Exhibit 2.5
155 EAST TROPICANA,
LLC
155 EAST TROPICANA FINANCE
CORP.
$130,000,000 8.750% Senior
Secured Notes due 2012
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
March 23, 2005
JEFFERIES & COMPANY,
INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
c/o JEFFERIES & COMPANY,
INC.
11100 Santa Monica Boulevard
10th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90025
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Each of 155 East Tropicana, LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company (the “ Company
”) and 155 East Tropicana Finance Corp., a Nevada corporation
(“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the
Company, jointly and severally, the “ Issuers
”), and, solely with respect to Sections 5(i), 6(c), 6(g),
6(h), 6(n), 6(o), 6(p), 6(q), 6(r) and 6(z) hereof, each of the
Parent Pledgors (as defined below), hereby agrees with you as
follows:
1.
Issuance of
Securities. The Issuers propose to
issue and sell to Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Wells
Fargo Securities, LLC (each an “ Initial Purchaser ” and, together, the
“ Initial
Purchasers ”), and the Initial
Purchasers propose to purchase from the Issuers, $130,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 8.750% Senior
Secured Notes due 2012, Series A (the “
Series A Notes
”).
The Series A Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture
(the “ Indenture
”), to be
dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), among the Issuers
and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the
“ Trustee
”).
The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (as defined
below), each with the Guarantee (as defined below) endorsed
thereon, collectively are referred to herein as the “
Notes .”
Pursuant to the Indenture, any
future subsidiary guarantor which becomes a party to the Indenture
will jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee, on
a senior secured basis to each holder of such Notes and the
Trustee, the payment and performance of the Issuers’
obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and the applicable
Collateral Agreements (as defined below), including the payment of
principal, interest, premium, if any, and Liquidated Damages (as
defined in the Indenture), if any, on the Notes (the “
Guarantees ”).
Pursuant to the Guarantee and Pledge
Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “
E&W Guarantee ”), between Eastern and Western
Hotel Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“ E&W
”) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as
collateral agent, E&W will guarantee to each holder of the
Notes and the Trustee, the payment and performance of the
Issuers’ obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and the
applicable Collateral Agreements to the extent of the cash flow
received by E&W from casino operations and in accordance with
the terms of the E&W Guarantee. Pursuant to that certain
Amended and
Restated Casino Lease, dated as of
March 9, 2005, as amended (the “ Casino Lease
”), between the Company and E&W, E&W shall deposit,
after payment of the base rent and the establishment of certain
reserves pursuant to the Casino Lease, the remaining cash flow from
casino operations in a collateral account (the “ Cash
Account ”) to secure the E&W Guarantee and the Notes,
as described below. The E&W Guarantee terminates upon the
earliest of such time as (i) all obligations under the Notes
shall have been satisfied by payment in full, (ii) none of the
Notes remains outstanding, and (iii) the termination of the
Casino Lease following licensing, however, the security interest in
the Cash Account for the benefit of the Noteholders will continue
until all obligations under the Notes have been satisfied by
payment in full or none of the Notes remains
outstanding.
Pursuant to the terms of the
applicable Collateral Agreements, and subject to requisite Nevada
gaming approvals, all of the respective obligations of the Issuers
and the Guarantors (if any) under the Indenture, the Notes and the
Guarantees will be secured by security interests in, or pledges of
(the “ Security Interests ”), the following (the
“ Collateral ”): (i) the existing and
future assets (other than certain excluded assets) of the Issuers
and any Guarantors, (ii) a pledge of all of the shares of
capital stock of and membership interests in the Issuers owned by
Florida Hooters LLC, a Nevada limited-liability company (“
Florida Hooters ”), and EW Common LLC, a Nevada
limited-liability company (“ EW Common ” and,
together with Florida Hooters, the “ Parent Pledgors
” and such pledges, the “ Parent Pledges
”), (iii) the Renovation Disbursement Account (as
defined below) and the Interest Reserve Account (as defined below),
and (iv) a pledge of the funds in the Cash Account and the
interests of E&W in the Casino Lease and that certain hotel
lease, dated as of July 30, 2004, as amended between the
Company and E&W (such pledges described in this clause (iv),
the “ E&W Pledges ”).
The Series A Notes will be
offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “ Act ”). The
Issuers have prepared a preliminary offering circular, dated
March 12, 2005 (the “ Preliminary Offering
Circular ”), and a final offering circular, dated
March 23, 2005 (the “ Offering Circular ”),
relating to the offer and sale of the Series A Notes (the
“ Offering ”).
Upon original issuance thereof, and
until such time as the same is no longer required under the
Indenture or the applicable requirements of the Act, the
Series A Notes shall bear the following legend:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
“SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN
MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT
SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS
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SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS
TWO YEARS (OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD THAT MAY HEREAFTER BE PROVIDED
UNDER RULE 144(k) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS PERMITTING RESALES OF
RESTRICTED SECURITIES BY NON-AFFILIATES WITHOUT RESTRICTION) AFTER
THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON
WHICH EITHER OF THE ISSUERS OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE
OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) (THE
“RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) ONLY (A) TO
THE ISSUERS, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH
HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR
SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE
144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES
IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE
144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE
IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A,
(D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PURCHASERS THAT
OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT
WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR
(F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE
ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH
OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR
(F) ABOVE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF
THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND
DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND IN EACH CASE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY U.S. STATE OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION.
2.
Agreements to Sell and
Purchase. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, and
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuers shall issue
and sell to the Initial Purchasers (and, in order to induce the
Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A Notes, the
Parent
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Pledgors (solely
with respect to the Parent Pledges), E&W (solely with respect
to the E&W Pledges) and the Issuers shall grant the Security
Interests), and each of the Initial Purchasers, severally and not
jointly, shall purchase from the Issuers, the aggregate principal
amount of Series A Notes set forth opposite the name of such
Initial Purchaser on Schedule A hereto. The purchase
price for the Series A Notes shall be 97.000% of the principal
amount thereof.
3.
Terms of
Offering.
