Document:

EXHIBIT 4.4

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF

NON-VOTING PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK  

OF HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 

 

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 151(g) thereof, hereby certifies on January 28, 2008 as follows:

FIRST:  The Amended Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the issuance of up to 40,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation (the “Preferred Stock”), par value $0.01 per share, in one or more classes and/or series, pursuant to a resolution providing for such issue adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), and further authorizes the Board to determine the powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon any such class and/or series of Preferred Stock.

SECOND:  On January 28, 2008, the Board adopted the following resolution authorizing the creation and issuance of a series of Preferred Stock to be known as the Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock:

Designation of Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Corporation 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, a series of preferred stock of the Corporation, designated as Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Non-Voting Preferred Stock”), be, and it hereby is, created, and that the powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon such series of Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock are as set forth below:  

Section 1.  Designation; Amount.  The shares of such series shall be designated as the Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 20,000,000, which number may be decreased by a resolution of the Board without a vote of stockholders; provided that such number may not be decreased below the aggregate number of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding.  The date on which the Corporation initially issues any share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock will be deemed the “Date of Issuance” regardless of the number of times transfer of such share is made on the stock records of the Corporation and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such share.

 

                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
    

 

	
             
 	
             
 	
            
 

 

 

Section 2.  Stated Value.  The shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $100.00 per share (the “Non-Voting Stated Value”).

Section 3.  Ranking.  The shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall, with respect to dividend and other distribution rights, preference or other rights on redemption, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation or otherwise, rank (i) pari passu with any class of capital stock or series of preferred stock hereafter created which expressly provides that it ranks pari passu with the Non-Voting Preferred Stock as to dividends, other distributions, liquidation preference and otherwise (collectively, the “Non-Voting Parity Stock”) and (ii) senior to the Voting Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), Non-Voting Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate of
Incorporation) and any other class of capital stock or series of preferred stock hereafter created which does not expressly provide that it ranks senior to or pari passu with the Non-Voting Preferred Stock as to dividends, other distributions, liquidation preference and otherwise (collectively, the “Junior Stock”). 

Section 4.  Restrictive Covenants; Voting Rights.  

(a)  The holders of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights and their consent shall not be required for the taking of any corporate action, except as otherwise required by the DGCL; provided that the Corporation shall not, without the consent or affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class:  (i) authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized amount of, any class or series, or any shares of any class or series, of capital stock of the Corporation having any preference or priority (either as to dividends or upon redemption, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up) over Non-Voting Preferred Stock; (ii) amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws of the Corporation, if the
amendment, alteration or repeal alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely; or (iii) authorize or take any other action if such action would be inconsistent with the foregoing.

(b)  The Corporation shall not, from and after the date of the Date of Issuance of any share of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock, enter into any agreement, amend or modify any existing agreement or obligation, or issue any security that prohibits, conflicts or is inconsistent with, or would be breached by, the Corporation’s performance of its obligations hereunder.

Section 5.  Dividends.

(a)  Shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall accumulate dividends at a rate per annum set by the Board of the Corporation within 60 days after the Date of Issuance such that the Board of the Corporation determines, in its sole discretion, that the value of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock on the Date of Issuance shall be equivalent to the Non-Voting Stated Value.  Such rate shall be referred to as the “Dividend Rate.”

(b)  Dividends shall be computed and paid or accrued quarterly on the 15th day of April, July, October and January of each year (in respect of the quarterly periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31), or if any such date is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the Business Day next preceding such day (each such date, regardless of 

 

 

	
              
 	
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whether any dividends have been paid or declared and set aside for payment on such date, a “Dividend Payment Date”), to holders of record as they appear on the stock record books of the Corporation on the fifteenth day prior to the relevant Dividend Payment Date; provided, however, that the Corporation expressly elects to make any dividend payment due hereunder on any Dividend Payment Date and has received all  relevant approvals from gaming regulators.  In the event that the Corporation does not elect to make a dividend payment due hereunder on any Dividend Payment Date, any such amount then due in respect of dividends shall constitute an Arrearage (as defined below).

