As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2014

Registration No. 333-           

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

ELDORADO RESORTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

 

46-3657681

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

100 West Liberty Street, 11th Floor

 

 

Reno, Nevada

 

89501

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan

(Full title of plan)

 

Gary L. Carano

Chief Executive Officer

Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

100 West Liberty Street, 11th Floor

Reno, Nevada 89501

(775) 328-0100

 

With copies to:

 

Deborah J. Conrad, Esq.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

601 South Figueroa Street, 30th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90017

(213) 892-4000

(Name and address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

 

 

 

 

(Do not check if a smaller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reporting company)

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title of Securities to be Registered

 

Amount to be
Registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share(3)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(3)

 

Amount of
Registration Fee(4)

 

Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”)

 

 

2,222,592

 

$

3.59

 

$

7,979,105.28

 

$

1,027

 

(1)           Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall include any additional shares of Common Stock that may become issuable as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2)           Represents 2,222,592 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

(3)           Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee. The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act based upon the pro forma combined book value of Common Stock as of March 31, 2014, which was $3.59 per share.

 

(4)           Fees for registration of shares under the Plan have previously been paid in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-192086).

 

 

 



 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (the “Company”) with respect to up to 2,222,592 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable in connection with the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 9, 2013, as amended, (the “Merger Agreement”), by and between MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (“MTR”), the Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of MTR, Ridgeline Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub A”), Eclair Acquisition Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub B”), Eldorado HoldCo LLC (“Eldorado”), and Thomas Reeg, Robert Jones and Gary Carano, as Member Representatives,  MTR merged with Merger Sub A and Eldorado merged with Merger Sub B on September 19, 2014 (the “Effective Time”).  As a result of the mergers, the Company became the holding company for MTR and Eldorado.  At the Effective Time, the Plan (in its then current form) was assumed by the Company.

 

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PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1.         Plan Information.*

 

Item 2.         Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*

 


* Pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act, the documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Plan.  These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II below, taken together, constitute the Section 10(a) prospectus.  Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8.

 

PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.         Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following document, previously filed by Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or “Commission”), are incorporated herein by reference:

 

(a)                                 The prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on June 18, 2014, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.

 

(b)                                 The description of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed on June 11, 2014 and declared effective by the SEC on June 16, 2014.

 

(c)                                  MTR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, as filed March 14, 2014, as amended by MTR’s Form 10-K/A, as filed April 30, 2014.

 

(d)                                 MTR’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014, as filed August 8, 2014.

 

(e)                                  The Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 19, 2014.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, all documents that the Company files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than portions of such documents deemed not to be filed) subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

Any statement contained in any document incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.         Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 5.         Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.         Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Company is governed by Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”). Section 78.7502(1) of the NRS generally provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who is or was a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except derivative suits, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

 

In the case of a derivative suit, Section 78.7502(2) of the NRS provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner in which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that indemnification may not be made in the case of a derivative suit in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent it is determined by the court that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

 

Section 78.7502(3) of the NRS provides generally that a corporation shall indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation against expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred, to the extent that such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any of the actions, suits or proceedings described above.

 

Section 78.751(2) of the NRS provides that the articles of incorporation, the bylaws or a separate agreement made by the corporation may provide that the expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

 

Section 78.751(3) of the NRS provides that any indemnification or advancement of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to any of the Sections set forth above, does not exclude any other rights to which such person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, if any, or otherwise, for either an action in the person’s official capacity or an action in another capacity while holding office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 78.7502, set forth above, or for the advancement of expenses made pursuant to Section 78.751(2), set forth above, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a final adjudication establishes that the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the cause of action. In addition, the statute provides that such indemnification continues for any such person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inures to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 78.752(1) of the NRS provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability

 

4



 

and expenses incurred by him in such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

 

Section 78.752(4) of the NRS provides that in the absence of fraud the decision of the board of directors as to the propriety of the terms and conditions of any insurance or other financial arrangement made pursuant to Section 78.752, set forth above, and the choice of the person to provide the insurance or other financial arrangement is conclusive and such insurance or other financial arrangement is not void or voidable and does not subject any director approving it to personal liability for the approval, even if a director approving the insurance or other financial arrangement is a beneficiary of the insurance or other financial arrangement.

 

Finally, Section 78.747 of the NRS generally provides that, unless otherwise provided by specific statute, no stockholder, director or officer of a corporation is individually liable for the debts or liabilities of the corporation, unless the stockholder, director or officer acts as the alter ego of the corporation.

 

The Company’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify any person in a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In connection with an action brought by or in the right of the corporation, the Company shall only indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation.

 

The Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that no director or officer will be personally liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for acts of omission which involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law or the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.300 of the NRS. If the NRS is amended hereafter to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Company will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the NRS, as so amended. No repeal or modification of this provision of the articles of incorporation will apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

 

Item 7.         Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.         Exhibits.

 

The Exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibits Index which immediately follows the signature page hereto.

 

Item 9.         Undertakings.

 

(a)         The Company hereby undertakes:

 

(1)         To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i)             To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)          To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.

 

5



 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)       To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;

 

(2)         That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

 

(3)         To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b)         The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Reno, State of Nevada, on this 19th day of September, 2014.

 

 

ELDORADO RESORTS, INC.,

 

a Nevada corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gary L. Carano

 

Name:

Gary L. Carano

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas Reeg and Anthony Carano, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been duly signed on September 19, 2014 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

/s/ Gary L. Carano

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Gary L. Carano

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

/s/ Robert M. Jones

 

Chief Financial Officer

Robert M. Jones

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas Reeg

 

President and Director

Thomas Reeg

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Frank J. Fahrenkopf

 

Director

Frank J. Fahrenkopf

 

 

 

 

/s/ James B. Hawkins

 

Director

James B. Hawkins

 

 

7



 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael E. Pegram

 

Director

Michael E. Pegram

 

 

 

 

/s/ David P. Tomick

 

Director

David P. Tomick

 

 

 

 

/s/ Roger P. Wagner

 

Director

Roger P. Wagner

 

 

8



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document Description

 

 

 

3.1**

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2**

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1**

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

 

 

4.2*

 

Eldorado Resorts, Inc. Specimen Common Stock certificate

 

 

 

5.1**

 

Opinion of McDonald Carano Wilson LLP

 

 

 

23.1**

 

Consent of McDonald Carano Wilson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

23.2**

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of MTR Gaming Group, Inc., Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

23.3**

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Eldorado HoldCo LLC, Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

24.1**

 

Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this Registration Statement)

 


*                 Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on April 21, 2014 (Registration No. 333-192086).

 

**    Filed herewith.

 

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EXHIBIT 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

ELDORADO RESORTS, INC.

 

ARTICLE I
CORPORATE NAME

 

The name of the corporation (the “Corporation”) is Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II
PRINCIPAL OFFICE

 

The principal office and place of business of the Corporation shall be 345 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89501 or such other location in the State of Nevada as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE III
CORPORATE PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a Corporation may be organized under the provisions of Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”).

 

ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION

 

A.                                    Authorized Shares.

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of common stock having a par value of $0.00001 per share (hereinafter referred to as “Common Stock”).

 

B.                                    Fully Paid and Non-Assessable.

 

The shares of stock issued by the Corporation, after the amount of the subscription price has been fully paid, shall not be assessable or assessed for any purpose, and no stock issued as fully paid shall ever be assessable or assessed, and these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as amended from time to time, the “Articles”) shall not be amended in this particular.  No stockholder of the Corporation is individually liable for the debts or liabilities of the Corporation.

 



 

C.                                    Preemptive Rights.

 

No holder of shares of the Corporation shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, whether preemptive, preferential or otherwise, to subscribe for, purchase or receive any shares of the Corporation, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or carrying a right or option to purchase its shares, whether now or hereafter authorized and whether issued, sold or offered for sale by the Corporation for cash of other consideration or by way of dividend, split of shares or otherwise.  This provision shall be interpreted to deny preemptive or preferential rights to the maximum extent permitted under Nevada Law.

 

ARTICLE V
COMMON STOCK

 

A.                                    Election of Directors.

 

The holders of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.  Subject to Section (b) of Article VI, at any such meeting at which the directors are elected, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to elect the number of directors of the Corporation who are being elected at such meeting.  There shall be no right with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation to cumulate votes in the election of directors.

 

At all meetings of stockholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of shares representing a majority of the shares of the Common Stock entitled to vote thereat shall be required to constitute a quorum for the election of directors; provided, however, that in absence of a quorum, a majority of those holders of Common Stock who are present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting for election of those directors, from time to time, without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until the requisite number of holders of Common Stock shall be present in person or by proxy.

 

In the event of any vacancy among the directors elected, such vacancy may be filled by written consent or vote of a majority of the remaining directors.  The term of any director elected by the remaining directors will expire at the time that the term of the director who created the vacancy would have expired.

 

B.                                    Voting.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the NRS, each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to stockholders of the Corporation.

 

C.                                    Dividends.

 

Subject to other provisions of these Articles or the NRS, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

 

2



 

D.                                    Liquidation Rights.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock shall share equally and ratably in the Corporation’s assets available for distribution.  A merger, conversion, exchange or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other person or sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets of the Corporation which shall not in fact result in the liquidation of the Corporation and the distribution of assets to stockholders shall not be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

A.                                    Number of Directors.

 

The number of directors of the Corporation shall not be less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) until changed by amendment of these Articles.  The exact number of members constituting the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time within the limits specified in these Articles by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors.

 

B.                                    Election of Directors.

 

Directors shall be elected by the vote of the holders of Common Stock pursuant to Article V of these Articles and as set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

C.                                    Term of Members of Board of Directors.

 

Each member of the Board of Directors shall serve for one year or until otherwise replaced.

