FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMBERS AGREEMENTLLC Membership Agreement |
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CASINO AMERICA OF COLORADO, INC., | BLACKHAWK GOLD, LTD., | NEVADA GOLD & CASINOS, INC. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here. |
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EXHIBIT
10.2
FIRST
AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMBERS AGREEMENT
This FIRST
AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMBERS AGREEMENT is made as of this 22nd day
of April, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among CASINO AMERICA OF COLORADO,
INC., a Colorado corporation (“Isle Colorado”), ISLE OF CAPRI
CASINOS, INC. (f/k/a Casino America, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“Isle
of Capri”), BLACKHAWK GOLD, LTD., a Colorado corporation
(“Blackhawk Gold”), and NEVADA GOLD & CASINOS, INC., a Nevada
corporation (“Nevada Gold”). Isle Colorado and Blackhawk Gold are
sometimes herein referred to as the “Members” or individually as a
“Member.”
WHEREAS, Isle
Colorado and Blackhawk Gold are the members of Isle of Capri Black Hawk L.L.C.,
a Colorado limited liability company (the “Company”), and are
parties to a Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company,
dated as of the date of this Agreement (the “Operating Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Isle
Colorado is a wholly owned subsidiary of Isle of Capri and Blackhawk Gold is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Nevada Gold;
WHEREAS, the
Company was initially formed for the purpose of developing, constructing and
operating a casino and related facilities in Black Hawk, Colorado (the
“Isle Black Hawk”);
WHEREAS, the
Company entered into stock purchase agreements on December 24, 2002 (the
“Stock Purchase Agreements”), to purchase the Colorado Central
Station Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado (the “Central Station”), and
the Colorado Grande Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado (the “Grande”
and, together with the Central Station, the “Additional Facilities”
and, together with the Isle Black Hawk, the “Facilities”);
WHEREAS, in
connection with the purchase of the Additional Facilities, the Company will
enter into that certain First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April
, 2003 (the “Credit
Agreement”), by and among the Company, various financial institutions,
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as Administrative Agent, and CIBC World
Markets Corp., as Lead Arranger, on such terms as approved by the Managers;
WHEREAS, the
Company intends to further develop and improve the Isle Black Hawk and the
Central Station pursuant to the development plan attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the “Development Plan”);
WHEREAS, the
Company has entered into a Second Amended and Restated Management Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof (the “Isle Black Hawk Management
Agreement”), with Isle of Capri pursuant to which Isle of Capri will
manage the Isle Black Hawk;
WHEREAS, the
Company has entered into management agreements, in substantially the same form
and on substantially the same terms as the Isle Black Hawk Management
Agreement, with Isle of Capri pursuant to which Isle of Capri will manage each
of the Additional Facilities (collectively with the Isle Black Hawk Management
Agreement, the “Management Agreements”); and
WHEREAS, the
parties hereto wish to amend and restate the Members Agreement, dated as of
July 29, 1997, among the parties hereto, to set forth certain agreements
with respect to the operation of the Company, the acquisition of the Additional
Facilities, the Development Plan and the parties’ respective rights and
obligations.
NOW, THEREFORE,
the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1:
OWNERSHIP
INTEREST AND DEFINITIONS
1.1 Ownership. The parties agree that the respective percentage
Ownership Interests as of the date of this Agreement are as follows: Isle
Colorado – 57% and Blackhawk Gold – 43%.
1.2 Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in
Exhibit A hereto shall have the respective meanings ascribed for those
terms in the Operating Agreement, applicable to both singular and plural forms,
for all purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
2:
ACQUISITION
AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2.1 General Intent. The Members anticipate that certain expenditures will
be made in order to consummate the acquisition of the Additional Facilities and
to complete the Development Plan (including feasibility studies, advisory fees
and expenses, development planning, construction and regulatory approvals).
Except as specifically set forth herein, the Members anticipate that these
costs will be funded solely by the Company with proceeds from operations and
with proceeds from the Credit Agreement.
