According to a statement released this week, casino operator Trump Entertainment, which manages three casinos in Atlantic City, did not reach an agreement with potential buyers and decided to end all negotiations to sell itself. The decision brought the company’s shares down 18 percent.

Two years ago, Trump Entertainment came out of bankruptcy and this year in March it hired Merrill Lynch to advise it in financial matters. Even though Donald Trump’s company is no longer considering acquisition proposals, it continues reviewing other strategies, like cost cutting, as explained in the press release.

As part of the expenses reduction plan, executive vice president of design and construction Paul Keller and Chief Information Officer Virginia McDowell were made redundant by the casino operator, which does not intend to replace them.

The news about Trump Entertainment’s failed acquisition comes in the middle of a general interest for casino assets. Last month, casino and racetrack operator Penn National Gaming Inc. was purchased for $6.1 billion while Harrah’s Entertainment, the world’s largest casino operator, is to be bought by private firms for $17 million.