UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission File No. 001-10362

 

 

 

 

MGM MIRAGE

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South — Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

 

(702) 693-7120

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has 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 þ     No o

 

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 the Registrant’s 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:  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2008 (based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on June 30, 2008) was $4.2 billion. As of March 9, 2009, 276,557,345 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value, were outstanding.

 

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

PART I

 

 

MGM MIRAGE is referred to as the “Company” or the “Registrant,” and together with our subsidiaries may also be referred to as “we,” “us” or “our.”

 

Liquidity and Financial Position

 

For discussion of our liquidity and financial position, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Executive Overview — Liquidity and Financial Position” and Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Overview

 

MGM MIRAGE is one of the world’s leading development companies with significant gaming and resort operations. We believe the resorts we own, manage, and invest in are among the world’s finest casino resorts. MGM MIRAGE was organized as MGM Grand, Inc. on January 29, 1986 and is a Delaware corporation. MGM MIRAGE acts largely as a holding company and its operations are conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

 

Our strategy is based on developing and maintaining competitive advantages in the following areas:

 

 

Resort Portfolio

 

We execute our strategy through a portfolio approach, seeking to ensure that we own, invest in and manage resorts in each market segment that are superior to our competitors’ resorts. We also seek to own and invest in superior real estate assets, with a blend of developing these assets on our own, partnering with others, and strategically buying and selling real estate.

 

Our approach to resort ownership and investment is based on operating the premier resorts in each geographic market and each customer segment in which we operate. We discuss customer segments in the “Resort Operation” section. Regarding our approach to resort locations, we feel it is important to selectively operate in markets with stable regulatory environments. As seen in the table below, this means that a large portion of our resorts are located in Nevada. In addition, we target markets with growth potential. We also believe there is growth potential in investing in and managing non-gaming resorts. See the “Sustainable Growth” and “Leveraging Our Brand and Management Assets” sections for further details on these initiatives.

Our Operating Resorts

 

We have provided below certain information about our resorts as of December 31, 2008. Except as otherwise indicated, we wholly own and operate the resorts shown below.

 

 

 

 

More detailed information about each of our operating resorts can be found in Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Investing in Existing Resorts

 

We believe that ensuring our resorts are the premier resorts in their respective markets requires significant capital investment. We have a track record of reinvesting cash flows into our existing resorts and we have achieved strong returns on these investments in the past. We have made significant investments in our resorts over the past few years, we do not expect to reinvest significantly in our resorts in 2009 or 2010.

 

For instance, between 2003 and 2006 we invested a significant amount of capital at MGM Grand Las Vegas, with additions such as KÁ, the acclaimed show by Cirque du Soleil; the Skylofts and West Wing room enhancements; two highly acclaimed restaurants by Joël Robuchon; and new poker and race and sports areas. That resort

earned $290 million of operating income in 2007, a dramatic increase from the $127 million earned in 2002. Similarly, we transformed The Mirage, a resort many market observers credit with changing the face of the Las Vegas Strip. We felt strongly about the allure of the resort, but also believed that customers need fresh, updated experiences. Therefore, we invested significant capital at The Mirage between 2004 and 2006, adding several new restaurants; a category-defining nightclub, Jet; upgraded high-limit gaming areas; and the Beatles-themed Love show by Cirque du Soleil. The Mirage earned $108 million of operating income in 2003; in 2007, The Mirage earned $173 million of operating income.

 

Capital additions have not had the same impact on profitability due to the severe downturn in economic conditions in general and the impact on tourism and travel spending specifically — see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis.” For instance, we invested in new amenities and remodeled the standard rooms at Mandalay Bay in 2007, but operating income did not rise appreciably in 2008. However, we believe these improvements, and improvements at other resorts such as Luxor and New York-New York, still increase our relative market position during times where we and our competitors are trying to draw from a smaller customer base. In addition, we believe such investments will allow us to earn an above — market return when economic conditions improve.

 

We also actively manage our portfolio of land holdings. We own approximately 700 acres of land on the Las Vegas Strip, with a meaningful portion of those acres undeveloped or considered by us to be under-developed.

 

Risks Associated with Our Portfolio Strategy

 

The principal risk factors relating to our current portfolio of resorts are:

 

 

Resort Operation

 

Our operating philosophy is predicated on creating resorts of memorable character, treating our employees well and providing superior service for our guests. We also seek to develop competitive advantages in specific markets and among specific customer groups.

 

General

 

We primarily own and operate casino resorts, which includes offering gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail and other resort amenities. Over half of our net revenue is derived from non-gaming activities, a higher 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 a premium price based on their quality.

 

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. Since we believe that the number of walk-in customers affects the success of our casino resorts, we design our facilities to maximize their attraction to guests of other hotels. We also generate a significant portion of our operating income from the high-end gaming segment, which can cause variability in our results.

 

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. Our significant convention and meeting facilities allow us to maximize hotel occupancy and customer volumes during off-peak times such as mid-week or during traditionally slower leisure travel periods, which also leads to better labor utilization. Our results do not depend on key individual customers, though our success in marketing to customer groups — such as convention customers — or the financial health of customer segments — such as business travelers or high-end gaming customers from a particular country or region — can impact our results.

 

All of our casino resorts operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with the exception of Grand Victoria which operates 22 hours a day, every day of the year. At our wholly-owned resorts, our primary casino and hotel operations are owned and managed by us. Other resort amenities may be owned and operated by us, owned by us but managed by third parties for a fee, or leased to third parties. We generally have an operating philosophy that prefers ownership of amenities, since guests have direct contact with staff in these areas and we prefer to control all aspects of the guest experience. However, we do lease space to retail and food and beverage operators in certain situations, particularly for branding opportunities. We also operate many “managed” outlets, utilizing third party management for specific expertise in areas such as restaurants and nightclubs, as well as for branding opportunities.

 

Customers and Competition

 

Our casino resorts generally operate in highly competitive environments. We compete against other gaming companies as well as other hospitality and leisure and business travel companies. Our primary methods of competing successfully include:

 

 

Our Las Vegas casino resorts compete for customers 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. Our Las Vegas Strip resorts also compete, in part, with each other. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there were approximately 141,000 guestrooms in Las Vegas at December 31, 2008, up 6% from approximately 133,000 rooms at December 31, 2007. Las Vegas visitor volume was 37.5 million in 2008, a decrease of 4% from the 39.2 million reported for 2007.

 

The principal segments of the Las Vegas gaming market are leisure travel; premium gaming customers; conventions, including small meetings, trade associations, and corporate incentive programs; and tour and travel. Our high-end properties, which include Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, 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, New York-New York, Luxor and Monte Carlo 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. Excalibur and Circus Circus Las Vegas generally cater to the value-oriented and middle-income leisure travel and tour and travel segments.

 

Outside Las Vegas, our other wholly-owned Nevada operations compete with each other and with many other similar sized and larger operations. A significant portion of our customers at these resorts come from California. We believe the expansion of Native American gaming has had a negative impact on all of our Nevada resorts not located

on the Las Vegas Strip, and additional expansion in California could have a further adverse effect on these resorts. Our Nevada resorts not located in Las Vegas appeal primarily to the value-oriented leisure traveler and the value-oriented local customer.

 

Outside Nevada, our wholly-owned resorts mainly compete for customers in local gaming markets, where location is a critical factor to success. In Tunica, Mississippi, one of our competitors is closer to Memphis, the area’s principal market. In addition, we compete with gaming operations in surrounding jurisdictions and other leisure destinations in each region. For instance, in Detroit, Michigan we also compete with a casino in nearby Windsor, Canada and with Native American casinos in Michigan. In Biloxi, Mississippi we also compete with regional riverboat and land-based casinos in Louisiana, Native American casinos in central Mississippi, the Florida market, and with casinos in the Bahamas.

 

Our unconsolidated affiliates mainly compete for customers against casino resorts in their respective markets. Much like our wholly-owned resorts, our unconsolidated affiliates compete through the quality of amenities, the value of the experience offered to guests, and the location of their resorts.

