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INDENTURE

Indenture Agreement

INDENTURE | Document Parties: HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC | HARRAH'S ESCROW CORPORATION | HARRAH'S OPERATING ESCROW LLC | US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION You are currently viewing:
This Indenture Agreement involves

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC | HARRAH'S ESCROW CORPORATION | HARRAH'S OPERATING ESCROW LLC | US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

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Title: INDENTURE
Governing Law: New York     Date: 6/15/2009
Industry: Casinos and Gaming     Sector: Services

INDENTURE, Parties: harrah's entertainment  inc , harrah's escrow corporation , harrah's operating escrow llc , us bank national association
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Exhibit 4.1

 

 

HARRAH’S OPERATING ESCROW LLC

HARRAH’S ESCROW CORPORATION

as Issuer

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

as Parent Guarantor

11  1 / 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2017

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of June 10, 2009

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  

Page

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

1

  

Section 1.01.

  

Definitions

  

1

Section 1.02.

  

Other Definitions

  

45

Section 1.03.

  

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

  

46

Section 1.04.

  

Rules of Construction

  

47

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

47

  

Section 2.01.

  

Amount of Notes

  

47

Section 2.02.

  

Form and Dating

  

48

Section 2.03.

  

Execution and Authentication

  

49

Section 2.04.

  

Registrar and Paying Agent

  

49

Section 2.05.

  

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

  

50

Section 2.06.

  

Holder Lists

  

50

Section 2.07.

  

Transfer and Exchange

  

50

Section 2.08.

  

Replacement Notes

  

51

Section 2.09.

  

Outstanding Notes

  

52

Section 2.10.

  

[Intentionally Omitted.]

  

52

Section 2.11.

  

Cancellation

  

52

Section 2.12.

  

Defaulted Interest

  

52

Section 2.13.

  

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc

  

52

Section 2.14.

  

Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

  

53

Section 2.15.

  

Mandatory Disposition Pursuant to Gaming Laws

  

53

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

53

  

Section 3.01.

  

Redemption

  

53

Section 3.02.

  

Applicability of Article

  

54

Section 3.03.

  

Notices to Trustee

  

54

Section 3.04.

  

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

  

54

Section 3.05.

  

Notice of Optional Redemption

  

54

Section 3.06.

  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

  

55

Section 3.07.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price

  

55

Section 3.08.

  

Notes Redeemed in Part

  

56

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

56

  

Section 4.01.

  

Payment of Notes

  

56

Section 4.02.

  

Reports and Other Information

  

56

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

 

  

 

  

Page

Section 4.03.

  

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

  

58

Section 4.04.

  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

  

64

Section 4.05.

  

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

  

71

Section 4.06.

  

Asset Sales

  

73

Section 4.07.

  

Transactions with Affiliates

  

77

Section 4.08.

  

Change of Control

  

80

Section 4.09.

  

Compliance Certificate

  

82

Section 4.10.

  

Further Instruments and Acts

  

82

Section 4.11.

  

Future Subsidiary Pledgors; Future Subsidiary Guarantors

  

82

Section 4.12.

  

Liens

  

83

Section 4.13.

  

After-Acquired Property and Gaming Approval

  

83

Section 4.14.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

  

84

Section 4.15.

  

Amendment of Security Agreements

  

84

Section 4.16.

  

Covenant Suspension

  

84

Section 4.17.

  

Maintenance of Insurance

  

85

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

85

  

Section 5.01.

  

When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets

  

85

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

88

  

Section 6.01.

  

Events of Default

  

88

Section 6.02.

  

Acceleration

  

90

Section 6.03.

  

Other Remedies

  

91

Section 6.04.

  

Waiver of Past Defaults

  

91

Section 6.05.

  

Control by Majority

  

91

Section 6.06.

  

Limitation on Suits

  

92

Section 6.07.

  

Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment

  

92

Section 6.08.

  

Collection Suit by Trustee

  

92

Section 6.09.

