AMENDMENT #1 TO FORM S-3
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 21, 2006
Registration No. 333-126069
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1
to
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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13-3398766 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE FINANCE CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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20-1059842 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification number) |
100 South Bedford Road
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
(914) 242-7700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Jon F. Weber
President
100 South Bedford Road
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
(914) 242-7700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Steven L. Wasserman, Esq.
James T. Seery, Esq.
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
(212) 835-6000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans,
please check the following
box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than
securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following
box þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same
offering o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General
Instruction 1.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that
shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the
following
box: o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to registration
statement filed pursuant to General Instruction 1.D. filed
to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities
Act, check the following
box: o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Amount of |
Title of Each Class of |
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Amount to be |
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Offering Price |
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Aggregate |
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Registration |
Securities to be Registered |
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Registered(1) |
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per Unit |
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Offering Price(1)(2) |
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Fee(3)(4) |
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Depositary units(3) |
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Preferred units(3) |
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Debt securities(3) |
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Warrants(3) |
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Guarantees of Debt Securities(5) |
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Total
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$1,000,000,000 |
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$117,700 |
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(1) |
Not applicable pursuant to
Form S-3 General
Instruction II(D). |
(2) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration
fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act
of 1933, and based upon the maximum aggregate offering price of
all securities being registered. |
(3) |
Such indeterminate number as may from time to time be issued at
indeterminate prices registered hereunder. |
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(4) |
Previously paid. |
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(5) |
Any series of debt securities issued by American Real Estate
Finance Corp. will be guaranteed by American Real Estate
Partners, L.P. Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fee is
payable with respect to the guarantees of the debt securities
being registered. |
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant will file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement will
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration
Statement will become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. A registration statement relating to these securities
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be
accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these
securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
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SUBJECT TO
COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 21, 2006
PROSPECTUS
$1,000,000,000
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS,
L.P.
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE FINANCE
CORP.
Depositary Units Representing
Limited Partnership Interests
Preferred Units Representing
Limited Partnership Interests
Debt Securities
Warrants to Purchase Debt
Securities, Preferred Units or Depositary Units
We will provide the specific terms for each of these securities
in supplements to this prospectus. You should read carefully
this prospectus and any supplement before you invest.
Our depositary units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol ACP.
This prospectus may not be used to complete sales of
securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus
supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 3.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approvedor disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus
is ,
2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this
document or to which we have referred you. We have not
authorized anyone to provide you with information that is
different. This document may only be used where it is legal to
sell securities. The information in this document may only be
accurate on the date of this document.
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by
reference contain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather
our beliefs and expectations based on our current expectations,
estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions about our
company and industry. Words such as anticipates,
expects, intends, plans,
believes, seeks, estimates
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other
factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to
predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
These risks include those set forth in the section of this
prospectus called Risk Factors.
Those risks are representative of factors that could affect the
outcome of the forward-looking statements. These and the other
factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference herein are not necessarily all of the
important factors that cause our results to differ materially
from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We
caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which reflect our view only as of the respective
dates of this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein
by reference or other dates which are specified in those
documents.
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OUR COMPANY
American Real Estate Partners, L.P., or AREP, is a master
limited partnership formed in Delaware on February 17,
1987. We are a diversified holding company engaged in a variety
of businesses.
Our core businesses currently include oil and gas exploration
and production, gaming, real estate and home fashion. We may
also seek to acquire additional businesses that are distressed
or in out-of-favor industries and will consider the divestiture
of businesses from which we do not foresee adequate future cash
flow or appreciation potential. In addition, we invest our
available liquidity in debt and equity securities with a view to
enhancing returns as we continue to assess further acquisitions
of operating businesses.
Our general partner is American Property Investors, Inc., the
general partner, or API, a Delaware corporation, which is
indirectly wholly owned by Carl C. Icahn. We own our
businesses and conduct our investment activities through a
subsidiary limited partnership, American Real Estate Holdings
Limited Partnership, or AREH, in which we own a 99% limited
partnership interest, and its subsidiaries. API also acts as the
general partner for AREH. API has a 1% general partnership
interest in each of us and AREH. As of March 1, 2006,
affiliates of Mr. Icahn beneficially owned
55,655,382 units representing AREP limited partner
interests, or the depositary units, representing approximately
90.0% of the outstanding depositary units, and 9,346,044
cumulative pay-in-kind
redeemable preferred units, representing AREP limited partner
interests, or the preferred units, representing approximately
86.5% of the outstanding preferred units.
Our depositary units, representing limited partnership
interests, trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
ACP.
As used in this prospectus, we, us,
our, company and AREP mean American Real
Estate Partners, L.P., and, unless the context indicates
otherwise, include our subsidiaries.
Our principal executive offices are located at 100 South
Bedford Road, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549. Our phone number
is (914) 242-7700.
American Real Estate Finance Corp., or AREP Finance, a Delaware
corporation, is our wholly-owned subsidiary. AREP Finance was
incorporated on April 19, 2004 and was formed solely for
the purpose of serving as a co-issuer of debt securities of
AREP. AREP Finance does not and will not have any operations or
assets and will not have any revenues. AREP Finances
principal business address is 100 South Bedford Road,
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 and its telephone number is
(914) 242-7700.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated. For purposes of computing the
ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent earnings
from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in
earnings (loss) of investees and minority interest plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges include (a) interest on indebtedness
(whether expensed or capitalized), (b) amortization
premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to
indebtedness and (c) the portion of rent expense we believe
to be representative of interest.
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Years Ended December 31, | |
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2005 | |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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(1) |
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2.4 |
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2.0 |
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2.4 |
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2.2 |
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(1) |
Fixed charges exceeded earnings by $41.7 million for 2005. |
1
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the SEC using a shelf registration
process. Under this shelf process, we may offer, from time to
time, in one or more offerings:
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depositary units; |
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preferred units; |
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debt securities; or |
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warrants to purchase our debt securities, depositary units or
preferred units. |
The total offering price of these securities will not exceed
$1,000,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will
provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the
specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities we offer.
The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus.
We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers
or agents or directly to purchasers. We and our agents reserve
the sole right to accept and to reject in whole or in part any
proposed purchase of securities. The prospectus supplement,
which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will
provide the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents
involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee,
commission or discount arrangements with them. See Plan of
Distribution.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risks that could affect us
and our business as well as the industries in which we operate
and invest. Before purchasing our securities, you should
carefully consider the following risks and the other information
in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as
well as the documents incorporated by reference herein. Each of
the risks described could result in a decrease in the value of
our securities and your investment in them.
General
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Our general partner and its control person could exercise
their influence over us to your detriment. |
Mr. Icahn, through affiliates, currently owns 100% of API,
our general partner, and approximately 90.0% of our depositary
units and 86.5% of our preferred units, and, as a result, has
the ability to influence many aspects of our operations and
affairs. API also is the general partner of AREH.
We have invested and may in the future invest in entities in
which Mr. Icahn or his affiliates also invest or purchase
investments from him or his affiliates. Although API has never
received fees in connection with our investments, our
partnership agreement allows for the payment of these fees.
Mr. Icahn or his affiliates may pursue other business
opportunities in which we compete and there is no requirement
that any additional business opportunities be presented to us.
The interests of Mr. Icahn and his affiliates including
their interests in entities in which they and we have invested
or may invest in the future, may differ from your interests as a
unit holder and, as such, he and they may take actions that may
not be in your interest. For example, if we encounter financial
difficulties or are unable to pay our debts as they mature,
Mr. Icahns interests might conflict with your
interests as a unit holder.
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Certain of our management are committed to the management
of other businesses. |
Certain of the individuals who conduct the affairs of API,
including the chairman of our board of directors,
Mr. Icahn, and our principal executive officer and vice
chairman of the board of directors, Keith A. Meister, are,
and will in the future be, committed to the management of other
businesses owned or controlled by Mr. Icahn and his
affiliates. Accordingly, these individuals may focus significant
amounts of time and attention on managing these other
businesses. Conflicts may arise between our interests and the
other entities or business activities in which such individuals
are involved. Conflicts of interest may arise in the future as
such affiliates and we may compete for the same assets,
purchasers and sellers of assets or financings.
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To service our indebtedness and pay distributions with
respect to our units, we will require a significant amount of
cash. Our ability to maintain our current cash position or
generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control. |
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our
indebtedness, to pay distributions with respect to our units and
to fund operations will depend on existing cash balances and our
ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain
extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive,
regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
Our current businesses and businesses that we acquire may not
generate sufficient cash to service our debt. In addition, we
may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or
investments and future borrowings may not be available to us in
an amount sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness or
to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all
or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We
cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our
indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
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We may be subject to the pension liabilities of our
affiliates. |
Mr. Icahn, through certain affiliates, currently owns 100%
of API and approximately 90.0% of our outstanding depositary
units and approximately 86.5% of our outstanding preferred
units. Applicable pension and tax laws make each member of a
controlled group of entities, generally defined as
entities in which there is at least an 80% common ownership
interest, jointly and severally liable for certain pension plan
obligations of any member of the controlled group. These pension
obligations include ongoing contributions to fund the plan, as
well as liability for any unfunded liabilities that may exist at
the time the plan is terminated. In addition, the failure to pay
these pension obligations when due may result in the creation of
liens in favor of the pension plan or the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, or the PBGC, against the assets of each
member of the controlled group.
As a result of the more than 80% ownership interest in us by
Mr. Icahns affiliates, we and our subsidiaries are
subject to the pension liabilities of all entities in which
Mr. Icahn has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at
least 80%. One such entity, ACF Industries LLC, is the sponsor
of several pension plans which are underfunded by a total of
approximately $21.8 million on an ongoing actuarial basis
and $135.2 million if those plans were terminated, as most
recently reported by the plans actuaries. These
liabilities could increase or decrease, depending on a number of
factors, including future changes in promised benefits,
investment returns, and the assumptions used to calculate the
liability. As members of the controlled group, we would be
liable for any failure of ACF to make ongoing pension
contributions or to pay the unfunded liabilities upon a
termination of the ACF pension plans. In addition, other
entities now or in the future within the controlled group that
includes us may have pension plan obligations that are, or may
become, underfunded and we would be liable for any failure of
such entities to make ongoing pension contributions or to pay
the unfunded liabilities upon a termination of such plans.
The current underfunded status of the ACF pension plans requires
ACF to notify the PBGC of certain reportable events,
such as if we cease to be a member of the ACF controlled group,
or if we make certain extraordinary dividends or stock
redemptions. The obligation to report could cause us to seek to
delay or reconsider the occurrence of such reportable events.
Starfire Holding Corporation, which is 100% owned by
Mr. Icahn, has undertaken to indemnify us and our
subsidiaries from losses resulting from any imposition of
pension funding or termination liabilities that may be imposed
on us and our subsidiaries or our or their assets as a result of
being a member of the Icahn controlled group. The Starfire
indemnity provides, among other things, that so long as such
contingent liabilities exist and could be imposed on us,
Starfire will not make any distributions to its stockholders
that would reduce its net worth to below $250.0 million.
Nonetheless, Starfire may not be able to fund its
indemnification obligations to us.
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We are subject to the risk of becoming an investment
company. |
Because we are a holding company and a significant portion of
our assets may, from time to time, consist of investments in
companies in which we own less than a 50% interest, we run the
risk of inadvertently becoming an investment company that is
required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended. Registered investment companies are subject to
extensive, restrictive and potentially adverse regulation
relating to, among other things, operating methods, management,
capital structure, dividends and transactions with affiliates.
Registered investment companies are not permitted to operate
their business in the manner in which we operate our business,
nor are registered investment companies permitted to have many
of the relationships that we have with our affiliated companies.
In order not to become an investment company required to
register under the Investment Company Act, we monitor the value
of our investments and structure transactions with an eye toward
the Investment Company Act. As a result, we may structure
transactions in a less advantageous manner than if we did not
have Investment Company Act concerns, or we may avoid otherwise
economically desirable transactions due to those concerns. In
addition, events beyond our control, including significant
appreciation or depreciation in the market value of certain of
our publicly traded holdings or adverse developments with
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respect to our ownership of certain of our subsidiaries, such as
our loss of control of WestPoint International, Inc., or WPI,
could result in our inadvertently becoming an investment company.
If it were established that we were an investment company, there
would be a risk, among other material adverse consequences, that
we could become subject to monetary penalties or injunctive
relief, or both, in an action brought by the SEC, that we would
be unable to enforce contracts with third parties or that third
parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions with us
undertaken during the period it was established that we were an
unregistered investment company.
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We may become taxable as a corporation. |
We operate as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
This allows us to pass through our income and deductions to our
partners. We believe that we have been and are properly treated
as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. However, the
Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, could challenge our
partnership status and we could fail to qualify as a partnership
for past years as well as future years. Qualification as a
partnership involves the application of highly technical and
complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. For example, a publicly traded partnership is generally
taxable as a corporation unless 90% or more of its gross income
is qualifying income, which includes interest,
dividends, oil and gas revenues, real property rents, gains from
the sale or other disposition of real property, gain from the
sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the
production of interest or dividends, and certain other items. We
believe that in all prior years of our existence at least 90% of
our gross income was qualifying income and we intend to
structure our business in a manner such that at least 90% of our
gross income will constitute qualifying income this year and in
the future. However, there can be no assurance that such
structuring will be effective in all events to avoid the receipt
of more than 10% of non-qualifying income. If less than 90% of
our gross income constitutes qualifying income, we may be
subject to corporate tax on our net income at regular corporate
tax rates. Further, if less than 90% of our gross income
constituted qualifying income for past years, we may be subject
to corporate level tax plus interest and possibly penalties. In
addition, if we register under the Investment Company Act of
1940, it is likely that we would be treated as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes and subject to corporate
tax on our net income at regular corporate tax rates. The cost
of paying federal and possibly state income tax, either for past
years or going forward, would be a significant liability and
would reduce our funds available to make interest and principal
payments on the notes. To meet the qualifying income test we may
structure transactions in a less advantageous manner or avoid
otherwise economically desirable transactions.
A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax
positions we take may adversely affect the market for our
depositary units, preferred units, or debt securities and the
costs of any contest will be borne by us and, therefore,
indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to any
matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ
from the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to
administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of
the positions we take. A court may not concur with some or all
of the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS may
materially and adversely affect the market for our depositary
units, preferred units, or debt securities and the price at
which they trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the
IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will be
borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner.
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During 2004 and 2005, we identified three significant
deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.
If we were to discover other significant deficiencies in the
future, including at any recently acquired entity, it may affect
adversely our ability to provide timely and reliable financial
information and satisfy our reporting obligations under federal
securities laws, which also could affect our ability to remain
listed with the New York Stock Exchange or the market price of
our depositary units. |
Effective internal and disclosure controls are necessary for us
to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent
fraud and to operate successfully as a public company. If we
cannot provide reliable
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financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating
results would be harmed. We have discovered two significant
deficiencies in internal controls at the Holding Company and one
of a subsidiary as defined under interim standards adopted by
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, that
require remediation. A significant deficiency is a
control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that
adversely affect a companys ability to initiate,
authorize, record, process, or report external financial data
reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles such that there is a more than remote likelihood that
a misstatement of a companys annual or interim financial
statements that is more than inconsequential will not be
prevented or detected.
Throughout 2005, we implemented processes to address a
significant deficiency in our consolidation process reported by
management in 2004 during its evaluation of the effectiveness of
the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures and our internal controls over financial reporting.
During the third quarter of 2005, we identified a significant
deficiency related to our periodic reconciliation, review and
analysis of investment accounts. This significant deficiency
arose from a lack of monitoring and review controls. We have
engaged additional resources and enhanced our treasury function
to provide what we believe is the appropriate level of control.
