425 1 a2141479z425.htm 425

Filed by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425

under the Securities Act of 1933

and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Subject Company: Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Commission File No.: 001-14573

 

 

This filing relates to a proposed acquisition (the “Acquisition”) by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (“Harrah’s”) of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (“Caesars”) pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 14, 2004 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Harrah’s, Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. and Caesars.  The Merger Agreement is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Harrah’s on July 15, 2004, and is incorporated by reference into this filing.

 

The following is a series of slides that were presented by Harrah’s to members of the financial analyst community at a presentation on August 5, 2004:

 



 

 

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[GRAPHIC]

 

[LOGO]

 

Investor Briefing

 

August 5, 2004

 



 

Agenda

 

                  Review of HET Strategy

 

                  CZR Acquisition

                  Transaction Summary

                  Strategic Rationale

 

                  Conclusion: Future Priorities

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

2



 

HET Core Strategy

 

                  Differentiation strategically by supporting the largest distribution of casino properties in the U.S.

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

Key Statistics

 

                  5 Brands — Harrah’s, Rio, Horseshoe, Showboat, and Harveys

                  28 Properties

                  $4.3B in revenue (2003)

                  $1.1B in EBITDA (2003)

                  Over $1.3 billion in cross-market play (2003)

                  International projects

                  New distribution channels

 

3



 

The Development of Industry Leading Capabilities…

 

                  Leveraging our centralized player data, HET cultivated critical capabilities designed to give each operating business a sustainable competitive advantage

 

Increased Share of Customer Budget

 

[CHART]

 

Operational Analysis

 

Cross-market Marketing and Accounting

 

Total Rewards

 

Decision Science

 

Tiered Card

 

Revenue Management

 

Staffing Optimization

 

Procurement

 

4



 

Supports HET’s Role as a Leading Consolidator

 

                  Value of acquired assets is enhanced following integration into the HET network and diffusion of capabilities

 

Property EBITDA

 

[CHART]

 

[LOGO]

 

5



 

Clear Vision:  Leader in Gaming Distribution

 

[LOGO]

 

Resorts

 

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Racetrack Casinos

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

Barges and Riverboats

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

Native American

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

6



 

Agenda

 

                  Review of HET Strategy

 

                  CZR Acquisition

                  Transaction Summary

                  Strategic Rationale

 

                  Conclusion: Future Priorities

 

7



 

Transaction Summary

 

                  Each CZR share will be exchanged for cash or HET shares at the election of each CZR stockholder, subject to pro-ration provisions

 

                  On average, each CZR share is worth $5.96 in cash and 0.2157 HET shares

 

($mm, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity value(1),(2)

 

$

5,183

 

Net debt(3)

 

$

3,837

 

TEV

 

$

9,020

 

Valuation multiples

 

 

 

TEV/2004E EBITDA(4)

 

7.9

 x

TEV/2005E EBITDA(4)

 

7.5

 x

 


(1)          Based on HET share price of $46.49 as of 07/30/04 and CZR basic share count of 308.571 million as of 7/13/04.

(2)          Includes cost to retire stock options of $250 million.

(3)          Net debt as of 06/30/04.

(4)          Based on mean analyst estimate of $1,139 million 2004E EBITDA and $1,195 million 2005E EBITDA per Bloomberg.

 

8



 

Agenda

 

                  Review of HET Strategy

 

                  CZR Acquisition

                  Transaction Summary

                  Strategic Rationale

 

                  Conclusion: Future Priorities

 

9



 

Strategic Rationale

 

                  Combination creates premier distributor of gaming

                  Increased exposure to stable regulatory environments

                  Access to new markets

 

                  Opportunity to enhance performance through application of HET capabilities to CZR businesses

 

                  Financial strength allows pursuit of complementary growth projects

                  Investment grade balance sheet

                  Significant free cash flow

 

10



 

Leading Distributor of Gaming

 

Significant Cross-marketing Potential

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

11



 

Premier Gaming Brands

 

Harrah's

Horseshoe

Caesars

 

12



 

Las Vegas

 

                  Creates “network within a network”

                  Proximity provides revenue and cost synergy potential

 

                  Greater variety of offerings for customer database

 