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

  

93

Section 6.10.

  

Priorities

  

93

Section 6.11.

  

Undertaking for Costs

  

93

Section 6.12.

  

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

  

94

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

94

  

Section 7.01.

  

Duties of Trustee

  

94

Section 7.02.

  

Rights of Trustee

  

95

Section 7.03.

  

Individual Rights of Trustee

  

97

Section 7.04.

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

  

97

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

 

  

 

  

Page

Section 7.05.

  

Notice of Defaults

  

97

Section 7.06.

  

Reports by Trustee to the Holders

  

98

Section 7.07.

  

Compensation and Indemnity

  

98

Section 7.08.

  

Replacement of Trustee

  

99

Section 7.09.

  

Successor Trustee by Merger

  

100

Section 7.10.

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

  

100

Section 7.11.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer

  

100

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

100

  

Section 8.01.

  

Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance

  

100

Section 8.02.

  

Conditions to Defeasance

  

102

Section 8.03.

  

Application of Trust Money

  

103

Section 8.04.

  

Repayment to Issuer

  

103

Section 8.05.

  

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

  

103

Section 8.06.

  

Reinstatement

  

103

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

104

  

Section 9.01.

  

Without Consent of the Holders

  

104

Section 9.02.

  

With Consent of the Holders

  

105

Section 9.03.

  

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

  

106

Section 9.04.

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

  

106

Section 9.05.

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

  

107

Section 9.06.

  

Trustee to Sign Amendments

  

107

Section 9.07.

  

Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

  

107

ARTICLE X

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

108

  

Section 10.01.

  

Relative Rights

  

108

ARTICLE XI

COLLATERAL

109

  

Section 11.01.

  

Security Documents

  

109

Section 11.02.

  

Collateral Agent

  

109

Section 11.03.

  

Authorization of Actions to Be Taken

  

110

Section 11.04.

  

Release of Collateral

  

111

Section 11.05.

  

Filing, Recording and Opinions

  

114

Section 11.06.

  

[Intentionally omitted.]

  

115

Section 11.07.

  

Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

  

115

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

   

  

 

  

Page

Section 11.08.

  

Release Upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations

  

115

Section 11.09.

  

Designations

  

115

Section 11.10.

  

Taking and Destruction

  

116

ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

116

  

Section 12.01.

  

Guarantee

  

116

Section 12.02.

  

Limitation on Liability

  

118

Section 12.03.

  

Successors and Assigns

  

119

Section 12.04.

  

No Waiver

  

119

Section 12.05.

  

Modification

  

120

Section 12.06.

  

Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Note Guarantors

  

120

Section 12.07.

  

Non-Impairment

  

120

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

120

  

Section 13.01.

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

  

120

Section 13.02.

  

Notices

  

120

Section 13.03.

  

Communication by the Holders with Other Holders

  

121

Section 13.04.

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

  

121

Section 13.05.

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

  

121

Section 13.06.

  

When Notes Disregarded

  

122

Section 13.07.

  

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

  

122

Section 13.08.

  

Legal Holidays

  

122

Section 13.09.

  

GOVERNING LAW

  

122

Section 13.10.

  

No Recourse Against Others

  

122

Section 13.11.

  

Successors

  

122

Section 13.12.

  

Multiple Originals

  

123

Section 13.13.

  

Table of Contents; Headings

  

123

Section 13.14.

  

Indenture Controls

  

123

Section 13.15.

  

Severability

  

123

Section 13.16.

  

Intercreditor Agreements

  

123

ARTICLE XIV

 

123

  

Section 14.01.

  

HOC Assumption

  

123

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(cont’d)

 

   

  

 

  

Page

Appendix A    –

  

Provisions Relating to Initial Notes, Additional Notes and Exchange Notes

  

EXHIBIT INDEX

  

Exhibit A    –

  

Form of Initial Note

  

Exhibit B    –

  

Form of Exchange Note

  

Exhibit C    –

  

Form of Transferee Letter of Representation

  

Exhibit D    –

  

Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to Subsidiary Guarantors

  

Exhibit E    –

  

Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to HOC Assumption

  

 

v


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section

  

 

  

Indenture
Section

310

  

(a)(1)

  

7.10

  

(a)(2)

  

7.10

  

(a)(3)

  

N.A.

