Certificate of Incorporation - THCR Atlantic City Funding Inc.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THCR ATLANTIC CITY FUNDING, INC.
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ARTICLE I
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The name of the corporation (the "Corporation") is:
THCR ATLANTIC CITY FUNDING, INC.
ARTICLE II
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The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State
of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is
The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
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The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by
the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which
corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
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The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
(the "Common Stock").
ARTICLE V
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A. New Jersey Shareholder Qualification. The New Jersey Casino Control
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Commission shall have the prior right to approve
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any and all transfers of the Corporation's securities, shares or other interests
in the Corporation and in any non-publicly traded holding company, intermediary
company or Subsidiary thereof, as said terms are defined in the New Jersey
Casino Control Act, as amended or as may hereinafter be amended. The Corporation
shall have the absolute right to repurchase at market price or the purchase
price, whichever is the lesser, any security, share or other interest in the
Corporation in the event that the Commission disapproves a transfer in
accordance with the provisions of the Casino Control Act, provided that such
repurchase price shall be payable only in cash. Every security, share or other
interest (other than publicly traded debt securities) in the Corporation and
issued by the Corporation shall bear, on both sides of the certificate
evidencing same, a statement of the foregoing restrictions and the additional
restrictions imposed by N.J.S.A. 5:12-105.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of the preceding
paragraph shall not apply to publicly traded debt securities of the Corporation.
Such debt securities shall be held subject to the condition that if any such
holder is found disqualified by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of the
Casino Control Act, such holder shall (a) dispose of his or her interest in the
Corporation; (b) not receive any interest upon any such securities; and (c) not
receive any remuneration in any form from the casino licensee for services
rendered or otherwise. If any unsuitable or disqualified holder fails to
dispose of his securities within 180 days following such
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disqualification, (i) such securities shall be subject to redemption by the
Corporation, as provided in Section B of this Article V, provided further that
the redemption price of such securities shall be payable only in cash and not in
securities or any combination thereof, and (ii) such unsuitable or disqualified
holder shall indemnify the Corporation for any and all direct or indirect costs,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by the Corporation as a result of such
holder's continuing ownership or failure to divest promptly.
B. Disqualified Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
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Certificate of Incorporation, but subject to the provisions of any resolution of
the Board of Directors creating any series of preferred stock or any other class
of stock which has a preference over Common Stock with regard to dividends or
upon liquidation, outstanding shares of Capital Stock or debt securities held by
a Disqualified Holder shall be subject to redemption at any time by the
Corporation by action of the Board of Directors, pursuant to this Article V,
Section B as follows:
(1) the redemption price of the Capital Stock or debt securities to be redeemed
pursuant to this Article V, Section B shall be equal to the lesser of the
Fair Market Value of such Capital Stock or debt securities or the price at
which such Capital Stock or debt securities were purchased, or such other
redemption price as required by pertinent state or federal law pursuant to
which the redemption is required;
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(2) the redemption price of such shares or debt securities shall be paid in
cash;
(3) if less than all the shares or debt securities held by Disqualified Holders
are to be redeemed, the shares or debt securities to be redeemed shall be
selected in such manner as shall be determined by the Board of Directors,
which may include selection first of the most recently purchased shares or
debt securities thereof, selection by lot, or selection in any other manner
determined by the Board of Directors;
(4) at least thirty (30) days' written notice of the Redemption Date shall be
given to the record holders of the shares or debt securities selected to be
redeemed (unless waived in writing by any such holder); provided, however,
that the Redemption Date shall be deemed to be the date on which written
notice shall be given to record holders if the cash necessary to effect the
redemption shall have been deposited in trust for the benefit of such
record holders and subject to immediate withdrawal by them upon surrender
of the certificates for their shares or debt securities to be redeemed;
(5) from and after the Redemption Date or such earlier date as mandated by
pertinent state or federal law, any and all rights of whatever nature,
which may be held by the Beneficial Owners of shares selected for
redemption (including without limitation any rights to vote or participate
in dividends declared on stock of the same class or series as such shares),
shall cease and terminate and they shall thenceforth be entitled only to
receive the cash payable upon redemption; and
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(6) such other terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine.
ARTICLE VI
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The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as follows:
Carol R. Leslie
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
One Citicorp Center
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
ARTICLE VII
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In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the by-
laws of the Corporation may be made, altered, amended or repealed by the
stockholders or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
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Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.
ARTICLE IX
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A. Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent
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permitted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, incorporator, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee,
employee or agent of
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or in any other similar capacity with another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
B. Additional Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest
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extent permitted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit, by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of
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another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
C. Payment of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in
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defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or
proceeding shall (in the case of any action, suit or proceeding against a
director of the Corporation) or may (in the case of any action, suit or
proceeding against an officer, trustee, employee or agent) be paid by the
Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay such amount if it
shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Corporation as authorized in this Article IX.
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D. Nonexclusivity of Provision. The indemnification and other rights set forth
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in this Article shall not be exclusive of any provisions with respect thereto in
the by-laws or any other contract or agreement between the Corporation and any
officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation.