(a)
The Initial
Purchasers have advised the Issuers that the Initial Purchasers
will make offers to sell (the “ Exempt Resales ”) the Series A
Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers hereunder on the terms
set forth in the Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented,
solely to (a) persons whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably
believe to be “qualified institutional buyers,” as
defined in Rule 144A under the Act (“
QIBs ”), (b) non-U.S.
persons in reliance upon Regulation S under the Act (“
Regulation S Purchasers
”), and
(c) a limited number of institutional “accredited
investors,” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2),
(3) or (7) under the Act that make certain
representations and warranties to the Initial Purchasers and the
Issuers (“ Accredited
Investors ” and, collectively
with QIBs and Regulation S Purchasers, “ Eligible Purchasers ), which representations and
warranties are set forth in the form of Accredited Investor Letter
attached as Annex A to the Offering Circular (the
“ Accredited Investor
Letter ”).
Holders of the Series A Notes
(including subsequent transferees) will have the registration
rights set forth in the registration rights agreement (the “
Registration Rights Agreement ”), to be executed on
and dated as of the Closing Date. Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers will agree, among other
things, (a) to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the
circumstances set forth therein (i) a registration statement
under the Act (the “ Exchange Offer Registration
Statement ”) relating to, among other things, the 8.750%
Senior Secured Notes due 2012, Series B, of the Issuers (the
“ Series B Notes ”), identical in all
material respects to the Series A Notes, including with
respect to any Guarantees thereof (except that the Series B
Notes shall have been registered pursuant to such registration
statement), to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes
(such offer to exchange being referred to as the “
Registered Exchange Offer ”), and
(ii) under certain circumstances, a shelf registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (the “
Shelf Registration Statement ” and, together with the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the “ Registration
Statements ”) relating to the resale by certain holders
of the Series A Notes, and (b) to cause such Registration
Statements to be declared effective, as applicable, as provided in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
(b)
On the Closing
Date, the Parent Pledgors (solely with respect to the Parent
Pledges), E&W (solely with respect to the E&W Pledges) and
the Issuers shall enter into certain security and pledge
agreements, deeds of trust and certain other collateral documents
(collectively, the “ Security Documents ,” and, together with
the Cash Collateral and Disbursement
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Agreement (as
defined below), the “ Collateral Agreements ” and the pledge
agreements governing the Parent Pledges, the “
Parent Pledge Agreements
”), that
will provide for the grant of the Security Interests in the
Collateral to the Trustee, as collateral agent for the Trustee and
the holders of the Notes (in such capacity, the “
Secured Party ”). The Security
Interests will secure the payment and performance when due of all
of the respective obligations of the Issuers and any Guarantors
under the Indenture, the Notes and any Guarantees.
(c)
The Issuers will
enter into a $15.0 million senior secured credit
facility (the “ New
Senior Credit Facility ”) and will repay all
outstanding amounts under, and have released all liens securing,
its existing credit facility (the “ Credit Facility Refinancing ”). In connection
with entering into the New Senior Credit Facility, the Trustee, on
behalf of the holders of Notes, and the lender under the New Senior
Credit Facility will enter into an Intercreditor Agreement, to be
dated as of the Closing Date, in a form reasonably satisfactory to
the Initial Purchasers, which form shall be attached as an exhibit
to the Indenture (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”).
(d)
As more
specifically described in the Offering Circular under
“Summary—The Renovation” and
“Business—The Renovation”, the net proceeds from
the issuance and sale of the Series A Notes, will be used by
the Company to refinance existing indebtedness and (together with
cash from operations and furniture, fixture and equipment
financing), to renovate, equip and re-open the Hotel San Remo
Casino and Resort as a Hooters Casino Hotel (the “
Hooters Casino Hotel
”)
(collectively, the “ Renovation ”).
On the Closing
Date, the Issuers, the Trustee and the disbursement agent shall
enter into a cash collateral and disbursement agreement (the
“ Cash Collateral and
Disbursement Agreement ”), that will provide
for the deposit of $50.8 million of the net proceeds from the
Offering into a renovation disbursement account (the “
Renovation Disbursement
Account ”) to be used in
connection with the design, renovation, equipping and opening costs
of the Hooters Casino Hotel and $11.2 million of the net proceeds
from the Offering into an interest reserve account (the
“ Interest Reserve
Account ”) to be used to fund
the first two payments of interest on the Notes. In
connection with the Renovation, the Company also has entered into
the following agreements: (i) the Standard Form of
Agreement Between Owner and Contractor (the “
Renovation Contract
”), dated
as of February 25, 2005 by and between the Company and The
PENTA Building Group, Inc., and (ii) the letter
agreement, dated as of December 6, 2003, as amended, by and
between the Company and C&B Nevada, Inc. (the
“ Architect
Agreement ” and, together with
the Renovation Contract, the “ Renovation Documents ”).
(e)
The Issuers, or
their affiliates, have entered into the following amended and
restated agreements in connection with the Offering:
(i) Amended and Restated Joint Venture Agreement, dated as of
March 9, 2005,
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by and between
EW Common and Florida Hooters; (ii) Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2005, by and between
EW Common and Florida Hooters; (iii) Amended and Restated
Casino Lease, dated as of March 9, 2005, by and between the
Company and E&W; (iv) Amended and Restated Hotel Lease,
dated as of March 9, 2005, by and between the Company and
E&W; (v) Amended and Restated Assignment Agreement, dated
as of March 9, 2005, by and between Florida Hooters and the
Company; (vi) Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as
of March 9, 2005, by and between Hooters Gaming Corporation, a
Nevada corporation (“ Hooters Gaming Corporation ”), and Florida
Hooters; (vii) Amended and Restated Mark License Agreement,
dated as of March 9, 2005, by and between Lags
Ventures, Inc. and Florida Hooters; and
(viii) Affirmation and Acknowledgement, dated as of
March 9, 2005, given by Hooters Gaming Corporation (the
agreements referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above,
collectively, are referred to as the “ Lease-Related Agreement Amendments
”; the
agreements referred to in clauses (v) through
(viii) above, collectively, are referred to as the
“ License
Amendments ”; the Lease-Related
Agreement Amendments and the License Amendments, together, the
“ Lease and License
Amendments ”).
(f)
The following
documents are referred to herein as the “ Operative Documents ”: (i) this Agreement,
(ii) the Indenture, (iii) the Registration Rights
Agreement, (iv) the Notes (including the Guarantees (if any)),
(v) the Collateral Agreements, and (vi) the Renovation
Documents.