 

Our casino resorts also compete for customers with hotel-casino operations located in other areas of the United States and other parts of the world, and for leisure and business travelers with non-gaming tourist destinations such as Hawaii, Florida and cruise ships. Our gaming operations compete to a lesser extent with state-sponsored lotteries, off-track wagering, card parlors, and other forms of legalized gaming in the United States.

 

Marketing

 

We advertise on radio, television and billboards and in newspapers and magazines in selected cities throughout the United States and overseas, 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 premium gaming customers 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, make restaurant reservations and purchase show tickets. We also operate call centers to allow customer contact by phone to make hotel and restaurant reservations and purchase show tickets.

 

We utilize our world-class golf courses in marketing programs at our Las Vegas Strip resorts. Our major Las Vegas resorts offer luxury suite packages that include golf privileges at Shadow Creek. In connection with our marketing activities, we also invite our premium gaming customers to play Shadow Creek on a complimentary basis. Additionally, marketing efforts at Beau Rivage benefit from the Fallen Oak golf course just 20 minutes north of Beau Rivage.

 

Employees and Management

 

We believe that knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated employees are a key success factor in the casino resort industry. Therefore, we invest heavily in recruiting, training and retaining our employees, as well as seeking to hire and promote the strongest management team possible. We have numerous programs, both at the corporate and business unit level, designed to achieve these objectives. For example, our diversity program extends throughout our Company, and focuses on the unique strengths of our individuals combined with a culture of working together to achieve greater performance. Our diversity program has been widely recognized, including the honor of “Top 50 Best Companies for Diversity” given by DiversityInc magazine. We have also invested heavily in training, and we believe our programs, such as the MGM Grand University and various leadership and management training programs, are best-in-class among our industry peers.

 

Technology

 

We utilize technology to maximize revenue and efficiency in our operations. Our Players Club program links our major resorts, and consolidates all slots and table games activity for customers with a Players Club account. Customers qualify for benefits across all of the participating resorts, regardless of where they play. We believe that our Players Club enables us to more effectively market to our customers. A large number of the slot machines at our

resorts operate with International Game Technology’s EZ-Pay^tm cashless gaming system. We believe that this system enhances the customer experience and increases the revenue potential of our slot machines.

 

Technology is an important part of our strategy in non-gaming and administrative operations as well. Our hotel systems include yield management modules which allow us to maximize occupancy and room rates. Additionally, these systems capture charges made by our customers during their stay, including allowing customers of our resorts to charge meals and services at certain other MGM MIRAGE resorts to their hotel accounts. We implemented a new hotel management system at most of our major resorts in 2007, which has enhanced our guest service and improved our yield management capabilities across our portfolio of resorts.

 

Internal Controls

 

We have a strong culture of compliance, driven by our history in the highly regulated gaming industry and our belief that compliance is a value-added activity. Our system of internal controls and procedures — including internal control over financial reporting — is designed to ensure reliable and accurate financial records, transparent disclosures, compliance with laws and regulations, and protection of our assets. Our internal controls start at the source of business transactions, and we have rigorous enforcement through controllership at both the business unit and corporate level. Our corporate management also review each of our businesses on a regular basis and we have a corporate internal audit function that performs reviews around gaming compliance, internal controls over financial reporting, and operational areas.

 

In connection with the supervision of gaming activities at our casinos, we maintain stringent controls on the recording of all receipts and disbursements and other activities, such as cash transaction reporting. These controls include:

 

 

Marker play represents a significant portion of the table games volume at Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. Our other facilities do not emphasize marker play to the same extent, although we offer markers to customers at certain of 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, Michigan, and Illinois, 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 entered into in Nevada, Mississippi, Illinois or Michigan which are not timely paid, 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.

 

Risks Associated With Our Operating Strategy

 

The principal risk factors relating to our operating strategy are:

 

 

 

Sustainable Growth

 

In allocating capital, our financial strategy is focused on managing a proper mix of investing in existing resorts, spending on new resorts or initiatives, repaying long-term debt, and returning capital to shareholders. We have actively allocated capital to each of these areas historically. We believe there are reasonable investments for us to make in new initiatives that will provide returns in excess of the other options, though the pace and extent of such investments have been impacted by the current state of credit markets.

 

The following sections discuss certain of our current and potential development opportunities. We regularly evaluate possible expansion and acquisition opportunities in both the domestic and international markets, but cannot determine the likelihood of proceeding with specific development opportunities. Opportunities we evaluate 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.

 

CityCenter

 

We own 50% of CityCenter, currently under development on a 67-acre site on the Las Vegas Strip, between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. Infinity World Development Corp. (“Infinity World”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai World, a Dubai, United Arab Emirates government decree entity, owns the other 50% of CityCenter. CityCenter will feature a 4,000-room casino resort designed by world-famous architect Cesar Pelli; two 400-room non-gaming boutique hotels, one of which will be managed by luxury hotelier Mandarin Oriental; approximately 425,000 square feet of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues; and approximately 2.1 million square feet of residential space in approximately 2,400 luxury condominium and condominium-hotel units in multiple towers. CityCenter is expected to open in late 2009, except CityCenter postponed the opening of The Harmon Hotel & Spa until late 2010 and cancelled the development of approximately 200 residential units originally planned. We are serving as the developer of CityCenter and, upon completion of construction, we will manage CityCenter for a fee.

 

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

We own approximately 130 acres on Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We lease ten acres to Borgata under long-term leases for use in its current operations and for its expansion. Of the remaining 120 acres, approximately 72 acres are suitable for development. We lease nine of these developable acres to Borgata on a short-term basis for surface parking and a portion of the remaining acres consists of common roads, landscaping and master plan improvements which we designed and developed as required by our agreement with Boyd. We own an additional 14 acres in the Marina District near Renaissance Pointe.

 

In October 2007, we announced plans for a multi-billion dollar resort complex on our 72-acre site in Atlantic City. Since making that announcement, we have made extensive progress in design and other pre-development activities. However, current economic conditions, including limited access to capital markets for projects of this scale, have caused us to reassess timing for this project. Accordingly, we have postponed current development activities.

 

Kerzner/Istithmar Joint Venture

 

In September 2007, we entered into a definitive agreement with Kerzner International and Istithmar forming a joint venture to develop a multi-billion dollar integrated resort to be located on the southwest corner of Las Vegas

Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. In September 2008, we and our partners agreed to defer additional design and pre-construction activities and amended our joint venture agreement accordingly. In the event the joint venture partners agree that the resort will be developed, we will contribute 40 acres of land, at an agreed value of $20 million per acre, for fifty percent of the equity in the joint venture. Kerzner International and Istithmar will contribute cash totaling $600 million, of which $200 million will be distributed to us, for the other 50% of the equity.

 

Risks Associated With Our Growth Strategy

 

The principal risk factors relating to our growth strategy are:

 

 

Leveraging Our Brand and Management Assets

 

We also seek to leverage our management expertise and well-recognized brands through strategic partnerships and international expansion opportunities. We feel that several of our brands, particularly the “MGM Grand” brand, are well suited to new projects in both gaming and non-gaming developments. The recently opened MGM Grand Macau and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, and the recently announced MGM Grand Abu Dhabi are all part of our brand expansion strategy.

 

In 2007, we formed MGM MIRAGE Hospitality, LLC (“Hospitality”). The purpose of this entity is to source strategic resort development and management opportunities, both gaming and non-gaming. Hospitality will have a particular focus on international opportunities, where we feel future growth opportunities are greatest. We have hired senior personnel with established backgrounds in the development and management of international hospitality operations to maximize the profit potential of Hospitality’s operations. In 2008, Hospitality announced the formation of MGM MIRAGE Global Gaming Development, a new subsidiary principally focused on international gaming expansion.

 

Mubadala Development Company

 

In November 2007, we announced plans to develop MGM Grand Abu Dhabi, a multi-billion dollar, large-scale, mixed-use development that will serve as an incoming gateway to Abu Dhabi, a United Arab Emirate, located at a prominent downtown waterfront site on Abu Dhabi Island. The project will be wholly owned by Mubadala; we will serve as developer of the project and manage the development for a fee. The initial phase will utilize 50 acres and consist of an MGM Grand hotel, two additional MGM branded luxury hotels, and a variety of luxury residential offerings. Additionally, the development will feature a major entertainment facility, high-end retail shops, and world-class dining and convention facilities.

