0001193125-12-062872.txt : 20120215 0001193125-12-062872.hdr.sgml : 20120215 20120215125227 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-12-062872 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20120214 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: 20120215 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20120215 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000858339 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HOTELS & MOTELS [7011] 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: 12615102 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE CAESARS PALACE DRIVE CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89109 BUSINESS PHONE: 7024076000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE CAESARS PALACE DRIVE CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89109 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HARRAHS ENTERTAINMENT INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950727 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PROMUS COMPANIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 8-K 1 d300618d8k.htm FORM 8-K FORM 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

February 15, 2012 (February 14, 2012)

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

Caesars Entertainment Corporation

(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 Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

(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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Section 1—Registrant’s Business and Operations

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On February 14, 2012, Caesars Operating Escrow LLC and Caesars Escrow Corporation (the “Escrow Issuers”), wholly owned subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. (the “Company”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (the “Registrant” or the “Parent Guarantor”), completed the offering of $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8 1/2% senior secured notes due 2020 (the “notes”). The notes were offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws.

 

1. Escrow Agreement

Pursuant to an escrow agreement dated as of February 14, 2012, among U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent and securities intermediary, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture (as defined below) and the Escrow Issuers (the “Escrow Agreement”), the Escrow Issuers deposited the gross proceeds of the notes, together with additional amounts necessary to redeem the notes, if applicable, into a segregated escrow account until the date that certain escrow conditions are satisfied. The escrow conditions include, inter alia, the assumption by the Company of all obligations of the Escrow Issuers under the notes (the “CEOC Assumption”), the execution and delivery of certain amendments to the Company’s senior secured credit facilities (the “Bank Amendment”), and the application of the net proceeds from the issuance of the notes to, among other things, repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities, and pay the fees and expenses related to the issuance of the notes.

The funds held in the Escrow Account will be released to the Company upon delivery by the Company to the escrow agent and the Trustee of an officer’s certificate certifying that, prior to or concurrently with the release of funds from the Escrow Account, the escrow conditions have been met.

The Escrow Issuers granted the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the notes, a first priority security interest in the Escrow Account and all deposits therein to secure the note obligations pending disbursement.

 

2. Indenture and Senior Secured Notes due 2020

The notes, which mature on February 15, 2020, were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 14, 2012, among the Escrow Issuers, the Parent Guarantor, as parent guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”).

The Indenture provides that the notes are guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor. Upon the consummation of the CEOC Assumption and the execution and delivery of security documents creating liens securing the notes, the notes will be secured by first-priority security interests in substantially all of the property and assets held by the Company and each wholly-owned, domestic subsidiary of the Company that is a subsidiary pledgor with respect to the senior secured credit facilities.

The Indenture provides that if the escrow conditions are not satisfied on or prior to May 15, 2012 or such earlier date as the Company determines in its discretion that any of the escrow conditions cannot be satisfied, the notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption at a price of 100% of the gross proceeds of the notes offered, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The Company will pay interest on the notes at 8.50% per annum, semiannually to holders of record at the close of business on February 1 or August 1 immediately preceding the interest payment date on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2012.

The Company may redeem the notes at its option, in whole or part, at any time prior to February 15, 2016, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and a “make-whole” premium. The Company may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, on or after February 15, 2016, at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. At any time and from time to time on or before February 15, 2015, the Company may choose to redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes (calculated after giving effect to the issuance of additional notes) at a redemption price equal to 108.500% of the face amount thereof with the net proceeds of one or more equity offerings so long as at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of additional notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption.

The Indenture contains covenants that limit the Company’s (and most of its subsidiaries’) ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; (ii) pay dividends on or make other distributions in respect of its capital stock or make other restricted payments; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) sell certain assets; (v) create or permit to exist dividend and/or payment restrictions affecting its restricted subsidiaries; (vi) create liens on certain assets to secure debt; (vii) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets; (viii) enter into certain transactions with its affiliates; and (ix) designate its subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The Indenture also provides for events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding notes to be due and payable immediately.


3. Registration Rights Agreement

On February 14, 2012, in connection with the issuance of the notes, the Escrow Issuers and the Parent Guarantor entered into a registration rights agreement with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers, relating to, among other things, the exchange offer for the notes and the related guarantee (as described above) (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

Upon the consummation of the CEOC Assumption, the Company will execute a joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Parent Guarantor will use their reasonable best efforts to either (a) register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange, notes having substantially identical terms as the notes as part of offers to exchange freely tradable exchange notes for notes, or (b) cause to make available an effective shelf registration statement relating to resales of certain registrable notes.

Under option (a) above, (1) the exchange offer registration statement needs to become effective by the fifth business day following the one year anniversary of the issuance of the notes, and (2) the exchange offer needs to be completed within 45 days after the exchange offer registration statement becomes effective. Under option (b) above, (1) an effective shelf registration statement needs to be made available by the 90th day following the date on which the requirement to make such shelf registration statement arises, and (2) following effectiveness of the shelf registration statement, subject to limited exceptions, it needs to remain effective or otherwise available for more than 60 days in any 12-month period prior to the time the notes cease to be registrable notes.

If the Company and the Parent Guarantor fail to meet these targets (a “registration default”), the annual interest rate on the notes will increase by 0.25%. The annual interest rate on the notes will increase by an additional 0.25% for each subsequent 90-day period during which the registration default continues, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0% per year. If the registration default is corrected, the applicable interest rate will revert to the original level.

The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Escrow Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2—Financial Information

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers.
10.1    Escrow Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent and securities intermediary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.


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.

 

  CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Date: February 15, 2012   By:  

/s/    MICHAEL D. COHEN

    Michael D. Cohen
   

Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel

and Corporate Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

4.1    Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers.
10.1    Escrow Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012, by and among Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, Caesars Escrow Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent and securities intermediary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
EX-4.1 2 d300618dex41.htm INDENTURE Indenture

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION

as Issuer

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

as Parent Guarantor

8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 14, 2012

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
   ARTICLE I   
   DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

SECTION   1.01.

   Definitions      1   

SECTION   1.02.

   Other Definitions      41   

SECTION   1.03.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      42   

SECTION   1.04.

   Rules of Construction      42   
   ARTICLE II   
   THE NOTES   

SECTION   2.01.

   Amount of Notes      43   

SECTION   2.02.

   Form and Dating      44   

SECTION   2.03.

   Execution and Authentication      44   

SECTION   2.04.

   Registrar and Paying Agent      45   

SECTION   2.05.

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      45   

SECTION   2.06.

   Holder Lists      46   

SECTION   2.07.

   Transfer and Exchange      46   

SECTION   2.08.

   Replacement Notes      46   

SECTION   2.09.

   Outstanding Notes      47   

SECTION   2.10.

   [Intentionally Omitted.]      47   

SECTION   2.11.

   Cancellation      47   

SECTION   2.12.

   Defaulted Interest      47   

SECTION   2.13.

   CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc      48   

SECTION   2.14.

   Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes      48   

SECTION   2.15.

   Mandatory Disposition Pursuant to Gaming Laws      48   

SECTION   2.16.

   Additional Interest      48   
   ARTICLE III   
   REDEMPTION   

SECTION   3.01.

   Redemption      48   

SECTION   3.02.

   Applicability of Article      49   

SECTION   3.03.

   Notices to Trustee      49   

SECTION   3.04.

   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      49   

SECTION   3.05.

   Notice of Optional Redemption      49   

SECTION   3.06.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption      50   

SECTION   3.07.

   Deposit of Redemption Price      50   

SECTION   3.08.

   Notes Redeemed in Part      50   

SECTION   3.09.

   Special Mandatory Redemption      50   

 

-i-


          Page  
   ARTICLE IV   
   COVENANTS   

SECTION   4.01.

   Payment of Notes      51   

SECTION   4.02.

   Reports and Other Information      51   

SECTION   4.03.

   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      52   

SECTION   4.04.

   Limitation on Restricted Payments      58   

SECTION   4.05.

   Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries      64   

SECTION   4.06.

   Asset Sales      65   

SECTION   4.07.

   Transactions with Affiliates      69   

SECTION   4.08.

   Change of Control      72   

SECTION   4.09.

   Compliance Certificate      73   

SECTION   4.10.

   Further Instruments and Acts      74   

SECTION   4.11.

   Future Subsidiary Pledgors; Future Subsidiary Guarantors      74   

SECTION   4.12.

   Liens      74   

SECTION   4.13.

   After-Acquired Property      75   

SECTION   4.14.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      75   

SECTION   4.15.

   Amendment of Security Agreements      75   

SECTION   4.16.

   Covenant Suspension      75   

SECTION   4.17.

   Maintenance of Insurance      76   
   ARTICLE V   
   SUCCESSOR COMPANY   

SECTION   5.01.

   When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets      77   
   ARTICLE VI   
   DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

SECTION   6.01.

   Events of Default      79   

SECTION   6.02.

   Acceleration      81   

SECTION   6.03.

   Other Remedies      82   

SECTION   6.04.

   Waiver of Past Defaults      82   

SECTION   6.05.

   Control by Majority      82   

SECTION   6.06.

   Limitation on Suits      82   

SECTION   6.07.

   Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment      83   

SECTION   6.08.

   Collection Suit by Trustee      83   

SECTION   6.09.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      83   

SECTION   6.10.

   Priorities      83   

SECTION   6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs      84   

SECTION   6.12.

   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      84   
   ARTICLE VII   
   TRUSTEE   

SECTION   7.01.

   Duties of Trustee      84   

 

-ii-


          Page  

SECTION   7.02.

   Rights of Trustee      85   

SECTION   7.03.

   Individual Rights of Trustee      87   

SECTION   7.04.

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      87   

SECTION   7.05.

   Notice of Defaults      87   

SECTION   7.06.

   Reports by Trustee to the Holders      87   

SECTION   7.07.

   Compensation and Indemnity      87   

SECTION   7.08.

   Replacement of Trustee      88   

SECTION   7.09.

   Successor Trustee by Merger      89   

SECTION   7.10.

   Eligibility; Disqualification      89   

SECTION   7.11.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer      89   
   ARTICLE VIII   
   DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   

SECTION   8.01.

   Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance      90   

SECTION   8.02.

   Conditions to Defeasance      91   

SECTION   8.03.

   Application of Trust Money      92   

SECTION   8.04.

   Repayment to Issuer      92   

SECTION   8.05.

   Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations      92   

SECTION   8.06.

   Reinstatement      92   
   ARTICLE IX   
   AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   

SECTION   9.01.

   Without Consent of the Holders      93   

SECTION   9.02.

   With Consent of the Holders      94   

SECTION   9.03.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      95   

SECTION   9.04.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers      95   

SECTION   9.05.

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes      95   

SECTION   9.06.

   Trustee to Sign Amendments      95   

SECTION   9.07.

   Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount      96   
   ARTICLE X   
   RANKING OF NOTE LIENS   

SECTION 10.01.

   Relative Rights      96   
   ARTICLE XI   
   COLLATERAL   

SECTION 11.01.

   Security Documents      97   

SECTION 11.02.

   Collateral Agent      97   

SECTION 11.03.

   Authorization of Actions to Be Taken      98   

SECTION 11.04.

   Release of Collateral      99   

SECTION 11.05.

   Filing, Recording and Opinions      101   

SECTION 11.06.

   [Intentionally omitted.]      102   

SECTION 11.07.

   Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      102   

 

-iii-


          Page  

SECTION 11.08.

   Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations      102   

SECTION 11.09.

   Designations      103   

SECTION 11.10.

   Taking and Destruction      103   
   ARTICLE XII   
   GUARANTEE   

SECTION 12.01.

   Guarantee      103   

SECTION 12.02.

   Limitation on Liability      105   

SECTION 12.03.

   Successors and Assigns      106   

SECTION 12.04.

   No Waiver      106   

SECTION 12.05.

   Modification      106   

SECTION 12.06.

   Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Note Guarantors      106   

SECTION 12.07.

   Non-Impairment      107   
   ARTICLE XIII   
   MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 13.01.

   Trust Indenture Act Controls      107   

SECTION 13.02.

   Notices      107   

SECTION 13.03.

   Communication by the Holders with Other Holders      108   

SECTION 13.04.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      108   

SECTION 13.05.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      108   

SECTION 13.06.

   When Notes Disregarded      108   

SECTION 13.07.

   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar      108   

SECTION 13.08.

   Legal Holidays      108   

SECTION 13.09.

   GOVERNING LAW      109   

SECTION 13.10.

   No Recourse Against Others      109   

SECTION 13.11.

   Successors      109   

SECTION 13.12.

   Multiple Originals      109   

SECTION 13.13.

   Table of Contents; Headings      109   

SECTION 13.14.

   Indenture Controls      109   

SECTION 13.15.

   Severability      109   

SECTION 13.16.

   Intercreditor Agreements      109   

SECTION 13.17.

   Acts of Holders      109   

SECTION 13.18.

   Security Advice Waiver      110   

SECTION 13.19.

   Patriot Act      110   
   ARTICLE XIV   
   CEOC ASSUMPTION   

SECTION 14.01.

   CEOC Assumption      110   
Appendix A    –    Provisions Relating to Initial Notes, Additional Notes and Exchange Notes   

 

-iv-


          Page

EXHIBIT INDEX

  

Exhibit A

   –     Form of Initial Note

Exhibit B

   –     Form of Exchange Note

Exhibit C

   –     Form of Transferee Letter of Representation

Exhibit D

   –     Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to Subsidiary Guarantors

Exhibit E

   –     Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to CEOC Assumption

 

-v-


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section

       

Indenture
Section

310

   (a)(1)    7.10
   (a)(2)    7.10
   (a)(3)    N.A.
   (a)(4)    N.A.
   (b)    7.08; 7.10
   (c)    N.A.

311

   (a)    7.11
   (b)    7.11
   (c)    N.A.

312

   (a)    2.06
   (b)    13.03
   (c)    13.03

313

   (a)    7.06
   (b)(1)    N.A.
   (b)(2)    7.06
   (c)    7.06
   (d)    4.02; 4.09

314

   (a)    4.02; 4.09
   (b)    N.A.
   (c)(1)    13.04
   (c)(2)    13.04
   (c)(3)    N.A.
   (d)    N.A.
   (e)    13.05
   (f)    4.10

315

   (a)    7.01
   (b)    7.05
   (c)    7.01
   (d)    7.01
   (e)    6.11

316

   (a)(last sentence)    13.06
   (a)(1)(A)    6.05
   (a)(1)(B)    6.04
   (a)(2)    N.A.
   (b)    6.07

317

   (a)(1)    6.08
   (a)(2)    6.09
   (b)    2.05

318

   (a)    13.01

N.A. Means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

-vi-


INDENTURE dated as of February 14, 2012 among CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (together, the “Escrow Issuers” or the “Issuer,” provided that, for purposes of this Indenture, prior to the CEOC Assumption (as defined herein), the references to the “Issuer” in this Indenture refer only to the Escrow Issuers; after the consummation of the CEOC Assumption, the references to the “Issuer” only refer to Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and not to any of its subsidiaries), CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of (i) $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020 issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Notes”), and (ii) exchange notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (the “Exchange Notes”) and (iii) Additional Notes issued from time to time as either Initial Notes or Exchange Notes (together with the Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes, the “Notes”):

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Acquisition” means the acquisition by Affiliates of the Sponsors of substantially all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Caesars Entertainment Corporation, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Acquisition Documents” means the Merger Agreement and any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time prior to the Issue Date or thereafter.

Acquisition Transactions” means the transactions described in the Offering Memorandum under the section titled “Acquisition Transactions.”

Additional First Lien Secured Party” means the holders of any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, including the holders of the Notes, and any Authorized Representative with respect thereto, including the Trustee.

Additional First Priority Lien Obligations” means the Notes Obligations and any Other First Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness incurred under clause (i) of the definition of Credit Agreement) and secured by the Common Collateral on a first priority basis pursuant to the Security Documents.


Additional Notes” means Notes issued under the terms of this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date.

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 purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means 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, by agreement or otherwise.

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Note; and

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at February 15, 2016 (such redemption price being set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Note) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through February 15, 2016 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date, or in the case of a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance under this Indenture, the Treasury Rate as of two Business Days prior to the date on which funds to pay the Notes are deposited with the Trustee, plus 50 basis points; as calculated by the Issuer, over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of the Note.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/ Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

 

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(d) any disposition of assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of less than $50.0 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(f) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(j) any sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property;

(l) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(m) a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(n) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;

(o) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(p) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(q) any disposition made pursuant to an Operations Management Agreement;

 

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(r) the sale of any property in a Sale/Leaseback Transaction within six months of the acquisition of such property;

(s) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements; and

(t) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind.

Authorized Representative” means (i) in the case of any Credit Agreement Obligations or the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement, (ii) in the case of the Notes Obligations or the holders of the Notes, the Trustee and (iii) in the case of any Series of Additional First Priority Lien Obligations or Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Authorized Representative named for such Series in the applicable joinder agreement.

Bank Amendment” means the definitive documentation for the amendment to the Credit Agreement as contemplated under the heading “Recent Developments—Offering Transactions” in the Offering Memorandum.

Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

Caesars Entertainment” means Caesars Entertainment Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

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Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and such Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

 

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CEOC” means Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

CEOC Assumption” means the consummation of the transactions whereby CEOC will assume all of the obligations of Caesars Operating Escrow LLC and Caesars Escrow Corporation under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture and other agreements, as applicable.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of either of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person other than any of the Permitted Holders; or

(2) the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of (prior to a Qualified Public Offering or upon or after an Issuer Public Offering) the Issuer or (upon or after a Holdco Qualified Public Offering) the Holdco Issuer.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Security Documents.

Collateral Agent” means the First Lien Collateral Agent and any successor thereto in such capacity.

Collateral Agreement” means the amended and restated collateral agreement among the Issuer, each Subsidiary Pledgor and Bank of America, N.A., as Collateral Agent, dated as of June 10, 2009, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and this Indenture.