The New Senior Credit Facility, the
Intercreditor Agreement and the Lease and License Amendments,
together with the Operative Documents, collectively are referred to
herein as the “ Transaction Documents .”
The transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
including, without limitation, the Offering and the application of
the proceeds therefrom as described in the Offering Circular, the
issuance and sale of the Notes in accordance with this Agreement,
the creation, grant, recording and perfection of the Security
Interests, the Renovation and the Credit Facility Refinancing, and
the entering into of the Lease and License Amendments, collectively
are referred to herein as the “ Transactions
.”
4.
Delivery and Payment.
Delivery
to the Initial Purchasers of and payment for the Series A
Notes shall be made at a Closing (the “ Closing ”) to be held at
9:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 29, 2005, (such
time and date, the “ Closing Date ”) at the offices of
Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw, 3800 Howard Hughes
Parkway, Seventh Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. The Closing
Date and the location of delivery of and the form of payment for
the Series A Notes may be varied by agreement between the
Initial Purchasers and the Issuers.
The Issuers shall deliver to the
Initial Purchasers one or more certificates representing the
Series A Notes (the “ Global Notes ”), each
in definitive form, registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC
”), or such other names as the Initial Purchasers may request
upon at least one Business Day’s notice to the
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Issuers, in an amount corresponding
to the aggregate principal amount of the Series A Notes sold
pursuant to Exempt Resales to QIBs, to Regulation S Purchasers and
to Accredited Investors, respectively, in each case against payment
by the Initial Purchasers of the purchase price therefore by
immediately available Federal funds bank wire transfer to such bank
account as the Issuers shall designate to the Initial Purchasers at
least two Business Days prior to the Closing. “
Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New
York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or
executive order to remain closed.
The Global Notes in definitive form
shall be made available to the Initial Purchasers for inspection at
the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,
Four Times Square, New York, New York 10036 (or such other place as
shall be acceptable to the Initial Purchasers) not later than the
close of business, New York City time, one Business Day immediately
preceding the Closing Date.
5.
Agreements of the
Issuers. Each of the Issuers,
jointly and severally, hereby agrees, and each of the Parent
Pledgors, solely with respect to Section 5(i) below to
the extent applicable to each of the Parent Pledgors, hereby
agrees:
(a)
Certain
Events . To (i) advise
the Initial Purchasers promptly after obtaining knowledge (and, if
requested by the Initial Purchasers, confirm such advice in
writing) of (A) the issuance by any state securities
commission of any stop order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of any of the Series A Notes for
offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any
proceeding for such purpose by any state securities commission or
other regulatory authority, and (B) the happening of any event
that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Offering
Circular untrue or that requires the making of any additions to or
changes in the Offering Circular in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading, (ii) use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of any of the Notes under any state
securities or Blue Sky laws, and (iii) if at any time any
state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall
issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of any of the Series A Notes under any such
laws, use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of
such order at the earliest possible time.
(b)
Offering
Circular . To (i) furnish
the Initial Purchasers and those persons identified by the Initial
Purchasers to the Issuers, without charge, as many copies of the
Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering Circular, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, as the Initial Purchasers may
reasonably request, and (ii) promptly prepare, upon the
Initial Purchasers’ request, any amendment or supplement to
the Offering Circular that the Initial Purchasers deem may be
necessary in connection with Exempt Resales (and the Issuers hereby
consent to the use of the Preliminary Offering Circular and
the
7
Offering
Circular, and any amendments and supplements thereto, by the
Initial Purchasers in connection with Exempt Resales)
.
(c)
Notice of
Amendment or Supplement . Except as set forth
in Section 5(d) , not to amend or supplement the
Offering Circular prior to the Closing Date, or at any time prior
to the completion of the resale by the Initial Purchasers of all of
the Series A Notes, unless the Initial Purchasers shall
previously have been advised thereof and shall not have objected
thereto within three Business Days after being furnished a copy
thereof.
(d)
Preparation of
Amendments and Supplements . At any time prior to
the completion of the resale by the Initial Purchasers of all of
the Series A Notes, (i) if any event shall occur as a
result of which, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuers or the
Initial Purchasers or their respective counsel, it becomes
necessary or advisable to amend or supplement the Offering Circular
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made and when such Offering
Circular is delivered to an Eligible Purchaser, not misleading, or
if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular to
comply with Applicable Law (as defined below), forthwith to prepare
an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Offering Circular (in
form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers) so that
as so amended or supplemented, (A) the Offering Circular will
not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made and when
such Offering Circular is so delivered, not misleading, and
(B) the Offering Circular will comply with Applicable Law, and
(ii) if it becomes necessary or advisable to amend or
supplement the Offering Circular so that the Offering Circular will
contain all of the information specified in, and meet the
requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act, forthwith
to prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Offering
Circular (in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
Purchasers) so that the Offering Circular, as so amended or
supplemented, will contain the information specified in, and meet
the requirements of, such Rule.
(e)
Qualification
of Securities . To cooperate with the
Initial Purchasers and the Initial Purchasers’ counsel in
connection with the qualification of the Notes under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers
may request and continue such qualification in effect so long as
reasonably required for Exempt Resales, and to file such consents
to service of process or other documents as may be necessary in
order to effect such qualification; provided , that neither
of the Issuers shall be required in connection therewith to file
any general consent to service of process or to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or to subject itself to general taxation in respect of
doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so
subject.
