REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of October 4, 2009 between and among VIMPELCOM LTD., ECO TELECOM LIMITED, ALTIMO HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS LTD., ALTIMO COOPERATIEF U.A. TELENOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AS and TELENOR EAST INVEST AS
EXHIBIT 99.4
CONFORMED
COPY
dated as of October 4, 2009
between and among
VIMPELCOM LTD.,
ECO TELECOM LIMITED,
ALTIMO HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS LTD.,
ALTIMO COOPERATIEF U.A.
TELENOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AS
and
Table Of Contents
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION |
4 | |||
ARTICLE III RELATED OBLIGATIONS |
6 | |||
ARTICLE IV OBLIGATIONS OF THE HOLDERS |
9 | |||
ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION |
10 | |||
ARTICLE VI INFORMATION AVAILABLE |
12 | |||
ARTICLE VII ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS |
12 | |||
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS |
12 |
-i-
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of October 4, 2009 (this “Agreement”) between and
among VimpelCom Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”),
Eco Telecom Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of Gibraltar (“Eco Telecom”),
Altimo Holdings & Investments Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the British
Virgin Islands (“Altimo”), Altimo Cooperatief U.A., a company organized under the laws of the
Netherlands (“Altimo Cooperatief”), Telenor Mobile Communications AS, a company organized and
existing under the laws of Norway (“Telenor Mobile”), Telenor East Invest AS, a company organized
and existing under the laws of Norway (“Telenor East”), and such other holders of capital stock of
the Company as shall be party hereto from time to time (each, a “Party” and, collectively, the
“Parties”).
WHEREAS, Eco Telecom, Altimo, Altimo Cooperatief, Telenor Mobile, Telenor East and the Company
desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for, among other things, certain rights and
obligations of the Parties relating to their respective ownership of the Registrable Securities (as
hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly
controls, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, such Person, including, if such
Person is an individual, any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse of
such Person, any one of whom has the same home as such Person, and also including any trust or
estate for which any such Person or Persons specified herein, directly or indirectly, serves as a
trustee, executor or in a similar capacity (including, without limitation, any protector or settlor
of a trust) or in which such Person or Persons specified herein, directly or indirectly, has a
substantial beneficial interest and any Person who is controlled by any such trust or estate. As
used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and
“under common control with”) shall mean, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or
indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through
ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of
such Person; provided, however, that for the purposes of this definition, neither the Company nor
any of its Controlled Affiliates shall be deemed Affiliates of any Holder.
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Alfa” means, collectively, Altimo, Altimo Cooperatief and Eco Telecom.
“Altimo” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Altimo Cooperatief” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Business Day” means a day upon which banks are generally open for business in each of
Tortola, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Xxxxxxxx, Bermuda, Oslo, Norway, New York, New
York, Moscow, Russian Federation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands and London, England.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Closing” has the meaning specified in the Share Exchange Agreement.
“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in the Share Exchange Agreement.
“Common DRs” means depositary receipts each representing one (1) share of Common Stock.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value US$0.001 per share.
“Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Controlled Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Affiliate of such Person in
which such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, securities having more than fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power for the election of directors or other governing body thereof or
more than fifty percent (50%) of the partnership or other ownership interests therein (other than
as a limited partner).
“Cut-off Date” has the meaning specified in the Share Exchange Agreement.
“Demand” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1.
“Eco Telecom” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by
the SEC.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor
federal statute and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from
time to time.
“Form F-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any
successor or similar registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC
that permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents
filed by the Company with the SEC.
“Governmental Entity” means, in any applicable jurisdiction or international forum, any
(a) federal, state, territorial, oblast, okrug, regional, municipal, local or foreign government,
(b) court, arbitral or other tribunal, (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any
nature (including any political subdivision, instrumentality, branch, department, official or
entity), and including but not limited to international organizations having jurisdiction over
matters concerning intellectual property or (d) agency, commission, authority or body exercising,
or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory
or taxing authority or power of any nature.
“Holder” means Eco Telecom, Altimo, Altimo Cooperatief, Telenor Mobile, Telenor East and such
of their respective successors, assigns and transferees that acquire Registrable Securities,
directly or indirectly, from them, in each case, in accordance with the Shareholders Agreement and
that are party to the Shareholders Agreement.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(c).
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(c).
“LCIA” has the meaning specified in Section 8.5(a)(iii)(B).
“Parties” and “Party” have the meanings specified in the Preamble.
“Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, trust, corporation, limited
liability entity, unincorporated organization, estate or other entity (including a Governmental
Entity).
“Proceedings” has the meaning specified in the Share Exchange Agreement.
