EXHIBIT 1.1
VIDEOTRON LTEE
and
THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO
U.S.$315,000,000
6 7/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE JANUARY 15, 2014
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED NOVEMBER 15, 0000
XXXX XX XXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
XXXXXX XXXXXXX CORP.
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
NBF SECURITIES (USA) CORP.
HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.............................. 2
(a) No Registration Required.................................... 2
(b) No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation......... 2
(c) No Solicitation in Canada................................... 3
(d) Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A...................... 3
(e) The Offering Memorandum..................................... 3
(f) The Purchase Agreement...................................... 3
(g) The Registration Rights Agreement........................... 3
(h) The DTC Agreement........................................... 3
Authorization of the Securities and the Exchange
(i) Securities................................................ 4
(j) Authorization of the Indenture.............................. 4
Description of the Securities, the Indenture and the
(k) Registration Rights Agreement............................. 4
(l) Statements in the Offering Memorandum....................... 4
(m) No Material Adverse Change.................................. 4
(n) Independent Accountants..................................... 5
(o) Preparation of the Financial Statements..................... 5
(p) Material Subsidiaries....................................... 5
Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
(q) Material Subsidiaries..................................... 5
(r) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters.............. 6
Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
(s) Authorizations or Approvals Required...................... 6
(t) No Material Actions or Proceedings.......................... 7
(u) Intellectual Property Rights................................ 7
(v) All Necessary Permits, etc.................................. 7
(w) Communications Statutes..................................... 8
(x) Eligibility................................................. 8
(y) Employee Plans.............................................. 8
(z) Title to Properties......................................... 8
(aa) Tax Law Compliance.......................................... 9
(bb) Exchange Controls........................................... 9
(cc) Company Not an "Investment Company"......................... 9
(dd) Insurance................................................... 9
(ee) Compliance with Environmental Laws.......................... 9
(ff) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation...................... 10
(gg) Solvency.................................................... 10
(hh) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments................. 10
(ii) Accounting System........................................... 10
(jj) Amended Bank Credit Facility................................ 10
(kk) No Restriction on Dividends................................. 10
(ll) Market Information.......................................... 10
(mm) Regulation S................................................ 11
SECTION 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities............... 11
(a) The Securities.............................................. 11
(b) The Closing Date............................................ 11
(c) Delivery of the Securities.................................. 11
(d) Delivery of Offering Memorandum to the Initial Purchasers... 11
(e) Initial Purchasers as Qualified Institutional Buyers........ 11
SECTION 3. Additional Covenants........................................ 11
Initial Purchasers' Review of Proposed Amendments and
(a) Supplements............................................... 11
Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Memorandum and
(b) Other Securities Act Matters.............................. 12
(c) Copies of the Offering Memorandum........................... 12
(d) Blue Sky Compliance......................................... 12
(e) Use of Proceeds............................................. 12
(f) The Depositary.............................................. 12
(g) Additional Issuer Information............................... 12
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(h) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities........ 13
(i) Future Reports to the Initial Purchasers.................... 13
(j) No Integration.............................................. 13
(k) Legended Securities......................................... 13
(l) PORTAL...................................................... 13
(m) Amended Credit Facility..................................... 13
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses......................................... 13
SECTION 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers..... 14
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter................................. 14
(b) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change......... 14
(c) Opinions of Counsels for the Company and the Guarantors..... 14
(d) Opinions of Counsels for the Initial Purchasers............. 14
(e) Officers' Certificate....................................... 15
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter................................... 15
(g) PORTAL Listing.............................................. 15
(h) Registration Rights Agreement............................... 15
(i) Amended Bank Credit Facility................................ 15
(j) Securities Act (Quebec) Order............................... 15
(k) CF Cable Undertaking........................................ 15
(l) Additional Documents........................................ 15
SECTION 6. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers' Expenses............... 15
SECTION 7. Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures........................... 16
Offers and Sales Only to Qualified Institutional Buyers and
(a) Non-U.S. Persons.......................................... 16
(b) No General Solicitation..................................... 16
(c) Restrictions on Transfer.................................... 16
SECTION 8. Indemnification............................................. 17
(a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers................... 17
Indemnification of the Company, the Guarantors and their
(b) Directors and Officers.................................... 17
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures.......... 18
(d) Settlements................................................. 18
SECTION 9. Contribution................................................ 18
SECTION 10. Termination of this Agreement.............................. 19
SECTION 11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery........ 20
SECTION 12. Notices.................................................... 20
SECTION 13. Successors................................................. 20
SECTION 14. Partial Unenforceability................................... 20
SECTION 15. Governing Law Provisions................................... 21
(a) Consent to Jurisdiction..................................... 21
(b) Waiver of Immunity.......................................... 21
(c) Judgment Currency........................................... 21
SECTION 16. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers... 21
SECTION 17. General Provisions......................................... 22
SCHEDULE A -- INITIAL PURCHASERS
SCHEDULE B -- GUARANTORS
SCHEDULE C -- MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE D -- LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES
SCHEDULE E -- SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBIT A -- FORM OF OPINION OF U.S. COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY AND THE
GUARANTORS
EXHIBIT B -- FORM OF OPINION OF CANADIAN COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY AND THE
GUARANTORS
EXHIBIT C -- REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT D -- SEVENTH AMENDING AGREEMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT
ANNEX I -- RESALE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S OR RULE 144A
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PURCHASE AGREEMENT
November 15, 0000
XXXX XX XXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
XXXXXX XXXXXXX CORP.
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
NBF SECURITIES (USA) CORP.
HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.
As Initial Purchasers
c/o BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. Videotron Ltee, a company incorporated under the laws of the
Province of Quebec (the "Company") proposes to issue and sell to the several
Initial Purchasers named in SCHEDULE A (the "Initial Purchasers"), acting
severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such SCHEDULE A
of U.S.$315,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6 7/8% Senior
Notes due January 15, 2014 (the "Notes"). Banc of America Securities LLC,
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Corp., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, CIBC World Markets
Corp., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, NBF Securities (USA) Corp. and HSBC
Securities (USA) Inc. have agreed to act as the Initial Purchasers in connection
with the offering and sale of the Notes.
The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 8,
2003, as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated as of July 12,
2004 (the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and
Xxxxx Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"). Notes issued in
book-entry form will be issued in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") pursuant to a DTC Agreement, to be
dated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (the "DTC Agreement"),
between the Company and the Depositary.
The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a registration
rights agreement, to be dated as of November 19, 2004 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers,
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT C, pursuant to which the Company will agree
to file, within 45 days of the Closing Date, a registration statement with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") registering the
Exchange Securities (as defined below) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act," which term, as used herein, includes the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).
The payment of principal of, premium, Additional Amounts (as defined in the
Indenture) and Special Interest (as defined in the Indenture), if any, and
interest on the Notes and the Exchange Notes (as defined below) will be fully
and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and
severally by the guarantors listed on SCHEDULE B to this Agreement
(collectively, the "Guarantors", however, with respect to any representation,
warranty or agreement given as of the Closing Date, "Guarantors" shall include
the guarantors listed on SCHEDULE B to this Agreement and any subsidiary of the
Company formed or acquired on or prior to the Closing Date that executes an
additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and their
respective successors and assigns), pursuant to their guarantees of the Notes
and the Exchange Notes (the "Guarantees"). The Notes and the Guarantees attached
thereto are herein collectively referred to as the "Securities"; and the
Exchange Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto are herein collectively
referred to as the "Exchange Securities".
As described in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below), the proceeds of
the offering of the Securities will be used to repay borrowings under the
Company's existing Credit Agreement (as defined in Section 1(s))
and to pay a dividend to our sole shareholder, Quebecor Media Inc. On or prior
to the Closing Date, the Company will enter into an amendment to the Credit
Agreement (the "Amended Bank Credit Facility").
The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an
offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and
in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below) and agrees that the Initial
Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a
portion of the Securities to purchasers (the "Subsequent Purchasers") at any
time after the date of this Agreement. The Securities are to be offered and sold
to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the
Commission under the Securities Act in reliance upon exemptions therefrom. The
terms of the Securities and the Indenture will require that investors that
acquire Securities expressly agree that Securities may only be resold or
otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered
for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions
afforded by Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") or Regulation S ("Regulation S")
thereunder).
The Company has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser electronic
copies of a Preliminary Offering Memorandum, dated November 12, 2004 (the
"Preliminary Offering Memorandum"), and has prepared and will deliver to each
Initial Purchaser, copies of the Offering Memorandum, dated November 15, 2004,
describing the terms of the Securities, each for use by such Initial Purchaser
in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. As
used herein, the "Offering Memorandum" shall mean, with respect to any date or
time referred to in this Agreement, the Company's Offering Memorandum, dated
November 15, 2004, including the financial statements and notes thereto, any
amendments or supplements thereto, and any exhibits thereto, in the most recent
form that has been prepared and delivered by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of offers to purchase
Securities. Further, any reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the
Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any Additional
Issuer Information (as defined in Section 3) furnished by the Company prior to
the completion of the distribution of the Securities.
