EXHIBIT 4
6,000,000 Shares
Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
Common Stock
($0.01 Par Value)
EQUITY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
December 11, 2001
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
CIBC World Markets Corp.
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters
c/o Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
and
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xx.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ameristar Casinos, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "COMPANY"),
and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, a stockholder of the Company (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDER"),
propose to sell to the several underwriters (the "UNDERWRITERS") named in
Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"REPRESENTATIVES") an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, $0.01 par value (the "FIRM SHARES"), of which 4,000,000 shares will be
sold by the Company and 2,000,000 shares will be sold by the Selling
Stockholder. The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the
several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.
The Company and the Selling Stockholder are sometimes referred to herein
collectively as the "SELLERS." The Company also proposes to sell at the
Underwriters' option an aggregate of up to 900,000 additional shares of the
Company's Common Stock (the "OPTION SHARES") as set forth below.
As the Representatives, you have advised the Company and the
Selling Stockholder (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on
behalf of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are
willing, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm
Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro
rata portion of the Option Shares if you elect to exercise the over-
allotment option in whole or in part for the accounts of the several
Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to the extent the
aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the "SHARES."
In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and
of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling
Stockholder.
(a) The Company represents and warrants to each of the
Underwriters as follows:
(i) A registration statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-73178)
with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"), and the
Rules and Regulations (the "RULES AND REGULATIONS") of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") thereunder and has been filed with the
Commission. The Company has complied with the conditions for the use of Form
S-2. Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments thereto,
the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and
Regulations) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and
schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the
Company to you. Such registration statement, together with any registration
statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462 (b) of the Act, herein
referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT," which shall be deemed to include
all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
the Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the
date of this Agreement. "PROSPECTUS" means the form of prospectus first filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Each preliminary prospectus
included in the Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is
herein referred to as a "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS." Any reference herein to the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or to the Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein,
and, in the case of any reference herein to any Prospectus, also shall be deemed
to include any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission
after the date of filing of the Prospectus under Rules 424(b) or 430A, and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(ii) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or
suspending the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the
Shares nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement
contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will
contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will
conform to, the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The
documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time filed with
the Commission conformed, in all respects to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") or the Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Registration Statement
and any amendment
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thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of a material
fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
The Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto do not contain, and
will not contain, any untrue statement of material fact; and do not omit, and
will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company
makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted
from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or
supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
Representatives, expressly for use in the preparation thereof.
(iii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company,
including all shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the portion
of the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized and
when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with
respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing
of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as
contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which
have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares
of Common Stock.
(iv) The information set forth under the caption
"Capitalization" in the Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares
conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The
form of certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the
jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation.
(v) As of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2(c) below,
all of the subsidiaries of the Company are listed in Schedule II attached hereto
(each, a "SUBSIDIARY" and collectively, the "SUBSIDIARIES"); all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries have been, and as of the
Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar
rights and will, except as described in the Prospectus, be free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities and claims or restrictions on transferability
(other than those imposed by the Act and the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of
certain jurisdictions, those imposed by applicable Gaming Regulations (as
defined in that certain Indenture dated as of February 2, 2001 among the
Company, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust National Association
(the "INDENTURE")) and Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)) or voting;
except as described in the Prospectus, there are no (i) options, warrants or
other rights to purchase, (ii) agreements or other obligations to issue or (iii)
other rights to convert any obligation into, or exchange any securities for,
shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in any of the Subsidiaries
outstanding. Except for the Subsidiaries or as disclosed in the Prospectus and
except for Cash Equivalents (as defined in the Indenture), the Company does not
own, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or any other equity or
long-term debt securities or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership,
joint venture or other entity.
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(vi) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power
and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as now conducted
and as described in the Prospectus; each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all
other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, management,
business, financial condition, business prospects or results of operations of
the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (any such event, a "MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT").
(vii) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly authorized by the Company. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company.
(viii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court
or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance and sale by the
Company of the Shares to the Underwriters or the consummation by the Company of
the other transactions contemplated hereby, except such as have been obtained
and such as may be required by the Commission, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or as may be required to qualify the
Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or "Blue
Sky" laws. None of the Company or the Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document),
(ii) in breach or violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties or
assets, except for any such breach or violation that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) in breach of or
default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice or passage of time
or both, would constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms
or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note,
lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate, contract or other
agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or to which any of them
or their respective properties or assets is subject (collectively, "CONTRACTS"),
except for any such breach, default, violation or event that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ix) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the
Shares to the Underwriters) will not conflict with or constitute or result in a
breach of or a default under (or an event that with notice or passage of time or
both would constitute a default under) or violation of any of (i) the terms or
provisions of any Contract, except for any such conflict, breach, violation,
default or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or
similar organizational document) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or
(iii) (assuming compliance with all applicable state
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securities or "Blue Sky" laws and assuming receipt of approvals, registrations
and filings described in subsection (viii) above) any statute, judgment, decree,
order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such conflict,
breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(x) The audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements
of the Company (including all notes and schedules thereto) included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of
operations and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiaries at the dates and
for the periods to which they relate and have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except
as otherwise stated therein. The audited and unaudited consolidated financial
statements of Station Casinos, Inc. Missouri Operations sold to the Company (the
"MISSOURI PROPERTIES") included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Missouri
Properties at the dates and for the periods to which they relate and have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis, except as otherwise stated therein. The summary and selected
financial and statistical data included in or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus relating to the Company and the
Missouri Properties, respectively, present fairly in all material respects the
information shown therein and have been prepared and compiled on a basis
consistent with the audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference therein, except as otherwise stated therein. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP (the
"INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS") is an independent public accounting firm with respect
to each of the Company and the Missouri Properties within the meaning of the Act
and the Rules and Regulations.