 

D.                                    Removal of Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles or the Bylaws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law), any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

3



 

ARTICLE VII
DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY

 

No director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer for:

 

1.                                      Acts of omission which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law; or

 

2.                                      In the case of directors, the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.300 of the NRS.

 

If the NRS are hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of a director or officer, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS, as so amended.

 

Indemnification by the Corporation of directors, officers or other agents of the Corporation may be authorized by the Bylaws of the Corporation or by resolution of the Board of Directors, to the fullest extent permitted under Nevada law at the time such indemnification is granted.

 

The expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.

 

Any repeal or modifications of the forgoing provisions of this Article VII by the stockholders of the Corporation or of the indemnification provisions of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing prior to the time such repeal or modification becomes effective.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Article VII and any other provision of these Articles, the terms and provisions of this Article VII shall control.

 

ARTICLE VIII
INCORPORATOR

 

(The name and address of the incorporator is intentionally omitted)

 

ARTICLE IX
EXISTENCE

 

The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

 

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ARTICLE X
COMPLIANCE WITH GAMING LAWS

 

Section 1. Definitions.  For purposes of this Article X, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” shall mean a Person who, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, a specified Person.  For the purpose of this Section 1(a) of Article X, “control,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.  “Affiliated Companies” shall mean those partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, trusts or other entities that are Affiliates of the Corporation, including, without limitation, subsidiaries, holding companies and intermediary companies (as those and similar terms are defined in the Gaming Laws of the applicable gaming Jurisdictions) that are registered or licensed under applicable Gaming Laws.

 

(b)                                 “Gaming” or “Gaming Activities” shall mean the conduct of gaming and gambling activities, or the use of gaming devices, equipment and supplies in the operation of a gaming establishment or other enterprise, including, without limitation, race books, sports pools, slot machines, gaming devices, lottery devices, gaming tables, cards, dice, gaming chips, player tracking systems, cashless wagering systems and associated equipment and supplies.

 

(c)                                  “Gaming Authorities” shall mean all federal, state, local and other regulatory and licensing bodies and agencies with authority over Gaming within any Gaming Jurisdiction in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies do business.

 

(d)                                 “Gaming Laws” shall mean all laws, statutes, ordinances and regulations pursuant to which any Gaming Authority possesses regulatory and licensing authority over Gaming within any Gaming Jurisdiction, and all orders, decrees, rules and regulations promulgated by such Gaming Authority thereunder.

 

(e)                                  “Gaming Licenses” shall mean all licenses, permits, approvals, authorizations, registrations, findings of suitability, franchises, concessions and entitlements issued by a Gaming Authority necessary for or relating to the conduct of Gaming Activities.

 

(f)                                   “Own,” “Ownership” or “Control” (and derivatives thereof) shall mean (i) ownership of record, (ii) “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (as now or hereafter amended), or (iii) the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person or the disposition of Securities, by agreement contract, agency or other manner.

 

(g)                                 “Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or any other entity.

 

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(h)                                 “Redemption Date” shall mean the date specified in the Redemption Notice as the date on which the shares of the Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person are to be redeemed by the Corporation.

 

(i)                                    “Redemption Notice” shall mean that notice of redemption given by the Corporation to an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person pursuant to this Article X.  Each Redemption Notice shall set forth (i) the Redemption Date, (ii) the number and type of shares of the Securities to be redeemed, (iii) the Redemption Price and the manner of payment therefor, (iv) the place where any certificates for such chares shall be surrendered for payment and (v) any other requirements of surrender of the certificates, including how they are to be endorsed, if at all.

 

(j)                                    “Redemption Price” shall mean the price to be paid by the Corporation for the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Article X, which shall be that price (if any) required to be paid by the Gaming Authority making the finding of unsuitability, or if such Gaming Authority does not require a certain price to be paid that amount determined by the Board of Directors to be the fair value of the Securities to be redeemed; provided, however, that the price per share represented by the Redemption Price shall in no event be in excess of the closing sales price per share of the shares on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are then listed on the trading date on the day before the Redemption Notice is deemed given by the Corporation to the Unsuitable Person or Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person or, if such shares are not then listed for trading on any national securities exchange, then the closing sales price of such shares as quoted in the NASDAQ Market or SmallCap Market or, if the shares are not then so quoted, then the mean between the representative bid and the ask price as quoted by any other generally recognized reporting system.  The Redemption Price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both as required by the applicable Gaming Authority and, if not so required, as the Board of Directors determines.  Any Promissory note shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors determines necessary or advisable, including without limitation, subordination provisions, to comply with any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or any Affiliate of the Corporation or to prevent a default under, breach of, event of default under or acceleration of any loan, Promissory note, mortgage, indenture, line of credit of other debt or financing agreement of the Corporation or any Affiliate of the Corporation.  Subject to the forgoing, the principal amount of the promissory note together with any unpaid interest shall be due and payable no later than the tenth anniversary of delivery of the note and interest on the unpaid principal thereof shall be payable annually in arrears at the rate of 2% per annum.

 

(k)                                 “Securities” shall mean the capital stock of the Corporation as described in Article IV hereof.

 

(l)                                    “Unsuitable Person” shall mean a Person who (i) is determined by a Gaming Authority to be unsuitable to Own or Control any Securities or unsuitable to be connected or affiliated with a Person engaged in Gaming Activities in a Gaming Jurisdiction, or (ii) causes the Corporation or any Affiliated Company to lose or to be threatened with the loss of any Gaming License, or (iii) in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, is deemed likely to jeopardize the Corporation’s or any Affiliated Company’s

 

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application for, receipt of approval for, right to the use of, or entitlement to, any Gaming License.

 

Section 2.  Finding of Unsuitability.

 

(a)                                 The Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person shall be subject to redemption by the Corporation, out of funds legally available therefor, by action of the Board of Directors, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Board of Directors.  If a Gaming Authority requires the Corporation, or the Board of Directors deems it necessary or advisable, to redeem any such Securities, the Corporation shall give a Redemption Notice to the Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate and shall purchase on the Redemption Date the number of Shares of the Securities specified in the Redemption Notice for the Redemption Price set forth in the Redemption Notice.  From and after the Redemption Date, such Securities shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, such Unsuitable Person or any Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person shall cease to be a stockholder with respect to such shares and all rights of such Unsuitable Person or any Affiliate of such Unsuitable Person therein, other than the right to receive the Redemption Price, shall cease.  Such Unsuitable Person or its Affiliate shall surrender all certificates representing any shares to be redeemed in accordance with the requirements of the Redemption Notice.

 

(b)                                 Commencing on the date that a Gaming Authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or the Board of Directors determines that a Person is an Unsuitable Person, and until the Securities Owned or Controlled by such Person are Owned or Controlled by a Person who is not an Unsuitable Person, the Unsuitable Person or any Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person shall not be entitled to: (i) receive any dividend or interest with regard to the Securities, (ii) to exercise, directly or indirectly or through any proxy, trustee, or nominee, any voting or other right conferred by such Securities, and such Securities shall not for any purposes be included in the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, or (iii) receive any remuneration in any form from the Corporation or any Affiliated Company for services rendered or otherwise.

 

Section 3.  Notices.  All notices given by the Corporation pursuant to this Article, including Redemption Notices, shall be in writing and may be given by mail, addressed to the Person at such Person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed given personally or by telegram, facsimile, telex or cable.

 

Section 4.  Indemnification.  Any Unsuitable Person and any Affiliate of and Unsuitable Person shall indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies for any and all losses, costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies as a result of, or arising out of, such Unsuitable Person’s or Affiliate’s continuing Ownership or Control of Securities, the neglect, refusal or other failure to comply with the provisions of this Article X, or failure to promptly divest itself of any Securities when required by the Gaming Laws or this Article X.

 

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Section 5.  Injunctive Relief.  The Corporation is entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Article X and each holder of the Securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have acknowledged, by acquiring the Securities of the Corporation, that the failure to comply with this Article X will expose the Corporation to irreparable injury for which there is not adequate remedy at law and that the Corporation is entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Article.

 

Section 6.  Non-exclusivity of Rights.  The Corporation’s Rights of redemption provided in this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other rights the Corporation may have or hereafter acquire under any agreement, provision of the Bylaws or otherwise.

 

Section 7.  Further Actions.  Nothing contained in this Article X shall limit the Authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action to the extent permitted by law as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation or its Affiliated Companies from the denial or threatened denial or loss or threatened loss of any Gaming License of the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies.  Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, the Board of Directors may conform any provisions of this Article X to the extent necessary to make such a provision consistent with Gaming Laws.  In addition, the Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind bylaws, regulations, and procedures of the Corporation not inconsistent with the express provisions of this Article X for the purpose of determining whether any Person is an Unsuitable Person and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article X.  Such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation, the Secretary of its Affiliated Companies and with the transfer agent, if any, of the Corporation and any Affiliated Companies, and shall be made available for inspection by the public and, upon request mailed to any holder of Securities.  The Board of Directors shall have exclusive authority and power to administer this Article X and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or the Corporation, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Article X.  All such actions which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Corporation and all other Persons; provided, however¸ that the Board of Directors may delegate all or any portion of its duties and powers under this Article X to a committee of the Board of Directors as it deems necessary or advisable.

 

Section 8.  Severability.  If any provision of this Article X or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Article X.