During the fourth quarter of 2005, National Energy Group,
Inc.s management identified a significant deficiency
related to the lack of a detailed review of the assumptions
utilized in the determination of its deferred tax asset
valuation allowance. National Energy Group has implemented
procedures to verify the detailed review of the tax provision by
its third party tax advisor including verification of the review
and validation of all assumptions used in the determination of
the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Neither WPI nor
Atlantic Coast Entertainment Holdings, Inc. has completed its
review of internal control over financial reporting.
To the extent that any material weakness or significant
deficiency exists in our or our consolidated subsidiaries
internal control over financial reporting, such deficiencies may
adversely affect our ability to provide timely and reliable
financial information necessary for the conduct of our business
and satisfaction of our reporting obligations under federal
securities laws, which could affect our ability to remain listed
with the New York Stock Exchange. Ineffective internal and
disclosure controls could also cause investors to lose
confidence in our reported financial information, which could
have a negative effect on the trading price of our depositary
units or the rating of our debt.
Risks Relating to Our Equity Securities
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The market for our securities may be volatile. |
The market for our equity securities may be subject to
disruptions that could cause substantial volatility in their
prices. Any such disruptions may adversely affect the value of
your securities.
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The price for our depositary units listed on the New York
Stock Exchange may not be indicative of their fair value. |
Our depositary units are currently listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, or NYSE. The trading volume for our depositary units
historically has been limited. During the period from
September 30, 2005 through December 31, 2005, the
average daily trading volume of our depositary units has been
approximately 10,379 depositary units. During this period, the
market price of our depositary units has ranged from $28.70 to
$47.37. During the period from January 1, 2006 through
March 31, 2006, the average daily trading volume of our
depositary units has been approximately 13,374 depositary units.
During this period, the market price of our depositary units has
ranged from $33.54 to $47.37. On April 11, 2006, the
closing price per depositary unit as listed on the NYSE was
$45.60. The prices at which our depositary units have been
listed may not be indicative of their fair value. If you
purchase our depositary units, you may not be able to resell
those depositary units at or above your purchase price. In
addition, an active public trading market for our depositary
units may not develop or, if developed, may
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not be sustained. We cannot assure you that any securities
analysts will initiate or maintain coverage of our company and
our depositary units.
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We have only recently made cash distributions to our
unitholders and future distributions, if any, can be affected by
numerous factors. |
We made cash distributions with respect to each of the third and
fourth quarters of 2005 in the amount of $.10 per
depositary unit and our board of directors approved a cash
distribution of $0.10 per depositary unit in the first
quarter of 2006. The payment of future distributions will be
determined by the board of directors of our general partner
quarterly, based on a review of a number of factors, including
those described below and other factors that it deems relevant
at the time that declaration of a distribution is considered.
Our ability to pay distributions will depend on numerous
factors, including: the availability of adequate cash flow from
operations; the proceeds, if any, from divestitures; our capital
requirements and other obligations; restrictions contained in
our and our subsidiaries financing arrangements, and our
issuances of additional equity and debt securities. The
availability of cash flow in the future depends as well upon
events and circumstances outside our control, including
prevailing economic and industry conditions and financial,
business and similar factors. No assurance can be given that we
will be able to make distributions or as to the timing of any
distribution. If distributions are made, there can be no
assurance that holders of depositary units may not be required
to recognize taxable income in excess of cash distributions made
in respect of the period in which a distribution is made.
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Holders of our depositary units have limited voting
rights, rights to participate in our management and control of
us. |
Our general partner manages and operates AREP. Unlike the
holders of common stock in a corporation, holders of outstanding
units have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our
business. Holders of depositary units have no right to elect the
general partner on an annual or other continuing basis, and our
general partner generally may not be removed except pursuant to
the vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the outstanding
depositary units. In addition, removal of the general partner
may result in a default under our debt securities. As a result,
given that Mr. Icahn and his affiliates own 90.0% of our
outstanding depositary units, holders of depositary units other
than Mr. Icahn and his affiliates have limited say in matters
affecting our operations, and may find it difficult to attempt
to gain control or influence our activities.
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Holders of depositary units may not have limited liability
in certain circumstances and may be liable for the return of
distributions that cause our liabilities to exceed our
assets. |
We conduct our businesses through AREH in several states.
Maintenance of limited liability will require compliance with
legal requirements of those states. We are the sole limited
partner of AREH. Limitations on the liability of a limited
partner for the obligations of a limited partnership have not
clearly been established in several states. If it were
determined that AREH has been conducting business in any state
without compliance with the applicable limited partnership
statute or the possession or exercise of the right by the
partnership, as limited partner of AREH, to remove AREHs
general partner, to approve certain amendments to the AREH
partnership agreement or to take other action pursuant to the
AREH partnership agreement, constituted control of
AREHs business for the purposes of the statutes of any
relevant state, AREP and/or unitholders, under certain
circumstances, might be held personally liable for AREHs
obligations to the same extent as our general partner. Further,
under the laws of certain states, AREP might be liable for the
amount of distributions made to AREP by AREH.
Holders of our depositary units may also have to repay AREP
amounts wrongfully distributed to them. Under Delaware law, we
may not make a distribution to holders of common units if the
distribution causes our liabilities to exceed the fair value of
our assets. Liabilities to partners on account of their
partnership interests and nonrecourse liabilities are not
counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is
permitted. Delaware law provides that a limited partner who
receives such a distribution and knew at the time of the
distribution that the distribution violated Delaware law will be
liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount
for three years from the distribution date.
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Additionally, under Delaware law an assignee who becomes a
substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable
for the obligations, if any, of the assignor to make
contributions to the partnership. However, such an assignee is
not obligated for liabilities unknown to him or her at the time
he or she became a limited partner if the liabilities could not
be determined from the partnership agreement.
Risks Relating to Our Structure
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We are a holding company and will depend on the businesses
of our subsidiaries to satisfy our obligations. |
We are a holding company. In addition to cash and cash
equivalents, U.S. government and agency obligations,
marketable equity and debt securities and other short-term
investments, our assets consist primarily of investments in our
subsidiaries. Moreover, if we make significant investments in
operating businesses, it is likely that we will reduce the
liquid assets at AREP and AREH in order to fund those
investments and ongoing operations. Consequently, our cash flow
and our ability to meet our debt service obligations and make
distributions with respect to depositary units and preferred
units likely will depend on the cash flow of our subsidiaries
and the payment of funds to us by our subsidiaries in the form
of loans, dividends, distributions or otherwise.
The operating results of our subsidiaries may not be sufficient
to make distributions to us. In addition, our subsidiaries are
not obligated to make funds available to us, and distributions
and intercompany transfers from our subsidiaries to us may be
restricted by applicable law or covenants contained in debt
agreements and other agreements to which these subsidiaries may
be subject or enter into in the future. The terms of any
borrowings of our subsidiaries or other entities in which we own
equity may restrict dividends, distributions or loans to us. For
example, the notes issued by our indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary, American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC,
or ACEP, contain restrictions on dividends and distributions and
loans to us, as well as on other transactions with us. ACEP also
has a credit agreement which contains financial covenants that
have the effect of restricting dividends or distributions. Our
subsidiary, NEG Oil & Gas LLC, has a credit facility
which restricts dividends, distributions and other transactions
with us. These agreements preclude our receiving payments from
the operations of our Gaming and our Oil & Gas
properties which account for a significant portion of our
revenues and cash flows. We are negotiating similar facilities
for WPI, Atlantic Coast and our real estate development
properties which may also restrict dividends, distributions and
other transactions with us. To the degree any distributions and
transfers are impaired or prohibited, our ability to make
payments on our debt will be limited.
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We or our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantially
more debt. |
We or our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial
additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of our
8.125% senior notes due 2012 and our 7.125% senior
notes due 2013 do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from doing
so. We may incur additional indebtedness if we comply with
certain financial tests contained in the indentures that govern
these notes. As of December 31, 2005, based upon these
tests, we could have incurred up to approximately
$1.4 billion of additional indebtedness. Our subsidiaries,
other than AREH, are not subject to any of the covenants
contained in the indentures with respect to our debt, including
the covenant restricting debt incurrence. If new debt is added
to our and our subsidiaries current debt levels, the
related risks that we, and they now face could intensify.
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Our failure to comply with the covenants contained under
any of our debt instruments, including the indentures governing
our outstanding notes, including our failure as a result of
events beyond our control, could result in an event of default
which would materially and adversely affect our financial
condition. |
If there were an event of default under one of our debt
instruments, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all
amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and
payable immediately. In addition, any event of default or
declaration of acceleration under one debt instrument could
result in an
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event of default under one or more of our other debt
instruments. It is possible that, if the defaulted debt is
accelerated, our assets and cash flow may not be sufficient to
fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments
and we cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance or
restructure the payments on those debt securities.
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To service our indebtedness and pay distributions with
respect to our units, we will require a significant amount of
cash. Our ability to maintain our current cash position or
generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control. |
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our
indebtedness, to pay distributions with respect to our units and
to fund operations will depend on existing cash balances and our
ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain
extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive,
regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
In addition, we may not generate sufficient cash flow from
operations or investments and future borrowings may not be
available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service
our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. For 2005,
fixed charges exceeded earnings, as defined by rules of the SEC,
by $41.7 million. We may need to refinance all or a portion
of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on
commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Risks Relating to Our Business
In addition to the following risk factors specific to each of
our businesses, all of our businesses are subject to the effects
of the following:
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the continued threat of terrorism; |
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economic downturn; |
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loss of any of our or our subsidiaries key personnel; |
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the availability, as needed, of additional financing; and; |
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the continued availability of insurance at acceptable rates. |
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Oil & Gas
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Oil and gas prices are volatile. A decrease in oil and
natural gas prices could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, cash flows or results of
operations. |
A substantial decline in the prices NEG Oil & Gas
receives for our oil and gas production would have a material
adverse effect on NEG Oil & Gas, as our future
financial condition, revenues, results of operations, cash
flows, rate of growth and the carrying value of our oil and gas
properties depend primarily upon those prices. For example,
changes in the prices we receive for oil and gas could affect
our ability to finance capital expenditures, make acquisitions,
pay dividends, borrow money and satisfy our financial
obligations. In addition, declines in prices could reduce the
amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically
and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our
reserves. Oil and natural gas are commodities and their prices
are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor
changes in supply and demand. Historically, prices have been
volatile and are likely to continue to be volatile in the
future, especially given current world geopolitical conditions.
The prices of oil and gas are affected by a variety of other
factors that are beyond our control, including:
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changes in global supply and demand for oil and natural gas; |
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commodity processing, gathering and transportation availability; |
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actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; |
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domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes; |
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domestic and foreign political conditions, including embargoes,
affecting oil-producing activity; |
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the level of global oil and natural gas exploration activity and
inventories; |
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the price and availability of domestic and imported oil and
natural gas; |
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the price, availability and consumer acceptance of alternative
fuel sources; |
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the availability of refining capacity; |
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technological advances affecting energy consumption; |
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weather conditions; |
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financial and commercial market uncertainty; |
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worldwide economic conditions; and |
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disruptions as a result of natural calamities. |
These factors and the volatility of the energy markets generally
make it extremely difficult to predict future oil and gas price
movements. Our production is weighted toward natural gas, making
earnings and cash flow more sensitive to natural gas price
fluctuations.
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Estimating our reserves, production and future net cash
flow is difficult to do with any certainty. |
Estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves is a
complex process that requires interpretations of available
technical data and various estimates, including estimates based
upon assumptions relating to economic factors, including future
commodity prices, production costs, production and ad valorem
taxes and availability of capital, estimates of required capital
expenditures and workover and remedial costs, and the assumed
effect of governmental regulation. In addition, there are
numerous uncertainties about when reserves may be classified as
proved as opposed to possible or probable. Furthermore, actual
results will vary from our estimates and such variances may be
significant.
At December 31, 2005, 50% of the estimated proved reserves
for NEG Oil & Gas were proved undeveloped and 8% were
proved developed non-producing. Estimates of proved undeveloped
reserves and proved developed non-producing reserves are almost
always based on analogy to existing wells instead of the
performance data used to estimate producing reserves. Recovery
of proved undeveloped reserves requires significant capital
expenditures and successful drilling operations. Revenues from
estimated proved developed non-producing reserves will not be
realized until some time in the future, if at all. The reserve
data assumes that we will be required to make significant
capital expenditures to develop its reserves. Although we have
prepared estimates of our reserves and the costs associated with
these reserves in accordance with industry standards, these
estimates may not be accurate, development may not occur as
scheduled and actual results may not be as estimated.
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Prospects that we decide to drill may not yield gas or oil
in commercially viable quantities. |
A prospect is a property on which NEG Oil & Gas has
identified what our geoscientists believe, based on available
seismic and geological information, to be indications of gas or
oil. NEG Oil & Gas prospects are in various
stages of evaluation, ranging from a prospect that is ready to
drill to a prospect that will require substantial additional
seismic data processing and interpretation. However, the use of
seismic data and other technologies and the study of producing
fields in the same area will not enable NEG Oil & Gas
to know conclusively prior to drilling and testing whether gas
or oil will be present or, if present, whether gas or oil will
be present in sufficient quantities to recover drilling or
completion costs or to be economically viable. From
January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005, NEG
Oil & Gas participated in drilling a total of
279 gross wells, of which 25 have been identified as dry
holes. If we drill additional wells that we identify as dry
holes in our current and future prospects, our drilling success
rate may decline and materially harm our business.
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Our Oil & Gas business involves significant
operating risks. |
Our operations are subject to all the risks normally incident to
the operation and development of oil and natural gas properties
and the drilling of oil and gas wells, including:
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well blowouts; |
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craterings and explosions; |
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pipe failures and ruptures; |
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pipeline accidents and failures; |
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casing collapses; |
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unexpected formations or pressures; |
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fires; |
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mechanical and operational problems that affect production; |
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formations with abnormal pressures; |
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uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas, brine or well
fluids; and |
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releases of contaminants into the environment, including
groundwater contamination. |
In addition to lost production and increased costs, these
hazards could cause serious injuries, fatalities, contamination
or property damage for which NEG Oil & Gas could be
held responsible. The potential consequences of these hazards
are particularly severe for NEG Oil & Gas because a
significant portion of our operations are conducted offshore and
in other environmentally sensitive areas. While NEG
Oil & Gas maintains insurance against many of these
risks, we do not maintain insurance in amounts that cover all of
the losses to which we may be subject, and the insurance we have
may not continue to be available on acceptable terms. The
occurrence of an uninsured or underinsured loss could result in
significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition and operations.
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The marketability of our production is dependent upon
gathering systems, transportation facilities and processing
facilities that we do not control. |
Market conditions and the unavailability of satisfactory oil and
natural gas transportation arrangements may hinder our access to
oil and natural gas markets or delay our production. The
marketability of our oil and natural gas production depends in
part upon the availability, proximity and capacity of pipelines,
gas gathering systems, transportation barges and processing
facilities owned by third parties. We do not control these
facilities and they may not be available to us in the future.
Alternative delivery methods could be either prohibitively
expensive or available only after a period of delay, if at all.
Any significant change in relationships with third party
operators or market factors affecting operator of any
third-party transportation and processing facilities NEG
Oil & Gas uses could adversely impact its ability to
deliver to market the oil and natural gas we produce and thereby
cause a significant interruption in our operations. These are
risks for which NEG Oil & Gas generally does not
maintain insurance. Accordingly, our financial condition and
results of operations would be adversely affected if one or more
transportation, gathering or processing facility, became
unavailable or otherwise unable to provide services.
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Commodity price risk management activities may limit
future revenues from price increases and result in financial
losses or reduce its income. |
To reduce exposure to fluctuations in the prices of oil and gas,
NEG Oil & Gas enters into derivative contracts with
respect to a substantial portion of its oil and gas production.
