Document:

EXHIBIT 4.2

EXECUTION COPY

 

MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of January 28, 2008 (this “Agreement”), among Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Apollo Hamlet Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Apollo Hamlet Holdings B, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, TPG Hamlet Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, TPG Hamlet Holdings B, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Hamlet Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the STOCKHOLDERS that are parties hereto.  

WHEREAS, each Stockholder deems it to be in the best interest of the Company and the Stockholders that provision be made for the continuity and stability of the business and policies of the Company, and, to that end, the Company and the Stockholders hereby set forth herein their agreement with respect to the Company Shares and Options now owned or hereafter owned by them.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.      Definitions.

As used in this Agreement:

“Actual Ownership Percentage” of a Preemptive Optionee on the date of a Preemptive Notice shall mean a fraction expressed as a percentage and calculated as if the Preferred Shares had been converted into Non-Voting Shares on the date of such calculation and in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares (a) the numerator of which is the number of Company Shares plus Company Shares underlying Options or other securities convertible or exchangeable into Company Shares held by such Stockholder as of such time and (b) the denominator of which is all outstanding Company Shares plus all Company Shares underlying outstanding Options or other securities convertible or exchangeable into Company Shares on such date.

“Affiliate” means:

(a)  in the case of the Company or a Stockholder that is not an individual, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or such Stockholder, as applicable.  For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Affiliate” as applied to the Sponsors, shall not include at any time any portfolio companies of the Sponsors and their respective investment fund affiliates.

(b)  in the case of a Person that is an individual: (i) any “family member” (as defined in Form S-8 under the Securities Act) of the Person; the parents, siblings, spouse, or children (including those by adoption) of such family member, and in any such case any trust whose 

 

 

                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                

 

 

primary beneficiary is such individual Stockholder or one or more members of such immediate family and/or such Stockholder’s lineal descendants; (ii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual Stockholder or of any such immediate family member in the event such individual Stockholder or any such immediate family member becomes mentally incompetent; and (iii) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Stockholder.  

As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

“Applicable Preemptive Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Apollo” means Apollo Hamlet Holdings, LLC, Apollo Hamlet Holdings B, LLC and any Affiliate thereof investing directly or indirectly in the Company.  

 “Asset Sale” means any sale of assets of the Company, including the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.  

 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company and any duly authorized committee thereof.  All determinations by the Board required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to be made by the Board shall be binding and conclusive.

“business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks located in New York, New York are required or authorized by law to be closed.

“Buy-Out Note” shall mean an unsecured promissory note of the Company, or a direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, which shall have a stated maturity of (a) two (2) years or (b) if at the end of such period there exists, or payment of such note would result in the violation of the terms or provisions of, or result in a default or event of default under, any guarantee, financing or security agreement or document entered into by the Company or any of its Affiliates and in effect on such date, the first date on which such event of default ceases to exist or would cease to be a result.  The Buy-Out Note shall accrue interest at the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in effect on the date of the Buy-Out Note, which interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 day year and the actual number of days elapsed during the period from
the date on which the Purchase Price would have been paid but for the delay in payment to the date on which such payment is actually made.  The Buy-Out Note shall be pre-payable at the option of the Company or such subsidiary at any time, in whole or in part, at its principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

“Call Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(e).

“Cause” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the relevant Management Stockholder’s employment agreement in effect with the Company or its Affiliates, but if the 

 

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relevant Management Stockholder does not have an employment agreement in effect with the Company or its Affiliates that contains a definition of cause, it shall mean:

(a)          The willful failure of such Management Stockholder to substantially perform such Management Stockholder’s duties with the Company or to follow a lawful, reasonable directive from the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company (“CEO”) or such other executive officer to whom such Management Stockholder reports (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to such Management Stockholder by the Board (or the CEO, as applicable) which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board (or the CEO, as applicable) believes that such Management Stockholder has willfully not substantially performed such Management
Stockholder's duties or has willfully failed to follow a lawful, reasonable directive and such Management Stockholder is given a reasonable opportunity (not to exceed thirty (30) days) to cure any such failure to substantially perform, if curable;

(b)          (i) Any willful act of fraud, or embezzlement or theft, by such Management Stockholder, in each case, in connection with such Management Stockholder’s duties with the Company or its Affiliates or in the course of such Management Stockholder’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates or (ii) such Management Stockholder’s admission in any court, or conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony;

(c)          Such Management Stockholder being found unsuitable for or having a gaming license denied or revoked by the gaming regulatory authorities in any jurisdiction in which the Company or its Affiliates conducts gaming operations; or

(d)          Such Management Stockholder’s willful and material violation of, or noncompliance with, any securities laws or stock exchange listing rules, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, provided that such violation or noncompliance resulted in material economic harm to the Company, or a final judicial order or determination prohibiting such Management Stockholder from service as an officer pursuant to the Exchange Act or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange.

No act or failure to act, on the part of such Management Stockholder, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by such Management Stockholder in bad faith and without reasonable belief that such Management Stockholder’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.  Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by such Management Stockholder in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

“Closing Date” shall mean January 28, 2008.

“Company” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.

“Company Shares” means Non-Voting Shares and Preferred Shares.  The term “Company Shares” when used in determining the Pro Rata Portion at any time shall refer to either the Non-Voting Shares or the Preferred Shares as the context may require.

 

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“Competitor” means:

(a) for purposes of Section 3.1, any Person, other than the Company and its subsidiaries, that engages, directly or indirectly, in the casino business (or any hotel or resort that operates a casino business) anywhere in the world.

(b) for purposes of Section 5(a), any Person, other than the Company and its subsidiaries, engaged in the casino business (or any hotel or resort that operates a casino business) in the United States, Canada or Mexico or any other geographic location in which the Company or its Affiliates is engaged in the casino business at the time the relevant Management Stockholder’s employment ends; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 5(a), Competitor shall not include (i) any Person engaged in the hotel/resort business that does not engage in the casino business and is not Affiliated with a Person engaged in the casino business or (ii) any division, subsidiary or Affiliate of a hotel or resort that engages in the casino business, provided that,
with respect to this clause (ii), (A) the casino business represents less than 20% of the revenues of any such entity on a consolidated basis, and (B) the relevant Management Stockholder does not provide services (other than de minimis services) to, or have any responsibilities regarding, the division, subsidiary or Affiliate that engages in the casino business.

“Deemed Held Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).

“Delay Period” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(d).

“Delayed Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(d).

 “Drag Along Option” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(i).  

“Drag Along Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(ii).  

“Economic Hardship” means an economic hardship as determined based on criteria established by senior management of the Company and approved by the human resources committee of the Board with the input of senior management of the Company.

“Economic Hardship Event” means the occurrence of an event or events with respect to a Management Stockholder below the senior vice president level that constitute(s) an Economic Hardship. 

“Economic Hardship Put Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(c).

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

“Excluded Offering” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(e).

“Fair Market Value” means as of any date (a) prior to the existence of a public market for the Company Shares, the value per Company Share determined pursuant to a valuation made in good faith by the Board and based upon an independent third party appraisal that has been completed within twelve (12) months of the determination date, including an appraisal conducted 

 

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on behalf of either Sponsor in connection with its regular valuation obligations with respect to its investors; or (b) on which a public market for the Company Shares exists, (i) the closing price on such day of a Company Share as reported on the principal securities exchange on which Company Shares are then listed or admitted to trading or (ii) if not so reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on such day as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or (iii) if not so reported, as furnished by any member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) selected by the Board.  The Fair Market Value of a Company Share as of any such date on which the applicable exchange or inter-dealer quotation system through which trading in the Company Shares regularly occurs is closed shall
be the Fair Market Value determined pursuant to the preceding sentence as of the immediately preceding date on which the Company Shares are traded, a bid and ask price is reported or a trading price is reported by any member of NASD selected by the Board.  In the event that the price of a Company Share shall not be so reported or furnished, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith to reflect the fair market value of a Company Share and shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Good Reason” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the relevant Management Stockholder’s employment agreement in effect with the Company or its Affiliates, but if the relevant Management Stockholder does not have an employment agreement in effect with the Company or its Affiliates that contains a definition of good reason, it shall mean the occurrence, described in a written notice of termination of employment to the Company from such Management Stockholder, of any of the following circumstances without such Management Stockholder’s express written consent, unless such circumstances are fully corrected within (30) days of the written notice:

(a)          A reduction by the Company in such Management Stockholder’s annual base salary, other than a reduction in base salary that applies to a similarly situated class of employees of the Company or its Affiliates; 

(b)          The Company’s requiring such Management Stockholder to be based anywhere more than fifty (50) miles from such Management Stockholder’s primary business location on the date of this Agreement (except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with such Management Stockholder’s present business travel obligations); or

(c)          The failure by the Company to pay to such Management Stockholder any material portion of such Management Stockholder’s then-current base salary within thirty (30) days of the date such base salary is due, except pursuant to a compensation deferral election by such Management Stockholder.

“Group” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Initial Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(a).

“Initial Sponsor Company Shares” means the Company Shares issued to the Sponsors on or before the Closing Date as well as the Company Shares issued to the Sponsors after the 

 

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Closing Date in accordance with Section 3.5(e)(viii), adjusted to reflect any stock, securities or other property or interests received by the Sponsors in respect of such shares in connection with any stock dividend or other similar distribution, stock split or combination of shares, recapitalization, conversion, reorganization, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, merger, exchange of stock or other transaction or event that effects the Company’s capital stock occurring after the date of issuance. 

“Management Equity Incentive Plan” means the Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Management Equity Incentive Plan, as adopted by the Company, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Management Representative” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7(e).  

“Management Stockholder” means a Stockholder other than a Sponsor or a Sponsor Affiliate who is employed by, or serves as a consultant or director to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries at the time such Person acquired Company Shares or Options and such Stockholder’s permitted Transferees. 