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“register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and
filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and the
declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
“Registrable Securities” means (a) the shares of Common Stock, (b) the Common DRs, (c) the
shares of Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to the conversion or exchange of the
preferred stock of the Company, par value US$0.001 per share, and (d) any share capital of the
Company issued or issuable with respect to the Common Stock of the Company as a result of any share
split, share dividend, recapitalization exchange or similar event.
“Registration Statement” means a Registration Statement of the Company required to be filed
under the Securities Act covering the Registrable Securities.
“Requesting Holders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, as such rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may be promulgated by the SEC.
“Rules” has the meaning specified in Section 8.5(a).
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency
at the time administering the Securities Act.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar
successor federal statute and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be in
effect from time to time.
“Selling Expenses” shall mean all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock
transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and all fees and disbursements of
counsel for any Holder (which shall, in any event, be paid by such Holder).
“Selling Holder” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(a).
“Share Exchange Agreement” means the Share Exchange Agreement dated as of the date hereof
between Alfa and certain of its Affiliates and Telenor and certain of its Affiliates.
“Shareholders Agreement” shall mean the Shareholders Agreement dated as of the date hereof
between and among the Company, Altimo, Altimo Cooperatief, Eco Telecom, Telenor East and Telenor
Mobile.
“Shelf Registration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.
“Shelf Registration Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.
“Telenor” means, collectively, Telenor East and Telenor Mobile.
“Telenor East” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Telenor Mobile” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Transaction Agreements” has the meaning specified in the Shareholders Agreement.
“Valid Business Reason” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(b).
Section 1.2 Interpretation.
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For the purposes of this Agreement, except to the extent that the context otherwise requires:
(a) the table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;
(b) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” (or similar terms) are used in
this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
(c) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement;
(d) all terms defined in this Agreement have their defined meanings when used in any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;
(e) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the
plural forms of such terms;
(f) if any action is to be taken by any Party pursuant to this Agreement on a day that is not
a Business Day, such action shall be taken on the next Business Day following such day;
(g) references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns;
(h) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise; and
(i) “reasonable efforts” or similar terms shall not require the waiver of any rights under
this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION
Section 2.1 Exercise of Demand. At any time, a Holder or Holders (each, a “Requesting
Holder”) may deliver a written request to the Company in accordance with Section 8.3 (a “Demand”)
that the Company effect a registration with respect to the Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act; provided, however, that the anticipated aggregate number of shares of such
Demand exceed 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock. Such Demand shall specify the number
of Registrable Securities such Requesting Holder intends to include in such registration and the
methods by which such Requesting Holder intends to sell or dispose of such Registrable Securities
(including whether such Requesting Holder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities by means
of an underwritten offering). As soon as practicable after receipt of such Demand, the Company
shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Article II, use its best efforts to effect such
registration (including by using reasonable efforts to file a Registration Statement (and executing
an undertaking to file any amendments thereto) covering the Registrable Securities so requested to
be registered, using its best efforts to cause such filed Registration Statement to become
effective promptly, and to qualify such Registrable Securities under applicable blue sky or other
securities laws of any state of the United States of America to the extent set forth herein and
complying with applicable regulations issued under the Securities Act and any other governmental
requirements or regulations) as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and
distribution in an underwritten offering of all or such portion of such Registrable Securities as
are specified in such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to take
any action to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section
2.1 as follows:
(a) within six (6) months after the Effective Date of a prior Registration Statement effected
in response to a request from any Holder pursuant to this Section 2.1 or within six (6) months
after the Effective Date of any other Registration Statement effected by the Company for a public
offering of Registrable Securities;
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(b) for a period of not more than ninety (90) days past the time the Company would otherwise
be required to file such Registration Statement if the Board, prior to the time the Company would
otherwise have been required to file such Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.1,
determines in its good faith judgment that the filing of such Registration Statement would be
seriously detrimental to the completion of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a
participant (a “Valid Business Reason”);
provided, however, that such right to delay the filing of
such Registration Statement shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in any thirty-six
(36) month period, and the Company shall only have the right to delay such filing for only so long
as such Valid Business Reason exists;
(c) if at such time the Company has, in response to requests from any such Requesting Holder
or any Requesting Holder’s predecessors in interest pursuant to this Section 2.1, effected the
registration of Registrable Securities and has sold such Registrable Securities on at least six
(6) prior occasions; provided that (i) for purposes of determining the number of demand
registrations effected by a Requesting Holder and its predecessors in interest, Telenor and Persons
acquiring Registrable Securities directly or indirectly from Telenor shall count as one Holder, and
Alfa and Persons acquiring Registrable Securities directly or indirectly from Alfa shall count as
one Holder, and (ii) if the Company withdraws a registration of Registrable Securities at the
request of any Requesting Holder at any time after the filing of a Registration Statement that is a
matter of public record at the SEC, then such withdrawn Registration Statement shall count as a
registration by such Requesting Holder; provided,
however, that if any Requesting Holder withdraws
from a registration because such Requesting Holder has learned of a material adverse change in the
financial condition, business or prospects of the Company which was not known to such Requesting
Holder at the time of its request and the Company failed to disclose such material adverse change
to such Requesting Holder, then such withdrawn Registration Statement shall not count as a
registration by such Requesting Holder; or
(d) if the Requesting Holders propose to dispose of Registrable Securities that may be
immediately registered on Form F-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 2.3 below and the
Company promptly takes all actions necessary to effect a registration of all Requesting Holders’
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 below; provided that any registration of a
Requesting Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 shall not constitute a demand
for registration pursuant to Section 2.1.