Common Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more Series of First Priority Lien Obligations (or their respective Authorized Representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two Series of First Priority Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all Series of First Priority Lien Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time then such Collateral shall constitute Common Collateral for those Series of First Priority Lien Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Common Collateral for any Series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Conditions Precedent Date” means May 15, 2012.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization

 

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of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and Capitalized Software Expenditures and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations and excluding additional interest in respect of the Notes, amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees); plus

(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

(3) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any Receivables Financing which are payable to Persons other than the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; minus

(4) interest income for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Indebtedness (other than Qualified Non-Recourse Debt) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents in excess of any Restricted Cash that would be stated on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and held by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination to (ii) EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is made (the “Consolidated Leverage Calculation Date”), then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions) and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has

 

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determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Consolidated Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions), discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, with respect to each New Project that commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during the four-quarter reference period, the operating results of such New Project will be annualized on a straight-line basis during such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions) and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 for Caesars Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided, however, that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and any fees, expenses, charges or change in control payments made under the Acquisition Documents or otherwise related to the Acquisition Transactions or the Offering Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

 

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(2) effects of purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and such Restricted Subsidiaries) in amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Acquisition Transactions or any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(3) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(4) any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Issuer) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary of such referent Person) in respect of such period;

(8) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (1) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Pledgor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, to the extent not already included therein;

(9) an amount equal to the amount of Tax Distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

(10) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

 

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(11) any non-cash expense realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other rights, shall be excluded;

(12) any (a) one-time non-cash compensation charges, (b) costs and expenses after the Issue Date related to employment of terminated employees, or (c) costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights existing on the Issue Date of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded;

(13) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within 12 months after the Issue Date and that are so required to be established or adjusted in accordance with GAAP or as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(14) solely for purposes of calculating EBITDA, (a) the Net Income of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be calculated without deducting the income attributable to, or adding the losses attributable to, the minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary except to the extent of dividends declared or paid in respect of such period or any prior period on the shares of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by such third parties and (b) any ordinary course dividend, distribution or other payment paid in cash and received from any Person in excess of amounts included in clause (7) above shall be included;

(15) (a)(i) the non-cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense shall be excluded and (ii) the cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included and (b) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(16) any currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness, and any net loss or gain resulting from hedging transactions for currency exchange risk, shall be excluded; and

(17) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (a) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (b) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such Section pursuant to clauses (D) and (E) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit.”

Consolidated Non-cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the non-cash expenses (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses

 

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represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

Consolidated Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations) and any Tax Distributions taken into account in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Credit Agreement” means (i) the credit agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008, entered into in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition, among the Issuer, the pledgors named therein, the financial institutions named therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Agreement Agent” has the meaning given to the term “Administrative Agent” in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Credit Agreement Documents” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, from time to time.

Credit Agreement Obligations” means the Obligations in respect of the Credit Agreement.

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Cumulative Credit” means the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period), from January 1, 2008 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash, received by the Issuer after February 1, 2008 (other than net proceeds to the extent such net proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xii)) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Issuer received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash after February 1, 2008 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xii)), plus

(D) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after February 1, 2008 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished), plus

(E) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of property other than cash received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(I) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any of its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b)),

(II) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

(III) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(F) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the Investment of the Issuer in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (which, if the Fair Market Value of such investment shall exceed $250.0 million, shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, a copy of the resolution of which with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee) at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

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

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

Destruction” means any damage to, loss or destruction of all or any portion of the Collateral.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

 

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in each case prior to 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Domestic Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Fixed Charges; plus

(3) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense; plus

(4) Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus

(5) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the Incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Bank Indebtedness, (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes or other Indebtedness, (iii) any additional interest in respect of the Notes and (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(6) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); plus

(7) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Sponsors (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 4.07; plus

(8) the amount of loss on sale of receivables and related assets to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; plus

(9) any costs or expense Incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Pledgor or net cash proceeds of

 

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an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(10) Pre-Opening Expenses; less, without duplication,

(11) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period).

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or such direct or indirect parent’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012 among U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent and securities intermediary, the Trustee, CEOC and the Escrow Issuers.

Escrow Conditions” means the following conditions: (a) the Bank Amendment has been fully executed and delivered; (b) the joinders and consents to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents required to create the Liens in the Collateral securing the Notes Obligations have been executed and delivered on the terms described under “Description of First Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum; (c) a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Initial Notes have been applied to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement; (d) the CEOC Assumption has been consummated and CEOC, as the obligor in respect of the Notes Obligations, has assumed all of the obligations of the Escrow Issuers under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture; (e) CEOC has executed a joinder to the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and (f) the Issuer has received approval from the applicable gaming authorities for the issuance of the Initial Notes and the Bank Amendment.

Escrow Redemption Date” means a day selected by the Issuers that is not more than 30 business days following the Conditions Precedent Date.

Escrow Redemption Price” means an amount of cash equal to $1,250,000,000, plus interest accrued on $1,250,000,000 from the Issue Date to, but excluding, the Escrow Redemption Date, calculated using a rate of 8.50% per annum.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.

Excluded Assets” means the property and other assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiary Pledgors that is excluded from the grant of security interest in favor of the First Lien Collateral Agent, on behalf of the New First Lien Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Agreement.

Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

Existing First Lien Notes” means the Issuer’s 11.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 issued under the Existing First Lien Notes Indenture.

Existing First Lien Notes Indenture” means the Indenture among the Issuer, Caesars Entertainment and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, dated June 10, 2009, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Existing First Lien Notes Secured Parties” means, at any relevant time, the holders of Obligations under the Existing First Lien Notes at such time, including without limitation the trustee and the holders of the notes (including the holders of Additional Notes subsequently issued under and in compliance with the terms of the Existing First Lien Notes Indenture).

Existing Notes” means the Issuer’s 5.375% Senior Notes due 2013, 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015, 6.500% Senior Notes due 2016, 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017, 10.75% Senior Notes due 2016 and 10.75%/11.50% Senior Toggle Notes due 2018.

Existing Second Lien Notes” means the Issuer’s (1) 12.75% Second-Priority Notes due 2018 issued under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated April 16, 2010, and (2) 10.0% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2015 and 10.0% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2018 issued under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated December 24, 2008 and (3) 10.0% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2018 issued under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated April 15, 2009.

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

First Lien Collateral Agent” shall mean Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders and other secured parties under the Credit Agreement and the other First Lien Document and in its capacity as collateral agent for the New First Lien

 

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Secured Parties, together with its successors and permitted assigns under the Credit Agreement, the Indenture and the First Lien Documents exercising substantially the same rights and powers; and in each case provided that if such First Lien Collateral Agent is not Bank of America, N.A., such First Lien Collateral Agent shall have become a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other applicable First Lien Security Documents.

First Lien Documents” means the credit, guarantee and security documents governing the New First Priority Lien Obligations, including, without limitation, the Indenture and the First Lien Security Documents.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2009, among the First Lien Collateral Agent, Bank of America, N.A., as authorized representative for the holders of the obligations under the Credit Agreement, U.S. Bank National Association, as the Trustee, as authorized representative for the noteholders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as authorized representative for the holders of the obligations under the Existing First Lien Notes, and consented to by the Issuer and the Parent Guarantor, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time.

First Lien Secured Parties” means (a) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, (b) the Existing First Lien Notes Secured Parties, (c) the New First Lien Secured Parties and (d) any Additional First Lien Secured Parties.

First Lien Security Documents” means the Security Documents and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted securing New First Priority Lien Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case to the extent relating to the Collateral securing both the New First Priority Lien Obligations and any Junior Lien Obligations.

First Priority After-Acquired Property” means any property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor that secures any Secured Bank Indebtedness that is not already subject to the Lien under the Security Documents, other than any Excluded Assets.

First Priority Liens” means the Liens securing the Obligations of the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture and all present and future Liens securing Other First Priority Lien Obligations as set forth in the Collateral Agreement.

First Priority Lien Obligations” means (i) all Secured Bank Indebtedness, (ii) all Obligations in respect of the Existing First Lien Notes, (iii) all Notes Obligations and (iv) all other Obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Secured Bank Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges (other than Fixed Charges in respect of Qualified Non-Recourse Debt) of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Qualified Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated

 

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but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions) and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions), discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, with respect to each New Project that commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during the four-quarter reference period, the operating results of such New Project will be annualized on a straight line basis during such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions), and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 for Caesars Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

 

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For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

Gaming Authorities” means, in any jurisdiction in which Issuer or any of its subsidiaries manages or conducts any casino, gaming business or activities, the applicable gaming board, commission, or other governmental gaming regulatory body or agency which (a) has, or may at any time after issuance of the Notes have, jurisdiction over the gaming activities of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, or any successor to such authority or (b) is, or may at any time after the issuance of the Notes be, responsible for interpreting, administering and enforcing the Gaming Laws.

Gaming Laws” means all applicable constitutions, treaties, laws and statutes pursuant to which any Gaming Authority possesses regulatory, licensing or permit authority over gaming, gambling or casino activities, and all rules, rulings, orders, ordinances or regulations of any Gaming Authority applicable to the gambling, casino or gaming businesses or activities of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries in any jurisdiction, as in effect from time to time, including the policies, interpretations and administration thereof by the Gaming Authorities.

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guaranteed Notes Indenture” means the indenture dated as of February 1, 2008, among the Issuer, the note guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee relating to the Issuer’s 10.75% Senior Notes due 2016 and 10.75% / 11.5% Senior Toggle Notes due 2018, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

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Guarantor” means the Parent Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty and Pledge Agreement and any Subsidiary that executes a supplemental indenture and provides a guarantee in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof.

Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement dated as of January 28, 2008, among Bank of America, N.A., as agent under the Credit Agreement Documents, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Guaranteed Notes Indenture, Citibank N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent under the Senior Interim Loan Facility and the Issuer, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Guaranty and Pledge Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Guaranty and Pledge Agreement dated as of January 28, 2008 (as amended and restated on June 10, 2009) made by Hamlet Merger Inc. (which was merged on January 28, 2008 with and into Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation)), in favor of the Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

Holdco Issuer” means the issuer in any Holdco Qualified Public Offering.

Holdco Qualified Public Offering” means any Qualified Public Offering in which a direct or indirect parent of the Issuer is the issuer.

holder” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that constitutes (i) a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP

 

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and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) Obligations under or in respect of Qualified Receivables Financing or (5) obligations under the Acquisition Documents.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

 

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(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Issue Date” means February 14, 2012.

Issuer Public Offering” means a Qualified Public Offering by the Issuer.

Junior Lien Obligations” means the Existing Second Lien Notes and Obligations with respect to other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the Second Lien Notes Indentures, the Credit Agreement and this Indenture, which is by its terms intended to be secured equally and ratably with the Existing Second Lien Notes or on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Existing Second Lien Notes; provided such Lien is permitted to be incurred under the Second Lien Notes Indentures, the Credit Agreement and this Indenture.

 

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Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Long-Term Retained Notes” means the Issuer’s 5.625% Senior Notes due 2015, 6.500% Senior Notes due 2016 and 5.75% Senior Notes due 2017, in each case, to the extent outstanding after completion of the Transactions.

Management Group” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable.

Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Hamlet Holdings LLC, Hamlet Merger Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation), dated as of December 19, 2006, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time prior to the Issue Date or thereafter, in accordance with its terms.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Mortgaged Properties” means the Real Properties owned or leased by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor encumbered by a Mortgage to secure the First Priority Lien Obligations.

Mortgages” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Insurance Proceeds” means the insurance proceeds (excluding liability insurance proceeds payable to the Trustee for any loss, liability or expense incurred by it and excluding the proceeds of business interruption insurance) or condemnation awards actually received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Destruction or Taking of all or any portion of the Collateral, net of:

(1) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and fees relating to such Taking or Destruction (including, without limitation, expenses of attorneys and insurance adjusters); and

(2) repayment of Indebtedness that is secured by the property or assets that are the subject of such Taking or Destruction; provided that, in the case of any Destruction or Taking involving Collateral, the Lien securing such Indebtedness constitutes a Lien permitted by this Indenture to be senior to the First Priority Liens.

 

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Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(i)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

New First Lien Secured Parties” means, at any relevant time, the holders of New First Priority Lien Obligations at such time, including without limitation the Trustee and the holders of the Notes (including the holders of any Additional Notes subsequently issued under and in compliance with the terms of this Indenture).

New First Priority Lien Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor arising under this Indenture and any other First Lien Documents, whether or not direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Issuer, any Subsidiary Pledgor or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding in bankruptcy or insolvency law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

New Project” means each capital project which is either a new project or a new feature of an existing project owned by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries which receives a certificate of completion or occupancy and all relevant licenses, and in fact commences operations.

Note Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations in respect of the Exchange Notes and guarantees thereof (including all interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding).

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

 

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Offering Memorandum” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated February 9, 2012, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

Offering Transactions” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Offering Memorandum.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, which meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Operations Management Agreement” means each of the real estate management agreements and any other operating management agreement entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with Caesars Entertainment or with any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, including, without limitation, any Real Estate Subsidiary, and any and all modifications thereto, substitutions therefor and replacements thereof so long as such modifications, substitutions and replacements are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the terms of such agreements as in effect on the Issue Date.

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

Other First Priority Lien Obligations” means other Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is equally and ratably secured with the Notes as permitted by this Indenture and is designated by the Issuer as an Other First Priority Lien Obligation; provided that an authorized representative on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has executed joinders to the Security Documents in the form or substantially in the form provided therein.

Parent Guarantee” means a Note Guarantee of Caesars Entertainment and its successors.

Parent Guarantor” means Caesars Entertainment and its successors.

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and

(2) with respect to any Subsidiary Pledgor, its obligations in respect of the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Notes.

Permitted Holders” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsors, (ii) the Management Group, (iii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Issuer and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the

 

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Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) advances to employees, taken together with all other advances made pursuant to this clause (6), not to exceed $25.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(ix);

(9) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time

 

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outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) 4.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $950.0 million and (y) 4.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, as applicable; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (C) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit”;

(13) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (vi), (vii), (xi) and (xii)(b) of such Section);

(14) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(15) guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.03 and Section 4.11, including, without limitation, any guarantee or other obligation issued or Incurred under the Credit Agreement in connection with any letter of credit issued for the account of Caesars Entertainment or any of its subsidiaries (including with respect to the issuance of, or payments in respect of drawings under, such letters of credit);

(16) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(17) any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness;

 

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(18) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customer’s group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(19) any Investment in an entity which is not a Restricted Subsidiary to which a Restricted Subsidiary sells accounts receivable pursuant to a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(20) additional Investments in joint ventures not to exceed at any one time in the aggregate outstanding under this clause (20) the greater of $350.0 million and 2.0% of Total Assets; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (20) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (20) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(21) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; and

(22) any Investment in any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

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(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03, (B) Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Issuer to exceed 4.50 to 1.00 and, provided that, with respect to Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations permitted under this subclause (B), the Notes are secured by Liens on the property or assets subject to such Liens on at least a pari passu basis with the Liens securing all such First Priority Lien Obligations, with the priority and subject to intercreditor arrangements, in each case no less favorable to the holders of the Notes than those contemplated by Article XI of this Indenture; (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (iii), (xi), (xv), (xix) or (xxii) of Section 4.03(b) (provided that (1) in the case of clause (iii), such Lien extends only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any proceeds or products thereof, (2) in the case of clause (xix), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Issuer other than a Foreign Subsidiary, and (3) in the case of clause (xxii) such Lien applies solely to acquired property or asset of the acquired entity, as the case may be) and (D) Liens securing the Notes Obligations;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Credit Agreement);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

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(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(15) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(17) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided further, however, that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) for purposes of the definition of Secured Bank Indebtedness;

 

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(21) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens securing obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $100.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution; and

(29) Liens that rank junior to the Liens securing the Notes and securing the Junior Lien Obligations.

For purposes of this definition, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing clauses (1) through (29), any Lien that secures Retained Notes or Long-Term Retained Notes shall not under any circumstances be deemed Permitted Liens.

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

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Pre-Opening Expenses” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of expenses (other than interest expense) Incurred with respect to capital projects that are classified as “pre-opening expenses” on the applicable financial statements of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Project Financing” means (1) any Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financing, purchase money Indebtedness or other Indebtedness Incurred in connection with the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement, improvement or financing related to any of the Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, the retail facilities related to the Margaritaville Casino & Resort and the

 

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planned casino and hotel in the community of Ciudad Real, Spain or any refinancing of any such Indebtedness that does not extend to any assets other than the assets listed above and (2) any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any of Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, the retail facilities related to the Margaritaville Casino & Resort and the planned casino and hotel in the community of Ciudad Real, Spain.

Qualified Public Offering” means any underwritten public Equity Offering.

Qualified Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness that (1) is (a) Incurred by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property and whether in a single acquisition or a series of related acquisitions) or (b) assumed by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (2) is non-recourse to the Issuer and any Subsidiary Pledgor and (3) is non-recourse to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary” means (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor and that is formed or created after the Issue Date in order to finance an acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property or equipment (directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) that secures Qualified Non-Recourse Debt and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1) the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the Receivables Subsidiary;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer); and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure Bank Indebtedness, Indebtedness in respect of the Notes or any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15cs-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Real Estate Facility” means the mortgage financing and mezzanine financing arrangements between the Real Estate Subsidiaries, which are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment, and JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and its successors and assigns, on behalf of the noteholders dated as of January 28, 2008, as amended, restated, supplemented, extended, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Real Estate Subsidiary” means those Subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment that are party to (prior to, on or after the Issue Date) the Real Estate Facility (and their respective Subsidiaries) secured by the Real Property collateralizing such facility on the Issue Date plus any additional Real Property sold, contributed or transferred to such Subsidiaries by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether directly or indirectly through the sale, contribution or transfer of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary the assets of which are comprised solely of such Real Property) subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.06.

Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interests (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all buildings, structures, parking areas and improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Record Date” has the meaning specified in Exhibits A and B hereto.

Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries); and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations entered into by the Issuer or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

Receivables Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables Financing with the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

 

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(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and

(c) to which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Indebtedness; provided that if, and for so long as, such Indebtedness lacks such a Representative, then the Representative for such Indebtedness shall at all times constitute the holder or holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of obligations under such Indebtedness.

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Cash” means cash and Cash Equivalents held by Restricted Subsidiaries that are contractually restricted from being distributed to the Issuer, except for (i) such cash and Cash Equivalents subject only to such restrictions that are contained in agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture and that are secured by such cash or Cash Equivalents and (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents constituting “cage cash.”

