ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
MGM MIRAGE is referred to as the “Company” or the “Registrant,” and may also be referred to as “we,” “us” or “our”. MGM MIRAGE is one of the largest gaming companies in the world. We own what we believe to be the world’s finest collection of casino resorts. Our strategy is predicated on creating resorts of memorable character, treating our employees well and providing superior service for our guests. The Company was organized as MGM Grand, Inc. on January 29, 1986 and is a Delaware corporation. In May 2000, MGM Grand Inc. acquired Mirage Resorts, Incorporated in a merger transaction. Mirage Resorts, Incorporated is also referred to in this Form 10-K as “Mirage”.
Our Operating Casino Resorts
We have provided below certain information about our casino resorts as of December 31, 2004. Except as otherwise indicated, we wholly own and operate the resorts shown below.
(1)
Includes slot machines and other coin-operated gaming devices.
(2)
Includes blackjack (“21”), baccarat, craps, roulette, pai gow, pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, and other table games. Does not include poker tables.
(3)
Owned and operated by a 50-50 joint venture with Mandalay Resort Group.
(4)
Owned and operated by a 50-50 limited liability company with Boyd Gaming Corporation.
Las Vegas Strip Resorts
Bellagio is an elegant European-style luxury resort located on an approximately 80-acre site with 1,450 feet of frontage at the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The resort overlooks an eight-acre lake. Each day, more than 1,000 fountains in the lake come alive at regular intervals in a choreographed ballet of water, music and lights. Bellagio features award-winning casual and gourmet restaurants, including the world-famous Le Cirque, Olives, Michael Mina and Picasso restaurants; upscale retail boutiques, including those leased to Armani, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Tiffany & Co.; and extensive meeting, convention and banquet space. Bellagio’s specially designed theatre is home to the spectacular show “O” produced and performed by the talented Cirque du Soleil organization. Bellagio also offers Light, an upscale nightclub, Caramel, a sophisticated lounge and nightclub, as well as several other bars and lounges. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art features rotating exhibitions of original masterpieces from museums and private collections. The surroundings of Bellagio are lushly landscaped with classical gardens and European fountains and pools. Inside, a botanical conservatory is filled with vibrant colors and pleasing scents that change with the seasons. Bellagio has received the prestigious Five Diamond award from AAA for the last four years, as has Picasso. Le Cirque has also earned the award for the last two years.
We recently expanded Bellagio. In December 2004, we opened a new 928-room tower and an expanded spa and salon. In addition, we added retail and meeting space and Sensi, a new restaurant featuring multiple exhibition kitchens. In 2005, we will open an expanded poker room, upgrade the fountain show and remodel many of the common areas of Bellagio.
MGM Grand Las Vegas is a destination resort located on approximately 113 acres, with over 350 feet of frontage on the Las Vegas Strip and 1,450 feet of frontage on Tropicana Avenue. MGM Grand Las Vegas includes the Mansion, an exclusive enclave featuring a collection of exquisite suites and a private dining room catering to our premium gaming customers. MGM Grand Las Vegas features an extensive array of restaurants, including Craftsteak, by the James Beard award-winning chef Tom Colicchio, NOBHILL and SeaBlue by Michael Mina, Pearl, Shibuya, Diego, and Fiamma Trattoria. Other amenities include the Studio 54 nightclub, Tabu, the Ultra Lounge, Teatro, numerous retail shopping outlets, a 380,000 square foot state-of-the-art conference center, and an extensive pool and spa complex.
Entertainment options at MGM Grand Las Vegas include KÀ, the newest Cirque du Soleil show performed in a custom designed theatre seating almost 2,000 guests; the Hollywood Theatre, showcasing headliner entertainment; and La Femme. The MGM Grand Garden is a special events center with a capacity of over 16,000 seats, and provides a venue for concerts by such stars as Madonna, Cher, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel and others, as well as championship boxing and other sporting events.
In 2002, we entered into an agreement with Turnberry Associates to develop luxury condominium towers at MGM Grand Las Vegas. We initially contributed land to the project for a 50% investment. Turnberry Associates contributed $9 million in cash and is managing the development and sales process. The venture obtained construction financing for the remainder of the estimated $210 million cost of the first tower, which will feature 576 units. We will have the opportunity to rent the condominiums to third parties on behalf of owners who elect to have us do so. Based on market acceptance of the initial tower, we and Turnberry Associates have commenced the sales phase for a second tower.
We recently completed the renovation of the 29th floor at MGM Grand Las Vegas as the SKYLOFTS, featuring the ultimate in personal service for discerning guests in two floor suites with the finest guest amenities. In 2005, we will open a poker room and relocate the sports book in the renovated Dome Casino, and expand our Mansion casino and add two new restaurants by world famous chef Joel Robuchon in the former sports book location.
The Mirage is a luxurious, tropically themed destination resort located on approximately 100 acres, shared with TI, with 2,200 feet of combined Strip frontage near the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The exterior of the resort is landscaped with palm trees, abundant foliage and more than four acres of lagoons and other water features centered around a 54-foot volcano and waterfall. Each evening, the volcano erupts at regular intervals, with flames that spectacularly illuminate the front of the resort. Inside the front entrance is an atrium with a tropical garden and additional water features capped by a 100-foot-high glass dome, designed to replicate the sights, sounds and fragrances of the South Seas. Located at the rear of the hotel, adjacent to the swimming pool area, is a dolphin habitat featuring Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and The Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy, an attraction that allows guests to view the beautiful exotic animals of Siegfried & Roy, the world-famous illusionists.
The Mirage features a wide array of restaurants, including the recently added Cravings, the Adam Tihany designed buffet experience, and Carnegie Deli. Entertainment at The Mirage includes a show featuring Danny Gans, the renowned singer/impersonator, in The Danny Gans Theatre. The Mirage also has numerous retail shopping outlets and 170,000 square feet of convention space, including the 90,000-square foot Mirage Events Center.
The Mirage is currently expanding and upgrading its amenities. In 2005, we will construct a 18,000-square foot nightclub and add or renovate several restaurants. We are also constructing a custom theatre for a new Cirque du Soleil production based on the works of The Beatles, scheduled to open in 2006.
Treasure Island (“TI”)
TI is a Caribbean-themed resort located next to The Mirage. TI and The Mirage are connected by a monorail. TI features several restaurants, including the recently remodeled buffet Dishes, Isla Mexican Kitchen and Canter’s Deli. Bars and lounges at TI include Mist and Tangerine, which features indoor/outdoor space with views of the Las Vegas Strip and nightly burlesque entertainment. The showroom at TI features Mystère, a unique choreographic mix of magic, special effects and feats of human prowess produced and performed by Cirque du Soleil. The Sirens of TI Show is performed at the front of the resort, providing a significant presence to visitors on the Las Vegas Strip and beckoning visitors into TI. In recognition of its superior customer service and facilities, TI has been awarded the Four Diamond rating by AAA. Construction is almost complete on a new pedestrian bridge linking TI to the Fashion Show Mall, along with a new north entrance to TI directly accessed by the pedestrian bridge.
New York-New York Hotel and Casino
New York-New York is a themed destination resort on the Las Vegas Strip at Tropicana Avenue, covering approximately 20 acres. The architecture at New York-New York replicates many of New York City’s landmark buildings and icons, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and a Coney Island-style roller coaster. The casino features highly themed interiors including Park Avenue with retail shops, a Central Park setting in the central casino area, and Little Italy with its traditional food court set inside a typical residential neighborhood. New York-New York also features several restaurants and numerous bars and lounges, including nationally recognized Coyote Ugly and ESPNZone and Nine Fine Irishmen, an authentic Irish Pub. Entertainment includes Zumanity by Cirque du Soleil and headline performer Rita Rudner. We recently remodeled all of the standard rooms at New York-New York.
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Monte Carlo is located on approximately 46 acres with 600 feet of frontage on the Las Vegas Strip, approximately one-half mile south of Bellagio. We own 50% of this resort in a joint venture with Mandalay Resort Group, which manages the resort. Monte Carlo has a palatial style reminiscent of the Belle Époque, the French Victorian architecture of the late 19th century. The resort has amenities such as fine dining at Andre’s, a brew pub featuring live entertainment, a health spa, a beauty salon, a 1,200-seat theatre featuring the world-renowned magician Lance Burton, and a large pool area.
Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
Boardwalk is located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo on the Las Vegas Strip. This facility includes 654 hotel rooms and 32,000 square feet of casino space. Other amenities at Boardwalk include a coffee shop, a buffet, an entertainment lounge, a gift shop, interior meeting space and two outdoor swimming pools. Boardwalk will be closed within the next two years in order to begin construction of Project CityCenter.
Other Nevada Resorts
Primm Valley Resorts consists of three hotel-casinos on both sides of Interstate 15 at the California/Nevada state line in Primm, Nevada (about 40 miles south of Las Vegas) and the Primm Valley Golf Club nearby in California. Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, Primm Valley Resort & Casino, Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino, Primm Valley Golf Club and three gas stations including the Primm Center (collectively, the “Primm Valley Resorts”) form a major destination location and offer visitors driving from California the first opportunity to wager upon entering Nevada and the last opportunity before leaving.
Primm Valley Resorts offer an array of amenities and attractions, including a 25,000-square foot conference center, numerous owned and leased restaurants, and a variety of amusement rides. The 6,100-seat Star of the Desert Arena hosts top-name entertainers. Connected to Primm Valley Resorts is the Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas, a shopping mall containing approximately 400,000 square feet of retail space with over 100 retail outlet stores. The Fashion Outlet is owned and operated by a third party.
We own and operate an exclusive world-class golf course, Shadow Creek, located approximately ten miles north of our Las Vegas Strip resorts. Shadow Creek is ranked 7th in Golf Digest’s ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. We also own and operate the Primm Valley Golf Club, located four miles south of Primm in California, which includes two 18-hole championship courses. All of these golf courses were designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.
Other Resorts
MGM Grand Detroit is our interim casino facility in Detroit, Michigan. The facility’s interior is decorated in an Art Deco motif with themed bars, a VIP lounge and several restaurants, including our signature upscale restaurant, the Hollywood Brown Derby. The site is conveniently located off the Howard Street exit from the John C. Lodge Expressway in downtown Detroit, and has parking for over 3,000 vehicles in two parking garages and additional on-site covered parking.
Beau Rivage is a luxurious beachfront resort located on a 41-acre site with 1,400 feet of frontage where Interstate 110 meets the Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. The graceful driveway leading to Beau Rivage is lined with intricate gardens and stately oak trees and large trees fill the resort’s skylit atrium lobby. Distinctive restaurants offer a variety of dining experiences, including a café nestled in the atrium gardens, Port House, a steak and seafood restaurant surrounded by tropical fish and coral reefs, and Mikado, featuring creative and contemporary Asian cuisine. Adjoining its lavish health spa and salon is a lushly landscaped swimming pool and café overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Beau Rivage also offers a state-of-the-art convention center, a shopping esplanade, a 1,600-seat theatre and a brew pub with live entertainment. Beau Rivage is rated as a Four Diamond resort by AAA. We have begun construction on a world-class golf course, Fallen Oak, designed by Tom Fazio, to be located approximately 20 minutes from the resort.
The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa is located on 29 acres at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, New Jersey and opened July 3, 2003. In addition to its 2,000 guest rooms and suites and extensive gaming floor, Borgata includes several specialty restaurants, retail shops, a European-style health spa, meeting space and unique entertainment venues. Borgata is the first new casino in Atlantic City in over 13 years. We own 50% of the limited liability company that owns Borgata. Boyd Gaming Corporation owns the other 50% and also operates the resort.
Borgata is currently expanding its gaming and non-gaming amenities, adding 36 casino table games and 600 slot machines, along with additional restaurant, entertainment and other amenities. This project is expected to be completed in 2006. Additionally, Borgata has plans to add another hotel tower featuring 800 guestrooms, suites and resort condominiums, along with a new spa, parking garage and meeting rooms. This project is expected to be completed in 2007. Neither project is expected to require contributions from us, as existing operating cash flow and Borgata’s recently renegotiated bank credit facility is anticipated to provide for the cost of the expansions.
Mandalay Resort Group
On June 16, 2004, we announced that we had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Mandalay Resort Group (“Mandalay”), a publicly traded company, under which we will acquire Mandalay for $71.00 in cash for each share of common stock of Mandalay. Mandalay owns and operates eleven properties in Nevada, owns and operates Gold Strike, a hotel/casino in Tunica County, Mississippi, owns a 50% interest in Silver Legacy in Reno, a 50% interest in Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, a 50% interest in Grand Victoria, a riverboat in Elgin, Illinois, and a 53.5% interest in MotorCity Casino in Detroit, Michigan.
The total consideration is approximately $8.1 billion, including equity value of approximately $4.8 billion, convertible debentures with a redemption value of approximately $574 million, the assumption or repayment of other outstanding Mandalay debt with a fair value of approximately $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2004, and $100 million of estimated transaction costs. The transaction is structured as a merger of one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries with and into Mandalay. The transaction will be accounted for as a purchase and is anticipated to close during the first quarter of 2005, subject to the disposition of one of the Detroit casinos and addressing Illinois regulatory matters regarding Mandalay’s ownership interest in Grand Victoria.
As of January 31, 2005, Mandalay’s resorts (including Monte Carlo) included over 35,000 hotel rooms and offered almost 900 table games and over 22,000 slot machines in nearly 1.1 billion square feet of casino space.
Future Development
Project CityCenter
In November 2004, we announced a plan to develop a multi-billion dollar urban metropolis, initially called Project CityCenter, on 66 acres of land on the Las Vegas Strip, between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. We anticipate that the first phase of Project CityCenter will include a 4,000-room casino resort, three 400-room boutique hotels, approximately 550,000 square feet of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues, and 1,650 units of luxury condominium, hotel/condominium and private residence clubs.
We expect that the complete design work for Project CityCenter will take 18 months and that the first phase will open in 2009. The design, budget and schedule of Project CityCenter are still preliminary however, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of Project CityCenter are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
We own approximately 130 acres on Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In addition, Borgata occupies 29 acres at Renaissance Pointe, including 27 acres it owns and two acres we lease to Borgata. Of the remaining land, approximately 95 acres are suitable for development, and a portion of these acres consists of common roads, landscaping and master plan improvements which we designed and developed as required by our agreement with Boyd.
In October 2002, we announced the suspension of our development activities on our wholly-owned project on the Renaissance Pointe land in Atlantic City. We must apply for and receive numerous governmental permits and satisfy other conditions before construction of a new resort on the Renaissance Pointe site could begin. No assurance can be given that we will develop a casino resort in New Jersey, or its ultimate schedule, size, configuration or cost if we do develop a casino resort.
The Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act provides that not more than three casinos may be licensed at any one time by the State of Michigan and that they be located only in the City of Detroit. In November 1997, MGM Grand Detroit, LLC was selected to develop one of the three authorized hotel-casino complexes. MGM Grand Detroit, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, holds a controlling interest in MGM Grand Detroit, LLC. A minority interest in MGM Grand Detroit, LLC is held by Partners Detroit, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company owned by residents and entities located in the Detroit metropolitan area.
MGM Grand Detroit, LLC has operated an interim casino facility in downtown Detroit since July 1999. In August 2002 the Detroit City Council approved revised development agreements with our subsidiary and two other developers. The revised development agreement released us and the City from certain of the obligations under the original agreement and significantly changed other provisions of the original agreement.
We are currently in the process of obtaining land and developing plans for the permanent facility. The design, budget and schedule of the permanent facility are not finalized, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of the facility are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects. The ability to construct the permanent casino facility is currently subject to resolution of the Lac Vieux litigation - see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings”. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an injunction, pending appeal, prohibiting the City and the developers from commencing construction pending further action of the 6th Circuit Court. Therefore, we do not know when we will be able to commence construction of, or complete, the permanent facility.
In anticipation of reforms to gambling legislation currently before the United Kingdom’s House of Parliament, we have entered into several strategic agreements in the United Kingdom, including the following:
In May 2003, we purchased a 25% interest in Metro Casinos Limited, which was developing a new casino in Bristol. Metro Casinos Limited is a subsidiary of R J Bown (Holdings) Ltd, the owner of the Westcliff Casino, one of the largest United Kingdom provincial casinos. We received regulatory approval for our investment in Metro Casinos Limited from the Gaming Board for Great Britain in November 2003. The Bristol facility opened in February 2004.
In October 2003, we entered into an agreement with the Earls Court and Olympia Group, which operates large exhibition and trade show facilities in London, to form a jointly owned company. The entity would develop an entertainment and gaming facility, which we would operate in space leased from the Earls Court and Olympia Group, to complement the existing Olympia facilities. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals. We own 82.5% of the entity.
In November 2003, we entered into an agreement with Newcastle United PLC to create a 50-50 joint venture which would build a major new mixed-use development, including casino development, on a site in Newcastle’s city centre adjacent to Newcastle United’s football stadium. Newcastle United is one of the leading English Premier League (Soccer) clubs. Construction of the complex is contingent upon the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals. Newcastle United PLC contributed the land to the joint venture, and we made an equity investment and will develop and operate the complex, as well as own the casino development in leased premises within the complex.
In February 2004, we announced an agreement in principle with The British Land Company PLC whereby we would operate a casino in leased premises within a newly developed leisure and entertainment complex adjacent to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals.
In June 2004, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Pansy Ho Chiu-king to develop, build and operate a hotel-casino resort in Macau S.A.R. The facility, which will use the “MGM Grand” name, will be located on a prime waterfront site and will include world-class resort amenities including a hotel, restaurants, entertainment facilities, convention, retail and spa facilities in addition to a significant gaming component. The agreement is subject to, among other things, the approval of the government of Macau S.A.R. and other regulatory approvals as well as the entry into a subconcession agreement with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM), the holder of one of the existing concessions to operate a casino in Macau. The Company has committed to invest up to $280 million in the entity in the form of capital contributions and shareholder loans. The complete design, timing, cost and scope of the project are at a preliminary stage and are subject to the risks attendant to large-scale projects.
New York Racing Association
We have an understanding with the New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) to manage VLTs at NYRA’s Aqueduct horseracing facility in metropolitan New York. We would assist in the development of the facility, including providing project financing, and would manage the facility for a fee. Work was halted on the VLT facility in August 2003 pending the outcome of an investigation of certain aspects of NYRA’s operations by Federal prosecutors. In December 2003, NYRA reached agreement with the Justice Department whereby NYRA was indicted with prosecution deferred. NYRA agreed to pay a fine and the indictment will be dismissed with prejudice upon NYRA implementing certain reforms and otherwise complying with the terms of the agreement. Our participation is subject to a definitive agreement, regulatory approvals and certain legislative changes by the State of New York.
We have recently agreed to form a joint venture with CapitaLand, a listed company in Singapore, to pursue a gaming license in Singapore in the event that the government elects to legalize casino gaming. We will own 60% of the joint venture.
We regularly evaluate possible expansion and acquisition opportunities in both the domestic and international markets. These opportunities may include the ownership, management and operation of gaming and other entertainment facilities in Nevada or in states other than Nevada or outside of the United States. We may undertake these opportunities either alone or in cooperation with one or more third parties. Development and operation of any gaming facility in a new jurisdiction is subject to many contingencies. Several of these contingencies are outside of our control and may include the passage of appropriate gaming legislation, the issuance of necessary permits, licenses and approvals, the availability of appropriate financing and the satisfaction of other conditions. We cannot be sure that we will decide or be able to proceed with any acquisition or expansion opportunities.
Marketing
All of our casino resorts operate 24 hours each day, every day of the year. We do not consider our business to be particularly seasonal. We believe that the largest portion of our Nevada customers live in Southern California, although other geographic areas are also important.
The level of gaming activity at our casinos and the pricing of our resorts’ hotel rooms are the most significant factors in determining our revenues and operating income. In 2004, we generated slightly over half of our net revenues from gaming activities and almost a quarter of our net revenues from room sales. We also receive a large amount of revenues from food and beverage, entertainment and retail operations. Since we believe that the number of walk-in customers also affects the success of all of our casino resorts, we design our facilities to maximize their attraction to guests of other hotels.
The principal segments of the Nevada and Mississippi gaming markets are leisure travel, premium gaming customers, conventions, including small meetings and corporate incentive programs, and tour and travel. Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Mirage appeal to the upper end of each market segment, balancing their business by using the convention and tour and travel segments to fill the mid-week and off-peak periods. Our marketing strategy for TI and New York-New York is aimed at attracting middle- to upper-middle-income wagerers, largely from the leisure travel and, to a lesser extent, the tour and travel segments. Boardwalk and Primm Valley Resorts appeal primarily to middle-income customers attracted by room, food and beverage and entertainment prices that are lower than those offered by the major Las Vegas hotel-casinos.
We utilize our world-class golf courses in marketing programs at our Las Vegas Strip and other Nevada resorts. Our major Las Vegas casino resorts offer luxury suite packages that include golf privileges at Shadow Creek. In connection with our marketing activities, we also invite our premium casino customers to play Shadow Creek on a complimentary basis. We use Primm Valley Golf Club for marketing purposes at our Las Vegas and Primm resorts, including offering room and golf packages at special rates.
We believe Beau Rivage is the most luxurious hotel-casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Beau Rivage seeks to attract the most affluent customers in each market segment, particularly those who live in major cities in the Southeast United States, as well as customers residing in the Gulf Coast region. MGM Grand Detroit markets primarily to customers within a 150-mile radius of Detroit. Its customers are attracted by its diverse gaming and dining offerings, its convenient location and its ample onsite parking facilities.
We advertise on radio, television and billboards and in newspapers and magazines in selected cities throughout the United States, as well as on the Internet and by direct mail. We also advertise through our regional marketing offices located in major United States and foreign cities. A key element of marketing to high-level wagerers is personal contact by our marketing personnel. Direct marketing is also important in the convention segment. We maintain internet websites which inform customers about our resorts and allow our customers to reserve hotel rooms and make restaurant and show reservations.
We utilize technology to maximize revenue and efficiency in gaming as well. Our Players Club links seven of our United States resorts, and consolidates all slots and table games activity for customers with a Players Club account. Customers qualify for benefits at all of these resorts, regardless of where they play. We believe that our Players Club enables us to more effectively market to our customers. Almost all of the slot machines at our United States resorts operate with International Game Technology’s EZ-Pay™ cashless gaming system. We believe that this system enhances the customer experience and increases the revenue potential of our slot machines.
Issuance of Markers
Marker play represents a significant portion of the table games volume at Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Mirage. Our other facilities do not emphasize marker play to the same extent, although we offer markers to customers at those casinos as well.
We maintain strict controls over the issuance of markers and aggressively pursue collection from those customers who fail to pay their marker balances timely. These collection efforts are similar to those used by most large corporations when dealing with overdue customer accounts, including the mailing of statements and delinquency notices, personal contacts, the use of outside collection agencies and civil litigation. In Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, amounts owed for markers which are not timely paid are enforceable under state laws. All other states are required to enforce a judgment for amounts owed for markers which are not timely paid, entered into in Nevada, Mississippi or Michigan, pursuant to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution. Amounts owed for markers which are not timely paid are not legally enforceable in some foreign countries, but the United States assets of foreign customers may be reached to satisfy judgments entered in the United States. A significant portion of our Company’s accounts receivable, for amounts unpaid resulting from markers which are not collectible through banking channels, is owed by major casino customers from the Far East. The collectibility of unpaid markers is affected by a number of factors, including changes in currency exchange rates and economic conditions in the customers’ home countries.
Supervision of Gaming Activities
In connection with the supervision of gaming activities at our casinos, we maintain stringent controls on the recording of all receipts and disbursements. These audit and cash controls include:
• Locked cash boxes on the casino floor;
• Daily cash and coin counts performed by employees who are independent of casino operations;
• Constant observation and supervision of the gaming area;
• Observation and recording of gaming and other areas by closed-circuit television;
• Constant computer monitoring of our slot machines; and
• Timely analysis of deviations from expected performance.
Competition
Our Las Vegas casino resorts compete with a large number of other hotel-casinos in the Las Vegas area, including major hotel-casinos on or near the Las Vegas Strip, major hotel-casinos in the downtown area, which is about five miles from the center of the Strip, and several major facilities elsewhere in the Las Vegas area. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there were approximately 132,000 guestrooms in Las Vegas at December 31, 2004, up from approximately 130,000 rooms at December 31, 2003. Las Vegas visitor volume was 37.4 million in 2004, a 5% increase from the 35.5 million reported for 2003. Additional new hotel-casinos and expansion projects at existing Las Vegas hotel-casinos are under construction or have been proposed. In addition, further expansion of Native American gaming in California is likely. We are unable to determine to what extent increased competition will affect our future operating results.
The Primm Valley Resorts compete primarily with two hotel-casinos located 11 miles north along Interstate 15 in Jean, Nevada and with the numerous other hotels and casinos in the Las Vegas area, as well as Native American gaming facilities in Southern California. Since many of our current customers stop at Primm as they are driving on Interstate 15 to and from major casino-hotels located in Las Vegas, we believe that our success at Primm is also favorably influenced by the popularity of the Las Vegas resorts. The expansion of Native American gaming has already had an impact on our Primm Valley Resorts, and the substantial expansion of Native American gaming facilities in California, which is currently anticipated, could have a further adverse effect on the Primm Valley Resorts.
MGM Grand Detroit competes in this market with two other interim casinos located in Detroit, as well as a government-owned casino located nearby in Windsor, Ontario. There are Native American casinos in Michigan, but none are near the Detroit metropolitan area.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Beau Rivage competes with 11 other casinos in the Mississippi Gulf Coast market, nine of which offer hotel accommodations. Gulf Coast casinos also compete in the regional market with a land-based casino in New Orleans and a land-based Native American hotel-casino in central Mississippi. Casinos in the Gulf Coast market also compete for the south Florida market with casinos in the Bahamas. Gulf Coast casinos compete to a lesser extent with a number of casinos in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Our Company’s facilities also compete for gaming customers with hotel-casino operations located in other areas of the United States and other parts of the world, and for vacationers with non-gaming tourist destinations such as Hawaii, Florida and cruise ships. Our hotel-casinos compete to a lesser extent with state-sponsored lotteries, off-track wagering, card parlors, and other forms of legalized gaming in the United States. In recent years, certain states have legalized, and several other states have considered legalizing, casino gaming. We do not believe that legalization or expansion of casino gaming in those jurisdictions would have a material adverse impact on our operations. However, we do believe that the legalization of large-scale land-based casino gaming in or near certain major metropolitan areas, particularly in California, could have a material adverse effect on the Las Vegas market.