Section 2.2 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. The Company shall not
enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective purchaser of any securities of the Company
that would allow such holder or prospective purchaser to require the Company to include shares or
securities in any registration initiated under Section 2.1, nor shall the Company include any
shares or securities for its own account in any such registration, without the prior written
consent of Telenor and Alfa.
Section 2.3 Shelf Registration.
(a) Upon the written request of a Holder or Holders requesting that the Company file a
Registration Statement for a delayed or continuous offering pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation thereto) (together with the prospectus included
therein, all amendments and supplements thereto and all exhibits and materials incorporated by
reference therein, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) with respect to the resale of the
Registrable Securities in the United States (a “Shelf Registration Request”), the Company will, as
soon as practicable, file a Shelf Registration Statement, and will use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon
as possible after such filing (a “Shelf Registration”). Each Shelf Registration Statement filed in
connection with a Shelf Registration Request shall cover all of the Registrable Securities. The
Company will use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement (A)
continuously effective, supplemented and amended (subject to customary “blackout periods” pending
the release of earnings announcements or the publication of financial statements of the Company,
such blackout periods to be notified by the Company to the Holders and to be as limited as
reasonably possible) and (B) available for resales of the Registrable Securities by the Holders
(subject to such “blackout periods”); provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to
take any action to effect any such
5
registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 2.3 if Form F-3 is not
available to the Company for such offering.
(b) If the Company’s Board of Directors determines in its good faith judgment that the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement would be seriously detrimental to the completion
of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a participant (and so confirms to the Holders
in a letter addressed to them from the Company’s chief financial officer), then the Company may
allow the Shelf Registration Statement to fail to be effective or the prospectus contained therein
to be unusable as a result of such non-disclosure for up to ninety (90) days in any year during the
period of effectiveness.
Section 2.4 Underwriting. The Company (together with each Holder(s) proposing to
distribute Registrable Securities through such underwriting) shall, upon request of the lead
managing underwriter selected for such underwriting by the Company (which lead managing underwriter
shall be reasonably acceptable (taking into account, among other things, whether such underwriter
is of international standing) to the Requesting Holder(s)), enter into any reasonable agreement
requested by such lead managing underwriter in connection with the offering, including, but not
limited to, an underwriting agreement in customary form with such lead managing underwriter;
provided, however, that (a) the Requesting Holder(s) shall be permitted to select a
co-managing underwriter for such offering (which co-managing underwriter shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company); and (b) in no event shall the Company be required to include
Registrable Securities for its own account in such offering. If a Holder disapproves of the terms
of the underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company
and the lead managing underwriter, delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective
Date of the Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such
underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.