  

(a)(4)

  

N.A.

  

(b)

  

7.08; 7.10

  

(c)

  

N.A.

311

  

(a)

  

7.11

  

(b)

  

7.11

  

(c)

  

N.A.

312

  

(a)

  

2.06

  

(b)

  

13.03

  

(c)

  

13.03

313

  

(a)

  

7.06

  

(b)(1)

  

N.A.

  

(b)(2)

  

7.06

  

(c)

  

7.06

  

(d)

  

4.02; 4.09

314

  

(a)

  

4.02; 4.09

  

(b)

  

N.A.

  

(c)(1)

  

13.04

  

(c)(2)

  

13.04

  

(c)(3)

  

N.A.

  

(d)

  

N.A.

  

(e)

  

13.05

  

(f)

  

4.10

315

  

(a)

  

7.01

  

(b)

  

7.05

  

(c)

  

7.01

  

(d)

  

7.01

  

(e)

  

6.11

316

  

(a)(last sentence)

  

13.06

  

(a)(1)(A)

  

6.05

  

(a)(1)(B)

  

6.04

  

(a)(2)

  

N.A.

  

(b)

  

6.07

317

  

(a)(1)

  

6.08

  

(a)(2)

  

6.09

  

(b)

  

2.05

318

  

(a)

  

13.01

N.A. Means Not Applicable.

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


INDENTURE dated as of June 10, 2009 among HARRAH’S OPERATING ESCROW LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, HARRAH’S ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (together, the “ Escrow Issuers ” or the “ Issuer ,” provided that, for purposes of this Indenture, prior to the HOC Assumption (as defined herein), the references to the “Issuer” in this Indenture refer only to the Escrow Issuers; after the consummation of the HOC Assumption, the references to the “Issuer” only refer to Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and not to any of its subsidiaries), HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Parent Guarantor ”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of (i) $1,375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 11  1 / 4 % Senior Secured Notes due 2017 issued on the date hereof (the “ Initial Notes ”), and (ii) exchange notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (the “ Exchange Notes ”) and (iii) Additional Notes issued from time to time as either Initial Notes or Exchange Notes (together with the Initial Notes and any Exchange Notes, the “ Notes ”):

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

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

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

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

Acquisition ” means the acquisition by Affiliates of the Sponsors of substantially all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at June 1, 2013 (such redemption price being set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Note) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through June 1, 2013 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

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

Asset Sale ” means:

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

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

 

2


in each case other than:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

3


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

(o) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

4


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

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

Capital Stock ” means:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cash Equivalents ” means:

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

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

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each

 

5


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

6


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

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

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

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

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and Capitalized Software Expenditures and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

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

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

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

 

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(4) interest income for such period.

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

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

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

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions) and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009 for Harrah’s Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the non-cash expenses (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

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

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

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

(2) to advance or supply funds:

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

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

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

Credit Agreement ” means (i) the credit agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008, entered into in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition, among the Issuer, the pledgors named therein, the financial institutions named therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or

 

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indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

(I) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b)),

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Fixed Charges; plus

 

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(3) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense; plus

(4) Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus

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

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

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

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

(9) any costs or expense Incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or a Subsidiary Pledgor or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(10) Pre-Opening Expenses;

less , without duplication,

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

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

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

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

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

First Lien Collateral Agent ” shall mean Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders and other secured parties under the Credit Agreement and the other First Lien Documents and in its capacity as collateral agent for the New First Lien Secured Parties, together with its successors and permitted assigns under the Credit Agreement, the Indenture and the First Lien Documents exercising substantially the same

 

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rights and powers; and in each case provided that if such First Lien Collateral Agent is not Bank of America, N.A., such First Lien Collateral Agent shall have become a party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the other applicable First Lien Security Documents.