 

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

 

We entered into a series of agreements to implement a strategic alliance with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (“MPTN”), which owns and operates Foxwoods Casino Resort in Ledyard, Connecticut. Under the strategic alliance, we consulted with MPTN in the development of a new $700 million casino resort adjacent to the existing Foxwoods casino resort. The new resort utilizes the “MGM Grand” brand name and opened in May 2008. We and MPTN have also formed a jointly owned company — Unity Gaming, LLC — to acquire or develop future gaming and non-gaming enterprises.

China

 

We have formed a joint venture with the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, to develop luxury non-gaming hotels and resorts globally, initially targeting prime locations, including Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China.

 

Vietnam

 

In November 2008, we and Asian Coast Development Ltd.  announced plans to develop MGM Grand Ho Tram, which is expected to open in 2011. MGM Grand Ho Tram will anchor a multi-property complex on the Ho Tram Strip in the Ba Ria Vung Tau Province in southwest Vietnam. MGM Grand Ho Tram will be owned and financed by Asian Coast Development Ltd. and we will provide development assistance and operate the five-star integrated resort upon completion.

 

Risks Associated With Our Brand and Management Strategy

 

Operations in which we may engage in foreign territories are subject to risk pertaining to international operations. These may include financial risks: foreign currency, adverse tax consequences, inability to adequately enforce our rights; or regulatory and political risks: foreign government regulations, general geopolitical risks such as political and economic instability, hostilities with neighboring countries, and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships.

 

In addition, to the extent we become involved with development projects as an owner or investor, we are subject to similar risks as described in the “Sustainable Growth” section.

 

Employees and Labor Relations

 

As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately 46,000 full-time and 15,000 part-time employees. At that date, we had collective bargaining contracts with unions covering approximately 30,000 of our employees. We consider our employee relations to be good. In August 2007, we entered a new five-year collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 21,000 of our Las Vegas Strip employees, not including MGM Grand Las Vegas. The collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 4,000 employees at MGM Grand Las Vegas expired in 2008. We have signed an extension of such agreement and are currently negotiating a new agreement. In addition, in October 2007 we entered into a new four-year agreement covering approximately 2,900 employees at MGM Grand Detroit.

 

Regulation and Licensing

 

The gaming industry is highly regulated, and we must maintain our licenses and pay gaming taxes to continue our operations. Each of our casinos is subject to extensive regulation under the laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdiction where it is located. These laws, rules and regulations generally concern the responsibility, financial stability and character of the owners, managers, and persons with financial interest in the gaming operations. Violations of laws in one jurisdiction could result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions. A more detailed description of the regulations to which we are subject is contained in Exhibit 99.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Our businesses are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations in addition to gaming regulations. These laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, restrictions and conditions concerning alcoholic beverages, environmental matters, employees, currency transactions, taxation, zoning and building codes, and marketing and advertising. Such laws and regulations could change or could be interpreted differently in the future, or new laws and regulations could be enacted. Material changes, new laws or regulations, or material differences in interpretations by courts or governmental authorities could adversely affect our operating results.

Forward-Looking Statements

 

(Cautionary Statements Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)

 

This Form 10-K and our 2008 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, as well as 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 2008 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 Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Also note that we provide a discussion of risks, uncertainties and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

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 February 15, 2009, 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.

 

Mr. Murren has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 2008 and as President since December 1999. He has served as Chief Operating Officer since August 2007. He was Chief Financial Officer from January 1998 to August 2007 and Treasurer from November 2001 to August 2007.

 

Mr. Baldwin has served as Chief Design and Construction Officer since August 2007. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Mirage Resorts from June 2000 to August 2007 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Bellagio, LLC from June 1996 to March 2005.

 

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 Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, & Shapiro, LLP.

 

Mr. Manzini has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since March 2007. Prior thereto, he served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning for the Walt Disney Company and in various senior management positions throughout his tenure from April 1990 to January 2007.

 

Mr. D’Arrigo has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2007. He served as Senior Vice President — Finance of the Company from February 2005 to August 2007 and as Vice President — Finance of the Company from December 2000 to February 2005.

 

Mr. Selwood has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since August 2007. He served as Senior Vice President — Accounting of the Company from February 2005 to August 2007 and as Vice President — Accounting of the Company from December 2000 to February 2005.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mr. McManus has served as Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company since July 2008. He served as Vice President and General Counsel for CityCenter’s residential and retail divisions from January 2006 to July 2008. Prior thereto, he served as General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel for various of the Company’s operating subsidiaries from May 2001 to January 2006.

 

Mr. Sani has served as Senior Vice President — Taxes of the Company since July 2005. He served as Vice President — Taxes of the Company from June 2002 to July 2005. Prior thereto he was a partner in the Transaction Advisory Services practice of Arthur Andersen LLP, having served that firm in various other capacities since 1988.

 

Ms. Santoro has served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer since August 2007. She served as Vice President — Treasury of the Company from August 2004 to August 2007. Prior thereto she was a Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank, serving in the gaming division.

 

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 practical after we file the documents.

 

These filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,

Washington, D.C. 20549 and may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Our Corporate Governance Policies, the charter of our Audit Committee and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy, along with any amendments or waivers to the Code, are available on our website under the “Investor Relations” link. We will provide a copy of these documents without charge to any stockholder upon receipt of a written request addressed to MGM MIRAGE, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109.

 

Reference in this document to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website.

 

 

You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in this section and elsewhere in this report or in any other of our filings with the SEC could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In evaluating us, you should consider carefully, among other things, the risks described below.

 

 

As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $2.8 billion of financial commitments and estimated capital expenditures in 2009, excluding commitments under employment, entertainment and other operational agreements. Furthermore, the interest rate applicable to our borrowings under the senior credit facility is based on variable reference rates and our leverage ratio. Any increase in the interest rates applicable to our existing or future borrowings would increase the cost of our indebtedness and reduce the cash flow available to fund our other liquidity needs. Our substantial indebtedness and significant financial commitments could have important negative consequences, including:

 

 

 

 

 

Following expiration of the waiver on May 15, 2009, we will be subject to an event of default related to the expected noncompliance with financial covenants under the senior credit facility at March 31, 2009. We intend to work with our lenders to obtain additional waivers or amendments prior to May 15, 2009 to address future noncompliance with the senior credit facility; however, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to secure such waivers or amendments. The lenders holding at least a majority of the principal amount under our senior credit facility could, among other actions, accelerate the obligation to repay borrowings under our senior credit facility in such an event of default. As a result of such event of default, under certain circumstances, cross defaults could occur under our indentures and the CityCenter $1.8 billion senior secured credit facility, which could accelerate the obligation to repay amounts outstanding under such indentures and the CityCenter credit facility and could result in termination of the unfunded commitments under the CityCenter credit facility. If the lenders exercise any or all such rights, we or CityCenter may determine to seek relief through a filing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

 

 

For example, the downturn in consumer spending and economic conditions that existed in 2008, and is expected to continue in 2009, has had a negative impact on our results of operations. In addition, the weak housing and real estate market — both generally and in Nevada particularly — has negatively impacted CityCenter’s ability to sell residential units.

 

 

 

Furthermore, such operations in Macau or any future operations in which we may engage in any other foreign territories are subject to risk pertaining to international operations. These may include financial risks, such as foreign economy, adverse tax consequences, and inability to adequately enforce our rights. These may also include regulatory and political risks, such as foreign government regulations, general geopolitical risks such as political and economic instability, hostilities with neighboring counties, and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships.

 

 

 

None.

 

 

Our principal executive offices are located at Bellagio. The following table lists our significant land holdings; unless otherwise indicated, all properties are wholly-owned. 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.

 

The land underlying New York-New York, along with substantially all the assets of that resort, serve as collateral for our 13% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 issued in 2008.

 

Borgata occupies approximately 46 acres at Renaissance Pointe, including 19 acres we lease to Borgata. Borgata owns approximately 27 acres which are used as collateral for bank credit facilities in the amount of up to $850 million. As of December 31, 2008, $741 million was outstanding under the bank credit facility.