How We Compete
Our major casino resorts compete on the basis of:
• Recruiting, training and retaining well-qualified and motivated employees who provide superior and friendly customer service;
• Offering high-quality guestrooms and dining, entertainment and retail options;
• Providing unique, “must-see” entertainment attractions;
• Our marketing and promotional programs; and
• The superior locations and sites of our resorts.
The principal negative factors relating to our competitive position are:
• Our limited geographic diversification (our major resorts are concentrated on the Las Vegas Strip and some of our largest competitors operate in more gaming markets than we do);
• There are a number of gaming facilities located closer to where our customers live than our resorts;
• Our guestroom, dining and entertainment prices are often higher than those of most of our competitors in each market, although we believe that the quality of our facilities and services is also higher; and
• Our hotel-casinos compete to some extent with each other for customers. Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Mirage, in particular, compete for some of the same high-end customers.
Employees and Labor Relations
As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately 33,000 full-time and 7,000 part-time employees. At that date, we had collective bargaining contracts with unions covering approximately 16,000 of our employees. We do not have union contracts at Beau Rivage or Boardwalk. We consider our employee relations to be good.
Regulation and Licensing
Nevada Government Regulation
The ownership and operation of casino gaming facilities in Clark County, Nevada are subject to: (i) the Nevada Gaming Control Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Nevada Act”); and (ii) various local regulations. The Company’s gaming operations are subject to the licensing and regulatory control of the Nevada Gaming Commission (the “Nevada Commission”), the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (the “Nevada Board”) and the Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board (the “CCLGLB”). The Nevada Commission, the Nevada Board, and the CCLGLB are collectively referred to as the “Nevada Gaming Authorities.”
The laws, regulations and supervisory procedures of the Nevada Gaming Authorities are based upon declarations of public policy that are concerned with, among other things: (i) the prevention of unsavory or unsuitable persons from having a direct or indirect involvement with gaming at any time or in any capacity; (ii) the establishment and maintenance of responsible accounting practices of licensees, including the establishment of minimum procedures for internal fiscal affairs and the safeguarding of assets and revenues; (iii) providing reliable record keeping and requiring the filing of periodic reports with the Nevada Gaming Authorities; (iv) the prevention of cheating and fraudulent practices; and (v) providing a source of state and local revenues through taxation and licensing fees. Any change in such laws, regulations and procedures could have an adverse effect on the Company’s gaming operations.
MGM Grand Hotel, LLC, dba MGM Grand Las Vegas, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, LLC, dba New York-New York Hotel & Casino, The Primadonna Company, LLC, dba Primm Valley Resort, Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s, THE MIRAGE CASINO-HOTEL, dba The Mirage, Bellagio, LLC, dba Bellagio, Treasure Island Corp., dba Treasure Island at The Mirage, Boardwalk Casino, Inc., dba Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, and Victoria Partners, dba Monte Carlo Resort & Casino (collectively referred to as the “Casino Licensees”), operate casinos and are required to be licensed by the Nevada Gaming Authorities. Each gaming license requires the periodic payment of fees and taxes and is not transferable. MGM Grand Las Vegas, New York-New York, The Primadonna Company, LLC and MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp. are also licensed as manufacturers and distributors of gaming devices and Boardwalk is licensed as a distributor of gaming devices. MGM Grand Las Vegas is also licensed to operate an International Gaming Salon. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are also licensed as shareholders, members and/or managers of certain corporate and limited liability company Casino Licensees. The Company’s subsidiary MRGS Corp. is licensed as a 50% general partner of Victoria Partners, the joint venture with Mandalay Resort Group that owns and operates Monte Carlo.
The Company and Mirage are also each required to be registered by the Nevada Commission as a publicly traded corporation (“Registered Corporation”) and as such, each is required periodically to submit detailed financial and operating reports to the Nevada Commission and furnish any other information that the Nevada Commission may require. No person may become a stockholder or member of, or receive any percentage of profits from, the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., without first obtaining licenses and approvals from the Nevada Gaming Authorities. The Company, Mirage and the foregoing subsidiaries have obtained from the Nevada Gaming Authorities the various registrations, approvals, permits and licenses required in order to engage in gaming activities in Nevada.
The Nevada Gaming Authorities may investigate any individual who has a material relationship to, or material involvement with, the Company, Mirage, the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp. or MRGS Corp., to determine whether such individual is suitable or should be licensed as a business associate of a gaming licensee. Officers, directors and certain key employees of the foregoing subsidiaries must file applications with the Nevada Gaming Authorities and may be required to be licensed by the Nevada Gaming Authorities. Certain officers, directors and key employees of the Company and Mirage who are actively and directly involved in the gaming activities of the foregoing subsidiaries may be required to be licensed or found suitable by the Nevada Gaming Authorities. The Nevada Gaming Authorities may deny an application for licensing or a finding of suitability for any cause they deem reasonable.
A finding of suitability is comparable to licensing, and both require submission of detailed personal and financial information followed by a thorough investigation. The applicant for licensing or a finding of suitability, or the gaming licensee by which the applicant is employed or for whom the applicant serves, must pay all the costs of the investigation. Changes in licensed positions must be reported to the Nevada Gaming Authorities, and in addition to their authority to deny an application for a finding of suitability or licensure, the Nevada Gaming Authorities have jurisdiction to disapprove a change in a corporate position.
If the Nevada Gaming Authorities were to find an officer, director or key employee unsuitable for licensing or to continue having a relationship with the Company, Mirage, the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., such company or companies would have to sever all relationships with such person. In addition, the Nevada Commission may require the Company, Mirage or the foregoing subsidiaries to terminate the employment of any person who refuses to file appropriate applications. Determinations of suitability or of questions pertaining to licensing are not subject to judicial review in Nevada.
The Company, Mirage, the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., and MRGS Corp. are required to submit detailed financial and operating reports to the Nevada Commission. Substantially all material loans, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions by the Company, Mirage and the foregoing subsidiaries must be reported to or approved by the Nevada Commission.
If it were determined that the Nevada Act was violated by the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., the gaming licenses they hold could be limited, conditioned, suspended or revoked, subject to compliance with certain statutory and regulatory procedures. In addition, the Company, Mirage, the foregoing subsidiaries and the persons involved could be subject to substantial fines for each separate violation of the Nevada Act at the discretion of the Nevada Commission. Further, a supervisor could be appointed by the Nevada Commission to operate the Company’s gaming properties and, under certain circumstances, earnings generated during the supervisor’s appointment (except for the reasonable rental value of the Company’s gaming properties) could be forfeited to the State of Nevada. Limitation, conditioning or suspension of any gaming license or the appointment of a supervisor could (and revocation of any gaming license would) materially adversely affect the Company’s gaming operations.
Any beneficial holder of the Company’s voting securities, regardless of the number of shares owned, may be required to file an application, be investigated, and have his or her suitability as a beneficial holder of the Company’s voting securities determined if the Nevada Commission has reason to believe that such ownership would otherwise be inconsistent with the declared policies of the State of Nevada. The applicant must pay all costs of investigation incurred by the Nevada Gaming Authorities in conducting any such investigation.
The Nevada Act requires any person who acquires more than 5% of any class of the Company’s voting securities to report the acquisition to the Nevada Commission. The Nevada Act requires that beneficial owners of more than 10% of any class of the Company’s voting securities apply to the Nevada Commission for a finding of suitability within thirty days after the Chairman of the Nevada Board mails the written notice requiring such filing. Under certain circumstances, an “institutional investor” as defined in the Nevada Act, which acquires more than 10% but not more than 15% of any class of the Company’s voting securities, may apply to the Nevada Commission for a waiver of such finding of suitability if such institutional investor holds the voting securities for investment purposes only. An institutional investor shall not be deemed to hold voting securities for investment purposes unless the voting securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business as an institutional investor and not for the purpose of causing, directly or indirectly, the election of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company, any change in the corporate charter, bylaws, management, policies or operations of the Company or any of its gaming affiliates, or any other action that the Nevada Commission finds to be inconsistent with holding the Company’s voting securities for investment purposes only. Activities that are not deemed to be inconsistent with holding voting securities for investment purposes only include: (i) voting on all matters voted on by stockholders; (ii) making financial and other inquiries of management of the type normally made by securities analysts for informational purposes and not to cause a change in its management, policies or operations; and (iii) such other activities as the Nevada Commission may determine to be consistent with such investment intent. If the beneficial holder of voting securities who must be found suitable is a corporation, partnership or trust, it must submit detailed business and financial information including a list of beneficial owners. The applicant is required to pay all costs of investigation.
Under the Nevada Act and under certain circumstances, an “institutional investor,” as defined in the Nevada Act, which intends to acquire not more than 15% of any class of nonvoting securities of a privately held corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company that is also a registered holding or intermediary company or the holder of a gaming license, may apply to the Nevada Commission for a waiver of the usual prior licensing or finding of suitability requirement if such institutional investor holds such nonvoting securities for investment purposes only. An institutional investor shall not be deemed to hold nonvoting securities for investment purposes unless the nonvoting securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business as an institutional investor, do not give the institutional investor management authority, and do not, directly or indirectly, allow the institutional investor to vote for the election or appointment of members of the board of directors, a general partner or manager, cause any change in the articles of organization, operating agreement, other organic document, management, policies or operations, or cause any other action that the Nevada Commission finds to be inconsistent with holding nonvoting securities for investment purposes only. Activities not deemed to be inconsistent with holding nonvoting securities for investment purposes only include: (i) nominating any candidate for election or appointment to the entity’s board of directors or equivalent in connection with a debt restructuring; (ii) making financial and other inquiries of management of the type normally made by securities analysts for informational purposes and not to cause a change in the entity’s management, policies or operations; and (iii) such other activities as the Nevada Commission may determine to be consistent with such investment intent. If the beneficial holder of nonvoting securities who must be found suitable is a corporation, partnership or trust, it must submit detailed business and financial information including a list of beneficial owners. The applicant is required to pay all costs of investigation.
Any person who fails or refuses to apply for a finding of suitability or a license within 30 days after being ordered to do so by the Nevada Commission or the Chairman of the Nevada Board may be found unsuitable. The same restrictions apply to a record owner if the record owner, after request, fails to identify the beneficial owner. Any stockholder found unsuitable and who holds, directly or indirectly, any beneficial ownership of the common stock of a Registered Corporation beyond such period of time as may be prescribed by the Nevada Commission may be guilty of a criminal offense. The Company is subject to disciplinary action if, after it receives notice that a person is unsuitable to be a stockholder or to have any other relationship with the Company, Mirage, the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., the Company, Mirage or the foregoing subsidiaries (i) pays that person any dividend or interest upon voting securities of the Company, (ii) allows that person to exercise, directly or indirectly, any voting right conferred through securities held by that person, (iii) pays remuneration in any form to that person for services rendered or otherwise, or (iv) fails to pursue all lawful efforts to require such unsuitable person to relinquish his or her voting securities for cash at fair market value. Additionally, the CCLGLB has taken the position that it has the authority to approve all persons owning or controlling the stock of any corporation controlling a gaming licensee.
The Nevada Commission may, in its discretion, require the holder of any debt security of a Registered Corporation to file an application, be investigated and be found suitable to own the debt security of a Registered Corporation. If the Nevada Commission determines that a person is unsuitable to own such security, then pursuant to the Nevada Act, the Registered Corporation can be sanctioned, including the loss of its approvals, if without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission, it: (i) pays to the unsuitable person any dividend, interest, or any distribution whatsoever; (ii) recognizes any voting right by such unsuitable person in connection with such securities; (iii) pays the unsuitable person remuneration in any form; or (iv) makes any payment to the unsuitable person by way of principal, redemption, conversion, exchange, liquidation or similar transaction.
The Company is required to maintain a current stock ledger in Nevada that may be examined by the Nevada Gaming Authorities at any time. If any securities are held in trust by an agent or by a nominee, the record holder may be required to disclose the identity of the beneficial owner to the Nevada Gaming Authorities. A failure to make such disclosure may be grounds for finding the record holder unsuitable. The Company is also required to render maximum assistance in determining the identity of the beneficial owner. The Nevada Commission has the power to require the Company’s and Mirage’s stock certificates to bear a legend indicating that such securities are subject to the Nevada Act. However, to date, the Nevada Commission has not imposed such a requirement on either the Company or Mirage.
Neither the Company nor Mirage may make a public offering of any securities without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission if the securities or the proceeds therefrom are intended to be used to construct, acquire or finance gaming facilities in Nevada, or to retire or extend obligations incurred for such purposes. Such approval, if given, does not constitute a finding, recommendation or approval by the Nevada Commission or the Nevada Board as to the accuracy or adequacy of the prospectus or the investment merits of the securities. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
Under the Nevada Act, none of the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., may guarantee a security issued by the Company or Mirage pursuant to a public offering, or pledge their assets to secure the payment or performance of the obligations evidenced by such a security issued by the Company or Mirage, without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission. Similarly, neither the common stock nor other ownership interests of the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., may be pledged, nor may the pledge of such common stock or other ownership interests foreclose on such a pledge, without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission. Restrictions on the transfer of any equity security issued by the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., and agreements not to encumber such securities, are ineffective without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission.
On January 22, 2004, the Nevada Commission granted the Company and Mirage prior approval to make public offerings for a period of 18 months, subject to certain conditions (the “Shelf Approval”). The Shelf Approval also includes approval for the Company and Mirage to place restrictions on the transfer of any equity security issued to the Casino Licensees, MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., or MRGS Corp., and to enter into agreements not to encumber such securities, pursuant to any public offering made under the Shelf Approval. However, the Shelf Approval may be rescinded for good cause without prior notice upon the issuance of an interlocutory stop order by the Chairman of the Nevada Board. The Shelf Approval does not constitute a finding, recommendation or approval by the Nevada Commission or the Nevada Board as to the accuracy or adequacy of the prospectus or the investment merits of the securities offered. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
Changes in control of the Company or Mirage through merger, consolidation, stock or asset acquisitions, management or consulting agreements, or any act or conduct by a person whereby he or she obtains control, may not occur without the prior approval of the Nevada Commission. Entities seeking to acquire control of a Registered Corporation must satisfy the Nevada Board and the Nevada Commission concerning a variety of stringent standards prior to assuming control of such Registered Corporation. The Nevada Commission may also require controlling stockholders, officers, directors and other persons having a material relationship or involvement with the entity proposing to acquire control to be investigated and licensed as part of the approval process of the transaction.
The Nevada legislature has declared that some corporate acquisitions opposed by management, repurchases of voting securities and corporate defensive tactics affecting Nevada gaming licensees, and Registered Corporations that are affiliated with those operations, may be injurious to stable and productive corporate gaming. The Nevada Commission has established a regulatory scheme to ameliorate the potentially adverse effects of these business practices upon Nevada’s gaming industry and to further Nevada’s policy to: (i) assure the financial stability of corporate gaming operators and their affiliates; (ii) preserve the beneficial aspects of conducting business in the corporate form; and (iii) promote a neutral environment for the orderly governance of corporate affairs. Approvals are, in certain circumstances, required from the Nevada Commission before the Company can make exceptional repurchases of voting securities above the current market price thereof and before a corporate acquisition opposed by management can be consummated.
The Nevada Act also requires prior approval of a plan of recapitalization proposed by a Registered Corporation’s board of directors in response to a tender offer made directly to the Registered Corporation’s stockholders for the purpose of acquiring control of the Registered Corporation.
License fees and taxes, computed in various ways depending on the type of gaming or activity involved, are payable to the State of Nevada and to Clark County. Depending upon the particular fee or tax involved, these fees and taxes are payable either monthly, quarterly or annually and are based upon either: (i) a percentage of the gross revenues received; (ii) the number of gaming devices operated; or (iii) the number of table games operated. The tax on gross revenues received is generally 6.75%. An excise tax is also paid by the Casino Licensees on charges for admission to any facility where certain forms of live entertainment are provided. Nevada licensees that hold a license as a manufacturer or a distributor, such as MGM Grand Las Vegas, New York-New York, The Primadonna Company, LLC, the Boardwalk and MGM MIRAGE Manufacturing Corp., also pay certain fees and taxes to the State of Nevada.
Any person who is licensed, required to be licensed, registered, required to be registered, or is under common control with such persons (collectively, “Licensees”), and who proposes to become involved in a gaming venture outside of Nevada, is required to deposit with the Nevada Board, and thereafter maintain, a revolving fund in the amount of $10,000 to pay the expenses of investigation by the Nevada Board of their participation in such foreign gaming. The revolving fund is subject to increase or decrease at the discretion of the Nevada Commission. Thereafter, Licensees are also required to comply with certain reporting requirements imposed by the Nevada Act.
Licensees are also subject to disciplinary action by the Nevada Commission if they knowingly violate any laws of the foreign jurisdiction pertaining to the foreign gaming operation, fail to conduct the foreign gaming operation in accordance with the standards of honesty and integrity required of Nevada gaming operations, engage in any activity or enter into any association that is unsuitable because it poses an unreasonable threat to the control of gaming in Nevada, reflects or tends to reflect discredit or disrepute upon the State of Nevada or gaming in Nevada, or is contrary to the gaming policies of Nevada, engage in any activity or enter into any association that interferes with the ability of the State of Nevada to collect gaming taxes and fees, or employ, contract with or associate with any person in the foreign gaming operation who has been denied a license or a finding of suitability in Nevada on the ground of personal unsuitability, or who has been found guilty of cheating at gambling.
The sale of alcoholic beverages by the Casino Licensees is subject to licensing, control and regulation by the applicable local authorities. All licenses are revocable and are not transferable. The agencies involved have full power to limit, condition, suspend or revoke any such license, and any such disciplinary action could (and revocation would) have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s operations.
Pursuant to a 1985 agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) and provisions of the Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994, the Nevada Commission and the Nevada Board have authority, under Regulation 6A of the Nevada Act, to enforce their own cash transaction reporting laws applicable to casinos which substantially parallel the federal Bank Secrecy Act. The Nevada Act requires gaming licensees to monitor receipts and disbursements of currency related to cash purchases of chips, cash wagers, cash deposits or cash payment of gaming debts in excess of $10,000 in a 24-hour period, and file reports of such transactions with the United States Internal Revenue Service. Casinos are required to file suspicious activity reports with the Treasury and provide copies thereof to the Nevada Board. Nevada casinos are required to meet the reporting and record keeping requirements of Treasury regulations recently amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.
Michigan Government Regulation and Taxation
The Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act (the “Michigan Act”) subjects the ownership and operation of casino gaming facilities to extensive state licensing and regulatory requirements. The Michigan Act also authorizes local regulation of casino gaming facilities by the City of Detroit, provided that any such local ordinances regulating casino gaming are consistent with the Michigan Act and rules promulgated to implement it.
The Michigan Act creates the Michigan Gaming Control Board (the “ Michigan Bord”) and authorizes it to grant casino licenses to not more than three applicants who have entered into development agreements with the City of Detroit. The Michigan Board is granted extensive authority to conduct background investigations and determine the suitability of casino license applicants, affiliated companies, officers, directors, or managerial employees of applicants and affiliated companies and persons or entities holding a one percent or greater direct or indirect interest in an applicant or affiliated company. Institutional investors holding less than certain specified amounts of debt or equity securities are exempted from meeting the suitability requirements of the Michigan Act, provided such securities are issued by a publicly traded corporation, such as MGM MIRAGE, and the securities were purchased for investment purposes only and not for the purpose of influencing or affecting the affairs of the issuer. Any person who supplies goods or services to a casino licensee which are directly related to, used in connection with, or affecting gaming, and any person who supplies other goods or services to a casino licensee on a regular and continuing basis, must obtain a supplier’s license from the Michigan Board. In addition, any individual employed by a casino licensee or by a supplier licensee whose work duties are related to or involved in the gambling operation or are performed in a restricted area or a gaming area of a casino must obtain an occupational license from the Michigan Board.
The Michigan Act imposes the burden of proof on the applicant for a casino license to establish its suitability to receive and hold the license. The applicant must establish its suitability as to integrity, moral character and reputation, business probity, financial ability and experience, responsibility, and other criteria deemed appropriate by the Michigan Board. A casino license is valid for a period of one year and the Michigan Board may refuse to renew it upon a determination that the licensee no longer meets the requirements for licensure.
The Michigan Board may, among other things, revoke, suspend or restrict a casino license. Substantial fines or forfeiture of assets for violations of gaming or liquor control laws or rules may also be levied against a casino licensee. In the event that a casino license is revoked or suspended for more than 120 days, the Michigan Act provides for the appointment of a conservator who, among other things, is required to preserve the assets to ensure that they shall continue to be operated in a sound and businesslike manner, or upon order of the Michigan Board, to sell or otherwise transfer the assets of the casino licensee or former licensee to another person or entity who meets the requirements of the Michigan Act for licensure, subject to certain approvals and consultations.
The Michigan Board has adopted administrative rules to implement the terms of the Michigan Act. Among other things, the rules impose more detailed substantive and procedural requirements with respect to casino licensing and operations. Included are requirements regarding such things as licensing investigations and hearings, record keeping and retention, contracting, reports to the Michigan Board, internal control and accounting procedures, security and surveillance, extensions of credit to gaming patrons, conduct of gaming, and transfers of ownership interests in licensed casinos. The rules also establish numerous Michigan Board procedures regarding licensing, disciplinary and other hearings, and similar matters. The rules have the force of law and are binding on the Michigan Board as well as on applicants for or holders of casino licenses.
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission licenses, controls and regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages by the MGM Grand Detroit casino pursuant to the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998. The Michigan Act also requires that casinos sell and distribute alcoholic beverages in a manner consistent with the Michigan Liquor Control Code.
The Detroit City Council enacted an ordinance entitled “Casino Gaming Authorization and Casino Development Agreement Certification and Compliance.” The ordinance authorizes casino gaming only by operators who are licensed by the Michigan Board and are parties to a development agreement which has been approved and certified by the City Council and is currently in effect, or are acting on behalf of such parties. The development agreement among the City of Detroit, MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit has been so approved and certified and is currently in effect. The ordinance requires each casino operator to submit to the Mayor of Detroit and to the City Council periodic reports regarding the operator’s compliance with its development agreement or, in the event of non-compliance, reasons for non-compliance and an explanation of efforts to comply. The ordinance requires the Mayor of Detroit to monitor each casino operator’s compliance with its development agreement, to take appropriate enforcement action in the event of default and to notify the City Council of defaults and enforcement action taken; and, if a development agreement is terminated, it requires the City Council to transmit notice of such action to the Michigan Board within five business days along with Detroit’s request that the Michigan Board revoke the relevant operator’s certificate of suitability or casino license. If a development agreement is terminated, the Michigan Act requires the Michigan Board to revoke the relevant operator’s casino license upon the request of Detroit.
The administrative rules of the Michigan Board prohibit a casino licensee or a holding company or affiliate that has control of a casino licensee in Michigan from entering into a debt transaction affecting the capitalization or financial viability of its Michigan casino operation without prior approval from the Michigan Board. On October 14, 2003, the Michigan Board authorized MGM Grand Detroit, LLC to borrow under the Company’s credit facilities for the purpose of financing the development of its permanent casino and the future expansion thereof, maintenance capital expenditures for its temporary and permanent casinos and the cost of renovating the temporary casino facility for adaptive re-use and/or sale following the completion of the permanent casino, and to secure such borrowings with liens upon substantially all of its assets. In the same order, the Michigan Board authorized MGM Grand Detroit, Inc. to pledge its equity interest in MGM Grand Detroit, LLC to secure such borrowings.
The Michigan Act effectively provides that each of the three casinos in Detroit shall pay a wagering tax equal to 24% of its adjusted gross receipts (up from 18% prior to September 1, 2004 and subject to adjustment as described below), which tax is shared between Michigan and Detroit, an annual municipal service fee equal to the greater of $4 million or 1.25% of its adjusted gross receipts, to be paid to Detroit to defray its cost of hosting casinos, and an annual assessment in the initial amount of approximately $8.3 million and adjusted annually based upon a consumer price index, to be paid by each casino to Michigan to defray its regulatory enforcement and other casino-related costs. These payments are in addition to the taxes, fees and assessments customarily paid by business entities operating in Detroit. The development agreement between it and Detroit also obligates MGM Grand Detroit, LLC to pay $34 million to Detroit and $10 million to Detroit’s Minority Business Development Fund, both of which payments have been made, and beginning on January 1, 2006 to pay 1% of its adjusted gross receipts to Detroit, to be increased to 2% of its adjusted gross receipts in any calendar year in which adjusted gross receipts exceed $400 million. Once our subsidiary has operated a permanent casino complex for 30 consecutive days and is determined to be in compliance with its development agreement with Detroit, the wagering tax rate effective under the Michigan Act will be reduced to 19%. Conversely, if it does not commence such operations by July 1, 2009, the rate will increase annually on a graduated basis to a maximum of 27% until such operations have commenced.
The Michigan Act provides that an entity holding more than a 10% ownership interest in one Michigan casino licensee is ineligible for licensure if it holds more than a 10% ownership interest in a second Michigan casino licensee. Therefore, upon consummation of its merger with Mandalay Resort Group, MGM MIRAGE will be required to dispose of its indirect ownership interest in MGM Grand Detroit, LLC or Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. (Motor City Casino) in accordance with the Michigan Act and Michigan Rules.
Mississippi Government Regulation
We conduct our Mississippi gaming operations through an indirect subsidiary, Beau Rivage Resorts, Inc., which owns and operates Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. The ownership and operation of casino facilities in Mississippi are subject to extensive state and local regulation, but primarily the licensing and regulatory control of the Mississippi Gaming Commission and the Mississippi State Tax Commission.