2.2 Employee Costs. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement or in the Management Agreements, each Member will be separately
responsible for its own payroll and benefit expense of its employees and
independent contractors with respect to the Development Plan or Company
business.
2.3 Debt Financing; Capital Commitment. Except for previously contributed capital
contributions, the Members acknowledge and agree that, to the extent
commercially reasonable, the Company and the Development Plan will be funded
through debt financing. The Company shall incur no debt or liability for which
the Members or their respective Affiliates would be obligated in any way.
Without limiting the foregoing, no Member or Affiliate will be required to
guarantee or co-sign any loan made to the Company or any other obligation of
the Company.
2.4 Development Plan. The Company will use its reasonable commercial efforts
to complete the Development Plan. A description of the Development Plan is set
forth on Exhibit B attached hereto, and such plan (together with all
actions consistent therewith) is hereby approved by the Members.
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Neither Isle
Colorado nor any Affiliate shall be liable to the Company or to Blackhawk Gold
or its Affiliates for any losses, damages, liabilities or expenses resulting or
arising from the Development Plan, other than as a direct and proximate result
of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Isle Colorado or any of its
Affiliates; and neither Isle Colorado nor any of its Affiliates makes any
representations or warranties as to the Development Plan or its successful
completion.
Blackhawk Gold
and its Affiliates will cooperate with Isle Colorado and Isle of Capri in
connection with the development of the Development Plan in all reasonable
respects, including without limitation, providing pertinent information,
documents or records or making appearances before regulatory authorities whose
approvals are required in connection therewith.
ARTICLE
3:
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Additional Contributions. Except upon the agreement of all Members and upon such
terms and conditions as they may agree in writing, no Additional Contributions
will be required or permitted from the Members of the Company. Any Member that
provides any Additional Contribution shall receive a corresponding credit to
its capital account and its Ownership Interest shall be increased
proportionately with the increase in its capital account.
3.2 Default. If a Member fails to make a required Capital
Contribution timely when due, each other Member which is not in default will
have the option to:
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(a) |
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Make all or
part of such Capital Contribution on its own behalf and increase its
Ownership Interest accordingly; or |
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(b) |
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Loan all or
part of such Capital Contribution amount to the Company, with such loan
payable on demand and with Interest (and such amount will be treated as a
loan rather than as a Capital Contribution). |
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If there is
more than one Member which is not in default in its required Capital
Contributions, the non-defaulting Members will agree among themselves as to the
allocation of any required Capital Contribution that is either contributed or
loaned, and if they do not agree, each such Member will be entitled to
contribute and to loan an amount equal to its proportionate share (based on the
ratio of their Capital Contributions previously made).
3.3 Loans by Members. Subject to terms of the Credit Agreement, the Members
or their Affiliates may loan money to the Company for Company purposes as
provided in the Operating Agreement, at the Interest rate.
3.4 Distributions. Unless the Members unanimously agree otherwise, the
Company will make distributions to its Members no later than forty five
(45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of (a) amounts
necessary to pay income tax at a rate of 40% of taxable income allocated to
each Member for each fiscal quarter and (b) 100% of Excess Cash Flow (as
defined below), determined on a fiscal quarter basis. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the distributions to Members shall not be in excess of that entitled
to be made pursuant to any currently existing indenture or
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credit facility entered into by the Company,
provided that each Member has agreed in writing to enter into such facility. As
used herein, “Excess Cash Flow” means EBITDA less
(i) management fees, (ii) capital expenditures approved by the
Managers and actually paid, (iii) interest, (iv) tax distributions
actually paid to Members within forty five (45) days after the end of each
fiscal quarter, (v) scheduled principal payments and (vi) required
offers to repurchase notes pursuant to any currently existing credit facility
entered into by the Company.
