-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, NE/LgKwtxsrnE+ooJZX9/LR1WPdmM/0gpMRiNRhSVnU9nyicerVx3RysPpjnYbHc 4Ie1oYiNGvdiFvt8UYP1NA== 0001104659-05-046674.txt : 20051003 0001104659-05-046674.hdr.sgml : 20051003 20050930210933 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-05-046674 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050928 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20051003 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050930 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HARRAHS ENTERTAINMENT INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000858339 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990] IRS NUMBER: 621411755 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10410 FILM NUMBER: 051115544 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE HARRAHS COURT CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89119 BUSINESS PHONE: 7024076000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE HARRAHS COURT CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89119 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PROMUS COMPANIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 8-K 1 a05-17026_18k.htm 8-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

September 28, 2005

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-10410

 

62-1411755

(State of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

 

 

 

 

Identification Number)

 

One Harrah’s Court

Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(702) 407-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



 

Item  1.01.               Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information included in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item  2.03.               Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

On September 28, 2005, Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. (“Harrah’s Operating”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, completed the private placement of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”) pursuant to an Indenture dated September 28, 2005 (the “2017 Indenture”), among Harrah’s Operating, as issuer, the registrant, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. A copy of the 2017 Indenture, including the form of note, is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.  On September 28, 2005, Harrah’s Operating also closed a concurrent private placement of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Additional Notes”) pursuant to a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), among Harrah’s Operating, as issuer, the registrant, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, which supplements and amends the Indenture dated May 27, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as issuer, the registrant, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2005, among the same parties.  The Additional Notes will form a single series with Harrah’s Operating’s presently outstanding $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015 issued on May 27, 2005.  A copy of the Second Supplemental Indenture is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Registrant has irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed the 2017 Notes and the Additional Notes (the 2017 Notes and the Additional Notes are together referred to as the “Notes”) on an unsecured senior basis. The Notes were sold (1) within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and (2) outside the United States only to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Act.

 

Harrah’s Operating intends to use the net proceeds for the offerings of the Notes to redeem all of the $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due December 15, 2005, which were assumed in the merger with Caesars Entertainment Inc. and approximately $232.2 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due December 15, 2005, each at the applicable redemption price pursuant to the indentures governing each series of Notes (plus the payment of any applicable make-whole premium) that it issued on December 9, 1998.  Any remaining net proceeds will be used to refinance and extend the maturity of the other outstanding indebtedness.

 

The 2017 Notes mature on October 1, 2017. Harrah’s Operating will pay interest on the notes semi-annually, on each April 1st and October 1st, beginning April 1, 2006. The 2017 Notes are redeemable, as a whole or in part, by Harrah’s Operating, at any time or from time to time, upon notice of at least 30 days but not more than 60 days. The redemption price is equal to accrued interest plus the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments on such notes discounted to the date of redemption, on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the applicable treasury rate plus 35 basis points.

 

The 2017 Indenture contains customary covenants that limit Harrah’s Operating’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to (i) create or incur liens; (ii) enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and (iii) merge or consolidate with other entities. These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.

 

The 2017 Indenture provides that each of the following is an event of default: (i) failure to pay principal of any notes when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise; (ii) failure to pay any interest on any notes when due and payable, and such default continues for 30 days; (iii) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of Harrah’s Operating or the Registrant, which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after Harrah’s Operating or the Registrant receives written notice from the trustee or after Harrah’s Operating, the

 

2



 

Registrant and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes as provided in the indenture; (iv) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (v) the acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness of Harrah’s Operating (other than non-recourse indebtedness), at any one time, in an amount in excess of the greater of (1) $25 million and (2) 5% of the consolidated net tangible assets, if such acceleration is not annulled within 30 days after Harrah’s Operating receives written notice from the trustee and the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding shares.

The description of the terms, conditions and covenants of the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015 are set forth in Items 1.01 and 2.03 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC by the Registrant on June 3, 2005.  Such description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On September 28, 2005, Harrah’s Operating and the Registrant also entered into two separate registration rights agreements relating to the 2017 Notes and the Additional Notes, each with the initial purchasers named therein. Under both registration rights agreements, Harrah’s Operating is required to: (i) file, within 90 days after the issue date of the Notes, a registration statement with respect to a registered offer to exchange all of the Notes for freely tradable notes, that are registered with the SEC and that have substantially identical terms as the Notes; (ii) to use its best efforts to cause such exchange offer registration statement to become effective within 180 days after the issue date of the Notes; and (iii) to complete the exchange offer within 210 days after the issue date of the Notes. The requirement to register the Additional Notes may be satisfied by amending and supplementing the registration statement previously filed with the SEC on August 25, 2005 with respect to the offer to exchange all of Harrah’s Operating’s 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015 issued on May 27, 2005 so that the previously issued 5.625% senior notes and the Additional Notes may be exchanged for newly issued registered notes in a single exchange offer.

 

In addition, if (a) on or prior to the 90th day following the issue date of the Notes, neither the exchange offer registration statement nor the shelf registration statement has been filed; (b) on or prior to the 180th day following the issue date of the Notes, neither the exchange offer registration statement nor the shelf registration statement has been declared effective; (c) on or prior to the 210th day following the issue date of the Notes, neither the exchange offer has been completed nor the shelf registration statement has been declared effective; or (d) the exchange offer registration statement or the shelf registration statement is declared effective but thereafter cease to be effective or usable in connection with resales in accordance with and during the periods specified in the registration rights agreement, then Harrah’s Operating will pay additional interest to each holder of Notes.  Additional interest will accrue at a rate of 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any such registration default and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period until all such registration defaults have been cured, but in no event shall such rate exceed 0.50% per annum.

 

A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement for each of the 2017 Notes and the Additional Notes is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.5 and Exhibit 4.6, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.                  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                 Exhibits

 

4.1

 

Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Indenture dated as of May 27, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015. (Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 3, 2005.)

 

 

 

4.3

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2005, to Indenture, dated as of May 27, 2005, between Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015. (Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of the Registrant, File No. 333-127840, filed August 25, 2005.)

 

3



 

4.4

 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015.

 

 

 

4.5

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005, among the Registrant, Harrah’s Operating and the Initial Purchasers, as set forth therein, relating to the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017.

 

 

 

4.6

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005, among the Registrant, Harrah’s Operating and the Initial Purchasers, as set forth therein, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015.

 

4



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:  September 30, 2005

By:

/s/ Stephen H. Brammell

 

 

Stephen H. Brammell

 

 

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

 

 

and Corporate Secretary

 

5



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Document Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Indenture dated as of May 27, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015. (Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 3, 2005.)

 

 

 

4.3

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2005, to Indenture, dated as of May 27, 2005, between Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015. (Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of the Registrant, File No. 333-127840, filed August 25, 2005.)

 

 

 

4.4

 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005, among Harrah’s Operating, as Issuer, the Registrant, as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015.

 

 

 

4.5

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005, among the Registrant, Harrah’s Operating and the Initial Purchasers, as set forth therein, relating to the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017.

 

 

 

4.6

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005, among the Registrant, Harrah’s Operating and the Initial Purchasers, as set forth therein, relating to the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015.

 

6


EX-4.1 2 a05-17026_1ex4d1.htm EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

Issuer

 


 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

Guarantor

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of September 28, 2005

 


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 

 

 

1



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

 

Section 1.2

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

 

Section 1.3

Rules of Construction

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II. THE NOTES

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Terms of the Notes

 

Section 2.2

Execution and Authentication

 

Section 2.3

Registrar and Paying Agent

 

Section 2.4

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

 

Section 2.5

Noteholder Lists

 

Section 2.6

Intentionally Omitted

 

Section 2.7

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes

 

Section 2.8

Outstanding Notes

 

Section 2.9

Treasury Notes

 

Section 2.10

Temporary Notes

 

Section 2.11

Cancellation

 

Section 2.12

Defaulted Interest

 

Section 2.13

Global Notes

 

Section 2.14

Transfer and Exchange

 

Section 2.15

Payments

 

Section 2.16

CUSIP Numbers

 

Section 2.17

Mandatory Disposition of Notes Pursuant to Gaming Laws

 

Section 2.18

Additional Notes

 

Section 2.19

Additional Interest Under Registration Rights Agreements

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Optional Redemption

 

Section 3.2

Notice to Trustee

 

Section 3.3

Selection of Notes to be Redeemed

 

Section 3.4

Notice of Redemption

 

Section 3.5

Effect of Notice of Redemption

 

Section 3.6

Deposit of Redemption Price

 

Section 3.7

Notes Redeemed in Part

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Payment of Principal and Interest

 

Section 4.2

SEC Reports

 

Section 4.3

Compliance Certificate

 

Section 4.4

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

 

Section 4.5

Corporate Existence

 

Section 4.6

Taxes

 

 

i



 

Section 4.7

Limitation on Liens

 

Section 4.8

Limitation on Sale-Lease Back Transactions

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS

 

 

 

Section 5.1

When Company May Merge, Etc

 

Section 5.2

Successor Corporation Substituted

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Events of Default

 

Section 6.2

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

Section 6.3

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

Section 6.4

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

Section 6.5

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes

 

Section 6.6

Application of Money Collected

 

Section 6.7

Limitation on Suits

 

Section 6.8

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest

 

Section 6.9

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

Section 6.10

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

Section 6.11

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

Section 6.12

Control by Holders

 

Section 6.13

Waiver of Past Defaults

 

Section 6.14

Undertaking for Costs

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Duties of Trustee

 

Section 7.2

Rights of Trustee

 

Section 7.3

Individual Rights of Trustee

 

Section 7.4

Trustee’s Disclaimer

 

Section 7.5

Notice of Defaults

 

Section 7.6

Reports by Trustee to Holders

 

Section 7.7

Compensation and Indemnity

 

Section 7.8

Replacement of Trustee

 

Section 7.9

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

 

Section 7.10

Eligibility; Disqualification

 

Section 7.11

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

Section 8.2

Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification

 

Section 8.3

Legal Defeasance of Notes

 

Section 8.4

Covenant Defeasance

 

Section 8.5

Repayment to Company

 

 

ii



 

