UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 333-87202
CIRCUS AND ELDORADO JOINT VENTURE
SILVER LEGACY CAPITAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
| Nevada |
88-0310787 | |
| Nevada |
71-0868362 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of |
(I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) |
Identification No.) | |
| 407 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada |
89501 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
800-687-7733
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are accelerated filers (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ¨ No x
None of the equity of either of the registrants was held by non-affiliates as of December 31, 2002.
The number of shares of Silver Legacy Capital Corp.s Common Stock outstanding at March 28, 2003 was 2,500. All of these shares are owned by Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture, a Nevada general partnership which is a joint venture between Eldorado Limited Liability Company and Galleon, Inc., owns and operates the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, a nineteenth century silver mining themed hotel-casino and entertainment complex in Reno, Nevada. Eldorado Limited Liability Company is a 96% owned subsidiary of Eldorado Resorts LLC, which owns the Eldorado Hotel & Casino, one of the two hotel casinos connected to Silver Legacy, and Galleon, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mandalay Resort Group, which owns Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, the other hotel casino which is connected to Silver Legacy.
The terms we, our and us, as used in this annual report, refer to Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture and Silver Legacy Capital Corp. as a combined entity, except where it is clear that the terms mean only Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture or Silver Legacy Capital Corp. When we us the term Partnership it refers only to Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture, and when we use the term Capital it refers only to Silver Legacy Capital Corp. The term Silver Legacy refers to the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. References to the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino refer to the hotel-casino by that name located in Reno, Nevada. When we use the term Reno market we are referring to the Reno and Sparks areas as delineated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Silver Legacy
We own and operate the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, a premier nineteenth century silver mining themed hotel-casino and entertainment complex in Reno, Nevada. Silver Legacy is among the largest hotel-casinos in the Reno market. Silver Legacy offers a dynamic gaming environment and a wide variety of amenities delivered with special attention to personal service to appeal to our multiple customer segments, including preferred casino players.
Silver Legacy opened in July 1995, with a capital investment of over $360 million, and is strategically located on two city blocks in downtown Reno directly off Interstate 80, the principal highway connecting Reno with San Francisco, Sacramento and other cities in northern California. The casino and entertainment areas at Silver Legacy are seamlessly connected to the Eldorado Hotel & Casino and the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino by 200-foot wide skyway corridors, which together comprise the heart of Renos gaming area and room base.
Silver Legacy has approximately 87,300 square feet of gaming space situated on two levels. At December 31, 2002, Silver Legacy featured 2,064 slot machines and 81 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride®, Caribbean stud poker, Baccarat and Pai Gow, in addition to keno and a race and sportsbook. Club Legacy, Silver Legacys players club, offers customers exciting special events and tournaments and convenient ways of earning complimentaries.
Silver Legacys hotel, the tallest building in northern Nevada, is a Y-shaped structure with three wings, consisting of 37-, 34- and 31-floor tiers. An enclosed, climate controlled skywalk over North Sierra Street links the hotel to the main casino, restaurants and additional public areas on the mezzanine level. The hotel currently offers 1,710 guest rooms, including 145 player spa suites and eight penthouse suites.
Silver Legacys dining options are offered in six venues:
| | Sterlings Seafood Steakhouse, which has a seating capacity of 168, offering the finest in steaks and seafood along with an extensive wine list, featured in Wine Spectator magazine, tableside desserts and an extravagant Sunday Brunch; |
| | the Victorian Buffet, which has a seating capacity of 500; |
2
| | Fairchilds Oyster Bar, which has a seating capacity of 56, offering a comfortable drink and a quick bite; |
| | Sweetwater Cafe, which has a seating capacity of 333, offering an extensive menu that includes American classics and Chinese cuisine 24-hours a day; |
| | Fresh Express Food Court, which has a seating capacity of 110, offering a range of options including a deli and grill, authentic Asian cuisine and American classics; and |
| | Sips Coffee House, situated in the hotel lobby, offering gourmet coffee and teas. |
Silver Legacy is downtown Renos leading convention destination, offering approximately 90,000 square feet of exhibit and convention space. Our convention and meeting space includes an approximately 20,000 square-foot divisible ballroom and approximately 30,000 square feet of space for additional breakout rooms, all located within the casino complex. The City Center Pavilion, which provides approximately 40,000 square feet of convention space, is located across North Virginia Street from Silver Legacy on a special events plaza which is owned by our affiliates. The City Center Pavilion was constructed in February 1999 and is currently operated by us under a three-year use permit which expires in February 2005. We believe the additional hotel capacity and meeting space available at the adjoining Eldorado and Circus properties enhance our ability to attract conventions larger than those that can be serviced by the Silver Legacy alone. See Adjoining Properties below.
