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Exhibit 10.4
A/B EXCHANGE
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 11, 1999
by and among
HORSESHOE GAMING HOLDING CORP.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
CIBC INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL PARTNERS, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES, INC.
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May 11, 1999, by and among Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation, CIBC Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Partners, LP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities, Inc. (each an "Initial Purchaser" and, collectively, the
"Initial Purchasers"), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company's 85/8%
Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2009 (the "Series A Notes")
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated May
6, 1999, (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Series A
Notes, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to
the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Sections 2 and 3 of the
Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of May 11,
1999, between the Company and U.S. Trust Company, National Association, as
Trustee, relating to the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes (the
"Indenture").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall
have the following meanings:
Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Affiliate: As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange
Act.
Certificated Securities: Definitive Notes, as defined in the
Indenture.
Closing Date: The date hereof.
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Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consummate: An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for
purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and
effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
relating to the Series B Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Series B Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes tendered by
Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Consummation Deadline: As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline: As defined in Section 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Offer: The exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of Series B Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of Series A Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with such
exchange and issuance.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers
propose to sell the Series A Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers,"
as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S
under the Act.
Filing Deadline: As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
Holders: As defined in Section 2 hereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at
the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supple-
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mented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Prospectus.
Recommencement Date: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company
relating to (a) an offering of Series B Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or
(b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective
amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Regulation S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.
Series B Notes: The Company's 85/8% Series B Senior Subordinated
Notes due May 15, 2009 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the
Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4 hereof.
Suspension Notice: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Series A Note, until the
earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Series A Note is exchanged in
the Exchange Offer for a Series B Note which is entitled to be resold to the
public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Act, (b) the date on which such Series A Note has been
disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement (and the
purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes), or (c) the date on which
such Series A Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Act or may be sold under Rule 144(k) under the Act
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(and purchasers thereof have been issued Series B Notes) and each Series B Note
until the date on which such Series B Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (including the delivery of the Prospectus contained
therein).
SECTION 2. HOLDERS
A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
(each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
SECTION 3. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER
(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable
federal law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been
complied with), the Company shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the
Closing Date, but in no event later than 60 days after the Closing Date (such
60th day being the "Filing Deadline"), (ii) use its best efforts to cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest
possible time, but in no event later than 180 days after the Closing Date (such
180th day being the "Effectiveness Deadline"), (iii) in connection with the
foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it to become
effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange
Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause
all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and
qualification of the Series B Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and
(iv) upon the effectiveness of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the
appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Series B Notes to be offered
in exchange for the Series A Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and
(ii) resales of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange
Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as
contemplated by Section 3(c) below.
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(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Ex
change Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required
under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange
Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20
Business Days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all
applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the
Series B Notes (and guarantees thereof, if any) shall be included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date
after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no
event later than 30 Business Days thereafter (such 30th Business Day being the
"Consummation Deadline").
(c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and
indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities
that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Series A Notes
acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may
exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also contain all other information
with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may
require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such "Plan of
Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the
extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or
regulations after the date of this Agreement. See the Shearman & Sterling
no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).
Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Series B
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Series B Notes by
Broker-Dealers, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and
current as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c)
hereof and in conformity with the
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requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations
of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of one year from
the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto. The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest
version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in
no event later than one day after such request, at any time during such period.
SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted
by applicable law (after the Company has complied with the procedures set forth
in Section 6(a)(i) below), (ii) if for any reason the Exchange Offer is not
consummated before the Consummation Deadline, or (iii) if any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following
the Consummation Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder
may not resell the Series B Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Series A
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the
Company shall:
(x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the earlier of
(i) the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above, (ii)
the Consummation Deadline and (iii) the date on which the Company receives the
notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above (such earlier date, the "Filing
Deadline"), a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act
(which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the
"Shelf Registration Statement")), relating to all Transfer Restricted
Securities, and
(y) shall use their respective best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 60 days after the
Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 60th day the
"Effectiveness Deadline").
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If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is
required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e.,
clause (a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above;
provided that, in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the
Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).
To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration
Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the
Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other
securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii)
hereof, the Company shall use its best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration
Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented,
amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections
6(b) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement,
the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced
from time to time, for a period of at least three years (as extended pursuant to
Section 6(c)(i)) following the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or otherwise cease to be
a Transfer Restricted Security
(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with
the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, the
information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of
the Act for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or
Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein or prospectus supplement
thereto. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder
shall have provided all such information. Each selling Holder agrees to promptly
furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially
misleading.
SECTION 5. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
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If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii)
any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the
Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline
or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and
declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be
usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within 2 Business Days
by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such
failure and that is itself declared effective within 5 Business Days of filing
such post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the
Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount equal to $.05 per week per
$1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder
for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the
first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration
Default. The amount of the liquidated damages shall increase by an additional
$.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults
have been cured, up to a maximum amount of liquidated damages of $.35 per week
per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that
the Company shall in no event be required to pay liquidated damages for more
than one Registration Default at any given time. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case
of (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case
of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii)
above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement)
to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the
liquidated damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as
a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.