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(f)
Costs and
Expense s. Whether or not any
of the Transactions are consummated or this Agreement is
terminated, to pay (i) all costs, expenses, fees and taxes
incident to and in connection with the performance of the
obligations of the Issuers under this Agreement, including:
(A) the preparation, printing and distribution of the
Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering Circular and all
amendments and supplements thereto (including, without limitation,
financial statements and exhibits), and all preliminary and final
Blue Sky memoranda and all other agreements, memoranda,
correspondence and other documents prepared and delivered in
connection herewith (including the furnishing of copies of the
foregoing to the Initial Purchasers and such other persons as the
Initial Purchasers may designate), (B) the printing,
processing and distribution (including, without limitation, word
processing and duplication costs) and delivery of each of the
Transaction Documents and any other agreements or documents in
connection with the Transactions, (C) the preparation,
issuance and delivery of the Notes, including the fees and expenses
of the Trustee and the Secured Party (including fees and expenses
of its counsel) and the cost of its personnel, and all costs and
expenses related to the delivery of the Notes to the Initial
Purchasers and pursuant to Exempt Resales, including any transfer
or other taxes payable thereon, and (D) the qualification of
the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of the several states (including, without limitation, filing fees
and fees and disbursements of the Initial Purchasers’ counsel
(as set forth in the letter agreement, dated January 28, 2005,
by and between Jefferies & Company, Inc. and the
Company) relating to such registration or qualification and the
preparation of memoranda related thereto); (ii) all fees and
expenses of the counsel and accountants of the Issuers;
(iii) all expenses and listing fees in connection with the
application for quotation of the Series A Notes in The PORTAL
Market (“ PORTAL
”) of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
“ NASD
”);
(iv) all fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of
counsel) of the Issuers in connection with approval of the Notes by
DTC for “book-entry” transfer; (v) all fees
charged by rating agencies in connection with the rating of the
Notes; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent,
registrar and/or depositary (including DTC); (vii) all costs
and expenses of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, as set
forth in the Registration Rights Agreement; (viii) all costs
and expenses in connection with the creation and perfection of the
Security Interests (including, without limitation, filing and
recording fees, search fees, taxes and costs of surveys and title
policies); (ix) all costs and expenses of the Transactions
(including, without limitation, filing and recording fees); and (x)
all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel) incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
preparation, negotiation and execution of the Transaction Documents
and the consummation of the Transactions.
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(g)
Use of
Proceeds . To use the proceeds
from the sale of the Series A Notes in the manner described in
the Offering Circular under the caption “Use of
Proceeds.”
(h)
Waiver of
Certain Laws . To the extent it may
lawfully do so, not to insist upon, plead, or in any manner
whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay,
extension usury or other law, wherever enacted, now or at any time
hereafter in force, that would prohibit or forgive the payment of
all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes, or
that may affect the covenants or the performance of the Indenture
or any of the Collateral Agreements (and, to the extent it may
lawfully do so, each of the Issuers hereby expressly waives all
benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall
not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power granted to the Trustee in the Indenture or
to the Secured Party in the Collateral Agreements but shall suffer
and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law
had been enacted).
(i)
Security
Interests . To do and perform all
things required to be done and performed under the Collateral
Agreements prior to, on and after the Closing Date, including,
without limitation, all things necessary or advisable to obtain on
or prior to the Closing Date, except (x) for Gaming Permits that
may be required for the Parent Pledges if and at such time as the
Issuers or any Guarantors are licensed by the Applicable Gaming
Authorities (as defined below), (y) approval of the Exchange Offer,
if required, by the Applicable Gaming Authorities and (z) as
otherwise described in the Offering Circular, (i) all Permits
(as defined below) (other than any gaming or liquor approvals
required to be obtained by a purchaser in a foreclosure sale)
necessary for the granting, perfection and enforcement of the
Security Interests and for the foreclosure by the Secured Party
thereon following an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture), (ii) all termination statements, deed of
trust releases and other documents
necessary to terminate any Liens (as defined in the Indenture) on
the Collateral (other than Liens created by the Indenture, Liens
created by the Collateral Agreements and Permitted Liens (as
defined in the Indenture)), and (iii) subject to the terms of
the Intercreditor Agreement, a valid and perfected, first priority
Security Interest with respect to each of the assets, shares of
capital stock and membership interests which are to constitute, as
of the Closing Date, the Collateral.
(j)
Integration
. Not to,
and to ensure that no affiliate (as defined in
Rule 501(b) under the Act) of the Issuers will, sell,
offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in
respect of any “security” (as defined in the Act) that
would be integrated with the sale of the Series A Notes in a
manner that would require the registration under the Act of the
sale to the Initial Purchasers or of the offers or sales of
Series A Notes pursuant to Exempt Resales.
10
(k)
Rule 144A
Information . For so long as any of
the Series A Notes remains outstanding, during any period in
which either of the Issuers is not subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“ Exchange Act
”), to
make available, upon request, to any holder of the Notes in
connection with any sale thereof and any prospective Eligible
Purchaser of such Notes from such holder, the information required
by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.
(l)
DTC
. To obtain
the approval of DTC for “book entry” transfer of the
Notes, and to comply with the representation letter of the Issuers
to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by DTC for “book
entry” transfer.
(m)
PORTAL
. To effect
the inclusion of the Series A Notes for trading in PORTAL and
to use its best efforts to maintain the inclusion of the
Series A Notes for trading in PORTAL for so long as the
Series A Notes are outstanding.
(n)
Reporting
Requirements . For so long as any of
the Notes remains outstanding, to furnish to the Initial Purchasers
copies of all reports and other communications (financial or
otherwise) furnished to the Trustee or to the holders of the Notes
and, as soon as available, copies of any reports or financial
statements furnished to or filed by the Issuers with the Commission
or any national securities exchange on which any class of
securities of the Issuers may be listed.
(o)
No Selling
Efforts or General Solicitation . Except in connection
with the Registered Exchange Offer or the filing of the Shelf
Registration Statement, not to, and not to authorize or permit any
person acting on its behalf to, (i) distribute any offering
material in connection with the offer and sale of the Series A
Notes other than the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering
Circular and any amendments and supplements to the Offering
Circular prepared in compliance with Section 5(d) , or
(ii) solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the
Series A Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or
general advertising (including, without limitation, as such terms
are used in Regulation D under the Act) or in any manner involving
a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of
the Act.
(p)
No Similar
Offerings . Not to, directly or
indirectly, without the prior consent of the Initial Purchasers,
offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase or
otherwise dispose of (or announce any offer or sale of, contract to
sell, grant of any option to purchase or other disposition of) any
debt securities of any of the Issuers or any Guarantors
substantially similar to the Notes or the Guarantees for a period
of six months after the date of the Offering Circular, except as
contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement; provided
, that the foregoing will not apply to (i) the Notes or
the
11
Guarantees or
(ii) borrowings (not constituting the issuance of securities)
from financial institutions to the extent not prohibited by the
Indenture.