Its revolving credit facility currently permits us to use
derivatives for up to 80% of the expected volumes associated
with proved developed producing reserves. Derivative contracts
expose us to risk of financial loss in some circumstances,
including when:
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production is less than expected; |
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a counterparty to a derivative contract fails to perform under
the contract; |
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there is a change in the expected differential between the
underlying price in the derivative contract and actual prices
received; or |
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there is a sudden, unexpected event that materially impacts oil
or natural gas prices. |
Total net realized losses on derivative instruments included in
the oil and gas revenues for NEG Oil & Gas were
$51.3 million in 2005 and $16.6 million in 2004. In
addition, rising oil and gas prices caused us to incur
unrealized commodity derivative losses of $69.3 million in
2005. These unrealized losses resulted because we do not elect
hedge accounting treatment for our derivative positions. Changes
in the fair market value of the derivative positions were
therefore required to be recognized in our statement of
operations.
NEG Oil & Gas may incur realized and unrealized losses
of this type in the future. Derivative contracts may also limit
the benefit we would otherwise receive from increases in the
prices for oil and gas. Oil and gas revenues may continue to
experience significant volatility in the future due to changes
in the fair value of the derivative contracts. The prices NEG
Oil & Gas receives for our oil and gas production
affect its:
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cash flow available for capital expenditures: |
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ability to borrow and raise additional capital; |
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quantity of oil and natural gas it can produce; |
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quantity of oil and gas reserves; and |
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operating results for oil and natural gas activities. |
NEG Oil & Gas generally enters into derivative
contracts for a substantial portion of our expected future oil
and gas production to reduce our exposure to commodity price
decreases. Changes in the fair value of our derivatives
contracts have a direct effect on our revenue.
NEG Oil & Gas has used cost-free collars and options to
put products to a purchaser at a specified price, or floor. In
these transactions, NEG Oil & Gas will usually have the
option to receive from the counterparty to the derivative
contracts a specified price or the excess of a specified price
over a floating marketing price. If the floating price exceeds
the fixed price, the party to the derivative contract is
required to pay the counterparty all or a portion of these
differences multiplied by the quantity subject to the derivative
contract.
As of December 31, 2005, NEG Oil & Gas was not a
party to any derivative contracts that require an initial
deposit of cash collateral. However, its working capital could
be impacted in the future if it enters into derivative
arrangements that require cash collateral and commodity prices
subsequently change in a manner adverse to us. Further, the
obligation to post cash or other collateral could, if imposed,
adversely affect our liquidity.
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We may experience difficulty finding and acquiring
additional reserves and may be unable to compensate for the
depletion of proved reserves. |
The future success and growth of our operations depend upon the
ability of NEG Oil & Gas to find or acquire additional
economically recoverable oil and gas reserves. Except to the
extent that it conducts successful exploration or development
activities or acquires properties containing proved reserves,
our proved reserves will generally decline as they are produced.
The decline rate varies depending upon reservoir characteristics
and other factors. Future oil and gas reserves and production,
and, therefore, cash flow and income will be highly dependent
upon the level of success in exploiting current reserves and
acquiring or finding additional reserves. The business of
exploring for, developing or acquiring reserves is capital
intensive. To the extent cash flow from operations is not
sufficient and external sources of capital become limited or
unavailable, the ability to make the necessary capital
investments to maintain or expand our asset base of oil and gas
reserves could be impaired. Development projects and acquisition
activities may not result in additional reserves. NEG
Oil & Gas may not have success drilling productive
wells at economic returns sufficient to replace our current and
future production and reserves which we acquire may contain
undetected problems or issues that did not initially appear to
be significant to us.
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Shortages of oil field equipment, services and qualified
personnel could reduce our cash flow and adversely affect the
results of operations of NEG Oil & Gas. |
The demand for qualified and experienced field personnel to
drill wells and conduct field operations, geologists,
geophysicists, engineers and other professionals in the oil and
natural gas industry can fluctuate significantly, often in
correlation with oil and natural gas prices, causing periodic
shortages. Historically, there have been shortages of drilling
rigs and other oil field equipment as demand for rigs and
equipment has increased along with the number of wells being
drilled. These factors also cause significant increases in costs
for equipment, services and personnel. Higher oil and natural
gas prices generally stimulate demand and result in increased
prices for drilling rigs, crews and associated supplies,
equipment and service. It is beyond the control and ability of
NEG Oil & Gas to predict whether these conditions will
exist in the future and, if so, what their timing and duration
will be. These types of shortages or price increases could
significantly decrease the profit margin, cash flow and
operating results, or restrict our ability to drill the wells
and conduct the operations which we currently have planned and
budgeted.
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Oil and gas exploration, exploitation and development
activities may not be successful. |
Exploration, exploitation and development activities are subject
to many risks. For example, we cannot assure you that new wells
drilled by NEG Oil & Gas will be productive or that NEG
Oil & Gas will recover all or any portion of its
investment in such wells. Drilling for oil and gas often
involves unprofitable efforts, not only from dry wells but also
from wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient oil
or gas to return a profit at then-realized prices after
deducting drilling, operating and other costs. The seismic data
and other technologies that are used do not allow NEG
Oil & Gas to know conclusively prior to drilling a well
that oil or gas is present or that it can be produced
economically. The cost of exploration, exploitation and
development activities is subject to numerous uncertainties
beyond our control, and cost factors can adversely affect the
economics of a project. Further, our development activities may
be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of numerous
factors, including:
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title problems; |
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problems in delivery of our oil and natural gas to market; |
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pressure or irregularities in geological formations; |
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equipment failures or accidents; |
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shortages of, or delays in obtaining, equipment or qualified
personnel; |
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adverse weather conditions; |
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reductions in oil and natural gas prices; |
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compliance with environmental and other governmental
requirements; and |
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costs of, or shortages or delays in the availability of,
drilling rigs, equipment and services. |
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Our acquisition activities may not be successful. |
NEG Oil & Gas intends to acquire additional oil and gas
properties, or businesses that own or operate such properties,
when attractive opportunities arise. NEG Oil & Gas may
not be able to identify suitable acquisition opportunities. If
NEG Oil & Gas does identify an appropriate acquisition
candidate, it may be unable to negotiate mutually acceptable
terms with the seller or finance the acquisition. As a result of
recent increases in oil and gas prices, acquisition prices also
have increased, potentially making it more difficult for us to
identify and complete acquisitions suitable for us. If NEG
Oil & Gas is unable to complete suitable acquisitions,
it will be more difficult to replace reserves. In addition,
successfully completed acquisitions involve a number of risks,
including:
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unexpected losses of key employees, customers and suppliers of
an acquired business; |
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difficulties in conforming the financial, technical and
management standards, processes, procedures and controls of the
acquired business with those of our existing operations; and |
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diversion of management and other resources. |
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Moreover, the success of any acquisition will depend on a
variety of factors, including the ability of NEG Oil &
Gas to accurately assess the reserves associated with the
property, future oil and gas prices and operating costs,
potential environmental and other liabilities and other factors.
These assessments are necessarily inexact. As a result, it may
not recover the purchase price of a property from the sale of
production from the property or recognize an acceptable return
from such sales. The risks normally associated with acquisitions
are heightened in the current environment, as market prices of
oil and gas properties are generally high compared to historical
norms and could continue to rise. In addition, NEG
Oil & Gas may face greater risks if we acquire
properties in areas where we may be less familiar with
operating, regulatory and other issues specific to those areas.
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We may not be able to compete successfully in the future
with respect to acquiring prospective reserves, developing
reserves, marketing its production, attracting and retaining
quality personnel, implementing new technologies and raising
additional capital. |
NEG Oil & Gas operates in a competitive environment for
acquiring properties, marketing oil and gas, integrating new
technologies and employing skilled personnel. Many of its
competitors possess and employ substantially greater financial,
technical and personnel resources. Those companies may be
willing and able to pay more for producing oil and natural gas
properties and prospects than the financial resources of NEG
Oil & Gas permits, and may be able to define, evaluate,
bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and
prospects. Competitors may also enjoy technological advantages
over us and may be able to implement new technologies more
rapidly. Additionally, there is substantial competition for
capital available for investment in the oil and natural gas
industry.
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We cannot control activities on properties we do not
operate. If NEG Oil & Gas is not able to fund required
capital expenditures with respect to non-operated properties, it
may result in a reduction or forfeiture of the interests of NEG
Oil & Gas in those properties. |
Other companies operated approximately 41% of the value of our
proved reserves as of December 31, 2005. NEG Oil &
Gas has limited ability to exercise influence over operations
for these properties or their associated costs. Our dependence
on the operator and other working interest owners for these
projects and our limited ability to influence operations and
associated costs could prevent the realization of our targeted
returns on capital with respect to exploration, exploitation,
development or acquisition activities. The success and timing of
exploration, exploitation and development activities on
properties operated by others depend upon a number of factors
that may be outside our control including:
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the timing and amount of capital expenditures; |
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the operators expertise and financial resources; |
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approval of other participants in drilling wells; and |
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selection of technology. |
Where we are not the majority owner or operator of a particular
oil and natural gas project, we may have no control over the
timing or amount of capital expenditures associated with the
project. If we are not willing and able to fund required capital
expenditures relating to a project when required by the majority
owner or operator, our interests in the project may be reduced
or forfeited.
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Our activities are subject to complex laws and
regulations, including environmental laws and regulations, that
can adversely affect the cost, manner and feasibility of doing
business. |
Operations and facilities of NEG Oil & Gas are subject
to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to exploration for, and the exploitation, development,
production and transportation of, oil and gas, including
environmental and safety matters. In addition, certain laws
impose strict liability for the costs of remediating
contamination at properties that NEG Oil & Gas owns or
operates or where
14
wastes generated by our operations have been disposed,
regardless of whether such disposal was lawful at the time that
it occurred. Applicable laws and regulations include those
relating to:
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land use restrictions where many of our operations are located; |
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drilling bonds and other financial responsibility requirements; |
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spacing of wells; |
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emissions into the air; |
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unitization and pooling of properties; |
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habitat and endangered species protection, reclamation and
remediation; |
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the containment and disposal of hazardous substances, oil field
waste and other waste materials; |
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the use of underground storage tanks; |
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the use of underground injection wells, which affects the
disposal of water and other produced liquids from our wells; |
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safety precautions; |
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the prevention of oil spills; |
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releases of contaminants into the environment; |
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wetlands protection; |
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the closure of exploration and production facilities; and |
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operational reporting requirements. |
Under these laws and regulations, NEG Oil & Gas could
be liable for:
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governmental sanctions, such as fines, penalties, and injunctive
relief; |
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property and natural resource damages; |
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releases or discharges of hazardous materials; |
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well reclamation costs; |
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oil spill clean-up
costs; |
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other remediation and
clean-up costs; |
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plugging and abandonment costs, which may be particularly high
in the case of offshore facilities; |
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personal injuries; and |
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other environmental damages. |
Although NEG Oil & Gas believes it is in substantial
compliance with all applicable environmental laws and
regulations and that its liabilities are not material, we cannot
be certain that existing environmental laws or regulations
applicable to our operations, as currently interpreted or
reinterpreted in the future, or future laws or regulations, will
not harm our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Some environmental laws and regulations impose strict liability.
Strict liability means that in some situations NEG
Oil & Gas could be exposed to liability for
clean-up costs and
other damages as a result of conduct that was lawful at the time
it occurred or for the conduct of prior operators or other third
parties. In addition, we may be required to make large and
unanticipated capital expenditures to comply with applicable
laws and regulations, for example by installing and maintaining
pollution control devices. Similarly, plugging and abandonment
obligations will be substantial and may be more than NEG
Oil & Gas has estimated. It is not possible for us to
estimate reliably the amount and timing of all future
15
expenditures related to environmental matters, but they may be
material. In addition, our operations could be adversely
affected by federal and state laws that require environmental
impact studies to be conducted before governmental authorities
can take certain actions, including, in some cases, the issuance
of permits to us. Environmental risks generally are not fully
insurable.
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We may be required to write down the carrying value of our
properties. |
Under full cost accounting rules, NEG Oil & Gas may be
required to write down the carrying value of properties when oil
and gas prices decrease or when there are substantial downward
adjustments of estimated proved reserves, increases in our
estimates of development costs or deterioration in our
exploration results. NEG Oil & Gas uses the full cost
method of accounting for oil and gas exploitation, development
and exploration activities. Under full cost accounting rules,
NEG Oil & Gas performs a ceiling test. This
test is an impairment test and generally establishes a maximum,
or ceiling, of the book value of oil and gas
properties that is equal to the expected after-tax present value
of the future net cash flows from proved reserves, including the
effect of cash flow hedges, calculated using prevailing prices
on the last day of the relevant period. If the net book value of
properties, reduced by any related net deferred income tax
liability, exceeds the ceiling, NEG Oil & Gas writes
down the book value of the properties. Depending on the
magnitude of any future impairments, a ceiling test write down
could significantly reduce NEG Oil & Gas income
or produce a loss. Ceiling test computations use commodity
prices prevailing on the last day of the relevant period, making
it impossible to predict the timing and magnitude of any future
write downs. To the extent finding and development costs
increase, NEG Oil & Gas will become more susceptible to
ceiling test write downs in low price environments.
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Changes in the financial condition of any of our large oil
and gas purchasers could make it difficult to collect amounts
due from those purchasers. |
For 2005, 68% of our oil and natural gas revenues were generated
from sales to six purchasers. A material adverse change in the
financial conditions of any these purchasers could adversely
impact future revenues and our ability to collect current
accounts receivable from such purchasers. Additionally, the loss
of any of these purchasers could have an adverse impact on our
revenues.
Gaming
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The gaming industry is highly regulated. The gaming
authorities and state and municipal licensing authorities have
significant control over our operations. |
Our properties currently conduct licensed gaming operations in
Nevada and New Jersey. Various regulatory authorities, including
the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, Nevada Gaming Commission
and the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, require our
properties to hold various licenses and registrations, findings
of suitability, permits and approvals to engage in gaming
operations and to meet requirements of suitability. These gaming
authorities also control approval of ownership interests in
gaming operations. These gaming authorities may deny, limit,
condition, suspend or revoke our gaming licenses, registrations,
findings of suitability or the approval of any of our ownership
interests in any of the licensed gaming operations conducted in
Nevada and New Jersey, any of which could have a significant
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations, for any cause they may deem reasonable. If we
violate gaming laws or regulations that are applicable to us, we
may have to pay substantial fines or forfeit assets. If, in the
future, we operate or have an ownership interest in casino
gaming facilities located outside of Nevada or New Jersey, we
may also be subject to the gaming laws and regulations of those
other jurisdictions.
The sale of alcoholic beverages at our Gaming properties is
subject to licensing and regulation by local authorities. Any
limitation, condition, suspension or revocation of any such
license, and any disciplinary action may, and revocation would,
reduce the number of visitors to our casinos to the extent the
availability of alcoholic beverages is important to them. Any
reduction in our number of visitors will reduce our revenue and
cash flow.
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Rising operating costs for our gaming properties could
have a negative impact on our profitability. |
The operating expenses associated with our gaming properties
could increase due to some of the following factors:
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our properties use significant amounts of electricity, natural
gas and other forms of energy, and energy price increases may
reduce our profitability; |
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our Nevada properties use significant amounts of water and a
water shortage may adversely affect our operations; |
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some of our employees are covered by collective bargaining
agreements and we may incur higher costs or work slow-downs or
stoppages due to union activities; and |
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our reliance on slot machine revenues and the concentration of
manufacturing of slot machines in certain companies could impose
additional costs on us. |
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We face substantial competition in the gaming
industry. |
The Gaming industry in general, and the markets in which we
compete in particular, are highly competitive:
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we compete with many world class destination resorts with
greater name recognition, different attractions, amenities and
entertainment options; |
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we compete with the continued growth of gaming on Native
American tribal lands; |
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the existence of legalized gambling in other jurisdictions may
reduce the number of visitors to our properties; |
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certain states have legalized, and others may legalize, casino
gaming in specific venues, including race tracks and/or in
specific areas, including metropolitan areas from which we
traditionally attract customers; and |
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our properties also compete and will in the future compete with
all forms of legalized gambling. |
Many of our competitors have greater financial, selling and
marketing, technical and other resources than we do. We may not
be able to compete effectively with our competitors and we may
lose market share, which could reduce our revenue and cash flow.