The Mississippi Gaming Control Act, (the “Mississippi Act”) which legalized dockside casino gaming in Mississippi, was enacted on June 29, 1990. Although not identical, the Mississippi Act is similar to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Effective October 29, 1991, the Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted regulations in furtherance of the Mississippi Act which are also similar in many respects to the Nevada gaming regulations. The laws, regulations and supervisory procedures of Mississippi and the Mississippi Gaming Commission seek to:
• prevent unsavory or unsuitable persons from having any direct or indirect involvement with gaming at any time or in any capacity;
• establish and maintain responsible accounting practices and procedures;
• maintain effective control over the financial practices of licensees, including establishing minimum procedures for internal fiscal affairs and safeguarding of assets and revenues, providing reliable record keeping and making periodic reports to the Mississippi Gaming Commission;
• prevent cheating and fraudulent practices;
• provide a source of state and local revenues through taxation and licensing fees; and
• ensure that gaming licensees, to the extent practicable, employ Mississippi residents.
The regulations are subject to amendment and interpretation by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Changes in Mississippi law or the regulations or the Mississippi Gaming Commission’s interpretations thereof may limit or otherwise materially affect the types of gaming that may be conducted, and could have a material adverse effect on us and our Mississippi gaming operations.
The Mississippi Act provides for legalized dockside gaming at the discretion of the 14 counties that either border the Gulf Coast or the Mississippi River, but only if the voters in such counties have not voted to prohibit gaming in that county. As of January 1, 2005, dockside gaming was permissible in nine of the 14 eligible counties in the state and gaming operations had commenced in Adams, Coahoma, Hancock, Harrison, Tunica, Warren and Washington counties. Under Mississippi law, gaming vessels must be located on the Mississippi River or on navigable waters in eligible counties along the Mississippi River, or in the waters of the State of Mississippi lying south of the state in eligible counties along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The law permits unlimited stakes gaming on permanently moored vessels on a 24-hour basis and does not restrict the percentage of space which may be utilized for gaming. There are no limitations on the number of gaming licenses which may be issued in Mississippi.
Beau Rivage Resorts and Beau Rivage Distribution Corp. (“BRDC”), a subsidiary of Beau Rivage Resorts, are subject to the licensing and regulatory control of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Beau Rivage Resorts is licensed as a Mississippi gaming operator, and BRDC is licensed as a Mississippi distributor of gaming devices. Gaming licenses require the periodic payment of fees and taxes and are not transferable. Gaming licenses are issued for a maximum term of three years and must be renewed periodically thereafter. Beau Rivage Resorts received its Mississippi gaming license on June 20, 1996 and a renewal on June 21, 1998. BRDC received its Mississippi distributor’s license on August 20, 1998. On May 18, 2000, the Mississippi Gaming Commission renewed the licenses of both Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC for terms of three years each, effective June 22, 2000. On May 21, 2003, the Mississippi Gaming Commission renewed the licenses of Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC effective June 23, 2003 through June 22, 2006.
On May 18, 2000, the Mississippi Gaming Commission registered MGM MIRAGE under the Mississippi Act as a publicly traded holding company of Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC. As a registered publicly traded corporation, MGM MIRAGE is subject to the licensing and regulatory control of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and is required to periodically submit detailed financial, operating and other reports to the Mississippi Gaming Commission and furnish any other information which the Mississippi Gaming Commission may require. If MGM MIRAGE is unable to satisfy the registration requirements of the Mississippi Act, MGM MIRAGE and its licensed subsidiaries cannot own or operate gaming facilities in Mississippi. Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC are also required to periodically submit detailed financial, operating and other reports to the Mississippi Gaming Commission and the Mississippi State Tax Commission and to furnish any other information required thereby. No person may become a stockholder of or receive any percentage of profits from a licensed subsidiary of a holding company without first obtaining licenses and approvals from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Certain of our officers, directors and employees must be found suitable or be licensed by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. We believe that we have applied for all necessary findings of suitability with respect to these persons, although the Mississippi Gaming Commission, in its discretion, may require additional persons to file applications for findings of suitability. In addition, any person having a material relationship or involvement with us may be required to be found suitable, in which case those persons must pay the costs and fees associated with the investigation. A finding of suitability requires submission of detailed personal and financial information followed by a thorough investigation. There can be no assurance that a person who is subject to a finding of suitability will be found suitable by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The Mississippi Gaming Commission may deny an application for a finding of suitability for any cause that it deems reasonable. Findings of suitability must be periodically renewed.
Changes in certain licensed positions must be reported to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. In addition to its authority to deny an application for a finding of suitability, the Mississippi Gaming Commission has jurisdiction to disapprove a change in a licensed position. The Mississippi Gaming Commission has the power to require us to suspend or dismiss officers, directors and other key employees or sever relationships with other persons who refuse to file appropriate applications or whom the authorities find unsuitable to act in their capacities.
Employees associated with gaming must obtain work permits that are subject to immediate suspension. The Mississippi Gaming Commission will refuse to issue a work permit to a person convicted of a felony and it may refuse to issue a work permit to a gaming employee if the employee has committed various misdemeanors or knowingly violated the Mississippi Act or for any other reasonable cause.
At any time, the Mississippi Gaming Commission has the power to investigate and require a finding of suitability of any record or beneficial stockholders of a publicly traded corporation registered with the Mississippi Gaming Commission, regardless of the percentage of ownership. Mississippi law requires any person who acquires more than 5% of the voting securities of a publicly traded corporation registered with the Mississippi Gaming Commission to report the acquisition to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and that person may be required to be found suitable. Also, any person who becomes a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the voting securities of such a company, as reported to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, must apply for a finding of suitability by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. An applicant for finding of suitability must pay the costs and fees that the Mississippi Gaming Commission incurs in conducting the investigation. The Mississippi Gaming Commission has generally exercised its discretion to require a finding of suitability of any beneficial owner of more than 5% of a registered public or private company’s voting securities. However, the Mississippi Gaming Commission has adopted a regulation that permits certain institutional investors to own beneficially up to 15% and, under certain circumstances, up to 19%, of a registered or licensed company’s voting securities without a finding of suitability.
Under the regulations, an “institutional investor,” as defined therein, may apply to the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission for a waiver of a finding of suitability if such institutional investor (i) beneficially owns up to 15% (or, in certain circumstances, up to 19%) of the voting securities of a registered or licensed company, and (ii) holds the voting securities for investment purposes only. An institutional investor shall not be deemed to hold voting securities for investment purposes unless the voting securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business as an institutional investor and not for the purpose of causing, directly or indirectly, the election of a majority of the members of the board of directors of the registered or licensed company, any change in the registered or licensed company’s corporate charter, bylaws, management, policies or operations of the registered public or private company or any of its gaming affiliates, or any other action which the Mississippi Gaming Commission finds to be inconsistent with holding the registered or licensed company’s voting securities for investment purposes only.
Activities that are not deemed to be inconsistent with holding voting securities for investment purposes only include:
• voting, directly or indirectly through the delivery of a proxy furnished by the board of directors, on all matters voted upon by the holders of such voting securities;
• serving as a member of any committee of creditors or security holders formed in connection with a debt restructuring;
• nominating any candidate for election or appointment to the board of directors in connection with a debt restructuring;
• accepting appointment or election (or having a representative accept appointment or election) as a member of the board of directors in connection with a debt restructuring and serving in that capacity until the conclusion of the member’s term;
• making financial and other inquiries of management of the type normally made by securities analysts for informational purposes and not to cause a change in management, policies or operations; and
• such other activities as the Mississippi Gaming Commission may determine to be consistent with such investment intent.
If a stockholder who must be found suitable is a corporation, partnership or trust, it must submit detailed business and financial information including a list of beneficial owners. The Mississippi Gaming Commission may at any time dissolve, suspend, condition, limit or restrict a finding of suitability to own a registered public company’s equity interests for any cause it deems reasonable.
We may be required to disclose to the Mississippi Gaming Commission upon request the identities of the holders of any debt or other securities. In addition, under the Mississippi Act, the Mississippi Gaming Commission may, in its discretion, require holders of debt securities of registered corporations to file applications, investigate the holders, and require the holders to be found suitable to own the debt securities.
Although the Mississippi Gaming Commission generally does not require the individual holders of obligations such as notes to be investigated and found suitable, the Mississippi Gaming Commission retains the discretion to do so for any reason, including but not limited to a default, or where the holder of the debt instrument exercises a material influence over the gaming operations of the entity in question. Any holder of debt securities required to apply for a finding of suitability must pay all investigative fees and costs of the Mississippi Gaming Commission in connection with the investigation.
Any person who fails or refuses to apply for a finding of suitability or a license within 30 days after being ordered to do so by the Mississippi Gaming Commission may be found unsuitable. Any person found unsuitable and who holds, directly or indirectly, any beneficial ownership of our securities beyond the time that the Mississippi Gaming Commission prescribes, may be guilty of a misdemeanor. We will be subject to disciplinary action if, after receiving notice that a person is unsuitable to be a stockholder, a holder of our debt securities or to have any other relationship with us, we:
• pay the unsuitable person any dividend, interest or other distribution whatsoever;
• recognize the exercise, directly or indirectly, of any voting rights conferred through such securities held by the unsuitable person;
• pay the unsuitable person any remuneration in any form for services rendered or otherwise, except in limited and specific circumstances;
• make any payment to the unsuitable person by way of principal, redemption, conversion, exchange, liquidation or similar transaction; or
• fail to pursue all lawful efforts to require the unsuitable person to divest himself or herself of the securities, including, if necessary, the immediate purchase of the securities for cash at a fair market value.
Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC must maintain in Mississippi a current ledger with respect to the ownership of their equity securities and MGM MIRAGE must maintain in Mississippi a current list of its stockholders which must reflect the record ownership of each outstanding share of any equity security issued by MGM MIRAGE. The ledger and stockholder lists must be available for inspection by the Mississippi Gaming Commission at any time. If any of our securities are held in trust by an agent or by a nominee, the record holder may be required to disclose the identity of the beneficial owner to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. A failure to make that disclosure may be grounds for finding the record holder unsuitable. The Company must also render maximum assistance in determining the identity of the beneficial owner.
The Mississippi Act requires that the certificates representing securities of a registered publicly traded corporation bear a legend to the general effect that the securities are subject to the Mississippi Act and the regulations of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. On May 18, 2000, the Mississippi Gaming Commission granted us a waiver of this legend requirement. The Mississippi Gaming Commission has the power to impose additional restrictions on us and the holders of our securities at any time.
Substantially all loans, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions by a licensed gaming subsidiary must be reported to or approved by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. A licensed gaming subsidiary may not make a public offering of its securities, but may pledge or mortgage casino facilities if it obtains the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. We may not make a public offering of our securities without the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission if any part of the proceeds of the offering is to be used to finance the construction, acquisition or operation of gaming facilities in Mississippi or to retire or extend obligations incurred for those purposes. The approval, if given, does not constitute a recommendation or approval of the accuracy or adequacy of the prospectus or the investment merits of the securities subject to the offering. On September 24, 2003, the Mississippi Gaming Commission granted us a waiver of the prior approval requirement for our securities offerings for a period of two years, subject to certain conditions. The waiver may be rescinded for good cause without prior notice upon the issuance of an interlocutory stop order by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Under the regulations of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC may not guarantee a security issued by MGM MIRAGE pursuant to a public offering, or pledge their assets to secure payment or performance of the obligations evidenced by such a security issued by MGM MIRAGE, without the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Similarly, MGM MIRAGE may not pledge the stock or other ownership interests of Beau Rivage Resorts or BRDC, nor may the pledgee of such ownership interests foreclose on such a pledge, without the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Moreover, restrictions on the transfer of an equity security issued by Beau Rivage Resorts or BRDC and agreements not to encumber such securities granted by MGM MIRAGE are ineffective without the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The waiver of the prior approval requirement for MGM MIRAGE’s securities offerings received from the Mississippi Gaming Commission on September 24, 2003 includes a waiver of the prior approval requirement for such guarantees, pledges and restrictions of Beau Rivage Resorts and BRDC, subject to certain conditions.
MGM MIRAGE cannot change its control through merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets, management or consulting agreements or any form of takeover without the prior approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The Mississippi Gaming Commission may also require controlling stockholders, officers, directors, and other persons having a material relationship or involvement with the entity proposing to acquire control, to be investigated and licensed as part of the approval process relating to the transaction.
The Mississippi Legislature has declared that some corporate acquisitions opposed by management, repurchases of voting securities and other corporate defensive tactics that affect corporate gaming licensees in Mississippi and corporations whose stock is publicly traded that are affiliated with those licensees may be injurious to stable and productive corporate gaming. The Mississippi Gaming Commission has established a regulatory scheme to ameliorate the potentially adverse effects of these business practices upon Mississippi’s gaming industry and to further Mississippi’s policy to assure the financial stability of corporate gaming operators and their affiliates, preserve the beneficial aspects of conducting business in the corporate form, and promote a neutral environment for the orderly governance of corporate affairs.
MGM MIRAGE may be required to obtain approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission before it may make exceptional repurchases of voting securities in excess of the current market price of its common stock (commonly called “greenmail”) or before it may consummate a corporate acquisition opposed by management. The regulations also require prior approval by the Mississippi Gaming Commission if MGM MIRAGE adopts a plan of recapitalization proposed by its Board of Directors opposing a tender offer made directly to the stockholders for the purpose of acquiring control of MGM MIRAGE.
Neither MGM MIRAGE nor Beau Rivage Resorts may engage in gaming activities in Mississippi while MGM MIRAGE, Beau Rivage Resorts and/or persons found suitable to be associated with the gaming license of Beau Rivage Resorts conduct gaming operations outside of Mississippi without approval of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The Mississippi Gaming Commission may require that it have access to information concerning MGM MIRAGE’s and its affiliates’ out-of-state gaming operations. Gaming operations in Nevada were approved when Beau Rivage Resorts was first licensed in Mississippi. MGM MIRAGE has received waivers of foreign gaming approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission for the conduct of active or planned gaming operations in Michigan, New Jersey, California, New York, Illinois, the United Kingdom and Macau, and for cruises with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines or Carnival Cruise Lines which originate from the United States, and may be required to obtain the approval or a waiver of such approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission before engaging in any additional future gaming operations outside of Mississippi. We have an application pending for the jurisdiction in Macau.
If the Mississippi Gaming Commission decides that a licensed gaming subsidiary violated a gaming law or regulation, the Mississippi Gaming Commission could limit, condition, suspend or revoke the license of the subsidiary. In addition, we, the licensed subsidiary and the persons involved could be subject to substantial fines for each separate violation. A violation under any of MGM MIRAGE’s other operating subsidiaries’ gaming licenses may be deemed a violation of Beau Rivage Resorts’ gaming license. Because of a violation, the Mississippi Gaming Commission could attempt to appoint a supervisor to operate the casino facilities. Limitation, conditioning or suspension of Beau Rivage Resorts’ gaming license or MGM MIRAGE’s registration as a publicly traded holding company of Beau Rivage Resorts, or the appointment of a supervisor could, and the revocation of any gaming license or registration would, materially adversely affect our Mississippi gaming operations.
A licensed gaming subsidiary must pay license fees and taxes, computed in various ways depending on the type of gaming involved, to the State of Mississippi and to the county or city in which the licensed gaming subsidiary conducts operations. Depending upon the particular fee or tax involved, these fees and taxes are payable either monthly, quarterly or annually and are based upon a percentage of gross gaming revenues, the number of slot machines operated by the casino, and the number of table games operated by the casino.
The license fee payable to the State of Mississippi is based upon “gaming receipts,” generally defined as gross receipts less payouts to customers as winnings, and generally equals 8% of gaming receipts. These license fees are allowed as a credit against our Mississippi income tax liability for the year paid. The gross revenue fee imposed by the Mississippi cities and counties in which casino operations are located is in addition to the fees payable to the State of Mississippi and equals approximately 4% of the gaming receipts.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted a regulation in 1994 requiring as a condition of licensure or license renewal that a gaming establishment’s plan include a 500-car parking facility in close proximity to the casino complex and infrastructure facilities which will amount to at least 25% of the casino cost. Infrastructure facilities are defined in the regulation to include a hotel with at least 250 rooms, theme park, golf course and other similar facilities. With the opening of its resort hotel and other amenities, Beau Rivage Resorts is in compliance with this requirement. On January 21, 1999, the Mississippi Gaming Commission adopted an amendment to this regulation which increased the infrastructure requirement to 100% from the existing 25%; however, the regulation grandfathers existing licensees and applies only to new casino projects and casinos that are not operating at the time of acquisition or purchase, and would therefore not apply to Beau Rivage Resorts. In any event, Beau Rivage would comply with such requirement.
Both the local jurisdiction and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Mississippi State Tax Commission license, control and regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages by Beau Rivage Resorts. Beau Rivage is in an area designated as a special resort area, which allows casinos located therein to serve alcoholic beverages on a 24-hour basis. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division requires that the key officers and managers of MGM MIRAGE and Beau Rivage Resorts and all owners of more than 5% of Beau Rivage Resorts’ equity submit detailed personal, and in some instances, financial information to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division and be investigated and licensed. All such licenses are non-transferable. The Alcohol Beverage Control Division has the full power to limit, condition, suspend or revoke any license for the service of alcoholic beverages or to place a licensee on probation with or without conditions. Any disciplinary action could, and revocation would, have a material adverse effect upon the casino’s operations.
New Jersey Government Regulation
The ownership and operation of hotel-casino facilities and gaming activities in Atlantic City, New Jersey are subject to extensive state regulation under the New Jersey Casino Control Act and the regulations of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and other applicable laws. The New Jersey Act also established the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to investigate all license applications, enforce the provisions of the New Jersey Act and regulations and prosecute all proceedings for violations of the New Jersey Act and regulations before the New Jersey Commission. In order to own or operate a hotel-casino property in New Jersey, a company must obtain a license or other approvals from the New Jersey Commission and obtain numerous other licenses, permits and approvals from other state as well as local governmental authorities.
The New Jersey Commission has broad discretion regarding the issuance, renewal, revocation and suspension of casino licenses. The New Jersey Act and regulations concern primarily the good character, honesty, integrity and financial stability of casino licensees, their intermediary and holding companies, their employees, their security holders and others financially interested in casino operations; financial and accounting practices used in connection with casino operations; rules of games, levels of supervision of games and methods of selling and redeeming chips; manner of granting credit, duration of credit and enforceability of gaming debts; and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
On June 11, 2003, the New Jersey Commission issued a casino license to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and found MGM MIRAGE and certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and their then officers, directors, and 5% or greater shareholders suitable. In June 2004, the casino license of Borgata was renewed for a term ending June 30, 2005.
The New Jersey Act further provides that each person who directly or indirectly holds any beneficial interest in or ownership of the securities issued by a casino licensee or any of its intermediary or holding companies, those persons who, in the opinion of the New Jersey Commission, have the ability to control the casino licensee or its intermediary or holding companies or elect a majority of the board of directors of such companies, other than a banking or other licensed lending institution which makes a loan or holds a mortgage or other lien acquired in the ordinary course of business, lenders and underwriters of such companies are required to be qualified by the New Jersey Commission. However, with respect to a holding company such as MGM MIRAGE, a waiver of qualification may be granted by the New Jersey Commission, with the concurrence of the Director of the New Jersey Division, if the New Jersey Commission determines that such persons or entities are not significantly involved in the activities of a casino licensee and in the case of security holders, do not have the ability to control MGM MIRAGE or elect one or more of its directors. There exists a rebuttable presumption that any person holding 5% or more of the equity securities of a casino licensee’s intermediary or holding company or a person having the ability to elect one or more of the directors of such a company has the ability to control the company and thus must obtain qualification from the New Jersey Commission.
Notwithstanding this presumption of control, the New Jersey Act provides for a waiver of qualification for passive “institutional investors,” as defined by the New Jersey Act, if the institutional investor purchased publicly traded securities for investment purposes only and where such securities constitute less than 10% of the equity securities of a casino licensee’s holding or intermediary company or debt securities of a casino licensee’s holding or intermediary company representing a percentage of the outstanding debt of such company not exceeding 20% or a percentage of any issue of the outstanding debt of such company not exceeding 50%. The waiver of qualification is subject to certain conditions including, upon request of the New Jersey Commission, filing a certified statement that the institutional investor has no intention of influencing or affecting the affairs of the issuer, except that an institutional investor holding voting securities shall be permitted to vote on matters put to a vote of the holders of outstanding voting securities. Additionally, a waiver of qualification may also be granted to institutional investors holding a higher percentage of securities of a casino licensee’s holding or intermediary company upon a showing of good cause.
The New Jersey Act requires the certificate of incorporation of a publicly traded holding company to provide that any securities of such a corporation are held subject to the condition that if a holder is found to be disqualified by the New Jersey Commission pursuant to the New Jersey Act, such holder shall dispose of his interest in such company. Accordingly, our certificate of incorporation provides that a holder of our securities must dispose of such securities if the holder is found disqualified under the New Jersey Act. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that we may redeem the stock of any holder found to be disqualified.
If the New Jersey Commission should find a security holder to be unqualified to be a holder of securities of a casino licensee or holding company, not only must the disqualified holder dispose of such securities but in addition, commencing on the date the New Jersey Commission serves notice upon such a company of the determination of disqualification, it shall be unlawful for the disqualified holder to:
• receive any dividends or interest upon any such securities;
• exercise, directly or through any trustee or nominee, any right conferred by such securities; or
• receive any remuneration in any form from the licensee for services rendered or otherwise.
If the New Jersey Commission should find a security holder to be unqualified to be a holder of securities of a casino licensee or holding company, the New Jersey Commission shall take any necessary action to protect the public interest, including the suspension or revocation of the casino license, except that if the disqualified person is the holder of securities of a publicly traded holding company, the New Jersey Commission shall not take action against the casino license if:
• the holding company has the corporate charter provisions concerning divestiture of securities by disqualified owners required by the New Jersey Act;
• the holding company has made good faith efforts, including the pursuit of legal remedies, to comply with any order of the New Jersey Commission; and
• the disqualified holder does not have the ability to control the company or elect one or more members of the company’s board of directors.
If the New Jersey Commission determines that a casino licensee has violated the New Jersey Act or regulations, or if any security holder of MGM MIRAGE or a casino licensee who is required to be qualified under the New Jersey Act is found to be disqualified but does not dispose of the securities, a casino licensee could be subject to fines or its license could be suspended or revoked. If a casino licensee’s license is revoked after issuance, the New Jersey Commission could appoint a conservator to operate and to dispose of the hotel-casino facilities operated by such casino licensee. Net proceeds of a sale by a conservator and net profits of operations by a conservator, at least up to an amount equal to a fair return on investment which is reasonable for casinos or hotels, would be paid to us.
The New Jersey Act imposes an annual tax of 8% on gross casino revenues, as defined in the New Jersey Act, a 4.25% tax on the value of rooms, food beverage or entertainment provided at no cost or a reduced price, a $3 tax per day on each occupied hotel room, a $3 parking tax per day and, through June 30, 2006, a 7.5% tax on “adjusted net income”, as defined in the New Jersey Act, subject to certain minimums and limitations. In addition, casino licensees are required to invest 1.25% of gross casino revenues for the purchase of bonds to be issued by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or make other approved investments equal to that amount. In the event the investment requirement is not met, the casino licensee is subject to a tax in the amount of 2.5% on gross casino revenues. The New Jersey Commission has established fees for the issuance or renewal of casino licenses and hotel-casino alcoholic beverage licenses and an annual license fee on each slot machine.
In addition to compliance with the New Jersey Act and regulations relating to gaming, any property built in Atlantic City by us must comply with the New Jersey and Atlantic City laws and regulations relating to, among other things, the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, construction of buildings, environmental considerations and the operation of hotels. Any changes to such laws or the laws regarding gaming could have an adverse effect on the Company.
Illinois Government Regulation
MGM MIRAGE will become subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois gaming authorities after the completion of its acquisition of Mandalay’s 50% interest in Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino based in Elgin, Illinois (the “Grand Victoria”).
In February 1990, the State of Illinois legalized riverboat gambling. The Illinois Riverboat Gambling Act (the “Illinois Act”) authorizes the five-member Illinois Gaming Board (the “Illinois Board”) to issue up to ten riverboat gaming owners’ licenses on navigable streams within or forming a boundary of the State of Illinois except for Lake Michigan and any waterway in Cook County, which includes Chicago. Pursuant to the initial Illinois Act, a licensed owner who holds greater than a 10% interest in one riverboat operation located in Illinois, could hold no more than a 10% interest in any other riverboat operation located in Illinois. In addition, the initial Illinois Act restricted the location of certain of the ten owners’ licenses. Four of the licenses were to be located on the Mississippi River, one license was to be at a location on the Illinois River south of Marshall County and one license had to be located on the Des Plaines River in Will County. The remaining licenses were not restricted as to location. Currently, nine owner’s licenses are in operation in Alton, Aurora, East Peoria, East St. Louis, Elgin, Metropolis, Rock Island and two licenses in Joliet.
The tenth license, which was initially granted to an operator in East Dubuque, was not renewed by the Illinois Board and has been the subject of on-going litigation. The Illinois Board entered into a settlement agreement with the current operator pursuant to which the Illinois Board used a competitive bid process to select a new operator to acquire the entity that possesses the tenth license. The Illinois Board selected Isle of Capri as the winning bidder. Isle of Capri’s bid provides that it would locate its gaming operation in Rosemont, Illinois. The closing of this transaction is contingent upon the settlement of outstanding litigation, the Illinois Board finding Isle of Capri suitable for licensure and the Illinois Attorney General’s final approval of the settlement agreement between the Illinois Board and the current operator of the tenth license. The initial Illinois Act also provided that no gambling could be conducted while a riverboat was docked and included several provisions regarding the duration of each riverboat cruise and the manner in which the cruises were conducted.