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Retained Notes” means the Issuer’s 5.500% Senior Notes due 2010, 8.00% Senior Notes due 2011, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2013, 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, and 8.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.

 

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Reversion Date” means the date on which one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement among the Credit Agreement Agent, the trustee under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated December 24, 2008, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, dated as of December 24, 2008, as supplemented by the joinder and supplement to the intercreditor agreement by the trustee under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated April 15, 2009, the agent and the other parties from time to time party thereto dated April 15, 2009, as further supplemented by the joinder and supplement to the intercreditor agreement by the trustee under the Second Lien Notes Indenture dated April 16, 2010, the agent and the other parties from time to time party thereto dated May 20, 2010, and as it may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Second Lien Notes Indentures” means (1) the Indenture among the Issuer, Caesars Entertainment and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, dated December 24, 2008, (2) the Indenture among the Issuer, Caesars Entertainment and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, dated April 15, 2009, and (3) the Indenture among the Issuer, Caesars Entertainment and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, dated April 16, 2010, in each case as they may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Second Lien Notes Obligations” means the Obligations in respect of the Existing Second Lien Notes and any Junior Lien Obligations that are secured equally and ratably with the Existing Second Lien Notes.

Secured Bank Indebtedness” means any Bank Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien incurred or deemed incurred pursuant to clause (6)(B) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) less the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents in excess of any Restricted Cash held by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination to (ii) EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior

 

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to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “Secured Leverage Calculation Date”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions) and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions), discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, with respect to each New Project that commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during the four-quarter reference period, the operating results of such New Project will be annualized on a straight line basis during such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions) and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 for Caesars Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Security Documents” means the Collateral Agreement and the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, creating the security interests in the Collateral as contemplated by this Indenture.

Senior Interim Loan Facility” means the interim loan agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008, by and among the Issuer, as borrower, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent, including any guarantees, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications or restatements thereof.

Series” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) the Existing First Lien Notes Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) (iii) the holders of the Notes and the Trustee, each in their capacity as such) and (iv) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the date hereof that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Secured Parties) and (b) with respect to any First Priority Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Obligations, (ii) the Obligations under the Existing First Lien Notes, (iii) the Notes Obligations and (iv) the Additional First Priority Lien Obligations incurred pursuant to any applicable agreement, which pursuant to any joinder agreement, are to be represented under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Priority Lien Obligations).

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

Sponsors” means (i) Apollo Management, L.P. and any of its respective Affiliates other than any portfolio companies (collectively, the “Apollo Sponsors”), (ii) Texas Pacific Group and any of its respective Affiliates other than any portfolio companies (collectively, the “Texas Pacific Sponsors”), (iii) any individual who is a partner or employee of an Apollo Sponsor or a Texas Pacific Sponsor that is licensed by a relevant gaming authority on the Issue Date or thereafter replaces such licensee and (iv) any Person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with any Apollo Sponsors and/or Texas Pacific Sponsors; provided that the Apollo Sponsors and/or the Texas Pacific Sponsors (x) own a majority of the voting power and (y) control a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer which the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

 

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Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and (b) with respect to any Subsidiary Pledgor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Pledgor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to obligations in respect of the Notes.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Subsidiary Pledgor” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that pledges its property and assets to secure the Notes, as provided in the Security Documents; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary of the Issuer from its obligations to pledge its assets and property to secure the Notes in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary of the Issuer ceases to be a Subsidiary Pledgor.

Suspension Period” means the period of time between a Covenant Suspension Event and the related Reversion Date.

Taking” means any taking of all or any portion of the Collateral by condemnation or other eminent domain proceedings, pursuant to any law, general or special, or by reason of the temporary requisition of the use or occupancy of all or any portion of the Collateral by any governmental authority, civil or military, or any sale pursuant to the exercise by any such governmental authority of any right which it may then have to purchase or designate a purchaser or to order a sale of all or any portion of the Collateral.

Tax Distributions” means any distributions described in Section 4.04(b)(xii).

TIA” or “Trustee Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer, without giving effect to any amortization of the amount of intangible assets since February 1, 2008.

Transfer Restricted Notes” means, each and collectively, the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and the Transfer Restricted Global Notes.

Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date, or two Business Days prior to the deposit of funds to pay the Notes with the Trustee in the case of a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance under this Indenture, of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and

 

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published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to February 15, 2016; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to February 15, 2016, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trust Officer” means:

(1) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and

(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Issuer) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, further, however, that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a), or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

 

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for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, and without any further condition, qualification or action hereunder, subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date under the indentures for the Existing Notes, the Existing First Lien Notes Indenture and the Second Lien Notes Indentures will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository 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 depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Additional Interest”

   Appendix A

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(b)

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period”

   4.06(e)

“Collateral Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.16

“Custodian”

   6.01

“Definitive Note”

   Appendix A

“Depository”

   Appendix A

“Disqualified Holder”

   2.15

“Escrow Issuers”

   Preamble

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“Exchange Notes”

   Preamble

“Global Notes”

   Appendix A

“Global Notes Legend”

   Appendix A

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   12.01(a)

“IAI”

   Appendix A

“incorporated provision”

   13.01

“Initial Guarantee Event”

   4.11(b)

“Initial Notes”

   Preamble

“Initial Purchasers”

   Appendix A

“Issuer”

   Preamble

“legal defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Notes”

   Preamble

“Notes Custodian”

   Appendix A

“Notice of Default”

   6.01

“Offer Period”

   4.06(d)

“Paying Agent”

   2.04(a)

“protected purchaser”

   2.08

“QIB”

   Appendix A

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.03(b)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)

“Registered Exchange Offer”

   Appendix A

“Registrar”

   2.04(a)

“Registration Rights Agreement”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S Notes”

   Appendix A

“Restricted Notes Legend”

   Appendix A

“Restricted Payment”

   4.04(a)

“Restricted Period”

   Appendix A

“Retired Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)

 

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Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Reversion Date”

   4.16

“Rule 501”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A Notes”

   Appendix A

“Second Commitment”

   4.06(b)

“Shelf Registration Statement”

   Appendix A

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01(a)

“Successor Parent Guarantor”

   5.01

“Successor Subsidiary Pledgor”

   5.01(b)

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.16

“Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes”

   Appendix A

“Transfer Restricted Global Notes”

   Appendix A

“Unrestricted Definitive Notes”

   Appendix A

“Unrestricted Global Notes”

   Appendix A

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated in and made part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

Commission” means the SEC.

indenture securities” means the Notes and any Note Guarantee.

indenture security holder” means a holder.

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

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

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and each Guarantor and any other obligor on 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 have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. 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 GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

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

 

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(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(j) “$” and “U.S. dollars” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; and

(k) whenever in this Indenture or the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $1,250,000,000.

The Issuer may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Notes is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Additional Notes are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 3.06, 4.06(f), 4.08(c) or Appendix A), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture,

(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue;

(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or

 

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in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof; and

(4) if applicable, that such Additional Notes that are not Transfer Restricted Notes shall not be issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit A, but shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit B.

If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.

The Initial Notes, including any Additional Notes, may, at the Issuer’s option, be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes issued other than as Transfer Restricted Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Pledgor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000, (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein and (c) the Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Initial Notes exchanged pursuant thereto or otherwise pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. Such order shall specify the amount of separate Note certificates to be authenticated, the principal amount of each of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the registered holder of each of the Notes and delivery instructions and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

 

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

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, 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 any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The term “Paying Agent” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and the Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

(b) The Issuer may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying

 

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Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder 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 holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business 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 holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange. The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements

 

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of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes. Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. [Intentionally Omitted.]

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation. The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest. If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

 

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SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc. The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided, however, 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 that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

SECTION 2.15. Mandatory Disposition Pursuant to Gaming Laws. Each person that holds or acquires beneficial ownership of any of the Notes shall be deemed to have agreed, by accepting such Notes, that if any Gaming Authority requires such person to be approved, licensed, qualified or found suitable under applicable Gaming Laws, such holder or beneficial owner, as the case may be, shall apply for a license, qualification or finding of suitability within the required time period.

If a person required to apply or become licensed or qualified or be found suitable fails to do so (a “Disqualified Holder”), the Issuer shall have the right, at its election, (1) to require such person to dispose of its Notes or beneficial interest therein within 30 days of receipt of notice of such election or such earlier date as may be required by such Gaming Authority or (2) to redeem such Notes at a redemption price that, unless otherwise directed by such Gaming Authority, shall be at a redemption price that is equal to the lesser of:

(a) such person’s cost, or

(b) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the earlier of (i) the redemption date or (ii) the date such person became a Disqualified Holder.

The Issuer shall notify the Trustee and applicable Gaming Authority in writing of any such redemption as soon as practicable. The Issuer shall not be responsible for any costs or expenses any such holder may Incur in connection with its application for a license, qualification or finding of suitability.

SECTION 2.16 Additional Interest. The Company shall notify the Trustee within five Business Days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”).

 

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ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Redemption. The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the forms of Note set forth in Exhibit A and B hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article. Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee. If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Note, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 33 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, as well as such notice required to be delivered under Section 3.05 below. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or by lot, or as the rules and procedures of the Depository require; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $2,000. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption.

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, the Issuer shall deliver a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

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

 

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(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section at least one Business Day prior to the date such notice is to be provided to holders in the final form such notice is to be delivered to holders and such notice may not be canceled.

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final sentence of paragraph 5 of the Notes. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other holder.

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price. With respect to any Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the holder (at the Issuer’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

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SECTION 3.09. Special Mandatory Redemption. In the event that upon the earlier of (x) the date on which the Issuer determines in its sole discretion that any of the Escrow Conditions cannot be satisfied and (y) the Conditions Precedent Date, the Release Request (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) remains undelivered or the Escrow Issuers determine that any of the Escrow Conditions cannot be satisfied prior to the Conditions Precedent Date, the Escrow Issuers shall be required to redeem the Notes on the Escrow Redemption Date at the Escrow Redemption Price. If the Escrow Issuers are required to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Escrow Issuers shall cause the notice of special mandatory redemption to be delivered to the Trustee at least six Business Days prior to the Escrow Redemption Date and the Trustee shall deliver the notice of special mandatory redemption to each noteholder on the next Business Day after the Trustee’s receipt thereof. Any redemption made pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the Escrow Agreement; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, the notice provisions of Sections 3.03 and 3.05 shall not apply to any special mandatory redemption effected pursuant to this Section 3.09.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern time money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuer shall file with the SEC (and provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC),

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form), and

 

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(iv) any other information, documents and other reports which the Issuer would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Issuer will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subject, in the case of any such information, certificates or reports provided prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, to exceptions consistent with the presentation of financial information in the Offering Memorandum.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to furnish any information, certificates or reports required by Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) In the event that:

(i) the rules and regulations of the SEC permit the Issuer and any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to report at such parent entity’s level on a consolidated basis and such parent entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the capital stock of the Issuer, or

(ii) any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer is or becomes a Guarantor of the Notes,

consolidating reporting at the parent entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section 4.02 and furnishing financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent for the Issuer will satisfy this Section 4.02; provided that such financial information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such direct or indirect parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer, the Subsidiary Pledgors and the other Subsidiaries of the Issuer on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

(c) The Issuer will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Issuer has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the holders if the Issuer has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, the requirements of this Section 4.02 shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offers contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by (1) the filing with the SEC of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, if such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a) and/or (2) the posting of reports that would be required to be provided to the Trustee and the holders on the Issuer’s website (or that of any of its parent companies).

 

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SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) (i) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Subsidiary Pledgor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer and any Subsidiary Pledgor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and, subject to Section 4.03(c), any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder up to an aggregate principal amount of $11,000 million outstanding at any one time (including any Indebtedness Incurred and represented by the Notes or any Other First Priority Lien Obligations of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, the proceeds of which Notes or Other First Priority Lien Obligations are used to repay Indebtedness under such Credit Agreement);

(ii) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (i) of this Section 4.03(b));

(iii) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets);

(iv) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(v) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Acquisition Transactions or any other acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

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(vi) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (vi);

(vii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (vii);

(viii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Subsidiary Pledgor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Pledgor in respect of the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (viii);

(ix) (A) Hedging Obligations entered into in connection with the Acquisition Transactions and (B) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; or (3) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales;

(x) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xi) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or, subject to Section 4.03(c), Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xi),

 

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does not exceed the greater of $1,100 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xi) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xi) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xi));

(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference not greater than 200.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer (which proceeds are contributed to the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiary) or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (B) and (C) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit” to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.04(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

(xiii) any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations with respect to the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the obligations of such Subsidiary Pledgor in respect of the Notes, as applicable and (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Issuer, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.11 solely to the extent such Section is applicable;

(xiv) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (ii), (iii), (xi), (xii), (xiv), (xv), (xix) and (xxiii) of this Section 4.03(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

 

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(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or such obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; and

(3) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Pledgor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary:

provided, further, that subclause (1) of this clause (xiv) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations and subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (xiv) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any of the Retained Notes;

(xv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Issuer or, subject to Section 4.03(c), any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation, either:

(1) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would be greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

(xvi) Indebtedness Incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(xvii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xviii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xix) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xix), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xix), does not exceed the greater of $250.0 million and 7.5% of Total Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xix) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xix) but

 

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shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xix));

(xx) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxi) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv);

(xxii) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Project Financing; and

(xxiii) Indebtedness Incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, joint ventures of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not in excess, at any one time outstanding, of $300.0 million.

(c) Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Pledgors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.03(a) or clauses (xi) or (xv)(x) of Section 4.03(b) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Pledgors Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) and clauses (xi) or (xv)(x) of Section 4.03(b), collectively, would exceed the greater of $2,000 million and 5.0% of Total Assets.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxiii) of Section 4.03(b) or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; and

(ii) at the time of Incurrence, the Issuer will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.03(a) and (b) without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a).

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Issuer (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness or Long-Term Retained Notes of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness or Long-Term Retained Notes in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vi) and (viii) of Section 4.03(b)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

 

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(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (ii) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below) pursuant to clause (C) thereof), (vi)(C), (viii), (xiii)(B) and (xix) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than the amount equal to the Cumulative Credit.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or contributions to the equity capital of the Issuer (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”),

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Refunding Capital Stock, and

(C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (vi) of this Section 4.04(b) and not made pursuant to clause (ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Pledgor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith),

 

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(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Notes, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed $50.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $100.0 million in any calendar year (which shall increase to $150.0 million subsequent to the consummation of an underwritten public Equity Offering of common stock); provided, further, however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that occurs after the Issue Date (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the Cumulative Credit), plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) or the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, plus

(C) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in connection with the Acquisition Transactions that are forgone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests;

 

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provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A), (B) and (C) above in any calendar year; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or its direct or indirect parents in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parents will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(B) a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer issued after the Issue Date; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (B) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; and

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii);

provided, however, in the case of each of (A) and (C) above of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $250.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(viii) the payment of dividends on the Issuer’s common stock (or a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to fund the payment by such direct or indirect parent of the Issuer of dividends on such entity’s common stock) of up to 6% per annum of the net proceeds received by the Issuer from any public offering of common stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, other than public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s (or such direct or indirect parent’s) common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

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(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 2.5% of Total Assets at the time made;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xii) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that files a consolidated tax return that includes the Issuer and its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members) in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes as a stand-alone taxpayer (or stand-alone group);

(xiii) the payment of Restricted Payment, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Issuer Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03; and

(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Issuer, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent;

(xiv) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Acquisition Transactions or the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses Incurred in connection with the Acquisition Transactions or owed by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to Affiliates, and any other payments made, including any such payments made to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to enable it to make payments, as contemplated by the Acquisition Documents, whether payable on the Issue Date or thereafter, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xv) any Restricted Payment made under the Operations Management Agreement;

(xvi) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

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(xvii) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(xviii) Restricted Payments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xix) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Notes tendered by holders of the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xx) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Notes tendered by holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xxi) payments made to repay, defease, discharge or otherwise refinance Retained Notes or to service Retained Notes; and

(xxii) Restricted Payments made in connection with the Incurrence of Indebtedness under the revolving portion of the Credit Agreement for the account or benefit of the Subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment other than the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (including the distribution of the proceeds of any such Indebtedness and with respect to the issuance of, or payments in respect of drawings under, letters of credit), in each case for general corporate purposes of such Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, for business acquisitions and project development and, in the case of letters of credit, for the back-up or replacement of existing letters of credit) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250.0 million at any time outstanding, so long as such proceeds are not distributed to the stockholders of Caesars Entertainment;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi)(B), (vii), (x), (xi) and (xiii)(B) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) The Issuer will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.04, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on, or in respect of, the Issuer’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any

 

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Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer for cash from, the Sponsors, or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Issuer for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Sponsors, in each case by means of utilization of the cumulative Restricted Payment credit provided by Section 4.04(a), or the exceptions provided by clause (i), (vii) or (x) of Section 4.04(b) or clause (9), (10), (15) or (20) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” if (x) at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would be greater than 7.25 to 1.00 or (y) such payment is not otherwise in compliance with this Section 4.04.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes (and any Exchange Notes);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction of a Receivables Subsidiary effected in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided, however, that such restrictions apply only to such Receivables Subsidiary;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Subsidiary Pledgor or a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) or (c) of any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with any Project Financing, provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;

(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment; or

(14) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (13) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

 

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SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the Notes thereto) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations in respect of the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.06(a)(iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 5.0% of Total Assets and $850.0 million at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 15 months after the Issuer’s or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay (A) Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations (and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), provided that (x) to the extent that the terms of First Priority Lien Obligations other than Notes Obligations, as such agreements are in existence on the Issue Date, require that such First Priority Lien Obligations are repaid with the Net Proceeds of Asset Sales prior to repayment of other Indebtedness, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be entitled to repay such Other First Priority Lien Obligations prior to repaying the Notes Obligations and (y) subject to the foregoing clause (x), if the Issuer shall so reduce First Priority Lien Obligations, the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations in any manner set forth in clause (D) below to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes, (B) Indebtedness constituting Pari Passu Indebtedness other than First Priority Lien Obligations so long as the Asset Sale proceeds are with respect to non-Collateral (provided that if the Issuer shall so reduce Pari Passu Indebtedness, the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations in any manner set forth in clause (D) below), (C) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor, (D) Notes Obligations as provided under the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, through open-market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as applicable); or

(ii) to make an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such Investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), assets, or property or capital expenditures, in each case (a) used or useful in a Similar Business or (b) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

 

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In the case of Section 4.06(b)(ii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment; provided that in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided, further that the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as applicable. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of Collateral that are not invested or applied as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Collateral Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Priority Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to the holders of such First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations (a “Collateral Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations that is a minimum of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such First Priority Lien Obligations were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such First Priority Lien Obligations, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such First Priority Lien Obligations), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Issuer will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Express Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.

Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale of non-Collateral that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Issuer, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness), that is at least $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.06. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee.

 

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To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such Other First Priority Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted by this Indenture (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral) tendered pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is less than the Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or Other First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such Other First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations to be purchased in the manner described below. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(g). Upon completion of any such Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be, shall be reset at zero.

(c) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(e) Not later than the date upon which written notice of a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Collateral Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Collateral Asset Sales pursuant to which such Collateral Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Collateral Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the

 

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date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Collateral Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer reasonably promptly following its actual knowledge of the expiration of the Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(f) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the holder for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Notes (and such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, selection of such Notes for purchase shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed, or if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable shall be made pursuant to the terms of such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(g) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75.0 million, the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Issuer and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any

 

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merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Issuer and any direct parent of the Issuer; provided that such parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Issuer and such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) (x) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendment or modification of any such agreement so long as, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the holders when taken as a whole, as compared to such agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) to pay, and the payment of, management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees to the Sponsors in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (A) $30.0 million and (B) 1.0% of EBITDA of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the immediately preceding fiscal year, plus out-of-pocket expense reimbursement; provided, however, that any payment not made in any fiscal year may be carried forward and paid in the following two fiscal years and (y) the payment of the present value of all amounts payable pursuant to any agreement described in clause (iii)(x) of this Section 4.07(b) in connection with the termination of such agreement;

(iv) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer;

(v) payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) made pursuant to the agreements with the Sponsors described in the Offering Memorandum or (y) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;

(vi) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(vii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;

(viii) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

(ix) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, Acquisition Documents, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date, and any transaction,

 

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agreement or arrangement described in the Offering Memorandum and, in each case, any amendment thereto or similar transactions, agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement or under any similar transaction, agreement or arrangement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new transaction, agreement or arrangement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original transaction, agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(x) the execution of the Acquisition Transactions, and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Acquisition Transactions, including fees to the Sponsors, which are described in the Offering Memorandum or contemplated by the Acquisition Documents;

(xi) any transactions made pursuant to any Operations Management Agreement and any transactions in connection with the use of the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement for the account or benefit of the Subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment other than the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including the distribution of the proceeds of any such revolving credit Indebtedness and with respect to the issuance of, or payments in respect of drawings under, letters of credit);

(xii)(A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(xiii) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xiv) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Person;

(xv) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xvi) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 4.04(b)(xii);

(xvii) any contribution to the capital of the Issuer;

(xviii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 5.01;

(xix) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

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(xx) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xxi) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(xxii) any employment agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and

(xxiii) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any provision set forth in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control.

(a) Upon a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided, however, that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall not be obligated to purchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that it has exercised its right to redeem such Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture. In the event that at the time of such Change of Control the terms of the Bank Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08, then prior to the mailing of the notice to the holders provided for in Section 4.08(b) but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall (i) repay in full all Bank Indebtedness or, if doing so will allow the purchase of Notes, offer to repay in full all Bank Indebtedness and repay the Bank Indebtedness of each lender and/or noteholder who has accepted such offer, or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing the Bank Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in Section 4.08(b).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture, the Issuer shall mail a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

 

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(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(c) holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the holder and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(d) On the purchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the holders entitled thereto.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(g) Notes repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(h) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering holder.

(i) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(j) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year end on December 31, 2012, an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his

 

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or her duties as an Officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period. If he or she does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA. Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Future Subsidiary Pledgors; Future Subsidiary Guarantors.

(a) The Issuer shall cause each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is a Receivables Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is wholly owned by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and created to enhance the tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) and that provides a pledge of, or grants a Lien on, its assets to secure any Other First Priority Lien Obligations or any Junior Lien Obligations to execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent the Security Documents necessary to cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Pledgor (or grantor) and take all actions required thereunder to perfect Liens created thereunder, as well as, if required by the terms thereof, to execute and deliver to the Trustee joinders to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Promptly following (i) the terms of the Issuer’s Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date no longer prohibiting the guarantee of the Notes by the Subsidiary Pledgors (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and (ii) receipt of the requisite approvals from the applicable gaming authorities (the “Initial Guarantee Event”), each Subsidiary Pledgor will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D pursuant to which such Subsidiary Pledgor shall guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture and shall comply with the additional requirements of Section 12.06, provided that the then outstanding Bank Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement referred to in clause (i) of the definition thereof is also then guaranteed by such Subsidiary Pledgor. The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness the terms of which prohibit or restrict the ability of a Subsidiary Pledgor to provide such a guarantee.

(c) From and after the Initial Guarantee Event, the Issuer will cause each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is a Receivables Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is wholly owned by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and created to enhance the tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any other Guarantor of the Notes to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture and shall comply with the additional requirements of Section 12.06.

(d) The Issuer will cause each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is a Receivables Subsidiary of a Domestic Subsidiary that is wholly owned by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and created to enhance the tax efficiency of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) and that guarantees any First Priority Lien Obligations to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture and shall comply with the additional requirements of Section 12.06.

 

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SECTION 4.12. Liens. The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Pledgor to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor, other than Liens securing Indebtedness that are junior in priority to the Liens on such property or assets securing the Notes.

SECTION 4.13. After-Acquired Property.

Upon the acquisition by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor of any First Priority After-Acquired Property, the Issuer or such Subsidiary Pledgor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, preferred ship mortgages, security instruments, financing statements and certificates, opinions of counsel or such other documentation substantially similar to the documentation delivered to secure First Priority Lien Obligations (including, without limitation title insurance policies, surveys and other documentation as may be reasonably required by the Collateral Agent and consistent with the requirements for similar Collateral in which security interest or Liens were taken on the Issue Date) as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the New First Lien Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest or lien, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such First Priority After-Acquired Property and to have such First Priority After-Acquired Property (but subject to certain limitations, if applicable, including as described in Article XI and the Security Documents) added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such First Priority After-Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuer hereby designates the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its agent as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.15. Amendment of Security Agreements. To the extent that any instrument or deliverable under the First Lien Security Documents is required to be delivered and is not delivered on or prior to the Issue Date, the Issuer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsidiary Pledgors and Parent Guarantor to, deliver such instruments and deliverables (i) within 30 days following the date of the CEOC Assumption in the case of documents or instruments other than Mortgages, surveys or title insurance or related documents and (ii) within 120 days following the date of the CEOC Assumption in the case of documents or instruments consisting of Mortgages, surveys or title insurance or related documents.

 

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SECTION 4.16. Covenant Suspension. If on any date following the Issue Date, (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day and continuing at all times thereafter regardless of any subsequent changes in the rating of the Notes (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07 and 5.01(a)(iv) (collectively the “Suspended Covenants”).

If and while the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants, the Notes will be entitled to substantially less covenant protection. In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events.

The Issuer shall promptly upon its occurrence deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate notifying the Trustee of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date, and the date thereof. The Trustee shall not have any obligation to monitor the occurrence or dates of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date and may rely conclusively on such Officer’s Certificate. The Trustee shall not have any obligation to notify the holders of the occurrence or dates of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date.

On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be Incurred or issued thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred or issued prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(ii). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). As described above, however, no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period.

For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

SECTION 4.17. Maintenance of Insurance. The Issuer shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance (subject to customary deductibles and retentions) in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and cause the Issuer and the Subsidiary Pledgors to be listed as insured and the Collateral Agent to be listed as co-loss payee on property and property casualty policies and as an additional insured on liability policies.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer and the Subsidiary Pledgors may self-insure with respect to such risks with respect to which companies of established reputation in the same general line of business in the same general area usually self-insure.

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01. When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets.

(a) The Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is the surviving person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) if the Issuer is not the Successor Issuer, each Subsidiary Pledgor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its obligations in respect of the Notes shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

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(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary, and (b) the Issuer may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States or may convert into a limited liability company, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby. This Article V will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04 (which govern the release of assets and property securing the Notes upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Subsidiary Pledgor), no Subsidiary Pledgor shall, and the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Pledgor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Pledgor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) such Subsidiary Pledgor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Pledgor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Pledgor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Subsidiary Pledgor”) and the Successor Subsidiary Pledgor (if other than such Subsidiary Pledgor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Pledgor under this Indenture, the Security Documents and such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Notes pursuant to documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, or (b) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and

(ii) the Successor Subsidiary Pledgor (if other than such Subsidiary Pledgor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Subsidiary Pledgor (if other than such Subsidiary Pledgor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Pledgor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Notes, and such Subsidiary Pledgor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Subsidiary Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Subsidiary Pledgor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Pledgor is not increased thereby and (2) a Subsidiary Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Subsidiary Pledgor or the Issuer.

 

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In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Pledgor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, Caesars Entertainment will not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not Caesars Entertainment is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(1) either Caesars Entertainment or the Issuer (provided that if the Issuer is to be the surviving Person, then such transaction shall comply with Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b)) is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than Caesars Entertainment) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (Caesars Entertainment or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Parent Guarantor”) and the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Caesars Entertainment) expressly assumes all the obligations of Caesars Entertainment under this Indenture and Caesars Entertainment’s Note Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

(2) the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Caesars Entertainment) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Parent Guarantor (if other than Caesars Entertainment) will succeed to, and be substituted for, Caesars Entertainment under this Indenture, Caesars Entertainment’s Note Guarantee, and Caesars Entertainment will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Note Guarantee.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to Notes if:

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

(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

(c) the failure by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture,

 

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(d) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $150.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent,

(e) either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 any substantial part of its property; or

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

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

(i) is for relief against either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days,

(g) failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $150.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days,

(h) the Note Guarantee of the Parent Guarantor or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or the Parent Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Parent Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days,

(i) unless all of the Collateral has been released from the First Priority Liens in accordance with the provisions of Article XI, the First Priority Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable and such Default continues for 30 days, or the Issuer

 

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shall assert or any Subsidiary Pledgor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Person that is a Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Issuer fails to cause such Subsidiary to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Issuer has actual knowledge of such assertions,

(j) the failure by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Security Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral taken as a whole, or

(k) the failure by the Issuer to pay or cause to be paid the Escrow Redemption Price on the Escrow Redemption Date.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

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

However, a default under clauses (c) or (j) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 30% in principal amount of outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (c) or (j) hereof after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.” The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) hereof with respect to the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable; provided, however, that so long as any Bank Indebtedness remains outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of (1) five Business Days after the giving of written notice to the Issuer and the Representative under the Credit Agreement and (2) the day on which any Bank Indebtedness is accelerated. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as

 

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the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, this Indenture or the Security Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Provided the Notes are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense,

 

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(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

(v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim, statements of interest and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or the Parent Guarantor, any Subsidiary Pledgor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder to make 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 its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities. Subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

SECOND: to the holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to the such Guarantor.

 

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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. 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 or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. 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 their 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 undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(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 certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

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(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 Trust 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 it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or 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 Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ 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.

(d) The Trustee shall not be responsible or 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; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

 

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(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(g) 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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be Incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

(k) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(l) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire;

 

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flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

(p) The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Issuer’s compliance with or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or duty made in this Indenture. Delivery of reports, information and documents under Section 4.02 of this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any of the information therein including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officer’s Certificates provided to it by the Issuer).

SECTION 7.03. 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 Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (h), (i) or (j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuer, any Subsidiary Pledgor or any holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the holders of the Notes and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the holders of Notes and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each holder notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the holders. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee, annually, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Issuer also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders. As promptly as practicable after each June 30 beginning with the June 30 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to June 30 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each holder a brief report dated as of such June 30 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

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SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation, as the Issuer and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing, for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally shall indemnify the Trustee, including its officers, directors, employees and agents, and shall hold them harmless, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Note Guarantee against the Issuer or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and such Guarantor, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer needs not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense Incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ 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 other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee Incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

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

 

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(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon 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 under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

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SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated herein.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance.

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, 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 Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer and/or the Parent Guarantor has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to the holders of the Notes) (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.15 and the operation of Section 5.01 for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d) and Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) and 6.01(j) (“covenant defeasance option”). The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the obligations of each Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to the Notes and the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer only), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with Section 5.01.

 

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Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article VIII shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance.

(a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient or U.S. Government Obligations, the principal of and the interest on which will be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer and is not prohibited by Article X;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date 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 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity 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 Issuer;

 

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(vi) such exercise does not impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders 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; and

(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Issuer. Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided, however, that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders.

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes without notice to or consent of any holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Subsidiary Pledgor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Pledgor under this Indenture and the Security Documents;

(iv) to add a Guarantor with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11;

(v) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of First Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of First Lien Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and the Issuer will confirm its good faith intention of any such textual change intended to be a verbatim recitation in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee;

(vi) to add a Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to the Notes or to add Collateral to secure the Notes;

(vii) to release Collateral as permitted by this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement;

(viii) to add additional secured creditors holding Other First Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations that are secured equally and ratably with the Second Lien Notes Obligations so long as such obligations are not prohibited by this Indenture or the Security Documents;

(ix) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer;

(x) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(xi) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder;

 

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(xii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Notes or Additional Notes, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities; or

(xiii) to consummate the CEOC Assumption in accordance with Article XIV.

(b) After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, provided that in the case of an amendment pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(xiv), no such notice shall be required. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders.

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III,

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(6) expressly subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor,

(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

(8) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(9) make any change in the provisions in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture dealing with the application of proceeds of Collateral that would adversely affect the holders of the Notes, or

(10) except as expressly provided by this Indenture, modify or release the Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes.

In addition, without the consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents with respect to the Notes.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a holder of a Note shall bind the holder and every subsequent holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such holder or subsequent holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Parent Guarantor, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03) and that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the supplemental indenture have been complied with.

 

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SECTION 9.07. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. Determinations as to whether holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE X

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

SECTION 10.01. Relative Rights. The First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement define the relative rights, as lienholders, of holders of First Priority Liens, holders of Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations and holders of Liens securing Junior Priority Obligations. Nothing in this Indenture or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement will:

(a) impair, as between the Issuer and holders of Notes, the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest on Notes in accordance with their terms or to perform any other obligation of the Issuer or any other obligor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Parent Guarantee and the Security Documents;

(b) restrict the right of any holder to sue for payments that are then due and owing, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(c) prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder from exercising against the Issuer or any other obligor any of its other available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default (other than its rights as a secured party, which are subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement); or

(d) restrict the right of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder:

(1) to file and prosecute a petition seeking an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case as to any obligor or otherwise to commence, or seek relief commencing, any insolvency or liquidation proceeding involuntarily against any obligor;

(2) to make, support or oppose any request for an order for dismissal, abstention or conversion in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

(3) to make, support or oppose, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, any request for an order extending or terminating any period during which the debtor (or any other Person) has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring or liquidation plan therein;

(4) to seek the creation of, or appointment to, any official committee representing creditors (or certain of the creditors) in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings and, if appointed, to serve and act as a member of such committee without being in any respect restricted or bound by, or liable for, any of the obligations under this Article X;

 

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(5) to seek or object to the appointment of any professional person to serve in any capacity in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or to support or object to any request for compensation made by any professional person or others therein;

(6) to make, support or oppose any request for order appointing a trustee or examiner in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings; or

(7) otherwise to make, support or oppose any request for relief in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding that it is permitted by law to make, support or oppose:

if it were a holder of unsecured claims; or

(x) as to any matter relating to any plan of reorganization or other

(y) restructuring or liquidation plan or as to any matter relating to the administration of the estate or the disposition of the case or proceeding (in each case except as set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE XI

COLLATERAL

SECTION 11.01. Security Documents.The payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes when due, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise and whether by the Issuer pursuant to the Notes or by the Parent Guarantor pursuant to the Note Guarantee, the payment of all other Notes Obligations and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents are secured as provided in the Security Documents which the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Subsidiary Pledgors have entered into and will be secured by Security Documents hereafter delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture. The Issuer shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, and each Restricted Subsidiary shall, make all filings (including filings of continuation statements and amendments to UCC financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such UCC financing statements) and all other actions as are necessary or required by the Security Documents to maintain (at the sole cost and expense of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) the security interest created by the Security Documents in the Collateral (other than with respect to any Collateral the security interest in which is not required to be perfected under the Security Documents) as a perfected first priority security interest subject only to Permitted Liens.

SECTION 11.02. Collateral Agent.

(a) The Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided in the First Lien Security Documents.

(b) Subject to Section 7.01, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents will be responsible or liable for the existence, genuineness, value or protection of any Collateral, for the legality, enforceability, effectiveness or sufficiency of the Security Documents, for the obtaining or maintaining insurance on any Collateral, for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency or protection of any First Priority Lien, or any defect or

 

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deficiency as to any such matters. Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Trustee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee in good faith.

(c) Subject to the First Lien Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (i) the Trustee shall direct the Collateral Agent and (ii) except as directed by the Trustee as required or permitted by this Indenture and any other representatives or pursuant to the Security Documents, the holders acknowledge that Collateral Agent will not be obligated:

(1) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any other Person;

(2) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any First Priority Lien; or

(3) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the First Priority Liens, Security Documents or Collateral.

(d) The holders of Notes agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Collateral Agent by the Security Documents. Furthermore, each holder of a Note, by accepting such Note, consents to the terms of and authorizes and directs the Trustee (in each of its capacities) and the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents in each of its capacities thereunder.

(e) If the Issuer (i) Incurs First Priority Lien Obligations at any time when the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is not in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing intercreditor agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) directs the Trustee to deliver to the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in effect on the Issue Date) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations so Incurred, the holders acknowledge that the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to enter into such intercreditor agreement, bind the holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

SECTION 11.03. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken.

(a) Each holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent

 

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to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) The Trustee is authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof, and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Guarantor Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the holders, direct, on behalf of the holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the First Priority Liens;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Obligations.

Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the First Priority Liens or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the holders of Notes in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.04. Release of Collateral.

