EX-4.1 2 a2052607zex-4_1.txt EXHIBIT 4.1 EX-4.1 HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 2001 BROAD-BASED STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE 1.1 GENERAL. The purpose of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the success and enhance the value of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company") by linking the personal interests of the employees and consultants of the Company and any Subsidiary to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to stockholders of the Company. The Plan is intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees and consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company's operation is dependent. This Plan is further intended to qualify as a "broadly-based" plan pursuant to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Listed Company Manual for purposes of the exception to stockholder approval requirements. ARTICLE 2 EFFECTIVE DATE 2.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan is effective as of May 3, 2001 (the "Effective Date"). ARTICLE 3 DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION 3.1 DEFINITIONS. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: "AWARD" means any Option or Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan. "AWARD AGREEMENT" means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award. "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. "CAUSE" means (except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement) that the Board, in its reasonable and good faith discretion, has determined that a Participant (i) has been convicted of any crime that materially discredits the Company or is materially detrimental to the reputation or goodwill of the Company, (ii) has committed any material act of fraud or dishonesty against the Company, or an immoral or unethical act that materially reflects negatively on the Company, or has engaged in willful misconduct; provided that the Participant shall first be provided with written notice of the claim against him or her under this provision, or (iii) has materially breached any employment agreement with the Company. "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means and includes each of the following (subject to (4) below): (1) any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than an employee benefit plan of the Company, or a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the Company's then outstanding voting securities carrying the right to vote in elections of persons to the Board, regardless of comparative voting power of such voting securities, and regardless of whether or not the Board shall have approved the acquisition of such securities by the acquiring person; or (2) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses (1) or (3) of this Subsection) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or (3) the holders of securities of the Company entitled to vote thereon approve the following: (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation regardless of which entity is the surviving company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company carrying the right to vote in elections of persons to the Board outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of (a) the Company's then outstanding voting securities carrying the right to vote in elections of persons to the Board, or (b) the voting securities of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. (4) Notwithstanding the definition of a "Change in Control" of the Company as set forth above, the Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto, with respect to a transaction or series of transactions which have resulted or will result in a substantial portion of the assets or business of the Company (as determined, prior to the transaction or series of transactions, by the Committee in its sole discretion which determination as to whether a substantial portion is involved shall be final and conclusive) being held by a corporation at least 80% of whose voting securities are held, immediately following such transaction or series of transactions, by holders of the voting securities of the Company (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion prior to such transaction or series of transactions which determination as to whether the 80% amount will be satisfied shall be final and conclusive). The Committee may exercise any such discretionary authority without regard to whether one or more of the transactions in such series of transactions would otherwise constitute a Change in Control of the Company under the definition set forth above. "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "COMMITTEE" means the committee of the Board described in Article 4. "DISABILITY" means for purposes of this Plan, that the Participant qualifies to receive long term disability payments under the Company's long term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time. "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board. "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any given date, the fair market value of Stock on a particular date determined by such methods or procedures as may be established from time to time by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Stock as of any date shall be the average of the high and low trading prices for the Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or on any national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no such prices are reported for that date, the average of the high and low trading prices on the next preceding date for which such prices were reported. "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who qualifies as a "Non-Employee Director" as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board. "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" means an Option that is not intended to be an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto. "OPTION" means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 7 to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. All Options granted pursuant to this Plan are Non-Qualified Stock Options. "PARTICIPANT" means a person who, as an employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan. "PLAN" means this Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan. "RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD" means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture. "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 10. "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. ARTICLE 4 ADMINISTRATION 4.1 COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Human Resources Committee of the Board The Committee shall consist of at least two individuals who are members of the Board and are Non-Employee Directors. Reference to the Committee shall refer to the Board if the Human Resources Committee ceases to exist and the Board does not appoint a successor Committee. 4.2 ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company's independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. 4.3 AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to: Designate Participants to receive Awards; Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant; Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock to which an Award will relate; Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines; Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered; Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant; Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award; Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement; and Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan. 4.4 DECISIONS BINDING. The Committee's interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. ARTICLE 5 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN 5.1 NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment provided in Section 10.1, the aggregate number of shares of Stock available for grant pursuant to the Plan shall be determined by the Committee from time to time. ARTICLE 6 ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION 6.1 ELIGIBILITY. GENERAL. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include all employees and consultants of the Company or a Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee. FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS. In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in foreign countries, the Committee may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 5.1 of the Plan. 6.2 ACTUAL PARTICIPATION. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan. ARTICLE 7 STOCK OPTIONS 7.1 GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions: EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Stock pursuant to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that the exercise price for any Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the date of grant. TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, an Option will lapse immediately if a Participant's employment is terminated for Cause. PAYMENT. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation, cash, promissory note, shares of Stock (through actual tender or by attestation), or other property (including broker-assisted "cashless exercise" arrangements), and the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. EVIDENCE OF GRANT. All Options shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee. ARTICLE 8 RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS 8.1 GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a written Restricted Stock Award Agreement. 8.2 ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter. 8.3 FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Restricted Stock will be forfeited immediately if a Participant's employment is terminated for Cause. 8.4 CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED STOCK. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse. ARTICLE 9 PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS 9.1 STAND-ALONE AND TANDEM AWARDS. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards. 9.2 TERM OF AWARD. The term of each Award shall be for the period as determined by the Committee provided that no Option may remain outstanding for more than ten years. 9.3 FORM OF PAYMENT FOR AWARDS. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable law or Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary on the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee determines at or after the time of grant, including, without limitation, cash, promissory note, Stock held for more than six months, other Awards, or other property, or any combination, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case determined in accordance with rules adopted by, and at the discretion of, the Committee. 9.4 LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 9.5 BENEFICIARIES. Notwithstanding Section 9.5, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant's death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married, a designation of a person other than the Participant's spouse as his beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant's interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant's spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant's will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee. 9.6 STOCK CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with Federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. 9.7 ACCELERATION UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL. If a Change of Control occurs, Awards are converted, assumed, or replaced by a successor, and the Participant's employment with the Company is terminated without Cause within 18 months following the date of the Change of Control, all outstanding Options and other Awards shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse. If a Change of Control occurs and Awards are not converted, assumed, or replaced by a successor, all outstanding Awards shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse. Upon, or in anticipation of, such an event, the Committee may cause every Award outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant the right to exercise Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. In the event that the terms of any employment agreement between the Company or any Company subsidiary or affiliate and a Participant contains provisions that conflict with and are more restrictive than the provisions of this Section 9.8, this Section 9.8 shall prevail and control and the more restrictive terms of such employment agreement (and only such terms) shall be of no force or effect. ARTICLE 10 CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE 10.1 OUTSTANDING AWARDS - INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ISSUED SHARES WITHOUT CONSIDERATION. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the shares of Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall proportionally adjust the number of shares of Stock subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price per share of Stock of each such Award. 10.2 OUTSTANDING AWARDS - CERTAIN MERGERS. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation. 10.3 OUTSTANDING AWARDS - OTHER CHANGES. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in Article 10, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. 10.4 NO OTHER RIGHTS. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the exercise price of any Award. ARTICLE 11 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION 11.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION. With the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required. 11.2 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant. ARTICLE 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS 12.1 NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS. No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly. 12.2 NO STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS. No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award. 12.3 WITHHOLDING. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant's FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan. With the Committee's consent, a Participant may elect (i) to have the Company withhold from those shares of Stock that would otherwise be received upon the exercise of any Option, a number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount necessary to satisfy the Company's applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding obligations with respect to such Participant, or (ii) tender previously-owned shares held by the Participant for six months or longer to satisfy the Company's applicable federal, state, local, or foreign withholding obligations with respect to the Participant. 12.4 NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant's employment or service at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary. 12.5 UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS. The Plan is intended to be an "unfunded" plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary. 12.6 INDEMNIFICATION. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless. 12.7 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary. 12.8 EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries. 12.9 TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. 12.10 FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate. 12.11 SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. With respect to any person who is, on the relevant date, obligated to file reports pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions pursuant to this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors pursuant to the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be void to the extent permitted by law and voidable as deemed advisable by the Committee. 12.12 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS. The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid pursuant to the Plan. If the shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption. 12.13 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.