Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday it is talking with its banks about a credit amendment that would let it buy back up to $800 million in debt. But its chief executive said the company only wants to have the option, and doesn't intend to repurchase debt anytime soon.

Billionaire CEO Sheldon Adelson told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Las Vegas-based company considers the option another tool to solve potential covenant breaches.

"We don't have any intention now and we have no intention of having an intention in the very near future," Adelson told the AP. "Right now it's not necessary for us to do this."

The company disclosed the discussions in a regulatory filing on Tuesday. The amendment would let Sands acquire debt outstanding through 2010.

Sands said in its annual report for 2008 it had $10.47 billion in long-term debt as of Dec. 31.

Shares of Sands rose 40 cents on Tuesday to close at $3.05, up 15 percent.

Sands also said in its filing that Bradley Stone, the company's president of global operations and construction, resigned last week. The company said that the effective date and terms of Stone's resignation have not been determined.

Adelson said Stone's departure was for personal reasons and had nothing to do with the recent ouster of William Weidner, who was the company's president and chief operating officer. Adelson did not elaborate on Stone's resignation, but analysts have speculated that Stone might follow Weidner out the door because the two have worked closely for at least 20 years.

Adelson said he has been re-energized by Weidner's departure, believing that the rest of the staff is more optimistic about the company's future.

"I have never been as pessimistic as Bill Weidner wanted to be," Adelson said. "He thought that the decisions that were being made were not the right decisions, but then again he's not the boss."

Adelson said a special committee formed to resolve disputes between himself and other senior managers has been disbanded. Sands first revealed that the board had been created in a November regulatory filing.

Adelson said he and Weidner's replacement, Michael A. Leven, recently traveled to China to meet with four groups interested in buying into the company, including two construction companies interested in financing and building two suspended hotel projects in Macau in exchange for equity.

Adelson said that he met with the groups to see if their intentions were sincere.

"They're serious people with serious intent and deep enough pockets," he said.

Adelson said it was too soon to determine whether a deal would be made, but said Sands and the groups would begin considering what it could look like.

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On the Net:

Las Vegas Sands Corp.: http://www.lasvegassands.com