In June 1999, amendments to the Illinois Act were passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. The amended Illinois Act redefined the conduct of gaming in Illinois. Pursuant to the amended Illinois Act, riverboats may conduct gambling without cruising and passengers can enter and leave a riverboat at any time. In addition, riverboats currently may be located upon any water within Illinois and not just navigable waterways. There is no longer any prohibition of a riverboat being located in Cook County. Riverboats are now defined as self-propelled excursion boats or permanently moored barges. The amended Illinois Act requires that only three, rather than four owner’s licenses, be located on the Mississippi River. The 10% ownership prohibition has also been removed. Therefore, subject to certain Illinois Board rules, individuals or entities could own more than one riverboat operation in Illinois.
The amended Illinois Act also allows for the relocation of a riverboat home dock. A licensee that was not conducting riverboat gambling on January 1, 1998, may apply to the Illinois Board for renewal and approval of relocation to a new home dock and the Illinois Board shall grant the application and approval of the new home dock upon the licensee providing to the Illinois Board authorization from the new dockside community. It was pursuant to this particular provision of the amended Illinois Act that the former owner of the East Dubuque riverboat applied for relocation of its operation to Rosemont, and it is this license that was the subject of the recent competitive bid process. Any licensee that relocates in accordance with the provisions of the amended Illinois Act, must attain a level of at least 20% minority and female ownership at its gaming operation.
The constitutionality of the relocation provisions of the amended Illinois Act was challenged. That lawsuit is currently pending before the Illinois Supreme Court. There is no assurance that the relocation provisions will be deemed constitutional. In 2003, the Illinois legislature passed and the Governor signed the 2003 amendments to the Illinois Act. The 2003 amendments provided, among other things, that the provisions of the Illinois Act are severable. Thus, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, it will not affect other sections of the amended Illinois Act.
The Illinois Act strictly regulates the facilities, persons, associations and practices related to gaming operations. It grants the Illinois Board specific powers and duties, and all other powers necessary and proper to fully and effectively execute the Illinois Act for the purpose of administering, regulating and enforcing the system of riverboat gaming. The Illinois Board has authority over every person, association, corporation, partnership and trust involved in riverboat gaming operations in the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Act requires the owner of a riverboat gaming operation to hold an owner’s license issued by the Illinois Board. Each owner’s license permits the holder to own up to two riverboats as part of its gaming operation, however, gaming participants are limited to 1,200 for any owner’s license. The number of gaming participants will be determined by the number of gaming positions available at any given time. Gaming positions are counted as follows:
• positions for electronic gaming devices will be determined as 90% of the total number of devices available for play;
• craps tables will be counted as having ten gaming positions; and
• games utilizing live gaming devices, except for craps, will be counted as having five gaming positions.
Each owner’s license initially runs for a period of three years. Thereafter, the license must be renewed annually. Under the amended Illinois Act, the Board may renew an owner’s license for up to four years. An owner licensee is eligible for renewal upon payment of the applicable fee and a determination by the Illinois Board that the licensee continues to meet all of the requirements of the Illinois Act and Illinois Board rules. The owner’s license for Grand Victoria was issued in October 1994 and was valid for three years. Since that time, the license has been renewed annually, and in October 2000, the license was renewed for four years. Mandalay has submitted to the Illinois Board its application to renew its license again in October 2004. However, as discussed in more detail below, the Illinois Board currently has only two acting members and, therefore, cannot achieve a quorum or take any action.
Despite the Illinois Board’s current inability to renew any license, MGM MIRAGE understands that the Illinois Board notified Mandalay that the Illinois Administrative Procedures Act allows Mandalay’s gaming license to continue in full force and effect until such time as the Illinois Board is able to take action. An ownership interest in an owner’s license may not be transferred or pledged as collateral without the prior approval of the Illinois Board.
Through the proposed merger with Mandalay, MGM MIRAGE ultimately intends to acquire control of Mandalay’s ownership interest in the entity that possesses the owner’s license in connection with the Grand Victoria. In addition, MGM MIRAGE and two of its representatives have applied to the Illinois Board to become “Key Persons” (discussed below) in the operations at the Grand Victoria. Pursuant to the amended Illinois Act, which lifted the 10% ownership prohibition, the Illinois Board established certain rules to follow in deciding whether to approve direct or indirect ownership or control of an owner’s license. The Illinois Board must consider the impact of any economic concentration of the ownership or control. No direct or indirect ownership or control may be approved which will result in undue economic concentration of the ownership of a riverboat gambling operation in Illinois. Undue economic concentration means that a person or entity would have actual or potential domination of riverboat gambling in Illinois sufficient to:
• substantially impede or suppress competition among holders of owner’s licenses;
• adversely impact the economic stability of the riverboat casino industry in Illinois; or
• negatively impact the purposes of the Illinois Act, including tourism, economic development, benefits to local communities and state and local revenues.
The Illinois Board will consider the following criteria in determining whether the approval of the issuance, transfer or holding of a license will create undue economic concentration:
• percentage share of the market presently owned or controlled by the person or entity;
• estimated increase in the market share if the person or entity is approved to hold the owner’s license;
• relative position of other persons or entities that own or control owner’s licenses in Illinois;
• current and projected financial condition of the riverboat gaming industry;
• current market conditions, including proximity and level of competition, consumer demand, market concentration and any other relevant characteristics of the market;
• whether the license to be approved has separate organizational structures or other independent obligations; potential impact on the projected future growth and development of the riverboat gambling industry, the local communities in which licenses are located and the State of Illinois;
• barriers to entry into the riverboat gambling industry and if the approval of the license will operate as a barrier to new companies and individuals desiring to enter the market;
• whether the approval of the license is likely to result in enhancing the quality and customer appeal of products and services offered by riverboat casinos in order to maintain or increase their respective market shares;
• whether a restriction on the approval of the additional license is necessary in order to encourage and preserve competition in casino operations; and
• any other relevant information.
The Illinois Act does not limit the maximum bet or per patron loss. Minimum and maximum wagers on games are set by the holder of the owner’s license. Wagering may not be conducted with money or other negotiable currency. No person under the age of 21 is permitted to wager and wagers only may be received from a person present on the riverboat. With respect to electronic gaming devices, the payout percentage may not be less than 80% nor more than 100%.
An admission tax is imposed on the owner of a riverboat operation. Under the 2003 amendments to the Illinois Act, the admission tax is $4.00 per person for an owner licensee that admitted 2,300,000 persons or fewer in the previous calendar year, and $5.00 per person for an owner licensee that admitted more than 2,300,000 persons in the previous calendar year (including Grand Victoria).
Additionally, a wagering tax is imposed on the adjusted gross receipts, as defined in the initial Illinois Act, of a riverboat operation. As of July 1, 2003, pursuant to the 2003 amendments, the wagering tax was increased as follows:
The wagering tax as outlined in the 2003 amendments shall no longer be imposed beginning on the earlier of (i) July 1, 2005; (ii) the first date after the effective date of the 2003 amendments to the Illinois Act that riverboat gambling operations are conducted pursuant to the dormant tenth license; or (iii) the first day that riverboat gambling operations are conducted under the authority of an owners license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses authorized by the Illinois Act. The wagering tax will rollback to the rates in effect prior to the 2003 amendments. The owner licensee is required, on a daily basis, to wire the wagering tax payment to the Illinois Board.
In addition to owner’s licenses, the Illinois Board also requires licensing for all vendors of gaming supplies and equipment and for all employees of a riverboat gaming operation. The Illinois Board is authorized to conduct investigations into the conduct of gaming and into alleged violations of the Illinois Act and the Illinois Board rules. Employees and agents of the Illinois Board have access to and may inspect any facilities relating to the riverboat gaming operation.
A holder of any license is subject to imposition of fines, suspension or revocation of such license, or other action for any act or failure to act by himself or his agents or employees, that is injurious to the public health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the people of the State of Illinois, or that would discredit or tend to discredit the Illinois gaming industry or the State of Illinois. Any riverboat operations not conducted in compliance with the Illinois Act may constitute an illegal gaming place and consequently may be subject to criminal penalties, including possible seizure, confiscation and destruction of illegal gaming devices and seizure and sale of riverboats and dock facilities to pay any unsatisfied judgment that may be recovered and any unsatisfied fine that may be levied. The Illinois Act also provides for civil penalties, equal to the amount of gross receipts derived from wagering on the gaming, whether unauthorized or authorized, conducted on the day of any violation. The Illinois Board may revoke or suspend licenses, as the Illinois Board may see fit and in compliance with applicable laws of the State of Illinois regarding administrative procedures and may suspend an owner’s license, without notice or hearing, upon a determination that the safety or health of patrons or employees is jeopardized by continuing a riverboat’s operation. The suspension may remain in effect until the Illinois Board determines that the cause for suspension has been abated and it may revoke the owner’s license upon a determination that the owner has not made satisfactory progress toward abating the hazard.
If the Illinois Board has suspended, revoked or refused to renew the license of an owner or if a riverboat gambling operation is closing and the owner is voluntarily surrendering its owner’s license, the Illinois Board may petition the local circuit court in which the riverboat is situated for appointment of a receiver. The circuit court shall have sole jurisdiction over any and all issues pertaining to the appointment of a receiver.
The Illinois Board shall specify the specific powers, duties and limitations for the receiver, including but not limited to the authority to:
• hire, fire, promote and discipline personnel and retain outside employees or consultants;
• take possession of any and all property, including but not limited to its books, records, papers;
• preserve and/or dispose of any and all property;
• continue and direct the gaming operations under the monitoring of the Board;
• discontinue and dissolve the operation;
• enter into and cancel contracts;
• borrow money and pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber the property;
• pay all secured and unsecured obligations;
• institute or define actions by or on behalf of the holder of an Owner’s license; and
• distribute earnings derived from gaming operations in the same manner as admission wagering taxes are distributed under Sections 12 and 13 of the Illinois Act.
The Illinois Board shall submit at least three nominees to the court. The nominees may be individuals or entities selected from an Illinois Board approved list of pre-qualified receivers who meet the same criteria for a finding of preliminary suitability for licensure under Illinois Board rules. In the event that the Illinois Board seeks the appointment of a receiver on a emergency basis, the Illinois Board shall issue a temporary operating permit to the receiver appointed by the court. A receiver, upon appointment by the court, shall before assuming his or her duties, execute and post the same bond as an owner’s licensee pursuant to the Illinois Act.
The receiver shall function as an independent contractor, subject to the direction of the court. However, the receiver shall also provide to the Illinois Board regular reports and provide any information deemed necessary for the Illinois Board to ascertain the receiver’s compliance with all applicable rules and laws. From time to time, the Illinois Board may, at its sole discretion, report to the court on the receiver’s level of compliance and any other information deemed appropriate for disclosure to the court. The term and compensation of the receiver shall be set by the court. The receiver shall provide to the court and the Illinois Board at least 30 days written notice of any intent to withdraw from the appointment or to seek modification of the appointment. Except as otherwise provided by action of the Illinois Board, the gaming operation shall be deemed a licensed operation subject to all rules of the Illinois Board during the tenure of any receivership.
The Illinois Board requires that a “Key Person” of an owner licensee submit a Personal Disclosure or Business Entity Form and be investigated and approved by the Illinois Board. MGM MIRAGE and two of its representatives have applied to the Illinois Board to become Key Persons of the owner licensee that operates the Grand Victoria. The Illinois Board shall certify for each applicant for or holder of an owner’s license each position, individual or Business Entity that is to be approved by the Board and maintain suitability as a Key Person.
With respect to an applicant for or the holder of an owner’s license, a Key Person shall include:
• any Business Entity and any individual with an ownership interest or voting rights of more than 5% in the licensee or applicant and the trustee of any trust holding such ownership interest or voting rights;
• the directors of the licensee or applicant and its chief executive officer, president and chief operating officer or their functional equivalents; and
• all other individuals or Business Entities that, upon review of the applicant’s or licensees Table of Organization, Ownership and Control the Board determines hold a position or a level of ownership, control or influence that is material to the regulatory concerns and obligations of the Illinois Board for the specified licensee or applicant.
In order to assist the Illinois Board in its determination of Key Persons, applicants for or holders of an owner’s license must provide to the Illinois Board a Table of Organization, Ownership and Control (the “Table”). The Table must identify in sufficient detail the hierarchy of individuals and Business Entities that, through direct or indirect means, manage, own or control the interest and assets of the applicant or licensee holder. If a Business Entity identified in the Table is a publicly traded company, the following information must be provided in the Table:
• the name and percentage of ownership interest of each individual or Business Entity with ownership of more than 5% of the voting shares of the entity, to the extent this information is known or contained in Schedule 13D or 13G filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”);
• to the extent known, the names and percentage of interest of ownership of persons who are relatives of one another and who together (as individuals or through trusts) exercise control over or own more than 10% of the voting shares of the entity; and
• any trust holding more than 5% ownership or voting interest in the entity, to the extent this information is known or contained in Schedule 13D or 13G SEC filings.
The Table may be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
Each owner licensee must provide a means for the economic disassociation of a Key Person in the event such economic disassociation is required by an order of the Illinois Board. Based upon findings from an investigation into the character, reputation, experience, associations, business probity and financial integrity of a Key Person, the Illinois Board may enter an order upon the licensee or require the economic disassociation of the Key Person.
Furthermore, each applicant or owner licensee must disclose the identity of every person, association, trust or corporation having a greater than 1% direct or indirect pecuniary interest in an owner licensee or in the riverboat gaming operation with respect to which the license is sought. The Illinois Board also may require an applicant or owner licensee to disclose any other principal or investor and require the investigation and approval of these individuals.
The Illinois Board (unless the investor qualifies as an institutional investor) requires a Personal Disclosure Form or a Business Entity Form from any person or entity who or which, individually or in association with others, acquires directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of more than 5% of any class of voting securities or non-voting securities convertible into voting securities of a publicly-traded corporation which holds an ownership interest in the holder of an owner’s license. If the Illinois Board denies an application for such a transfer and if no hearing is requested, the applicant for the transfer of ownership interest must promptly divest those shares in the publicly-traded parent corporation. The holder of an owner’s license would not be able to distribute profits to a publicly-traded parent corporation until such shares have been divested. If a hearing is requested, the shares need not be divested and profits may be distributed to a publicly-held parent corporation pending the issuance of a final order from the Illinois Board.
An institutional investor that individually or jointly with others, cumulatively acquires, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of any class of voting securities of a publicly-traded licensee or a licensee’s publicly-traded parent corporation shall, within no less than ten days after acquiring these securities, notify the Administrator of the Illinois Board of such ownership and shall provide any additional information as may be required. If an institutional investor (as specified above) acquires 10% or more of any class of voting securities of a publicly-traded licensee or a licensee’s publicly-traded parent corporation it shall file an Institutional Investor Disclosure Form within 45 days after acquiring this level of ownership interest. The owner licensee shall notify the Administrator as soon as possible after it becomes aware that it or its parent is involved in an ownership acquisition by an institutional investor. The institutional investor also has an obligation to notify the Administrator of its ownership interest.
In addition to Institutional Investor Disclosure Forms, certain other forms may be required to be submitted to the Illinois Board. An owner-licensee must submit a Marketing Agent Form to the Illinois Board for each Marketing Agent with whom it intends to do business. A Marketing Agent is a person or entity, other than a junketeer or an employee of a riverboat gaming operation, who is compensated by the riverboat gaming operation in excess of $100 per patron per trip for identifying and recruiting patrons. Key Persons of owner-licensees must submit Trust Identification Forms for trusts, excluding land trusts, for which they are a grantor, trustee or beneficiary each time such a trust relationship is established, amended or terminated.
Applicants for and holders of an owner’s license are required to obtain formal approval from the Illinois Board for changes in the following areas:
• Key Persons;
• type of entity;
• equity and debt capitalization of the entity;
• investors and/or debt holders;
• source of funds;
• applicant’s economic development plan;
• riverboat capacity or significant design change;
• gaming positions;
• anticipated economic impact; or
• agreements, oral or written, relating to the acquisition or disposition of property (real or personal) of a value greater than $1 million.
A holder of an owner’s license is allowed to make distributions to its stockholders only to the extent that the distribution would not impair the financial viability of the gaming operation. Factors to be considered by the licensee will include but not be limited to the following:
• cash flow, casino cash and working capital requirements;
• debt service requirements, obligations and covenants associated with financial instruments;
• requirements for repairs and maintenance and capital improvements;
• employment or economic development requirements of the Illinois Act; and
• a licensee’s financial projections.
The Illinois Board has implemented a Voluntary Self-Exclusion Policy whereby a person who acknowledges that he/she has a gambling problem may self-identify and self-exclude himself or herself from an Illinois riverboat. The Illinois Board has prescribed procedures that owner licensees must follow in order to implement this self-exclusion program.
The Illinois Board may waive any licensing requirement or procedure provided by rule if it determines that the waiver is in the best interests of the public and the gaming industry. Also, the Illinois Board may, from time to time, amend or change its rules.
Uncertainty exists regarding the Illinois gambling regulatory environment due to limited experience in interpreting the Illinois Act.
From time to time, various proposals have been introduced in the Illinois legislature that, if enacted, would affect the taxation, regulation, operation or other aspects of the gaming industry. Some of this legislation, if enacted, could adversely affect the gaming industry. No assurance can be given whether such or similar legislation will be enacted.
In April 2004, one member of the five-member Illinois Board failed to receive the approval of the Illinois Senate with respect to his appointment to the Illinois Board, and, thus, immediately ceased to be a member of the Illinois Board. In late August 2004, two more members of the five-member Illinois Board resigned. To date, none of these former members have been replaced. The two remaining members of the Illinois Board do not constitute the required quorum under the Illinois Act. Consequently, the Illinois Board may not take any action until at least one additional member is appointed. There can be no assurance that the Illinois Board’s current inability to achieve a quorum will not cause a delay in the Illinois Board’s consideration of the proposed merger with Mandalay, MGM MIRAGE’s acquisition of Mandalay’s joint venture interest in the Grand Victoria, or the various licensing applications submitted to the Illinois Board by MGM MIRAGE and certain of its affiliates as a result of the proposed merger with Mandalay.
Factors that May Affect Our Future Results
(Cautionary Statements Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This Form 10-K and our 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders contain some forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They contain words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “may,” “could,” “might” and other words or phrases of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, new projects, future performance, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings and future financial results. From time to time, we also provide oral or written forward-looking statements in our Forms 10-Q and 8-K, press releases and other materials we release to the public. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K, in our 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders and in any other public statements we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in this Form 10-K - for example, government regulation and the competitive environment - will be important in determining our future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Our actual future results may differ materially.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Also note that we provide the following discussion of risks, uncertainties and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business. These are factors that we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Other factors in addition to those listed here could also adversely affect us. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
• We have significant indebtedness. At December 31, 2004, we had approximately $5.5 billion of indebtedness and we will assume or incur significant additional indebtedness in connection with the Mandalay merger. While a large portion of our long-term debt was fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2004, the anticipated financing for the Mandalay acquisition is largely variable-rate debt. Therefore, the interest rate on a large portion of our long-term debt will be subject to fluctuation based on changes in short-term interest rates and the ratings which national rating agencies assign to our outstanding debt securities. Our current and anticipated bank credit agreements and the indentures governing our debt securities do not prohibit us from borrowing additional funds in the future. Our interest expense could increase as a result of these factors. Additionally, our indebtedness could increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business and industry, limit our ability to borrow additional funds and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other less leveraged competitors. Our ability to reduce our outstanding debt will be subject to our future cash flows, other capital requirements and other factors, some of which are not within our control.
• Our casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere are destination resorts that compete with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world. We do not believe that our competition is limited to a particular geographic area, and gaming operations in other states or countries could attract our customers. To the extent that new casinos enter our markets or hotel room capacity is expanded by others in major destination locations, competition will increase. Major competitors, including new entrants, have either recently expanded their hotel room capacity or are currently constructing new rooms in Las Vegas. In addition, a new casino resort is under construction in Las Vegas and is scheduled to open in 2005, which will likely significantly increase competition for our casinos. Also, the recent growth of gaming in areas outside Las Vegas, including California, has increased the competition faced by our operations in Las Vegas and elsewhere. In particular, as additional large scale gaming operations in Native American tribal lands increase, competition will increase.
• Voters in California approved an amendment to the California constitution in March 2000 that gave Native American tribes in California the right to offer a limited number of slot machines and a range of house-banked card games. More than 60 compacts had been approved by the federal government as of December 31, 2004, and casino-style gaming is legal in California on those tribal lands. According to the California Gambling Control Commission, there were more than 50 operating tribal casinos in California as of May 17, 2004. The expansion of Native American gaming in California has already impacted our Primm Valley Resorts. Several Native American tribes in California recently reached agreements with the State of California that allow for increased number of gaming machines within such tribes in exchange for a revenue-based payment to the state. Such expansion of gaming in California could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
• The ownership and operation of gaming facilities are subject to extensive federal, state, provincial and local laws, regulations and ordinances, which are administered by the relevant regulatory agencies in each jurisdiction. These laws, regulations and ordinances vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but generally concern the responsibility, financial stability and character of the owners and managers of gaming operations as well as persons financially interested or involved in gaming operations. The regulatory environment in any particular jurisdiction may change in the future and any such change could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, we are subject to various gaming taxes, which are subject to possible increase at any time. For instance, the gaming tax rate in Michigan was increased in 2004.
• There are several risks associated with our agreement to merge with Mandalay. Mergers generally involve significant risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, services and corporate culture of the acquired company, diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns, and overvaluation of the acquired company. Furthermore, demands made, or action taken, by administrative and other government agencies in connection with our proposed merger with Mandalay may require us to sell or otherwise divest certain of our or certain of Mandalay’s gaming properties or operations, including those that are important to existing and future competitive advantages we may have, our results of operations, and our long-term strategy. In fact, due to Michigan law which prohibits any person from holding more than a 10% interest in more than one casino licensed by the state, we will be required to dispose of our or Mandalay’s interest in one casino in Detroit. If such disposition is not completed, either or both of the casino licenses would be subject to non-renewal, suspension and/or revocation. In addition, the acquisition would likely result in the assumption and incurrence of significant additional debt and contingent liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
• We may experience difficulties integrating Mandalay into our operations. After consummation of the Mandalay merger, we intend to integrate the operations of Mandalay into ours. We cannot assure you that we will be able to integrate these operations without encountering different business strategies with respect to marketing, integrating personnel with disparate business backgrounds and corporate cultures, integrating different reservations systems and other technology and managing relationships with other business partners. For these reasons, we cannot assure you that we will be able to integrate successfully the Mandalay operations into our own. Furthermore, the integration of operations may temporarily distract management from our day-to-day business after the Mandalay merger.
• We may not achieve the expected synergies from the Mandalay merger. Our management believes that the Mandalay merger will allow us to achieve cost savings relating to duplicative departments, redundant infrastructure and operating efficiencies upon full integration of Mandalay as well as revenue enhancement opportunities. However, the anticipated benefits are based on projections and assumptions and not on actual results. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will realize the anticipated benefits. Our ability to realize these benefits could be adversely impacted by difficulties in integrating Mandalay’s operations with our operations and by any inability to achieve certain economies of scale.
• We operate an interim casino in Detroit, Michigan under a revised development agreement with the City. We are committed to building a larger permanent hotel/casino facility. We are currently in the process of obtaining land and developing plans for the permanent facility. The design, budget and schedule of the permanent facility are not finalized, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of the facility are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects. The ability to construct the permanent casino facility is currently subject to resolution of certain litigation involving the ordinance governing the casino selection process. Until the issue is resolved, we are prohibited from commencing construction under an injunction issued by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Therefore, we do not know when we will be able to commence construction of, or complete, the permanent facility.
• Our business is affected by general economic and market conditions, both in the markets in which we operate and in the locations our customers reside. Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Mirage are particularly affected by economic conditions in the Far East, and all of our Nevada resorts are affected by economic conditions in the United States, and California in particular. A recession or economic slowdown could cause a reduction in visitation to our resorts, which would adversely affect our operating results.
• We are a large consumer of electricity and other energy. Accordingly, increases in energy costs, such as those experienced recently in Nevada, have a negative impact on our operating results. Additionally, higher energy and gasoline prices which affect our customers may result in reduced visitation to our resorts and a reduction in our revenues.
• Many of our customers travel by air. As a result, the cost and availability of air service and the impact of events like those of September 11, 2001, can affect our business. Additionally, there is one principal interstate highway between Las Vegas and Southern California, where a large number of our customers reside. Capacity constraints of that highway or any other traffic disruptions may affect the number of customers who visit our facilities.
• The events of September 11, 2001, and the potential for future terrorist attacks or acts of war or hostility, have created many economic and political uncertainties that could adversely impact our business levels and results of operations. Leisure and business travel, especially travel by air, remain particularly susceptible to global geopolitical events. Furthermore, although we have been able to purchase some insurance coverage for certain types of terrorist acts, insurance coverage against loss or business interruption resulting from war and some forms of terrorism continues to be unavailable.
• Our pending joint venture for the construction and operation of a hotel-casino in Macau S.A.R., as well as our pending strategic joint ventures and other transactions in the United Kingdom, involve significant risks. In June 2004, we announced that we entered into a joint venture agreement with Pansy Ho Chiu-king to develop, build and operate a major hotel-casino resort in Macau S.A.R. The facility, which will use the “MGM Grand” name, will be 50/50 owned and jointly operated by the two shareholders. The agreement is subject to, among other things, the approval of the government of Macau S.A.R., and other regulatory review, as well as the entry into a subconsession agreement with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM), the holder of the concession. We cannot assure you that such subconcession will be obtained or reviews completed on a timely basis, if at all. Furthermore, even if such facility is constructed, its operations will be subject to unique risks, including risks related to: (a) Macau’s regulatory framework; (b) our ability to adapt to the different regulatory and gaming environment in Macau while remaining in compliance with the requirements of the gaming regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in which we currently operate, as well as other applicable federal, state, or local laws in the United States and Macau; (c) the transition of Macau from a Portuguese colony to a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China; and (d) the extreme weather conditions in the region.