 

Section 9.  Termination and Waivers.  Except as may be required by any applicable Gaming Law or Gaming Authority, the Board of Directors may waive any of the rights of the Corporation or any restrictions contained in this Article X in any instance in which the Board of Directors determines that a waivers would be in the best interests of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may terminate any rights of the Corporation or restrictions set forth in this Article X to the extent that the Board of Directors determines that any such termination is in

 

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the best interests of the Corporation.  Except as may be required by a Gaming Authority, nothing in this Article X shall be deemed or construed to require the Corporation to repurchase any Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person of an Affiliate of an Unsuitable Person.

 

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EXHIBIT 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS OF ELDORADO RESORTS, INC.

 

(a Nevada corporation)

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Offices

 

SECTION 1.1.   Principal Office. The principal offices of the corporation shall be 345 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, or such other location in the State of Nevada as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

SECTION 1.2.   Other Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Nevada as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

Meetings of Stockholders

 

SECTION 2.1.   Place of Meeting.   All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Nevada, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 2.2.   Annual Meetings.   The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 2.3.   Special Meetings.   Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by the Nevada Revised Statutes (‘‘NRS’’) or by the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors and shall be called by the President at the request in writing of stockholders owning not less than ten percent (10%) of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purposes of the proposed meeting. The officers or directors shall fix the time and any place, either within or without the State of Nevada, as the place for holding such meeting.

 

SECTION 2.4.   Notice of Meeting.   Written notice of the annual and each special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary of the corporation.

 

SECTION 2.5.   Business Conducted at Meetings.   At a meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before a meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before a meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than

 



 

seventy-five (75) days prior to the anniversary of the date on which the corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders (or the date on which the corporation mails its proxy materials for the current year if during the prior year the corporation did not hold an annual meeting or if the date of the annual meeting was changed more than thirty (30) days from the prior year). A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in the bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.5; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.5 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with said procedure. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting. Any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Nothing in this Section 2.5 shall affect the right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in the corporation’s proxy statement to the extent that such right is provided by an applicable rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

SECTION 2.6.   Nomination of Directors.   Nomination of candidates for election as directors of the corporation at any meeting of stockholders called for the election of directors, in whole or in part (an “Election Meeting”), may be made by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote at such Election Meeting, in accordance with the following procedures:

 

2.6.1.   Nominations made by the Board of Directors shall be made at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by written consent of the directors in lieu of a meeting prior to the date of the Election Meeting. At the request of the Secretary of the corporation, each proposed nominee shall provide the corporation with such information concerning himself or herself as is required, under the rules of the SEC, to be included in the corporation’s proxy statement soliciting proxies for his or her election as a director.

 

2.6.2.   Not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the Election Meeting, any stockholder who intends to make a nomination at the Election Meeting shall deliver a notice to the Secretary of the corporation setting forth (a) the name, age, business address and the residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (b) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee, (c) the number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are beneficially owned by each such nominee, and (d) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required, under the rules of the SEC, in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominees. Such notice shall include a signed consent of each such nominee to serve as a director of the corporation, if elected.

 

2.6.3.   In the event that a person is validly designated as a nominee in accordance with this Section 2.6 and shall thereafter become unable or unwilling to stand for election to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or the stockholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may designate a substitute nominee, provided, however, that if the date of the Election Meeting in question has been publicly disclosed prior to the requested substitution, such substitution may not, without the consent of the Board of Directors, be made unless it can be made in accordance with applicable requirements of the SEC without any resulting delay in the scheduled Election Meeting, unless such substitution is required by the NRS, SEC regulations or other laws, rules or regulations applicable to the corporation.

 

2.6.4.   If the Chairman of the Election Meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, such nomination shall be void.

 

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SECTION 2.7.   Quorum.   The holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on each matter at such meeting), shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders for the transaction of business, except when stockholders are required to vote by class, in which event a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the appropriate class shall be present in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on each matter at such meeting), and except as otherwise provided by the NRS or by the Articles of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on each matter at such meeting), whether or not a quorum is present, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

 

SECTION 2.8.   Voting.   When a quorum is present at any meeting of the stockholders, an action by the stockholders is approved if the number of votes cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the action, unless the action is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the Articles of Incorporation or of these bylaws (including, without limitation, Section 3.2), a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the vote required to approve such action. Every stockholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person, or by proxy (a) appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder or by his or her duly authorized attorney or (b) authorized by the transmission of an electronic record by the stockholder to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a firm which solicits proxies or like agent who is authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive the transmission subject to any procedures the Board of Directors may adopt from time to time to determine that the electronic record is authorized by the stockholder; provided, however, that no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration of six (6) months from the date of its execution, unless coupled with an interest, or unless the person executing it specifies therein the length of time for which it is to continue in force, which in no case shall exceed seven (7) years from the date of its execution. If such instrument or record shall designate two (2) or more persons to act as proxies, unless such instrument shall provide the contrary, a majority of such persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or if only one (1) be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one (1). Unless required by the NRS or determined by the Chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any matter need not be by written ballot. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.

 

SECTION 2.9.   Consent of Stockholders.   Any action required or permitted by the NRS to be taken at any meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if the action is evidenced by one or more written consents, which may be signed in counterparts, describing the action taken, signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.  Any such action by written consent shall be effective upon the date specified in the consent so long as written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders are delivered to the corporation in the manner specified above within sixty days of the earliest dated consent.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.  A written consent of the stockholders given in accordance with this section has thesame force and effect as a vote of such stockholders and may be stated as such in any document.  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to take action without a meeting is set forth in Section 2.12.

 

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SECTION 2.10.   Voting of Stock of Certain Holders.   Shares standing in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or in the absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors of such corporation may determine. Shares standing in the name of a deceased person may be voted by the executor or administrator of such deceased person, either in person or by proxy. Shares standing in the name of a guardian, conservator or trustee may be voted by such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy, but no such fiduciary shall be entitled to vote shares held in such fiduciary capacity without a transfer of such shares into the name of such fiduciary. Shares outstanding in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver. A stockholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares, unless in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the corporation, he or she has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee, or his or her proxy, may represent the stock and vote thereon.

 

SECTION 2.11.   Treasury Stock.   The corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it; and such shares shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares.

 

SECTION 2.12.   Fixing Record Date.   The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date for any meeting of stockholders (which date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days preceding the date of any such meeting of stockholders), a date for payment of any dividend or distribution, a date for the allotment of rights, a date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with obtaining a consent of stockholders (which date shall not precede or be more than ten (10) days after the date the resolution setting such record date is adopted by the Board of Directors), in each case as a record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting and any adjournment thereof, to receive payment of any such dividend or distribution, to receive any such allotment of rights, to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or to give such consent, as the case may be. In any such case such stockholders and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the Record Date shall be entitled to such notice of and to vote at any such meeting and any adjournment thereof, to receive payment of such dividend or distribution, to receive such allotment of rights, to exercise such rights, or to give such consent, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the corporation after any such Record Date.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

Board of Directors

 

SECTION 3.1.   Powers.   The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

SECTION 3.2.   Number, Election and Term.   The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be not less than five (5) and not more than fifteen (15). Within the limits above specified, the number of the directors of the corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. All directors shall be elected annually. Except as provided in Section 3.3, directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders by a plurality of the votes cast at the applicable election and each director shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The composition of the Board of Directors and the committees thereof shall comply with applicable requirements of the NRS, the SEC and NASDAQ Stock Market, or such other organization, association or entity with which any class of the corporation’s securities are listed. Directors need not be residents of Nevada or stockholders of the corporation.

 

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SECTION 3.3.   Vacancies, Additional Directors and Removal From Office.   If any vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors caused by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of any director, or otherwise, or if any new directorship is created by an increase in the authorized number of directors, a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or a sole remaining director, may choose a successor or fill the newly created directorship. Any director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in his or her office and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, unless sooner displaced. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.  Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

SECTION 3.4.   Regular Meetings.   A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held each year, without notice other than this bylaw provision, at the place of, and immediately following, the annual meeting of stockholders; and other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held during each year, at such time and place as the Board of Directors may from time to time provide by resolution, either within or without the State of Nevada, without other notice than such resolution.

 

SECTION 3.5.   Special Meeting.   A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or by the President and shall be called by the Secretary on the written request of any two (2) directors. The Chairman of the Board or President so calling, or the directors so requesting, any such meeting shall fix the time and any place, either within or without the State of Nevada, as the place for holding such meeting.

 

SECTION 3.6.   Notice of Special Meeting.   Written notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time of a special meeting. Any director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting solely for the purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, except that notice shall be given with respect to any matter when notice is required by the NRS.

 

SECTION 3.7.   Quorum.   A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the NRS, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

SECTION 3.8.   Action Without Meeting.   Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof as provided in Article IV of these bylaws, may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent thereto is signed by all (or such lesser proportion as may be permitted by the NRS) of the members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 3.9.   Meeting by Telephone.   Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken by means of a meeting by telephone conference or similar communications method so long as all persons participating in the meeting can

 

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hear each other. Any person participating in such meeting shall be deemed to be present in person at such meeting.

 

SECTION 3.10.   Compensation.   Directors, as such, may receive reasonable compensation for their services, which shall be set by the Board of Directors, and expenses of attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving additional compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for their services on committees.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

Committees of Directors

 

SECTION 4.1.   Executive Committee.   The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, designate an executive committee of the Board of Directors (the “Executive Committee”). If such a committee is designated by the Board of Directors, it shall be composed of members who are directors, and the members of the Executive Committee shall be designated by the Board of Directors in the resolution appointing the Executive Committee. Thereafter, the Board of Directors shall designate the members of the Executive Committee on an annual basis at its first regular meeting held pursuant to Section 3.4 of these bylaws after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors during the period between meetings of the Board of Directors except as reserved to the Board of Directors or as delegated by these bylaws or by the Board of Directors to another standing or special committee or as may be prohibited by law.