“Maximum Number” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(iii).

“Non-Compete Period” means (a) with respect to a Management Stockholder that has an effective employment agreement (containing non-compete provisions) with the Company or its Affiliates, the period of such Management Stockholder’s active employment with the Company and, following the termination of such active employment for any reason, the period during which such Management Stockholder would not be permitted to compete with the Company as set forth in such employment agreement if such Management Stockholder’s employment were terminated by the Management Stockholder for Good Reason, and (b) with respect to a Management Stockholder without an effective employment agreement (containing non-compete provisions) with the Company or its Affiliates, the six month period following his or her termination of employment with the
Company and its Affiliates.

“Non-Voting Shares” means the non-voting common stock of the Company.

“Option” means an option issued to a Management Stockholder pursuant to the Management Equity Incentive Plan, as it is amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or any other option to purchase Non-Voting Shares issued by the Company to a Management Stockholder.

“Original Cost” means the price per share paid by the Management Stockholder for its Company Shares on the Original Issue Date (which, in the case of Company Shares acquired upon the exercise of an Option, shall be the exercise price paid to exercise such Option), subject to appropriate adjustment by the Board for stock splits, stock dividends or other distributions, combinations and similar transactions.

“Original Issue Date” means, with respect to any Company Shares or Options issued to the Sponsors or a Management Stockholder, the date of issuance of such Company Shares or Options to the Sponsors or such Management Stockholder, as applicable.

 

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“Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(a).

“Piggyback Registration Right” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(a).

“Preemptive Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Preemptive Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Preemptive Optionees” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Preferred Shares” means the Company’s Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and any shares of capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Preferred Shares by way of a stock dividend or distribution payable thereon or stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, exchange, subdivision or combination thereof; provided, however, that if Non-Voting Shares are issued with respect to the Preferred Shares by way of a stock dividend or distribution payable on the Preferred Shares such Non-Voting Shares shall constitute Non-Voting Shares, not Preferred Shares.   

“Pro Rata Portion” means:  

(a)          for purposes of Section 2(a) (with respect to each class of Company Shares to be Transferred pursuant to a Tag-Along Transaction), a number of such class of Company Shares determined by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of such class of Company Shares held by any Management Stockholder (including, if such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares), by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of such class of Company Shares that the Selling Sponsors propose to sell in the applicable Tag-Along Transaction and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of such class of Company Shares held by all Stockholders (including, if such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares). 

(b)          for purposes of Section 2(b) (with respect to each class of Company Shares to be Transferred pursuant to the Drag Along Option), a number of such class of Company Shares determined by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of such class of Company Shares held by any Management Stockholder, by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of such class of Company Shares that the Sponsors propose to sell in such Drag Along transaction and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of such class of Company Shares held by the Sponsors.

“Proportionate Percentage” means, (a) with respect to any Stockholder at the time of any Tag-Along Transaction and with respect to each class of Company Shares to be Transferred pursuant to a Tag-Along Transaction, a fraction (expressed as a percentage) the numerator of 

 

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which is the total number of such class of Company Shares held by such Stockholder as of such time (including, if such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares) and the denominator of which is the total number of such class of Company Shares outstanding at the time of determination (including, if such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares) and (b) for purposes of the last sentence of Section 3.1, with respect to any Management Stockholder and with respect to each class of Company Shares with respect to which Transfer restrictions shall lapse, a fraction (expressed as a percentage) the numerator of which is the total number of such class of Company Shares (including, if such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares) held by such Management Stockholder and the denominator of which is the total number of such class of Company Shares outstanding at the time of determination (including, if
such class is Non-Voting Shares, Deemed Held Shares).  

“Public Sale” means any sale, occurring simultaneously with or after an initial public offering, of Company Shares to the public pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated thereunder or to the public in the manner described by the provisions of Rule 144(f) promulgated thereunder, other than an offering relating to employee incentive plans.

“Purchase Price” means: 

 (a)         (i) in the case where a Management Stockholder is terminated by the Company for Cause and (ii) in the case of a Management Stockholder with an effective employment agreement (containing non-compete provisions) with the Company or its Affiliates, the Management Stockholder violates the non-compete provisions of such employment agreement during the Non-Compete Period and (iii) in the case of a Management Stockholder who is not subject to non-compete provisions with respect to the Company under an effective employment agreement with the Company or its Affiliates, the Management Stockholder voluntarily resigns and joins a Competitor within the Non-Compete Period (for each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)) (x) for the Rollover Shares owned by such Management Stockholder, Fair Market Value and (y) for the
Company Shares (other than Rollover Shares) owned by the Management Stockholder, the lower of Original Cost and Fair Market Value; and 

(b)         in all other cases, the Fair Market Value.

“Put Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(e).

“Qualified Public Offering” means an underwritten public offering of Company Shares by the Company or any selling securityholders pursuant to an effective registration statement filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (other than (a) a registration relating solely to an employee benefit plan or employee stock plan, a dividend reinvestment plan, or a merger or a consolidation, including a registration statement relating to the Rollover Shares or the Management Equity Incentive Plan), (b) a registration incidental to an issuance of securities under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, (c) a registration on Form S-4 under the Securities Act or any successor form under the Securities Act, or (d) a registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act or any successor form under the Securities Act), pursuant to which
the aggregate amount of Company Shares for which a registration filing is made (together with the aggregate amount of Company Shares registered from any prior such offerings) is at 

 

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least 10% of the total then-outstanding equity interests in the Company.  For purposes of clarification, the parties acknowledge and agree that the fact that the Company has a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act from and after the Closing Date does not constitute a Qualified Public Offering.

“Registrable Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(h).

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed with, or to be filed with, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

“Regulatory Laws” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or any other applicable antitrust, competition, fair trade or any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, permit, consent, registration, finding of suitability, approval, license, judgment, order, decree, injunction or other authorization (including any condition or limitation placed thereon and including liquor laws) governing or relating to the current or contemplated casino, hotel and gaming activities and operations of the Company (including all laws relating to related activities such as liquor, cabaret and the like) or regulations.

“Repurchase Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(a).

“Repurchase Event” means, with respect to a Management Stockholder, such Management Stockholder’s termination of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries for any reason.

“Required Voting Percentage” means a majority of the Company Shares outstanding owned by the Management Stockholders as of the date the vote is taken (calculated as if the Preferred Shares had been converted into Non-Voting Shares on the date of such calculation and in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares).  

 “Rollover Shares” means those Company Shares held by Management Stockholders as a result of (a) contributing to the Company prior to the Closing Date common stock or options of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. held by such Management Stockholders or (b) purchasing Company Shares for cash, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) pursuant to a subscription agreement or other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company.   

“Sale Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(i).

“Securities” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s “securities” as defined in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act and includes such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests or any options, warrants or other securities that are directly or indirectly convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such Person’s capital stock or other equity or equity-linked interests, including phantom stock and stock appreciation rights.

 

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

“Selling Sponsors” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(i).

“Senior Management Team” means the Management Stockholders listed on Annex I and such additional Management Stockholders as shall be designated by the Board or the human resources committee of the Board from time to time.

“Sponsors” means each of TPG and Apollo.

“Stockholders” means the holders of securities of the Company who are parties hereto, including Apollo, TPG, Co-Invest Hamlet Holdings, Series LLC, Co-Invest Hamlet Holdings B, LLC, Hamlet Holdings LLC and the Management Stockholders.

 “Tag-Along Stockholder” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).  

“Tag-Along Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).  

“Tag-Along Transaction” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(i).

“Termination Event” means, in relation to any Management Stockholder, the termination of such Management Stockholder’s employment by the Company without Cause or the termination of such Management Stockholder’s employment by such Management Stockholder for Good Reason.

“Termination Put Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(b).

“TPG” means TPG Hamlet Holdings, LLC, TPG Hamlet Holdings B, LLC and any Affiliate thereof investing directly or indirectly in the Company.  

“Transfer” means any direct or indirect transfer, sale, conveyance, exchange, assignment, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other encumbrance or disposition, of Company Shares (or any interest therein or right thereto) associated with the Company Shares (or any interest therein) whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial ownership of Company Shares whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, including, (a) as a part of any liquidation of a Management Stockholder’s assets or (b) as a part of any reorganization of a Management Stockholder pursuant to the United States, state, foreign or other bankruptcy law or other similar debtor relief laws.  “Transferred”, “Transferee” and
“Transferability” shall each have a correlative meaning.

“Underwritten Offering” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(h).

Other Interpretive Provisions.  The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms:

(a)          The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and subsection, 

 

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Section, Exhibit, Schedule and Annex references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(b)          The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”

(c)          The word “or” is not exclusive.

(d)          The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 2.            Certain Transfers.

(a)          Tag-Along Transaction..

(i)           Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b), prior to the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, if one or both Sponsors desire(s) to effect any Transfer of any of their Company Shares (the “Selling Sponsors”) (including by virtue of a Transfer of equity interests in a Person that owns Company Shares, with respect to which this Section 2(a) shall apply) (other than in a Qualified Public Offering and other than a Sponsor’s distribution or dividend of Company Shares to its stockholders, members or partners, with respect to each of which this Section 2(a) shall not apply) to any third party that is not an Affiliate of the Sponsors and the Selling Sponsors do not exercise the Drag Along Option (a “Tag-Along Transaction”), they shall give written notice to the Management Stockholders offering such Management Stockholders the option to participate in such Tag-Along Transaction (a “Sale Notice”).  The Sale Notice shall set forth the material terms of the proposed Tag-Along Transaction and identify the contemplated Transferee or Group.  Such written notice shall include (A) the consideration to be received by the Selling Sponsors, (B) the identity of the purchaser, (C) other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer and (D) the date of the proposed Transfer.  For the avoidance of doubt, if only one Sponsor desires to effect a sale or Transfer of its Company Shares, the term “Selling Sponsors” shall refer only to such Sponsor engaging in such sale or Transfer.        

