SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 11-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT

Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

(Mark One):

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the plan year ended December 31, 2004

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                 to                

 

Commission file number: 001-10410

 

A.

Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

B.

Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

One Harrah’s Court

Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

 

 



 

REQUIRED INFORMATION

 

The Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In lieu of the requirements of Items 1-3 of this Form, the Plan is filing financial statements and supplemental schedules prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of ERISA. The Plan’s 2004 financial statements and supplemental schedules have been examined by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and their report is included herein.

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated June 20, 2005 for years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

 

 

Financial Statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, and Supplemental Schedule as of December 31, 2004

 

 

ii



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Plan Administrator

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

Savings and Retirement Plan

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2004 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Such supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2004 financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

June 20, 2005

 

1



 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Participant - directed investments (Note 3)

 

$

796,860,497

 

$

721,345,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions receivable

 

324,538

 

634,380

 

Participant contributions receivable

 

1,091,460

 

1,026,075

 

Accrued investment income

 

419,176

 

420,633

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total receivables

 

1,835,174

 

2,081,088

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

 

49,733

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

798,695,671

 

723,476,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued administrative expenses

 

448,506

 

317,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

$

798,247,165

 

$

723,158,223

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

2



 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income:

 

 

 

 

 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

 

$

85,622,533

 

$

99,942,771

 

Dividends

 

8,169,743

 

2,660,709

 

Interest

 

7,321,259

 

7,831,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

101,113,535

 

110,435,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions:

 

 

 

 

 

Participant contributions

 

49,634,307

 

50,379,759

 

Employer contributions

 

13,043,094

 

28,860,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total contributions

 

62,677,401

 

79,239,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers from other plans and other transfers, net (Note 1)

 

 

9,681,696

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total additions

 

163,790,936

 

199,356,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEDUCTIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits paid to participants

 

85,538,146

 

68,893,336

 

Administrative expenses

 

3,163,848

 

3,043,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deductions

 

88,701,994

 

71,936,474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

 

75,088,942

 

127,420,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

723,158,223

 

595,737,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of year

 

$

798,247,165

 

$

723,158,223

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

3



 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF
AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003

 

1.                   DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

 

The Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) was established on February 6, 1990. The following description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan Document and subsequent amendments thereto for more complete information.

 

General - The Plan is a defined contribution plan. All employees of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and its designated affiliates (the “Company”), with the exception of participants in the Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. 401(k) Plan, who have a minimum of 90 days of service are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

 

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. (“HOC”) is the administrator of the Plan (“Plan Administrator”). State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) is trustee of the Plan. The Plan Administrator has delegated certain of its authority to CitiStreet LLC (“CitiStreet”) for purposes of day-to-day administration and recordkeeping.

 

Plan Mergers and Other Transfers - On April 4, 2003, the assets of the Jazz Casino Company, LLC Savings & Retirement Plan were merged into the Plan in the amount of $9.2 million.  On April 1, 2003, the assets of the Louisiana Downs, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan were merged into the Plan in the amount of $1.3 million.

 

On July 10, 2003, CitiStreet, the recordkeeper for the Plan, deposited $262,781 into the Plan to fund Voluntary Compliance Operation (“VCO”) corrections made during the 2003 plan year (Note 8).

 

On May 19, 2004, Red River Entertainment of Shreveport Partnership in Commendam dba Harrah’s Shreveport Casino (“Harrah’s Shreveport”) was sold to Boyd Gaming Corporation.  As a result, employees who participated in the Plan were given the option of rolling over their account balances into a qualified plan or IRA, taking a distribution from the Plan or leaving their accounts in excess of $5,000 in the Plan. As of December 31, 2004, approximately $2.7 million in participant account balances have been distributed to the Boyd Gaming Corporation 401(k) & Profit Sharing Plan, including approximately $0.6 million in participant loans.  These amounts were recorded as distributions by the Plan.

 

On June 30, 2004, the Company acquired Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.  All eligible Horseshoe employees continue to participate in the Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. 401(k) Plan.  These participant accounts are expected to be transferred into the Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan effective January 1, 2006.

 

4



 

Contributions - Each year, participants may elect to contribute a designated whole percentage of their eligible compensation, as defined in the Plan. Highly compensated employees may contribute up to 7% of eligible compensation on a pretax basis, and non-highly compensated employees may contribute up to 20% of eligible compensation on a pretax basis. After-tax contributions are also permitted. Until December 31, 2003, the Company matching contribution was 100% up to the first 6% of eligible compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan.  Effective January 1, 2004, the Company matching contribution is 50% up to the first 6% of eligible compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan and an eligible employee is eligible for a matching contribution following the 90th day after his/her hire date. Before January 1, 2004, employees were eligible to receive Company matching contributions beginning the following January 1 or July 1 after completing one year of service.  Effective April 1, 2003, eligible participants who attain age 50 before the Plan’s year-end were allowed to make catch-up contributions to the Plan. Contributions are subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limitations. Participants may also make rollover contributions representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans.

