LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI or "the Company") (Nasdaq:CHDN) today named Alan K. Tse (pronounced 'SAY) executive vice president and general counsel for the Company. Tse will oversee all legal, corporate governance and compliance matters for CDI, reporting directly to President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Evans. Tse assumes his new duties on March 22.
Tse joins North America's premier racing, gaming and entertainment company after previously serving as vice president and general counsel for LG Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A. Inc. ("LG") in San Diego, Calif., where he managed all legal affairs for the No. 2 cell phone manufacturer in the country with annual sales of more than $6 billion. During his tenure at LG, Tse directed the company's intellectual property strategy; managed relationships with government regulators, industry groups and alliances; and negotiated and managed all major sales and commercial contracts, including master purchase agreements with large telecommunications carriers such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint Wireless. Tse also served as a member of LG's executive management committee.
His professional history includes roles as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Ligos Corporation, a worldwide leader in video compression software technology, and as general counsel and vice president of strategic development and corporate secretary for Centerpoint Broadband Technologies, an optical telecommunications networking systems provider. Through these assignments, Tse gained significant entrepreneurial experience by overseeing corporate development activities, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, while also arranging joint venture and partnership agreements, preparing for initial public stock offerings, and securing private-equity financing.
Tse's solid background in merger and acquisition ("M&A") activities grew from his experience as a corporate securities attorney at the Palo Alto, Calif., law firm of Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP. There he represented a number of high-profile public companies in all M&A transactions while also ensuring his clients were compliant with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations.
"Alan's impressive background in business development and corporate law and governance make him an ideal fit for our executive team at a time when we are actively pursuing a number of growth opportunities," said President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Evans. "His unique combination of professional experiences and his remarkable work ethic will be invaluable to us as we move forward with CDI's strategic plan."
"Churchill Downs Incorporated has distinguished itself as a dynamic, growth-oriented company, and it's an honor to join the Company's executive leadership at such an exciting time in CDI's history," Tse said. "I look forward to applying my diverse experience to the many new challenges that lie ahead and to leading CDI's accomplished internal legal team."
Tse graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School after receiving his bachelor of arts in economics and political science from the University of California at Berkley. He is a co-founder and board member of the Asian American Legal Foundation and in 2005 was named one of the "Best Lawyers Under 40" by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
The 39-year-old native of Hong Kong, China, who moved to the U.S. at the age of seven with his family, was a nationally ranked chess master and has coached nationally ranked youth chess players.
Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI"), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates four world renowned Thoroughbred racing facilities: Arlington Park in Illinois, Calder Casino and Race Course in Florida, Churchill Downs Racetrack in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana. CDI operates slot and gaming operations in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi. CDI tracks are host to North America's most prestigious races, including the Arlington Million, the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, the Louisiana Derby and the Princess Rooney, along with hosting the Breeders' Cup World Championships for a record eighth time on Nov. 4-5, 2011. CDI also owns off-track betting facilities, TwinSpires.com, United Tote, television production, telecommunications and racing service companies such as BRIS and a 50-percent interest in the national cable and satellite network, HorseRacing TV, which supports CDI's network of simulcasting and racing operations. CDI trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found at www.ChurchillDownsIncorporated.com.