Silver Legacys other amenities include retail shops, exercise and spa facilities, a beauty salon, a video arcade, and an outdoor swimming pool and sundeck. Silver Legacys 10-story parking facility is capable of accommodating approximately 1,800 vehicles.
We carefully target our marketing programs to five segments of the gaming market:
| | free and independent travelers, |
| | preferred casino customers, |
| | convention groups, |
| | local patrons, and |
| | wholesale/specialty groups. |
We attract our target customers through newspaper, radio, television, Internet and direct mail campaigns locally and in northern California, the Pacific northwest and other regional travel markets. Silver Legacy utilizes a broad special events calendar, along with our guest development program, including selective casino credit, to attract and retain our target customers. In addition, we utilize our hotel rooms, restaurants and other amenities to offer complimentaries to a broad spectrum of established casino guests. Club Legacy, Silver Legacys players club, offers customers exciting special events and tournaments and convenient ways of earning complimentaries. The convention groups and wholesale/specialty market segments contribute to our hotel occupancy during slower mid-week periods. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 our average occupancy rate was 81.2% compared to 75.2% for the Reno market.
Methods of Competition
Silver Legacy competes for customers by offering our guests a fully integrated gaming, lodging, dining and entertainment experience in a convenient downtown Reno location. We believe the quality of our amenities, Silver Legacys overall atmosphere and competitive pricing enable us to attract multiple customer segments from the local area, northern California, the Pacific northwest and other regional travel markets.
Premier Must See Attraction. We believe Silver Legacy is a must see attraction for Reno visitors and residents as the only major newly-constructed hotel-casino in the Reno market since 1978. The propertys design
3
is inspired by Nevadas rich mining heritage and the legend of Sam Fairchild, a fictitious silver baron who struck it rich on the site of the casino. Silver Legacys interior showcases a casino built around Sam Fairchilds famed 120-foot tall mining rig, which appears to mine for silver. The rig is situated beneath a 180-foot diameter dome, which is a distinctive landmark on the Reno skyline. The interior surface of the dome features dynamic sound and laser light shows, providing visitors with a unique experience when they enter the casino.
Center of Three-Property Destination Resort. Silver Legacy, together with the Eldorado and Circus properties, comprises the heart of the Reno markets prime gaming area and room base, providing the most extensive variety of gaming, lodging, dining and entertainment amenities in the Reno area. As of December 31, 2002, the three-property complex offered 4,098 rooms, 20 restaurants, 5,328 slot machines, 224 table games and parking to accommodate over 6,000 vehicles, representing approximately 25.5% of the Reno markets total room base, 22.6% of the Reno markets total slot machines, and 32.9% of the Reno markets total table games. We believe that the centralized location and critical mass of these three properties, together with the seamless connections between the facilities, provide Silver Legacy with significant advantages over other freestanding hotel-casinos in the Reno market.
Headliner Entertainment and Premium Dining. Our customers are attracted to Silver Legacys entertainment and award-winning cuisine. For the year ended December 31, 2002, approximately 60 nights of headliner entertainment were scheduled in our 1,600-seat Grande Exposition Hall or the 3,400-seat City Center Pavilion, making Silver Legacy a leading headliner entertainment venue in the Reno market. Entertainers who appeared during 2002 include Bill Cosby, Huey Lewis & the News and Lionel Richie. Silver Legacy also features Catch a Rising Star, a 220-seat, nationally recognized comedy club.
Quality Personal Service. We are committed to providing our customers with a high level of personal service, which we believe is an integral part of fostering customer loyalty and generating repeat business. We continually strive to instill in each employee a dedication to superior service designed to exceed our guests expectations.
Experienced Management Team. Silver Legacy has an experienced management team with an average of more than 20 years each of experience in the Reno gaming market. All of our senior management have been with Silver Legacy since it opened in July 1995. We also benefit from the expertise of our joint venture partners and the leadership they provide through our executive committee, which includes senior executives from Eldorado Resorts LLC and Mandalay Resort Group.
Adjoining Properties
Enclosed, climate controlled corridors connect Silver Legacy with the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino and the Eldorado Hotel & Casino, each of which is owned and independently operated by an affiliate of one of the Partnerships partners. The three properties comprise the heart of Renos prime gaming area and room base, providing the most extensive and broadest variety of gaming, entertainment, lodging and dining amenities in the Reno area, with an aggregate of 4,098 rooms, 20 restaurants, 5,328 slot machines, 224 table games and enough parking to accommodate over 6,000 vehicles as of December 31, 2002. Although we compete with these other two properties, we believe that the centralized location and critical mass of these three properties, Silver Legacys position as the centerpiece of the three properties and the seamless connections between the facilities, provide Silver Legacy with significant competitive advantages over other freestanding hotel-casinos in the Reno market.