ARTICLE III
RELATED OBLIGATIONS
Section 3.1 Obligations of the Company. At such time as the Company is obligated to
file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Article II, the Company shall also be
obligated to take the following actions:
(a) promptly prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to any Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1 and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective until the earliest of (i) one (1) year
after the Effective Date of such Registration Statement and (ii) such time as the Registrable
Securities become eligible for resale by each Holder without any volume limitations or other
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect;
provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Company have any obligation to
keep such Registration Statement effective after such time as all of the Registrable Securities
have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement or Rule 144 or any other rule of similar
effect;
(b) before filing a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto (excluding documents to be incorporated by reference therein, except in the case of the
preparation of the initial Registration Statement), at least five (5) days before filing, furnish
to legal counsel for each Holders participating in such offering and the underwriters, if any,
copies of all such documents in substantially the form proposed to be filed (including documents
incorporated therein by reference), to enable such Holders and the underwriters, if any, to review
such documents prior to the filing thereof, and the Company shall make such reasonable changes
thereto (including changes to, or the filing of amendments reflecting such changes to, documents
incorporated by reference) as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any;
(c) furnish or make available to each Holder participating in such offering, and each
underwriter, if any, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement
and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules,
all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits,
6
unless requested in writing by such Holder or underwriter(s)), and such other documents, as
such Holders or such underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and upon request a copy of any and all
transmittal letters or other correspondence to or received from, the SEC or any other relevant
Governmental Entity relating to such offering;
(d) cooperate with the Holders participating in such offering and the underwriter(s), if any,
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends)
representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each
such Holder that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such
Holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
underwriter(s), if any, or such Holders may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities;
(e) use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such Registration
Statement under “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the
underwriters and Holders (and to maintain such registrations and qualifications effective for the
applicable period of time set forth in Section 3.1(a) above), and to do any and all other acts and
things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the underwriters and such Holders to consummate
the disposition in such jurisdictions of such shares (provided that the Company will not be
required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not be required
but for this Section 3.1(e), (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (iii) file
any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction));
(f) promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing. The Company will use reasonable
best efforts to promptly amend or supplement such prospectus or Registration Statement or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required
document, as applicable, in order to cause such prospectus to not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;
(g) promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement and the underwriters, if any, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such advice
in writing: (i) when the prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when
the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by
the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations or
warranties of the Company contemplated by paragraph (m) below cease to be true and correct; and
(v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;
(h) furnish, at the request of any Holder, on the date that such Registrable Securities are
delivered to the underwriters for sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this
Agreement, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if the Registrable
Securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the Registration Statement
becomes effective, (i) an opinion dated such date of the lead counsel representing the Company for
the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in
an underwritten public offering, issued pursuant to the underwriting agreement relating to the
offering and addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to such Holder and (ii) the letter
(including any “bringdowns” related thereto) from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company issued pursuant to the underwriting agreement relating to the offering and addressed to
the underwriters;
7
(i) provide for a transfer agent and registrar and CUSIP number for all such shares not later
than the Effective Date of such Registration Statement;
(j) use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this
Agreement to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange;
(k) cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including by participation in “road
shows” and appearing before rating agencies) taking into account the Company’s business needs;
(l) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange and any other applicable national securities
exchange, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable (but not
more than eighteen (18) months) after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, an earnings
statement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;
(m) make such representations and warranties to the participating Holders and the
underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and confirm the accuracy of the same if and when
requested, and matters relating to the compliance of the Registration Statement and the prospectus
with the Securities Act;
(n) bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in Section 2.1, Section 2.3 and this
Section 3.1 and the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that each Holder shall bear the cost of Selling Expenses with
respect to such Holder’s Registrable Securities, if any, in connection with the offering of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and each Holders and any other Person
participating in such offering shall bear all such specified Selling Expenses pro rata among each
other on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities which have been registered; and
(o) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus
or suspending the qualification of any Registrable Securities included in such Registration
Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order.
The Company understands that each Holder disclaims being an underwriter, but each Holder being
deemed an underwriter shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has hereunder.
Section 3.2 “Market Stand-Off” Agreement.
(a) Each Holder hereby agrees that if another Holder (a “Selling Holder”) has delivered a
Demand or a Shelf Registration Request to the Company, such Selling Holder may promptly notify the
other Holders of its Demand or Shelf Registration Request, and if so requested pursuant to such
notice, the other Holders shall not sell, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for
the purchase of, enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a
sale, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Stock held by such Holders (other than those
shares of Common Stock included in the registration) for a period specified by such Selling Holder
not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days (or such shorter period specified by the Selling Holder)
following the effective date of a Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement, as
applicable, in connection with such offering. To the extent that any of such Holders are released
from the market stand-off provisions described in this Section 3.2(a), such release shall be made
on a pro rata basis among such Holders based on their ownership of Common Stock.
(b) Each Holder agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably
requested by the Company that are consistent with the Holder’s obligations under this Section 3.2
or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.
(c) Each Party agrees to maintain in confidence any notice delivered to it pursuant to Section
3.2(a), together with the contents thereof.
8
Section 3.3 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of the Registrable
Securities to the public without registration after such time as a public market exists for the
Registrable Securities, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take the following
actions:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in
Rule 144, at all times after the date that the Company becomes subject to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
(b) file with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
(c) as long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon
request: (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144, and of the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such
reporting requirements); (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company
filed with the SEC; and (iii) such other reports and documents as a Holder may reasonably request
in connection with availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing it to sell any
such securities without registration.
