Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity

Common Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"). As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, 101,799,471 shares and 101,571,909 shares, respectively, of the Company's Common Stock were outstanding. Except as otherwise provided by the Company's articles of incorporation or Nevada law, each holder of the Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of the Common Stock have no cumulative voting, conversion, redemption or preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. Subject to any preferences that may be granted to the holders of the Company's preferred stock, each holder of Common Stock is entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefore, as well as any distributions to the stockholders and, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, is entitled to share ratably in all assets of the Company remaining after payment of liabilities.

The Board of Directors of Wynn Resorts has authorized an equity repurchase program of up to $1.7 billion. The repurchase program may include repurchases from time to time through open market purchases or negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had repurchased a cumulative total of 12,804,954 shares of the Company's Common Stock for a net cost of $1.1 billion under the program. Under the repurchase program, there were no repurchases made during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

During 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company withheld a total of 198,942 shares, 50,869 shares and 9,578 shares, respectively, in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock.

In February 2016, May 2016, August 2016, and November 2016, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.50 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded $202.2 million as a reduction of retained earnings from cash dividends declared.

In February 2015, the Company paid a cash dividend of $1.50 per share. In each of May 2015, August 2015, and November 2015, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.50 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $304.4 million as a reduction of retained earnings from cash dividends declared.

In February 2014, May 2014 and August 2014, the Company paid a cash dividend of $1.25 per common share. In November 2014, the Company paid a cash dividend of $1.50 per common share and an additional cash dividend of $1.00 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded $633.2 million as a reduction of retained earnings from cash dividends declared.

Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Preferred Stock"). As of December 31, 2016, the Company had not issued any Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors, without further action by the holders of Common Stock, may designate and issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and may fix or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including the voting rights, redemption provisions (including sinking fund provisions), dividend rights, dividend rates, liquidation rates, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and the description and number of shares constituting any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock. The issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance of shares of Preferred Stock under certain circumstances could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company or other corporate action.

Redemption of Securities

Wynn Resorts' articles of incorporation provide that, to the extent a gaming authority makes a determination of unsuitability or to the extent the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, that a person is likely to jeopardize the Company or any affiliates application for, receipt of, approval for, right to the use of, or entitlement to, any gaming license, Wynn Resorts may redeem shares of its capital stock that are owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or its affiliates. The redemption price will be the amount, if any, required by the gaming authority or, if the gaming authority does not determine the price, the sum deemed by the Board of Directors to be the fair value of the securities to be redeemed. If Wynn Resorts determines the redemption price, the redemption price will be capped at the closing price of the shares on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares are listed on the trading day before the redemption notice is given. If the shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, the redemption price will be capped at the closing sale price of the shares as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market or if the closing price is not reported, the mean between the bid and ask prices, as quoted by any other generally recognized reporting system. Wynn Resorts' right of redemption is not exclusive of any other rights that it may have or later acquire under any agreement, its bylaws or otherwise. The redemption price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both, as required, and pursuant to the terms established by, the applicable Gaming Authority and, if not, as the Board of Directors of Wynn Resorts elects.

Based on the Board of Directors' finding of "unsuitability," on February 18, 2012, Wynn Resorts redeemed and canceled Aruze's 24,549,222 shares of Wynn Resorts' common stock. For more information, refer to Note 17 "Commitments and Contingencies."