(xi) The pro forma financial statements (including the notes
thereto) and the other pro forma financial information included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X
promulgated under the Exchange Act, (ii) have been prepared, in all material
respects, in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect
to pro forma financial statements and (iii) reflect adjustments that have been
properly computed on the bases described therein; the pro forma financial data
and other pro forma financial information included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus give effect to the assumptions
used in the preparation thereof on a reasonable basis and in good faith to
reflect the transactions or circumstances referred to therein.
(xii) Except as described in the Prospectus with regard to
proceedings by the Mississippi Gaming Commission relating to gaming on the Big
Black River, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property or
assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries are subject, before or brought
by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency or body that, would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or that seeks to restrain,
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enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale
of the Shares to be sold hereunder or the consummation of the other transactions
described in the Prospectus.
(xiii) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries possesses all
licenses (including, but not limited to, gaming licenses, permits, certificates,
consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all
declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental
authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other
tribunals, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be,
and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective
businesses as now conducted as set forth in the Prospectus ("PERMITS"), except
where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; except to the extent disclosed in the
Prospectus with respect to Gaming Regulations and except for matters which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, each of
the Company and the Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed, in all material
respects, all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has
occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation
or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights
of the holder of any such Permit; and none of the Company or the Subsidiaries
has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification
of any such Permit, except as described in the Prospectus and except where such
revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) Since the date of the most recent financial statements
appearing in the Prospectus, except as described in the Prospectus, (i) none of
the Company or the Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations,
direct or contingent, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transactions
or contracts (written or oral) not in the ordinary course of business, which
liabilities, obligations, transactions or contracts would, individually or in
the aggregate, be material to the general affairs, management, business,
financial condition, business prospects or results of operations of the
Companies and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) none of the Company or
the Subsidiaries has purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor
declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its
capital stock (other than with respect to any of such Subsidiaries, the purchase
of, or dividend or distribution on, capital stock owned by the Company) and
(iii) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (except for the
grant and exercise of stock options in the ordinary course of business) or the
amount of long-term indebtedness of the Company or the Subsidiaries.
(xv) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, except
where the failure to so file such returns would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except for taxes owed but not yet due
to be paid and other tax deficiencies that the Company or any Subsidiary is
contesting in good faith and for which the Company or such Subsidiary has
provided adequate reserves, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted
against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that would have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xvi) The statistical and market-related data included in the
Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company and the
Subsidiaries believe to be reliable and accurate.
(xvii) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or any agent acting
on their behalf has taken or will take any action that might cause this
Agreement or the sale of the Shares to violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect, or as the
same may hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date.
(xviii) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and
marketable title to all real property and good title to all personal property
described in the Prospectus as being owned by it and good and marketable title
to a leasehold estate in the real and personal property described in the
Prospectus as being leased by it free and clear of all liens, charges,
encumbrances or restrictions, except as described in the Prospectus, except for
Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture) and except to the extent the
failure to have such title or the existence of such liens, charges, encumbrances
or restrictions would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. All Contracts to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
a party or by which any of them is bound are valid and enforceable against the
Company or such Subsidiary, and are valid and enforceable against the other
party or parties thereto and are in full force and effect with only such
exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess adequate
licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade
names, copyrights and know-how necessary to conduct the businesses now operated
by them as described in the Prospectus, and none of the Company or the
Subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (or
knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others
with respect to any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights
or know-how that is reasonably likely to be sustained and that, if such
assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xix) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect (A) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is
in compliance with and not subject to liability under applicable Environmental
Laws (as defined below), (B) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has made
all filings and provided all notices required under any applicable Environmental
Law, and has and is in compliance with all Permits required under any applicable
Environmental Laws and each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no
civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice
of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for
information pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under
any Environmental Law, (D) no lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been
recorded under any Environmental Law with respect to any assets, facility or
property owned, operated, leased or controlled by the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries, (E) none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received notice
that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended ("CERCLA"), or any comparable state law and (F) no property or facility
of the Company or any of the
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Subsidiaries is (i) listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities
List under CERCLA or is (ii) listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA,
or on any comparable list maintained by any state or local governmental
authority.
For purposes of this Agreement, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means the
common law and all applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations,
codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved
or entered thereunder, relating to pollution or protection of public or employee
health and safety or the environment, including, without limitation, laws
relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
hazardous materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), (ii) the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of hazardous materials, and (iii) underground
and above ground storage tanks and related piping, and emissions, discharges,
releases or threatened releases therefrom.
(xx) There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work
stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that is
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would, individually
or in the aggregate, result in any Material Adverse Effect.
(xxi) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries carries insurance
in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable in accordance with the
customary industry practice.
(xxii) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has
any liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any
complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit
sharing or other plan which is subject to the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), to which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of
the Company or of any Subsidiary is or has ever been a participant and (ii) with
respect to such plans, the Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all
applicable provisions of ERISA.