The Company and the Guarantors hereby confirm their respective agreements
with the Initial Purchasers as follows:
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties. The Company and each of the
Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby represent, warrant and covenant to
each Initial Purchaser as follows:
(a) No Registration Required. Subject to obtaining the order referred to in
Section 5(m) hereof, and compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof and with the
procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with
the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to
each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the
Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act, to
qualify, by prospectus or otherwise, the distribution of the Securities under
the securities laws of any jurisdiction in Canada, including without limitation
the Securities Act (Quebec) and the rules and regulations thereunder, or, until
such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to an effective
registration statement, to qualify the Indenture under the U.S. Trust Indenture
Act of 0000 (xxx "Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxx," which term, as used herein, includes the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).
(b) No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation. Each of the
Company and the Guarantors has not, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer
to buy or offered to sell, and will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any
offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States
citizen or resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale
of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered
under the Securities Act. None of the Company, the Guarantors, their respective
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act (each,
an "Affiliate")), or any person acting on any of their behalf (other than the
Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company and the Guarantors make no
representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the
offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general
advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act. With
respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the
Company, the Guarantors, their respective Affiliates or any person acting on
their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company and the
Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any
directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S and (ii) each of the
Company, the Guarantors and their respective Affiliates and any person acting on
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their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company and the
Guarantors make no representation or warranty) has complied and will comply with
the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S.
(c) No Solicitation in Canada. Neither the Company, nor any person acting
on its behalf, has, directly or indirectly, (i) made offers or sales of any
security, or solicited offers to buy any security, under circumstances that
would require the distribution of the Securities in any Canadian province to be
qualified by a prospectus filed in accordance with the securities laws, and the
regulations thereunder, of, and the applicable published rules, policy
statements, blanket orders and notices of the securities regulatory authorities
in, such province (the "Canadian Securities Laws") or (ii) has engaged in any
advertisement of the Securities in any printed media of general and regular paid
circulation, radio or television or any other form of advertising in connection
with the offer and sale of the Securities in such province.
(d) Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A. The Securities are eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A (d)(3) and 144A (d)(4) and will not be, at the
Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities
exchange registered under Section 6 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act," which term, as used herein, includes the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder) or quoted in a
U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.
(e) The Offering Memorandum. The Offering Memorandum does not, and at the
Closing Date will not, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided
that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements
in or omissions from the Offering Memorandum made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf
of any Initial Purchaser through Banc of America Securities LLC expressly for
use in the Offering Memorandum. Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and
the Offering Memorandum, as of its date, contains all the information specified
in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has distributed or will distribute, prior to the later of the Closing
Date and the completion of the Initial Purchasers' distribution of the
Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of
the Securities other than the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering
Memorandum.
(f) The Purchase Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company
and each Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights
to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(g) The Registration Rights Agreement. At the Closing Date, the
Registration Rights Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered
by, and will be a valid and binding agreement of, the Company and each of the
Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights
and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and except as
rights to indemnification under the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited
by applicable law. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company
and the Guarantors will agree to file with the Commission, under the
circumstances set forth therein, (i) a registration statement under the
Securities Act relating to another series of debt securities of the Company with
terms substantially identical to the Notes (the "Exchange Notes") to be offered
in exchange for the Notes (the "Exchange Offer"); and (ii) to the extent
required by the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale by certain
holders of the Notes, and in each case, to use their best efforts to cause such
registration statements to be declared effective.
(h) The DTC Agreement. At the Closing Date, the DTC Agreement will be duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and will be a valid and binding agreement
of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
3
(i) Authorization of the Securities and the Exchange Securities. (i) The
Notes to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers from the Company are in the form
contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale
pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have
been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided
for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price
therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and will be entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture; (ii) the Exchange Notes have been duly and
validly authorized for issuance by the Company, and when issued and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Exchange Offer, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws
relating to or affecting enforcement of the rights and remedies of creditors or
by general principles of equity and will be entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture; (iii) the Guarantees of the Notes and the Exchange Notes are in the
respective forms contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the
Closing Date, will have been duly executed by each of the Guarantors and, when
the Notes have been authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture
and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute
valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with
their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar
laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and
(iv) the form of global certificate representing the Notes has been duly
approved and adopted by the Company and complies with the provisions of the
Companies Act (Quebec) relating thereto.
(j) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized
by the Company and each Guarantor and has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company and each Guarantor and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and each
Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles. The Indenture complies
with all applicable provisions of the Canadian Securities Laws and no
registration, filing or recording of the Indenture under the laws of Canada or
any province or territory thereof is necessary in order to preserve or protect
the validity or enforceability of the Indenture or the Securities issued
thereunder.
(k) Description of the Securities, the Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement. The Notes, the Exchange Notes, the Guarantees of the Notes, the
Guarantees of the Exchange Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement will conform in all material respects to the respective statements
relating thereto contained in the Offering Memorandum.
(l) Statements in the Offering Memorandum. The statements in the Offering
Memorandum under the captions, "Enforceability of Civil Liabilities," "Risk
Factors -- Risks Relating to Our Business -- We are subject to extensive
government regulation. Changes in government regulation could adversely affect
our business, financial condition or results of operations.", "Risk
Factors -- Risks Relating to Our Business -- We are required to provide
third-party Internet service providers with access to our cable systems, which
may result in increased competition.", "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to Our
Business -- We may have to support increasing costs in securing access to
support structures needed for our network.", "Description of Certain
Indebtedness," "Description of the Notes," "Business -- Regulation,"
"Business -- Canadian Broadcast Distribution (Cable Television)," "Business --
Intellectual Property," "Business -- Legal Proceedings," "Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions," and "Certain Tax Considerations," insofar as such
statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, documents or
legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, fairly present and summarize, in all
material respects, the matters referred to therein.
(m) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Offering Memorandum, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Offering Memorandum: (i) there has been no material adverse
change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a
material adverse
4
change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business,
operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the
ordinary course of business, of the Company, its subsidiaries and Videotron
Telecom Ltd. ("VTL"), considered as one entity (any such change is called a
"Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company, its subsidiaries and VTL,
considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or
obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of
business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the
ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for
dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on
any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(n) Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, who have expressed their opinion
with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement
includes the related notes thereto) of the Company and its subsidiaries included
in the Offering Memorandum are independent public or certified public
accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act.
(o) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The consolidated financial
statements of the Company, together with the related notes, included in the
Offering Memorandum present fairly the financial position of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The financial statements of
VTL, together with the related notes, included in the Offering Memorandum
present fairly the financial position of VTL as of and at the dates indicated
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such
financial statements of the Company and VTL have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in Canada applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly
stated in the related notes thereto and have been reconciled to generally
accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States in accordance
with Item 18 of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act. The financial data set forth
in the Offering Memorandum under the captions "Summary -- Summary Consolidated
Financial and Operating Data and Pro Forma Combined Financial Information" and
"Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" fairly present the
information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited
financial statements contained in the Offering Memorandum. The unaudited
pro forma combined financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and
the related notes hereto include in the Offering Memorandum present fairly the
information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements
and have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the
assumptions used in the preparation hereof are reasonable and the adjustments
used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. Such pro forma financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied
in Canada applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except
as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto and have been reconciled
to generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States in
accordance with Item 17 of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act.
(p) Material Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries of the Company listed on
SCHEDULE C hereto (the "Material Subsidiaries") include all of the
(i) "significant subsidiaries" of the Company (as such term is defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act), and (ii) subsidiaries
otherwise material to the assets and operations of the Company. The Company's
other subsidiaries, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not
constitute a "significant subsidiary" and are not otherwise material to the
assets and operations of the Company.
(q) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Material
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries, VTL and Groupe de
Divertissement SuperClub inc. ("GDS") has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering
Memorandum and, in the case of the Company and each Guarantor to enter into and
perform its obligations under each of this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the DTC Agreement (in the case of the Company only), the Securities,
the Exchange Securities and the Indenture. Each of the Company, its Material
Subsidiaries and VTL is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the
failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in
the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and
outstanding
5
capital stock of each Material Subsidiary of the Company has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by
the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim, other than as set forth
in SCHEDULE D hereto. The Company does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the
subsidiaries and other entities listed in Schedule E hereto.