E. Effect of Repeal. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article IX,
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section A, B, C or D, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of
Incorporation inconsistent with Article IX, section A, B, C or D, shall
eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX, section A, B, C or D, in
respect of any matter occurring before such amendment, repeal or adoption of an
inconsistent provision or in respect of any cause of action, suit or claim
relating to any such matter which would have given rise to a right of
indemnification or right to receive expenses pursuant to this Article IX,
section A, B, C or D, if such provision had not been so amended or repealed or
if a provision inconsistent therewith had not been so adopted.
E. Limitation on Liability. No director or officer shall be personally liable
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to the Corporation or any stockholder for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for any matter in respect of
which such director or officer (1) shall be liable under Section 174 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any amendment thereto or
successor provision thereto or (2) shall be liable by reason that, in addition
to any and all other requirements for liability, he:
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(i) shall have breached his duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its
stockholders;
(ii) shall not have acted in good faith or, in failing to act, shall not have
acted in good faith;
(iii) shall have acted in a manner involving intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law or, in failing to act, shall have acted in a manner
involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or
(iv) shall have derived an improper personal benefit.
If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after the
date hereof to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted
by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended.
ARTICLE X
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The Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XI
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For the purpose of this Certificate of Incorporation:
A. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The term "registrant" as used in said Rule 12b-2 shall mean the
Corporation.
B. "Beneficial Owner" shall mean any Person who, singly or together with any of
such Person's Affiliates or
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Associates, directly or indirectly, has "beneficial ownership" of Capital Stock
(as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act).
C. "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
D. "Capital Stock" shall mean any common stock, preferred stock, special stock,
or any other class or series of stock of the Corporation.
E. "Casino Control Act" shall mean the New Jersey Casino Control Act, N.J.S.A.
5:12-1 et seq.
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F. "Closing Price" on any day shall mean the reported closing sales price or,
in case no such sale takes place, the average of the reported closing bid and
asked price on the composite tape for New York Stock Exchange-listed stocks, or,
if stock of the class or series in question is not quoted on such composite tape
on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such
exchange, on the principal United States Securities Exchange registered under
the Exchange Act on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed
on any such exchange, the highest closing sales price or bid quotation for such
stock on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Automated
Quotation System (including the National Market Systems) or any system then in
use, or, if no such prices or quotations are available, the fair market value on
the day in question as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.
G. "Commission" shall mean the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
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H. "Disqualified Holder" shall mean any Beneficial Owner of shares of Capital
Stock or debt securities of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries found to
be disqualified by any governmental or quasi-governmental authority with
applicable jurisdiction over the business, affairs, securities, or properties of
the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the
Commission, pursuant to the provisions of the Casino Control Act or other
applicable provision or whose holding of shares of Capital Stock or debt
securities may result or, when taken together with the holding of shares of
Capital Stock or debt securities by any other Beneficial Owner, may result, in
the judgment of the Board of Directors, in the inability to obtain, loss or non-
reinstatement of any license or franchise from any governmental agency sought or
held by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to conduct any portion of the business
of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, which license or franchise is conditioned
upon some or all of the holders of Capital Stock or debt securities meeting
certain criteria.
I. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
J. "Fair Market Value" (a) in the case of shares of Capital Stock shall mean
the average Closing Price for such Capital Stock for each of the forty-five (45)
most recent days during which shares of stock of such class or series shall have
been traded preceding the day on which notice of redemption shall have been
given pursuant to Section B, Paragraph (4) of Article
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V; provided, however, that if shares of Capital Stock of such class or series
are not traded on any securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market,
"Fair Market Value" shall be determined by the Board of Directors in good faith;
and provided further, however, that "Fair Market Value" as to any stockholder
who purchases any stock subject to redemption within one hundred twenty (120)
days prior to a Redemption Date shall not (unless otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors) exceed the purchase price paid for such shares and (b) in
the case of property other than stock or other securities, shall mean the fair
market value of such property on the date in question as determined by the Board
of Directors in good faith.
K. "Person" shall mean any natural person, corporation, firm, partnership,
limited liability company, association, government, governmental agency, or any
other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary, or any other capacity.
L. "Redemption Date" shall mean the date fixed by the Board of Directors for
the redemption of any shares of stock of the Corporation pursuant to Article V.
M. "Subsidiary" shall mean any company of which a majority of any class of
equity securities is beneficially owned by the Corporation and/or another
Subsidiary of the Corporation, or in the case of a partnership, in which the
Corporation or any subsidiary is a general partner.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the incorporator hereinbefore named,
for the purpose of forming a Corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware makes this Certificate of Incorporation, hereby
declaring and certifying that this is his act and deed and the facts herein
stated are true and, accordingly, has hereunto executed this Certificate of
Incorporation on this 30th day of January, 1996.
/s/ Carol R. Leslie
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Carol R. Leslie
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