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Our acquisition of the Flamingo in Laughlin, Nevada and
the Traymore site in Atlantic City, New Jersey may not be
successful. |
Our subsidiary, American Casino & Entertainment LLC, through
its subsidiaries, AREP Laughlin Corporation and AREP Boardwalk
LLC, has entered into an agreement to purchase the Flamingo
Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada and 7.7 acres
of land in Atlantic City, New Jersey, formerly known as the
Traymore site, from Harrahs Entertainment for an aggregate
purchase price of $170.0 million. American Casino &
Entertainment intends to assign the rights to acquire the
Flamingo to ACEP. The acquisition of the Flamingo is subject to
the satisfaction of several conditions, including obtaining
approval of Nevada gaming authorities and we cannot be certain
that the condition will be satisfied. We anticipate that payment
of the acquisition price will be made from a combination of
ACEPs available cash and borrowing under its senior
secured revolving facility. This will reduce cash that otherwise
would be available for other purposes and will require
additional borrowing by ACEP. It may be some time before we
recover our investment in the Flamingo, if we succeed in doing
so at all.
In addition, ACEP currently plans to spend approximately
$40.0 million through 2008 to refurbish rooms, upgrade
amenities and acquire new gaming equipment for the Flamingo.
Acquisitions generally involve significant risks, including
difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, services and
corporate culture of the acquired company. We may not
successfully manage and integrate the Flamingos operations
with ours. The benefits from the acquisition of the Flamingo are
based on projections and assumptions
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related to our program to upgrade and refurbish the facilities,
as well as recent results. As a result, we cannot be certain
that we will realize the anticipated benefits.
We will acquire the Atlantic City property through American
Casino & Entertainments direct subsidiary, AREP
Boardwalk. We are seeking financing for the acquisition but
cannot guarantee that financing will be available, or that it
will be on favorable terms and we may be required to fund the
purchase from available cash. The property is largely
undeveloped and produces little income. During the development
process we will incur substantial costs which will not be
recouped unless and until the property becomes income-producing.
Development is subject to a variety of governmental approvals,
including NJCAA and New Jersey Commission approval should we
elect to locate a casino on the site. We cannot be certain that
the property will be developed successfully.
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The Sands has recently incurred operating losses which
could result in our determining that, for financial reporting
purposes, our investment has been impaired. |
During 2005, The Sands incurred an operating loss relating to
its operations. Although The Sands continues to generate
positive cash flow, if The Sands continues to incur losses we
may conclude that, for financial reporting purposes, the
carrying value of The Sands fixed assets is impaired. If,
as a result, we were to write-off all or a portion of The
Sands fixed assets, it could adversely affect our results.
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Creditors of GB Holdings, Inc., or GBH, have
indicated that they intend to challenge the transactions
consummated in July 2004, which, among other things resulted in
the transfer of The Sands to ACE Gaming, and intend to attempt
to subordinate our claims against GBH to those of other
creditors. |
We own approximately 77.5% of GBHs outstanding common
stock. GBHs principal asset is 41.7% of the common stock
of Atlantic Coast. On September 29, 2005, GBH filed for
protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code. As a result, we determined that we no longer control GBH
under applicable accounting rules and have deconsolidated our
investment for financial reporting purposes. Creditors of GBH
have indicated that they intend to challenge the transactions in
July 2004 that, among other things, resulted in the transfer of
The Sands to ACE Gaming, the exchange certain of GBHs
notes for 3% senior secured convertible notes of Atlantic
Coast, and, ultimately, our owning 58.3% of the Atlantic Coast
shares. The creditors also have indicated that, if they succeed
in challenging these transactions, they intend to seek to
rescind the July 2004 transactions and attempt to equitably
subordinate, in bankruptcy, AREPs claims against GBH to
the claims of such creditors. If such a suit is brought we
intend to vigorously defend AREP and its subsidiaries against
such claims, however we cannot predict the outcome of the
litigation.
Real Estate Operations
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Our investment in property development may be more costly
than anticipated. |
We have invested and expect to continue to invest in unentitled
land, undeveloped land and distressed development properties.
These properties involve more risk than properties on which
development has been completed. Unentitled land may not be
approved for development. These investments do not generate any
operating revenue, while costs are incurred to obtain government
approvals and develop the properties. Construction may not be
completed within budget or as scheduled and projected rental
levels or sales prices may not be achieved and other
unpredictable contingencies beyond our control could occur. We
will not be able to recoup any of such costs until such time as
these properties, or parcels thereof, are either disposed of or
developed into income-producing assets.
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We may be subject to environmental liability as an owner
or operator of development and rental real estate. |
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and
regulations, an owner or operator of real property may become
liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain
hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants released on,
under, in or from its property. These laws often impose liability
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without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was
responsible for, the release of such substances. To the extent
any such substances are found in or on any property invested in
by us, we could be exposed to liability and be required to incur
substantial remediation costs. The presence of such substances
or the failure to undertake proper remediation may adversely
affect the ability to finance, refinance or dispose of such
property. We generally conduct a Phase I environmental site
assessment on properties in which we are considering investing.
A Phase I environmental site assessment involves record
review, visual site assessment and personnel interviews, but
does not typically include invasive testing procedures such as
air, soil or groundwater sampling or other tests performed as
part of a Phase II environmental site assessment.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that these assessments
will disclose all potential liabilities or that future property
uses or conditions or changes in applicable environmental laws
and regulations or activities at nearby properties will not
result in the creation of environmental liabilities with respect
to a property.
Home Fashion
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A recent court order may result in our ownership of WPI
being reduced to less than 50%. Uncertainties arising from this
decision may adversely affect WPIs operations and
prospects and the value of our investment in it. |
In November and December 2005, the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New York rendered a decision in
Contrarian Funds Inc. v. WestPoint Stevens, Inc.
et al.. and issued orders reversing certain provisions
of the bankruptcy court order pursuant to which we acquired our
ownership of a majority of the common stock of a newly formed
company, WPI. WPI acquired substantially all of the assets of
West Point Stevens. On April 13, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court
entered a remand order which provides, among other things, that
all of the shares and rights to acquire shares of WPI issued to
us and the other first lien lenders or held in escrow pursuant
to court order constituted replacement collateral,
other than 5,250,000 shares that we acquired for cash. The
5,250,000 shares represent approximately 27% of the
19,498,389 shares of WPI now outstanding. According to the
remand order, we would share pro rata with the other
first lien lenders in proceeds realized from the disposition of
the replacement collateral and, to the extent there is remaining
replacement collateral after satisfying first lien lender
claims, we would share pro rata with the other second
lien lenders in any further proceeds. We were holders of
approximately 39.99% of the outstanding first lien debt and
approximately 51.21% of the outstanding second lien debt. We
intend to appeal the remand order along with the prior orders
that modified and vacated portions of the sale order. The
Bankruptcy Court entered an order staying the remand order
pending its appeal.
We currently own approximately 67.7% of the outstanding shares
of common stock of WPI. As a result of the District Courts
order and the proceedings on remand, our percentage of the
outstanding shares of common stock of WPI could be reduced to
less than 50% and perhaps substantially less. If we were to lose
control of WPI, it could adversely affect the business and
prospects of WPI and the value of our investment in it. In
addition, we consolidated the results and balance sheet of WPI
as of December 31, 2005 and for the period from the date of
acquisition through December 31, 2005. If we were to own
less than 50% of the outstanding common stock and lose control
of WPI, we would no longer consolidate it and our financial
statements could be materially different than as presented as of
December 31, 2005 and for the year then ended.
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WPI recently acquired its business from the former owners
through bankruptcy proceedings. We cannot assure you that it
will be able to operate profitably. |
WPI acquired the assets of WestPoint Stevens as part of its
bankruptcy proceedings. Certain of the issues that contributed
to WestPoint Stevens filing for bankruptcy, such as
intense industry competition, the inability to produce goods at
a cost competitive with overseas suppliers, the increasing
prevalence of direct sourcing by principal customers and
continued incurrence of overhead costs associated with an
enterprise larger than the current business can profitably
support, continue to exist and may continue to affect WPIs
business operations and financial condition adversely. In
addition, during the protracted
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bankruptcy proceedings of WestPoint Stevens, several of its
customers reduced the volume of business done with WestPoint
Stevens. We have installed new management to address these
issues, but we cannot assure you that new management will be
effective. In the first quarter of 2006, the Home Fashion
segment experienced increased losses and negative cash flow from
operations. We expect that WPI will continue to operate at a
loss during 2006 and 2007, and we cannot assure you that losses
will not continue to increase or that WPI will be able to
operate profitably in the future.
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WPI may not be able to secure additional financing to meet
its future needs. |
Other than the credit facility provided by AREH which matures on
August 7, 2006, WPI has not yet obtained any additional
credit facilities and we cannot assure you that it will be able
to do so on terms that are acceptable to it. Moreover, the
pending litigation relating to the ownership of WPI has hindered
the consummation of the rights offering pursuant to which WPI
was to raise $92 million in incremental equity and there
can be no assurance as to when or if such offering will occur
and whether AREP will remain obligated to purchase any
additional shares pursuant thereto. In addition, we have not yet
ascertained the full extent to which additional capital will be
required to retain WPIs customers and make investments
required to attain a competitive cost structure. As a result, we
cannot assure you that WPI will be able to obtain the capital
that will be required to continue operations or to repay amounts
due under the AREH credit facility.
From time to time, WPI may explore additional financing methods
and other means to make needed investments. Such financing
methods could include stock issuance or debt financing. If
WPIs business does not improve, it is likely that this
financing would be available, if at all, only on terms that are
not advantageous and potentially highly dilutive to existing
stockholders of WPI.
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The loss of any of WPIs large customers could have
an adverse effect on WPIs business. |
During 2005 and 2004, WPIs six largest customers accounted
for approximately 51% of its net sales (including net sales by
WestPoint Stevens). WPI has experienced a significant decline in
net sales to one of its largest customers. Sales to this
customer have declined from $202.4 million for 2004 to
$51.5 million for 2005 (including net sales by WestPoint
Stevens). In addition, many other retailers have indicated that
they intend to significantly increase their direct sourcing of
home fashion products from foreign sources. The loss of any of
WPIs largest accounts, or a material portion of sales to
those accounts, would have an adverse effect upon its business,
which could be material.
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A portion of WPIs sales are derived from licensed
designer brands. The loss of a significant license could have an
adverse effect on WPIs business. |
A portion of WPIs sales is derived from licensed designer
brands. The license agreements for WPIs designer brands
generally are for a term of two or three years. Some of the
licenses are automatically renewable for additional periods,
provided that sales thresholds set forth in the license
agreements are met. The loss of a significant license could have
an adverse effect upon WPIs business, which effect could
be material. Under certain circumstances, these licenses can be
terminated without WPIs consent due to circumstances
beyond WPIs control.
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A shortage of the principal raw materials WPI uses to
manufacture its products could force WPI to pay more for those
materials and, possibly, cause WPI to increase its prices, which
could have an adverse effect on WPIs operations. |
Any shortage in the raw materials WPI uses to manufacture its
products could adversely affect its operations. The principal
raw materials that WPI uses in the manufacture of its products
are cotton of various grades and staple lengths and polyester
and nylon in staple and filament form. Since cotton is an
agricultural product, its supply and quality are subject to
weather patterns, disease and other factors. The price of cotton
is also influenced by supply and demand considerations, both
domestically and worldwide, and by the cost of polyester.
Although WPI has been able to acquire sufficient quantities of
cotton for its operations in the past, any shortage in the
cotton supply by reason of weather patterns, disease or other
factors, or a significant increase in the price of cotton, could
adversely affect its operations. The price of man-made fibers,
such as polyester and nylon, is influenced by demand,
manufacturing capacity and costs, petroleum prices, cotton
prices and the cost of polymers used in producing these fibers.
In particular, the effect of increased energy prices may have a
direct impact upon the cost of dye and chemicals, polyester and
other synthetic fibers. Any significant prolonged petrochemical
shortages could significantly affect the availability of
man-made fibers and could cause a substantial increase in demand
for cotton. This could
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result in decreased availability of cotton and possibly
increased prices and could adversely affect WPIs
operations.
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The home fashion industry is highly competitive and
WPIs success depends on WPIs ability to compete
effectively in the market. |
The home fashion industry is highly competitive. WPIs
future success will, to a large extent, depend on its ability to
remain a low-cost producer and to remain competitive. WPI
competes with both foreign and domestic companies on, among
other factors, the basis of price, quality and customer service.
In the home fashion market, WPI competes with many companies,
the largest of which is Springs Global US, Inc., a
company formed by the merger of Coteminas S.A., a major
Brazilian textile producer, with Springs Industries, Inc.
WPIs future success depends on its ability to remain
competitive in the areas of marketing, product development,
price, quality, brand names, manufacturing capabilities,
distribution and order processing. We cannot assure you of
WPIs ability to compete effectively in any of these areas.
Any failure to compete effectively could adversely affect
WPIs sales and, accordingly, its operations. Additionally,
the easing of trade restrictions over time has led to growing
competition from low priced products imported from Asia and
Latin America. The lifting of import quotas in 2005 has
accelerated the loss of WPIs market share. There can be no
assurance that the foreign competition will not grow to a level
that could have an adverse effect upon WPI s ability to
compete effectively.
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WPI intends to increase the percentage of its products
that are made overseas. There is no assurance that WPI will be
successful in obtaining goods of sufficient quality on a timely
basis and on advantageous terms. WPI will be subject to
additional risks relating to doing business overseas. |
WPI intends to increase the percentage of its products that are
made overseas and may face additional risks associated with
these efforts. Adverse factors that WPI may encounter include:
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challenges caused by distance; |
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language and cultural differences; |
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legal and regulatory restrictions; |
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the difficulty of enforcing agreements with overseas suppliers; |
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currency exchange rate fluctuations; |
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political and economic instability; |
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potential adverse tax consequences; and |
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higher costs associated with doing business internationally. |
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There has been consolidation of retailers of WPIs
products that may reduce its profitability. |
Retailers of consumer goods have become fewer and more powerful
over time. As buying power has become more concentrated, pricing
pressure on vendors has grown. With the ability to buy imported
products directly from foreign sources, retailers pricing
leverage has increased and also allowed for growth in private
label brands that displace and compete with WPI proprietary
brands. Retailers pricing leverage has resulted in a
decline in WPIs unit pricing and margins and resulted in a
shift in product mix to more private label programs. If WPI is
unable to diminish the decline in its pricing and margins, it
may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
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WPI is subject to various federal, state and local
environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. If it
does not comply with these regulations, it may incur significant
costs in the future to become compliant. |
WPI is subject to various federal, state and local laws and
regulations governing, among other things, the discharge,
storage, handling, usage and disposal of a variety of hazardous
and non-hazardous
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substances and wastes used in, or resulting from, its
operations, including potential remediation obligations under
those laws and regulations. WPIs operations are also
governed by federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to employee safety and health which, among other
things, establish exposure limitations for cotton dust,
formaldehyde, asbestos and noise, and which regulate chemical,
physical and ergonomic hazards in the workplace. Consumer
product safety laws, regulations and standards at the federal
and state level govern the manufacture and sale of products by
WPI. Although WPI does not expect that compliance with any of
these laws and regulations will adversely affect its operations,
we cannot assure you that regulatory requirements will not
become more stringent in the future or that WPI will not incur
significant costs to comply with those requirements.
