EX-10.42 17 dex1042.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE, DATED AS OF JULY 21, 2005 Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of July 21, 2005

EXHIBIT 10.42

 


ELDORADO CASINO SHREVEPORT JOINT VENTURE

and

SHREVEPORT CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Issuers,

and the Guarantors listed on the signature page hereof

$140,000,000 FIRST MORTGAGE NOTES DUE 2012

AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE

Dated as of July 21, 2005

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE    2

Section 1.01.

   Definitions    2

Section 1.02.

   Other Definitions    22

Section 1.03.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    23

Section 1.04.

   Rules of Construction    23
ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES    24

Section 2.01.

   Form and Dating    24

Section 2.02.

   Execution and Authentication    25

Section 2.03.

   Registrar and Paying Agent    25

Section 2.04.

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust    25

Section 2.05.

   Holder Lists    26

Section 2.06.

   Transfer and Exchange    26

Section 2.07.

   Replacement Notes    29

Section 2.08.

   Outstanding Notes    30

Section 2.09.

   Treasury Notes    30

Section 2.10.

   Temporary Notes    30

Section 2.11.

   Cancellation    31

Section 2.12.

   Defaulted Interest    31
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT    31

Section 3.01.

   Notices to Trustee    31

Section 3.02.

   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed    31

Section 3.03.

   Notice of Redemption    32

Section 3.04.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption    32

Section 3.05.

   Deposit of Redemption Price    32

Section 3.06.

   Notes Redeemed in Part    33

Section 3.07.

   Optional Redemption    33

Section 3.08.

   Mandatory Disposition Pursuant to Gaming Laws    33

Section 3.09.

   Repurchase Offers    34
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS    36

Section 4.01.

   Payment of Notes    36

Section 4.02.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency    36

Section 4.03.

   Reports    37

Section 4.04.

   Compliance Certificate    38

Section 4.05.

   Taxes    38

Section 4.06.

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws    39

Section 4.07.

   Restricted Payments    39

Section 4.08.

   Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    42

Section 4.09.

   Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Equity    42

Section 4.10.

   Asset Sales    44

Section 4.11.

   Events of Loss    45

Section 4.12.

   Transactions with Affiliates    46

Section 4.13.

   Liens    47

 

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Section 4.14.

   Line of Business    47

Section 4.15.

   Existence    47

Section 4.16.

   Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control    48

Section 4.17.

   [Intentionally Blank]    48

Section 4.18.

   [Intentionally Blank]    48

Section 4.19.

   Limitation on Status as Investment Company    48

Section 4.20.

   Sale and Leaseback Transactions    48

Section 4.21.

   Additional Subsidiary Guarantees    49

Section 4.22.

   Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries    49

Section 4.23.

   Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Restricted Subsidiaries    49

Section 4.24.

   Advances to Restricted Subsidiaries    50

Section 4.25.

   Compliance with Securities Laws    50

Section 4.26.

   Payments for Consent    50

Section 4.27.

   Further Assurances    50

Section 4.28.

   Insurance    51

Section 4.29.

   Amendments to Certain Agreements    51

Section 4.30.

   Restriction on Payment of Management Fees    52

Section 4.31.

   Restrictions on Activities of ES I, ES II and Capital    52
ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS    53

Section 5.01.

   Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets    53

Section 5.02.

   Successor Entity Substituted    54
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES    55

Section 6.01.

   Events of Default    55

Section 6.02.

   Acceleration    56

Section 6.03.

   Other Remedies    57

Section 6.04.

   Waiver of Past Defaults    57

Section 6.05.

   Control by Majority    58

Section 6.06.

   Limitation on Suits    58

Section 6.07.

   Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment    58

Section 6.08.

   Collection Suit by Trustee    59

Section 6.09.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    59

Section 6.10.

   Priorities    59

Section 6.11.

   Undertaking for Costs    60

Section 6.12.

   Management of the Shreveport Resort    60

Section 6.13.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies    60
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE    61

Section 7.01.

   Duties of Trustee    61

Section 7.02.

   Rights of Trustee    62

Section 7.03.

   Individual Rights of Trustee    62

Section 7.04.

   Trustee's Disclaimer    62

Section 7.05.

   Notice of Defaults    63

Section 7.06.

   Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes    63

Section 7.07.

   Compensation and Indemnity    63

 

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Section 7.08.

   Louisiana Gaming Control Board    64

Section 7.09.

   Replacement of Trustee    65

Section 7.10.

   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.    66

Section 7.11.

   Eligibility; Disqualification    66

Section 7.12.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers    66

Section 7.13.

   Authorization of Trustee to Take Other Actions    66
ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE    67

Section 8.01.

   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    67

Section 8.02.

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge    67

Section 8.03.

   Covenant Defeasance    67

Section 8.04.

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance    68

Section 8.05.

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    69

Section 8.06.

   Repayment to Partnership    69

Section 8.07.

   Reinstatement    70
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER    70

Section 9.01.

   Without Consent of Holders of Notes    70

Section 9.02.

   With Consent of Holders of Notes    71

Section 9.03.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    72

Section 9.04.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents    72

Section 9.05.

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes    73

Section 9.06.

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.    73
ARTICLE 10 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY    73

Section 10.01.

   Security    73

Section 10.02.

   Recording and Opinions    74

Section 10.03.

   Release of Collateral    75

Section 10.04.

   Protection of the Trust Estate    76

Section 10.05.

   Certificates of the Issuers    76

Section 10.06.

   Certificates of the Trustee    76

Section 10.07.

   Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents    77

Section 10.08.

   Trustee's Duties    77

Section 10.09.

   Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents    77

Section 10.10.

   Termination of Security Interest    78

Section 10.11.

   Cooperation of Trustee    78

Section 10.12.

   Collateral Agent    79
ARTICLE 11 NOTE GUARANTEES    80

Section 11.01.

   Guarantee    80

Section 11.02.

   Additional Note Guarantees    81

Section 11.03.

   Limitation on Guarantor Liability    82

Section 11.04.

   Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee    82

Section 11.05.

   Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms    83

 

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Section 11.06.

   Releases Following Sale of Assets    83
ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE    84

Section 12.01.

   Satisfaction and Discharge    84

Section 12.02.

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    85

Section 12.03.

   Repayment to Partnership    85
ARTICLE 13 JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY    85
ARTICLE 14 MISCELLANEOUS    87

Section 14.01.

   Trust Indenture Act Controls    87

Section 14.02.

   Notices    87

Section 14.03.

   Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes    89

Section 14.04.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    89

Section 14.05.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    89

Section 14.06.

   Rules by Trustee and Agents    89

Section 14.07.

   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members, Stockholders and Partners    90

Section 14.08.

   Governing Law    90

Section 14.09.

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements    90

Section 14.10.

   Successors    90

Section 14.11.

   Severability    90

Section 14.12.

   Counterpart Originals    90

Section 14.13.

   Acts of Holders    90

Section 14.14.

   Benefit of Indenture    92

Section 14.15.

   Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act    92

Section 14.16.

   Table of Contents, Headings, etc    92

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A   FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B   FORM OF NOTATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE
Exhibit C   FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE dated as of July 20, 2005, among Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture, a Louisiana general partnership (the “Partnership”), Shreveport Capital Corporation, a Louisiana corporation (“Capital” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), HCS I, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (“HCS I”), HCS II, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (“HCS II”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS, the Partnership, under its prior name Hollywood Casino Shreveport (“Original Issuer”) and Shreveport Capital Corporation, a Louisiana corporation (“Capital”, and together with the Original Issuer, the “Original Issuers”), HCS I and HCS II, entered into an Indenture dated as of August 10, 1999 (the “Original Indenture”) with State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Original Trustee”), for the holders of the Original Notes (as defined below) under the Original Indenture, pursuant to which the Original Issuers issued $150,000,000 of their 13% First Mortgage Notes due 2006 with Contingent Interest (as amended, supplemented, restated, exchanged, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time, the “First Mortgage Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Original Issuers issued an additional $39 million aggregate principal amount of 13% Senior Secured Notes due 2006 with Contingent Interest on or about June 15, 2001 (as amended, supplemented, restated, exchanged, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Equipment Notes” and together with the First Mortgage Notes, the “Original Notes”);

WHEREAS, on September 10, 2004, an order for relief was entered under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code against the Original Issuers and other related entities;

WHEREAS, Original Issuers’ administratively consolidated chapter 11 cases were heard in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division as chapter 11 case no. 04-13259;

WHEREAS, on July 7, 2005, the Bankruptcy Court entered its order confirming Original Issuers’ Joint Plan of the Debtors and the Bondholders Committee Proposed July 6, 2005 (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan, (i) the promissory notes and other instruments evidencing the Original Notes were deemed cancelled, (ii) the partners of Original Issuer and Newco entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Joint Venture Agreement pursuant to which (a) the name of the partnership was changed to Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture and (b) the Partnership issued new non-voting general partnership interests and $20 million of preferred equity partnership interests to Newco (the “Preferred Interests”), and (iii) the Issuers and the Guarantors were authorized to amend and restate the Original Indenture and issue $140,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 10% First Mortgage Notes due 2012 in replacement of the Original Notes (the “Notes”) for which U.S. Bank National Association is Trustee;

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Plan to be effective on the day subsequent to the effective time of the occurrence of the events described in the preceding paragraph, (i) ES I and ES II shall collectively purchase from the Partnership, and the

 

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Partnership intends to issue and sell to ES I and ES II general partnership interests in the Partnership, (ii) immediately after the issuance of general partnership interests to ES I and ES II, pursuant to the Plan, the partnership interests held by the partners of the Original Issuers were deemed cancelled, (iii) ES I, ES II and Newco shall enter into a Fifth Amended and Restated Joint Venture Agreement which will provide, among other things, for the issuance of the partnership interests to ES I and ES II (the “Partnership Agreement”) and (iv) ES I and ES II shall execute a Note Guarantee in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and a Supplemental Indenture in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C joining as Guarantors;

NOW THEREFORE, the Issuers, HCS I, HCS II, and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01. Definitions.

“Acquired Debt“ means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

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

“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,” as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” shall have correlative meanings.

“Agent“ means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

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

“Asset Sale“ means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.16 and Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof; and

 

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(2) the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests by the Partnership in any of its Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a fair market value of less than $1.0 million;

(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Partnership or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents; and

(6) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted under Section 4.07 hereof.

“Attributable Debt“ in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Bankruptcy Law“ means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Base Management Fees“ means the annual base management fee of $2,500,000 set forth in, and paid in accordance with, the Management Agreement.

“Beneficial Owner“ has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have a corresponding meaning.

 

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“Board of Directors” means: (1) with respect to a corporation, the Board of Directors of the corporation; (2) with respect to a limited liability company, the Board of Managers of the limited liability company; (3) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the managing general partner of the partnership; and (4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

“BD Interest Purchase Agreement” means that certain Purchase Agreement dated as of July 19, 2005, by and among ES I, ES II and Newco regarding claims of Black Diamond Capital Management, L.L.C. purchased by ES I pursuant to the Plan.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

“Capital 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 that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Stock” means: (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (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.

“Carano Interests” means Donald L. Carano, his spouse, lineal descendants (including adopted children and their lineal descendants) and any trust or entity owned, controlled by or established for the exclusive benefit of, or the estate of, any of the foregoing.

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days 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 having the highest rating obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

 

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(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.

“Change of Control“ means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts and their respective Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(2) the liquidation or dissolution of, or the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of, either of the Issuers, ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts or any successor thereto;

(3) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted members of the Board of Directors of the Partnership or Eldorado Resorts (together with any new directors whose election or appointment by such board or whose nomination for election by the partners of the Partnership or members of Eldorado Resorts, as the case may be, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) ceasing for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Partnership or Eldorado Resorts, as the case may be, then in office;

(5) ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts, respectively, is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of ES I, ES II or Eldorado Resorts, respectively, outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person (or the ultimate parent entity of such Person) constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person immediately after giving effect to such issuance;

(6) the first day on which the Carano Interests or Eldorado Resorts ceases to Beneficially Own 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Partnership, other than the Equity Interests of the Partnership owned by Newco on the date of this Indenture;

(7) the first day on which the Carano Interests cease to control a majority of the Voting Stock of Eldorado Resorts; or

(8) the termination, repudiation or assignment by the Manager (other than to Eldorado Resorts) of the Management Agreement.

