UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 19, 2009

 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
001-12522
13-3714474
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
c/o Monticello Casino and Raceway, Route 17B,
 P.O. Box 5013, Monticello, NY
12701
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (845) 807-0001

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

x Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 
Item 1.01.                                 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
Investment Agreement and Issuance of 6,804,188 Shares of Common Stock
 
On August 19, 2009, Empire Resorts, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Investment Agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) with Kien Huat Realty III Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of the Isle of Man (the “Investor” or “Kien Huat”), pursuant to which (i) the Company issued to the Investor 6,804,188 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), or approximately 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on a pre-transaction basis, for aggregate consideration of $11 million (the “First Tranche”), and (ii) subject to and following stockholder approval of the transaction, as required under applicable NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the Company is to issue to the Investor an additional 27,701,852 shares of Common Stock for additional consideration of $44 million (the “Second Tranche”).  During the period between the closing of the First Tranche and the closing of the Second Tranche, the Company will be subject to certain customary covenants related to the operation of its business.
 
As a result of the closing of the Second Tranche, if approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Investor would own 34,506,040 shares of the Common Stock, representing one share less than 50.0% of the voting power of the Company following the closing.  The Company intends to use the proceeds of the First Tranche and Second Tranche, if approved by stockholders, for transaction costs, to pay interest on existing indebtedness, including approximately $2.6 million of interest on the Company’s Convertible Senior Notes due July 31, 2014, and for general working capital.
 
Under the Investment Agreement, the parties also agreed to negotiate in good faith and cooperate to mutually agree upon the terms and conditions of a loan agreement, to be executed upon the closing of the Second Tranche in a form and substance reasonably agreeable to the parties, pursuant to which it is anticipated that the Investor will make available to the Company a loan of up to the lesser of $10 million or the maximum amount the Company is then permitted to borrow (taking into account other indebtedness of the Company at such time) under the terms of its existing indebtedness.  The Company would be permitted to use the proceeds of this loan, among other things, to repay in full, purchase or acquire by assignment any remaining obligation of the Company under its loan agreement with The Park Avenue Bank and for working capital purposes.
 
Registration Rights Agreement
 
Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement, on August 19, 2009, the Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).  The Registration Rights Agreement provides, among other things, that the Investor may require that the Company file one or more “resale” registration statements, registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the offer and sale of all of the Common Stock issued or to be issued to the Investor pursuant to the Investment Agreement as well as any shares acquired by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of such shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization with respect to such shares.
 
 
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Stockholder Voting Agreement
 
Concurrently with the execution of the Investment Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to the Investor’s willingness to enter into the Investment Agreement, holders of approximately 38% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock entered into a Stockholder Voting Agreement (the “Stockholder Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which such stockholders, among other things, agreed to vote all of the shares of voting capital stock of the Company that such stockholders own in favor of the proposals to be recommended by the Company at the special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement and other related matters.
 
The foregoing summary of the Investment Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Stockholder Voting Agreement and the other documents related thereto does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of such agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Amendment to Rights Agreement
 
As required under the Investment Agreement, the Company also entered into a First Amendment to Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement Amendment”) with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”), effective August 19, 2009.  The Rights Agreement Amendment amended Section 1(a) of that certain rights agreement, dated as of March 24, 2008, by and between the Company and the Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”) to provide that no person shall become an “Acquiring Person,” as such term is defined therein, if such person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding as a consequence of an agreement, transaction or understanding with the Company that has been previously approved by a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).  As permitted under the Rights Agreement Amendment, the Board resolved that the Investor is not and shall not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” for purposes of the Rights Agreement as a result of the execution of the Investment Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.  A copy of the Rights Agreement Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
About the Investor
 
Kien Huat is an investment company beneficially owned by a Lim family trust of which Mr. Lim Kok Thay of Malaysia and members of his family are beneficiaries. Affiliates of Kien Huat maintain substantial interests in a multinational group of companies actively involved in gaming, leisure, hospitality, power generation, plantations, property development, biotechnology and oil and gas (collectively, “Genting”). Kien Huat affiliates separately own a substantial interest in Star Cruises Ltd., the largest cruise operator in Asia, and financed the startup of the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Connecticut and the Seneca Niagara Casino in New York.
 
Genting is Asia’s largest casino operator and a leading integrated resorts development specialist with over 20 years of global experience in developing, operating and marketing internationally acclaimed casinos and integrated resorts in different parts of the world, including Australia, the Americas, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Genting is the largest casino operator in the United Kingdom through its ownership of Genting UK Plc.  In 2010, Genting will open a $4.55 billion integrated resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore, which will include a Universal Studios Theme Park, a Hard Rock Hotel, and gaming, leisure and hospitality venues.
 
 
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Genting was founded in 1965 by Mr. Lim Kok Thay’s father, Mr. Lim Goh Tong, who built Genting's first gaming and entertainment resort, known as Genting Highlands, in Malaysia, the world’s largest single resort, which includes over 10,000 hotel rooms within a complete entertainment city. In 2008, Guinness World Records listed the Genting Highlands First World Hotel as the world's largest hotel.
 
Today, Genting has 27,000 employees and is four listed companies: Genting Berhad (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 3182.KL - www.genting.com), Genting Malaysia Berhad (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 4715.KL - www.gentingmalaysia.com), Genting Plantations Berhad (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 2291.KL - www.gentingplantations.com) and Genting Singapore PLC (Stock Exchange of Singapore: G13.SI - www.gentingsingapore.com).
 
Important Information
 
The offer and sale of the securities sold or to be sold pursuant to the Investment Agreement has not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the provisions of Section 4(2) thereof, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States in the absence of an effective registration statement or exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.
 
In connection with the Investment Agreement, the Company will prepare a proxy statement for the Company’s stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The proxy statement will contain information about the Company, the Investment Agreement and related matters. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE, AS IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT AGREEMENT AND ANY OTHER PROPOSALS TO BE DESCRIBED THEREIN.
 
In addition to receiving the proxy statement from the Company by mail, shareholders will be able to obtain the proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about the Company, without charge, from the Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or, without charge, from the Company’s website at www.empireresorts.com or by directing such request to Empire Resorts, Inc., c/o Monticello Casino and Raceway, Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013, Monticello, New York 12701, attention: Charles Degliomini.  The Company and its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies. Information concerning the Company and its directors and executive officers is set forth in the Company’s proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K previously filed with the Commission.
 
 
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Item 3.02.                                 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities .
 
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 3.03.                                 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders .
 
The information set forth in Items 1.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference.
 
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officer; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers .
 
Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Investor is entitled to recommend three directors whom the Company is required to cause to be elected or appointed to its Board (such directors, the “Board Representatives”), subject to the satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Governance Committee of the Board.  The Investor will be entitled to recommend three Board Representatives for so long as it owns at least 24% of the voting power of the Company outstanding at such time, after which the number of Board Representatives whom the Investor will be entitled to designate for election or appointment to the Board will be reduced as follows:  (i) to two, for so long as the Investor owns capital stock of the Company with at least 16% of the voting power of the Company; (ii) to one, for so long as the Investor owns capital stock of the Company with at least 8% (but less than 16%) of the voting power of the Company; and (iii) to zero, at such time that the Investor owns no capital stock or capital stock with less than 8% of the voting power of the Company.
 
Upon the closing of the First Tranche on August 19, 2009, the Investor recommended two of the Board Representatives, Messrs. G. Michael Brown and Colin Au, who were appointed to the Board to serve within the Class I and II classes, respectively, with terms expiring at the annual meeting during the calendar year 2010 and 2011, respectively.  The Investor will also be entitled to recommend the appointment of the third Board Representative upon the closing of the Second Tranche.  The Investor has also designated Mr. Brown to be appointed at the next special meeting of the Board to serve as Chairman of the Board.  Under the Investment Agreement, for so long as the Investor is entitled to designate Board Representatives, (i) the Company will be required to recommend to its stockholders the election of any Board Representative whose term is scheduled to expire at such meeting, provided that the Investor remains entitled to a number of Board Representatives that includes such Board Representative, and (ii) the Investor will have the right to nominate one of the Board Representatives to serve as the Chairman of the Board.  The Investor also has the right under the Investment Agreement to require the Company to cause one of the Board Representatives to be appointed to each of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominations Committees of the Board, provided that the Board Representative meets the qualifications for service on such Committees.  Additionally, following the closing of the Second Tranche and until such time as the Investor ceases to own capital stock with at least 30% of the voting power of the Company outstanding at such time, the Board will be prohibited under the terms of the Investment Agreement from taking certain actions relating to fundamental transactions involving the Company and its subsidiaries and certain other matters without the affirmative vote of the Board Representatives.
 
 
5

 
 
Mr. Au is also a party to a Consulting Agreement with the Company, dated as of August 19, 2009 (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Au has agreed to provide the Company with certain consulting services, including assisting the Company in expanding its presence in the gaming industry and advising the Company on matters related to casino development.  In consideration of the services to be performed under the Consulting Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay to Mr. Au $300,000 annually, paid in equal monthly installments.  The term of the Consulting Agreement expires on the third anniversary of the date of its execution, unless extended by mutual agreement of the parties.  The foregoing summary of the Consulting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 5.03.                                 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year .
 
On August 12, 2009, the Board of the Company approved an amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated By-laws (the “By-law Amendment”), in accordance with the terms of the Investment Agreement.  The By-law Amendment, which became effective upon the closing of the First Tranche, modernizes the methods by which notice of special meetings of the Board may be given and provides that such notices must be given to the members of the Board at least 72 hours before the time fixed for the meeting.  A copy of the By-law Amendment is attached as Exhibit 3.9 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
As required under the Investment Agreement, the Company also filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 19, 2009, which increased the number of shares constituting such series of preferred stock to 95,000.  A copy of the Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 8.01.                                 Other Events .
 
On August 19, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing the initial closing of the transactions under the Investment Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.01.                                 Financial Statements and Exhibits .
 
(d)  Exhibits   
     
 
Exhibit No .  
Exhibits  
     
 
3.9
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Empire Resorts, Inc., effective August 19, 2009.
 
 
6

 
 
 
4.1
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, dated August 19, 2009.
 
 
4.2
First Amendment To Rights Agreement, dated August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent.
 
 
10.1
Investment Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.2
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.3
Stockholder Voting Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and among the stockholders listed on the signature page(s) thereto, Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.4
Consulting Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Colin Au.
 
 
99.1
Press release of Empire Resorts, Inc., issued August 19, 2009.
 
 
7

 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
   
   
Dated: August 19, 2009
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein 
 
Name: Joseph E. Bernstein
 
Title: Chief Executive Officer
 
 
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Exhibit Index
 
 
Exhibit No .  
Exhibits  
     
 
3.9
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Empire Resorts, Inc., effective August 19, 2009.
 
 
4.1
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, dated August 19, 2009.
 
 
4.2
First Amendment To Rights Agreement, dated August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent.
 
 
10.1
Investment Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.2
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.3
Stockholder Voting Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and among the stockholders listed on the signature page(s) thereto, Empire Resorts, Inc. and Kien Huat Realty III Limited.
 
 
10.4
Consulting Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. and Colin Au.
 
 
99.1
Press release of Empire Resorts, Inc., issued August 19, 2009.
 
 
 
9
Exhibit 3.9
 
AMENDMENT NO. 4
 
TO THE
 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
 
OF
 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
 
DATED AUGUST 19, 2009
 
Section 2.7 of ARTICLE II of the Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of Empire Resorts, Inc. is hereby amended and restated so that the last sentence of this section reads as follows:
 
A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, its Chairman, the Executive Committee, the President or any person acting in the place of the President and shall be called by any one of them or by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request to do so specifying the matter or matters, appropriate for action at such a meeting, proposed to be presented at the meeting and signed by at least two directors.  Any such meeting shall be held at such time and at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined by the body or person calling such meeting.  Notice of such meeting stating the time and place thereof shall be given in person, by telephone, hand delivery, electronic transmission, facsimile or similar communication method, in each case at least 72 hours before the time fixed for the meeting.
Exhibit 4.1
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF THE DESIGNATIONS, POWERS,
PREFERENCES AND OTHER RIGHTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
OF THE
 
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
($0.01 PAR VALUE PER SHARE)
 
OF
 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
 
_______________________
 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
_______________________
 
Empire Resorts, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) by Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Board has adopted the following resolutions:
 
RESOLVED, that an amendment to the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Other Rights and Qualifications of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”) be, and hereby is, authorized and approved, and a certificate embodying such amendment relating to the series of preferred stock of the corporation designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock” is hereby approved and the appropriate officer is directed to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, as follows:
 
FIRST, Section 1 of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
 
“Section 1.                                 Designation and Amount .  The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 95,000.”
 
SECOND, the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation is not amended hereby except as set forth herein and, as so amended, continues in full force and effect.
 
[ Signature appears on the following page ]


 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Empire Resorts, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Amendment to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation to be executed this 19th day of August, 2009.
 
  EMPIRE RESORTS, INC. 
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein
   
Name:
Joseph E. Bernstein 
   
Title:  
Chief Executive Officer 

 
 
 
 
[Signature page to Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation ]
Exhibit 4.2
 
FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT , dated as of August 19, 2009 (the “Amendment”), between Empire Resorts, Inc, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York Corporation (the “Rights Agent”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H
 
WHEREAS , the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain Rights Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2008 (the “Original Agreement”), pursuant to which the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) outstanding (it being understood that shares held by direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company (as defined therein) were not to be considered outstanding) at the close of business on April 3, 2008 (the “Record Date”), and authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(n) thereof) for each share of Common Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(n) thereof) issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company’s treasury) and the Distribution Date (as defined in the Original Agreement), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached thereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Original Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS , the parties to the Original Agreement desire to amend the Original Agreement to enable the Board to exclude certain persons from being deemed an Acquiring Person, as such term is defined in the Original Agreement, solely as a consequence of an agreement, transaction or understanding that is approved by a majority of the Board prior to the date on which such person becomes the Beneficial Owner, as such term is defined in the Original Agreement, of 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.
 
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
 
Section 1.                       Definitions .  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in the Original Agreement.
 
Section 2.                       Amendment .  Section 1(a) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
 

 
“(a)           “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (iv) any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of Common Stock of the Company outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that, if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock of the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock) then such Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person;” (ii) if, as of the date hereof or at any time after the date hereof and prior to the first public announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock outstanding, such Person shall not be deemed to be or to become an “Acquiring Person” unless and until such time as such Person shall, after the first public announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, become the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock, pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a Qualified Offer (as defined in Section 11(a)(ii)), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Stock, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding; (iii) if the Board determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an “Acquiring Person,” as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person as promptly as practicable (as determined in good faith by the Board) divests a sufficient number of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an “Acquiring Person,” as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” for any purposes of this Agreement; and (iv) no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” if such Person enters into an agreement or transaction or understanding with the Company whereby, as a consequence of that agreement or transaction or understanding, such Person would otherwise become an “Acquiring Person” (but for the operation of this clause (iv)), and such agreement, transaction or understanding is approved by a majority of the Board prior to the date on which such person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.”
 
Section 3.                       Miscellaneous .
 
(a)            Effect of this Amendment .  Except as expressly amended pursuant to this Amendment, no other changes, waivers or modifications to the Original Agreement are intended or implied, and in all other respects the Original Agreements is hereby specifically ratified, restated and confirmed by all parties hereto as of the date hereof.  To the extent that any provision of the Original Agreement is inconsistent with the provisions of this Amendment, the provisions of this Amendment shall control.
 
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(b)            Governing Law .  The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Amendment and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
(c)            Binding Effect .  This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
 
(d)            Headings .  The headings listed herein are for convenience only and do not constitute matters to be construed in interpreting this Amendment.
 
(e)            Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
 
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
 
Attest:
 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
     
     
By:
/s/ Jason S. Saltsberg  
By:
/s/ Joseph Bernstein
 
Name:
Jason S. Saltsberg
   
Name:
Joseph Bernstein
 
Title:
Assistant Secretary
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
   
as Rights Agent
     
By:
/s/ Mark B. Zinkel  
By:
/s/ Leslie A. DeLuca
 
Name:
Mark B. Zinkel     
Name:
Leslie A. DeLuca 
 
Title:
Vice President    
Title:
Vice President
 
 
 
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
Exhibit 10.1
 
 
 

INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
 
dated as of August 19, 2009
 

 
between
 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
 
and
 
KIEN HUAT REALTY III LIMITED
 


 
Table of Contents
 

 
Page
 
PURCHASE; CLOSINGS
1.1
Purchase and Sale
1
1.2
Purchase Price Calculation
2
1.3
Initial Closing
2
1.4
Closing
5
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1
Disclosure
7
2.2
Representations and Warranties of the Company
8
2.3
Representations and Warranties of the Investor
25
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS
3.1
Stockholder Meeting
27
3.2
Conduct of the Business
28
3.3
Preferred Stock Terms
30
3.4
Takeover Statutes
31
3.5
HSR Act
31
3.6
Regulatory Matters
31
3.7
Amendment to Series A Preferred Stock
32
3.8
Use of First Tranche Consideration
32
     
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
4.1
Governance Matters
32
4.2
No Solicitation
35
4.3
Legend
35
4.4
Certain Transactions
36
4.5
Option Matching Rights
36
4.6
Indemnity
37
 
i

 
4.7
Exchange Listing
39
4.8
Certain Transactions
39
4.9
Loan Agreement
40
     
ARTICLE V
TERMINATION
5.1
Termination Prior to the Initial Closing
40
5.2
Termination After the Initial Closing and Prior to the Closing
40
5.3
Effects of Termination
41
5.4
Termination Fee
41
     
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1
Survival
42
6.2
Expenses
42
6.3
Amendment
42
6.4
Waivers
42
6.5
Counterparts and Facsimile
42
6.6
Governing Law
43
6.7
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
43
6.8
Notices
43
6.9
Entire Agreement, Etc
44
6.10
Other Definitions or Interpretations
44
6.11
Captions
45
6.12
Severability
45
6.13
No Third Party Beneficiaries
45
6.14
Time of Essence
45
6.15
Public Announcements
45
6.16
Specific Performance
45
     
 
ii

 
LIST OF EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit A:
Form of Stockholder Voting Agreement
Exhibit B:
Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit C:
Form of Consulting Agreement
Exhibit D:
Form of Legal Opinion
Exhibit E:
Form of Amendment to the Company By-Laws
Exhibit F:
List of Options and Warrants

iii


INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
 
Term
Location of
Definition
Affiliate
6.10(a)
Agreement
Preamble
Alternative Investment Proposal
4.2(c)
Authorized Preferred Stock
2.2(b)
Benefit Plan
2.2(r)(1)
Board of Directors
1.3(b)(2)(B)
Board Representatives
4.1(a)
business day
6.10(e)
Capitalization Date
2.2(b)
CERCLA
2.2(s)
Certificate of Incorporation
2.2(a)(1)
Charter Amendment
2.2(d)(1)(B)
Closing
1.4(a)
Closing Date
1.4(a)
Closing Date Option Schedule
4.5
Code
2.2(i)
Common Stock
Recitals
Company
Preamble
Company By-Laws
2.2(a)(1)
Company Financial Statements
2.2(f)
Company IT Systems
2.2(u)(5)
Company Material Adverse Effect
2.1(b)
Company Reports
2.2(g)(1)
Company Significant Agreement
2.2(l)
Company Subsidiary
2.2(a)(2)
Company Voting Proposals
2.2(d)(1)(B)
Consulting Agreement
1.3(a)(1)(C)
control/controlled by/under common control with
6.10(a)
Disclosure Schedule
2.1(a)
ERISA
2.2(r)(1)
ERISA Affiliate
2.2(r)(1)
Exchange Act
2.2(g)(1)
First Tranche
1.1(a)(1)
First Tranche Consideration
1.2(a)(1)
Fraud
2.2(u)(1)(B)
Fraud Losses
2.2(u)(1)
GAAP
2.1(b)
Games
2.2(u)(1)(B)
Gaming/Racing Authority
2.2(t)(4)
Gaming/Racing Facility
2.2(t)(4)
Gaming/Racing Law
2.2(t)(4)
 
iv

 
Term
Location of
Definition
Gaming/Racing Permits
2.2(t)(4)
Governmental Entity
1.3(b)(1)(A)
HSR Act
3.5
Indemnified Party
4.6(c)
Indemnifying Party
4.6(c)
Initial Closing
1.3(a)
Initial Closing Date
1.3(a)
Intellectual Property
2.2(x)
Investor
Preamble
Investor CFO Nominee
4.1(d)
Investor Material Adverse Effect
2.3(a)
Liens
2.2(c)
Loan Agreement
4.9
Losses
4.6(a)
Mandatory Voting Proposals
2.2(d)(1)
material
2.1(b)
Multiemployer Plan
2.2(r)(5)
Option Exercise Notice
4.5
Option Plan Amendment
3.1(d)
Option Rights Notice
4.5
Option Schedule
2.2(b)
Pension Plan
2.2(r)(1)
Person
6.10(f)
Pre-Closing Period
3.2
Preferred Stock Issuance Event
2.2(d)(1)
Previously Disclosed
2.1(c)
Purchase Price
1.1(b)
Registration Rights Agreement
1.3(a)(1)(B)
Representatives
4.2(c)
Required Charter Amendment Vote
2.2(d)(1)(B)
Required Company Stockholder Vote
2.2(d)(1)(B)
Required Share Issuance Vote
2.2(d)(1)(A)
Rights Plan
2.2(b)(1)
SEC
2.1(c)(2)(A)
Second Tranche
1.1(a)(2)
Second Tranche Consideration
1.2(b)
Securities Act
2.2(g)(1)
Series A Preferred Stock
2.2(b)
Series B Preferred Stock
2.2(b)
Series E Preferred Stock
2.2(b)
Series F Preferred Stock
1.1(a)(2)(A)
Share Issuance
2.2(d)(1)(A)
Special Meeting
1.4(b)(1)(C)
 
v

 
Term
Location of
Definition
Stockholder Voting Agreement
Recitals
Subsidiary
2.2(a)(2)
Survival Period
6.1
Takeover Statutes
2.2(v)
Tax/Taxes
2.2(i)
Tax Return
2.2(i)
Threshold Amount
4.6(e)
Total Investment
1.1(a)(2)
Video Lottery Business
2.2(u)(5)
Voting Debt
2.2(b)

vi


INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 19, 2009 (this “ Agreement ”),   between Empire Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Kien Huat Realty III Limited, an Isle of Man corporation   (the “ Investor ”).
 