(ii)          Each of the Management Stockholders may, by written notice to the Selling Sponsors (a “Tag-Along Notice”) delivered within ten (10) days after the date of receipt of the Sale Notice (each such Management Stockholder delivering such timely notice being a “Tag-Along Stockholder”), elect to sell in such Tag-Along Transaction the Company Shares held by such Management Stockholder, provided that the number of shares to be sold by such Management Stockholder will not exceed its Pro Rata Portion.  The Company Shares to be sold by a Tag-Along Stockholder in a Tag-Along Transaction may include Deemed Held Shares.  “Deemed Held Shares” means Company Shares which a Stockholder may obtain by exercising any Options held by such Stockholder that are vested and exercisable as of the relevant measurement date or which would vest and become exercisable in connection with the applicable transaction.  

 

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(iii)        If none of the Management Stockholders delivers a timely Tag-Along Notice, then the Selling Sponsors may thereafter consummate the Tag-Along Transaction, at the same sale price and on substantially the same other terms and conditions as are described in the Sale Notice (including, the number of Company Shares being sold), for a period of ninety (90) days thereafter (subject to extension in the event of required regulatory approvals not having been obtained by such date but in any event no later than two hundred seventy (270) days after receipt of the Tag-Along Notice).  If one or more of the Management Stockholders gives the Selling Sponsors a timely Tag-Along Notice, then the Selling Sponsors shall use reasonable efforts to cause the prospective Transferee or Group to agree to acquire all Company
Shares identified in all timely Tag-Along Notices, upon the same terms and conditions as are applicable to the Company Shares held by the Selling Sponsors.  If such prospective Transferee or Group is unable or unwilling to acquire all Company Shares proposed to be included in the Tag-Along Transaction upon such terms, then the Selling Sponsors may elect either to cancel such Tag-Along Transaction or to allocate the maximum number of shares that such prospective Transferee or Group is willing to purchase (the “Maximum Number”) among the Selling Sponsors and the Tag-Along Stockholders in the proportion that the Proportionate Percentage of each Selling Sponsor and each such Tag-Along Stockholder bears to the total Proportionate Percentages of the Selling Sponsors and the Tag-Along Stockholders and each other holder of securities of the Company exercising “tag along” or similar rights with respect to Company Shares.  In
connection with the Tag-Along Transaction, each Tag-Along Stockholder must agree to make to the proposed Transferee such representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and escrow agreements as those made by the Selling Sponsors (other than provisions relating to non-competition), on a pro rata basis with respect to representations and warranties relating to the Company, but on a full basis with respect to matters relating to such Tag-Along Stockholder’s (1) ownership of and title to Company Shares, (2) organization, (3) authority and (4) conflicts and consents, it being understood that all such representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements shall be made severally and not jointly; provided, however, that no Tag-Along Stockholder shall be liable for more than the total proceeds received by such Stockholder for his or her Company Shares in such Tag-Along
Transaction.  The foregoing notwithstanding, (A) a Tag-Along Stockholder shall not be responsible for the gross negligence or fraud of the Selling Sponsor(s) or any other Tag-Along Stockholder or (B) for any indemnification obligations and liabilities (including through escrow or holdback arrangements) for breaches of representations and warranties and related escrow or holdback claims made by the Selling Sponsor(s) or any other Tag-Along Seller made with respect to such other seller’s (1) ownership of and title to Company Shares, (2) organization, (3) authority or (4) conflicts and consents and any other matter concerning such other seller, or for breaches of any covenant made by the Selling Sponsor(s) or any other Tag-Along Stockholder.  In addition, in connection with the Tag-Along Transaction, each Tag-Along Stockholder shall bear a pro rata portion of the total costs incurred by the Selling Sponsors in connection with such Tag-Along Transaction based on the number of Company
Shares sold in such Tag-Along Transaction to the extent not paid or reimbursed by the prospective Transferee or the Company, and shall take the actions referred to in the second sentence of Section 2(b)(ii) (as such actions would relate to a Tag-Along Transaction).  

(iv)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2(a), until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Selling Sponsors may make Transfers of an aggregate amount of up to 10% of the outstanding Company Shares as of the date hereof (calculated as if the Preferred Shares had been converted into Non-Voting Shares on the date of such calculation and in 

 

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accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares) without complying with the other provisions of this Section 2(a).

(v)          For the avoidance of doubt, other than with respect to the 10% threshold which shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2(a)(iv), the tag-along rights exercisable pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be determined separately with respect to each class of Company Shares (i.e., (x) the Transfer of Preferred Shares shall give rise to tag-along rights with respect to Preferred Shares only, (y) the Transfer of Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to tag-along rights with respect to Non-Voting Shares only and (z) the Transfer of Preferred Shares and Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to tag-along rights with respect to each of the Preferred Shares and the Non-Voting Shares, but determinations with respect to the number of shares entitled to the
tag along right shall be determined on a class by class basis) including with respect to the determination of any Pro Rata Portion, Maximum Number and Proportionate Percentage.

(b).           Drag Along Option.

(i)           If the Selling Sponsors desire to sell or Transfer more than 40% of the Initial Sponsor Company Shares (calculated as if the Preferred Shares had been converted into Non-Voting Shares on the date of such calculation and in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares) to a third party that is not an Affiliate of either Sponsor in one transaction or in a series of related transactions, then in lieu of complying with the requirements of Section 2(a), at the Selling Sponsors’ option (the “Drag Along Option”), the Selling Sponsors may require all Management Stockholders to sell their Pro Rata Portion to the Transferee or Group selected by the Selling Sponsors, at the same
price per share and on the same terms and conditions as apply to those sold by the Selling Sponsors.  For the avoidance of doubt, if only one Sponsor desires to effect a sale or Transfer of its Company Shares, the term “Selling Sponsors” shall refer only to such Sponsor engaging in such sale or Transfer.

(ii)          Each Management Stockholder shall consent to and raise no objections against the Drag Along Option, and if the Drag Along Option is structured as (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company or an Asset Sale, each Management Stockholder shall vote in favor of the transaction, take such other action as may be required to effect such transaction and waive any dissenters rights, appraisal rights or similar rights in connection with such merger, consolidation or Asset Sale, or (B) a sale of all the capital stock of the Company, the Management Stockholders shall vote in favor of the transaction, take such other action as may be required to effect such transaction and agree to sell all their Company Shares which are the subject of the Drag Along Option (including their Deemed Held Shares) (the
“Drag Along Shares”).  The Management Stockholders shall take all necessary and desirable actions reasonably requested by the Selling Sponsors in connection with the consummation of the Drag Along Option, including the execution of such agreements and such instruments and the taking of such other actions as are reasonably necessary, in each case, to provide the same representations, warranties, indemnities and escrow arrangements as those provided by the Selling Sponsors relating to such Drag Along Option (other than provisions relating to non-competition); provided, however, that any obligations under such agreements applicable to any Management Stockholder (other than with respect to such Management Stockholder’s representations and warranties regarding (1) ownership of and title to Drag Along Shares, (2) organization, (3)
authority or (4) conflicts and consents, with respect to which such 

 

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Management Stockholder shall be fully responsible) shall be applicable (x) in the case of a transaction structured as a merger or consolidation of the Company or Asset Sale, to all security holders of the Company and (y) in the case of a transaction structured as a sale of the capital stock of the Company, to all security holders of the Company selling shares in such transaction, in each case set forth in (x) and (y), on a pro rata basis, determined by reference to the aggregate amount of Drag Along Shares subject to the transaction.  In no event shall a Management Stockholder be liable for more than the total proceeds received by such Management Stockholder in the transaction giving rise to the Drag Along Option.  It is understood and agreed that the Selling Sponsors may exercise more than one Drag Along Option.

(iii)         For the avoidance of doubt, other than with respect to the 40% trigger which shall be calculated in accordance with Section 2(b)(i), the Drag Along Option exercisable pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall be determined separately with respect to each class of Company Shares (i.e., (x) the Transfer of Preferred Shares shall give rise to a Drag Along Option with respect to Preferred Shares only, (y) the Transfer of Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to a Drag Along Option with respect to Non-Voting Shares only and (z) the Transfer of Preferred Shares and Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to Drag Along Options with respect to each of the Preferred Shares and the Non-Voting Shares, but determinations with respect to the number of shares subject to the
Drag Along Option shall be determined on a class by class basis) including with respect to the determination of any Pro Rata Portion.

(c)          The Company and each Management Stockholder shall cooperate in causing any Deemed Held Shares of such Management Stockholder that are ultimately included in a Drag Along Option or a Tag Along Transaction, as the case may be, to be delivered to the Management Stockholder immediately prior to the closing of such Drag Along Option or Tag Along Transaction in order that the Management Stockholder may exercise his rights under Section 2(a) or that the Selling Sponsors may exercise their rights under Section 2(b), as the case may be.

(d)          Upon the closing of the sale of any Company Shares (including any Deemed Held Shares) pursuant to this Section 2, the Stockholders shall deliver at such closing, against payment of the purchase price therefor, certificates representing their Company Shares to be sold, duly endorsed for Transfer or accompanied by duly endorsed stock powers, and evidence of the absence of liens, encumbrances and adverse claims with respect thereto and of such other matters as are deemed necessary by the Company for the proper Transfer of such shares on the books of the Company.

Section 3.         Transfers; Additional Parties.