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

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

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

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

First Priority After-Acquired Property ” means any property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Pledgor that secures any Secured Bank Indebtedness that is not already subject to the Lien under the Security Documents other than any securities or other equity interests of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries.

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

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

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

 

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

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

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions), and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009 for Harrah’s Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be

 

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deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gaming Laws ” means all applicable constitutions, treaties, laws and statutes pursuant to which any Gaming Authority possesses regulatory, licensing or permit authority over

 

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gaming, gambling or casino activities, and all rules, rulings, orders, ordinances or regulations of any Gaming Authority applicable to the gambling, casino or gaming businesses or activities of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries in any jurisdiction, as in effect from time to time, including the policies, interpretations and administration thereof by the Gaming Authorities.

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

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

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

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

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

Harrah’s Entertainment ” means Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

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

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

HOC ” means Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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

Holdco Issuer ” means the issuer in any Holdco Qualified IPO.

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

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

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

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that constitutes (i) a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

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

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

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

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

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or

 

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

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

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

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

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

Issue Date ” means the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

Issuer IPO ” means a Qualified IPO by the Issuer.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Notes Obligations ” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations in respect of the Exchange Notes and guarantees thereof.

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

Offering Memorandum ” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated May 27, 2009, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parent Guarantee ” means a Note Guarantee of Harrah’s Entertainment and its successors.

 

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Parent Guarantor ” means Harrah’s Entertainment and its successors.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means:

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

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

Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsors, (ii) the Management Group, (iii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Issuer and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (a “ Permitted Holder Group ”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “ group ” (other than the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

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

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

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

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

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

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Pledgor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Project Financing ” means (1) any Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financing, purchase money Indebtedness or other Indebtedness Incurred in connection with the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement, improvement or financing related to any of the Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, the retail facilities related to the Margaritaville Casino & Resort and the planned casino and hotel in the community of Ciudad Real, Spain or any refinancing of any such Indebtedness that does not extend to any assets other than the assets listed above and (2) any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any of Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, the retail facilities related to the Margaritaville Casino & Resort and the planned casino and hotel in the community of Ciudad Real, Spain.

Qualified IPO ” means any underwritten public Equity Offering.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

 

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

Second Lien Notes Obligations ” means the Obligations in respect of the Secured Lien Notes.

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

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

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

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions) and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions), discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into

 

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the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, with respect to each New Project that commences operations and records not less than one full fiscal quarter’s operations during the four-quarter reference period, the operating results of such New Project will be annualized on a straight line basis during such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions) and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in “Debt Covenant Compliance” in Exhibit 99.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009 for Harrah’s Entertainment to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

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

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

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

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

Series ” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), (ii) the holders of the Notes and the Trustee, each in their capacity as such) and (iii) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties that

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treasury Rate ” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to June 1, 2013; provided ,

 

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however, that if the period from such redemption date to June 1, 2013, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trust Officer ” means:

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

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

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

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

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

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

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

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

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

 

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(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a), or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Additional Interest”

  

Appendix A

“Affiliate Transaction”

  

4.07

“Asset Sale Offer”

  

4.06(b)

“Bankruptcy Law”

  

6.01

“Change of Control Offer”

  

4.08(b)

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”

  

4.06(b)

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period”

  

4.06(e)

“Collateral Excess Proceeds”

  

4.06(b)

“covenant defeasance option”

  

8.01(b)

“Covenant Suspension Event”

  

4.16

“Custodian”

  

6.01

“Definitive Note”

  

Appendix A

“Depository”

  

Appendix A

“Disqualified Holder”

  

2.15

“Escrow Issuers”

  

Preamble

“Event of Default”

  

6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

  

4.06(b)

“Exchange Notes”

  

Preamble

“Global Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Global Notes Legend”