RECITALS:
 
A.            The Investment . The Company intends to sell to the Investor, and the Investor intends to purchase from the Company, as an investment in the Company, (i) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) and (ii) shares of Series F Preferred Stock (as defined below), in the case of this clause (ii), to be issued only upon the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event (as defined below).
 
B.            The Stockholder Voting Agreement . Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to the Investor’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company are entering into a Stockholder Voting Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Stockholder Voting Agreement” ), pursuant to which such stockholders, among other things, agree to vote all of the shares of voting capital stock of the Company that such stockholders own in favor of the Company Voting Proposals (as defined below).
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 

 
PURCHASE; CLOSINGS
 
1.1            Purchase and Sale .  (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties hereinafter set forth:
 
(1)           at the Initial Closing (as defined below), the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor 6,804,188 shares of Common Stock (the “ First Tranche ”); and
 
(2)           at the Closing (as defined below), following, subject to and conditioned (A) upon approval of the Mandatory Voting Proposals (as defined below), the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor 27,701,852 shares of Common Stock or (B) upon the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the Investor (i) the full number of shares of Common Stock that remain authorized but not issued or otherwise reserved for issuance and (ii) shares of a new series of preferred stock (the “ Series F Preferred Stock ”), which shall be the capital equivalent of the Common Stock and be issued upon terms mutually agreeable to the Company and the Investor reflecting the vote and economics of such number of shares of Common Stock as is the difference obtained by subtracting the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to the Investor under (i) above from 27,701,852 (either A or B, the “ Second Tranche ” and together with the First Tranche, the “ Total Investment ”).  In the case of either (A) or (B), notwithstanding anything that may be interpreted to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Total Investment shall equal one share less than 50.0% of the voting power of the Company immediately following the Closing.
 
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(b)           The aggregate consideration to be paid by the Investor for the Total Investment shall be equal to the First Tranche Consideration (as defined below) plus the Second Tranche Consideration (as defined below) (the First Tranche Consideration and the Second Tranche Consideration, together, the “ Purchase Price ”), in each case, to be paid in the manner and at the times set forth in Sections 1.2 to 1.4.
 
1.2            Purchase Price Calculation .  (a) At the Initial Closing, the Investor shall pay to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company an amount equal to $11,000,000 (the “ First Tranche Consideration ”) in exchange for the First Tranche.
 
(b)           At the Closing, following, subject to and conditioned upon approval of the Mandatory Voting Proposals or the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, the Investor shall pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company an amount equal to $44,000,000 (the “ Second Tranche Consideration ”) in exchange for the Second Tranche.
 
1.3            Initial Closing .  (a) Subject to the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 1.3(b), the closing of the purchase of the First Tranche by the Investor (the “ Initial Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, NY 10006 at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 19, 2009 or at such other date and place as the parties may otherwise agree (the “ Initial Closing Date ”).
 
(1)           At the Initial Closing, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, to the Investor the following:
 
(A)           a certificate representing a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the First Tranche;
 
(B)           a duly executed counterpart to the registration rights agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”);
 
(C)           a duly executed counterpart to the consulting agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Consulting Agreement ”);
 
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(D)           a legal opinion in the form attached as Exhibit D ;
 
(E)           reimbursement of the Investor’s expenses through the Initial Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Agreement; and
 
(F)           such other certificates, instruments of conveyance or documents as may be reasonably requested by the Investor to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
 
(2)           At the Initial Closing, the Investor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, to the Company the following:
 
(A)           the First Tranche Consideration, which may be paid net of the amount to be reimbursed under (1)(E) above;
 
(B)           a duly executed counterpart to the Registration Rights Agreement; and
 
(C)           such other certificates or documents as may be reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
 
(b)            Initial Closing Conditions . (1) The obligation of the Investor, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, to consummate the Initial Closing is subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by the Investor and the Company prior to the Initial Closing of the following conditions:
 
(A)           no provision of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment, injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the Initial Closing or shall prohibit or restrict the Investor or its Affiliates (as defined below) from owning or voting the Common Stock (other than on an interim basis pending receipt of the requisite Gaming/Racing Permits (as defined below)) in any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, local or foreign, or any applicable self-regulatory organization, including any Gaming/Racing Authority (as defined below) (each, a “ Governmental Entity ”), seeking to effect any of the foregoing;
 
(B)           the Company shall have applied to NASDAQ to authorize the shares of Common Stock to be issued at the Initial Closing for listing on NASDAQ or such other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, subject only to official notice of issuance; and
 
(C)           the Investor shall have received all requisite Gaming/Racing Permits or shall have executed an escrow agreement with a duly qualified nominee if and to the extent permitted under applicable Gaming/Racing Law (as defined below) to act as nominee holder of the Common Stock.
 
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(2)           The obligation of the Investor to consummate the purchase of the First Tranche to be purchased by it at the Initial Closing is subject to the further fulfillment or written waiver by the Investor prior to the Initial Closing of each of the following conditions:
 
(A)           the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, without regard to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) qualifier contained therein, shall be true and correct when made and on and as of the Initial Closing Date as if made at and as of the Initial Closing Date (except for any representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of the specified date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect;
 
(B)           the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”) shall have duly adopted and declared effective an amendment to the Company By-Laws (as defined below) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E ;
 
(C)           the Company shall have delivered to the Investor a duly executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B ;
 
(D)           the Company shall have delivered to the Investor a duly executed copy of the Consulting Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C ;
 
(E)           the Company shall have delivered the legal opinion referred to in clause (a)(1)(D) above; and
 
(F)           the Board of Directors shall have adopted resolutions appointing Colin Au and G. Michael Brown to serve as members of the Board of Directors.
 
(3)           The obligation of the Company to consummate the Initial Closing is subject to the further fulfillment or written waiver by the Company prior to the Initial Closing of each of the following conditions:
 
(A)           the representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement, without regard to any materiality or Investor Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) qualifier contained therein, shall be true and correct in all material respects when made and on and as of the Initial Closing Date as if made at and as of the Initial Closing Date (except for any representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the specified date). The Company shall have received a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Investor to such effect; and
 
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(B)           the Investor shall have delivered to the Company a duly executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B .
 
1.4            Closing .  (a) The closing of the purchase of the Second Tranche by the Investor (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, NY 10006 at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on a date to be specified by the Company and the Investor, which shall be no later than the third business day after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 1.4(b) below (the “ Closing Date ”).
 
(1)           At the Closing, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, to the Investor the following:
 
(A)           certificates representing a number of shares of Common Stock and, if applicable, Series F Preferred Stock equal to the Second Tranche;
 
(B)           a duly executed counterpart to the Loan Agreement (as defined below);
 
(C)           reimbursement of the Investor’s expenses from the Initial Closing Date through the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Agreement; and
 
(D)           such other certificates, instruments of conveyance or documents as may be reasonably requested by the Investor to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
 
(2)           At the Closing, the Investor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, as the case may be, to the Company the following:
 
(A)           the Second Tranche Consideration, which may be paid net of the amount to be reimbursed under (1)(D) above;
 
(B)           a duly executed counterpart to the Loan Agreement; and
 
(C)           such other certificates or documents as may be reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
 
(b)           (1)           The obligations of the Investor, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, to consummate the Closing is subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by the Investor and the Company prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
 
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(A)           no provisions of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment, injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the Closing or shall prohibit or restrict the Investor or its Affiliates from owning or voting the Common Stock or, if applicable, the Series F Preferred Stock (other than on an interim basis pending receipt of the requisite Gaming/Racing Permits) and no lawsuit shall have been commenced by a Governmental Entity seeking to effect any of the foregoing;
 
(B)           the Company shall have applied to NASDAQ to authorize the shares of Common Stock to be issued at the Initial Closing for listing on NASDAQ or such other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, subject only to official notice of issuance;
 
(C)           (i) the Mandatory Voting Proposals shall have been approved at a duly called and held special meeting of the Company’s stockholders (the “ Special Meeting ”), at which a quorum is present, by the Required Company Stockholder Vote (as defined below); or (ii) the Preferred Stock Issuance Event shall have taken place and the Company shall have filed a certificate of designation, amending its Certificate of Incorporation creating and authorizing the issuance of the Series F Preferred Stock;
 
(D)           the Investor shall have received all requisite Gaming/Racing Permits or shall have executed an escrow agreement with a duly qualified nominee permitted under applicable Gaming/Racing Law to act as nominee holder of the Common Stock and, if applicable, the Series F Preferred Stock.
 
(2)           The obligation of the Investor to consummate the purchase of the Second Tranche to be purchased by it at the Closing is subject to the further fulfillment or written waiver by the Investor prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:
 
(A)           the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, without regard to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect qualifier contained therein, shall have been true and correct when made, except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and
 
(B)           the Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date and the Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
 
(3)           The obligation of the Company to consummate the Closing is subject to the further fulfillment or written waiver by the Company prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:
 
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(A)           the representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement, without regard to any materiality or Investor Material Adverse Effect qualifier contained therein, shall have been true and correct in all material respects when made; and
 
(B)           the Investor shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Investor by a duly authorized officer of the Investor to such effect.
 
ARTICLE II
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
2.1            Disclosure .  (a) On or prior to the date hereof, the Company delivered to Investor and the Investor delivered to the Company a schedule (“ Disclosure Schedule ”) setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 2.2 with respect to the Company, or in Section 2.3 with respect to the Investor, or to one or more covenants contained in Article III.
 
(b)           As used in this Agreement, any reference to any fact, change, circumstance or effect being “ material ” with respect to the Company means such fact, change, circumstance or effect is material in relation to the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Company Material Adverse Effect ” means any circumstance, event, change, development or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, (1) is material and adverse to the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (2) would materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Initial Closing or the Closing or (3) would materially adversely affect the ability of the Investor to own, hold or vote the shares of Common Stock or Series F Preferred Stock acquired under this Agreement or otherwise materially adversely limit the Investor’s conduct in respect of the Company; provided , however , that in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any effect to the extent resulting from the following: (A) changes, after the date hereof, in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ GAAP ”) or regulatory accounting principles, (B) changes, after the date hereof, in laws, rules and regulations of general applicability or interpretations thereof by Governmental Entities not specific to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (C) actions or omissions of the Company expressly required by the terms of this Agreement or taken with the prior written consent of the Investor, (D) changes in general economic, monetary or financial conditions, including changes in prevailing interest rates, credit markets, secondary mortgage market conditions or housing price appreciation/depreciation trends, (E) changes, in and of themselves, in the market price or trading volumes of the Common Stock or the Company’s other securities (but not the underlying causes of such changes), (F) the failure of the Company to meet any internal or public projections, forecasts, estimates or guidance for any period ending on or after December 31, 2008 (but not the underlying causes of such failure), and (G) changes in global or national political conditions, including the outbreak or escalation of war or acts of terrorism; except, with respect to clauses (A), (B), (D) and (G), to the extent that the effects of such changes have a disproportionate effect on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated participants in the industries or markets in which they operate.
 
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(c)           “ Previously Disclosed ” with regard to (1) the Investor, means information set forth on its Disclosure Schedule, provided , however , that disclosure in any section of such Disclosure Schedule shall apply only to the indicated section of this Agreement except to the extent that it is reasonably apparent from the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is relevant to another section of this Agreement, and (2) the Company, means information publicly disclosed by the Company in (A) its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) on March 3, 2009 and amended by it on April 30, 2009, (B) its Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed by it with the SEC on May 22, 2009, (C) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2009 for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, (D) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed on August 17, 2009 or (E) any Current Report on Form 8-K filed or furnished by it with the SEC since January 1, 2009 and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any risk factor disclosures contained in such documents under the heading “Risk Factors” and any disclosure of risks included in any “forward-looking statements” disclaimer or other statements that are similarly non-specific and are predictive or forward-looking in nature).
 
2.2            Representations and Warranties of the Company .  Except as Previously Disclosed, the Company represents and warrants to the Investor, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Initial Closing Date (except to the extent made only as of a specified date in which case as of such date), that:
 
(a)            Organization and Authority .  (1) The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.  The Company has furnished to the Investor true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s certificate of incorporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and by-laws (the “ Company By-Laws ”) as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
 
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(2)           Each Company Subsidiary is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and has the corporate power and authority and governmental authorizations to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is being conducted.  As used herein, “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (A) of which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is a general partner or (B) of which a majority of the voting securities or other voting interests, or a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or Persons performing similar functions with respect to such entity, is directly or indirectly owned by such Person and/or one or more subsidiaries thereof; “ Company Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company.  Schedule 2.2(b) contains a correct and complete list of the Company Subsidiaries as of the date hereof.
 
(b)            Capitalization .  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Authorized Preferred Stock ”).  As of the close of business on August 18, 2009 (the “ Capitalization Date ”), there were (not including any shares of Common Stock being issued in connection with this Agreement) 34,037,961 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 1,774,955 shares of Authorized Preferred Stock outstanding, consisting of 1,730,697 shares of Series E Preferred Stock (“ Series E Preferred Stock ”) and 44,258 shares of 7.75% B Series Convertible Preferred Stock (“ Series B Preferred Stock ”).  As of the close of business on the Capitalization Date, no shares of Common Stock or Authorized Preferred Stock were reserved or to be made available for issuance, except for (1) 40,000 shares of Authorized Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”), reserved or to be made available for issuance upon the exercise of rights granted under the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2008 between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent (the “ Rights Plan ”), and (2) 5,175,160 shares of Common Stock reserved or to be made available for issuance upon conversion of the Company’s 5 ½% Secured Convertible Notes due 2014 and 7,917,870 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of options and warrants outstanding as of the Capitalization Date.  Attached hereto as Exhibit F is a true and complete list of all options and warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth for each the name of the holder, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such options and warrants, the expiry date and vesting schedule and the exercise price thereof (the “ Option Schedule ”).  All of the options and warrants listed on the Option Schedule have been duly granted under option plans that were authorized by vote of the stockholders of the Company.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Authorized Preferred Stock have been, and all Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of options or warrants on the Option Schedule will be, duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.  No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which the stockholders of the Company may vote (“ Voting Debt ”) are issued and outstanding.  Other than the Common Stock (and, as of the Closing, upon the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, the Series F Preferred Stock), no capital stock is issued and outstanding except for the Series E Preferred Stock, each holder of which is entitled to 1/4 of one vote and the Series B Preferred Stock, each holder of which is entitled to 8/10 of one vote.  As of the date of this Agreement, except (i) pursuant to any cashless exercise provisions of any Company stock options or pursuant to the surrender of shares to the Company or the withholding of shares by the Company to cover tax withholding obligations under the Benefit Plans (as defined below), and (ii) as set forth elsewhere in this Section 2.2(b), the Company does not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of Common Stock or Authorized Preferred Stock or any other equity securities of the Company or Voting Debt or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock of the Company (including any rights plan or agreement).
 
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(c)            Company’s Subsidiaries .  The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or all other equity interests in each of the Company Subsidiaries, free and clear of any liens, charges, encumbrances, adverse rights or claims and security interests whatsoever (“ Liens ”), and all of such shares or equity interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.  No Company Subsidiary has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock, any other equity security or any Voting Debt of such Company Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock, any other equity security or Voting Debt of such Company Subsidiary.
 
(d)            Authorization .  (1) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and unanimously authorized by the Board of Directors.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Investor, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. Except for the Required Company Stockholder Vote, no other corporate proceedings are necessary for the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder or the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby. The only vote of the stockholders of the Company required to approve any of the transactions contemplated herein is an affirmative vote of (A) a majority of the stockholders voting at a stockholders meeting to approve the issuance of the Second Tranche for purposes of Rule 5635(b) and Rule 5635(d) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules (the “ Share Issuance ”), provided that the total votes cast at the meeting represent over 50% in interest of all securities entitled to vote (the “ Required Share Issuance Vote ”); and (B) a majority of the stockholders outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date for a meeting to approve the amendment of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Charter Amendment ” and, together with the Share Issuance, the “ Mandatory Voting Proposals ” and, collectively with the Option Plan Amendment (as defined below), the “ Company Voting Proposals ”) to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to 95,000,000 (the “ Required Charter Amendment Vote ” and, together with the Required Share Issuance Vote, the “ Required Company Stockholder Vote ”), provided that, if the Required Share Issuance Vote in favor of the Share Issuance is obtained but the Required Charter Amendment Vote in favor of the Charter Amendment is not obtained (the “ Preferred Stock Issuance Event ”), the Investor shall be entitled to receive a combination of Common Stock and Series F Preferred Stock in the amounts and upon the terms set forth in Section 1.1(a).  To the Company’s knowledge, all shares of Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock outstanding on the record date for a meeting at which a vote is taken with respect to the Company Voting Proposals shall be eligible to vote on the Charter Amendment and the Option Plan Amendment and all shares outstanding other than those issued to the Investor at the Initial Closing shall be eligible to vote on the Share Issuance.  The Board of Directors has unanimously adopted a resolution declaring the Charter Amendment advisable and directing that it be recommended to the stockholders of the Company for approval at the Special Meeting.
 