 

SECTION 4.2.   Audit Committee.   An audit committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) shall consist of at least three (3) directors designated annually by the Board of Directors at its first regular meeting held pursuant to Section 3.4 of these bylaws after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible. The Audit Committee shall consist solely of directors who are “independent” as determined under the corporate governance standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to the corporation and satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 10A-3.  At least one of the members of the Audit Committee shall be determined by the Board of Directors to be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in SEC Rule 407(d)(5).  Members of the Audit Committee shall review and supervise the financial controls of the corporation, make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the corporation’s auditors, review the books and accounts of the corporation, meet with the officers of the corporation regarding the corporation’s financial controls, act upon recommendations of the auditors and take such further action as the Audit Committee deems necessary to complete an audit of the books and accounts of the corporation.

 

SECTION 4.3.   Compensation and Stock Option Committee.   The compensation and stock option committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation and Stock Option Committee”) shall consist of two (2) or more directors to be designated annually by the Board of Directors at its first regular meeting held pursuant to Section 3.4 of these bylaws after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible.  Each member of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall be “independent” as determined under the corporate governance standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to the corporation.  The Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall review with management cash and other compensation policies for employees, shall determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and each of the other executive officers of the corporation and shall make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer regarding the compensation to be established for all other officers of the corporation. In addition, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee shall have full power and authority to administer the corporation’s stock plans and, within the terms of the respective stock plans, determine the terms and conditions of issuances thereunder.

 

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SECTION 4.4.   Directors’ Nominating Committee.  A directors’ nominating committee of the Board of Directors (the “Nominating Committee”) shall be designated annually by the Board of Directors at its first regular meeting held pursuant to Section 3.4 of these bylaws after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible.  The Nominating Committee shall consist solely of directors who are “independent” as determined under the corporate governance standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market applicable to the corporation.  The members of the Nominating Committees shall evaluate and select or recommend to the Board of Directors candidates to fill positions on the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.5.   Other Committees.   The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, designate one (1) or more additional special or standing committees, each such additional committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the corporation. Each such committee shall have and may exercise such of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation as may be provided in such resolution, except as delegated by these bylaws or by the Board of Directors to another standing or special committee or as may be prohibited by law.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, each such committee shall comply with applicable requirements of the NRS, the SEC and NASDAQ Stock Market, or such other organization, association or entity with which any class of the corporation’s securities are listed.

 

SECTION 4.6.   Committee Operations.   A majority of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any committee business. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names and such limitations of authority as provided in these bylaws or as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The corporation shall pay all expenses of committee operations. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more appropriate directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any members of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another appropriate member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member.

 

SECTION 4.7.   Minutes.   Each committee of directors shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required. The corporation’s Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any other designated person shall (a) serve as the Secretary of the special or standing committees of the Board of Directors of the corporation, (b) keep regular minutes of standing or special committee proceedings, (c) make available to the Board of Directors, as required, copies of all resolutions adopted or minutes or reports of other actions recommended or taken by any such standing or special committee and (d) otherwise as requested keep the members of the Board of Directors apprised of the actions taken by such standing or special committees.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

Notices

 

SECTION 5.1.  Methods of Giving Notice.

 

5.1.1.   Notice to Directors or Committee Members.   Whenever under the provisions of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or member of any committee of the Board of Directors, personal notice is not required but such notice may be (a) given in writing and mailed to such director or member, (b) sent by electronic transmission to such director or member, or (c) given orally or by telephone or telecopy; provided, however, that any notice from a stockholder to any director or member of any committee of the Board of Directors must be given in writing and mailed to such director or member and shall be deemed to be given upon receipt by such

 

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director or member. If mailed, notice to a director or member of a committee of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail first class, or by overnight courier, in a sealed envelope, with postage thereon prepaid, addressed, to such person at his or her business Address. If sent by electronic transmission, notice to a director or member of a committee of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be given if by (i) telecopy, when receipt of the telecopy is confirmed electronically, (ii) electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address of the director or member, (iii) a posting on an electronic network together with a separate notice to the director or member of the specific posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of the separate notice (which notice may be given in any of the manners provided above), or (iv) any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the director or member.

 

5.1.2.   Notice to Stockholders.   Whenever under the provisions of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any stockholder, personal notice is not required but such notice may be given (a) in writing and mailed to such stockholder or (b) by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If mailed, notice to a stockholder shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope, with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation. If sent by electronic transmission, notice to a stockholder shall be deemed to be given if by (i) telecopy, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (ii) electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (iii) a posting on an electronic network together with a separate notice to the stockholder of the specific posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of the separate notice (which notice may be given in any of the manners provided above), or (iv) any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

SECTION 5.2.   Written Waiver.   Whenever any notice is required to be given by the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, a waiver thereof in a signed writing or sent by the transmission of an electronic record signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

SECTION 5.3.   Consent.   Whenever all parties entitled to vote at any meeting, whether of directors or stockholders, consent, either by a writing on the records of the meeting or filed with the Secretary, or by presence at such meeting and oral consent entered on the minutes, or by taking part in the deliberations at such meeting without objection, the actions taken at such meeting shall be as valid as if had at a meeting regularly called and noticed. At such meeting any business may be transacted which is not excepted from the written consent or to the consideration of which no objection for lack of notice is made at the time, and if any meeting be irregular for lack of notice or such consent, provided a quorum was present at such meeting, the proceedings of such meeting may be ratified and approved and rendered valid and the irregularity or defect therein waived by a writing signed by all parties having the right to vote thereat. Such consent or approval, if given by stockholders, may be by proxy or power of attorney, but all such proxies and powers of attorney must be in writing.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

Officers

 

SECTION 6.1.   Officers.   The officers of the corporation shall include the Chairman of the Board and the President, as elected or appointed by the Board of Directors; shall further include the Secretary and the Treasurer, as elected or appointed by the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee or President; may include the Chief Executive Officer, as elected or appointed by the Board of Directors; and may further include, without limitation, such other officers and agents, including, without limitation, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents (anyone or more of which may be designated Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Vice

 

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President or Senior Vice President), Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, as the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee or President deem necessary and elect or appoint. All officers of the corporation shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as prescribed by these bylaws, the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee or President, as applicable. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person. No officer shall execute, acknowledge, verify or countersign any instrument on behalf of the corporation in more than one (1) capacity, if such instrument is required by law, by these bylaws or by any act of the corporation to be executed, acknowledged, verified or countersigned by two (2) or more officers. The Chairman of the Board shall be elected from among the directors. With the foregoing exception, none of the other officers need be a director, and none of the officers need be a stockholder of the corporation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board of Directors may delegate to any officer of the corporation the power to appoint other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

SECTION 6.2.   Election and Term of Office.   The officers of the corporation shall be elected or ratified annually by the Board of Directors at its first regular meeting held after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible (or, in the case of those officers elected or appointed other than by the Board of Directors, ratified at the Board of Directors’ first regular meeting held following their election or appointment or as soon thereafter as conveniently possible). Other than the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, who shall each be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors, all other officers of the corporation may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee or President. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been chosen and shall have qualified or until his or her death or the effective date of his or her resignation or removal, or until he or she shall cease to be a director in the case of the Chairman of the Board.

 

SECTION 6.3.   Removal and Resignation.   Any officer or agent may be removed, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and, other than the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, may also be removed, either with or without cause, by action of the Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee or President whenever, in its or their judgment, as applicable, the best interests of the corporation shall be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any executive officer or other officer or agent may resign at any time by giving written notice to the corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

SECTION 6.4.   Vacancies.   Any vacancy occurring in any required office of the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

 

SECTION 6.5.   Compensation.   The compensation of the Chief Executive Officer shall be determined by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee. Compensation of all other officers of the corporation shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Compensation and Stock Option Committee. No officer who is also a director shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of his or her also being a director.

 

SECTION 6.6.   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.   The Chairman of the Board (who may also be designated as Executive Chairman if serving as an employee of the corporation) (the “Chairman of the Board”) shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders of the corporation. In the Chairman of the Board’s absence, the duties as Chairman of the Board shall be attended to by any vice chairman of the Board of Directors, or if

 

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there is no vice chairman, or such vice chairman is absent, then by the President. The Chairman of the Board shall also hold the position of Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall, in general, perform such duties as usually pertain to the position of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.  He or she shall formulate and submit to the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee matters of general policy for the corporation and shall perform such other duties as usually appertain to the office or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. He or she may sign with the President or any other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors certificates for shares of the corporation, the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors, and any deeds or bonds, which the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof has been expressly delegated or reserved by these bylaws or by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee to some other officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed.

 

SECTION 6.7.   President.   The President, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Chairman of the Board, shall in general supervise and control the business and affairs of the corporation. The President shall keep the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Chairman of the Board fully informed as they or any of them shall request and shall consult them concerning the business of the corporation. He or she may sign with the Chairman of the Board or any other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of capital stock of the corporation, the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors, and any deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts, checks, notes, drafts or other instruments which the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof has been expressly delegated by these bylaws or by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee to some other officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed. In general, he or she shall perform all other duties normally incident to the office of the President, except any duties expressly delegated to other persons by these bylaws, the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the stockholders, Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, from time to time.

 

SECTION 6.8.   Vice Presidents.   In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Senior Executive Vice President (or in the event there shall be more than one Vice President designated Senior Executive Vice President, any Senior Executive Vice President designated by the Board of Directors), or in the event of the Senior Executive Vice President’s inability or refusal to act, the Executive Vice President (or in the event there shall be more than one such officer, any such officer designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. Any Vice President authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors to do so, may sign with any other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of capital stock of the corporation, the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the President.