(c)  Dividends shall be paid only when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds at the time legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to compliance with all gaming and other statutes, laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Corporation and any holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock at that time, and subject to receipt of approvals by all relevant gaming regulators.  Dividends shall begin to accumulate on outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock from the Date of Issuance and shall be deemed to accumulate from day to day whether or not earned or declared until paid.  Dividends shall accumulate on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (four 90-day quarters) and the actual number of days elapsed in the period for which payable.

(d)  Dividends on the Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be cumulative, and from and after January 15 of each year, if any dividends have accumulated or been deemed to have accumulated through such date has not been paid in full in respect of such Dividend Payment Date and the preceding three Dividend Payment Dates, additional dividends shall accumulate in respect of the amount of such unpaid dividends or unpaid liquidation payment (such amount, the “Arrearage”) at the Dividend Rate.  Such additional dividends in respect of any Arrearage shall be deemed to accumulate from day to day whether or not earned or declared until the Arrearage is paid, shall be calculated as of such successive Dividend Payment Date and shall constitute an additional Arrearage from and after any Dividend Payment Date to the extent not paid on such Dividend
Payment Date.  References herein to dividends that have accumulated or that have been deemed to have accumulated with respect to the Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall include the amount, if any, of any Arrearage together with any dividends accumulated or deemed to have accumulated on such Arrearage pursuant to the immediately preceding two sentences.  Additional dividends in respect of any Arrearage may be declared and paid at any time, in whole or in part, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the holders of record as they appear on the stock record books of the Corporation on such record date as may be fixed by the Board (which record date shall be no less than 10 days prior to the corresponding payment date), subject to approval by relevant gaming regulators.

(e)  Dividends paid on the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accumulated and payable on all outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares then outstanding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5(d), any such partial payment shall be made in cash.  Dividends that are declared and paid in an amount less than the full amount of dividends accumulated on the Non-Voting Preferred Stock (and on any Arrearage) shall be applied first to the earliest dividend which has not theretofore been paid.  All cash payments of dividends on the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be 

 

 

	
              
 	
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made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

(f)  For so long as any shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, (i) no dividend or distribution, whether in cash, stock or other property, shall be paid, declared or set apart for payment or made on any date on or in respect of the Junior Stock and (ii) no payment on account of the redemption, purchase or other acquisition or retirement for value by the Corporation shall be made on any date of shares of any Junior Stock, unless, in each case, the full amount of unpaid dividends accrued on all outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have been paid or contemporaneously are declared and paid.

Section 6.  Optional Conversion.

(a)  Upon written notice from the holders of a majority of the outstanding Non-Voting Preferred Stock to the Corporation and to each holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock (the date of such notice, the “Notice Date”), the Corporation shall convert each share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding into that number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Non-Voting Stated Value of such share and any Arrearage, plus all other accumulated dividends as of such date by (ii) the “fair market value” (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) of the Non-Voting Common Stock as of the Conversion Date (the “Conversion Rate”).  

(b)  The determination of the “fair market value” of the Non-Voting Common Stock for purposes of this Section 6 shall be made in good faith by the Board, applying U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the following principles:

(i)  the value to be arrived at should represent the present cash value in U.S. dollars of the Non-Voting Common Stock (net of actual and contingent associated liabilities and estimated costs of sale), without regard to temporary market fluctuations or aberrations and assuming a plan of orderly disposition which does not involve unreasonable delays in cash realization;

(ii)  if the Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) is publicly traded prior to the date of determination of value, the determination of value shall take into account the average of the daily closing prices for the 10 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date of determination; the closing price for each day shall be (x) if the Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) is listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange or (ii) if the Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be
converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) is not listed or admitted to trading on any such exchange, the closing price, if reported, or, if the closing price is not reported, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, or (iii) if bid and asked prices for the Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such 

 

 

	
              
 	
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Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) on each such day shall not have been reported through The Nasdaq Stock Market, the average of the bid and asked prices for such date as furnished by any three New York Stock Exchange member firms regularly making a market in the Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation) and not affiliated with the Corporation selected for such purpose by the Board;

(iii)  the determination of value shall take into account the effect, if any, of any transaction of the type described in Section 6(e) or Section 6(f); and

(iv)  all valuations shall be made taking into account all other factors which might reasonably affect the sales price of the Non-Voting Common Stock, including, without limitation, if and as appropriate, the existence of a control block, the lack of a market for such shares, the appropriateness of a discount with respect to the disposition of significant positions of  Non-Voting Common Stock and the impact on present value of factors such as the length of time before any such sales may become possible and the cost and complexity of any such sales. 