ARTICLE IV
OBLIGATIONS OF THE HOLDERS
Section 4.1 Transfer of Registrable Securities After Registration. Each Holder agrees
that it will not effect any disposition of the Registrable Securities or its right to purchase the
Registrable Securities that would constitute a sale within the meaning of the Securities Act or
pursuant to any applicable state securities laws, except as contemplated in the Registration
Statement referred to in Section 2.1 or as otherwise permitted by law, and that it will promptly
notify the Company of any changes in the information set forth in the Registration Statement
regarding Alfa, Telenor, any of their respective Affiliates or a plan of distribution relating to
either such Party.
Section 4.2 Distribution of Prospectus.
(a) Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with
sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of
any event of the kind described in Section 3.1(g)(iii) or Section 3.1(f), such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement or prospectus until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1(f), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that
the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
prospectus; provided, however, that (i) in no event shall such discontinuance
exceed sixty (60) days, and (ii) the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 3.1(a)
with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be
maintained by the amount of time the Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such
securities.
Section 4.3 Information. Each Holder shall furnish to the Company materially complete
and accurate information regarding such Holder, the Registrable Securities held by it and the
distribution proposed by such Holder as shall be required by applicable law or requested by the
underwriter(s) to effect the registration of their Registrable Securities.
9
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1 Indemnification.
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors, partners and agents, and each Person controlling such Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act), with respect to any registration, qualification,
compliance or sale which has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, and each underwriter, if
any, and each Person who controls any underwriter (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act), against all expenses, claims, losses, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any litigation,
commenced or threatened, arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue
statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus, offering
circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance or sale, or based on any 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 in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation
(or alleged violation) by the Company of (i) the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any rule or
regulation promulgated thereunder, (ii) the securities or similar laws of any state or other
jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are sold in an underwritten offering or (iii) if the
Registrable Securities are sold in a non-underwritten offering effected pursuant to Article II, the
securities laws of those jurisdictions in which the Holders have requested registration or
qualification of the Registrable Securities covered by the request (unless the Company shall have
notified such Holder in a timely manner that such registration or qualification is not available or
has not been made for a reason permitted by the Agreement), or in which the Company has notified
such Holder that the Registrable Securities have otherwise been registered and qualified or are
eligible for sale, in each case, applicable to the Company in connection with any such
registration, qualification, compliance or sale, and the Company will reimburse or pay for the
account of each Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners and agents, each Person
controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each Person who controls any such underwriter,
for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred (as and when incurred) in connection with
investigating, preparing the defense of or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or
action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder, such controlling person or
underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by such
Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification or compliance is
being effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors and officers, each underwriter, if
any, of the Company’s securities covered by such a Registration Statement, each Person who controls
the Company or such underwriter (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act), and any
other Person participating in such registration, each of its officers and directors and each Person
controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act) such Person participating in
such registration, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular or other
document, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse or
pay for the account of the Company, such Persons, such directors, officers, Persons, underwriters
or control Persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred (as and when incurred)
in connection with investigating, preparing the defense of or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue
statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such
Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder and stated
to be specifically for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of such
Holder for indemnification under this Section 5.1(b) shall not exceed the net proceeds from the
offering received by such Holder.
10
(c) Each Party entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.1 (the “Indemnified Party”)
shall give notice to the Party required to provide indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”)
promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may
be sought and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom; provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall
conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (which
approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such Indemnified Party’s expense; provided further that the failure of
any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of
its obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that the failure to give such notice is
materially prejudicial to an Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying
Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each
Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(d) The obligations of the Company and each Holder under this Section 5.1 shall survive the
completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to this
Agreement.