 

SECTION 6.9.   Secretary.   The Secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of directors; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws and as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation, and see that the seal of the corporation or a facsimile thereof is affixed to all certificates for shares prior to the issuance thereof and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws; (d) keep or cause to be kept a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of other stock transfer books of the corporation; and (f) in general, perform all duties normally

 

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incident to the office of the Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

 

SECTION 6.10.   Treasurer.   The Treasurer shall (a) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation; receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever and deposit all such moneys in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3 of these bylaws; (b) prepare, or cause to be prepared, for submission at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, at each annual meeting of stockholders, and at such other times as may be required by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Executive Committee, a statement of financial condition of the corporation in such detail as may be required; and (c) in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. If required by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall determine.

 

SECTION 6.11.   Assistant Secretary or Treasurer.   The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall, in general, perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, or by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. The Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers shall, in the absence of the Secretary or Treasurer, respectively, perform all functions and duties which such absent officers may delegate, but such delegation shall not relieve the absent officer from the responsibilities and liabilities of his or her office. The Assistant Treasurers shall respectively, if required by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall determine.

 

SECTION 6.12.   Chief Executive Officer.   The Chief Executive Officer shall, in general, perform such duties as usually pertain to the position of chief executive officer and such duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 6.13.   Chief Financial Officer.   The Chief Financial Officer shall, in general, perform such duties as usually pertain to the position of chief financial officer and such duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

Execution of Corporate Instruments and Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation

 

SECTION 7.1.   Contracts.   Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may authorize any officer, officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver an instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

SECTION 7.2.   Checks, etc.   All checks, demands, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, and notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such agent or agents of the corporation, and in such manner, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

 

SECTION 7.3.   Deposits.   All funds of the corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Treasurer may be empowered by the

 

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Board of Directors or the Executive Committee to select or as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may select.

 

SECTION 7.4.   Voting of Securities Owned by Corporation.   All stock and other securities of any other corporation owned or held by the corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed by the person authorized to do so by resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

Shares of Stock

 

SECTION 8.1.   Issuance.   Each stockholder of this corporation shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates showing the number of shares of stock registered in his or her name on the books of the corporation. The certificates shall be in such form as may be determined by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, shall be issued in numerical order and shall be entered in the books of the corporation as they are issued. They shall exhibit the holder’s name and the number of shares and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board and the President or such other officers as may from time to time be authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The seal of the corporation shall be impressed, by original or by facsimile, printed or engraved, on all such certificates. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such officer had not ceased to be such officer at the date of its issue. If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one (1) class of stock or more than one (1) series of any class, the designation, preferences and relative participating, option or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class of stock; provided that except as otherwise provided by the NRS, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation will furnish to each stockholder who so requests the designations, preferences and relative participating, option or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and rights. All certificates surrendered to the corporation for transfer shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and canceled, except that in the case of a lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new certificate (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate) may be issued therefor upon such terms and with such indemnity, if any, to the corporation as the Board of Directors may prescribe. In addition to the above, all certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate) evidencing shares of the corporation’s stock or other securities issued by the corporation shall contain such legend or legends as may from time to time be required by the NRS, the Nevada Gaming Commission Regulations, or the statutes and regulations of any other gaming jurisdiction in which the corporation or any of its affiliates has operations, which are then in effect.

 

SECTION 8.2.   Lost Certificates.   The Board of Directors may direct that a new certificate or certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate) be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate), the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any

 

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claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate or certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, or both.

 

SECTION 8.3.   Transfers.   In the case of shares of stock represented by a certificate, upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Transfers of shares shall be made only on the books of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his or her attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or the transfer agent.

 

SECTION 8.4.   Registered Stockholders.   The corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Nevada.

 

SECTION 8.5.   Uncertificated Shares.   The Board of Directors may approve the issuance of uncertificated shares of some or all of the shares of any or all of its classes or series of capital stock.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

Dividends

 

SECTION 9.1.   Declaration.   Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

SECTION 9.2.   Reserve.   Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

Indemnification

 

SECTION 10.1.   Third Party Actions.   The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best

 

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interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

SECTION 10.2.   Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation.   The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. No indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction shall determine upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court shall deem proper.

 

SECTION 10.3.   Successful Defense.   To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 10.1 or 10.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense.

 

SECTION 10.4.   Determination of Conduct.   Any indemnification under Section 10.1 or 10.2 (unless ordered by a court or advanced pursuant to Section 10.5) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. Such determination shall be made (a) by the stockholders, (b) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (c) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceedings so orders, or (d) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained.

 

SECTION 10.5.   Payment of Expenses in Advance.   Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The provisions of this Section 10.5 do not affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other than directors or officers may be entitled under any contract or otherwise by law.

 

SECTION 10.6.   Indemnity Not Exclusive.   The indemnification and advancement of expenses authorized herein or ordered by a court shall not exclude any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in his or her official capacity or an action in another capacity while holding his or her office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 10.2 or for the advancement of expenses made pursuant to Section 10.5, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the cause of action. The indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue for a person who has ceased

 

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to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inures to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

SECTION 10.7.   The Corporation.   For purposes of this Article 10, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents. Accordingly, any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under and subject to the provisions of this Article 10 (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 10.4) with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

ARTICLE 11

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 11.1.   Seal.   The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Nevada.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

SECTION 11.2.  Books.   The books of the corporation may be kept within or without the State of Nevada (subject to any provisions contained in the NRS) at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

 

SECTION 11.3.   Fiscal Year.   The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin the first day of January of each year or upon such other day as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 11.4.   Certain Acquisitions by Fiduciaries.   The provisions of NRS 78.378 to NRS 78.3793 do not apply to (i) an Acquisition by a person acting in a fiduciary capacity from another person acting in a fiduciary capacity for the same beneficiaries (and pursuant to the same instrument) or (ii) an Acquisition by the spouse of a person acting in a fiduciary capacity or by a relative of such fiduciary within the first, second or third degree of consanguinity, provided that such Acquisition is pursuant to the instrument creating such fiduciary relationship. “Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in NRS 78.3783, and the term “fiduciary” has the meaning set forth in the Uniform Fiduciaries Act as adopted in the State of Nevada.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

Amendment

 

These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any regular meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for such purpose) by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Subject to the laws of the State of Nevada, the Board of Directors may, by majority vote of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, alter, amend or repeal these bylaws, or enact such other bylaws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of the corporation, unless the stockholders, in altering, amending or repealing a particular bylaw, provide expressly that the directors may not alter, amend or repeal such bylaw.

 

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EXHIBIT 4.1

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.

2010 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

1.             Purpose.  The purpose of the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan is to further align the interests of eligible participants with those of the Company’s shareholders by providing long-term incentive compensation opportunities tied to the performance of the Company and its Common Stock.  The Plan is intended to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders by attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel upon whose judgment, initiative and effort the successful conduct of the Company’s business is largely dependent.

 

2.             Definitions.  Wherever the following capitalized terms are used in the Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below:

 

Award” means an award of a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Stock Award granted under the Plan.

 

Award Agreement” means an agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted to a Participant, as provided in Section 15.1 hereof.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.2(b) hereof.

 

“Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.2 hereof.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

Common Stock” means the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share.

 

Company” means MTR Gaming Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Date of Grant” means the date on which an Award under the Plan is granted by the Committee, or such later date as the Committee may specify to be the effective date of an Award.

 

Effective Date” means the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with Section 16.1 hereof.

 

Eligible Person” means any person who is an employee, officer, or Non-Employee Director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 



 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of Common Stock as of a given date, the average of the highest and lowest sales prices per share of Common Stock on such date (or if such date is not a trading day, then on the next preceding trading date), as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, or if not so listed, “Fair Market Value” shall be such value as determined by the Board in its discretion and, to the extent necessary, shall be determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

Incentive Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

Non-Employee Director” means any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company.

 

Nonqualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Participant” means any Eligible Person who holds an outstanding Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance Award” means an Award that is denominated by a cash amount to an Eligible Person under Section 10 hereof and payable based upon the attainment of pre-established business and/or individual performance goals.

 

Plan” means the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan as set forth herein, effective as provided in Section 16.1 hereof, and as may be amended from time to time.

 

Prior Plans” means, collectively, the Company’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

Restricted Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof that are issued subject to such vesting and transfer restrictions as the Committee shall determine, and such other conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Restricted Stock Unit” means a grant to an Eligible Person under Section 9 hereof representing notional unit interests equal in value to a share of Common Stock to be paid or distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Service” means, as applicable, a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, or a Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 11 hereof, which may be free of transfer restrictions and forfeiture conditions.

 

Stock Appreciation Right” means a grant to an Eligible Person under Section 7 hereof entitling such Eligible Person to receive a payment, representing the difference between the base price per share of the right and the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at such time, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Stock Option” means a grant to an Eligible Person under Section 6 hereof to purchase shares of Common Stock at such time and price, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Subsidiary” means an entity (whether or not incorporated) that is wholly or majority owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the term “Subsidiary” shall include only an entity that qualifies under Section 424(f) of the Code as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company.

 

3.             Administration.

 

3.1          Committee Members.  The Plan shall be administered by a Committee comprised of no fewer than two members of the Board who are appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.  To the extent deemed necessary by the Board, each Committee member shall satisfy the requirements for (i) an “independent director” under rules adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market, (ii) a “nonemployee director” for purposes of such Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and (iii) an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  No member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Committee with respect to the Plan or any Award thereunder.