(a) Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents to secure the Notes and obligations under this Indenture at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or as provided hereby or in the Security Documents. The applicable assets included in the Collateral shall be automatically released from the Liens securing the Notes, and the applicable Subsidiary Pledgor shall be automatically released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Security Documents, under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) the release of Excess Proceeds and Collateral Excess Proceeds that remain unexpended after the conclusion of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer conducted in accordance with this Indenture;

(2) in respect of the property and assets of a Subsidiary Pledgor, upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Indenture as a result of which such Subsidiary

 

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Pledgor ceases to be a Subsidiary or otherwise ceases to be a Pledgor (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), and such Subsidiary Pledgor shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder and under the Security Documents, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to such Subsidiary Pledgor;

(3) upon any sale or other transfer by the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under this Indenture to any person that is not the Issuer or a Subsidiary Pledgor (including in connection with an event of loss), or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted by the Collateral Agreement in any Collateral pursuant to this Indenture, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party;

(4) as to all or any portion of any Collateral (including any Mortgaged Property), following the delivery of a Project Notice (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to the Credit Agreement Agent that is applicable to all or such portion of the Collateral and Mortgaged Property, in each case upon the release of the security interest securing the First Priority Lien Obligations in respect of the Secured Bank Indebtedness in such Collateral or Mortgaged Properties other than at any time that the Credit Agreement or such other Indebtedness or guarantee does not constitute a majority of the aggregate principal amount of First Priority Lien Obligations outstanding at such time;

(5) to enable the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Pledgor to consummate the disposition (other than any disposition to the Issuer or another Subsidiary Pledgor) of such property or assets to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.06, and to enable any release described in Section 7.15(e) of the Collateral Agreement;

(6) in respect of the property and assets of a Subsidiary Pledgor, upon the designation of such Subsidiary Pledgor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” and such Subsidiary Pledgor shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder and under the Security Documents;

(7) in respect of the property and assets of a Subsidiary Pledgor, upon the release or discharge of the pledge granted by such Subsidiary Pledgor to secure the Obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other Indebtedness or the guarantee of any other Indebtedness which resulted in the obligation to become a Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to the Notes other than (x) in connection with a release or discharge by or as a result of payment in respect of the Credit Agreement or such other Indebtedness or guarantee or (y) at any time that the Credit Agreement or such other Indebtedness or guarantee does not constitute a majority of the aggregate principal amount of First Priority Lien Obligations outstanding at such time; and

(8) as described under Article IX.

In addition, the security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents securing the Notes Obligations shall automatically terminate and/or be released all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the applicable Pledgors (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), as of the date upon (i) all the Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities not then due) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds; (ii) a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance or discharge under Article VIII, or (iii) the holders of at least two thirds in aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under this Indenture consent to the termination of the Security Documents.

 

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In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) that may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 11.04(a) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent. In connection with any release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Pledgors shall be permitted to take any action in connection therewith consistent with such release including, without limitation, the filing of UCC termination statements.

Upon the receipt of an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer, as described in Section 11.04(b) below, if applicable, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuer, the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with (x) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(1), (6), (7) or (8) above, such Collateral may not be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents and (y) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(2), (3), (4) and (5), the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute, deliver or acknowledge any instruments of termination, satisfaction or release unless, in each case, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent, including, without limitation, this Section 11.04, have been met and stating under which of the circumstances set forth in Section 11.04(a) above the Collateral is being released have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee on or prior to the date of such release or, in the case of clause (y) above, the date on which the Collateral Agent executes any such instrument.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee has delivered a notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents will be effective as against the holders, except as otherwise provided in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(d) To the extent necessary and for so long as required for such Subsidiary not to be subject to any requirement pursuant to Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act to file separate financial statements with the SEC (or any other governmental agency), the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company shall not be included in the Collateral with respect to the respective Notes so affected and shall not be subject to the Liens securing such Notes and the Notes Obligations in accordance with and only to the extent provided in the Security Documents and Guaranty and Pledge Agreement.

(e) The Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Credit Agreement Agent, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent within 30 calendar days following the end of each six-month period beginning on June 1 and December 1 of each year, to the effect that all such releases and withdrawals during the preceding six-month period in the ordinary course of the Issuer’s or the Subsidiary Pledgors’ business were not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 11.05. Filing, Recording and Opinions.

(a) The Issuer will comply with the provisions of TIA Sections 314(b), 314(c) and 314(d), in each case following qualification of this Indenture pursuant to the TIA and except to the extent not required as set forth in any SEC regulation or interpretation (including any no-action letter issued by the Staff of the SEC, whether issued to the Issuer or any other Person). Following such qualification, to the extent the Issuer is required to furnish to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to TIA Section 314(b)(2), the Issuer will furnish such opinion not more than 60 but not less than 30 days prior to each September 30.

Any release of Collateral permitted by Section 11.04 hereof will be deemed not to impair the Liens under this Indenture and the Security Documents in contravention thereof and any person that is required to deliver an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 314(d) of the TIA, shall be entitled to rely upon the foregoing as a basis for delivery of such certificate or opinion. The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and Opinion of Counsel.

(b) Any certificate or opinion required by Section 314(d) of the Trust Indenture Act may be made by an Officer of the Issuer, except in cases where Section 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries will not be required to comply with all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the Trust Indenture Act if they determine, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of that section and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the Trust Indenture Act is inapplicable to the released Collateral.

(d) Upon the request of the Trustee, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in respect of any matter in furtherance of the foregoing transactions contemplated by this Section 11.05.

SECTION 11.06. [Intentionally omitted.]

SECTION 11.07. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XI upon the Issuer or the Parent Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Parent Guarantor or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XI; and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

SECTION 11.08. Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations. In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, in form and substance acceptable to it, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture occurs under Article VIII, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent

 

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shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall (or shall direct the Collateral Agent to) do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

SECTION 11.09. Designations. Except as provided in the next sentence, for purposes of the provisions hereof and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement requiring the Issuer to designate Indebtedness for the purposes of the terms First Priority Lien Obligations and Other First Priority Lien Obligations or any other such designations hereunder or under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation provides in writing that such First Priority Lien Obligations or Other First Priority Lien Obligations are permitted under this Indenture and is signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Credit Agreement Agent. For all purposes hereof and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuer hereby designates the Obligations pursuant to the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date, as First Priority Lien Obligations.

SECTION 11.10. Taking and Destruction. Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, upon any Taking or Destruction of any Collateral, all Net Insurance Proceeds received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed Net Proceeds and shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.06.

ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

SECTION 12.01. Guarantee.

(a) To the extent applicable, each Guarantor hereby jointly and severably, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, in the case of a guarantee by a Subsidiary Pledgor, on a first-priority secured basis, and in the case of each of (x) and (y) as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Notes and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from any Guarantor, and that each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article XII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) To the extent applicable, each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or each Guarantor; (v) the failure of any holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the

 

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Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of each Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b) or Section 12.02(c). Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed.

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) The Note Guarantee of each Guarantor is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XII, equal in right of payment to all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness, senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer and subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Secured Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor and is made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the holders and the Trustee.

 

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(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Parent Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or any holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture although the Trustee shall have no obligation to make any such request.

SECTION 12.02. Limitation on Liability.

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by each Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) A Note Guarantee as to any Subsidiary that executes a supplemental indenture in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof and provides a guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article XII upon:

(i) the sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer (including through merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary), of the applicable Guarantor if such sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of this Indenture;

(ii) the Issuer designating such Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(iii) the release or discharge of the pledge by such Guarantor of the Credit Agreement or other Indebtedness (including the Existing Second Lien Notes) or the guarantee of any other Indebtedness which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes; and

(iv) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option under Article VIII or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

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A Note Guarantee as to any Subsidiary also will be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

(c) The Parent Guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and the Parent Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article XII upon:

(i) the Issuer ceasing to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment;

(ii) the Issuer’s transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to, or merger with, an entity that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment in accordance with Section 5.01 and such transferee entity assumes the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option under Article VIII or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

In addition, the Parent Guarantee will be automatically released upon the election of the Issuer and Notice to the Trustee if the guarantee by Caesars Entertainment of the Credit Agreement, the Retained Notes or any Indebtedness which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes has been released or discharged.

SECTION 12.03. Successors and Assigns. This Article XII shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.04. No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article XII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 12.05. Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XII, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle any Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 12.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Note Guarantors. Each Subsidiary and other Person which is required to become a Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article XII and shall guarantee the Notes. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,

 

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fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.

SECTION 12.07. Non-Impairment. The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c) in respect of Sections of the TIA that are incorporated by reference in this Indenture pursuant to Section 1.03, the imposed duties shall control.

SECTION 13.02. Notices.

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer or a Guarantor:

Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc.

One Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada 89101-8969

Telephone: (702) 407-6000

Facsimile: (702) 407-6418

Attn: General Counsel

if to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-1419

Telephone: (651) 495-3909

Facsimile: (651) 495-8097

Attn: Corporate Trust Services, Raymond S. Haverstock

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

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the holder at the holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

 

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SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders. The holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee 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 in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual 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 individual, 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 individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or the Parent Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected.

 

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SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuer or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 13.11. Successors. All agreements of the Issuer and the Parent Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture 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 and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16. Intercreditor Agreements. The terms of this Indenture are subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 13.17. Acts of Holders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 13.17.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such

 

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instrument or writing acknowledged to such officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

The ownership of the Notes shall be proved by the register of the Notes kept by the Registrar.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the holder of any Note shall bind every future holder of the same Note and the holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Issuers in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

If the Issuer shall solicit from the holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuer may, at its option, by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Issuer, fix in advance a record date for the determination of holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuer shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be holders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite proportion of the outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

SECTION 13.18. Security Advice Waiver. The parties hereto acknowledge that to the extent regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency or other applicable regulatory entity grant them the right to receive brokerage confirmations for certain security transactions as they occur, they each specifically waive receipt of such confirmations to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 13.19. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

CEOC ASSUMPTION

SECTION 14.01. CEOC Assumption. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture, CEOC may assume all obligations of the Escrow Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture as if CEOC had itself issued the Notes pursuant to the CEOC Assumption so long as CEOC shall have:

(a) executed and delivered to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E pursuant to which CEOC shall have assumed the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture; and

(b) executed and delivered to the Initial Purchasers a joinder to each of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:   Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. as sole member
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Senior Vice President & Treasurer

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION,

as Parent Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

[Indenture]


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Raymond S. Haverstock

  Name: Raymond S. Haverstock
  Title:   Vice President

 

S-2


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES, ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

1. Definitions.

1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

Additional Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Global Note” means a certificated Initial Note that includes the Global Notes Legend.

Global Notes Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in the applicable Exhibit to this Indenture.

IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Initial Purchasers” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.

Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated February 9, 2012 among the Escrow Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Representative of the Initial Purchasers entered into in connection with the sale and issuance of the Notes.

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

Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuer, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such holders, in exchange for their Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights Agreement” means (a) the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of February 14, 2012 among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Representative of the Initial Purchasers relating to the Notes and (b) any other similar registration rights agreement relating to Additional Notes.

 

Appendix A-1


Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Notes” means all Initial Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(h)(i) herein.

Restricted Period,” with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Notes are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Issuer to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

Rule 501” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

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

Rule 144A Notes” means all Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Issuer in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes” means Definitive Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Transfer Restricted Global Notes” means Global Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Definitive Notes” means Definitive Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Global Notes” means Global Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term:

   Defined in Section:

Agent Members

   2.1(b)

Global Notes

   2.1(b)

Regulation S Global Notes

   2.1(b)

Rule 144A Global Notes

   2.1(b)

2. The Notes.

2.1 Form and Dating; Global Notes.

(a) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be (i) privately placed by the Issuer pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and (ii) sold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.

 

Appendix A-2


Such Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to one or more agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Global Notes. (i) Except as provided in clause (d) below, Rule 144A Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in definitive, fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”).

Regulation S Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Notes”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream.

The term “Global Notes” means the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes. The Global Notes shall bear the Global Note Legend. The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository (collectively, the “Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Notes. The Depository may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Note.

(ii) Transfers of Global Notes shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.2. In addition, a Global Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Note and the Issuer thereupon fails to appoint a successor depository or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or (y) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Global Note be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. In all cases, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Note as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

 

Appendix A-3


(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2.

(vi) The holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

2.2 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b). Global Notes will not be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.08 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b).

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Notes Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. A beneficial interest in an 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 2.2(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Note that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository 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 rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. 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 pursuant to Section 2.2(i).

 

Appendix A-4


(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in a Transfer 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 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository 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 Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate in accordance with Section 2.01, 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 or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note. 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 Transfer Restricted Global Note.

 

Appendix A-5


(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). In any case, beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for Definitive Notes.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. Transfers and exchanges of Definitive Notes for beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) below, as applicable:

(i) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes. If any holder of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(C) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(D) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(E) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or

(F) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Transfer Restricted Global Note.

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

 

Appendix A-6


(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Issuer or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository 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 Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes. An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).

 

Appendix A-7


(i) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes. A Transfer Restricted Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(D) if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(E) if such transfer will be made to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

(ii) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Transfer Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer 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 Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the holder thereof.

 

Appendix A-8


(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes. An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive 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. 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 Definitive 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 Depository 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 Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (iii), (iv) or (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and any Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

Appendix A-9


“THE TERMS OF THIS SECURITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE FIRST LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED JUNE 10, 2009 BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND AS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 28, 2008, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON MAY 20, 2011, AMONG THE CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING COMPANY, INC., THE PLEDGORS NAMED THEREIN, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NAMED THEREIN AND BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE.”

To be inserted if Notes are guaranteed by the Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.11(c):

“THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 28, 2008, BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIBANK, N.A. AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME.”

Each Regulation S Note shall bear the following additional legend:

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED IN THE PRECEDING SENTENCEABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note if the holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Initial Note).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Initial Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

 

Appendix A-10


(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes pursuant to which holders of such Initial Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to Initial Notes that Initial Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Notes in global form without the Restricted Notes Legend shall be available to holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Initial Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Initial Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Initial Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(vi) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive 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 of this Indenture. 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 Definitive 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 Depository 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 Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).

(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with

 

Appendix A-11


respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the holders and all payments to be made to the holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Appendix A-12


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[For Regulation S Global Note Only]

UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF NOTES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered in Reliance on Regulation S.]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED IN THE PRECEDING SENTENCEABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED IN THE PRECEDING SENTENCE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered Otherwise than in Reliance on Regulation S]

 

A-1


“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS), OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

[Restricted Notes Legend]

“THE TERMS OF THIS SECURITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE FIRST LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED JUNE 10, 2009 BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND AS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 28, 2008, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON MAY 20, 2011, AMONG THE CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING COMPANY, INC., THE PLEDGORS NAMED THEREIN, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NAMED THEREIN AND BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE.”

To be inserted if Notes are guaranteed by the Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.11(c):

“THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 28, 2008, BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIBANK, N.A. AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME.”

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legends:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

A-2


[FORM OF INITIAL NOTE]

 

No.   

[144A] CUSIP No.

[144A] ISIN No.

  

127693AA7

US127693AA76

  

[REG S] CUSIP No.

[REG S] ISIN No.

   U1229TAA4

USU1229TAA44

8  1/2 % Senior Secured Note due 2020

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto on February 15, 2020.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:   Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., as sole member
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: February 14, 2012

 

A-4


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

        AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee, certifies that this is

one of the Notes

referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
 

 

*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY.”

 

A-5


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE INITIAL NOTE]

8  1/2 % Senior Secured Note Due 2020

 

1. Interest

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (such entities, and their successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”), promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2012. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from February 14, 2012, until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders at the close of business on February 1 and August 1 (each a “Record Date”) next preceding the Interest Payment Date even if Notes are canceled after the Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa 77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “TIA”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms and provisions.

 

A-6


The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuer. This Note is one of the Initial Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes pursuant to the Indenture. The Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any Exchange Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, Incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or Incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuer, each Subsidiary Pledgor and the Parent Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, the Parent Guarantor has unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and any Subsidiary Pledgor that executes a Note Guarantee will unconditionally guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations on a senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

On or after February 15, 2016, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice delivered to each holder’s registered address, which in the case of Global Notes shall be the Depository, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on February 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price

2016

   104.250%

2017

   102.125%

2018 and thereafter

   100.000%

In addition, prior to February 15, 2016 the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice delivered to each holder’s registered address, which in the case of Global Notes shall be the Depository, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to February 15, 2015, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Issuer or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to the

 

A-7


extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 108.500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Other than with respect to a special mandatory redemption pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, otice of redemption will be delivered at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Repurchase of Notes at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. Ranking and Collateral

These Notes and any Note Guarantee by a Subsidiary Pledgor will be secured by a security interest in the Collateral pursuant to certain Security Documents. The First Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, equal in ranking with all present and future First Priority Liens and, as set forth in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, will be senior in ranking to all present and future Liens securing Junior Lien Obligations.

 

A-8


10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. A holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

12. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuer at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any holder, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Subsidiary Pledgor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Pledgor under the Indenture and the Security Documents; (iv) to add a Guarantor with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Indenture; (v) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; (vi) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of First Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of First Lien Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second

 

A-9


Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and the Issuer will confirm its good faith intention of any such textual change intended to be a verbatim recitation in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee; (vii) to add a Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to the Notes or to add Collateral to secure the Notes; (viii) to release Collateral as permitted by the Indenture or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; (ix) to add additional secured creditors holding Other First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Notes Obligations so long as such obligations are not prohibited by the Indenture or the Security Documents; (x) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer by the Indenture; (xi) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA; (xii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; (xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Notes or Additional Notes, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities; or (xiv) to consummate the CEOC Assumption in accordance with Article XIV of the Indenture.

 

15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

A-10


17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any equity interests in the Issuer or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

 

18. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint             agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                                          

       Your Signature:     

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:                                         

  

 

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

 

A-13


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES

This certificate relates to $            principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)             book-entry or             definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depository a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above)

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring while this Note is still a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note or a Transfer Restricted Global Note, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)

  

¨

  to the Issuer; or

(2)

   ¨   to the Registrar for registration in the name of the holder, without transfer; or

(3)

   ¨   pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)

   ¨   inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)

   ¨   outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Note shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or

(6)

  

¨

  to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or

(7)

   ¨   pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Issuer or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer or the Trustee have reasonably requested 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 of 1933.