(e) If a claim for indemnification under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) is available by its
terms but is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable or insufficient to hold
harmless an Indemnified Party, then each Indemnifying Party in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a
result of any such claim, loss, liability or action that otherwise would have been indemnified
under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b), as the case may be, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party,
on the other, in connection with the statements, omissions, actions or inactions that resulted in
such claim, loss, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party, any action or inaction by any such Party, and the
Parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement, omission, action or inaction; provided, however, that the liability
of any Holder under this Section 5.1(e) shall be limited to the amount of net proceeds received by
such Holder in the offering giving rise to such liability, less any amounts paid pursuant to
Section 5.1(b). The amount of such claim, loss, liability or action subject to this Section 5.1(e)
shall be deemed to include any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, liability or action
(which shall be limited as provided in Section 5.1(c) if the Indemnifying Party has assumed the
defense of any such action in accordance with the provisions thereof). Notwithstanding the
foregoing in this Section 5.1(e), no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Party
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified
Party of written notice of the commencement or threatened commencement of any claims for which a
claim for contribution may be made against an Indemnifying Party under this Section 5.1(e) and if a
notice for indemnification has not been otherwise given under this Section 5.1, such Indemnified
Party shall give written notice thereof in the manner set forth hereunder for a claim for
indemnification to the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that the failure to
so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it of any obligation to provide contribution
hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action is
materially prejudiced by the failure to give such timely notice. The Parties acknowledge that
determining contribution pursuant to this Section 5.1(e) by pro rata allocation or by any other
method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
Section 5.1(e) would not be just or equitable. For the avoidance of doubt, if indemnification is
available under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b), the Indemnifying Parties shall indemnify each
Indemnified Party to the fullest extent provided in Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) without regard
to the relative fault of said Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party or any other equitable
consideration provided for in this Section 5.1(e).
11
ARTICLE VI
INFORMATION AVAILABLE
The Company, upon the reasonable request of each Holder, shall make available for inspection
by each Holder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Registration
Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by each Holder or any such
underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company, and cause the Company’s officers, employees and independent accountants to supply all
information reasonably requested by each Holder or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or
agent in connection with the Registration Statement.
ARTICLE VII
ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 7.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any right, interest or obligation
hereunder may be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties and
any attempt to do so will be void, except for assignments and transfers of the Registrable
Securities in accordance with the terms of the Shareholders Agreement. This Agreement is binding
upon, inures to the benefit of and is enforceable by the Parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement, except as provided in this Agreement.
Section 7.2 Obligations Several and Not Joint. The obligations of the Holders
hereunder shall be several (and not joint). A Holder shall not be responsible for the failure of
any other Holders to perform any obligation required to be performed by it hereunder. The
obligations of the Company at any time hereunder to each Holders shall be separate and independent
obligations. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out of this
Agreement as it shall see fit, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holders to consent to,
or be joined as an additional party in, any proceedings for such purposes.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Effectiveness; Termination; Survival. This Agreement shall take effect on
the date hereof and shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the date on which all Parties agree in
writing to the termination of this Agreement, (b) the Cut-off Date, if the Closing has not occurred
by 5:00 p.m. GMT on such date in accordance with the Share Exchange Agreement and (c) the date on
which the Share Exchange Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing.
Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall be without prejudice to the
rights, obligations or liabilities of any Party which shall have accrued or arisen prior to such
termination. The provisions of Article I and Article VIII shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
Section 8.2 Holders. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the
Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with
respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.
Section 8.3 Notices. Any notice, request, consent, waiver or other communication
required or permitted hereunder shall be effective only if it is in writing and personally
delivered or sent by facsimile or sent, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, or by recognized overnight courier service, postage or other charges prepaid,
and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or facsimile, or when received if sent by mail
or by courier, as follows:
12
If to the Company:
VimpelCom Ltd.
Victoria Place
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx No.: x000 000 0000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
Victoria Place
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx No.: x000 000 0000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
If to Altimo or Eco Telecom:
Eco Telecom Limited
Xxxxx 0, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx No.: x000 000 000 00
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx No.: x000 000 000 00
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
with a copy to:
Altimo Holdings & Investments Ltd.
Xxxxxxxxxxx xxx., 00
Xxxxxx 000000
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x0 000 000 00 00
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx xxx., 00
Xxxxxx 000000
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x0 000 000 00 00
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
and to:
Xxxxx Day
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
XXX
Facsimile No.: x0 000 000 0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
XXX
Facsimile No.: x0 000 000 0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
If to Telenor East or Telenor Mobile:
Telenor Mobile Communications AS
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00
X-0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Attention: Jan Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00
X-0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Attention: Jan Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Advokatene i Telenor
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00
X-0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00
X-0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 00 00 00 00
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
13
and to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx (Europe) LLP
Tower 42, Level 35
00 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 000 000 0000
Attention: Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxxx
Tower 42, Level 35
00 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: x00 000 000 0000
Attention: Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxxx
or such other person or address as the addressee may have specified in a notice duly given to the
sender as provided herein.
Section 8.4 Applicable Law. This Agreement, and any dispute, controversy or claim
arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement, or for the breach or alleged
breach thereof, whether in contract, in tort or otherwise, shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws
or other principles thereof that would result in the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties confirm that they are fully familiar with the
provisions of Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law, and intend to bring this
Agreement within the terms thereof.
Section 8.5 Dispute Resolution.