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. The Circus Circus Hotel and Casino features 1,572 guestrooms and a 60,000 square-foot casino, which, as of December 31, 2002, featured 1,512 slot machines and 73 table games. The property offers its guests a variety of circus acts performed daily, free of charge, under a Big Top above the casino. A mezzanine area has a circus midway with carnival-style games and an arcade that offers a variety of amusement and electronic games. The property features two specialty restaurants, The Steakhouse at Circus and
4
Art Geckos Southwest Grill with Kokopellis Sushi Bar, in addition to a 464-seat buffet, coffee shop, deli/bakery, fast food snack bar, cocktail lounges, gift shop, specialty shops, parking facilities for approximately 3,200 vehicles, and approximately 22,400 square feet of convention space.
Eldorado Hotel & Casino. This property is a luxurious hotel-casino offering approximately 84,000 square feet of gaming space. Its three hotel towers have a total of 816 guestrooms, including 18 specialty suites, 93 Eldorado Players Spa Suites with bedside spas and 26 one or two bedroom suites. As of December 31, 2002, this propertys casino featured 1,752 slot machines and 70 table games, as well as poker, keno and a race and sports book. The property is renowned for its eight restaurants, including Bistro Roxy, La Strada and a 525-seat buffet. Additional amenities include a casino cabaret, bars and lounges, parking facilities for approximately 1,100 vehicles, and approximately 12,000 square feet of convention space.
Reno Market
The Reno market generated approximately $0.9 billion of gaming revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. As of December 31, 2002, the Reno market featured approximately 16,049 hotel rooms, 23,534 slot machines and 680 table games. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2002, the Reno market had an estimated 75.2% average hotel occupancy rate.
Reno is the second largest metropolitan area in Nevada, with a population of approximately 348,000 according to the most recently available U.S. Census data, and is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains along Interstate 80, approximately 135 miles east of Sacramento, California and 225 miles east of San Francisco, California. Reno is a destination resort market that primarily attracts drive-in visitors by offering gaming as well as numerous other summer and winter recreational activities. Management believes that approximately two-thirds of visitors to the Reno market arrive by some form of ground transportation. Popular special events include the National Championship Air Races, the Reno-Tahoe Open PGA tour event and Hot August Nights, a vintage car event. In addition, the National Bowling Stadium, located one block from Silver Legacy, is the largest bowling complex in North America and has been selected to host multi-month tournaments in Reno two out of every three years through 2009, with 2002 being a non-tournament year.
Approvals have been obtained for two public works projects in the downtown area of Reno. The first project will lower the train tracks that traverse Renos downtown district and separate the Silver Legacy and the two adjoining properties from the rest of the downtown gaming facilities. Construction on this project is expected to be completed in 2006 and will be organized in such a manner that it will not prevent pedestrian or vehicular traffic from crossing the railroad tracks within the downtown area. The second project involves the construction of a downtown special events center next to the National Bowling Stadium. This project is expected to be finished in 2005. At this time we cannot determine the effect of these projects on our operations, particularly during their construction periods.
According to the Nevada Commission on Tourism and Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, the greater Reno area attracted an estimated 4.9 million and 5.2 million visitors during the twelve months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The following table sets forth certain statistical information for the Reno market for the years 1998 through 2002 as reported by the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Nevada State Gaming Control Board.
| 1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
||||||||||||||||
| Gaming Revenues (000s)(1) |
$ |
929,844 |
|
$ |
968,531 |
|
$ |
1,026,700 |
|
$ |
961,664 |
|
$ |
917,005 |
| |||||
| Gaming Positions(2)(3) |
|
30,816 |
|
|
30,526 |
|
|
30,951 |
|
|
27,712 |
|
|
27,872 |
| |||||
| Hotel Rooms(2) |
|
15,271 |
|
|
15,957 |
|
|
16,515 |
|
|
15,459 |
|
|
16,049 |
| |||||
| Average Hotel Occupancy Rate(1) |
|
79.1 |
% |
|
78.8 |
% |
|
78.3 |
% |
|
76.9 |
% |
|
75.2 |
% | |||||
| Visitors(4) |
|
5,121,693 |
|
|
5,051,101 |
|
|
5,185,393 |
|
|
5,164,474 |
|
|
4,885,510 |
| |||||
5
| (1) | For the twelve months ended December 31 for each period shown. |
| (2) | As of December 31 for each period shown. |
| (3) | Calculated from information provided by the Nevada State Gaming Control Board. |
| (4) | For the twelve months ended June 30 for each period shown. |
Marketing Strategy
We target the following customer segments of the Reno gaming market: free and independent travelers, preferred casino customers, convention groups, local patrons and wholesale/specialty groups.
