EX-3.1 2 dex31.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION-CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORP Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation-Caesars Entertainment Corp

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

Dated as of November 22, 2010

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that:

FIRST: The present name of the Corporation is “HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.”. The Corporation was originally incorporated by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “DE Secretary”) on November 2, 1989 under the name “THE PROMUS COMPANIES INCORPORATED”.

SECOND: An Amended Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Amended Certificate”) was filed with the DE Secretary on January 28, 2008.

THIRD: This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”) amends and restates in its entirety the Amended Certificate, and has been approved in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 228 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH: This Certificate shall become effective immediately upon its filing with the DE Secretary.

FIFTH: Upon the filing of this Certificate with the DE Secretary, the Amended Certificate shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

*  *  *  *  *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY that the facts hereinabove stated are truly set forth and, accordingly, such officer has hereunto set his hand as of the date first above written.

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

By:

 

/s/ MICHAEL D. COHEN

Name: Michael D. Cohen

Title: Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary


Exhibit A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

ARTICLE I

NAME OF THE CORPORATION

The name of the corporation (the “Corporation”) is: Caesars Entertainment Corporation.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE; REGISTERED AGENT

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is: 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE 19808. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 4.1 Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,375,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 1,250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 125,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) and to fix for each such series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such distinctive designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such series including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such series may be (a) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (b) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at


such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (c) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; or (d) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments, all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights of each holder of Preferred Stock shall be subject at all times to compliance with all gaming and other statutes, laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Corporation and such holder at that time.

Section 4.3 Common Stock.

(a) Dividends. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, if any, when, as and if dividends are declared on the Common Stock, whether payable in cash, in property or in securities of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to share equally, share for share, in such dividends.

(b) Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, holders of Common Stock shall receive a pro rata distribution of any remaining assets after payment of or provision for liabilities and the liquidation preference on Preferred Stock, if any.

(c) Voting Rights. The holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders of the Corporation.

(d) Consideration for Shares. The Common Stock and Preferred Stock authorized by this Article shall be issued for such consideration as shall be fixed, from time to time, by the Board of Directors.

(e) Assessment of Stock. The capital stock of the Corporation, after the amount of the subscription price has been fully paid in, shall not be assessable for any purpose, and no stock issued as fully paid shall ever be assessable or assessed. No stockholder of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be individually liable for the debts or liabilities of the Corporation.

(f) Cumulative Voting for Directors. No stockholder of the Corporation shall be entitled to cumulative voting of his shares for the election of directors.

(g) Preemptive Rights. No stockholder of the Corporation shall have any preemptive rights by virtue of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 4.4 Reclassification of Previously Issued and Outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock of the Corporation. Immediately prior to the effective time of the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), the Corporation had 80,000,000 authorized shares of non-voting common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 60,560,806.86 shares were issued and outstanding (the “Outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock”). At and as of the Effective Time, by virtue of filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each share of

 

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Outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically reclassified, without any action by the holder thereof, as one share of Common Stock, and, from and after such time, the capital stock described in Section 4.1 above shall represent all of the authorized capital stock of the Company.

Section 4.5 Cancellation of Previously Issued and Outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Corporation had 20 authorized shares of voting common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 10 shares were issued and outstanding (the “Outstanding Voting Common Stock”). At and as of the Effective Time, by virtue of filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each share of Outstanding Voting Common Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled, without any action by the holder thereof, and, from and after such time, the capital stock described in Section 4.1 above shall represent all of the authorized capital stock of the Company.

ARTICLE V

GAMING AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Section 5.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Article V, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

(a) “Affiliate” (and derivatives of such term) shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act.

(b) “Affiliated Company” shall mean any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or other entity directly or indirectly Affiliated or under common Ownership or Control with the Corporation including, without limitation, any subsidiary, holding company or intermediary company (as those or similar terms are defined under the Gaming Laws of any applicable Gaming Jurisdictions), in each case that is registered or licensed under applicable Gaming Laws.

(c) “Control” (and derivatives of such term) (i) with respect to any Person, shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, (ii) with respect to any Interest, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, whether by agreement, contract, agency or otherwise, the voting rights or disposition of such Interest, and (iii) as applicable, the meaning ascribed to the term “control” (and derivatives of such term) under the Gaming Laws of any applicable Gaming Jurisdictions).