3.1           Restrictions; Permitted Transfers.

Except as set forth herein, without the prior written consent of the Company, no Management Stockholder shall make any Transfer, directly or indirectly, through an Affiliate or otherwise.  The preceding sentence shall apply with respect to all Company Shares held at any time by a Management Stockholder (including all Options and all Company Shares that may be acquired or received upon the exercise or settlement of any Option), regardless of the manner in which such Management Stockholder initially acquired such Company Shares.  Notwithstanding 

 

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the foregoing, the following Transfers by a Management Stockholder shall be permitted at any time:

(a)          Transfers pursuant to Section 4 (Piggyback Rights);

(b)          any Transfer after a Qualified Public Offering;

(c)          any Transfer to such Management Stockholder’s estate upon the death of such Management Stockholder or pursuant to a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights;

(d)          any Transfer permitted pursuant to Section 2(a) or required pursuant to Section 2(b); and

(e)          with the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that the withholding of consent in order to avoid registration requirements under applicable securities laws shall be deemed reasonable per se), (1) to a trust or other entity controlled by the Management Stockholder for estate planning purposes, (2) to family members (as defined in Form S-8 under the Securities Act) of the Management Stockholder and (3) solely with respect to the Senior Management Team, for charitable giving purposes;

provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e) above, each such Transfer complies with the terms of this Agreement and applicable securities laws and the terms of any underwriting agreement, rules and regulations in effect at the time of the Transfer, and that in no event will Transfers by a Management Stockholder to a Competitor be permitted; provided, further, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e) above, no Transfer shall be permitted at any time unless the Company is reasonably satisfied that such Transfer would not violate applicable Regulatory Laws or cause or result in any Stockholder or other Person (other than the Sponsors and their
Transferees) to have a greater than a 4.9% direct or indirect ownership interest in the Company.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event that a Sponsor makes a distribution or dividend of Company Shares to its stockholders, members or partners, then the Transfer restrictions contained in this Section 3.1 shall lapse with respect to a Proportionate Percentage of each Management Stockholder’s Company Shares held on the date of such distribution, except that the limitations set forth in the provisos contained in the immediately preceding sentence shall continue to apply without limitation, it being understood that the lapse right described in this sentence shall be determined and shall apply separately with respect to each class of Company Shares (e.g., (x) a dividend or distribution of Preferred Shares shall give rise to a lapse right with respect to Preferred Shares only, (y) a dividend or
distribution of Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to a lapse right with respect to Non-Voting Shares only and (z) a dividend or distribution of Preferred Shares and Non-Voting Shares shall give rise to lapse rights with respect to each of the Preferred Shares and the Non-Voting Shares, but determinations with respect to the number of shares subject to the lapse right shall be determined on a class by class basis) including with respect to the determination of any Proportionate Percentage. 

 

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3.2       Additional Parties.

 

(a)          As a condition to the Company’s obligation to effect a Transfer of Company Shares permitted by this Agreement on the books and records of the Company (other than a Transfer to the Sponsors or of any of the Sponsors’ Affiliates, the Company or any subsidiary of the Company), the Transferee shall be required to become a party to this Agreement by executing (together with such Person’s spouse, if applicable) an Adoption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto or in such other form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

(b)          In the event that any Person acquires Company Shares, other than in connection with a Public Sale, from (i) a Management Stockholder or any Affiliate of a Management Stockholder or member of such Management Stockholder’s Group or (ii) any direct or indirect Transferee of a Management Stockholder, such Person shall be subject to any and all obligations and restrictions of such Management Stockholder hereunder, as if such Person was such Management Stockholder named herein.  Additionally, other than in connection with a Public Sale, whenever a Management Stockholder makes a Transfer of Company Shares, such Company Shares shall contain a legend so as to inform any Transferee that such Company Shares were held originally by a Management Stockholder and are subject to repurchase pursuant
to Section 5 below based on the employment of or events relating to such Management Stockholder.  Such legend shall not be placed on any Company Shares acquired from a Management Stockholder by the Company, the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates.

3.3       Securities Restrictions; Legends.

(a)          No Company Shares shall be transferable except upon the conditions specified in this Section 3.3, which conditions are intended to insure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

(b)          Each certificate representing Company Shares shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of paragraph (d) below) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.  THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS.  

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JANUARY 28, 2008 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”), AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED 

 

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THEREIN.  THE TERMS OF SUCH MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.  A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”  

(c)          The holder of any Company Shares by acceptance thereof agrees, prior to any Transfer of any such shares, to give written notice to the Company of such holder’s intention to effect such Transfer and to comply in all other respects with the provisions of this Section 3.3.  Each such notice shall describe the number of shares to be Transferred and the proposed Transferee.  The requirement to include the first paragraph of the legend referred to above shall cease and terminate as to any particular Company Shares when, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company, such restriction is no longer required in order to assure compliance with the Securities Act and the state securities or “blue sky” laws.  The requirement to include the second paragraph of the legend referred
to above shall cease and terminate as to any particular Company Shares when, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company, the provisions of this Agreement are no longer applicable to such shares or this Agreement shall have terminated in accordance with its terms.  

(d)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.3, the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.3 upon the Transferability of any Company Shares shall cease and terminate when (i) any such shares are sold or otherwise Transferred pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) after a Qualified Public Offering, the holder of such shares has met the requirements for Transfer of such shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  Whenever the restrictions imposed by this Section 3 shall terminate, the holder of any shares as to which such restrictions have terminated shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense, a new certificate not bearing the restrictive legend set forth in paragraph (b) above and not containing any
other reference to the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.3.

3.4          Improper Transfers.  Any Transfer or attempted Transfer in breach of this Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no effect.  In connection with any attempted Transfer in breach of this Agreement, the Company may hold and refuse to Transfer any Company Shares or any certificate therefor, in addition to and without prejudice to any and all other rights or remedies which may be available to it or the Stockholders.

3.5     Preemptive Rights. 

(a)          Prior to a Qualified Public Offering, if the Company proposes to issue or sell for cash any newly issued shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock (the “Preemptive Shares”), excluding any Excluded Offering, then the Company shall provide each member of the Senior Management Team and each other Stockholder that is not a Management Stockholder (the “Preemptive Optionees”) with written notice (a “Preemptive Notice”) thereof at least ten (10) business days prior to the closing thereof and offer each Preemptive Optionee the opportunity to
purchase on the same terms and for the same consideration as other purchasers of Preemptive 

 

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Shares at the closing of such transaction a number of such Preemptive Shares as will enable such Preemptive Optionee to maintain its Actual Ownership Percentage immediately following such transaction (such Preemptive Optionee’s “Applicable Preemptive Shares”).  

(b)          Each Preemptive Optionee shall have a period of ten (10) business days after delivery of the Preemptive Notice to elect to purchase its Applicable Preemptive Shares or a portion thereof having an aggregate value of not less than $50,000, such election to be made by delivery of written notice to the Company.

(c)          If a Preemptive Optionee makes the election referred to in clause (b) above, such Preemptive Optionee shall enter into such agreements concerning the sale and purchase of its Applicable Preemptive Shares to which a Preemptive Notice relates as are entered into by the other purchasers of the Preemptive Shares to which such Preemptive Notice relates.  The closing of all the purchases of all the Preemptive Shares shall take place simultaneously.  

(d)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide the advance notice described in clause (a) above and instead may effect a transaction otherwise subject to this Section 3.5 without complying with such provisions, provided that the Company sets aside for the Delay Period (as defined below) the maximum number of Preemptive Shares as would be purchasable by the Preemptive Optionee under this Section 3.5 if a Preemptive Notice had been given with respect to such transaction in accordance with Section 3.5(a).  Prior to or after but no later than ten 10 business days after the closing of such transaction, the Company shall notify (a “Delayed Notice”) each Preemptive
Optionee that it may exercise preemptive rights under this Section 3.5 for its Applicable Preemptive Shares in amounts calculated in accordance with Section 3.5(a) for a fifteen (15) business day period after the giving of the Delayed Notice (the “Delay Period”).  If such rights are exercised by a Preemptive Optionee by delivery of a notice to the Company prior to the end of the Delay Period, the provisions of Section 3.5(c) shall apply to such Preemptive Optionee’s purchase of such Applicable Preemptive Shares, provided that the closing of such Applicable Preemptive Shares shall take place on such date as is set by the Company within fifteen (15) business days after the Delay Period. 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.5(a) to the contrary, preemptive rights will not apply to securities (i) issued upon the exercise of options warrants or convertible securities, (ii) granted under any employee benefit plan or other option or compensation plan approved by the Board, (iii) issued to a strategic investor, (iv) issued in connection with any reorganization, reclassification, merger, business combination or similar event, (v) issued in connection with a debt financing transaction, (vi) issued in connection with a Qualified Public Offering, (vii) in order to fund an acquisition or property development project by the Company or its Affiliates or an entity in which the Company or its Affiliates holds a direct or indirect interest or (viii) issued to the Sponsors or their
Affiliates in the form of Company Shares in an aggregate amount of up to ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Company Shares, issued in exchange for a cash reimbursement of the cash used by the Company to pay a portion of the merger consideration on the Closing Date, within sixty (60) days of the Closing Date (subject to reasonable delays in the event of late receipt of required regulatory approvals) at the same price, 

 

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on a per share basis, as the Non-Voting Shares issued to each Stockholder on the Closing Date (each, an “Excluded Offering”).   

Section 4.    Piggyback Registration Rights.