ARTICLE
4:
MANAGEMENT
4.1 Unanimous Vote. The parties agree to cause the Managers appointed by
them not to cause the Company to effect any of the following matters without
(i) the unanimous consent of each of the other Managers and (ii) the
unanimous consent of the Members:
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(a) |
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The making of
material changes to the Development Plan attached hereto as Exhibit B; |
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(b) |
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The adoption of
any Annual Budget calling for capital expenditures for such budgeted year in
excess of $4,000,000; |
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(c) |
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A call for
Additional Contributions by the Members other than as provided for under
Section 3.1; and |
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(d) |
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Other than the
incurrence of indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the incurrence of
indebtedness outside of the normal operating requirements of the Company in
an outstanding amount which at any time exceeds $1,000,000. |
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4.2 Annual Budgets. Isle Colorado will prepare an Annual Budget within a
reasonable time before the beginning of each Fiscal Year, including the budget
to be submitted under the Management Agreements. An Annual Budget will include
the amount of any Additional Contribution that is determined to be necessary or
desirable (to be made in the proportion of the Capital Contributions previously
made), and the date or dates on which such contribution to capital will be due.
ARTICLE
5:
SALE
OF PROPERTY ON DISSOLUTION
5.1 Sale of Real Property on Dissolution. In connection with any liquidation of the real
property owned by the Company, together with any improvements thereon (the
“Property”), the Members agree to vote and to cause the Managers
appointed by them to vote to apply the following procedures in connection with
such liquidation:
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(a) |
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The Company
will seek to sell the Property, by listing it with a reputable broker or
through such other means as it may deem appropriate to maximize the proceeds
from the sale. The initial price at which the Property is offered for sale
shall be the then current fair market value of the Property, unless otherwise
agreed by all the Members. |
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(b) |
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If any bona
fide offer (the “Offer”) is made for the Property, and all the
Members deem the Offer acceptable, the Company shall sell the Property
pursuant to the Offer. If one Member deems the Offer acceptable (the
“Selling Member”) and another deems it unacceptable (the
“Non-Selling Member”), the following procedure shall apply: the
Non-Selling Member shall have thirty (30) days from the date it receives
written notice of the Offer to exercise a right of first refusal to purchase
the Property on the same terms and conditions as contained in the Offer. The
Non-Selling Member shall exercise such right of first refusal by written
notice to the Selling Member within such thirty (30) day period, which
notice shall be accompanied by evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the
Selling Member, that the Non-Selling Member has a commitment to finance the
purchase of the Property. The purchase of the Property pursuant to the
exercise of the right of first refusal shall occur within sixty
(60) days after exercise of this right of first refusal. If the
Non-Selling Member does not exercise its right of first refusal, or if it is
unable to adequately demonstrate the availability of financing for the
purchase, or if it does not close the purchase within such sixty
(60) day period, the Company shall sell the Property pursuant to the
Offer, or pursuant to any other Offer it may receive, the terms of which are
at least as favorable as those contained in the Offer. |
ARTICLE
6:
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
6.1 Disputes. Except as to any disputes for which injunctive relief
may be available, in the event a dispute of any kind arises in connection with
this Agreement (including any dispute concerning its construction, performance
or breach), the parties to the dispute (who may be any combination of the
Company and any one or more of the Members) will attempt to resolve the dispute
as set forth in Section 6.2 before proceeding to arbitration as provided
in Section 6.3. All documents, discovery and other information related to
any such dispute, and the attempts to resolve or arbitrate such dispute will be
kept confidential to the fullest extent possible. This Article 6 shall not
apply to disputes arising under the Management Agreements.
6.2 Negotiation. If a dispute arises, any party to the dispute will
give notice to each other party. If the Company is not a party to the dispute,
notice will be given to the Company. After notice has been given, the parties
in good faith will attempt to negotiate a resolution of the dispute.
