Lorne Cantor focuses his practice on M&A, complex joint ventures, and public and private securities offerings, with particular experience advising on gaming industry transactions. He also frequently represents clients in the hospitality, transportation, and technology sectors.
Lorne has worked on diverse matters involving numerous transactions for commercial and tribal gaming operators, online gaming companies, transportation and logistics companies, and a global engineering firm. Prior to joining Jones Day in 2019 he represented the Stars Group with its acquisition of the Rational Group, the world's largest poker business and owner and operator of the PokerStars and Full Tilt brands for $4.9 billion and in its acquisition and disposition of Cadillac Jack, a leading supplier of products and technology for the global gaming market. He also represented Hard Rock International in its acquisition of the hotel/casino in Atlantic City formerly known as the Trump Taj Mahal, an 18-year stadium naming rights agreement with the Miami Dolphins, and on its investment in the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Esperienze
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
M&A and Joint Ventures
Represented Hard Rock International and its joint venture partner in connection with the acquisition of the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City from affiliates of Carl Icahn.
Represented Atkins North America, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin, in its acquisition of Data Transfer Solutions, a leader in asset management and geographic information systems within the North American market.
Represented Hard Rock International in connection with its investment in HR Ottawa and the negotiation of management and branding agreements related to the operation of the Hard Rock Casino Ottawa, which was selected as the winning bidder by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to be the service provider for the Ottawa Area Gaming Bundle 1.
Represented Amaya in the sale of its subsidiary Cadillac Jack to AGS, a designer and manufacturer of gaming products for the casino floor and a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management, for an aggregate purchase price of $382 million.
Represented Hard Rock International in its acquisition of casino and hotel-casino rights in the western United States and in several key international markets from BREF HR.
Represented Hard Rock International with its investment in Northfield Park Associates and the negotiation of management and branding agreements related to the operation of the Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park in Cleveland, Ohio.
Represented Grupo Taca Holdings in its joint venture with Synergy Aerospace Group (whose holdings include Avianca, SAM, and Tampa airlines) to create one of the largest airline groups in Latin America.
Represented Bozel, a producer of calcium silicon, in the sale of its European and Brazilian subsidiaries to Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. within its chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.
Represented Florida East Coast Industries with its acquisition of the Codina Group, one of the largest industrial developers in Florida.
Represented Capitalink, a middle-market investment bank based in South Florida, on its merger with and into Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services.
Represented EPIQ Systems with its acquisition of the claims preference business of Gazes and Hilsoft Notifications, a provider of legal notification services.
Represented Hull & Company, a wholesale insurance broker, with its sale to Brown & Brown.
Securities Offerings and Financings
Represented the Seminole Tribe of Florida in connection with its new $2.4 billion senior secured credit agreement consisting of a $500 million revolver due 2022, $200 million funded term loan A due 2022, $500 million delayed draw term loan A due 2022, and $1.2 billion funded term loan B due 2024, which is secured by a pledge of revenues generated by certain of the Seminole Tribe's gaming facilities.
Represented Amaya, as borrower, in connection with its acquisition of the Oldford Group Limited, for senior secured credit facilities in the aggregate amount of $2.9 billion and consisting of the following: a $1.75 billion seven-year first lien term loan and a €200 million seven-year first lien term loan, a $100 million five-year first lien revolving credit facility, and an $800 million eight-year second lien term loan.
Represented Hard Rock International in a $640 million financing comprised of a Rule 144A offering of $350 million senior notes due 2021 and a $290 million senior secured term loan. The representation also included a related tender offer for $525 million outstanding senior secured notes due 2014.
Represented the Seminole Tribe of Florida in multiple finance and securities transactions including a $750 million senior secured credit facility, Rule 144A offering of $367 million gaming division bonds due 2017, and Rule 144A offering of $459 million special obligation bonds due 2020.
Represented the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians with its $410 million syndicated credit facility and the related tender offer of its outstanding senior indebtedness.
- University of Miami (J.D. magna cum laude 1999; Order of the Coif; Law Review; The J. Donald and Agnes E. Shoecraft Law Scholarship); Tufts University (B.A. in Political Science 1996)
- Florida
Acritas "Star Lawyer" (2018)
IFLR1000: "highly recognized practitioner — M&A (Florida)" (2018)
South Florida Legal Guide "top lawyer" (2014-2016)
Finalist, Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year — Corporate International Category" (2015)
"40 Under 40," Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2014)