(r) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. At September 30, 2004,
on a consolidated basis, after giving pro forma effect to the issuance and sale
of the Securities pursuant hereto, the Company would have an authorized and
outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the
column marked "As Adjusted" under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for
subsequent issuances of capital stock, if any, pursuant to employee benefit
plans described in the Offering Memorandum or upon exercise of outstanding
options described in the Offering Memorandum). All of the outstanding common
shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in
compliance with applicable federal, state or provincial securities laws. None of
the outstanding Common Shares were issued in violation of any preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase
securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options,
warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to
purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
other than those accurately described in the Offering Memorandum. The
description of Quebecor Media Inc.'s Stock Option Plan and the options or other
rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Offering Memorandum, accurately and
fairly describes such plan, arrangement, options and rights.
(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or
Approvals Required. (i) None of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries, VTL or
GDS is in violation of its charter or by-laws or any law, administrative
regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company, any
Material Subsidiary, VTL or GDS or (ii) none of the Company, its subsidiaries or
VTL is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in
default) ("Default") under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement,
note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company, any
of its subsidiaries or VTL is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound
(including, without limitation, the Company's Credit Agreement, dated as of
November 28, 2000, with RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Royal Bank of Canada and
the Co-arrangers and lenders thereto, together with the Amending Agreement dated
as of March 31, 2001, the Second Amending Agreement dated as of June 29, 2001,
and the Third Amending Agreement dated as of December 21, 2001, the Fourth
Amending Agreement dated as of December 23, 2001, the Fifth Amending Agreement
dated as of March 24, 2003, the Sixth Amending Agreement dated as of October 8,
2003, and the Seventh Amending Agreement, assuming such agreement is executed
substantially in the form set forth in EXHIBIT D hereto on or prior to the
Closing Date (the "Credit Agreement"), the QMI Subordinated Loan, the Senior
Note Indenture and Senior Discount Note Indenture, both dated as of July 6,
2001, by and between Quebecor Media Inc. and National City Bank, as trustee (the
"QMI Indentures"), Quebecor Media Inc.'s Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29,
2001, with RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Royal Bank of Canada and the
Co-arrangers and lenders thereto, and the Indenture dated as of July 11, 1995,
by and between CF Cable TV Inc. and Chemical Bank, as trustee, together with the
First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of November 1, 1996, the Second
Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of October 28, 1998, the Third
Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of December 21, 2001 and the Fourth
Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of March 11, 2002 (the "CF Cable
Indenture")) or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is subject (each, an "Existing Instrument"), except for such
Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change. The Company's and each Guarantor's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC
Agreement (in the case of the Company only) and the Indenture, and the issuance
and delivery of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, and consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering Memorandum
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and (i) will not
result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the
Company, any Material Subsidiary, VTL or GDS, (ii) will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, its
subsidiaries or VTL pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to,
any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens,
charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result
in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any
6
law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to
the Company, its subsidiaries or VTL, except for such violations as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. No
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing
with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is
required for the Company's or each Guarantor's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC
Agreement (in the case of the Company only) or the Indenture, or the issuance
and delivery of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, or consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering Memorandum,
except (i) such as may be required by Canadian Securities Laws and federal and
state securities laws with respect to the Company's and the Guarantors'
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) for filings,
registrations and recordings which have been made and the filing of certain
notices and the payment of filing fees required by Canadian Securities Laws,
(iii) for an order to be received from the Quebec Securities Commission under
Section 12 of the Securities Act (Quebec) and (iv) as described in the Offering
Memorandum. As used herein, a "Debt Repayment Triggering Event" means any event
or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would
give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or
any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase,
redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company,
each Guarantor, VTL or any of their respective subsidiaries.
(t) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in
the Offering Memorandum, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or
proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company's and each Guarantor's
knowledge, (i) threatened against or affecting the Company, its subsidiaries or
VTL, or (ii) which have as the subject thereof any property owned or leased by,
the Company, its subsidiaries or VTL, where in any such case there is a
reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined
adversely to the Company, such subsidiary or VTL and any such action, suit or
proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has not received notice
of any securities commission orders or cease trade orders with respect to any
securities of the Company, its subsidiaries or VTL. No labor dispute with the
employees of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries or VTL, exists or, to the
best of the Company's and each Guarantor's knowledge, is threatened or imminent
that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(u) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as disclosed in the Offering
Memorandum, the Company, its Material Subsidiaries and VTL own or possess
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses,
approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, "Intellectual
Property Rights") reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now
conducted; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property
Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the
Offering Memorandum, none of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries or VTL has
received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual
Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) All Necessary Permits, etc. Each of the Company, its Material
Subsidiaries and VTL possesses such valid and current certificates, licenses,
authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate regulatory agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, including any
certificates, licenses, authorizations and permits required pursuant to the
Broadcasting Act (Canada), the Telecommunications Act (Canada) and the
Radiocommunication Act (Canada) or other statutes of Canada specifically
relating to the regulation of either or both of the Canadian cable television
and/or telecommunications industries and the orders, rules, regulations and
directions promulgated pursuant to such statutes, including the Broadcasting
Distribution Regulations, 1998, and the orders, rules, regulations and
directions promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Communications Statutes"),
none of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries or VTL has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation, suspension or amendment of, or
non-compliance with, any such certificate, license, authorization or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change and none of the
Company, its Material Subsidiaries of VTL is in default or violation of any such
certificate, license, authorization or permit (except where such default or
violation is not reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate to result
in a Material Adverse Change), and the Company's and each Guarantor's execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement,
the DTC Agreement (in the case of the Company only) and the Indenture, and the
issuance and delivery of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the
Offering
7
Memorandum do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of or
non-compliance with any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any of such certificate, license, authorization or permit, including
terms or provisions thereof relating to the maintenance of specified levels of
Canadian ownership, and except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, to the
knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, there is no threatened or pending
change in any law, rule or regulation referred to above that is reasonably
likely, individually or in the aggregate, could result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(w) Communications Statutes. The Company does not know of any
Communications Statutes, or any pending or threatened legal or governmental
proceedings by or before any court or judicial or administrative board or
tribunal or any governmental body with respect to the regulation of the Canadian
cable television or telecommunications industries, material and adverse to the
operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, that are not described or referred to in the Offering Memorandum.
Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, to the Company's knowledge,
there is no threatened or pending change in the Communications Statutes that
could result in a Material Adverse Change. All material aspects of the
regulation of the cable television and telecommunications industries as they
pertain to the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries described in the
Offering Memorandum are subject to the exclusive constitutional jurisdiction of
the Parliament of Canada and hence are governed by the laws of Canada.
(x) Eligibility. Each of the Company, its subsidiaries and VTL is Canadian
within the meaning of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of
Non-Canadians), and is eligible under the Direction to be issued broadcasting
licenses pursuant to the Broadcasting Act (Canada) and to receive amendments and
renewals thereto.
(y) Employee Plans. All of the Employee Plans (as defined below) are and
have been established, registered, qualified, invested and administered, in all
material respects, in accordance with their terms and all laws, including all
tax laws where same is required for preferential tax treatment; to the knowledge
of the Company and each Guarantor, no fact or circumstance exists that could
adversely affect the preferential tax treatment ordinarily accorded to any such
Employee Plan; all obligations regarding the Employee Plans have been satisfied,
there are no outstanding defaults or violations by any party to any Employee
Plan and no taxes, penalties or fees are owing or eligible under or in respect
of any of the Employee Plans; to the knowledge of the Company, no Employee Plan
is subject to any pending investigation, examination or other proceeding, action
or claim initiated by any governmental entity or by any other person (other than
routine claims for benefits); all contributions or premiums required to be paid
by the Company or VTL under the terms of each Employee Plan or by law have been
made in a timely fashion in accordance with law and the terms of the Employee
Plans; neither the Company nor VTL has any liability (other than liabilities
accruing after the date hereof) with respect to any of the Employee Plans;
contributions or premiums for the period up to the date hereof have been paid by
the Company, VTL, Quebecor Media Inc. and/or Quebecor Inc., as applicable; and
each Employee Plan which is a funded plan is fully funded as of the date hereof
on both a going concern and a solvency basis pursuant to the actuarial
assumptions and methodology utilized in the most recent actuarial valuation
therefor. As used herein, "Employee Plans" means all the employee benefit,
fringe benefit, supplemental unemployment benefit, bonus, incentive, profit
sharing, termination, change of control, pension, retirement, stock option,
stock purchase, stock appreciation, phantom stock, health, welfare, medical,
dental, disability, life insurance and similar plans, programmes, arrangements
or practices relating to current or former employees, officers or directors of
the Company, its Material Subsidiaries and VTL maintained, sponsored or funded
by Quebecor Inc., Quebecor Media Inc., the Company, any Material Subsidiary or
VTL, whether written or oral, funded or unfunded, insured or self-insured,
registered or unregistered, other than government-sponsored employment
insurance, workers' compensation, health insurance or pension plans.