 

3.2          Committee Authority.  It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions.  The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (i) determine the Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan, (ii) determine the types of Awards that may be granted, the time or times at which Awards may be granted, and the number of shares of Common Stock, units or other rights subject to each Award, (iii) prescribe the terms and conditions of all Awards, (iv) interpret the Plan and terms of the Awards, (v) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and interpret, amend or revoke any such rules, (vi) make all determinations with respect to a Participant’s Service and the termination of such Service for purposes of any Award, and (vii) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Person who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States.   The Committee’s determinations under the

 

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Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants and Eligible Persons, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.  The Committee shall, in its discretion, consider such factors as it deems relevant in making its interpretations, determinations and actions under the Plan including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or employee of the Company or such attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select.  All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties.

 

3.3          Delegation of Authority.  The Committee, in its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or any part of its authority and powers under the Plan to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or to a committee of officers of the Company; provided, however, that no delegate will have the authority to grant or amend Awards to executive officers of the Company, nor, to grant or amend Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent necessary for such qualification.

 

4.             Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

4.1          Number of Shares Reserved.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock that are reserved for issuance under the Plan shall be the sum of (i) 2,511,800 (inclusive of 511,800 shares of Common Stock that remain authorized for issuance under the Prior Plans as of the Effective Date), and (ii) the number of shares subject to awards granted under the Prior Plans that become canceled, expired, forfeited, surrendered, or otherwise terminated in accordance with their terms and the applicable Prior Plan up to a maximum of 1,263,000 shares.   The entire pool of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan is available for the grant of Incentive Stock Options.  Any shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares, or treasury shares.

 

4.2          Share Replenishment.  To the extent that any Award under the Plan is canceled, expired, forfeited, surrendered, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without delivery of shares of Common Stock to the Participant, in whole or in part, the shares of Common Stock retained by or returned to the Company will not be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan, and will be available for future Awards under the Plan.  Shares that are (i) withheld from an Award or separately surrendered by the Participant in payment of the exercise or purchase price or taxes relating to such an Award or (ii) not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed to constitute delivered shares and will not be available for future Awards under the Plan.

 

4.3          Adjustments and Other Corporate Changes.  If there shall occur any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other distribution with respect to the shares of Common Stock, or any merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off, or other similar corporate change, or any other change affecting the Common Stock, the Committee shall, in the manner and to the extent it considers equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of the Plan, cause an adjustment to be made to (i) the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock provided in Sections 4.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1 and 11.1 hereof, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock, units, or

 

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other rights subject to then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price or base price for each share or unit or other right subject to then outstanding Awards, and (iv) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any such adjustments shall, to the extent necessary, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and (b) in the case of Incentive Stock Options, any such adjustments shall, to the extent practicable, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code.  In the event of (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (ii) a merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or (iii) any transaction (or series of related transactions) in which (x) more than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock is transferred or exchanged for other consideration, or (y) shares of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the transaction are issued (other than to shareholders of the Company with respect to their shares in the Company), then the Board, in its discretion, may provide that each Award then-outstanding shall terminate in exchange for an equitable payment as determined by the Board in good faith (including, without limitation, in the case of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation rights, a cash payment to the extent of the excess, if any, of the then-Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, over the exercise or base price per share of Common Stock subject to the Award).

 

5.             Eligibility and Awards.

 

5.1          Designation of Participants.  Any Eligible Person may be selected by the Committee to receive an Award and become a Participant under the Plan in accordance with the Committee’s authority under Section 3.2 hereof.  In selecting Eligible Persons to be Participants, and in determining the type and amount of Awards to be granted under the Plan, the Committee shall consider any and all factors that it deems relevant or appropriate.

 

5.2          Determination of Awards.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of all Awards granted to Participants in accordance with its authority under Section 3.2 hereof.  An Award may consist of one type of right or benefit hereunder or of two or more such rights or benefits granted in tandem.  The terms of all Awards under the Plan will be specified by the Committee and will be set forth in individual Award Agreements as described in Section 15.1 hereof.

 

6.             Stock Options.

 

6.1          Grant of Stock Options.  Stock Options may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee, except that an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to an Eligible Person satisfying the conditions of Section 6.7(a) hereof.   Each Stock Option shall be designated, in the discretion of the Committee, as an Incentive Stock Option or as a Nonqualified Stock Option. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Stock Options granted to any Participant during any calendar year shall be limited to 500,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof).  All Stock Options granted under the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements for exemption under Section 409A of the Code.

 

6.2          Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of a Stock Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the

 

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Date of Grant.  The Committee may, in its discretion, specify an exercise price per share that is higher than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

 

6.3          Vesting of Stock Options.  The Committee shall, in its discretion, provide in an Award Agreement the time or times at which, or the conditions upon which, a Stock Option or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable.  The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option may be based on the continued Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified Performance Goal (or goals) or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion.  The Committee may accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Stock Option upon termination of Service under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise.  If the vesting requirements of a Stock Option are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.

 

6.4          Term of Stock Options.  The Committee shall, in its discretion, provide in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Option may be exercised, provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Option shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.  The Stock Option of a Participant whose Service is terminated for any reason shall terminate on the earlier of (A) the maximum term of the Stock Option or (B) unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.7(c) hereof with respect to Incentive Stock Options, and except for termination for Cause (as described in Section 14.2 hereof), the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the termination of Service of the Participant.

 

6.5          Stock Option Exercise.  Subject to such terms and conditions as specified in an Award Agreement, a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by notice in the form required by the Company, together with payment of the aggregate exercise price therefor and applicable withholding tax.  Payment of the exercise price shall be made in the manner set forth in the Award Agreement, and unless otherwise provided by the Committee at the time of payment: (i) in cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Committee, (ii) by payment in shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise, (iii) through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price, (iv) by a combination of the methods described above or (v) by such other method as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.   In addition to, and at the time of payment of the exercise price, a Stock Option shall be subject to applicable tax withholding requirements as provided in Section 15.11 hereof.

 

6.6          Limited Transferability of Nonqualified Stock Options.  All Stock Options shall be nontransferable except (i) upon the Participant’s death, in accordance with Section 15.3 hereof or (ii) subject to prior approval by the Committee, in the case of Nonqualified Stock Options only, for the transfer of all or part of the Stock Option to a Participant’s “family member” (as defined for purposes of the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act), as may be approved by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of the proposed transfer.  The transfer of a Nonqualified Stock Option may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, impose from time to time.  Subsequent transfers of a Nonqualified Stock Option shall be prohibited.

 

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6.7          Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options.

 

(a)           Eligibility.  An Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to an Eligible Person who is considered an employee for purposes of Treasury Regulation §1.421-7(h) with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary that qualifies as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company for purposes of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

(b)           Annual Limits.  No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to a Participant as a result of which the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Date of Grant) of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code are exercisable for the first time in any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plans of the Company or any subsidiary or parent corporation, would exceed $100,000, determined in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code.  This limitation shall be applied by taking stock options into account in the order in which granted.

 

(c)           Termination of Employment.  An Award of an Incentive Stock Option may provide that such Stock Option may be exercised not later than three (3) months following termination of employment of the Participant with the Company and all Subsidiaries, or not later than one (1) year following a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as and to the extent determined by the Committee to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(d)           Other Terms and Conditions; Nontransferability.  Any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as are deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee, which terms, together with the terms of the Plan, shall be intended and interpreted to cause such Incentive Stock Option to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.  An Award Agreement for an Incentive Stock Option may provide that such Stock Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option to the extent that certain requirements applicable to “incentive stock options” under the Code shall not be satisfied.  An Incentive Stock Option shall by its terms be nontransferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant.

 

(e)           Disqualifying Dispositions.  If shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two (2) years following the Date of Grant or one (1) year following the transfer of such shares to the Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Company may reasonably require.

 

6.8          Repricing Prohibited.  Subject to the anti-dilution adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.3 hereof, without the prior approval of the Company’s shareholders,  neither the Committee nor the Board shall cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Option that would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such a Stock Option previously granted under the Plan, or otherwise approve any modification to such a Stock Option that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing

 

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requirements adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

 

7.             Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

7.1          Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted on a basis that allows for the exercise of the right by the Participant or that provides for the automatic payment of the right upon a specified date or event.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Participant during any calendar year shall be limited to 500,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof).  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be non-transferable, except as provided in Section 15.3 hereof.  All Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements for exemption under Section 409A of the Code.  A Stock Appreciation Right may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted in tandem with a Stock Option, and in such event, shall (i) have a base price per share equal to the per share exercise price of the Stock Option, (ii) be vested and exercisable at the same time or times that a related Stock Option is vested and exercisable, and (iii) expire no later than the time at which the related Stock Option expires.

 

7.2          Base Price. The base price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.  The Committee may, in its discretion, specify a base price per share that is higher than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

 

7.3          Vesting of Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee shall, in its discretion, provide in an Award Agreement the time or times at which, or the conditions upon which, a Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable.  The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Appreciation Right may be based on the continued Service of a Participant for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified Performance Goal (or goals) or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion.  The Committee may accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Right upon termination of Service under certain circumstances as set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise.  If the vesting requirements of a Stock Appreciation Right are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.

 

7.4          Term of Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee shall, in its discretion, provide in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Appreciation Right may be exercisable or payable, provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.  The Stock Appreciation Right of a Participant whose Service is terminated for any reason shall terminate on the earlier of (A) the maximum term of the Stock Appreciation Right or (B) unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, and except for termination for Cause (as described in Section 14.2 hereof), the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the termination of Service of the Participant.

 

7.5          Payment of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to such terms and conditions as specified in an Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the holder, upon

 

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exercise or other payment of the Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, to receive an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise or payment of the Stock Appreciation Right over the base price of such Stock Appreciation Right, by (ii) the number of shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised or paid.  Payment of the amount determined under the foregoing may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in shares of Common Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or payment, in cash, or in a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements as provided in Section 15.11 hereof.

