Seminole Indians buy Hard Rock Cafe chain from Rank Leisure

Rank sells Hard Rock for ┬г490m

Leisure group Rank has sold the business for $965m (┬г490m) to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which adds Hard Rock to its existing casino and tourism operations.

Rank will return ┬г350m to shareholders via a special dividend from the sale, which is expected to be completed in March.

Ian Burke, chief executive of Rank, said: "We have maximised the value of Hard Rock through this disposal."

Rank will continue to own the Hard Rock casino in London as the group has been restructuring and selling off businesses to focus purely on its Mecca Bingo and casino gaming operations.

By focusing on gaming, Rank believes it will also be better placed to tackle issues such as the introduction of a smoking ban in England next year.

Rank's Mecca Bingo halls in Scotland have seen revenue fall 15pc year-on-year since the smoking ban was introduced north of the border in March, according to a trading statement today.

Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs advised Rank on the sale of Hard Rock.


London D. Telegrph - 7/12/2006

Perhaps now Surfcrest will be able to negotiate a discount at the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya?

[Bob]

Mecca Bingo and casino gaming operations.


Using the name "Mecca" for a gambling operation seems a bit out of sorts. What do they do at noon, all kneel down and bow toward's the largest slot machine in the room???

If Edith were present, they could kneel down and pray to the biggest slot in the room...

you might be behind me wearing sneakers.


If Edith were present, they could kneel down and pray to the biggest slot in the room...

Thank you! But it's spelled, slut, with a U...as in (and) F U: the rest of my acknowledgment of your kind appreciation of my goddessship.
And about that, 'kneeling': we prefer the reverse-missionary-position. AKA: 69. Knee-pads are expensive and I'm too busy to knit them. I'm dedicated to a relief effort: making cozies for glory-holes...such a relief!
Your truly,
The Goddess
Princess Minniecrotchintheface
(AKA: Edith)

But speaking of Hard Rock: The last time I was on a Hard Rock was the night we 'did it' on a cemetery vault. It made quite an impression on me: across my arse it said, "DIED 1875," for a week. I had to remove the mirror from the boudoir ceiling.

[Bob]

across my arse it said, "DIED 1875,"

Sometimes the editorial comment from your boyfriends is just awful. Shame on him.