 

MGM Grand Macau occupies an approximately 10 acre site which it possesses under a 25 year land use right agreement with the Macau government. MGM Grand Paradise Limited’s interest in the land use right agreement is used as collateral for MGM Grand Paradise Limited’s bank credit facility. As of December 31, 2008, approximately $818 million was outstanding under the bank credit facility. At December 31, 2008, MGM Grand Paradise Limited obtained a waiver of its financial covenants under the bank credit facility.

 

Silver Legacy occupies approximately five acres in Reno, Nevada, adjacent to Circus Circus Reno. The site is used as collateral for Silver Legacy’s senior credit facility and 10.125% mortgage notes. As of December 31, 2008, $160 million of principal of the 10.125% mortgage notes were outstanding.

 

CityCenter occupies approximately 67 acres of land between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. The site is used as collateral for CityCenter’s bank credit facility. As of December 31, 2008, there is $1.0 billion outstanding under the CityCenter bank credit facility, though such borrowings are held as restricted cash by the venture.

 

All of the borrowings by our unconsolidated affiliates described above are non-recourse to MGM MIRAGE. Other than as described above, none of our other assets serve as collateral.

 

 

Mandalay Bay Ticket Processing Fee Litigation

 

On July 14, 2008, the Company was served with a putative class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in California (Jeff Feld v. Mandalay Corp. d/b/a Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino). The action purports to be brought pursuant to California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act on behalf of all California residents who during the previous six years purchased event tickets from our subsidiary, paid a separate processing fee in addition to the ticket price, and did not receive or received inaccurate notice of the processing fee when they purchased the ticket. The plaintiff alleges that our subsidiary advertised event tickets at a specified price and then charged purchasers undisclosed additional fees, specifically a $5 processing fee, and that the foregoing was unlawful, a breach of contract, an unfair business practice, and a violation of California’s Civil Code and Business & Professions Code. The plaintiff was seeking unspecified monetary damages including restitution, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. In February 2009, Mandalay Bay reached a satisfactory settlement with the individual plaintiff in this action. The settlement and dismissal of the action against Mandalay Bay and the Company are subject to court approval. No class has been certified in this case.

 

Other

 

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.

 

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

PART II

 

 

Common Stock Information

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MGM” — formerly our stock trading symbol was “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 4,198 record holders of our common stock as of March 9, 2009.

 

We have not paid dividends on our common stock in the last two fiscal years. As a holding company with no independent operations, our ability to pay dividends will depend upon the receipt of dividends and other payments from our subsidiaries. Furthermore, 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.

 

Share Repurchases

 

Our share repurchases are only conducted under repurchase programs approved by our Board of Directors and publicly announced. We did not repurchase shares of our common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2008. The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under our May 2008 repurchase program was 20 million as of December 31, 2008.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table includes information about our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

The following events/transactions affect the year-to-year comparability of the selected financial data presented above:

 

Discontinued Operations

 

 

The results of the above operations are classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

 

Acquisitions

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Executive Overview

 

Liquidity and Financial Position

 

We have significant indebtedness and significant financial commitments in 2009. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $13.5 billion of total long-term debt. In late February 2009, we borrowed $842 million under our senior credit facility, which amount represented — after giving effect to $93 million in outstanding letters of credit — the total amount of unused borrowing capacity available under our $7.0 billion senior credit facility In connection with the waiver and amendment described below, on March 17, 2009 we repaid $300 million under the senior credit facility, which amount is not available for reborrowing without the consent of the lenders. We have no other existing sources of borrowing availability, except to the extent we pay down further amounts outstanding under the senior credit facility.

 

In addition to commitments under employment, entertainment and other operational agreements, our financial commitments and estimated capital expenditures in 2009, as of December 31, 2008, totaled approximately $2.8 billion — see “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Commitments and Contractual Obligations” — and consisted of:

 

 

To fund our anticipated 2009 financial commitments, we have the following sources of funds in 2009:

 

 

We are uncertain as to whether the sources listed above will be sufficient to fund our 2009 financial commitments and we cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to raise additional capital to fund our anticipated expenditures in 2009 if the sources listed above are not adequate.

 

While we were in compliance with the financial covenants under our senior credit facility at December 31, 2008, if the recent adverse conditions in the economy in general — and the gaming industry in particular — continue, we believe that we will not be in compliance with those financial covenants during 2009. In fact, given these conditions and the recent borrowing under the senior credit facility, we do not believe we will be in compliance with those financial covenants at March 31, 2009. As a result, on March 17, 2009 we obtained from the lenders under the senior credit facility a waiver of the requirement that we comply with such financial covenants through May 15, 2009. Additionally, we entered into an amendment of our senior credit facility which provides for, among other terms, the following:

 

 

Following expiration of the waiver on May 15, 2009, we will be subject to an event of default related to the expected noncompliance with financial covenants under the senior credit facility at March 31, 2009. Under the terms of the senior credit facility, noncompliance with financial covenants is an event of default, under which the lenders (with a vote of more than 50% of the lenders) may exercise any or all of the following remedies:

 

 

In addition, there are provisions in certain of the indentures governing our senior and senior subordinated notes under which a) the event of default under the senior secured credit facility, or b) the remedies under an event of default under the senior credit facility, would cause an event of default under the relevant senior and senior subordinated notes, which would also allow holders of our senior and senior subordinated notes to demand immediate repayment and decline to release subsidiary guarantees. Also, under the terms of the CityCenter senior secured credit facility, if an event of default has occurred under our borrowings and a) such event of default is certified to in writing by the relevant lenders, and b) such default allows the relevant lenders to demand immediate repayment, then an event of default has occurred relative to the CityCenter senior secured credit facility. Under such event of default, one of the remedies is the termination of the CityCenter senior secured credit facility. If the lenders exercise any or all such rights, we or CityCenter may determine to seek relief through a filing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

The conditions and events described above raise a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result should we be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

We intend to work with the lenders to obtain additional waivers or amendments prior to May 15, 2009 to address future noncompliance with our senior credit facility; however, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to secure such waivers or amendments.

 

We have also retained the services of outside advisors to assist us in instituting and implementing any required programs to accomplish management’s objectives. We are evaluating the possibility of a) disposing of certain assets, b) raising additional debt and/or equity capital, and c) modifying or extending our long-term debt. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving our objectives.

 

Current Operations

 

At December 31, 2008, our operations consisted of 17 wholly-owned casino resorts and 50% investments in four other casino resorts, including:

 

 

Other operations include the Shadow Creek golf course in North Las Vegas; the Primm Valley Golf Club at the California state line; and Fallen Oak golf course in Saucier, Mississippi. In December 2008, we entered into an agreement to sell TI for $775 million; the sale is expected to close by June 30, 2009.

We own 50% of CityCenter, currently under development on a 67-acre site on the Las Vegas Strip, between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. Infinity World Development Corp. (“Infinity World”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai World, a Dubai, United Arab Emirates government decree entity, owns the other 50% of CityCenter. CityCenter will feature a 4,000-room casino resort designed by world-famous architect Cesar Pelli; two 400-room non-gaming boutique hotels, one of which will be managed by luxury hotelier Mandarin Oriental; approximately 425,000 square feet of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues; and approximately 2.1 million square feet of residential space in approximately 2,400 luxury condominium and condominium-hotel units in multiple towers. CityCenter is expected to open in late 2009, except CityCenter postponed the opening of The Harmon Hotel & Spa until late 2010 and cancelled the development of approximately 200 residential units originally planned. We are serving as the developer of CityCenter and, upon completion of construction, we will manage CityCenter for a fee.

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

Our primary business is the ownership and operation of casino resorts, which includes offering gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail and other resort amenities. Over half of our net revenue is derived from non-gaming activities, a higher 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 above market prices based on their quality. Our significant convention and meeting facilities allow us to maximize hotel occupancy and customer volumes during off-peak times such as mid-week or during traditionally slower leisure travel periods, which also leads to better labor utilization. We believe that we own several of the premier casino resorts in the world and have continually reinvested in our resorts to maintain our competitive advantage.

 

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 customers, which can cause variability in our results. Key performance indicators related to revenue are:

 

 

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.