(a) Any and all disputes, controversies and claims between or among the Parties and arising
under, relating to or in connection with, this Agreement, in any manner whatsoever, whether in
contract, in tort, or otherwise, and including any dispute or controversy regarding the existence,
validity or enforceability of this Agreement, or the arbitrability of any dispute, controversy or
claim, and whether brought by a Party and/or any of its parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates,
officers, directors or agents, on the one hand, against a Party and/or any of its parents,
Subsidiaries, Affiliates, officers, directors or agents, on the other hand, shall be settled by
arbitration by a tribunal of three (3) arbitrators constituted and acting under the United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules then in force (the “Rules”) in
accordance with the following terms and conditions:
(i) In the event of any conflict between the Rules and the provisions of this
Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
(ii) (A) The seat of arbitration shall be London, England, unless otherwise agreed by
the Parties, and the fact that hearings are held elsewhere shall not affect the seat of
arbitration; and (B) notwithstanding Section 8.4, the arbitration proceeding itself shall be
governed by the Arbitration Xxx 0000 of the United Kingdom and the procedural law of England
relating to the conduct of arbitration proceedings.
(iii) The following procedures shall govern the selection of arbitrators:
(A) Where there is only one claimant party and one respondent party, the
claimant party shall appoint one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules, the
respondent party shall appoint one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules within
thirty (30) days after the appointment of the first arbitrator, and the two
arbitrators so appointed shall appoint the third (and presiding) arbitrator in
accordance with the Rules within thirty (30) days after the appointment of the
second arbitrator.
(B) In the event of an inability by the two party–nominated arbitrators to
agree on a third arbitrator in accordance with Section 8.5(a)(iii)(A) above, the
appointing authority for the third arbitrator shall be the LCIA (the “LCIA”), acting
in accordance with such rules as it may adopt for such purpose. The LCIA shall use
its best efforts to appoint such third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of an
application being made for such purpose.
(C) Following the appointment by a claimant or claimants or a respondent or
respondents of the first arbitrator in circumstances in which there is
14
more than one claimant party or respondent party, the remaining claimants or
respondents, as the case may be, shall attempt to agree between or among themselves
on the appointment of a second arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the
appointment of the first arbitrator, and to appoint such individual to serve as the
second arbitrator. Should they (i) fail to so agree, and (ii) provide written notice
of such disagreement within thirty (30) days of the appointment of the first
arbitrator, then, within ten (10) days after the date of the first such notice, any
such claimant or respondent may nominate a candidate to serve as the second
arbitrator. Within thirty (30) days after the end of such ten (10) day period for
nominations, the LCIA shall choose one of the candidates so nominated to serve as
the second arbitrator, in accordance with such rules as it may adopt for such
purpose. The arbitration (including with respect to the appointment of the third
arbitrator) shall thereafter proceed in accordance with this Section 8.5.
(iv) The English language shall be used as the written and spoken language for the
arbitration proceeding and all matters connected to the arbitration proceeding.
(v) The arbitral tribunal shall have the power to grant any remedy or relief that it
deems just and equitable and that is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
including specific performance, and including, but not limited to, injunctive relief,
whether interim or final, and any such relief and any interim, provisional or conservatory
measure ordered by the arbitral tribunal may be specifically enforced by any court of
competent jurisdiction. Each party to the arbitration proceeding retains the right to seek
interim, provisional or conservatory measures in accordance with Section 8.5(b), and any
such request shall not be deemed incompatible with the agreement to arbitrate or constitute
a waiver of the right to arbitrate.
(vi) The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding on the parties to
the arbitration proceeding.
(vii) The award of the arbitral tribunal may be enforced by any court of competent
jurisdiction and may be executed against the person and assets of the losing party in any
competent jurisdiction. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge and agree that a
court of any jurisdiction where the assets of a Party against which enforcement is sought
may be found is a court of competent jurisdiction, and the Parties irrevocably consent to
the exercise of personal jurisdiction in any such court.
(b) Except for arbitration proceedings pursuant to Section 8.5(a), no action, lawsuit or other
proceeding (other than proceedings for the confirmation or enforcement of an arbitration award, an
action to compel arbitration or an application for interim, provisional or conservatory measures in
connection with the arbitration) shall be brought by or between the Parties in connection with any
matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. Each Party irrevocably waives any right
under the Arbitration Xxx 0000 of the United Kingdom to appeal any arbitration award to, or to seek
determination of any question of law arising in the course of arbitration from, the Commercial
Court.