All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Series A
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Notes. Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated damages
are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the
Company to pay liquidated damages with respect to securities shall survive until
such time as such obligations with respect to such securities shall have been
satisfied in full.
SECTION 6. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, (y) use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the resale of Series B Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the
Exchange Offer Series A Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own
account as a result of its market making activities or other trading activities
(other than Series A Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its
Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:
(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a
change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange
Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a
substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable
federal law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other
favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an
Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities. The Company hereby
agrees to use reasonable best efforts to pursue the issuance of such a decision
to the Commission staff level, including (A) participating in telephonic
conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an
analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if
any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be
permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable)
by the Commission staff; provided, however, that the use of reasonable best
efforts shall not require the payment of a material amount of money not
otherwise or ordinarily incidental to such process.
(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange
Offer, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without
limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request
of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written
representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of
transmittal contemplated by the
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Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an
Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to
engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in, a distribution of the Series B Notes to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course
of business. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each
Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Series B
Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Series B Notes
obtained by such Holder in exchange for Series A Notes acquired directly from
the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy
as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the
Commission enunciated in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991)
and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted
in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and
similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action letter
obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with
a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must
be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling
security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of
Regulation S-K.
(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the
Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in
reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
Corporation (available May 13, 1988), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Co., Inc. (available
June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling
dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant
to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the Company has not
entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the
Series B Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the
Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange
Offer is acquiring the Series B Notes in its ordinary course of business and has
no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Series B Notes received in the Exchange Offer and (C) any
other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in
any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.
(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf
Registration Statement, the Company shall:
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(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and
use its best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the
Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method
or methods of distribution thereof (as indicated in the information furnished to
the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company
will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to
the registration on any appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be
available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with
the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods
and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof; and
(ii) issue, upon the request of any Holder or purchaser of
Series A Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this
Agreement, Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation, and the
Company shall register Series B Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement for
this purpose and issue the Series B Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities
subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s)
shall designate.
(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration
Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company
shall:
(i) use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the
period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable. Upon the occurrence of
any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus
contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted
Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file
promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement curing such
defect, and, if Commission review is required, use its best efforts to cause
such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable;
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be
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necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable
period set forth in Section 3 or Section 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the
Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully
with Rules 424, 430A and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner;
and comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period
in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers
thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus;
(iii) advise each Holder promptly and, if requested by such
Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the
Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto,
(C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or of the suspension
by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes and (D) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of
a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any
amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference
therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in
the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time the
Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory
authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or
Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;
(iv) subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare
a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any
other
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required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer
Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
(v) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or
sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration
Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to
any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration
Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such
Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five
Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or
Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which
such Holders shall reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt
thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reason ably objected to such filing if
such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable,
as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;
(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to
be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
provide copies of such document to each Holder in connection with such exchange
or sale, if any, make the Company's representatives available for discussion of
such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such
information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may
reasonably request;
(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by
each Holder and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all
financial and other pertinent corporate documents and records of the Company and
cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information
reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection
with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided,
however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that
any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Company
in writing as confidential at the time of
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delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such persons, unless
(i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order
or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii)
disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure
requirements pursuant to Federal securities laws in connection with the filing
of any Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this
Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such
person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement;
(viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such
exchange or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included therein,
including, without limitation, information relating to the "Plan of
Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities; and make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as
practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(ix) furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange
or sale without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as
first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including, if
requested, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits
(including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(x) deliver to each Holder without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or
supplement thereto as such Holder reasonably may request; the Company hereby
consents to the use (in accordance with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment
or supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and
the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto;
(xi) upon the request of any Holder, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and
warranties and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement
as may be
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reasonably requested by any Holder in connection with any sale or resale
pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement. In such connection, the
Company shall:
(A) upon request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of
paragraphs (2) and (3), use its best efforts to cause to be furnished) to
each Holder, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be:
(1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of
the Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company, (i) confirming, as of the
date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 6(cc), 9(a) and 9(b) of
the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as such Holders may
reasonably request and (ii) stating that the industry, statistical and
market-related data, if any, included in the Registration Statement have
been reviewed by such persons and, to the best knowledge of such persons,
is true and accurate in all material respects, which certificate shall be
in the same form as the certificate delivered upon closing of the
transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement;
(2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company covering matters
similar to those set forth in paragraphs (e) and (f) of Section 9 of the
Purchase Agreement and such other matter as such Holder may reasonably
request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that such
counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, including representatives of the
independent public accountants for the Company, in connection with the
preparation of such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and
have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and
that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as
to materiality to the extent such counsel deems appropriate upon the
statements of officers and other representatives of the Company) and
without independent check or verification no facts
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came to such counsel's attention that caused such counsel to believe that
the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective and, in
the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its
date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the
Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the
foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no
responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules
and other financial data included in any Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and
(3) customary comfort letters, dated the date of
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of effectiveness of