(d) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(e) “Gaming” or “Gaming Activities” shall mean the conduct of gaming and gambling activities, race books and sports pools, or the use of gaming devices, equipment and supplies in the operation of a casino, simulcasting facility, card club or other enterprise, including, without limitation, slot machines, gaming tables, cards, dice, gaming chips, player tracking systems, cashless wagering systems, mobile gaming systems, inter-casino linked systems and related and associated equipment, supplies and systems.

 

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(f) “Gaming Authorities” shall mean all international, national, foreign, domestic, federal, state, provincial, regional, local, tribal, municipal and other regulatory and licensing bodies, instrumentalities, departments, commissions, authorities, boards, officials, tribunals and agencies with authority over or responsibility for the regulation of Gaming within any Gaming Jurisdiction.

(g) “Gaming Jurisdictions” shall mean all jurisdictions, domestic and foreign, and their political subdivisions, in which Gaming Activities are or may be lawfully conducted, including, without limitation, all Gaming Jurisdictions in which the Corporation or any of the Affiliated Companies currently conducts or may in the future conduct Gaming Activities.

(h) “Gaming Laws” shall mean all laws, statutes and ordinances pursuant to which any Gaming Authority possesses regulatory, permit and licensing authority over the conduct of Gaming Activities, or the Ownership or Control of an Interest in an entity which conducts Gaming Activities, in any Gaming Jurisdiction, all orders, decrees, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all written and unwritten policies of the Gaming Authorities and all written and unwritten interpretations by the Gaming Authorities of such laws, statutes, ordinances, orders, decrees, rules, regulations and policies.

(i) “Gaming Licenses” shall mean all licenses, permits, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, findings of suitability, franchises, exemptions, waivers, concessions and entitlements issued by any Gaming Authority necessary for or relating to the conduct of Gaming Activities by any Person or the Ownership or Control by any Person of an Interest in an entity that conducts or may in the future conduct Gaming Activities.

(j) “Interest” shall mean the stock or other securities of an entity or any other interest or financial or other stake therein, including, without limitation, the Securities.

(k) “Own” or “Ownership” (and derivatives of such terms) shall mean (i) ownership of record, (ii) “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 or Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, and (iii) as applicable, the meaning ascribed to the terms “own” or “ownership” (and derivatives of such terms) under the Gaming Laws of any applicable Gaming Jurisdictions.

(l) “Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or any other entity.

(m) “Redemption Date” shall mean the date set forth in the Redemption Notice by which the Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person are to be redeemed by the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, which redemption date shall be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation but which shall in no event be fewer than 45 calendar days following the date of the Redemption Notice, unless (i) otherwise required by a Gaming Authority or pursuant to any applicable Gaming Laws, (ii) prior to the expiration of such 45-day period, the Unsuitable Person shall have sold (or otherwise fully transferred or otherwise disposed of its Ownership of) its Securities to a Person that is not an Unsuitable Person (in which case, such Redemption Notice will only apply to those Securities that have not been sold or

 

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otherwise disposed of) by the selling Unsuitable Person and, commencing as of the date of such sale, the purchaser or recipient of such Securities shall have all of the rights of a Person that is not an Unsuitable Person), or (iii) the cash or other Redemption Price necessary to effect the redemption shall have been deposited in trust for the benefit of the Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate and shall be subject to immediate withdrawal by such Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate upon (x) surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing the Securities to be redeemed accompanied by a duly executed stock power or assignment or (y) if the Securities are uncertificated, upon the delivery of a duly executed assignment or other instrument of transfer.

(n) “Redemption Notice” shall mean that notice of redemption delivered by the Corporation pursuant to this Article to an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person if a Gaming Authority so requires the Corporation, or if the Board of Directors deems it necessary or advisable, to redeem such Unsuitable Person’s or Affiliate’s Securities. Each Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Redemption Date, (ii) the number and type of Securities to be redeemed, (iii) the Redemption Price and the manner of payment therefor, (iv) the place where any certificates for such Securities shall be surrendered for payment, and (v) any other requirements of surrender of the certificates, including how such certificates are to be endorsed, if at all.