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Without Consent of Holders

 

Section 9.2

With Consent of Holders

 

Section 9.3

Limitations

 

Section 9.4

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

 

Section 9.5

Revocation and Effect of Consents

 

Section 9.6

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

 

Section 9.7

Trustee Protected

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Trust Indenture Act Controls

 

Section 10.2

Notices

 

Section 10.3

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

 

Section 10.4

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

 

Section 10.5

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

 

Section 10.6

Rules by Trustee and Agents

 

Section 10.7

Legal Holidays

 

Section 10.8

No Recourse Against Others

 

Section 10.9

Counterparts

 

Section 10.10

Governing Laws

 

Section 10.11

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

 

Section 10.12

Successors

 

Section 10.13

Severability

 

Section 10.14

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc

 

Section 10.15

Judgment Currency

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI. SINKING FUNDS

 

 

 

Section 11.1

No Sinking Funds

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII. GUARANTEE

 

 

 

Section 12.1

Guarantee

 

Section 12.2

Execution and Delivery of Guarantee

 

Section 12.3

Release of Guarantor

 

Section 12.4

When Guarantor May Merge, etc

 

 

iii



 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2005

 

§ 310(a)(1)

 

 

 

7.10

(a)(2)

 

 

 

7.10

(a)(3)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(a)(4)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(a)(5)

 

 

 

7.10

(b)

 

 

 

7.10

§ 311(a)

 

 

 

7.11

(b)

 

 

 

7.11

(c)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

§ 312(a)

 

 

 

2.5

(b)

 

 

 

10.3

(c)

 

 

 

10.3

§ 313(a)

 

 

 

7.6

(b)(1)

 

 

 

7.6

(b)(2)

 

 

 

7.6

(c)(1)

 

 

 

7.6

(d)

 

 

 

7.6

§ 314(a)

 

 

 

4.2, 10.5

(b)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(c)(1)

 

 

 

10.4

(c)(2)

 

 

 

10.4

(c)(3)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(d)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(e)

 

 

 

10.5

(f)

 

 

 

Not Applicable

§ 315(a)

 

 

 

7.1

(b)

 

 

 

7.5

(c)

 

 

 

7.1

(d)

 

 

 

7.1

(e)

 

 

 

6.14

§ 316(a)

 

 

 

2.9

(a)(1)(A)

 

 

 

6.12

(a)(1)(B)

 

 

 

6.13

(b)

 

 

 

6.8

§ 317(a)(1)

 

 

 

6.3

(a)(2)

 

 

 

6.4

(b)

 

 

 

2.4

§ 318(a)

 

 

 

10.1

 


Note:  This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.

 

iv



 

INDENTURE

 

Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005 between Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”):

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1                                      Definitions.

 

Additional Interest” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Additional Notes” means an unlimited additional aggregate principal amount of Notes (other than Initial Notes) issued after the date hereof pursuant to Section 2.18 as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.

 

Additional Note Board Resolutions” means resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and delivered to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate providing for the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

Additional Note Supplemental Indenture” means a supplement to this Indenture duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee pursuant to Article IX hereof providing for the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.   For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

Bankruptcy Law” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 



 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Certificated Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.14.3 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such note shall not bear the Global Notes Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Societé Anonyme.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.

 

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

 

Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed, that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that Redemption Date.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets (including investments in Joint Ventures) of the Company and its subsidiaries (less applicable depreciation, amortization and other valuation reserves) after deduction therefrom of (a) all current liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries (excluding (i) the current portion of long-term indebtedness, (ii) intercompany liabilities and (iii) any liabilities which are by their terms renewable or extendible at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months from the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and any other like intangibles, all as set forth on the

 

2



 

consolidated balance sheet of the Company for the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Consolidated Property” means any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time this Indenture shall be principally administered, which initially shall be 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107-1419, Attention: Corporate Trust Services.

 

Custodian” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes, the person designated as Depositary by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Notes shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Notes.

 

Dollars” means the currency of the United States of America.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear Clearance System.

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of the United States of America.

 

Foreign Government Obligations” means with respect to Notes that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

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Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Company which (i) matures by its terms on, or is renewable at the option of any obligor thereon to, a date more than one year after the date of original issuance of such Indebtedness and (ii) ranks at least pari passu with the notes.

 

Gaming Laws” means the gaming laws of a jurisdiction or jurisdictions to which the Company or a subsidiary of the Company is, or may at any time after the date of this Indenture be, subject.

 

Gaming Authority” means the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission or any similar commission or agency which has, or may at any time after the date of this Indenture have, jurisdiction over the gaming activities of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or any successor thereto.

 

Global Note” or “Global Notes” means a Note or Notes, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.13 evidencing all or part of the Notes, issued to the Depositary or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

Global Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.13.2, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

Guarantee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.

 

Guarantor” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.

 

Holder” or “Noteholder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means (a) any indebtedness of such Person, contingent or otherwise, in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), or evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit, or representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, including any such indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries of any other business or entity, if and to the extent such indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including for such purpose obligations under capitalized leases, and (b) any guarantee, endorsement (other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), discount with recourse, agreement (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire or to supply or advance funds with respect to, or to become liable with respect to (directly or indirectly) any indebtedness, obligation, liability or dividend of any Person, but shall not include indebtedness or amounts owed for compensation to employees, or for goods or materials purchased, or services utilized, in the ordinary course of business of such Person.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include (i) any contracts providing for the completion of construction or other payment or performance with respect to the construction, maintenance or improvement of, or payment of taxes, revenue share payments or other fees to governmental entities with respect to, property or equipment of the Company or its Affiliates or

 

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(ii) any contracts providing for the obligation to advance funds, property or services on behalf of an Affiliate of the Company in order to maintain the financial condition of such Affiliate.  For purposes of this definition of Indebtedness, a “capitalized lease” shall be deemed to mean a lease of real or personal property which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, is required to be capitalized.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended from time to time and shall include the form and terms of the Notes established as contemplated hereunder.

 

Initial Notes” means the first $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the purchase agreement dated as of September 21, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantor, and the Initial Purchasers listed therein.

 

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.

 

Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Notes, means the date an installment of interest is due and payable on such Notes.

 

Joint Venture” means any partnership, corporation or other entity, in which up to and including 50% of the partnership interests, outstanding voting stock or other equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries.

 

Judgment Currency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

Legal Holiday” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.7.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit, arrangement, encumbrance, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), or preference, priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Maturity” means the date on which the principal of the Notes becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.

 

Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.

 

New Notes” means the Notes issued in the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.14.4 hereof.

 

New York Banking Day” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

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Non-recourse Indebtedness” means indebtedness with terms providing that the lender’s claim for repayment of such indebtedness is limited solely to a claim against the property which secures the indebtedness.

 

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

 

Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

Obligations” means any principal, interest, premium, if any, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages or other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing or otherwise in respect of any Indebtedness.

 

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, any President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

 

Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.14.5(a) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

Redemption Date” means the date of redemption of the Notes.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and its successor; provided that, if Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, the Company shall substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to the Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding that Redemption Date.

 

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Registered Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Registrar” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2005, by and among the Company, the Guarantor and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements between the Company and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

 

Regular Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.3.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

Remaining Scheduled Payments” means the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for that redemption.  If that Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on the Notes will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on the Notes to such Redemption Date.

 

Required Currency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.

 

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee assigned to administer corporate trust matters and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

 

Restricted Certificated Note” means a Certificated Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

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Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with a Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), or to which any such Person is a party, providing for the leasing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for a period of more than three years of any Consolidated Property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to such Person or to any other Person (other than the Company of any of its Subsidiaries), to which funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of the leased property.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Service Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) any group of direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together as a group, would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

 

Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to the Notes or any installment of  interest thereon, the date specified in the Notes as the fixed date on which the principal of the Notes or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” of any specified Person means any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries.

 

successor person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

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TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding that Redemption Date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that Redemption Date.

 

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

 

Unrestricted Certificated Note” means one or more Certificated Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto that bears the Global Notes Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

Value” means, with respect to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of property leased pursuant to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or (ii) the fair value, in the opinion of the Board of Directors as evidenced by a board resolution, of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction.

 

Section 1.2                                      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.  The following TIA terms correspond to the following terms used in this Indenture:

 

“indenture securities” means the Notes.

 

“indenture security holder” means a Noteholder.

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Notes.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

 

Section 1.3                                      Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)                                  a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b)                                 an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)                                  references to “generally accepted accounting principles” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;

 

(d)                                 “or” is not exclusive;

 

(e)                                  words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and

 

(f)                                    provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

 

ARTICLE II.
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.1                                      Terms of the Notes.

 

The entire outstanding principal of the Notes will mature on October 1, 2017 (the “Maturity Date”).

 

The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  The Notes shall be denominated in U.S. dollars and all payments of principal and interest on the Notes shall be made in U.S. dollars.

 

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The Notes shall bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum; the date from which interest shall accrue shall be September 28, 2005; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes on which interest shall be payable shall be April 1 and October 1 in each year, beginning April 1, 2006; the Regular Record Dates for the interest payable on the Notes on any Interest Payment Date shall be the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (each a “Regular Record Date”).  Interest shall accrue on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Interest on any Note shall be payable only to the Person in whose name that Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment.  If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date of any of the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day.  No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made.

 

The place of payment where the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be payable and the Notes may be surrendered for the registration of transfer or exchange shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.  The place where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company pursuant to Article III.

 

Section 2.2                                      Execution and Authentication.

 

An Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Section 2.2, the Trustee shall, at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Notes for original issue upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order.  Such Company Order may authorize authentication pursuant to written or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents.

 

Prior to the issuance of the Notes, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form and terms of the Notes, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.

 

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The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.3                                      Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to the Notes, at the place or places specified pursuant to Section 2.1.4, an office or agency where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served (“Service Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to the Notes and to their transfer and exchange.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.1.4 for the Notes for such purposes.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Service Agent” includes any additional service agent.

 

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for the Notes.  The Company hereby appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

Section 2.4                                      Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Noteholders, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or

 

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a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Noteholders all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

Section 2.5                                      Noteholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Noteholders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Noteholders.