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

 

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“Collateral“ means all “collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents.

“Collateral Agent“ shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.12 and the Collateral Documents.

“Collateral Documents“ means, collectively, all agreements, instruments, documents, pledges or filings executed in connection with granting or the perfection of, or that otherwise evidence, the Lien of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent in the Collateral, including, without limitation, each security agreement executed by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent and each of the Partnership, Capital and each Guarantor, as the case may be, and each stock pledge agreement, partnership interest pledge agreement, mortgage, ship mortgage and collateral assignment of documents executed by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, creating a Lien that secures the Notes and the Note Guarantees, the control agreements executed by the Partnership with respect to the cash collateral accounts of each the Issuers, and any other document, agreement, instrument, pledge or filing executed in connection with the granting, or that otherwise evidence, the Lien of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent on the Collateral.

“Consolidated Cash Flow“ means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits or the Tax Amount of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes or Tax Amount was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense, that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

 

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(5) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the Partnership only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Partnership by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its equityholders.

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

(1) the Net Income of any Person that is not a 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 paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by 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;

(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded;

(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded; and

(5) the Net Income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the specified Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 14.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Issuers.

“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

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“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Partnership to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Partnership may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.

“Effective Tax Rate” means, with respect to any Partnership taxable year the greater of (a) the sum of (i) the highest federal marginal income tax rate applicable during such taxable year to an individual plus (ii) the highest marginal Louisiana and Shreveport tax rates in effect for individuals or (b) the sum of (i) highest federal marginal income tax rate applicable during such taxable year to corporations plus (ii) the highest marginal Louisiana and Shreveport tax rates in effect for corporations.

“Eldorado Resorts” means Eldorado Resorts LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“Eligible Institution” means a domestic commercial banking institution that has combined capital and surplus of not less than $500 million or its equivalent in foreign currency, whose debt is rated “A” or higher according to S&P or Moody’s at the time any investment or rollover therein is made.

“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).

“ES I” means Eldorado Shreveport #1, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

“ES II” means Eldorado Shreveport #2, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

 

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“Event of Loss” means, with respect to any asset, any (1) loss, destruction or damage of such asset, (2) condemnation, seizure or taking by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise of such property or asset, or confiscation of such asset or the requisition of the use of such asset or (3) settlement in lieu of clause (2) above.

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

“FF&E” means furniture, fixtures and equipment used in the ordinary course of the business of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“FF&E Financing” means the incurrence of Indebtedness, the proceeds of which are utilized solely to finance the acquisition of (or entry into a capital lease by the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary with respect to) FF&E.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred equity subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which 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, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred equity, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but without giving effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income;

(2) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded; and

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.

 

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations; plus

(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred equity of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Partnership (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles 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 from time to time.

“Gaming Authority” means any agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, department, office or instrumentality of any nature whatsoever of the United States federal government, any foreign government, any state, province or city or other political subdivision or otherwise, whether now or hereafter in existence, or any officer or official thereof, including, without limitation, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, with authority to regulate any gaming operation (or proposed gaming operation) owned, managed or operated by either of the Issuers, the Manager or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

“Gaming Law” means the gaming laws of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions to which either of the Issuers, the Manager or any of their respective Subsidiaries is, or may at any time after the date of this Indenture be, subject.

 

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“Gaming License” means any license, permit, franchise or other authorization from any Gaming Authority necessary on the date of this Indenture or at any time thereafter to own, lease, operate or otherwise conduct the business of either of the Issuers, the Manager or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

“Global Notes” means Notes substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01 or 2.06(d) hereof.

“Government Securities” 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 either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and also includes 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 Government Security or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Security 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 Government Security or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Security evidenced by such depository receipt.

“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, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

“Guarantor” means, prior to the execution of the Partnership Agreement, HCS I and HCS II and, following the execution of the Partnership Agreement and the Supplemental Indenture, ES I, ES II and any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under: (1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; and (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

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

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

(1) borrowed money;

 

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(2) obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); (3) banker’s acceptances;

(4) Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable;

(6) any Hedging Obligations;

(7) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be limited to the lesser of the fair market value of the assets or property to which such Lien attaches and the amount of the Indebtedness so incurred; and

(8) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person;

and any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings and refundings (whether direct or indirect) thereof and any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto, if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:

(1) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and

(2) the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

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

“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

“Intercompany Notes” means the intercompany notes issued by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Partnership in favor of the Partnership or a Guarantor to evidence advances by the Partnership or such Guarantor.

“Interest” means the interest payable on the Notes.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar

 

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advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, the Partnership shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person shall be deemed to be an Investment by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07 hereof.

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, the City of Hartford, Connecticut, the State of Nevada, or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

“License Agreement” means the License Agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture, between Eldorado Resorts and the Partnership, as in effect on the date of this Indenture or as amended or modified in a manner consistent with Section 4.29 hereof.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or 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.

“Management Agreement” means the Management Agreement dated as of July 21, 2005 between the Partnership and the Manager relating to the management of the Shreveport Resort, as in effect on the date of this Indenture or as amended or modified pursuant to Section 4.29 hereof.

“Management Fees” means any fees payable to the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement.

“Manager” means Eldorado Resorts or any successor thereto designated pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.

“Manager Subordination Agreement” means the Manager Subordination Agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture, among the Partnership, the Manager and the Trustee.

 

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“Minimum Facilities” means, with respect to the Shreveport Resort, a riverboat casino which has at least 1,600 gaming positions, a hotel which has at least 350 hotel rooms, two restaurants with seating for at least 500 people, two bars, an entertainment lounge and parking for at least 1,800 vehicles.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred equity dividends or distributions, excluding, however:

(a) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes or Tax Amount on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (I) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions); or (II) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(b) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes or Tax Amount on such extraordinary gain (but not loss); less

(2) in the case of any Person that is a partnership or limited liability company, the Tax Amount of such Person for such period.

“Net Loss Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Event of Loss, including, without limitation, insurance proceeds from condemnation awards or damages awarded by any judgment, net of the direct costs in recovery of such Net Loss Proceeds (including, without limitation, legal, accounting, appraisal and insurance adjuster fees and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Event of Loss, and any taxes or the portion of the Tax Amount attributable to such Event of Loss paid or payable as a result thereof.

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, sales commissions, relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof and taxes or the portion of the Tax Amount attributable to such Asset Sale paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

“Newco” means Shreveport Gaming Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither the Partnership nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise or (c) constitutes the lender;

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Issuers’ payment obligations under this Indenture and on the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, as applicable, the Manager, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by two Officers of such Person, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, that meets the requirements of Section 14.05 hereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 14.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers, any Subsidiary of the Issuers or the Trustee.

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

“Partnership Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Joint Venture Agreement of Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture (formerly known as the “Queen of New Orleans at the Hilton Joint Venture,” “QNOV” and “Hollywood Casino Shreveport”) to be entered into as of July 21, 2005, as in effect as of such date.

 

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“Partnership Interests” means general partnership interests, both voting and non-voting, and Preferred Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with that certain Plan of Reorganization styled as the Joint Plan of the Debtors and the Bondholders Committee Proposed July 6, 2005 and confirmed on July 7, 2005.

“Permitted Business” means the gaming business and other businesses necessary for, incident to, connected with, arising out of, or developed, owned or operated to permit or facilitate the operation of the gaming business at the Shreveport Resort (including developing, owning and operating lodging facilities, restaurants, sports or entertainment facilities, transportation services or other related activities or enterprises and any additions or improvements thereto necessary or incidental to the operation of the gaming business at the Shreveport Resort).

“Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Partnership or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents, Government Securities or Pledged Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; or

(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership;

(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;

(5) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Partnership;

(6) Hedging Obligations;

(7) any required Investment by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in persons in order to secure liquor and/or other licenses or permits under applicable law incident to the operation by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of a Permitted Business; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investment shall at no time exceed $100,000;

 

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(8) any Investment made in settlement of gambling debts incurred by patrons of any casino owned or operated by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which settlements have been entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

(9) Investments not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses (1) through (8) in an aggregate outstanding amount of not more than $250,000.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens on the assets of the Issuers and the Guarantors created by or permitted under the express terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

(2) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership; provided, however, that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

(4) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture;

(5) Landlords’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, maritime Liens for crew wages, salvage, suppliers and providers of services, and other like Liens imposed by law, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of obligations in respect of the payment of borrowed money) and securing obligations that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

(6) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

(7) Liens on FF&E to secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof;

(8) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure lease obligations or non-delinquent obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation;

 

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(9) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the business or assets of the Partnership or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(10) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is located;

(11) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure Non- Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(12) Liens arising from UCC financing statements regarding property leased by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(13) Liens incurred and pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and social security benefits; and

(14) without limiting the ability of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien otherwise permitted under any of the foregoing clauses, any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses; provided, however, that any such extension, renewal or replacement Lien is limited to the property or assets covered by the Lien extended, renewed or replaced or substitute property or assets, the value of which is (and, for property or assets having an aggregate fair market value of more than $100,000, as determined by the Board of Directors to be) not materially greater than the value of the property or assets for which the substitute property or assets are substituted.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided, however, that:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest thereon and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith); provided, however, if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien described in clause (7) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” then the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will not exceed the then current fair market value of the asset so encumbered;

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

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(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Partnership or by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

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

“Pledged Securities” means:

(1) Government Securities having a maturity date on or before the date on which the payments of Interest on the Notes to which such Government Securities are pledged occur;

(2) any certificate of deposit maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition issued by, or time deposit of, an Eligible Institution;

(3) commercial paper maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition issued by a corporation other than an Affiliate of the Partnership with a rating at the time any investment therein is made, of “A-1” or higher according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or “P-1” or higher according to Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.;

(4) any banker’s acceptances or money market deposit accounts issued or offered by an Eligible Institution; and

(5) any fund investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (1) through (4) above; and

in the case of clauses (2) through (4) above, which have a maturity date on or before the date on which the payments of Interest on the Notes to which such securities are pledged occur.

“Preferred Interests” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the recitals hereof.

“Presumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to each partner of the Partnership for any Partnership taxable year, an amount equal to the product of (a) the amount of taxable income allocated by the Partnership to such partner for such taxable year and (b) the Effective Tax Rate.

“Qualified Capital Contribution” means a capital contribution of ES I or ES II to the Partnership in cash of at least $20.0 million.

 

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“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within Corporate Trust Services department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“S&P” means Standard and Poor’s Rating Services.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

“Shreveport Resort” means the riverboat casino, hotel and related amenities in Shreveport, Louisiana, located at 451 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity 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 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 (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

“Supplemental Indenture” means that certain Supplemental Indenture, in form substantially similar to the Form of Supplemental Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit C, to be executed by ES I and ES II, to be effective upon the execution of the Partnership Agreement and thereafter, a supplemental indenture in form substantially similar to the Form of Supplemental Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit C, to be executed by any additional Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof.