(xxiii) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) makes and
keeps accurate books and records and (ii) maintains internal accounting controls
that provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in
accordance with management's authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain
accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's authorization and (D) the reported accountability
for its assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals.
(xxiv) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries is an "investment
company" or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for an "investment company,"
as such terms are
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defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
(xxv) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's knowledge, any
of its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive
market making transactions in the Shares on The Nasdaq National Market in
accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
(xxvi) To the Company's knowledge, there are no affiliations or
associations between any member of the NASD and any of the Company's officers,
directors or 5% or greater securityholders, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement.
(b) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to each of
the Underwriters as follows:
(i) The Selling Stockholder now has and at the Closing Date will
have good and marketable title to the Firm Shares to be sold by the
Selling Stockholder, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities
and claims, and full right, power and authority to effect the sale and
delivery of such Firm Shares; and upon the delivery of, against payment
for, such Firm Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Underwriters will
acquire good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any liens,
encumbrances, equities and claims.
(ii) The Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform his obligations
under this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions herein
contemplated and the fulfillment by the Selling Stockholder of the terms
hereof will not require any consent, approval, authorization, or other
order of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other
governmental body (except as may be required under the Act, state
securities laws or Blue Sky laws) and will not result in a breach of any
of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
which the Selling Stockholder is a party, or of any order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Selling Stockholder of any court or of any
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body
having jurisdiction.
(iii) The Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which has
constituted, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock of
the Company and, other than as permitted by the Act, the Selling
Stockholder will not distribute any prospectus or other offering
material in connection with the offering of the Shares.
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(iv) Without having undertaken to determine independently the
accuracy or completeness of either the representations and warranties of
the Company contained herein or the information contained in the
Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholder has no reason to believe
that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 1(a) are not true and correct, is familiar with the Registration
Statement and has no knowledge of any material fact, condition or
information not disclosed in the Registration Statement which has
adversely affected or may adversely affect the business of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries; and the sale of the Firm Shares by the
Selling Stockholder pursuant hereto is not prompted by any information
concerning the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which is not set forth
in the Registration Statement or the documents incorporated by reference
therein. The information pertaining to the Selling Stockholder under the
caption "Principal and Selling Stockholders" in the Prospectus is
complete and accurate in all material respects.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Firm Shares.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and
covenants herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the
Sellers agree to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally
and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $19.42375 per share, the number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I
hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof. The number
of Firm Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter from each Seller shall be as
nearly as practicable in the same proportion to the total number of Firm Shares
being sold by each Seller as the number of Firm Shares being purchased by each
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares to be sold hereunder. The
obligations of the Company and of the Selling Stockholder shall be several and
not joint.
(b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be
made in Federal (same day) funds to an account designated by the Company for the
shares to be sold by it and to an account designated by the Selling Stockholder
for the shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, in each case against
delivery of certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several
accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made through
the facilities of the Depository Trust Company at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on
the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time
and date not later than five business days thereafter as you and the Company
shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the "CLOSING
DATE." (As used herein, "BUSINESS DAY" means a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for
business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.)
(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to
purchase the Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first
paragraph of this Section 2. The maximum number of Option Shares to be sold by
the Company is 900,000. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or
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in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and
(ii) only once thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by
you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company setting
forth the number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are
exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares
are to be registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be
delivered. The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be
delivered shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier
than three nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such
option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being
herein referred to as the "OPTION CLOSING DATE"). If the date of exercise of the
option is three or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise
shall set the Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option
Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to
the total number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares
being purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares,
adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. The option with
respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover
over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. You, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time
prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the
Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the
Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in Federal (same day)
funds drawn to the order of the Company for the Option Shares to be sold by it
against delivery of certificates therefor through the facilities of the
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.
3. Offering by the Underwriters.
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a
public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it
advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at
the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The
Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public offering
price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares
are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to
the public on the foregoing terms.
It is further understood that you will act as the
Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in
accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and
the several other Underwriters.
4. Covenants of the Company and the Selling Stockholder.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that:
(i) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the
time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in
-11-
reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, (B) not file any amendment
to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or document
incorporated by reference therein of which the Representatives shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy for a reasonable period
of time prior to the proposed amendment or supplement and as to which the
Representatives shall not have given their consent (which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, conditioned or delayed) or which is not in compliance
with the Rules and Regulations and (C) file on a timely basis all reports and
any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the
Company with the Commission subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(ii) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A)
when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall
have become effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C)
of any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or
for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of
any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of
the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(iii) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation
in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not
now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time
to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are
or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a
period as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the
Shares.
(iv) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or
upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a
Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final
form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may
reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before
the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to
the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested), including documents incorporated by reference therein,
and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.
-12-
(v) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the
period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an
Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the
judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it
becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary
at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the
Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate
amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that
the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus
will comply with the law.
(vi) The Company will make generally available to its security
holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than
15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning
statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of
at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements
of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will
advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available.
(vii) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the
Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the
Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for
any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial
statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(viii) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any
shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of Common
Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 90 days after the
date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than
hereunder or with the prior written consent of each of Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated (the
"LEAD REPRESENTATIVES"); provided that the Company may, without such consent,
issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of outstanding options or
warrants and may issue options or shares of Common Stock under its existing
stock option and incentive plans.
(ix) The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to
notice of issuance, the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market.