Free and Independent Travelers. This customer segment consists of persons who are not affiliated with travel groups and who make arrangements for their accommodations directly or through independent travel agents. For Reno, free and independent travelers consist principally of persons who typically travel on weekends from northern California, Oregon, Washington and western Canada. Silver Legacy targets this segment through advertising efforts, including television and newsprint exposure, emphasizing the exciting atmosphere and high level of relative value offered at Silver Legacy. Advertising efforts are directed principally to existing Reno gaming customers, as well as to experienced gaming customers of Las Vegas and other markets presenting the Reno market, generally, and Silver Legacy, specifically, as an attractive alternative. Additionally, utilizing the unique theming of Silver Legacy, the variety, quality, and attractive pricing of its food and beverage outlets, and its close proximity to other hotel casinos in downtown Reno (including its connection with the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino and Eldorado Hotel & Casino), we target walk-in customers for Silver Legacy.
Preferred Casino Customers. Management targets valued gaming customers through an aggressive development program. This program utilizes independent sales representatives to engage in one-on-one sales activities and marketing personnel trained to identify and target these individuals while they patronize Silver Legacy. We also use television advertisements featuring the elegant image and exciting atmosphere at Silver Legacy to target preferred gaming customers. In addition, through specialized entertainment programs and special events, including televised boxing matches, and by highlighting Silver Legacys 145 player spa suites and eight penthouse suites (which have been designed specifically to cater to the needs of high end gaming customers), and the propertys entertainment facilities, amenities and unique attractions, we seek to capture a significant portion of Renos valued gaming business. Our marketing efforts for gaming customers include the provision of complimentary rooms, food and beverages, air transportation and the extension of credit to qualified persons. Club Legacy, Silver Legacys players club, offers customers exciting special events and tournaments and convenient ways of earning complimentaries.
Convention Groups. Conventioneers and attendees of Reno area events are targeted by Silver Legacy, depending on managements view of their relative propensity for gaming and the timing of the specific events or conventions relative to the historic seasonality of the gaming business in Reno. In so doing, we seek to increase Silver Legacys mid-week occupancies and mitigate the effects of seasonality on our operations. For example, Silver Legacy targets competitors at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno and their guests. Other special events groups, generally consisting of between 1,000 and 1,500 persons, are also targeted by Silver Legacy by emphasizing Silver Legacys special events center which is available to be used for concerts, shows, theme parties, televised boxing matches and other events.
Local Patrons. We attract and retain local customers through frequent promotions that highlight our quality gaming and dining experience, as well as being an active supporter of numerous Reno market events and organizations.
Wholesale/Specialty Groups. The wholesale/specialty segment consists of customers who utilize packages to reduce the cost of travel, lodging and entertainment. These packages are produced by wholesalers (such as major airlines) and travel agents, and emphasize mid-week stays. Packages including Silver Legacy are
6
marketed by wholesalers and travel agents principally to customers in Oregon, Washington and western Canada. This market segment allows us to utilize our rooms during slower mid-week periods.
Competition
The gaming industry includes land-based casinos, dockside casinos, riverboat casinos, casinos located on Native American reservations and other forms of legalized gaming. There is intense competition among companies in the gaming industry, many of which have significantly greater resources than we do. Certain states have legalized casino gaming and other states may legalize gaming in the future. Legalized casino gaming in these states and on Native American reservations near our markets or changes to gaming laws in states surrounding Nevada could increase competition and could adversely affect our operations. We also compete, to a lesser extent, with gaming facilities in other jurisdictions with dockside gaming facilities, state-sponsored lotteries, on-and-off track pari-mutuel wagering, Internet gaming, card clubs, riverboat casinos and other forms of legalized gambling.
Of the 35 casinos currently operating in the Reno market, we compete principally with the eight other hotel-casinos that, like Silver Legacy, each generate at least $36 million in annual gaming revenues, including the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino and the Eldorado Hotel & Casino. Although no hotel-casino projects are currently under construction in the Reno area, we cannot predict the extent to which new projects will be undertaken or the extent to which current hotel space may be expanded in the near future. We expect that any additional rooms added in the Reno market will increase competition for visitor revenue. There can be no assurance that any growth in Renos current room base or gaming capacity will not adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. We also compete with hotel-casinos located in the nearby Lake Tahoe region as well as those in Las Vegas, Nevada. A substantial number of customers travel to both Reno and the Lake Tahoe area during their visits. Consequently, we believe that Silver Legacys success is influenced to some degree by the success of the Lake Tahoe market. While we do not anticipate a decline in the popularity of either Reno or Lake Tahoe as tour destination areas in the foreseeable future, any such decline could adversely affect our operations.