 

We generate a majority of our net revenues and operating income from our resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada, which exposes us to certain risks outside of our control, such as increased competition from new or expanded Las Vegas resorts, and the impact from expansion of gaming in California. We are also exposed to risks related to tourism and the general economy, including national and global economic conditions and terrorist attacks or other global events.

 

Our results of operations do not tend to be seasonal in nature, though a variety of factors may 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 market to different customer segments to manage our hotel occupancy, such as targeting large conventions to ensure mid-week occupancy. Our results do not depend on key individual customers, though our success in marketing to customer groups, such as convention customers, or the financial health of customer segments, such as business travelers or high-end gaming customers from a particular country or region, can impact our results.

Impact of Current Economic Conditions and Credit Markets on Results of Operations

 

The current state of the United States economy has negatively impacted our results of operations during 2008 and we expect these impacts to continue in 2009. The decrease in liquidity in the credit markets which began in late 2007 and accelerated in late 2008 has significantly impacted our Company.

 

We believe recent economic conditions and our customers’ inability to access near-term credit has led to a shift in spending from discretionary items to fundamental costs like housing, as witnessed in broader indications of consumer behavior such as the declining sales trends in automobile and other retail sales and other discretionary spending in sectors like restaurants. We believe these factors have impacted our customers’ willingness to plan vacations and conventions and their level of spending while at our resorts. Other conditions currently or recently present in the economic environment are conditions which tend to negatively impact our results, such as:

 

 

See “Goodwill Impairment” and “Operating Results — Detailed Revenue Information” for specific impacts of these conditions on our results of operations. Beyond the impact on our operating results, these factors have led to a significant decrease in equity market value in general and in our market capitalization specifically.

 

Given the uncertainty in the economy and the unprecedented nature of the situation with the financial and credit markets, forecasting future results has become very difficult. In addition, leading indicators such as forward room bookings are difficult to assess, as our booking window has shortened significantly due to consumer uncertainty. Businesses and consumers appear to have altered their spending patterns which may lead to further decreases in visitor volumes and customer spending including convention and conference customers cancelling or postponing their events.

 

Because of these economic conditions, we have increasingly focused on managing costs. For example, we have reduced our salaried management positions; we did not pay discretionary bonuses in 2008 due to not meeting our internal profit targets; we suspended Company contributions to certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans; and we have been managing staffing levels across all our resorts. For the full year of 2008, the average number of full-time equivalents at our resorts decreased 7%. We continue to review costs at the corporate and operating levels to identify further opportunities for cost reductions.

 

Additionally, our results of operations are impacted by decisions we make related to our capital allocation, our access to capital, and our cost of capital; all of which are impacted by the uncertain state of the global economy and the continued instability in the capital markets. For example:

 

 

 

Goodwill Impairment

 

With respect to our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, we performed our annual test during the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result of this analysis, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $1.18 billion related to goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets in the fourth quarter. The impairment charge relates solely to the goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets recognized in the 2005 acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group, and represents substantially all of the goodwill recognized at the time of the Mandalay acquisition and a minor portion of the value of trade names related to the Mandalay resorts. The impairment charge resulted from factors impacted by current economic conditions, including: 1) lower market valuation multiples for gaming assets; 2) higher discount rates resulting from turmoil in the credit and equity markets; and 3) current cash flow forecasts for the Mandalay resorts.

 

Other Items Affecting Future Operating Results

 

Our Las Vegas Strip resorts require ongoing capital investment to maintain their competitive advantages. We believe the investments we have made in the past several years in additional non-gaming amenities relative to our competitors enhances our ability to maintain visitor volume and allows us to charge higher prices for our amenities relative to our competitors. In 2008, we completed many improvements at our Las Vegas strip resorts, including:

 

 

In addition, the following items are relevant to our overall outlook:

 

 

Financial Statement Impact of Hurricane Katrina and the Monte Carlo Fire

 

We maintain insurance covering both property damage and business interruption relating to catastrophic events, such as Hurricane Katrina affecting Beau Rivage in August 2005 and the rooftop fire at Monte Carlo in January 2008. Business interruption coverage covered lost profits and other costs incurred during the construction period and up to six months following the reopening of the facility.

 

Non-refundable insurance recoveries received in excess of the net book value of damaged assets, clean-up and demolition costs, and post-event costs are recognized as income in the period received or committed based on our estimate of the total claim for property damage (recorded as “Property transactions, net”) and business interruption (recorded as a reduction of “General and administrative” expenses) compared to the recoveries received at that time. All post-event costs and expected recoveries are recorded net within “General and administrative” expenses, except for depreciation of non-damaged assets, which is classified as “Depreciation and amortization.”

Insurance recoveries are classified in the statement of cash flows based on the coverage to which they relate. Recoveries related to business interruption are classified as operating cash flows and recoveries related to property damage are classified as investing cash flows. We classify insurance recoveries as being related to property damage until the full amount of damaged assets and demolition costs are recovered, and classify additional recoveries up to the amount of post-event costs incurred as being related to business interruption. Insurance recoveries beyond that amount are classified as operating or investing cash flows based on our estimated allocation of the total claim.

 

Hurricane Katrina.  By December 31, 2007, we had reached final settlement agreements with our insurance carriers and received insurance recoveries of $635 million which exceeded the $265 million of net book value of damaged assets and post-storm costs incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized $284 million of insurance recoveries in income, of which $217 million was recorded within “Property transactions, net” and $67 million was recorded within “General and administrative expense.” The remaining $86 million previously recognized in income was recorded within “Property transactions, net” in 2006.

 

During 2007, we received $280 million in insurance recoveries, of which $207 million was classified as investing cash flows and $73 million was classified as operating cash flows. During 2006, we received $309 million in insurance recoveries related to Hurricane Katrina, of which $210 million was classified as investing cash flows and $99 million was classified as operating cash flows.

 

Monte Carlo.  As of December 31, 2008, we had received $50 million of proceeds from our insurance carriers related to the Monte Carlo fire and recognized $19 million of insurance recoveries in income, of which $10 million was recorded within “Property transactions, net” and $9 million was recorded within “General and administrative expenses.” Also, in 2008, we recorded a write-down of $4 million related to the net book value of damaged assets, demolition costs of $7 million, and operating costs of $21 million related to the fire.

 

Results of Operations

 

Summary Financial Results

 

The following table summarizes our financial results:

 

On a consolidated basis, the most significant events and trends contributing to our performance over the last three years have been:

 

 

Net revenues decreased 6% in 2008 compared to 2007 due to the market conditions described above. On a comparable basis, operating income decreased 30% in 2008 compared to 2007, excluding the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charge, the CityCenter gain, insurance recoveries, property transactions, preopening and start-up expenses, and profits from The Signature. Our operating margin decreased to 15% from 22% in the prior year on a comparable basis. The 44% decrease in corporate expense in 2008 was mainly attributable to cost reduction efforts implemented throughout the year, including the elimination of annual bonuses due to not meeting internal profit targets. Also, corporate expense in the prior year included severance costs, costs associated with our CityCenter joint venture transaction, and development costs associated with our planned MGM Grand Atlantic City project. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 11% in 2008 on top of an 11% increase in 2007 due to the significant capital investments in our resorts over the past few years.

 

Excluding Beau Rivage, net revenues in 2007 increased 4% over 2006, largely due to strength in hotel room rates and other non-gaming revenues. Operating income in 2007 compared to 2006 decreased 5% on a comparable basis, excluding the CityCenter gain, Hurricane Katrina insurance recoveries, operations at Beau Rivage, profits from The Signature at MGM Grand, preopening and start-up expenses, and property transactions. The decrease in operating income in 2007 on a comparable basis mainly related to higher depreciation and amortization expense and higher corporate expense.

Operating Results — Detailed Revenue Information

 

The following table presents detail of our net revenues:

 

 

Table games revenue decreased 12% in 2008 mainly due to a decrease in volumes. The table games hold percentage was near the mid-point of the range for both years. In 2007, table games revenue decreased 7% excluding Beau Rivage, with volumes essentially flat and a slightly lower hold percentage in 2007.