 

Section 2.6                                      Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 2.7                                      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

 

Section 2.8                                      Outstanding Notes.

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the amount outstanding on a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity Date money sufficient to pay such Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Note.

 

Section 2.9                                      Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Notes owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10                                Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall, subject to Section 2.2, (in the case of original issuance), authenticate temporary Notes upon a Company Order.  Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Notes and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Notes.  Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Notes.

 

Section 2.11                                Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for

 

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registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs.  The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12                                Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Noteholders on a subsequent special record date.  The Company shall fix the record date and payment date.  At least 30 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Noteholder a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.  The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

 

Section 2.13                                Global Notes.

 

2.13.1                  Form of Notes.  Notes shall be issued in global form substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

 

2.13.2                  Legend.  Any Global Note issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.  THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

2.13.3                  Acts of Holders.  The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

2.13.4                  Consents, Declaration and Directions.  Except as provided in Section 2.15, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Notes represented by a Global Note as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Note, for purposes of obtaining any

 

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consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Section 2.14                                Transfer and Exchange.

 

2.14.1                  Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.  A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.  All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Certificated Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Certificated Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee.  Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Certificated Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.7 and 2.10 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.14 or Section 2.7 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.14.1, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.14.2, 2.14.3, and 2.14.4 hereof.

 

2.14.2                  Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (a) or (b) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(a)                                  Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.  Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.14.2(a).

 

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(b)                                 All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes.  In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.14.2(a) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a participant or an indirect participant in the Depositary given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a participant or an indirect participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Certificated Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Certificated Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.  Upon consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.14.4 hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.14.2(b) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.14.6 hereof.

 

(c)                                  Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.14.2(b) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i)                                     if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto; and
 
(ii)                                  if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
 

(d)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.14.2(b) above and:

 

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(i)                                     such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the New Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
 
(ii)                                  such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
 
(iii)                               such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
 
(iv)                              the Registrar receives a certificate and/or any other information reasonably required by and satisfactory to it in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Act and, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iv) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iv) above.

 

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

2.14.3                  Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Certificated Notes.

 

(a)                                  Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Certificated Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Certificated Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Certificated Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of an Opinion of Counsel and/or a certificate and/or any other information reasonably required by and satisfactory to it in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Act, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.14.6 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate

 

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and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Certificated Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Certificated Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.14.3 shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the participant or indirect participant in the Depositary.  The Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Certificated Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.14.3(a) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(b)                                 Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Certificated Notes.  A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Certificated Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Note only if:

 

(i)                                     such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the New Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
 
(ii)                                  such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
 
(iii)                               such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
 
(iv)                              the Registrar receives an Opinion of Counsel and/or a certificate and/or any other information reasonably required by and satisfactory to it in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and to ensure that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required.
 

(c)                                  Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Certificated Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Certificated Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Certificated Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.14.2(b) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.14.6 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions

 

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a Certificated Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Certificated Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.14.3(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the participant or indirect participant in the Depositary.  The Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Certificated Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.14.3(c) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

2.14.4                  Registered Exchange Offer.  Upon the occurrence of the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable letters of transmittal that (x) they are not broker-dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the New Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for exchange in the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) Certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Certificated Notes accepted for exchange in the Registered Exchange Offer.  Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Certificated Notes so accepted Unrestricted Certificated Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

2.14.5                  Legends.  The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Certificated Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

(a)                                  Private Placement Legend.  Except as permitted by subparagraph (b) below, each Global Note and each Certificated Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) BY THE INITIAL INVESTORS (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR

 

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(4) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) BY SUBSEQUENT INVESTORS, AS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE, AND, IN ADDITION, TO AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN THE CASE OF EACH OF CLAUSES (A) AND (B), IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE ISSUER SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Certificated Note issued pursuant to Sections 2.14.2(d), 2.14.3(b), 2.14.3(c), 2.14.4 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(c)                                  Global Notes Legend.  Each Global Note shall bear the Global Notes Legend in addition to the Private Placement Legend.

 

2.14.6                  Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Certificated Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Certificated Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

2.14.7                  General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(a)                                  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Certificated Notes upon receipt of a Company Order or at the Registrar’s request.

 

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(b)                                 No service charge shall be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Certificated Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.7, and 9.6 hereof).

 

(c)                                  The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(d)                                 All Global Notes and Certificated Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Certificated Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Certificated Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(e)                                  Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.2 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(f)                                    Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(g)                                 The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Certificated Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof.

 

(h)                                 All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.14 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

Section 2.15                                Payments.

 

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Note shall be made to the Holder thereof.

 

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Section 2.16                                CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

Section 2.17                                Mandatory Disposition of Notes Pursuant to Gaming Laws.

 

Each Holder and beneficial owner, by accepting or otherwise acquiring an interest in the Notes, shall be deemed to have agreed that if the Gaming Authority of any jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts or proposes to conduct gaming requires that a Person who is a Holder or beneficial owner must be licensed, qualified or found suitable under the applicable Gaming Laws, such Holder or beneficial owner shall apply for a license, qualification or a finding of suitability within the required time period.  If such Person fails to apply or become licensed or qualified or is found unsuitable, then the Company shall have the right, at its option, (i) to require such Person to dispose of its Notes or beneficial interest therein within 30 days of receipt of notice of the Company’s election or such earlier date as may be requested or prescribed by such Gaming Authority or (ii) to redeem such Notes at a redemption price equal to the lesser of (a) such Person’s cost or (b) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the earlier of the redemption date and the date of the finding of unsuitability, which may be less than 30 days following the notice of redemption if so requested or prescribed by the Gaming Authority.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any such redemption as soon as practicable.  The Company shall not be responsible for any costs or expenses any such Holder or beneficial owner may incur in connection with its application for a license, qualification or a finding of suitability.

 

Section 2.18                                Additional Notes.

 

The Company may, from time to time, subject to compliance with any other applicable provisions of this Indenture, without the consent of the Holders, create and issue pursuant to this Indenture Additional Notes having terms and conditions identical to those of the Initial Notes, except that Additional Notes:

 

(i)  may have a different issue date from the Initial Notes;

 

(ii)  may have a different amount of interest payable than is payable on the Initial Notes;

 

(iii)  may have terms specified in the Additional Note Board Resolution or Additional Note Supplemental Indenture for such Additional Notes making appropriate adjustments applicable to such Additional Notes in order to conform to and ensure compliance with the Securities Act (or other applicable securities laws) and any

 

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registration rights or similar agreement applicable to such Additional Notes, which are not adverse in any material respect to the Holder of any Initial Notes; and

 

(iv)  may be entitled to additional interest as contemplated in Section 2.19 not applicable to Initial Notes and may not be entitled to such additional interest applicable to Initial Notes.

 

Section 2.19                                Additional Interest Under Registration Rights Agreements.

 

Under certain circumstances, the Company may be obligated to pay Additional Interest to Holders, all as and to the extent set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement or any registration rights agreement applicable to Additional Notes.  The terms thereof are hereby incorporated herein by reference and such Additional Interest, if required to be paid, is deemed to be interest for purposes of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1                                      Optional Redemption.

 

The Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of any Holder thereof, upon the occurrence of any particular circumstances or otherwise.  The Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (b) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments on such Notes discounted to the Redemption Date, on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the applicable Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points.  Accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Redemption Date.

 

Section 3.2                                      Notice to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.1, it shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.3                                      Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate.  The Trustee shall make the selection from Notes outstanding not previously called for redemption.  The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $1,000.  Notes and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000.

 

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Section 3.4                                      Notice of Redemption.

 

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed (and provide a copy of such notice to the Trustee).

 

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)                                  the redemption date;

 

(b)                                 the redemption price;

 

(c)                                  if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Notes;

 

(d)                                 the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(e)                                  that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f)                                    that interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

 

(g)                                 that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense, provided that the Company makes such request at least two Business Days (or such shorter time as is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date by which such notice of redemption must be given to Holders in accordance with this Section 3.4 and provides the Trustee with all information required for such notice of redemption.

 

Section 3.5                                      Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed as provided in Section 3.4, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price.  A notice of redemption may not be conditional.  Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.6                                      Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date.  If the Company complies with the provisions of this Section, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Note or the portions of the Notes called for redemption.

 

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Section 3.7                                      Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Note and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1                                      Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture.

 

Section 4.2                                      SEC Reports.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).

 

Section 4.3                                      Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge).

 

The Company will, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.4                                      Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in

 

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force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Notes; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.5                                      Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Significant Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of each Significant Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

Section 4.6                                      Taxes.

 

The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holder of the Notes.

 

Section 4.7                                      Limitation on Liens.

 

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries may issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien upon any Consolidated Property or on any Indebtedness or shares of capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, any Subsidiaries (regardless of whether the Consolidated Property, Indebtedness, capital stock or ownership interests were acquired before or after the date of the Indenture) without effectively providing that the Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness shall be so secured, except that this restriction will not apply to: (a) Liens existing on the date of original issuance of the Notes; (b) Liens affecting property of a corporation or other entity existing at the time it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or at the time it is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; (c) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof or to secure Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 24 months after the acquisition for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price thereof; (d) Liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of improvements or construction thereon or Indebtedness incurred to provide funds for such purpose in a principal amount not exceeding the cost of such improvements or construction; (e) Liens which secure Indebtedness owing by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Subsidiary of the Company; (f) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company the proceeds of which are used substantially simultaneously with the incurrence of such Indebtedness to retire Funded Debt; (g)

 

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purchase money security Liens on personal property; (h) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the proceeds of which are used within 24 months of the incurrence of such Indebtedness for the cost of the construction and development or improvement of property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (i) Liens on the stock, partnership or other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any Joint Venture or any such Subsidiary which owns an equity interest in such Joint Venture to secure Indebtedness, provided the amount of such Indebtedness is contributed and/or advanced solely to such Joint Venture; (j) Liens to government entities, including pollution control or industrial revenue bond financing; (k) Liens required by any contract or statute in order to permit the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company to perform any contract or subcontract made by it with or at the request of a governmental entity; (l) mechanic’s, materialman’s, carrier’s or other like Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business; (m) Liens for taxes or assessments and similar charges; (n) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, covenants, reservations, restrictions on the use of real property and certain other minor irregularities of title; and (o) any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing of any Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (n).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any one or more of its Subsidiaries may, without securing the Notes, issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions in an aggregate principal amount which, together with all other such Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions (not including Indebtedness permitted by the preceding paragraph) and the aggregate Value of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (other than those in connection with which the Company has voluntarily retired Funded Debt), does not at any one time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.8                                      Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.