Land-based, riverboat, or dockside casino gaming (other than that conducted on Native American-owned land) is currently legal in ten states and casino gaming on Native American-owned land is legal in at least 29 states, including California, Washington, and Oregon. Management believes the Reno market draws over 50% of its visitors from California. California allows other non-casino style gaming, including pari-mutuel wagering, a state-sponsored lottery, card clubs, bingo, and off-track betting. The competitive impact on Nevada gaming establishments, in general, and our operations, in particular, from the continued growth of gaming outside Nevada cannot be determined at this time. We believe that the expansion of casino gaming on Native American lands in California, and to a lesser extent in Washington and Oregon, could have a material adverse affect on our operations depending on the nature, location, and scope of those operations.
On March 7, 2000, California voters approved Proposition 1A which amended the California constitution and legalized Nevada-style gaming on Native American reservations. The passage of this amendment has allowed the expansion of existing Native American gaming operations, as well as the opening of new Native American gaming facilities. Additionally, numerous tribes have announced that they intend to open gaming facilities. We believe that currently there are approximately 107 federally recognized Native American tribes in California. In order to conduct gaming operations in California, a Native American tribe must enter into a compact with the state. As of December 31, 2002, the State of California had entered into compacts with approximately 61 tribes. Each Native American tribe in California is limited to a maximum of 2,000 slot machines and there may not be more than two gaming facilities on any one reservation. Under the Governor of Californias interpretation of the compacts, all Native American tribes in California are permitted to operate a total of approximately 45,000 slot machines. However, there remains substantial uncertainty as to the total number of slot machines authorized by the compacts and it is possible that the approximately 45,000-machine limit will increase, and, if so, the increase may be substantial. The 20-year compacts have a one-time negotiation
7
clause that must be executed in 2003. While the tribes are not required to renegotiate their compacts, approximately 21 tribes are expected to begin negotiations with the Governor of California beginning in March 2003 in an effort to obtain the right to operate more slot machines than the current maximum allowance per tribe of 2,000. In addition to allowing the expansion of slot machines, the compacts allow for the expansion of other casino-style games, including blackjack and poker.
Most existing Native American gaming facilities in northern California are modest compared to Reno market casinos. However, there are several more significant Native American casinos which currently compete with the Reno market, including (1) the Cache Creek Indian Bingo & Casino in Brooks, California, approximately 58 miles northwest of Sacramento and (2) the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center in Jackson, California, approximately 59 miles southeast of Sacramento. In addition to the existing gaming facilities, numerous Native American tribes have announced that they are in the process of developing or are considering establishing large-scale hotel and gaming facilities in northern California. Station Casinos, Inc., an established gaming operator, has entered into agreements with the United Auburn Indian Community to develop and manage Thunder Valley Casino, a gaming and entertainment facility being constructed on a 49-acre site approximately 21 miles northeast of Sacramento. Station Casinos, Inc. has announced that Thunder Valley Casino is anticipated to offer between 1,250 and 2,000 slot machines and 100 table games, dining and entertainment amenities, and parking for 3,000 vehicles. Construction is reported to have commenced in October 2002 with the property to be completed in phases, including an anticipated opening of the casino in June or July 2003. Other tribes are at various stages of planning new or expanded facilities in northern California, including facilities within a one hour drive of San Francisco or Sacramento.
Seasonality
Silver Legacys hotel-casino operations are subject to seasonal variation, with the strongest operating results generally occurring in the third quarter of each year and the weakest results occurring during the period from November through February. Variations occur when weather conditions make travel to Reno by visitors from northern California and the Pacific Northwest difficult. The following table shows our percentage of gross revenues by quarter for each of 2000, 2001 and 2002.
| 2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
|||||||
| First quarter |
22.1 |
% |
22.6 |
% |
22.7 |
% | |||
| Second quarter |
27.0 |
% |
27.3 |
% |
25.9 |
% | |||
| Third quarter |
28.1 |
% |
27.4 |
% |
28.9 |
% | |||
| Fourth quarter |
22.8 |
% |
22.7 |
% |
22.5 |
% | |||
| Total |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% | |||
Employees
As of December 31, 2002, Silver Legacy employed approximately 2,268 persons. Currently, none of our employees are employed pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The number of people employed at any time is subject to seasonal fluctuation. We believe that our employee relations are excellent.