 

Volume decreases mainly at our Las Vegas Strip resorts in 2008 led to a 5% decrease in slots revenue. Slots revenue at Bellagio and Mandalay Bay decreased 4% while the majority of our other Las Vegas Strip resorts experienced year-over-year decreases in the low double digits. Slots revenue increased 7% at MGM Grand Detroit and 5% at Gold Strike Tunica. In 2007, slots revenue was flat, excluding Beau Rivage. Slots revenue was strong in 2007 at many of our Las Vegas Strip Resorts, including Bellagio and MGM Grand Las Vegas — each up 8% over 2006 — and The Mirage and Mandalay Bay — each up 5% over 2006.

 

Hotel revenue decreased 10% in 2008 due to decreased occupancy and lower average room rates leading to a 10% decrease in REVPAR. Average room rates decreased 7% at our Las Vegas Strip resorts with a decrease in occupancy from 96% to 93%. In 2007, hotel revenue increased 5% excluding Beau Rivage, with a 7% increase in company-wide REVPAR. Strength in demand and room pricing in 2007 on the Las Vegas Strip led to a 5% increase in ADR.

 

Food and beverage, entertainment, and retail revenues in 2008 were all impacted by lower customer spending and decreased occupancy at our resorts. In 2007, increases in food and beverage revenue were a result of investments in new restaurants and nightclubs. In 2008, entertainment revenues benefited from the addition of Believe at Luxor. In 2007, entertainment revenues benefited from Love, the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show at The Mirage, which opened July 2006. Other revenues from continuing operations in 2008 increased 18% mainly due to reimbursed cost from CityCenter recognized as other revenue with corresponding amounts recognized as other expense.

 

Operating Results — Details of Certain Charges

 

Stock compensation expense is recorded within the department of the recipient of the stock compensation award. The following table shows the amount of compensation expense related to employee stock-based awards:

 

 

Preopening and start-up expenses consisted of the following:

 

 

Preopening and start-up expenses for CityCenter will continue to increase as the project nears its expected completion in late 2009. Subsequent to the CityCenter joint venture transaction in November 2007 we only recognize our 50% share of these preopening costs. MGM Grand Macau preopening and start-up expenses in 2007 and 2006 related to our share of that venture’s preopening costs.

 

Property transactions, net consisted of the following:

 

 

See discussion of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment charge and insurance recoveries in the “Executive overview” section. Other write-downs and impairments in 2008 included $30 million related to land and building assets of Primm Valley Golf Club. The 2008 period also includes demolition costs associated with various room remodel projects and a gain on the sale of an aircraft of $25 million. Insurance recoveries relate to the Monte Carlo fire in 2008 and Hurricane Katrina in 2007 and 2006. See further discussion in “Executive Overview” section.

 

Write-downs and impairments in 2007 included write-offs related to discontinued construction projects and a write-off of the carrying value of the Nevada Landing building assets due to its closure in March 2007. The 2007 period also includes demolition costs primarily related to the Mandalay Bay room remodel.

 

Write-downs and impairments in 2006 included $22 million related to the write-off of the tram connecting Bellagio and Monte Carlo, including the stations at both resorts, in preparation for construction of CityCenter. Other impairments related to assets being replaced in connection with several capital projects.

Non-operating Results

 

The following table summarizes information related to interest on our long-term debt:

 

 

In 2008, gross interest costs decreased compared to 2007 mainly due to lower interest rates on our variable rate borrowings. Capitalized interest decreased in 2008 due to less capitalized interest related to CityCenter and cessation of capitalized interest related to our investment in MGM Grand Macau upon opening in November 2007. The amounts presented above exclude non-cash gross interest and corresponding capitalized interest related to our CityCenter delayed equity contribution — see Note 8 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

 

Gross interest costs increased in 2007 compared to 2006 due to higher average debt balances during the year up until the significant reduction in debt in the fourth quarter resulting from the $2.47 billion received upon the close of the CityCenter joint venture transaction and the $1.2 billion received from our sale of common stock to Infinity World Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai World. Higher capitalized interest in 2007 resulted from the ongoing construction of CityCenter, MGM Grand Detroit, and MGM Grand Macau.

 

The following table summarizes information related to our income taxes:

 

 

The write-down of goodwill in 2008, which is treated as a permanently non-deductible item in our federal income tax provision, caused us to incur a provision for income tax expense even though our pre-tax result was a loss for the year. Excluding the impact of the goodwill write-down, the effective tax rate from continuing operations for 2008 was 37.3%. This is higher than the 2007 rate due to the impact of the CityCenter transaction on the 2007 rate, which greatly minimized the impact of permanent and other tax items, and due to the deduction taken in 2007 for domestic production activities resulting primarily from the CityCenter transaction. The effective income tax rate in 2006 benefited from a reversal of tax reserves that were no longer required, primarily due to guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service related to the deductibility of certain complimentaries.

 

Cash taxes were paid in 2008 despite the pre-tax operating loss due to the non-deductible goodwill write-down and cash taxes paid on the CityCenter gain in 2008. Since the CityCenter gain was realized in the fourth quarter of 2007, the associated income taxes were paid in 2008. Absent the cash taxes paid on the CityCenter gain, cash taxes were approximately $250 million less in 2008 than in 2007. In addition, cash taxes for 2007 were only slightly higher than 2006 despite significantly higher pre-tax income due to the deferral of taxes on the CityCenter gain into 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows — Summary

 

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 gains and losses from investing activities and net property transactions, since our business is primarily cash-based. Cash flow from operations decreased 26% in 2008 partially due to a decrease in operating income. The 2008 period also included a significant tax payment, approximately $300 million, relating to the 2007 CityCenter transaction. Cash flow from operations decreased 19% in 2007 over 2006, due in part to an additional $135 million of net cash outflows related to real estate under development expenditures partially offset by residential sales deposits when CityCenter was wholly owned.

 

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, we held cash and cash equivalents of $296 million and $416 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.

Cash Flows — Investing Activities

 

Capital expenditures consisted of the following:

 

 

In 2008, we and Dubai World each made loans to CityCenter of $500 million and equity contributions of $653 million. The insurance recoveries classified as investing cash flows relate to Monte Carlo in 2008 and Hurricane Katrina in 2007 and 2006 as discussed earlier in the “Executive Overview” section.

 

In 2007, we received net proceeds of $579 million from the sale of the Primm Valley Resorts and the Laughlin Properties. Also in 2007, we purchased a $160 million convertible note issued by The M Resort LLC, which is developing a casino resort on Las Vegas Boulevard, 10 miles south of Bellagio. The note is convertible, with certain restrictions, into a 50% equity position in The M Resort LLC. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates in 2006 primarily represented investments in MGM Grand Macau.

 

Cash Flows — Financing Activities

 

We borrowed net debt of $2.4 billion in 2008, including $2.5 billion under our senior credit facility. Also in 2008, we issued $750 million of 13% senior secured notes due 2013 at a discount to yield 15%. The senior secured notes require that upon consummation of an asset sale, such as the proposed sale of TI, we either a) reinvest the net after-tax proceeds, which can include committed capital expenditures; or b) make an offer to repurchase a corresponding amount of senior secured notes at par plus accrued interest. We repaid the following senior and senior subordinated notes at maturity during 2008:

 

 

In October 2008, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $500 million of our public debt securities. In 2008, we repurchased $345 million of principal amounts of our outstanding senior notes at a purchase price of $263 million in open market repurchases as follows:

 

 

 

Also in the fourth quarter of 2008, we redeemed at par $149.4 million of the principal amount of our 7% debentures due 2036 pursuant to a one-time put option by the holders of such debentures.

 

We repaid net debt of $1.8 billion in 2007, including $1.2 billion under our senior credit facility. In 2007, we issued $750 million of 7.5% senior notes maturing in 2016 and we repaid the following senior and senior subordinated notes at their scheduled maturity: $710 million of 9.75% senior subordinated notes; $200 million of 6.75% senior notes; and $492.2 million of 10.25% senior subordinated notes.

 

In 2007, we received approximately $1.2 billion from the sale of 14.2 million shares of our common stock to Infinity World Investments at a price of $84 per share. We received $14 million, $98 million and $89 million in proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

In 2006, we borrowed net debt of $662 million, due to the level of capital expenditures, share repurchases and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. We repaid at their scheduled maturity our $200 million 6.45% senior notes and our $245 million 7.25% senior notes, and we issued $1.5 billion of senior notes at various times throughout the year, with interest rates ranging from 6.75% to 7.625% and maturities ranging from 2013 to 2017.

