The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians (the "Tribe") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Buena Vista Gaming Authority (BVGA), have completed a syndicated loan restructuring in order to restructure BVGA's existing debt and provide additional working capital for future expansion prospects.

Western Alliance Gaming, a nationwide specialty banking company under Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, served as the term loan's Lead Arranger, Sole Bookrunner, and Administrative Agent. Zions Bancorporation, N.A., dba Nevada State Bank, CIT Bank, a Division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, and Columbia State Bank are among the other financial institutions involved in the reorganization.

"Our collaboration with Western Alliance Bank has been very helpful in moving our Tribe into bank financing and providing a positive economic impact to our Tribe for generations to come," said Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope Flores, Chairwoman of the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians' Tribal Council. "Their leadership and the entire Western Alliance Bank team are genuine and a joy to work with."

Western Alliance Bank is also taking over BVGA and the Tribe's depository accounts and treasury management services.

Harrah's Northern California tribal casino in Ione, California, about 50 miles southeast of Sacramento, is owned and operated by BVGA. The casino is a 71,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility with a 25,000 square-foot gaming floor that was built on roughly 13 acres of the Tribe's Indian reservation and opened in May of 2019.

"We are honored that BVGA trusted Western Alliance Bank to provide the industry knowledge and experience necessary to successfully execute the subject capital market transaction, allowing the Tribe to build on its gaming success in Northern California," Ashan Perera, managing director of Western Alliance Gaming, said. "Western Alliance Bank's innovative financing, which divided the capital structure into an OpCo and a PropCo, let us to assist in deleveraging and positioning BVGA and the Tribe for future success."

The purpose of the Tribe is to promote the health and general wellbeing of Tribe members, as well as to administer charity and other services that may aid members' social and economic progress.

Amador County, California's Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe. The Me-Wuk Indians have lived in the area since 1817, and the Rancheria land has been occupied by the Tribe since 1905. The Tribe has established a Natural Resources Department and a Child Development Center to oversee resource management, cultural repatriation, and clean water programs. On the Rancheria, the Tribe has also rehabilitated and repaired cultural and ceremonial spaces, a sweat lodge, and a cultural center.

Philip Potamitis, Ashan Perera, and Laura Linton, gaming industry financial professionals, lead Western Alliance Gaming.

Western Alliance Gaming, a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, focuses on lending and deposit solutions for the diverse gaming sector across the country, wherever business takes place. The relationship banking team combines commercial and industrial (C&I) and real estate expertise to provide customized solutions for mergers and acquisitions, expansions, and capital projects, all while providing exceptional, responsive service. The Gaming group, which is part of the top-performing Western Alliance Bancorporation, has the reach, resources, and extensive industry understanding to make a difference for consumers. Visit Western Alliance Gaming for additional details.