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(2)           Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof, will (A) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the material properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) subject  in the case of the authorization and issuance of the Second Tranche to receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Vote or the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, the Certificate of Incorporation or Company By-Laws (or similar governing documents) or the certificate of incorporation, charter, bylaws or other governing instrument of any Company Subsidiary or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may be subject, or (B) except as set forth in Section 2.2(d)(2) of the Disclosure Schedule, subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in Section 2.2(e), violate any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, permit, concession, grant, franchise or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets except in the case of clauses (A)(ii) and (B) for such violations, conflicts and breaches as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
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(e)            Governmental Consents .  Other than as Previously Disclosed, Gaming/Racing Authority approvals and the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, no material notice to, registration, declaration or filing with, exemption or review by, or authorization, order, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity, nor expiration or termination of any statutory waiting periods, is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(f)            Financial Statements .  Each of the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows, together with the notes thereto (collectively, the “ Company Financial Statements ”) included in any Company Report filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement, (1) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, (2) complied as to form, as of their respective date of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (3) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the period involved and (4) present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the dates set forth therein and the consolidated results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for the periods stated therein, subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal recurring year-end audit adjustments.
 
(g)            Reports .  (1) Since December 31, 2006, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has timely filed all material reports, registrations, documents, filings, statements and submissions, together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with any Governmental Entity (the foregoing, collectively, the “ Company Reports ”) and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied in all material respects with all statutes and applicable rules and regulations of the applicable Governmental Entities.  To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding comments from the SEC or any other Governmental Entity with respect to any Company Report.  In the case of each such Company Report filed with or furnished to the SEC, such Company Report did not, as of its date or if amended prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of such amendment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made in it, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”).  With respect to all other Company Reports, the Company Reports were complete and accurate in all material respects as of their respective dates.  No executive officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has failed in any respect to make the certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
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(2)           The records, systems, controls, data and information of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or their accountants (including all means of access thereto and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect on the system of internal accounting controls described below in this Section 2.2(g). The Company (A) has implemented and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including the consolidated Company Subsidiaries, is made known to the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company by others within those entities, and (B) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date hereof, to the Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the Board of Directors (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.  Since December 31, 2006 and until the date of this Agreement, (x) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any Company Subsidiary has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (y) no attorney representing the Company or any Company Subsidiary, whether or not employed by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.
 
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(h)            Properties and Leases .  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances, claims and defects that would affect the value thereof or interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold all leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.
 
(i)            Taxes .  (1) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has (x) duly and timely filed (including pursuant to applicable extensions granted without penalty) all material Tax Returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed by it and (y) paid in full all Taxes due or made adequate provision in the financial statements of the Company (in accordance with GAAP) for any such Taxes (as hereinafter defined), whether or not shown as due on such Tax Returns; (2) no material deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing against or with respect to any Taxes due by or Tax Returns of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries which deficiencies have not since been resolved, except for Taxes proposed, asserted or assessed that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves adequate in accordance with GAAP have been provided; and (3) there are no material Liens for Taxes upon the assets of either the Company or the Company Subsidiaries except for statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due or Liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves adequate in accordance with GAAP have been provided.  None of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has been a “ distributing corporation ” or a “ controlled corporation ” in any distribution occurring during the last two years in which the parties to such distribution treated the distribution as one to which Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), is applicable.  None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has engaged in any transaction that is a “ listed transaction ” for federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Treasury Regulations section 1.6011-4, which has not yet been the subject of an audit.  To the Company’s knowledge, to the extent the Company or any Company Subsidiary has or will record for GAAP purposes an allowance for loan losses or similar reserve for bad debts, the Company can properly record for GAAP purposes at such time a deferred tax asset for the related deduction for Taxes.  The Company is not currently and has not been within the prior 5-year period a “ U.S. Real Property Holding Company ” as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Taxes ” shall mean all taxes, charges, levies, penalties or other assessments imposed by any United States federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, including any income, excise, property, sales, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security or other taxes, together with any interest or penalties attributable thereto, and any payments made or owing to any other Person measured by such taxes, charges, levies, penalties or other assessment, whether pursuant to a tax indemnity agreement, tax sharing payment or otherwise (other than pursuant to commercial agreements or Benefit Plans (as defined below)).  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Tax Return ” shall mean any return, report, information return or other document (including any related or supporting information) required to be filed with any taxing authority with respect to Taxes, including without limitation all information returns relating to Taxes of third parties, any claims for refunds of Taxes and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing
 
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(j)            Absence of Certain Changes .  Since December 31, 2008, (1) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course, consistent with prior practice, (2) the Company has not made or declared any distribution in cash or in kind to its stockholders or issued or repurchased any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests and (3) no event or events have occurred that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
(k)            No Undisclosed Liabilities .  Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are not properly reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements to the extent required to be so reflected or reserved against in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting practices, except for (1) liabilities that have arisen since December 31, 2008 in the ordinary and usual course of business and consistent with past practice, (2) contractual liabilities under (other than liabilities arising from any breach or violation of) agreements Previously Disclosed or not required by this Agreement to be so disclosed and (3) liabilities that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
(l)            Commitments and Contracts .  The Company has Previously Disclosed or provided to the Investor true, correct and complete copies of, each of the following to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or subject (whether written or oral, express or implied) (each, a “ Company Significant Agreement ”):
 
(1)           any contract or agreement which is a “material contract” within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K to be performed in whole or in part after the date of this Agreement;
 
(2)           any contract or agreement which limits the freedom of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to compete in any line of business;
 
(3)           any material contract or agreement with a labor union or guild (including any collective bargaining agreement);
 
(4)           any contract or agreement which grants any Person a right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right with respect to any material properties, assets or businesses of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries;
 
(5)           any contract relating to the acquisition or disposition of any material business or material assets (whether by merger, sale of stock or assets or otherwise), which acquisition or disposition is not yet complete or where such contract contains continuing material obligations, including continuing material indemnity obligations, of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries;
 
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(6)           any contract or agreement which is a consulting agreement or service contract (including data processing, software programming and licensing contracts and outsourcing contracts) which involves the payment of $250,000 or more in annual fees;
 
(7)           any contract or agreement that contains a “change of control”, assignment or similar clause that would be triggered by the transactions contemplated herein; and
 
(8)           any contract or agreement which obligates the Company to manage any gaming assets on behalf of an unrelated third party.
 
Except as Previously Disclosed: (A) each of the Company Significant Agreements is valid and binding on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, and in full force and effect; (B) the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, are in all material respects in compliance with and have in all material respects performed all obligations required to be performed by them to date under each Company Significant Agreement; and (C) as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries knows of, or has received notice of, any material violation or default (or any condition which with the passage of time or the giving of notice would cause such a violation of or a default) by any party under any Company Significant Agreement.  To the Company’s knowledge as of the date hereof, except as Previously Disclosed, there are no material transactions, or series of related transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings, nor are there any currently proposed material transactions, or series of related transactions, between the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any current or former director or executive officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any Person who beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (or any of such Person’s immediate family members or Affiliates (other than Company Subsidiaries)), on the other hand, other than Benefit Plans entered into in the ordinary course of business.
 
(m)            Offering of Common Stock .  Neither the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has taken any action (including any offering of any securities of the Company under circumstances which would require the integration of such offering with the offering of any of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder) which might subject the offering, issuance or sale of any of the Common Stock to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
 
(n)            Status of Common Stock and Preferred Stock .  The shares of Common Stock to be issued in the First Tranche pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. When issued and sold against receipt of the consideration therefor as provided in this Agreement, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will not subject the holders thereof to personal liability and will not be subject to preemptive rights of any other stockholder of the Company.  The shares of Common Stock and, if applicable, Series F Preferred Stock to be issued in the Second Tranche, following, subject to and conditioned upon approval of the Mandatory Voting Proposals or upon the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, and filing of the related certificate of amendment and/or certificate of designations with the Delaware Secretary of State, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and when so issued upon such approval of the Mandatory Voting Proposals or upon the occurrence of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will not subject the holders thereof to personal liability and will not be subject to preemptive rights of any other stockholder of the Company.
 
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(o)            Litigation and Other Proceedings .  Except as set forth in Section 2.2(o) of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to which any of their assets are subject, nor is the Company or any Company Subsidiary subject to any order, judgment or decree, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Governmental Entity with respect to any report or relating to any examinations or inspections of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries.
 
(p)            Compliance with Laws; Insurance .  The Company and each Company Subsidiary have all material permits, licenses, franchises, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with, Governmental Entities that are required in order to permit them to own or lease their properties and assets and to carry on their business as currently conducted and that are material to the business of the Company or such Company Subsidiary. The Company and each Company Subsidiary has complied in all material respects and is not in default or violation in any respect of, and none of them is, to the knowledge of the Company, under investigation with respect to or, to the knowledge of the Company, has been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any material violation of, any applicable material domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign law, statute, ordinance, license, rule, regulation, policy or guideline, order, demand, writ, injunction, decree or judgment of any Governmental Entity, other than such noncompliance, defaults or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  Except for statutory or regulatory restrictions of general application, no Governmental Entity has placed any material restriction on the business or properties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
 
(1)           The Company and each Company Subsidiary are presently insured, and during each of the past five calendar years (or during such lesser period of time as the Company has owned such Company Subsidiary) have been insured, for reasonable amounts with financially sound and reputable insurance companies against such risks as companies engaged in a similar business would, in accordance with good business practice, customarily be insured.
 
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(q)            Labor .  Except as set forth in Section 2.2(q) of the Disclosure Schedule, employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are not represented by any labor union nor are any collective bargaining agreements otherwise in effect with respect to such employees. No labor organization or group of employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has made a pending demand for recognition or certification, and there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority.  There are no organizing activities, strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts, material arbitrations or material grievances, or other material labor disputes pending or threatened against or involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
 
(r)            Company Benefit Plans .
 
(1)           With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have complied, and are now in compliance, in all material respects, with all provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), the Code and all laws and regulations applicable to such Benefit Plan; and (B) each Benefit Plan has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms.  Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate maintain, or have maintained, a defined benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA.  Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate have any current or potential liability under applicable law, including under Title IV or ERISA, with respect to any Pension Plan.  “ Benefit Plan ” means each material written or oral employment, consulting, retention, severance, employee benefit or other similar plan, contract, arrangement, policy, program or undertaking whether funded or unfunded, registered or unregistered, providing for (including any insured or self-insured arrangements) workers’ compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits, retirement, pension, superannuation or supplemental pension benefits, life, health, disability or accident benefits (including any “ voluntary employees’ beneficiary association ” as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code providing for the same or other benefits) or for deferred compensation, profit-sharing bonuses, stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, stock purchases or other forms of incentive compensation, profit sharing or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits, in each case, which is entered into, maintained, sponsored, contributed to or required to be contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary may incur any liability or pursuant to which payments are made, or benefits are provided to, or an entitlement to payments or benefits may arise with respect to any directors, or officers of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any employees or former employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any individual working on contract for the Company or any Company Subsidiaries (or any spouses, dependants, survivors or beneficiaries of any such Persons). “ ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, all of which together with the Company would be deemed to be a “ single employer ” within the meaning of Section 4001(a) or (b) of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code.  “ Pension Plan ” means any “ employee pension benefit plan ” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan (as defined herein)), which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or administers or to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or is required to contribute, which covers any current or former employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate.
 
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(2)           Except for liabilities fully reserved for or identified in the Financial Statements, and except as disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule, no claim has been made, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries threatened, against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries related to the employment and compensation of employees or any Benefit Plan, including without limitation any claim related to the purchase of employer securities or to expenses paid under any defined contribution pension plan.  To the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has any liability with respect to any transaction in violation of Section 404 or 406 of ERISA or any “prohibited transaction , ” as defined in Section 4975(c)(1) of the Code, for which no exemption exists under Section 408 of ERISA or Section 4975(c)(2) or (d) of the Code.  Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has knowingly participated in a violation of Part 4 of Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA by any plan fiduciary of any Benefit Plan.  The Secretary of Labor of the United States has not asserted a civil penalty against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries under Section 502(l) of ERISA that remains unpaid.
 
(3)           Each Benefit Plan which covers current or former employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401 of the Code has either (A) received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding its Tax qualification (and no event has occurred which, since the date of any such letter, would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of such determination letter) or (B) applied, or will apply, for such letter during the applicable remedial amendment period.
 
(4)           No Benefit Plan provides any health, life or other welfare benefits to any current or future retired or former employees of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (or to the beneficiaries or dependants of any such Person), other than as required by Section 4980B of the Code.
 
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(5)           Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has contributed to, currently contributes to, or is required to contribute to or participate in any Multiemployer Plan.  “ Multiemployer Plan ” means any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate contributes, or to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has an obligation to contribute, which covers any current or former employee of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.
 
(6)           Except as set forth in Section 2.2(r) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will, either alone or in conjunction with any other event (whether contingent or otherwise), (A) result in any payment or benefit becoming due or payable, or required to be provided, to any current or former director, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (B) increase the amount or value of any benefit or compensation otherwise payable or required to be provided to any current or former director, employee or independent contractor, or result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting or funding of any such benefit or compensation or (C) result in any amount failing to be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code.
 
(7)           No Benefit Plan provides any employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with a “gross up” or similar payment in respect of any Taxes that may become payable under Section 409A of Section 4999 of the Code.  Each Benefit Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) has, since January 1, 2005, been operated in good faith compliance with Sections 409A(a)(2), (3), and (4) of the Code.
 
(8)           Except for benefits accrued, and claims incurred by not yet reported, and except for any provision in any Benefit Plan that provides otherwise, the Company may unilaterally amend, modify, vary, revise, revoke, terminate or merge, in whole or in part, each Benefit Plan, subject only to approvals required by applicable law.
 
(s)            Environmental Liability .  There is no legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceeding, claim, action or notice of any nature seeking to impose, or that could result in the imposition of, on the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any liability or obligation of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to any environmental health or safety matters or any private or governmental, health or safety investigations or remediation activities of any nature arising under common law or under any local, state or federal environmental, health or safety statute, regulation or ordinance, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“ CERCLA ”), pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary the result of which has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; to the Company’s knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for, or circumstances that are reasonably likely to give rise to, any such proceeding, claim, action, investigation or remediation; and to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any agreement, order, judgment, decree, letter or memorandum by or with any court, Governmental Entity or third party imposing any such environmental liability.
 
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(t)            Gaming Approvals .  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (1) the Company has all Gaming/Racing Permits required to operate its Gaming/Racing Facilities, (2) there have been no adversarial proceedings by any Gaming/Racing Authority to rescind or suspend the Company’s Gaming/Racing Permits since December 31, 2006, and (3) to the knowledge of the Company, no Gaming/Racing Authority is investigating or has concluded that the Company has breached any Gaming/Racing Law governing or relating to any current or contemplated casino, pari-mutuel, lottery or other gaming activities and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including, the rules and regulations established by any Gaming/Racing Authority.
 
(4)           In this Agreement:

“Gaming/Racing Authority” means any agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, department, office or instrumentality of any nature whatsoever of the United States federal or foreign government, any state, province or any city or other political subdivision or otherwise and whether now or hereafter in existence or any officer or official thereof, including, without limitation, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, the New York State Division of the Lottery, the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with authority to regulate any gaming operation owned, managed or operated by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
 
“Gaming/Racing Facility” means the Monticello Raceway and each other property at which any gambling, gaming or casino activities are conducted by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
 
“Gaming/Racing Law” means all statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents pursuant to which any Gaming/Racing Authority possesses regulatory, licensing or permit authority over gambling, gaming or casino activities conducted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary within its jurisdiction, including the New York State Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law and the related rules and regulations, the New York State Lottery for Education Law and the related rules and regulations, Part C, Chapter 383, Laws of New York 2001, as amended, known as the “ video lottery gaming law.
 
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“Gaming/Racing Permits” means the licenses, permits or other authorizations required to own, operate and otherwise conduct unrestricted gaming operations at the Gaming/Racing Facilities.
 
(u)            Fraud; Infrastructure; Data Security .
 
(1)           The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have taken all commercially reasonable actions consistent with standards in the Video Lottery Business (as defined below) in order to detect (A) fraud committed against or (B) any other conduct designed to violate the integrity of any game or gaming device operated by, in each case the Company or a Company Subsidiary as part of the Video Lottery Business (such games and gaming devices, collectively the “ Games ” and such fraud or other conduct, collectively “ Fraud ”) by any Person, including players participating in such Games and employees and independent contractors of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have taken all commercially reasonable actions consistent with standards in the Video Lottery Business in order to minimize any losses incurred by the Games as a result of Fraud (“ Fraud Losses ”). The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have audited and continue to audit the Games on a regular basis in order to ascertain whether any Fraud has occurred as well as the amount of any Fraud Losses.
 
(2)           The material Company IT Systems (as defined below) have been properly maintained by technically competent personnel in accordance with standards set by the manufacturers or otherwise in accordance with standards prudent in the Video Lottery Business for proper operation, monitoring and use. The material Company IT Systems are in good working condition to perform all information technology operations reasonably necessary for the conduct of the Video Lottery Business effectively. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has experienced within the past twelve months any material disruption to, or material interruption in, its conduct of the Video Lottery Business attributable to a defect, bug, breakdown or other failure or deficiency on the part of the Company IT Systems.
 
(3)           Except for scheduled or routine maintenance which would not reasonably be expected to cause any material disruption to, or material interruption in, the conduct of the Video Lottery Business, the Company IT Systems are in all material respects available for use during normal working hours and other times when the Games are available to players. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to provide for the backup and recovery of the data and information critical to the conduct of the Video Lottery Business (including such data and information that is stored on magnetic or optical media in the ordinary course) without material disruption to, or material interruption in, the conduct of the Video Lottery Business.
 
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(4)           The Company and Company Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions, consistent with standards in the Lottery Business and/or the Video Lottery Business, with respect to the Company IT Systems to detect and prevent the disclosure to unauthorized Persons of, and keep secure, any material confidential information, trade secrets, or other material proprietary information stored on Company IT Systems including the designs, policies, processes, and procedures comprising the material Games and material information relating to the composition and structure of the Company IT Systems.
 
(5)           In this Agreement:
 
Company IT Systems ” means any and all information technology and computer systems (including computers, software, programs, databases, middleware, firmware and other embedded software, servers, workstations, terminals, routers, hubs, switches, networks, data communications lines, hardware and other equipment and all other information technology equipment) relating to the transmission, storage, maintenance, organization, presentation, generation, processing or analysis of data and information whether or not in electronic format, which technology and systems are used in or necessary to the conduct of the Video Lottery Business, including the end-products used by the players of the Games and any of the aforementioned types of information technology and computer systems supporting the provision of the Games.
 
“Video Lottery Business” means any business involving the provision of any or all of the following: (i) interactive electronic gaming devices (including so called “ video lottery terminals ” and “ slot machines ”) which are activated by the player by the insertion of a coin or other consideration constituting the player’s wager and which display the play and outcome of a game of chance (such as “ five card draw ” poker, “ Blackjack, ” or “ 21 ” and simulated spinning reels with fruit and bars) upon such player-activation using microprocessors and video display; (ii) central processing systems used in connection with the operation of interactive gaming devices described in clause (i); and (iii) any services related thereto.
 
