Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization

CEC is primarily a holding company with no independent operations of its own. Caesars Entertainment operates the business primarily through its wholly owned subsidiaries CEOC, LLC (“CEOC LLC”) and Caesars Resort Collection, LLC (“CRC”). As of December 31, 2019, Caesars Entertainment has a total of 53 properties in 14 U.S. states and five countries outside of the U.S., including 49 casino properties. Nine casinos are in Las Vegas, which represented 45% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019. In addition to our properties, other domestic and international properties, including Harrah’s Northern California, are authorized to use the brands and marks of Caesars Entertainment Corporation.

We lease certain real property assets from third parties, including VICI Properties Inc. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively, “VICI”). See Note 10.

Proposed Merger of Caesars Entertainment Corporation with Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

On June 24, 2019, Caesars, Eldorado Resorts, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Eldorado”), and Colt Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Eldorado (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 15, 2019, and as it may be further amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into Caesars (the “Merger”), with Caesars continuing as the surviving corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Eldorado. On November 15, 2019, the respective stockholders of Caesars and Eldorado voted to approve the Merger. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2020. In connection with the Merger, Eldorado will change its name to Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Based on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the aggregate consideration payable by Eldorado in respect of outstanding shares of common stock of Caesars (“Caesars Common Stock”) will be (a) an amount of cash equal to (i) the sum of (A) $8.40 plus (B) if the applicable closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement are not satisfied by March 25, 2020, an amount equal to $0.003333 for each day from March 25, 2020 until the closing date of the Merger (the “Closing Date”), multiplied by (ii) a number of shares of Caesars Common Stock (the “Aggregate Caesars Share Amount”) equal to (A) 682,161,838 (which includes 8,271,660 shares being held in escrow trust to satisfy unsecured claims pursuant to the Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization, filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago on January 13, 2017, at Docket No. 6318) plus (B) the number of shares of Caesars Common Stock issued after June 24, 2019 and prior to the effective time of the Merger pursuant to the exercise of certain equity awards issued under Caesars stock plans or conversion of the CEC Convertible Notes (as defined below) (the “Aggregate Cash Amount”); and (b) a number of shares of common stock of Eldorado (“Eldorado Common Stock”) equal to 0.0899 multiplied by the Aggregate Caesars Share Amount (the “Aggregate Eldorado Share Amount”). Each holder of shares of Caesars Common Stock will be entitled to elect to receive, for each share of Caesars Common Stock held by such holder, either an amount of cash or a number of shares of Eldorado Common Stock, with value (based on the Eldorado Common Stock VWAP, as defined below) equal to the Per Share Amount. The “Per Share Amount” is equal to (a) (i) the Aggregate Cash Amount, plus (ii) the product of (A) the Aggregate Eldorado Share Amount and (B) the volume weighted average price of a share of Eldorado Common Stock for a ten trading day period, starting with the opening of trading on the 11th trading day prior to the anticipated Closing Date to the closing of trading on the second to last trading day prior to the anticipated Closing Date (the “Eldorado Common Stock VWAP”), divided by (b) the Aggregate Caesars Share Amount.

Elections by Caesars stockholders are subject to proration such that the aggregate amount of cash paid in exchange for outstanding shares of Caesars Common Stock in the Merger will not exceed the Aggregate Cash Amount and the aggregate number of shares of Eldorado Common Stock issued in exchange for shares of Caesars Common Stock in the Merger will not exceed the Aggregate

Eldorado Share Amount. Based on the number of shares of Eldorado Common Stock and Caesars Common Stock, and the principal amount of the CEC Convertible Notes, outstanding as of December 31, 2019, and assuming the Merger occurred on that date, Caesars stockholders who receive shares of Eldorado Common Stock in exchange for their shares of Caesars Common Stock in the Merger and holders of the CEC Convertible Notes (assuming that all CEC Convertible Notes are converted immediately following consummation of the Merger into $8.40 in cash and 0.0899 shares of Eldorado Common Stock for each share of Caesars Common Stock into which such CEC Convertible Notes were convertible immediately prior to the Merger) would be issued an aggregate of approximately 76 million shares of Eldorado Common Stock and would hold approximately 49.5%, in the aggregate, of the issued and outstanding shares of Eldorado Common Stock.