(a)          Participation.  Subject to Section 4(b), if the Company files a Registration Statement (i) in connection with the exercise of any demand rights by the Sponsors, or (ii) in connection with which the Sponsors are selling stockholders (other than a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 under the Securities Act or any successor form to such Forms or any registration of securities as it relates to an offering and sale to management of the Company pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement) with respect to an offering that includes any Company Shares, then the Company shall give prompt notice (the “Initial Notice”) to the Management
Stockholders and the Management Stockholders shall be entitled to include in such Registration Statement the Registrable Securities (as defined in Section 4(h)) held by them; provided, however, that the Management Stockholders shall only have such rights to include their Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement with respect to a Qualified Public Offering in which a Sponsor is participating as a selling stockholder.  If the Management Stockholders elect to include any or all of their Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement, then the Company shall give prompt notice (the “Piggyback Notice”) to each Stockholder (excluding the Management Stockholders) and each such Stockholder shall be entitled to include in such Registration Statement the Registrable Securities held by it. The Initial Notice and Piggyback Notice
shall offer the Management Stockholders and the Stockholders, respectively, the right, subject to Section 4(b) (the “Piggyback Registration Right”), to register such number of Registrable Securities as each Management Stockholder and each Stockholder may request and shall set forth (i) the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement and (ii) the number of Company Shares that is proposed to be included in such Registration Statement.  Subject to Section 4(b), the Company shall include in such Registration Statement such Registrable Securities for which it has received written requests to register within fifteen (15) days after the Initial Notice and seven (7) days after the Piggyback Notice has been given.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 4(a), if the managing underwriter for the initial Underwritten Offering reasonably advises the Company that the inclusion of the number of Company
Shares proposed to be included in any registration by any Management Stockholder who constitutes a key employee of the Company or its subsidiaries would interfere with the successful marketing (including pricing) of such shares to be offered thereby, then the number of such shares proposed to be included in such registration by such Management Stockholder shall be reduced to the lower of the number of such shares that the managing underwriter advises that such Management Stockholder may sell in the initial Underwritten Offering and the number of such shares calculated pursuant to the foregoing.

(b)          Underwriters’ Cutback.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration pursuant to this Section 4 involves an Underwritten Offering (as defined in Section 4(h)(ii)) and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such proposed Underwritten Offering informs the Company in writing that, in its opinion, the number of securities which such Stockholders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered in such offering, then the number of securities proposed to be included in such registration shall be included in the following order:  

 

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(i) first, 100% of the securities proposed to be sold in such registration by the Company or any Person (other than a Stockholder) exercising a contractual right to demand Registration, as the case may be, proposes to sell, and (ii) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated pro rata among the Stockholders and any other holders of securities of the Company that have requested to participate in such registration based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Stockholder (provided that any securities thereby
allocated to a Stockholder that exceed such Stockholder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Stockholders and any other holders of securities of the Company in like manner) and (iii) third, and only if all of the Registrable Securities referred to in clause (ii) have been included in such Registration, any other securities eligible for inclusion in such registration.

(c)          Lock-up.  If the Company at any time shall register Company Shares under the Securities Act for sale to the public, no Management Stockholder shall sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose publicly of, any capital stock of the Company without the prior written consent of the Company, for the period of time in which the Sponsors have similarly agreed with the underwriters in writing not to sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose publicly of, any capital stock of the Company.  In addition, if requested by the managing underwriter(s), in connection with the initial public offering, all Stockholders shall enter into a customary lock-up agreement with
the managing underwriter(s) for such period as may be required by the managing underwriter(s), subject to customary exceptions in the Company’s discretion, provided that such lock-up agreement (with comparable terms and conditions) shall have also been executed by each Sponsor.  This Section 4(c) shall terminate with respect to Management Stockholders who are not Affiliates or executive officers of the Company upon the first anniversary of the Qualified Public Offering, provided, that, at such time, the Company Shares held by such Management Stockholder shall cease to be Registrable Securities.

(d)          Company Control.  The Company may decline to file a Registration Statement after giving the Initial Notice or the Piggyback Notice, or withdraw a Registration Statement after filing and after such Piggyback Notice, but prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided that the Company shall promptly notify each Stockholder in writing of any such action and provided further that the Company shall bear all reasonable expenses incurred by such Stockholder or otherwise in connection with such withdrawn Registration Statement.  Except as provided in Section 4(f), notwithstanding any other provision herein, the
Company shall have sole discretion to select any and all underwriters that may participate in any Underwritten Offering.

(e)          Participation in Underwritten Offerings.  No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-ups and other documents required for such underwriting arrangements.  Nothing in this Section 4(e) shall be construed to create any 

 

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additional rights regarding the piggyback registration of Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein.

(f)           Expenses.  The Company will pay all registration fees and other customary and reasonable expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 4, provided that each Stockholder shall pay all applicable underwriting fees, discounts and similar charges (pro rata based on the securities sold) and shall be responsible for its own legal fees.

(g)          Indemnification. 

(i)           Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each selling Stockholder, its officers, directors, employees and representatives and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such selling Stockholder against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, except insofar as the same may be caused by or contained in any information furnished to the Company
by such selling Stockholder for use therein; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such preliminary prospectus if (A) such selling Stockholder failed to deliver or cause to be delivered a copy of the prospectus to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense after the Company has furnished such selling Stockholder with a sufficient number of copies of the same and (B) the prospectus completely corrected in a timely manner such untrue statement or omission; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the prospectus, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the prospectus and the selling Stockholder thereafter fails to deliver such prospectus as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense after the Company had furnished such selling Stockholder with a sufficient number of copies of the same.  The Company will also indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the selling Stockholder, if requested.

(ii)          Indemnification by Selling Stockholders.  Each selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees and representatives and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required 

 

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to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished by such selling Stockholder to the Company for inclusion in such Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense.  In no event shall the liability of any selling Stockholder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such selling Stockholder upon the sale of the securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.  The Company and the selling Stockholders shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar
securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, to the same extent as provided above with respect to information so furnished in writing by such Persons for inclusion in any prospectus or Registration Statement.

(iii)         Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt (but in any event within 30 days after such Person has actual knowledge of the facts constituting the basis for indemnification) written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that the indemnifying
party is actually prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure; provided, further, however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon advice of counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect
to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person).  If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld), provided that an indemnified party shall not be required to consent to any settlement involving the imposition of equitable remedies or involving the imposition of any material obligations on such indemnified party other than financial obligations for which such indemnified party will be indemnified hereunder.  No indemnifying party will be required to consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as
an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.  Whenever the indemnified party or the indemnifying party receives a firm offer to settle a claim for which indemnification is sought hereunder, it shall promptly notify the other of such offer.  If the indemnifying party refuses to accept such offer within 20 business days after receipt of such offer (or of notice thereof), such claim shall continue to be contested and, if such claim is within the scope of the indemnifying party’s indemnity contained herein, the indemnified party shall be indemnified pursuant to the terms hereof.  If the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party in writing that 

 

22

 

 

the indemnifying party desires to accept such offer, but the indemnified party refuses to accept such offer within 20 business days after receipt of such notice, the indemnified party may continue to contest such claim and, in such event, the total maximum liability of the indemnifying party to indemnify or otherwise reimburse the indemnified party hereunder with respect to such claim shall be limited to and shall not exceed the amount of such offer, plus reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) to the date of notice that the indemnifying party desires to accept such offer, provided that this sentence shall not apply to any settlement of any claim involving the imposition of equitable remedies or to any settlement imposing any material obligations on such indemnified party other than financial
obligations for which such indemnified party will be indemnified hereunder.  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim in any one jurisdiction, unless in the written opinion of counsel to the indemnified party, reasonably satisfactory to the indemnifying party, use of one counsel would be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which even the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of each additional counsel.

(iv)         Other Indemnification.  Indemnification similar to that specified in this Section 4(g) (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each selling Stockholder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under Federal or state law or regulation of governmental authority other than the Securities Act.

(v)          Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding clauses g(i) and g(ii) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by the preceding clauses g(i) and g(ii), then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, but also the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations, provided that no selling Stockholder shall be required
to contribute in an amount greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such selling Stockholder with respect to the sale of any securities under this Section 4.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(h)         Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Section 4:

(i)           “Registrable Securities” shall mean Company Shares and any security issued or distributed in respect thereof, provided that any Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been or may be disposed of in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in such registration statement, (B) such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in reliance upon Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act or (C) such Registrable Securities shall have been
otherwise Transferred and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further 

 

23

 

 

Transfer under the Securities Act shall have been delivered by the Company; and provided, further, that any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not thereafter become Registrable Securities and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities is not a Registrable Security.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4(h)(i), with respect to any Registration Statement that registers Non-Voting Shares, “Registrable Securities” shall only include Non-Voting Shares and with respect to any Registration Statement that registers only Preferred Shares, “Registrable Securities” shall only include Preferred Shares.  

(ii)          “Underwritten Offering” means a sale of Company Shares to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Section 5.         Repurchase Rights.

(a)          Company Repurchase Right.  From and after a Repurchase Event with respect to any Management Stockholder, the Company and its subsidiaries shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase all or any portion of the Company Shares held by such Management Stockholder in accordance with this Section 5 for the Purchase Price; provided, however, that the Company’s right to repurchase Rollover Shares shall apply only if (i) the Management Stockholder’s employment is terminated for Cause or (ii) in the case of a Management Stockholder with an effective employment agreement (containing non-compete provisions) with the Company or its Affiliates, the Management
Stockholder violates the non-competition provisions of such employment agreement during the Non-Compete Period, or (iii) in the case of a Management Stockholder who is not subject to non-competition provisions under an effective employment agreement with the Company or its Affiliates, the Management Stockholder voluntarily resigns and joins a Competitor during the Non-Compete Period.  The Company or any of its subsidiaries may exercise its right to purchase such Company Shares until the date (the “Repurchase Date”) that is (i) with respect to Company Shares held by such Management Stockholder on such Repurchase Event (including, only with respect to a for Cause termination, the Rollover Shares), ninety (90) days after the termination of employment, and (ii) with respect to Company Shares acquired upon the exercise of Options that were unexercised Options on such Repurchase Event, the later of (x) the one-hundred and eighty-first
(181st) day after the date such Options have been exercised by the applicable Management Stockholder or such Management Stockholder’s successors, assigns or representatives and (y) ninety (90) days after the termination of employment; provided, however, that with respect to each of clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 5(a), in the case of a Management Stockholder who (1) voluntarily resigns and joins a Competitor or (2) violates the non-compete provisions of an effective employment agreement with the Company or its Affiliates during the applicable Non-Compete Period, the Company shall have until ninety (90) days following the expiration of the applicable Non-Compete Period) to exercise its repurchase right.  