(z) Title to Properties. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum,
each of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries, VTL and GDS has good and
marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the
financial statements referred to in Section 1 above (or elsewhere in the
Offering Memorandum), in each case free and clear of any security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except as
set forth on SCHEDULE D hereto and except for any other security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects that do not
materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially
interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the
Company, such Material Subsidiary, VTL or GDS. The real property, improvements,
equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company, any Material
Subsidiary, VTL or GDS are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such
exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made
or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or
personal property by the Company, such Material Subsidiary, VTL or GDS.
8
(aa) Tax Law Compliance. The Company, its Material Subsidiaries and VTL
have filed all material federal, provincial, territorial, state and foreign
income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof
and have paid all material taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due
and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against
any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings. Each of the Company and VTL has made adequate charges, accruals and
reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1 above
in respect of all federal, provincial, territorial, state and foreign income and
franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or VTL, respectively, has not been finally determined.
(bb) Exchange Controls. Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum,
under current laws and regulations of Canada and any political subdivision
thereof (including the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980)), all
interest, principal, premium, if any, and other payments due or made on the
Securities and the Exchange Securities may be paid by the Company to the holder
thereof in United States dollars that may be converted into foreign currency and
freely transferred out of Canada and all such payments made to holders thereof
who are not or are not deemed to be residents of Canada for the purposes of the
Income Tax Act (Canada) (other than holders who (i) use or hold, or are deemed
to use or hold, the Securities and the Exchange Securities in the course of
carrying on a business in Canada, (ii) are persons who carry on an insurance
business in Canada and elsewhere or an authorized foreign bank in Canada, or
(iii) who do not deal at arm's-length with the Company) will not be subject to
income, withholding or other taxes under laws and regulations of Canada or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and will otherwise
be free and clear of any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in Canada or
any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and without the
necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in Canada or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
(cc) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised of
the rules and requirements under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of
payment for the Notes will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of
the Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it
will not become subject to the Investment Company Act while any Securities
remain outstanding.
(dd) Insurance. Each of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries and VTL is
insured by recognized, financially sound institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for its businesses including, but not limited to,
policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company, its
Material Subsidiaries and VTL against theft, damage, destruction, acts of
vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it, any
Material Subsidiary or VTL will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance
coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage
from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its
business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. None of the Company, its Material Subsidiaries or VTL has been
denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(ee) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in
the Offering Memorandum or as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Change (i) none of the Company, its Material
Subsidiaries or VTL is in violation of any federal, provincial, territorial,
state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of
human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and
petroleum products (collectively, "Materials of Environmental Concern"), or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern
(collectively, "Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is not
limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations
required for the operation of the business of each of the Company, its Material
Subsidiaries and VTL under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with
the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company, any of its Material
Subsidiaries or VTL received any written communication, whether from a
governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that
the Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries or VTL is in violation of any
Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with
a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the
Company has
9
received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging
potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental
responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries,
attorneys' fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the
presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental
Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Material Subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, "Environmental
Claims"), pending or, to the best of the Company's or any Guarantor's knowledge,
threatened against the Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries or VTL or any
person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company, any of
its Material Subsidiaries or VTL has retained or assumed either contractually or
by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the Company's or any Guarantor's
knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances,
conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release,
emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental
Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law or
form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company, any of
its Material Subsidiaries or VTL or against any person or entity whose liability
for any Environmental Claim the Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries or VTL
has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(ff) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor has taken nor will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Securities.
(gg) Solvency. The Company and each Guarantor is, and immediately after the
Closing Date will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term "Solvent" means, with
respect to the Company and each Guarantor on a particular date, that on such
date (i) the fair market value of its assets is greater than the total amount of
its liabilities (including contingent liabilities), (ii) the present fair
salable value of its assets is greater than the amount that will be required to
pay the probable liabilities on its debts as they become absolute and matured,
(iii) it is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other
liabilities, including contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) it does
not have unreasonably small capital.
(hh) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. None of the Company, its
Material Subsidiaries or VTL nor, to the best of the Company's or any
Guarantor's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company, its subsidiaries or
VTL, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate
for, any federal, state, provincial or foreign office in violation of any law or
of the character necessary to be disclosed in the Offering Memorandum in order
to make the statements therein not misleading.
(ii) Accounting System. Each of the Company and VTL maintains a system of
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles as applied in Canada and to maintain accountability for
assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's
general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
(jj) Amended Bank Credit Facility. The Amended Bank Credit Facility has
been duly and validly authorized, and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company, and will constitute a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating
to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable
principles.
(kk) No Restriction on Dividends. No subsidiary of the Company is currently
prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to
which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company,
from making any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from
repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the
Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary's properties or assets to
the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the CF Cable Indenture.
(ll) Market Information. Any statistical and market-related data included
in the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Company
believes to be reliable and accurate and the Company is authorized to use such
data in the Offering Memorandum.
10
(mm)Regulation S. (i) There is no substantial U.S. market interest (as
defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) in any debt security of the
Company or any Guarantor; and (ii) each of the Company and the Guarantors is a
"foreign issuer," as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company or any Guarantor and
delivered to the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers
shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company or such
Guarantor to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.
SECTION 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.
(a) The Securities. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several
Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, all of the Securities upon the
terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions
herein set forth, the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth
opposite their names on SCHEDULE A, at the offering price set forth on the cover
of the Offering Memorandum, plus accrued interest, payable on the Closing Date.
As compensation for the services rendered by the Initial Purchasers to the
Company in respect of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company will
pay to the Initial Purchasers a commission of 1.26% of the principal amount
thereof sold to the Initial Purchasers under this Agreement. All payments to be
made by the Company to the Initial Purchasers as compensation for the services
rendered by the Initial Purchasers to the Company in respect of the issuance and
sale of the Securities hereunder shall be made without withholding or deduction
for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges
whatsoever.
(b) The Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Securities in
definitive form to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor
shall be made at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company
and the Initial Purchasers) at 9:00 a.m.
New York City time, on November 19,
2004, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Company and
the Initial Purchasers or as provided in Section 16 hereof (the time and date of
such closing are called the "Closing Date"). The Company hereby acknowledges
that circumstances under which the Initial Purchasers may request to postpone
the Closing Date as originally scheduled include, without limitation, any
determination by the Company or the Initial Purchasers to recirculate to
investors copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum or a delay as
contemplated by the provisions of Section 16.
(c) Delivery of the Securities. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to Banc of America Securities LLC for the accounts of the several
Initial Purchasers certificates for the Securities at the Closing Date against
the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for
the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Securities
shall be in such denominations and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as
nominee of the Depositary, pursuant to the DTC Agreement, and shall be made
available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a
location in
New York City, as the Initial Purchasers may designate. Time shall
be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this
Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers.
(d) Delivery of Offering Memorandum to the Initial Purchasers. Not later
than 12:00 p.m. on the second business day following the date of this Agreement,
the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered copies of the Offering
Memorandum in such quantities and at such places as the Initial Purchasers shall
reasonably request.
(e) Initial Purchasers as Qualified Institutional Buyers. Each Initial
Purchaser severally and not jointly represents and warrants to, and agrees with,
the Company that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of
Rule 144A (a "Qualified Institutional Buyer").
SECTION 3. Additional Covenants. The Company, and as applicable, each of the
Guarantors, jointly and severally further covenant and agree with each Initial
Purchaser as follows:
(a) Initial Purchasers' Review of Proposed Amendments and
Supplements. Prior to amending or supplementing the Offering Memorandum, the
Company shall furnish to the Initial Purchasers for review a copy of each such
proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not use any such
proposed amendment or supplement to which the Initial Purchasers reasonably
object.
11
(b) Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Memorandum and Other
Securities Act Matters. If, prior to the completion of the placement of the
Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, any event
shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Offering Memorandum in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances when the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a
purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Initial Purchasers or
counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or
supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Company agrees to
promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) hereof), and furnish at its own
expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the Offering
Memorandum so that the statements in the Offering Memorandum as so amended or
supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Offering
Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Offering
Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
Following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of an
applicable shelf registration statement and for so long as the Securities are
outstanding if, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers, the
Initial Purchasers or any of their affiliates (as such term is defined in the
rules and regulations under the Securities Act) are required to deliver a
prospectus in connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect
to, such securities, to periodically amend the applicable registration statement
so that the information contained therein complies with the requirements of
Section 10 of the Securities Act, to amend the applicable registration statement
or supplement the related prospectus or the documents incorporated therein when
necessary to reflect any material changes in the information provided therein so
that the registration statement and the prospectus will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing
as of the date the prospectus is so delivered, not misleading and to provide the
Initial Purchasers with copies of each amendment or supplement filed and such
other documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.