 

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“Tax Amount” means payments by the Partnership to its partners with respect to any Partnership taxable year in an amount equal to the aggregate Presumed Tax Liability with respect to each such partner for such taxable year.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa- 77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

“Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all assets of such Person and its subsidiaries as would be shown on the balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Partnership other than Capital that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Partnership;

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Partnership nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Partnership as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Partnership shall be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Partnership may at any time designate any

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

“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 at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Section 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined
in
Section
 

“Act”

   14.13  

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.12  

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.10  

“Authentication Order”

   2.02  

“Beneficiary”

   13  

“Benefited Party”

   11.01  

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.16  

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.16  

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.16  

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03  

“DTC”

   2.03  

“Event of Default”

   6.01  

“Event of Loss Offer”

   4.11 (c)

“Excess Loss Proceeds”

   4.11 (c)

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10  

“incur”

   4.09  

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02  

“Offer Amount”

   3.09  

“Note Obligations”

   13 (a)

“Offer Period”

   3.09  

 

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“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Default”

   6.01

“Permitted Debt”

   4.09

“Purchase Date”

   3.09

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Repurchase Offer”

   3.09

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Issuers and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

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

(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(f) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

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ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01. Form and Dating.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1 and integral multiples thereof. Interest on the Notes, including interest on overdue principal or installments of interest, if any, shall be paid in cash or, at the option of the Issuers, through the issuance of additional Notes the principal amount of which is equal to all or a portion of the interest then due, as determined by the Issuers; provided, however, that the Issuers may exercise the option to issue additional Notes in lieu of cash interest payments for only four semi-annual interest payments, which payments need not be consecutive; provided, further, that the option to issue additional Notes may not be exercised after any Partnership Interests have been redeemed or otherwise acquired by an Issuer, (x) unless the Partnership shall have been required by the holders of Partnership Interest to redeem or, prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (as hereinafter defined), the Partnership shall have received notice from the holders of Partnership Interests, which notice shall not have been subsequently revoked, of their intent to require the Partnership to redeem such Partnership Interests, in each case in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.6(a) of the Partnership Agreement or (y) with respect to the two Interest Payment Dates immediately succeeding any distribution by the Partnership made in respect of the Preferred Interests prior to the payment in full of the principal amount of all of the Notes and accrued interest thereon.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of the Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

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Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.

One Officer shall sign the Notes for each of the Issuers by manual or facsimile signature. The Issuers’ seals, if any, shall be reproduced on the Notes and may be in facsimile form.

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

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

The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Issuers signed by two Officers (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

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

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as Agent.

The Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian for the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or Interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the

 

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Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuers or a Subsidiary act as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to either of the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05. 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 all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven 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 the Holders of Notes and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuers for Definitive Notes if (i) the Issuers deliver to the Trustee a notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or (ii) the Issuers in their sole discretion determine that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and deliver a written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Sections 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers 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:

 

26


(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests. A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

 

27


(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 2.06(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 2.06(e). A Holder of a Definitive Note may transfer such Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Note pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) Legends. The following legend shall appear on the face of all Global Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE NECESSARY PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.”

(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. 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 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for 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 Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Issuers’ order or at the Registrar’s request, in each case in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.16 and 9.05 hereof).

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

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

(v) The Issuers shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

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

(vii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Holder or Issuers satisfies the reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the

 

29


judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because either of the Issuers or an Affiliate of either of the Issuers holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Issuers or a Subsidiary of either of the Issuers shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07 hereof.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and Interest on it ceases to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue Interest.

Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuers, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 2.11. Cancellation.

The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Agents 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, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuers. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuers default in a payment of Interest on the Notes, they shall pay the defaulted Interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted Interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided, however, that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted Interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such Interest to be paid.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (a) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the redemption date, (c) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (d) the redemption price.

Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes for redemption or repurchase as follows: (i) if the Notes are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (ii) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1 or whole multiples of $1, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of

 

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$1, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuers shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address; provided, however, that in the case of an optional redemption in which the Issuers have called for redemption of all outstanding Notes in connection with a refinancing of such Notes, the Issuers shall be permitted to (a) specify a proposed redemption date, (b) change the proposed redemption date not more than two times prior to a final redemption date by notice mailed to Holders not later than five Business Days prior to the final redemption date and (c) establish the final redemption date as a date not more than 90 days after the first notice from the Issuers calling the Notes for optional redemption was mailed to the Holders. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only pursuant to Section 3.06 hereof, the notice of redemption that relates to that note shall state the portion of principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued Interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued Interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, Interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether redeemed Notes are delivered to the Paying Agent for payment. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, Interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any Interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

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Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, upon cancellation of the old Note, the Issuers shall issue and, upon the Issuers’ written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. No Notes in denominations of $1 or less shall be redeemed in part.

Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.

At any time prior to August 1, 2009, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 110% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid Interest, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a Qualified Capital Contribution; provided, however, that: (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Issuers, any Subsidiaries of the Issuers and any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Issuers); and (ii) the redemption must occur within 60 days of such Qualified Capital Contribution. Except as provided herein, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to August 1, 2009. On or after August 1, 2009, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid Interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2009

   105.0 %

2010

   102.5 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.0 %

Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

Section 3.08. Mandatory Disposition Pursuant to Gaming Laws.

(a) Redemption Pursuant to Gaming Authority. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 3, if any Gaming Authority requires that a Person who is a Holder or the Beneficial Owner of a Note be licensed, qualified or found suitable under any applicable Gaming Law, the Holder or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, shall apply for a license, qualification or a finding of suitability within the time period required by the Gaming Authority. If the Holder or Beneficial Owner fails to apply for such license, qualification or finding of suitability within the required time period, or if any Gaming Authority having jurisdiction over the Holder makes a determination that the Holder is unsuitable to hold a license, such Holder or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, shall be required to dispose of its Notes within the time specified by the Gaming Authority and the Issuers shall have the right to redeem the Notes of such Holder or Beneficial Owner, subject to approval of any applicable Gaming Authority, at the least of (i) the principal amount thereof, (ii) the amount that such Holder or Beneficial Owner paid for the Notes, (iii) the fair market value of the Notes, or (iv) such other amount as may be required by

 

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applicable law or by order of any Gaming Authority. Immediately upon the imposition of a requirement to dispose of Notes by a Gaming Authority, such Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Notes shall, to the extent required by applicable law or by order of any Gaming Authority, have no further right (x) to exercise, directly or indirectly, through any trustee or nominee or any other Person or entity, any right conferred by the Notes or (y) to receive any Interest, dividends, economic interests or any other distributions or payments with respect to the Notes or any remuneration in any form with respect to the Notes from the Issuers, the Guarantors or the Trustee. Any Holder of Notes that is required to apply for a license, qualification or finding of suitability must pay all fees and costs of any investigation by the applicable Gaming Authorities. The Issuers are not required to pay or reimburse any Holder of the Notes or Beneficial Owner who is required to apply for such license, qualification or finding of suitability for the costs of the licensure or investigation for such qualification or finding of suitability. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of any such redemption as soon as practicable; provided, however, that until such time as the Trustee receives notice from the Issuers of such redemption in accordance with Section 14.02 hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Holder or Beneficial Owner as having all of its rights under the Indenture. The Trustee shall report the names of the record Holders of the Notes to any Gaming Authority when required by law.

(b) Except as described in this Section 3.08, the Issuers are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09. Repurchase Offers.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, the Issuers shall be required to commence, or if pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 4.07 hereof, the Issuers commence, an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (a “Repurchase Offer”), they shall follow the procedures specified below.

The Repurchase Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall purchase at the Purchase Price (as determined in accordance with clause (vi) of Section 4.07, Section 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, as the case may be) the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 4.07, Section 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, as the case may be, (the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to such Repurchase Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional Interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to such Repurchase Offer.

Upon the commencement of a Repurchase Offer, the Issuers shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to such Repurchase Offer. The Repurchase Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of such Repurchase Offer, shall state:

(a) that the Repurchase Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and clause (vi) of Section 4.07, Section 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, as the case may be, and the length of time the Repurchase Offer shall remain open;

 

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(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue Interest;

(d) that, unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Repurchase Offer shall cease to accrue Interest after the Purchase Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Repurchase Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1 only;

(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Repurchase Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Issuers, a Depositary, if appointed by the Issuers, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice on or before the Purchase Date;

(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Notes shall be selected for purchase pursuant to the terms of Section 3.02 hereof, and that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; and

(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, pursuant to the terms of Section 3.02 hereof, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Repurchase Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuers in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five Business days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new

 

35


Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Issuers, shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Repurchase Offer on the Purchase Date.

The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent that such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to the Repurchase Offer. To the extent that the provisions of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act or any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09, clause (vi) of Section 4.07, 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under those sections of this Indenture.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 12:00 noon Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and Interest then due or, if applicable, additional Notes sufficient to pay such installment of interest.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers 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 Issuers 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.

 

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The Issuers 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 Issuers of their obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Issuers 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.

The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03. Reports.

Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any notes are outstanding, the Issuers will furnish to the Holders of Notes: (a) within 15 days following the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for filings by registrants that are not accelerated filers, all consolidated quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Issuers were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuers’ certified independent accountants; and (b) promptly, and in no event later than the tenth (10th) day of each calendar month, the information required to be disclosed in any current reports that would have been required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K during the preceding calendar month if the Issuers were required to file such reports. In addition, ES I and ES II shall furnish, within 15 days following the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for filings of quarterly and annual reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q by registrants that are not accelerated filers, a balance sheet as of the end of the applicable fiscal period which, in the case of the balance sheet as of the fiscal year end, shall be audited.

If the Issuers have designated any of their Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the consolidated quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuers and the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries as required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

If required by the SEC, the Issuers will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.03 with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations. In addition, the Issuers will make all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.03 available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. The Issuers shall at all times comply with TIA § 314(a), to the extent required by such section.

 

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Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.

(a) Each of the Issuers and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of such Issuer or Guarantor, as applicable, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of such Issuer or such Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether such Issuer or Guarantor, as the case may be, has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge such Issuer or Guarantor, as the case may be, has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture, and the Collateral Documents and is not in default in its performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, or the Collateral Documents (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the applicable entity is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and to the best of his or her knowledge, no event has occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default (or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to such Officer and the nature and status thereof) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or Interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the applicable entity is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Issuers’ or the Guarantors’, as the case may be, independent public accountants (each of which shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that either of the Issuers or the Guarantors, as the case may be, has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

(c) The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuers are taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05. Taxes.

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries, if any, to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies payable by the Issuers, the Guarantors or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

Each Issuer and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each Issuer and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.

Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (a) declare or pay any distribution or make any other payment on account of the Partnership’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Partnership or dividends or distributions payable to the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership); (b) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Partnership) any Equity Interests of the Partnership or any direct or indirect parent of the Partnership; (c) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is pari passu with or subordinated to the Notes, except (i) a payment of interest, including, in respect of the Notes, in the form of additional Notes to the extent permitted pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and the Notes, or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof and (ii) a payment at any time of interest or principal on Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; or (d) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

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

(ii) the Partnership would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and

(iii) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date

 

39


of this Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (a) of (iv), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Partnership for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter commencing after the date hereof to the end of the Partnership’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Partnership since the date hereof as a contribution to its common equity capital, plus

(C) 50% of any cash dividends received by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date hereof from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, to the extent such dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income of the Partnership for such period, plus

(D) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date hereof is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the sum of (I) 50% of the cash proceeds with respect to such Restricted Investment in excess of the aggregate amount invested in such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (II) the aggregate amount invested in such Restricted Investment; plus

(E) to the extent that any Subsidiary that was designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the date hereof is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (I) the amount of the Investment in the Subsidiary treated as a Restricted Payment at and since the time that the Subsidiary was designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by the last paragraph of this covenant, and (II) the fair market value of the Investment in the Subsidiary as of the date that it is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary.

With respect to any payments made pursuant to (a) clauses (i) through (iii) below, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, and (b) clause (v) below, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby and the most recent semi-annual Interest payment obligation due on the Notes has been satisfied in full in cash, the preceding provisions will not prohibit:

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

(ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any pari passu or subordinated Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Partnership in exchange

 

40


for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Partnership) of, Equity Interests of the Partnership (other than Disqualified Stock); provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (iii)(B) of the preceding paragraph;

(iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of pari passu or subordinated Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(iv) the payment to the Manager of (a) cost reimbursements in the amounts permitted by the Management Agreement and (b) management fees in the amounts permitted by the Management Agreement, subject in the case of this clause (b) to (I) the terms of the Manager Subordination Agreement relating thereto between the Manager and the Trustee and (II) the requirement that all such payments are made in compliance with Section 4.30 hereof;

(v) any distribution with respect to the Preferred Interests or redemption or repurchase of the Partnership Interests at the prices, in the manner and upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture;

(vi) any redemption required pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof or pursuant to Section 9.5(a) or (b) of the Partnership Agreement;

(vii) payments by the Partnership to its partners in amounts equal to the Tax Amount;

(viii) payments of preferred return in kind in respect of the Preferred Interests in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, whether through a guaranteed payment by the Partnership, allocation of gross or net income of the Partnership or otherwise.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued to or by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 shall be determined by the Partnership’s Board of Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Partnership’s Board of Directors’ determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the fair market value exceeds $5.0 million. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and, if applicable, setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this section were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.

 

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Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to: (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (b) make loans or advances to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

The preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of: (a) the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Collateral Documents; (b) applicable law; (c) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices; (d) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; (e) the acquisition of the Capital Stock of any Person, or property or assets of any Person by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, if the encumbrances or restrictions (i) existed at the time of the acquisition and were not incurred in contemplation thereof and (ii) are not applicable to any Person or the property or assets of any Person other than the Person acquired or the property or assets of the Person acquired; (f) purchase money obligations or capital lease obligations for FF&E acquired with FF&E Financing that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (c) of the first paragraph of this covenant on the FF&E so acquired; (g) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition; (h) Liens securing Indebtedness that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien; (i) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; and (j) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Equity.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Partnership shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred equity; provided, however, that, the Issuers may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Partnership’s 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 is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1, 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 had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

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The first paragraph of this Section 4.09 shall not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(a) the incurrence by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of (i) Indebtedness represented by the Notes, including any Notes issued as payment of interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, (ii) their respective obligations arising under the Collateral Documents to the extent such obligations would represent Indebtedness and (iii) dividends payable in kind in respect of the Preferred Interests;

(b) the incurrence by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 or clauses (a), (b) and (h) of this paragraph;

(c) the incurrence by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Partnership and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as provided in Section 4.24 hereof; provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (ii) (A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof or (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (c);

(d) the incurrence by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding;

(e) the Guarantee by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

(f) the incurrence by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of performance, surety or appeal bonds in the ordinary course of business;

(g) the accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock, including the Preferred Interests, in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or, in the case of the Preferred Interests, a guaranteed payment by the Partnership or the allocation of gross or net income of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for the purposes of this covenant; provided, however, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Partnership or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary as accrued;

 

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(h) so long as at the time of incurrence no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the incurrence by the Partnership of FF&E Financing; provided, however, that (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost (including sales and excise taxes, installation and delivery charges and other direct costs of, and other direct expenses paid or charged in connection with, such purchase) of the FF&E purchased or leased with the proceeds thereof and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause, does not exceed $5 million outstanding at any time; and

(i) the issuance of the Partnership Interests, including the Preferred Interests, in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

The Partnership will not incur any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Partnership unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness of the Partnership shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Partnership solely by virtue of being unsecured.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (a) through (i) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Partnership will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness as of any date of determination in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09.

Section 4.10. Asset Sales.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless: (a) the Partnership (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; (b) such fair market value is determined by the Partnership’s Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and (c) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash. For purposes of this provision and not for purposes of the definition of “Net Proceeds” (except to the extent set forth in such definition with respect to the conversion of non-cash proceeds to cash), each of the following shall be deemed to be cash: (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Partnership’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and (y) any securities, Notes or other obligations received by the Partnership or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are contemporaneously (subject to ordinary settlement periods) converted by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received in that conversion).

 

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Within 270 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net Proceeds to make a capital expenditure, improve real property or acquire long-term assets that are used or useful in a line of business permitted under Section 4.14 hereof; provided, however, that the Partnership or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, grants to the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes a first priority perfected security interest, subject to Permitted Liens, on any such property or assets acquired or constructed with the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale on the terms set forth herein. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Partnership or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents held in an account in which the Trustee shall have a first priority perfected security interest, subject to Permitted Liens, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Within ten days following the date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Partnership will make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid Interest to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Section 3.02 hereof. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

Section 4.11. Events of Loss.

Within 360 days after any Event of Loss with respect to any Collateral with a fair market value (or replacement cost, if greater) in excess of $1.0 million, the Partnership or the affected Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership, as the case may be, may apply the Net Loss Proceeds from such Event of Loss to the rebuilding, repair, replacement or construction of improvements to the Shreveport Resort, with no concurrent obligation to make any purchase of any Notes; provided, however, that:

(a) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee within 60 days of such Event of Loss a written opinion from a reputable contractor that the Shreveport Resort with at least the Minimum Facilities can be rebuilt, repaired, replaced or constructed and operating within 360 days of the Event of Loss;

(b) an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Partnership has available from Net Loss Proceeds or other sources sufficient funds to complete the rebuilding, repair, replacement or construction described in clause (a) above; and

(c) the Net Loss Proceeds are less than $75.0 million.

 

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Any Net Loss Proceeds that are not reinvested or not permitted to be reinvested as provided in the first sentence of this Section 4.11 will be deemed “Excess Loss Proceeds.” Within 10 days following the date that the aggregate amount of Excess Loss Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Partnership will make an offer (an “Event of Loss Offer”) to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Loss Proceeds. The offer price in any Event of Loss Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid Interest to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Loss Proceeds remain after consummation of an Event of Loss Offer, the Issuers may use such Excess Loss Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Event of Loss Offer exceeds the Excess Loss Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Section 3.02 hereof. Upon completion of any such Event of Loss Offer, the amount of Excess Loss Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

In the event of an Event of Loss pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of “Event of Loss” with respect to any property or assets that have a fair market value (or replacement cost, if greater) in excess of $5.0 million, the Partnership or the affected Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall be required to receive consideration (a) at least equal to the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Partnership’s Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the property or assets subject to the Event of Loss and (b) with respect to any “Event of Loss” of any portion of the hotel, riverboat casino or parking structure and restaurant and entertainment promenade that are a part of the Shreveport Resort, at least 90% of which is in the form of Cash Equivalents.

Section 4.12. Transactions with Affiliates.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, 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, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless: (a) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Partnership or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and (b) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee:

(i) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved unanimously by the Board of Directors; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the holders of Notes of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

 

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The foregoing paragraph shall not apply to the following: (a) payments made pursuant to the Management Agreement and the License Agreement; (b) purchases of goods and services in the ordinary course of business on terms and conditions that are no less favorable to the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries then would be reasonably expected to be obtained from an unrelated third party and in an amount not to exceed $1 million per year; (c) transactions between or among the Partnership and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries; (d) Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 hereof; and (e) reasonable fees and compensation (including, without limitation, bonuses, retirement plans and securities, stock options and stock ownership plans) paid or issued to and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.13. Liens.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary, or any proceeds, income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except Permitted Liens.

Section 4.14. Line of Business.

The Partnership shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Partnership to, engage in any business or investment activities other than a Permitted Business. Neither the Partnership nor any of its Subsidiaries may conduct a Permitted Business in any gaming jurisdiction in which the Partnership or such Subsidiary is not licensed as of the date of this Indenture if the Holders of the Notes shall be required to be licensed as a result thereof; provided, however, that the provisions described in this sentence shall not prohibit the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries from conducting a Permitted Business in any jurisdiction that does not require the licensing or qualification of all the Holders, but reserves the discretionary right to require the licensing or qualification of any Holders.

Section 4.15. Existence.

Subject to Article 5 and Section 11.05 hereof, each of the Issuers and the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (a) its corporate or organizational existence, as the case may be, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of each of the Issuers, Guarantors or any such Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of each of the Issuers and their Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Partnership’s Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

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Section 4.16. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Issuers to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1 or an integral multiple thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer described below (a “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Issuers shall offer a payment (the “Change of Control Payment”) in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid Interest, if any, thereon, to the date of purchase. Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Issuers shall mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the date (the “Change of Control Payment Date”) specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 hereof, and described in such notice.

The Issuers will 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 the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent lawful: (a) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (b) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and (c) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Issuers. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $1 or an integral multiple thereof.

Section 4.17. [Intentionally Blank].

Section 4.18. [Intentionally Blank].

Section 4.19. Limitation on Status as Investment Company.

The Issuers and the Partnership’s Subsidiaries are prohibited from being required to register as an “investment company” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or from otherwise becoming subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 4.20. Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided, however, that the Partnership may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:

(a) the Partnership could have (i) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction under the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof and (ii) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.13 hereof;

 

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(b) the gross cash proceeds of the sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Partnership and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of such sale and leaseback transaction; and

(c) the transfer of assets in such sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Partnership applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof.

Section 4.21. Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

The Issuers shall, and shall cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with Section 11.02 hereof.

Section 4.22. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Partnership may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Restricted Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of such designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (d) of the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof or reduce the amount available for future Investments under one or more applicable clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” as the Partnership shall determine. The designation of any such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall only be permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted at that time and if such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” set forth in Section 1.01 hereof. The Board of Directors may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the redesignation would not cause a Default.

Section 4.23. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Restricted Subsidiaries.

All of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Capital, shall be wholly owned by the Partnership, by one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by the Partnership and one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries. The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership to any Person (other than the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership), unless (a) such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof. In addition, the Partnership shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any of its Equity Interests to any Person other than to the Partnership or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.24. Advances to Restricted Subsidiaries.

All advances, other than equity contributions, to Restricted Subsidiaries made by the Partnership after the date of this Indenture shall be evidenced by an intercompany note in favor of the Partnership. Any such intercompany notes shall be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents to the Trustee as Collateral to secure the Notes. Each intercompany note shall be payable upon demand and shall bear interest at a rate equal to the then current fair market interest rate.

Section 4.25. Compliance with Securities Laws.

The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 4.07 hereof and Sections 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with clause (vi) of Section 4.07 hereof or Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

Section 4.26. Payments for Consent.

The Issuers shall not, and shall not permit any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Section 4.27. Further Assurances.

The Issuers shall, and shall cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries to do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register, as applicable, any and all such further acts, deeds, conveyances, security agreements, mortgages, assignments, estoppel certificates, financing statements and continuations thereof, termination statements, notices of assignment, transfers, certificates assurances and other instruments as may be required from time to time in order to (a) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents, (b) subject to the Liens created by any of the Collateral Documents any of the properties, rights or interests required to be encumbered thereby, (c) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and the Liens intended to be created thereby and (d) better assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm to the Trustee any of the rights granted now or hereafter intended by the parties thereto to be granted to the Trustee under any other instrument executed in connection therewith or granted to the Partnership under the Collateral Documents or under any other instrument executed in connection therewith.

 

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Section 4.28. Insurance.

Until the Notes have been paid in full, the Partnership shall, and shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance with carriers against such risks and in such amounts as is customarily carried by similar businesses with such deductibles, retentions, self insured amounts and coinsurance provisions as are customarily carried by similar businesses of similar size, including, without limitation, property and casualty. Customary insurance coverage shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the following: (a) workers’ compensation insurance to the extent required to comply with all applicable state, territorial or United States laws and regulations, or the laws and regulations of any other applicable jurisdiction; (b) comprehensive general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1.0 million; (c) umbrella or excess liability insurance providing excess liability coverages over and above the foregoing underlying insurance policies up to a minimum limit of $25.0 million; (d) business interruption insurance; and (e) property insurance protecting the property against losses or damages as is customarily covered by an “all-risk” policy or a property policy covering “special” causes of loss for a business of similar type and size; provided, however, that such insurance shall provide coverage of not less than the lesser of (i) 120% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid Interest and (ii) 100% of actual replacement value (in each case, as determined at each policy renewal based on the F.W. Dodge Building Index or some other recognized means) of any improvements customarily insured consistent with industry standards and, in each case, with a deductible no greater than 2% of the insured value of the Shreveport Resort or such greater amount as is available on commercially reasonable terms (other than earthquake or flood insurance, for which the deductible may be up to 10% of such replacement value).

All insurance required by this Section 4.28 (except worker’s compensation) shall name the Partnership and the Trustee as additional insureds or loss payees, as the case may be, with losses in excess of $1.0 million payable jointly to the Partnership and the Trustee (unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, in which case all losses are payable solely to the Trustee), with no recourse against the Trustee for the payment of premiums, deductibles, commissions or club calls, and for at least 30 days notice of cancellation. All such insurance policies will be issued by carriers having an A.M. Best & Company, Inc. rating of A or higher and a financial size category of not less than VII, or if such carrier is not rated by A.M. Best & Company, Inc., having the financial stability and size deemed appropriate by an opinion from a reputable insurance broker. The Partnership will deliver to the Trustee on the date of this Indenture and within ten (10) days of each anniversary thereafter a certificate of an insurance agent describing the insurance policies obtained by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating that such policies comply with this covenant and the related applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents.