 

Participant Accounts - Individual accounts are maintained for each Plan participant. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, the Company’s matching contributions, and allocations of Plan earnings, and charged with the participant’s withdrawals and an allocation of Plan losses and administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

 

Investments - Participants direct the investment of their own contributions and Company contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan, including investments in the common stock of the Company, the sponsoring employer. Effective January 14, 2004, Harrah’s Entertainment Stock Fund is designated as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).  With respect to dividends paid on shares of the Company’s common stock held in the ESOP portion of the Plan, participants are permitted to elect to receive cash payments of the dividends or to leave the dividends in the Plan to be reinvested in shares of the Company's common stock. Approximately $3.4 million in dividends were reinvested in the Plan and approximately $0.1 million were distributed to participants from the ESOP during the Plan year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Vesting - Participants are vested immediately in their own contributions plus actual investment results thereon. Vesting in the Company’s contribution portion of their accounts is based on years of vesting service in which the participant is credited with at least 1,000 hours of service, as defined. A participant vests 20% per year of vesting service and is 100% vested after five years of vesting service. However, if termination of employment is caused by disability, death, or attainment of age 65, the participant becomes fully vested in all Company contributions and investment results thereon.

 

Forfeitures that occur during the Plan year shall first be used to the extent necessary to restore the matching and prior plan accounts of rehired participants, as defined. Any remaining forfeitures may be used to pay administrative expenses or will be included in, reduce and be considered part of the Company’s matching contribution for the Plan year in which the forfeiture arises. The total amount of potential forfeitures available to be used were approximately $0.4 million and $1.2 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, Company contributions were reduced by $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, from forfeited nonvested accounts.

 

5



 

Payment of Benefits - Upon termination of employment, the participant may elect to receive vested amounts in one lump-sum distribution, in equal installments, or in the form of a direct rollover to another plan as defined by the Plan. In-service and hardship withdrawals are allowed when certain criteria are met.

 

Participant Loans - Participants may borrow from their Plan accounts an amount not to exceed the lesser of i) $50,000 reduced by the participant’s highest outstanding loan balance during the prior 12 months or ii) 50% of the vested balance of the participant’s account. The loans are secured by the vested balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at rates commensurate with local prevailing rates. The interest rate for a loan remains fixed for the life of the loan. Repayments of loans are made in equal installments, one per pay period, over one to five years except in the case of loans used to acquire the principal residence of the participant, which shall be repaid in a reasonable term determined at the time the loan is made, not to exceed 15 years. The interest rates on outstanding loans ranged from 4.75% to 11.5% at December 31, 2004.

 

Administrative Expenses - Administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by either the Plan or the Company, as provided in the Plan Document.

 

2.                   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Accounting - The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and changes therein. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Plan utilizes various investment instruments. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.

 

6



 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition - The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value, except for its benefit-responsive investment contracts, which are valued at contract value (Note 4). Quoted market prices are used to value investments. Shares of the Company common stock, mutual funds and common/collective trust funds are valued at the net asset value of the units or shares held by the Plan at year-end. Participant loans are valued at the outstanding loan balances.

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments in mutual funds and common/collective trust funds are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected. Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of net appreciation (depreciation) in fair market value of investments for such investments.

 

Payment of Benefits - Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.

 

3.                   INVESTMENTS

 

The Plan’s investments that represented 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, are as follows:

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Stock Fund

 

$

188,874,885

 

$

139,359,086

 

SSGA S&P 500 Flagship Fund

 

125,563,325

 

118,716,236

 

SSGA Principal Accumulation Return Fund

 

116,355,382

 

117,129,935

 

SSGA Passive Bond Market Index Fund

 

94,105,462

 

97,016,497

 

Fidelity Magellan Fund

 

69,883,121

 

71,429,313

 

ICM Small Cap Institutional Class Fund

 

64,402,712

 

50,531,580

 

Loan Fund

 

45,259,190

 

45,000,001

 

Delaware Trend Fund

 

40,976,105

 

37,445,260

 

 

During 2004 and 2003, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

$

49,508,666

 

$

29,384,690

 

Mutual funds

 

18,307,470

 

38,607,847

 

Common/collective trust funds

 

17,806,397

 

31,950,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

85,622,533

 

$

99,942,771

 

 

7



 

4.                   INVESTMENT CONTRACT WITH INSURANCE COMPANY

 

The State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”) Principal Accumulation Return Fund consists of units of a fund that holds benefit-responsive investment contracts. SSGA maintains the contributions in a general account, which is credited with earnings on the underlying investments and charged for participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. The fund is included in the financial statements at contract value as reported to the Plan by SSGA. Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.