In addition, we currently have several joint ventures and other transactions pending in the United Kingdom. Each of such ventures and transactions is subject to implementation of proposed gaming law reforms in the United Kingdom and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals. We cannot assure you that such reforms, tax structure, and approvals necessary to realize the benefits contemplated will be implemented or obtained in a timely manner, if at all, or that we will be able to adapt adequately to the different regulatory and gaming environment in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, any such operations in Macau or in the United Kingdom or any future operations in which we may engage in any other foreign territories are subject to risk pertaining to international operations, including foreign currency risks, foreign government regulations that may make it difficult for us to operate in a profitable manner in such jurisdiction, inability to adequately enforce our rights in such jurisdiction, general geopolitical risks such as political and economic instability, hostilities with neighboring countries and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, and potentially adverse tax consequences.
• Our plans for future construction can be affected by a number of factors, including time delays in obtaining necessary governmental permits and approvals and legal challenges. We may make changes in project scope, budgets and schedules for competitive, aesthetic or other reasons, and these changes may also result from circumstances beyond our control. These circumstances include weather interference, shortages of materials and labor, work stoppages, labor disputes, unforeseen engineering, environmental or geological problems and unanticipated cost increases. Any of these circumstances could give rise to delays or cost overruns. Major expansion projects at our existing resorts can also result in disruption of our business during the construction period.
• Claims have been brought against us and our subsidiaries in various legal proceedings, and additional legal and tax claims arise from time to time. It is possible that our cash flows and results of operations could be affected by the resolution of these claims. We believe that the ultimate disposition of current matters will not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Please see the further discussion under “Legal Proceedings” in Item 3 of this Form 10-K.
• There is intense competition to attract and retain qualified management and other employees in the gaming industry. Our inability to recruit or retain personnel could adversely affect our business.
• Tracinda Corporation beneficially owns approximately 58% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2004. As a result, Tracinda Corporation has the ability to elect our entire Board of Directors and determine the outcome of other matters submitted to our stockholders, such as the approval of significant transactions.
You should also be aware that while we from time to time communicate with securities analysts, we do not disclose to them any material non-public information, internal forecasts or other confidential business information. Therefore, you should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by any analyst, irrespective of the content of the statement or report. To the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain projections, forecasts or opinions, those reports are not our responsibility.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table sets forth, as of March 10, 2005, the name, age and position of each of our executive officers. Executive officers are elected by and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Name
Age
Position
J. Terrence Lanni
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
James J. Murren
President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director
John T. Redmond
President and Chief Executive Officer of MGM Grand Resorts, LLC and Director
Robert H. Baldwin
President and Chief Executive Officer of Mirage Resorts, Incorporated, President-Project CityCenter and Director
Gary N. Jacobs
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director
Glenn D. Bonner
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Daniel J. D’Arrigo
Senior Vice President-Finance
Alan Feldman
Senior Vice President-Public Affairs
Bruce Gebhardt
Senior Vice President-Global Security
Phyllis A. James
Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel
Punam Mathur
Senior Vice President-Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs
Cynthia Kiser Murphey
Senior Vice President-Human Resources
Robert C. Selwood
Senior Vice President-Accounting
Bryan L. Wright
Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Mr. Lanni has served as Chairman of the Company since July 1995. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from June 1995 to December 1999, and since March 2001.
Mr. Murren has served as President of the Company since December 1999, as Chief Financial Officer since January 1998 and as Treasurer since November 2001. He served as Executive Vice President of the Company from January 1998 to December 1999. Prior thereto, he was Managing Director and Co-Director of Research for Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, having served that firm in various other capacities since 1984.
Mr. Redmond has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MGM Grand Resorts, LLC since March 2001. He served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company from December 1999 to March 2001. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Primadonna Resorts from March 1999 to December 1999. He served as Vice Chairman of MGM Grand Detroit, LLC from April 1998 to February 2000, and as its Chairman since February 2000. He served as Senior Vice President of MGM Grand Development, Inc. from August 1996 to September 1998. Prior thereto, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Caesars World, Inc.’s Caesars Palace and Desert Inn hotel-casinos and served in various other senior operational and development positions with Caesars World, Inc.
Mr. Baldwin has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mirage Resorts since June 2000 and as President of Project CityCenter since March 2005. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Mirage from September 1999 to June 2000. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Bellagio, LLC from June 1996 to March 2005. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Mirage from August 1987 to April 1997.
Mr. Jacobs has served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company since June 2000 and as Secretary since January 2002. Prior thereto, he was a partner with the law firm of Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro, LLP, and is currently of counsel to that firm.
Mr. Bonner has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Company since January 2005. He served as Vice President-Chief Information Officer of the Company from June 2000 to January 2005. He served as Chief Information Officer of Mirage from January 1997 to May 2000. Prior thereto, he was a Managing Consultant with Microsoft Corporation from October 1994 to January 1997.
Mr. D’Arrigo has served as Senior Vice President-Finance of the Company since February 2005. He served as Vice President-Finance of the Company from December 2000 to February 2005. He served as Assistant Vice President of the Company from January 2000 to December 2000. Prior thereto, he served as Director of Corporate Finance of the Company from January 1997 to January 2000 and as Manager of Corporate Finance of the Company from October 1995 to January 1997.
Mr. Feldman has served as Senior Vice President-Public Affairs of the Company since September 2001. He served as Vice President - Public Affairs of the Company from June 2000 to September 2001, and served as Vice President of Public Affairs for Mirage from March 1990 to May 2000.
Mr. Gebhardt has served as Senior Vice President-Global Security of the Company since November 2004. Prior thereto, he served as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over 30 years, and was the FBI’s Deputy Director for two years prior to his retirement in October 2004.
Ms. James has served as Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Company since March 2002. From 1994 to 2001 she served as Corporation (General) Counsel and Law Department Director for the City of Detroit. In that capacity she also served on various public and quasi-public boards and commissions on behalf of the City, including the Election Commission, the Detroit Building Authority and the Board of Ethics. Prior thereto, from 1985 until 1994, she practiced law as a partner with the firm of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro.
Ms. Mathur has served as Senior Vice President-Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs of the Company since May 2004. She served as Vice President-Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs of the Company from December 2001 to May 2004. She served as Vice President-Community Affairs of the Company from November 2000 to December 2001 and as Director of Community Affairs of the Company from June 2000 to October 2000. She served as Director of Community Affairs of Mirage from April 1996 to May 2000.
Ms. Murphey has served as Senior Vice President-Human Resources of the Company since November 2000. She served as Senior Vice President-Human Resources and Administration of MGM Grand Las Vegas from November 1995 to October 2000.
Mr. Selwood has served as Senior Vice President-Accounting of the Company since February 2005. He served as Vice President-Accounting of the Company from December 2000 to February 2005. He served as Director of Corporate Finance of Mirage from April 1993 to December 2000.
Mr. Wright has served as Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Company since March 2005. He served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Company from July 2001 to March 2005. He has served as Assistant Secretary of the Company since January 2002. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wright served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Boyd Gaming Corporation from February 2000 to July 2001 and as Associate General Counsel of Boyd Gaming Corporation from September 1993 to February 2000.
Available Information
We maintain a website, www.mgmmirage.com, which includes financial and other information for investors. We provide access to our SEC filings on our website, free of charge, through a link to the SEC’s EDGAR database. Through that link, our filings are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we file the documents.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Prior to February 2005, substantially all of the Company’s assets other than assets of its foreign subsidiaries and certain assets in use at MGM Grand Detroit were pledged as collateral for our senior notes and principal credit facilities. As a result of the redemption of our 6.875% Senior Notes due February 2008 and the repayment of our 6.95% Senior Notes due February 2005, we applied for, for received, release of collateral under our credit facility and senior notes.
Bellagio occupies an approximately 80-acre site. We own the entire site except for one acre which we lease under a ground lease that expires (giving effect to our options to renew) in 2073. Approximately 13 acres of this site will be utilized as part of our 66-acre Project CityCenter. Our principal executive offices are located at Bellagio. MGM Grand Las Vegas occupies an approximately 113-acre site which we own. In 2004, we contributed 3 acres to the venture formed with Turnberry Associates to develop luxury condominium towers behind MGM Grand Las Vegas. The Mirage and TI share an approximately 100-acre site which we own. New York-New York occupies an approximately 20-acre site which we own.
The Primm Valley Resorts are located on approximately 143 acres. We lease substantially all of the land under a ground lease that expires (giving effect to our renewal option) in 2068. We own approximately 16 acres immediately north of Buffalo Bill’s. We also own approximately 573 acres in California, four miles south of Primm, which is the location of the Primm Valley Golf Club. Approximately 125 of these acres remain available for future development. Primm Valley Resorts are not served by a municipal water system. We have rights to water in various wells located on federal land in the vicinity of the Primm Valley Resorts and have received permits to pipe the water to the Primm Valley Resorts. These permits and rights are subject to the jurisdiction and ongoing regulatory authority of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the States of Nevada and California and local governmental units. We believe that adequate water for the Primm Valley Resorts is available; however, we cannot be certain that the future needs will be within the permitted allowance. Also, we can give no assurance that any future requests for additional water will be approved or that no further requirements will be imposed by governmental agencies on our use and delivery of water for the Primm Valley Resorts.
Boardwalk occupies an approximately 8 acre site which we own. We also own approximately 45 acres of property adjacent to Boardwalk. These 53 acres will be utilized for Project CityCenter. Monte Carlo occupies approximately 46 acres owned by Victoria Partners (the joint venture that owns and operates Monte Carlo). We own approximately 306 acres of land in North Las Vegas, including 240 acres occupied by Shadow Creek.
MGM Grand Detroit is located on approximately 8 acres which we own. Beau Rivage occupies approximately 41 acres (including 10 acres of tidelands) in Biloxi, Mississippi. We own the land and we lease the tidelands from the State of Mississippi under a lease that expires (giving effect to our option to renew) in 2049. We also own approximately 508 acres in the Biloxi area for development of the planned Fallen Oak golf course.
We own approximately 150 acres in Atlantic City consisting principally of three different parcels in casino-zoned areas. Borgata occupies 29 acres at Renaissance Pointe, including two acres we lease to Borgata and on which Borgata constructed its employee parking garage. The remaining 27 acres Borgata occupies is owned by the venture and collateralized by a mortgage securing bank credit facilities in the amount of up to $650 million. As of December 31, 2004, $426 million was outstanding under the bank credit facility.
We also own or lease various other improved and unimproved property in Las Vegas and other locations in the United States and certain foreign countries.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Poulos Slot Machine Litigation
On April 26, 1994, an individual filed a complaint in a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida against 41 manufacturers, distributors and casino operators of video poker and electronic slot machines, including the Company. On May 10, 1994, another plaintiff filed a complaint in a class action lawsuit alleging substantially the same claims in the same court against 48 defendants, including the Company. On September 26, 1995, another plaintiff filed a complaint in a class action lawsuit alleging substantially the same claims in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada against 45 defendants, including the Company. The court consolidated the three cases in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
The consolidated complaint claims that we and the other defendants have engaged in a course of fraudulent and misleading conduct intended to induce people to play video poker and electronic slot machines based on a false belief concerning how the gaming machines operate, as well as the chances of winning. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that the gaming machines are not truly random as advertised to the public, but are pre-programmed in a predictable and manipulative manner. The complaint alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as claims of common law fraud, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation, and asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In December 1997, the court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motions to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim and ordered the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint, which they filed in February 1998. We, along with most of the other defendants, answered the amended complaint and continue to deny the allegations contained in the amended complaint. The parties have fully briefed the issues regarding class certification, which are currently pending before the court.
In June 2002, the U.S. District Court in Nevada ruled that the plaintiffs met the prerequisite requirements for class-action status, but the Court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for class action certification, saying that the proposed class lacked the cohesiveness required to settle common claims against the casino industry. The court had previously stayed discovery pending resolution of these class certification issues. In August 2004, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s ruling denying class-action status for the case. In November 2004, the District Court set a discovery deadline of April 2005 and a trial date in September 2005.
Boardwalk Shareholder Litigation
On September 28, 1999, a former stockholder of our subsidiary which owns and operates the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino filed a first amended complaint in a putative class action lawsuit in District Court for Clark County, Nevada against Mirage and certain former directors and principal stockholders of the Boardwalk subsidiary. The complaint alleged that Mirage induced the other defendants to breach their fiduciary duties to Boardwalk’s minority stockholders by devising and implementing a scheme by which Mirage acquired Boardwalk at significantly less than the true value of its shares. The complaint sought an unspecified amount of compensatory damages from Mirage and punitive damages from the other defendants, whom we are required to defend and indemnify.
In June 2000, the court granted our motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. The plaintiff appealed the ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court. The parties filed briefs with the Nevada Supreme Court, and oral arguments were conducted in October 2001. In February 2003, the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the District Court’s order granting our motion to dismiss the complaint and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings on the elements of the lawsuit involving wrongful conduct in approving the merger and/or in the valuation of the merged corporation’s shares. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims for lost profits and mismanagement. The Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling relates only to the District Court’s ruling on our motion to dismiss and is not a determination of the merits of the plaintiff’s case. The plaintiff filed an amended complaint, and in November 2003, the District Court certified the action as a class action.
Discovery, except for expert discovery, is now closed. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment which the court continued on two occasions. The District Court previously continued the hearing due to the plaintiffs’ failure to present evidence to support its allegations that Boardwalk’s common stock had a market value of more than $5.00 per share at the time of the merger. The District Court granted summary judgment in our favor in March 2005, which may be appealed. We will continue to vigorously defend our position that the Plaintiffs’ claims are without merit.
Detroit Slot Machine Litigation
On July 18, 2001, an individual, Mary Kraft, filed a complaint in the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit, Michigan, against International Game Technology, Anchor Gaming, Inc. and the three operators of casinos in Detroit, Michigan, including a subsidiary of the Company. The plaintiff claims the bonus wheel feature of the Wheel of Fortune® and I Dream of Jeannie™ slot machines, which are manufactured, designed and programmed by International Game Technology and/or Anchor Gaming, Inc., are deceptive and misleading. Specifically, plaintiff alleges that the bonus wheels on these games do not randomly land on a given dollar amount but are programmed to provide a predetermined frequency of pay-outs. The complaint alleges violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, common law fraud and unjust enrichment and asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, disgorgement of profits, injunctive and other equitable relief, and costs and attorney’s fees. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of any individual in Michigan who has played either of these games since June of 1999. The machines and their programs were approved for use by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the administrative agency responsible for policing the Detroit casinos.
We, along with the other casino operators, filed a motion for summary disposition arguing that the plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a claim as a matter of law. Additionally, we, along with the other casino operators, filed motions for summary disposition arguing that the plaintiff’s common law claims are preempted by the Michigan Act, that the court has no jurisdiction to decide this matter and that all the allegations in the complaint regarding the alleged deceptive nature of the machines are directed to the manufacturers of the machines and are not the casinos’ responsibility. In April 2002, the Wayne County Circuit Court granted the motion for summary disposition. The plaintiff appealed and, after a full briefing of the case, oral argument was held in November 2003.
In April 2004, the Michigan Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court, affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the plaintiff’s claims are exempt from the Michigan Consumer Protection Act because the operation of the slot machines was specifically authorized by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and that the plaintiff’s common law claims are pre-empted by the Michigan Act. The plaintiff did not seek review of the appellate court decision by the Michigan Supreme Court and, therefore, the decision of the Michigan Court of Appeals is final.
In January 2002, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, in the case of Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Michigan Gaming Control Board, et. al., that a preference contained in the Detroit Casino Selection Process Ordinance, in Detroit, Michigan, violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The 6th Circuit Court remanded the case to the Federal District Court to determine what relief was appropriate. The Company’s operating subsidiary had not been granted a preference by the City of Detroit, and was not originally a party to the Lac Vieux litigation. In April 2002, such subsidiary intervened in the Lac Vieux litigation in order to protect its interest.
In July 2002, the District Court denied the Lac Vieux Tribe’s request for a new casino development selection process in the City of Detroit, finding that the magnitude of such relief was not warranted and that the harm to the casino licensees and the City would be manifestly worse than any benefit the Tribe might receive. The District Court declared that our subsidiary did not receive a preference and, in fact, was injured by the preference. The Federal District Court determined that the only relief that it could equitably grant to the Tribe was declaring the ordinance unconstitutional. Our subsidiary had previously petitioned the Court for a ruling that its selection was valid in that it did not receive any preferences in the selection process. In light of the ruling that no further relief would be granted to the Tribe, the Court denied this motion on the ground of mootness. The Tribe appealed the District Court’s ruling, and the Tribe requested that the District Court enjoin the City from approving new development agreements with the three casino developers until resolution of the appeal by the 6th Circuit Court. The District Court denied the request for the injunction, and the appeal is pending. Our subsidiary filed a cross-appeal of the District Court’s denial of the subsidiary’s motion. The cross-appeal is pending.
In September 2002, the 6th Circuit Court issued an injunction, pending appeal, prohibiting the City from issuing construction permits to the developers and prohibiting the developers from commencing construction pending further action of the 6th Circuit Court. The parties completed briefing of the case in August 2003. We argued, among other things, that the preference provisions of the ordinance found unconstitutional are severable from the valid provisions of the ordinance, and that our subsidiary was not eligible for and did not seek or receive a preference in the selection process. The 6th Circuit Court has not set a schedule for argument of the appeal.
In December 2003, the Tribe and the owners of the two other casinos filed a joint motion with the 6th Circuit Court requesting approval of the terms of a partial settlement, asserted to have resolved the case among the filing parties. The settlement calls for exemption of those developers from a reselection process and other related relief, in exchange for cash payments to the Tribe, but purports to continue the Tribe’s appeal as it relates to our subsidiary. In a subsequent filing, the settling parties requested that issues pertaining to this partial settlement be remanded to the District Court for consideration. We filed a responsive motion with the 6th Circuit Court requesting dismissal of the appeal as moot, or, upon denial of such relief, expedited decision of our cross-appeal and a full briefing on the issues surrounding the proposed partial settlement.
In February 2004, the 6th Circuit Court remanded the proposed settlement to the District Court for review and approval. In remanding the case, the 6th Circuit Court directed that the non-settling parties should not be prejudiced by the actions of the settling parties.
In April 2004, the District Court issued a ruling approving the proposed settlement among Lac Vieux, Greektown Casino and Detroit Entertainment/Atwater. As to the position of the Company’s subsidiary in the case, the District Court’s settlement opinion observed that Lac Vieux’s proposed relief of rebidding of the subsidiary’s casino development would be inequitable to our subsidiary, since our subsidiary was not eligible for, did not seek and did not receive any preferential treatment in the casino selection process. The District Court also stated that Lac Vieux’s agreement in the settlement not to pursue rebidding of the developments of the two parties who did receive preferences strengthens our subsidiary’s legal position that a rebidding of only one casino development would make the rebidding process even more inequitable as to our subsidiary.
In May 2004, our subsidiary filed a notice of appeal to the 6th Circuit Court of the District Court’s approval of the proposed consent judgment in order to preserve certain issues regarding the appropriateness of remedies for further briefing and argument should the Tribe prevail in its appeal and our subsidiary not prevail in its cross-appeal. Our subsidiary followed with a motion for scheduling of review of all matters remaining before the 6th Circuit Court. Aside from review of the District Court’s approval of the settlement, several other matters in the litigation remain pending before the 6th Circuit, including our subsidiary’s motion to dismiss Lac Vieux’s appeal on the grounds that the settlement makes the appeal moot; Lac Vieux’s continuing appeal and request for a rebid as to our subsidiary’s Detroit casino development; our subsidiary’s cross-appeal of the District Court’s denial of the subsidiary’s request for declaratory ruling that it should not be subject to rebid because it never received a preference in the developer selection process; and the injunction prohibiting construction of permanent casino complexes pending further action by the 6th Circuit Court.
In June 2004, the 6th Circuit Court issued an order directing the parties to file letter briefs stating their respective positions on questions posed by that court concerning what parties and issues would remain to be decided if the 6th Circuit Court approved the settlement and dissolved the injunction. All parties filed letter briefs in response to the 6th Circuit Court’s directive. In December 2004, the 6th Circuit ordered that the parties provide briefs regarding (i) our subsidiary’s appeal of the District Court’s approval of the proposed consent judgment, (ii) whether the injunction pending appeal should be lifted and, if so, as to what parties, and (iii) whether oral argument is requested. The parties completed briefing of this appeal in February 2005. The timetable for the 6th Circuit’s further review of this case is uncertain. Our subsidiary intends to continue to vigorously defend its positions in this case.
We and our subsidiaries are also defendants in various other lawsuits, most of which relate to routine matters incidental to our business. We do not believe that the outcome of this other pending litigation, considered in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of 2004.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MGG.” The following table sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low sale prices of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape.
There were approximately 3,505 record holders of our common stock as of March 1, 2005.
We have not paid dividends on our common stock in the last two fiscal years. We intend to retain our earnings to fund the operation of our business, to service and repay our debt, to make strategic investments in high return growth projects at our proven resorts, to repurchase shares of common stock and to reserve our capital to raise our capacity to capture investment opportunities overseas and in emerging domestic markets. Furthermore, as a holding company with no independent operations, our ability to pay dividends will depend upon the receipt of dividends and other payment from our subsidiaries. Our senior credit facility contains financial covenants that could restrict our ability to pay dividends. Our Board of Directors periodically reviews our policy with respect to dividends, and any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.
The following table includes information about our stock option plans at December 31, 2004:
Our share repurchases are only conducted under repurchase programs approved by our Board of Directors and publicly announced. The following table includes information about our share repurchases for the quarter ended December 31, 2004:
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The acquisition of Mirage occurred on May 31, 2000. In June 2003, we ceased operations of PLAYMGMMIRAGE.com, our online gaming website (“Online”). In January 2004, we sold the Golden Nugget Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget Laughlin including substantially all of the assets and liabilities of those resorts (the “Golden Nugget Subsidiaries”). In July 2004, we sold the subsidiaries that own and operate MGM Grand Australia. The results of Online, the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries and MGM Grand Australia are classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Results of Operations
At December 31, 2004, our operations consisted of 11 wholly-owned casino resorts and 50% investments in two other casino resorts, including:
Las Vegas, Nevada:
Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Mirage, TI, New York-New York, Boardwalk, and Monte Carlo (50% owned).
Other:
The Primm Valley Resorts (Buffalo Bill’s, Primm Valley Resort and Whiskey Pete’s) in Primm, Nevada; Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi; MGM Grand Detroit; Borgata (50% owned) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
We operate in one segment, the operation of casino resorts, which includes offering gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail and other resort amenities. Slightly over half of our net revenues are derived from gaming activities, a lower percentage than many of our competitors, as our operating philosophy is to provide a complete resort experience for our guests, including non-gaming amenities which command premium prices based on their quality.
We generate a majority of our net revenues and operating income from our Las Vegas Strip resorts. In 2004, over 75% of our net revenues and operating income was generated by wholly-owned Las Vegas Strip resorts. We believe that we own the premier casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, and a main focus of our strategy is to continually reinvest in these resorts to maintain that competitive advantage. Our concentration on the Las Vegas Strip exposes us to certain risks outside of our control, such as competition from other Las Vegas Strip resorts as well as new or expanded resorts in Las Vegas, including Wynn Las Vegas expected to open in 2005, and the impact from potential expansion of gaming in California. This concentration also exposes us to risks related to tourism and the general economy, including national and global economic conditions and terrorist attacks or other global events.
Key Performance Indicators
As a resort-based company, our operating results are highly dependent on the volume of customers at our resorts, which in turn impacts the price we can charge for our hotel rooms and other amenities. We also generate a significant portion of our operating income from the high-end gaming segment, which can cause variability in our results. Key performance indicators related to revenue are:
• Gaming revenue indicators - table games drop and slot handle (volume indicators); “win” or “hold” percentage, which is not fully controllable by us. Our normal table games win percentage is in the range of 18% to 22% of table games drop and our normal slot win percentage is in the range of 6% to 7% of slot handle;
• Hotel revenue indicators - hotel occupancy (volume indicator); average daily rate (“ADR”, price indicator); revenue per available room (“REVPAR”), a summary measure of hotel results, combining ADR and occupancy rate.
Most of our revenue is essentially cash-based, through customers wagering with cash or paying for non-gaming services with cash or credit cards. Our resorts, like many in the industry, generate significant operating cash flow. Our industry is capital intensive and we rely heavily on the ability of our resorts to generate operating cash flow to repay debt financing, fund maintenance capital expenditures and provide excess cash for future development.
Our results of operations do not tend to be seasonal in nature, though a variety of factors can affect the results of any interim period, including the timing of major Las Vegas conventions, the amount and timing of marketing and special events for our high-end customers, and the level of play during major holidays, including New Year and Chinese New Year.
We have invested heavily in our existing operations in 2003 and 2004, and expect to continue to do so on a targeted basis in 2005. Our Las Vegas Strip resorts require ongoing capital investment to maintain their competitive advantages. We believe the investments in additional non-gaming amenities we made in 2003 and 2004 have enhanced our ability to generate increased visitor volume and allowed us to charge premium prices for our amenities.
The most likely significant factors affecting operating results at our existing resorts in 2005 will be the expected continued strength of the leisure and convention travel segments, the expansion of Bellagio and the opening of KÀ and other amenities at MGM Grand Las Vegas, and new competition from Wynn Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip. Various lodging market observers, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Smith Travel Research, are forecasting mid-single digit percentage growth in REVPAR in 2005, with greater REVPAR gains in full service hotels. Our REVPAR growth, and REVPAR growth in Las Vegas in general, has outpaced that of the national market, and we expect that trend to continue.
The Bellagio expansion opened in late 2004 and added over 30% to the resort’s room base. In addition, we added new meeting, retail and dining space and significantly expanded the spa and salon. KÀ opened in late November 2004 at MGM Grand Las Vegas, which had been without a featured production show for almost two years. Along with the numerous restaurant and other entertainment additions at MGM Grand Las Vegas, KÀ will enhance our ability to generate visitor traffic and capture a greater share of our guests’ spending.
Wynn Las Vegas will add room capacity to the Las Vegas market, with its 2,700 rooms representing a 2% increase in Las Vegas room supply. Wynn Las Vegas will also feature numerous upscale restaurants and generally target customers who might otherwise choose Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas or The Mirage. We believe there will be some impact on these resorts from Wynn Las Vegas, but also believe that the breadth of amenities in our portfolio of resorts and our loyalty and other marketing programs will help minimize these competitive pressures. The proximity of Wynn Las Vegas to TI and The Mirage, along with pedestrian bridges linking TI with the Fashion Show Mall and Venetian, will also benefit these resorts.