(q)
ERISA . At any time prior to
the completion of the resale by the Initial Purchasers of the
Series A Notes, to notify the Initial Purchasers promptly in
writing if any of the Issuers or any Guarantors or any of their
Affiliates becomes a party in interest or a disqualified person
with respect to any employee benefit plan, other than any plan set
forth in Schedule 5(q) hereto, and to identify such
plans. The terms “ERISA,”
“Affiliates,” “party in interest,”
“disqualified person” and “employee benefit
plan” shall have the meanings as set forth in
Section 6 (jj) hereof.
(r)
Performance of
Agreements . To do and perform all
things required or necessary to be done and performed by it under
the Transaction Documents prior to the Closing Date and
to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the
Series A Notes and the granting, perfection and enforcement of
the Security Interests.
(s)
Renovation
Authorizations. To take all reasonable
actions, including, without limitation, diligently seeking the
issuance of any Permit, which is necessary for the Issuers to
design, renovate, own and operate the Hooters Casino Hotel and to
complete the Renovation.
6.
Representations and Warranties of
the Issuers and the Parent Pledgors. Each of the Issuers,
jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Initial
Purchasers, and the Parent Pledgors represent and warrant with
respect to themselves (but not the Issuers) to the Initial
Purchasers solely with respect to applicable provisions of
Sections 6(c), 6(g), 6(h), 6(n), 6(o), 6(p), 6(q), 6(r) and 6(z)
below, that:
(a)
Offering
Circular . The Preliminary
Offering Circular as of its date did not, and the Offering
Circular, as of its date does not and as of the Closing Date will
not, and each supplement or amendment thereto (if any) as of its
date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact (except, in the case of the
Preliminary Offering Circular, for pricing terms and other
financial terms intentionally left blank) necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing
representation and warranty made in this Section 6(a)
shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in
reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the
Initial Purchasers furnished in writing to the Issuers by the
Initial Purchasers specifically for inclusion in the Preliminary
Offering Circular or the Offering Circular. The parties
hereto acknowledge that for purposes of this Agreement (including
this Section 6(a) and Section 8 ) the
only information furnished in writing to the Issuers by the Initial
Purchasers specifically for inclusion in the Preliminary Offering
Circular or the Offering Circular is the
12
information set
forth (i) on the cover page of the Offering Circular with
respect to the price of the Notes, (ii) in the third paragraph
on page 145 of the Offering Circular concerning offering the
Notes for resale by the Initial Purchasers, (iii) in the sixth
paragraph on page 145 of the Offering Circular concerning
market-making by the Initial Purchasers, (iv) in the last
paragraph on page 145 of the Offering Circular concerning
stabilization by the Initial Purchasers and (v) in the first
paragraph on page 146 of the Offering Circular concerning the
affiliation of the Initial Purchasers and their respective
affiliates with the Issuers and their affiliates (such information
described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through
(v) of this Section 6(a) , the “
Furnished Information
”).
Each of the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering
Circular, as of their respective dates contained, and the Offering
Circular, as of the Closing Date and as amended or supplemented,
will contain, all of the information specified in, and meet the
requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Act.
(b)
144A
Eligibility . There are no
securities of the Issuers that are of the same class (within the
meaning of Rule 144A) as the Notes and that are registered
under the Exchange Act or listed on a national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a
United States automated inter-dealer quotation system. The
Series A Notes are eligible for resale pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Act.
(c)
Due
Organization; Good Standing . Each of the Issuers
(i) has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization,
(ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct and
carry on its business and to own, lease, use and operate its
properties and assets as described in the Offering Circular, and
(iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in
good standing as a foreign limited liability company or
corporation, as the case may be, authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership,
leasing, use or operation of its properties and assets requires
such qualification or licensing. Each of the Parent Pledgors
has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization.
(d)
Subsidiaries
.
Immediately following the Closing, (i) Finance Corp. will have
no subsidiaries, (ii) the only subsidiary of the Company will
be Finance Corp., and (iii) Florida Hooters will directly own
66.66%, and EW Common will directly own 33.33%, of the outstanding
membership interests in the Company free and clear of all Liens,
except for Liens created by the Indenture and the Collateral
Agreements and Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture).
Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no
outstanding (i) securities convertible into or exchangeable
for any capital stock of or any membership interests in, as the
case may be, either of the Issuers, (ii) options, warrants or
other rights to purchase or subscribe for any capital stock of or
any membership interests in, or any
13
securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of or any
membership interests in, as the case may be, either of the Issuers
or (iii) contracts, commitments, agreements, understandings,
arrangements, undertakings, rights, calls or claims of any kind
relating to the issuance of any capital stock of or any membership
interests in, as the case may be, either of the Issuers, any such
convertible or exchangeable securities or any such options,
warrants or rights. Except as set forth above, immediately
following the Closing, neither of the Issuers will directly or
indirectly own any capital stock of or other equity interest in any
person.
(e)
Capitalization
. All of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of or membership interests
in, as the case may be, each of the Issuers have been duly
authorized, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
were not issued in violation of, and are not subject to, any
preemptive or similar rights. The table under the caption
“Capitalization” in the Offering Circular (including
the footnotes thereto) sets forth, as of its date, the pro forma
capitalization of the Issuers, on a consolidated basis, after
giving effect to the Transactions. Immediately following the
Closing, except as set forth in such table, neither of the Issuers
will have any liabilities, absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise other than: (i) liabilities that are reflected
in the Issuer Financial Statements (as defined below),
(ii) loans made under the New Senior Credit Facility or
(iii) liabilities incurred subsequent to December 31,
2004, in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practice, that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on (A) the properties, business,
prospects, operations, earnings, assets, liabilities or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Issuers, on an aggregate basis,
(B) the ability of either of the Issuers to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents, (C) the
enforceability of any of the Collateral Agreements or the
attachment, perfection or priority of any of the Security Interests
intended to be created thereby in any portion of the Collateral or
(D) the validity of any of the Transaction Documents or the
consummation of any of the Transactions (each, a “
Material Adverse Effect
”).