Environmental Matters
As in the case with any owner or operator of real property, we are subject to a variety of federal, state and local governmental regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge, emission, and disposal of hazardous materials. Federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations also impose liability on potentially responsible parties, including the owners or operators of real property, to clean up, or contribute to the cost of cleaning up, sites at which hazardous wastes or materials were disposed of or released. We do not have environmental liability insurance to cover these events.
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During the excavation for construction of Silver Legacy, petroleum contamination of soil and groundwater was discovered on the property. The apparent sources of this contamination were a former gasoline station and numerous abandoned heating oil tanks. Our contractors removed and disposed of contaminated soils, and we were successful in obtaining reimbursement and indemnification from Chevron Company USA. In addition, we received reimbursement from the State of Nevada Petroleum Fund, which was established to reimburse parties for costs incurred in cleaning up contamination from certain underground storage tanks. With the consent of the relevant county agency, the cleanup was completed leaving some contaminated soils in place (under structures and roads, for example), so that some additional soil contamination is known to remain in place. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection has not, however, required us to conduct any further investigation or remediation.
Groundwater in the vicinity of Silver Legacy property is also contaminated by a chlorinated solvent known as tetrachloroethene or PCE. This contaminant is widespread in the Reno/Sparks area. The Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District, encompassing much of the cities of Reno and Sparks, was established pursuant to state legislation to address this contamination. The Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District is managed by Washoe County under the direction of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, and is currently conducting investigations and developing a remediation plan. Funding for the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District is provided through assessments to water customers which are calculated on the basis of water use. The annual assessment to Silver Legacy is currently $419, plus an additional sum based on the amount of water used, which in our most recent annual assessment amounted to $25,076. It is possible that additional assessments may be made against properties that receive special benefits from the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District, such as clean-up of contamination affecting a specific parcel. The legislation implementing this program exempts property owners who did not cause or contribute to the contamination from civil and criminal liability for the cost of remediation and any related damages, except to the extent of unpaid assessments. We do not believe that we have contributed to this solvent contamination, however, we expect that we will be required to allow the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District access to our property for continued investigation, including access to monitoring wells.
The possibility exists that additional contamination, as yet unknown, may exist at Silver Legacy property. In all cases, however, we believe that any such contamination would have arisen from activities of prior owners or occupants, or from offsite sources and not as a result of any of our actions or operations. We do not believe that our expenditures for environmental investigations or remediation will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Regulation And Licensing
Silver Legacy, the partners of Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture, and their parent entities are subject to extensive regulation under laws, rules and supervisory procedures primarily in the jurisdictions where their facilities are located or docked. Some jurisdictions, including Nevada, empower their regulators to investigate participation by licensees in gaming outside their jurisdiction and require access to and periodic reports respecting those gaming activities. Violations of laws in one jurisdiction could result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions.
Under provisions of gaming laws in jurisdictions in which we, our partners or their parent entities have operations and under our organizational documents certain of our securities are subject to restrictions on ownership which may be imposed by specified governmental authorities. The restrictions may require a holder of our securities to dispose of the securities or, if the holder refuses, or is unable, to dispose of the securities, we may be required to repurchase the securities.
The indenture governing our 10 1/8% mortgage notes due 2012 (the Notes) provides that each holder and beneficial owner of the Notes, by accepting or otherwise acquiring an interest in any of the Notes, will be deemed to have agreed that if the gaming authority of any jurisdiction in which we or either of the Partnerships partners
9
or their respective parents or other affiliated entities currently or in the future conduct or propose to conduct gaming requires that a person who is a holder or beneficial owner must be licensed, qualified or found suitable under applicable gaming laws, the holder or beneficial owner will apply for a license, qualification or finding of suitability within the required time period. If the person fails to apply or become licensed or qualified or is found unsuitable, we will have the right, at our option:
| | to require the person to dispose of his or her Notes or beneficial interest in the Notes within 30 days of receipt of notice of our election or any earlier date that the relevant gaming authority may request or prescribe; or |
| | to redeem the Notes (possibly within less than 30 days following the notice of redemption if requested or prescribed by the gaming authority) at a redemption price equal to the lesser of: |
| | the persons cost; |
| | 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date or the date of the finding of unsuitability, whichever is earlier; and |
| | the any other amount required by applicable law or by order of any gaming authority. |
We will not be responsible for any costs or expenses any holder or beneficial owner may incur in connection with its application for a license, qualification or finding of suitability.