Outstanding options and other equity awards issued under Caesars’ stock plans will be treated in the manner set forth in the Merger Agreement. Upon completion of the Merger, any unexercised, vested, in-the-money stock options that are outstanding will be canceled in exchange for the Per Share Amount (or applicable portion thereof) in cash, reduced by the applicable exercise price. Unvested service-vesting stock options and restricted stock units will be converted into stock options and restricted stock units for Eldorado Common Stock and will retain their original vesting schedules. Performance-based stock options are expected to be canceled in connection with the consummation of the Merger. Performance stock units that are subject to total stockholder return performance-vesting conditions will be converted into performance stock units for Eldorado Common Stock and will continue to vest in accordance with their original terms, except the total stockholder return vesting conditions will be adjusted to be based on Eldorado’s total stockholder return performance. Performance stock units that are tied to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”) performance conditions will vest at closing and be exchanged for the Per Share Amount (or applicable portion thereof) in cash. For EBITDA- and EBITDAR-based performance stock units that are eligible to vest in respect of performance achieved during the year in which the closing occurs, such vesting will be based on performance of applicable goals through the end of the month prior to the close and extrapolated through the remainder of the performance period and for EBITDA- and EBITDAR-based performance stock units that are eligible to vest in respect of a performance period that has not yet commenced as of the Closing Date, such vesting will be based on target-level performance.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties by each of Caesars and Eldorado, and each party has agreed to customary covenants. Each of Caesars’ and Eldorado’s obligation to consummate the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including among others, the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Other conditions to completing the Merger, such as obtaining stockholder approvals with respect to the Merger from each party’s stockholders and effecting certain amendments to the indenture governing the CEC Convertible Notes, have been satisfied.

The Merger Agreement also contains termination rights for each of Caesars and Eldorado under certain circumstances. If the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances relating to entry by Caesars into an alternative transaction, Caesars will be required to pay Eldorado a termination fee of approximately $418.4 million. The Merger Agreement also provides that Eldorado will be obligated to pay a termination fee of approximately $836.8 million to Caesars if the Merger Agreement is terminated (i) due to a law or order relating to gaming or antitrust laws that prohibits or permanently enjoins the consummation of the transactions, (ii) because the required regulatory approvals were not obtained prior to June 24, 2020 (subject to extension to a date no later than December 24, 2020 pursuant to the Merger Agreement) or (iii) due to Eldorado willfully and materially breaching certain obligations with respect to the actions required to be taken by Eldorado to obtain required antitrust approvals.

Pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the CEC Convertible Notes, on November 27, 2019, Caesars entered into a supplemental indenture to provide for conversion of the CEC Convertible Notes at and after the effective time of the Merger into the weighted average, per share of Caesars Common Stock, of the types and amounts of the merger consideration received by holders of Caesars Common Stock who affirmatively make a merger consideration election (or, if no holders of Caesars Common Stock make such an election, the types and amounts of merger consideration actually received by such holders of Caesars Common Stock). See Note 12 for additional information.

Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Disposition

On September 20, 2019, Rio Properties, LLC, a subsidiary of CEC, entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions for certain assets of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (“Rio”). During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we recorded an impairment charge of $380 million, which included $6 million related to selling costs, as the carrying value was higher than the fair value. On December 5, 2019, the transaction was completed for a sales price of approximately $516 million. The sales price received includes $40 million in seller financing that we provided the buyer at a 9% interest rate, that is due to us in two years unless extended for an additional year. Interest may be paid monthly, or paid-in-kind at the option of the buyer. We received

$470 million in cash proceeds, net of selling costs. In connection with the closing of the sale, we entered into a lease and trademark license under which we will continue to operate the property under the Rio trademark for an initial term of two years at an annual rent amount of approximately $45 million.