(f)
No Other
Registration Rights . Except for this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no
contracts, commitments, agreements, arrangements, understandings or
undertakings of any kind to which either of the Issuers is a party,
or by which either of them is bound, granting to any person the
right (i) to require the Issuers to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the
Issuers or requiring the Issuers to include such securities with
the Notes registered pursuant to either registration statement, or
(ii) to purchase or offer to purchase any securities of either
of the Issuers.
(g)
Power and
Authority . Each of the Issuers
and each of the Parent Pledgors has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver,
14
and to perform
its obligations under, the Transaction Documents to which it is a
party and to consummate the Transactions contemplated
thereby.
(h)
Authorization
of this Agreement . This Agreement and the
Transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation,
the Offering and the issuance and sale of the Notes in accordance
with this Agreement) have been duly authorized by each of the
Issuers and each of the Parent Pledgors, and this Agreement has
been validly executed and delivered by, and is the legal, valid and
binding obligation of, each of the Issuers and each of the Parent
Pledgors, enforceable against each of the Issuers and each of the
Parent Pledgors in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and (ii) any rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be subject to general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(i)
Authorization
of Indenture . The Indenture and the
Transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by each
of the Issuers and, on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have
been validly executed and delivered by, and will be the legal,
valid and binding obligation of, each of the Issuers, enforceable
against each of the Issuers in accordance with its terms, except
that such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and (ii) any rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be subject to general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law). On the Closing Date, the Indenture will conform
to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the “ TIA
”),
applicable to an indenture that is required to be qualified under
the TIA.
(j)
Authorization
of Registration Rights Agreement . The Registration
Rights Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby have
been duly authorized by each of the Issuers and, on the Closing
Date, the Registration Rights Agreement will have been validly
executed and delivered by, and will be the legal, valid and binding
obligation of, each of the Issuers, enforceable against each of the
Issuers in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws and (ii) any rights of acceleration
and the availability of equitable remedies may be subject to
general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
(k)
Authorization
of Series A Notes . The Series A
Notes have been duly authorized by each of the Issuers for issuance
and sale to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and,
on the Closing Date, will have been validly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered by the Issuers in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture. When the
Series A Notes have been issued, executed and authenticated in
accordance
15
with the terms
of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial
Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
Series A Notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of
each of the Issuers, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
enforceable against each of the Issuers in accordance with their
terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited
by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) any
rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies
may be subject to general principles of equity (whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law). Upon and following
delivery to the Initial Purchasers, the Notes rank and will rank on
a parity with all senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture)
of each of the Issuers that is outstanding on the date hereof or
that may be incurred hereafter and senior to all other Indebtedness
of the each of the Issuers that is outstanding on the date hereof
or that may be incurred hereafter; provided , that pursuant
to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Lien on the Collateral securing
up to $15.0 million principal amount of borrowings (plus related
interest, fees, indemnities, costs and expenses) under the New
Senior Credit Facility will be senior to the Lien on the Collateral
securing the Notes.
(l)
Authorization
of Series B Notes . The Series B
Notes have been duly authorized by each of the Issuers and, when
issued in the Registered Exchange Offer, (A) will have been
validly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Registered Exchange Offer and (B) will be legal, valid
and binding obligations of each of the Issuers, entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against each of the
Issuers in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that
such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and (ii) any rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be subject to general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(m)
Authorization
of Collateral Agreements . Each of the
Collateral Agreements and the Transactions contemplated thereby
(including, without limitation, the creation, grant, recording and
perfection of the Security Interests, the execution and filing of
financing statements and the payment of any fees and taxes in
connection therewith) have been duly authorized by each of Issuers
party thereto and, on the Closing Date, each of the Collateral
Agreements will have been validly executed and delivered by, and
will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of, each of the
Issuers party thereto, enforceable against each of the Issuers
party thereto in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and (ii) any rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be subject to general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
16
(n)
Authorization
of Other Transaction Documents . Each of the other
Transaction Documents and the Transactions contemplated thereby
have been duly authorized by each of the Issuers and the Parent
Pledgors party thereto, and when executed and delivered by each of
the Issuers and the Parent Pledgors party thereto, each of the
Transaction Documents will have been validly executed and delivered
by, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
other parties thereto, will be the legal, valid and binding
obligation of, each of the Issuers and the Parent Pledgors party
thereto, enforceable against each of the Issuers and the Parent
Pledgors party thereto in accordance with its terms, except that
such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and (ii) any rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be subject to general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law). Each of the Parent Pledge Agreements and the
Transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by each
of the Parent Pledgors party thereto, and when executed and
delivered by each of the Parent Pledgors party thereto, each of the
Parent Pledge Agreements will have been validly executed and
delivered by, and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by the other parties thereto, will be the legal, valid and
binding obligation of, each of the Parent Pledgors party thereto,
enforceable against each of the Parent Pledgors party thereto in
accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability may be
limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) any
rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies
may be subject to general principles of equity (whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(o)
No
Violation . Neither of the
Issuers, and neither of the Parent Pledgors, is in violation of its
certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of formation or
operating agreement, as applicable (collectively, the
“ Charter
Documents ”). Neither of
the Issuers, and neither of the Parent Pledgors, is (i) in
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law or
ordinance, or any judgment, decree, rule, regulation or order,
(including, without limitation, the Nevada Gaming Control Act, in
each case including the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (collectively, “ Applicable Law ”), of any government,
governmental or regulatory agency or body (including, without
limitation, the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Nevada State Gaming
Control Board or other applicable gaming authority (each, a
“ Gaming
Authority ”)), court, arbitrator
or self-regulatory organization, domestic or foreign (each, a
“ Governmental
Authority ”), or (ii) in
breach of or default under any bond, debenture, note or other
evidence of indebtedness, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
lease, joint venture agreement, license agreement or any other
agreement or instrument to which any such person is a party or by
which any of them or any of their respective property is bound
(collectively, “ Applicable Agreements ”), other than, in the
case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and
(ii), violations, breaches or defaults that
17
would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
There exists no condition that, with the passage of time or
otherwise, would reasonably be expected to (x) constitute a
violation of (A) the Charter Documents or (B) Applicable
Laws or (y) constitute a breach of or default under any Applicable
Agreement or (z) result in the imposition of any penalty or the
acceleration of any indebtedness, other than, in the case of the
immediately preceding clauses (x)(B), (y) and (z), such violations,
breaches, penalties or defaults that would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Casino
Lease and the Hotel Lease (and, as of the Closing Date, each of the
Lease and License Amendments) is in full force and effect and no
default is continuing thereunder. All other Applicable
Agreements are in full force and effect with respect to the Issuers
and are legal, valid and binding obligations thereof, and no
default has occurred or is continuing thereunder, other than such
defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(p)
No
Conflict . None of the
execution, delivery or performance of any of the Transaction
Documents, nor the compliance with the terms and provisions
thereof, nor the consummation of any of the Transactions shall
conflict with, violate, constitute a breach of or a default (with
the passage of time or otherwise) under, result in the imposition
of a Lien on any assets of or capital stock of or membership
interests in the Issuers (except for Liens created by the Indenture
and the Collateral Agreements and Permitted Liens), or result in an
acceleration of indebtedness under or pursuant to, (i) the
Charter Documents, (ii) any Applicable Agreement or
(iii) any Applicable Law, other than, in the case of the
immediately preceding clauses (ii) and (iii), such conflicts,
violations, breaches, defaults, Liens or acceleration that would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. After giving effect to the Transactions, no Default
or Event of Default (each, as defined in the Indenture) will
exist.