Investments
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We may not be able to identify suitable investments, and
our investments may not result in favorable returns or may
result in losses. |
Our partnership agreement allows us to take advantage of
investment opportunities we believe exist outside of our
operating businesses. The equity securities in which we may
invest may include common stocks, preferred stocks and
securities convertible into common stocks, as well as warrants
to purchase these securities. The debt securities in which we
may invest may include bonds, debentures, notes, or non-rated
mortgage-related securities, municipal obligations, bank debt
and mezzanine loans. Certain of these securities may include
lower rated or non-rated securities which may provide the
potential for higher yields and therefore may entail higher risk
and may include the securities of bankrupt or distressed
companies. In addition, we may engage in various investment
techniques, including derivatives, options and futures
transactions, foreign currency transactions, short
sales and leveraging for either hedging or other purposes. We
may concentrate our activities by owning a significant or
controlling interest in certain investments. We may not be
successful in finding suitable opportunities to invest our cash
and our strategy of investing in undervalued assets may expose
us to numerous risks.
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Our investments may be subject to significant
uncertainties. |
Our investments may not be successful for many reasons
including, but not limited to:
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fluctuation of interest rates; |
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lack of control in minority investments; |
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worsening of general economic and market conditions; |
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lack of diversification; |
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fluctuation of U.S. dollar exchange rates; and |
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adverse legal and regulatory developments that may affect
particular businesses. |
We have invested in securities, including long and
short positions which, in some cases, have resulted
and in the future could result in significant realized and
unrealized losses.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as described in any prospectus supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the securities will be added to our
general funds and used for general business purposes, including,
among other things, additions to working capital, financing of
capital expenditures and acquisitions. We continually identify,
evaluate and discuss with others acquisition opportunities. We
continually evaluate potential acquisition candidates and intend
to continue to pursue transactions. However, we have not reached
any agreements, commitments or understandings for any future
acquisitions other than those arrangements, if any, as described
in documents incorporated by reference or in prospectus
supplements.
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When we offer a particular series of securities, the prospectus
supplement relating to that offering will describe the intended
use of the net proceeds received from that offering. We will
retain broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY UNITS
The following description of our depositary units does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to applicable Delaware law, and to provisions of our
partnership agreement, as amended, and the depositary agreement,
as amended, related to the depositary agreement, or the
depositary agreement entered into among us, the Registrar and
Transfer Company, as depositary, or the depositary, and the
unitholders.
General
The depositary units represent limited partner interests in
AREP. The percentage interest in AREP represented by a
depositary unit is equal to the ratio it bears at the time of
such determination to the total number of depositary units in
AREP (including any undeposited depositary units) outstanding,
multiplied by 99%, which is the aggregate percentage interest in
AREP of all holders of depositary units. Subject to the rights
and preferences of preferred units, each depositary unit
evidences entitlement to a portion of AREPs distributions
and an allocation of AREPs net income and net loss, as
determined in accordance with our partnership agreement. We are
authorized to issue additional depositary units or other
securities from time to time to unitholders or additional
investors without the consent or approval of holders of
depositary units, or unitholders. There is no limit to the
number of depositary units or additional classes of units,
including preferred units, that may be issued. The board of
directors of our general partner has the power, without any
further action by the unitholders, to issue units with such
designations, preferences and relative, participating or other
special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and
duties senior to existing classes of depositary units or
preferred units. The depositary units have no preemptive rights.
Transfer of Depositary Units
Until a depositary unit has been transferred on the books of the
depositary, we and the depositary will treat the record holder
of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes. A transfer
of depositary units will not be recognized by the depositary or
us unless and until the transferee of the depositary units, or a
subsequent transferee, executes and delivers a transfer
application to the depositary. Transfer applications appear on
the back of each depositary receipt and also will be furnished
at no charge by the depositary upon receipt of a request for it.
By executing and delivering a transfer application to the
depositary, a subsequent transferee automatically requests
admission as a substituted unitholder in the partnership, agrees
to be bound by the terms and conditions of our partnership
agreement and grants a power of attorney to our general partner.
On a monthly basis, the depositary will, on behalf of subsequent
transferees who have submitted transfer applications, request
the general partner to admit such subsequent transferees as
substituted limited partners of AREP. If our general partner
consents to such substitution, a subsequent transferee will be
admitted to the partnership as a substituted limited partner
upon the recordation of such subsequent transferees name
in our books and records. Upon admission, which is in the sole
discretion of our general partner, he will be entitled to all of
the rights of a limited partner under the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act, and
pursuant to our partnership agreement.
A subsequent transferee will, after submitting a transfer
application to the depositary but before being admitted to AREP
as a substituted unitholder of record, have the rights of an
assignee under the Delaware Act and our partnership agreement,
including the right to receive its pro rata share of
distributions. A subsequent transferee who does not execute and
deliver a transfer application to the depositary will not be
recognized as the record holder of depositary units and will
only have the right to transfer or assign its depositary units
to a purchaser or other transferee. Therefore, such subsequent
transferee will neither receive distributions from the
partnership nor be entitled to vote on partnership matters or
any other rights
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to which record holders of depositary units are entitled under
the Delaware Act or pursuant to our partnership agreement.
Distributions made in respect of the depositary units held by
such subsequent transferees will continue to be paid to the
transferor of such depositary units.
A subsequent transferee will be deemed to be a party to the
depositary agreement and to be bound by its terms and conditions
whether or not such subsequent transferee executes and delivers
a transfer application to the depositary. A transferor will have
no duty to ensure the execution of a transfer application by a
subsequent transferee and will have no liability or
responsibility if such subsequent transferee neglects or chooses
not to execute and deliver the transfer application to the
depositary. Whenever depositary units are transferred, the
transfer application requires that a subsequent transferee
answer a series of questions. The required information is
designed to provide us with the information necessary to prepare
our tax information return.
Withdrawal of Depositary Units from Deposit
A unitholder may withdraw from the depositary the depositary
units represented by its depositary receipts upon written
request and surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the
depositary units in exchange for a certificate issued by us
evidencing the same number of depositary units. A subsequent
transferee is required to become a unitholder of record before
being entitled to withdraw depositary units from the depositary.
Depositary units which have been withdrawn from the depositary,
and therefore are not evidenced by depositary receipts, are not
transferable except upon death, by operation of law, by transfer
to us or redeposit with the depositary. A holder of depositary
units withdrawn from deposit will continue to receive its
respective share of distributions and allocations of net income
and losses pursuant to our partnership agreement. In order to
transfer depositary units withdrawn from the depositary other
than upon death, by operation of law or to the partnership, a
unitholder must redeposit the certificate evidencing such
withdrawn depositary units with the depositary and request
issuance of depositary receipts representing such depositary
units, which depositary receipts then may be transferred. Any
redeposit of such withdrawn depositary units with the depositary
requires 60 days advance written notice and payment
to the depositary of a redeposit fee initially $5.00 per
100 depositary units or portion thereof, and will be subject to
the satisfaction of certain other procedural requirements under
the depositary agreement.
Replacement of Lost Depositary Receipts and Certificates
A unitholder or subsequent transferee who loses or has its
certificate for depositary units or depositary receipts stolen
or destroyed may obtain a replacement certificate or depositary
receipt by furnishing an indemnity bond and by satisfying
certain other procedural requirements under the depositary
agreement.
Amendment of Depositary Agreement
Subject to the restrictions described below, any provision of
the depositary agreement, including the form of depositary
receipt, may, at any time and from time to time, be amended by
the mutual agreement of us and the depositary in any respect
deemed necessary or appropriate by them, without the approval of
the holders of depositary units. No amendment to the depositary
agreement, however, may impair the right of a holder of
depositary units to surrender a depositary receipt and to
withdraw any or all of the deposited depositary units evidenced
by a depositary receipt or to redeposit depositary units
pursuant to the depositary agreement and receive a depositary
receipt evidencing redeposited depositary units.
The depositary will furnish notice to each record holder of a
depositary unit, and to each securities exchange on which
depositary units are listed for trading, of any material
amendment made to the depositary agreement. Each record holder
of a depositary unit at the time any amendment of the depositary
agreement becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to
hold the depositary unit, to consent and agree to the amendment
and to be bound by the depositary agreement, as so amended.
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The depositary will give notice of the imposition of any fee or
charge, other than fees and charges provided for in the
depositary agreement, or change to the fees and charges, upon
record holders of depositary units to any securities exchange on
which the depositary units are listed for trading and to all
record holders of depositary units. The imposition of any fee or
charge, or change to them, will not be effective until the
expiration of 30 days after the date of such notice, unless
it becomes effective in the form of an amendment to the
depositary agreement effected by us and the depositary.
Termination of Depositary Agreement
We may not terminate the depositary agreement unless the
termination (1) is in connection with us entering into a
similar agreement with a new depositary selected by the general
partner, (2) is as a result of our receipt of an opinion of
counsel to the effect that the termination is necessary for us
to avoid being treated as an association taxable as
a corporation for federal income tax purposes or to avoid being
in violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws
or (3) is in connection with our dissolution.
The depositary will terminate the depositary agreement, when
directed to do so by us, by mailing notice of termination to the
record holders of depositary units then outstanding at least
60 days before the date fixed for the termination in such
notice. Termination will be effective on the date fixed in such
notice, which date must be at least 60 days after it is
mailed. Upon termination of the depositary agreement, the
depositary will discontinue the transfer of depositary units,
suspend the distribution of reports, notices and disbursements
and cease to perform any other acts under the depositary
agreement, except in the event the depositary agreement is not
being terminated in connection with us entering into a similar
agreement with a new depositary, the depositary will assist in
the facilitation of the withdrawal of depositary units by
holders who desire to surrender their depositary receipts.
Resignation or Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign as depositary and may be removed by us
at any time upon 60 days written notice. The
resignation or removal of the depositary becomes effective upon
the appointment of a successor depositary by us and written
acceptance by the successor depositary of its appointment. In
the event a successor depositary is not appointed within
75 days of notification of such resignation or removal, the
general partner will act as depositary until a successor
depositary is appointed. Any corporation into or with which the
depositary may be merged or consolidated will be the successor
depositary without the execution or filing of any document or
any further act.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED UNITS
We are authorized to issue preferred units having rights senior
to our depository units and to our currently outstanding
cumulative pay-in-kind preferred units. The board of directors
of our general partner is authorized to establish the powers,
rights, preferences, privileges and designations of one or more
class of preferred units without further approval, including:
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distribution rights; |
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conversion rights; |
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voting rights; |
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redemption rights and terms of redemption; and |
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liquidation preferences. |
The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the
preferred units of each class will be fixed by a certificate of
amendment to the partnership agreement relating to each class.
The prospectus supplement relating to each class will specify
the terms of the preferred units, including:
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the maximum number of units in the class and the distinctive
designation; |
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the rights to share in partnership distributions; |
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the terms on which the units may be redeemed, if at all; |
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the rights of the class upon dissolution and liquidation of the
partnership; |
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the terms of any retirement or sinking fund for the purchase or
redemption of the units of the class; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, on which the units of the
class will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, units of
any other class or classes of securities; |
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the voting rights, if any, on the units of the class; and |
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any or all other preferences and relative, participating,
operational or other special rights or qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of the units. |
We will describe the specific terms of a particular class of
preferred units in the prospectus supplement relating to that
class. The description of preferred units above and the
description of the terms of a particular series of preferred
units in the prospectus supplement are not complete. You should
refer to the applicable certificate of amendment to our
partnership agreement for complete information. The prospectus
supplement will contain a description of U.S. federal
income tax consequences relating to the particular series of
preferred units.
OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW
The rights of a limited partner of the partnership are set forth
in our partnership agreement. The following is a summary of
certain provisions of our partnership agreement and the
agreement of limited partnership of AREH, or the AREH
partnership agreement, which is similar to our partnership
agreement in all material respects (except for the preferred
units). The following summary discusses certain provisions which
relate to both, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
both our partnership agreement and the AREH partnership
agreement. A reference to the partnership agreement
in this prospectus refers to both of our partnership agreement
and the AREH partnership agreement, unless otherwise indicated.
Removal of the General Partner
Subject to certain limitations on the exercise by unitholders of
voting rights, the general partner may be removed by the written
consent or affirmative vote of holders of depositary units
owning more than 75% of the total number of all outstanding
depositary units, voting as a class, then held by unitholders,
including the general partner and its affiliates to the extent
that they are holders of depositary units. Upon the removal of
the general partner by holders of depositary units, the holders
of depositary units will be obligated to elect a successor
general partner and to continue the business of the partnership.
At the election of the general partner, a successor general
partner will be required, at the effective date of its admission
as a general partner, to purchase APIs 1% general partner
interest directly from API for a price equal to its fair
market value, as described below.
If API does not elect to sell its interest, the successor
general partner will be required to contribute to the capital of
AREP cash in an amount equal to
1/99th
of the product of the number of depositary units outstanding
immediately prior to the effective date of such successor
general partners admission (but after giving effect to the
conversion of APIs general partner interest into
depositary units described below) and the average price at which
the depositary units had been trading over the
20-day period
immediately preceding the successor general partners
admission. Thereafter, the successor general partner will be
entitled to one percent (1%) of all partnership allocations and
distributions.
If API chooses not to sell its 1% general partner interest
directly to a successor general partner, APIs general
partner interest in AREP will be converted into depositary
units, with the number of depositary units to be received to be
based upon the fair market value of its general
partner interest at the time of
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its removal and the average price at which the depositary units
had been trading over the
20-day period preceding
the effective date of APIs departure. In this regard, the
fair market value of the departing general
partners interest is the amount that would be
distributable to API on account of the interest if AREP were to
dispose of all of its assets in an orderly liquidation,
commencing on the effective date of its removal at a price equal
to the fair market value of those assets (discounted at the rate
then payable on one-year U.S. Treasury obligations to the
effective date of such removal to reflect the time reasonably
anticipated to be necessary to consummate the sales), as agreed
upon between API as the departing general partner and its
successor, or, in the absence of an agreement, as determined by
an independent appraiser.
Upon removal of API from the partnership, API also will be
removed as general partner of AREH and its general partner
interest in AREH will either be purchased by the successor
general partner or converted into depositary units (in which
case the successor shall also contribute to the capital of AREH)
in the same manner as provided above with respect to the
partnership.
The partnership agreement provides that, upon the departure of
API and the conversion of its general partner interest in AREP
to depositary units, AREP will, at the request of the departing
general partner, file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission up to three registration statements under the
Securities Act registering the offering and sale of all or a
portion of the depositary units owned by API, including those
depositary units received upon conversion of its general partner
interest in AREP and AREH. The cost of the first registrations
will be borne by AREP and the cost of any other such
registration will be borne by API.
Withdrawal of the General Partner
The general partner may withdraw, but only if:
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(1) the withdrawal is with the consent of a majority
interest; |
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(2) API, with the consent of a majority interest, transfers
all of its interest as general partner in the partnership; |
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(3) the transferee consents to be bound by the partnership
agreement and the transferee has the necessary legal authority
to act as successor general partner of the partnership; and |
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(4) AREP receives an opinion of counsel to the effect that
a vote by the unitholders and the admission of a new general
partner is in conformity with local law, will not cause the loss
of limited liability to the unitholders and will not cause AREP
to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation for federal income tax purposes. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, API may, without the consent of
the unitholders (to the extent permitted by law), transfer its
interest as general partner in AREP to any person or entity that
has, by merger, consolidation or otherwise, acquired all or
substantially all of the assets or stock of API and continued
its business, provided that such person or entity has a net
worth no less than that of API and has accepted and agreed to be
bound by the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement.
The general partner also may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or
grant a security interest in its interest as general partner in
AREP without the consent of unitholders.
Distributions
The general partner has the power and authority to retain or use
partnership assets or revenues as, in the sole and absolute
discretion of the general partner, may be required to satisfy
the anticipated present and future cash needs of the
partnership, whether for operations, expansion, improvements,
acquisitions or otherwise.
Subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act and to the
provision with respect to distributions upon liquidation or
dissolution of the partnership, the general partner, in its sole
and absolute discretion, may make such distribution from
partnership assets or otherwise as it deems appropriate in its
sole discretion,
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quarterly, annually or at any other time. Any distributions will
be distributed to the general partner and the record holders in
accordance with their respective percentage interests.