 

There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise. The fair values of the investment contracts as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 were approximately $119.0 million and $122.9 million, respectively. For 2004, the average yield and crediting interest rates were 4.25% and 4.27%, respectively. Crediting interest rates are reset on the first day of each month.

 

5.                   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

As sponsor of the Plan, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, HOC, initially pays many of the costs associated with the operation of the Plan. These costs include salaries for employees who perform administrative services solely for the Plan, various service charges and other direct costs of operation. The Plan reimbursed HOC for these costs in the amount of approximately $62,000 and $73,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Certain Plan investments are shares of common/collective trust funds managed by SSGA. SSGA is the investment arm of State Street, the trustee of the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Actual fees paid by the Plan for the investment management and recordkeeping services to SSGA and CitiStreet amounted to approximately $1.9 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Such costs are included in administrative expenses in the accompanying financial statements.

 

At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Plan held 2,823,664 and 2,800,062 shares, respectively, of common stock of the Company.

 

On July 10, 2003, CitiStreet, the recordkeeper for the Plan, deposited $262,781 into the Plan to fund VCO corrections made during the 2003 Plan year (Note 8).

 

6.                   PLAN TERMINATION

 

Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event that the Plan is terminated, participants would become 100% vested in their accounts.

 

7.                   FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS

 

The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated July 5, 2002, that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with the applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter; however, the Company and the Plan Administrator believe that the Plan is currently designed and operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and the Plan and related trust continue to be tax-exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

 

8.                   VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE OPERATION

 

In June 2002, the Company filed a VCO with the Internal Revenue Service for administrative errors during 1998 to 2002.  By letter dated September 25, 2003, the Company was informed by the Internal Revenue Service that their

 

8



 

application for a compliance statement was accepted and the Plan will not be subject to disqualification.

 

9.                   RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Plan had $161,765 and $148,626, respectively, of benefit payments approved and processed for payment, which had not been paid. These amounts will be recorded as liabilities in the Plan’s Form 5500; however, these amounts are not recorded as liabilities in the accompanying financial statements.

 

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

 

$

798,247,165

 

$

723,158,223

 

Less: Amounts currently payable

 

(161,765

)

(148,626

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

 

$

798,085,400

 

$

723,009,597

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2004:

 

Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements

 

$

85,538,146

 

Add: Amounts currently payable at December 31, 2004

 

161,765

 

Less: Amounts currently payable at December 31, 2003

 

(148,626

)

 

 

 

 

Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500

 

$

85,551,285

 

 

******

 

9



 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4i—

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

Identity of Issuer, Borrower,

 

 

 

Current

 

Lessor or Similar Party

 

Description of Investment

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Stock Fund

 

Common Stock

 

$

188,874,885

 

*

State Street Global Advisors S&P 500 Flagship Fund

 

Common/Collective Trust Fund

 

125,563,325

 

 

ICM Small Cap Institutional Class Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

64,402,712

 

*

State Street Global Advisors Short-Term Investment Fund

 

Interest-bearing cash

 

4,945,031

 

 

Delaware Trend Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

40,976,105

 

 

Fidelity Magellan Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

69,883,121

 

*

State Street Global Advisors Principal Accumulation Return Fund

 

Common/Collective Trust Fund

 

116,355,382

 

*

State Street Global Advisors Passive Bond Market Index Fund

 

Common/Collective Trust Fund

 

94,105,462

 

*

State Street Global Advisors Active U.S. Large Cap Value Fund

 

Common/Collective Trust Fund

 

14,345,495

 

 

Wells Fargo Large Company Growth Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

11,190,501

 

 

Capital Guardian International Equity Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

18,172,292

 

 

Europac Growth Fund

 

Mutual Fund

 

2,786,996

 

*

Loan Fund

 

Participant loans with interest rates from 4.75% to 11.5%

 

45,259,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

796,860,497

 

 


* Party-in-interest.

 

10



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Administrator for the Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

 

 

 

 

June 27, 2005

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Shovlin

 

 

 

Jeffrey Shovlin, Chairman,

 

 

Administrative Committee

 

11



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors’

 

12