(q)
Permits
. No
permit, certificate, authorization, approval, consent, license or
order of, or filing, registration, declaration or qualification
with, any Governmental Authority or any other person (collectively,
“ Permits
”) is
required by the Issuers to own, lease, use and operate the
properties and assets and to conduct and carry on the businesses as
described in the Offering Circular, or by the Parent Pledgors or
the Issuers, except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, in
connection with, or as a condition to, the execution, delivery or
performance of any of the Transaction Documents, the compliance
with the terms and provisions thereof or the consummation of any of
the Transactions, other than (i) such Permits as have been
made or obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, which Permits are
in full force and effect on the Closing Date, (ii) such
Permits as have been applied for on or prior to the Closing Date,
and any other Permits necessary for the Renovation, in each case
that are not required to be in full force and effect to consummate
the Transactions (other than the Renovation), (iii) as may be
required for Exempt
18
Resales under
the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in
which the Series A Notes are being offered by the Initial
Purchasers, (iv) the order of the Commission declaring the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, effective, (v) Gaming Permits
that may be required for the Parent Pledges if and at such time as
the Issuers or any Guarantors are licensed by the Applicable Gaming
Authorities (as defined below), (vi) approval of the Exchange
Offer, if required, by the Applicable Gaming Authorities and
(vii) such Permits, the failure of which to make or obtain
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(r)
No
Proceedings . There is no action,
claim, suit, demand, hearing, notice of violation or deficiency, or
proceeding (including, without limitation, any investigation or
partial proceeding, such as a deposition), domestic or foreign
(collectively, “ Proceedings ”), pending or, to the
knowledge of the Issuers or the Parent Pledgors, threatened, either
(i) in connection with, or that seeks to restrain, enjoin or
prevent the consummation of, or that otherwise objects to, any of
the Transaction Documents or any of the Transactions, or
(ii) that could, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither of the Issuers or the Parent Pledgors
is subject to any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation
of any Governmental Authority that could, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No injunction or
order has been issued and no Proceeding is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Issuers or the Parent Pledgors, threatened that
(i) asserts that the offer, sale and delivery of the
Series A Notes to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this
Agreement or the initial resale of the Series A Notes by the
Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement is
subject to the registration requirements of the Act, or
(ii) would prevent or suspend the issuance or sale of the
Notes, including the Exempt Resales, or the use of the Preliminary
Offering Circular, the Offering Circular, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, in any jurisdiction.
(s)
Regulated
Persons . Each of the
Issuers’ respective directors, members, managers, officers,
key personnel and persons holding a five percent or greater equity
or economic interest in either of the Issuers (each of such
persons, a “ Regulated
Person ” and, collectively,
the “ Regulated
Persons ”) has, or has applied
for, and is in compliance with the terms and conditions of, all
Permits (including, without limitation, Permits with respect to
engaging in gaming operations) necessary or advisable to own,
lease, use and operate the properties and assets and to conduct and
carry on the businesses described in the Offering Circular, other
than such Permits the failure of which to have would not, singly or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (a “
Material Permit ”). All Material
Permits are valid and in full force and effect. Each of the
Regulated Persons is in compliance with the terms and conditions of
all Permits (including, without limitation, Permits with respect to
engaging in gaming operations) necessary or advisable to own,
lease, use and operate the
19
properties and
assets and to conduct and carry on the businesses described in the
Offering Circular, other than where such failure to be in
compliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. None of the execution, delivery or
performance of any of the Transaction Documents, nor the compliance
with the terms and provisions thereof, nor the consummation of any
of the Transactions, will allow or result in, and no event has
occurred which allows or results in, or after notice or lapse of
time would allow or result in, the imposition of any material
penalty under, or the revocation or termination of, any Material
Permit or any material impairment of the rights of the holder of
any Material Permit. Neither of the Issuers has received any
notice from any issuer, and neither of the Issuers has any reason
to believe that any issuer is considering limiting, conditioning,
suspending, modifying, revoking or not renewing any Material
Permit.
(t)
No
Investigations of Regulated Persons. To the knowledge of
the Issuers, (i) no Governmental Authority is investigating
any Regulated Person, and (ii) there is no basis for any
Governmental Authority to deny the renewal of the current Permits
held by any of the Regulated Persons.
(u)
Title to
Assets . Immediately following
the Closing, each of the Issuers (i) will have good and
marketable title, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens
created by the Indenture, Liens created by the Collateral
Agreements and Permitted Liens), to all property and assets
described in the Offering Circular as being or to be owned by it,
(ii) will enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all
leases to which it is a party as lessee and (iii) will hold a
valid leasehold interest with respect to each such lease.
Finance Corp. has no assets, other than assets received in payment
for its capital stock.