The Company and each Guarantor hereby expressly acknowledge that the
indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are
specifically applicable and relate to each offering memorandum, registration
statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3.
(c) Copies of the Offering Memorandum. The Company agrees to furnish to the
Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Offering Memorandum
and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall have reasonably
requested.
(d) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company and each Guarantor shall cooperate
with the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers to qualify or
register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the
application of) the Blue Sky or state securities laws of those jurisdictions
designated by the Initial Purchasers, shall comply with such laws and shall
continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as
required for the distribution of the Securities. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any
action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to
taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Initial
Purchasers promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of
(or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading
in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such
purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such
qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts
to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(e) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale
of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Offering Memorandum.
(f) The Depositary. The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers
and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance
and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.
(g) Additional Issuer Information. Prior to the completion of the placement
of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, the
Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and
documents required to be filed under Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act.
Additionally, so long as any of the Securities are "restricted securities"
within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3), at any time when the Company is not
subject to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, for the benefit of holders and
beneficial owners
12
from time to time of Securities, the Company shall furnish, at its expense, upon
request, to holders and beneficial owners of Securities and prospective
purchasers of Securities information ("Additional Issuer Information")
satisfying the requirements of subsection (d) of Rule 144A.
(h) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period
of 90 days following the date of the Offering Memorandum, the Company will not,
without the prior written consent of Banc of America Securities LLC (which
consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of Banc of America
Securities LLC), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any
option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open "put equivalent position"
within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of
or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement
under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Company or
securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities of the Company
(other than as contemplated by this Agreement and to register the Exchange
Securities).
(i) Future Reports to the Initial Purchasers. For so long as any
Securities or Exchange Securities remain outstanding and the Company is not
required to file reports with the Commission under the Exchange Act or the
Indenture, the Company will furnish to Banc of America Securities LLC,
(i) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual
Report on Form 20-F or 40-F, as applicable, or any successor form, of the
Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of operations, retained earnings and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) (A) within 45 days after the end of each
of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, reports
on Form 10-Q or any successor form, or (B) within 60 days after the end of each
of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, reports
on Form 6-K or any successor form, which in each case, regardless of applicable
requirements, shall, at a minimum, contain a "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and, with respect to
any such reports, a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP as permitted by the Commission
for foreign private issuers; (iii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of any other report filed by the Company with the Commission,
the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any securities exchange; and (iv) as
soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed
generally to holders of its capital stock or debt securities (including the
holders of the Securities).
(j) No Integration. The Company agrees that it will not and will cause its
Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the Company of any
class if, as a result of the doctrine of "integration" referred to in Rule 502
under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for the
purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to
Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent
Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act provided by Section 4 (2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by
Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.
(k) Legended Securities. Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend
contained in "Notice to Investors" in the Offering Memorandum for the time
period and upon the other terms stated in the Offering Memorandum.
(l) PORTAL. The Company will use its best efforts to cause such Notes to
be eligible for the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. PORTAL
market (the "PORTAL market").
(m) Amended Credit Facility. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company
shall have entered into an amendment to the Credit Facility in the form set
forth in EXHIBIT D hereto in all material respects.
Banc of America Securities LLC, on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers,
may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or
any Guarantor of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time
for their performance.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the
Securities (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary
issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale
of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, (iii) all fees and expenses of the
Company's
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and the Guarantors' counsel, independent public or certified public accountants
and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of each Preliminary
Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (including financial statements
and exhibits), and all amendments and supplements thereto, this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the DTC Agreement, and the Notes
and the Guarantees, all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by
the Company or reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with
qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or
registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the
Blue Sky laws and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers, preparing and
printing a "Blue Sky Survey" or memorandum, and any supplements thereto,
advising the Initial Purchasers of such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture, the
Securities and the Exchange Securities, (vii) any fees payable in connection
with the rating of the Securities or the Exchange Securities with the ratings
agencies and the listing of the Securities with the PORTAL market, (viii) any
filing fees incident to, and any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Initial Purchasers in connection with the review by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., if any, of the terms of the sale of the Securities
or the Exchange Securities, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company and the Guarantors in connection
with approval of the Securities by DTC for "book-entry" transfer, and the
performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective other
obligations under this Agreement. Except as provided in this Section 4,
Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay
their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
SECTION 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The
obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the
Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 1 hereof as
of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the
timely performance by the Company and each Guarantor of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers
shall have received from KPMG LLP, independent public or certified public
accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the
Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
Purchasers, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
included in accountant's "comfort letters" to Initial Purchasers, delivered
according to Statement of Auditing Standards Nos. 72 and 76 (or any successor
bulletins), with respect to the audited, unaudited and pro forma financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Offering Memorandum.
(b) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period
from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers there shall not have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice
have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review
for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible
change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization" as such term is
defined for purposes of Rule 436 under the Securities Act.
(c) Opinions of Counsels for the Company and the Guarantors. On the Closing
Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of
(i) Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, U.S. counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, dated as
of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as EXHIBIT A and (ii) Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Canadian counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, dated as of such
Closing Date, the form of which is attached as EXHIBIT B.
(d) Opinions of Counsels for the Initial Purchasers. On the Closing Date
the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of
(i) Shearman & Sterling LLP, U.S. counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as
of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably
requested by the Initial Purchasers and (ii) Stikeman Elliott LLP, Canadian
counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect
to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers.
14
(e) Officers' Certificate. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall
have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer or President of the Company and each of the Guarantors and the
Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and each of
the Guarantors, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in
subsection (b) (ii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and to the
Closing Date there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and
the Guarantors set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct
with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the
Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company and the Guarantors have each complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers
shall have received from KPMG LLP, independent public or certified public
accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, to the effect that they reaffirm the
statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the
carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to
the Closing Date.
(g) PORTAL Listing. At the Closing Date the Notes shall have been
designated for trading on the PORTAL market.
(h) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and each of the Guarantors
shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the Initial
Purchasers shall have received executed counterparts thereof.
(i) Amended Bank Credit Facility. At the Closing Date the Amended Bank
Credit Facility shall have been entered into by the Company and the lenders
thereto and the Initial Purchasers shall have seen executed counterparts
thereof.
(j) Securities Act (Quebec) Order. The Company shall have received an
order under Section 12 of the Securities Act (Quebec).
(k) CF Cable Undertaking. At the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall
have received a written certificate executed by two principal executive officers
from each of CF Cable TV Inc., Videotron (Regional) Ltd. and Tele-Cable
Charlevoix (1977) Inc to the effect that such entities agree to become
guarantors under the Indenture and execute a guarantee in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and supplemental indenture on such date when the CF Cable
Notes are no longer outstanding.
(l) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Initial
Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such
information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the
purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities
as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the
representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or
agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as
required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Initial
Purchasers by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date,
which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any
other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 6. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers' Expenses. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 5, or if the sale to
the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or any
Guarantor to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision
hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers (or such Initial
Purchasers as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves),
severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been
reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed
purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including but not limited
to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
15
SECTION 7. Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures. Each of the Initial Purchasers,
on the one hand, and the Company and each of the Guarantors, on the other hand,
hereby establish and agree to observe the following procedures in connection
with the offer and sale of the Securities:
(a) Offers and Sales Only to Qualified Institutional Buyers and
Non-U.S. Persons. Offers and sales of the Securities have and will be made only
by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the
jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made. Each such offer or sale
has and shall only be made to (i) persons in the United States whom the offeror
or seller reasonably believes to be qualified institutional buyers (as defined
in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) with respect to whom the seller has taken
reasonable steps to insure that the purchaser is aware that such sale is being
made in reliance on Rule 144A, or (ii) non-U.S. persons outside the
United States to whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes offers and sales
of the Securities may be made in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities
Act, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex I hereto, which Annex I is
hereby expressly made a part hereof.
(b) No General Solicitation. The Securities have and will be offered by
approaching prospective Subsequent Purchasers on an individual basis. No general
solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502 under the
Securities Act) has or will be used in the United States in connection with the
offering of the Securities.
(c) Restrictions on Transfer. Upon original issuance by the Company, and
until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities (and all securities issued in
exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, other than the Exchange
Securities) shall bear the following legend:
"THIS NOTE AND THE GUARANTEES ENDORSED HEREON HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR THE GUARANTEES ENDORSED
HEREON NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD,
ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR
NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AND THE GUARANTEES ENDORSED HEREON BY ITS ACCEPTANCE
HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO
THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE
HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE
COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE AND THE GUARANTEES ENDORSED HEREON (OR
ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE AND THE GUARANTEES ENDORSED HEREON) (THE
"RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY
SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A
PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER
IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO
NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT
TO THE COMPANY'S AND THE TRUSTEE'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR
TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) or (E) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION
TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND
(ii) TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS
NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE."
Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent
Purchasers pursuant to the terms of this Section 7 and in accordance with
applicable securities laws, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or
responsible to the Company hereunder for any losses, damages or liabilities
suffered or incurred by the
16
Company, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities
Act, arising from or relating to any resale or transfer of any Security.
SECTION 8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. Each of the Company and the
Guarantors, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Initial Purchaser, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if
any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which such Initial Purchaser or such controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal,
provincial, territorial or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law
or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated
below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or
the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and to reimburse each Initial Purchaser and each such
controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by Banc of America Securities LLC) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser or such controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided,
however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent,
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchasers expressly
for use in any Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or
any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 8 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company or the
Guarantors may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, the Guarantors and their Directors and
Officers. Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors and each of their
directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors
within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, the
Guarantors or any such director, or controlling person may become subject, under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal, provincial, territorial
or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including
in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of such Initial Purchaser), insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below)
arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering
Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which there were made, not misleading, in each
case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any
Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company and the Guarantors by the Initial Purchasers expressly
for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, the Guarantors, or any such
director or controlling person for any legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or any such director or controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company
and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge that the only information that the Initial
Purchasers have furnished to the Company and the Guarantors by and on behalf of
the Initial Purchasers expressly for use in any Preliminary Offering Memorandum
or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the
statements set forth in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph and the sixth
and tenth paragraphs under the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the Offering
Memorandum regarding market-making and stabilization, respectively; and the
Initial Purchasers confirm that such statements are correct. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liabilities
that each Initial Purchaser may otherwise have.
17
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party's election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood,
however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of
more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the
indemnifying party (Banc of America Securities LLC in the case of
Section 8(b)), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which
cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnifying party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, if such settlement is entered into more
than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of a request for consent
to such settlement and a request for reimbursement of the related fees and
expenses and such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified
party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in
any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have
been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement,
compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action,
suit or proceeding.
SECTION 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is
for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as
incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
18
herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial
Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company,
and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate
initial offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand,
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate
representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8, any legal or other fees or
expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or
defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8 with
respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for
contribution is to be made under this Section 9; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice
has been given under Section 8 for purposes of indemnification.
The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated
as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Initial Purchaser shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commission received by
such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11
of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Initial Purchasers'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint,
in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names
in SCHEDULE A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer and
employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an
Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each
director of the Company or any Guarantor, and each person, if any, who controls
the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or any
Guarantor.
SECTION 10. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Initial Purchasers by notice given to the
Company if at any time trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq
Stock Market, the
New York Stock Exchange or the Toronto Stock Exchange shall
have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been
generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission, the NASD
or any applicable securities regulatory authority; (ii) a general banking
moratorium shall have been declared by any of Canadian, U.S. federal or
New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any
change in the United States, Canadian or international financial markets, or any
substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in
United States', Canada's or international political, financial or economic
conditions, as in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers is material and adverse
and makes it impracticable to market the Securities in the manner and on the
terms described in the Offering Memorandum or to enforce contracts for the sale
of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or the Company shall have sustained a loss
by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character
as in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers may interfere materially with the
conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or
not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this
Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or any
Guarantor to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Company and the Guarantors
shall be obligated to reimburse
19
the expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof,
(b) any Initial Purchaser to the Company and the Guarantors, or (c) of any party
hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9
shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company and the Guarantors, of their respective officers and
of the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, the Company, the Guarantors or
any of their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the
case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold
hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 12. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Initial Purchasers:
Banc of America Securities LLC
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: High Yield Capital Markets
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling LLP
000 Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0000, X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company or the Guarantors:
Videotron Ltee
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Executive Director, Legal Affairs
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by
giving written notice to the others.
SECTION 13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers
pursuant to Section 16 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9,
and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any
right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any
purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by
reason of such purchase.
SECTION 14. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
20
SECTION 15. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.
(a) Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and each Guarantor agree that any
legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted
in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and
County of
New York or the courts of the State of
New York located in the City
and County of
New York (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party
irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such
suit, action or proceeding. The Company and each Guarantor irrevocably appoints
CT Corporation System, as its agent to receive service of process or other legal
summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be
instituted in the Specified Courts. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document upon such agent, and written notice of said service by mail to such
party's address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any
suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties
irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or
other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally
waive and agree not to plead or claim, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) Waiver of Immunity. With respect to any Related Proceeding, each party
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all
immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction,
service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to
which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect
to any proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of the
Specified Courts (a "Related Judgment"), each party waives any such immunity in
the Specified Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not
raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any
such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any
immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976,
as amended.
(c) Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any
court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other
than U.S. dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may
effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in
accordance with normal banking procedures the Initial Purchasers could purchase
U.S. dollars with such other currency in The City of
New York on the business
day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the
Company and each Guarantor in respect of any sum due from it to any Initial
Purchaser shall, notwithstanding any judgment in any currency other than
U.S. dollars, not be discharged until the first business day, following receipt
by such Initial Purchaser of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other
currency, on which (and only to the extent that) such Initial Purchaser may in
accordance with normal banking procedures purchase U.S. dollars with such other
currency; if the U.S. dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due
to such Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company and each Guarantor agrees, as a
separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such
Initial Purchaser against such loss. If the U.S. dollars so purchased are
greater than the sum originally due to such Initial Purchaser hereunder, such
Initial Purchaser agrees to pay the Company and the Guarantor (but without
duplication) an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the
sum originally due to such Initial Purchaser hereunder.
SECTION 16. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers. If any
one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase
Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing
Date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting Initial
Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does
not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such
date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the
proportions that the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective
names on SCHEDULE A bears to the aggregate number of Securities set forth
opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such
other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent
of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such
defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused
to purchase on such date. If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall
fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate
21
number of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of
the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Company for the
purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all
times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either
the Initial Purchasers or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in
order that the required changes, if any, to the Offering Memorandum or any other
documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Initial Purchaser" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this
Section 16. Any action taken under this Section 16 shall not relieve any
defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such
Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.
SECTION 17. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Table of Contents and the section headings herein are for the convenience of
the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement
in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
VIDEOTRON LTEE
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
VIDEOTRON TVN INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
LE SUPERCLUB VIDEOTRON LTEE
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
22
VIDEOTRON (1998) LTEE
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
GROUPE DE DIVERTISSEMENT SUPERCLUB INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
SUPERCLUB VIDEOTRON CANADA INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
LES PROPRIETES SUPERCLUB INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
23
The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the
Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION
XXXXXX XXXXXXX CORP.
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC
NBF SECURITIES (USA) CORP.
HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.
By: Banc of America Securities LLC
By: /s/ XXX XXXXX
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
On behalf of itself and the several Initial Purchasers
24
SCHEDULE A
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE
INITIAL PURCHASERS PURCHASED
------------------ -------------------
Banc of America Securities LLC.............................. U.S.$114,843,750
Citigroup Global Markets Inc................................ 65,625,000
RBC Capital Markets Corporation............................. 24,609,375
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Corp......................................... 22,968,750
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.................................... 22,968,750
TD Securities (USA) LLC..................................... 22,968,750
CIBC World Markets Corp..................................... 14,765,625
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC.............................. 14,765,625
NBF Securities (USA) Corp................................... 8,203,125
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc................................... 3,281,250
----------------
Total..................................................... U.S.$315,000,000
================
25
SCHEDULE B
GUARANTORS
JURISDICTION OF
GUARANTOR INCORPORATION
--------- ---------------
Videotron TVN Inc........................................... Quebec, Canada
Le Superclub Videotron ltee................................. Quebec, Canada
Videotron (1998) ltee....................................... Quebec, Canada
Groupe de Divertissement SuperClub inc...................... Quebec, Canada
SuperClub Videotron Canada inc.............................. Quebec, Canada
Les Proprietes SuperClub inc................................ Quebec, Canada
26
SCHEDULE C
MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES
JURISDICTION OF
SUBSIDIARY INCORPORATION
---------- ---------------
Videotron TVN inc........................................... Quebec, Canada
Videotron (1998) ltee....................................... Quebec, Canada
Le SuperClub Videotron ltee................................. Quebec, Canada
CF Cable TV Inc............................................. Canada
Videotron (Regional) Ltd.................................... Canada
27
SCHEDULE D
LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES
- Liens created pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the CF Cable Indentures
and liens permitted thereunder.
