals as well as the passing of legislation pursuant to the Casino Control Act 1982 (Qld) to establish the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Casino Agreement under which a Casino Licence may then be issued by the State of Queensland.

Echo’s Managing Director and CEO, Matt Bekier, said “We are excited to have finalised and signed the development agreements with the Queensland Government to progress our vision to develop Queen’s Wharf Brisbane into a globally recognised Integrated Resort that competes with the best in Macau, Singapore and any other destinations worldwide. The redevelopment of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane has the potential to deliver significant and positive change for the people of Brisbane, the Queensland Government and DBC. Echo, along with its partners within DBC, looks forward to progressing the opportunity to deliver on the vision for Queen’s Wharf.”

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Precinct Development 

DBC’s proposal includes total investment of approximately $3.0 billion2 that covers a range of tourism infrastructure and residential developments:

• An iconic world class Integrated Resort and entertainment precinct with over 1,100 premium hotel rooms and feature Sky Deck – approximately $2 billion3;
• A residential precinct of approximately 2,000 apartments – approximately $0.9 billion;
• Public infrastructure, including a pedestrian bridge, and development of public area spaces largely along Brisbane’s riverfront and repurposed Treasury Casino & Hotel buildings; and
• Investments in improved connectivity solutions for the City of Brisbane.

1. Company name is changing to The Star Entertainment Group Limited as approved by shareholders on 4 November 2015. Refer separate ASX Announcement. 
2. Includes payments to the Queensland Government of $272 million by opening of the Integrated Resort complex for the gaming licence, fees, leases and land. 
3. Includes investment in public realm and other public areas.

Financial Commitments and Economic Contributions 

DBC’s proposal will also deliver to the State of Queensland substantial economic benefits such as:

• Significant payments to the State Government of $272 million by the time the Integrated Resort Complex opens;
• Minimum guaranteed State gaming tax payments to the State Government of $880 million in total over the first 10 years of operation;
• More than 2,000 jobs during construction;
• Creation of more than 8,000 jobs in Queensland once Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is fully operational;
• $1.69 billion projected annual increase in Queensland tourism;
• $4 billion projected boost to Gross State Product; and
• 1.39 million additional tourist visitors estimated per annum.

Investment supported by long-dated casino licence with attractive terms 

The agreements entered into with the Queensland Government provide for a new casino licence to be issued for Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, under which casino operations are permitted to commence upon completion of the Integrated Resort. In parallel, Echo will cease the gaming operations at the current Treasury Hotel and Casino.

The proposed Queen’s Wharf Brisbane casino licence will deliver the key operating terms for successful delivery of the Integrated Resort, which include:

• Casino licence term and Integrated Resort precinct lease term of 99 years;
• A 25 year casino exclusivity period for 60km from the Brisbane CBD, from commencement of operations of the new Integrated Resort;
• Gaming tax rates consistent with current levels;
• Maximum approved electronic gaming machines of 2,500;
• Unlimited gaming tables (including electronic derivations) consistent with current Queensland casino licences; and
• Contractual arrangements that provide regulatory and operating certainty on key licence conditions until 10 years from opening of the new Integrated Resort.

Echo Entertainment’s expected investment under the proposal 

As announced previously, Echo will contribute fifty per cent of the capital to the development of the Integrated Resort and act as the operator under a long dated casino management agreement. CTF and FEC Australia will each contribute twenty five per cent of the capital to the development of the Integrated Resort and will each contribute fifty per cent of the capital to undertake the residential and related component of the broader Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development.

As part of the proposal, Echo will invest approximately $1 billion into the Integrated Resort including contributions to payments to the Queensland Government and investments in public realm. This capital commitment includes Echo’s share of payments to the Queensland Government.

Echo will also retain ownership of the existing Treasury Casino and Hotel buildings under a long-dated lease. These buildings will be repurposed into retail facilities and premium hotel accommodation after the new Integrated Resort opens.

As part of the operating arrangements between the consortium members, Echo’s existing casino operations and business will be replaced with the new development upon completion and Echo will operate the Integrated Resort in return for a fee. The fee will be determined by the revenue and earnings generated by the Integrated Resort.

Under those arrangements, CTF and FEC will generate referral fees for VIP business directly referred to the facility. As a result of these arrangements, it is anticipated that Echo will be entitled to receive approximately sixty per cent of the cashflow generated by the Integrated Resort, taking into account the operator and referral fee arrangements, ownership proportions and any corporate level costs incurred by Echo in relation to the operation of the Integrated Resort.4

Echo expects to have the capacity to fund the project through existing and new debt facilities and free cash flow generated by the business. Echo is confident, based on the joint venture arrangements entered into, that the returns expected to be generated by the investment will be appropriate to meet the company’s return hurdles and will deliver superior value to Echo shareholders.

Construction is anticipated to commence in 2017 and Echo expects the new Integrated Resort to open in 2022. A summary of the plans submitted to the Queensland Government by Destination Brisbane can be accessed at www.queenswharfbrisbane.com.au.

For a summary of the key commercial details, see Appendix A.

For further information contact:

Financial Analysts:

Harry Theodore, Head of Strategy, Investor Relations and Group Reporting, 02 9657 8040

Chad Barton, Chief Financial Officer, 02 9657 9140

Media: Peter Jenkins, Head of Media Communications, 0439 015 292