(o) “Redemption Price” shall mean the price to be paid by the Corporation for the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Article, which shall be that price (if any) required to be paid by the Gaming Authority making the finding of unsuitability, or if such Gaming Authority does not require a certain price to be paid (including if the finding of unsuitability is made by the Board of Directors alone), that amount determined by the Board of Directors to be the fair value of the Securities to be redeemed; provided, that unless a Gaming Authority requires otherwise, the Redemption Price shall in no event exceed (i) the lowest closing price of such Securities reported on any of the domestic securities exchanges on which such Securities are listed on the date of the Redemption Notice or, if there have been no sales on any such exchange on such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest ask prices on all such exchanges at the end of such day, or (ii) if such Securities are not then listed for trading on any national securities exchange, then the mean between the representative bid and the ask price as quoted by another generally recognized reporting system, or (iii) if such Securities are not so quoted, then the average of the highest bid and lowest ask prices on such day in the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by Pink OTC Markets Inc. or any similar successor organization, or (v) if such Securities are not quoted by any recognized reporting system, then the fair value thereof, as determined in good faith and in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors. The Corporation may pay the Redemption Price in any combination of cash and/or promissory note as required by the applicable Gaming Authority and, if not so required (including if the finding of unsuitability is made by the Board of Directors alone), as determined by the Board of Directors, provided, that in the event the Corporation elects to pay all or any portion of the Redemption Price with a promissory note, such promissory note shall have a term of ten years, bear interest at a rate equal to three percent (3)% per annum and amortize in 120 equal monthly installments, and shall contain such other terms and conditions as the Board of Directors determines, in its discretion, to be necessary or advisable.

(p) “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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(q) “Securities” shall mean the capital stock of the Corporation and the capital stock, member’s interests or membership interests, partnership interests or other equity securities of any Affiliated Company.

(r) “Transfer” shall mean the sale and every other method, direct or indirect, of transferring or otherwise disposing of an Interest, or the Ownership, Control or possession thereof, or fixing a lien thereupon, whether absolutely or conditionally, voluntarily or involuntarily, by or without judicial proceedings, as a conveyance, sale, payment, pledge, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, gift, security, or otherwise (including by merger or consolidation).

(s) “Unsuitable Person” shall mean a Person who (i) fails or refuses to file an application, or has withdrawn or requested the withdrawal of a pending application, to be found suitable by any Gaming Authority or for any Gaming License, (ii) is denied or disqualified from eligibility for any Gaming License by any Gaming Authority, (iii) is determined by a Gaming Authority to be unsuitable or disqualified to Own or Control any Securities, (iv) is determined by a Gaming Authority to be unsuitable to be Affiliated, associated or involved with a Person engaged in Gaming Activities in any Gaming Jurisdiction, (v) causes any Gaming License of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company to be lost, rejected, rescinded, suspended, revoked or not renewed by any Gaming Authority, or causes the Corporation or any Affiliated Company to be threatened by any Gaming Authority with the loss, rejection, rescission, suspension, revocation or non-renewal of any Gaming License (in each of (ii) through (v) above, regardless of whether such denial, disqualification or determination by a Gaming Authority is final and/or non-appealable), or (vi) is deemed likely, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors, to (A) preclude or materially delay, impede, impair, threaten or jeopardize any Gaming License held by the Corporation or any Affiliated Company or the Corporation’s or any Affiliated Company’s application for, right to the use of, entitlement to, or ability to obtain or retain, any Gaming License, (B) cause or otherwise result in, the disapproval, cancellation, termination, material adverse modification or non-renewal of any material contract to which the Corporation or any Affiliated Company is a party, or (C) cause or otherwise result in the imposition of any materially burdensome or unacceptable terms or conditions on any Gaming License of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company.

Section 5.2 Compliance with Gaming Laws. All Securities shall be held subject to the restrictions and requirements of all applicable Gaming Laws. All Persons Owning or Controlling Securities shall comply with all applicable Gaming Laws, including any provisions of such Gaming Laws that require such Person to file applications for Gaming Licenses with, and provide information to, the applicable Gaming Authorities. Any Transfer of Securities may be subject to the prior approval of the Gaming Authorities and/or the Corporation or the applicable Affiliated Company, and any purported Transfer thereof in violation of such requirements shall be void ab initio.