 

Our share repurchases are only conducted under repurchase programs approved by our Board of Directors and publicly announced. In May 2008, our Board of Directors approved a 20 million share authorization which is still fully available at December 31, 2008. Our share repurchase activity was as follows:

 

 

Principal Debt Arrangements

 

Our long-term debt consists of publicly held senior, senior secured, and senior subordinated notes and our senior credit facility. We pay fixed rates of interest ranging from 5.875% to 13% on the senior, senior secured, and subordinated notes. We pay variable interest based on LIBOR or a base rate on our senior credit facility. Our current senior credit facility has a total capacity of $7.0 billion, matures in 2011, and consists of a $4.5 billion revolving credit facility and a $2.5 billion term loan facility. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $1.2 billion of available liquidity under our senior credit facility. After giving effect to our February 2009 borrowing, we have borrowed the entire amount of available borrowings under the senior credit facility.

 

All of our principal debt arrangements are guaranteed by each of our material subsidiaries, excluding MGM Grand Detroit, LLC and our foreign subsidiaries. MGM Grand Detroit is a guarantor under the senior credit facility, but only to the extent that MGM Grand Detroit, LLC borrows under such facilities. At December 31, 2008, the outstanding amount of borrowings related to MGM Grand Detroit, LLC was $404 million. Substantially all of the assets of New York-New York serve as collateral for the 13% senior secured notes issued in 2008; otherwise, none of our assets serve as collateral for our principal debt arrangements.

Other Factors Affecting Liquidity

 

Amendment to senior credit facility.  In September 2008, we amended our senior credit facility to increase the maximum total leverage ratio (debt to EBITDA, as defined) to 7.5:1.0 beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2008, which will remain in effect through December 31, 2009, with step downs thereafter. The amendment modified drawn and undrawn pricing levels as well as revised certain definitions and limitations on secured indebtedness. Our drawn pricing levels over LIBOR remain unchanged when the maximum total leverage ratio is less than 5.0:1. When the maximum total leverage ratio exceeds that level, the drawn pricing levels over LIBOR range from 1.25% to 2.00%.

 

Request to borrow remaining available funds under the senior credit facility.  In February 2009, we submitted a borrowing request for $842 million, the remaining amount of available funds (other than outstanding letters of credit) under our senior credit facility. The borrowing request was fully funded as of February 26, 2009. For further discussion of this event and its impact on our liquidity and financial position, see “Executive Overview — Liquidity and Financial Position.”

 

Long-term debt payable in 2009.  We have $226 million of principal of senior notes due in July 2009 and $820 million of principal of senior notes due in October 2009.

 

Sale of TI.  In December 2008, we entered into a purchase agreement pursuant to which we have agreed to sell TI to Ruffin Acquisition, LLC (“Ruffin Acquisition”) for a purchase price of $775 million. The purchase price is to be paid at closing as follows: $500 million in cash and $275 million in secured notes bearing interest at 10%, with $100 million payable not later than 175 days after closing and $175 million payable not later than 24 months after closing. The notes, to be issued by Ruffin Acquisition, will be secured by the assets of TI and will be senior to any other financing. In March 2009, we entered into an amendment to the purchase agreement which a) extends the maturity of the $175 million note to 36 months, and b) offers Ruffin Acquisition a $20 million discount on the purchase price effected through a reduction in principal of the notes if they are paid in full by April 30, 2009. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions contained in the purchase agreement, including receipt of all gaming and other regulatory approvals. In addition, the ability of Ruffin Acquisition to obtain financing is not a closing condition. We anticipate that the transaction will be completed by March 31, 2009, and we expect to report a substantial gain on the sale. Under the terms of our 13% senior secured notes, within 360 days of the receipt of the proceeds from the TI sale we must either invest such proceeds in qualifying investments, which includes capital expenditures, or offer to repurchase the senior notes at par.

 

MGM Grand Atlantic City development.  In October 2007, we announced plans for a multi-billion dollar resort complex on our 72-acre site in Atlantic City. Since making that announcement, we have made extensive progress in design and other pre-development activities. However, current economic conditions, including limited access to capital markets for projects of this scale have caused us to reassess timing for this project. Accordingly, we have postponed current development activities.

 

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.  We have entered into a series of agreements to implement a strategic alliance with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (“MPTN”), which owns and operates Foxwoods Casino Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Under the strategic alliance, a new casino resort owned and operated by MPTN located adjacent to the existing Foxwoods casino resort carries the “MGM Grand” brand name. The resort opened in May 2008. We are receiving a brand licensing and consulting fee in connection with this agreement. We have also formed a jointly owned company with MPTN — Unity Gaming, LLC — to acquire or develop future gaming and non-gaming enterprises. Under certain circumstances, we will provide a loan of up to $200 million to finance a portion of MPTN’s investment in joint projects.

 

Kerzner/Istithmar joint venture.  In September 2007, we entered into a definitive agreement with Kerzner International and Istithmar forming a joint venture to develop a multi-billion dollar integrated resort to be located on the southwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. In September 2008, we and our partners agreed to defer additional design and pre-construction activities and amended the joint venture agreement accordingly. In the event the joint venture partners agree that the resort will be developed, we will contribute 40 acres of land, valued at $20 million per acre, for fifty percent of the equity in the joint venture. Kerzner International and Istithmar will contribute cash totaling $600 million, of which $200 million will be distributed to us, for the other 50% of the equity.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates.  Our off balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of investments in unconsolidated affiliates, which currently consist primarily of our investments in CityCenter, Borgata, Grand Victoria, Silver Legacy, and MGM Grand Macau. We have not entered into any transactions with special purpose entities, nor have we engaged in any derivative transactions. Our unconsolidated affiliate investments allow us to realize the proportionate benefits of owning a full-scale resort in a manner that minimizes our initial investment. We have not historically guaranteed financing obtained by our investees, and there are no other provisions of the venture agreements which we believe are unusual or subject us to risks to which we would not be subjected if we had full ownership of the resort.

 

CityCenter.  In October 2008, CityCenter closed on a $1.8 billion senior secured bank credit facility. The credit facility can be increased up to $3 billion and consists of a $250 million revolver with the remaining amount being in the form of term loans. The credit facility matures in April 2013 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of CityCenter. The credit facility is initially priced at LIBOR plus 3.75% through the construction period.

 

Through December 31, 2008, we and Infinity World had each made loans of $925 million to CityCenter, which are subordinate to the credit facility. During the fourth quarter of 2008, $425 million of each partner’s loan funding was converted to equity and each partner provided equity contributions of $228 million. Under the terms of the credit facility, we and Infinity World were each required to fund future construction costs through equity commitments of up to $731 million as of December 31, 2008, which requirement would be reduced by future qualifying financing obtained by CityCenter. Subsequent to December 31, 2008, each partner made an additional $237 million of required equity contributions. The proceeds from the subordinated loans and equity contributions will be used to fund construction costs prior to accessing borrowings under the credit facility.

 

In conjunction with the CityCenter credit facility, we and Infinity World have entered into partial completion guarantees on a several basis. The partial completion guarantees provide for additional funding of construction costs in the event such funding is necessary to complete the project, up to a maximum amount of $600 million each.

 

Letters of credit.  At December 31, 2008, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $92 million, of which $50 million support bonds issued by the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit and maturing in 2009. 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 obligations as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

See “Executive Overview — Liquidity and Financial Position” for discussion of the impacts of the above contractual obligations on our liquidity and financial position.

 

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, Mandalay Bay 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, 2008 and 2007, approximately 52% and 47%, 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. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, approximately 34% and 38%, 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 increased in the current year due to an increase in aging of accounts. At December 31, 2008, a 100 basis-point change in the allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of casino accounts receivable would change net income by $2 million, or less than $0.01 per share.

 

Fixed Asset Capitalization and Depreciation Policies

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost. For the majority of our property and equipment, cost has been determined based on estimated fair values in connection with the April 2005 Mandalay acquisition and the May 2000 Mirage Resorts acquisition. 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 subsidiaries.