(b)          Management Stockholder Put Request.  If, prior to the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, a Termination Event occurs, then such Management Stockholder or such Management Stockholder’s legal representative or trustee, as the case may be, shall have the right to require (a “Termination Put Request”) that the Company purchase all or a portion of such Management Stockholder’s Rollover Shares at Fair Market Value; provided, however, that 

 

25

 

 

in no event shall the Company be obligated to honor a Termination Put Request made after the date which is ninety (90) days after the Termination Event.  

(c)          Economic Hardship Put Request.  If, prior to the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, an Economic Hardship Event occurs with respect to a Management Stockholder, then such Management Stockholder or such Management Stockholder’s legal representative or trustee, as the case may be, shall have the right to require (an “Economic Hardship Put Request”) that the Company purchase all or a portion of such Management Stockholder’s Rollover Shares at Fair Market Value; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to honor an Economic Hardship Put Request made after the date which is
ninety (90) days following the end of the fiscal year in which the event or events constituting the Economic Hardship Event occur(s).  In addition to the other restrictions in this Section 5(c), all Economic Hardship Put Requests shall be subject to the following limitations: (i) the maximum value of Rollover Shares which any Management Stockholder will be permitted to sell to the Company in the aggregate (taking into account any prior exercises of the Economic Hardship Put Request by such Management Stockholder) shall not exceed 75% of the Management Stockholder’s total original invested capital in the Company (in each case, with such maximum value determined based on the Fair Market Value of the Rollover Shares at the time of the proposed sale) and (ii) the Company shall not be required to purchase Rollover Shares (A) for each fiscal year that ends prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, in excess of an aggregate maximum value (for all Management Stockholders taken
together) of $5 million per fiscal year, (B) for each fiscal year that ends after the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date but prior to the seventh anniversary of Closing Date, in excess of an aggregate maximum value (for all Management Stockholders taken together) of $20 million per fiscal year and (C) for each fiscal year that ends after the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, in excess of an aggregate maximum value (for all Management Stockholders taken together) of $30 million per fiscal year (in the case of each of clauses (A), (B) and (C), with such maximum value determined based on the Fair Market Value of the Rollover Shares at the time of the proposed sale).   

(d)          The Sponsors’ Repurchase Right.  The Company or a subsidiary thereof shall give written notice to the Sponsors stating whether the Company or any subsidiary will exercise its purchase rights pursuant to Section 5(a) above.  If such notice states that the Company and its subsidiaries will not exercise their purchase rights for all or a portion of the Company Shares then subject thereto, the Sponsors shall have the right to purchase such Company Shares not purchased by the Company or its subsidiaries on the same terms and conditions as the Company and its subsidiaries until the later of (i) the 30th day following the receipt of such notice or (ii) the occurrence of the Repurchase Date (in the case of a repurchase pursuant to clause (a)(i) above).

(e)          Closing.  The Company shall exercise its repurchase right pursuant to Section 5(a) and the Sponsors shall exercise their repurchase right pursuant to Section 5(d) by delivering to the applicable Management Stockholder a written notice specifying its intent to purchase Company Shares held by the Management Stockholder (the “Call Notice”), the date as of which such right is to be exercised and the number of Company Shares to be purchased.  A Management Stockholder shall exercise its Termination Put Request pursuant to Section 5(b) or its Economic Hardship Put Request pursuant to Section 5(c), as applicable, by delivering to the 

 

26

 

 

Company a written notice (the “Put Notice”) specifying the number of Company Shares to be purchased.  The purchase and sale pursuant to this Section 5(e) shall occur on such date as the Company (or its designated assignee) or the Sponsors shall specify, which date shall not be later than thirty (30) days after the date of the Call Notice or the Put Notice, as applicable.  The Company, one of its subsidiaries, or the Sponsors, as applicable, will pay for the Company Shares purchased by them pursuant to this Section 5 by delivery of a check or wire transfer of funds, in exchange for the delivery by the Management Stockholder of the certificates representing such Company Shares, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, such subsidiary or the Sponsors, as applicable; provided, however, that in the event the Company reasonably determines that such payment will result in the violation of the terms or provisions of, or result in a default or event of default under, any guarantee, financing or security agreement or document entered into by the Company or any of its Affiliates and in effect on such date, the Company shall fund any amount not so permitted to be paid in cash with a Buy-Out Note, and provided further that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a waiver of any such violation, default or event of default.  The Company shall have the right to record such purchase on its books and records without the consent of the Management Stockholder.  The determination date for purposes of determining the Fair Market Value under this Section 5 shall be the date of the applicable Put Notice or Call Notice. 

(f)           Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, or may permit a Management Stockholder to elect to pay the Company any such required withholding taxes.  If such Management Stockholder so elects, the payment by such Management Stockholder of such taxes shall be a condition to the receipt of amounts payable to such Management Stockholder under this Agreement.  The Company shall, to the extent permitted or required by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to such Management Stockholder.

Section 6.            Notices.  In the event a notice or other document is required to be sent hereunder to the Company or to any Stockholder or the spouse or legal representative of a Stockholder, such notice or other document, if sent by mail, shall be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested (and by air mail in the event the addressee is not in the continental United States), to the party entitled to receive such notice or other document at the address set forth on Annex II hereto.  Any such notice shall be effective and deemed received three (3) days after proper deposit in the mails, but actual notice shall be effective however and whenever received.  The Company, any Stockholder or any spouse or
legal representative of a Stockholder may effect a change of address for purposes of this Agreement by giving notice of such change to the Company, and the Company shall, upon the request of any party hereto, notify such party of such change in the manner provided herein.  Until such notice of change of address is properly given, the addresses set forth on Annex II shall be effective for all purposes.

Section 7.         Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)          Each Management Stockholder that is an entity that was formed for the sole purpose of acquiring Company Shares or that has no substantial assets other than the Company Shares or interests in Company Shares agrees that (i) certificates of shares of its 

 

27

 

 

common stock or other instruments reflecting equity interests in such entity (and the certificates for shares of common stock or other equity interests in any similar entities controlling such entity) will note the restrictions contained in this Agreement on the Transfer of Company Shares as if such common stock or other equity interests were Company Shares and (ii) no such shares of common stock or other equity interests may be Transferred to any Person other than in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement as if such shares or equity interests were Company Shares.

(b)          No Management Stockholder shall enter into any stockholder agreements or arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to any Securities of the Company on terms inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such agreements or arrangements are with other Stockholders or with Persons that are not parties to this Agreement), including agreements or arrangements with respect to the acquisition or Transfer of any Securities of the Company in a manner inconsistent with this Agreement.

(c)          THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED.  IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

(d)          This Agreement (including the rights and obligations of each party hereto) shall be binding upon the Company, the Sponsors, the Management Stockholders, any spouses of the Management Stockholders, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and permitted successors and assigns.  

(e)          This Agreement may be amended or waived from time to time by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Sponsors; provided, however, that the consent of the Management Representative (as defined below) shall be required for (i) any amendment or waiver (except as set forth below) that, in any material respect, discriminates against or could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the rights of Management Stockholders under this Agreement or (ii) any amendment or waiver to this sentence.  By signing this Agreement, each Management Stockholder irrevocably authorizes and appoints the Management Representative as his or her sole and exclusive agent, attorney-in-fact and
representative for the approval of Amendments described in the first sentence of this Section 7(e).  The consent of the Management Stockholders representing the Required Voting Percentage shall be required for any amendment or waiver to Section 5 that adversely affects the rights of Management Stockholders under Section 5 in any material respect.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company issues a new class of capital stock, the Company may in good faith amend the terms of this Agreement to reflect such issuance and apply the terms of this Agreement to such new class of capital stock.  “Management Representative” shall initially mean Gary W. Loveman; provided, however, that the Management Stockholders may replace the 

 

28

 

 

Management Representative by the consent of Management Stockholders representing the Required Percentage so long as notice of such replacement is provided in accordance with Section 6.

(f)           This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the dissolution of the Company (unless the Company continues to exist after such dissolution as a limited liability company or in another form, whether incorporated in Delaware or another jurisdiction); provided, however, that if Registrable Securities have been registered pursuant to Section 4 prior to such termination, Section 4(g) shall survive such termination.  In addition, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Public Offering, the provisions of Sections 2, 3 and 5 hereof shall terminate; provided, however, that Section 3 shall survive to the extent necessary to comply with applicable securities laws.

(g)          Any Stockholder who Transfers of all of his, her or its Company Shares in conformity with the terms of this Agreement shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no further rights hereunder other than rights to indemnification under Section 4(g), if applicable.

(h)          The spouses of the individual Management Stockholders are fully aware of, understand and fully consent and agree to the provisions of this Agreement and its binding effect upon any community property interests or similar marital property interests in the Company Shares or other Company securities they may now or hereafter own, and agree that the termination of their marital relationship with any Management Stockholder for any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Company Shares or other securities of the Company otherwise subject to this Agreement from the coverage of this Agreement and that their awareness, understanding, consent and agreement are evidenced by their signing this Agreement.  Furthermore, each individual Management Stockholder agrees to cause his or her spouse
(and any subsequent spouse) to execute and deliver, upon the request of the Company, a counterpart of this Agreement, or an Adoption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in a form satisfactory to the Company.

(i)           Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this Agreement will be inadequate, agrees that each other party to this Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach and further agrees to waive (to the extent legally permissible) any legal conditions required to be met for the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief (including posting any bond in order to obtain equitable relief).

(j)           This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.  It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.  The failure of any Stockholder to execute this Agreement does not make it invalid as against any other Stockholder.