On June 16, 2004, we announced that we had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Mandalay Resort Group (“Mandalay”), a publicly traded company, under which we will acquire Mandalay for $71.00 in cash for each share of common stock of Mandalay. Mandalay owns and operates eleven properties in Nevada, including Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus, and Slots-A-Fun in Las Vegas, Circus Circus-Reno in Reno, Colorado Belle and Edgewater in Laughlin, Gold Strike and Nevada Landing in Jean, and Railroad Pass in Henderson. Mandalay also owns and operates Gold Strike, a hotel/casino in Tunica County, Mississippi. In addition, Mandalay owns a 50% interest in Silver Legacy in Reno, a 50% interest in Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, a 50% interest in Grand Victoria, a riverboat in Elgin, Illinois, and a 53.5% interest in MotorCity in Detroit, Michigan. The total consideration is approximately $8.1 billion, including equity value of approximately $4.8 billion, convertible debentures with a redemption value of approximately $574 million, the assumption or repayment of other outstanding Mandalay debt with a fair value of approximately $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2004, and $100 million of estimated transaction costs. The transaction is structured as a merger of one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries with and into Mandalay. The transaction will be accounted for as a purchase and is anticipated to close during the first quarter of 2005.
The Mandalay merger will impact our operations in several ways. We will have to integrate Mandalay’s operations into ours. This could require additional operating and capital expenditures. However, we expect to achieve ongoing cost savings and revenue enhancements from this process. We expect to realize efficiencies in operations and economies of scale in purchasing, as well as more effectively market to a broader base of customers. Our operating cash flow will increase substantially, as will our interest and tax charges.
Summary Financial Results
The following table summarizes our results of operations:
Income from continuing operations increased in 2004 due to our strong top-line growth and the fact that revenue growth was driven largely by increased prices of our rooms and strong casino revenue. Operating margins correspondingly increased to 22% in 2004 from 18% in 2003 and 20% in 2002. Results on a per share basis were positively impacted by a lower weighted average number of shares outstanding as the result of share repurchases throughout 2003 and 2004.
The following table includes key information about our operating results:
On a consolidated basis, the most important factors and trends contributing to our operating performance over the last three years have been:
• The war with Iraq and the outbreak of SARS in Asia, both of which negatively impacted leisure travel and our high-end gaming business in late 2002 and early 2003;
• The new labor contract covering our Las Vegas Strip employees since mid-2002, which calls for significant annual wage and benefits increases through 2007;
• The current economic recovery in the United States, which began to impact our operations in the latter half of 2003 and continued to positively affect our results in 2004.
• The ongoing capital investments in upscale amenities at our resorts, which we believe is allowing us to market more effectively to visitors, capture a greater share of these visitors’ increased travel budgets, and generate premium pricing for our resorts’ rooms and other amenities.
As a result of the above trends, our net revenues increased 10% in 2004, while increasing only 3% in 2003. Net revenues at MGM Grand Las Vegas increased 14% in 2004, due to the addition of several new restaurants, bars and other amenities, and in spite of fewer rooms in service due to room remodel activity. Net revenues at New York-New York increased 26% as the resort continues to benefit from Zumanity and Nine Fine Irishmen, both of which opened in summer 2003. Net revenues at The Mirage decreased 2% as the resort was without the Siegfried & Roy show and the buffet was closed for a portion of the year while Cravings was constructed.
Our operating income in 2004 increased 36%, due primarily to the strong revenue trends and a full year of Borgata’s results. The increase in income from unconsolidated affiliates is responsible for approximately one-third of the increase in operating income, while improvements at our operating resorts, particularly Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and New York-New York, make up the rest of the increase. Operating income at MGM Grand Detroit was essentially flat year-over-year, despite an increase in the gaming tax rate from 18% to 24% effective September 2004. Several other factors largely offset: Higher corporate expense due to increased development costs; lower bad debt expense due to improved collections; lower preopening expenses due to Borgata preopening expenses in 2003; and higher property transactions, net due to a $37 million gain on sale of land in 2003.
In 2003, our operating income decreased by 6%. While revenues grew especially in the second half of 2003, expense growth, particularly in payroll, outpaced revenues.
Operating Results - Detailed Revenue Information
The following table presents detail of our net revenues:
Table games revenues increased as a result of the improvements in the U.S. economy and the general economy worldwide, as well as increased attendance at targeted marketing
events, including the New Years period. Total table games volume for the year was up 9%, with particular strength in baccarat volume, up 18%. These are the most significant increases in table games volumes since 2000. Table games revenues decreased in 2003, as a slightly lower hold percentage and the impact of the Iraq war and SARS outbreak in early 2003 were not fully offset by strong volume levels over the latter half of 2003. Table games win percentages were within our normal range for all periods presented.
Slot revenues increased substantially in both 2003 and 2004. Improvements were the result of strong customer visitation, enhanced marketing programs, the impact of our Players Club rewards program, and the implementation of cashless gaming technology in 2003. Slot win percentages were consistent among all three periods.
Non-casino revenue increased in 2004 primarily due to the enhanced amenities at our resorts. In addition, we were able to increase the pricing for our rooms and other non-gaming amenities. Our hotel results began to improve notably in the latter half of 2003, particularly at our Las Vegas Strip resorts. For the year ended December 31, 2004 REVPAR at our Las Vegas Strip resorts was $141 compared to $126 in 2003, an increase of 12%. Company-wide REVPAR was $121, an increase of 10% over 2003. This increase was largely rate driven, as occupancy increased from 91% to 92% and ADR increased from $121 to $132. In 2003, company-wide REVPAR increased 6% from $104 to $110, with most of the gains coming in the second half of the year.
Operating Results - Details of Certain Charges
Preopening and start-up expenses consisted of the following:
Preopening and start-up expenses related to Borgata represent our share of the operating results of Borgata prior to its July 2003 opening.
Restructuring costs (credit) consisted of the following:
In 2004, restructuring costs include $3 million for contract termination costs related to the Aqua restaurant at Bellagio and $2 million of workforce reduction costs at MGM Grand Detroit as a result of our efforts to minimize the impact of a gaming tax increase in Michigan.
In 2003, our primary restructuring activities included closing two marketing offices and terminating the related leases, terminating a lease agreement with a restaurant tenant at MGM Grand Las Vegas, and closing the Siegfried & Roy show, which resulted in a charge for employee severance costs.
In December 2002, we recorded a restructuring credit of $10 million related to a lease contract termination accrual originally recorded in June 2000 as we determined that payment under this obligation was not probable. We recorded $3 million of restructuring charges in December 2002 related to contract termination costs for a restaurant lease and the EFX! show at MGM Grand Las Vegas. In 2001, management responded to a decline in business volumes caused by the September 11 attacks by implementing cost containment strategies which included a significant reduction in payroll and a refocusing of several of our marketing programs. This resulted in a $22 million charge against earnings. As a result of improving business levels and our success at re-hiring a substantial number of previously laid off or terminated employees, management determined in 2002 that a portion of the remaining accrual was no longer necessary. This resulted in a restructuring credit of $10 million in 2002.
Property transactions, net consisted of the following:
In 2004, there were no material unusual property transactions. In 2003, we sold 315 acres of land in North Las Vegas, Nevada near Shadow Creek for approximately $55 million, resulting in the $37 million gain reflected above. Prior to 2003, we classified gains and losses on routine assets sales or disposals as a non-operating item at some resorts and as an operating item at other resorts. We believe the preferable presentation of these items is as an element of operating income. Prior period statements have not been reclassified as such transactions were not material in periods prior to 2003. Until 2003, demolition costs were typically capitalized as part of new construction. We began expensing demolition costs on major construction projects as incurred on January 1, 2003, and are accounting for this change in policy prospectively. Demolition costs were not material in periods prior to 2003. Demolition costs in 2004 and 2003 related primarily to preparation for the Bellagio standard room remodel, Bellagio expansion and new theatre at MGM Grand Las Vegas. Impairments of assets to be disposed of in 2003 consisted primarily of assets related to the former EFX! show and restaurants closed during 2003 at MGM Grand Las Vegas.
In 2002, Tropical Storm Isidore caused property damage at Beau Rivage totaling $8 million, including clean-up costs. The amount of the write-down for damaged assets was determined based on the net book value of the assets and engineering estimates. In connection with the revised development agreement in Detroit, we wrote off $5 million, which was the net book value of previously incurred development costs associated with the riverfront permanent casino site ($9 million), offset by previously accrued obligations no longer required under the revised development agreement ($4 million).
Non-operating Results
The following table summarizes information related to interest on our long-term debt:
Interest cost was higher in 2004 as we had a higher average borrowing rate due to increases in variable interest rates and the issuance of significant fixed rate debt in the second half of 2004 in anticipation of the Mandalay merger.
Capitalized interest increased in 2004 due to the ongoing Bellagio expansion and KÀ theatre projects. Capitalized interest in 2005 will include interest capitalized on Project CityCenter. Capitalized interest decreased in 2003 due to the suspension of development in Atlantic City in late 2002 and the mid-2003 cessation of interest capitalization on the Company’s investment in Borgata, which opened on July 3, 2003.
Non-operating items from unconsolidated affiliates, primarily our share of Borgata’s interest expense and state income taxes, increased from $10 million in 2003 to $12 million in 2004. The increase is due to the full year of Borgata’s results, offset by a reduction to state income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2004. Borgata received a notice of refund of certain state tax credits and recorded a benefit for amounts earned in 2003 and 2004, which had previously been fully reserved. Our share of the adjustment was $12 million. We expect our share of the benefit of these tax credits to positively impact this line item by approximately $8 million per year for the next three years.
The following table summarizes information related to our income taxes:
The effective income tax rate in 2004 was higher than in 2003 primarily due to the accrual of additional state deferred taxes related to capital investments in New Jersey, non-deductible costs related to a Michigan ballot initiative, overseas development costs for which no tax benefit was provided, and the reversal of a greater amount of tax reserves in 2003 compared to 2004 ($13 million in 2003 versus $6 million in 2004) as a result of completion of audits and the expiration of statutes of limitations. The effective income tax rate in 2003 was lower than in 2002 primarily due to the reversal of tax reserves in 2003. Excluding the reversal, our effective income tax rate was approximately the same in both periods.
In 2004, taxes paid increased from prior years, primarily due to increased book income and the full utilization of tax credit carryforwards in 2003. Except for 2003, when we made payments to settle IRS audits of prior years, taxes paid have generally been significantly lower than our income tax provision. This is primarily due to accelerated tax depreciation and the utilization of tax credit carryforwards. We utilized the last of these credits in 2003, which resulted in the increase in our cash paid for taxes in 2004.
We are evaluating the impact of provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Act”) that provide for a special one-time tax deduction of 85 percent on certain repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Additional guidance from Congress and/or the United States Treasury Department will be necessary for us to complete our evaluation, as it is not clear at this time whether the Act will provide a benefit to us. We will complete our evaluation as soon as practicable following the issuance of guidance and adjust our taxes accordingly, if necessary.
We have not yet repatriated the net proceeds from the sale of MGM Grand Australia pending our evaluation. Nonetheless, we provided in 2004 deferred U.S. income taxes of $11 million on the basis that such proceeds would be repatriated without the benefit of the 85 percent one-time deduction. Such amount was included in the provision for income taxes on discontinued operations for 2004. We considered the earnings of our Australia operations permanently reinvested prior to the sale of such operations.
If guidance is issued that indicates our planned repatriation qualifies for the one-time deduction, we will recognize a tax benefit of approximately $7 million as part of continuing operations in the quarter in which such guidance is issued. If no such guidance is issued within the applicable timeframe, then we will attempt to permanently reinvest the proceeds in another foreign jurisdiction, such as Macau. In such case, we would recognize a tax benefit of $11 million as part of continuing operations in the quarter in which the reinvestment is made. We currently do not have a plan to reinvest the proceeds in such manner.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our cash flows consisted of the following:
Cash Flows - Operating Activities
Trends in our operating cash flows tend to follow trends in our operating income, excluding non-cash charges, since our business is primarily cash-based. Cash flow from operations in 2004 increased from 2003 due to higher operating income offset by higher tax payments. Cash flow from operations in 2003 decreased from 2002, resulting from the decrease in operating income and higher cash paid for taxes.
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, we held cash and cash equivalents of $435 million and $280 million, respectively. We require a certain amount of cash on hand to operate our resorts. Beyond our cash on hand, we utilize a company-wide cash management system to minimize the amount of cash held in banks. Funds are swept from accounts at our resorts daily into central bank accounts, and excess funds are invested overnight or are used to repay borrowings under our bank credit facilities. Included in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2004 is $141 million received from the sale of MGM Grand Australia and still held in Australia, pending clarification of the tax rule for repatriated earnings, as discussed earlier.
Cash Flows - Investing Activities
The sale of the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries closed in January 2004 with net proceeds to the Company of $210 million. The sale of MGM Grand Australia closed in July 2004 with net proceeds to the Company of $136 million.
Capital expenditures in 2004 increased over 2003 due to continued spending on major projects at several of our resorts, including:
Spending on these two projects totaled approximately $325 million. Other capital expenditures were made for maintenance capital activities, including room remodel projects at New York-New York and MGM Grand Las Vegas and new restaurant and entertainment amenities at several resorts. Capital expenditures in 2003 were significantly higher than 2002, due largely to major projects at our existing resorts, including projects described above which began in 2003, the Zumanity theatre at New York-New York, the Bellagio room remodel and slot technology improvements. Capital expenditures in 2002 included general property improvements at our resorts, such as a room remodel project at The Mirage, new restaurant and nightclub development at several of our resorts, and various other remodeling projects.
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates in 2004 primarily consist of contributions to The Residences at MGM Grand. In 2003 and 2002, such investments were primarily our required investments in Borgata. In 2002, we also contributed $44 million to Monte Carlo in connection with Monte Carlo’s retirement of the final $87 million of its outstanding debt.
Cash Flows - Financing Activities
In 2004, we issued over $1.5 billion of fixed rate debt in various issuances:
In 2004, we repaid a net $1.6 billion on our bank credit facilities and repurchased $49 million of our existing senior notes for $52 million, resulting in a loss on early retirement of debt of $6 million (including the write-off of unamortized original issue discount), which is classified as “Other, net” in the accompanying consolidated statement of income. In 2003, we issued $600 million of 6% Senior Notes, due 2009 and repaid a net $285 million on our bank credit facilities. The net proceeds of these financing activities were used to supplement operating cash flows, fund capital expenditures and repurchase shares of our common stock. In 2002, we utilized our operating cash flow to reduce outstanding indebtedness by $270 million, while still funding significant capital expenditures and share repurchases.
Our share repurchases are only conducted under repurchase programs approved by our Board of Directors and publicly announced. Our share repurchase activity was as follows:
At December 31, 2004, we had 10 million shares available for repurchase under a July 2004 authorization. We received $136 million, $36 million and $46 million in proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Principal Debt Arrangements
Our long-term debt consists of publicly held senior and subordinated notes and bank credit facilities. We pay fixed rates of interest ranging from 5.875% to 9.75% on the senior and subordinated notes. We pay variable interest based on LIBOR on our bank credit facility. We amended our bank credit facility in November 2003, and our current senior credit facility is a $2.5 billion, five-year revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks led by Bank of America, N.A. As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately $2.4 billion of available liquidity under our bank credit facility. Subsequent to year-end, we redeemed three issuances of senior notes totaling $676 million of principal utilizing available funds under the bank credit facility. Our next maturity of public debt is not due until 2006.
Other Factors Affecting Liquidity
In November 2004, in anticipation of the Mandalay merger, we entered into an amended and restated bank credit facility with a group of lenders led by Bank of America, N.A. The revised bank credit facility will be effective upon the closing of the Mandalay merger, will mature five years later, and will provide a total of $7.0 billion of borrowing capacity, consisting of a $5.5 billion senior revolving credit facility and $1.5 billion senior term loan facility. The remaining terms are substantially similar to our existing bank credit facility.
Future Developments
Project CityCenter. In November 2004, we announced a plan to develop a multi-billion dollar urban metropolis, initially called Project CityCenter, on 66 acres of land on the Las Vegas Strip, between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. We anticipate that the first phase of Project CityCenter will include a 4,000-room casino resort, three 400-room boutique hotels, approximately 550,000 square feet of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues, and 1,650 units of luxury condominium, hotel/condominium and private residence clubs.
We expect that the complete design work for Project CityCenter will take 18 months and that the first phase will open in 2009. The design, budget and schedule of Project CityCenter are still preliminary however, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of Project CityCenter are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects.
Atlantic City, New Jersey. We own approximately 130 acres on Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In addition, Borgata occupies 29 acres at Renaissance Pointe, including 27 acres it owns and two acres we lease to Borgata. Of the remaining land, approximately 95 acres are suitable for development, and a portion of these acres consists of common roads, landscaping and master plan improvements which we designed and developed as required by our agreement with Boyd.
Borgata is currently expanding its gaming and non-gaming amenities, adding 36 casino table games and 600 slot machines, along with additional restaurant, entertainment and other amenities. This project is expected to be completed in 2006. Additionally, Borgata has plans to add another hotel tower featuring 800 guestrooms, suites and resort condominiums, along with a new spa, parking garage and meeting rooms. This project is expected to be completed in 2007. Neither project is expected to require contributions from us, as existing operating cash flow and Borgata’s recently renegotiated bank credit facility is anticipated to provide for the cost of the expansions.
In October 2002, we announced the suspension of our development activities on our wholly-owned project on the Renaissance Pointe land in Atlantic City. We must apply for and receive numerous governmental permits and satisfy other conditions before construction of a new resort on the Renaissance Pointe site could begin. No assurance can be given that we will develop a casino resort in New Jersey, or its ultimate schedule, size, configuration or cost if we do develop a casino resort.
Detroit, Michigan. MGM Grand Detroit, LLC, in which we hold a controlling interest, has operated an interim casino facility in Detroit, Michigan since July 1999. In August 2002, the Detroit City Council approved revised development agreements with us and two other developers. The revised development agreement released us and the City from certain of the obligations under the original agreement and significantly changed other provisions of the original agreement. We are currently in the process of obtaining land and developing plans for the permanent facility. The design, budget and schedule of the permanent facility are not finalized, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of the facility are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects.
The ability to construct the permanent casino facility is currently subject to resolution of the Lac Vieux litigation. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an injunction prohibiting the City and the developers from commencing construction pending further action of the 6th Circuit Court. Therefore, we do not know when we will be able to commence construction of, or complete, the permanent facility.
United Kingdom. In anticipation of reforms to gambling legislation currently before the United Kingdom’s House of Parliament, we have made several strategic agreements in the United Kingdom, including the following:
In May 2003, we purchased a 25% interest in Metro Casinos Limited, a company which was developing a new casino in Bristol. Metro Casinos Limited is a subsidiary of R J Bown (Holdings) Ltd, the owner of the Westcliff Casino, one of the largest United Kingdom provincial casinos. We received regulatory approval for our investment in Metro Casinos Limited from the Gaming Board for Great Britain in November 2003. The Bristol facility opened in February 2004.
In October 2003, we entered into an agreement with the Earls Court and Olympia Group, which operates large exhibition and trade show facilities in London, to form a jointly owned company which would develop an entertainment and gaming facility, which we would operate in space leased from the Earls Court and Olympia Group, to complement the existing Olympia facilities. We made a deposit of £2 million ($4 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2004), which is refundable if proposed gaming law reforms are not implemented by December 2005. Otherwise, the deposit will be applied to the first year’s rent on a lease between the new company and the Earls Court and Olympia Group. We would make a nominal equity investment and would provide a loan for half of the estimated development costs. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals. We own 82.5% of the entity.
In November 2003, we entered into an agreement with Newcastle United PLC to create a 50-50 joint venture which would build a major new mixed-use development, including casino development, on a site adjacent to Newcastle’s football stadium. Newcastle United PLC contributed the land to the joint venture, and we made an equity investment of £5 million ($10 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2004), which is refundable if certain conditions have not been met by January 2008. We would develop and operate the complex, as well as own the casino development in leased premises within the complex. The complex is expected to be financed through project-specific borrowings. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals.
In February 2004, we announced an agreement in principle with The British Land Company PLC whereby we would operate a casino in leased premises within a newly developed leisure and entertainment complex adjacent to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to us, and obtaining required planning and other approvals.
Macau. In June 2004, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Pansy Ho Chiu-king to develop, build and operate a hotel-casino resort in Macau S.A.R. The facility, which will use the “MGM Grand” name, will be located on a prime waterfront site and will include world-class resort amenities including a hotel, restaurants, entertainment facilities, convention, retail and spa facilities in addition to a significant gaming component. The agreement is subject to, among other things, the approval of the government of Macau S.A.R. and other regulatory approvals as well as the entry into a subconcession agreement with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM), the holder of one of the existing concessions to operate a casino in Macau. The Company has committed to invest up to $280 million in the entity in the form of capital contributions and shareholder loans. The complete design, timing, cost and scope of the project are at a preliminary stage and are subject to the risks attendant to large-scale projects.
New York Racing Association. We have an understanding with the New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) to manage VLTs at NYRA’s Aqueduct horseracing facility in metropolitan New York. We would assist in the development of the facility, including providing project financing, and would manage the facility for a fee. Work was halted on the VLT facility in August 2003 pending the outcome of an investigation of certain aspects of NYRA’s operations by Federal prosecutors. In December 2003, NYRA reached agreement with the Justice Department whereby NYRA was indicted with prosecution deferred. NYRA agreed to pay a fine and the indictment will be dismissed with prejudice upon NYRA implementing certain reforms and otherwise complying with the terms of the agreement. Our participation is subject to a definitive agreement, regulatory approvals and certain legislative changes by the State of New York.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
Our off balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of investments in unconsolidated affiliates, which currently consist primarily of our investments in Monte Carlo and Borgata. We have not entered into any transactions with special purpose entities, nor have we engaged in any derivative transactions other than straightforward interest rate swaps. Our joint venture and unconsolidated affiliate investments allow us to realize the benefits of owning a full-scale resort in a manner that minimizes our initial investment. We provided a guaranty for up to 50% of the interest and principal payment obligations on the construction financing for The Residences at MGM Grand. Otherwise, we have not guaranteed financing obtained by our investees, nor are there any other provisions of the venture agreements which are unusual or subject us to risks to which we would not be subjected if we had full ownership of the resort.
At December 31, 2004, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $51 million, of which $50 million support the bonds issued by the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit. These bonds are recorded as a liability in our consolidated balance sheets. This obligation was undertaken to secure our right to develop a permanent casino in Detroit.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our scheduled contractual commitments as of December 31, 2004:
(1)
Estimated interest payments on long-term debt are based on principal amounts outstanding at December 31, 2004 after giving effect to the redemption of certain senior notes in February 2005, and forecasted LIBOR rates for our bank credit facility.
(2)
Includes our obligation to support $50 million of bonds issued by the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit as part of our development agreement with the City. The bonds mature in 2009. Also includes the estimated payments of obligations under our deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans, based on balances as of December 31, 2004 and assumptions of retirement based on plan provisions.
(3)
Our largest entertainment commitments consist of minimum contractual payments to Cirque du Soleil, which performs shows at several of our resorts. We are generally contractually committed for a period of 12 months based on our ability to exercise certain termination rights; however, we expect these shows to continue for longer periods.
(4)
The amount for 2005 includes approximately $31 million of open purchase orders. Other commitments are for various contracts, including maintenance and other service agreements and advertising commitments.
Other significant operating uses of cash in 2005 include tax payments. Other significant investing uses of cash flow in 2005 include uncommitted capital expenditures, expected to be approximately $400 million exclusive of any spending on a permanent casino in Detroit, investments in our Macau joint venture or capital spending at Mandalay resorts.
We plan to fund our contractual obligations and other estimated spending through a combination of operating cash flow, proceeds from known or expected sales of businesses and available borrowings under our senior credit facility. To fund the Mandalay acquisition, we entered into the revised bank credit facility, which will provide the required funds to fund payments to Mandalay’s shareholders and holders of Mandalay’s convertible debentures, as well as refinance certain of Mandalay’s outstanding borrowings. We are required to sell our interest in one of the two casinos in Detroit, Michigan. The sale of either of these interests will generate significant cash flow. We have generated over $740 million in operating cash flow in each of the past three years, which included deductions for interest payments, tax payments and certain contractually committed payments reflected in the above table, including operating leases, employment agreements and entertainment agreements. We expect to generate a higher level of operating cash flow in 2005 due to improved operating results, expanded facilities and the Mandalay acquisition.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of our results of operations and liquidity and capital resources are based on our consolidated financial statements. To prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, we must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. We regularly evaluate these estimates and assumptions, particularly in areas we consider to be critical accounting estimates, where changes in the estimates and assumptions could have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors have reviewed the disclosures included herein about our critical accounting estimates, and have reviewed the processes to determine those estimates.
Allowance for Doubtful Casino Accounts Receivable
Marker play represents a significant portion of the table games volume at Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Mirage. Our other facilities do not emphasize marker play to the same extent, although we offer markers to customers at those casinos as well.
We maintain strict controls over the issuance of markers and aggressively pursue collection from those customers who fail to pay their marker balances timely. These collection efforts are similar to those used by most large corporations when dealing with overdue customer accounts, including the mailing of statements and delinquency notices, personal contacts, the use of outside collection agencies and civil litigation. Markers are generally legally enforceable instruments in the United States. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, approximately 54% and 53%, respectively, of our casino accounts receivable was owed by customers from the United States. Markers are not legally enforceable instruments in some foreign countries, but the United States assets of foreign customers may be reached to satisfy judgments entered in the United States. A significant portion of our casino accounts receivable is owed by casino customers from the Far East. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, approximately 25% and 30%, respectively, of our casino accounts receivable was owed by customers from the Far East.