 

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction unless either (a) the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the above provisions, to incur Indebtedness in a principal amount equal to or exceeding the Value of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, secured by a Lien on the property to be leased, without equally and ratably securing the Notes or (b) the Company within 120 days after the effective date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction applies to the voluntary retirement of its Funded Debt an amount equal to the Value of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction (subject to credits for certain voluntary retirements of Funded Debt).

 

ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1                                      When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or, directly or indirectly, sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to another Person, and may not permit any Person to, directly or indirectly, sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to the Company, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless:

 

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(a)                                  either the Company shall be the continuing person, or the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the assets of the Company are transferred shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company on the Notes and under this Indenture;

 

(b)                                 immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event or condition which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c)                                  the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 5.1 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 5.2                                      Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes.

 

ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1                                      Events of Default.

 

Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events:

 

(a)                                  default in the payment of any interest on any Note when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or

 

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(b)                                 default in the payment of the principal of any Note at its Maturity, upon redemption or otherwise; or

 

(c)                                  default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture, which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company or the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(d)                                 the acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness of the Company (other than Non-recourse Indebtedness), at any one time, in an amount in excess of the greater of (i) $25 million and (ii) 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, if such acceleration is not annulled within 30 days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee and the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any); or

 

(e)                                  the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)                                     commences a voluntary case,
 
(ii)                                  consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
 
(iii)                               consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
 
(iv)                              makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
 
(v)                                 generally is not paying its debts as the same become due; or
 

(f)                                    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i)                                     is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case,
 
(ii)                                  appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of its property, or
 
(iii)                               orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors.  The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 6.2                                      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) may declare the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, on behalf of all the Holders, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(a)                                  the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(i)                                     all overdue interest, if any, on all Notes,
 
(ii)                                  the principal of any Notes which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon,
 
(iii)                               to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon any overdue principal and overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Notes, and
 
(iv)                              all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
 

(b)                                 all Events of Default with respect to the Notes, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

 

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No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.3                                      Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(a)                                  default is made in the payment of any interest on any Note when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(b)                                 default is made in the payment of principal of any Note at the Maturity thereof,

 

then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal or any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Notes, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any Note occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of the Notes by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 6.4                                      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

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(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(b)                                 to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.5                                      Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 6.6                                      Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First:                                                                     To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and

 

Second:     To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

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Third:                                                                To the Company.

 

Section 6.7                                      Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Note shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(a)                                  such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes;

 

(b)                                 the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c)                                  such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d)                                 the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e)                                  no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

Section 6.8                                      Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Notes shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes on the Stated Maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.9                                      Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all

 

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rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 6.10                                Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.7, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11                                Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Notes to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.12                                Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Notes, provided that:

 

(a)                                  such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(b)                                 the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

(c)                                  subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability, cost or expense.

 

Section 6.13                                Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any past Default hereunder with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or

 

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interest on any Notes (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.14                                Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Notes by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

 

ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1                                      Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)                                  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs.

 

(b)                                 Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i)                                     The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.
 
(ii)                                  In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such

 

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Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
 

(c)                                  The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i)                                     This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
 
(ii)                                  The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
 
(iii)                               The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to the Notes in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Notes.
 

(d)                                 Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e)                                  The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f)                                    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(g)                                 No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(h)                                 The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.2                                      Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)                                  The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or

 

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presented by the proper Person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b)                                 Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c)                                  The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.  No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

 

(d)                                 The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

 

(e)                                  The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(f)                                    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Notes unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(g)                                 The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on faxed or telecopy documents in the same manner and to the same extent that it may rely on original, manually signed documents.

 

(h)                                 Except with respect to Section 4.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article 4.  In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless (i) any Default or Event of Default has occurred pursuant to Sections 4.1, 6.1(a) or 6.1(b), (ii) a trust officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or (iii) written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(i)                                     Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 4.2 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

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Section 7.3                                      Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

Section 7.4                                      Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Notes other than its authentication.

 

Section 7.5                                      Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder, notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Noteholders.

 

Section 7.6                                      Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Noteholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Noteholders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.7                                      Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon pursuant to a separate agreement dated not later than the date hereof.  The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the

 

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performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent.  The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through gross negligence or bad faith.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.

 

Section 7.8                                      Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Notes by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee with respect to the Notes by so notifying the Trustee and the Company.  The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Notes if:

 

(a)                                  the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b)                                 the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c)                                  a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d)                                 the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then

 

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outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If the Trustee with respect to the Notes fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Noteholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company.  Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to the Notes.  A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Noteholder.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

Section 7.9                                      Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10                                Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.  The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11                                Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA §  311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1                                      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(a)                                  either

 

(i)                                     all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
(ii)                                  all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
 

(1)                            have become due and payable, or

 

(2)                            will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(3)                            are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(4)                            are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

 

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

(b)                                 the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(c)                                  the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.14, 8.1,  8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

 

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Section 8.2                                      Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c)                                  The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received.  This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

Section 8.3                                      Legal Defeasance of Notes.

 

The Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Notes on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Notes, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a)                                  the rights of Noteholders to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest;

 

(b)                                 the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.14, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

 

(c)                                  the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;

 

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provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d)                                 the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Noteholders, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on all the Notes on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;

 

(e)                                  such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f)                                    no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

(g)                                 the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(h)                                 the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

 

(i)                                     such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and

 

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(j)                                     the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.4                                      Covenant Defeasance.

 

On and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8 and 5.1 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.1 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Notes, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)                                  With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Noteholders, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on the Notes on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;

 

(b)                                 Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c)                                  No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

(d)                                 the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(e)                                  the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

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(f)                                    The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5                                      Repayment to Company.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years.  After that, Noteholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

 

ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1                                      Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Noteholder:

 

(a)                                  to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)                                 to comply with Article V;

 

(c)                                  to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Noteholder;

 

(d)                                 to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes as permitted by this Indenture; or

 

(e)                                  to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

The Company may also provide for the issuance of New Notes, which will have terms substantially identical to the other outstanding Notes except that (i) a Private Placement Legend shall not be required and (ii) the related transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and this Indenture and the payment of Additional Interest shall not be applicable to such New Notes.  The New Notes shall be treated, together with any outstanding Notes, as a single issue of securities.

 

Section 9.2                                      With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders.  Except as

 

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provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Noteholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.  After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this Article becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Noteholders a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver.  Any failure by the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Section 9.3                                      Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Noteholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a)                                  reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)                                 reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on the Notes;

 

(c)                                  reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of the Notes or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, redemption;

 

(d)                                 reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of Maturity;

 

(e)                                  waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(f)                                    make the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes payable in any currency other than that stated in the Note; or

 

(g)                                 make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13, 9.3 (this sentence), or 10.15.

 

Section 9.4                                      Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

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Section 9.5                                      Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note.  However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Note or portion of a Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Noteholder unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (f) of Section 9.3.  In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note.

 

Section 9.6                                      Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Notes thereafter authenticated.  The Company in exchange for Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Notes that reflect the amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.7                                      Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.

 

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1                                Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

Section 10.2                                Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail, telecopier or overnight air carrier guaranteeing next day delivery:

 

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if to the Company:

 

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc.
One Harrah’s Court

Las Vegas, Nevada  89119
Telecopier No.: (702) 407-6022
Attention:  General Counsel

 

with a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
650 Town Center Dr.
20th Floor
Costa Mesa, California 92626
Telecopier No.:  (714) 755-8290
Attention:  Charles Ruck, Esq.

 

if to the Trustee:                                                                                                                                        & #160;              
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
Telecopier No.: (651) 495-8097
Attention: Corporate Trust Services

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Noteholder shall be mailed by first-class mail overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to the Noteholder’s address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Noteholder receives it.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Noteholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

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Section 10.3                                Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Noteholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 10.4                                Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)                                  an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b)                                 an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 10.5                                Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a)                                  a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)                                 a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c)                                  a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(d)                                 a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 10.6                                Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Noteholders.  Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 10.7                                Legal Holidays.

 

A “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day.  If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

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Section 10.8                                No Recourse Against Others.

 

A past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, as such, of the Company, the Guarantor, or any of their Affiliates or successor corporations shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  Each Noteholder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

Section 10.9                                Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 10.10                          Governing Laws.

 

This Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by the law of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 10.11                          No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 10.12                          Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successor.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 10.13                          Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 10.14                          Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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Section 10.15                          Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Notes (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.  For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

ARTICLE XI.
SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 11.1                                No Sinking Funds.

 

The Notes shall not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

ARTICLE XII.
GUARANTEE

 

Section 12.1                                Guarantee.

 

12.1.1                  Subject to Section 12.1.2, below, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees (such guarantee being the “Guarantee”) to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture and the Notes hereunder, that: (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes promptly will be paid in full when due, whether at the Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, of the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the

 

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Holders and the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due by the Company of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same immediately.  The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.  The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company or any custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company, any amount paid by the Company to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. The Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations is guaranteed hereby.

 

12.1.2                  It is the intention of the Guarantor and the Company that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be, but not in excess of, the maximum amount permitted by applicable law.  Accordingly, if the obligations in respect of the Guarantee would be annulled, avoided or subordinated to the creditors of the Guarantor by a court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding actually pending before such court as a result of a determination both that such Guarantee was made without fair consideration and, immediately after giving effect thereto, the Guarantor was insolvent or unable to pay its debts as they mature or left with an unreasonably small capital, then the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be reduced by such court if such reduction would result in the avoidance of such annulment, avoidance or subordination; provided, however, that any reduction pursuant to this paragraph shall be made in the smallest amount as is strictly necessary to reach such result.  For purposes of this paragraph, “fair consideration,” “insolvency,” “unable to pay its debts as they mature,” “unreasonably small capital” and the effective times of reductions, if any, required by this paragraph shall be determined in accordance with applicable law.