(c)  The Corporation will pay any and all issue and other taxes (other than taxes based on income) that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock on conversion of Non-Voting Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that if a holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock wishes to specify a name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to be issued other than that of such holder, such holder shall provide written notice not less than 1 Business Day following the Conversion Date, and such notice shall be accompanied by payment of all transfer taxes payable upon the issuance of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock in such name or names.  As promptly as practical, and in any event within five
Business Days after the Conversion Date, the Corporation shall take all action to certificate or reflect in book-entry form the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to which each such holder shall be entitled.  Such conversion shall be deemed to have occurred at the close of business on the Notice Date (the “Conversion Date”) so that as of such time the rights of the holder thereof as to the shares being converted shall cease and the person entitled to receive the shares of Non-Voting Common Stock shall be treated for all purposes as having become the holder of such shares of Non-Voting Common Stock at such time.

(d)  The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon the conversion of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Non-Voting Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, and shall take all action required to increase the authorized number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock if necessary to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock.

(e)  The Conversion Rate shall be subject to adjustment as follows: 

 

	
              
 	
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(i)  If the Corporation shall (1) declare or pay a dividend on its outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock in shares of Non-Voting Common Stock or make a distribution to holders of its Non-Voting Common Stock in shares of Non-Voting Common Stock (other than a distribution of rights), (2) subdivide its outstanding shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, (3) combine its outstanding shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock or (4) issue by reclassification of its shares of Non-Voting Common Stock other securities of the Corporation, then the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that a holder of any shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock thereafter converted shall be entitled to receive the number and kind of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock
or other securities that such holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock would have owned or been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above had such shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 6(e)(i) shall become effective on the date of the dividend payment, subdivision, combination or issuance retroactive to the record date with respect thereto, if any, for such event. Such adjustment shall be made successively. 

(ii)  If the Corporation shall issue any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, or any rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, at a price per share that is lower than the then current fair market value (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) per share of Non-Voting Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted in accordance with the following formula: 

AC = C x (O + ((N x P) /  M ) / (O + N))

where 

AC = the adjusted Conversion Rate 

C = the current Conversion Rate 

O = the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock outstanding on the record date 

N = the number of additional shares of Non-Voting Common Stock offered 

P = the offering price per share of the additional shares of Non-Voting Common Stock offered

M = the current fair market value (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) per share of Non-Voting Common Stock on the record date

The adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities are issued, and shall become effective 

 

 

	
              
 	
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immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities. 

(iii)  Upon the expiration of any rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities issued by the Corporation to all holders of its Non-Voting Common Stock which caused an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii), if any of such rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities in whole or in part shall not have been exercised, then the Conversion Rate shall be increased by the amount of the initial adjustment of the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii) in respect of such expired rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities. 

(iv)  If the Corporation shall distribute to all holders of its outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Corporation (other than Non-Voting Common Stock) or evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding ordinary cash dividends and dividends or distributions referred to in Sections 6(e)(i) and (ii) above) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (excluding those referred to in Section 6(e)(ii) above) (any of the foregoing being hereinafter in this Section 6(e)(iv) called the “Securities or Assets”), then in each such case, unless the Corporation elects to reserve shares or other units of such Securities or Assets for distribution to the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock upon the conversion of the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock so that a holder
converting shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock will receive upon such conversion, in addition to the shares of the Non-Voting Common Stock to which such holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock is entitled, the amount and kind of such Securities or Assets which such holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock would have received if such holder had, immediately prior to the record date for the distribution of the Securities or Assets, converted its shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock into Non-Voting Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the date of such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the current fair market value (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) per share of the Non-Voting Common Stock on the record date mentioned below less the then fair market value (as determined by the Board in good faith) of the portion of the capital stock or
assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or of such rights or warrants applicable to one share of Non-Voting Common Stock, and of which the denominator shall be the current fair market value (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) per share of the Non-Voting Common Stock on such record date; provided, however, that if the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the Securities or Assets so distributed applicable to one share of Non-Voting Common Stock is equal to or greater than the current fair market value (calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)) per share of the Non-Voting Common Stock on the record date mentioned above, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each holder of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have the right to receive, in addition to the shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to which such holder is entitled,
the amount and kind of Securities or Assets such holder would have received had such holder converted each such share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock immediately prior to the record date for the distribution of 

 

 

	
              
 	
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the Securities or Assets. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution. 