28
SCHEDULE E
SUBSIDIARIES
JURISDICTION OF PERCENT OF
SUBSIDIARY INCORPORATION VOTING RIGHT
---------- --------------- ------------
(DIRECT AND
INDIRECT)
Videotron TVN inc........................................... Quebec, Canada 100%
Videotron (1998) ltee....................................... Quebec, Canada 100%
Le SuperClub Videotron ltee................................. Quebec, Canada 100%
Societe d'Edition et de Transcodage T.E. ltee............... Quebec, Canada 62.11%
CF Cable TV Inc............................................. Canada 100%
Videotron (Regional) Ltd.................................... Canada 100%
Groupe de Divertissement SuperClub inc...................... Quebec, Canada 100%
Tele-Cable Charlevoix (1977) inc............................ Quebec, Canada 100%
SuperClub Videotron Canada inc.............................. Quebec, Canada 100%
Les Proprietes SuperClub inc................................ Quebec, Canada 100%
29
EXHIBIT A
Opinion of U.S. counsel for the Company and the Guarantors to be delivered
pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assuming the due authorization by each of the Company and the
Guarantors, the Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by (to
the extent that execution and delivery are governed by the law of the State of
New York), and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company and each
Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, preference or other laws affecting or
relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights generally from time to time in
effect and to equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought
in equity or at law).
(ii) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Registration Rights Agreement by each of the Company and the Guarantors, the
Registration Rights Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Company
and each of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, preference or other laws
affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights generally from
time to time in effect and to equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and except as rights to
indemnification under the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by
applicable law.
(iii) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the DTC
Agreement by the Company, the DTC Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance, preference or other laws affecting or relating to the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to
equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or
at law).
(iv) Assuming the due authorization of the Indenture by the Company and each
Guarantor, the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
each Guarantor (to the extent that execution and delivery are governed by the
law of the State of New York), and assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Trustee, the Indenture constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and
each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance, preference or other laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to equitable
principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).
(v) The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and, assuming
the Notes have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, have been duly executed
and delivered by the Company (to the extent execution and delivery are governed
by the law of the State of New York), and when authenticated by the Trustee in
the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and delivered against payment of
the purchase price therefor, the Notes will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, preference or
other laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally from time to time in effect and to equitable principles (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture.
(vi) Assuming the Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for
issuance by the Company, when issued and authenticated in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange
Offer, the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, preference or other laws
affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights generally from
time to time in effect and to equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and will be entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture.
(vii) The Guarantees of the Notes are in the form contemplated by the
Indenture, assuming the Guarantees of the Notes have been duly authorized by
each Guarantor for issuance and sale pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
A-1
and the Indenture, the Guarantees of the Notes have been duly executed and
delivered by each Guarantor (to the extent execution and delivery are governed
by the law of the State of New York), and when the Notes have been authenticated
in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the
purchase price therefor, the Guarantees of the Notes will constitute valid and
binding agreements of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, preference or
other laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally from time to time in effect and to equitable principles (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture.
(viii)Assuming the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes have been duly
authorized by each Guarantor for issuance and sale pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, when the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will have
been executed by each of the Guarantors and the Exchange Notes have been
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Exchange Offer, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes
will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Guarantors, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance,
preference or other laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally from time to time in effect and to equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and will be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(ix) The Securities, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture
conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Offering Memorandum.
(x) The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the captions
"Description of the Notes," "Description of Certain Indebtedness -- CF Cable
Notes," "Certain Tax Considerations -- Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations" and "Notice to Investors," insofar as such statements constitute
matters of U.S. law, summaries of U.S. legal matters or documents, or legal
conclusions with respect to U.S. law, have been reviewed by such counsel and
fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to
therein.
(xi) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration
or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or
agency of the United States or the State of New York, which has not been
obtained, taken or made (other than as required by any state securities or Blue
Sky laws of the various states, as to which we express no opinion), is required
for the Company's or each Guarantor's execution, delivery and performance of the
Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement (in the
case of the Company only) or the Indenture, or the issuance and delivery of the
Securities or the Exchange Securities, or consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering Memorandum, except such as
may be required by federal and state securities laws with respect to the
Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement.
(xii) The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and
the Indenture by the Company and the performance by the Company and the
Guarantors of their obligations thereunder (other than performance by the
Company and the Guarantors of their obligations under the indemnification
section of the Purchase Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered)
(i) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt
Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the
Guarantors or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to the QMI
Indentures or the CF Cable Indenture, except for such Defaults, Debt Repayment
Triggering Events, conflicts, breaches, liens, charges or encumbrances as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change; or
(ii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of
any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree in the
United States applicable to the Company, the Guarantors or any of their
respective subsidiaries.
(xiii)The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Securities
will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act.
(xiv) Assuming the accuracy of the respective representations, warranties
and covenants of the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers
contained in Sections 1(b), 1(d), 1(e), 1(mm), 2(e), 3(j) and 7 of the Purchase
Agreement, no registration of the Notes or the Guarantees under the Securities
Act, and no qualification of the
A-2
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, is required in connection with the
purchase of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers or the initial resale of
the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Qualified Institutional Buyers in
the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum
other than any registration or qualification that may be required in connection
with the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Offering Memorandum or in connection
with the Registration Rights Agreement.
(xv) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase
Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement by each party
thereto, each of the Company and the Guarantors have validly and irrevocably
submitted to the jurisdiction of any United States federal or state court
located in the State of New York, County of New York, have expressly accepted
the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court and have validly and
irrevocably appointed CT Corporation System as their authorized agent in any
suit or proceeding against them based on or arising under the Purchase
Agreement, the Indenture or the Registration Rights Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for
the Company and with representatives of the Initial Purchasers at which the
contents of the Offering Memorandum, and any supplements or amendments thereto,
and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing
upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Memorandum (other than as
specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the
foregoing, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe
that either the Offering Memorandum, as of its date or at the Closing Date,
contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it
being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the financial
statements or other financial data derived therefrom, included in the Offering
Memorandum or any amendments or supplements thereto).
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters involving the
application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of
New York or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper
and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the
Closing Date shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial
Purchasers, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchasers may rely on such
opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Initial
Purchasers) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable
and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers; provided,
however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and
the Initial Purchasers are justified in relying upon such opinion of other
counsel, and as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company, the Guarantors and public
officials.
A-3
EXHIBIT B
Opinion of Canadian counsel for the Company and the Guarantors to be
delivered pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement.
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the Province of Quebec.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering
Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the DTC Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified or registered as a foreign or
extra-provincial corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change.
(iv) Each of Videotron TVN inc., Videotron (1998) ltee, Le SuperClub
Videotron ltee, Groupe de divertissement SuperClub inc., SuperClub Videotron
Canada inc., Les Proprietes SuperClub inc, CF Cable TV Inc., Videotron
(Regional) Ltd. and Tele-Cable Charlevoix (1977) inc. (each, a "Subsidiary
Guarantor" and collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors") has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority
to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Offering Memorandum and to enter into and perform its
obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Indenture and the Guarantees and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason
of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for
such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing
would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Change. The opinion provided herein with respect to Tele-Cable Charlevoix
(1977) inc. is expressly subject to and is qualified by the adoption by the
directors and by the sole shareholder of Tele-Cable Charlevoix (1977) inc. of
written resolutions dated July 31, 2004 authorizing and approving the
liquidation of Tele-Cable Charlevoix (1977) inc. into Videotron (Regional) Ltd.
and the entering into of an asset distribution agreement between such companies,
such resolutions which, to our knowledge, have not been revoked and which remain
in full force and unamended as of the date hereof.
(v) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary
Guarantor has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
non-assessable and is owned by the Company (except for one Class F Preferred
Share of Videotron (1998) ltee which is held by Quebecor Media Inc.), directly
or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any pending
or threatened claim.
(vi) All of the outstanding common shares of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, to the
best of such counsel's knowledge, have been issued in compliance with the
requirements of applicable Canadian Securities Laws. The description of Quebecor
Media Inc.'s Stock Option Plan and the options or other rights granted
thereunder, set forth in the Offering Memorandum, accurately and fairly
describes such plan, arrangement, options and rights.
(vii) No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any preemptive
right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for or
purchase securities of the Company arising by operation of the charter or
by-laws of the Company or the COMPANIES ACT (Quebec) or to the best knowledge of
such counsel, otherwise.
(viii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and each of Videotron TVN inc., Videotron (1998) ltee,
Le SuperClub Videotron ltee and Groupe de divertissement SuperClub inc. (each,
an "Existing Guarantor" and collectively, the "Existing Guarantors").
(ix) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company and each Existing Guarantor.
