Analysis: Wells Fargo’s Patience Is Key to Revel’s Future
Following the collapse of yet another deal to sell Atlantic City, N.J.’s defunct Revel Casino Hotel, time may be running out for the resort to find a savior, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Revel, which has seen two bankruptcy court-approved deals fall through, must once again begin discussions with potential buyers. And with no other proposed buyer yet to emerge, Revel’s continued survival is heavily dependent on primary lender Wells Fargo & Co.’s willingness to continue to provide funding. Though Revel shut its doors in September leaving thousands out of work, millions of dollars in legal expenses and utility payments continue to accrue each month. Much of that has been paid for by the Wells Fargo loans. “Wells Fargo has to make this calculated decision about whether to fund losses with the hope they will be able to make up those losses with an increased purchase price,” said Joel Levitin, a lawyer at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel who isn’t involved in the case. Shaun Martin, Revel’s chief restructuring officer, said at a hearing last week that no formal offers have been made for Revel, but that there have been “a lot of inquiries.”
