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File #: 19-100    Version: 1 Name: N/A
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 12/4/2019 In control: TRIBAL COUNCIL
On agenda: 12/16/2019 Final action: 12/20/2019
Enactment date: 12/16/2019 Enactment #: R-071-19
Title: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTAIN LENDING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING CHEROKEE NATION BUSINESSES, L.L.C., A CHEROKEE NATION TRIBAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, AND AUTHORIZING A LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
Sponsors: Janees Taylor, Mike Shambaugh, Joe Deere, Dora Patzkowski, Keith Austin, Julia Coates, Victoria Vazquez, Daryl Legg, E. O. "JR." Smith, Mike Dobbins, Harley Buzzard, Joe Byrd, Canaan Duncan , Wes Nofire
Indexes: Cherokee Nation Businesses, Line of Credit, Waiver of Sovereign Immunity
Code sections: N/A - Not Applicable
Attachments: 1. R-71-19.PDF

Title

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTAIN LENDING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING CHEROKEE NATION BUSINESSES, L.L.C., A CHEROKEE NATION TRIBAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, AND AUTHORIZING A LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY

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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with an historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America; and

 

WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation Businesses, L.L.C. ("CNB") is a for-profit limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cherokee Nation, is wholly owned by the Cherokee Nation and enjoys sovereign immunity from suit under federal law; and

 

WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation Entertainment, L.L.C. ("CNE") is a for-profit limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cherokee Nation, is wholly-owned by CNB and enjoys sovereign immunity from suit under federal law; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2013, (i) CNB obtained a five-year credit facility from BOKF, NA dba Bank of Oklahoma (“BOK”) in the original amount of $100,000,000, (ii) CNE and its subsidiaries guaranteed the loan, (iii) CNB, CNE, and CNE’s subsidiaries pledged certain of their assets relating to gaming and entertainment operations, and (iv) the Cherokee Nation entered into a Non-Interference Agreement and provided limited waivers of sovereign immunity to allow BOK to enforce the transaction parties’ obligations with respect to the credit facility and to enforce the Cherokee Nation’s obligations with respect to the Non-Interference Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2017, (i) the parties increased the amount of credit available under the Credit Agreement from $100,000,000 to $150,000,000 and extended the maturity date, (ii) the guarantees, the asset pledges and the Non-Interference Agreement were ratified and confirmed, and (iii) the Cherokee Nation provided an updated limited waiver of sovereign immunity; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to the transactions desire to (i) increase the amount of credit available under the Credit Agreement from $150,000,000 to $300,000,000, (ii) extend the maturity date further, (iii) have the guarantees, the asset pledges and the Non-Interference Agreement ratified and confirmed, and (iv) have the Cherokee Nation provide an updated limited waiver of sovereign immunity.

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Tribal Council hereby authorizes the increase of the amount of credit available under the Credit Agreement to $300,000,000 and the extension of the maturity date, and authorizes the ratification and confirmation of the guarantees, the asset pledges and the Non-Interference Agreement, all on terms and conditions to be negotiated by the authorized officers of CNB, CNE, and CNE’s subsidiaries and/or the Principal Chief; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Tribal Council hereby authorizes the Principal Chief and/or his designee to negotiate as necessary and to expressly waive the sovereign immunity and jurisdiction of the transaction parties as they apply to the loan transactions, and of the Cherokee Nation as they apply to the reaffirmed Non-Interference Agreement; and

 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that this Resolution shall in no manner or in any respect operate or be construed to operate to waive or otherwise diminish the sovereign immunity of the Cherokee Nation, except as to allow certain actions against the transaction parties and the Cherokee Nation as provided herein and in the applicable loan documents.