Section 4.29. Amendments to Certain Agreements.

Neither of the Issuers nor any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries will amend, waive or modify, or take or refrain from taking any action that has the effect of amending, waiving or modifying any provision of any of the Collateral Documents, License Agreement and Partnership Agreement; provided, however, that (a) any such agreement may be amended or modified so long as the terms of such agreement as so amended or modified are no less favorable

 

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to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of such agreement as of the date of this Indenture and (b) any of the Collateral Documents may be amended, waived or modified as set forth in Article 9 hereof. In addition, neither the Issuers nor any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries will (a) amend, modify, waive, terminate or take any action that has the effect of amending, modifying, waiving, or terminating the Management Agreement, other than the assignment of the Management Agreement to Eldorado Resorts, or (b) enter into any other agreement with respect to the management of the operations of the Shreveport Resort without the prior approval of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

Section 4.30. Restriction on Payment of Management Fees.

The Partnership shall not, directly or indirectly, pay to the Manager or any of its Affiliates any Management Fees, except pursuant to the Management Agreement and in accordance with this Section 4.30. Amounts payable pursuant to the Management Agreement may not be prepaid, and no payment of Management Fees (other than Base Management Fees), either current or accrued, shall be made:

(a) if at the time of payment of such Management Fee, a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a result thereof; or

(b) unless the most recent interest payment in respect of Notes was paid in full in cash and the Issuers reasonably believe that the next interest payment in respect of the Notes will be paid in full in cash.

In addition, the Base Management Fees shall not be paid at any time following the date that all of the Notes become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or otherwise, unless payment in full of the Notes, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, has been made or irrevocably deposited with the Trustee. Any Management Fees not permitted to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.30 will be deferred and will accrue and may be paid only at such time that they would otherwise be permitted to be paid hereunder.

Section 4.31. Restrictions on Activities of ES I, ES II and Capital.

None of ES I, ES II or Capital may:

(a) hold any material assets; provided, however, that ES I and ES II may each hold interests in the Partnership and ES I may enter into and perform its obligations under the BD Interest Purchase Agreement;

(b) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, other than as permitted under Section 5.01 hereof;

(c) become liable or pay for any obligations; provided, however, that each of them may become liable for or pay for (i) (A) its obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and any performance, surety or appeal bonds incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) any judgments and (C) its obligations under the Partnership Agreement and the Management Agreement and (ii) Capital may be a co-obligor with respect to

 

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Indebtedness if the Partnership is also an obligor of such Indebtedness and the net proceeds thereof are received by the Partnership or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than Capital; or

(d) engage in any significant business activities, other than those that are reasonably necessary for ES I to take in its capacity as the managing general partner of the Partnership, except, in the case of ES I, as contemplated by the Management Agreement, so long as ES I is Manager.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

Neither the Partnership nor any Guarantor may, directly or indirectly (a) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Partnership or the Guarantor is the surviving entity) or (b) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its and its Restricted Subsidiaries’, properties or assets, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person; unless:

(i) either (A) the Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, is the surviving entity or (B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Partnership or the Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation or other entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

(ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Partnership or the Guarantor) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantee and the Collateral Documents pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

(iv) such transaction would not result in the loss or suspension or material impairment of any of the Partnership’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Gaming Licenses unless a comparable replacement Gaming License is effective prior to or simultaneously with such loss, suspension or material impairment;

(v) in the case of a consolidation or merger of the Partnership, the Partnership or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Partnership) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, or, in the case of a consolidation or merger of a Guarantor or the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of the property or assets of the Guarantor, the Partnership shall, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and

 

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(vi) such transaction would not require any Holder or Beneficial Owner of Notes to obtain a Gaming License or be qualified or found suitable under the law of any applicable gaming jurisdiction; provided, however, that such Holder or Beneficial Owner would not have been required to obtain a Gaming License or be qualified or found suitable under the laws of any applicable gaming jurisdiction in the absence of such transaction.

In addition, neither the Partnership nor any Guarantor may, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person. The restrictions of this Section 5.01 shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Partnership and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may reorganize as a corporation or other business entity in accordance with the procedures established in this Indenture, provided that the Partnership has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the reorganization is not adverse to any Holder of the Notes (it being recognized that the reorganization will not be deemed adverse to the Holders of the Notes solely because (a) of the accrual of deferred tax liabilities resulting from the reorganization or (b) the successor or surviving corporation (i) is subject to income tax as a corporate entity or (ii) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of the Code or any similar state or local law).

Section 5.02. Successor Entity Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or any Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Partnership or Guarantor is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Partnership” or the “Guarantor,” as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor entity and not to the Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, and may exercise every right and power of the Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Partnership or the Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided, however, that (a) the surviving entity or acquiring entity shall (i) assume all of the Obligations of the acquired or transferring Person incurred under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Collateral Documents, as applicable, (ii) acquire and own and operate, directly or through Subsidiaries, all or substantially all of the properties and assets then constituting the assets of the Partnership, the applicable Guarantor or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, (iii) have been issued, or have a consolidated Subsidiary which has been issued, Gaming Licenses to operate any acquired casino operations and entities substantially in the manner and scope operated prior to such transaction, which Gaming Licenses are in full force and effect and

 

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(iv) be in compliance fully with Section 5.01 hereof and (b) the Partnership or the applicable Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, stating that the proposed transaction complies with this Article 5; provided, further, however, that the predecessor, transferring Person or surviving entity shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and Interest on, the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of or substantially all of the Partnership’s or Guarantor’s assets, as the case may be, that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01. Events of Default.

Each of the following is an Event of Default:

(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of Interest on the Notes;

(b) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(c) (i) default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and Interest on Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 hereof, when due and payable; or (ii) failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under (A) Section 5.01, (B) Section 4.07 but only if the failure under this clause (B) is caused by a Restricted Payment described in clauses (a) through (c) of the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof, or (C) Section 4.09;

(d) failure by either of the Issuers or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice thereof to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture not set forth in clause (c) above;

(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

(i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, Interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or

(ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more;

 

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(f) failure by either of the Issuers or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $5.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days;

(g) (i) breach by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor in any material respect of any representation or warranty or agreement in any of the Collateral Documents or in any certificates delivered in connection therewith, (ii) the repudiation by any of them of any of its obligations under any of the Collateral Documents, (iii) the unenforceability of the Collateral Documents against any of them for any reason which continues for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal amount of Notes or (iv) the loss of the perfection or priority of the Liens granted by any of them pursuant to the Collateral Documents for any reason;

(h) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee by a Guarantor with Total Assets of $5.0 million or more shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor with Total Assets of $5.0 million or more, or any Person acting on behalf of any such Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Note Guarantee;

(i) the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries: (I) commences a voluntary case; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case; (iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (i) is for relief against the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries in an involuntary case; (ii) appoints a custodian of the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(k) if ES I, ES II and the Partnership ever fail to own collectively 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Capital; or

(l) any revocation, suspension or loss of any Gaming License which results in the cessation or suspension of business at the Shreveport Resort for a period of more than 90 consecutive days; provided, however, that, in any event, there shall not be an Event of Default under this clause if the suspension of business results from an Event of Loss and the Partnership is complying with Section 4.11 hereof.

Section 6.02. Acceleration.

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Issuers, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in

 

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principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (j) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to either of the Issuers, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders of the Notes rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, Interest or premium, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Notes.

If an Event of Default occurs by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Issuers with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Issuers would have had to pay if the Issuers then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then upon acceleration of the Notes, an equivalent premium to the premium that the Issuers would have had to pay pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default occurs prior to August 1, 2009, by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Issuers with the intention of avoiding the prohibition on redemption of the Notes prior to August 1, 2009, then the premium specified in this Indenture shall also become immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes.

Section 6.03. Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and Interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

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 of a Note 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. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of Interest, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes (including

 

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

Section 6.05. Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it, including the exercise of any remedy under any of the Collateral Documents. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee reasonably determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a written direction inconsistent with the request. A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and Interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), 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; provided, however, that a Holder shall not have the right to institute any such suit for the enforcement of payment if and to the extent that the institution or prosecution thereof or the entry of judgment therein would, under applicable law, result in the surrender, impairment, waiver or loss of the Lien of this Indenture upon any property subject to such Lien.

 

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Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against either of the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and Interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and Interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, Interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10. Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders of Notes 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, premium, if any and Interest, respectively; and

 

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Third: to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

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 a 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, 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

Section 6.12. Management of the Shreveport Resort.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Article 6 to the contrary, following the occurrence of each of (a) an Event of Default which permits the taking of possession of the Shreveport Resort, the appointment of a receiver of either the Collateral or any part thereof pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents, or such taking of possession and such appointment and (b) the termination of the Management Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof, the Trustee or any such receiver may, but shall not be obligated to, in addition to the rights and powers of the Trustee and such receiver set forth in this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, retain one or more experienced operators of casinos to manage the operations of the Shreveport Resort on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, provided, however, that any such operator shall have all necessary legal qualifications, including all applicable Gaming Licenses to manage the Shreveport Resort.

Section 6.13. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture or any Collateral Document and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; 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 in writing and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

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

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(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 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section.

(e) No provision of this Indenture, or the Collateral Documents shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture, or the Collateral Documents at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

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

 

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(g) The Trustee shall execute and deliver such non-disturbance and attornment agreements relating to sub-leases of space in the Shreveport Resort from the Partnership, as lessor, as requested by the Partnership.

Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon 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 such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

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

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 Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

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 Collateral Documents or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for

 

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the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, or the Collateral Documents, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes, the Collateral Documents or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or Interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c). A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Issuers. After this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, the Issuers shall file a copy of each report with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel, except for such disbursements, advances and expenses as are attributable to the Trustee’s negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

The Issuers shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, and the Collateral Documents, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, and the Collateral Documents against the Issuers (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by either of the Issuers or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder or thereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or

 

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expense may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuers need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

To secure the Issuers’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and Interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (j) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

Section 7.08. Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

(a) The Trustee shall notify the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, simultaneously with any notice given to the Holders, of any Default or acceleration under the Notes, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, or any other documents, instrument, agreement, covenant, or condition related to the issuance of the Notes, whether declared or effectuated by the Trustee or the Holders. The Trustee shall notify the Louisiana Gaming Control Board on a continuing basis and in writing, of any actions taken by the Trustee or the Holders with regard to such default, acceleration or similar matters related thereto.

(b) The Trustee shall notify the Louisiana Gaming Control Board of the removal or resignation of the Trustee promptly after such removal or resignation.

(c) The Trustee shall notify the Louisiana Gaming Control Board of any transfer or assignment of any rights under this Indenture, the Collateral Documents, or any other documents, instrument, agreement, covenant or condition related to the issuance of the Notes by the Issuers promptly after such transfer or agreement.

(d) The Trustee shall provide to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board promptly after its execution of the same, copies of any and all amendments or modifications to this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents, or any other documents, instrument, agreement, covenant or condition related to the issuance of the Notes.

(e) The Issuers agree to provide such information as the Trustee shall request, including the mailing address of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, in order to permit the

 

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Trustee to mail the reports described herein. The Issuers shall promptly provide written notice to the Trustee of the occurrence of any the events described in this Section 7.08. Any failure by the Trustee to fulfill the reporting obligations in this Section 7.08 shall not be deemed to be negligence on the part of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall have no liability to the Issuers, the Guarantors or the Holders for any failure to comply with the reporting obligations in this Section 7.08.

Section 7.09. Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section. Subject to applicable Gaming Laws, the Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers and applicable Gaming Authorities.

Subject to applicable Gaming Laws, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

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

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

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

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

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

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall take all steps necessary or advisable to be approved by applicable Gaming Authorities, if required, and deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. 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

 

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succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.09, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.10. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided, however, such corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article and in accordance with any applicable rules or regulations of Gaming Authorities.

Section 7.11. 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 (or, in the case of a subsidiary of a bank holding company, its bank holding company parent shall have) a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers.