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(x) The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(xi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and each Existing Guarantor.
(xii) The Notes and the Guarantees have been duly authorized and executed
by the Company and the Existing Guarantors, respectively, for issuance and sale
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture and, assuming the Notes
have been duly authenticated pursuant to the Indenture, the Notes have been duly
issued and delivered by the Company.
(xiii) The Exchange Securities have been duly and validly authorized for
issuance by the Company.
(xiv) The Amended QMI Subordinated Loan has been duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(xv) No registration, filing or recording of the Indenture under the laws
of the Province of Quebec or the federal laws of Canada is necessary in order to
preserve or protect the validity or enforceability of the Indenture or the
Securities issued thereunder.
(xvi) The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the captions
"Enforceability of Civil Liabilities," "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to Our
Business -- We are subject to extensive government regulation. Changes in
government regulation could adversely affect our business, financial condition
or results of operations.", "Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to Our
Business -- We are required to provide third-party Internet service providers
with access to our cable systems, which may result in increased competition.",
"Risk Factors -- Risks Relating to Our Business -- We may have to support
increasing costs in securing access to support structures needed for our
network.", "Description of Certain Indebtedness," "Description of the Notes,"
"Business -- Regulation," "Business -- Canadian Broadcast Distribution (Cable
Television)," "Business -- Intellectual Property," "Business -- Legal
Proceedings," "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions," and "Certain Tax
Considerations," insofar as such statements constitute matters of Canadian
federal, Quebec, Ontario or British Columbia law, summaries of legal matters
under such laws, the Company's charter or by-law provisions, documents or legal
proceedings under such laws, or legal conclusions under such laws, have been
reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material
respects, the matters referred to therein.
(xvii) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory
authority or agency, is required for the Company's or each Existing Guarantor's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the DTC Agreement (in the case of the Company only) or the Indenture,
or the issuance and delivery of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, or
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the
Offering Memorandum, except such as may be required by Canadian Securities Laws
with respect to the Company's and the Existing Guarantors' obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement and except for filings, registrations and
recordings which have been made and the filing of certain notices of private
placement and the payment of filing fees required by Canadian Securities Laws.
(xviii) The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange
Securities and the Indenture by the Company and the performance by the Company
and the Existing Guarantors of their obligations thereunder (other than
performance by the Company and the Existing Guarantors of their obligations
under the indemnification section of the Purchase Agreement, as to which no
opinion is rendered) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
and (i) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or
by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not result in any violation
of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors
or any of their subsidiaries, (iii) will not conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
or assets of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective
subsidiaries pursuant to any agreement listed in Schedule II, and (iv) to the
best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree in Canada applicable
to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective
subsidiaries.
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(xix) To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor any
subsidiary of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is in violation of its
charter or by-laws or any law, administrative regulation or administrative or
court decree in Canada applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or in Default
in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any agreement listed in Schedule II, except in each such
case for such violations or Defaults as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(xx) It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of
the Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to, or in connection with the
initial resale of such Securities by the Initial Purchasers and to each
Subsequent Purchaser as contemplated in the Purchase Agreement and the Offering
Memorandum to qualify, by prospectus or otherwise, the distribution of the
Securities under Canadian Securities Laws.
(xxi) To our knowledge, there is no pending or threatened legal or
governmental proceedings by or before any court or judicial or administrative
board or tribunal or any governmental body in Canada that are not described or
referred to in the Offering Memorandum, except in each case for such proceedings
that, if subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would not,
singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(xxii) There are no capital, stamp, withholding or other issuance taxes or
duties imposed by the Canadian government or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein payable by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers
in the Province of Quebec in connection with (i) the issuance of the Securities,
(ii) the sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers or
(iii) the consummation of any other transactions contemplated under the Purchase
Agreement.
(xxiii) If an action is brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in
Quebec (the "Quebec Court") to enforce the Indenture, this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities or the Exchange
Securities in accordance with the laws applicable thereto as chosen by the
parties, namely New York law, the Quebec Court would recognize the choice of
New York law, and, upon appropriate evidence as to such law being adduced, apply
the internal law of New York, provided that (i) in matters of procedure, the
laws of Quebec will be applied, (ii) those rules of law in force in Quebec which
are applicable by reason of their particular object will be applied, and
(iii) the provisions of the laws of New York will not be applied if the
application would be inconsistent with public order as understood in
international relations. A Quebec Court will retain discretion to decline to
hear such action if it is not the proper forum to hear such an action, or if
concurrent proceedings are pending or have been decided elsewhere. In such
counsel's opinion, there are no reasons under current law for avoiding the
application of New York law based on public order, except that there is some
doubt as to whether a Quebec Court would apply U.S. federal or state securities
laws as the sole basis for liability.
(xxiv) If an action is brought in a Quebec Court on a final and enforceable
judgment IN PERSONAM for a sum certain of a New York court that is not subject
to ordinary remedy under New York law respecting the enforcement of the
Indenture, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement,
the Securities or the Exchange Securities, the Quebec Court will recognize and
declare enforceable the New York judgment if: (i) the New York court rendering
such judgment had jurisdiction over the judgment debtor, as recognized by a
Quebec Court; (ii) such judgment was not obtained by fraud or in a manner
contrary to natural justice or in contravention of the fundamental principles of
procedure; (iii) the judgment is not inconsistent with public order as
understood in international relations in Quebec or contrary to any order made by
the Attorney General of Canada under the FOREIGN EXTRATERRITORIAL MEASURES ACT
(Canada) or by the Competition Tribunal under the COMPETITION ACT (Canada);
(iv) the enforcement of such judgment does not constitute, directly or
indirectly, the enforcement of taxation or other public laws of a foreign
jurisdiction such as expropriation or penal laws; (v) a dispute between the same
parties, based on the same facts and having the same object, has not given rise
to a decision rendered in Quebec, whether or not a final judgment has been
issued, is not pending before a Quebec Court in the first instance, or has not
been decided in a third country and the decision has met the necessary
conditions for recognition in Quebec; (vi) interest payable on the Debentures is
not characterized by a Quebec Court as interest payable at a criminal rate
within the meaning of Section 347 of the CRIMINAL CODE (Canada); and (vii) the
action to enforce such judgment is commenced within the applicable limitation
period under law; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that under the CURRENCY ACT (Canada), a
Quebec Court may only give judgment in Canadian dollars, and in enforcing a
foreign judgment for a sum of money in a foreign currency, a Quebec Court will
render its decision in the Canadian currency equivalent of such foreign
currency, converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the day that
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the judgment of the New York court became enforceable under New York law. In
such counsel's opinion, a Quebec Court would conclude that the New York court
had jurisdiction based on the submission under the provisions of the Indenture,
the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement and this Agreement to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the State of
New York, County of New York and the appointment by the Company of CT
Corporation System as its agent to receive service of process in the
United States under the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and this
Agreement. Moreover, in such counsel's opinion, there are no reasons based on
public policy, as that term is understood under the laws of Quebec, for avoiding
recognition of judgments of New York courts with respect to the Indenture, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement, this Agreement, the Securities
or the Exchange Securities; except that there is some doubt as to the
enforceability in a Quebec Court of judgments of a New York Court, wherein
liability is predicated solely upon United States federal or state securities
laws.
In addition, we have participated in conferences with certain officers and
other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public
or certified public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the
Initial Purchasers at which the contents of the Offering Memorandum, and any
supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and,
although we have not independently verified and are not passing upon and do not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Offering Memorandum (except to the extent set forth
in paragraph (xvi) above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the
basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to our attention which would lead us to
believe that either the Offering Memorandum, as of its date or at the Closing
Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (other than the financial statements of the Company or other
financial data derived therefrom included in the Offering Memorandum or any
amendments or supplements thereto as to which we express no opinion or belief).
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters involving the
application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the Provinces of Quebec,
British Columbia and Ontario or the federal law of Canada, to the extent they
deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be
dated the Closing Date shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Initial Purchasers, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchasers may rely
on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the
Initial Purchasers) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be
reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that
they and the Initial Purchasers are justified in relying upon such opinion of
other counsel, and as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company, the Guarantors and public
officials.
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EXHIBIT C
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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EXHIBIT D
SEVENTH AMENDING AGREEMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
NOVEMBER 28, 2000
D-1
ANNEX I
RESALE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S OR RULE 144A
Each Initial Purchaser understands that the Securities have not been and
will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold
within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Each Initial Purchaser represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold,
and will not offer or sell, any Securities constituting part of its allotment
except outside the United States in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S
under the Securities Act or within the United States in accordance with
Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Accordingly, neither it nor its affiliates
or any persons acting on its or their behalf have engaged or will engage in any
directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities. Terms used in this
paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.