(x) The Company has caused each officer and director of the
Company listed on Schedule III hereto to furnish to you, on or prior to the date
of this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to offer,
sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of
-13-
Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other
securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or
derivative of Common Stock owned by such person or request the registration for
the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such person has the
right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 90 days after the date of
this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except to the extent set forth in the
Prospectus or with the prior written consent of each of the Lead Representatives
("LOCKUP AGREEMENTS"). The Company shall not, without the prior written consent
of each of the Lead Representatives, consent to the disposition of any shares of
Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other
securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or
derivative of Common Stock owned by the persons subject to the Lockup Agreements
during such 90-day period, except as permitted by such Lockup Agreements.
(xi) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the
Shares as set forth in the Prospectus.
(xii) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the
proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as
would require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an
investment company under the 1940 Act.
(xiii) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if
necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar
for the Common Stock.
(xiv) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any securities of the Company.
(b) The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters that:
(i) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any
shares of Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of the
Company or other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for
Common Stock or derivative of Common Stock owned by the Selling
Stockholder or request to register the offer or sale of any of the
foregoing (or as to which the Selling Stockholder has the right to
direct the disposition of) will be made for a period of 90 days after
the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Selling
Stockholder otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent
of each of the Lead Representatives.
(ii) In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with the
reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal
Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance
Act of 1983 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated, the
Selling Stockholder agrees to deliver to you prior to or at the Closing
Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department
Form W-8 or W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by
Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).
-14-
(iii) The Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has
constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the
Company.
5. Costs and Expenses.
The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to
the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholder
under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof,
including all costs and expenses incident to (i) the printing, word processing
or other production of documents with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, including any costs of printing the Registration Statement, Preliminary
Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, any listing applications and any
amendment or supplement thereto, and any "Blue Sky" memoranda, (ii) all
arrangements relating to the delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the
foregoing documents, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the
accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the Company and the
Selling Stockholder, (iv) preparation (including printing), issuance and
delivery to the Underwriters of the Shares, (v) the qualification of the Shares
under state securities and "Blue Sky" laws, including filing fees and reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating thereto (not to
exceed $2,000 in the aggregate), (vi) excluding travel and lodging expenses of
the Representatives, expenses in connection with the "roadshow" and any other
meetings with prospective investors in the Securities, (vii) the filing fees of
the Commission, (viii) the filing fees and expenses (including legal fees and
disbursements) incident to securing any required review by the NASD of the terms
of the sale of the Shares and (ix) the listing fee of the Nasdaq National
Market. If the sale of the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because
any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6
hereof is not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated or because of any
failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Selling
Stockholder to perform all obligations on their part to be performed hereunder
(in each case other than solely by reason of a default by the Underwriters of
their obligations hereunder after all conditions hereunder have been satisfied
(or, in the absence of such default, would have been satisfied) in accordance
herewith), the Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Underwriters upon demand
for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees,
disbursements and charges of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, counsel for the
Underwriters) that shall have been incurred by the Underwriters in connection
with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares. It is understood that, except
as provided in the immediately preceding sentence and in Section 8, the
Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and
disbursements of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by
them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
-15-
6. Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm
Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing
Date are subject to the following conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by
Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been
made, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to
be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been
disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable
satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to
the knowledge of the Company or the Selling Stockholder, shall be
contemplated by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order, or
order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, which would prevent the issuance of
the Shares.
(b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinions, dated as
of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and
addressed to the Underwriters, of (i) Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP,
counsel for the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto, and (ii) opinions from local gaming counsel for the Company, in
Nevada, Iowa, Mississippi and Missouri, each of which shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibits X-0, X-0, X-0 and A-5 hereto,
respectively.
(c) On the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, dated as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to
the Underwriters, of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, counsel for the
Underwriters, with respect to certain legal matters relating to this
Agreement and such other related matters as the Representatives may
reasonably require. In rendering such opinion, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
shall have received and may rely upon such certificates and other
documents and information as it may reasonably request to pass upon such
matters.
(d) The Initial Purchasers shall have received from the
Independent Accountants a comfort letter or letters dated the date
hereof and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the
financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
-16-
(e) The representations and warranties of the Company and the
Selling Stockholder contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct on and as of the date hereof and, in all material respects, on
and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be; the statements of the Company's officers made
pursuant to any certificate delivered in accordance with the provisions
hereof shall be true and correct on and as of the date made and, in all
material respects on and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be; the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall
have performed all covenants in all material respects and agreements and
satisfied all conditions in all material respects on their part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and, except as described in the
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the
date hereof), subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
statements in such Prospectus, there shall have been no event or
development, and no information shall have become known, that,
individually or in the aggregate, has Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
statements in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement
thereto after the date hereof), none of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with respect
to its business or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or
other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike,
labor dispute, slow down or work stoppage or from any legal or
governmental proceeding, order or decree, which loss or interference,
individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the
Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer, President or any Senior Vice President and the
Chief Financial Officer, in such capacities, to the effect that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of
the date hereof, in all material respects, and on and as of the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and
the Company has performed all covenants and agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) At the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, since the date hereof or since the date of the
most recent financial statements in the Prospectus (exclusive of
any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), no
event or development known to them has occurred, and no
information has become known, that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect; and
-17-
(iii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for
such purpose have been taken or are, to their knowledge,
contemplated by the Commission.
