In a prepared statement, Harrah's says the goal of the withdrawal is to "eliminate duplicative administrative requirements inherent with dual listings as a result of the NYSE Group's recent merger with Archipelago Holdings, the parent company of NYSE Arca." The company made a point of saying the decision is unrelated to this week's agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Texas Pacific Group and Apollo Management for $27.8 billion in cash and assumed debt.

The delisting announcement was made within hours of Harrah's accepting the buyout offer late Wednesday. Per the agreement, Harrah's stockholders will receive $90 in cash per share, a 36% premium over Harrah's closing share price on Sep. 29, the day before the initial $87 offer was announced. The company's share price on Thursday closed at $82.70, up $0.01 on the day.