Nevada Gaming Laws
The ownership and operation of casino gaming facilities in the State of Nevada are subject to the Nevada Gaming Control Act and the regulations promulgated under this Act and various local regulations. Silver Legacys operations are subject to the licensing and regulatory control of the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Nevada State Gaming Control Board and the City of Reno, which we refer to collectively 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:
| | the prevention of unsavory or unsuitable persons from having a direct or indirect involvement with gaming at any time or in any capacity; |
| | the establishment and maintenance of responsible accounting practices and procedures; |
| | the maintenance of effective controls over the financial practices of licensees, including the establishment of minimum procedures for internal fiscal affairs and the safeguarding of assets and revenues, providing reliable record keeping and requiring the filing of periodic reports with the Nevada Gaming Authorities; |
| | the prevention of cheating and fraudulent practices; and |
| | providing a source of state and local revenues through taxation and licensing fees. |
Changes in these laws, regulations and procedures could have an adverse effect on our gaming operations.
Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture holds all licenses and approvals required to conduct its present gaming operations. The gaming license requires the periodic payment of fees and taxes and is not transferable. The parent entities of Circus and Eldorado Joint Ventures partners, Eldorado Resorts LLC and Mandalay Resort Group, are required to be registered by the Nevada Gaming Commission as publicly traded corporations and are required periodically to submit detailed financial and operating reports to the Nevada Gaming Commission and to furnish any other information that the Nevada Gaming Commission may require. No person may become a stockholder of, or receive any percentage of profits from, a licensed entity such as Circus and Eldorado Joint
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Venture without first obtaining licenses and approvals from the Nevada Gaming Authorities. Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture and its parent entities have obtained from the Nevada Gaming Authorities the various registrations, findings of suitability, 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 us in order to determine whether the individual is suitable or should be licensed as a business associate of a gaming licensee. We and our officers, directors and key employees must file applications with the Nevada Gaming Authorities and may be required to be licensed or found suitable by the Nevada Gaming Authorities. The Nevada Gaming Authorities may deny an application for licensing for any cause which 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. An applicant for licensing or an applicant for a finding of suitability must pay for 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 licensing, the Nevada Gaming Authorities have the 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 unsuitable to continue having a relationship with us, we would have to sever all relationships with that person. In addition, the Nevada Gaming Commission may require us to terminate the employment of any person who refuses to file appropriate applications. Determinations of suitability or questions pertaining to licensing are not subject to judicial review in Nevada.
We are required to submit detailed financial and operating reports to the Nevada Gaming Commission. Substantially all material loans, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions must be reported to, or approved by, the Nevada Gaming Commission.
If the Nevada Gaming Commission determined that we violated the Nevada Gaming Control Act or any of its regulations, it could limit, condition, suspend or revoke our gaming licenses. In addition, we and the persons involved could be subject to substantial fines for each separate violation of the Nevada Gaming Control Act or of the regulations of the Nevada Gaming Commission at the discretion of the Nevada Gaming Commission. Further, a supervisor could be appointed by the Nevada Gaming Commission to operate Silver Legacy and, under specified circumstances, earnings generated during the supervisors appointment (except for the reasonable rental value of the premises) could be forfeited to the State of Nevada. Limitation, conditioning or suspension of any of our gaming licenses and the appointment of a supervisor could, or revocation of any gaming license would, have a material adverse effect on our gaming operations.
Any beneficial holder of an interest in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture or of any of the equity securities of any partner of Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture, or of any interest in the parent entities of Circus and Eldorado Joint Ventures members, regardless of the amount of interest owned or the number of shares held, may be required to file an application, be investigated, and have that persons suitability as a beneficial holder of an equity interest determined if the Nevada Gaming Commission has reason to believe that the ownership would otherwise be inconsistent with the declared policies of the State of Nevada. The applicant must pay all costs of the investigation incurred by the Nevada Gaming Authorities in conducting any investigation.
The partners of Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture are required to obtain the prior approval of the Nevada Gaming Commission prior to their pledge of their interests in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture as collateral for payment of any of our indebtedness. Eldorado Limited Liability Company and Galleon, Inc., the partners of Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture, obtained the required approvals of the Nevada Gaming Commission to pledge their interests in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture as collateral for payment of the Notes. However, further approvals of the Nevada Gaming Commission must be obtained by any person, including the trustee under the Indenture relating to the Notes, before any execution on or transfer of the pledged interests may occur.
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Nevada law requires any licensed gaming entity, such as Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture which has one or more classes of securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to additionally register with the Nevada Gaming Commission as a publicly traded corporation. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of Nevada gaming law, we received the requisite approvals of the Nevada Gaming Commission to be registered as a publicly traded corporation and to make our public offering of the Notes.