(v)  No adjustment in the Conversion Rate shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% of such price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 6(e)(v) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 6(e) shall be made to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share, as the case may be. 

(vi)  If the Corporation shall be a party to any transaction, including without limitation a merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, reorganization, liquidation or recapitalization of the Non-Voting Common Stock (each of the foregoing being referred to as a “Transaction”), in each case as a result of which shares of Non-Voting Common Stock shall be converted into the right to receive stock, securities or other property (including cash or any combination thereof) (other than Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation), each share of Preferred Stock shall, at and after the consummation of the Transaction, be convertible into the kind and amount of shares of stock and
other securities and property receivable (including cash) upon the consummation of such Transaction by a holder of that number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into which one share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock was convertible immediately prior to such Transaction.  The Corporation shall not be a party to any Transaction unless the terms of such Transaction are consistent with the provisions of this Section 6(e)(vi) and it shall not consent or agree to the occurrence of any Transaction unless (x) the Corporation has entered into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, which shall contain a provision enabling the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock to convert at their option into the consideration received by holders of Non-Voting Common Stock at the Conversion Rate immediately after such Transaction and (y) the Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding as preferred stock of
the successor or purchasing entity in the Transaction, with the seniority as to dividends, distributions and liquidation to which the Non-Voting Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to the Transaction. In connection with any Transaction, lawful provision shall be made so that, except as set forth in this Section 6(e)(vi), the terms of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock (or any stock issued in such transaction in consideration therefor) shall remain substantially unchanged to the extent practicable. The provisions of this Section 6(e)(vi) shall similarly apply to successive Transactions. 

(vii)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(e), the applicable Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted upon the issuance of any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock (and any associated rights) (including upon the exercise of options or rights) or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan, program or practice of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or upon the issuance of Voting Common Stock into which the Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. 

 

	
              
 	
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(viii)  For the purposes of this Section 6(e), the term “shares of Non-Voting Common Stock” shall mean (x) the class of stock designated as the Non-Voting Common Stock of the Corporation at the date hereof or (y) any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such shares consisting solely of changes in par value, or from no par value to par value.  If at any time, as a result of an adjustment or other transaction pursuant to Section 6(e)(i), (iv) or (vi) above, the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall become entitled to receive any securities other than shares of Non-Voting Common Stock (or Voting Common Stock into which such Non-Voting Common Stock may be converted pursuant to and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation), thereafter the number of such other securities so issuable upon conversion of the
shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock contained in this Section 6(e). 

(ix)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case in which this Section 6(e) provides that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after a record date for an event, the Corporation may defer until the occurrence of such event issuing to the holder of any share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock converted after such record date and before the occurrence of such event the additional shares of Non-Voting Common Stock issuable upon such conversion before giving effect to such adjustment. 

(x)  If the Corporation shall take any action affecting the Non-Voting Common Stock, other than any action described in this Section 6(e), which in the reasonable opinion of the Board would materially adversely affect the conversion rights of the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, the Conversion Rate for the Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be adjusted, to the extent permitted by law, in such manner, if any, and at such time, as the Board may determine in good faith to be equitable in the circumstances. 

(f)  If (i) the Corporation shall declare a dividend on its outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock (excluding ordinary cash dividends) or make a distribution to holders of its Non-Voting Common Stock; (ii) the Corporation shall authorize the granting to the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock of rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock or any of its securities (other than as contemplated under Section 6(e)(vii)); or (iii) there shall be any reclassification of the Non-Voting Common Stock or any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Corporation is required, or the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation; then the Corporation shall cause to be mailed to the holders of
Non-Voting Preferred Stock at their addresses as shown on the stock books of the Corporation, as promptly as possible, but at least fifteen (15) days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend or distribution, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend or distribution are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or transfer is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Non-Voting Common Stock of record shall be 

 

 

	
              
 	
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entitled to exchange their shares of Non-Voting Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. 