(v)            Anti-takeover Provisions Not Applicable .  The Board of Directors has taken all necessary action to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the acquisition by the Investor of Common Stock and, if applicable, Series F Preferred Stock hereunder, and the Stockholder Voting Agreement and the covenants and agreements to be entered into thereby by the parties thereto, for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that such transactions and agreements will not restrict any future “business combination” involving the Investor as an “interested stockholder” (as each such term is defined in Section 203) and to ensure that the transactions contemplated hereby will be deemed to be exceptions to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and that any other similar “moratorium,” “control share,” “fair price,” “takeover” or “interested stockholder” law (in all cases, as they may be amended, succeeded or modified, “ Takeover Statutes ”) does not and will not apply to this Agreement or to any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
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(w)            Rights Plan .  The Company has taken all actions necessary to render the Rights Plan inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(x)            Intellectual Property .  The Company and the Company Subsidiaries own (free and clear of any Liens) or have a valid license to use all Intellectual Property used in or necessary to carry on their business as currently conducted.  Neither the Company nor any such Company Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with, and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no infringements of or conflicts with, the rights of others with respect to the use of any Intellectual Property.  To the knowledge of the Company, no Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is being used or enforced in a manner that would be expected to result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability of such Intellectual Property, except for such infringement or violation as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.  “ Intellectual Property ” shall mean trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, trade dress and other indications of origin, the goodwill associated with the foregoing and registrations in any jurisdiction of, and applications in any jurisdiction to register, the foregoing, including any extension, modification or renewal of any such registration or application; inventions, discoveries and ideas, whether patentable or not, in any jurisdiction; patents, applications for patents (including divisions, continuations, continuations in part and renewal applications), and any renewals, extensions or reissues thereof, in any jurisdiction; nonpublic information, trade secrets and confidential information and rights in any jurisdiction to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any Person; writings and other works, whether copyrightable or not, in any jurisdiction; and registrations or applications for registration of copyrights in any jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions thereof; and any similar intellectual property or proprietary rights.
 
(y)            Knowledge as to Conditions .  As of the date of this Agreement, the Company knows of no reason why any regulatory approvals and, to the extent necessary, any other approvals, authorizations, filings, registrations, and notices required or otherwise a condition to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be obtained.
 
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(z)            Brokers and Finders .  Except for KPMG Corporate Finance LLC (whose fees have been disclosed in full to the Investor and will be paid in full by the Company or a Company Subsidiary and to whom all continuing payment obligations in respect of fees will be terminated or satisfied in full), neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Company or any Company Subsidiary, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
2.3            Representations and Warranties of the Investor .  Except as Previously Disclosed, the Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Initial Closing Date, that:
 
(a)            Organization and Authority .  The Investor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would be reasonably expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect and the Investor has the corporate or other power and authority and governmental authorizations to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.   For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Investor Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse effect on the ability of the Investor to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(b)            Authorization .  (1) The Investor has the corporate or other power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Investor and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Investor’s board of directors and no further approval or authorization by any of its stockholders is required. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Investor and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, is a valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms.
 
(2)           Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Investor with any of the provisions hereof, will (A) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of such Investor under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) its articles of incorporation or bylaws or similar governing documents or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Investor is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which the Investor or any of the properties or assets of the Investor may be subject, or (B) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate any law, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation, permit, concession, grant, franchise or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable to the Investor or any of its properties or assets except in the case of clauses (A)(ii) and (B) for such violations, conflicts and breaches as would not reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect.
 
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(3)           Other than as Previously Disclosed, Gaming/Racing Authority approvals and the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, no notice to, registration, declaration or filing with, exemption or review by, or authorization, order, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity, nor expiration or termination of any statutory waiting period, is necessary for the consummation by the Investor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(c)            Purchase for Investment .  The Investor acknowledges that the Common Stock to be acquired by it in the First Tranche and the Common Stock and, if applicable, Series F Preferred Stock to be acquired by it in the Second Tranche have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws. The Investor (1) is acquiring the Common Stock and, if applicable, the Series F Preferred Stock pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for investment with no present intention to distribute any of the Common Stock or Series F Preferred Stock to any Person, (2) will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Common Stock or Series F Preferred Stock, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws, (3) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Common Stock and, if applicable, the Series F Preferred Stock, and of making an informed investment decision and (4) is an “ accredited investor ” (as that term is defined by Rule 501 of the Securities Act).
 
(d)            Ownership .  As of the date of this Agreement, the Investor and its Affiliates are not the record or beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock.
 
(e)            Financial Capability .  The Investor currently has or at the Initial Closing or Closing will have available funds necessary to consummate the Initial Closing or Closing, respectively, on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement
 
(f)            Knowledge as to Conditions .  As of the date of this Agreement, the Investor knows of no reason why any regulatory approvals and, to the extent necessary, any other approvals, authorizations, filings, registrations, and notices required or otherwise a condition to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be obtained.
 
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(g)            Brokers and Finders .  Neither the Investor nor its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Investor, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
ARTICLE III
 
COVENANTS
 
3.1            Stockholder Meeting .
 
(a)           The Company shall call the Special Meeting, as promptly as practicable following the Initial Closing to approve the Company Voting Proposals. The Board of Directors shall recommend to the Company’s stockholders that such stockholders vote in favor of the Company Voting Proposals.  In connection with the Special Meeting, the Company shall promptly prepare (and the Investor will reasonably cooperate with the Company to prepare) and file (but in no event more than 15 business days after the date of this Agreement) with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement.  Following the filing of the preliminary proxy statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff and to cause a definitive proxy statement related to the Special Meeting to be mailed to the Company’s stockholders not more than five business days after clearance thereof by the SEC, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies for such Company Voting Proposals. The Company shall notify the Investor promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to such proxy statement or for additional information and will supply the Investor with copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to such proxy statement. If at any time prior to the Special Meeting there shall occur any event that is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the proxy statement, the Company shall as promptly as practicable prepare and mail to its stockholders such an amendment or supplement. The proxy statement, at the time it is first mailed and at the time of the Special Meeting, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.  Each of the Investor and the Company agree promptly to correct any information provided by it or on its behalf for use in the proxy statement if and to the extent that such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company shall as promptly as practicable prepare and mail to its stockholders an amendment or supplement to correct such information to the extent required by applicable laws and regulations. The Company shall consult with the Investor prior to filing any proxy statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and provide the Investor with a reasonable opportunity to comment thereon and shall give reasonable consideration to all comments proposed by the Investor.
 
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(b)           The Investor, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, agrees, upon request, to furnish the other party with all information concerning itself, its Affiliates, directors, officers, partners and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the proxy statement in connection with any such stockholders meeting and any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of such other party or any of its Subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in connection with the Closing and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(c)           Unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2, the Investor hereby agrees that at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company held to vote on the Company Voting Proposals, however called, the Investor shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor and its Affiliates in favor of the Charter Amendment, the Option Plan Amendment and, to the extent permitted to so vote, the Share Issuance.
 
(d)           The Company, shall include in the proxy statement prepared in connection with the Special Meeting and shall recommend that the stockholders vote for, a proposal to amend the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan from 8,500,000 shares to 10,500,000 shares (the “ Option Plan Amendment ”).
 
3.2            Conduct of the Business .  Prior to the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2 (the “ Pre-Closing Period ”), the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, use commercially reasonable efforts to carry on its business in the ordinary course of business and use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve its and such Company Subsidiary’s business (including its organization, assets, properties, goodwill and insurance coverage) and preserve its business relationships with customers, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors and others having business dealings with it.
 
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and except as otherwise expressly provided in or contemplated by this Agreement, during the Pre-Closing Period, without the prior written consent of the Investor, the Company will not and will not permit any Company Subsidiary to:

(a)           issue, sell, grant options or rights to purchase, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale, grant of options or rights to purchase any capital stock of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary, other than shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of options or warrants listed on the Option Schedule and other than the grant to directors, officers or employees of the Company of options in respect of not more than one million shares of Common Stock;
 
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(b)           acquire or redeem, directly or indirectly, or amend any securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
 
(c)           split, combine or reclassify its capital stock or declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) on any shares of its capital stock (other than cash dividends paid to the Company by any wholly owned Company Subsidiary);
 
(d)           (i) make or offer to make any acquisition, by means of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or otherwise, of any business, assets or securities (other than any acquisition of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or any sale, lease, encumbrance or other disposition of assets or securities, in each case involving the payment or receipt of consideration of $1,000,000 or more, (ii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or restructuring or (iii) enter into an agreement that, if it were in existence on the date of this Agreement, would by virtue of its nature or terms be a Company Significant Agreement or amend, or grant any release or relinquishment of any rights under, or terminate any such agreement or Company Significant Agreement;
 
(e)           incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness, other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
 
(f)           assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person;
 
(g)           make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person other than a Company Subsidiary that is, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by the Company;
 
(h)           change any of the accounting methods, principles or practices used by it except as required by GAAP or applicable law;
 
(i)           except as required by law, make any Tax election or settle or compromise any material federal, state or local income Tax liability;
 
(j)           except as required by law, propose or adopt any amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or the Company By-laws;
 
(k)           agree to grant or grant any stock-related, cash-based, performance or similar awards or bonuses;
 
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(l)           enter into any new, or amend, terminate or renew any existing, employment, severance, consulting or salary continuation agreements with or for the benefit of any officers, directors or employees, or grant any increases in the compensation or benefits to officers, directors and employees (other than normal increases to Persons who are not officers or directors in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and that, in the aggregate, do not result in a material increase in benefits or compensation expense of the Company);
 
(m)           incur any material capital expenditure or any obligations, liabilities or indebtedness in respect thereof;
 
(n)           except as required by law, adopt, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan;
 
(o)           settle or agree to settle any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby) or pay, discharge or satisfy or agree to pay, discharge or satisfy any claim, liability or obligation (absolute or accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise) if such settlement, payment, discharge or satisfaction involves an amount greater than or equal to $1,000,000 or imposes any restriction on or requirement for the conduct of business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
 
(p)           enter into any agreement or understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting or registration of the securities of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary;
 
(q)           convene any regular or special meeting (or any adjournment thereof) of the stockholders of the Company other than the Special Meeting or Special Meetings contemplated by Section 3.1; or
 
(r)           agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions.
 
3.3            Preferred Stock Terms .  Following the Initial Closing and in preparation for the possibility of the Preferred Stock Issuance Event, the Company and the Investor shall cooperate in good faith to prepare a mutually agreeable certificate of designations authorizing the issuance of the Series F Preferred Stock and setting forth the terms thereof.  Such certificate of designations shall be agreed to by both parties and completed as soon as possible following the Initial Closing but in no event later than the date of the Special Meeting.  
 
3.4            Takeover Statutes .  If any Takeover Statute is or may become applicable to this Agreement, the Stockholder Voting Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stockholder Voting Agreement, the Board of Directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that such transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and the Stockholder Voting Agreement and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on such transactions.
 
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3.5            HSR Act .  If required by the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “ HSR Act ”), each party hereto agrees to make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable and to supply promptly any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act.  The parties hereto will not take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impending the receipt of any required approvals.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investor shall not, at any time prior the Closing Date, acquire a controlling interest in any other entity engaged in the gaming industry with principal operations within 75 miles of Monticello, New York.
 
3.6            Regulatory Matters .  Each party shall execute and deliver both before and after the Initial Closing or Closing, as applicable, such further certificates, agreements and other documents and take such other actions as the other party may reasonably request to consummate or implement the transactions contemplated herein or to evidence such events or matters. In particular, the Investor shall make a good faith effort to promptly obtain or submit, and the Company shall cooperate as may reasonably be requested by the Investor to help the Investor promptly obtain or submit, as the case may be, as promptly as practicable, the approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with, and notifications to the Gaming/Racing Authorities pursuant to Gaming/Racing Law, to the extent required for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  In addition, the Investor agrees, if and to the extent permitted by the Gaming/Racing Authorities and applicable Gaming/Racing Law, to engage a duly qualified nominee to act as nominee holder of the Common Stock and, if applicable, the Series F Preferred Stock for so long as the Gaming/Racing Permits required for the Investor to hold the Common Stock and, if applicable, Series F Preferred Stock shall not have been obtained.  The parties mutually agree that, to the extent any Governmental Entity determines that any provision of this Agreement violates the applicable rules or laws supervised by such Governmental Entity and requests or requires that such provisions be amended or deleted, the parties will negotiate in good faith such revisions to this Agreement as will both give effect to such Governmental Entity’s request and result in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement proceeding as nearly as possible to the full financial and other terms as are contemplated by this Agreement.
 
3.7            Amendment to Series A Preferred Stock .  Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall file an amendment to the certificate of designations in respect of the Series A Preferred Stock, or take such other steps as are necessary, in order to increase the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are authorized to 95,000.
 
3.8            Use of First Tranche Consideration .  Promptly following the Initial Closing and, in any event, prior to August 30, 2009 (assuming the Initial Closing shall have occurred by such date), the Company shall make a payment to the holders of the Company’s 5½% Secured Convertible Notes due 2014 in the amount of the full amount due to such holders in respect of interest due and payable on July 31, 2009.
 
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ARTICLE IV
 
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
 
4.1            Governance Matters .  (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.1, the Company will cause three people nominated by the Investor (the “ Board Representatives ”) to be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors, each of whom will be designated to a different “class” of directors, subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  Two of such Board Representatives shall be appointed as of the Initial Closing Date and one additional Board Representative shall be appointed as of the Closing Date.  If, at any time, following the earlier to occur of (x) the Closing and (y) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2, the Investor shall cease to own capital stock of the Company with at least 24% of the voting power of the Company outstanding at such time, the number of people whom the Investor is entitled to designate for election to the Board of Directors shall be reduced as follows:  (i) to two, for so long as the Investor shall own capital stock of the Company with at least 16% (but less than 24%) of the voting power of the Company; (ii) to one, for so long as the Investor shall own capital stock of the Company with at least 8% (but less than 16%) of the voting power of the Company; and (iii) to zero, at any time that the Investor owns no capital stock or capital stock with less than 8% of the voting power of the Company.  After such appointments, so long as the Investor is entitled to designate one or more Board Representatives under this Agreement, the Company will be required (i) at any annual meeting at which the term of a Board Representative is scheduled to expire, if the Investor remains entitled to a number of Board Representatives that includes such Board Representative, to recommend to its stockholders the election of such Board Representative, subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to the Board of Directors and (ii) to appoint one of the Board Representatives chosen by the Investor to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  At the option of the Board Representatives, the Board of Directors shall cause one of the Board Representatives to be appointed to each of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominations Committees of the Board of Directors (or any successor committee thereto), provided that such Board Representative meets the qualifications for service on such Committees.
 
(b)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(a), the Investor shall have the power to designate each of the Board Representative’s replacement upon the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of any such director, such replacement to meet all applicable independence standards if the director to be replaced met (and was required to meet) such standards. The Board of Directors will use its reasonable best efforts to take all action required to fill the vacancy resulting therefrom with such Person.
 
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(c)           Each Board Representative, during the time that such Board Representative is serving as a member of the Board of Directors, shall be entitled to the same compensation, indemnification insurance, indemnification and advancement of expenses in connection with his or her role as a director as the other members of the Board of Directors in similar capacities, and each Board Representative shall be entitled to reimbursement for documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committees thereof, to the same extent as the other members of the Board of Directors.  The Company shall notify each Board Representative of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall notify the Board Representative of all regular and special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors of which such Board Representative is a member.  The Company shall provide each Board Representative with copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other materials provided to all other members of the Board of Directors concurrently as such materials are provided to the other members.
 
(d)           Following the Closing, the Investor shall have the right to, and shall within a reasonable time following the Closing, nominate for consideration by the Board of Directors a Person to serve as chief financial officer of the Company (the “ Investor CFO Nominee ”) who shall, subject to applicable law and upon approval of the Company’s Governance Committee and Board of Directors, serve as the chief financial officer of the Company.  The Company Governance Committee and the Board of Directors shall duly and in a timely manner consider the appointment of the Investor CFO Nominee as the Company’s chief financial officer.  If the Investor CFO Nominee is rejected by either the Company Governance Committee or the Board of Directors, the Investor shall have the opportunity to present an alternate nominee within a reasonable time following notification of such rejection until such time that an Investor CFO Nominee is approved for appointment as chief financial officer of the Company.
 
(e)           Following the Closing and until such time thereafter as the Investor shall cease to own capital stock of the Company with at least 30% of the voting power of the Company outstanding at such time, the Board of Directors shall not take or commit to take any of the following actions with respect to either the Company or any Company Subsidiary unless the vote authorizing any such action includes the affirmative vote of the Board Representatives:
 
(A)           the sale or disposition of (including by way of a series of transactions or by way of merger, consolidation, sale of capital stock, asset sale or similar transaction) all or a material portion of the businesses or assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole or any material acquisition by the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
 
(B)           any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Company By-Laws or equivalent constituent documents of the Company Subsidiaries, except as necessary to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
 
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(C)           declare, authorize, set aside or pay any dividend or distribution on any of the Company’s capital stock or issue, purchase or redeem any of its capital stock (other than in connection with the exercise of terms of existing shares of capital stock or other securities);
 
(D)           any material borrowings or financial accommodation (in whatever form, including finance leases) in excess of $5,000,000 and not already in place as of the Closing Date;
 
(E)           the approval of the Company’s annual budget (including operating and capital plans), business plan and any related material business policies, and any material amendments and deviations from any of the foregoing resulting from management decisions;
 
(F)           the entry into of any contract or agreement which obligates the Company to manage any gaming assets on behalf of an unrelated third party;
 
(G)           the appointment of, or the approval of the retention, termination or change (including a change in responsibilities or compensation) of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or officers with substantially equivalent responsibilities;
 
(H)           any liquidation, bankruptcy, dissolution, recapitalization, reorganization, or assignment to the Company’s creditors, or any similar transaction;
 
(I)           increase or decrease in the size of the Board of Directors;
 
(J)           the settlement of any material litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceeding if such settlement is for the payment or receipt of an amount greater than or equal to $1,000,000 or imposes any restriction on or requirement for the conduct of business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or
 
(K)           approve or authorize the entry into any agreement that, if it were in existence on the date of this Agreement, would by virtue of its nature or terms be a Company Significant Agreement.
 
4.2            No Solicitation .  Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives (as defined below) has ceased and caused to be terminated all solicitations, discussions and negotiations existing as of the date of this Agreement with any Persons with respect to any inquiry, offer or proposal from any Person or group other than the Investor or any of its Affiliates relating to any transaction or proposed transaction or series of related transactions involving: (a) any direct or indirect investment or purchase by any Person or “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of a twenty percent (20%) interest or more in the total outstanding shares of any class of equity or voting securities of the Company,  or any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or “group” beneficially owning twenty percent (20%) or more of the total outstanding shares of any class of equity or voting securities of the Company, (b) any sale or disposition of consolidated assets, or rights of the Company (including for this purpose the outstanding assets, rights and equity securities of the Subsidiaries of the Company) to any Person or “group” for consideration equal to twenty percent (20%) or more of the aggregate fair market value of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (c) any consolidation, merger, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction with respect to the Company (any of the foregoing inquiries, offers or proposals being an “ Alternative Investment Proposal ”). Except as provided in this Section 4.2, from the date hereof, until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Closing, the Company shall not and shall not authorize or permit its officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, financial or other advisors or other agents or those of any Company Subsidiary (collectively, “ Representatives ”) to, directly or indirectly, (1) solicit, initiate, propose or knowingly encourage or take any other action to knowingly facilitate the submission of an Alternative Investment Proposal, (2) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement, option agreement or other agreement or arrangement with respect to any Alternative Investment Proposal, (3) enter into, continue, participate, engage or knowingly assist in any manner in negotiations or discussions with, or provide any non-public information or data to, any Person (other than the Investor or any of its Affiliates or representatives) relating to any Alternative Investment Proposal, or grant any waiver or release under any standstill or (4) exempt any Person (other than the Investor and their respective Affiliates) from the restrictions on “business combinations” contained in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or any similar provision) or otherwise cause such restrictions or the restrictions of any other Takeover Statute not to apply.
 