If the beneficial holder of an interest in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture or in the equity securities of any of Circus and Eldorado Joint Ventures partners, or of any interest in one of the parent entities who must be found suitable is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company 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 Gaming Commission or by the Chairman of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, or who refuses or fails to pay the investigative costs incurred by the gaming authorities in connection with the investigation of its application, 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 person found unsuitable and who holds, directly or indirectly, any beneficial ownership of an interest in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture or in the voting securities of any of Circus and Eldorado Joint Ventures partners or of the parent entities beyond the period of time as may be prescribed by the Nevada Gaming Commission may be guilty of a criminal offense. We will be subject to disciplinary action if, after we receive notice that a person is unsuitable to hold an equity interest or to have any other relationship with us, we:
| | pay that person any dividend or interest upon any partnership interest or other equity interest; |
| | allow that person to exercise, directly or indirectly, any voting right held by that person relating to Silver Legacy; |
| | pay remuneration in any form to that person for services rendered or otherwise; or |
| | fail to pursue all lawful efforts to require the unsuitable person to relinquish his interest in Circus and Eldorado Joint Venture or in its voting securities including, if necessary, the immediate purchase of the interest or voting securities for cash at fair market value. |
The Nevada Gaming Commission may, in its discretion, require the holder of any debt security of a licensee or registered corporation to file applications, be investigated, and be found suitable to own the debt security of the licensee or registered corporation. If a holder of the Notes is required by the Nevada Gaming Commission to be found suitable, the burden of proving qualification to be found suitable as a holder of the Notes is at all times on the applicant and requires a determination by the Nevada Gaming Commission that the applicant is a person of good character, honesty and integrity. When making this determination, the Nevada Gaming Commission must be satisfied that the applicant is a person whose prior activities, criminal record (if any), reputation, habits and associations do not pose a threat to the interests of the State of Nevada, or to the effective regulation and control of gaming, or create or enhance the dangers of unsuitable, unfair, or illegal practices. If the Nevada Gaming Commission determines that a person is unsuitable to own the security, then under the Nevada Gaming Control Act, the licensee or registered corporation can be sanctioned, including the loss of its approvals, if without the prior approval of the Nevada Gaming Commission, it:
| | pays to the unsuitable person any dividend, interest or any distribution whatsoever; |
| | recognizes any voting right by the unsuitable person in connection with the securities; |
| | pays the unsuitable person remuneration in any form; or |
| | makes any payment to the unsuitable person by way of principal, redemption, conversion, exchange, liquidation or similar transaction. |
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Our partners and their parent entities are required to maintain current stock ledgers in Nevada which 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 the disclosure may be grounds for finding the record holder unsuitable. We are also required to render maximum assistance in determining the identity of the beneficial owner of any of our voting securities. The Nevada Gaming Commission has the power to require the stock certificates of any registered corporation to bear a legend indicating that the securities are subject to the Nevada Gaming Control Act.
We may not make a public offering of our securities without the prior approval of the Nevada Gaming Commission if we intend to use the securities or the proceeds from the offering to construct, acquire or finance gaming facilities in Nevada, or to retire or extend obligations incurred for those purposes or for similar transactions.
We must obtain prior approval of the Nevada Gaming Commission with respect to a change in control through:
| | merger; |
| | consolidation; |
| | stock or asset acquisitions; |
| | management or consulting agreements; or |
| | any act or conduct by a person whereby the person obtains control of us. |
Entities seeking to acquire control of a registered corporation must satisfy the Nevada State Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission with respect to a variety of stringent standards before assuming control of the registered corporation. The Nevada 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 Nevada legislature has declared that some corporate acquisitions opposed by management, repurchase of voting securities and corporate defense tactics affecting Nevada gaming licenses, and registered corporations that are affiliated with those operations, may be injurious to stable and productive corporate gaming. The Nevada Gaming Commission has established a regulatory scheme to ameliorate the potentially adverse effects of these business practices upon Nevadas gaming industry and to further Nevadas 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. |
Approvals may be required from the Nevada Gaming Commission before we can make exceptional repurchases of voting securities above their current market price 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 corporations board of directors in response to a tender offer made directly to its stockholders for the purpose of acquiring control.
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 the counties and cities in which the licensed subsidiaries respective operations are conducted. Depending upon the particular fee or tax involved, these fees and taxes are payable either monthly, quarterly or annually and are based upon either:
| | a percentage of the gross revenues received; |
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| | the number of gaming devices operated; or |