(h) The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the
Selling Stockholder, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, signed by the Selling Stockholder or his
Attorney-in-Fact to the effect that the representations and warranties
of the Selling Stockholder contained in this Agreement are true and
correct on and as of the date hereof, in all material respects, and on
and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, and the Selling Stockholder has performed all covenants and
agreements and satisfied all conditions on his part to be performed or
satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be.
(i) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, shall have been
approved for listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to
official notice of issuance.
(j) The NASD shall have confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the
underwriting terms and arrangements.
(k) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4 (a)(x) shall
have been received by the Representatives and shall be in full force and
effect.
On or before the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have
received such further documents, opinions, certificates, letters and schedules
or instruments relating to the business, corporate, legal and financial affairs
of the Company and the Subsidiaries as they shall have heretofore reasonably
requested from the Company.
All such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules
or instruments delivered pursuant to this Agreement will comply with the
provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in all material
respects to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters. The Company
shall furnish to the Representatives such conformed copies of such documents,
opinions, certificates, letters, schedules and instruments in such quantities as
the Representatives shall reasonably request.
7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Sellers.
The obligations of the Sellers to sell and deliver the portion
of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement
are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened.
-18-
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any
Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject under the Act, the
Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
application or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by
or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to
qualify the Shares under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws thereof or
filed with any securities association or securities exchange in respect
of the offering of the Shares (each an "APPLICATION"); or
(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state, in (A) the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
Application, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) the Prospectus or
any Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading,
and will reimburse, as incurred, the Underwriters and each such controlling
person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriters
or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending against
or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, the Company will not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or
liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto or any Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information concerning the Underwriters furnished to the Company by or through
the Representatives specifically for use therein and provided, further, that the
Company will not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability,
expense or damages arises from the sale of the Shares to any person by an
Underwriter and is based on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in a Preliminary Prospectus that is corrected in the
Prospectus if the person asserting any such loss, claim, liability, expense or
damage purchased the Shares from an Underwriter in reliance upon the Preliminary
Prospectus but was not sent or given a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Shares to such person, unless the failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result
of noncompliance by the Company with Section 4(a)(iv) of this Agreement and it
shall have
-19-
been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that there would
have been no loss, claim, liability, expense or damage had such corrected
Prospectus been so sent or given. The indemnity provided for in this Section 8
will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have to the
indemnified parties. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 8 for
any settlement of any claim or action effected without its prior written
consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls
any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such
Underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange
Act or otherwise to the same extent as indemnity is provided by the Company
pursuant to Section 8(a) above. In no event, however, shall the liability of the
Selling Stockholder for indemnification under this Section 8(b) exceed the
proceeds received by the Selling Stockholder from the Underwriters in the
offering. This indemnity obligation will be in addition to any liability which
the Company may otherwise have.
(c) The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers, the
Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such
director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application, or (ii)
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Application, or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter, furnished to
the Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use therein; and
subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will
reimburse, as incurred, any legal or other expenses incurred by the Company or
any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending against or appearing as a third party
witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in
respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 8 will be in
addition to any liability that the Underwriters may otherwise have to the
indemnified parties. The Underwriters shall not be liable under this Section 8
for any settlement of any claim or action effected without their consent, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company and the Selling Stockholder
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, effect any
settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any Underwriter is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have
been sought hereunder by any Underwriter, unless such settlement
-20-
(A) includes an unconditional written release of the Underwriters, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, from all liability on
claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include
any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or
on behalf of any Underwriter.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action for which such indemnified
party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 8, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above
unless and to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a), (b)
and (c) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party,
and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent
that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party; provided, however, that if (i) the use of counsel chosen by
the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the defendants in any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or
more legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or
(iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after receipt by the indemnifying party of notice of the
institution of such action, then, in each such case, the indemnifying party
shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such
indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have
the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such
indemnified party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval
by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 8 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding
sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate
but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the
same general allegations or circumstances, designated by the Representatives in
the case of paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 or the Company in the case of
paragraph (c) of this Section 8, representing the indemnified parties under such
paragraphs (a) and (b) or paragraph (c), as the case may be, who are parties to
such action or actions) or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing
the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the
indemnifying party. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified
-21-
party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of
any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the
prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified party waived in writing its
rights under this Section 8, in which case the indemnified party may effect such
a settlement without such consent.
(e) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided
for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 8 is unavailable to, or
insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each
indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative
benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the
allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable
law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company and
the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and any Underwriter on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder
bear to the total discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter. The
relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand, or such
Underwriter on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or
alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (e).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), no Underwriter shall
be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the
total discounts, commissions and other compensation received by such Underwriter
under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or
alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a
material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of
this paragraph (e), each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters, and each director of the
Company, each officer of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
-22-
9. Default by Underwriters.
If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the
Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date
(otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company or the
Selling Stockholder), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use
your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the
other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company and the Selling
Stockholders such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36
hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as
the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase
hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company and the
Selling Stockholder or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have
the right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties
to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of
the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company or of the Selling Stockholder
except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a default by
any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing
Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for such
period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine in
order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any
action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter
from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this
Agreement.
10. Notices.
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as
otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed
and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to the Representatives, c/o
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: Xxxxxxx Parish, and c/o Merrill Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New
York 10281-1201, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx; if to the Company or the Selling
Stockholder, to Ameristar Casinos, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx; with copies to
Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000-0000, Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. and Ameristar Casinos, Inc.,
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
-00-
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq. All such notices
and communications shall be effective upon receipt.