 

A-13


 

Date:                                          

       Your Signature:     

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:                                         

  

 

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

 

A-14


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Date:                                                  

 

 

 

NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

A-15


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $            . The following increases or decreases 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
signatory of Trustee or
Notes Custodian
           

 

A-16


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

 

Asset Sale  ¨

     Change of Control  ¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000):

$                    

 

Date:

 

 

     Your Signature:  

 

         (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 

  
 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a

recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee

  

 

 

A-17


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

“THE TERMS OF THIS SECURITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE FIRST LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED JUNE 10, 2009 BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND AS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 28, 2008, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON MAY 20, 2011, AMONG THE CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING COMPANY, INC., THE PLEDGORS NAMED THEREIN, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NAMED THEREIN AND BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE.”

To be inserted if Notes are guaranteed by the Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.11(c):

“THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 28, 2008, BY AND AMONG BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIBANK, N.A. AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME.”

 

B-1


[FORM OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

 

No.            

$            

8  1/2 % Senior Secured Note due 2020

CUSIP No. [            ]

ISIN No. [            ]

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto on February 15, 2020.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

B-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:   Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. as sole member
By:  

 

 

Name:

  Title:
CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES-SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY.”

 

B-3


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF

        AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is

one of the Notes

referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

B-4


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE]

8  1/2 % Senior Secured Note Due 2020

 

1. Interest

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (such entities, and their successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”), promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2012. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from February 14, 2012, until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders at the close of business on February 1 and August 1 (each a “Record Date”) next preceding the Interest Payment Date even if Notes are canceled after the Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa 77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “TIA”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms and provisions

 

B-5


The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuer. This Note is one of the Exchange Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes pursuant to the Indenture. The Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any Exchange Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, Incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or Incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuer, each Subsidiary Pledgor and the Parent Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, each Parent Guarantor has unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and any Subsidiary Pledgor that executes a Note Guarantee will unconditionally guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations on a senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

On or after February 15, 2016, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice delivered to each holder’s registered address, which in the case of Global Notes shall be the Depository, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on February 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price

2016

   104.250%

2017

   102.125%

2018 and thereafter

   100.000%

In addition, prior to February 15, 2016 the Issuer may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice delivered to each holder’s registered address, which in the case of Global Notes shall be the Depository, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to February 15, 2015, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds

 

B-6


of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Issuer or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 108.500%, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Other than with respect to a special mandatory redemption pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, notice of redemption will be delivered at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Repurchase of Notes at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. Ranking and Collateral

These Notes and any Note Guarantee by a Subsidiary Pledgor are secured by a security interest in the Collateral pursuant to certain Security Documents. The First Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, equal in ranking with all present and future First Priority Liens and, as set forth in the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, will be senior in ranking to all present and future Liens securing Junior Lien Obligations.

 

B-7


10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. A holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

12. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuer at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any holder, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Subsidiary Pledgor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Pledgor under the Indenture and the Security Documents; (iv) to add a Guarantor with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Indenture; (v) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; (vi) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of First Lien Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of First Lien Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, or the

 

B-8


Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and the Issuer will confirm its good faith intention of any such textual change intended to be a verbatim recitation in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee; (vii) to add a Subsidiary Pledgor with respect to the Notes or to add Collateral to secure the Notes; (viii) to release Collateral as permitted by the Indenture or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; (ix) to add additional secured creditors holding Other First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Notes Obligations so long as such obligations are not prohibited by the Indenture or the Security Documents; (x) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer by the Indenture; (xi) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA; (xii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; (xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Notes or Additional Notes, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities; or (xiv) to consummate the CEOC Assumption in accordance with Article XIV of the Indenture.

 

15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

B-9


17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any equity interests in the Issuer or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

 

18. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.

 

B-10


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint             agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                                                             Your Signature:                                                     

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:                                                                                         

 

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

 

B-11


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $            . The following increases or decreases 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

signatory of Trustee or

Notes Custodian

           
           
           

 

B-12


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

 

Asset Sale  ¨    Change of Control  ¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000):

$

 

Date:  

 

     Your Signature:  

 

        

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

  
  Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in arecognized signature guaranty medallion programor other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee   

 

B-13


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF]

TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

[Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc.]

[Caesars Operating Escrow LLC]

[Caesars Escrow Corporation]

c/o U.S. Bank National Association

Corporate Trust Services

EP-MN-W53C

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-1419

Attention: Vice President

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[            ] principal amount of the 8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”) of Caesars Operating Escrow LLC and Caesars Escrow Corporation (together, the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:  

 

Address:  

 

Taxpayer ID Number:  

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $100,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which either the Issuer or any affiliate of such Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) in the United States to a person whom we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (b) outside the United States in an

 

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offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (c) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if applicable) or (d) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, we will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made to an institutional “accredited investor” prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

Dated:  

 

 

TRANSFEREE:

                                               ,

 

By:  

 

 

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EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [            ], among [GUARANTOR] (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC (or its successor), a Delaware limited liability company and CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION (or its successor), a Delaware corporation (together, the “Issuer”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS the Issuer and CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of February 14, 2012, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a Note Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and other existing Guarantors, if any, are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Parent Guarantor, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a guarantor under the Indenture.

3. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

 

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4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

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

8. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

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

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [            ], 2012, among CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “New Issuer”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (together, the “Escrow Issuer”) and CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of February 14, 2012, providing for the issuance of the Escrow Issuer’s Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 14.01 of the Indenture provides that the New Issuer may execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Issuer shall unconditionally assume all the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the New Issuer and the Parent Guarantor are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Issuer, the Parent Guarantor, the Escrow Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Assume Obligations. The New Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer under the Indenture.

3. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Issuer shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

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5. Release of Obligations of Escrow Issuer. Upon execution of this Supplemental Indenture by the New Issuer, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee, the Escrow Issuer is released and discharged from all obligations under the Indenture and the Notes.

6. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

7. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

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

9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

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

 

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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Acknowledged by:

 

  CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
  By:  

Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc.,

    as sole member
  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:
 

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION

  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

E-4

EX-4.2 3 d300618dex42.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 4.2

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION

$1,250,000,000 8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

February [14], 2012

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

  As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

    listed on Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement,

    c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,

    383 Madison Avenue,

    New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware (“Escrow LLC”) and Caesars Escrow Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (“Escrow Corporation” and, together with Escrow LLC, the “Issuers”), propose to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of their 8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”), upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement between the Issuers, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Parent Guarantor”), and the Representatives dated February 9, 2012 (the “Purchase Agreement”), relating to the initial placement of the Notes (the “Initial Placement”) and the related Guarantee (as defined below). To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition to your obligations thereunder, the Issuers, the Company (as of the date of the CEOC Assumption, as defined below) and Parent Guarantor agree with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (as defined below) (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a “Holder” and, collectively, the “Holders”), as follows:

The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantee”) on a senior basis by Parent Guarantor. The Notes, together with the Guarantee, are referred to herein as the “Securities.”


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 ascribed to it in Section 8 hereof.

Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

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.

CEOC Assumption” means the consummation of the transactions whereby the Company will assume all of the obligations of the Issuers under the Notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture.

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company” shall mean Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc.

Deferral Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4(k)(ii) hereof.

Event Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8(b) hereof.

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 one-year 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 Statement” shall 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 Dealer” shall mean any Holder (which may include any Initial Purchaser) that is a broker-dealer and elects to exchange for New Securities any Securities 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 Securities.

Final Memorandum” shall mean the offering memorandum, dated February 9, 2012, relating to the offer and sale of the Notes, including any and all exhibits thereto and any information incorporated by reference therein as of such date.

 

2


FINRA Rules” shall mean the Conduct Rules and the By-Laws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Freely Tradable Security” shall mean any security at any time of determination if at such time of determination such security (i) may be sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act by a person that is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company where no conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act are then applicable (other than the holding period requirement in paragraph (d) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act so long as such holding period requirement is satisfied at such time of determination), (ii) does not bear any restrictive legends relating to the Securities Act and (iii) does not bear a restricted CUSIP number.

Guarantee” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Holder” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of February [14], 2012, among the Issuers, Parent Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Initial Placement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Inspector” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4(q)(ii) hereof.

Issuers” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Losses” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6(d) hereof.

Majority Holders” shall mean, on any date, Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes registered under a Registration Statement.

Managing Underwriters” shall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that administer an underwritten offering, if any, under a Registration Statement.

New Securities” shall mean debt securities of the Company and the Guarantee by Parent Guarantor, in each case, identical in all material respects to the Notes and the related Guarantee (except that the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) to be issued under the Indenture in connection with sales or exchanges effected pursuant to this Agreement.

Notes” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Parent Guarantor” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

3


Prospectus” shall 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 Securities or the New Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including any and all exhibits thereto and any information incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

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

Registrable Securities” shall mean (i) Securities other than those that have been (A) registered under a Registration Statement and exchanged or disposed of in accordance therewith or (B) sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto that may be adopted by the Commission and (ii) any New Securities resale of which by the Holder thereof requires compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

Registration Default” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8(a) hereof.

Registration Statement” shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or the New Securities 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.

Registration Trigger Date” shall mean the fifth Business Day following the one-year anniversary of the date hereof.

Securities” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

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

Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

Shelf Registration Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(b)(ii) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the

 

4


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.

Shelf Request” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(a) hereof.

Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

underwriter” shall mean any underwriter of Securities in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

2. Registered Exchange Offer. (a) Unless the Registered Exchange Offer would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission, with respect to any Securities that on the Registration Trigger Date are Registrable Securities, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall use their reasonable best efforts to prepare, to cause to be filed with the Commission and to become effective, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer; provided, however, that the Company and Parent Guarantor shall not be required to consummate such Registered Exchange Offer if the Securities are Freely Tradable Securities.

(b) If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Section 2(a) above, upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company or Parent Guarantor, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Securities 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. The Company and the Parent Guarantor shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Registered Exchange Offer not later than 45 days after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement becomes effective.

(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, if an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required to be filed and becomes effective pursuant to Section 2(a) above, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall:

(i) mail or cause to be mailed 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 after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer if required by applicable law);

 

5


(iii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act, supplemented and amended as required, to ensure that it is available for sales of New Securities 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 or an Affiliate of the Trustee;

(v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities 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 Parent 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 Parent Guarantor have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best knowledge of the Company and Parent Guarantor, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities; 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 Parent Guarantor shall:

(i) accept for exchange all Securities 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 Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Securities a principal amount of New Securities equal to the principal amount of the Securities 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 Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991), 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

 

6


in connection with any secondary resale transaction, which must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act if the resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company, Parent Guarantor or their respective Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company and Parent Guarantor that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

(i) any New Securities to be 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 Securities or the New Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act; and

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

(f) If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser or the person purchasing New Securities registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New Securities. The Company and Parent Guarantor shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities 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 and Parent Guarantor determine upon advice of their outside counsel that they are not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not completed within 45 days following the date the Exchange Offer Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests (a “Shelf Request”) with respect to Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive Freely Tradable Securities in exchange for Securities 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 Securities acquired in exchange for such Securities shall result in such New Securities being not Freely Tradeable Securities; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not “freely tradeable”), the Company and Parent Guarantor shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

 

7


(b) If a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed and becomes effective pursuant to Section 3(a), (i) the Company and Parent Guarantor shall, as promptly as practicable, file the Shelf Registration Statement with the Commission, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 90 days after so required or requested 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 Securities 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 Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company and Parent 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 their 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 Parent Guarantor shall use their reasonable 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 (the “Shelf Registration Period”) from the date the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective until the earlier of (A) the date upon which the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or (B) the date upon which all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company and Parent Guarantor shall be deemed not to have used their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Registration Period if they voluntarily take any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities at any time during the Shelf Registration Period, unless such action is (x) required by applicable law or otherwise undertaken by the Company and Parent Guarantor in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s and Parent Guarantor’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, and (y) permitted pursuant to Section 4(k)(ii) hereof.

(iii) The Company and Parent Guarantor 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 (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 case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

8


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 Parent Guarantor shall:

(i) furnish to each of the Initial Purchasers and to counsel for the Holders, 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 commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as the Initial Purchasers 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 Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders.

(b) The Company and Parent Guarantor shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to 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

(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 Parent Guarantor shall advise counsel for the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Company and Parent Guarantor a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by any Initial Purchaser 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 Parent Guarantor shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

 

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(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 after the effective date 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 institution of any proceeding for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or Parent Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution 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, they (A) do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and (B) 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 Parent Guarantor shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction.

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

(g) The Company and Parent Guarantor shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one (1) conformed 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).

 

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(h) The Company and Parent 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 Parent Guarantor 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 Securities 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 Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request and shall maintain such qualification in effect so long as required; provided that in no event shall the Company and Parent Guarantor be obligated (A) to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where they are not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject them 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 they are not then so subject or (B) to subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal amount in respect of doing business in such jurisdiction.

(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Securities or Securities 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 in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the closing date of any sales of New Securities.

(k)(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall promptly (or within the time period provided for by clause (ii) hereof, if applicable) 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 Holders of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or 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 shall 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 Securities and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

 

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(ii) Upon the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development or any other material event that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company and Parent Guarantor, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of a Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall give notice (without notice of the nature or details of such events) to the Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration is suspended and, upon actual receipt of any such notice, each Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration until such Holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in Section 3(i) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company and Parent Guarantor that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. The period during which the availability of the Shelf Registration and any Prospectus is suspended (the “Deferral Period”) (A) shall not exceed 60 consecutive days, (B) shall not occur more than three (3) times during any calendar year and (C) shall extend the number of days the Shelf Registration or any Prospectus is available by an amount equal to the Deferral Period.

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

(m) The Company and Parent Guarantor shall comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to their security holders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement and in any event no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement.

(n) [Reserved].

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

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, upon the request of the Majority Holders, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall enter into customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other appropriate actions if any, as the Majority Holders shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities, 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 6 hereof.

 

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

(i) make reasonably available for inspection at a location where they are normally kept and during normal business hours by the Majority Holders of Securities 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 and pertinent corporate documents of the Company and its subsidiaries;

(ii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent (each, an “Inspector”) in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that such Inspector shall first agree in writing with the Company and Parent Guarantor that any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Company and Parent Guarantor in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Inspector, unless (1) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (2) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of such Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus), (3) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such information by such person or (4) such information becomes available to such Inspector from a source other than the Company or Parent Guarantor and such source is not known, after due inquiry, by the relevant Holder to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or is not otherwise under a duty of trust to the Company or Parent Guarantor;

(iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Securities 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) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company 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, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;

(v) obtain “comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified

 

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public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders or 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 paragraph (q) 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) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that such Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the New Securities. In no event shall the Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(s) The Company and Parent Guarantor shall use their commercially reasonable efforts if the Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Securities, to confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

(t) In the event that any broker-dealer shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of FINRA Rules) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall assist such broker-dealer in complying with the FINRA Rules.

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

5. Registration Expenses. The Company and Parent Guarantor shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their 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 (which shall initially be Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, but which may be another nationally recognized law firm experienced in securities matters 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 counsel acting in

 

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connection therewith in each case which counsel shall be approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld). Each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel other than as set forth in the preceding sentence, underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Securities or New Securities.

6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company and Parent Guarantor agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement, each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of each such Holder, Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer and each person who controls any such Holder, Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer 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 (in the case of any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and agree to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company and Parent Guarantor will not be liable in any such 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 Parent Guarantor by or on behalf of the party claiming indemnification specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability that the Company and Parent Guarantor may otherwise have.

The Company and Parent Guarantor also agree to indemnify as provided in this Section 6(a) or contribute as provided in Section 6(d) hereof to Losses of each underwriter, if any, of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees, Affiliates 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 6(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 securities covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser that is a Holder, in such capacity) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and Parent Guarantor, each of their respective directors and officers who sign such Registration Statement and each person who controls the Issuers or any 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 Parent Guarantor to each

 

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such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company and Parent 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 that any such Holder may otherwise have.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 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 (including local 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, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, 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 (including local 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 (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified person); (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 (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified person) that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably 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 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 is consented to by the indemnifying party, as applicable (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and 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 any loss, claim, liability,

 

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damage or action) (collectively “Losses”) (other than by virtue of the failure of an indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party of its right to indemnification pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8, where such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party (through the forfeiture of substantial rights or defenses)), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses, 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 be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New Security, as set forth in the Final Memorandum, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities 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 shall be deemed to be equal to the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued in the Initial Placement as set forth in the Final Memorandum. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total fees received in the Initial Placement, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, 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 untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact 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 or any Guarantor within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company or any Guarantor who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company or any Guarantor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and Parent Guarantor, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

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(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 and Parent Guarantor or any of the indemnified persons referred to in this Section 6, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement.

7. Underwritten Registrations. (a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, 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, subject to the consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), and the Holders of Securities or New Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall be responsible for all underwriting commissions and discounts.

(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 Securities or New Securities, 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.

8. Registration Defaults.

(a) In the event that (i) an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 2(a) and (x) such Exchange Offer Registration Statement does not become effective on or prior to the Registration Trigger Date or (y) the Exchange Offer is not completed within 45 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement becomes effective, or (ii) a Shelf Registration Statement is required in accordance with Section 3(a) and such Shelf Registration Statement (x) does not become effective on or prior to the 90th day following (A) the date of such determination, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement required pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), (B) such date, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement required pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii), (C) the date of such Shelf Request, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement required pursuant to Section 3(a)(iii), or (D) the Registration Trigger Date, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement required pursuant to Section 3(a)(iv) or Section 3(a)(v), or (y) becomes effective but ceases to be effective or the corresponding Prospectus ceases to be usable at any time during the Shelf Registration Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 60 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period (any event referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) a “Registration Default”), then, in each case, the interest rate on the Securities will be increased by 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum, in each case until the earlier of the date such Registration Default is cured or the Securities become Freely Tradable Securities. Any amounts payable under this paragraph shall also be deemed “Additional Interest” for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within five business days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Any Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment

 

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date to the Holder of Notes with respect to which Additional Interest is due and owing. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event Date.

9. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and Parent Guarantor have not entered into, and agree not to enter into, any agreement with respect to their securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or that otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

10. Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement 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 and Parent Guarantor have obtained the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding; provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company and Parent Guarantor shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective; provided, further, that no amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent with respect to Section 8 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registered Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder; and provided, further, that the provisions of this Article 10 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 and Parent Guarantor have obtained the written consent of the Initial Purchasers and each Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing provisos), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Securities or New Securities, 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 Securities or New Securities, 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;

(b) if to the Initial Purchasers, initially at the address or addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and

(c) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

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

 

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

12. Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided to it herein, in the Indenture or in the Purchase Agreement or granted by law, including recovery of liquidated or other damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and Parent Guarantor agree that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by them of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

13. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company and Parent Guarantor thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and the New Securities, and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 6 hereof. The Company and Parent Guarantor hereby agree to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and the New Securities, and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

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

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

16. 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. The parties hereto each hereby waive any right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

17. 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.

18. Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New Securities) 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 between the Issuers, the Company, Parent Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers.

 

Very truly yours,
CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By: Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., as sole member
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:  

Senior Vice President

Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Senior Vice President
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:  

Senior Vice President

Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

[Registration Rights Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and

accepted as of the date first above written.

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Lang

  Name: Kenneth A. Lang
  Title: Managing Director

For itself and as Representative of the other Initial Purchasers

    named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement.

[Registration Rights Agreement]


ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities 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 securities. 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 securities received in exchange for securities where such securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business one year after the expiration date, it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

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ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account in exchange for securities, where such securities 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 securities. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

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ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities 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 securities. 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 securities received in exchange for securities where such securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business one year 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 securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.

The company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new securities by brokers-dealers. New securities 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 securities 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 securities. Any broker-dealer that resales new securities 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 securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of new securities 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 one year after the expiration date, the company 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 has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holder of the securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the securities (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.]

 

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ANNEX D

Rider A

PLEASE FILL IN YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BELOW 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 Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities and it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities; 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.

 

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EX-10.1 4 d300618dex101.htm ESCROW AGREEMENT Escrow Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

ESCROW AGREEMENT

ESCROW AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 14, 2012, among U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent and securities intermediary (in such capacities, the “Escrow Agent”), U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) under the Indenture (as defined herein), and Caesars Escrow Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each an “Issuer” and together the “Issuers”).

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated February 9, 2012, among the Issuers, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and the Representatives (as defined therein) of the initial purchasers listed on Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) and in connection with the Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Issue Date”) among the Issuers, Parent and the Trustee, relating to the Securities (as defined below) (for the avoidance of doubt U.S. Bank National Association, whether in its capacity as Escrow Agent, Trustee, Securities Intermediary or Collateral Agent is not a party to the Purchase Agreement, shall have no duties or obligations hereunder and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of its terms);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and Purchase Agreement, the Issuers are selling $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of their 8 1/2 % Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Securities”);

WHEREAS, concurrently with the closing of the sale of the Securities, the Initial Purchasers, on behalf of the Issuers, will deposit with the Escrow Agent, as hereinafter provided, the gross proceeds (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall equal $1,250,000,000) thereof, which together with the Additional Amount (as defined below) deposited directly by or on behalf of the Issuers (in both cases, in the form of immediately available funds, Treasury Securities (as defined below) or Cash Equivalents (as defined below)) shall equal an amount sufficient to pay when due the Escrow Redemption Price (as defined below), assuming redemption of the Securities occurs on the Escrow Redemption Date (as defined below);

WHEREAS, such funds will be used (i) (A) upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3(a), by Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) for the purposes set forth in Section 3(a) or (B) to fund the Escrow Redemption Price, and (ii) to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt U.S. Bank National Association, whether in its capacity as Escrow Agent, Trustee, Securities Intermediary or Collateral Agent is not a party to the Purchase Agreement, shall have no duties or obligations hereunder and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of its terms);

WHEREAS, as security for its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture, the Issuers hereby grant to the Trustee, for the sole and exclusive benefit of the holders of the Securities, a first priority security interest in and lien on the Escrow Account (as defined herein) and the Collateral (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, the parties have entered into this Agreement in order to set forth the conditions upon which, and the manner in which, funds will be held in and disbursed from the Escrow Account and released from the security interest and lien described above.


A G R E E M E N T

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Defined Terms. All terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the “Issuer” shall mean (x) prior to the Assumption Date, Caesars Escrow Corporation and Caesars Operating Escrow LLC and (y) as of the Assumption Date, all of the Company, Caesars Escrow Corporation and Caesars Operating Escrow LLC. In addition to any other defined terms used herein, the following terms shall constitute defined terms for purposes of this Agreement and shall have the meanings set forth below:

Additional Amount” means an amount of cash, Treasury Securities or Cash Equivalents or any combination thereof, which will, with the gross proceeds of the offering and with the anticipated income thereon, provide cash to the Escrow Agent in an amount sufficient to pay the Escrow Redemption Price (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall equal $4,131,944.44).

Assumption Date” means the date on which the Assumption Documents become effective in accordance with their terms.

Assumption Documents” means each of the Joinder Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement Joinder (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and such other documents necessary to effect the CEOC Assumption (as defined below).

Bank Amendment” means the definitive documentation for the amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities as contemplated under the heading “Recent Developments —Offering Transactions” in the Offering Memorandum.

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

Cash Equivalents” means any investment in time deposits, demand deposits, certificates of deposit or money market deposits maturing on or before the Conditions Precedent Date, entitled to U.S. Federal deposit insurance for the full amount thereof or issued by a bank or trust company that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof having capital in excess of $500.0 million, so long as such investment is convertible into cash on not more than one Business Day’s notice. The Escrow Agent may purchase from or sell to itself or an Affiliate, as principal or agent, securities herein authorized.

CEOC Assumption” means the Company’s assumption of the various obligations of the Issuers under the Securities pursuant to the Assumption Documents.

Collateral” see Section 6(a).

Collateral Agreement” means the collateral agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008, as amended and restated as of June 10, 2009, by and among the Company, the subsidiary pledgors party thereto and Bank of America, N.A.

Conditions Precedent Date” means the earlier of (x) the date on which the Company determines in its sole discretion that any of the Escrow Conditions cannot be satisfied and (y) May 15, 2012.

 

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Escrow Account” means the escrow account established pursuant to Section 2.

Escrow Funds” see Section 2(a)(i).

Escrow Redemption” means the obligation of the Issuer to redeem all of the Securities, pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture if the assumption is not consummated by the Conditions Precedent Date.

Escrow Redemption Date” means a day selected by the Issuers that is not more than 30 days following the Conditions Precedent Date.

Escrow Redemption Price” means 100% of the gross proceeds received from the sale of the Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities from the date hereof to, but not including, the Escrow Redemption Date.

Indemnified Person” see Section 5.

Notes Collateral” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a lien under the Security Documents.

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum dated as of February 9, 2012 relating to the offer and sale of the Securities.

Release Date” shall mean the date when all of the conditions precedent to the release of the Escrowed Property described in Section 3(a) hereof are satisfied.

Release Request” means an Officer’s Certificate requesting release of the Escrow Funds signed by Officers of the Issuer in the form attached hereto as Annex I, certifying as to the matters specified therein.

Representative Officer” means any officer of the Escrow Agent who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement and shall also mean any other officer of the Escrow Agent to whom any matter related to this Agreement is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject matter.

Secured Obligations” see Section 6(a).

Security Documents” means the Collateral Agreement and the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages and related agreements, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, creating a security interest in the collateral as contemplated in the Indenture.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities” means the Company’s senior secured credit facilities under an amended and restated credit agreement dated as of May 20, 2011 among the Company, Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto.

Treasury Securities” means any of the following that may be convertible into cash on not more than one Business Day’s notice: (i) debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States of America or any agency thereof for which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to secure payment in full at maturity and which are not redeemable at the option of

 

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the Issuers prior to maturity, (ii) repurchase agreements with respect to debt obligations referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) money market accounts that invest solely in the debt obligations referred to in clause (i) above and/or repurchase agreements referred to in clause (ii) above.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

2. Escrow Account; Escrow Agent.

(a) Establishment of Escrow Account.

(i) Concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, (A) the Escrow Agent shall establish an escrow account in the name of the Trustee entitled “Escrow Account of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee” (the “Escrow Account”) at its office located at 60 Livingston Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55107, (B) the Initial Purchasers at the direction of the Issuer will deposit with the Escrow Agent the gross proceeds from the sale of the Securities and (C) the Issuers (or the Company on behalf of the Issuers) shall deposit with the Escrow Agent the Additional Amount (the amounts referred to in clauses (B) through (C) the “Escrow Funds”).

(ii) The Escrow Agent shall accept the Escrow Funds and shall hold such securities, funds and the proceeds thereof in the Escrow Account. All amounts so deposited, and the interest on, and dividends, distributions and other payments or proceeds in respect of, any such deposits, less any amounts released pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall constitute the “Escrowed Property.” The Escrow Agent shall invest any portion of the Escrowed Property that is cash in cash, in Treasury Securities or Cash Equivalents as may be directed by the Issuer in writing from time to time. If and until the Trustee receives such a written direction the funds in the escrow account shall remain uninvested. In selecting any Treasury Securities or Cash Equivalents, the Issuer shall determine that the proceeds thereof at maturity, when added to the balance of the Escrowed Property without the reinvestment thereof or sale prior to maturity, provide funds to the Escrow Agent in an amount at least equal to the Escrow Redemption Price on the assumed Escrow Redemption Date. All such property shall be held in the Escrow Account until disbursed in accordance with the terms hereof. The Escrow Account and all property held therein by the Escrow Agent shall be under the control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) of the Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Securities.

(iii) The obligation and liability of the Escrow Agent to make the payments and transfers required by this Agreement shall be limited to the Escrowed Property and any other moneys on deposit with it pursuant to this Agreement, including any interest accruing thereon. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any loss resulting from any investment made pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with the provisions hereof or from the sale of any Treasury Securities or Cash Equivalents required by the terms hereof or any shortfall in the value of the Escrowed Property that might result therefrom.

(b) Security Interest in Escrow Funds. On the Issue Date, each of the Trustee and the Escrow Agent shall receive an opinion of counsel to the Issuer, which shall comply with Section 13.04 of the Indenture.

(c) Escrow Agent Compensation; Expense Reimbursement.

(i) The Issuer shall pay to Escrow Agent for services to be performed by it under this Agreement in accordance with the Escrow Agent’s fee schedule attached hereto as Exhibit I. The Escrow Agent shall be paid any compensation owed to it directly by the Issuer and shall not disburse from the Escrow Account any such amounts, nor shall the Escrow Agent have any interest in the Escrow Account with respect to such amounts. The provisions of this clause (i) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and survive the resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent.

 

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(ii) The Issuer shall reimburse the Escrow Agent upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Escrow Agent in implementing any of the provisions of this Agreement, including compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel. The Escrow Agent shall be paid any such expenses owed to it directly by the Issuer and shall not disburse from the Escrow Account any such amounts, nor shall the Escrow Agent have any interest in the Escrow Account with respect to such amounts. The provisions of this clause (ii) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and survive the resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent.

(d) Substitution of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may resign by giving no less than 30 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee. Such resignation shall take effect upon the later to occur of (i) delivery of all Escrowed Property maintained by the Escrow Agent hereunder and copies of all books, records, plans and other documents in the Escrow Agent’s possession relating to such funds, or this Agreement, to a successor escrow agent mutually approved by the Issuer and the Trustee (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and (ii) the Issuer, the Trustee and such successor escrow agent entering into this Agreement or any written successor agreement no less favorable to the interests of the holders of the Securities and the Trustee than this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall thereupon be discharged of all obligations under this Agreement and shall have no further duties, obligations or responsibilities in connection herewith, except to the limited extent set forth in Section 4. If a successor escrow agent has not been appointed or has not accepted such appointment within 30 Business Days after notice of resignation is given to the Issuer, the Escrow Agent may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor escrow agent.

3. Release of Escrowed Property.

(a) If at any time on or prior to the Conditions Precedent Date, the Escrow Agent receives a Release Request from the Issuer that includes the following (i) as of the Release Date, no Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing; (ii) the Bank Amendment has been fully executed and delivered; (iii) the Company has received approval from the applicable gaming authorities for the offering of the Securities and the Bank Amendment; (iv) the CEOC Assumption has been consummated; and (iv) concurrently with the release of the Escrowed Property to the Company (the “Release”): (A) the Assumption Documents will have been executed and delivered by all parties thereto; (B) the Escrow Funds will be used to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, pay the fees and expenses related to the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Deferred Discount (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and the out of pocket expenses of the Initial Purchasers payable by the Issuers pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement) and for other general corporate purposes as set forth in a written direction to the Escrow Agent substantially as set forth in Annex I contemplated in the Offering Memorandum, the Escrow Agent will release all Escrowed Property then held by it to or for the account of the Issuer, upon presentation of a Release Request no later than 3 p.m. Eastern on the business day prior to such Release.

(b) If the Escrow Agent receives a written notice from the Issuer or the Trustee substantially in the form of Annex II that the conditions specified in 3(a) will not be satisfied and/or that the Escrow Redemption is to occur, which notice shall state the Escrow Redemption Date and the Escrow Redemption Price, the Escrow Agent will on or before the Business Day prior to the Escrow Redemption Date release to the Paying Agent an amount of Escrowed Property in cash equal to the Escrow Redemption Price specified in such notice from the Issuer or the Trustee. Concurrently with such release to the Paying Agent, the Escrow Agent shall release any excess of Escrowed Property over the Escrow Redemption Price to the Company.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs 3(a) and (b) above, if the Escrow Agent receives a notice from the Trustee or the Issuer or otherwise has actual knowledge that a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Escrow Agent will not release any Escrowed Property to the Issuer unless and until the Escrow Agent receives a notice from the Trustee that such Default is not continuing.

(d) If the Escrow Agent receives a notice from the Trustee that the principal of and accrued interest on the Securities (the “Default Amount”) has become immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Indenture (an “Acceleration Event”) and either (i) a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment determines that the acceleration of the Securities was appropriate as a result of a bona fide Event of Default under the Indenture or (ii) such acceleration is not rescinded on or prior to the Conditions Precedent Date (either such event, a “Remedies Trigger Event”), the Escrow Agent will liquidate all Escrowed Property then held by it within one Business Day after it receives notice of such court determination or on the Business Day after the Conditions Precedent Date, as the case may be, and will release to the Paying Agent for payment to the holders of the Securities an amount of Escrowed Property sufficient to pay the Default Amount. The Escrow Agent will release all remaining Escrowed Property in excess of such Default Amount to the Company.

If the Escrow Agent receives a notice that an Escrow Redemption is to occur, this Section 3(d) and Section 3(c) shall be of no further effect and all Escrowed Property then held by the Escrow Agent shall be released in accordance with Section 3(b).

4. Limitation of Escrow Agent’s Liability; Responsibilities of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent’s responsibility and liability under this Agreement shall be limited as follows: (i) the Escrow Agent does not represent, warrant or guaranty to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities from time to time the performance of the Issuer; (ii) the Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility to the Issuer or the Trustee or the holders of the Securities from time to time as a consequence of performance or non-performance by the Escrow Agent hereunder, except for any gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent; (iii) the Issuer shall remain solely responsible for all aspects of the Issuer’s business and conduct; and (iv) the Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to supervise, inspect or inform the Issuer or any third party of any matter referred to above. In no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable (i) for relying upon any judicial or administrative order or judgment, upon any opinion of counsel or upon any certification, instruction, notice, or other writing delivered to it by the Issuer or the Trustee in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) for acting in accordance with or relying upon any instruction, notice, demand, certificate or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, (iii) for any consequential, punitive or special damages, (iv) for the acts or omissions of its nominees, correspondents, designees, subagents or subcustodians or (v) for an amount in excess of the value of the Escrow Account, valued as of the date of deposit.

The rights and powers granted to the Escrow Agent hereunder are being granted in order to preserve and protect the Trustee’s and the holders’ of Securities security interest in and to the Collateral granted hereby and shall not be interpreted to, and shall not, impose any duties on the Escrow Agent in connection therewith other than those imposed under applicable law. The Escrow Agent shall exercise the same degree of care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession as it exercises toward its own similar property and shall not be held to any higher standard of care under this Agreement, nor be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the Issuers or any other party.

At any time the Escrow Agent may request in writing an instruction in writing from the Issuer (other than any disbursement pursuant to Section 6(b)(iii)), and may at its own option include in such request the course of action it proposes to take and the date on which it proposes to act, regarding any matter arising in connection with its duties and obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the Escrow Agent shall state in such request that it believes in good faith that such proposed course of action

 

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is not contrary to another identified provision of this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable to the Issuer for acting without the Issuer’s consent in accordance with such a proposal on or after the date specified therein if (i) the specified date is at least five Business Days after the Issuers receive the Escrow Agent’s request for instructions and its proposed course of action, and (ii) prior to so acting, the Escrow Agent has not received the written instructions requested from the Issuer.

At the expense of the Issuer, the Escrow Agent may act pursuant to the advice of counsel chosen by it with respect to any matter relating to this Agreement and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted in accordance with such advice, except for any such action taken or omitted in bad faith.

In the event of any ambiguity in the provisions of this Agreement with respect to any funds, securities or property deposited hereunder, or instruction, notice or certification delivered hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse to comply with any and all claims, demands or instructions with respect to such funds, securities or property, and the Escrow Agent shall not be or become liable for its failure or refusal to comply with conflicting claims, demands or instructions. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse to act until either any conflicting or adverse claims or demands shall have been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or settled by agreement between the conflicting claimants as evidenced in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Escrow Agent, or the Escrow Agent shall have received security or an indemnity satisfactory to the Escrow Agent sufficient to save the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any and all loss, liability or expense which the Escrow Agent may incur by reason of its acting. The Escrow Agent may in addition elect in its sole option to commence an interpleader action or seek other judicial relief or orders as the Escrow Agent may deem necessary. The costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such proceedings shall be paid by, and shall be deemed an obligation of the Issuer.

No provision of this Agreement shall require the Escrow Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder.

The Escrow Agent shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Escrow Agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God, terrorism or war, the failure or malfunction of communication or computer systems, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility).