Distribution of proceeds on liquidation or dissolution of the
partnership will be made; first to the payment of any debts and
liabilities of the partnership which are then due and payable;
next to the establishment of such reserves as the general
partner deems reasonably necessary to provide for any future,
contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the
partnership; and next pro rata in accordance with and to the
extent of the positive balances in the general partners
and record holders respective capital accounts.
Allocations of Income and Loss
The AREP partnership agreement provides, in general, that, after
allocation to the holders of preferred units of an amount of
income or gain equal to the 5% accrued distribution rate for the
year, all items of income, gain, loss and deduction are
allocated to API and to the holders of depositary units in
accordance with their respective percentage ownership in the
partnership. Items allocated to the holders of depositary units
are further allocated among them pro rata in accordance with the
respective number of depositary units owned by each of them. The
partnerships income gain, and loss and deduction, for
federal income tax purposes, will be computed on an annual basis
and apportioned equally among the calendar months among the
general partner and record holders of depositary units in
accordance with their percentage interests as of the close of
business on the last day of the month in which taxable income or
losses are apportioned. The partnerships gains and losses
from capital transactions generally will be allocated among the
general partner and record holders of depositary units in
proportion to their percentage interests as of the close of
business on the last day of the month in which such gains and
losses occurred. However, if gain from a capital transaction is
recognized by the partnership over more than one calendar year,
gain recognized by the partnership in years subsequent to the
year in which the capital transaction occurred shall be
allocated in the same manner as income of the partnership
allocated.
Nevada Gaming Law Dispositions
If any Nevada gaming authority requires that a limited partner
be licensed, qualified or found suitable under any applicable
Nevada gaming law and the limited partner
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fails to apply for a license, qualification or a finding of
suitability within 30 days, or such shorter period as may
be required by the applicable Nevada gaming authority after
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is denied such license or qualification or not found suitable, |
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then, the general partner will have the right, exercisable in
its sole and absolute discretion,
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to require each the limited partner to dispose of its
partnership interest within 30 days, or such earlier date
as may be required by the applicable Nevada gaming authority, of
the occurrence of the event described above, or |
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to redeem the partnership interest of the limited partner, on
behalf of and for the account of the partnership, at a
redemption price equal to lowest of: |
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the market price for the partnership interest on the filing
date, as defined, which, in the case of a depositary unit, will
be the unit price; |
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the price at which such limited partner acquired the partnership
interest; and |
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such other lesser amount as may be required by any Nevada gaming
authority. |
Immediately upon a determination by a Nevada gaming authority
that a limited partner will not be licensed, qualified or found
suitable and must dispose of its partnership interest, the
limited partner will, to the extent required by applicable
Nevada gaming laws, have no further right to exercise, directly
or indirectly, any rights to which limited partners or record
holders are entitled under the Delaware Act or
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partnership agreement or to receive any distributions made by
the partnership, except the redemption price.
New Jersey Gaming Law Dispositions
Securities of the partnership are held subject to the condition
that if a holder of any security is found to be disqualified by
the New Jersey Casino Control Commission pursuant to the
provisions of the New Jersey Casino Control Act, the holder will
dispose of his interest in the partnership in accordance with
the New Jersey Casino Control Act. The partnership agreement is
deemed to include all provisions required by the Casino Control
Act and the regulations under it.
Amendment of the Partnership Agreement
Amendments to the partnership agreement may be proposed by the
general partner or by holders of depositary units owning at
least 10% of the total number of depositary units outstanding
then owned by all unitholders. Any proposed amendment (other
than those described below) must be approved by the general
partner in writing and, subject to limitations on the exercise
by unitholders of voting rights, by at least a majority interest
in order to be adopted. Unless approved by API in writing and,
subject to limitations on the exercise by unitholders of voting
rights, by all of the holders of depositary units, no amendment
may be made to the partnership agreement if the amendment, in
the opinion of counsel would result in the loss of the limited
liability of unitholders or AREP as the sole limited partner of
AREH or would cause AREP or AREH to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. In
addition, no amendment to the partnership agreement may be made
which would:
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enlarge the obligations of the general partner or any unitholder
or convert the interest of any unitholder into the interest of a
general partner; |
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modify the expense reimbursement payable to the general partner
and its affiliates pursuant to the partnership agreement or the
fees and compensation payable to the general partner and its
affiliates pursuant to the AREH partnership agreement; |
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modify the order and method for allocations of net income and
net loss or distributions of net cash flow from operations
without the consent of the general partner or the unitholders
adversely affected; or |
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amend sections of the partnership agreement concerning
amendments of the agreement without the consent of unitholders
owning more than 95% of the total number of depositary units
outstanding then held by all unitholders. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the general partner may make
amendments to the partnership agreement without the consent of
the unitholders, if such amendments are necessary or appropriate:
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to reflect a change in the name or location of the principal
office of the partnership; |
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to reflect the admission, substitution, termination, or
withdrawal of unitholders in accordance with the partnership
agreement; |
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to qualify AREP as a limited partnership or to ensure that AREP
will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation
for federal income tax purposes; |
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in connection with or as a result of the general partners
determination that AREP does not or no longer will qualify as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes, including, without
limitation, an amendment reflecting the reorganization of AREP
into a qualified real estate investment trust; |
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to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature and
does not adversely affect the unitholders in any material
respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any
provision in the partnership agreement not inconsistent with law
or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to
matters arising under the partnership agreement that will not be
inconsistent with law or with the provisions of the partnership
agreement; |
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to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained
in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a
federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law; |
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to facilitate the trading of the depositary units or comply with
any requirement or guideline of any securities exchange on which
the depositary units are or will be listed for trading; |
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to make any change required or contemplated by the partnership
agreement; |
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to amend any provisions requiring any action by the general
partner if applicable provisions of the Delaware Act related to
AREP or AREH are amended or changed so that such action is no
longer necessary; or |
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to authorize AREP to issue units (or other securities) in one or
more additional classes, or one or more series of classes, with
any designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including
rights, powers and duties senior to existing classes of
depositary units or preferred units, as shall be fixed by the
general partner. |
Issuance of Additional Securities
The partnership is authorized to issue additional depositary
units or other securities from time to time to unitholders or
additional investors without the consent or approval of
unitholders. There is no limit to the number of depositary units
or additional classes that may be issued. The board of directors
of the general partner has the power, without any further action
by the unitholders, to issue securities with such designations,
preferences and relative, participating or other special rights,
powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to
existing classes of depositary units or preferred units.
Meetings; Voting Rights of Unitholders
Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by
unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the holders of
depositary units or without a meeting if consents in writing
setting forth the action so taken are signed by holders of
depositary units owning not less than the minimum number of
depositary units or preferred units that would be necessary to
authorize or take such action at a meeting. Meetings of the
holders of depositary units may be called by the general partner
or by unitholders owning at least 10% of the total depositary
units outstanding then owned by all such unitholders. Holders of
depositary units may vote either in person or by proxy at
meetings.
Matters submitted to the unitholders for their consent will be
determined by the affirmative vote, in person or by proxy, of a
majority interest, except that a higher vote will be required
for certain amendments described above, the removal of the
general partner and the continuation of AREP after certain
events that would otherwise cause dissolution.
Each unitholder will have one vote for each depositary unit as
to which the unitholder has been admitted as a unitholder. A
subsequent transferee of depositary units who has not been
admitted as a unitholder of record with respect to the
depositary units will have no voting rights with respect to the
depositary units, even if such subsequent transferee holds other
depositary units as to which it has been admitted as a
unitholder. The voting rights of a unitholder who transfers a
depositary unit will terminate with respect to that depositary
unit upon its transfer, whether or not the subsequent transferee
is admitted as a unitholder of record with respect thereto. The
partnership agreement does not provide for annual meetings of
the unitholders.
Restriction on Short-Form Mergers
Neither the general partner nor its affiliates will cause the
partnership (in the event that the Delaware Act is amended to
permit partnerships to engage in short form merger
transactions), or any successor entity of the partnership,
whether in its current form as a limited partnership or as
converted to or succeeded by a corporation or other form of
business association, to effect a merger or other business
combination (in the event that such short-form merger statute
applies to other business combinations) of
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the partnership or such successor, in each case pursuant to
Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or
any successor statute, or any similar short-form merger statute
under the laws of Delaware or any other jurisdiction. This
provision does not apply to any other merger or business
combination transaction. In addition, no amendment to this
provision is permitted without a unanimous vote of the record
holders, unless the amendment has been approved by the audit
committee, in which event only a majority interest, as defined,
is required for approval of the amendment.
Liability of General Partner and Unitholders
The general partner will be liable for all general obligations
of the partnership to the extent not paid by the partnership.
The general partner will not, however, be liable for the
nonrecourse obligations of the partnership. Assuming that a
unitholder does not take part in the control of the business of
AREP and otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of the
partnership agreement, the liability of the unitholder will,
under the Delaware Act, be limited, subject to certain possible
exceptions, generally to the amount contributed by the
unitholder or the unitholders predecessor in interest to
the capital of the partnership, plus the unitholders share
of any undistributed partnership income, profits or property.
However, under the Delaware Act, a unitholder who receives a
distribution from AREP that is made in violation of the Delaware
Act and who knew at the time of the distribution that the
distribution was improper, is liable to AREP for the amount of
the distribution. Such liability or liability under other
applicable Delaware law (such as the law of fraudulent
conveyances) ceases after expiration of three years from the
date of the applicable distribution.
Under the Delaware Act, a partnership is prohibited from making
a distribution to a partner to the extent that at the time of
the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all
liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to
partners on account of their partnership interests and
liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to
specified property of the partnership, exceed the fair value of
the assets of the partnership (except that fair value of
property that is subject to a liability for which the recourse
of creditors is limited is included in the assets of the
partnership only to the extent that the fair value of the
property exceeds that liability). An assignee of a limited
partner who becomes a substituted limited partner does not,
under the Delaware Act, become liable for any obligation of the
assignor to restore prior distributions.
Books and Reports
The general partner is required to keep complete and accurate
books with respect to the partnerships business at the
principal office of the partnership. The books are maintained
for financial accounting purposes on the accrual basis, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
fiscal year of AREP is the calendar year.
Unitholders will be entitled to have access to AREP books and
certain other records at reasonable times upon reasonable notice
to the general partner, subject to certain limitations including
those intended to protect confidential business information.
The general partner will furnish to each unitholder, within
120 days after the close of each fiscal year, reports
containing certain financial statements of AREP for the fiscal
year, including a balance sheet and statements of income,
unitholders equity and changes in financial position,
which will be audited by a nationally recognized firm of
independent certified public accountants. Within 90 days
after the close of each taxable year, AREP will use its best
efforts to furnish to each unitholder as of the last day of any
month during such taxable year such information as may be
required by the unitholders for the preparation of their
individual federal, state and local tax returns. This
information will be furnished in summary form so that certain
complex calculations normally required can be avoided. The
partnerships ability to furnish such summary information
may depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying
certain information to the partnership.
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Power of Attorney
Pursuant to the AREP partnership agreement, each unitholder of
record appoints API and each of APIs authorized officers
as the unitholders or substituted unitholders
attorney-in-fact:
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to enter into the depositary agreement and deposit the
depositary units of the unitholder or substituted unitholder in
the deposit account established by the depositary and admit the
holders of depositary units and preferred units as limited
partners in AREP, and |
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to make, execute, file and/or record: |
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instruments with respect to any amendment of the partnership
agreement; |
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conveyances and other instruments and documents with respect to
the dissolution, termination and liquidation of AREP pursuant to
the terms of the partnership agreement; |
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financing statements or other documents necessary to grant or
perfect a security interest, mortgage, pledge or lien on all or
any of the assets of the partnership; |
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instruments or papers required to continue the business of AREP
pursuant to the partnership agreement; |
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instruments relating to the admission of substituted limited
partners in the partnership; and |
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all other instruments deemed necessary or appropriate to carry
out the provisions of the partnership agreement. The power of
attorney is irrevocable, will survive the subsequent death,
incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or
termination of the granting unitholder, and will extend to such
unitholders heirs, successors and assigns. |
Death, Bankruptcy or Incompetency of a Unitholder
The death, bankruptcy or adjudication of incompetency of a
unitholder will not dissolve the partnership. In such event, the
legal representatives of the unitholder will have all the rights
of a unitholder for the purpose of settling or managing the
estate and such power as the deceased, bankruptcy or incompetent
unitholder possessed to assess, sell or transfer any part of his
interest. The transfer of depositary units and preferred units
by the legal representative to any person or entity is subject
to all of the restrictions to which such transfer would have
been subject if it had been made by the deceased, bankrupt or
incompetent unitholder.
Termination, Dissolution and Liquidation
The partnership will continue until December 31, 2085,
unless sooner dissolved or terminated and its assets liquidated
upon the occurrence of the earliest of:
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the withdrawal, removal or bankruptcy of the general partner
(subject to the right of the unitholders to reconstitute and
continue the business of AREP by written agreement of a majority
interest and designation by them of a successor general partner
within 90 days); |
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the written consent or affirmative vote of a majority interest,
with the approval of the general partner, to dissolve and
terminate the partnership; |
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the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the partnership; |
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the partnerships insolvency or bankruptcy; or |
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any other event causing or requiring a dissolution under the
Delaware Act. |
The unitholders right to continue AREP described above is
subject to the receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the continuation and the selection of a successor general
partner will not result in the loss of limited liability of the
unitholders and will not cause AREP to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes. Upon dissolution, the general partner or other
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entity or person authorized to wind up the affairs of AREP will
proceed to liquidate the assets of AREP and apply the proceeds
of liquidation in the order of priority set forth in the
partnership agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We will issue our debt securities under one or more separate
indentures between us and a trustee that we will name in the
applicable supplement to this prospectus. Following the
execution of any indenture, the indenture will be filed with the
SEC and incorporated by reference in the registration statement
of which this prospectus is a part.
The following summary describes certain material terms and
provisions of our debt securities. When we offer to sell a
particular series of debt securities, we will describe the
specific terms of the series in the applicable supplement to
this prospectus. You should read the applicable indenture for
more details regarding the provisions of particular debt
securities.
General
The debt securities will be our direct obligations which may be
either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures.
Senior securities and subordinated securities may be issued
pursuant to separate indentures, in each case between us and a
trustee, which may be the same indenture trustee, subject to
such amendments or supplements as may be adopted from time to
time. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as
amended or supplemented from time to time, are sometimes
hereinafter referred to collectively as the
indentures. The indentures will be subject to and
governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The statements made under this heading relating to the debt
securities and the indentures are summaries of their provisions,
do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to the indentures and the debt securities.
Terms
The indebtedness represented by the senior securities will rank
equally with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness. The indebtedness represented by subordinated
securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of our senior securities. The particular terms
of the debt securities offered by us will be described in one or
more supplements to this prospectus, along with any applicable
federal income tax considerations unique to such debt
securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any
series of debt securities, reference must be made to both the
prospectus supplement relating to that series and the
description of the debt securities set forth in this prospectus.
Except as set forth in any prospectus supplement, our debt
securities may be issued without limits as to aggregate
principal amount, in one or more series, in each case as
established from time to time by us or as set forth in the
applicable indenture or in one or more supplemental indentures.
All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same
time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened,
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of
that series, for issuance of additional debt securities of that
series.
Any indenture trustee under an indenture may resign or be
removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities
and a successor indenture trustee may be appointed to act with
respect to such series.
