Las Vegas Sun NewsGaming:
Wynn Resorts says Okada improperly paid regulators, buys out his shares
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Cathleen Allison
Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn, right, talks with business partner Kazuo Okada during a Gaming Commission hearing Thursday, June 17, 2004, in Carson City, where Okada received approval for a license for his Japanese Aruze Corporation to manufacture and sell slot machines in Nevada.
Sunday
19 February 2012
10 a.m.
Updated
19 Feb. 2012 1:25 p.m.
VEGAS INC and Sun archives
- Wynn exec Okada sues to see company’s books in spending dispute (Jan. 11, 2012)
- Wynn joining forces with Okada (June 25, 2002)
- More gaming news
Source: Wynn probe of Okada covers S. Korea, Filipino regulators
The Wynn Resorts’ investigation of board member Kazuo Okada disclosed Sunday suggests his conduct in Las Vegas, South Korea and the Philippines caused alarm among his fellow board members.The investigatory report by former FBI director Louis Freeh’s company hasn’t been made public, but a person who has seen it told the Sun and VEGAS INC on Sunday that it asserted these findings:
• Okada’s casino-resort development in the Philippines appears to have been arranged in violation of Filipino constitutional provisions requiring such projects to be 60 percent owned by Filipinos.
• During times when Okada was trying to arrange for development of the Philippines resort, he or his associates and companies covered expenses for Filipino regulators at both Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Macau.
• Cristino Naguiat, the chief gaming regulator in the Philippines whose company is also investing in the Okada resort there, visited Wynn Macau in September 2010 with his friends and associates. Okada and his associates tried unsuccessfully to have resort officials keep the visit incognito and also to cover some of the expenses of the visitors. Wynn learned of this because some of their expenses were covered by an Okada account at the resort. The purpose of the visit ostensibly was for Naguiat to learn more about the casino business.
• Okada, his associates or companies also may be linked to improper conduct involving a gaming official in South Korea, something that requires further investigation.
• The activities of Okada, his associates and companies "constitute a substantial ongoing risk to Wynn Resorts and to its board of directors."
• Okada, who was recently interviewed for the Freeh report, told investigators one employee had been fired and another resigned because of problems with his companies paying excessive amounts to cover some of the expenses of the gaming regulators.
• Okada denied saying he feels payments to casino regulators in Asia are appropriate and he recalls seeing the Wynn policy that all directors receive training in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance. Okada told investigators he referred that policy directive to his attorneys.
Wynn Resorts Ltd. of Las Vegas said Sunday it moved to remove its largest shareholder from the company, saying it bought out the shares of billionaire Kazuo Okada for $1.9 billion after determining he had made improper payments to foreign gaming regulators.
The casino-resort operator, in a rare Sunday announcement, said its board on Saturday had received an investigatory report on Okada. Based on that report it had "redeemed" the 24 million shares of Wynn stock held by Okada’s company Aruze USA Inc.
They were redeemed for what the company called "fair value," a $1.9 billion promissory note maturing in 2022 and carrying an annual interest rate of 2 percent. Okada may dispute whether this is "fair value" as the shares are worth some $2.7 billion based on Wynn's recent trading price.
Wynn said the $1.9 billion note plan is based on Wynn Resorts' Articles of Incorporation.
"Following a finding of 'unsuitability,' the articles provide for redemption at 'fair value' of the shares held by unsuitable persons to protect the company's gaming licenses. The company engaged an independent financial advisor to assist in the fair value calculation and concluded that a discount to the current trading price was appropriate because of restrictions on most of the shares, which are subject to the terms of an existing stockholder agreement," the company said without elaborating on that stockholder agreement.
Wynn Resorts also said it asked Okada to resign from its board of directors and had filed a lawsuit against him in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas alleging breach of fiduciary duty and other counts.
A copy of the lawsuit wasn’t immediately available Sunday. A request for comment was placed with Aruze’s public affairs team.
Sunday’s moves by Wynn represent a dramatic escalation in the legal battle between Okada and Wynn, which erupted in January when Okada filed suit demanding Wynn open its books and records to him concerning certain transactions, including a pledge by Wynn's Macau subsidiary to donate $135 million to the University of Macau.
A businessman well known in Japan, Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia, Okada is a billionaire pachinko gambling machine maker who’s also developing a casino resort in the Philippines — a project Wynn claims is a conflict of interest as it would compete with Wynn’s business including its Macau casinos.
Sunday’s statement by Wynn said its Compliance Committee had concluded a year-long investigation after receiving "an independent report detailing numerous apparent violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by Aruze USA Inc., its parent company Universal Entertainment Corp. and its principal shareholder," Okada.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is a law aimed at deterring U.S. companies from making bribes in foreign lands in order to win business in those countries.
Wynn said its Compliance Committee, chaired by Wynn director and former Nevada Gov. Robert Miller, hired several investigators, including Freeh, Sporkin and Sullivan LLP, led by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
"Freeh’s investigators uncovered and documented more than three dozen instances over a three-year period in which Mr. Okada and his associates engaged in improper activities for their own benefit in apparent violation of U.S. anti-corruption laws and gross disregard for the company’s Code of Conduct. These troubling discoveries include cash payments and gifts totaling approximately $110,000 to foreign gaming regulators,” Wynn’s statement on Sunday said.
"Mr. Okada and his associates and companies appear to have engaged in a longstanding practice of making payments and gifts to his two chief gaming regulators at the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), who directly oversee and regulated Mr. Okada’s Provisional Licensing Agreement to operate in that country,” the company said, citing the Freeh Report.
The report also alleged that Okada and his associates have "consciously taken active measures to conceal both the nature and amount of these payments."
Based on the Freeh Report, the Wynn Board found that Aruze, its parent company Universal Entertainment and Okada are "unsuitable" under the provisions of the company’s Articles of Incorporation.
If the allegations are true, they would also appear to be violations of gaming regulations where Wynn operates in Nevada and Macau.
"The board was unanimous (other than Mr. Okada) in its determination," Wynn said in Sunday’s statement.
"The Compliance Committee and the entire Board are deeply disturbed by the behavior of Mr. Okada, and we have fulfilled our obligations to our stockholders, the state of Nevada and the Wynn community," Miller said in a statement issued by Wynn. "As directors of a gaming company privileged to hold licenses, we have a duty to uphold the highest ethical standards and comply with the laws and the terms of the licenses upon which our business depends. Unfortunately, it is very clear from the Freeh Report that Mr. Okada repeatedly flouted these requirements."
Wynn’s statement also said there had been concern that Okada had told Wynn Resorts’ directors "that gifts to regulators are permissible in Asia."
"Mr. Okada is the only director of Wynn Resorts who has continued to refuse to sign the Company’s Code of Conduct or participate in mandatory Foreign Corrupt Practices Act training for directors," Wynn said in its statement.
"The company intends to communicate with the appropriate regulatory agencies and government authorities on these matters," the statement said, hinting that Okada may face scrutiny from officials in the Philippines, Macau and in Nevada with the State Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission as he and his companies are licensed by the state.
Wynn's move to buy Okada's shares of the company would appear to make CEO Steve Wynn and his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, the largest company shareholders.
A March 2011 regulatory filing said each of the Wynns held about an 8 percent stake in the company vs. Okada's nearly 20 percent stake.
Share
Join the Discussion:
Previous Discussion:
Discussion 8 comments
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
Most Popular
- Metro IDs former MLB all-star Jose Canseco as suspect in sexual assault
- On top of big salaries, companies like Wynn Resorts pile on perks for CEOs
- Sausage at Firefly tests positive for salmonella; number of sick now at 294
- Fairgrounds on Las Vegas Strip will accommodate 64,000 for special events
- Man shot to death while being questioned in Boston bombing probe
Mr. Wynn is one of the best when it comes to staying one step ahead of the sheriff.
If he released the statement today he has something to hide . The weekend is the slowest newsday. Wait till Tues. This case is not closed yet. Who is Wynn (weinberg) to determine what fair value is when he is paying less than market share?
You can buy someone out who doesn't want to sell?....and buy him out at a discounted share price?
Is someone making this up?
I so hope this blows up in Weinberg's plastic face! Weinberg must feel he is SO PROTECTED from prosecution for his "business" dealings here and in communist China that he can take on any one, make up his own rules, and try to eliminate those in his way.
Is he the [Chinese] Godfather of the new Las Vegas mob or is it Adelson?
From what I understand, Okada made illegal 'bribe' payments to Philippine authorities to gain favor for a casino in Manila. Wynn's donation to an educational institution has garnered attention from Okada. Whom is the worst offender? Wynn, for sidestepping corporate governance, or Okada being indicted on federal charges of bribery? Hence, Wynn can force Okada out, on his terms, for Okadas actions.
Yeah right. WYNN hires investigators to dig up info on a shareholder with the sole purpose of booting him? No trial, no criminal charges...just Wynns own hires digging for dirt. It doesn't work that way. That's like hiring the mouse to guard the cheese.
too funny--one billionaire crook vs another---have to root against weinberg---go away weinberg--your moment in las vegas is over--go with your communist buddies--you fit right in there. you can screw your employees all day long over there and then roll the tanks out and run them over and your commie buddies will love you.
My question is: Why is this treated as a done deal in the headline and story writing? The relationship between Wynn Resorts and it's largest shareholder is at well documented loggerheads, and legal action is assured from Okada ASAP. I think it would have been more appropriate to run a headline along the lines of " Wynn Resorts announces it's intent to buy out largest shareholder".
I think Wynn Resorts achieved their primary goal of catching everyone so off guard by making a "crack of dawn on Sunday" announcement that no one had the presence of mind to question the probability of success of their move.
Every source I read seemed to have the same attitude of "Wynn said it, so I believe it" without giving consideration to the probability that this is a chapter in a dispute involving billons of dollars, and Wynn might not be completely accurate or correct in their statement of intent.
How on earth can you buy out your largest shareholder and just announce "oh yeah, we also did not pay fair market value"
Unless its in writing that Wynn reserves the right to buy him out at a set price, this story should have no merit.
Wow! Do not cross Mr. Wynn, or his Nevada Gaming Board and Commission, as he will find a way, or invent a way to get even. This whole story is an embarrassment to the Nevada Gaming Control Board...these allegations surely were known when they investigated Mr. Okada. Or is it a matter of 'selective persecution' that started a long time ago; gaming gets whatever they want. And for Mr. Wynn, well "Sonny gets what Sonny wants...". A joke! And, to use the former head of the FBI to support Mr. Wynn's wishes to rid himself of an inquisitive Board Member, and major equity shareholder. Put up another plaque in the Mob Museum for Steve Wynn.
I think it's not a good move to mess with Steve Wynn.
I find as well amusing as disgusting to see the word "ethical" in conjunction to a Wynn business.
Surely the meaning of the word has changed since I learned it more than 30 yrs ago
Steve Wynn's father changed the family name from Weinberg to Wynn in the 1940's "to avoid anti-Jewish discrimination."
So exactly what has that to do in the comments of a few in using the name Weinberg to identify and/or describe Steve Wynn? Nothing except to be anti-Semitic.
It is especially sad to see such comments in this paper by transplanted individuals to this town. Shame on you.
If we let the guy get away with this, no one will invest in our major industry again.
whatever your heritage is you should be proud of it, not like weinberg who is ashamed of it and went so far as to declare himself buddhist to appease his communist friends. It is not anti semitic at all and typical for someone to pull the "race" card. He gives money to the communist in the form of a "donation", but it is not ok for his partner to give small "presents" during transactions "totaling 120k" --are you kidding, 120k total means these were very small token gifts--typical in other cultures---pretty pathetic indeed. as i've said before, he has changed his name, changed his face, changed his wife, now changed his partner--very soon he will change his country---china will be his new home soon--good riddance.
@Nick_Danger
Sorry, but there is nothing antisemitic about anything being said. It's about being ANTI AMERICAN.
I don't care what his last name is now or then, it's just another way he manipulates and controls. For him or anyone else to go so far as to say he considers his company a "Chinese corporation, with American holdings" and donate millions to support communism, is a disgrace to this country and especially our men and women in the military.
There should be LAWS against donating to any communist country.
Wynn, Weinberg, A$$Hole, - his actions are ANTI-AMERICAN. Why isn't he treated the same as Jane Fonda was during the Vietnam era???
If you do not like a person because he is communist or has dealings with a communist country, then say it.
You do not have to bring up his name change by his father when he was 6 months old to do so.
By the way, I presume that all of you rabid anti-communists do not buy any product that is either made in or has a part that is made in a communist country, such as China or Vietnam.
That being said, exactly what are you using to access the Internet to read this website and post on it since most of the parts in a computer come from China? Tin cans?