AZTAR SHARES RISE DUE TO BUY-OUT SPECULATION

July 12, 1999
Speculation that Aztar Corp., the Phoenix-based operator of the Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, will be acquired by another company have driven the company's share prices sharply higher over the last week.

The shares reached a 16-month high of 9 1/4 on July 1, then fell 1/8 to 8 13/16 on July 2. As of Friday, July 9, the shares closed at 9 5/16, which was up 3/16.

It has been speculated that Aztar may be in line to be acquired by another company that wants to develop a casino on the Las Vegas Strip, according to analysts. The aging Tropicana casino resort in Las Vegas, which sits on 34 acres, is one of the last prime locations on the strip that could be acquired. Las Vegas is the world's largest gambling market.

Aztar Corp. operates in major domestic gaming markets with casino hotel facilities in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada. It also operates riverboat casinos in Caruthersville, Missouri, and Evansville, Indiana.

Friday's stock figures were as follows:

AZTAR CORP Jul 09 16:01

Last Sale

9 5/16

  Last Trade Size

2000

Change

+3/16

% Change

2.05

Open

9 1/4

Previous Close

9 1/8

High

9 7/16

Low

9 3/16

EPS

0.2820

P/E Ratio

33.0230

52 Week High

9.25

52 Week Low

2.88

Div/Share

0.0000

Volume

311,800

Symbol

AZR

Exchange

NYSE