 

12.1.3                  The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Guarantee or this Indenture; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall

 

53



 

not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Notes issued hereunder shall have been paid in full.

 

Section 12.2                                Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.

 

To evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 12.1, the Company and the Guarantor hereby agree that a notation of such Guarantee shall be endorsed on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, that such notation of such Guarantee shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, one of its Vice Chairmen of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 12.1 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of the Guarantee.

 

If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which the Guarantee is endorsed, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

 

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor.

 

Section 12.3                                Release of Guarantor.

 

The Guarantor shall be released from all of its obligations under the Guarantee and under this Indenture if:

 

(a)                                  the Company or the Guarantor has transferred all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (whether by sale, merger or consolidation or otherwise), or has merged into or consolidated with another Person, pursuant to a transaction in compliance with this Indenture and:

 

(i)                                     the corporation to whom all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor are transferred, or whom the Company or the Guarantor has merged into or consolidated with, has expressly assumed, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee and this Indenture;
 
(ii)                                  immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event or condition which,

 

54



 

after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
(iii)                               the Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 12.3 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with;
 

(b)                                 the Guarantor liquidates (other than pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law) and complies, if applicable, with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that if a Person and its Affiliates, if any, shall acquire all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor upon such liquidation the Guarantor shall liquidate only if:

 

(i)                                     the Person and each such Affiliate (or the common corporate parent of such Person and its Affiliates, if such Person and its Affiliates are wholly owned by such parent) which acquire or will acquire all or a portion of the assets of the Guarantor shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Guarantor, under the Guarantee and this Indenture and such Person or any of such Affiliates (or such parent) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
 
(ii)                                  immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event or condition which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
(iii)                               the Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such liquidation and such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 12.3 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with; or
 

(c)                                  the Company ceases for any reason to be a “wholly owned subsidiary” of the Guarantor (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(z) of the Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC).

 

Upon any assumption of the Guarantee by any Person pursuant to this Section 12.3, such Person may exercise every right and power of the Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Guarantor herein, and all the obligations of the Guarantor, hereunder and under the Guarantee and the Indenture shall terminate.

 

55



 

Section 12.4                                When Guarantor May Merge, etc.

 

The Guarantor shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or, directly or indirectly, sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets (computed on a consolidated basis) to another Person, and may not permit any Person to, directly or indirectly, sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to the Guarantor, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, unless:

 

(a)                                  either the Guarantor shall be the continuing person, or the Person (if other than the Guarantor) formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Guarantor is merged or to which the assets of the Guarantor are transferred shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee and this Indenture;

 

(b)                                 immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event or condition which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c)                                  the Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 12.4 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, conveyance or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor, in accordance with this Section 12.4, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Guarantor is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Guarantor herein, and all the obligations of the predecessor Guarantor hereunder and under the Guarantee and the Indenture shall terminate.

 

56



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Raymond S. Haverstock

 

 

Name:

Raymond S. Haverstock

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

57



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

[Insert Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

No.:       

 

CUSIP No.:

 

 

Principal Amount: $                       

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

5.75% Senior Notes due 2017
Payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, unconditionally guaranteed by

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”, which term includes any successor under the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of                           DOLLARS ($                      ) on October 1, 2017 (“Maturity”), and to pay interest thereon from September 28, 2005 or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing April 1, 2006 and at Maturity, at the rate of 5.75% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment.  Interest on this Note shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  The interest so payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.  If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are the registered Holders of the Notes on a subsequent special record date.  The Company shall fix the record date and the payment date.  At least 30 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Holder a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.  The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

 

If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date of any of the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day.  No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date payment is made.

 

A-1



 

Under certain circumstances the Company may be required to pay Additional Interest as provided in the Indenture.

 

Payment of the principal of and the interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company, interest may be paid by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States of America.

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company (herein called the “Notes”) issued and to be issued under an Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005 (herein called, together with all indentures supplemental thereto, the “Indenture”) among, the Company, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Note is one of the Notes of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $750,000,000, subject to the Company’s ability to issue additional notes as provided in the Indenture.

 

The Notes are senior obligations of the Company.  The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to, among other things, create or incur liens and make certain sale-leaseback transactions.  The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease substantially all of the property of the Company.

 

The Notes are subject to redemption prior to the Maturity Date of the principal thereof as provided in the Indenture.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes issued under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding of each series affected thereby.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any

 

A-2



 

Notes issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note, at the time, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein and in the Indenture prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the register upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for the purpose in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in the denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of authorized denominations as requested by the Holders surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith, other than in certain cases provided in the Indenture.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The indenture contains provisions whereby (i) the Company may be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Notes (subject to certain exceptions) or (ii) the Company may be released from its obligations under specified covenants and agreements in the Indenture, in each case if the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Notes, and satisfies certain other conditions, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

 

This Note shall be governed by the law of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of New York.

 

Capitalized terms used in this Note which are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

A-3



 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

A-4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes of the series designated
therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-5



 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

FOR, VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned registered holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

 

                                                                                                          Attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:

 

 

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

 

 

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant
in a recognized signature guaranty medallion
program or other signature guarantor
acceptable to the Trustee

 

Signature of Signature Guarantor

 

A-6



 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM—as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

TEN ENT—as tenants by the entireties

(Cust)

(Minor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

JT TEN—as joint tenants with right of

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors

 

survivorship and not as

Act

 

 

tenants in common

 

(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 

 

 

A-7



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Certificated Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Certificated Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note

 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease (or increase)

 

Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-8



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE OF HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

For value received, the undersigned, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (the “Guarantor”)(which term includes any successor person under the Indenture), has unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2005 (the “Indenture”), among Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. (the “Company”), the Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

B-1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this notation of Guarantee to be duly executed.

 

Date:

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

B-2



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO RULE 144A

 

[Date]

 

U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107

 

Re:                               5.75% Senior Notes due 2017

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2005 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. (the “Company”), Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (the “Guarantor”) and U.S. Bank National Association as trustee (the “Trustee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

 

This letter relates to $aggregate principal amount of Notes, which represents an interest in a Regulation S Global Note beneficially owned by the undersigned (the “Transferor”), to effect the transfer of such Notes in exchange for an equivalent beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note.

 

In connection with such request, and with respect to such Notes, the Transferor does hereby certify that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with Rule 144A, to a transferee that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Notes for its own account or an account with respect to which the transferee exercises sole investment discretion, and the transferee, as well as any such account, is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.

 

C-1



 

You, the Company and the Guarantor are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

C-2



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGULATION S

 

[Date]

 

U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107

 

Re:                               5.75% Senior Notes due 2017

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2005 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. (the “Company”), Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (the “Guarantor”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture.

 

In connection with our proposed sale of $aggregate principal amount of Notes, which represents an interest in the Rule 144A Global Note beneficially owned by the undersigned (the “Transferor”), we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S, and, accordingly, we represent that:

 

(a)  the offer of such Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

 

(b)  either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

 

(c)  no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable;

 

(d)  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and

 

(e)  we are the beneficial owner of the principal amount of such Notes being transferred.

 

D-1



 

In addition, if the sale is made during the Restricted Period and the provisions of Rule 904(b)(1) or Rule 904(b)(2) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 904(b)(1) or Rule 904(b)(2), as the case may be.

 

You, the Company and the Guarantor are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this letter have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

D-2


EX-4.4 3 a05-17026_1ex4d4.htm EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Second Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of September 28, 2005, by and among Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of May 27, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “Initial Indenture”) as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”).  The Initial Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture shall be referred to herein as the “Original Indenture.”

 

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture, pursuant to Section 2.18, provides for the issuance from time to time by the Company of Additional Notes, including the Guaranty of the Guarantor, on the terms and conditions identical to those of the Initial Notes, which Additional Notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall form a single series with, the Initial Notes;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantor desire by this Second Supplemental Indenture to issue Securities under the Original Indenture that shall form a single series with the Initial Notes, limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in this Second Supplemental Indenture, and the terms and provisions of which are to be as specified in this Second Supplemental Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Second Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the parties hereto, and all other acts necessary to make this Second Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding supplement to the Original Indenture effectively amending the Original Indenture as set forth herein have been duly taken.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the purchase and acceptance of the First Additional Notes (as defined below) by the Holders thereof and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Original Indenture, the form of the First Additional Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Company and the Guarantor covenant and agree with the Trustee as follows:

 

1.                                      Definitions

 

(a)                                  Provisions of the Original Indenture. Except insofar as herein otherwise expressly provided, all the definitions, provisions, terms and conditions of the Original Indenture shall remain in full force and effect.  The Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture as supplemented and amended by this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and considered as one and the same instrument for all purposes.  Upon and after the execution of this Second Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture

 



 

to “this Indenture,” “hereunder,” “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Indenture shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture as modified hereby.

 

(b)                                  Definitions. For all purposes of this Second Supplemental Indenture and the First Additional Notes, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the subject matter or context otherwise requires:

 

(i)                                    any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” or a “Clause” refers to an Article or Section or Clause, as the case may be, of this Second Supplemental Indenture;

 

(ii)                                the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Second Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, Clause or other subdivision;

 

(iii)                            Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.  Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Indenture shall mean the Indenture as supplemental hereby;

 

(iv)                               the term “Indenture” shall mean the Original Indenture as supplemented and amended by this Second Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(v)                                   the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Clause 1(b)(v):

 

Additional Purchase Agreement” means the Additional Purchase Agreement, dated September 21, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers.

 

“First Additional Notes” means the $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized by this Second Supplemental Indenture to the Original Indenture.

 

Initial Notes” means the first $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued pursuant to the Original Indenture.

 

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement.

 

2.                                      General Terms and Conditions of the Notes

 

(a)                                  Designation and Principal Amount. Pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Original Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, is hereby increased by the aggregate principal amount of the First Additional Notes to a total of U.S.$1,000,000,000.  The First Additional Notes and the Initial Notes shall form a single series for all purposes under the Original Indenture as supplemented by this

 

2



 

Second Supplemental Indenture, including without limitation for purposes of waivers, amendments, redemptions, offers to purchase and acceleration.