  

Appendix A

“Guaranteed Obligations”

  

12.01(a)

“IAI”

  

Appendix A

“incorporated provision”

  

13.01

“Initial Guarantee Event”

  

4.11(b)

“Initial Notes”

  

Preamble

“Initial Purchasers”

  

Appendix A

“Issuer”

  

Preamble

“legal defeasance option”

  

8.01(b)

“Notes”

  

Preamble

“Notes Custodian”

  

Appendix A

“Notice of Default”

  

6.01

“Offer Period”

  

4.06(d)

“Paying Agent”

  

2.04(a)

“protected purchaser”

  

2.08

“QIB”

  

Appendix A

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

  

4.03(b)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

  

4.04(b)

“Registered Exchange Offer”

  

Appendix A

“Registrar”

  

2.04(a)

 

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Term

  

Defined in Section

“Registration Rights Agreement”

  

Appendix A

“Regulation S”

  

Appendix A

“Regulation S Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Restricted Notes Legend”

  

Appendix A

“Restricted Payment”

  

4.04(a)

“Restricted Period”

  

Appendix A

“Retired Capital Stock”

  

4.04(b)

“Reversion Date”

  

4.16

“Rule 501”

  

Appendix A

“Rule 144A”

  

Appendix A

“Rule 144A Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Second Commitment”

  

4.06(b)

“Shelf Registration Statement”

  

Appendix A

“Successor Issuer”

  

5.01(a)

“Successor Parent Guarantor”

  

5.01

“Successor Subsidiary Pledgor”

  

5.01(b)

“Suspended Covenants”

  

4.16

“Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Transfer Restricted Global Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Unrestricted Definitive Notes”

  

Appendix A

“Unrestricted Global Notes”

  

Appendix A

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

Commission ” means the SEC.

indenture securities ” means the Notes and any Note Guarantee.

indenture security holder ” means a holder.

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture.

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

obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and each Guarantor and any other obligor on the Notes.

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

 

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SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(d) “ including ” means including without limitation;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $1,375,000,000.

The Issuer may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the

 

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

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

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

(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof; and

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

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

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

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating . Provisions relating to the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in Appendix A , which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes issued other than as Transfer Restricted Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the

 

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form of Exhibit B hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer, the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Pledgor is subject, if any, or usage ( provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication . The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $1,375,000,000, (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein and (c) the Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Initial Notes exchanged pursuant thereto or otherwise pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. Such order shall specify the amount of separate Note certificates to be authenticated, the principal amount of each of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the registered holder of each of the Notes and delivery instructions and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

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

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

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

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent .

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

 

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The term “ Paying Agent ” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and the Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

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

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

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange . The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A . When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to

 

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

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

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

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

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes . If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “ protected purchaser ”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

 

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Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 2.10. [ Intentionally Omitted .]

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

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

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “ Common Code ” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “ Common Code ” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that

 

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no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “ Common Code ” numbers.

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

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

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

(a) such person’s cost, or

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

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

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph

 

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5 of the forms of Note set forth in Exhibit A and B hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

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

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Note, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, as well as such notice required to be delivered under Section 3.05 below. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

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

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption .

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

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

(i) the redemption date;

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

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

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

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information .

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

(b) In the event that:

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the holders if the Issuer has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, the requirements of this Section 4.02 shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offers contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by (1) the filing with the SEC of the Exchange

 

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Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, if such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a) and/or (2) the posting of reports that would be required to be provided to the Trustee and the holders on the Issuer’s website (or that of any of its parent companies).

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (viii);

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

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

(xi) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or, subject to Section 4.03(c), Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xi), does not exceed the greater of $1,100 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xi) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xi) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Issuer, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xi));

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

(xiii) any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

(xix) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xix), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xix), does not exceed the greater of $250.0 million and 7.5% of Total Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xix) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xix) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xix));

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

(xxi) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to current or former officers, directors and employees

 

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thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments .

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

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

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