 

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.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets, Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible 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, offers received, 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.

 

We review goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair market value of net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets must be reviewed for impairment at least annually and between annual test dates in certain circumstances. We perform our annual impairment test for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Goodwill for relevant reporting units is tested for impairment using a discounted cash flow analysis based on our budgeted future results discounted using our weighted average cost of capital and market indicators of terminal year capitalization rates. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of license rights, which are tested for impairment using a discounted cash flow approach, and trademarks; which are tested for impairment using the relief-from-royalty method. See Note 3 and Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

There are several estimates inherent in evaluating these assets for impairment. In particular, future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from our estimates. In addition, the determination of capitalization rates and the discount rates used in the goodwill impairment test are highly judgmental and dependent in large part on expectations of future market conditions.

 

See “Results of Operations” for discussion of write-downs and impairments of long-lived assets recorded in 2008, 2007 and 2006. In 2006, we entered into agreements to sell Primm Valley Resorts and Laughlin Properties. The fair value less costs to sell exceeded the carrying value, therefore no impairment was indicated. See “Goodwill Impairment” for discussion of impairment of goodwill recorded in 2008. Other than the above items, we are not aware of events or circumstances through December 31, 2008 that would cause us to review any material long-lived assets, goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account 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 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. Except for certain New Jersey state net operating losses, certain other New Jersey state deferred tax assets, a foreign tax credit carryforward and certain foreign 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.

 

Our income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax authorities. Positions taken in tax returns are sometimes subject to uncertainty in the tax laws and may not ultimately be accepted by the IRS or other tax authorities.

 

Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 requires

that tax positions be assessed using a two-step process. A tax position is recognized if it meets a “more likely than not” threshold, and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized. As required by the standard, we review uncertain tax positions at each balance sheet date. Liabilities we record as a result of this analysis are recorded separately from any current or deferred income tax accounts, and are classified as current (“Other accrued liabilities”) or long-term (“Other long-term liabilities”) based on the time until expected payment. Additionally, we recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense, a policy that did not change as a result of the adoption of FIN 48.

 

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state and local jurisdictions, and foreign jurisdictions, although the taxes paid in foreign jurisdictions are not material. As of December 31, 2008, we were no longer subject to examination of our U.S. federal income tax returns filed for years ended prior to 2003. While the IRS examination of the 2001 and 2002 tax years closed during the first quarter of 2007, the statute of limitations for assessing tax for such years has been extended in order for us to appeal issues related to a land sale transaction that were not agreed upon at the closure of the examination. The appeals discussions continue, and the Company has requested to enter into appeals mediation procedures with the IRS. Consequently, we believe that it is reasonably possible to settle these issues within the next twelve months. The IRS is currently examining our federal income tax returns for the 2003 and 2004 tax years and one of our subsidiaries for the 2004 through 2006 tax years. Tax returns for subsequent years are also subject to examination. In addition, during the first quarter of 2009, the IRS initiated an examination of the federal income tax return of Mandalay Resort Group for the pre-acquisition year ended April 25, 2005. The statute of limitations for assessing tax for the Mandalay Resort Group federal income tax return for the year ended January 31, 2005 has been extended but such return is not currently under examination by the IRS.

 

As of December 31, 2008, we are no longer subject to examination for our various state and local tax returns filed for years ended prior to 2003. A Mandalay Resort Group subsidiary return for the pre-acquisition year ended April 25, 2005 is under examination by the City of Detroit. During the first quarter of 2008, the state of Mississippi settled an examination of returns filed by subsidiaries of MGM MIRAGE and Mandalay Resort Group for the 2004 through 2006 tax years. This settlement resulted in a payment of additional taxes and interest of less than $1 million. No other state or local income tax returns are currently under exam.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS 123(R). For stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) we measure fair value using the Black-Scholes model. For restricted stock units, compensation expense is calculated based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant. There are several management assumptions required to determine the inputs into the Black-Scholes model. Our volatility and expected term assumptions can significantly impact the fair value of stock options and SARs. The extent of the impact will depend, in part, on the extent of awards in any given year. In 2008, we granted 4.9 million SARs with a total fair value of $72 million. In 2007, we granted 2.6 million SARs with a total fair value of $68 million. In 2006, we granted 1.9 million stock options and SARs with a total fair value of $28 million.

 

For 2008 awards, a 10% change in the volatility assumption (50% for 2008; for sensitivity analysis, volatility was assumed to be 45% and 55%) would have resulted in a $5.5 million, or 8%, change in fair value. A 10% change in the expected term assumption (4.6 years for 2008; for sensitivity analysis, expected term was assumed to be 4.1 years and 5.1 years) would have resulted in a $3.3 million, or 5%, change in fair value. These changes in fair value would have been recognized over the five-year vesting period of such awards. It should be noted that a change in the expected term would cause other changes, since the risk-free rate and volatility assumptions are specific to the term; we did not attempt to adjust those assumptions in performing the sensitivity analysis above.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

Accounting for Business Combinations and Non-Controlling Interests

 

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,” (“SFAS 141R”) and SFAS No. 160 “Non-controlling interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51,” (“SFAS 160”). These standards amend the requirements for accounting for business combinations, including the recognition and measurement of additional assets and liabilities at their fair value, expensing of acquisition-related costs which are currently capitalizable under existing rules, treatment of adjustments to deferred taxes and liabilities subsequent to the measurement period, and the measurement of non-controlling interests, previously commonly referred to as minority interests, at fair value. SFAS 141R also includes additional disclosure requirements with respect to the methodologies and techniques used to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities recognized in a business combination. SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 apply prospectively to fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for the treatment of deferred tax adjustments which apply to deferred taxes recognized in previous business combinations. These standards became effective for us on January 1, 2009. We do not believe the adoption of SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Entities

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 “Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) About Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities.” The FSP enhances disclosures required by FIN 46(R) to include a discussion of significant judgments made in determining whether a variable interest entity (“VIE”) should be consolidated, as well as the nature of the risks and how its involvement with a VIE affects the financial position of the entity. The FSP is effective for us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The adoption of the FSP did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Equity Method Investment Accounting Considerations

 

In November 2008, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the FASB ratified its consensus on EITF No. 08-6”). The EITF reached a consensus on the following four issues addressed: a) the initial carrying value of an equity method investment is determined in accordance with SFAS 141(R); b) equity method investors should not separately test an investee’s underlying assets for impairment, but rather recognize other than temporary impairments of an equity method investment in accordance with APB Opinion 18; c) exceptions to recognizing gains from an investee’s issuance of shares in earnings in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 51 were removed to achieve consistency with SFAS 160; and d) the guidance in APB Opinion 18 to account for a change in the investor’s accounting from the equity method to the cost method should still be applied. EITF 08-6 became effective for us on January 1, 2009. We do not believe the adoption of EITF 08-6 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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.

 

As of December 31, 2008, long-term fixed rate borrowings represented approximately 58% of our total borrowings. Based on December 31, 2008 debt levels, an assumed 100 basis-point change in LIBOR would cause our annual interest cost to change by approximately $57 million.

 

 

We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Market Risk” in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

 

 

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 52 to 88 of this Form 10-K.

 

 

None.

 

 

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, 2008. This conclusion is based on an evaluation conducted under the supervision and participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer along with 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 50 of this Form 10-K.

 

Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Attestation Report on our internal control over financial reporting referred to in Item 15(a)(1) of this Form 10-K, is included at page 51 of this Form 10-K.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, 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.

 

 

None.

 

PART III

 

 

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” and “Corporate Governance” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 3, 2009 (the “Proxy Statement”).

 

 

We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Executive and Director Compensation and Other Information” and “Corporate Governance — Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement.

 

 

We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in Item 5 of this Form 10-K, and under “Principal Stockholders” and “Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement.

 

 

We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance” in the Proxy Statement.

 

 

We incorporate by reference the information appearing under “Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement.

 

PART IV

 

 

(a)(1). Financial Statements.

 

Included in Part II of this Report:

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets — December 31, 2008 and 2007

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(a)(2). Financial Statement Schedule.

 

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

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.

(a)(3). Exhibits.