 

(b)                                  Forms Generally. Upon their original issuance, the First Additional Notes offered and sold pursuant to the Additional Purchase Agreement to Qualified Institutional Buyers in accordance with Rule 144A shall be issued in the form of one or more Restricted Global Notes.  Such Restricted Global Notes shall be registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee, deposited with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company, and by the Guarantor, in the case of the Guaranty endorsed thereon, and authenticated by the Trustee.

 

Upon their original issuance, the First Additional Notes offered and sold pursuant to the Additional Purchase Agreement in reliance on Regulation S shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Regulation S Global Notes.  Such Regulation S Global Notes shall be registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee, deposited with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trustee Office, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company, and by the Guarantor, in the case of the Guaranty endorsed thereon, and authenticated by the Trustee.

 

(c)                                  Guarantee. The First Additional Notes will be guaranteed by the Guarantor in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture.

 

The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the full and punctual payment of the First Additional Notes, and agrees to comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

(d)                                  Paying Agent and Registrar. The Paying Agent and Registrar will act as paying agent and registrar in connection with the First Additional Notes in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

Each of the Paying Agent and Registrar hereby accept its appointment, and agrees to comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with respect to the First Additional Notes, as well as to take all such actions as may be incidental thereto.

 

3.                                      Miscellaneous Provisions

 

(a)                                  Separability of Invalid Provisions. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Second Supplemental Indenture should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions contained in this Second Supplemental Indenture, and to the extent and only to the extent that any such provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be construed as if such provision had never been contained herein.

 

(b)                                  New York Law To Govern.  This Second Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of

 

3



 

law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of New York.

 

(c)                                  Counterparts.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Second Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

(d)                                  Effect of Headings.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Raymond S. Haverstock

 

 

Name:

Raymond S. Haverstock

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

5


EX-4.5 4 a05-17026_1ex4d5.htm EX-4.5

Exhibit 4.5

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

$750,000,000

 

5.75% Senior Notes due 2017

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York
September 28, 2005

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street, 37th Floor

New York, New York  10013

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated as of September 21, 2005 (the “Purchase Agreement”), its 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”) relating to the initial placement of the Notes (the “Initial Placement”), which Notes are to be guaranteed by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Guarantor”).  The Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated as of September 28, 2005, between the Company, the Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).  To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition of your obligations thereunder, the Company and the Guarantor agree with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Notes (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a “Holder” and, together, the “Holders”), as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereto.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person shall mean any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

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Broker-Dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Period” shall mean the 180-day period following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statementshall mean a registration statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Exchanging Dealershall mean any Holder (which may include the Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New Notes any Notes that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) for New Notes.

 

Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) hereof.

 

Guarantor” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Holdershall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Indentureshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Placementshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof.

 

Majority Holdersshall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes registered under a Registration Statement.

 

Managing Underwritersshall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.

 

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New Notesshall mean debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantor, identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that the cash interest and interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture or the New Notes Indenture.

 

New Notes Indentureshall mean an indenture between the Company and the New Notes Trustee, identical in all material respects to the Indenture (except that the cash interest and interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).

 

New Notes Trusteeshall mean a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the New Notes under the New Notes Indenture.

 

Notesshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Offering Memorandumshall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectusshall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Notes or the New Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Registered Exchange Offershall mean the proposed offer of the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Notes that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of the New Notes.

 

Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Registration Statementshall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Notes or the New Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

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Shelf Registrationshall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)(ii) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statementshall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Notes or New Notes, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

Trusteeshall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.

 

underwritershall mean any underwriter of Notes in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2.                                       Registered Exchange Offer.  (a)  Unless the Registered Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantor shall prepare and, not later than 90 days following the date of the original issuance of the Notes (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer.  The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days of the date of the original issuance of the Notes (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

 

(b)                                 Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Notes for New Notes (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Notes in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, has no arrangements with any Person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Notes from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.

 

(c)                                  In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

4



 

(ii)                                  keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days and not more than 30 Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer if required by applicable law) (the “Expiration Date”);

 

(iii)                               use their best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act, supplemented and amended as required, under the Securities Act to ensure that it is available for sales of New Notes by Exchanging Dealers during the Exchange Offer Registration Period;

 

(iv)                              utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, which may be the Trustee, the New Notes Trustee or an Affiliate of either of them;

 

(v)                                 permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;

 

(vi)                              prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantor, are conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation that the Company and the Guarantor have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the New Notes to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes; and

 

(vii)                           comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

 

(d)                                 As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(ii)                                  deliver to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 4(s) all Notes so accepted for exchange; and

 

(iii)                               cause the New Notes Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Notes a principal amount of New Notes equal to the principal amount of the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

(e)                                  Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the New

 

5



 

Notes (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction and (z) that secondary resale transactions by such Holder must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling note holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act if the resales are of New Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its Affiliates.  Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantor that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

 

(i)                                     any New Notes received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ii)                                  such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Notes or the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act; and

 

(iii)                               such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company.

 

(f)                                    If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser within 20 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Person purchasing Notes registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Notes, a like principal amount of New Notes.  The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Notes as for New Notes issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.

 

3.                                       Shelf Registration(a)  If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission’s staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days of the date hereof; or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests, within 20 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, with respect to Notes that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Notes in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; or (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) who notifies the Company within 20 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer so requests; or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Notes in exchange for Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508

 

6



 

of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act in connection with sales of New Notes acquired in exchange for such Notes shall not result in such New Notes being not “freely tradeable”; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales of New Notes acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Notes being not “freely tradeable”), the Company and the Guarantor shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

 

(b)                                 (i)                                     The Company and the Guarantor shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Securities Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Notes or the New Notes, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Notes held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Notes received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company and the Guarantor may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(ii)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Securities Act, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Notes or New Notes, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the “Shelf Registration Period”).  The Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed not to have used their best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Notes covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Notes during that period, unless (A) such action is required by applicable law; or (B) such action is taken by the Company and the Guarantor in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company and the Guarantor promptly thereafter comply with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.

 

(iii)                               The Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or such amendment or supplement, (A) to comply in all

 

7



 

material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission; and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

4.                                       Additional Registration Procedures.  In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.

 

(a)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     furnish to you, not less than five Business Days prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein (including all documents incorporated by reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use their best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose;

 

(ii)                                  include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(iii)                               if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; and

 

(iv)                              in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders that propose to sell Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling Note holders.

 

(b)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall ensure that:

 

(i)                                     any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and

 

(ii)                                  any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall advise you, the Holders of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange

 

8



 

Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Company or the Guarantor a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantor shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

 

(i)                                     when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

 

(ii)                                  of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(iii)                               of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

(iv)                              of the receipt by the Company and the Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

(v)                                 of the happening of any event that requires any change in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

(d)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the qualification of the Notes therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest possible time.

 

(e)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall furnish to each Holder of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(f)                                    The Company and the Guarantor shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request.  The Company and the Guarantor consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Notes in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

9



 

(g)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(h)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and each other Person required to deliver a Prospectus during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as any such Person may reasonably request.  The Company and the Guarantor, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other Person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Notes covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(i)                                     Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of Notes pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Notes or the New Notes for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request and will maintain such qualification in effect so long as required; provided that in no event shall the Company and the Guarantor be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the Initial Placement, the Registered Exchange Offer or any offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(j)                                     The Company and the Guarantor shall cooperate with the Holders of Notes to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Notes or Notes to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request.

 

(k)                                  Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company and the Guarantor shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Initial Purchasers of the Notes included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  In such circumstances, the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 4(c) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Notes and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

 

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(l)                                     Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall provide a CUSIP number for the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for such Notes or New Notes, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

 

(m)                               The Company and the Guarantor shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to its Note holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(n)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall cause the Indenture or the New Notes Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.

 

(o)                                 The Company and the Guarantor may require each Holder of Notes to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company and the Guarantor such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Notes or New Notes as the Company and the Guarantor may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement.  The Company and the Guarantor may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the Notes of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

 

(p)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall enter into such and take all other appropriate actions (including if requested an underwriting agreement in customary form) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Notes, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 7).

 

(q)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of Notes to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                  cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at

 

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the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; provided, further, that the foregoing due diligence examination shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and on behalf of other parties by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties;

 

(iii)                               if requested by any Holder, make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Notes registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv)                              if requested by any Holder, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantor and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily addressed to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;

 

(v)                                 if requested by any Holder, obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Notes registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

 

(vi)                              deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.

 

The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

(r)                                    In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

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(i)                                     make reasonably available for inspection by any Initial Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, the Guarantor, and their respective subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                  cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; provided, further, that the foregoing due diligence examination shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and on behalf of other parties by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties;

 

(iii)                               if requested by an Initial Purchaser, make such representations and warranties to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv)                              if requested by an Initial Purchaser, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantor and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope, as are customarily addressed to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel;

 

(v)                                 if requested by an Initial Purchaser, obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a “cold comfort” letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and

 

(vi)                              deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements.

 

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The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(s)                                  If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Notes, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Notes so exchanged that such Notes are being canceled in exchange for the New Notes.  In no event shall the Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

(t)                                    The Company will use its best efforts (i) if the Notes have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Notes by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, to confirm that a rating (which need not be the same rating from each such agency) will apply to the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement; or (ii) if the Notes were not previously rated, to cause the Notes covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency, if so requested by Majority Holders with respect to the related Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriters.

 

(u)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, if any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Notes or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Notes or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation, by:

 

(i)                                     if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Notes;

 

(ii)                                  indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 7 hereof; and

 

(iii)                               providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the requirements of such Rules.