6.3 Arbitration. If, within 30 days after the notice provided in
Section 6.2, a dispute is not resolved through negotiation or mediation, the
dispute will be arbitrated. The parties to the dispute agree to be bound by the
selection of an arbitrator, and to settle the dispute exclusively by binding
arbitration in accordance with the following provisions:
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(a) |
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All parties to
the dispute will collectively select one arbitrator. If they fail to do so
within 45 days after the notice provided in Section 6.2, one or more
parties will request the American Arbitration Association to submit a panel
of five arbitrators who are qualified to resolve the matters in dispute from
which the choice will be made. The party requesting the arbitration will
strike first, followed by alternative striking until one name remains. A
similar procedure will be followed if there are more than two parties. The |
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parties may by
agreement reject one entire list, and request a second list. If selection by
the above method is not completed within 90 days after the notice
provided in Section 6.2, or if there are more than four parties, then an
arbitrator will be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The
arbitrator so selected will then arbitrate the dispute in Denver, Colorado,
and issue an award. |
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(b) |
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To the extent
consistent with the provisions of this Article, the arbitration will be
conducted under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association and in accordance with Colorado law. The arbitrator’s
decision will be made pursuant to the relevant substantive law of the State
of Colorado. The award of the arbitrator will be final, binding and
non-appealable. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court, state or
federal court having jurisdiction. |
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(c) |
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The fees and
expenses of the arbitrator, and the other direct costs of the arbitration,
will be shared by the parties to the dispute in equal proportions. Each party
to the dispute will bear all other costs and expenses as provided in
Section 8.10. If one or more Members are included in the arbitration
because of their membership or former membership in the Company, such group
will collectively be treated as one party to the dispute (through the Company
as a party). |
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ARTICLE
7:
PRIVILEGED
LICENSE PROTECTION
7.1 Regulatory Compliance. Each Member acknowledges that it and its agents and
Affiliates may be subject to licensing and other regulatory review and approval
procedures (“Regulatory Review”) by any federal or state
governmental agency which is authorized or empowered to regulate the gaming
operations of the other Member and its Affiliates (“Regulatory
Authority”) in the jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) in which such
other Member and its Affiliates conduct or propose to conduct gaming
activities. Each Member agrees to cooperate fully and to cause its Affiliates
to cooperate fully with the representatives of all such Regulatory Authorities
in making applications, supplying information, providing reports, attending
licensing and other hearings, and otherwise cooperating with and complying with
the requirements of all such Regulatory Authorities so as not to interfere with
such Member’s or its Affiliate’s ability to develop new business or
to continue to conduct its existing business. Each Member agrees that, in the
event the Board of Directors of the other Member reasonably determines based
upon communications with a Regulatory Authority that such Member or any of its
Affiliates is likely to be determined unsuitable by a Regulatory Authority (the
“Problem Member”) and, as a result, the other Member or its
Affiliates may not be permitted to engage or to continue to engage in a gaming
activity (collectively a “Licensing Problem”), then, within the
lesser of one hundred fifty (150) days of notice of such event from the
other Member to the Problem Member or the applicable period prescribed by the
appropriate Regulatory Authority (provided the other Member timely notifies the
Problem Member of such a determination) the Problem Member shall
(i) eliminate the Licensing Problem to the reasonable satisfaction of the
other Member’s Board or (ii) transfer its rights and obligations
hereunder and its Ownership Interest to a Person reasonably acceptable to the
other Member, who does not have a Licensing Problem, and such Person shall be
accepted as a Member of the Company for all purposes. Any
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such transfer shall be subject to the terms
and conditions contained in Article 13 of the Operating Agreement. In the event
such transfer does not occur (or is not subject to a binding contract for a
bona fide sale to a Third Party to close within thirty (30) days of the
expiration of the one hundred fifty (150) day period described above), or the
Licensing Problem is not eliminated within the prescribed one hundred fifty
(150) day period, the Problem Member shall immediately convey its
Ownership Interest under the agreement to the other Member or an Affiliate
designated by such other Member for the sum equal to the then current fair
market value determined as of the end of the most recent month preceding the
date of transfer. All qualification and other expenses relating to the foregoing
applications shall be borne by the respective parties submitting the
applications.
7.2 No Unsuitabil