Section 5.3 Ownership Restrictions. Any Person who Owns or Controls five percent (5%) or more of any class or series of the Corporation’s Securities shall (a) promptly notify the Corporation of such fact, (b) provide to the Gaming Authorities in each Gaming Jurisdiction in which the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof either conducts Gaming or has a pending application for a Gaming License all information regarding such Person as may be requested or required by such Gaming Authorities, (c) respond to written or oral questions or

 

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inquiries from any such Gaming Authorities and (d) by virtue of such Ownership or Control, be deemed to consent to the performance of any personal background investigation that may be required by such Gaming Authorities.

Section 5.4 Finding of Unsuitability.

(a) The Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person shall be redeemable by the Corporation or the applicable Affiliated Company, out of funds legally available therefor, as directed by a Gaming Authority and, if not so directed, as and to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Board of Directors, in which event the Corporation shall deliver a Redemption Notice to the Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate and shall redeem or purchase or cause one or more Affiliated Companies to purchase the Securities on the Redemption Date and for the Redemption Price set forth in the Redemption Notice. From and after the Redemption Date, such Securities shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, such Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person shall cease to be a stockholder, member, partner or owner, as applicable, of the Corporation and/or Affiliated Company with respect to such Securities, and all rights of such Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person in such Securities, other than the right to receive the Redemption Price, shall cease. In accordance with the requirements of the Redemption Notice, such Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate shall surrender the certificate(s), if any, representing the Securities to be so redeemed.

(b) Commencing on the date that a Gaming Authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or disqualification of a holder of Securities, or the Board of Directors otherwise determines that a Person is an Unsuitable Person, and until the Securities Owned or Controlled by such Person are Owned or Controlled by a Person who is not an Unsuitable Person, it shall be unlawful for such Unsuitable Person or any of its Affiliates to and such Unsuitable Person and its Affiliates shall not: (i) receive any dividend, payment, distribution or interest with regard to the Securities, (ii) exercise, directly or indirectly or through any proxy, trustee, or nominee, any voting or other right conferred by such Securities, and such Securities shall not for any purposes be included in the Securities of the Corporation or the applicable Affiliated Company entitled to vote, or (iii) receive any remuneration that may be due to such Person, accruing after the date of such notice of determination of unsuitability or disqualification by a Gaming Authority, in any form from the Corporation or any Affiliated Company for services rendered or otherwise, or (iv) be or continue as a manager, officer, partner or director of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company.

Section 5.5 Notices. All notices given by the Corporation or an Affiliated Company pursuant to this Article, including Redemption Notices, shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered by personal service, overnight courier, first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Person at such Person’s address as it appears on the books and records of the Corporation or Affiliated Company.

Section 5.6 Indemnification. Any Unsuitable Person and any Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person shall indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies for any and all losses, costs, and expenses, including attorneys’ costs, fees and expenses, incurred by the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies as a result of, or arising out

 

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of, such Unsuitable Person’s continuing Ownership or Control of Securities, failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of this Article, or failure to divest himself, herself or itself of any Securities when and in the specific manner required by the Gaming Authorities or this Article.

Section 5.7 Injunctive Relief. The Corporation shall be entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Article and each Person who Owns or Controls Securities shall be deemed to have consented to injunctive or other equitable relief and acknowledged, by virtue of such Ownership or Control, that the failure to comply with this Article will expose the Corporation and the Affiliated Companies to irreparable injury for which there is no adequate remedy at law and that the Corporation and the Affiliated Companies shall be entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Article.

Section 5.8 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The right of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company to redeem Securities pursuant to this Article shall not be exclusive of any other rights the Corporation or any Affiliated Company may have or hereafter acquire under any agreement, provision of the bylaws of the Corporation or such Affiliated Company or otherwise. To the extent permitted under applicable Gaming Laws, the Corporation shall have the right, exercisable in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, to propose that the parties, immediately upon the delivery of the Redemption Notice, enter into an agreement or other arrangement, including, without limitation, a divestiture trust or divestiture plan, which will reduce or terminate an Unsuitable Person’s Ownership or Control of all or a portion of its Securities.