the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company's
independent accountants and from Empress Entertainment, Inc.'s independent
accountants if Empress' financial statements or other financial data are
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, in
the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings,
and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered
pursuant to Section 9(h) of the Purchase Agreement; and
(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with
the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions
contained in any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this
clause (xi);
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(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted
Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection
with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling
Holders may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action
that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in
any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Series A Notes
covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement,
Series B Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Series A Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in
exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Series B Notes to be
registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such
Series B Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Series A Notes held by such
Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
(xiv) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer
Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register
such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities;
(xv) use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the
disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso
contained in clause (xii) above;
(xvi) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted
Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the
Indenture with
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printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form
eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
(xvii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available
to its security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as
soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements
of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined
in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);
(xviii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not
later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the
Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such
Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and
execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents
that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner;
(xix) use its best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted
Securities or the Series B Notes, as applicable, covered by an effective
registration statement required by Section 3 or 4 hereof to be rated by one or
two rating agencies, if and as so requested by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities relating to such
registration statement or the managing underwriters in connection therewith, if
any;
(xx) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each
document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
(xxi) use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary
to effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
(d) Restrictions on Holders. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in
Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact
of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a
"Suspension Notice"), such
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Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has
received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the
Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus (in each case, the "Recommencement Date"). Each Holder receiving
a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any
Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession
which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or
(ii) deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than
permanent file copies, then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus
covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of
receipt of the Suspension Notice. The time period regarding the effectiveness of
such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable,
shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period
from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of
delivery of the Recommencement Date.
SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of
whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without
limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities
laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of one
firm of lawyers in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Transfer
Restricted Securities or Series B Notes); (iii) all expenses of printing
(including printing certificates for the Series B Notes to be issued in the
Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services
and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and,
subject to Section 7(b) below, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities;
(v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Series B
Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant
to the requirements hereof in the event the Notes are so listed and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance).
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The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts,
retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, each Holder of the Transfer Restricted Securities
being registered shall, if applicable, pay all commissions, placement agent fees
and underwriting discounts and commissions with respect to any Transfer
Restricted Securities sold by it and, except as otherwise provided herein
(including in Section 7(b) below), the fees and disbursements of any counsel or
other advisors or experts retained by such Holders.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are
tendering Series A Notes into in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling
Series A Notes or Series B Notes pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution"
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more
than one counsel, who shall be Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, unless
another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement
is being prepared.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Company and its subsidiaries agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who
controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, and judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
provided by the Company to any Holder or any prospective purchaser of Series B
Notes or registered Series A Notes, or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
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losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon
information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company
by any of the Holders; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement
with respect to any preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Person who failed to deliver a final Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented, provided by the Company to the several Indemnified Persons in the
requisite quantity and on a timely basis to permit proper delivery on or prior
to the Closing Date) to the person asserting any losses, claims, damages and
liabilities and judgements caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary Prospectus, or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if
such material misstatement or omission or alleged material misstatement or
omission was cured in the final Prospectus. The Company agrees to notify the
Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any claim,
proceeding (including any governmental investigation) or litigation in
connection with the matters addressed by this Agreement which involves the
Company or any Person indemnified hereunder. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, including under
this Agreement.
(b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees, severally
and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company set forth in section (a) above, but
only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement.
In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i)
the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii)
the amount of any damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any
Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
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"indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying person") in writing
(provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the
indemnifying party of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement to the extent
that such failure does not materially prejudice the position of the indemnifying
party as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) and the indemnifying
party shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all
fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any
action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections
8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such
action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate counsel and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel,
except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder). Any
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the
Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by
the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The
indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by
reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or
(ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more
than twenty business days after the indemnifying party shall have received a
request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses
of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are at the
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expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement,
the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement
request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect
of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that
are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on
the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro
rata
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allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or
by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action
that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its
directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to the sale of
Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i)
the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii)
the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.
SECTION 9. RULE 144A and RULE 144
The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any
prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such
Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under
the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in a timely manner in order
to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
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(a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure
by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders
for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 3 and
4 hereof. The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not, on or after
the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except with respect
to the 12 3/4% Senior Notes due 2000 and the 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2005 of Horseshoe Gaming, L.L.C., the Company has not previously entered
into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its
securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in
any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the
holders of the Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date
hereof.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.
(d) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
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beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of
the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
Indenture; and
(ii) if to the Company:
Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Berlin Shereff ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if
timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
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concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted
Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the
Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted
Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such
Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform
all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on
resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement,
and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties
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as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
(l) Gaming Approvals. Prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or
filing of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, the Company
shall make or obtain such permits, licenses, consents, exemptions, franchises,
authorizations and other approvals necessary or desirable for the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the
required approvals of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Mississippi Gaming
Commission, the Indiana Gaming Commission, and the Illinois Gaming Board.
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30
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
HORSESHOE GAMING HOLDING CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
CIBC INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL PARTNERS, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President