11. Termination.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of
the Representatives by notice to the Company given (a) on the Closing Date, in
the event that the Company or the Selling Stockholder shall have failed, refused
or been unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part
to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or (b) on or prior to
the Closing Date, if at or prior to the Closing Date:
(i) any of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall have sustained
any loss or interference with respect to its businesses or properties
from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute, slow down or
work stoppage or any legal or governmental proceeding, which loss or
interference, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, has had or
has a Material Adverse Effect, or there shall have been, in the sole
judgment of the Representatives, any event or development that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or has a Material Adverse
Effect (including without limitation a change in control of the Company
or the Subsidiaries), except in each case as described in the Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto);
(ii) trading in securities of the Company or in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum
prices shall have been established on any such exchange or market;
(iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by
New York or United States authorities; or
(iv) there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of
hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, (B) an
outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict or
acts of terrorism involving the United States or any other national or
international calamity or emergency, (C) any material change in the
financial markets of the United States or (D) a material disruption in
commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the
United States that, in the case of (A), (B), (C) or (D) above and in the
sole judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Shares
as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated as provided in Section 9
hereof.
(c) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11
shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
Section 12 hereof.
-24-
12. Survival Clause.
The respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, the Selling
Stockholder, the Company's officers and the Underwriters set forth in this
Agreement or made by or on behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or
on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholder, any of the Company's officers
or directors, the Underwriters or any controlling person referred to in Section
8 hereof and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Shares. The respective
agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 5,
8 and 15 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
13. Information Supplied by Underwriters.
The statements set forth in the first and fifth sentences of the
third paragraph and the first and last sentences of the 13th paragraph under the
heading "Underwriting" in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the
extent such statements relate to the Underwriters), and the list of Underwriters
on the cover, back pages and Underwriting section thereof, constitute the only
information furnished by the Underwriters to the Company for the purposes of
Sections 1(a)(ii) and 8 hereof.
14. Successors.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder and their respective
successors and legal representatives, and nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or
any provisions herein contained; this Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i)
the indemnities of the Company and the Selling Stockholder contained in Section
8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons who
control the Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Underwriters contained in
Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of
the Company and the Selling Stockholder, the Company's officers and any person
or persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No purchaser of Shares from the Underwriters
will be deemed a successor because of such purchase.
15. Applicable Law.
THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE
PERFORMED WHOLLY
-25-
THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS
OF LAW.
16. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
-26-
If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding
of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Selling Stockholder, the
Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
AMERISTAR CASINOS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
-------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Senior Vice President of Legal
Affairs
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
-------------------------------
-27-
On this 11th of December, 2001, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx directed Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
in his presence as well as our own, to sign the foregoing document as "Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx." Upon viewing the signatures as signed by Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and in our
presence, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx declared to us that he adopted them as his own
signatures.
/s/ XXXXXXXX X. XXX
-------------------------------
Witness
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
-------------------------------
Witness
STATE OF NEVADA )
) :ss.
COUNTY OF XXXXX )
I, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Notary Public in and for said county and state, do
hereby certify that Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx personally appeared before me and is known
or identified to me to be the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., the person who executed the
within instrument. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, who being unable due to physical incapacity
to sign his name or offer his xxxx, did direct Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, in his presence,
as well as my own, to sign his name to the foregoing document. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
after viewing his name as signed by Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, thereupon adopted the
signatures as his own by acknowledging to me his intention to so adopt them as
if he had personally executed the same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this
11th day of December, 2001.
/s/ XXXXX XXXXXX
------------------------------------
Notary Public
Residing at: Las Vegas, NV
My Commission Expires: 5/9/2005
-28-
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX PARISH
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Parish
Title: Senior Managing Director
By: Merrill, Lynch, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
-29-
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS
Number of Firm Shares
Underwriter to be Purchased
----------- ----------------------
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. 2,160,000
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated 2,160,000
CIBC World Markets Corp. 1,080,000
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. 300,000
Dresdner Kleinwort Xxxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC 300,000
---------
Total 6,000,000
=========
SCHEDULE II
SUBSIDIARIES
Name Jurisdiction of Incorporation
---- -----------------------------
Cactus Pete's, Inc. Nevada
Ameristar Casino Vicksburg, Inc. Mississippi
Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, Inc. Iowa
Ameristar Casino Las Vegas, Inc. Nevada
A.C. Food Services, Inc. Nevada
Ameristar Casino St. Louis, Inc. Missouri
Ameristar Casino Kansas City, Inc. Missouri
Ameristar Casino St. Xxxxxxx, Inc. Missouri
SCHEDULE III
PERSONS SUBJECT TO LOCKUP AGREEMENTS
1. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
2. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
3. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
4. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
5. Xxxxxx X. Monaly
6. W. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Exhibit A-1
Form of Opinion of Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
1. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all jurisdictions
(other than its jurisdiction of incorporation) where the ownership or leasing of
its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
2. Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary is, or after giving
effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the
proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will be required to be
registered as, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
3. Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares nor the
execution, delivery and performance by any Seller of the Underwriting Agreement,
do or will (i) to the best of our knowledge, violate any order, judgment or
decree of any court or other agency of government binding on any Seller or any
Subsidiary, (ii) based solely upon review of the documents identified to us by
officers of the Company and the Subsidiaries as constituting all material
contracts of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which are
listed on Schedule A hereto (each a "MATERIAL CONTRACT"), result in a material
breach of or material default under any Material Contract, or (iii) result in or
require the creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon any assets of
the Company or any Subsidiaries under (A) the laws of the State of New York or
United States federal law or (B) any Material Contract, in each case except
where such violation would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.
4. Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares nor the
execution, delivery and performance by any Seller of the Underwriting Agreement,
do or will violate, or require any authorization, consent, waiver or approval of
any governmental authority or regulatory body of the State of New York or the
United States of America under, any law or regulation of the State of New York
or the United States of America applicable to any Seller or any Subsidiary that,
in our experience, is generally applicable to transactions in the nature of
those contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except for such
authorizations, consents, waivers or approvals (i) as already have been obtained
or (ii) that, if not made or obtained, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
5. To the best of our knowledge, there is no action, suit or
proceeding pending or threatened against any Seller or any Subsidiary that is
not disclosed in the Prospectus and (i) which would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the
consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale of the Shares to be
sold under the Underwriting Agreement or the consummation of the other
transactions described in the Prospectus.
A-1-1
6. Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, to
the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the
Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or
subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character
obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase
or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the
Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or
otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the
Shares or the right to have any shares of Common Stock or other securities of
the Company included in the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of
the filing of the Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act
of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company.
7. We have been advised by the Commission that the Registration
Statement has become effective under the Act and, to the knowledge of such
counsel, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or
are pending or threatened under the Act.
8. The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto and each of the documents incorporated by reference
therein comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Act or Exchange Act, as applicable, and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial
statements and related schedules included or incorporated by reference therein).
The conditions for the use of Form S-2, set forth in the General Instructions
thereto, have been satisfied.
9. Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
required to be filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which are not so filed, incorporated by reference or described as
required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects.
10. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on
behalf of the Selling Stockholder.
11. The Selling Stockholder has full legal right, power and
authority, and any approval required by the laws of the State of New York or
United States Federal law to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the portion of
the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder.
12. If and when the Shares are paid for as contemplated by this
Agreement, the Underwriters (assuming that they are "protected purchasers"
within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York) will
acquire the Shares being sold by
A-1-2
the Selling Stockholder on the Closing Date free of adverse claims (within the
meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York).
13. Insofar as the statements under the captions "Description of
Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" in the Prospectus purport
to describe provisions of documents or laws, such statements present in all
material an accurate summary of such provisions and insofar as such statements
are legal conclusions, such statements are accurate in all material respects.
14. The Company has authorized and outstanding capital stock as
set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the issued and
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, including the Shares to be
sold by the Selling Stockholder, have been validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are in the form
filed with the Commission, are in due and proper form; the Shares of Common
Stock, including the Option Shares, if any, to be sold by the Company pursuant
to this Agreement have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable when issued and paid for as contemplated by this
Agreement; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of
the Shares or the issue or sale thereof.
In addition, such counsel shall state that:
We have participated in conferences with the Selling Stockholder, officers and
other representatives of the Company and the Subsidiaries, representatives of
the independent auditors of the Company and the Subsidiaries and your
representatives at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and related matters were discussed. Because the purpose of our
professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters and
because the scope of our examination of the affairs of the Company did not
permit us to verify the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements set
forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we are not passing upon
and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(except as expressly set forth in paragraphs 13 and 14 above). On the basis of
the foregoing, and except for the financial statements and schedules and other
financial, accounting and statistical data included therein as to which we
express no such belief, no facts have come to our attention that lead us to
believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective
under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act), contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto filed on or prior to the Closing Date, on
the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
X-0-0
Xxxxxxx X-0
Form of Opinion of Nevada Gaming Counsel
1. Each of the Company, Cactus Pete's, Inc., Ameristar Casino
Las Vegas, Inc. and A.C. Food Services, Inc. (collectively, the "NEVADA
COMPANIES") has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Nevada. The Company (a) has the
requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Underwriting
Agreement, and to consummate the transactions and perform its obligations
thereunder, and (b) has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Underwriting
Agreement.
2. Neither the execution and delivery of the Underwriting
Agreement, nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder,
results in a material breach or violation of (a) the Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws of any Nevada Company; (b) any Applicable Nevada Law binding on such
party; or (c) any material judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree issued by
any Nevada Gaming Authority known to us to be binding upon such Nevada Company.
3. Insofar as the following relate to the Nevada Gaming Laws, no
authorization, consent, license, or other approval of, or registration,
declaration or other filing with any Nevada Governmental Authority is required
to be obtained by any Nevada Company for the execution and delivery of the
Underwriting Agreement, or for the performance by the Company of its obligation
thereunder, except (a) those that have been obtained or made on or prior to the
date hereof, (b) those with respect to state securities and "blue sky" laws, as
to which we express no opinion, and (c) those periodic informational filings
that are required to be made after the date hereof under the Nevada Gaming Laws
as set forth in qualification paragraph [ ] below.
4. Under Nevada Gaming Laws, none of the Underwriters is
required, solely by reason of and as a condition to its execution and delivery
of the Underwriting Agreement, nor is any holder of the Shares required, solely
by reason of being such, to be found suitable or licensed by the Nevada Gaming
Authorities.
5. The statements in the Prospectus under the headings
"Government Regulation" and "Risk Factors-Our Business is subject to
restrictions and limitations imposed by gaming regulatory authorities that could
adversely affect us" have been reviewed by us and insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of Nevada Gaming Laws (except for financial data included
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no opinion, and except to
the extent such statements purport to set forth the status of any Nevada
Company's Permits or findings of suitability, as to which we express no
opinion), they are accurate in all material respects and fairly summarize in all
material respects the information set forth therein.