(k)          Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this 

 

29

 

 

Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, and such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions shall be null and void as to such jurisdiction.  It is the intent of the parties, however, that any invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions be automatically replaced by other provisions which are as similar as possible in terms to such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions but are valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

(l)           Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and other documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(m)         The parties to this Agreement agree that jurisdiction and venue in any action brought by any party hereto pursuant to this Agreement shall exclusively and properly lie in the Delaware State Chancery Court located in Wilmington, Delaware, or (in the event that such court denies jurisdiction) any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware.  By execution and delivery of this Agreement each party hereto irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts for himself or herself and in respect of his or her property with respect to such action.  The parties hereto irrevocably agree that venue for such action would be proper in such court, and hereby waive any objection that such court is an improper or inconvenient forum for the resolution of such action.  The parties further agree
that the mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, of any process required by any such court shall constitute valid and lawful service of process against them, without necessity for service by any other means provided by statute or rule of court.

(n)          No course of dealing between the Company, or its subsidiaries, and the Stockholders (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement.  The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

(o)          BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS.  THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.

 

30

 

 

 

(p)          Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto, whether written, oral or otherwise, as to such subject matter.  Unless otherwise provided herein, any consent required by the Company may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion.

(q)          Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Person not a party to this Agreement, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, shall be entitled to enforce any rights or remedies under this Agreement.

(r)           If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Company Shares by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Company Shares as so changed.

(s)           No director of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or any Stockholder as a result of any acts or omissions taken under this Agreement in good faith.

(t)           In the event additional Company Shares are issued by the Company to a Stockholder at any time during the term of this Agreement, either directly or upon the exercise or exchange of securities of the Company exercisable for or exchangeable into shares or Company Shares, such additional Company Shares, as a condition to their issuance, shall become subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

(u)          Neither the ownership of Company Shares or grant of Options nor any provision contained in this Agreement shall entitle the Management Stockholder to obtain employment with or remain in the employment of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or affect any right the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company may have to terminate the Management Stockholder’s employment, pursuant to an applicable employment agreement or otherwise for any reason.  This Agreement is subject and without prejudice to the Management Equity Incentive Plan or any employment agreement, consulting arrangement or other contractual arrangement binding on a Management Stockholder. 

*   *   *   *   *

 

31

 

 

 

This Agreement is executed by the Company, the Sponsors, and by each Management Stockholder and spouse of each Management Stockholder to be effective as of the date first above written. 

 

	 	HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

 

	 	HAMLET HOLDINGS LLC
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

 

	 	APOLLO HAMLET HOLDINGS, LLC
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

 

	 	APOLLO HAMLET HOLDINGS B, LLC
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

 

  

32

 

 

 

	 	 TPG HAMLET HOLDINGS, LLC
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

	 	TPG HAMLET HOLDINGS B, LLC
	  
	 	 By:  	
                                                  

	 	  	Name:
	 	  	
      Title:

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS (as evidenced by their execution of an Adoption Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A)

 

32

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of ____________ 2008, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “Management Investor Rights Agreement”), by the transferee (“Transferee”) executing this Adoption.  By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

	
             
 	
            1.
 	
            Acknowledgement.  Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring or receiving certain Company Shares of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Stockholders party thereto.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.
 

	
             
 	
            2.
 	
            Agreement.  Transferee (i) agrees that the Company Shares acquired or received by Transferee, and certain other Company Shares that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto, and (iii) hereby agrees that Transferee shall be deemed a “Management Stockholder” or “Stockholder”, as applicable, for purposes of the Management Investor Rights Agreement .
 

	
             
 	
            3.
 	
            Notice.  Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.
 

	
             
 	
            4.
 	
            Law.  THIS ADOPTION WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED.  IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS ADOPTION, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF 
 

 

 

                                          
                                          
                  

 

 

 

 

LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

	
             
 	
            5.
 	
            Joinder.  The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the Company Shares and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.
 

 

 

	
            ________________________                                                

Name of Transferee

 

________________________

Signature

 

________________________                                                

Date

 

 
 	
            ________________________                                                

Name of Spouse

 

________________________

Signature

 

________________________                                                

Date

 
 
	
             
 	
             
 

 

 

                                          
                                          
                  

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX I

	
            1.
 	
            Gary Loveman 
 

	
            2.
 	
            Charles L. Atwood 
 

	
            3.
 	
            Jonathan S. Halkyard 
 

	
            4.
 	
            Timothy Stanley 
 

	
            5.
 	
            Carlos J. Tolosa 
 

	
            6.
 	
            Mary Thomas 
 

	
            7.
 	
            David W. Norton 
 

	
            8.
 	
            Anthony D. McDuffie 
 

	
            9.
 	
            Janis L. Jones 
 

	
            10.
 	
            Stephen H. Brammell
 

	
            11.
 	
            Thomas Jenkin 
 

	
            12.
 	
            John Payne
 

 

                                          
                                          
                  

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX II

If to the Company, to:

Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc.

One Caesars Palace Drive

Las Vegas, NV  89109

Attn: General Counsel

and

Hamlet Merger Inc.

c/o Apollo Management VI, L.P.

9 West 57th Street

43rd Floor

New York, New York  10019

Attention:  Eric L. Press

Facsimile:  212.515.3288

 

and

 

c/o Texas Pacific Group

301 Commerce Street, Suite 3300

Forth Worth, TX  76102

Attention:  Clive Bode

Facsimile:  817.850.4651

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to each of: 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

Attention:  Michael L. Ryan, Esq.

                   Paul J. Shim, Esq.

Facsimile:  212.225.3999

 

and

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention:  Steven A. Cohen, Esq.

                   Gregory E. Ostling, Esq.

Facsimile:  212.403.2000

 

 

                                          
                                          
                  

 

 

 

If to Apollo, to:

Apollo Management VI, L.P.

9 West 57th Street

43rd Floor

New York, New York  10019

Attention:  Eric L. Press

Facsimile:  212.515.3288

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention:  Steven A. Cohen, Esq.

                   Gregory E. Ostling, Esq.

Facsimile:  212.403.2000

If to TPG, to:

Texas Pacific Group

301 Commerce Street, Suite 3300

Forth Worth, TX  76102

Attention:  Clive Bode

Facsimile:  817.850.4651

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

Attention:  Michael L. Ryan, Esq.

                   Paul J. Shim, Esq.

Facsimile:  212.225.3999

If to a Management Stockholder, to the address set forth with respect to such Management Stockholder in the Company’s records.EXHIBIT 4.3

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

February [__], 2008

 

Re:  Opportunity to Acquire Shares

 

Dear Harrah’s Employee,

As you know, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (“Harrah’s”) recently underwent a change in control, as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19, 2006, among Hamlet Holdings LLC (“Holdings”), Hamlet Merger Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (the “Merger Agreement”).  The closing of the merger (the “Closing”) occurred on January 28, 2008.

“Harrah’s” is the surviving entity from the merger, and it will continue its corporate existence, however, Harrah’s outstanding shares are no longer publicly traded on a securities exchange.  We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to invest in shares of non-voting common stock and non-voting preferred stock of Harrah’s (collectively, the “Shares”) on the terms and conditions set out below.  The Shares are being offered in a ratio of 2.0445:1, which means that for every 2.0445 shares of non-voting common stock you purchase, you will be required to purchase approximately one share of non-voting preferred stock.  You may not elect to purchase only non-voting common stock or only non-voting preferred stock, you may only purchase Shares in the ratio described above.

You are being offered the opportunity to invest by making a cash contribution (your “Cash Contribution”) as set forth in Section 1 and the acceptance form attached hereto (the “Acceptance Form”).

 

1.            Form of Consideration.  You may acquire Shares by making a Cash Contribution.  In exchange for your Cash Contribution, you will receive a number of Shares equal to the amount of your investment as indicated on the Acceptance Form attached hereto, divided by the price per Share.  The price per Share will be equal to $100 per Share of common stock and $100 per Share of preferred stock, the amount per share paid by the Majority Holders (as defined below) at the Closing.  You will be the holder of record of the Shares in which you invest as of the Closing, whether or not Harrah’s issues physical certificates to you for such Shares.  

2.            Minimum Permissible Investment.  If you choose to invest in the Shares, (a) you must commit to invest a minimum of $50,000 and (b) you must satisfy your investment by making your Cash Contribution.  Your Cash Contribution must be received by check or wire transfer by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Five p.m., Eastern Standard Time) on [INSERT DATE] (wire information is included in the Acceptance Form).  

3.            Acceptance; Conditions.  You may accept this offer and the terms of this Agreement by completing and returning the Acceptance Form attached hereto, in which case the closing of your acquisition of the Shares will occur on [INSERT CLOSING DATE FOR SHARE PURCHASE]. 

 

 

	
             
 	
             

 
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

4.            Limitation.  Harrah’s, in its discretion, may limit the number of Shares that you may purchase, and therefore may choose not to accept the full amount of your investment election. 

5.            Vesting. Your Shares when issued will be fully vested. 

6.            Stockholders’ Agreement.  By completing and returning the Acceptance Form below, you agree to become a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement, as may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) and you will be subject to the terms and conditions thereof with respect to your Shares.  The Stockholders’ Agreement is enclosed.  Harrah’s agrees that it will, and that it will cause the Majority Holders (as defined below) to, also become a party to the Stockholders’ Agreement.  Your receipt of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement is conditioned upon your execution of the Stockholders’ Agreement.  You further acknowledge and agree that
the assignment and transferability of the Shares shall be permitted only in accordance with applicable law and the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement and that the Stockholders’ Agreement provides for additional obligations of you with respect to the Shares.