5. Indemnity. The Issuer shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Trustee and the Escrow Agent and their respective directors, officers, agents, employees and controlling persons, (each, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all claims, actions, obligations, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable defense costs, reasonable investigative fees and costs, reasonable legal fees, and claims for damages, arising from the Trustee’s or the Escrow Agent’s performance or non-performance, or in connection with the Escrow Agent’s acceptance of appointment as the Escrow Agent under this Agreement, except to the extent that such liability, expense or claim is solely and directly attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any such Indemnified Person. The provisions of this Section 5 shall survive any termination, satisfaction or discharge of this Agreement as well as the resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent.

6. Grant of Security Interest; Instructions to Escrow Agent.

(a) The Issuer hereby irrevocably grants a first priority security interest in and lien on, and pledges, assigns, transfers and sets over to the Trustee for its own benefit and the benefit of the holders of the Securities, all of its respective right, title and interest in, to the extent applicable, (i) the Escrow

 

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Account, and all Financial Assets and other property now or hereafter placed or deposited in, or delivered to the Escrow Agent for placement or deposit in, the Escrow Account, including, without limitation, all funds held therein, and all Treasury Securities or Cash Equivalents held by (or otherwise maintained in the name of) the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section 2; (ii) all security entitlements (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a) of the UCC) from time to time credited to the Escrow Account; (iii) all claims and rights of whatever nature which the Issuer may now have or hereafter acquire against any third party in respect of any of the Collateral described in this Section 6 (including any claims or rights in respect of any security entitlements credited to an account of the Escrow Agent maintained at The Depository Trust Company or any other clearing corporation) or any other securities intermediary (as such terms are defined in Section 8-102(a) of the UCC); (iv) all rights which the Issuer has under this Agreement and all rights it may now have or hereafter acquire against the Escrow Agent in respect of its holding and managing all or any part of the Collateral; and (v) all proceeds (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a) of the UCC) of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Collateral”), in order to secure all obligations and indebtedness of the Issuer under the Indenture, the Securities and any other obligation, now or hereafter arising, of every kind and nature, owed by the Issuer under the Indenture or the Securities to the holders of the Securities or to the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (collectively, the “Secured Obligations”). The Escrow Agent hereby acknowledges the Trustee’s security interest and lien as set forth above. The Issuer shall take all actions and shall direct the Trustee in writing to take all actions necessary on its part to insure the continuance of a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral in favor of the Trustee in order to secure all Secured Obligations. The Issuer shall not grant or cause or permit any other person to obtain a security interest, encumbrance, lien or other claim, direct or indirect, in the Issuer’s right, title or interest in the Escrow Account or any Collateral.

(b) The Issuer and the Trustee hereby irrevocably instruct the Escrow Agent to, and the Escrow Agent shall:

(i) maintain the Escrow Account for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Trustee on its behalf and on behalf of the holders of the Securities to the extent specifically required herein; treat all property in the Escrow Account as financial assets (as defined in Section 8-102(a) of the UCC); take all steps reasonably specified in writing by the Issuer pursuant to this Section 6 to cause the Trustee to enjoy continuous perfected first priority security interest under the UCC, any other applicable statutory or case law or regulation of the State of New York and any applicable law or regulation of the United States in the Collateral and except as otherwise required by law, maintain the Collateral free and clear of all liens, security interests, safekeeping or other charges, demands and claims of any nature now or hereafter existing in favor of anyone other than the Trustee;

(ii) promptly notify the Trustee if a Representative Officer of the Escrow Agent receives written notice that any Person other than the Trustee has or purports to have a lien or security interest upon any portion of the Collateral; and

(iii) in addition to disbursing amounts held in escrow pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3, upon receipt of written notice from the Trustee of the acceleration of the maturity of the Securities and direction from the Trustee to disburse the Escrow Funds to the Trustee, as promptly as practicable, disburse all funds and other Collateral held in the Escrow Account to or as directed by the Trustee and, to the extent permissible by applicable law, transfer title to all Cash Equivalents held by the Escrow Agent hereunder to or as directed by the Trustee. In addition, upon an Event of Default and for so long as such Event of Default continues, the Trustee may, and the Escrow Agent shall on behalf of the Trustee when instructed by the Trustee, exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or other applicable law.

 

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The lien and security interest provided for in this Section 6 shall automatically terminate and cease as to, and shall not extend or apply to, and the Trustee and the Escrow Agent shall have no security interest in, any funds disbursed by the Escrow Agent to the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement to the extent not inconsistent with the terms hereof. The Escrow Agent shall not have any right to receive compensation from the Trustee and shall have no authority to obligate the Trustee or to compromise or pledge its security interest hereunder. Accordingly, the Escrow Agent is hereby directed to cooperate with the Trustee in the exercise of its rights in the Collateral provided for herein.

(c) Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6(b)(iii) shall be applied as provided in Section 6.10 of the Indenture. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the Trustee and remaining after indefeasible payment in full of all the obligations under the Indenture shall be paid over to the Company promptly or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. Neither the Trustee nor the Escrow Agent shall have any liability for any shortfall to the extent of Escrow Redemption Price.

(d) The Issuer will execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, or use its reasonable best efforts to procure, all assignments, instruments and other documents, deliver any instruments to the Trustee and take any other actions that are necessary or desirable to perfect, continue the perfection of, or protect the first priority of the Trustee’s security interest in and to the Collateral, to protect the Collateral against the rights, claims, or interests of third persons or to effect the purposes of this Agreement. The Issuer also hereby authorizes the Trustee to file any financing or continuation statements with respect to the Collateral without their respective signature (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The Issuer shall pay all reasonable costs incurred in connection with any of the foregoing, it being understood that the Trustee shall have no duty to determine whether to file or record any document or instrument relating to Collateral. Neither the Trustee nor the Escrow Agent shall have any duty or obligation to file or record any document or otherwise to see to the grant or perfection of any security interest granted hereunder.

(e) The Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to do any act that the Issuer is obligated hereby to do, and the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, exercise such rights as the Issuer might exercise with respect to the Collateral and take any action in the Issuer’s or the Company’s name to protect the Trustee’s security interest hereunder.

(f) If at any time the Escrow Agent shall receive any “entitlement order” (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) or any other instructions issued by the Trustee directing the disposition of funds in the Escrow Account or otherwise related to the Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent shall comply with such instructions without further consent by the Issuer or any other person.

(g) The Escrow Agent represents that it is a “securities intermediary” and that the Escrow Account is a “securities account” (as each such term is defined in the UCC).

(h) The Issuer hereby confirms that the arrangements established under this Section 6 constitute “control” by the Trustee of the Escrow Account, as each of those terms is defined in Article 9 of the UCC as adopted in the State of New York. The Escrow Agent and the Issuer have not entered and will not enter into any other agreement with respect to control of the Escrow Account or purporting to limit or condition the obligation of the Escrow Agent to comply with any orders or instructions of the Trustee with respect to the Escrow Account as set forth in this Section 6. In the event of any conflict with respect to control over the Escrow Account between this Agreement (or any portion hereof) and any other agreement now existing or hereafter entered into, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

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(i) The Escrow Agent hereby agrees that any security interest in, lien on, encumbrance, claim or right of setoff against, the Escrow Account or any funds therein that it now has or subsequently obtains shall be subordinate to the security interest of the Trustee in the Escrow Account and the funds therein or credited thereto. The Escrow Agent agrees not to exercise any present or future right of recoupment or set-off against the Escrow Account or to assert against the Escrow Account any present or future security interest, banker’s lien or any other lien or claim (including claim for penalties) that the Escrow Agent may at any time have against or in the Escrow Account or any funds therein.

7. Termination. This Agreement and the security interest in the Escrowed Property evidenced by this Agreement shall terminate automatically and be of no further force or effect upon the distribution of all Escrowed Property in accordance with Section 3 hereof; provided, however, that the obligations of the Issuer under Section 2(c) and Section 5 (and any existing claims thereunder) shall survive termination of this Agreement and the resignation of the Escrow Agent. At such time, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to the Issuer all of the Escrowed Property hereunder that has not been disbursed or applied by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture. Such delivery shall be without warranty by or recourse to the Escrow Agent in its capacity as such, except as to the absence of any liens on the Escrowed Property created by the Escrow Agent, and shall be at the sole expense of the Issuer.

8. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Trustee for its own benefit and the benefit of the holders of the Notes and security interests hereunder, and all obligations of the Issuer hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Indenture;

(c) any exchange, surrender, release or non-perfection of any Liens on any other collateral for all or any of the Secured Obligations; or

(d) to the extent permitted by applicable law, any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Issuer in respect of the Secured Obligations or of this Agreement.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) Waiver. Any party hereto may specifically waive any breach of this Agreement by any other party, but no such waiver shall be deemed to have been given unless such waiver is in writing, signed by the waiving party and specifically designating the breach waived, nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver of similar or other breaches.

(b) Invalidity. If for any reason whatsoever any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid in a particular case or in all cases, such circumstances shall not have the effect of rendering any of the other provisions of this Agreement inoperative, unenforceable or invalid, and the inoperative, unenforceable or invalid provision shall be construed as if it were written so as to effectuate, to the maximum extent possible, the parties’ intent.

 

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(c) Assignment. This Agreement is personal to the parties hereto, and the rights and duties of the Issuer hereunder shall not be assignable except with the prior written consent of the other parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to and be binding upon the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.

(d) Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement.

(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the Indenture contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior agreements, understandings and commitments, whether oral or written. Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and any consent to any departure by the Issuer from any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only if made or duly given in compliance with all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture, and neither the Escrow Agent nor the Trustee shall be deemed, by any act, delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise, to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Escrow Agent or the Trustee of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that the Escrow Agent or the Trustee would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

(f) Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given or made under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received when actually received (i) on the day of delivery; (ii) three business days following the day sent, when sent by United States certified mail, postage and certification fee prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below; (iii) when transmitted by telecopy to the telecopy number set forth below with verbal confirmation of receipt by the telecopy operator; or (iv) one business day following the day timely delivered to a next-day air courier addressed as set forth below:

 

To the Escrow Agent:

  

US Bank -Corporate Trust Services

EP-MN-WS3C

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul MN 55107-1419

Attention: Raymond S. Haverstock

Facsimile: (651) 495-8097

To the Trustee:

  

US Bank -Corporate Trust Services

EP-MN-WS3C

60 Livingston Avenue

St. Paul MN 55107-1419

Attention: Raymond S. Haverstock

Facsimile: (651) 495-8097

 

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To the Issuer:

Caesars Escrow Corporation

Caesars Operating Escrow LLC

c/o Caesars Entertainment Corporation

One Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: (702) 407-6418

With a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019-6064

Attention: Monica K. Thurmond, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 492-0055

or at such other address as the specified entity most recently may have designated in writing in accordance with this Section 13(f). Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices and other communications to the Trustee or the Escrow Agent pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iv) of this Section 13(f) shall not be deemed duly given and received until actually received by the Trustee or the Escrow Agent, as applicable, at its address set forth above.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(h) Captions. Captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered or referred to in resolving questions of interpretation of this Agreement.

(i) Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. THE EXISTENCE, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND EFFECT OF ANY AND ALL TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREE THAT JURISDICTION OVER SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXERCISED BY A COMPETENT COURT OF THE CITY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, OR BY A COMPETENT UNITED STATES COURT, SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY. THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND THE ESCROW AGENT HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND TO ASSERT COUNTERCLAIMS OTHER THAN MANDATORY COUNTERCLAIMS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THIS AGREEMENT. THE ISSUER HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, DIRECTED TO IT AT THE ADDRESS LAST SPECIFIED FOR NOTICES HEREUNDER, AND SUCH SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED TEN (10) CALENDAR DAYS AFTER THE SAME IS SO MAILED. FOR PURPOSES OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE, NEW YORK SHALL BE THE ESCROW AGENT’S JURISDICTION.

 

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(j) Representations and Warranties of Issuers. Each Issuer hereby represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on its behalf and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency (including without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and except as the enforcement thereof is subject to equitable principles regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Issuers does not violate any applicable law or regulation to which the Issuers are subject and does not require the consent of any governmental or other regulatory body to which the Issuer is subject, except for such consents and approvals as have been obtained and are in full force and effect. The Issuers are, with respect to the Collateral they are delivering pursuant to this Agreement, the beneficial owners of such Collateral, free and clear of any Lien or claims of any Person (except for the security interest granted under this Agreement) and are the only entitlement holders (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the UCC) of the Escrow Account and the financial assets (as defined in Section 8-102(a) of the UCC).

(k) Representations and Warranties of Escrow Agent and Trustee. The Escrow Agent hereby represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on its behalf and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable in accordance with its terms. The Trustee hereby represents and warrants that the person executing this Agreement is duly authorized to so execute this Agreement, and that this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on its behalf.

(l) No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Agreement may not be used to interpret another pledge, security or debt agreement of any Issuer or any subsidiary thereof. No such pledge, security or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Agreement.

(m) Interpretation of Agreement. All terms not defined herein or in the Indenture shall have the meaning set forth in the UCC, except where the context otherwise requires. To the extent a term or provision of this Agreement relating to the Trustee or the Issuer conflicts with the Indenture, the Indenture shall control with respect to the subject matter of such term or provision. Acceptance of or acquiescence in a course of performance rendered under this Agreement shall not be relevant to determine the meaning of this Agreement even though the accepting or acquiescing party had knowledge of the nature of the performance and opportunity for objection.

(n) Survival of Provisions. All representations, warranties and covenants of the Issuer contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and shall terminate only upon the termination of this Agreement.

(o) Patriot Act. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For a non-individual person such as a business entity, a charity, a Trust or other legal entity Agent will ask for documentation to verify its formation and existence as a legal entity. Agent may also ask to see financial statements, licenses, identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming authority to represent the entity or other relevant documentation.

(p) Security Advice. The Issuers acknowledge that regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency grant the Issuers the right to receive brokerage confirmations of the security transactions as they occur. The Issuers specifically waive such notification to the extent permitted by law and will receive periodic cash transaction statements that will detail all investment transactions.

 

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[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

-14-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day first above written.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

S-1


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
      as Escrow Agent
By:  

/s/    Raymond S. Haverstock

  Name: Raymond S. Haverstock
  Title: Vice President

 

S-1


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

          not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee

By:  

/s/    Raymond S. Haverstock

  Name: Raymond S. Haverstock
  Title: Vice President

 

S-2


 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:   Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. as sole member
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Jonathan S. Halkyard

  Name:   Jonathan S. Halkyard
  Title:   Senior Vice President & Treasurer

 

S-3


ANNEX I

FORM OF OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE - RELEASE REQUEST

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC

c/o CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

One Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

[            ], 2012

[            ] as Escrow Agent

[            ]

[        ]

Attention: [        ]

Re:    Release Request Officer’s Certificate

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Escrow Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Escrow Agreement”) among you (the “Escrow Agent”), the Trustee under the indenture dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Indenture”), and Caesars Escrow Corporation, a Delaware corporation and Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, an “Issuer” and together, the “Issuers”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning given in the Escrow Agreement.

This Officer’s Certificate constitutes the Release Request under the Escrow Agreement.

The Issuers and the Company hereby notify you and certifies to you as follows pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Escrow Agreement:

1. As of the date hereof, no Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing.

2. As of the dated hereof, the Bank Amendment has been fully executed and delivered.

3. As of the date hereof, the Company has assumed the obligations of the Issuers under the Securities (the “CEOC Assumption”) pursuant to the Assumption Documents and has executed and delivered each Assumption Document to the Trustee and the Initial Purchasers.

4. As of the date hereof, the Company has received approval from the applicable gaming authorities for the offering of the Securities and the Bank Amendment.

5. Concurrently with the release of the Escrow Funds to the Company, the Assumption Documents will have been executed and delivered by all parties thereto.

 

II-1


6. Concurrently with the release of the Escrow Funds to the Company, the Escrow Funds will be used to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the fees and expenses related to the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the out of pocket expenses of the Initial Purchasers), and such other payments as contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

7. The Release Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) have been executed by all parties thereto and delivered to the Trustee and the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Purchase Agreement (attached hereto as Annex A).

8. The opinions of counsel contemplated by Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement (attached hereto as Annex A) have been furnished to the Trustee and the Initial Purchasers.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

II-2


The Issuers hereby notify you and certify to you that the release of the entire amount of funds from the Escrow Account is currently permitted in accordance with Section 3 of the Escrow Agreement and requests that you release such amount as set forth on Schedule A hereto. The Escrow Agent is entitled to rely on the foregoing in disbursing Escrow Funds as specified in this Release Request.

 

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

II-2


 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

II-3


Schedule A

WIRE INSTRUCTIONS

 

[Company]     

Proceeds to be delivered:

     [                      

Name of Bank:

     [                      

ABA Number of Bank:

     [                      

Account Number at Bank:

     [                      

Name of Account:

     [                      

OBI Field F/F/C #:

     [                      

Attention:

     [                      

 

[Initial Purchasers]     

Proceeds to be delivered:

     [                      

Name of Bank:

     [                      

ABA Number of Bank:

     [                      

Account Number at Bank:

     [                      

Name of Account:

     [                      

OBI Field F/F/C #:

     [                      

Attention:

     [                      

 

II-1


ANNEX II

FORM OF FAILURE OF CONDITION NOTICE

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC

c/o CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

One Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

[            ], 2012

[            ] as Escrow Agent

[            ]

[        ]

Attention: [        ]

Re:    Failure of Conditions

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Escrow Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Escrow Agreement”) among you (the “Escrow Agent”), the Trustee under the indenture dated as of February 14, 2012 (the “Indenture”), and Caesars Escrow Corporation, a Delaware corporation and Caesars Operating Escrow LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, an “Issuer” and together, the “Issuers”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning given in the Escrow Agreement.

This Officer’s Certificate constitutes notice that the required conditions set forth in Section 3(a) shall not be satisfied on or prior to the Escrow Redemption Date.

Escrow Redemption Date: [            ], 2012

Escrow Redemption Price: $[            ]

 

CAESARS ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

II-2


 

CAESARS OPERATING ESCROW LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

II-3


EXHIBIT I

FUNDS TO BE WIRED

 

Description

  

Amount

  

Instructions

    

Escrow Fee

   $[            ]   

RBK:

ABA:

BNF:

BNFACCT:

OBI:

REF#: ATTN:

  

U.S. Bank, N.A.

[                    ]

[                    ]

[                    ]

[                    ]

[                    ]

[                    ]

[                    ]

  

 

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