 

(v)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

 

5.                                       Additional Interest

 

(a)                                  The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, will suffer damages if the Company and the Guarantor fail to perform their

 

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obligations under Section 2 or 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages.  Accordingly, in the event that:

 

(i)                                     neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement have been filed on or prior to the 90th day following the original issuance of the Notes;

 

(ii)                                  neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement have been declared effective on or prior to the 180th day following the original issuance of the Notes;

 

(iii)                               neither the Exchange Offer has been completed nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective on or prior to the 210th day following the original issuance of the Notes; or

 

(iv)                              either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement cease to be effective or usable in connection with the resales of the Notes or New Notes during a period in which it is required to be effective hereunder without being succeeded immediately by any additional Registration Statement or post-effective amendment covering the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, which has been filed and declared effective;

 

(each such event referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then additional interest (“Additional Interest”) will accrue on the principal amount of the Notes and the New Notes, respectively (in addition to the stated interest on the Notes and the New Notes), from and including the date on which any Registration Default first occurs and while any such Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, to but excluding the date on which all filings, declarations of effectiveness and consummations, as the case may be, have been achieved which, if achieved on a timely basis, would have prevented the occurrence of all of the then existing Registration Defaults.  Additional Interest will accrue at a rate of 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following such first occurrence of a Registration Default and while any such Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period up to a maximum of 0.50% per annum with respect to all Registration Defaults, until the date on which all of the filings, declarations of effectiveness and consummations referred to in the preceding sentence have been achieved, on which date the interest rate on the Notes or the New Notes, respectively, will revert to the interest rate originally borne by such notes.

 

(b)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall notify the Trustee under the Indenture (or the trustee under any New Notes Indenture) immediately upon the happening of each and every Registration Default.  The Company and the Guarantor shall pay the Additional Interest due on the Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, by depositing with the Trustee (which shall not be the Company for these purposes) for the Notes or the New Notes, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to 11:00 A.M. on the next interest payment date specified in the Indenture (or such New Notes Indenture), sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due.  The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date

 

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specified by the Indenture (or such New Notes Indenture) to the record holders entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date.

 

(c)                                  The parties hereto agree that the Additional Interest provided for in this Section 5 constitutes a reasonable estimate of the damages that will be suffered by Holders of Notes or New Notes by reason of the happening of any Registration Default.

 

(d)                                 All of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations set forth in this Section 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

6.                                       Registration Expenses.  The Company and the Guarantor shall be jointly and severally responsible to bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated as counsel acting in connection therewith.

 

7.                                       Indemnification and Contribution(a)  The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each Person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantor will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company and the Guarantor by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; provided further, that with respect to any untrue statement or omission of material fact made in any Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses purchased Notes or New Notes concerned, or any person controlling such Holders, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company and the Guarantor shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder to

 

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such person, if required by laws so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the New Notes or the Notes to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company and the Guarantor with Section 4(e)-(h) hereof.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company and the Guarantor may otherwise have.

 

The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, also agree to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section 7(d) to Losses of each underwriter of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees or agents and each Person who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(p) hereof.

 

(b)                                 Each Holder of notes covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantor, and their respective directors and officers who signs such Registration Statement and each Person who controls the Company and the Guarantor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantor to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company and the Guarantor by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.

 

(c)                                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 or notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party

 

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and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.  An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

(d)                                 In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Note or New Note be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Note, or in the case of a New Note, applicable to the Note that was exchangeable into such New Note, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the notes purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses.  If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  Benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before deducting expenses).  Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Notes or New Notes, as applicable, registered under the Securities Act.  Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses.  Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other

 

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method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section, each Person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each Person who controls the Company and the Guarantor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company and the Guarantor who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company and the Guarantor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

(e)                                  The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the Company or the Guarantor or any of the officers, directors or controlling Persons referred to in this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of Notes covered by a Registration Statement.

 

8.                                       Underwritten Registrations.  (a)  If any of the Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders.

 

(b)                                 No Person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

9.                                       No Inconsistent AgreementsNeither the Company nor the Guarantor has, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall they, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to Notes of the Company that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

10.                                 Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Majority Holders (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Notes); provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective.  Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given

 

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by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.

 

11.                                 Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(a)                                  if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11, which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.;

 

(b)                                 if to you, initially at the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and

 

(c)                                  if to the Company or the Guarantor, initially at its address:

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.
Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc.
One Harrah’s Court
Las Vegas, Nevada  89119

 

Attn:

 

Treasurer

With a copy to:

 

General Counsel

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.

 

The Initial Purchasers or the Company or the Guarantor by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

12.                                 Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company and the Guarantor thereto, subsequent Holders of Notes and the New Notes.  The Company and the Guarantor hereby agree to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Notes and the New Notes, and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

 

13.                                 Counterparts.  This agreement may be in signed counterparts, each of which shall an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

14.                                 Headings.  The headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

15.                                 Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

 

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16.                                 Severability.  In the event that any one of more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

17.                                 Notes Held by the Company, etc.  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Notes or New Notes is required hereunder, Notes or New Notes, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Notes or New Notes if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Notes or New Notes) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

22



 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.

 

 

By:

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Pamela Kendall

 

 

Name:

Pamela Kendall

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

By:

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerard L. Eastman, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Gerard L. Eastman, Jr.

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

23



 

ANNEX A

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.  This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Notes where such Notes were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business 180 days after the Expiration Date, they will make this Prospectus available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale.  See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

A-1



 

ANNEX B

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes, where such Notes were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

B-1



 

ANNEX C

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Notes where such Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale.  In addition, until [] all dealers effecting transactions in the New Notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

The Company and the Guarantor will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by brokers-dealers.  New Notes received by Broker-Dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices.  Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes.  Any Broker-Dealer that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such Persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.  The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company and the Guarantor will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any Broker-Dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holder of the Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Notes (including any Broker-Dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508.]

 

C-1



 

ANNEX D

 

Rider A

 

CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rider B

 

If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Notes in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Notes and it has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes.  If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes, it represents that the Notes to be exchanged for New Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

D-1


EX-4.6 5 a05-17026_1ex4d6.htm EX-4.6

Exhibit 4.6

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

$250,000,000

 

5.625% Senior Notes due 2015

 

ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York
September 28, 2005

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.

As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street, 37th Floor

New York, New York  10013

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated as of September 21, 2005 (the “Additional Purchase Agreement”), its 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”) relating to the initial placement of the Notes (the “Initial Placement”), which Notes are to be guaranteed by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Guarantor”).  The Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the “Original Indenture”) dated as of May 27, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) as supplemented and amended by a first supplemental indenture dated as of August 19, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) and as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture to be dated as of September 28, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and together with Original Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).  To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Additional Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition of your obligations thereunder, the Company and the Guarantor agree with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Notes (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a “Holder” and, together, the “Holders”), as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereto.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person shall mean any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the power, direct or

 



 

indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Broker-Dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Period” shall mean the 180-day period following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statementshall mean a registration statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Exchanging Dealershall mean any Holder (which may include the Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New Notes any Notes that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) for New Notes.

 

Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) hereof.

 

Guarantor” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Holdershall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Indentureshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Placementshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof.

 

2



 

Majority Holdersshall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes registered under a Registration Statement.

 

Managing Underwritersshall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.

 

New Notesshall mean debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantor, identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that the cash interest and interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture or the New Notes Indenture.

 

New Notes Indentureshall mean an indenture between the Company and the New Notes Trustee, identical in all material respects to the Indenture (except that the cash interest and interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).

 

New Notes Trusteeshall mean a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the New Notes under the New Notes Indenture.

 

Notesshall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Offering Memorandumshall have the meaning set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement.

 

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectusshall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Notes or the New Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Additional Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Registered Exchange Offershall mean the proposed offer of the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Notes that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of the New Notes.

 

Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Registration Statementshall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Notes or the New Notes pursuant to the

 

3



 

provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Registrationshall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)(ii) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statementshall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Notes or New Notes, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

Trusteeshall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.

 

underwritershall mean any underwriter of Notes in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2.                                       Registered Exchange Offer.  (a)  Unless the Registered Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantor shall prepare and, not later than 90 days following the date of the original issuance of the Notes (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer.  The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 180 days of the date of the original issuance of the Notes (or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

 

(b)                                 Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Notes for New Notes (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Notes in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, has no arrangements with any Person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Notes from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.

 

4



 

(c)                                  In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

(ii)                                  keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days and not more than 30 Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer if required by applicable law) (the “Expiration Date”);

 

(iii)                               use their best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act, supplemented and amended as required, under the Securities Act to ensure that it is available for sales of New Notes by Exchanging Dealers during the Exchange Offer Registration Period;

 

(iv)                              utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, which may be the Trustee, the New Notes Trustee or an Affiliate of either of them;

 

(v)                                 permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;

 

(vi)                              prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantor, are conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation that the Company and the Guarantor have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the New Notes to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes; and

 

(vii)                           comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

 

(d)                                 As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(ii)                                  deliver to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 4(s) all Notes so accepted for exchange; and

 

5



 

(iii)                               cause the New Notes Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Notes a principal amount of New Notes equal to the principal amount of the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

(e)                                  Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the New Notes (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction and (z) that secondary resale transactions by such Holder must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling note holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act if the resales are of New Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its Affiliates.  Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantor that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

 

(i)                                     any New Notes received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ii)                                  such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Notes or the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act; and

 

(iii)                               such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company.

 

(f)                                    If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser within 20 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Person purchasing Notes registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Notes, a like principal amount of New Notes.  The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Notes as for New Notes issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.

 

3.                                       Shelf Registration(a)  If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission’s staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days of the date hereof; or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests, within 20 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, with respect to Notes that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Notes in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; or (iv) any Holder (other than

 

6



 

an Initial Purchaser) who notifies the Company within 20 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer so requests; or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Notes in exchange for Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act in connection with sales of New Notes acquired in exchange for such Notes shall not result in such New Notes being not “freely tradeable”; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales of New Notes acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Notes acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Notes being not “freely tradeable”), the Company and the Guarantor shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

 

(b)                                 (i)                                     The Company and the Guarantor shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Securities Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Notes or the New Notes, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Notes held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Notes received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Notes constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company and the Guarantor may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(ii)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Securities Act, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Notes or New Notes, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the “Shelf Registration Period”).  The Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed not to have used their best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Notes covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Notes during that period, unless (A) such action is required by applicable law; or (B) such action is taken by the Company and the Guarantor in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the

 

7



 

Company and the Guarantor promptly thereafter comply with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.

 

(iii)                               The Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or such amendment or supplement, (A) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission; and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

4.                                       Additional Registration Procedures.  In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.