2018 Transactions with VICI

On July 11, 2018, we sold Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace (“Octavius Tower”) to VICI for $508 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction were used to partially fund the closing of CEC’s acquisition of Centaur Holdings, LLC (“Centaur”). On December 26, 2018, we sold all land and real property improvements used in the operation of Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack (“Harrah’s Philadelphia”) as part of a sale and leaseback transaction with VICI for $242 million. We continue to operate under the long-term lease agreement terms for both Octavius Tower and Harrah’s Philadelphia.

These transactions did not qualify for sale-leaseback accounting resulting in the assets remaining on our Balance Sheet at their historical net book value and are depreciated over their remaining useful lives, while a financing obligation was recognized for the proceeds received.

Additionally, on December 26, 2018, we consummated modifications to certain of our existing lease agreements with VICI for consideration of $159 million, which reduced the purchase price we paid for Harrah’s Philadelphia and our financing obligation. The modifications, among other things, bring certain of the lease terms into alignment with other master leases in the sector and the long-term performance of the properties and create additional flexibility to facilitate our future development strategies.

Acquisition of Centaur Holdings, LLC

On July 16, 2018, we completed the acquisition of Centaur. Centaur operated Hoosier Park Racing & Casino (“Hoosier Park”) in Anderson, Indiana, and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino (“Indiana Grand”) in Shelbyville, Indiana. See Note 4 for additional information.

CEOC’s Emergence from Bankruptcy and CEC’s Merger with Caesars Acquisition Company

Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. (“CEOC”) and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) voluntarily filed for reorganization on January 15, 2015 (the “Petition Date”), at which time CEC deconsolidated CEOC. The Debtors emerged from bankruptcy and consummated their reorganization pursuant to their third amended joint plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) on October 6, 2017 (the “Effective Date”). As part of its emergence from bankruptcy, CEOC reorganized into an operating company (“OpCo”) separate from its real property assets (“PropCo”). OpCo was acquired by CEC on the Effective Date and immediately merged with and into CEOC LLC. See Note 4 for additional information. CEOC LLC operates the properties and facilities formerly held by CEOC and leases the properties and facilities from VICI.

On the Effective Date, Caesars Acquisition Company (“CAC”) merged with and into CEC, with CEC as the surviving company (the “CAC Merger”). See Note 4 for additional information. The CAC Merger was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control, which resulted in CAC being consolidated into Caesars at book value as an equity transaction for all periods presented.

Summary of CAC Merger and CEOC Emergence Transactions

(In millions)	CAC Merger		Restructuring Support Settlement		OpCo Acquisition		Total
Cash	$	—	$	2,787	$	700	$	3,487
CEC common stock (value)	2,894		3,435		1,774		8,103
CEC convertible notes (fair value)	—		2,172		—		2,172
Other consideration	—		177		—		177
Total consideration	$	2,894	$	8,571	$	2,474	$	13,939

CEC common stock (shares)	226		268		139		633

Restructuring and Support Expenses

Prior to the Effective Date, CEC made material financial commitments to support the reorganization of CEOC as described in the Plan. Our estimate of restructuring and support expenses was determined based on the total value of the consideration that was required by CEC to resolve claims and potential claims related to the reorganization.

Restructuring and support expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $2.0 billion, recorded in the Statements of Operations. These were primarily composed of accruals for (i) forbearance fees and other payments to CEOC’s creditors that were settled in cash, (ii) a bank guaranty settlement related to the modification of CEC’s guarantee under CEOC’s senior secured credit facilities that was settled in cash, (iii) payments of CEOC’s creditors’ expenses, settlement charges, and other fees that were settled in cash, (iv) the issuance of CEC common stock, (v) the issuance of the $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.00% convertible senior notes maturing in 2024 (the “CEC Convertible Notes”) (see Note 8 and Note 12), and (vi) the call right to purchase and leaseback the real property assets associated with Harrah’s Atlantic City, Harrah’s Laughlin, and Harrah’s New Orleans (the “VICI Call Right”) as other consideration (see Note 9). The total value of the consideration that was provided by CEC as of the Effective Date was $8.6 billion. See Restructuring Support Settlement in the table above.

Potential Divestitures

We are considering divestiture opportunities of non-strategic assets and properties. If the completion of a sale is more likely than not to occur, we may recognize impairment charges for certain of our properties to the extent current expected proceeds are below our carrying value.