Section 5.9 Further Actions. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action, to the extent permitted by law, as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation or the Affiliated Companies from the denial or loss or threatened denial or loss of any Gaming License of the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may conform any provisions of this Article to the extent necessary to make such provisions consistent with Gaming Laws. In addition, the Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind bylaws, regulations, and procedures of the Corporation not inconsistent with the express provisions of this Article for the purpose of determining whether any Person is an Unsuitable Person and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article. Such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of each of the Affiliated Companies and with the transfer agent, if any, of the Corporation and/or any Affiliated Companies, and shall be made available for inspection and, upon reasonable request, mailed to any record holder of Securities.

Section 5.10 Authority of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have exclusive authority and power to administer this Article and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or the Corporation, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Article. All such actions which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Corporation and all other Persons; provided, that the Board of Directors may delegate all or any portion of its duties and powers under this Article to a committee of the Board of Directors as it deems necessary or advisable.

 

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Section 5.11 Severability. If any provision of this Article or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Article.

Section 5.12 Termination and Waivers. Except as may be required by any applicable Gaming Law or Gaming Authority, the Board of Directors may waive any of the rights of the Corporation or any restrictions contained in this Article in any instance in which and to the extent the Board of Directors determines that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Corporation. Except as required by a Gaming Authority, nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed to require the Corporation to repurchase any Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person.

Section 5.13 Legend. The restrictions set forth in this Article shall be noted conspicuously on any certificate evidencing the Securities in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL and any applicable Gaming Laws.

Section 5.14 Required New Jersey Charter Provisions.

(a) This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to include all provisions required by the New Jersey Casino Control Act, N.J.S.A. 5:12-1 et seq., as amended from time to time (the “New Jersey Act”) and, to the extent that anything contained herein or in the bylaws of the Corporation is inconsistent with the New Jersey Act, the provisions of the New Jersey Act shall govern. All provisions of the New Jersey Act, to the extent required by law to be stated in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, are incorporated herein by this reference.

(b) This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be subject to the provisions of the New Jersey Act and the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (the “New Jersey Commission”) promulgated thereunder. Specifically, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 82(d)(7) of the New Jersey Act, the Securities of the Corporation are held subject to the condition that, if a holder thereof is found to be disqualified by the New Jersey Commission pursuant to the provisions of the New Jersey Act, the holder must dispose of such Securities in accordance with Section 5.4(a) of this Article and shall be subject to Section 5.4(b) of this Article.

(c) Any newly elected or appointed director or officer of, or nominee to any such position with, the Corporation, who is required to qualify pursuant to the New Jersey Act, shall not exercise any powers of the office to which such individual has been elected, appointed or nominated until such individual has been found qualified to hold such office or position by the New Jersey Commission in accordance with the New Jersey Act or the New Jersey Commission permits such individual to perform duties and exercise powers relating to any such position pending qualification, with the understanding that such individual will be immediately removed from such position if the New Jersey Commission determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that such individual may not be qualified to hold such position.

 

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ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS; BOOKS AND RECORDS

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. Any action to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding Common Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation.

The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS; BY-LAWS

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the By-Laws of the Corporation may be made, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

ELECTIONS

Unless and except to the extent that the By-Laws of the Corporation shall so require, elections of directors need not be by written ballot.

ARTICLE IX

INDEMNIFICATION; ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES; EXCULPATION

(a) Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) (hereinafter a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or employee while serving as a director, officer or employee, against all expenses and loss

 

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(including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

(b) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or employee, while serving as a director, officer or employee, against all expenses and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board; provided, further, that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

(c) Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such proceeding (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such proceeding that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the

 

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DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the proceeding or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(d) Advancement of Expenses. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall (in the case of any action, suit or proceeding against a director of the Corporation) or may as authorized by the Board, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law (in the case of any action, suit or proceeding against an officer, trustee, employee or agent), be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article IX.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Indemnification of Persons other than Directors, Officers and Employees. The indemnification and other rights set forth in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any provisions with respect thereto in any statute, provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws of the Corporation or any other contract or agreement between the Corporation and any officer, director or employee. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any agent of the Corporation or any person (other than a person who is entitled to indemnification under clauses (a) or (b) of this Article IX) who was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, manager, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article IX with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors, officers and employees of the Corporation.