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

Section 7.13. Authorization of Trustee to Take Other Actions.

(a) The Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into and take any actions or deliver such consents required by or requested under each of the Collateral Documents and such other documents as directed by the Holders of a majority of outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes. If at any time any action by or the consent of the Trustee is required under any of the Collateral Documents or any other document entered into by the Trustee at the direction of a majority of the Holders of outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes, such action or consent shall be taken or given by the Trustee upon the consent to such action by the Holders of a majority of outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

(b) The Trustee and its directors, officers, employees and Affiliates shall cooperate with all Gaming Authorities and provide such information and documentation as may from time to time be requested thereby.

 

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ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuers may, at the option of the Partnership’s Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, Interest or premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and the Issuers’ and the Guarantor’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.16, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, 4.24, 4.25, 4.26, 4.28, 4.29, 4.30 and 4.31 hereof and clause (iv) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers may omit to comply

 

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with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(f) and Section 6.01(l) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

(a) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Notes, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, Interest, and premium, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) 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 of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal 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 Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant 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 Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which either of the Issuers any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which either of the Issuers or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;

 

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(f) the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of either of the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of either of the Issuers or others; and

(g) the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and Interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and Interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Partnership from time to time upon the request of the Partnership any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06. Repayment to Partnership.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or Interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or Interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Partnership on its request or (if then held by either of the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon

 

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cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Partnership.

Section 8.07. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or Interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer, as applicable, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Collateral Documents without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

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

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(c) to provide for the assumption of either of the Issuers’ obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of that Issuers’ assets;

(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

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

(f) to enter into additional or supplemental Collateral Documents pursuant to Sections 4.10, 4.11 and 10.11 hereof.

 

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Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of their Boards of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.16 hereof), the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Collateral Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Collateral Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of each of their respective Boards of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Issuers with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

 

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(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.16 hereof;

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of Interest or default interest on any Note;

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

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or Interest or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.16 hereof;

(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (except in accordance with the provisions thereof); or

(j) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

Any amendment to, or waiver of the provisions of any of the Collateral Documents relating to Section 4.13 or Article 10 hereof shall require the consent of the Holders of at least 85% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding.

Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

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

 

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An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuers and the Guarantors may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until their respective Boards of Directors approve such amendment or supplemental indenture. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 10.01. Security.

The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and Interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and Interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and performance of all other obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured by the Collateral, as provided in the Collateral Documents which the Issuers and the Guarantors have entered into simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of Notes. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to enter into the Collateral Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents executed pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents and shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be

 

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necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Collateral Documents to assure and confirm to the Trustee the security interest in the Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Collateral Documents, or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes and the Note Guarantees secured thereby, according to the intent and purposes herein and therein expressed. The Issuers and the Guarantors shall take, or shall cause their respective Restricted Subsidiaries to take, upon request of the Trustee, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Collateral Documents to create and maintain, as security for the obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors hereunder, a valid and enforceable perfected Lien on the Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens.

Section 10.02. Recording and Opinions.

The Issuers and the Guarantors will cause the applicable Collateral Documents and any financing statements, and all amendments or supplements to each of the foregoing and any other similar security documents as necessary, to be registered, recorded and filed and/or re-recorded, re-filed and renewed in such manner and in such place or places, if any, as may be required by law or reasonably requested by the Trustee in order fully to preserve and protect the Lien securing the obligations under the Notes and the Note Guarantees pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except as otherwise provided herein and therein.

The Issuers, the Guarantors and any other obligor shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) promptly after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, and promptly after the execution and delivery of any other instrument of further assurance or amendment, an Opinion of Counsel in the United States either (i) stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, in the opinion of such counsel, this Indenture, the applicable Collateral Documents and all other instruments of further assurance or amendment have been properly recorded, registered and filed to the extent necessary to make effective the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and reciting the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given or (ii) stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make any other Lien created under any of the Collateral Documents effective as intended by such Collateral Documents; and

(b) within 30 days after January 1, in each year beginning with the year 2006, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, either (i) stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and re-filing of this Indenture and all supplemental indentures, financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents until the next Opinion of Counsel is required to be rendered pursuant to this paragraph and reciting the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given or (ii) stating that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such Lien, until the next Opinion of Counsel is required to be rendered pursuant to this paragraph.

 

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(c) The Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee the certificates or opinions, as the case may be, required by TIA § 314(d). Such certificates or opinions will be subject to the terms of TIA § 314(e).

Section 10.03. Release of Collateral.

(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 10.03, Collateral may be released from the Lien created by this Indenture and the Collateral Documents at any time or from time to time upon the request of the Issuers pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate certifying that all terms for release and conditions precedent hereunder and under any applicable Collateral Document have been met and specifying (x) the identity of the Collateral to be released and (y) the provision of this Indenture which authorizes such release. The Trustee or Collateral Agent shall release (at the sole cost and expense of the Issuers) (i) all Collateral that is contributed, sold, leased, conveyed, transferred or otherwise disposed of (including, without limitation, any Collateral that is contributed, sold, leased, conveyed, transferred or otherwise disposed of to an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but excluding any such contribution, sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other distribution to either of the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary); provided, such contribution, sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other distribution is or will be made in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including, without limitation, the requirement that the net proceeds from such contribution, sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other distribution are or will be applied in accordance with this Indenture and that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur immediately following such release; (ii) Collateral that is condemned, seized or taken by the power of eminent domain or otherwise confiscated pursuant to an Event of Loss; provided that the Net Loss Proceeds, if any, from such Event of Loss are or will be applied in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof and that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur immediately following such release; (iii) Collateral which may be released with the consent of Holders pursuant to Article 9 hereof; (iv) all Collateral (except as provided in Article 8 hereof and, in particular, the funds in the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof) upon discharge or defeasance of this Indenture in accordance with Article 8 hereof; (v) all Collateral upon the payment in full of all obligations of the Issuers with respect to the Notes; (vi) Collateral of a Guarantor whose Note Guarantee is released pursuant to Section 11.06 hereof; and (vii) Collateral that is expressly required to be released by any Collateral Document. Upon receipt of such Officers’ Certificate the Trustee or Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Collateral Documents. The Trustee is hereby authorized and shall, from time to time upon request of the Issuers, execute and deliver, or cause the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, UCC-3 partial release or termination statements and such other documents evidencing release of Collateral available for release pursuant to clauses (i) through (vii) above.

(b) Except pursuant to Section 10.03(a) above, no Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Collateral Documents pursuant to the provisions of the Collateral Documents unless there shall have been delivered to the Trustee the Officers’ Certificate required by this Section 10.03.

(c) The Trustee may release or cause the Collateral Agent to release Collateral from the Lien and security interest created by this Indenture and the Collateral Documents upon the sale or disposition of Collateral pursuant to the Trustee’s powers, rights and duties with respect to remedies provided under any of the Collateral Documents.

 

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(d) The release of any Collateral from the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents shall not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral is released pursuant to the terms hereof. To the extent applicable, the Issuers shall cause TIA § 313(b), relating to reports, and TIA § 314(d), relating to the release of property or securities from the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents and relating to the substitution therefor of any property or securities to be subjected to the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA § 314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Issuers except in cases where TIA § 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person shall be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected or approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care.

Section 10.04. Protection of the Trust Estate.

Subject to the terms of the Collateral Documents, upon prior written notice to the Issuers and the Guarantors, the Trustee shall have the power (i) to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient, to prevent any impairment of the Collateral under any of the Collateral Documents and in the profits, rents, revenues and other income arising therefrom, including the 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 any Collateral or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of Notes or the Trustee, to the extent permitted thereunder; and (ii) to enforce the obligations of the Issuers, the Guarantors or any Restricted Subsidiary under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents. Upon receipt of notice that a Restricted Subsidiary or a Guarantor is not in compliance with any of the requirements of the Collateral Documents, the Trustee may, but shall have no obligation to purchase, at the Issuers’ expense, such insurance coverage necessary to comply with the appropriate section of the applicable Collateral Document.

Section 10.05. Certificates of the Issuers.

The Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents (i) all documents required by TIA § 314(d) and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Issuers, to the effect that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA § 314(d). The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.

Section 10.06. Certificates of the Trustee.

In the event that the Issuers wish to release Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Documents and has delivered the certificates and documents required by the Collateral

 

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Documents and Sections 10.03 and 10.04 hereof, the Trustee shall determine whether it has received all documentation required by TIA § 314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such determination and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 10.05(ii), shall deliver a certificate to the Issuers setting forth such determination.

Section 10.07. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, 7.02 and 7.13 hereof, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders of Notes, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to (a) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Documents and (b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder, including but not limited to the appointment and approval of collateral agents and the appointment and approval of an insurance trustee. The Trustee shall have power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Collateral Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee 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 the Holders of Notes or of the Trustee).

Section 10.08. Trustee’s Duties.

The powers and duties conferred upon the Trustee by this Article 10 are solely to protect the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Trustee to exercise any such powers and duties, except as expressly provided in this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to the Issuers or any Guarantor whatsoever to make or give any presentment, demand for performance, notice or nonperformance, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, or other notice or demand in connection with any Collateral, or to take any steps necessary to preserve this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be liable to the Issuers or any Guarantor for failure to collect or realize upon any or all of the Collateral, or for any delay in doing so, nor shall the Trustee be under any duty to the Issuers or any Guarantor to take any action whatsoever with regard thereto. The Trustee shall have no duty to the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Holder to comply with any recording, filing or other legal requirements necessary to establish or maintain the validity, priority or enforceability of the Liens in, or the Trustee’s rights in or to, any of the Collateral or to perform on behalf of the Issuers under any Collateral Documents.

Section 10.09. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.

Upon an Event of Default and so long as such Event of Default continues, the Trustee may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to the other rights and remedies provided for herein, in the Collateral Documents or otherwise available to it, all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, and the Trustee

 

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may also upon obtaining possession of the Collateral as set forth herein, without notice to the Issuers or any Guarantor, except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at a public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Trustee’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Trustee may deem commercially reasonable. The Issuers and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such a sale were a public sale. The Issuers and the Guarantors agree that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least 10 days’ notice to the Issuers or the Guarantor, as applicable, of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Trustee shall not be obligated to make any sale regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Trustee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

Any cash that is Collateral held by the Trustee and all cash proceeds received by the Trustee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied (unless otherwise provided for in the Collateral Documents and after payment of any and all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture), as the Trustee shall determine or as the Holders of the Notes shall direct pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof, (a) against the obligations for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, (b) to maintain, repair or otherwise protect the Collateral or (c) to take such other action to protect the other rights of the Holders of the Notes or to take any other appropriate action or remedy for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the Trustee and remaining after payment in full of all the obligations shall be paid over to the applicable Issuer or Guarantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 10.10. Termination of Security Interest.

Upon the payment in full of all Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Notes, the Trustee shall (at the request of the Issuers accompanied by (a) an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuers to the Trustee stating that such Obligations have been paid in full, and (b) instructions from the Issuers to the Trustee to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Documents) release the Liens securing the Collateral.

Section 10.11. Cooperation of Trustee.

In the event the Issuers or any Guarantor pledge or grant a security interest in additional Collateral, the Trustee shall cooperate with the Issuers or such Guarantor in reasonably and promptly agreeing to the form of, and executing as required, any instruments or documents necessary to make effective the security interest in the Collateral to be so substituted or pledged. To the extent practicable, the terms of any security agreement or other instrument or document necessitated by any such substitution or pledge shall be comparable to the provisions of the existing Collateral Documents. Subject to, and in accordance with the requirements of this Article 10 and the terms of the Collateral Documents, in the event that the Issuer or any Guarantor engages in any transaction pursuant to Section 10.03 hereof, the Trustee shall

 

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cooperate with the Issuer or such Guarantor in order to facilitate such transaction in accordance with any reasonable time schedule proposed by the Issuer, including by delivering and releasing the Collateral in a prompt and reasonable manner.

Section 10.12. Collateral Agent.

