UNDERTAKING
EXHIBIT
10.15
UNDERTAKING entered into this 20th day of November, 1998, by STARFIRE HOLDING CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the “Indemnitor”), for the benefit of
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (“AREP”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with AREP, the
“Indemnitees” and each of such Indemnitees individually, an “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, Leyton LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”), a company
affiliated with Xx. Xxxx X. Icahn, has commenced a tender offer (the “Offer”) for depositary units
(“Units”) representing limited partner interests in AREP pursuant to an Offer to Purchase dated
November 20, 1998 (the “Offer to Purchase”);
WHEREAS, entities directly or indirectly owned by Xxxx X. Icahn that are under common control
or members of a controlled group, in each case within the meaning of Section 4001 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and Section 414 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(the “Controlled Group”), are subject to liability under ERISA and the Code with respect to
certain pension plan minimum funding and termination liabilities (such minimum funding and
termination liabilities, as more fully described in Section 10 of the Offer to Purchase entitled
“Information Concerning the Purchaser and Certain Affiliates of the Purchaser; Pension Liability
Considerations,” the “Pension Liabilities”);
WHEREAS, the Indemnitor is an indirect beneficial owner of interests in the Purchaser;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Indemnitor hereby undertakes and
agrees as follows:
1. Defined
Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used herein shall
have the meaning attributed to it below:
“Effective
Date” shall mean that date, if any, on which the Purchaser acquires
pursuant to the Offer a number of Units such that the Partnership is deemed under
ERISA or the Code to be a member of the Controlled Group.
“Entity” shall mean any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
corporation, trust or other business entity or vehicle.
“Losses” shall mean any and all losses, costs, damages, fees or expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements)
arising from Pension Liabilities imposed upon any Indemnitee as a result of such
person being deemed, under ERISA or the Code, to a member of the Controlled Group.
“Net Worth” shall mean, as to any Entity, the amount by which its total assets
exceed its total liabilities, all as determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United
States of America.
“Termination
Date” shall mean that date, if any, on which the Indemnitees are
no longer subject to any: (x) Pension Liability; or (y) any contingency that could
result in the imposition of any Losses upon an Indemnitee.
2. Indemnity. The Indemnitor agrees that from the Effective Date and through the
Termination Date, at its sole cost and expense, it will indemnify and defend and hold harmless,
each Indemnitee, from any and all Losses imposed on any Indemnitee or its assets.
3. Net Worth. Any Indemnitor that is an Entity agrees that from the Effective Date and
through the Termination Date, the Indemnitor will not make any distributions to its stockholders
or other owners that would reduce its Net Worth to less than $250 million.
4. Delegation. Any Indemnitor may delegate its duties and obligations under this
Undertaking to Mr. Icahn, or to an Entity affiliated with Mr. Icahn, so long as Mr. Icahn or
such Entity agrees to assume and fully perform all of the obligations of the Indemnitor hereunder
(the “Assumed Obligations”). Any such delegation may be made without the consent of any Indemnitee.
In the case of any such delegation to any Entity, the Entity to which such delegation is made
shall have a Net Worth in an amount greater than the lesser of: (i) $250 million, or (ii) the Net
Worth of the delegating Indemnitor at the time of such delegation.
5. Release. Following any delegation in accordance with the terms of this Section
4 of this Undertaking: (i) the delegating Indemnitor shall be, and shall be deemed to be,
released from
all of its duties and obligations hereunder and shall have no liability to any Indemnitee in
respect of
this Undertaking, and all of the same shall, for all purposes be deemed to have been included
in the
Assumed Obligations; and (ii) thereafter the person or Entity assuming such duties and
obligations
shall be deemed for all purposes to be the “Indemnitor” (and no other person or Entity shall
be
deemed to be the Indemnitor for any purpose) until such time, if any, of a subsequent
delegation
pursuant hereto.
6. Effect; Termination. Notwithstanding the other provisions hereof, the duties
and obligations of the Indemnitor hereunder will: (i) be effective and enforceable only from
the
Effective Date, if any, and (ii) terminate on the Termination Date, if any.
7. Enforcement. Each Indemnitee shall be an express third party beneficiary of
this Undertaking and shall be entitled to enforce the same as if it were a party hereto.
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8.
Waiver; Amendment. The provisions of this Undertaking may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the Indemnitor and AREP.
9. Governing Law. This Undertaking shall in all respects be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Indemnitor has caused this Undertaking to be executed as of the date
first written above.
| INDEMNITOR: STARFIRE HOLDING CORPORATION |
||||
| /s/ Xxxx X. Icahn | ||||
| Name: | Xxxx X. Icahn | |||
| Title: President | ||||
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR UNDERTAKING BY STARFIRE HOLDING CORPORATION DATED NOVEMBER 20, 1998]
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