(g)  If any event similar to or of the type contemplated by the provisions of Section 6(e) or Section 6(f), but not expressly provided for by such provisions, occurs, then the Board of the Corporation, will make an appropriate and equitable adjustment in the Conversion Rate so as to protect the rights of the holders of Non-Voting Preferred Stock; provided that no such adjustment will decrease the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock.

Section 7.  Liquidation Rights.

a)  Preference for Non-Voting Preferred.  Upon the occurrence of any Liquidation Event (as defined below), (i) each holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have the right to require the Corporation to repurchase each outstanding share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, but only out of funds legally available therefor, by paying in cash, in respect of each share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the Non-Voting Stated Value of such share and any Arrearage, plus all other accumulated dividends as of the repurchase date before any payment or distribution shall be made to the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock, Voting Common Stock or any other Junior Stock and (ii) no distribution shall be made to the holders of Non-Voting Parity Stock unless the holders of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have received distributions ratably with the holders of Non-Voting Parity Stock in proportion to the total amount to
which the holders of all such shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock and Non-Voting Parity Stock are entitled upon such Liquidation Event.  If, upon any such Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be insufficient to provide for the payment in full of the preference accorded to the Non-Voting Preferred Stock hereunder, then such assets shall be distributed ratably among the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock.  Within thirty (30) days following any Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall mail a notice to each holder of Non-Voting Preferred Stock describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Liquidation Event and offering to repurchase each share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than thirty (30) days and no later than sixty (60) days from the date such notice is mailed.  The Corporation shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other applicable securities laws and regulations thereunder.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 7(a), the Corporation shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations hereunder by virtue thereof.

(b)  In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, (i) the holders of issued and outstanding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each such share, out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made to the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock, Voting Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, an amount per share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock, in cash, equal to the sum of the Non-Voting Stated Value of such share and any Arrearage, plus all other accumulated dividends as of the date of final distribution and (ii) no distribution shall be made to the holders 

 

 

	
              
 	
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of Non-Voting Parity Stock unless the holders of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have received distributions ratably with the holders of Non-Voting Parity Stock in proportion to the total amount to which the holders of all such shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock and Non-Voting Parity Stock are entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation.  If, upon any such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be insufficient to provide for the payment in full of the preference accorded to the Non-Voting Preferred Stock hereunder, then such assets shall be distributed ratably among the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock.

 

	 	(c) “Liquidation Event” means:
	
             
 	
            (A)
 	
            any consolidation or merger of the Corporation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity, to the extent that (x) in connection therewith, the holders of Voting Common Stock and/or Non-Voting Common Stock of the Corporation receive as consideration, whether in whole or in part, for such Voting Common Stock and/or Non-Voting Common Stock, as applicable, (1) cash, (2) notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations to pay cash or (3) preferred stock of the surviving entity (whether or not the surviving entity is the Corporation) which ranks on a parity with or senior to the preferred stock received by holders of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock with respect to liquidation or dividends or (y) the holders of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock do not receive preferred stock of the surviving entity with rights,
powers and preferences equal to (or more favorable to the holders than) the rights, powers and preferences of the Non-Voting Preferred Stock;
 

	
             
 	
            (B)
 	
            the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation;
 

	
             
 	
            (C)
 	
            any Person (as defined below), or group of Persons acting in concert, other than the holders on the Date of Issuance becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of in excess of 50% of the total voting power or equity interest in the Corporation or any successor thereto. As used in the preceding sentence, “voting power” in any Person shall mean the right to vote for the election of directors or other equivalent managing body of such Person or, if there are no such directors or managing body, the right to make material business decisions with respect to such Person; or
 

	
             
 	
            (D)
 	
            the first underwritten public offering and sale of the equity securities of the Corporation for cash pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, Form S-8 or a comparable form) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 

 

	
              
 	
            11
 	
            
 

 

 

(d)  Preferences are not Participating.  After the payment to the holders of the shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6, the holders of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation solely by virtue of holding shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock.