(a) The Trustee may, from time to time, appoint one or more Collateral Agents hereunder. Each of such Collateral Agents may be delegated any one or more of the duties or rights of the Trustee hereunder or under the Collateral Documents or which are specified in any Collateral Documents, including without limitation, the right to hold any Collateral in the name of, registered to, or in the physical possession of, such Collateral Agent, for the rateable benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes. Each such Collateral Agent shall have such rights and duties as may be specified in an agreement between the Trustee and such Collateral Agent.

(b) U.S. Bank National Association will also serve as Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders. The Collateral Agent is hereby duly constituted and appointed as agent by Trustee to hold the liens and security interests in and to the Collateral on Trustee’s behalf. Trustee and the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents. Upon further instruction of Trustee, the Collateral Agent shall enter into any other Security Documents that the Trustee deems necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of the Collateral Documents.

(c) The Collateral Agent will be subject to such directions as may be given it by the Trustee from time to time as required or permitted by this Indenture. The Collateral Agent shall not release or terminate any Lien on any Collateral unless and until it shall have received instructions in respect thereof from Trustee.

(d) The Partnership will deliver to the Trustee copies of all Collateral Documents delivered to the Collateral Agent by the Partnership.

(e) The Collateral Agent will be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the enforcement of the Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

(f) In acting as Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent may rely upon and enforce each and all of the rights, powers, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits of the Trustee under Sections 7.02, 7.03, 7.04, 7.07, 7.09 and 7.10 mutatis mutandis, and, in connection therewith, references to the Trustee shall be deemed to include the Collateral Agent and references to the Indenture shall be deemed to include the Collateral Documents.

(g) Each successor Trustee will become the successor Collateral Agent as and when the successor Trustee becomes the Trustee unless, at the time such successor Trustee becomes Trustee, the immediately preceding Trustee was not the Collateral Agent.

 

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ARTICLE 11

NOTE GUARANTEES

Section 11.01. Guarantee.

Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of premium, if any, and Interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and Interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations with regard to this Note Guarantee shall be joint and several, unconditional, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers or any other obligor with respect to this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, waives and relinquishes all claims, rights and remedies accorded by applicable law to guarantors and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any such claims, rights or remedies, including but not limited to: (a) any right to require any of the Trustee, the Holders or the Issuers (each a “Benefited Party”), as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (i) proceed against the Issuers, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Obligations under the Note Guarantees or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Issuers, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of any Benefited Party in favor of the Issuers or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Benefited Party whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of the Issuers including any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Obligations under the Note Guarantees or any agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of the Issuers from any cause other than payment in full of the Obligations under the Note Guarantees; (c) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Benefited Party’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Obligations under the Note Guarantees,

 

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except behavior which amounts to bad faith; (e)(i) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms of the Note Guarantees and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (iii) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims, and (iv) promptness, diligence and any requirement that any Benefited Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentations, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including acceptance of the Note Guarantees, notices of default under the Notes or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Obligations under the Note Guarantees or any agreement related thereto, and notices of any extension of credit to the Issuers and any right to consent to any thereof; (g) to the extent permitted under applicable law, the benefits of any “One Action” rule and (h) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms of the Note Guarantees. Each Guarantor hereby covenants that its Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in its Note Guarantee and this Indenture.

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 6.02 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Section 6.02 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

Section 11.02. Additional Note Guarantees.

If any Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or if the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates a Restricted Subsidiary then the Issuers shall cause any such Restricted Subsidiary to, within 20 Business Days of the date on which any such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or created, (a) execute and deliver to the Trustee a Supplemental Indenture and supplemental Collateral Documents in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee, on a senior secured basis, all of the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms set forth in this Indenture and (b) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, such Supplemental

 

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Indenture and supplemental Collateral Documents have been duly executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary. Any Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor shall remain a Guarantor unless designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Issuers in accordance with this Indenture or is otherwise released from its obligations as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.06 hereof. Any Note Guarantee executed and delivered in accordance with this Section 11.02 shall be secured by a Lien or charge on all Collateral of such Guarantor. Any such Note Guarantee shall be released if the Issuers or their Restricted Subsidiaries cease to own any Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary becomes an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or is otherwise released from its obligations as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.06 hereof.

Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Article 11 shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form included in Exhibit B shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice Presidents.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

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

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

 

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Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.06 hereof, no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:

(a) subject to Section 11.06 hereof, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or the Issuers) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a Supplemental Indenture and supplemental Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

(b) the Guarantor complies with the requirements of Article 5 hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person by Supplemental Indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into either of the Issuers or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to either of the Issuers or another Guarantor.

Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale of Assets.

In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a Restricted Subsidiary of either of the Issuers, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided, however, that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Issuers to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other

 

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disposition was made by the applicable Issuer in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee. In addition, each of HCS I and HCS II shall be released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee upon execution of the Partnership Agreement and removal of HCS I and HCS II as partners of the Partnership.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and Interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents as provided in this Article 11.

ARTICLE 12

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 12.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued thereunder, when:

(a) either:

(i) all Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, Interest, and premium, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption; and in the case of this Section 12.01(a)(ii),

(A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which either of the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or either of the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound;

(B) each of the Issuers and each Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

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(C) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

The Issuers shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the above, the Trustee shall pay to the Partnership from time to time upon the request of the Partnership any cash or Government Securities held by it as provided in this section which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect a satisfaction and discharge under this Article 12.

Section 12.02. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 12.03 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 12.02, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 12.03. Repayment to Partnership.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or Interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or Interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Partnership on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Partnership.

ARTICLE 13

JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY

(a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in the Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents to which both of the Issuers are a party, the representations, warranties,

 

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covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuers, and either of them, shall be deemed joint and several. Any waiver including, without limitation, any suretyship waiver, made by either Issuer in the Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document to which both of the Issuers are a party shall be deemed to be made also by the other Issuer and references in any such waiver to either Issuer shall be deemed to include the other Issuer and each of them.

(b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in the Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document to which both of the Issuers are a party, each such document to which both Issuers are party shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the following waivers:

Each of the Issuers hereby waives and relinquishes all rights and remedies accorded by applicable law to sureties or guarantors and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any such rights or remedies, including, without limitation, (a) any right to require the Trustee or any of the Holders (each a “Beneficiary”) to proceed against either of the Issuers or any other Person or to proceed against or exhaust any security held by a Beneficiary at any time or to pursue any other remedy in the power of a Beneficiary before proceeding against such Issuer or other Person, (b) the defense of the statute of limitations in any action hereunder or in any action for the collection or performance of the Obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and any of the Collateral Documents (collectively, the “Note Obligations”), (c) any defense that may arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority, death or disability of any Person or the failure of a Beneficiary to file or enforce a claim against the estate (in administration, bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of any Person, (d) appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshaling of assets, redemption, exemption, demand, presentment, protest and notice of any kind, including, without limitation, notice of the existence, creation or incurring of any new or additional indebtedness or obligation or of any action or non-action on the part of a Beneficiary, any Issuer, any endorser, guarantor or creditor of either Issuer or on the part of any other Person under this or any other instrument or document in connection with any Obligation or evidence of Indebtedness held by a Beneficiary as collateral or in connection with the Note Obligations, (e) any defense based upon an election of remedies by a Beneficiary, including, without limitation, an election to proceed by non- judicial rather than judicial foreclosure, which destroys or otherwise impairs the subrogation rights of either Issuer, the right of either Issuer to proceed against the other Issuer or any other Person for reimbursement, or both, (f) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal, (g) any duty on the part of a Beneficiary to disclose to either Issuer any facts a Beneficiary may now or hereafter know about either of the Issuers or any other Person, regardless of whether a Beneficiary has reason to believe that any such facts materially increase the risk beyond that which such Issuer intends to assume, or has reason to believe that such facts are unknown to such Issuer, or has a reasonable opportunity to communicate such facts to either Issuer, because each Issuer acknowledges that each Issuer is fully responsible for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of each of the Issuers or any other Person and of all circumstances bearing on the risk of non-payment of any Note Obligations, (h) any defense arising because of the election of a Beneficiary, in any proceeding instituted under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (i) any defense based upon any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (j) any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the other Issuer or any other Person that arises from the existence of performance of each Issuer of its obligations under this Indenture, the Notes or any

 

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Collateral Document, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, any right to participate in any claim or remedy by a Beneficiary against the other Issuer or any collateral which a Beneficiary now has or hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from either of the Issuers or any other Person, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set- off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights, (k) any rights which it may acquire by way of contribution under this Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any other Person, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set- off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such contribution rights, and (1) any defense based on one-action laws and any other anti-deficiency protections granted to guarantors by applicable law. No failure or delay on the Trustee’s part in exercising any power, right or privilege under this Indenture shall impair or waive one such power, right or privilege. Each of the Issuers acknowledges and agrees that any nonrecourse or exculpation provided for in this Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document, or any other provision of this Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document, limiting the Benefited Parties’ recourse to specific collateral, or limiting the Benefited Parties’ right to enforce a deficiency judgment against the Issuers, shall have absolutely no application to the Issuers’ liability under this Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Documents.

(c) In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Article 13 and the corresponding provisions of the Indenture, the Notes or any Collateral Document to which both of the Issuers are a party, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.

ARTICLE 14

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

Section 14.02. Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to either of the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Eldorado Resorts LLC

345 North Virginia Street

Reno, Nevada 89501

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile No.: 775-348-7513

 

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and

Eldorado Shreveport Joint Venture

451 Clyde Fant Parkway

Shreveport, Louisiana 71101

Attention: President

With a copy to:

Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP

250 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10177

Attention: Herbert Henryson II

Facsimile No.: 212-986-0604

If to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

Corporate Trust Services

225 Asylum Street, 23rd Floor

Hartford, Connecticut 06103

Re: Eldorado Casino Shreveport

Facsimile No: 617-603-6640

The Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

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

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. 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 within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If any of the Issuers or any Guarantor mail a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

88


Section 14.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

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

Section 14.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

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

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 14.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

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

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

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

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she 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 satisfied; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on certificates from relevant corporate officers or public officials.

Section 14.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

89


Section 14.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members, Stockholders and Partners.

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member or partner of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of either of the Issuers or any of the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents 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. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Section 14.08. Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

Section 14.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers, the Guarantors or any of their Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 14.10. Successors.

All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture, each of the Collateral Documents to which they are a party and the Notes shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture, each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and its Note Guarantee shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05.

Section 14.11. Severability.

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

Section 14.12. Counterpart 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.

Section 14.13. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and

 

90


evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents 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 Issuers and the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the 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, the Issuers and the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section 14.13.

(b) 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 instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of 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.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 14.13, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 2.03 hereof.

(d) If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuers may, at their option, by or pursuant to a resolution of their respective Boards of Directors, 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 Issuers shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA § 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. 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 then 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 then 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 eleven months after the record date.

(e) 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

 

91


every Note issued upon the registration or 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.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

Section 14.14. Benefit of Indenture.

Nothing, in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and their successors hereunder, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 14.15. Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.08 hereof, each of the provisions of this Indenture is subject to and shall be enforced in compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, to the extent applicable, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, unless such provisions are in conflict with the TIA, in which case the TIA shall control. Each Holder by accepting a Note agrees that all Holders, whether initial Holders or subsequent transferees, shall be subject to the qualifications or suitability provisions of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act.

Section 14.16. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

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

(Signatures on following page)

 

92


SIGNATURES:

 

Issuers:

 
  ELDORADO CASINO SHREVEPORT JOINT VENTURE
  By:   HCS I, Inc., its managing general partner
  By:  

/s/ John C. Hull

  Name:  
  Title:  
  SHREVEPORT CAPITAL CORPORATION
  By:  

/s/ John C. Hull

  Name:  
  Title:  

Guarantors:

   
  HCS I, INC.
  By:  

/s/ John C. Hull

  Name:  
  Title:  
  HCS II, INC.
  By:   /s/ John C. Hull
  Name:  
  Title:  

Trustee:

   
 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

  By:  

/s/ Michael M. Hopkins

  Name:   Michael M. Hopkins
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]


 

              CUSIP/CINS  

 

10% First Mortgage Notes due 2012

 

No.  