(f) Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

(g) Amendment. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article IX (by merger, consolidation or otherwise), nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any matter occurring before such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision or in respect of any cause of action, suit or claim relating to any such matter which would have given rise to a right of indemnification or right to receive expenses pursuant to this Article IX if such provision had not been so amended or repealed or if a provision inconsistent therewith had not been so adopted.

(h) Exculpation. No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any stockholder for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director:

 

 

(i)

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders;

 

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(ii)

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

 

(iii)

under Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

 

(iv)

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

If the DGCL is amended after the date hereof to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred upon directors and officers of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be contract rights, shall vest when such person becomes a director or officer of the Corporation and shall continue as vested contract rights. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X

NO CONFLICT

Neither any contract or other transaction between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, firm, association, or other entity (an “Entity”), nor any other acts of the Corporation with relation to any other Entity will, in the absence of fraud, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be invalidated or otherwise affected by the fact that any one or more of the directors or officers of the Corporation are pecuniarily or otherwise interested in, or are directors, officers, partners, or members of, such other Entity (such directors, officers, and Entities, each a “Related Person”). Any Related Person may be a party to, or may be pecuniarily or otherwise interested in, any contract or transaction of the Corporation; provided that the fact that person is a Related Person is disclosed or is known to the Board or a majority of directors present at any meeting of the Board at which action upon any such contract or transaction is taken; and any director of the Corporation who is also a Related Person may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the board of directors during which any such contract or transaction is authorized and may vote thereat to authorize any such contract or transaction, with like force and effect as if such person were not a Related Person. Any director of the Corporation may vote upon any contract or any other transaction between the Corporation and any subsidiary or affiliated corporation without regard to the fact that such person is also a director or officer of such subsidiary or affiliated corporation.

Any contract, transaction or act of the Corporation or of the directors that is ratified at any annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, or at any special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation called for such purpose, will, insofar as permitted by applicable law, be as valid and as binding as though ratified by every stockholder of the

 

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Corporation; provided, however, that any failure of the stockholders to approve or ratify any such contract, transaction or act, when and if submitted, will not be deemed in any way to invalidate the same or deprive the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees, of its or their right to proceed with such contract, transaction or act.

Subject to any express agreement that may from time to time be in effect, (x) any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an officer, director, employee, managing director or other affiliate of either Apollo Management VI, L.P., on behalf of its investment funds (“Apollo”), and/or TPG Capital, L.P. (“TPG”) or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Managers”) and (y) the Managers and their affiliates, may, and shall have no duty not to, in each case on behalf of the Managers or their affiliates (the persons and entities in clauses (x) and (y), each a “Covered Manager Person”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) carry on and conduct, whether directly, or as a partner in any partnership, or as a joint venturer in any joint venture, or as an officer, director or stockholder of any corporation, or as a participant in any syndicate, pool, trust or association, any business of any kind, nature or description, whether or not such business is competitive with or in the same or similar lines of business as the Corporation, (ii) do business with any client, customer, vendor or lessor of any of the Corporation or its affiliates, and (iii) make investments in any kind of property in which the Corporation may make investments. To the fullest extent permitted by Section 122(17) of the DGCL, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation to participate in any business of the Managers or their affiliates, and waives any claim against a Covered Manager Person and shall indemnify a Covered Manager Person against any claim that such Covered Manager Person is liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of such person’s or entity’s participation in any such business.

In the event that a Covered Manager Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may constitute a corporate opportunity for both (x) the Covered Manager Person, in his or her Apollo-related capacity or TPG-related capacity, as the case may be, or Apollo or TPG, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the case may be, or its affiliates and (y) the Corporation, the Covered Manager Person shall not have any duty to offer or communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by Section 122(17) of the DGCL, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in such corporate opportunity and waives any claim against each Covered Manager Person and shall indemnify a Covered Manager Person against any claim, that such Covered Manager Person is liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Covered Manager Person (i) pursues or acquires any corporate opportunity for its own account or the account of any affiliate, (ii) directs, recommends, sells, assigns, or otherwise transfers such corporate opportunity to another person or (iii) does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation, provided, however, in each case, that any corporate opportunity which is expressly offered to a Covered Manager Person in writing solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Corporation shall belong to the Corporation.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article X.

 

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This Article X may not be amended, modified or repealed without the prior written consent of each of the Managers.

ARTICLE XI

FORUM SELECTION

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

 

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