Section 8.    Pro Rata Distribution and Payments.  For so long as any shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, (i) no dividend or distribution, whether in cash, stock or other property, shall be paid, declared or set apart for payment or made (any such dividend or distribution, or payment thereof, or setting apart for payment therefor or declaration thereof, for purposes of this Certificate of Designations, a “Distribution”) on any date on or in respect of any Non-Voting Parity Stock and (ii) no payment shall be made by the Corporation on any date in respect of the redemption, purchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of shares of any Non-Voting Parity Stock (any such payment, for purposes of this Certificate of Designations, a “Payment”) unless, in each case, the holders of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall have received, where clause (i) applies, a corresponding Distribution and, where clause (ii) applies, a corresponding Payment, ratably with the holders of Non-Voting Parity Stock in proportion to the total amount to which the holders of all such shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock and Non-Voting Parity Stock are entitled upon any such Distribution or Payment.

Section 9.  Transferability; Unit Certificates.  

(a)  The Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be evidenced in units (“Units”), each of which shall consist of 2.0445 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock (or such number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock as may exist after any adjustment pursuant to transactions described in Section 6(e)(i)) and 1 share of Non-Voting Preferred Stock (the “Unit Ratio”).  The shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock and shares of Non-Voting Common Stock underlying the Units shall be transferable only in Units.  The Non-Voting Preferred Stock may be certificated by the Board in the form of a Unit Certificate comprised of Non-Voting Common Stock and Non-Voting Preferred Stock in the aforementioned ratio.  The form of the Unit
Certificate shall be as prescribed by the Board from time to time.

(b)  A conversion pursuant to Section 6 or a repurchase for cash pursuant to Section 7(a) of any shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall be effected through a recapitalization (within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code), pursuant to which any such shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock and the shares of Non-Voting Common Stock with which they are represented by a Unit, shall be exchanged for shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to be certificated or reflected in book-entry form (representing the shares of Non-Voting Common Stock previously represented by a Unit) and the cash and/or property, if any, provided for under Section 7. The Non-Voting Preferred Stock and the Non-Voting Common Stock with which it is represented by a Unit will be treated, for tax purposes, as a single class of common stock with a preference on dividends and liquidation.

(c)  Upon any conversion under Section 6 or repurchase under Section 7(a), each holder of shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock shall surrender to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice under Section 6, Section 7(a) or Section 7(d) (as the case may be) the 

 

 

	
              
 	
            12
 	
            
 

 

 

Units (if certificated) evidencing shares of Non-Voting Preferred Stock to be repurchased (each a “Surrendered Unit”).  As promptly as practical, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt by the Corporation of the Surrendered Units pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall take all the necessary actions to certificate or reflect in book-entry form the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to which each such holder shall be entitled, which number shall be equal to the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock that were certificated or reflected in book-entry form in the Surrendered Units delivered by such holder.

Section 10.   Definitions.

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or other entity or organization.

 

	
              
 	
            13
 	
            
 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Designation as of this ___ day of January, 2008.

 

	
             
 	
  HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
 
	 	By:	_____________________________
	 	 	Name	Michael Cohen
	 	 	Title:	Vice President, Associate General Counsel 

      and Corporate Secretary

 

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

	
              
 	
            14EX-10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT TO 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

     AMENDMENT dated January 29, 2008 (the “Amendment”) to the Shareholders Agreement dated August
10, 2007 (the “Shareholders Agreement”) by and among Haights Cross Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), the Persons identified on Schedule A thereto as the Investors
(each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”) and any other Shareholder who from time to
time becomes party to the Shareholders Agreement by execution of a Joinder Agreement in
substantially the form attached thereto as Exhibit A. All capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the same meaning given to them in the Shareholders Agreement.

     WHEREAS, Section 6.3 of the Shareholders Agreement provides that it may be amended by the
prior written consent of the Company, a Majority Vote of the Series A Major Investor(s) and a
Majority Vote of the Series B Major Investors and such parties desire to amend the Shareholders
Agreement as set forth below to provide the Investor Directors with the option to elect the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company to be a director of the Company.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1. Section 4.1(b) of the Shareholders Agreement shall be replaced in its entirety with the
following:

“at the option of the majority of the Investor Directors, the then current Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO Director”) for so long as he or she
is Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which individual shall initially be Peter
Quandt; provided that if for any reason the CEO Director shall cease to serve as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, each of the Shareholders shall promptly vote their
respective shares to remove him or her from the board if he or she has not resigned from
such position and to elect the person who replaces him or her as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company as the new CEO Director.”