 

7.6          Repricing Prohibited.  Subject to the anti-dilution adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.3 hereof, without the prior approval of the Company’s shareholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Appreciation Right that would have the effect of reducing the base price of such a Stock Appreciation Right previously granted under the Plan, or otherwise approve any modification to such Stock Appreciation Right that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the NASDAQ Stock Market or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

 

8.             Restricted Stock Awards.

 

8.1          Grant of Restricted Stock Awards.  A Restricted Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Restricted Stock Awards granted to a Participant during any one calendar year shall be limited to 500,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof).  The Committee may require the payment by the Participant of a specified purchase price in connection with any Restricted Stock Award.

 

8.2          Vesting Requirements.  The restrictions imposed on shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse in accordance with the vesting requirements specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement.  The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Award may be based on the continued Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified Performance Goal (or goals) designed to meet the requirements for exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion.  The Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Award upon termination of Service under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Award Agreement.  If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award shall not be satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be returned to the Company.

 

8.3          Transfer Restrictions.  Shares granted under any Restricted Stock Award may not be transferred, assigned or subject to any encumbrance, pledge, or charge until all applicable restrictions are removed or have expired, unless otherwise allowed by the Committee.  Failure to satisfy any applicable restrictions shall result in the subject shares of the Restricted Stock Award being forfeited and returned to the Company.  The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that certificates representing the shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed, and that certificates

 

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representing the shares granted or sold under a Restricted Stock Award will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or have expired.

 

8.4          Rights as Shareholder.  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and the applicable Award Agreement, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participant shall have all rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares granted to the Participant under a Restricted Stock Award, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto.  Any Common Stock received as a stock dividend or distribution will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Restricted Stock Award.

 

8.5          Section 83(b) Election.  If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall file, within thirty (30) days following the Date of Grant, a copy of such election with the Company and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code.  The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participant’s making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

9.             Restricted Stock Units.

 

9.1          Grant of Restricted Stock Units.  A Restricted Stock Unit may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee.  The maximum number of units that may be subject to Restricted Stock Units granted to a Participant during any one calendar year shall be limited to 500,000 units (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof).  The value of each Restricted Stock Unit is equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee.  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

 

9.2          Vesting of Restricted Stock Units.  On the Date of Grant, the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine any vesting requirements with respect to Restricted Stock Units, which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.  The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit may be based on the continued Service of the Participant for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified Performance Goal (or goals) designed to meet the requirements for exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion.  The Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit upon termination of Service under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

9.3          Payment of Restricted Stock Units.  Restricted Stock Units shall become payable to a Participant at the time or times determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, which may be upon or following the vesting of the Award.  Payment of a Restricted Stock Unit may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements as provided in Section 15.11 hereof.  Any cash payment of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock,

 

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determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

9.4                               Dividend Equivalent Rights. Restricted Stock Units may be granted together with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units or may be accumulated in cash, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, and will be paid at the time the underlying Restricted Stock Unit is payable. Dividend equivalent rights shall be subject to forfeiture under the same conditions as apply to the underlying Restricted Stock Units.

 

9.5                               No Rights as Shareholder.  The Participant shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit until such time as such shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

10.                               Cash-Based Performance Awards.

 

10.1                        Grant of Cash-Based Performance Awards.  A Cash-Based Performance Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee.  The maximum amount of cash compensation that may be paid to a Participant during any one calendar year under Cash-Based Performance Awards shall be $1,000,000.

 

10.2                        Vesting of Cash-Based Performance Awards.  Each Cash-Based Performance Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the performance period, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine.  Payment amounts may be based on the achievement of specified levels of performance with respect to a performance goal (or goals), including, if applicable, specified threshold, target and maximum performance levels.  The requirements for vesting may also be based upon the continued Service of the Participant or on such other conditions as determined by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement.  The Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Cash-Based Performance Award upon termination of Service under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

10.3                        Payment of Cash-Based Performance Awards.  Payment of Cash-Based Performance Awards will be made as soon as practicable, but not later than sixty (60) days, after the expiration of the applicable performance period.  Payment of the Cash-Based Performance Awards may be made in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements as provided in Section 15.11 hereof.  Any payment of a Cash-Based Performance Award in Common Stock shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value thereof.

 

11.                               Stock Awards.

 

11.1                        Grant of Stock Awards.  A Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee.  A Stock Award may be granted for past services, in lieu of bonus or other cash compensation, as compensation for Non-Employee Directors or for any other valid

 

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purpose as determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, and such Awards may be made without vesting requirements.  In addition, the Committee may, in connection with any Stock Award, require the payment of a specified purchase price.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Stock Awards granted to a Participant during any one calendar year shall be limited to 100,000 shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 hereof).

 

11.2                        Rights as Shareholder.  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 and the applicable Award Agreement, upon the issuance of Common Stock under a Stock Award, the Participant shall have all rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto.

 

12.                               Section 162(m) Awards.

 

12.1                        Awards.  Awards of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are intended by their design pursuant to the terms of the Plan to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Cash-Based Performance Awards and Stock Awards may qualify for such exception if the Awards are granted or become payable or vested based upon pre-established performance goals in accordance with this Section 12.

 

12.2                        Performance Criteria.  In the case of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units, Cash-Based Performance Award or Stock Award that is intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance criteria upon which the grant, payment or vesting may be based shall be limited to one or more of the following performance measures, which may be applied on a Company-wide, departmental, or individual basis, or any other basis determined by the Committee in its discretion: 1) net earnings; 2) earnings per share; 3) dividend ratio; 4) net sales growth; 5) income or net income (before taxes); 6) operating profit or net operating profit; 7) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity or sales); 8) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, cash from operations and free cash flow); 9) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; 10) share price (including, but not limited to growth measures and total shareholder return); 11) expense targets; 12) customer satisfaction; 13) market share; 14) economic value added; 15) the formation of joint ventures or the completion of other corporate transactions; 16) market capitalization; 17) debt leverage (debt to capital); 18) operating income or net operating income; 19) operating margin or profit margin; 20) return on operating revenue; 21) operating ratio; 22) integration and/or penetration of the market; and/or 23) any combination of or a specified increase in any of the foregoing.  The Committee may adjust, change, or eliminate the performance goals or the applicable performance period of the Award as it deems appropriate, in its discretion.  The foregoing performance measures may be determined on an absolute basis or relative to internal goals or relative to levels attained in prior years, or related to other companies or indices, or as ratios expressing relationships between two or more performance measures.

 

12.3                        Section 162(m) Requirements.  For purposes of qualifying Awards as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance goals shall

 

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be set by the Committee on or before the latest date permissible to enable the Awards to so qualify.  In granting such Awards, the Committee shall (i) interpret this Plan in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code; (ii) have no discretion to adjust any performance goal in any way that would adversely affect the treatment of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code; and (iii) certify that the performance goals applicable to the Award are met before any payment with respect to such Award.  With respect to any Awards intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, adjustments to performance goals shall only be made to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a performance goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period, to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, (v) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs and (vi) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Forms 10-K or 10-Q for the applicable year.  At the discretion of the Board, for purposes of compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance goals shall be subject to re-approval by the Company’s shareholders no later than the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the year following the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date on which the Plan first becomes effective.

 

13.                               Change in Control.

 

13.1                        Effect of Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control, all Awards then-outstanding under the Plan shall fully vest, and shall, as applicable, be fully exercisable as of, or paid out on, the date of the Change in Control.  With respect to any Award the vesting of which is subject to the attainment of performance goals, upon a Change in Control, payout of cash or securities under such Award shall be determined as if the performance goals were achieved at the target level of performance.

 

13.2                        Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean: (i) a change in ownership of the Company under paragraph (a) below, or (ii) a change in effective control of the Company under paragraph (b) below, or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under paragraph (c) below.

 

(a) Change in the Ownership of the Company.  A change in the ownership of the Company shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in paragraph (d)), acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.  However, if any one person or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the Company (or to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation (within the meaning of paragraph (b) below)). An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or

 

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persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this section. This paragraph (a) applies only when there is a transfer of stock of the Company and stock in the Company remains outstanding after the transaction.

 

(b) Change in the Effective Control of the Company.  A change in the effective control of the Company shall occur on the date that either (i) any one person or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or (ii) a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election.

 

(c) Change in the Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets.  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in paragraph (d) below), acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no Change in Control event under this paragraph (c) when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer. A transfer of assets by the Company is not treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to (i) a shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock, (ii) an entity, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (iii) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (iv) an entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in paragraph (d).  For purposes of this paragraph (c), a person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of the assets.

 

(d) Persons Acting As a Group.  For the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own assets or stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering. However, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of assets or stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation.  If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of assets or stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to the ownership in that corporation before the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

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(e) Each of the sub-paragraphs (a) through (d) above shall be construed and interpreted consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

14.                               Forfeiture Events.

 

14.1                        General.  The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement at the time of the Award that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award.  Such events shall include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is materially detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.

 

14.2                        Termination for Cause.

 

(a)  General.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause, such Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to cancellation, forfeiture and/or recoupment.  The Company shall have the power to determine whether the Participant has been terminated for Cause and the date upon which such termination for Cause occurs.  Any such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Participant.  In addition, if the Company shall reasonably determine that a Participant has committed or may have committed any act which could constitute the basis for a termination of such Participant’s employment for Cause, the Committee may, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder, suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise any option, receive any payment or vest in any right with respect to any Award pending a determination by the Company of whether an act has been committed which could constitute the basis for a termination for “Cause” as provided in this Section 14.2.