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4.3            Legend .  (a) The Investor agrees that all certificates or other instruments representing the Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement will bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
 
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS.
 
(b)           Upon request of the Investor, upon receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state laws, the Company shall promptly cause the legend to be removed from any certificate for any Common Stock to be transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Investor acknowledges that the Common Stock have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws and agrees that it will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Common Stock, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws.
 
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4.4            Certain Transactions .  The Company will not merge or consolidate into, or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to, any other party unless the successor, transferee or lessee party, as the case may be (if not the Company), expressly assumes the due and punctual performance and observance of each and every covenant and condition of this Agreement to be performed and observed by the Company.
 
4.5            Option Matching Rights .  No later than three Business Days following the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Investor a comprehensive schedule, which shall include (i) a list of all outstanding options and warrants issued by the Company as of the Closing, whether pursuant to any Benefit Plan, any management equity rights plan or other equity-based employee benefits plan or arrangement that has been duly authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or otherwise, including the names of the option holders, the exercise price and the expiry date and vesting schedule for the options and a reconciliation of any options and warrants listed on the Option Schedule or otherwise that have been exercised between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, (ii) the 166,667 warrants issued to the Park Avenue Bank pursuant to that certain Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated as of July 27, 2009 and (iii) the 111,111 warrants issued to Alan Lee pursuant to that certain Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated as of July 27, 2009 (the “ Closing Date Option Schedule ”).  The Investor shall have matching rights under this Section 4.5 with respect to the first one million options or warrants issued after the Initial Closing Date to officers and directors of the Company who held either of such positions as of July 31, 2009, and, to the extent any of such options or warrants are issued after the Closing Date, such options or warrants issued after the Closing Date shall be deemed included on the Closing Date Option Schedule for purposes of this Section 4.5.  If at any time after the Closing Date, any of the options or warrants listed on the Closing Date Option Schedule (or so deemed included) are exercised, the Company shall deliver to the Investor a written notice (the “ Option Exercise Notice ”) of such exercise no more than five (5) business days after such exercise (and, if practicable, prior to the date of the consummation of such exercise), which Option Exercise Notice shall include information about the date of the exercise, the exercise price, the number of options or warrants exercised and the name of the option or warrant holder exercising such option or warrant.  The Investor shall then have the right to elect, within ten (10) business days following delivery of the Option Exercise Notice, to purchase an equal number of shares of Common Stock as are being issued to the exercising option or warrant holder at the exercise price for the applicable option or warrant.
 
4.6            Indemnity .  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor and its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, members and employees, and each Person who controls such Investor within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, proceedings, costs, losses, liabilities, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), amounts paid in settlement and other costs (collectively, “ Losses ”) arising out of or resulting from (1) any inaccuracy in or breach of the Company’s representations or warranties in this Agreement or (2) the Company’s breach of agreements or covenants made by the Company in this Agreement or (3) any action, suit, claim, proceeding or investigation by any Governmental Entity, stockholder of the Company or any other Person (other than the Company) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any Losses attributable to the acts, errors or omissions on the part of such Investor, but not including the transactions contemplated hereby).
 
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(b)           The Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company and its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, members and employees, and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all Losses arising out of or resulting from (1) any inaccuracy in or breach of such Investor’s representations or warranties in this Agreement or (2) such Investor’s breach of agreements or covenants made by the Investor in this Agreement.
 
(c)           A party entitled to indemnification hereunder (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”) shall give written notice to the party indemnifying it (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification promptly after the discovery by such Indemnified Party of any matters giving rise to a claim for indemnification; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 4.6 unless and to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced by the failure of such Indemnified Party to so notify such party. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail such claim. In case any such action, suit, claim or proceeding is brought against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to hire, at its own expense, separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof; provided , however , that the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to assume and conduct the defense thereof, unless the counsel to the Indemnified Party advises such Indemnifying Party in writing that such claim involves a conflict of interest (other than one of a monetary nature) that would reasonably be expected to make it inappropriate for the same counsel to represent both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to retain its own counsel at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party (except that the Indemnifying Party shall only be liable for the legal fees and expenses of one law firm for all Indemnified Parties, taken together with respect to any single action or group of related actions). If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any claim, all Indemnified Parties shall thereafter deliver to the Indemnifying Party copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnified Party relating to the claim, and each Indemnified Party shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution of such claim. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the Indemnifying Party’s request) the provision to the Indemnifying Party of records and information that are reasonably relevant to such claim, and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding effected without its written consent; provided , however , that the Indemnifying Party shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent. The Indemnifying Party further agrees that it will not, without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle or compromise any claim or consent to entry of any judgment in respect thereof in any pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding in respect of which indemnification has been sought hereunder unless such settlement or compromise includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action, suit, claim or proceeding.
 
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(d)           For purposes of the indemnity contained in Section 4.6(a)(1) and Section 4.6(b)(1), all qualifications and limitations set forth in such representations and warranties as to “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “Investor Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import, shall be disregarded in determining whether there shall have been any inaccuracy or breach of any representations and warranties in this Agreement.
 
(e)           The Company shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 4.6(a)(1), disregarding all qualifications or limitations set forth in such representation and warranties as to “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import, unless and until the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred with respect to all claims pursuant to Section 4.6(a)(1) exceed $500,000 (the “ Threshold Amount ”), in which event the Company shall be responsible for all such Losses.  The Investor shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 4.6(b)(1), disregarding all qualifications or limitations set forth in such representation and warranties as to “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import, unless and until the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred with respect to all claims pursuant to Section 4.6(b)(1) exceed the Threshold Amount, in which event the Investor shall be responsible for all such Losses.  The cumulative indemnification obligation of (1) the Company to the Investor and all of the Indemnified Parties affiliated with (or whose claims are permitted by virtue of their relationship with) the Investor or (2) the Investor to the Company and the Indemnified Parties affiliated with (or whose claims are permitted by virtue of their relationship with the) Company for inaccuracies in or breaches of representations and warranties shall in no event exceed the Purchase Price.
 
(f)           Any claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.6 for breach of any representation or warranty can only be brought on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date; provided that if notice of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.6 for breach of any representation or warranty is brought prior to such first anniversary, then the obligation to indemnify in respect of such breach shall survive as to such claim, until such claim has been finally resolved.
 
(g)           The indemnity provided for in this Section 4.6 shall be the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of Indemnified Parties after the Closing for any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty or any other breach of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall limit in any way any such party’s remedies in respect of fraud by any other party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. No party to this Agreement (or any of its Affiliates) shall, in any event, be liable or otherwise responsible to any other party (or any of its Affiliates) for any consequential or punitive damages of such other party (or any of its Affiliates) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the performance or breach hereof.
 
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(h)           No investigation by any Investor of the Company or by the Company of any Investor prior to or after the date hereof shall limit any Indemnified Party’s exercise of any right hereunder or be deemed to be a waiver of any such right.
 
(i)           Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Section 4.6 shall be treated as an adjustment to the purchase price for the Securities for U.S. federal income and applicable state and local Tax purposes, unless a different treatment is required by applicable law.
 
4.7            Exchange Listing .  The Company shall promptly use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement to be approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance (and, in the case of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon receipt of the approval of the Company Voting Proposals), as promptly as practicable, and in any event before the Closing if permitted by the rules of NASDAQ.
 
4.8            Certain Transactions .
 
(a)           The Investor shall not, at any time prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, (i) propose a merger or other similar business combination between itself or one of its Affiliates and the Company that would result in squeeze-out of the other stockholders of the Company or (ii) cause the Company to voluntarily delist the Common Stock from NASDAQ pursuant to NASDAQ Rule 5830(j) unless the Company at such time is approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange.
 
(b)           The Investor shall not, at any time prior to the repayment in full or redemption of the Company’s 5½% Secured Convertible Notes due 2014, knowingly take any action that would cause a “Change of Control” (as defined in the indenture for such Notes) to occur.
 
(c)           Other than the limited restriction set forth in Section 3.5 hereof prior to the Closing, but without derogation of any duty arising under applicable law, the Investor, including any Affiliate or stockholder thereof (and the partners, members, stockholders and officers of such Affiliates or stockholders), may engage in and have an interest in other business ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others, including, but not limited to, the ownership, financing, leasing, operating, construction, management, and development of any gaming, racing, lottery or other related business.  None of the Company, the Investor or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom.
 
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4.9            Loan Agreement .  Following the Initial Closing, the Company and the Investor shall cooperate in good faith to prepare and negotiate a mutually agreeable loan agreement (the “ Loan Agreement ”) to be entered into by the parties at the Closing pursuant to which the Investor will make available to the Company a loan of up to the lesser of (x) $10,000,000 and (y) the maximum amount the Company is then permitted to borrow (taking into account other indebtedness of the Company at such time) under the terms of the indenture for the Company’s 5½% Secured Convertible Notes due 2014, such loan to be secured by all of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, including a mortgage of the real property owned by Monticello Raceway Management, Inc., and otherwise on customary terms including an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.00%, a two-year term, and payment of an origination or commitment fee of $150,000 and of an availability fee on undrawn amounts equal to 1% of the average daily unused amount of the commitment.  The loan will be interest only during the term thereof.  The proceeds of this loan shall be permitted to be used, among other things, to repay in full, purchase or acquire by assignment any remaining obligation of the Company under its loan agreement with The Park Avenue Bank and for working capital purposes.  The parties will cooperate to arrange for an assignment of the mortgage from The Park Avenue Bank to the lender under the Loan Agreement.
 
ARTICLE V
 
TERMINATION
 
5.1            Termination Prior to the Initial Closing .  This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Initial Closing:
 
(a)           by mutual written agreement of the Company and the Investor;
 
(b)           by either party, upon written notice to the other party, in the event that the Initial Closing does not occur on or before August 31, 2009; provided , however , that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the failure of the Initial Closing to occur on or prior to such date; or
 
(c)           by either party, upon written notice to the other parties, in the event that any Governmental Entity shall have issued any order, decree or injunction or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or prohibiting the Initial Closing, and such order, decree, injunction or other action shall have become final and nonappealable.
 
5.2            Termination After the Initial Closing and Prior to the Closing .  This Agreement may be terminated after the Initial Closing and prior to the Closing:
 
(a)           by mutual written agreement of the Company and the Investor;
 
(b)           by either party, upon written notice to the other party, in the event that the Closing does not occur on or before the date that is 180 days from the date of this Agreement; provided , however , that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.2(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date; or
 
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(c)           by the Investor if at the Special Meeting (or any adjournment thereof) at which a vote on the Mandatory Voting Proposals is taken, the Required Share Issuance Vote in favor of the Share Issuance shall not have been obtained.
 
5.3            Effects of Termination .
 
(a)           In the event of any termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 5.1, this Agreement (other than this Section 5.3(a) and Sections 6.2 through 6.16, inclusive) shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force and effect; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for intentional breach of this Agreement.
 
(b)           In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 5.2, this Agreement (other than this Section 5.3(b) and Sections 3.4, 3.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 5.4 and Article VI) shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force and effect; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for intentional breach of this Agreement; provided further that any such termination shall not serve to rescind the transactions consummated at the Initial Closing.
 
5.4            Termination Fee .  If this Agreement is terminated by either party pursuant to Section 5.2(b) hereof (other than if such termination is due to the failure of the condition set forth in Section 1.4(b)(1)(A) or (D) to be met), if at the time of such termination the Special Meeting shall not have been held or the Required Share Issuance Vote in favor of the Share Issuance shall not have been obtained, or by the Investor pursuant to Section 5.2(c) hereof, then in such event the Company shall pay to the Investor a cash fee of $2,750,000, such payment to be made within three (3) business days following such termination by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor.  The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 5.4 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, the Investor would not have entered into this Agreement.  Accordingly, in the event that the Company shall fail to pay the termination fee when due, and in order to obtain such payment, the Investor commences a suit or other proceeding which results in a judgment or similar award against the Company for payment of the termination fee, then the Company shall reimburse the Investor for its costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses of enforcement) in connection with such suit or proceeding, together with interest on the amounts owed at the prime lending rate prevailing at such time, as published in the Wall Street Journal, plus two percent per annum from the date such amounts were required to be paid until the date actually received by the Investor.  In no event shall the Investor be entitled to recover more than one termination fee under this Section 5.4.  If the Investor shall have received payment in full of the termination fee and any other amounts payable under this Section 5.4, such fee shall be the Investor’s sole and exclusive remedy against the Company other than for intentional breach of this Agreement.  Except for any liability of the Company for intentional breach of this Agreement, upon payment in full of the termination fee and any other amounts payable as provided under this Section 5.4, none of the Company, or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers, employees or other agents or representatives shall have any further liability or obligation to the Investor relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except under the Sections specifically referenced in Section 5.3(b).
 
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ARTICLE VI
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
6.1            Survival .  Each of the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing under this Agreement but only for a period of one year following the Closing Date (or until final resolution of any claim or action arising from the breach of any such representation and warranty, if notice of such breach was provided prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date) (the “ Survival Period ”) and thereafter shall expire and have no further force and effect, including in respect of Section 4.6, provided that, if the Closing does not take place, the Survival Period shall be deemed to have begun on the Initial Closing Date and shall expire one year thereafter.   Except as otherwise provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained herein, other than those which by their terms are to be performed in whole or in part after the Initial Closing Date or Closing Date, as applicable, shall terminate as of the Initial Closing Date or Closing Date, as applicable.
 
6.2            Expenses .  Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, and except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all legal and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, provided that legal costs of the Investor payable to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP shall be paid in their entirety by the Company, such costs to be payable from time to time including at and as of the Initial Closing and at and as of the Closing.
 
6.3            Amendment .  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective with respect to either party unless made in writing and signed by an officer of a duly authorized representative of such party.  No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
 
6.4            Waivers .  The conditions to each party’s obligation to consummate the Initial Closing and the Closing are for the sole benefit of such party and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable law. No waiver of any party to this Agreement, as the case may be, will be effective unless it is in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the waiving party that makes express reference to the provision or provisions subject to such waiver.
 
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6.5            Counterparts and Facsimile .  For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement. Executed signature pages to this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such facsimiles will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.
 
6.6            Governing Law .  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, State of New York for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
6.7            WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
6.8            Notices .  Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or by telecopy or facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, (b) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (c) on the third business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.
 
(a)           If to the Investor:
 
Kien Huat Realty III Limited
c/o Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd.
22nd Floor Wisma Genting
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Attention:  Gerard Lim
Fax: +603 2162 4951

with a copy (which copy alone shall not constitute notice):
 
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
Attention: Steven L. Wilner
Fax:  (212) 225-3999

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(b)           If to the Company:
 
Empire Reports, Inc.
Monticello Casino and Raceway
Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, NY  12701
Attention:  Joseph Bernstein
Fax:  (845) 807-0000
 

with a copy (which copy alone shall not constitute notice):
 
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55 th Street
New York, NY  10022
Attention:  Robert H. Friedman
Fax:  (212) 451-2222
 
6.9            Entire Agreement, Etc .  (a) This Agreement (including the Exhibits, Schedules and Disclosure Schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof; and (b) this Agreement will not be assignable by operation of law or otherwise (any attempted assignment in contravention hereof being null and void).
 
6.10            Other Definitions or Interpretations .  Wherever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
 
(a)           the term “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other Person. For purposes of this definition, “ control ” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities by contract or otherwise;
 
(b)           the term “ beneficial owner ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
 
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(c)           the word “ or ” is not exclusive;
 
(d)           the words “ including, ” “ includes, ” “ included ” and “ include ” are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and
 
(e)           the terms “ herein, ” “ hereof ” and “ hereunder ” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision;
 
(f)           “ business day ” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close;
 
(g)           “ Person ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act; and
 
(h)           all article, section, paragraph or clause references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement, and all exhibit, annex and schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such exhibits, annexes and schedules to this Agreement.
 
6.11            Captions .  The article, section, paragraph and clause captions herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and will not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
 
6.12            Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person (including, the officers and directors of the Investor and the Company) or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.
 
6.13            No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person or entity other than the parties hereto, any benefit right or remedies, except that the provisions of Section 4.6 shall inure to the benefit of the Persons referred to in that Section.
 
6.14            Time of Essence .  Time is of the essence in the performance of each and every term of this Agreement.
 
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6.15            Public Announcements .  Subject to each party’s disclosure obligations imposed by law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which its securities are listed, each of the parties hereto will cooperate with each other in the development and distribution of all news releases and other public information disclosures with respect to this Agreement and any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no party hereto will make any such news release or public disclosure without first consulting with the other party hereto and receiving its consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and each party shall coordinate with the other with respect to any such news release or public disclosure.
 
6.16            Specific Performance .  The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to which they are entitled at law or equity.
 
* * *
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first herein above written.
 
 
EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.
   
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein
   
Name:
Joseph E. Bernstein 
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer


 
KIEN HUAT REALTY III LIMITED
   
   
 
By:
/s/ Gerard Lim
   
Name:
Gerard Lim 
   
Title:
Authorized Signatory 

Exhibit 10.2
 
 
 

 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 
by and between

 
Kien Huat Realty III Limited

 
and

 
Empire Resorts, Inc.

 
 
 
_____________________

 
Dated as of August 19, 2009
 
 
 

 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
Certain Definitions
1
Section 2
Registration
5
Section 3
Piggyback Registrations
8
Section 4
Suspension Periods
9
Section 5
Holdback Agreements
10
Section 6
Registration Procedures
10
Section 7
Registration Expenses
15
Section 8
Indemnification
15
Section 9
Securities Act Restrictions
18
Section 10
Transfers of Rights
18
Section 11
Miscellaneous
19
     
Annex A
Form of Opinions of Counsel
 
 
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THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreemen t”) is made and entered into as of August 19, 2009, by and between Kien Huat Realty III Limited, an Isle of Man corporation (the “ Investor ”), and Empire Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).
 
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor are parties to that certain Investment Agreement, dated August 19, 2009 (the “ Investment Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of up to 34,506,040 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Company Shares ”) in exchange for the Purchase Price (as defined in the Investment Agreement); and
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to create certain registration rights for the Investor as set forth below.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
 
SECTION 1
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
1.1           As used in this Agreement, the terms below shall have the meanings specified below:
 
Adverse Effect ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(d) .
 
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.  For purposes of this definition, “ control ” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “ controlling ” and “ controlled ”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
 
Agreement ” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.
 
Availability Default ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(g) .
 
beneficially own ” means, with respect to any Person, securities of which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates, directly or indirectly, has “ beneficial ownership ” as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, including securities beneficially owned by others with whom such Person or any of its Affiliates has agreed to act together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of such securities; provided that a Person shall not be deemed to “ beneficially own ” (a) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates until such tendered securities are accepted for payment, purchase or exchange; (b) any security as a result of an oral or written agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding:  (i) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act; and (ii) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report).
 

 
Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law to close.
 
Company ” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.
 
Company Shares ” shall have the meaning specified in the first recital to this Agreement.
 
Effectiveness Default ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(g) .
 
Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
 
Filing Default ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(g) .
 
FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority created in July 2007 through the consolidation of the National Association of Securities Dealers and the member regulation, enforcement and arbitration functions of the NYSE.
 
Form S-3 ” means a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act or such successor forms thereto permitting registration of securities under the Securities Act.
 