7.            Representations; Acknowledgements of Subscribor.  By signing below and completing and returning the Acceptance Form, you hereby represent and warrant to Harrah’s and Holdings that: 

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            you have the requisite power, authority and capacity to execute this Agreement and to deliver or cause to be delivered the Cash Contributions, to perform your obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; 
 

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            the Acceptance Form has been duly and validly executed and delivered by you and constitutes your legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against you in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such validly binding effect and enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally;
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            the Shares are being acquired for your own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution, reoffer, resale, public offering or other disposition thereof not in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as may be amended from time to time, or any applicable United States federal or state securities laws or regulations; 
 

	
             
 	
            (d)
 	
            you understand and have carefully considered the risks relating to Harrah’s and this investment opportunity including that (i) an investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk, and you may lose the entire amount of your investment, (ii) Harrah’s does not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, (iii) the Shares are illiquid, and you must bear the economic risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time, (iv) there is no existing public or other market for the Shares, and there can be no assurance as to when, or whether, any such market will develop, or that you will be able to sell or dispose of its Shares;
 

	
             
 	
            (e)
 	
            you (i) have adequate means of providing for your current needs and possible contingencies, and you have no need for liquidity in your investment in Harrah’s, and (ii) can bear the economic risk of losing your entire investment in Harrah’s;
 

	
             
 	
            (f)
 	
            prior to making your investment decision you (i) have had access to all of the information and individuals with respect to the Shares and your investment that you 
 

 

 

	
             
 	
             

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	 	 	deem necessary to make a complete evaluation thereof, and (ii) have been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as you deemed necessary, and to receive answers from, representatives of Harrah’s concerning the merits and risks of investing in the Shares, including, without limitation, the restrictive and other provisions of the Stockholders’ Agreement; 
	
             
 	
            (g)
 	
            no representations or warranties, oral or otherwise, have been made to you or any party acting on your behalf that are inconsistent with the written materials which have been supplied to you by Harrah’s;
 

	
             
 	
            (h)
 	
            you have had an opportunity to consult an independent tax and legal advisor and your decision to acquire the Shares for investment has been based solely upon your evaluation; and
 

	
             
 	
            (i)
 	
            you are aware that the Stockholders’ Agreement provides significant restrictions on your ability to dispose of the Shares. 
 

You acknowledge and agree that if, following the date you purchase Shares pursuant to this Agreement, we determine that any of the representations made by you under this Section 7 is inaccurate, the sale of Shares to you pursuant to this Agreement  shall be rescinded and the transfer of such Shares to you shall be deemed null and void.

 

The “Majority Holders” shall mean, collectively or individually as the context requires, Apollo Management VI, L.P., TPG Capital, L.P. and their respective affiliates.

 

8.            Representations; Acknowledgements of Holdings and Harrah’s.  By providing this Agreement to you, Holdings and Harrah’s hereby represent and warrant to you that: 

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            Harrah’s and Holdings each are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite power and authority to carry on its business as is now being conducted and to deliver or cause to be delivered this Agreement and the Stockholders’ Agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby;
 

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            Each of Harrah’s and Holdings has taken all corporate action required to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Stockholders’ Agreement and to authorize the issuance of the Shares and, with respect to Holdings, all shares of Holdings to be issued to Harrah’s on the Closing Date;
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            The Shares issued hereunder and upon delivery of the consideration therefor, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and issued free and clear of restrictions on transfer, other than those set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws.
 

9.            Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

 

	
             
 	
             

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10.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

11.          Notices.   All notices or other communications given or made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to (i) Harrah’s, at One Caesars Palace Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, Attention: General Counsel, and (ii) you, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

*       *       *       *       *

[Signature Page Follows] 

 

	
             
 	
             

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Please sign your name on the space(s) provided below and please indicate whether and how you would like to invest in Harrah’s by completing and executing the Acceptance Form attached to the end of this Agreement.  Please return an executed copy of this Agreement and the Acceptance Form in original form or by FAX or email no later than 5 p.m. (Five p.m., Eastern Standard Time) on [INSERT DATE] to the attention of Donnie Rogers (DORogers@harrahs.com) or Linda Hinton (LHinton@harrahs.com).  The fax number is (901) 537-3443.  (If you fax or email your election form on [INSERT DATE], the original should be delivered Attention: Donnie Rogers and Linda Hinton no later than [INSERT DATE] via Overnight Express or U.S. Mail (indicate "CONFIDENTIAL") to:

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

Shareholder Services-Memphis 

ATTN: Donnie Rogers

1023 Cherry Road 

Memphis TN 38117-5423

 

Sincerely,

 

______________________

By: ___________________

Title: __________________

Agreed to and Accepted by:

 

______________________________

Signature

 

Please print your name(s) and address(es):

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            5
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

Acceptance of Offer to Acquire Shares of Harrah’s (the “Acceptance Form”)

Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the letter to me dated [INSERT DATE], I, ______________________, hereby elect make an investment in Harrah’s and purchase Shares in the total amount indicated below:

 

$____________, which will be satisfied by a Cash Contribution funded as follows:

$____________ Wire transfer (wire instructions set forth below) 

$____________ Check (attached) 

 

 

_________________________

Signature

 

_______________

Date

 

**************

 

WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS:  

 

	
            Bank:
 	
            First Tennessee Bank (Memphis, TN)
 	
             

	
            ABA #:
 	
            084000026
 	
             

	
            Account Number #:
 	
            XXXXXXXXX
 	
             

	
            Account Name:
 	
            Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. Clearing Account
 
	
            Reference:
 	
            [Your Name]
 	
             

						

 

Please make sure that your name is referenced in the wire instructions to properly segregate your investment.

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            6
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

 

	
             
 	
            February [__], 2008
 

 

Dear Harrah’s Employee:

As you know, in connection with the merger of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (“Harrah’s”) and a company controlled by Apollo Management and TPG Capital (the “Investors”), certain members of management will have the opportunity to invest cash to purchase shares in Harrah’s on a going forward basis.  Because you are a key contributor to Harrah’s success, you are being offered the opportunity to invest.

In considering your decision to invest, it is important to recognize that highly leveraged companies, such as the new Harrah’s, bring with them a number of investment risks. I urge you to read carefully the enclosed disclosure materials and the annexes thereto (including each of the agreements described in the prospectus) before deciding whether to invest.  The prospectus provides detailed information about the shares of Harrah’s common and preferred stock you will hold should you choose to invest and the agreements to which you will become a party as a condition to such investment.  The prospectus also describes the risks inherent in our business and in the investment you are considering.

As we have said before, only certain members of management will have the opportunity to participate in this investment program.  Because of this, please do not discuss the program with other Harrah’s employees or with people outside of Harrah’s, other than personal financial and tax advisors, lawyers or your immediate family.

 

You are being offered the opportunity to make a cash investment to purchase shares.  The procedures for making this investment are described below. This may be your only opportunity to make a direct investment in Harrah’s in connection with the merger, other than through the exercise of stock options you may receive.  

You must make your investment decision on or before [INSERT DATE].  ALL DOCUMENTS AND DELIVERABLES DISCUSSED IN THIS LETTER MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES NO LATER THAN 5 PM EST ON [INSERT DATE].  If you elect to purchase shares for cash, you must ensure that such cash is wired to the account set forth below no later than 5 pm EST on [INSERT DATE] or that a check is included with your investment documents, which must be returned no later than 5 pm EST on [INSERT DATE].  Other than the opportunity described in this letter (and in the documents referred to herein), you will not have the opportunity to make a direct investment in the new Harrah’s, other than through the exercise of stock options you may receive.

 

In order to participate in this investment opportunity, you must first:

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            7
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            •
 	
            Read the enclosed prospectus, and all annexes provided with this letter; and
 

	
             
 	
            •
 	
            Sign and return (i) the omnibus signature page attached as Schedule A hereto, (ii) the Form W-9 attached as Schedule B hereto (or, if you are not a United States citizen and are otherwise ineligible to use Form W-9, Form W-8BEN), (iii) the signature page to the Investment Agreement including the Acceptance Form; and (iv) the signature page to the Management Investor Rights Agreement, in each case such that the forms are received at the following address no later than 5 pm EST on [INSERT DATE] (via Federal Express or UPS (indicate "CONFIDENTIAL")):
 

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

Shareholder Services Memphis

1023 Cherry Road

Memphis, TN 38117-5423

Tel: 901-537-3340

Fax: 901-537-3443

Attention:  Donnie Rogers

 

	
             
 	
            •
 	
            Send the funds to make your investment.  You may send funds via wire transfer.  If you choose to do this, you must ensure that such cash is wired to the account at First Tennessee Bank, set up to facilitate the cash investments, set forth below no later than 5 pm EST on [INSERT DATE].  The instructions are set forth below.
 

Bank: First Tennessee Bank (Memphis, TN)

ABA #: 084000026

Account Number #: XXXXXXXXX

Account Name: Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. Clearing Account

Reference: Your Name

 

You may also send a check, payable to Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.  Checks must be received at the following address no later than 5 pm EST on [INSERT DATE].  

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

Shareholder Services Memphis

1023 Cherry Road

Memphis, TN 38117-5423

Tel: 901-537-3340

Fax: 901-537-3443

Attention:  Donnie Rogers

 

Sincerely, 

Nizar E. Jabara

Vice President, Compensation

Benefits & HRSS

 

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            8
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
            Schedule A
 

 

MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER OMNIBUS SIGNATURE PAGE

 

	
            Name of Management Stockholder:

 

 

 

Address:

 

 
 	
             
 

 

 

	
            TOTAL INVESTMENT AMOUNT:*
 	
             
 

 

* Please note that the total amount of your investment must be equal to or greater than $50,000.

 

 

	
             
 	
             

 
 	
             
 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby agree to be a party to each of the following agreements as a “Stockholder,” as applicable, as of the date of such agreements and to execute original signature pages to such agreements at the time such agreements are presented to me for execution:

 

1.  Investment Agreement; and

2.  Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

Signature: _________________________

 

 

 

 

	
             
 	
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