X-0-0
Xxxxxxx X-0
Form of Opinion of Iowa Gaming Counsel
1. Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, Inc. ("ACCBI") is a
corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Iowa and has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now conducted. ACCBI has been duly qualified as
a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties
or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to
no material liability or disability by reason of failure to be so qualified in
any such jurisdiction.
2. Insofar as the following relate to Chapter 99F (Gambling -
Excursion Boats and Racetracks) of the Iowa Code and the regulations promulgated
by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (the "IRGC") thereunder (the "IOWA
GAMING LAWS"), no consent, authorization, order, registration, approval,
license, action by, or filing with, any Iowa Governmental Authority or public
body is required to be obtained or made by the Company or ACCBI in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance (by the Company) of the
Underwriting Agreement.
3. To the best of our knowledge, the Company and ACCBI have
fulfilled and performed in all material respects all of their obligations with
respect to all authorizations, approvals, consents, licenses, orders,
certificates, and permits required under the Iowa Gaming Laws (the "IOWA
PERMITS"), and, to the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor ACCBI is
in violation of any term or provision of any such Iowa Permit, nor has any event
occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation
or termination thereof or which could result in any material impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Iowa Permit.
4. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby will not violate any of the Iowa Gaming Laws or, to the best of our
knowledge, any orders or decrees of any executive, legislative, local,
administrative or regulatory body of the State of Iowa.
5. The statements contained in the Prospectus under the headings
"Government Regulations" and "Risk Factors -- Our business is subject to
restrictions and limitations imposed by gaming regulatory authorities that could
adversely affect us" have been reviewed by us and, insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of the Iowa Gaming Laws, they are accurate and correct in
all material respects and fairly summarize the information called for.
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Form of Opinion of Mississippi Gaming Counsel
1. Based solely on a certificate of existence dated December 3,
2001, issued by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Ameristar Casino Vicksburg,
Inc. ("ACVI") is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under
the laws of the State of Mississippi and has the corporate power and authority
necessary to own its properties and to carry on its business as described in the
Prospectus.
2. The statements contained in the Prospectus under the headings
"Government Regulations -- Mississippi" and "Risk Factors -- Our business is
subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by gaming regulatory authorities
that could adversely affect us" have been reviewed by us and, insofar as such
statements constitute summaries of the Mississippi Gaming Control Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "MISSISSIPPI GAMING LAWS"),
they are accurate and correct in all material respects and fairly summarize the
information called for with respect to such Mississippi legal matters.
3. Insofar as the following relate to the Mississippi Gaming
Laws, no consent, authorization, order, registration, approval, license, action
by, or filing with, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (the "COMMISSION") is
required to be obtained or made by the Company or ACVI in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and the Prospectus
except for such consents, authorizations, approvals, licenses, orders,
certificates, registrations or filings as have been made or obtained on or prior
to the date hereof.
4. ACVI has received a gaming operator's license from the
Commission, subject to the terms and conditions under which such license was
issued, which is necessary to own, lease and operate the casino known as
Ameristar Casino Vicksburg, and to our knowledge, there are no proceedings
pending, or threatened in writing, before the Commission to suspend or terminate
such license.
5. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby will not violate any of the Mississippi Gaming Laws or any orders or
decrees of the Commission known to us to be binding on the Company or ACVI or
the articles of incorporation or bylaws of ACVI.
6. No Underwriter is required, solely by reason of the
transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, to be qualified or
found suitable under the Mississippi Gaming Laws in connection with the
transactions contemplated under the Underwriting Agreement and the Prospectus;
provided, however, the Commission retains discretion to require any Underwriter
to file an application for a finding of suitability and be found suitable in
order to remain a holder of the Shares.
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Form of Opinion of Missouri Gaming Counsel
1. The statements contained in the Prospectus under the headings
"Governmental Regulations" and "Risk Factors-Our business is subject to
restrictions and limitations imposed by gaming regulatory authorities that could
adversely affect us" have been reviewed by us and, insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of the statutes, laws and applicable regulations of the
State of Missouri, they are accurate and correct in all material respects and
fairly summarize the information presented therein.
2. Insofar as the following relate to the Gaming Regulations of
the State of Missouri (the "MISSOURI GAMING REGULATIONS"), no consent,
authorization, order, registration, approval, license, action by, or filing
with, any Gaming Authority (as defined in the Indenture) or public body is
required to be obtained or made by the Company, Ameristar Casino Kansas City,
Inc. ("ACKC"), Ameristar Casino St. Xxxxxxx, Inc. ("ACSC") or Ameristar Casino
St. Louis, Inc. ("ACSL") in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement except for such consents, authorizations, approvals,
licenses, orders, registrations or filings as have been made or obtained on or
prior to the date hereof, each of which is listed on Schedule A attached hereto.
3. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby will not violate any of the Missouri Gaming Regulations or any orders or
decrees known to us of any executive, legislative, judicial, administrative or
regulatory body of the State of Missouri.
4. None of the Underwriters is required, solely by reason of and
as a condition to its execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement, to
be qualified or found suitable under the Missouri Gaming Laws.
5. Each of ACKC, ACSC and ACSLC is duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of Missouri.