Governmental Entity ” means any federal, state, local or foreign court, government or political subdivision or department thereof, or any governmental administrative or regulatory body.
 
Holdback Agreement ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5 .
 
Holdback Period ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5 .
 
Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(c) .
 
Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(c) .
 
Initial Registration Request ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(a) .
 
Investor ” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.  References herein to the Investor shall apply to Permitted Transferees who obtains the rights of the Investor pursuant to Section 10 , provided that (a) all obligations of the Investor and its Permitted Transferees hereunder shall be several, and not joint and several; and (b) for purposes of all thresholds and limitations herein, the actions of the Investor and any Permitted Transferees shall be aggregated.
 
Investment Agreement ” means the agreement specified in the first recital hereto, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
 
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IRA ” means that certain Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2009, by and among the Company and the Warrantholders.
 
Minimum Amount ” means, at any time, 5% of the total Company Shares then outstanding.
 
Park Avenue Holders ” means (a) each of the persons who executes the IRA as “Warrantholders”; and (b) any other person (i) who is a transferee, directly or indirectly, of shares registrable pursuant to the IRA from a Warrantholder and (ii) who shall have become a party to the IRA in accordance with its terms.
 
Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, branch of any legal entity, unincorporated organization, joint stock company, joint venture, association, other entity or Governmental Entity.
 
Permitted Transferee ” means any Affiliate of the Investor to whom rights and obligations are transferred under this Agreement.
 
Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a) .
 
Prospectus ” means the prospectus or prospectuses (whether preliminary or final) included in any Registration Statement and relating to Registrable Securities, as amended or supplemented, and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus or prospectuses.
 
Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning specified in the Investment Agreement.
 
Registrable Securities ” means, at any time, (a) Company Shares issued to the Investor pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement or acquired and held by the Investor whether or not from the Company; and (b) any Company Shares or any other security issued by the Company after the date hereof in respect of the Company Shares referenced in (a) by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, until, in respect of any Company Shares, the earliest to occur of the date on which (i) the resale of such Company Shares has been registered pursuant to the Securities Act and such Company Shares have been disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement relating to such resale; (ii) such Company Shares are sold to the Company; and (iii) the entire amount of the Registrable Securities held by the Investor may be sold in a single sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
 
Registration ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(a) .
 
Registration Expenses ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7(a) .
 
Registration Statement ” means any registration statement of the Company which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement whether or not pursuant to a request of the Investor, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
 
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S-3 Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Registration Statement (including any amendment or supplement thereto) on Form S-3 for the continuous sale or resale of securities including Registrable Securities.
 
SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
 
Suspension Period ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4 .
 
Termination Date ” means the first date on which there are no Registrable Securities.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement shall not terminate upon the termination of the Investment Agreement.
 
underwritten offering ” means a registered offering in which securities of the Company are sold to one or more underwriters on a firm commitment basis for offering to the public.
 
1.2            Interpretation .  When a reference is made in this Agreement to an article, section, exhibit or schedule, such reference shall be to an article or section of, or an exhibit or schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words “ include ,” “ includes ” or “ including ” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  Unless the context otherwise requires, the words “ hereof ,” “ herein ” and “ hereunder ” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.  The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine genders of such term.  Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented or replaced, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor agreements, instruments or statutes.  Any agreement or instrument referred to herein shall include reference to all exhibits, schedules and other documents or agreements attached thereto or incorporated therein.
 
SECTION 2
 
REGISTRATION
 
(a)            Right to Request Registration .  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time until the Termination Date, the Investor may request that the Company register (a “ Registration ”) for public resale by the Investor all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by the Investor; provided , however , that immediately upon execution of this Agreement, the Investor shall be deemed to have requested that the Company register all of the Company Shares issued to the Investor pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement on an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement (the “ Initial Registration Request ”).  Upon such request, and subject to Sections 4 and 6 , the Company shall use reasonable best efforts (i) to, at any time when the Company is eligible to use Form S-3, file an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) covering the number of Registrable Securities specified in such request under the Securities Act for public resale in accordance with the method of disposition specified in such request within 15 Business Days after the date of the Investor’s written request therefor; (ii) if the Company is not eligible to file an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement, to file a Registration Statement (other than an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement) registering for resale such number of Registrable Securities as requested to be so registered pursuant to this Section within 20 Business Days after the date of the Investor’s request therefor; and (iii) to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable thereafter.  If permitted under the Securities Act, such Registration Statement shall be one that is automatically effective upon filing.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to (i) effect a Registration pursuant to this Section 2(a) within 120 days after the effective date of a previous Registration; (ii) to effect a Registration pursuant to this Section 2(a) unless the request is for a number of Registrable Securities with a market value that is equal to at least $100,000 as of the date of such request; or (iii) to effect more than five Registrations pursuant to this Section 2(a) .
 
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(b)            Underwritten Offerings .  At the request of the Investor, any sale of Registrable Securities, whether pursuant to a Registration or an existing S-3 Shelf Registration Statement, shall be an underwritten offering; provided ,   however , that (based on the then-current outstanding Company Shares) the number of Registrable Securities included in such offering would be at least equal to the Minimum Amount; and provided further , that the Company shall not be required to provide for or cooperate with a sale of Registrable Securities, whether pursuant to a Registration or an existing S-3 Shelf Registration Statement, pursuant to an underwritten offering as requested by the Investor, on more than two occasions in any 12-month period unless consented to by the Company.
 
(c)            Selection of Underwriters .  If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an underwritten offering initiated by the Investor, the Investor shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to lead the offering, subject to the reasonable consent of the Company.
 
(d)            Priority .  The Company may include Company Shares other than Registrable Securities in a Registration for any accounts (including for the account of the Company) on the terms provided in this Agreement.  For any underwritten offering, the Company may include Company Shares other than Registrable Securities for any accounts (including for the account of the Company), but only with the consent of the managing underwriters of such offering.  If the managing underwriters of the requested offering advise the Company and the Investor that in their opinion the number of Company Shares proposed to be included in the offering exceeds the number of Company Shares that can be sold in such underwritten offering without having the effect of materially delaying or jeopardizing the success of the offering (including the price per share of Company Shares proposed to be sold in such offering) (an “ Adverse Effect ”), the Company shall include in such offering (i) first, the number of Registrable Securities that the Investor proposes to sell; (ii) second, the number of Company Shares proposed to be included therein by any Park Avenue Holder thereof, pro rata among such Park Avenue Holders on the basis of the number of Company Shares owned by each such Park Avenue Holder; and (iii) third, the number of Company Shares proposed to be included therein by any other Persons (including Company Shares to be sold for the account of the Company) allocated among such Persons in such manner as the Company may determine.  If the number of Company Shares that the managing underwriters determine can be sold in such underwritten offering without having an Adverse Effect is less than the number of Company Shares proposed to be registered pursuant to clause (i) above by the Investor, the full amount of Company Shares to be sold shall be allocated to the Investor.
 
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(e)            Right to Effect Sales .  The Investor shall be entitled, at any time and from time to time when an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement is effective and until the Termination Date, to offer and sell such Registrable Securities as are then registered pursuant to such Registration Statement, but only upon not less than 10 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Company (if such sale is to be underwritten) or such other period as may be reasonably necessary for the Company to comply with the covenants contained in Section 6(a) , in each case to the extent relevant to such offering.  The Investor shall give the Company prompt written notice of the consummation of each such sale (whether or not underwritten).
 
(f)            Effective Period of Registration Statements .
 
(i)           The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective for a period of 366 days, in the case of an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement, or 180 days in the case of any other Registration Statement or, if shorter in each case, until the first to occur of (x) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have been sold by the Investor; and (y) the Termination Date, provided that such period in (x) shall be extended by the number of days in any Suspension Period commenced pursuant to Section 4 during such period (as it may be so extended) and by the number of days in any period commenced during such period (as it may be so extended).
 
(g)            Liquidated Damages .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Sections 4 and 6 hereof), if the Company does not (i) file an S-3 Shelf Registration Statement (or such other Registration Statement as may be appropriate in the circumstances) as and when required under this Agreement with respect to any Registrable Securities, other than as a result of the SEC being unable to accept such filings (a “ Filing Default ”); or (ii) cause (A) such S-3 Shelf Registration Statement (or such other Registration Statement) to be declared effective by the SEC; and (B) such Registrable Securities to be approved for listing on NASDAQ within 10 Business Days of the Investor request (an “ Effectiveness Default ”), then the Company shall pay the Investor (or, if applicable, the relevant Permitted Transferee(s)) cash in an amount equal to 1% of the value of such Registrable Securities held by the Investor (or, if applicable, the relevant Permitted Transferee(s)) at the close of business on the second Business Day following such Filing Default or Effectiveness Default.  Following effectiveness of the Registration Statement and listing of the Registrable Securities on NASDAQ, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Sections 4 and 6 hereof), if at any time the Registration Statement ceases to be effective and available for resale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (an “ Availability Default ”), the Company shall pay the Investor (or such Permitted Transferee(s)) cash in an amount equal to 1% of the value of the Registrable Securities subject to such Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the relevant Permitted Transferees) for each month that such Availability Default continues (pro rated for any partial month).  Payment of liquidated damages resulting from an Availability Default shall be made on the first day of each month or such earlier date as such Availability Default shall have been cured.  Any amount due but not paid by the Company pursuant to this subsection shall bear interest at a daily compounded rate equal to 12% per annum or the highest rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower, from and including the due date therefor through but excluding the date of payment.  Liquidated damages payable hereunder shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Investor to the Company.
 
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(h)            Investment Agreement Restrictions .  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the provisions of the Investment Agreement related to Company Shares, which shall apply independently hereof in accordance with the terms thereof.
 
SECTION 3
 
PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS
 
(a)            Right to Piggyback .  Whenever prior to the Termination Date the Company proposes to register any Company Shares under the Securities Act (other than on a registration statement on Form S-8 or S-4), whether for its own account or for the account of one or more holders of Company Shares (other than the Investor), and the form of registration statement to be used may be used for any registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Company shall give written notice to the Investor of its intention to effect such a registration and, subject to Sections 3(b) and 3(c) , shall include in such registration statement and in any offering of Company Shares to be made pursuant to that registration statement all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein from the Investor within five Business Days after the Investor’s receipt of the Company’s notice or, in the case of a primary offering, such shorter time as is reasonably specified by the Company in light of the circumstances ( provided that only Registrable Securities of the same class or classes as Company Shares being registered may be requested to be included).  The Company shall have no obligation to proceed with any Piggyback Registration and may abandon, terminate and/or withdraw such registration for any reason at any time.  If the Company or any other Person other than the Investor proposes to sell Company Shares in an underwritten offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, such offering shall be treated as a primary or secondary underwritten offering pursuant to a Piggyback Registration.
 
(b)            Priority on Primary Piggyback Registrations .  If a Piggyback Registration is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Company and the managing underwriters advise the Company and the Investor (if the Investor has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration) that in their opinion the number of Company Shares proposed to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Company Shares (of any class) which can be sold in such offering without having an Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such registration and offering (i) first, the number of Company Shares that the Company proposes to sell; and (ii) second, the number of Company Shares proposed to be included therein by any Park Avenue Holder thereof, pro rata among such Park Avenue Holders on the basis of the number of Company Shares owned by each such Park Avenue Holder; and (iii) third, the number of Company Shares requested to be included therein by other holders of Company Shares, including the Investor (if the Investor has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration), pro rata among all such other holders on the basis of the number of Company Shares requested to be included therein by all such other holders or as such other holders and the Company may otherwise agree (with allocations among different classes of Company Shares, if more than one are involved, to be determined by the Company).  If the number of Company Shares that may be sold is less than the number of Company Shares proposed to be registered pursuant to clause (i) above by the Company, the full amount of Company Shares to be sold shall be allocated to the Company.
 
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(c)            Priority on Secondary Piggyback Registrations .  If a Piggyback Registration is initiated as an underwritten registration on behalf of a holder of Company Shares other than the Investor (and the Investor has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration), and the managing underwriters advise the Company that in their opinion the number of Company Shares proposed to be included in such registration exceeds the number of Company Shares (of any class) which can be sold in such offering without having an Adverse Effect, then the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the number of Company Shares requested to be included therein by the holder(s) initially requesting such registration; (ii) second, the number of Company Shares requested to be included therein by other holders of Company Shares, including the Investor (if the Investor has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration), pro rata among such holders on the basis of the number of Company Shares requested to be included therein by such holders or as such holders and the Company may otherwise agree (with allocations among different classes of Company Shares, if more than one are involved, to be determined by the Company); and (iii) third, the number of Company Shares that the Company proposes to sell.
 
(d)            Selection of Underwriters .  If any Piggyback Registration is a primary or secondary underwritten offering, the Company, subject to the rights of the Park Avenue Holders pursuant to the IRA, shall have the right to select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer any such offering.
 
(e)            Basis of Participation .  The Investor may not sell Registrable Securities in any offering pursuant to a Piggyback Registration unless it (i) agrees to sell such Company Shares on the same basis provided in the underwriting or other distribution arrangements approved by the Company and that apply to the Company and/or any other holders involved in such Piggyback Registration; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lockups and other documents required under the terms of such arrangements.
 
SECTION 4
 
SUSPENSION PERIODS
 
The Company may (i) delay the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement in conjunction with a Registration or (ii) prior to the pricing of any underwritten offering or other offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration, delay such underwritten or other offering (and, if it so chooses, withdraw any Registration Statement that has been filed), but in each case described in clauses (i) and (ii) only if the Company determines in its reasonable judgment (A) that proceeding with such an offering would require the Company to disclose material information that would not otherwise be required to be disclosed at that time and that the disclosure of such information at that time would not be in the Company’s best interest; or (B) that the registration or offering to be delayed would, if not delayed, materially adversely affect the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or materially interfere with, or jeopardize the success of, any pending or proposed material transaction, including any debt or equity financing, any acquisition or disposition, any recapitalization or reorganization or any other material transaction, whether due to commercial reasons, a desire to avoid premature disclosure of information or any other reason.  Any period during which the Company has delayed a filing, effectiveness or an offering pursuant to this Section is herein called a “ Suspension Period .”  The Company shall provide prompt written notice to the Investor of the commencement and termination of any Suspension Period (and any withdrawal of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section) but shall not be obligated under this Agreement to disclose the reasons therefor.  The Investor shall keep the existence of any Suspension Period confidential and refrain from making offers and sales of Registrable Securities (and direct any other Affiliates making such offers and sales to refrain from doing so) during each Suspension Period.  In no event (x) may the Company deliver notice of a Suspension Period to the Investor more than two times in any calendar year; (y) shall a Suspension Period or Suspension Periods be in effect for an aggregate of 60 days or more in any calendar year and (z) may the Company deliver notice of a Suspension Period to the Investor or otherwise attempt to exercise its rights pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4 in connection with the Initial Registration Request.
 
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SECTION 5
 
HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS
 
The restrictions in this Section shall apply for as long as the Investor is the beneficial owner of any Registrable Securities.  If the Company sells Company Shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for (or otherwise representing a right to acquire) Company Shares in a primary underwritten offering pursuant to any registration statement under the Securities Act (but only if the Investor is provided its piggyback rights, if any, in accordance with Sections 3(a) and 3(b) ), or if any other Person sells Company Shares in a secondary underwritten offering pursuant to a Piggyback Registration in accordance with Sections 3(a) and 3(c) , and if the managing underwriters for such offering advise the Company (in which case the Company promptly shall notify the Investor) that a public sale or distribution of Company Shares outside such offering would materially adversely affect such offering, then, if requested by the Company, the Investor shall agree, as contemplated in this Section, not to sell, or request the registration of, any Registrable Securities (or any securities of any Person that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise represent a right to acquire, any Registrable Securities) for a period (each such period, a “ Holdback Period ”) beginning on the 15 th day before the pricing date for the underwritten offering and extending through the earlier of (a) the 90 th day after such pricing date (subject to customary extensions); and (b) such earlier day (if any) as may be designated for this purpose by the managing underwriters for such offering (each such agreement of the Investor, a “ Holdback Agreement ”).  Each Holdback Agreement shall be in writing in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and the managing underwriters.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investor shall not be obligated to make a Holdback Agreement unless the Company and each selling shareholder in such offering also execute agreements substantially similar to such Holdback Agreement relating to public sales or distributions of Company Shares outside the applicable offering.
 
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SECTION 6
 
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
 
(a)           Whenever the Investor requests that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to effect, as soon as practicable and otherwise as and when provided herein, the registration and (if applicable) the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall, as soon as practicable as provided herein:
 
(i)           subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, use reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and cause such Registration Statement to become effective (unless it is automatically effective upon filing);
 
(ii)           use reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and to keep such Registration Statement effective for the relevant period required hereunder, but no longer than is necessary to complete the distribution of Company Shares covered by such Registration Statement, and to comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Company Shares covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in such Registration Statement;
 
(iii)           use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in the United States;
 
(iv)           deliver, without charge, such number of copies of the preliminary and final Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities of the Investor covered by such Registration Statement in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act;
 
(v)           use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such U.S. jurisdictions as the Investor reasonably requests and continue such registration or qualification in effect in such jurisdictions for as long as the applicable Registration Statement may be required to be kept effective under this Agreement; provided that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it or any of its subsidiaries would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph (v); (B) subject itself or any of its subsidiaries to taxation in any such jurisdiction; or (C) consent to general service of process for itself or any of its subsidiaries in any such jurisdiction;
 
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(vi)           notify the Investor and each distributor of such Registrable Securities identified by the Investor, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto would be required under the Securities Act to be delivered by such distributor, of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of the Investor, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to prepare, as soon as practical, a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to any prospective purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
 
(vii)           on the effective date of any Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) , the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Investor (i) an opinion of Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP, counsel for the Company (or such other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Investor), dated the effective date and addressed to the Investor, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex A hereto and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investor; and (ii) to the extent allowed pursuant to professional standards, a customary comfort letter of Friedman LLP, independent accountants to the Company, dated the effective date and addressed to the Investor, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investor;
 
(viii)                      in the case of any block trade (whether on a principal or agency basis) involving Registrable Securities, whether pursuant to a Registration Statement or otherwise, take all such other customary and reasonable actions as the Investor or the relevant dealer may request in order to facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such block trade, including the entry into any agreement for the indemnification of such dealer and the provision of opinions of counsel and comfort letters that are consistent with customary and reasonable practices for such transactions;
 
(ix)           in the case of an underwritten offering in which the Investor participates pursuant to a Registration or a Piggyback Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement in substantially the form used by the Company at that time for underwritten offerings of that kind, with appropriate modification, containing such provisions (including provisions for indemnification, lockups, opinions of counsel and comfort letters), and take all such other customary and reasonable actions as the managing underwriters of such offering may request in order to facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, making members of senior management of the Company available at reasonable times and places to participate in  “road-shows” that the managing underwriter determines are necessary to effect the offering);
 
(x)           to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, (A) make reasonably available, for inspection by the Investor, a prospective purchaser in case of a block trade, or the managing underwriters in case of an underwritten offering and any attorneys and accountants acting for the Investor, such prospective purchaser or such managing underwriters, pertinent corporate documents and financial and other records of the Company and its subsidiaries; (B) cause the Company’s officers and employees to supply information reasonably requested by the Investor, such prospective purchaser or such managing underwriters or attorneys in connection with such offering; (C) make the Company’s independent accountants available for the Investor’s, such prospective purchaser’s or such managing underwriter’s due diligence and have them provide customary comfort letters to the Investor  or such managing underwriters in connection therewith; and (D) cause the Company’s counsel to furnish customary legal opinions to the Investor or such  managing underwriters in connection therewith; provided , however , that such records and other information shall be subject to such confidential treatment as is customary for  due diligence reviews;
 
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(xi)           use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on NASDAQ or any successor primary securities exchange (if any) on which Company Shares are then listed;
 
(xii)           provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement and, a reasonable time before any proposed sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, provide the transfer agent with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities to be sold or such other applicable evidence of such Registrable Securities, subject to the provisions of Section 10 ;
 
(xiii)                      make generally available to its shareholders a consolidated earnings statement (which need not be audited unless required by law, including the Securities Act) for a period of 12 months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of such period, which earnings statement shall satisfy the requirements of an earning statement under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder; and
 
(xiv)                      promptly notify the Investor and the managing underwriters of any underwritten offering, if any:
 
(A)           when the Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment, the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;
 
(B)           of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any additional information regarding the Investor;
 
(C)           of the notification to the Company by the SEC of its initiation of any proceeding with respect to the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement; and
 
(D)           of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.
 
