When all of its deals close, the company will have just two wholly owned properties, including the flagship MGM Grand, remaining under its ownership. The company is keeping a 5% stake in the Blackstone-led venture that's buying Bellagio. "The casino industry is evolving and we figured the best use of our intellectual capital was to focus on sports, live entertainment and reduce leverage," Jim Murren, MGM's chairman and chief executive officer, said in an interview. "It's very historic for a variety of reasons." MGM has been restructuring under pressure from activist investors. The company has cut and reorganized management, and previously sold all but four of its wholly owned casinos to MGM Growth Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust it created three years ago. The REIT has an option to buy the MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. Casino magnate Steve Wynn opened the Bellagio in 1998 but MGM took ownership in 2000 when Wynn's Mirage Resorts merged with MGM.