We maintain an allowance, or reserve, for doubtful casino accounts at all of our operating casino resorts. The provision for doubtful accounts, an operating expense, increases the allowance for doubtful accounts. We regularly evaluate the allowance for doubtful casino accounts. At resorts where marker play is not significant, the allowance is generally established by applying standard reserve percentages to aged account balances. At resorts where marker play is significant, we apply standard reserve percentages to aged account balances under a specified dollar amount and specifically analyze the collectibility of each account with a balance over the specified dollar amount, based on the age of the account, the customer’s financial condition, collection history and any other known information. We also monitor regional and global economic conditions and forecasts to determine if reserve levels are adequate.
The collectibility of unpaid markers is affected by a number of factors, including changes in currency exchange rates and economic conditions in the customers’ home countries. Because individual customer account balances can be significant, the allowance and the provision can change significantly between periods, as information about a certain customer becomes known or as changes in a region’s economy occur.
The following table shows key statistics related to our casino receivables:
The allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of casino accounts receivable has decreased since 2002, the result of improved collections leading to improved credit statistics, reflected in the lower median age of accounts and decreasing percentage of accounts outstanding over 180 days. Our reserve percentage is now consistent with the percentage before the September 11 attacks, and is representative of a more normalized collection experience and positive global economic conditions relative to the conditions in 2001 and 2002.
At December 31, 2004, a 100 basis-point change in the allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of casino accounts receivable would change net income by $1.1 million, or $0.01 per share.
Fixed asset capitalization and depreciation policies
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Maintenance and repairs that neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably prolong its life are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We account for construction projects in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 67, “Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects”. When we construct assets, we capitalize direct costs of the project, including fees paid to architects and contractors, property taxes, and certain costs of our design and construction subsidiary, MGM MIRAGE Design Group.
We must make estimates and assumptions when accounting for capital expenditures. Whether an expenditure is considered a maintenance expense or a capital asset is a matter of judgment. When constructing or purchasing assets, we must determine whether existing assets are being replaced or otherwise impaired, which also may be a matter of judgment. Our depreciation expense is highly dependent on the assumptions we make about our assets’ estimated useful lives. We determine the estimated useful lives based on our experience with similar assets, engineering studies, and our estimate of the usage of the asset. Whenever events or circumstances occur which change the estimated useful life of an asset, we account for the change prospectively.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 34, “Capitalization of Interest Cost” (“SFAS 34”), interest cost associated with major development and construction projects is capitalized as part of the cost of the project. Interest is typically capitalized on amounts expended on the project using the weighted-average cost of our outstanding borrowings, since we typically do not borrow funds directly related to a development project. Capitalization of interest starts when construction activities, as defined in SFAS 34, begin and ceases when construction is substantially complete or development activity is suspended for more than a brief period.
Whether we capitalize interest on a project depends in part on management’s actions. In October 2002, we announced the suspension of development activities on our wholly-owned project on the Renaissance Pointe land in Atlantic City. In connection with that announcement, we stopped capitalizing interest associated with the project. Interest capitalized on this project for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $41 million. In November 2004, we announced the development of Project CityCenter in Las Vegas. In connection with this announcement and the start of design activities, we began capitalizing interest associated with this project, including capitalizing interest on land costs for the portion of the Project CityCenter site not currently being utilized in operations. Interest capitalized on this project for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $2 million.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
We evaluate our property and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. For assets to be disposed of, we recognize the asset at the lower of carrying value or fair market value less costs of disposal, as estimated based on comparable asset sales, solicited offers, or a discounted cash flow model. For assets to be held and used, we review for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. We then compare the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then an impairment is recorded based on the fair value of the asset, typically measured using a discounted cash flow model. If an asset is still under development, future cash flows include remaining construction costs. All recognized impairment losses, whether for assets to be disposed of or assets to be held and used, are recorded as operating expenses.
\
There are several estimates, assumptions and decisions in measuring impairments of long-lived assets. First, management must determine the usage of the asset. To the extent management decides that an asset will be sold, it is more likely that an impairment may be recognized. Assets must be tested at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist. This means that some assets must be grouped, and management has some discretion in the grouping of assets. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
On a quarterly basis, we review our major long-lived assets to determine if events have occurred or circumstances exist that indicate a potential impairment. We estimate future cash flows using our internal budgets. When appropriate, we discount future cash flows using our weighted-average cost of capital, developed using a standard capital asset pricing model. Whenever an impairment loss is recorded, or a test for impairment is made, we discuss the facts and circumstances with the audit committee.
See “Results of Operations” for discussion of write-downs and impairments recorded in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In October 2002, we announced the suspension of our development activities on our wholly-owned project on the Renaissance Pointe land in Atlantic City. In connection therewith, we reviewed the land for potential impairment, and determined no impairment was indicated. In December 2002, in connection with our agreement with Turnberry Associates whereby we are required to contribute land to the venture, we reviewed the land for potential impairment, and determined no impairment was indicated. In June 2003, we entered into an agreement to sell the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries. The fair value less costs to sell exceeds the carrying value, therefore no impairment was indicated. In February 2004, we entered into an agreement to sell MGM Grand Australia. The fair value less costs to sell exceeds the carrying value, therefore no impairment was indicated.
Other than the above items, we are not aware of events or circumstances that would cause us to review any material long-lived assets for impairment.
Income taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States, and in several states and foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. We account for income taxes according to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS 109”). SFAS 109 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets, net of applicable reserves, related to net operating loss carryforwards and certain temporary differences. The standard requires recognition of a future tax benefit to the extent that realization of such benefit is more likely than not. Otherwise, a valuation allowance is applied.
At December 31, 2004, we had $93 million of deferred tax assets and $1.9 billion of deferred tax liabilities. Except for certain New Jersey state net operating losses and certain other New Jersey state deferred tax assets, we believe that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets are fully realizable because of the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences and future projected taxable income. The valuation allowance at December 31, 2004 related to the New Jersey deferred tax assets was $6 million.
Our income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax authorities. While positions taken in tax returns are sometimes subject to uncertainty in the tax laws, we do not take such positions unless we have “substantial authority” to do so under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations. We may take positions on our tax returns based on substantial authority that are not ultimately accepted by the IRS.
We assess such potential unfavorable outcomes based on the criteria of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”). We establish a tax reserve if an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the unfavorable outcome can be reasonably estimated. We assess the potential outcomes of tax uncertainties on a quarterly basis. In determining whether the probable criterion of SFAS 5 is met, we presume that the taxing authority will focus on the exposure and we assess the probable outcome of a particular issue based upon the relevant legal and technical merits. We also apply our judgment regarding the potential actions by the tax authorities and resolution through the settlement process.
We maintain required tax reserves until such time as the underlying issue is resolved. When actual results differ from reserve estimates, we adjust the income tax provision and our tax reserves in the period resolved. For tax years that are examined by taxing authorities, we adjust tax reserves in the year the tax examinations are settled. For tax years that are not examined by taxing authorities, we adjust tax reserves in the year that the statute of limitations expires. Our estimate of the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental, and we believe we have adequately provided for any reasonable and foreseeable outcomes related to uncertain tax matters.
In December 2002, we settled the IRS audit of the Company’s 1995 and 1996 tax returns, which did not result in a material impact on our results of operations or financial position. During 2003, we filed amended returns for tax years subsequent to 1996 to reflect the impact of the IRS audits of the 1993 through 1996 tax years on those subsequent years. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the statutes of limitations expired for the 1997 through 1999 tax years, resulting in a reduction of our tax reserves of $13 million and a corresponding reduction in our provision for income taxes. In the third quarter of 2004, the statute of limitations expired for our 2000 tax return, resulting in a reduction of our tax reserves of $6 million and a corresponding reduction in our provision for income taxes. Subsequent to December 31, 2004, we received notice that the IRS will audit our 2001 and 2002 tax returns, and the tax returns for years after 2002 are subject to possible future examination.
We classify reserves for tax uncertainties within “other accrued liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, separate from any related income tax payable or deferred income taxes. Reserve amounts may relate to the deductibility of an item, as well as potential interest associated with those items.
A portion of our tax reserves was assumed in the Mirage Acquisition. The IRS audit of the tax returns of Mirage through the merger date was settled in August 2003, resulting in a payment to the IRS of $45 million, including interest. These matters had been previously reserved for, so the settlement had no impact on our income tax provision or our results of operations. Any future adjustments to the acquired Mirage tax reserves will be recorded as an adjustment to goodwill.
Accounting Principles Adopted in 2004
Taxation on Foreign Earnings
In December 2004, the staff of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position 109-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (“FSP 109-2”). FSP 109-2 allows us additional time beyond the financial reporting period in which the Act was enacted to evaluate the effects of the Act on our plans for repatriation of unremitted earnings. Under SFAS 109, we did not historically record a provision for U.S. Federal or State income taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries because such earnings were considered to be indefinitely reinvested in the operations of foreign subsidiaries. Upon the sale of MGM Grand Australia, we did provide deferred taxes of $11 million on the basis that the proceeds would be repatriated without the benefit of the 85 percent one-time deduction provided by the Act. The Act may allow a special one-time deduction of 85 percent of certain repatriated foreign earnings; however, additional clarifying language is necessary to ensure we qualify for the deduction. The potential benefit to us of the repatriation provisions of the Act is $7 million.
Discontinued operations
In November 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the FASB reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-13, “Applying the Conditions in Paragraph 42 of FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, in Determining Whether to Report Discontinued Operations,” (“EITF 03-13”). EITF 03-13 requires us to analyze whether the cash flows of a disposed component have been eliminated from our ongoing operations and whether we retain a continuing involvement in the operations of the disposed component. If significant migration of customers occurs to our other operations, we would be precluded from classifying a sold or disposed operation as a “discontinued” operation. EITF 03-13 is effective for components disposed of or classified as held for sale in periods beginning after December 15, 2004, with optional application to components disposed of or classified as held for sale within that fiscal year. We did not apply EITF 03-13 to our sale of MGM Grand Australia, but if we had applied EITF 03-13 we still would have classified MGM Grand Australia as a discontinued operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Stock-based Compensation
In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”). Under the original standard, SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation “ (“SFAS 123”), companies had the option of recording stock options issued to employees at fair value or intrinsic value, which generally leads to no expense being recorded. Most companies, including us, opted to use this intrinsic value method and make required disclosures of fair value expense. SFAS 123(R) eliminates this intrinsic value alternative. SFAS 123(R) is effective for us on July 1, 2005, at which time all future share-based payments must be recorded at fair value. Transition methods are discussed below.
We must make certain changes in the manner of valuation of options and must make certain decisions which will affect the amount and timing of expense recognition, as discussed below.
Choice of valuation model. Under SFAS 123, stock options were generally valued using the Black-Scholes model. SFAS 123(R) does not specify which model must be used, but requires that certain assumptions be included in the chosen model. Essentially, we have a choice of continuing to apply the Black-Scholes model or applying a binomial (lattice) model. The key difference is that a binomial model can better account for sub-optimal exercises; that is, exercises before the contractual expiration of the option. A binominal model is more complex to apply, and generally results in a lower value than a comparable valuation using the Black-Scholes model. We have not yet determined which model we will apply.
Choice of vesting patterns. Under SFAS 123(R), awards with graded vesting, as all of our awards have, may be expensed in one of two time patterns: 1) On a straight-line basis over the complete vesting period (as though the entire award was one grant); or 2) On an accelerated basis, treating each vesting layer as a separate grant and amortizing each layer on a straight-line basis. For disclosure purposes under SFAS 123, we used the accelerated basis. We have preliminarily concluded that we will use the straight-line method for future grants under SFAS 123(R). As discussed below under transition methods, such policy will only apply to future grants. Expense recognized under SFAS 123(R) for previously granted options will be recorded on the accelerated basis.
Estimating forfeitures. Under SFAS 123, we could choose whether to estimate forfeitures at the grant date or recognize actual forfeitures as they occur. Under SFAS 123(R), we must estimate forfeitures as of the grant date.
Presentation of excess tax benefits in the statement of cash flows. Under SFAS 123(R), the excess of tax benefits realized from the exercise of employee stock options over the tax benefit associated with the financial reporting expense is shown as a financing cash inflow in the statement of cash flows. Previously, these excess benefits were shown as an operating cash inflow.
Transition alternatives. There are two allowable transition alternatives - the modified-prospective transition or the modified-retrospective transition. Under the modified-prospective transition, we would begin applying the valuation and other criteria to stock options granted beginning July 1, 2005. We would begin recognizing expense for the unvested portion of previously issued grants at the same time, based on the valuation and attribution methods originally used to calculate the disclosures. Under the modified-retrospective transition, we would restate prior periods to reflect the previously calculated amounts in the pro forma disclosures as actual expenses of the prior period (with no change in valuation or attribution methods). Future accounting would be the same as under the modified-prospective transition. We would also restate the statement of cash flows for the change in classification of excess tax benefits. In addition, we would be required under the modified-retrospective transition method to estimate forfeitures for options outstanding as of July 1, 2005 and recognize a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle to reverse such previously recognized compensation. We have not yet determined which transition method we will apply.
Disclosures. There are additional disclosure requirements under SFAS 123(R), which will not have a material impact on us.
The impact of adopting SFAS 123(R) on our operating results will depend in part on the amount of stock options or other share-based payments we grant in the future. The following table shows compensation expense related to options granted through December 31, 2004, based on the options’ vesting schedules:
We do not believe the adoption of SFAS 123(R) will have a material impact on our cash flows or financial position.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with our long-term debt. We attempt to limit our exposure to interest rate risk by managing the mix of our long-term fixed rate borrowings and short-term borrowings under our bank credit facilities.
In 2003, we entered into three interest rate swap agreements, designated as fair value hedges, which effectively converted $400 million of our fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. In 2004, we terminated interest rate swap agreements with total notional amounts of $400 million and entered into additional interest rate swap agreements designated as fair value hedges with total notional amounts of $100 million, leaving interest rate swap agreements with total notional amounts of $100 million at December 31, 2004.
Under the terms of these agreements, we make payments based on specified spreads over six-month LIBOR, and receive payments equal to the interest payments due on the fixed rate debt. The interest rate swap agreements qualify for the “shortcut method” allowed under SFAS No. 133, which allows an assumption of no ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments.
The following table provides information about our interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2004:
*
Interest rates are determined in arrears. These rates have been estimated based on implied forward rates in the yield curve.
As of December 31, 2004, after giving effect to the interest rate swaps discussed above, long-term fixed rate borrowings represented approximately 97% of our total borrowings. Assuming a 100 basis-point change in LIBOR, our annual interest cost would change by approximately $2 million.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Market Risk” in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, including the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report thereon, referred to in Item 15(a)(1) of this Form 10-K, are included at pages 67 to 92 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) have concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2004. This conclusion is based on an evaluation conducted under the supervision and with the participation of Company management. Disclosure controls and procedures are those controls and procedures which ensure that information required to be disclosed in this filing is accumulated and communicated to management and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner and in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, referred to in Item 15(a)(1) of this Form 10-K, is included at page 65 of this Form 10-K.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Attestation Report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting referred to in Item 15(a)(1) of this Form 10-K, is included at page 66 of this Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended December 31, 2004, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Item 1 of this Form 10-K and under “Election of Directors” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 4, 2005 (the “Proxy Statement”). We have adopted a code of conduct which is posted on our website, www.mgmmirage.com.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Executive Compensation and Other Information” in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Principal Stockholders” in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Certain Transactions” in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Audit Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a)(1).
Financial Statements.
Included in Part II of this Report:
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Independent Registered Public Accountant’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Independent Registered Public Accountant’s Report on Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2004 and 2003
Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2).
Financial Statement Schedule.
Included in Part IV of this Report:
Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
We have omitted schedules other than the one listed above because they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes to the financial statements.
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
** Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 shall not be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.
MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT
ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management’s Responsibilities
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for MGM MIRAGE (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”).
Objective of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In establishing adequate internal control over financial reporting, management has developed and maintained a system of internal control, policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information contained in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and other information presented in this annual report is reliable, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact, and fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of and for the periods presented in this annual report. Significant elements of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting include, for example:
• Hiring skilled accounting personnel and training them appropriately;
• Written accounting policies;
• Written documentation of accounting systems and procedures;
• Segregation of incompatible duties;
• Internal audit function to monitor the effectiveness of the system of internal control;
• Oversight by an independent Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Management’s Evaluation
Management has evaluated the Company’s internal control over financial reporting using the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on their evaluation as of December 31, 2004, management believes that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective in achieving the objectives described above.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended December 31, 2004 and issued their report thereon, which is included in this annual report. Deloitte & Touche LLP has also issued an attestation report on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and such report is also included in this annual report.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of MGM MIRAGE
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting”, that MGM MIRAGE (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the Company and our report dated March 10, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
March 10, 2005
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of MGM MIRAGE
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MGM MIRAGE (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts included in Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 10, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
March 10, 2005
MGM MIRAGE AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MGM MIRAGE AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MGM MIRAGE AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MGM MIRAGE AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MGM MIRAGE AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION
MGM MIRAGE (the “Company”), formerly MGM Grand, Inc., is a Delaware corporation, incorporated on January 29, 1986. As of December 31, 2004 approximately 58% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock were owned by Tracinda Corporation, a Nevada corporation wholly owned by Kirk Kerkorian. MGM MIRAGE acts largely as a holding company and, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns and/or operates casino resorts.
The Company owns and operates the following casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada: Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Mirage, Treasure Island (“TI”), New York-New York and the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino. The Company owns a 50% interest in the joint venture that owns and operates the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, also located on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Company owns three resorts in Primm, Nevada at the California/Nevada state line - Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s and the Primm Valley Resort - as well as two championship golf courses located near the resorts. The Company also owns Shadow Creek, an exclusive world-class golf course located approximately ten miles north of its Las Vegas Strip resorts.
The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, MGM Grand Detroit, Inc., and its local partners formed MGM Grand Detroit, LLC, to develop a hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Detroit, Michigan. MGM Grand Detroit, LLC operates a casino in an interim facility in downtown Detroit. See Note 10 for discussion of the revised development agreement with the City of Detroit and plans for a permanent casino resort.
The Company owns and operates Beau Rivage, a beachfront resort located in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Company also owns a 50% interest in a limited liability company that owns Borgata, a casino resort at Renaissance Pointe, located in the Marina area of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Boyd Gaming Corporation owns the other 50% of Borgata and also operates the resort. Borgata opened in July 2003. The Company owns approximately 95 developable acres adjacent to Borgata, a portion of which consists of common roads, landscaping and master plan improvements which the Company designed and developed as required under the agreement with Boyd.
Until July 2004, the Company owned and operated MGM Grand Australia and until January 2004, the Company owned and operated the Golden Nugget Las Vegas in downtown Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget Laughlin in Laughlin, Nevada (the “Golden Nugget Subsidiaries”). Until June 2003, the Company operated PLAYMGMMIRAGE.com, the Company’s online gaming website based in the Isle of Man. See Note 3 for further information regarding these discontinued operations. In the second quarter of 2002, the Company received proceeds of $11 million upon termination of management agreements covering four casinos in the Republic of South Africa. Prior to the termination, the Company managed three permanent casinos and one interim casino and received management fees from its partner, Tsogo Sun Gaming & Entertainment. The termination fee was recorded as part of other revenues in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
The Company is actively seeking future development opportunities in the United Kingdom. In May 2003, the Company acquired a 25% interest in Metro Casinos Limited, a United Kingdom gaming company which operates a casino in Bristol. See Note 10 for discussion of other potential developments in the United Kingdom.
In June 2004, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to develop, build and operate a hotel-casino resort in Macau S.A.R. The agreement is subject to, among other things, the approval of the government of Macau S.A.R., and other regulatory approvals, as well as the entry into a subconcession agreement with the holder of one of the existing concessions.
On June 16, 2004, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Mandalay Resort Group (“Mandalay”), a publicly traded company, under which the Company will acquire Mandalay for $71.00 in cash for each share of common stock of Mandalay. Mandalay owns and operates eleven properties in Nevada, including Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus, and Slots-A-Fun in Las Vegas, Circus Circus-Reno in Reno, Colorado Belle and Edgewater in Laughlin, Gold Strike and Nevada Landing in Jean, and Railroad Pass in Henderson. Mandalay also owns and operates Gold Strike, a hotel/casino in Tunica County, Mississippi. In addition, Mandalay owns a 50% interest in Silver Legacy in Reno, a 50% interest in Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, a 50% interest in Grand Victoria, a riverboat in Elgin, Illinois, and a 53.5% interest in MotorCity in Detroit, Michigan. The total consideration is approximately $8.1 billion, including equity value of approximately $4.8 billion, convertible debentures with a redemption value of approximately $574 million, the assumption or repayment of other outstanding Mandalay debt with a fair value of approximately $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2004, and $100 million of estimated transaction costs. The transaction is structured as a merger of one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries with and into Mandalay. The transaction will be accounted for as a purchase and is anticipated to close during the first quarter of 2005.
NOTE 2 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Principles of consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates which are 50% or less owned are accounted for under the equity method. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s operations are primarily in one segment - operation of casino resorts. Other operations, and foreign operations, are not material.
Management’s use of estimates. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Those principles require the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include investments and interest bearing instruments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. Such investments are carried at cost which approximates market value. Effective December 31, 2004, the Company is recording book overdraft balances resulting from its cash management program as accounts payable, and has reclassified prior period balances to conform to this presentation.
Accounts receivable and credit risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of casino accounts receivable. The Company issues markers to approved casino customers following background checks and investigations of creditworthiness. At December 31, 2004, a substantial portion of the Company’s receivables were due from customers residing in foreign countries. Business or economic conditions or other significant events in these countries could affect the collectibility of such receivables.
Trade receivables, including casino and hotel receivables, are typically non-interest bearing and are initially recorded at cost. Accounts are written off when management deems the account to be uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts previously written off are recorded when received. An estimated allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained to reduce the Company’s receivables to their carrying amount, which approximates fair value. The allowance is estimated based on specific review of customer accounts as well as historical collection experience and current economic and business conditions. Management believes that as of December 31, 2004, no significant concentrations of credit risk existed for which an allowance had not already been recorded.
Inventories. Inventories consist of food and beverage, retail merchandise and operating supplies, and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined primarily by the average cost method for food and beverage and supplies and the retail inventory or specific identification methods for retail merchandise.
Property and equipment. Property and equipment are stated at cost. Gains or losses on dispositions of property and equipment are included in the determination of income. Maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Property and equipment are generally depreciated over the following estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis:
We evaluate our property and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. For assets to be disposed of, we recognize the asset to be sold at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs of disposal. Fair value for assets to be disposed of is estimated based on comparable asset sales, solicited offers, or a discounted cash flow model.
For assets to be held and used, we review fixed assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. If an indicator of impairment exists, we compare the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then an impairment is measured based on fair value compared to carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model. If an asset is still under development, future cash flows include remaining construction costs.
For a discussion of recognized impairment losses, see Note 14. In October 2002, the Company announced the suspension of development activities on its wholly-owned project on the Renaissance Pointe land in Atlantic City. In connection therewith, the Company reviewed the land for potential impairment, and determined that no impairment was indicated. In December 2002, the Company entered into an agreement with Turnberry Associates to form a venture to construct condominium residences behind MGM Grand Las Vegas. As part of the agreement, the Company contributed land to the venture. The Company reviewed the land for potential impairment, and determined no impairment was indicated.
Capitalized interest. The interest cost associated with major development and construction projects is capitalized and included in the cost of the project. When no debt is incurred specifically for a project, interest is capitalized on amounts expended on the project using the weighted-average cost of the Company’s outstanding borrowings. Capitalization of interest ceases when the project is substantially complete or development activity is suspended for more than a brief period.
Goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill and intangible assets consisted of the following:
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair market value of net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill related to the Mirage acquisition was assigned to Bellagio, The Mirage and TI. Other goodwill relates to the Company’s 2003 acquisition for $9 million of majority interests in the entities that operate the nightclubs Light and Caramel, located in Bellagio, and Mist, located in TI. Changes in the recorded balances of goodwill are as follows:
The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of development rights in Detroit (see Note 10) and trademarks . The Company’s finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of lease acquisition costs, amortized over the life of the related leases, and certain license rights with contractually limited terms, amortized over their contractual life.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets must be reviewed for impairment at least annually and between annual test dates in certain circumstances. The Company performs its annual impairment test for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. No impairments were indicated as a result of the annual impairment reviews for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2004 or 2003.
Revenue recognition and promotional allowances. Casino revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs (“casino front money”) and for chips in the customers’ possession (“outstanding chip liability”). Hotel, food and beverage, entertainment and other operating revenues are recognized as services are performed. Advance deposits on rooms and advance ticket sales are recorded as accrued liabilities until services are provided to the customer.
Revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) consensus on Issue 01-9, “Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products).” The consensus in EITF 01-9 requires that sales incentives be recorded as a reduction of revenue and that points earned in point-loyalty programs, such as our Players Club loyalty program, must be recorded as a reduction of revenue. The Company recognizes incentives related to casino play and points earned in Players Club as a direct reduction of casino revenue.
Existing industry practice related to non-gaming revenues already complied with EITF 01-9. The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenue and then deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such promotional allowances is primarily included in casino expenses as follows:
Advertising. The Company expenses advertising costs the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising expense, which is generally included in general and administrative expenses, was $57 million, $54 million and $52 million for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Corporate expense. Corporate expense represents unallocated payroll and aircraft costs, professional fees and various other expenses not directly related to the Company’s casino resort operations. In addition, corporate expense includes the costs associated with the Company’s evaluation and pursuit of new business opportunities, which are expensed as incurred until development of a specific project has become probable.
Preopening and start-up expenses. The Company accounts for costs incurred during the preopening and start-up phases of operations in accordance with Statement of Position 98-5, “Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities”. Preopening and start-up costs, including organizational costs, are expensed as incurred. Costs classified as preopening and start-up expenses include payroll, outside services, advertising, and other expenses related to new or start-up operations and new customer initiatives.
Income per share of common stock. The weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share consisted of the following:
Stock-based compensation. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation, including employee stock option plans, in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25”, and discloses supplemental information in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS 148”). The Company does not incur compensation expense for employee stock options when the exercise price is at least 100% of the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. For disclosure purposes, employee stock options are measured at fair value and compensation is assumed to be amortized over the vesting periods of the options.