     2. No Other Changes. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and in accordance with its terms. This Amendment shall be limited solely for the
purpose and to the extent expressly set forth herein and nothing express or implied shall
constitute an amendment, supplement, modification or waiver to any other term, provision or
condition of the Agreement.

     3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed and delivered (including by
facsimile and PDF transmission) in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed shall be
deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Amendment.

     4. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed under the laws
of the State of Delaware (without effect to conflict of law principles thereto).

 

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed as a sealed instrument by the parties
hereto or their duly authorized representatives, effective as of the date first above written.

THE COMPANY:

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Haights Cross Communications, Inc.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Paul J. Crecca
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Paul J. Crecca 	 
	 	 	Title:  	President and Chief Executive Officer 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	INVESTORS:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Media/Communications Partners III Limited

Partnership

By: M/C III L.L.C., its General Partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Christopher S. Gaffney
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Christopher S. Gaffney

Title: Manager	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	M/C Investors L.L.C.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Christopher S. Gaffney
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Christopher S. Gaffney

Title: Manager	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Columbia Funds Master Investment

Trust-Columbia High Income Master Portfolio

By: MacKay Shields LLC

Its: Sub-advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ J. Matthew Philo
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: J. Matthew Philo

Title: Senior Managing Director	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust 1 -

Columbia High Yield Fund, Variable Series

By: MacKay Shields LLC

Its: Sub-advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ J. Matthew Philo
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: J. Matthew Philo

Title: Senior Managing Director	 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	The Mainstay Funds on Behalf of its High Yield

Corporate Bond Fund

By: MacKay Shields LLC

Its: Sub-advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ J. Matthew Philo
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: J. Matthew Philo

Title: Senior Managing Director	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	The Mainstay Funds on Behalf of its

Diversified Income Fund

By: MacKay Shields LLC

Its: Sub-advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ J. Matthew Philo
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: J. Matthew Philo

Title: Senior Managing Director	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Mainstay VP Series Fund, Inc. on Behalf of its

High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio

By: MacKay Shields LLC

Its: Sub-advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ J. Matthew Philo
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: J. Matthew Philo

Title: Senior Managing Director	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Quadrangle Debt Recovery Income Fund LP

By: Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. (f/k/a

Quadrangle Debt Recovery Advisors LP)

Its: Advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ T.J. Vigliotta
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: T.J. Vigliotta

Title: Principal	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Quadrangle Debt Opportunities Fund LP

By: Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. (f/k/a

Quadrangle Debt Recovery Advisors LP)

Its: Advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ T.J. Vigliotta
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: T.J. Vigliotta

Title: Principal	 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	QDRF Master Ltd.

By: Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. (f/k/a

Quadrangle Debt Recovery Advisors LP)

Its: Advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ T.J. Vigliotta
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: T.J. Vigliotta

Title: Principal	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Quadrangle Debt Recovery Income Fund Master Ltd

By: Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. (f/k/a

Quadrangle Debt Recovery Advisors LP)

Its: Advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ T.J. Vigliotta
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: T.J. Vigliotta

Title: Principal	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Quadrangle Debt Opportunities Fund Master Ltd

By: Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. (f/k/a

Quadrangle Debt Recovery Advisors LP)

Its: Advisor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ T.J. Vigliotta
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: T.J. Vigliotta

Title: Principal	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Glenview Capital Master Fund, Ltd.
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Mark Horowitz
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Mark Horowitz

Title: Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Glenview Institutional Partners, L.P.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Mark Horowitz
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Mark Horowitz

Title: Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel	 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Glenview Capital Partners, L.P.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Mark Horowitz
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Mark Horowitz

Title: Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Deephaven Distressed Opportunities Trading Ltd.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Jeffrey Golbus
 

	 	 
	 	 	Name: Jeffrey Golbus

Title: Portfolio Manager

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