 

(b)  Definition of “Cause”.  For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, “Cause” means the Participant’s termination of Service due to: (i) persistent neglect or negligence in the performance of the Participant’s Service duties; (ii) conviction (including pleas of guilty or no contest) for any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement, or for any criminal offense related to the Participant’s Service; (iii) any deliberate and material breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or other conduct that leads to the material damage or prejudice of the Company, or (iv) a material breach of an essential Company policy, such as the Company’s code of conduct.

 

15.                               General Provisions.

 

15.1                        Award Agreement.  To the extent deemed necessary by the Committee, an Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in a written or electronic form approved by the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock, units or other

 

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rights subject to the Award, the exercise price, base price, or purchase price of the Award, the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable and the term of the Award.  The Award Agreement may also set forth the effect on an Award of a Change in Control or a termination of Service under certain circumstances.  The Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, all of the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and may also set forth other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of the Plan.  The grant of an Award under the Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in the Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the Award Agreement.  An Award Agreement may be in the form of an agreement to be executed by both the Participant and the Company (or an authorized representative of the Company) or certificates, notices or similar instruments as approved by the Committee.  The Committee need not require the execution of an Award Agreement by a Participant, in which case, acceptance of the Award by the Participant shall constitute agreement by the Participant to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement as well as any administrative guidelines of the Company in effect from time to time.

 

15.2                        Determinations of Service.  The Committee shall make all determinations relating to the Service of a Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with an Award, including with respect to the continuation, suspension or termination of such Service.  A Participant’s Service shall not be deemed terminated if the Committee determines that (i) a transition of employment to service with a partnership, joint venture or corporation not meeting the requirements of a Subsidiary in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party is not considered a termination of Service, or (ii) the Participant transfers between service as an employee and that of a Non-Employee Director (or vice versa).  The Committee may determine whether any corporate transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a termination of Service for purposes of any affected Awards, and the Committee’s decision shall be final and binding.

 

15.3                        No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries.  Except as provided in Section 6.6 hereof, Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant, and shall not be subject in any manner to assignment, alienation, pledge, encumbrance or charge.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the death of a Participant while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, an outstanding Award may be exercised by or shall become payable to the Participant’s beneficiary as designated by the Participant in the manner prescribed by the Committee or, in the absence of an authorized beneficiary designation, by the legatee or legatees of such Award under the Participant’s last will, or by such Participant’s executors, personal representatives or distributees of such Award in accordance with the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution.  The Committee may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement or in any other manner prescribed by the Committee that the Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall be entitled to any rights, payments or other benefits specified under an Award following the Participant’s death.

 

15.4                        Deferrals of Payment.  The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or delivery of shares of Common Stock that would

 

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otherwise be due to the Participant by virtue of the exercise of a right or the satisfaction of vesting or other conditions with respect to an Award, provided, however, that such discretion shall not apply in the case of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.  If any such deferral is to be permitted by the Committee, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures relating to such deferral in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, without limitation, the time when an election to defer may be made, the time period of the deferral and the events that would result in payment of the deferred amount, the interest or other earnings attributable to the deferral and the method of funding, if any, attributable to the deferred amount.

 

15.5                        No Right to Continued Service.  Nothing in the Plan, in the grant of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Person or any Participant any right to continue in the Service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or other service relationship of an Eligible Person or a Participant for any reason at any time.

 

15.6                        Rights as Shareholder.  A Participant shall have no rights as a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to any unissued securities covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such securities.  Except as provided in Section 4.3 hereof, no adjustment or other provision shall be made for dividends or other shareholder rights, except to the extent that the Award Agreement provides for dividend payments or dividend equivalent rights.  The Committee may determine, in its discretion, the manner of delivery of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan, which may be by delivery of stock certificates, electronic account entry into new or existing accounts or any other means as the Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate. The Committee may require that the stock certificates be held in escrow by the Company for any shares of Common Stock or cause the shares to be legended in order to comply with the securities laws or other applicable restrictions, or should the shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic account entry rather than a certificate, the Committee may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable.

 

15.7                        Section 409A Compliance.  To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, and that the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be interpreted and applied by the Committee in a manner consistent with this intent in order to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.  In the event that any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement is determined by the Committee to not comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, the Committee shall have the authority to take such actions and to make such changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary to comply with such requirements, provided that no such action shall adversely affect any outstanding Award without the consent of the affected Participant.  No payment that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be made under the Plan or an Award Agreement upon a termination of Service will be made or provided unless and until such termination is also a “separation from service,” as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything elsewhere in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in

 

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Section 409A of the Code at the time of termination of Service with respect to an Award, then solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, the commencement of any payments or benefits under the Award shall be deferred until the date that is six months following the Participant’s termination of Service (or such other period as required to comply with Section 409A).  In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

15.8                        Securities Law Compliance.  No shares of Common Stock will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by Federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any exchanges upon which the shares of Common Stock may be listed, have been fully met.  As a condition precedent to the issuance of shares pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to meet such requirements.  The Committee may impose such conditions on any shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act, under the requirements of any exchange upon which such shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such shares.  The Committee may also require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of issuance or transfer that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired only for investment purposes and without any current intention to sell or distribute such shares.

 

15.9                        Non-United States Participants and Jurisdictions.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, in order to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan or to comply with provisions of laws in other countries in which the Company operates or has employees, the Committee, in its discretion, shall have the power and authority, to the extent not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, to (i) determine which Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals or who are employed outside of the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan, (ii) modify the terms and conditions of any Awards made to such Eligible Persons, and (iii) establish subplans and modify exercise and payment procedures and other Award terms and procedures to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable to comply with any tax, securities, regulatory or other laws of other jurisdictions with respect to Awards that may be subject to such laws.  Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose.

 

15.10                 Substitute Awards in Corporate Transactions.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Committee to grant Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, of the business or assets of any corporation or other entity.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may grant Awards under the Plan to an employee or director of another corporation who becomes an Eligible Person by reason of any such corporate transaction in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation or entity to such person.  The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose.

 

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15.11                 Tax Withholding.  The Participant shall be responsible for payment of any taxes or similar charges required by law to be paid or withheld from an Award or an amount paid in satisfaction of an Award.  Any required withholdings shall be paid or, in the discretion of the Committee, otherwise satisfied (including, without limitation, by reduction of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award), by the Participant on or prior to the payment or other event that results in taxable income in respect of an Award.  The Award Agreement may specify the manner in which the withholding obligation shall be satisfied with respect to the particular type of Award.

 

15.12                 Unfunded Plan.  The adoption of the Plan and any reservation of shares of Stock or cash amounts by the Company to discharge its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust or other funded arrangement.  Except upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to an Award, any rights of a Participant under the Plan shall be those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company, and neither a Participant nor the Participant’s permitted transferees or estate shall have any other interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to implement or set aside funds in a grantor trust, subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors or otherwise, to discharge its obligations under the Plan.

 

15.13                 Other Compensation and Benefit Plans.  The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other share incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of share incentive or other compensation or benefit program for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary.  The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not constitute includable compensation for purposes of determining the amount of benefits to which a Participant is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company or a Subsidiary, including, without limitation, under any pension or severance benefits plan, except to the extent specifically provided by the terms of any such plan.

 

15.14                 Plan Binding on Transferees.  The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its successors, transferees and assigns, and the Participant, the Participant’s executor, administrator and permitted transferees and beneficiaries.

 

15.15                 Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

 

15.16                 Governing Law.  The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be subject to and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws, and to applicable Federal securities laws.

 

16.                               Term; Amendment and Termination.

 

16.1                        Term.  The Plan was adopted by the Board on May 19, 2010, and shall be subject to approval by a majority of the votes present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the next duly held meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which a quorum is present.  The

 

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Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall automatically terminate on ten years from its adoption by the Board, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 16.2 hereof.

 

16.2                        Amendment and Termination.  The Board may from time to time and in any respect, amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award.  The Board may seek the approval of any amendment, modification, suspension or termination by the Company’s shareholders to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its discretion for purposes of compliance with Section 162(m) or Section 422 of the Code, the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, or other exchange or securities market or for any other purpose.

 

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EXHIBIT 5.1

 

September 19, 2014

 

Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

100 West Liberty Street, Suite 1150

Reno, Nevada 89501

 

Re:                              Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of Shares under the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) which Eldorado Resorts, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Act”), up to 2,222,592 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Shares”), issuable under and pursuant to the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

We have examined originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Plan, (iii) the forms of award agreements relating to awards to receive shares under the Plan (the “Agreements”), and (iv) such corporate records of the Company, agreements and other instruments, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and other documents as we have deemed it necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In such examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon certifications by officers of the Company and other appropriate persons and statements contained in the Registration Statement.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Plan has been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered upon receipt of all amounts that a Plan participant is required to pay to purchase the Shares, which consideration shall constitute lawful consideration under Nevada law, each in accordance with the Plan and any applicable Agreement, the Shares will have been legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The foregoing opinion is based on and limited to the Nevada Revised Statutes, and we render no opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction.

 



 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.  In giving such opinion, we do not thereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ McDonald Carano Wilson LLP

 


EXHIBIT 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan of Eldorado Resorts, Inc. of our reports dated March 14, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of MTR Gaming Group, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of MTR Gaming Group, Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 17, 2014

 


EXHIBIT 23.3

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan of Eldorado Resorts, Inc. of our report dated March 14, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Eldorado HoldCo LLC and subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A (No. 333-192086) of Eclair Holdings Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

Las Vegas, Nevada

 

September 17, 2014