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of clauses (ix), (xiii) and (xiv) of this Section shall apply only in respect of an underwritten offering and only if the number of Registrable Securities to be sold in the offering would (based on the then-current outstanding Company Shares) be at least equal to the Minimum Amount.
 
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(b)           No Registration Statement (including any amendments thereto) shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no Prospectus (including any supplements thereto) shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case, except for any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made in reliance on and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor or any underwriter or other distributor specifically for use therein.
 
(c)           At all times after the Company has filed a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and until the Termination Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to continuously maintain in effect the registration of Company Shares under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and to use reasonable best efforts to file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
 
(d)           The Company may require the Investor and each distributor of Registrable Securities as to which any Registration is being effected to furnish to the Company documentation and information regarding such Person and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in connection with such Registration.
 
(e)           The Investor agrees by having Company Shares treated as Registrable Securities hereunder that, upon being advised in writing by the Company of the occurrence of an event pursuant to Section 6(a)(vi) , the Investor will immediately discontinue (and direct any other Affiliates making offers and sales of Registrable Securities to immediately discontinue) offers and sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement (other than those pursuant to a plan that is in effect prior to such time and that complies with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act) until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed and is furnished with a supplemented or amended Prospectus as contemplated by Section 6(a)(vi) , and, if so directed by the Company, the Investor will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in the Investor’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
 
(f)           The Company may prepare and deliver an issuer free writing prospectus (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in lieu of any supplement to a Prospectus, and references herein to any “supplement” to a Prospectus shall include any such issuer free-writing prospectus.  Neither the Investor nor any other seller of Registrable Securities may use a free writing prospectus to offer or sell any such shares without the Company’s prior written consent.
 
(g)           It is understood and agreed that any failure of the Company to file a registration statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or to cause any such document to become or remain effective or usable within or for any particular period of time as provided in Section 2 , 3 , or 6 or otherwise in this Agreement, due to reasons that are not reasonably within its control, or due to any refusal of the SEC to permit a registration statement or prospectus to become or remain effective or to be used because of unresolved SEC comments thereon (or on any documents incorporated therein by reference) despite the Company’s good faith and reasonable best efforts to resolve those comments, shall not be a breach of this Agreement (and will not trigger any liquidated damages under Section 2(g) ).
 
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(h)           It is further understood and agreed that the Company shall not have any obligations under this Section at any time on or after the Termination Date, unless an underwritten offering in which the Investor participates has been priced but not completed prior to the Termination Date, in which event the Company’s obligations under this Section shall continue with respect to such offering until it is so completed (but not more than 90 days after the commencement of the offering).
 
(i)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to file a Registration Statement or include Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement unless it has received from the Investor, at least five Business Days prior to the anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement, information and documents reasonably required by the Company to be provided by the Investor.
 
SECTION 7
 
REGISTRATION EXPENSES
 
(a)           All reasonable expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, FINRA filing fees, listing application fees, printing expenses, transfer agent’s and registrar’s fees, cost of distributing Prospectuses in preliminary and final form as well as any supplements thereto, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants and other Persons retained by the Company (but not including any underwriting discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities or fees and expenses of counsel and any other advisors representing any underwriters or other distributors), shall be borne by the Company (such expenses being herein called “ Registration Expenses ”).  The Investor shall bear the cost of all underwriting discounts and commissions associated with any sale of Registrable Securities and shall pay all of its own costs and expenses of any sale under this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of any counsel (and any other advisers) representing the Investor and any stock transfer taxes.
 
(b)           The obligation of the Company to bear the expenses described in Section 7(a) shall apply irrespective of whether a registration, once properly demanded or requested becomes effective or is withdrawn or suspended; provided , however , that Registration Expenses for any Registration Statement withdrawn solely at the request of the Investor (unless withdrawn following commencement of a Suspension Period pursuant to Section 4 ) shall be borne by the Investor.
 
SECTION 8
 
INDEMNIFICATION
 
(a)           The Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Investor and each Person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, costs (including reasonable costs of investigation) and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including any “free writing prospectus” filed by the Company (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act)) or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are made in reliance and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Investor expressly for use therein.  In connection with an underwritten offering in which the Investor participates conducted pursuant to a registration effected hereunder, the Company shall indemnify each participating underwriter and each Person who controls such underwriter (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Investor.
 
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(b)           In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, and shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its officers and directors and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, costs (including reasonable costs of investigation) and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act and required to be filed by the Company with the SEC or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act), or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein.  The Investor agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Registrable Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus”  (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act).
 
(c)           Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder (an “ Indemnified Party ”) shall give written notice to the party indemnifying it (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification promptly after discovery by such Indemnified Party of any matters giving rise to a claim for indemnification.  Such notice shall describe such claim in reasonable detail.  Failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Party except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced thereby.  The Indemnified Party shall permit such Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party.  An Indemnifying Party who is entitled to, and elects to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to one local counsel) for Persons indemnified (hereunder or otherwise) by such Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim (and all other claims arising out of the same circumstances), unless in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such Indemnified Party which are in addition to or may conflict with those available to another Indemnified Party with respect to such claim, in which case such maximum number of counsel for all Indemnified Parties shall be two rather than one.  If any Indemnifying Party is entitled to, and elects to, assume the defense of a claim, the Indemnified Party shall continue to be entitled to participate in the defense thereof, with counsel of its own choice, but, except as set forth above, the Indemnifying Party shall not be obligated to reimburse the Indemnified Party for the costs thereof.  If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any claim, all Indemnified Parties shall deliver to the Indemnifying Party copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnified Party related to the claim, and each Indemnified Party shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution of such claim.  Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the Indemnifying Party’s request) the provision to the Indemnifying Party of records and information that are reasonably relevant to such claim, and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.  The Indemnifying Party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the Indemnified Party without the Indemnifying Party's written consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  The Indemnifying Party shall not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into or agree to any settlement relating to a claim or action for which any Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification by any Indemnifying Party hereunder unless such judgment or settlement imposes no ongoing obligations on any such Indemnified Party and includes as an unconditional term the giving, by all relevant claimants and plaintiffs to such Indemnified Party, of a release, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Indemnified Party, from all liabilities in respect of such claim or action for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to such indemnification.  The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable hereunder for any amount paid or payable or incurred pursuant to or in connection with any judgment entered or settlement effected with the consent of an Indemnified Party unless the Indemnifying Party has also consented to such judgment or settlement.
 
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(d)           The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of securities and the Termination Date but only with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities made before the Termination Date or during the period following the Termination Date referred to in Section 6(h) .
 
(e)           If the indemnification provided for in or pursuant to this Section is due in accordance with the terms hereof, but is held by a court to be unavailable or unenforceable in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein, then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which result in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other 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 Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party, and by such Party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  In no event shall the liability of the Indemnifying Party be greater in amount than the amount for which such Indemnifying Party would have been obligated to pay by way of indemnification if the indemnification provided for under Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof had been available under the circumstances.
 
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SECTION 9
 
SECURITIES ACT RESTRICTIONS
 
The Registrable Securities are restricted securities under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.  Accordingly, the Investor shall not, directly or through others, offer or sell any Registrable Securities except pursuant to a Registration Statement or pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, registration under the Securities Act.
 
SECTION 10
 
TRANSFERS OF RIGHTS  
 
If the Investor transfers any Registrable Securities to an Affiliate, such Affiliate shall be a Permitted Transferee and such Permitted Transferee shall, together with all other such Permitted Transferees and the Investor, also have the rights of the Investor under this Agreement with respect to such Registrable Securities (including all of the Investor’s rights in Section 8 ), but only if the Permitted Transferee signs and delivers to the Company a written acknowledgment that it has joined with the Investor and the other Permitted Transferees as a party to this Agreement and has assumed, severally but not jointly, the rights and obligations of the Investor hereunder with respect to the Registrable Securities transferred to it by the Investor.  Each such transfer shall be effective when (but only when) the Permitted Transferee has signed and delivered the written acknowledgment to the Company's reasonable satisfaction.  Upon any such effective transfer, the Permitted Transferee shall automatically have the rights so transferred, and the Investor’s obligations under this Agreement, and the rights with respect to the Registrable Securities not so transferred, shall continue.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Person who acquires securities transferred in violation of this Agreement or the Investment Agreement, or who acquires securities that are not or upon acquisition cease to be Registrable Securities, shall have any rights under this Agreement with respect to such securities, and such securities shall not have the benefits afforded hereunder to Registrable Securities.
 
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SECTION 11
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
(a)            Notices .  All notices, requests, demands, consents and other communications given or required to be given under this Agreement and under the related documents shall be in writing and delivered to the applicable party at the address indicated below:
 
(i)           If to the Investor:
 
Kien Huat Realty III Limited
c/o Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd.
22nd Floor Wisma Genting
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Attention:  Gerard Lim
Fax:  +603 2162 4951
 
with a copy to:
 
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
Attention:  Steven L. Wilner
Fax:  (212) 225-3999
 
(ii)           If to the Company:
 
Empire Reports, Inc.
Monticello Casino and Raceway
Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, NY  12701
Attention:  Joseph Bernstein
Fax:  (845) 807-0000
 
with a copy to:
 
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention:  Robert H. Friedman
Fax:  (212) 451-2222
 
 
or, as to each party at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties complying as to delivery with the terms of this subsection.  All notices may be sent by facsimile, or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.  Notice shall be effective upon actual receipt thereof at designated address.
 
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(b)            No Waivers .  Any term, condition or provision of this Agreement may be waived to the extent permitted by law in writing at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits thereof.  The waiver of any breach of any provision under this Agreement by any party shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach under this Agreement.  No such waiver shall be effective unless in writing.
 
(c)            Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation nor liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempt to assign any right, remedy, obligation or liability hereunder without such consent shall be void, except an assignment, in the case of a merger or consolidation where such party is not the surviving entity, or a sale of substantially all of its assets, to the entity which is the survivor of such merger or consolidation or the purchaser in such sale; provided , however , that the Investor shall have the right to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates in connection with a transfer to such Affiliate(s) of Registrable Securities.
 
(d)            No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Except as provided in Section 8 , nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person or entity other than the Company and the Investor (and any Permitted Transferee to which an assignment is made in accordance with this Agreement), any benefits, rights, or remedies.
 
(e)            Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial, Etc.   This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.  The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding brought by either party seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in any federal or state court located in New York County, New York.  Each of the parties hereto submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and hereby irrevocably waives the benefit of jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or otherwise in such action or proceeding.  Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
 
(f)            Counterparts; Effectiveness .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
 
(g)            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement contains the entire understanding of and all agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings, oral or written, pertaining to any such matters which agreements or understandings shall be of no force or effect for any purpose.
 
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(h)            Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any part or circumstance, shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, invalid or unenforceable, the same shall in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement, the application of any such provision and any other circumstances or the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement.
 
(i)            Amendments .  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may be amended, modified or supplemented, only with the prior written consent of the Company and the Investor.
 
[Execution Page Follows]
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by each of the parties hereto as of the date first written above.
 
 
Empire Reports, Inc.
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein
   
Name:
Joseph E. Bernstein 
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
Kien Huat Realty III Limited
   
 
By:
/s/ Gerard Lim
   
Name:
Gerard Lim
   
Title:
Authorized Signatory 
 

 
Annex A
Form of Opinions of Counsel
 
(i)                      The Company is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with corporate power to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as amended or supplemented to the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “ Final Prospectus ”) and to perform its obligations under the Investment Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement;
 
(ii)                      The execution and delivery of the Investment Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement (the “ Transaction Documents ”) have been duly authorized by the Company, and the Transaction Documents are the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their operative terms;
 
(iii)                      The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Final Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued by the SEC, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the SEC, and the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and related notes, financial statement schedules and other financial, accounting and statistical information contained therein or omitted thereunder, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules thereunder; and although counsel is not passing upon and does not assume responsibility for the independent review or verification or accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus, such counsel has no reason to believe that on the effective date the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Final Prospectus as of its date included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in each case, other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion);
 
(iv)                      The Company’s authorized equity capitalization as of                , 20   is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus; the statement under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in the Registration Statement, to the extent they constitute matters of law or legal conclusions, constitute an accurate summary in all material respects of such matters and conclusions; the shares of the Company common stock to be sold pursuant to the Transaction Documents have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; the certificate for the Company’s common stock complies in all material respects with the applicable statutory requirements; and, to the knowledge of such counsel, the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Registrable Securities;
 
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(v)                      None of the issue of such Registrable Securities, the consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, or the fulfillment of the terms thereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, which documentation is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, or (iii) any federal or New York statute, law, rule or regulation, or any judgment, order or decree known to us to be applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for any conflicts, breaches, violations or impositions which individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and
 
(vi)                      No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency under any applicable law, is required in connection with the Company’s execution and performance of its obligations under the Investment Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, except such as have been obtained and such as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, applicable rules under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and applicable Nasdaq listing standards (provided that counsel provides no opinion as to any necessary qualification under state securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Registrable Securities are being offered and no opinion with respect to FINRA rules and regulations).
 
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Exhibit 10.3
 
STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT
 
THIS STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is entered into as of August 19, 2009 by and among the stockholders listed on the signature page(s) hereto (collectively, the “Stockholders” and each individually, a “Stockholder” ), Empire Resorts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” ), and Kien Huat Realty III Limited, an Isle of Man corporation (the “Investor” ).  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Investment Agreement referred to below.
 
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholders collectively own of record and beneficially the shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“ Common Stock” ) set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule I hereto  (such shares being referred to herein collectively as the “Shares” and, for the avoidance of doubt, all references herein to a Stockholder’s Shares shall include not only all the Shares opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule I, but also all additional shares of Common Stock that are, or become during the term of this Agreement, owned directly or indirectly by such Stockholder or any Person controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder, subject in all cases to Transfers (as defined below) of such Shares that have been made to Permitted Transferees to the extent permitted by and in accordance with Section 2(a));
 
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Investor and the Company are entering into an Investment Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Investment Agreement” ), pursuant to which, the Company has agreed, subject to the terms thereof, to issue shares of Common Stock to the Investor in exchange for the consideration set forth therein; and
 
WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of the Investor to enter into the Investment Agreement, the Investor has required that the Stockholders enter into, and in order to induce the Investor to enter into the Investment Agreement, the Stockholders are willing to enter into, this Agreement.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree, severally and not jointly, as follows:
 
Section 1.                       Voting of Shares .  Each Stockholder covenants and agrees that until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof, at the stockholders’ meeting called by the Company to approve the Company Voting Proposals pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Investment Agreement (including any adjournments or postponements thereof) or any other meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, such Stockholder (a) will vote or consent to, or cause to be voted or consented to, all of his, her or its Shares in favor of (i) the Company Voting Proposals and (ii) any other matter relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement with respect to which such Stockholder may be entitled to vote and (b) will vote all of his, her or its Shares against, and not provide consent to, (i) any and all Alternative Investment Proposals and agreements providing for Alternative Investment Proposals or any proposal or nomination made by a Person who is, or whose Affiliate is, making or has communicated an intention to make, an Alternative Investment Proposal, (ii) any action or agreement that would reasonably expected to result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Investment Agreement, or (iii) any other matter that would reasonably be expected to prevent, interfere with or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Investment Agreement.
 
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Section 2.                       Transfer of Shares .
 
(a)           Each Stockholder covenants and agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Investor, such Stockholder will not directly or indirectly (i) sell, assign, transfer (including by merger, interspousal disposition pursuant to a domestic relations proceeding or otherwise by operation of law), pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of ( “Transfer” ) any Shares or the Beneficial Ownership (as hereinafter defined) thereof, (ii) deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to any Shares or the Beneficial Ownership thereof or grant or agree to grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto which is inconsistent with this Agreement or (iii) enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or undertaking with respect to the direct or indirect Transfer of any Shares or the Beneficial Ownership thereof  (except, in each case under clause (i) and this clause (iii), to a Permitted Transferee).  For purpose of this Agreement, “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (disregarding the reference to “within 60 days” in Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i)).  As used herein, a “Permitted Transferee” shall mean a Person that (A) is a signatory to this Agreement as of the date hereof, owns Shares continuously from the date hereof through the time of the action proposed under Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(iii), and has not violated this Agreement or (B) before such action proposed under Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(iii) occurs, agrees in writing, in form and substance to the reasonable satisfaction of the Investor, to be bound as a Stockholder under this Agreement and has not violated this Agreement.  In connection with any Transfer of Shares to a Permitted Transferee, the transferring Stockholder may transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement to the Permitted Transferee, but the transferring Stockholder shall remain primarily liable for all breaches of such obligations before such Transfer and shall remain secondarily liable for all breaches of such transferred obligations from and after such Transfer.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall permit any Transfer of Shares, Beneficial Ownership, rights or obligations or any other action that would otherwise be permitted by this Section 2(a) if such Transfer or other action would create any material impediment or delay to the performance or consummation of the Investment Agreement or this Agreement, including, without limitation, triggering the applicability of any Takeover Statute to the Investment Agreement, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement or this Agreement.
 
2

 
(b)           Each Stockholder undertakes that, while this Agreement is in effect, except as contemplated by Section 8, such Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, propose or knowingly encourage or take any other action to knowingly facilitate an Alternative Investment Proposal, (ii) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement, option agreement, voting agreement or other agreement or arrangement with respect to any Alternative Investment Proposal or (iii) enter into, continue, participate, engage or knowingly assist in any manner in negotiations or discussions with, or provide any non-public information or data to, any person (other than the Investor or any of its affiliates or representatives) relating to any Alternative Investment Proposal.
 
Section 3.                       Proxy With Respect to Shares .  Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints the Investor as its attorney and proxy, with full power of substitution, to vote or act by consent in such a manner as such attorney and proxy or its substitute shall, in its sole discretion, deem proper, and otherwise act with respect to all of the Shares which it is entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) of the Company or to act by consent with respect to any action (the “Proxy”) ; provided, however , that each Stockholder grants a proxy hereunder only with respect to the following matters that may be presented to the stockholders of the Company: (i) votes or consents with respect to the Company Voting Proposals pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Investment Agreement; (ii) votes or consents with respect to any other matter relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement; (iii) votes or consents with respect to any and all Alternative Investment Proposals and agreements providing for Alternative Investment Proposals or any proposal or nomination made by a Person who is, or whose Affiliate is, making or has communicated an intention to make, an Alternative Investment Proposal; (iv) votes or consents with respect to any action or agreement that would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Investment Agreement; and (v) votes or consents with respect to any other matter that would reasonably be expected to prevent, interfere with or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Investment Agreement.  This proxy is irrevocable, is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy and is granted in consideration of and as an inducement to cause the Investor to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement.  This proxy shall revoke any other proxy granted by any of the Stockholders at any time with respect to the Shares and no subsequent proxies will given by any Stockholder with respect to the Shares while the Proxy is in effect.
 