The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of
the indentures and the debt securities. The prospectus
supplement relating to the series of debt securities being
offered will contain further terms of those debt securities,
including the following specific terms:
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(1) The title of the debt securities and whether the debt
securities are secured, unsecured, senior securities or
subordinated securities; |
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(2) The aggregate principal amount of the debt securities
and any limit on such aggregate principal amount; |
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(3) The price (expressed as a percentage of the principal
amount of the series) at which the debt securities will be
issued and, if other than the principal amount of the debt
securities, the portion of the principal amount of the debt
securities payable upon declaration of the maturity of the debt
securities, or (if applicable) the portion of the principal
amount of the debt securities that is convertible into common
units or preferred units, or the method by which any such
portion shall be determined; |
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(4) If convertible, the terms on which such debt securities
are convertible, including the initial conversion price or rate
and the conversion period and any applicable limitations on the
ownership or transferability of the common units or preferred
units receivable on conversion; |
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(5) The date or dates, or the method for determining the
date or dates, on which the principal of the debt securities
will be payable; |
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(6) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or
the method by which the rate or rates shall be determined, at
which the debt securities will bear interest, if any; |
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(7) The date or dates, or the method for determining the
date or dates, from which any interest will accrue, the dates on
which any interest will be payable, the record dates for
interest payment dates, or the method by which the record dates
shall be determined, the persons to whom interest shall be
payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated
if other than that of a
360-day year of twelve
30-day months; |
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(8) The place or places where the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the debt securities
will be payable, where the debt securities may be surrendered
for conversion or registration of transfer or exchange and where
notices or demands to or upon us with respect to the debt
securities and the applicable indenture may be served; |
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(9) The period or periods, if any, within which, the price
or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which
the debt securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory
redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at
our option; |
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(10) Our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase
the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
provision or at the option of a holder of the debt securities,
and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which and the other terms and conditions upon which the debt
securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or
in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
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(11) If other than U.S. dollars, the currency or
currencies in which such debt securities are denominated and
payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more
foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and
the terms and conditions relating thereto; |
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(12) Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such debt securities
may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other
method (which index, formula or method may, but need not, be
based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units, or
composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which such
amounts shall be determined; |
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(13) Whether the debt securities will be issued in
certificated or book-entry form and, if so, the identity of the
depositary for such securities; |
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(14) Whether such debt securities will be in registered or
bearer form or both and, if in registered form, the
denominations thereof if other than $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof and, if in bearer form, the denominations
thereof and terms and conditions relating thereto; |
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(15) The applicability, if any, of the defeasance and
covenant defeasance provisions described in this prospectus or
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture,
or any modification thereof; |
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(16) Whether and under what circumstances we will pay any
additional amounts on the debt securities in respect of any tax,
assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will
have the option to redeem the debt securities in lieu of making
such payment; |
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(17) Any deletions from, modifications of or additions to
the events of default or our covenants, to the extent different
from those described in this prospectus, and any change in the
right of any trustee or any of the holders to declare the
principal amount of any debt securities due and payable; |
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(18) The provisions, if any, relating to the security
provided for the debt securities; and |
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(19) Any other terms of the debt securities not
inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture. |
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt
securities may be issued at a discount below their principal
amount and provide for less than their entire principal amount
to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
of the debt securities original issue discount securities. In
such cases, any special U.S. federal income tax, accounting
and other considerations applicable securities will be described
in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Except as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, neither
our debt securities nor the applicable indenture will contain
any provisions that would limit our ability to incur
indebtedness or that would afford holders of our debt securities
protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar
transaction involving us or in the event of a change of control,
regardless of whether the indebtedness, transaction or change of
control is initiated or supported by us, any of our affiliates
or any other party.
Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for
information with respect to any deletions from, modifications
of, or additions to, the events of default or covenants that are
described below, including any addition of a covenant or other
provision providing event risk or similar protection.
Denomination, Interest, Registration and Transfer
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus
supplement, our debt securities of any series will be issuable
in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the principal of (and applicable premium, if any)
and interest on any series of debt securities will be payable at
the corporate trust office of the applicable indenture trustee,
except, that, at our option, payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled to payment of
interest as it appears in the applicable register for the debt
securities.
Our debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for any
authorized denomination of other debt securities of the same
series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor upon
surrender of the debt securities at the corporate trust office
of the applicable indenture trustee or at the office of any
registrar designated by us for such purpose. In addition,
subject to certain limitations imposed upon debt securities
issued in book-entry form, our debt securities of any series may
be surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer or
exchange thereof at the corporate trust office of the applicable
indenture trustee or at the office of any registrar designated
us the for such purpose. Every debt security surrendered for
conversion, registration of transfer or exchange must be duly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, and
the person requesting such action must provide evidence of title
and identity satisfactory to the applicable indenture trustee or
registrar. Except as may be set forth in any prospectus
supplement, no service charge will be made for any registration
of transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but we may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection with the registration
of any transfer or exchange. If the applicable prospectus
supplement refers to any registrar (in addition to the
applicable indenture trustee) initially designated by us with
respect to any series of debt securities, we may at any time
rescind the designation of any such registrar or approve a
change in the location through which any registrar acts, except
that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each
place of payment for such series.
We may at any time designate additional registrars with respect
to any series of debt securities.
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Neither we nor any indenture trustee shall be required
(1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt
securities of any series during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a
notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected
for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of
the mailing or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange
any debt security, or portion of the debt security, selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion
of any debt security being redeemed in part.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The applicable indenture will provide that we may, without the
consent of the holders of any outstanding debt securities,
consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially
all of our or its assets to, or merge with or into, any other
entity provided that (a) either we shall be the continuing
entity, or the successor entity (if other than our company)
formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or
which shall have received the transfer of such assets, is
organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and
assumes our obligations to pay principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on all of the debt securities and the due and
punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions contained in the indenture; (b) immediately
after the transaction, no event of default under the applicable
indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of
time, or both, would become an event of default, exists; and
(c) an officers certificate and legal opinion
covering these conditions shall be delivered to the applicable
indenture trustee.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable indenture and set
forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the applicable
indenture will provide that will not apply or be required to be
complied with in connection with any merger or consolidation or
sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance of all or substantially
all of our assets to a wholly-owned subsidiary, provided that if
we are not the surviving entity of the transaction, the
surviving entity complies with clause (a).
Covenants
Covenants with respect to any series of debt securities will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the
following provisions will apply to the subordinated debt
securities. To the extent we issue subordinated debt securities,
they will also be contractually subordinated to any senior debt
securities or other senior indebtedness that we may issue. The
indebtedness underlying the subordinated debt securities will be
payable only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness,
including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been
made. If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we
must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior
indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or
interest on, the subordinated debt securities. In the event the
subordinated debt securities are accelerated because of any
event of default, we may not make any payment on the
subordinated debt securities until either we have paid all
senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded.
If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization,
holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and
holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less,
ratably, than our other creditors.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement, each indenture will provide that the following
events are Events of Default with respect to any
series of debt securities:
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(1) default for 30 days in the payment of any
installment of interest on any debt security of that series; |
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(2) default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any debt security of the series at its maturity upon
redemption or otherwise; |
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(3) default in the performance or breach of any other
covenant contained in the indenture (other than a covenant added
to the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt
securities issued under the indenture other than such series),
continued for 60 days after written notice as provided in
the applicable Indenture has been given; |
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(4) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator
or trustee of our company or any guarantor that is a significant
subsidiary, as defined; and |
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(5) any other event of default provided with respect to a
particular series of debt securities. |
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If an event of default under any indenture with respect to debt
securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then in every such case the applicable indenture
trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the debt securities of that series will have the right to
declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that
series are original issue discount securities or indexed
securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be
specified in the terms of those debt securities) of all the debt
securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by
written notice thereof to us (and to the applicable indenture
trustee if given by the holders). However, at any time after
such a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt
securities of any series (or of all debt securities then
outstanding under any indenture, as the case may be) has been
made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money
due has been obtained by the applicable indenture trustee, the
holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
outstanding debt securities of that series (or of all debt
securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as
the case may be) may rescind and annul the declaration and its
consequences. The indentures also will provide that the holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt
securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as
the case may be) may waive any past default with respect to that
series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of
the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt
security of that series.
The indentures will require each indenture trustee to give
notice to the holders of debt securities within 90 days of
a default under the applicable indenture unless the default
shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that the
indenture trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any
series of debt securities of any default with respect to the
series if specified responsible officers of such indenture
trustee consider withholding of notice to be in the interest of
the holders.
Except as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, each
indenture will provide that no holder of debt securities of any
series may institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with
respect to such indenture or for any remedy under it, except in
the case of failure of the applicable indenture trustee, for
60 days, to act after it has received a written request to
institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the
holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series, as well as an offer
of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. This provision will
not prevent, however, any holder of debt securities from
instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities at
the respective due dates thereof.
The indentures will provide that, subject to provisions in each
indenture relating to its duties in case of default, an
indenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of
its rights or powers under an indenture at the request or
direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then
outstanding under that indenture, unless the holders shall have
offered to the indenture trustee under that indenture reasonable
security or indemnity. The holders of not less than a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any
series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under an
indenture, as the case may be) shall have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the applicable indenture trustee, or of
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the indenture
trustee. However, an indenture trustee may refuse to follow any
direction which is in conflict with any law or the applicable
indenture, which may involve the indenture trustee in personal
liability or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of
debt securities of such series not joining therein.
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Within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year, we will
be required to deliver to each indenture trustee a certificate,
signed by one of several of our specified officers, stating
whether or not the officer has knowledge of any default under
the applicable indenture and, if so, specifying each default and
the nature and status of the default.
Modification of the Indentures
Except as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement,
modifications and amendments of an indenture will be permitted
to be made only with the consent of the holders of not less than
a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt
securities issued under the indenture affected by the
modification or amendment; provided, however, that no
modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder
of each debt security affected thereby,
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(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any the debt
security; |
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(2) reduce the principal amount of, or the rate or amount
of interest on, or any premium payable on redemption of, any
such debt security, or reduce the amount of principal of an
original issue discount security that would be due and payable
upon declaration of acceleration of its maturity or would be
provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of
repayment of the holder of any such debt security; |
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(3) change the coin or currency for payment of principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on any the debt security; or |
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(4) modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the
provisions relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or
certain covenants. |
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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all
holders of debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as
that series is concerned, compliance by us with certain
restrictive covenants of the applicable indenture.
Modifications and amendments of an indenture will be permitted
to be made by us and the respective indenture trustee without
the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the
following purposes:
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(1) to evidence the succession of another person to our
company as obligor under the indenture; |
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(2) to add to the covenants of our company for the benefit
of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to
surrender any right or power conferred upon us in such indenture; |
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(3) to add or change any provisions of an indenture to
facilitate the issuance of, or to liberalize certain terms of,
debt securities in bearer form, or to permit or facilitate the
issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form; provided
that the action shall not adversely affect the interest of the
holders of the debt securities of any series in any material
respect; |
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(4) to change or eliminate any provisions of an indenture;
provided that any such change or elimination shall be effective
only when there are no debt securities outstanding of any series
created prior thereto which are entitled to the benefit of such
provision; |
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(5) to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a
successor indenture trustee or facilitate the administration of
the trusts under an indenture by more than one indenture trustee; |
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(6) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in an
indenture; or |
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(7) to supplement any of the provisions of an indenture; |
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The indentures will provide that, in determining whether the
holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of a series have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the
applicable indenture or whether a quorum is present at a meeting
of holders of debt securities, the principal amount of an
original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be
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outstanding shall be the amount of principal that would be due
and payable as of the date of the determination upon declaration
of acceleration of the maturity of the original discount issue
security pursuant to the indenture,
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we will be permitted, at our option, to discharge
certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities
issued under any indenture that have not already been delivered
to the applicable indenture trustee for cancellation and that
either have become due and payable or will become due and
payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one
year) by irrevocably depositing with the applicable indenture
trustee, in trust, funds in the currency or currencies, currency
unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which the
debt securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the
entire indebtedness on the debt securities with respect to
principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the
deposit (if such debt securities have become due and payable) or
to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the indentures will provide that we may elect either
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(1) to defease and be discharged from any and all
obligations with respect to such debt securities, or |
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(2) to be released from our obligations with respect to
covenants under the applicable indenture. |
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In either case upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the
applicable indenture trustee, in trust, of an amount sufficient
to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the debt securities on the stated maturity or on the applicable
redemption date.
Such a trust will only be permitted to be established if, among
other things, we have delivered to the applicable indenture
trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the applicable
indenture) and to the effect that the holders of the outstanding
debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and
will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such defeasance had not occurred. In the event of
defeasance, the holders of debt securities would thereafter be
able to look only to the trust fund for payment of principal
(and premium, if any) and interest.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the
provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant
defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions
described above, with respect to the debt securities of or
within a particular series.
Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities
are convertible into depositary units or preferred units will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating
thereto. Such terms will include whether such debt securities
are convertible into depositary units or preferred units, the
conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the
conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be
at our option or the option of the holders, the events requiring
an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting
conversion in the event of the redemption of such debt
securities and any restrictions on conversion.
Payment
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the principal of (and applicable premium, if any)
and interest on any series of debt securities will be payable at
the corporate trust office of the indenture trustee, the address
of which will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement;
provided that, at our option payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it
appears in the applicable register for such debt securities or
by wire transfer of funds to such person at an account
maintained within the United States.
39
All moneys paid by us to a paying agent or an indenture trustee
for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest
on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of one
year after such principal, premium or interest has become due
and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such debt
security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more global securities that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the
applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global
securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and
in either temporary or permanent form. The specific terms of the
depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt
securities will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement relating to such series.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES
The following summarizes the terms of the warrants to purchase
debt securities we may offer. The summaries contained in this
prospectus, together with the description of warrants to
purchase debt securities and indentures included in the
applicable prospectus supplement, will provide the material
terms of the warrants to purchase debt securities and of the
indenture.
General
We may issue debt warrants evidenced by debt warrant
certificates independently or together with any securities
offered by any prospectus supplement. If we offer debt warrants,
the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the
warrants, including:
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the offering price, if any; |
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the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the
debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and
the terms of the applicable indenture under which the debt
securities will be issued; |
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities
with which the debt warrants are issued and the number of debt
warrants issued with each debt security; |
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if applicable, the date on and after which the debt warrants and
the related securities will be separately transferable; |
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the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon
exercise of one debt warrant and the price at which the
principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon
exercise; |
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the dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants
begins and expires; |
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U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
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whether the warrants represented by the debt warrant
certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
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the currencies in which the offering price and exercise price
are payable; and |
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if applicable, any antidilution provisions. |
You may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant
certificates of different denominations and may present debt
warrant certificates for registration of transfer at the
corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, which will be
listed in the prospectus supplement. Warrantholders do not have
any of the rights of holders of debt securities, except to the
extent that the consent of warrantholders may be required for
certain modifications of the terms of the applicable indenture
or form of the debt security, as the case may be, and the series
of debt securities issuable upon exercise of the debt warrants.
40
In addition, warrantholders are not entitled to payments of
principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities.
Exercise of Debt Warrants
You may exercise debt warrants by surrendering the debt warrant
certificate at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant
agent, with payment in full of the exercise price. Upon the
exercise of debt warrants, the debt warrant agent will, as soon
as practicable, deliver the debt securities in authorized
denominations in accordance with your instructions and at your
sole cost and risk. If less than all the debt warrants evidenced
by the debt warrant certificate are exercised, the agent will
issue a new debt warrant certificate for the remaining amount of
debt warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE
DEPOSITARY UNITS OR PREFERRED UNITS
The following summarizes the terms of depositary unit warrants
and preferred unit warrants we may issue. This description is
subject to the detailed provisions of a stock warrant agreement
that we will enter into between us and a warrant agent we select
at the time of issue.