(v)
Sufficiency
and Condition of Assets . The assets of each of
the Issuers include all of the assets and properties necessary or
required in, or otherwise material to, the conduct of the
businesses of each of them, and such assets are in working
condition, except where the failure of such assets to be in working
condition would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, each of the
properties of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all
buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located thereon,
thereunder, thereover or therein, and all appurtenances thereto and
other aspects thereof) is suitable, sufficient, adequate and
appropriate in all respects (including physical, structural,
operational, legal, practical and otherwise) for its current and
proposed use, operation and occupancy, except, in each such case,
for such failures to meet such standards as would not, singly or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w)
Insurance
. Each of
the Issuers maintains reasonably adequate insurance covering its
properties, operations, personnel and businesses against losses and
risks in accordance with customary industry practice. All
such insurance is outstanding and duly in force.
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(x)
Real
Property . No condemnation,
eminent domain, or similar proceeding exists, is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Issuers, is threatened, with respect to or that
could affect any real properties owned by the Issuers, except for
such proceedings as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. No real property owned by the
Issuers is subject to any sales contract, option, right of first
refusal or similar agreement or arrangement with any third
party. There is no real property currently under contract or
subject to an option in favor of any of the Issuers, except for
real property which the failure of the Issuers to acquire, would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(y)
Related Party
Transactions . Except as disclosed
in the Offering Circular, there are no related party transactions
that would be required to be disclosed in the Offering Circular if
the Offering Circular were a prospectus included in a registration
statement on Form S-1 filed under the Act.
(z)
Security
Interests . Upon execution and
delivery of the Collateral Agreements and the issuance of the
Notes, the Parent Pledge Agreements (upon receipt of the requisite
Nevada gaming approvals) and the other Collateral Agreements will
create, in favor of the Secured Party, for the benefit of the
holders of the Notes, a legal, valid and enforceable security
interest in (subject to Permitted Liens), all of the right, title
and interest of the Issuers in the Collateral and the proceeds
thereof. Upon the filing of the financing statements with the
Secretary of State (or equivalent government official) of the State
in which such Issuer is organized which sufficiently indicates all
Collateral, and, in addition, in the case of the Parent Pledge
Agreements, upon receipt of the requisite Nevada gaming approvals,
the Security Interests will be valid and perfected, subject only to
the Intercreditor Agreement, and will constitute first priority
security interests (subject to Permitted Liens) in such
Collateral. As of the Closing Date, the Collateral will be
subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.
(aa)
Taxes . All material tax
returns required to be filed by either of the Issuers in any
jurisdiction (including foreign jurisdictions) have been filed and,
when filed, all such returns were accurate in all material
respects, and all taxes, assessments, fees and other charges
(including, without limitation, withholding taxes, penalties and
interest) due or claimed to be due from either of the Issuers have
been paid, other than those being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, or those that are currently payable
without penalty or interest and, in each case, for which an
adequate reserve or accrual has been established on the books and
records of the Issuers, as applicable, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles of the United States, consistently
applied (“ GAAP
”).
Commencing with their respective inceptions (i) the Company
has been and continues to be, classified as a
“partnership” and not as a “publicly traded
partnership,” and not as an “association”
classified as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes,
and
21
(ii) Finance Corp. has
been, and continues to be, classified as a “C
corporation,” for federal income tax purposes. There
are no actual or proposed additional tax assessments for any tax
period against either of the Issuers that could, singly or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books and
records of the Issuers, as applicable, in respect of any tax
liability for any tax periods not finally determined are adequate
to meet any assessments of tax or re-assessments of additional tax
for any such period.
(bb)
Intellectual
Property . The Issuers own,
possess or are licensed under, and have the right to use, all
patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
(including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
trademarks, service marks and trade names (collectively,
“ Intellectual
Property ”) currently used in,
and material to the conduct of, their businesses, free and clear of
all Liens, other than Permitted Liens. To the knowledge of
the Issuers, no claims have been asserted by any person challenging
the use of any such Intellectual Property by either of the Issuers
or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any license or
agreement related thereto, and there is no valid basis for any such
claim, and the use of such Intellectual Property by the Issuers
will not infringe on the Intellectual Property rights of any other
person.
(cc)
Accounting
Controls . The Issuers maintain
a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (i) material transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization, (ii) material transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP, and to maintain asset accountability,
(iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization, and
(iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any material differences.
(dd)
Financial
Statements . The audited
historical financial statements and related notes of the Company
and the audited historical combined financial statements of Hotel
San Remo Casino and Resort (a division of S.I.
Enterprises, Inc.) contained in the Offering Circular (the
“ Issuer Financial
Statements ”) present fairly the
financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the
Company and the combined financial position, results of operations
and cash flows of Hotel San Remo Casino and Resort (a division of
S.I. Enterprises, Inc.), respectively, as of the respective
dates and for the respective periods to which they apply, and have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods involved and the requirements of Regulation
S-X that would be applicable if the Offering Circular were a
prospectus included in a registration statement on
22
Form S-1
filed under the Act (the “ S-X Requirements ”). The summary
and selected historical financial data included in the Offering
Circular for the Company and the Hotel San Remo Casino and Resort
(a division of S.I. Enterprises, Inc.) have been prepared on a
basis consistent with that of the Issuer Financial Statements and
present fairly the financial position and results of operations of
the Company and the combined financial position and results of
operations of Hotel San Remo Casino and Resort (a division of S.I.
Enterprises, Inc.), respectively, combined, as of the
respective dates and for the respective periods
indicated.
All other financial, statistical and
market and industry related data included in the Offering Circular
are fairly and accurately presented and are based on or derived
from sources the Issuers believe to be reliable and accurate.
Ernst & Young LLP are independent public accountants with
respect to the Issuers and Hotel San Remo Casino and Resort (a
division of S.I. Enterprises, Inc.).
(ee)
No Material
Adverse Chang e. Subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering
Circular, except as disclosed in the Offering Circular,
(i) neither of the Issuers has incurred any liabilities,
direct or contingent, that are material, singly or in the
aggregate, to any of them, or has entered into any material
transactions not in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital
stock or membership interests, as the case may be, or any material
increase in long-term indebtedness or any material increase in
short-term indebtedness of either of the Issuers, or any payment of
or declaration to pay any dividends or any other distribution with
respect to either of the Issuers, and (iii) there has not been
any material adverse change in the proper
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