<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-17-015219.txt : 20170308
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-17-015219.hdr.sgml : 20170308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170308165053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-17-015219
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170304
ITEM INFORMATION:		Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170308
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170308

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENN NATIONAL GAMING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921738
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				232234473
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24206
		FILM NUMBER:		17675667

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD STE 200
		STREET 2:		WYOMISSING PROFESSIONAL CENTER
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6103732400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		825 BERKSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WYOMISSING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a17-7957_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES<br> SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, DC 20549</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT<br> PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF<br> THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <b>March&nbsp;4, 2017</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 5.75pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PENN NATIONAL GAMING,&nbsp;INC.</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Commission file number <b>0-24206</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Incorporated Pursuant to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IRS Employer Identification No.&nbsp;<b>23-2234473</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">825 Berkshire Blvd., Suite&nbsp;200<br> Wyomissing, PA 19610</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">610-373-2400</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p>
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<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p>
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<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p>
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<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 4.01.</font></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Changes in Registrant&#146;s Certifying Accountant.</b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(a)&nbsp;Dismissal of Independent Accountant</font></u></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Penn National Gaming,&nbsp;Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) and its Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (&#147;Audit Committee&#148;) recently completed a comprehensive, competitive process to select an independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December&nbsp;31, 2017.&#160; On March&nbsp;4, 2017, the Company notified Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP (&#147;EY&#148;) of its dismissal as the Company&#146;s independent registered public accounting firm effective immediately which was approved by the Audit Committee.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The audit reports of EY on the Company&#146;s consolidated financial statements for each of the two most recent fiscal years ended December&nbsp;31, 2016 and December&nbsp;31, 2015 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">During the fiscal years ended December&nbsp;31, 2016 and 2015, and in the subsequent interim period through March&nbsp;4, 2017, there were no disagreements with EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope and procedures that, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY would have caused EY to make reference to the matter in their report.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As disclosed in the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2015 (the &#147;2015 10-K&#148;), management concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December&nbsp;31, 2015 as a result of the following material weaknesses: (i)&nbsp;the Company failed to maintain effective controls and procedures over the evaluation and accounting of certain complex and non-routine transactions, including lease transactions and (ii)&nbsp;the Company failed to maintain effective controls and procedures over the calculation of impairment charges for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.&#160; A description of the material weaknesses is contained in Item 9A of the 2015 10-K.&#160; These material weaknesses were remediated as of December&nbsp;31, 2016, and EY&#146;s report expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company&#146;s internal control over financial reporting as of December&nbsp;31, 2016. The Audit Committee has discussed the matter described in this paragraph with EY and has authorized EY to respond fully to the inquiries of a successor accountant concerning such matter.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company provided EY with a copy of the disclosures in this report prior to filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;). A copy of EY&#146;s letter to the SEC, dated March&nbsp;8, 2017, stating whether it agrees with the statements made in this report, is filed as Exhibit&nbsp;16.1 to this report.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(b)&nbsp;<u>Engagement of Independent Accountant</u></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On March&nbsp;4, 2017, the Company notified Deloitte&nbsp;&amp; Touche LLP (&#147;Deloitte&#148;) of its engagement as the Company&#146;s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December&nbsp;31, 2017.&#160; The engagement of Deloitte was approved by the Audit Committee.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">During the fiscal years ended December&nbsp;31, 2016 and 2015 and in the subsequent interim period through March&nbsp;4, 2017, the Company did not consult with Deloitte regarding any matter relating to either (i)&nbsp;the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or contemplated, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company&#146;s financial statements or (ii)&nbsp;any matter that was the subject of a disagreement (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv)&nbsp;of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a &#147;reportable event&#148; (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v)&nbsp;of Regulation S-K).</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">2<a name="PB_2_210730_9318"></a></p>
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<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01.</font></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:2.15pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter from   Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP dated March&nbsp;8, 2017 to the Securities and   Exchange Commission.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:   March&nbsp;8, 2017</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">PENN NATIONAL   GAMING,&nbsp;INC.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ William J. Fair</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">William J. Fair</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive Vice   President and Chief Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">4<a name="PB_4_211042_5335"></a></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;INDEX</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">16.1</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter from   Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP dated March&nbsp;8, 2017 to the Securities and   Exchange Commission.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">5<a name="PB_5_211059_5796"></a></p>
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit 16.1</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">March&nbsp;8, 2017</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, DC 20549</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ladies and Gentlemen:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We have read Item 4.01 of Form&nbsp;8-K dated March&nbsp;8, 2017, of Penn National Gaming,&nbsp;Inc. and are in agreement with the statements contained in the second sentence of the first paragraph and the second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of Item 4.01(a). We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP</font></p>
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