 

(a)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     furnish to you, not less than five Business Days prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein (including all documents incorporated by reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use their best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose;

 

(ii)                                  include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(iii)                               if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; and

 

(iv)                              in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders that propose to sell Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling Note holders.

 

(b)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall ensure that:

 

(i)                                     any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and

 

8



 

(ii)                                  any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall advise you, the Holders of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Company or the Guarantor a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantor shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

 

(i)                                     when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

 

(ii)                                  of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(iii)                               of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

(iv)                              of the receipt by the Company and the Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

(v)                                 of the happening of any event that requires any change in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

(d)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the qualification of the Notes therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest possible time.

 

(e)                                  The Company and the Guarantor shall furnish to each Holder of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(f)                                    The Company and the Guarantor shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without

 

9



 

charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request.  The Company and the Guarantor consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Notes in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(g)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(h)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and each other Person required to deliver a Prospectus during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as any such Person may reasonably request.  The Company and the Guarantor, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other Person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Notes covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(i)                                     Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of Notes pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Notes or the New Notes for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request and will maintain such qualification in effect so long as required; provided that in no event shall the Company and the Guarantor be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the Initial Placement, the Registered Exchange Offer or any offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(j)                                     The Company and the Guarantor shall cooperate with the Holders of Notes to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Notes or Notes to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request.

 

(k)                                  Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company and the Guarantor shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Initial Purchasers of the Notes included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  In such circumstances,

 

10



 

the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 4(c) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Notes and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

 

(l)                                     Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall provide a CUSIP number for the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for such Notes or New Notes, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

 

(m)                               The Company and the Guarantor shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to its Note holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(n)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall cause the Indenture or the New Notes Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.

 

(o)                                 The Company and the Guarantor may require each Holder of Notes to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company and the Guarantor such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Notes or New Notes as the Company and the Guarantor may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement.  The Company and the Guarantor may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the Notes of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

 

(p)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall enter into such and take all other appropriate actions (including if requested an underwriting agreement in customary form) in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Notes, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 7).

 

(q)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of Notes to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent

 

11



 

corporate documents and properties of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                  cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; provided, further, that the foregoing due diligence examination shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBS Greenwich Capital and on behalf of other parties by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties;

 

(iii)                               if requested by any Holder, make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Notes registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv)                              if requested by any Holder, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantor and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily addressed to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;

 

(v)                                 if requested by any Holder, obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Notes registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

 

(vi)                              deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.

 

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The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

(r)                                    In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(i)                                     make reasonably available for inspection by any Initial Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, the Guarantor, and their respective subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                  cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; provided, further, that the foregoing due diligence examination shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBS Greenwich Capital and on behalf of other parties by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties;

 

(iii)                               if requested by an Initial Purchaser, make such representations and warranties to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv)                              if requested by an Initial Purchaser, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantor and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope, as are customarily addressed to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel;

 

(v)                                 if requested by an Initial Purchaser, obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten

 

13



 

offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a “cold comfort” letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and

 

(vi)                              deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements.

 

The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(s)                                  If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Notes, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Notes so exchanged that such Notes are being canceled in exchange for the New Notes.  In no event shall the Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

(t)                                    The Company will use its best efforts (i) if the Notes have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Notes by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, to confirm that a rating (which need not be the same rating from each such agency) will apply to the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement; or (ii) if the Notes were not previously rated, to cause the Notes covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency, if so requested by Majority Holders with respect to the related Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriters.

 

(u)                                 In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, if any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Notes or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Notes or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation, by:

 

(i)                                     if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Notes;

 

(ii)                                  indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 7 hereof; and

 

(iii)                               providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the requirements of such Rules.

 

14



 

(v)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall use their best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

 

5.                                       Additional Interest

 

(a)                                  The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, will suffer damages if the Company and the Guarantor fail to perform their obligations under Section 2 or 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages.  Accordingly, in the event that:

 

(i)                                     neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement have been filed on or prior to the 90th day following the original issuance of the Notes;

 

(ii)                                  neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement have been declared effective on or prior to the 180th day following the original issuance of the Notes;

 

(iii)                               neither the Exchange Offer has been completed nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective on or prior to the 210th day following the original issuance of the Notes; or

 

(iv)                              either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement cease to be effective or usable in connection with the resales of the Notes or New Notes during a period in which it is required to be effective hereunder without being succeeded immediately by any additional Registration Statement or post-effective amendment covering the Notes or the New Notes, as the case may be, which has been filed and declared effective;

 

(each such event referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then additional interest (“Additional Interest”) will accrue on the principal amount of the Notes and the New Notes, respectively (in addition to the stated interest on the Notes and the New Notes), from and including the date on which any Registration Default first occurs and while any such Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, to but excluding the date on which all filings, declarations of effectiveness and consummations, as the case may be, have been achieved which, if achieved on a timely basis, would have prevented the occurrence of all of the then existing Registration Defaults.  Additional Interest will accrue at a rate of 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following such first occurrence of a Registration Default and while any such Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, and shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period up to a maximum of 0.50% per annum with respect to all Registration Defaults, until the date on which all of the filings, declarations of effectiveness and consummations referred to in the preceding sentence have been achieved, on which date the interest rate on the Notes or the New Notes, respectively, will revert to the interest rate originally borne by such notes.

 

(b)                                 The Company and the Guarantor shall notify the Trustee under the Indenture (or the trustee under any New Notes Indenture) immediately upon the happening of

 

15



 

each and every Registration Default.  The Company and the Guarantor shall pay the Additional Interest due on the Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, by depositing with the Trustee (which shall not be the Company for these purposes) for the Notes or the New Notes, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to 11:00 A.M. on the next interest payment date specified in the Indenture (or such New Notes Indenture), sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due.  The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date specified by the Indenture (or such New Notes Indenture) to the record holders entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date.

 

(c)                                  The parties hereto agree that the Additional Interest provided for in this Section 5 constitutes a reasonable estimate of the damages that will be suffered by Holders of Notes or New Notes by reason of the happening of any Registration Default.

 

(d)                                 All of the Company’s and the Guarantor’s obligations set forth in this Section 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

6.                                       Registration Expenses.  The Company and the Guarantor shall be jointly and severally responsible to bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated as counsel acting in connection therewith.

 

7.                                       Indemnification and Contribution(a)  The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each Person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantor will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company and the Guarantor by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; provided further, that with respect to any

 

16



 

untrue statement or omission of material fact made in any Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses purchased Notes or New Notes concerned, or any person controlling such Holders, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company and the Guarantor shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder to such person, if required by laws so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the New Notes or the Notes to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company and the Guarantor with Section 4(e)-(h) hereof.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company and the Guarantor may otherwise have.

 

The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, also agree to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section 7(d) to Losses of each underwriter of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees or agents and each Person who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 7(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(p) hereof.

 

(b)                                 Each Holder of notes covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantor, and their respective directors and officers who signs such Registration Statement and each Person who controls the Company and the Guarantor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantor to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company and the Guarantor by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.

 

(c)                                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 or notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding the

 

17



 

indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.  An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

(d)                                 In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Note or New Note be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Note, or in the case of a New Note, applicable to the Note that was exchangeable into such New Note, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the notes purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses.  If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  Benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before deducting expenses).  Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Notes or New Notes, as applicable, registered under the Securities Act.  Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses.  Relative fault shall

 

18



 

be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section, each Person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each Person who controls the Company and the Guarantor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company and the Guarantor who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company and the Guarantor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

(e)                                  The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the Company or the Guarantor or any of the officers, directors or controlling Persons referred to in this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of Notes covered by a Registration Statement.

 

8.                                       Underwritten Registrations.  (a)  If any of the Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders.

 

(b)                                 No Person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

9.                                       No Inconsistent AgreementsNeither the Company nor the Guarantor has, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall they, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to Notes of the Company that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

10.                                 Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Majority Holders (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Notes); provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser

 

19



 

against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective.  Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of Notes or New Notes, as the case may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.

 

11.                                 Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(a)                                  if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11, which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBS Greenwich Capital;

 

(b)                                 if to you, initially at the address set forth in the Additional Purchase Agreement; and

 

(c)                                  if to the Company or the Guarantor, initially at its address:

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.
Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc.
One Harrah’s Court
Las Vegas, Nevada  89119

 

Attn:

 

Treasurer

With a copy to:

 

General Counsel

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.

 

The Initial Purchasers or the Company or the Guarantor by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

12.                                 Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company and the Guarantor thereto, subsequent Holders of Notes and the New Notes.  The Company and the Guarantor hereby agree to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Notes and the New Notes, and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

 

13.                                 Counterparts.  This agreement may be in signed counterparts, each of which shall an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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14.                                 Headings.  The headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

15.                                 Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

 

16.                                 Severability.  In the event that any one of more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

17.                                 Notes Held by the Company, etc.  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Notes or New Notes is required hereunder, Notes or New Notes, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Notes or New Notes if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Notes or New Notes) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

 

Name:

Jonathan S. Halkyard

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written.

 

 

By:

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerard L. Eastman, Jr.

 

 

Name:

Gerard L. Eastman, Jr.

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

By:

GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert W. Mitchell

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Mitchell

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

23



 

ANNEX A

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.  This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Notes where such Notes were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business 180 days after the Expiration Date, they will make this Prospectus available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale.  See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

A-1



 

ANNEX B

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes, where such Notes were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

B-1



 

ANNEX C

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.  This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Notes where such Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale.  In addition, until [] all dealers effecting transactions in the New Notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

The Company and the Guarantor will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by brokers-dealers.  New Notes received by Broker-Dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices.  Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes.  Any Broker-Dealer that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such Persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.  The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company and the Guarantor will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any Broker-Dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal.  The Company and the Guarantor have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holder of the Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Notes (including any Broker-Dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508.]

 

C-1



 

ANNEX D

 

Rider A

 

CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rider B

 

If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Notes in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged  in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Notes and it has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes.  If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes, it represents that the Notes to be exchanged for New Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

D-1


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