Section 4.                       Reasonable Efforts to Cooperate .
 
(a)           Except as contemplated by Section 8, each Stockholder will, without further consideration, promptly provide any information reasonably requested by the Company or the Investor for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Investment Agreement (including filings with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity).
 
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(b)           Each Stockholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the proxy statement, statements of beneficial ownership filed by the Investor and its Affiliates and any other documents or communications provided by the Investor or the Company to any Governmental Entity or to security holders of the Company of such Stockholder’s identity and Beneficial Ownership of the Shares and the nature of such Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement, including disclosure of this Agreement.
 
(c)           Each Stockholder agrees, while this Agreement is in effect, (i) to notify the Investor promptly in writing of the number of additional Shares, any options to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company acquired by such Stockholder, if any, after the date hereof and (ii) to notify the Investor promptly in writing if it receives, in its capacity as a Stockholder, any inquiries or proposals relating to the matters contemplated by Section 2(b) and to include in such notice the identity of the counterparty and the material provisions of the inquiry or proposal.
 
Section 5.                       Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders .  Each Stockholder on such Stockholder’s own behalf hereby severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:
 
(a)            Ownership of Shares .  Except as set forth on Schedule I hereto, the Stockholder (i) is the sole owner of record and Beneficial Owner of all of the Shares as set forth opposite his, her or its name on Schedule I hereto and (ii) has sole voting power with respect to all of such Shares and has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any such Shares and has not, except for the Proxy, as of the date hereof granted a proxy, a consent or power of attorney with respect to such Shares and, so long as this Agreement is in effect, will not grant any such proxies, consents and powers of attorney with respect to such Shares that are inconsistent with this Agreement (except for the Proxy).
 
(b)            Power, Binding Agreement .  The Stockholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement and no further proceedings or actions on the part of such Stockholder are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery or performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement or the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms.
 
(c)            No Conflicts .  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Stockholder will not, result in any breach or violation of, require any consent under, be in conflict with or constitute a default (whether with notice of lapse of time or both) under any mortgage, bond, indenture, agreement, instrument, obligation, judgment, order, decree, law or regulation to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder (or his, her or its Shares) are bound, except for any such breach, violation, conflict or default which, individually or in the aggregate, would not in any material respect impair or adversely affect the Stockholder’s ability to perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.  Except as expressly contemplated hereby or as set forth on Schedule I hereto, the Stockholder is not a party to any voting agreement or voting trust relating to the Shares.
 
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Section 6.                       Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of (a) any termination of the Investment Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof and (b) the approval of the Share Issuance at a duly called and held special meeting of the Company’s stockholders, at which a quorum is present, by the Required Share Issuance Vote.  Any such termination shall be without prejudice to liabilities arising hereunder before such termination.
 
Section 7.                       Specific Performance .  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity.
 
Section 8.                       Fiduciary Duties .  Each Stockholder is signing this Agreement solely in such Stockholder’s capacity as an owner of his, her or its respective Shares, and nothing herein shall prohibit, prevent or preclude such Stockholder from taking or not taking any action in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company.
 
Section 9.                       Miscellaneous .
 
(a)            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof, and the parties hereto specifically disclaim reliance on any such prior understandings, agreements or representations to the extent not embodied in this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or rescinded except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, that the Investor may waive compliance by any other party with any representation, agreement or condition otherwise required to be complied with by any such party under this Agreement or release any other party from its obligations under this Agreement, but any such waiver or release shall be effective only if in writing and executed by the Investor.
 
(b)            Severability .  Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified.  In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the fullest extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term.
 
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(c)            Governing Law .  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, State of New York for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(d)            WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
(e)            Counterparts and Signature .  For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement. Executed signature pages to this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such facsimiles will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.
 
(f)            Notices .  Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or by telecopy or facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, (b) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (c) on the third business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.
 
(i)           if to a Stockholder, to the address set forth below such Stockholder’s name on Schedule I to this Agreement;
 
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(ii)           if to the Investor, to:
 
Kien Huat Realty III Limited
c/o Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd.
22nd Floor Wisma Genting
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Attn:  Gerard Lim
Fax: +603 2162 4951
 
with a copy to:
 
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
Attn:  Steven L. Wilner, Esq.
Fax: (212) 225-3999
 
(iii)           if to the Company, to:
 
Empire Reports, Inc.
Monticello Casino and Raceway
Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, NY  12701
Attn:  Joseph Bernstein
Fax:  (845) 807-0000
 
with a copy to:
 
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Robert H. Friedman
Fax: (212) 451-2222
 
(g)            No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be deemed, to confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns or to otherwise create any third-party beneficiary hereto.
 
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(h)            Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment or delegation without such prior written consent shall be null and void, except that the Investor may assign this Agreement to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Investor without the consent of the Company or the Stockholders (provided that the Investor shall remain liable for all of its obligations under this Agreement) and any Stockholder may assign this Agreement to a Permitted Transferee to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, Section 2(a).  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
 
(i)            Interpretation .  When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.  Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.  Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  No summary of this Agreement prepared by the parties shall affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
 
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed individually or by its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.
 
  EMPIRE RESORTS, INC.  
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein
 
Name:
Joseph E. Bernstein 
 
Title:
Chief Executive Officer 
 
  KIEN HUAT REALTY III LIMITED
   
 
By:
/s/ Gerard Lim
 
Name:
Gerard Lim 
 
Title:
Authorized Signatory 
 

  STOCKHOLDERS:  
   
   
 
/s/ Albert Nasser
 
Signature
   
 
Albert Nasser
 
Name

   
   
 
/s/ Louis Ceruzzi
 
Signature
   
 
Louis Ceruzzi 
 
Name

   
   
 
/s/ Louis R. Cappelli
 
Signature
   
 
Louis R. Cappelli
 
Name
 
9

 

  STOCKHOLDERS (ctd):  
   
   
 
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein
 
Signature
   
 
Joseph E. Bernstein
 
Name

   
   
 
/s/ Ralph J. Bernstein
 
Signature
   
 
Ralph J. Bernstein
 
Name
 
   
   
   
 
Signature
   
   
 
Name
 
   
   
   
 
Signature
   
   
 
Name
 
   
   
   
 
Signature
   
   
 
Name
 
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Schedule I
 
Stockholder Name and Address
Number of Shares
Notes
Bernstarz LLC
1,500
Joseph E. Bernstein has voting and dispositive power
Joseph E. Bernstein
1,332,229
 
Ralph J. Bernstein
2,221,243
 
LRC Acquisition LLC
5,374,512
Louis Cappelli has voting and dispositive power
Emerita, S.A., a Panamanian corporation
954,994
Albert Nasser has voting and dispositive power
BVS Acquisition LLC
1,189,935
Louis Ceruzzi has voting and dispositive power
Louis Ceruzzi
105,407
 
Garland Business Corporation
1,826,550
Albert Nasser has voting and dispositive power
 
11
Exhibit 10.4
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
_________________________________
 
 
THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into this 19th day of August, 2009, by and between Empire Resorts, Inc. ("Empire") and Au Fook Yew
(the "Consultant").
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
WHEREAS, the Consultant has specialized and unique skills, knowledge and contacts with respect to the gaming industry and casino development; and
 
WHEREAS, Empire desires to retain the Consultant as a consultant in order to assist Empire in expanding Empire’s presence in the gaming industry and casino development.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and mutual undertakings herein contained, Empire and the Consultant hereby agree as follows:
 
1.            Consulting Services; Term .  Commencing on the Initial Closing (as such term is defined in the Investment Agreement dated as of the date hereof, by and between Empire and Kien Huat Realty III Limited (the “Investment Agreement”)) and ending on the third anniversary of the Initial Closing (such period, the “Term”), the Consultant agrees to provide to Empire the consulting services (the “Consulting Services”) described on Exhibit A hereto, provided that, with respect to the Consulting Services, the Consultant will not spend more than thirty (30) percent of his time in the United States.  The Term may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto in accordance with Section 7(c).  Upon the expiration of the Term, (i) Empire will pay (or cause to be paid) all accrued but unpaid Consulting Compensation and expense reimbursements as of the date of such expiration; and (ii) this Agreement will terminate except that Sections 3, 5, 6 and 7 will continue in full force and effect.
 
2.            Compensation and Expenses .  As compensation for performing the Consulting Services, Empire will pay (or cause to be paid) to the Consultant the Consulting Compensation set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the "Consulting Compensation").  Empire will reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Consultant in performing the Consulting Services.
 
3.            Confidentiality .  In connection with performing the Consulting Services, the Consultant may come into possession of information regarding Empire and its partners, manager, affiliates and their respective employees, officers and directors (collectively, "Confidential Information").  During and after the Term, the Consultant agrees to refrain from disclosing any Confidential Information to any person or entity, except to the extent (i) required by subpoena or other legal proceeding (and only after prior notice to Empire); (ii) required in connection with performing the Consulting Services; (iii) Confidential Information is or becomes generally available to the public through no action or omission of the Consultant; or (iv) Empire has consented in writing to such disclosure.  Upon the expiration of the Term and upon the request of Empire, the Consultant will return to Empire all Confidential Information that has been provided to the Consultant.
 
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENT 
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4.            Independent Contractor Status .  The relationship of the Consultant to Empire in performing the Consulting Services shall be that of an independent contractor, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall create or imply a partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship between the Consultant and Empire.  Without Empire 's written consent, the Consultant, when acting as a consultant under the terms of this Agreement, is not authorized to bind Empire or   to otherwise make any representation, agreement or commitment on behalf of Empire.  Empire will not withhold any federal, state or local payroll taxes or any state unemployment or similar taxes in respect of the Consulting Services.  The Consultant will be responsible for the payment of all federal, state or local taxes relating to the Consulting Compensation.
 
5.            Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be addressed as follows, and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of delivery:
 
 
If to Empire:
Empire Resorts, Inc.
Monticello Casino and Raceway
Route 17B, P.O. Box 5013
Monticello, NY  12701
Attn:  Joseph Bernstein
     
  If to the Consultant: 
Au Fook Yew
83/5 Macquarie Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Either party hereto may change its address for purposes of this Section 5 by giving the other party hereto written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.
 
6.            Indemnity .  Except to the extent caused by the gross negligence, fraud or intentional misconduct of the Consultant, Empire will indemnify and hold the Consultant harmless against all claims by third parties arising from the Consultant's provision of the Consulting Services and against all costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to defend such claims.  The Consultant shall not settle any matter that would give rise to indemnification obligations of Empire hereunder without Empire 's prior written approval.
 
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENT 
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7.            Miscellaneous .
 
 
(a)
Governing Law.   This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof.  The parties hereto agree that all actions or proceedings relating to this Agreement shall be brought only in the federal or state courts of New York.
 
 
(b)
Severability.   The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
 
 
(c)
Waivers and Amendments .  This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument executed by all of the parties hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance.  The failure of any party hereto at any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect the right at a later time to enforce such provision.  No waiver by any party of the breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained herein.
 
 
(d)
Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
 
 
(e)
Assignment .  The Consultant may not assign this Agreement, or any right or obligation hereunder, without the prior written consent of Empire.  Any such attempted assignment shall be null and void.
 
*   *   *   *
 
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENT 
PAGE 3

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
  Empire Resorts, Inc. 
   
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Bernstein     
  Name:  Joseph E. Bernstein 
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer 
 
 
  CONSULTANT: 
   
  /s/ Au Fook Yew 
  Name: Au Fook Yew 
 
CONSULTING AGREEMENT

 
EXHIBIT A
 
CONSULTING SERVICES .  The Consulting Services shall include the following services that Empire may request from time to time during the Term:
 
Assisting Empire in expanding Empire’s presence in the gaming industry, including   advising Empire on matters related to casino development.
 
CONSULTING COMPENSATION .  In consideration of performing the Consulting Services, Empire will pay (or cause to be paid) to the Consultant the following Consulting Compensation: $300,000 annually, paid in equal monthly installments.
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 99.1
 


For Empire Resorts, contact:
For Investor Relations, contact:
Charles A. Degliomini
Josh Sommers
Executive Vice President
Focus Media
(845) 807-0001
(845) 798-0700
cdegliomini@empireresorts.com
josh@advertisingandpr.com



For Immediate Release


Empire Resorts Concludes $55,000,000 Investment
Agreement with Kien Huat Realty III Limited
___

Recapitalized company to focus on development of the 230-acre
Monticello Casino & Raceway as a regional gaming and entertainment destination


Monticello, New York, August 19, 2009. Empire Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: NYNY ) (the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into an Investment Agreement with Kien Huat Realty III Limited (“Kien Huat”) under which $55 million in new equity capital will be invested in the Company in two tranches in exchange for Common Stock representing just under 50% of the voting power of the Company.
 
Kien Huat is an investment company beneficially owned by a Lim family trust of which Mr. Lim Kok Thay of Malaysia and members of his family are beneficiaries. Kien Huat affiliates maintain substantial interests in a multinational group of companies actively involved in gaming, leisure, hospitality, power generation, plantations, property development, biotechnology, and oil and gas (collectively, “Genting”). Kien Huat affiliates separately own a substantial interest in Star Cruises Ltd., the largest cruise operator in Asia, and financed the startup of the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Connecticut and the Seneca Niagara Casino in New York.
 
Genting is Asia’s largest casino operator and a leading integrated resorts development specialist with over 20 years of global experience in developing, operating and marketing internationally acclaimed casinos and integrated resorts in different parts of the world, including the Americas, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and United Kingdom. Genting is the largest casino operator in the United Kingdom through ownership of Genting UK Plc. In 2009, Genting supported the capital raising exercise of MGM Mirage.
 
In 2010, Genting will open a $4. 55 billion integrated resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore, which will include a Universal Studios Theme Park , a Hard Rock Hotel , and gaming, leisure and hospitality venues.
 
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First Tranche
 
On August 19, 2009, the Company issued to Kien Huat 6,804,188 shares of its Common Stock, representing approximately 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on a pre-transaction basis, for an aggregate consideration of $11 million (the “First Tranche”).  Of this amount, approximately $2.6 million will be used to pay interest on the Company’s Convertible Senior Notes due July 31, 2014.
 
Second Tranche
 
Subject to and following receipt of stockholder approval, the Company will issue to Kien Huat an additional 27,701,852 shares of Common Stock for an additional consideration of $44 million (the “Second Tranche”). Upon closing of the Second Tranche, Kien Huat will own 34,506,040 shares of the Common Stock of the Company for an aggregate equity investment of $55 million. Kien Huat’s holdings in the Company will then represent one share less than 50% of the voting power of the Company.
 
$10 Million Credit Facility
 
Following the Second Tranche, Kien Huat will make available to the Company a credit facility of $10 million, the proceeds of which are to be used for working capital and to repay in full any remaining indebtedness under the Company’s $4.4 million senior credit facility with The Park Avenue Bank of New York.
 
Senior Notes
 
The Company is presently in litigation with beneficial owners of its $65 million Convertible Senior Notes due July 31, 2014, because the Company believes that put rights to accelerate the principal of the Senior Notes on July 31, 2009, were not properly exercised in the manner required by the indenture for the Company to have been otherwise obligated to retire the Senior Notes on July 31, 2009.
 
The Company intends to enforce its right under the indenture to repay the principal of the Senior Notes on their original maturity of July 31, 2014. Accordingly, proceeds of the transaction with Kien Huat are not intended to be used by the Company to retire principal under the Senior Notes.
 
Corporate Governance
 
Under the Investment Agreement, Kien Huat is entitled to appoint three representatives to the Company’s Board of Directors, including a non- executive Chairman. Upon the closing of the First Tranche, subject to Board and regulatory approval, Mr. Colin Au and Mr. G. Michael Brown have been designated to serve as Kien Huat’s initial Directors, and Mr. Brown has been designated as Chairman. Kien Huat will designate a third director upon closing of the Second Tranche.
 
Messrs. Au and Brown will fill the vacancies on the Board created by the August 12, 2009 voluntary resignations of Messrs. Bruce Berg and Kenneth Dreifach.
 
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Voting Agreement
 
Concurrently with the execution of the Investment Agreement, holders of approximately 38% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock entered into a Stockholder Voting Agreement pursuant to which such stockholders have agreed to vote all of the shares of voting capital stock of the Company that such stockholders own in favor of the proposals to be recommended by the Company at a Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held to approve the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement.
 
About Colin Au
 
Colin Au will serve as a Director of the Company and as a Strategic Advisor regarding the development and operation of the Monticello Casino & Raceway.  Mr. Au is presently a Director and Advisor to a number of companies in Asia, Europe and the United States that are involved in resorts, casinos, cruises, marine engineering and investment holding.  Mr. Au has served as a senior executive and director of a number of affiliates of Kien Huat for the past 30 years.
 
Mr. Au received an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1974 and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK, in 1972.
 
About G. Michael Brown
 
G. Michael Brown will serve as non-executive Chairman of the Board of the Company. He is currently a partner in the law firm of G. Michael Brown & Associates, a general practice concentrating on casino gaming law. Mr. Brown is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Previously, Mr. Brown served as Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, as counsel to the Board of Inquiry into Casinos in Melbourne, Australia, and as a consultant to the Treasurer of Queensland, Australia. He has also served as US counsel for Genting Berhad and as counsel and consultant to American casino interests in New Jersey, Nevada, Connecticut, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica, the U.K., and other foreign jurisdictions. Mr. Brown previously served as President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino, President & CEO of Seneca Gaming Corp., and advisor to other tribal casinos.
 
Mr. Brown attended college at the Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio (1964), and received an LL.B. (1967) and J.D. (1969) from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. He is a Past President of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys.
 
About Kien Huat and Genting
 
Affiliates of Kien Huat have substantial interests in Genting, which is recognized as one of Asia’s leading and best-managed multinational corporate groups. Genting was founded in 1965 by Mr. Lim Kok Thay’s father, Mr. Lim Goh Tong, who built Genting's first gaming and entertainment resort, known as Genting Highlands in Malaysia, the world’s largest single resort, which includes over 10,000 hotel rooms within a complete entertainment city. In 2008, Guinness World Records listed the Genting Highlands First World Hotel as the world's largest hotel.
 
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Today, Genting has 27,000 employees and four listed companies:
 
 
- Genting Berhad - Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 3182.KL
 
www.genting.com
 
 
- Genting Malaysia Berhad - Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 4715.KL
 
www.gentingmalaysia.com
 
 
- Genting Plantations Berhad - Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange: 2291.KL
 
www.gentingplantations.com
 
 
- Genting Singapore PLC - Stock Exchange of Singapore: G13.SI
 
www.gentingsingapore.com
 
Affiliates of Kien Huat separately control Star Cruises Ltd. (Hong Kong Stock Exchange: 678.HK , www.starcruises.com ), the largest cruise company in Asia, which owns a 50% interest in Norwegian Cruise Line ( www.ncl.com ), the third largest cruise operator in America. 
 
For information regarding Kien Huat or Genting, please contact Mr. Gerard Lim, by telephone at +603.2333.6388, or by email at infokhr@genting.com .
 
About Empire Resorts
 
Empire Resorts owns and operates the Monticello Casino & Raceway, a 230-acre harness racing track and casino located in Monticello, New York, ninety miles from midtown Manhattan. The Company also has a financial interest in the Concord Hotel & Resort. For additional information, please visit www.empireresorts.com , or contact Mr. Charles Degliomini, by telephone at 845.807.0001, or by email at cdegliomini@empireresorts.com .
 
Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that may involve material risks and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1994, and as such, speak only as of the date made. For a full discussion of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, as well as the Form 10-Q for the most recently ended fiscal quarter.
 
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