                  Connection to Las Vegas Convention Center

                  Monorail stops at HLV, Flamingo, and Bally’s

                  Access to 2.1 million square feet of convention space

                  Potential to service f&b, hotel, and casino needs

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

13



 

Atlantic City

 

                  Provides HET with access to a position in center boardwalk area

 

                  Favorable view of market:

                  Evolution into a multi-faceted entertainment destination; HET/CZR properties well-positioned to benefit

                  Strong demographic growth in surrounding markets (New York, Philadelphia, etc)

                  Gaming penetration rates in surrounding areas still relatively low

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

14



 

Increased Exposure To Stable Regulatory Environments

 

2003 Property EBITDA

 

 

 

HET (1)

 

CZR

 

Pro forma (1),(2)

 

Nevada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Las Vegas

 

16.4

%

31.8

%

23.6

%

Other Nevada

 

10.3

 

2.8

 

6.7

 

Total Nevada

 

26.7

%

34.6

%

30.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic City

 

21.8

%

36.9

%

28.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other markets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois

 

7.1

 

0.0

 

3.8

 

Indiana

 

9.5

 

6.1

 

7.9

 

Iowa

 

4.1

 

0.0

 

2.4

 

New Orleans

 

4.7

 

0.1

 

2.5

 

Other Louisiana

 

7.2

 

0.0

 

3.9

 

Mississippi

 

7.2

 

16.2

 

11.4

 

Missouri

 

9.5

 

0.0

 

5.1

 

Other

 

2.3

 

6.0

 

4.0

 

Total other markets

 

51.5

%

28.4

%

40.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

 


(1) Proforma for full year of Horseshoe and sale of Harrah’s Shreveport

(2) Before consideration of any divestitures related to CZR combination

 

15



 

New Markets

 

                  CZR provides access to several new markets:

                  MS Gulf Coast

                  Detroit (through Windsor)

                  Louisville

                  New York (potentially)

 

                  New markets are particularly valuable to HET given network nature of business

                  Cross market play totaled $1.3B in 2003

 

16



 

Performance Improvement Opportunity

 

                  Opportunity to create value by deploying our capabilities into the CZR businesses

 

2003 LV Strip Property Metrics

 

 

 

Revenue /
Available Room

 

Caesars Palace

 

$

567.74

 

Rio

 

$

441.56

 

Harrah’s

 

$

367.66

 

Paris/Bally’s

 

$

314.14

 

Flamingo

 

$

237.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA Margin

 

Harrah’s

 

30.6

%

Flamingo

 

28.7

%

Rio

 

25.7

%

Paris/Bally’s

 

24.7

%

Caesars Palace

 

20.0

%

 

2003 AC Property Metrics

 

 

 

Revenue /
Position

 

Caesars

 

$

332.45

 

Harrah’s

 

$

257.29

 

Bally’s

 

$

249.81

 

Showboat

 

$

233.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA Margin

 

Harrah’s

 

38.6

%

Caesars

 

32.4

%

Showboat

 

31.9

%

Bally’s

 

26.8

%

 

17



 

Potential Synergies

 

                  Increase revenue at select properties

                  Based on HET’s ability to yield rooms in conjunction with customer database

                  At present, HET turns away customers due to limited room supply

 

                  Increase EBITDA margins at select properties

                  HET operates at a higher EBITDA margin than CZR on a comparable basis

 

                  Remove a portion of CZR’s unallocated corporate expense

 

Year 1 Target Synergies: $80 million

 

18



 

Financial Strength

 

Expect to maintain investment grade rating following CZR acquisition

 

Debt / EBITDA

 

[CHART]

 

EBITDA / Interest

 

[CHART]

 

Providing us the financial flexibility to pursue complementary growth projects…

 

19



 

HET UK Strategy

 

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GALA GROUP

 

                  HET has signed a letter of intent to form a JV with the Gala Group to operate up to 8 regional casinos throughout the UK

 

20



 

Narragansett Opportunity

 

                  Proposed site in West Warwick, RI

                  Proposed budget = $600MM + $100MM license fee

                  115,000 sq feet of gaming space; 500 hotel rooms

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

21



 