General
We may issue warrants evidenced by warrant certificates under a
warrant agreement independently or together with any securities
we offer by any prospectus supplement. If we offer stock
warrants, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of
the stock warrants, including:
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the offering price, if any; |
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the preferred unit
purchasable upon exercise of the preferred unit warrants; |
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the number of shares of depositary units or preferred units
purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the initial price
at which the units may be purchased upon exercise; |
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the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and
expires; |
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U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
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call provisions, if any; |
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the currencies in which the offering price and exercise price
are payable; and |
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if applicable, the antidilution provisions of the warrants. |
The units we issue upon exercise of the stock warrants will,
when issued in accordance with the warrant agreement, be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Exercise of Warrants
You may exercise warrants by surrendering to the warrant agent
the warrant certificate, which indicates your election to
exercise all or a portion of the warrants evidenced by the
certificate. Surrendered warrant certificates must be
accompanied by payment of the exercise price in the form of cash
or a check. The warrant agent will deliver certificates
evidencing duly exercised stock warrants to the transfer agent.
Upon receipt of the certificates, the transfer agent will
deliver a certificate representing the number of depositary
units or preferred units purchased. If you exercise fewer than
all the warrants evidenced by any certificate, the warrant agent
will deliver a new stock warrant certificate representing the
unexercised stock warrants.
41
No Rights as Unitholders
Holders of warrants are not entitled to vote, to consent, to
receive distributions or to receive notice as unitholders with
respect to any meeting, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as
unitholders of the partnership.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell our securities in or outside the United States to or
through underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to
other purchasers. The applicable supplement to this prospectus
with respect to our securities, will set forth the terms of the
offering of our securities, including the name or names of any
underwriters, dealers or agents, the public offering price, any
underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriter
compensation, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed
or paid to dealers, and any securities exchanges on which the
securities may be listed.
Our securities may be sold directly by us or through agents
designated by us from time to time at fixed prices, which may be
changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of a sale
of our securities. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of
our securities will be named, and any commissions payable by us
to such agent will be set forth, in the supplement to this
prospectus relating thereto.
In connection with the sale of our securities, underwriters or
agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of
our securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters may sell our securities to or through dealers, and
such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or
commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of our securities may be deemed to be underwriters
under the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they
receive from us and any profit on the resale of our securities
they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or
agent will be identified, and any such compensation received
from us will be described, in the applicable supplement to this
prospectus. Unless otherwise set forth in the supplement to this
prospectus relating thereto, the obligations of the underwriters
or agents to purchase our securities will be subject to
conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all our securities if any are purchased. The public
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Any depositary units sold pursuant to this prospectus and
applicable prospectus supplement, will be approved for trading,
upon notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange.
LEGAL MATTERS
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, New York, New York, will
provide us with an opinion as to certain legal matters in
connection with the securities we are offering.
EXPERTS
American Real Estate Partners, L.P.
The consolidated financial statements, financial statement
schedule and managements assessment of effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting of American Real
Estate Partners, L.P. as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for
years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus to American Real Estate Partners,
L.P.s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, as of and
for the year ended December 31, 2005, have been audited by
Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting
firm, as stated in its reports with respect thereto, and are
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving
said reports.
The consolidated statements of operations, changes in
partners equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows
for the year ended December 31, 2003 and related financial
statement schedule for the year
42
ended December 31, 2003 in American Real Estate Partners,
L.P.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for
the year ended December 31, 2005, have been incorporated by
reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance
upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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American Property Investors, Inc. |
The balance sheet of American Property Investors, Inc. as of
December 31, 2005, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus to American Real Estate Partners, L.P.s Current
Report on Form 8-K
filed on April 18, 2006, has been audited by Grant Thornton
LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
its report with respect thereto, and is incorporated by
reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing in giving said report.
The consolidated financial statements of WestPoint Stevens Inc.
as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2004, appearing in
American Real Estate Partners, L.P.s Form 8-K/A dated
October 21, 2005 have been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth
in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph
describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about
WestPoint Stevens Inc.s ability to continue as a going
concern as described in Note 2 to the consolidated
financial statements) included therein and incorporated herein
by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report
given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of GB Holdings, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and for each of the
years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2004 have
been audited by KPMG LLP as set forth in the report of KPMG LLP,
independent registered public accounting firm, and such report
has been incorporated by reference to American Real Estate
Partners, L.P.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K, as
amended, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2004
consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory
paragraph that states that GB Holdings recurring net
losses, net working capital deficiency and significant debt
obligations which are due within one year raise substantial
doubt about the entitys ability to continue as a going
concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that
uncertainty.
INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS AND GEOLOGISTS
Information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
concerning reserve evaluations and related calculations as of
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 for the Longfellow Ranch
properties owned by NEG Operating LLC are incorporated herein in
reliance upon the report of DeGolyer and MacNaughton,
independent petroleum engineering consultants, given upon their
authority as experts in petroleum engineering.
The estimated reserve evaluations and related calculations as of
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 for properties held by NEG
Operating LLC, and, as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 for
properties held by National Onshore LP and National Offshore LP
located in East Texas, West Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf
Coast, the Arkoma Basin of Arkansas and Oklahoma and the Andarko
Basin of Oklahoma are incorporated herein in reliance upon the
report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent
petroleum engineering consultants, given upon their authority as
experts in petroleum engineering.
Information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
concerning reserve evaluations and related calculations as of
December 31, 2004 and 2003 for our properties held by NEG
Operating LLC in connection with the acquisition of Shana
National LLC are incorporated herein in reliance upon the
43
authority of Prator Bett, L.L.C., independent petroleum
consultants, given upon their authority as experts in petroleum
engineering.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-3 under the
Securities Act to register the units and debt securities offered
by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of the registration
statement. This prospectus does not contain all the information
contained in the registration statement because we have omitted
certain parts of the registration statement in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information,
we refer you to the registration statement, which you may read
and copy at the public reference facilities maintained by the
SEC at 100 F Street, N. E. Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies at the
prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at
its principal office in Washington, D.C. You may call the
SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
for further information about the public reference rooms. The
SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding us. You
may access the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a result, we are
required to file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. These materials can be copied and inspected at the
locations described above. Copies of these materials can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at
100 F Street, N. E. Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Our depositary
units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
ACP.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that
we file later with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the
documents listed below, all filings made pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of the
initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the
registration statement and any other future filings we will make
with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act:
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Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K and
10-K/A for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on
March 16, 2006 and March 31, 2006, respectively (SEC
File No. 1-9516); |
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Our Current Report on
Form 8-K/A, filed
with the SEC on October 21, 2005, and our Current Reports
on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2006 and
April 18, 2006 (SEC File
No. 1-9516);
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The description of the depositary units contained in the
Registration Statement on
Form 8-A,
initially filed on May 12, 1987, and any subsequent
amendment thereto filed for the purpose of updating such
description. |
You may request a copy of these filings (not including the
exhibits to such documents unless the exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference in the information contained in this
prospectus), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the
following address:
American Real Estate Partners, L.P.
100 South Bedford Road
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone requests may be directed to
(914) 242-7700
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed
with the SEC. You should rely only on the information or
representations provided in this prospectus. We have authorized
no one to provide you with different information. We are not
making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer
is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is
accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the
document.
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of
any contract or document are not necessarily complete and in
each instance reference is made to the copy of that contract or
document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or as
an exhibit to another filing, each such statement being
qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and
schedules thereto.
45
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.
AMERICAN REAL ESTATE FINANCE CORP.
PROSPECTUS
PART II.
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 14. |
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the
estimated expenses in connection with the offering are as
follows:
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Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
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117,700 |
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Accounting fees and expenses
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75,000 |
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Legal fees and expenses
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75,000 |
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Printing expenses
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15,000 |
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Miscellaneous
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5,000 |
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TOTAL
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$ |
287,700 |
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Item 15. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Indemnification Under the Delaware Limited Partnership Act
and the American Real Estate Partners L.P. Limited Partnership
Agreement
American Real Estate Partners, L.P. is organized under the laws
of Delaware.
Section 17-108 of
the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the
Partnership Act) provides that a limited partnership
may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless
any partners or other persons from and against any and all
claims and demands whatsoever, subject to such standards and
restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement.
Section 6.15 of the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of American Real Estate Partners, L.P.,
dated as of May 12, 1987, provides that the general
partner, its affiliates, and all officers, directors, employees
and agents of the general partner and its affiliates
(individually, an Indemnitee), to the fullest extent
permitted by law, will be indemnified and held harmless from and
against any and all losses, claims, demands, costs, damages,
liabilities, joint and several, expenses of any nature
(including attorneys fees and disbursements), judgments,
fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all
claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the
Indemnitee may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a
party or otherwise by reason of its status as (x) the
General Partner or an Affiliate thereof or (y) a partner,
shareholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the General
Partner or an Affiliate thereof or (z) a Person serving at
the request of the Partnership in another entity in a similar
capacity, which relate to, arise out of or are incidental to the
Partnership, its property, business or affairs, including,
without limitation, liabilities under the federal and state
securities laws, regardless of whether the Indemnitee continues
to be a General Partner, an Affiliate, or an officer, director,
employee or agent of the General Partner or of an Affiliate
thereof at the time any such liability or expense is paid or
incurred, if (i) the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in
a manner it believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Partnership, and, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was
unlawful and (ii) the Indemnitees conduct did not
constitute willful misconduct. The agreement further provides
that an Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole
or in part under Section 6.15 by reason of the fact that
the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect
to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was
otherwise permitted by the terms of the partnership agreement.
Any indemnification under Section 6.15 shall be satisfied
solely out of the assets of the partnership. The Record Holders
shall not be subject to personal liability by reason of the
indemnification provision.
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Indemnification Under the Delaware General Corporation Law
and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of American Real
Estate Finance Corp.
American Real Estate Finance Corp. (AREP Finance) is
a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and
officers as well as other employees and individuals against
expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is
made a party by reason of such person being or having been a
director, officer, employee of or agent to the Registrants. The
statute provides that it is not exclusive of other rights to
which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise.
(a) Exhibits
See the accompanying Exhibit Index.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
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(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement; |
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(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
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(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of
Registration Fee table in the effective registration
statement; |
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(iii) To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement; |
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provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii)
and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is
contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement. |
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(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof. |
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(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
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(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under
the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
II-2
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(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
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(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the
registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
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(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement
in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant
to Rule 415(a)(l)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing
the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act
shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration
statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus
is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first
contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the
prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of
the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter,
such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the
registration statement relating to the securities in the
registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement
or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made
in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of
the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time
of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or
modify any statement that was made in the registration statement
or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or
made in any such document immediately prior to such effective
date; or |
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(ii) If the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a
Registration Statement relating to an offering, other than
Registration Statements relying on Rule 430B or other than
prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be
deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement
as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.
Provided, however, that no statement made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the
Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement
or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement will,
as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such
first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in
the Registration Statement or prospectus that was part of the
Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such date of first use. |
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the
registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the
initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of
securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to the
registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method
used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities
are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the
following communications, the undersigned registrants will be a
seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell
such securities to such purchaser: |
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(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the
undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
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(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used
or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about
the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
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(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
II-3
(and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer of controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
(8) For purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of
prospectus filed as part of a registration statement in reliance
upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus
filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
(4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to
be part of the registration statement as of the time it was
declared effective.
(9) For the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a
form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(10) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file
an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of
the trustee to act under subsection (a) of
Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with
the rules and regulations prescribed under the Commission under
Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing a
Form S-3 and has
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New
York, New York on April 21, 2006.
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AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P. |
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By: |
American Property Investors, Inc., its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Keith A. Meister |
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Keith A. Meister |
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Principal Executive Officer and |
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Vice Chairman of the Board |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this registration statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
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/s/ Keith A. Meister
Keith A. Meister |
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Principal Executive Officer
and Vice Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer) |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
Jon F. Weber |
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President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer) |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
Adrian Tannian |
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Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
Jack G. Wasserman |
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Director |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
William A. Leidesdorf |
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Director |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
James L. Nelson |
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Director |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
Carl C. Icahn |
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Chairman of the Board |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*By: |
/s/ Keith A. Meister |
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Keith A. Meister,
Attorney-in-fact
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II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing a
Form S-3 and has
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New
York, New York on April 21, 2006.
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AMERICAN REAL ESTATE FINANCE CORP. |
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|
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Keith A. Meister |
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Principal Executive Officer and |
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Vice Chairman of the Board |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this registration statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
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|
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|
|
/s/ Keith A. Meister
Keith A. Meister |
|
Principal Executive Officer and
Vice Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
April 21, 2006 |
|
*
Jon F. Weber |
|
President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer) |
|
April 21, 2006 |
|
*
Adrian Tannian |
|
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
April 21, 2006 |
|
*
Jack G. Wasserman |
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Director |
|
April 21, 2006 |
|
*
William A. Leidesdorf |
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Director |
|
April 21, 2006 |
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*
James L. Nelson |
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Director |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*
Carl C. Icahn |
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Chairman of the Board |
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April 21, 2006 |
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*By: |
/s/ Keith A. Meister |
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Keith A. Meister,
Attorney-in-fact
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II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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1 |
.1 |
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Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
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3 |
.1 |
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Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AREP,
dated as of May 12, 1987 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit No. 3.2 to AREPs Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2004 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on
May 10, 2004). |
|
3 |
.2 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to the Amendment and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREP, dated February 22, 1995
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to AREPs
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 (SEC File
No. 1-9516), filed on March 31, 1995). |
|
3 |
.3 |
|
Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREP, dated as of August 16, 1996
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to AREPs
Form 8-K (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on August 16,
1996). |
|
3 |
.4 |
|
Amendment No. 3 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREP, dated May 9, 2002
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to AREPs
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (SEC File
No. 1-9516), filed on March 31, 2003). |
|
3 |
.5 |
|
Amendment No. 4 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREP, dated June 29, 2005
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.1 to
AREPs Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2005 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on August 9, 2005). |
|
3 |
.6 |
|
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AREH,
dated as of May 21, 1987 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.5 to AREPs Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2004 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on
May 10, 2004). |
|
3 |
.7 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREH, dated August 16, 1996
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to AREPs
Form 8-K (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on August 16,
1996). |
|
3 |
.8 |
|
Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREH, dated June 14, 2002
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to AREPs
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (SEC File
No. 1-9516), filed on March 31, 2003). |
|
3 |
.9 |
|
Amendment No. 3 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of AREH, dated May 9, 2002
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to AREPs
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (SEC
File No. 1-9516), filed on August 9, 2005). |
|
4 |
.1 |
|
Depositary Agreement among AREP, American Property Investors,
Inc. and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of
July 1, 1987 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to AREPs Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2004 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on May 10, 2004). |
|
4 |
.2 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to the Depositary Agreement dated as of
February 22, 1995 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to AREPs Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1994 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on
March 31, 1995). |
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4 |
.3 |
|
Specimen Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to AREPs Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on
March 16, 2005). |
|
4 |
.4 |
|
Form of Transfer Application (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 to AREPs Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004 (SEC File No. 1-9516), filed on
March 16, 2005). |
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4 |
.5 |
|
Specimen Certificate representing preferred units (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit No. 4.9 to AREPs
Form S-3 (SEC File No. 33-54767), filed on
February 22, 1995). |
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4 |
.6 |
|
Form of Amendment to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of AREP setting forth the rights and preferences of
Preferred Units. |
|
4 |
.7 |
|
Form of Indenture. |
|
4 |
.8 |
|
Form of Indenture. |
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5 |
.1 |
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Opinion of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP. |
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Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
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|
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8 |
.1 |
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Opinion of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP as to certain
federal income tax matters. |
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12 |
.1 |
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. |
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23 |
.1 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP. |
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23 |
.2 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP. |
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23 |
.3 |
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Consent of KPMG LLP. |
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23 |
.4 |
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Consent of KPMG LLP. |
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23 |
.5 |
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm. |
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23 |
.6 |
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Consent of Degolyer and MacNaughton. |
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23 |
.7 |
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Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. |
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23 |
.8 |
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Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. |
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23 |
.9 |
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Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. |
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23 |
.10 |
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Consent of Prator Bett, L.L.C. |
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23 |
.11 |
|
Consent of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP (included in
Exhibit 5.1). |
|
24 |
|
|
Power of Attorney (previously filed). |
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25 |
.1 |
|
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 under the Indenture. |
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|
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |