honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 7, 2010

Wynn, wife to split casino stock


By OSKAR GARCIA
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Casino billionaire Steve Wynn agreed yesterday to transfer control of $741 million worth of his stock in Wynn Resorts Ltd., where he is CEO, to his wife, Elaine, as part of a divorce settlement.

The transfer, which involves, more than 11 million shares, leaves the Wynns each with about 18 percent of the company's outstanding stock, according to Securities and Exchange Commission documents filed yesterday. The transferred shares were previously communal property.

The Las Vegas-based casino company declined to comment on the filings.

Its stock closed at $66.96 yesterday after losing 89 cents, or 1.3 percent.

As part of the agreement, the Wynns both agreed to disavow their right to vote on behalf of 24.5 million shares owned by Aruze USA, a subsidiary of Japanese gaming machine maker Universal Entertainment Corp., and its founder and president, Kazuo Okada, who is vice chairman of Wynn's board.

Aruze holds nearly 20 percent of Wynn Resorts' outstanding stock.

The Wynns filed for divorce March 5 in Las Vegas and the case was sealed the same day, keeping details out of public view.

Elaine Wynn is a longtime member of the company's board and was re-elected to a three-year term in May. The couple, who met in college, were married in 1963. They divorced in 1986, but remarried five years later.