Chester Downs

 

                  Located outside of Philadelphia

                  Preliminary budget = $250MM - $275MM (incl. license fee)

                  2,000 slots initially

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

22



 

Innovative Growth Channels

 

                  HET’s core capabilities are the key enablers to innovation in gaming distribution

                  First foray:  Luckyme.com

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

23



 

Technology Innovation and Leadership

 

                  Example:  Operational CRM

 

 

Customer Play History

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Play Data

[GRAPHIC]

Real Time
Marketing

 

 

 

Operational CRM

 

 

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Decision Engine

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Potential Applications:
Yield Management
Real Time Casino Marketing

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

 

HET Key CRM Systems

 

 

24



 

Dividend Yield

 

Financial strength allows us to pay substantial dividend in addition to pursuing growth opportunities

 

[CHART]

 

Source: Bloomberg

 

25



 

Agenda

 

                  Review of HET Strategy

 

                  CZR Acquisition

                  Transaction Summary

                  Strategic Rationale

 

                  Conclusion: Future Priorities

 

26



 

Conclusion: Future Priorities

 

                  Leverage leading distribution network and capabilities to enhance revenue and grow cross-market play

                  Manage margins

                  Build out complementary growth opportunities in attractive jurisdictions

                  Continue to innovate product distribution and industry leading technologies

 

27



 

[LOGO]

 



 

Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It

 

This document includes “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “project,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue” or “pursue,” or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. In particular, they include statements relating to, among other things, future actions, strategies, future performance, future financial results of Harrah’s and Caesars and Harrah’s anticipated acquisition of Caesars.  These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events.

 

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, the actual performance or results of Caesars and Harrah’s may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following factors as well as other factors described from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein): financial community and rating agency perceptions of Harrah’s and Caesars’, the effects of economic, credit and capital

 



 

market conditions on the economy in general, and on gaming and hotel companies in particular; construction factors, including delays, zoning issues, environmental restrictions, soil and water conditions, weather and other hazards, site access matters and building permit issues; the effects of environmental and structural building conditions relating to our properties; the ability to timely and cost-effectively integrate into Harrah’s operations the companies that it acquires, including with respect to its acquisition of Caesars; access to available and feasible financing, including financing for Harrah’s acquisition of Caesars, on a timely basis; changes in laws (including increased tax rates), regulations or accounting standards, third-party relations and approvals, and decisions of courts, regulators and governmental bodies; litigation outcomes and judicial actions, including gaming legislative action, referenda and taxation; the ability of our customer-tracking, customer loyalty and yield-management programs to continue to increase customer loyalty and same store sales; our ability to recoup costs of capital investments through higher revenues; acts of war or terrorist incidents; abnormal gaming holds; and the effects of competition, including locations of competitors and operating and market competition.

 

Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. Harrah’s and Caesars disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release.

 

Additional information about Harrah’s is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.harrahs.com.  Additional information about Caesars is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.caesars.com.

 

Additional Information about the Acquisition and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the Acquisition, Caesars and Harrah’s intend to file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including a registration statement on Form S-4 that will contain a prospectus and a joint proxy statement.  INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF HARRAH’S AND CAESARS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROSPECTUS AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HARRAH’S, CAESARS AND THE ACQUISITION.  The proxy statement, prospectus and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Harrah’s or Caesars with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.  In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Harrah’s by directing a written request to: Harrah’s, One Harrah’s Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, Attention: Investor Relations or Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 3930 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, Attention: Investor Relations. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement, prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the Acquisition.

 

Harrah’s, Caesars and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Caesars and Harrah’s in connection with the Acquisition.  Information about those executive officers and directors of Harrah’s and their ownership of Harrah’s common stock is set forth in the Harrah’s Form 10-K

 



 

for the year ended December 31, 2003, which was filed with the SEC on March 5, 2004, and the proxy statement for Harrah’s 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 4, 2004.  Information about the executive officers and directors of Caesars and their ownership of Caesars common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Caesars’ 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 16, 2004.  Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Harrah’s, Caesars and their respective executive officers and directors in the Acquisition by reading the proxy statement and prospectus regarding the Acquisition when it becomes available.

 

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.  No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.