 

            $  

 

ELDORADO CASINO SHREVEPORT JOINT VENTURE

and

SHREVEPORT CAPITAL CORPORATION

 

promise to pay to  

 

 

or registered assigns,

the principal sum of

 

 

Dollars on August 1, 2012.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

Dated:                             , 2005

 

ELDORADO CASINO SHREVEPORT JOINT VENTURE
By:   HCS I, Inc.,
  its managing general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
SHREVEPORT CAPITAL CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exhibit A-1


This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:

 

 

 

    Authorized Signatory

 

Exhibit A-2


[Back of Note]

10% First Mortgage Note due 2012

[Insert the Global Note Legend]

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture, a Louisiana general partnership (the “Partnership”), and Shreveport Capital Corporation, a Louisiana corporation (“Capital” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally, promise to pay Interest on the principal amount of this Note at 10% per annum from June 30, 2005 (the “Initial Accrual Date”) until maturity. Interest on the Notes, including interest on overdue principal or installments of interest, if any, shall be paid in cash or, at the option of the Issuers, through the issuance of additional Notes the principal amount of which is equal to all or a portion of the interest then due, as determined by the Issuers; provided, however, that the Issuers may exercise the option to issue additional Notes in lieu of cash interest payments for only four semi-annual interest payments, which payments need not be consecutive; provided, further, that the option to issue additional Notes may not be exercised after any Partnership Interests have been redeemed or otherwise acquired by an Issuer, (x) unless the Partnership shall have been required by the holders of Partnership Interest to redeem or, prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (as hereinafter defined), the Partnership shall have received notice from the holders of Partnership Interests, which notice shall not have been subsequently revoked, of their intent to require the Partnership to redeem such Partnership Interests, in each case in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.6(a) of the Partnership Agreement or (y) with respect to the two Interest Payment Dates immediately succeeding any distribution by the Partnership made in respect of the Preferred Interests prior to the payment in full of the principal amount of all of the Notes and accrued interest thereon. The Issuers will pay Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which Interest has been paid or, if no Interest has been paid, from the Initial Accrual Date; provided, however, that if there is no existing Default in the payment of Interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof (each a “Record Date”) and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, Interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be February 1, 2006. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate of the Interest and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of Interest, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate of the Interest to the extent lawful.

 

Exhibit A-3


2. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay Interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest), to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on February 1 and August 1 or next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and Interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and Interest, premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, or, if applicable, through the delivery of new Notes to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders at the time of payment.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture and Collateral Documents. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Amended and Restated Indenture dated as of July 20, 2005 (“Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors 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, as amended (15 U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are secured obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors limited in aggregate principal amount to $140,000,000 plus accrued interest thereon. The Notes are secured by the collateral set forth in the Collateral Documents.

5. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to August 1, 2009. On or after August 1, 2009, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid Interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2009

   105.0 %

2010

   102.5 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.0 %

 

Exhibit A-4


(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to August 1, 2009, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 110% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid Interest, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a Qualified Capital Contribution; provided, however, that:

(i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and any person controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Partnership); and

(ii) the redemption must occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Qualified Capital Contribution.

6. Mandatory Redemption.

(a) Except as described in paragraphs 6(b) and 7 below, the Issuers are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

(b) If any Gaming Authority requires that a Person who is a Holder or the Beneficial Owner of a Note be licensed, qualified or found suitable under any applicable Gaming Law, the Holder or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, shall apply for a license, qualification or a finding of suitability within the time period required by the Gaming Authority. If the Holder or Beneficial Owner fails to apply for such license, qualification or finding of suitability within the required time period, such Holder or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, shall dispose of its Notes within the time specified by the Gaming Authority and the Issuers shall have the right to redeem the Notes of such Holder or Beneficial Owner, subject to approval of any applicable Gaming Authority, at the least of (i) the principal amount thereof, (ii) the amount that such Holder or Beneficial Owner paid for the Notes, (iii) the fair market value of the Notes or (iv) such other amount as may be required by applicable law or by order of any Gaming Authority. Immediately upon the imposition of a requirement to dispose of Notes by a Gaming Authority, such Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Notes shall, to the extent required by applicable law or by order of any Gaming Authority, have no further right (x) to exercise, directly or indirectly, through any trustee or nominee or any other Person or entity, any right conferred by the Notes or (y) to receive any Interest, dividends, economic interests or any other distributions or payments with respect to the Notes or any remuneration in any form with respect to the Notes from the Issuers, the Guarantors or the Trustee. Any Holder of Notes that is required to apply for a license, qualification or finding of

 

Exhibit A-5


suitability must pay all fees and costs of any investigation by the applicable Gaming Authorities. The Issuers are not required to pay or reimburse any Holder of the Notes or Beneficial Owner who is required to apply for such license, qualification or finding of suitability for the costs of the licensure or investigation for such qualification or finding of suitability. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of any such redemption as soon as practicable; provided, however, that until such time as the Trustee receives notice from the Issuers of such redemption in accordance with Section 14.02 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Holder or Beneficial Owner as having all of its rights under the Indenture. The Trustee shall report the names of the record Holders of the Notes to any Gaming Authority when required by law.

7. Repurchase at Option of Holders.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, the Issuers will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to purchase all or any part (equal to $1 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid Interest, thereon, to the date of purchase. Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Issuers shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Partnership shall commence an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Indenture to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid Interest to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture or the Collateral Documents. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Section 3.02 of the Indenture.

(c) If the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries experience an Event of Loss, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Loss Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, and the aggregate amount of Excess Loss Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Partnership shall commence an offer (an “Event of Loss Offer”) to all Holders of Notes to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of such Excess Loss Proceeds. The offer price in any Event of Loss Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid Interest to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Loss Proceeds remain after consummation of an Event of Loss Offer, the Issuers may use such Excess Loss Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Event of Loss Offer exceeds the Excess Loss Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described under Section 3.02 of the Indenture.

 

Exhibit A-6


8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, Interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1 and integral multiples of $1. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of either of the Issuers’ obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of that Issuers’ assets, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to enter into additional or supplemental Collateral Documents.

Any amendment to, or waiver of the provisions of any of the Collateral Documents relating to Section 4.13 or Article 10 of the Indenture shall require the consent of the Holders of at least 85% in aggregate principal amount of Notes, then outstanding, voting as a single class.

 

Exhibit A-7


12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of Interest on, (b) default in payment when due of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, (c)(i) default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and Interest on Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Sections, 4.10, 4.11 or 4.16 of the Indenture, when due and payable; or (ii) failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under (A) Sections 5.01 of the Indenture, (B) Section 4.07 of the Indenture (but only if the failure under this clause (B) is caused by a Restricted Payment described in clauses (a) through (c) of the first paragraph of Section 4.07 of the Indenture or (C) Section 4.09; (d) failure by either of the Issuers or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice thereof to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture not set forth in clause (c) above; (e) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Issuers which default (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or Interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”) or (ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more; (f) failure by either of the Issuers or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $5.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days; (g) breach by either of the Issuers or any Guarantor in any material respect of any representation or warranty or agreement in any of the Collateral Documents or in any certificates delivered in connection therewith, the repudiation by any of them of any of its obligations under any of the Collateral Documents, the unenforceability of the Collateral Documents against any of them for any reason which continues for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal amount of Notes or the loss of the perfection or priority of the Liens granted by any of them pursuant to the Collateral Documents for any reason; (h) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee by a Guarantor with Total Assets of $5.0 million or more shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor with Total Assets of $5.0 million or more, or any Person acting on behalf of any such Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Note Guarantee; (i) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries; (j) if ES I, ES II and the Partnership ever fail to own collectively 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Capital; or (k) any revocation, suspension or loss of any Gaming License which results in the cessation or suspension of business at the Shreveport Resort for a period of more than 90 consecutive days; provided, however, that, in any event, there shall not be an Event of Default under this clause if the suspension of business results from an Event of Loss and the Partnership is complying with Section 4.11 of the Indenture.

 

Exhibit A-8


If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or Interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Issuers and each Guarantor are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and the Issuers are required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

Base Management Fees have priority over payments of Interest or the Notes and may be paid notwithstanding the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default at the time of payment of such fees, provided however, that the Base Management Fees shall not be paid at any time following the date that all of the Notes become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or otherwise, unless payment in full of the Notes, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, has been made or irrevocably deposited with the Trustee.

13. Trustee Dealings with Issuers. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Issuers or their Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder, member or partner of the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of either of the Issuers or any of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Collateral Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

16. 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 right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

Exhibit A-9


17. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to 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 Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

 

Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture

c/o Eldorado Resorts, LLC

345 North Virginia Street

Reno, Nevada 89501

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile No.: 775-348-7513

  

 

Exhibit A-10


Assignment Form

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

 
      assignee’s legal name)  

 

 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)  

 

and irrevocably appoint  

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.

Date:                             

 

Your Signature:  

 

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears

    on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 


* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Exhibit A-11


Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.11 or 4.16 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

     [  ] Section 4.10
[  ] Section 4.11      [  ] Section 4.16

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.11 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                                             

Date:                            

 

     Your Signature:                                                                 
  

                        (Sign exactly as your name appears

                                         on the face of this Note)

 

   Tax Identification No.:                                                     

Signature Guarantee*:                                                             


* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Exhibit A-12


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

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

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of decrease

in Principal Amount

of this Global Note

 

Amount of increase

in Principal Amount

of this Global Note

 

Principal Amount of

this Global Note

following such

decrease (or

increase)

 

Signature of

authorized officer of

Trustee or Note

Custodian

       

* This schedule should only be included if the Note is issued in global form.

 

Exhibit A-13


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF NOTATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE

NOTE GUARANTEE

To the extent set forth in the Indenture dated as of July 20, 2005 (the “Indenture”), among Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture, a Louisiana general partnership (the “Partnership”), Shreveport Capital Corporation, a Louisiana corporation (“Capital” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), a Louisiana corporation (“ES I”), Eldorado Shreveport #2, LLC, a Louisiana corporation (“ES II” and, together with ES I, the “Guarantors”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and for value received, each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture and the Collateral Documents (as defined in the Indenture)) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed: (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and Interest (as defined in the Indenture) on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, Interest, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) or the Trustee, all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders and to the Trustee pursuant to this Note Guarantee, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of this Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.

 

ELDORADO SHREVEPORT #1, LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
ELDORADO SHREVEPORT #2, LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exhibit B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of                             , among                              (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture (or its permitted successor), a Louisiana general partnership (the “Partnership”), the Partnership, Shreveport Capital Corporation, a Louisiana corporation (“Capital” and together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under this Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of July 20, 2005, providing for the issuance of 10% First Mortgage Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is 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 Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

Exhibit C-1


(i) the principal and premium, if any, and Interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and Interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Indenture or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes, the Indenture or the Collateral Documents, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against either of the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

(c) The following is hereby waived: diligence presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers or any Guarantor, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

(d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.

(g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition

 

Exhibit C-2


preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

(h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

(i) Pursuant to Section 11.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to any maximum amount and any other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 11 of the Indenture, this new Note Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Note Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

3. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms.

(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:

(i) subject to Sections 11.05 and 11.06 of the Indenture, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or an Issuer) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a Supplemental Indenture and supplemental Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantee and the Collateral Documents on the terms set forth herein or therein; and

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists.

(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by Supplemental Indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it

Exhibit C-3


had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Issuers and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture and the Collateral Documents as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 11.06 of Article 11 of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the either of the Issuers or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to either of the Issuers or another Guarantor.

5. Releases.

(a) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all to the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a Restricted Subsidiary of either of the Issuers, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 thereof. Upon delivery by the Issuers to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the applicable Issuer in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and Interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents as provided in Article 11 of the Indenture.

6. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, partner, incorporator, stockholder, member or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of either of the Issuers or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

 

Exhibit C-4


Each Holder of the 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. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

7. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

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 affect the construction hereof.

10. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Issuers.

 

Exhibit C-5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

Dated:                     ,         

 

[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Eldorado Casino Shreveport Joint Venture

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Shreveport Capital Corporation

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Eldorado Shreveport #1, LLC

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Eldorado Shreveport #2, LLC

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Exhibit C-6


U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

Exhibit C-7