In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”). Under the original standard, SFAS No. 123, companies had the option of recording stock options issued to employees at fair value or intrinsic value, which generally leads to no expense being recorded. The Company opted to use this intrinsic value method and make required disclosures of fair value expense. SFAS 123(R) eliminates this intrinsic value alternative. SFAS 123(R) is effective for the Company on July 1, 2005, at which time all future share-based payments must be recorded at fair value.
The Company has adopted nonqualified stock option plans and incentive stock option plans which provide for the granting of stock options to eligible directors, officers and employees. The plans are administered by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors. Salaried officers, directors and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive options. The exercise price in each instance is 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The options have 10-year terms and in most cases are exercisable in either four or five equal annual installments.
As of December 31, 2004, the aggregate number of stock options available for grant was 2.2 million. A summary of the status of the Company’s stock option plans is presented below:
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2004:
Had the Company accounted for these plans under the fair value method allowed by SFAS 123, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to recognize the fair value of employee stock options. The following are required disclosures under SFAS 123 and SFAS 148:
Reported net income includes $5 million, $5 million and $3 million, net of tax, of amortization of restricted stock and non-employee stock option compensation for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. For purposes of computing the pro forma compensation, the fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rates of 3% in 2004, 3% in 2003, and 4% in 2002; no expected dividend yields for the years presented; expected lives of 5 years for the years presented; and expected volatility of 42% in 2004, 42% in 2003 and 50% in 2002. The estimated weighted average fair value of options granted in 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $19.10, $10.64 and $16.32, respectively.
Currency translation. The Company accounts for currency translation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation”. Balance sheet accounts are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date. Income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are charged or credited to other comprehensive income (loss).
Comprehensive income. Comprehensive income includes net income and all other non-stockholder changes in equity, or other comprehensive income. Elements of the Company’s other comprehensive income are reported in the accompanying consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity, and the cumulative balance of these elements consisted of the following:
Reclassifications. The consolidated financial statements for prior years reflect certain reclassifications, which have no effect on previously reported net income, to conform to the current year presentation.
NOTE 3 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In June 2003, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries, including substantially all of the assets and liabilities of those resorts, for approximately $215 million, subject to certain working capital adjustments. This transaction closed in January 2004, with net proceeds to the Company of $210 million. Also in June 2003, the Company ceased operations of PLAYMGMMIRAGE.com, its online gaming website (“Online”). In February 2004, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the subsidiaries that own and operate MGM Grand Australia. This transaction closed in July 2004 with net proceeds to the Company of $136 million.
The results of the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries, Online and MGM Grand Australia are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for all periods presented. Net revenues of discontinued operations were $45 million, $231 million and $222 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. Included in income from discontinued operations is an allocation of interest expense based on the ratio of the net assets of the discontinued operations to the total consolidated net assets and debt of the Company. Interest allocated to discontinued operations was $2 million, $9 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Included in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2003 is a loss on disposal of Online of $7 million relating primarily to unrecoverable costs of computer hardware and software. Included in the tax benefit from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2003 is $2 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits relating to prior year operating losses of Online. Included in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2004 is a gain on the sale of the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries of $8 million and a gain on sale of the MGM Grand Australia Subsidiaries of $74 million.
The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of discontinued operations (the Golden Nugget Subsidiaries and Online) as of December 31, 2003, included as assets and liabilities held for sale in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet:
NOTE 4 - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET
Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
NOTE 5 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
NOTE 6 - INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES
The Company has investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for under the equity method. Under the equity method, carrying value is adjusted for the Company’s share of the investees’ earnings and losses, as well as capital contributions to and distributions from these companies. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates consisted of the following:
The Company’s investments in Monte Carlo and Borgata were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of the Mirage Acquisition, which value exceeded the Company’s share of the net assets of the unconsolidated affiliates by approximately $361 million. Substantially all of this difference relates to the excess of the fair value of land owned by the affiliates over its pre-existing carrying value. The investment balance also includes interest capitalized on the Borgata investment, which is being amortized over 40 years.
The Company also owns 50% of The Residences at MGM Grand, along with Turnberry Associates. As of December 31, 2004, the Company has a negative investment balance of $3 million, recorded as other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, representing cumulative losses on the venture. In July 2004, the Company contributed land to The Residences at MGM Grand for construction of the first tower. The equity credit of $9 million is greater than the $1 million previous book value of the land, and the $8 million gain has been deferred until the earnings process is complete, which will occur when The Residences at MGM Grand recognizes revenue on the sale of the first tower’s units. As discussed in Note 10, the Company has provided a guaranty for up to 50% of the interest and principal payment obligations on the construction financing of the first tower as well as a completion guaranty.
The Company recorded its share of the results of operations of the unconsolidated affiliates as follows:
Summarized balance sheet information of the unconsolidated affiliates is as follows:
Summarized results of operations of the unconsolidated affiliates are as follows:
NOTE 7 - OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
NOTE 8 - LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
Total interest incurred during 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $401 million, $353 million and $345 million, respectively, of which $23 million, $15 million and $62 million, respectively, was capitalized.
On November 24, 2003, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement providing for bank financing totaling $2.5 billion from a syndicate of banks each led by Bank of America, N.A. (collectively, the “Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility, as amended in 2004, consists entirely of a senior revolving credit facility which matures on November 24, 2008.
Interest on the Senior Credit Facility is based on the bank reference rate or Eurodollar rate. The Company’s borrowing rate on the Senior Credit Facility was approximately 3.3% at December 31, 2004 and 2.8% at December 31, 2003. Stand-by letters of credit totaling $51 million were outstanding as of December 31, 2004 under the Senior Credit Facility.
In November 2004, in anticipation of the Mandalay merger, the Company entered into an amended and restated bank credit facility with a group of lenders led by Bank of America, N.A. The revised bank credit facility will be effective upon the closing of the Mandalay merger, will mature five years later, and will provide a total of $7.0 billion of borrowing capacity, consisting of a $5.5 billion senior revolving credit facility and $1.5 billion senior term loan facility. The remaining terms are substantially similar to the Company’s existing bank credit facility.
In 2003, the Company issued $600 million of 6% Senior Notes due 2009. In 2004, the Company issued $525 million of 5.875% senior notes due 2014. Of this amount, $225 million of the senior notes were issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement, which completed the available securities issuances under that registration statement and $300 million of the senior notes were issued through a Rule 144A offering and subsequently exchanged for registered notes with identical terms. Also in 2004, the Company issued $550 million of 6.75% senior notes due 2012 through a Rule 144A offering which were subsequently exchanged for registered notes with identical terms. Also in 2004, the Company issued $450 million of 6% senior notes due 2009 through a Rule 144A offering which were subsequently exchanged for registered notes with identical terms. The proceeds of the above offerings were used to reduce outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility.
In August 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million of the Company’s public debt securities. Subsequently, the Company repurchased $25 million of its senior notes. The Company recorded a loss of $3 million related to repurchase premiums and unamortized debt issue costs. In 2004, the Company repurchased an additional $49 million of its senior notes for $52 million. This resulted in a loss on early retirement of debt of $6 million, including the write-off of unamortized original issue discount, classified as “other, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. In December 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors renewed its authorization for up to $100 million of additional debt securities.
The Company established a commercial paper program during 2001 that provides for the issuance, on a revolving basis, of up to $500 million of uncollateralized short-term notes. The Company is required to maintain credit availability under its Senior Credit Facility equal to the outstanding principal amount of commercial paper borrowings. No commercial paper borrowings were outstanding at December 31, 2004 or 2003.
The Company attempts to limit its exposure to interest rate risk by managing the mix of its long-term fixed rate borrowings and short-term borrowings under its bank credit facilities. In 2003, the Company entered into three interest rate swap agreements, designated as fair value hedges, which effectively converted $400 million of the Company’s fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. In 2004, the Company terminated interest rate swap agreements with total notional amounts of $400 million and entered into additional interest rate swap agreements, designated as fair value hedges, with total notional amounts of $100 million, leaving interest rate swap agreements with total notional amounts of $100 million remaining as of December 31, 2004. At December 31, 2004, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was a liability of $0.1 million.
Under the terms of the interest rate swap agreements, the Company makes payments based on specified spreads over six-month LIBOR, and receives payments equal to the interest payments due on the fixed rate debt. The interest rate swap agreements qualify for the “shortcut method” allowed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, which allows an assumption of no ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. Instead, the fair value of the instruments is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet, with an offsetting adjustment to the carrying value of the related debt. The Company received $5 million upon termination of swap agreements in 2004, which has been added to the carrying value of the related debt obligations and is being amortized and recorded as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining life of that debt.
During 2001 and 2002, the Company entered into several interest rate swap agreements, designated as fair value hedges, which effectively converted a portion of the Company’s fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. By the second quarter of 2002, the Company had terminated these interest rate swap agreements. The Company received net payments totaling $11 million during 2001 and 2002 upon the termination of these swap agreements. These amounts have been added to the carrying value of the related debt obligations and are being amortized and recorded as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining life of that debt.
The Company and each of its material subsidiaries, excluding MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, are directly liable for or unconditionally guarantee the Senior Credit Facility, senior notes, senior debentures, and senior subordinated notes. MGM Grand Detroit, LLC is a guarantor under the Senior Credit Facility, but only to the extent that the proceeds of borrowings under such facilities are made available to MGM Grand Detroit, LLC. Substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than assets of foreign subsidiaries and certain assets in use at MGM Grand Detroit, were pledged as collateral for the Company’s senior notes, excluding subordinated notes, and the Company’s bank credit facilities at December 31, 2004. See Note 18 for additional information.
The Company’s long-term debt obligations contain certain customary covenants. The Company’s Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios. At December 31, 2004, the Company was required to maintain a maximum leverage ratio (average debt to EBITDA, as defined) of 5.5:1, which decreases periodically to 4.75:1 by December 2007. The Company must also maintain a minimum coverage ratio (EBITDA to interest charges, as defined) of 2.75:1. As of December 31, 2004, the Company’s leverage and interest coverage ratios were 4.0:1 and 3.7:1, respectively.
Maturities of the Company’s long-term debt as of December 31, 2004 are as follows:
Amounts due in 2005 that were refinanced through available capacity under the Company’s Senior Credit Facility have been excluded from current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt at December 31, 2004 was approximately $5.9 billion, versus its book value of $5.5 billion. At December 31, 2003, the estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $6.0 billion, versus its book value of $5.6 billion. The estimated fair value of the Company’s public debt securities was based on quoted market prices on or about December 31, 2004 and 2003. The estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding credit facility borrowings was assumed to approximate book value due to the short-term nature of the borrowings.
NOTE 9 - INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS 109”). SFAS 109 requires the recognition of deferred income tax assets, net of applicable reserves, related to net operating loss carryforwards and certain temporary differences. The standard requires recognition of a future tax benefit to the extent that realization of such benefit is more likely than not. Otherwise, a valuation allowance is applied.
The income tax provision attributable to continuing operations and discontinued operations is as follows:
The income tax provision attributable to income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows:
Reconciliation of the federal income tax statutory rate and the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:
The major tax effected components of the Company’s net deferred tax liability are as follows:
For U.S. federal income tax return purposes, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward of $4 million, which will begin to expire in 2009. For state income tax purposes, the Company has a New Jersey net operating loss carryforward of $122 million, which equates to a deferred tax asset of $7 million, after federal tax effect, and before valuation allowance. The New Jersey net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2005.
At December 31, 2004, there is a $6 million valuation allowance provided on certain New Jersey state net operating loss carryforwards and other New Jersey state deferred tax assets because management believes these assets do not meet the “more likely than not” criteria for recognition under SFAS 109. Management believes all other deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized because of the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences and expected future taxable income. Accordingly, there are no other valuation allowances provided at December 31, 2004.
The Company is evaluating the impact of provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Act”) that provide for a special one-time tax deduction of 85 percent on certain repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Additional guidance from Congress and/or the United States Treasury Department will be necessary for the Company to complete its evaluation, as it is not clear at this time whether the Act will provide a benefit to the Company. The Company will complete the evaluation as promptly as practicable following the issuance of such guidance and adjust taxes accordingly, if necessary.
The Company has not yet repatriated the net proceeds from the sale of MGM Grand Australia pending the evaluation. Nonetheless, the Company provided in 2004 deferred U.S. income taxes of $11 million on the basis that such proceeds would be repatriated without the benefit of the 85 percent one-time deduction. Such amount was included in the provision for income taxes on discontinued operations for 2004. The Company considered the earnings of its Australia operations permanently reinvested prior to the sale of such operations.
If guidance is issued that indicates the planned repatriation qualifies for the one-time deduction, the Company will recognize a tax benefit of approximately $7 million as part of continuing operations in the quarter in which such guidance is issued. If no such guidance is issued within the applicable timeframe, then the Company will attempt to permanently reinvest the proceeds in another foreign jurisdiction, such as Macau. In such case, the Company would recognize a tax benefit of $11 million as part of continuing operations in the quarter in which the reinvestment is made. The Company currently does not have a plan to reinvest the proceeds in such manner.
NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases. The Company leases real estate and various equipment under operating and, to a lesser extent, capital lease arrangements. Certain real estate leases provide for escalation of rent based upon a specified price index and/or based upon periodic appraisals.
At December 31, 2004, the Company was obligated under non-cancelable operating leases and capital leases to make future minimum lease payments as follows:
The current and long-term obligations under capital leases are included in the “Other accrued liabilities” and “Other long-term obligations” captions, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Rental expense for operating leases was $19 million, $19 million and $20 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Detroit Development Agreement. Under the August 2002 revised development agreement with the City of Detroit, MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and the Company are subject to certain obligations. The City of Detroit required payments of $44 million, all of which had been made as of December 31, 2004; the transfer of assets of $3 million; indemnification of up to $20 million related to the Lac Vieux and certain other litigation, of which $2 million has been paid as of December 31, 2004; and continued letter of credit support for $50 million of bonds issued by the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit for land purchases along the Detroit River. The letter of credit will be drawn on to make interest and principal payments on the bonds, which mature in 2009. The remaining obligations have been classified as other accrued liabilities or other long-term obligations, depending on the expected payment date.
The Company recorded an intangible asset (development rights, deemed to have an indefinite life) of approximately $115 million in connection with its obligations under the revised development agreement. In addition to the above obligations, the Company will pay the City of Detroit 1% of gaming revenues (2% if annual revenues exceed $400 million) beginning January 1, 2006.
The Company is currently in the process of obtaining land and developing plans for the permanent casino facility. The design, budget and schedule of the permanent facility are not finalized, and the ultimate timing, cost and scope of the project are subject to risks attendant to large-scale projects. The ability to construct the permanent casino facility is currently subject to resolution of the Lac Vieux litigation. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an injunction prohibiting the City and the developers from commencing construction pending further action of the 6th Circuit Court. Therefore, it is unknown when construction of the permanent facility will commence or when the permanent facility will open.
United Kingdom. In October 2003, the Company entered into an agreement with the Earls Court and Olympia Group, which operates large exhibition and trade show facilities in London, to form a jointly owned company which would develop an entertainment and gaming facility, which the Company would operate in space leased from Earls Court and Olympia, to complement the existing Olympia facilities. The Company made a deposit of £2 million ($4 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2004), which is refundable if proposed gaming law reforms are not implemented by December 2005. Otherwise, the deposit will be applied to the first year’s rent on a lease between the new company and Earls Court and Olympia. The Company would make a nominal equity investment and would provide a loan for half of the estimated development costs. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to the Company, and obtaining required planning and other approvals. The Company owns 82.5% of the entity.
In November 2003, the Company entered into an agreement with Newcastle United PLC to create a 50-50 joint venture which would build a major new mixed-use development, including casino development, on a site adjacent to Newcastle’s football stadium. Newcastle United PLC contributed the land to the joint venture, and the Company made an equity investment of £5 million ($10 million based on exchange rates at December 31, 2004), which is refundable if certain conditions have not been met by January 2008. The Company would develop and operate the complex, as well as own the casino development in leased premises within the complex. The agreement is subject to the implementation of proposed gaming law reforms and a tax structure acceptable to the Company, and obtaining required planning and other approvals.
Macau. In connection with the Company’s pending joint venture in Macau (see Note 1), the Company has committed to invest up to $280 million in the entity in the form of capital contributions and shareholder loans.
New York Racing Association. The Company has an understanding with the New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) to manage video lottery terminals (“VLTs”) at NYRA’s Aqueduct horseracing facility in metropolitan New York. The Company would assist in the development of the facility, including providing project financing, and would manage the facility for a fee. Work was halted on the VLT facility in August 2003 pending the outcome of an investigation of certain aspects of NYRA’s operations by Federal prosecutors. In December 2003, NYRA reached agreement with the Justice Department whereby NYRA was indicted with prosecution deferred. NYRA agreed to pay a fine and the indictment will be dismissed with prejudice upon NYRA implementing certain reforms and otherwise complying with the terms of the agreement. The Company’s participation is subject to a definitive agreement, regulatory approvals and certain legislative changes by the State of New York.
The Residences at MGM Grand. In July 2004, the venture obtained construction financing for up to $210 million for the development of the first tower. The Company has provided a guaranty for up to 50% of the interest and principal payment obligations on the construction financing as well as a joint and several completion guaranty with its partners. The Company recorded the value of the guaranty obligation, approximately $2 million, in other long-term liabilities.
Other Guarantees. The Company is party to various guarantee contracts in the normal course of business, which are generally supported by letters of credit issued by financial institutions. The Company’s Senior Credit Facility limits the amount of letters of credit that can be issued to $200 million, and the amount of available borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility is reduced by any outstanding letters of credit. At December 31, 2004, the Company had provided a $50 million letter of credit to support the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit bonds referred to above, which are a liability of the Company.
Litigation. The Company is a party to various legal proceedings, most of which relate to routine matters incidental to its business. Management does not believe that the outcome of such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
NOTE 11 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Share repurchases are only conducted under repurchase programs approved by the Board of Directors and publicly announced. Share repurchase activity was as follows:
At December 31, 2004, we had 10 million shares available for repurchase under a July 2004 authorization.
In May 2002, the Board of Directors approved a restricted stock plan. The plan allowed for the issuance of up to 1 million shares of Company common stock to certain key employees. The restrictions on selling these shares lapse 50% on the third anniversary date from the grant date and 50% on the fourth anniversary date after the grant date. Through December 31, 2004, 903,000 shares were issued, with an aggregate value of $32 million. This amount was recorded as deferred compensation in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and is being amortized to operating expenses on a straight-line basis through the period in which the restrictions fully lapse. Amortization of deferred compensation was $7 million, $8 million and $5 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and 855,000 shares were outstanding under the plan at December 31, 2004. In November 2002, the Board of Directors determined that no more awards would be granted under the plan.
NOTE 12 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Employees of the Company who are members of various unions are covered by union-sponsored, collectively bargained, multi-employer health and welfare and defined benefit pension plans. The Company recorded an expense of $86 million in 2004, $77 million in 2003 and $66 million in 2002 under such plans. The plans’ sponsors have not provided sufficient information to permit the Company to determine its share of unfunded vested benefits, if any.
The Company is self-insured for most health care benefits for its non-union employees. The liability for claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported is included in the “Other accrued liabilities” caption in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has a retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for eligible employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement that does not specifically provide for participation in the plan. The plans allow employees to defer, within prescribed limits, up to 30% of their income on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the plans. The Company matches, within prescribed limits, a portion of eligible employees’ contributions. In the case of certain union employees, the Company contributes to the plan are based on hours worked. The Company recorded charges for 401(k) contributions of $12 million in 2004, $10 million in 2003 and $12 million in 2002.
The Company maintains a nonqualified deferred retirement plan for certain key employees. The plan allows participants to defer, on a pre-tax basis, a portion of their salary and bonus and accumulate tax deferred earnings, plus investment earnings on the deferred balances, as a retirement fund. Participants receive a Company match of up to 4% of salary, net of any Company match received under the Company’s 401(k) plan. All employee deferrals vest immediately. The Company matching contributions vest ratably over a three-year period. The Company recorded charges for matching contributions of $1 million in 2004, $2 million in 2003 and $1 million in 2002.
The Company implemented a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain key employees effective January 1, 2001. The SERP is a nonqualified plan under which the Company makes quarterly contributions which are intended to provide a retirement benefit that is a fixed percentage of a participant’s estimated final five-year average annual salary, up to a maximum of 65%. Company contributions and investment earnings on the contributions are tax-deferred and accumulate as a retirement fund. Employees do not make contributions under this plan. A portion of the Company contributions and investment earnings thereon vests after three years of SERP participation and the remaining portion vests after both five years of SERP participation and 10 years of continuous service. The Company recorded expense of $5 million under this plan in each of 2004, 2003 and 2002.
NOTE 13 - RESTRUCTURING COSTS
Restructuring costs (credit) consisted of the following:
In 2004, restructuring costs include $3 million for contract termination costs related to the Aqua restaurant at Bellagio and $2 million of workforce reduction costs at MGM Grand Detroit as a result of the Company’s efforts to minimize the impact of a gaming tax increase in Michigan.
2003 restructuring costs included $2 million related to the closure of the Siegfried & Roy show, primarily for severance costs of employees involved in the show’s production. Also, the Company terminated a restaurant lease and closed two marketing offices, resulting in $4 million of contract termination charges. Other severance of $1 million in 2003 related primarily to restructuring of table games staffing at several resorts.
The Company recorded $3 million of restructuring charges in December 2002 related to contract termination costs for a restaurant and the EFX! show at MGM Grand Las Vegas. In December 2002, the Company recorded a restructuring credit of $10 million related to a lease contract termination accrual originally recorded in June 2000. In December 2002 management determined that payment under this obligation was not probable. In 2001, management responded to a decline in business volumes caused by the September 11 attacks by implementing cost containment strategies which included a significant reduction in payroll and a refocusing of several of the Company’s marketing programs. This resulted in a $22 million charge against earnings. As a result of improving business levels and the Company’s success at re-hiring a substantial number of previously laid off or terminated employees, management determined in 2002 that a portion of the remaining accrual would now not be necessary. This resulted in a restructuring credit of $10 million.
The following table summarizes activity for restructuring accruals with a balance at December 31, 2004. All other restructuring awards have been fully paid or otherwise resolved.
NOTE 14 - PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS, NET
Property transactions, net consisted of the following:
In 2004, there were no material unusual property transactions. In 2003 the Company sold 315 acres of land in North Las Vegas, Nevada near Shadow Creek for approximately $55 million, which resulted in a pretax gain of approximately $37 million. Also in 2003, the Company recorded write-downs and impairments of assets abandoned or replaced with new construction, primarily at MGM Grand Las Vegas in preparation for new restaurants and the new theatre. Prior to 2003, the Company classified gains and losses on routine asset sales or disposals as a non-operating item at some resorts and as an operating item at other resorts. Management believes the preferable presentation of these items is as an element of operating income. Prior period statements have not been reclassified as such transactions were not material in the prior periods. Until 2003, demolition costs were typically capitalized as part of new construction. The Company began expensing demolition costs on major construction projects as incurred on January 1, 2003, and is accounting for this change in policy prospectively. Demolition costs were not material in prior periods. Demolition costs in 2004 and 2003 relate primarily to preparation for the Bellagio standard room remodel, Bellagio expansion and new theatre at MGM Grand Las Vegas.
In 2002, Tropical Storm Isidore caused property damage at Beau Rivage totaling $8 million, including clean-up costs. The amount of the write-down for damaged assets was determined based on the net book value of the assets and engineering estimates. In connection with the revised development agreement in Detroit, the Company wrote off $5 million, which was the net book value of previously incurred development costs associated with the riverfront permanent casino site ($9 million), offset by previously accrued obligations no longer required under the revised development agreement ($4 million). Also in 2002, the Company recorded write-downs and impairments of assets abandoned or replaced with new construction.
NOTE 15 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company’s related party transactions consisted of the following revenues (expenses):
At December 31, 2004, the Company owed $2 million for legal fees to a firm affiliated with one of the Company’s directors. The Company also engaged in transactions with its unconsolidated affiliates. In each of 2004 and 2003, the Company paid Monte Carlo $4 million as a result of closing the tram between Bellagio and Monte Carlo in preparation for the Bellagio expansion. The Company leases two acres of land to Borgata and received $1 million in each of 2004, 2003 and 2002 under this lease. Borgata is required to pay for a portion of the masterplan improvements at Renaissance Pointe, and the Company is responsible for environmental cleanup costs incurred by Borgata. The net amount reimbursed to the Company under these arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $1 million, $10 million and $8 million, respectively.
NOTE 16 - CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Company’s subsidiaries (excluding MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and certain minor subsidiaries) have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, payment of the Senior Credit Facility, the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes. Separate condensed financial statement information for the subsidiary guarantors and non-guarantors as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 is as follows:
NOTE 17 - SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
Results for the fourth quarter of 2004 include a reduction of Borgata’s state tax expense, our share of which is recorded as “non-operating items from unconsolidated affiliates.” Borgata received a notice of refund of certain state tax credits and recorded a benefit for amounts earned in 2003 and 2004. Our share of the adjustment was $12 million, or $0.05 per share, net of tax.
Because income per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during each quarter, the sum of the per share amounts for the four quarters may not equal the total income per share amounts for the year.
NOTE 18 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Redemption of Senior Notes. In January 2005, the Company announced that it had called all of its outstanding 6.875% Senior Notes due February 2008 for redemption. The notes were redeemed at the present value of future interest payments plus accrued interest at the date of redemption. The Company recorded a loss on retirement of debt of $20 million in the first quarter of 2005. As a result of the redemption of the February 2008 Senior Notes and the repayment of the $300 million 6.95% Senior Notes that matured in February 2005, the Company applied for, and received, release of collateral under its Senior Credit Facility and senior notes. Therefore, the Company’s Senior Credit Facility and senior notes are now unsecured, but are still subject to guarantees by the Company and each of its material subsidiaries, excluding MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 10, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
MGM MIRAGE
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In thousands)
Exhibit Index