(c) In order to facilitate the comprehensive resolution of related disputes, all claims
between any of the Parties that arise under or in connection with this Agreement or any other
Transaction Agreement may be brought in a single arbitration proceeding. Upon the request of any
party to an arbitration proceeding constituted under this Agreement or any other Transaction
Agreement, the arbitral tribunal shall consolidate the arbitration proceeding with any other
arbitration proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement, if (i) all
parties concerned agree, or (ii) the arbitral tribunal determines that (A) there are issues of fact
or law common to the proceedings so that a consolidated proceeding would be more efficient than
separate proceedings, and (B) no party would be unduly prejudiced as a result of such consolidation
through undue delay or otherwise. In the event of different rulings on the question of
consolidation by the arbitral tribunal constituted hereunder and any other tribunal constituted
under this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement, or where an order for consolidation is
given but there is no agreement on which tribunal shall remain constituted to hear the matter, the
following provisions shall apply. Where the parties in the two proceedings are identical, the
ruling of the arbitral tribunal constituted first in time shall control and such tribunal shall
serve as the arbitral tribunal for the consolidated arbitration
15
proceeding. Where the parties in the two proceedings are not identical, and subject always to
clauses (i) and (ii) above, the ruling of the arbitral tribunal constituted first in time shall
control, but a new arbitral tribunal for any consolidated arbitration proceeding shall be
constituted in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.5(a)(iii)(A). For the purpose of the
constitution of the arbitral tribunal under that provision, and without prejudice to any party’s
rights under applicable limitation period, the consolidated arbitration will be considered to have
been commenced on the date of receipt by all the parties of the order of consolidation. The
Parties also expressly agree that any party to any other Transaction Agreement may, at the request
of any party and with the consent of the party to be joined and the arbitral tribunal, be joined as
a party to any arbitration proceeding commenced under this Agreement.
(d) Each Party irrevocably appoints Law Debenture Corporate Services Limited, located on the
date hereof at Fifth Floor, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7EX, United Kingdom, as its true and
lawful agent and attorney to accept and acknowledge service of and all process against it in any
action, suit or proceeding permitted by this Section 8.5, with the same effect as if such Party
were a resident of England, and had been lawfully served with such process in such jurisdiction,
and waives all claims of error by reason of such service; provided that the Party effecting such
service shall also deliver a copy thereof on the date of such service to the other Party by
facsimile in accordance with Section 8.3. Each Party will enter into such agreements with such
agent as may be necessary to constitute and continue the appointment of such agent hereunder. In
the event that any such agent and attorney resigns or otherwise becomes incapable of acting, the
affected Party will appoint a successor agent and attorney in London reasonably satisfactory to the
other Parties, with like powers. Each Party hereby irrevocably submits to (i) the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the Commercial Court in London, England in connection with any proceeding for the
confirmation or enforcement of an arbitration award, and (ii) the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Commercial Court in London, England in connection with any application for interim, provisional or
conservatory measures in connection with an arbitration (in each case, as referred to in Section
8.5(b) above) or an action to compel arbitration (provided that each Party retains the right to
file a motion to compel arbitration (or its equivalent) in a court other than the Commercial Court
in London, England in response to an action commenced or a motion or application made by another
Party or its agents, affiliates or representatives in such other court). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each Party agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, whether through any agent,
Affiliate, Representative or otherwise, apply for any interim, provisional or conservatory measures
in connection with an arbitration before any court located in the United States, the Russian
Federation or Ukraine; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.5(d) shall preclude, in
any manner whatsoever, any Party from seeking any such measure based upon (A) any order or
judgment, whether provisional or final, of any English court or (B) any order, directive, award or
ruling, whether interim or final, of any arbitral tribunal in any arbitration proceeding hereunder.
Each Party hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such action, suit or
proceeding brought in the Commercial Court and any claim that any such action, suit or proceeding
brought in the Commercial Court has been brought in any inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall
affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law or
to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against another Party in any other jurisdiction
in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 8.5(d).
(e) Each Party hereby represents and acknowledges that it is acting solely in its commercial
capacity in executing and delivering this Agreement and in performing its obligations hereunder,
and each Party hereby irrevocably waives, with respect to all disputes, claims, controversies and
all other matters of any nature whatsoever that may arise under or in connection with this
Agreement and any other document or instrument contemplated hereby, all immunity it may otherwise
have as a sovereign, quasi-sovereign or state-owned entity (or similar entity) from any and all
proceedings (whether legal, equitable, arbitral, administrative or otherwise), attachment of
assets, and enforceability of judicial or arbitration awards.
Section 8.6 No Strict Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and the Transaction Agreements. In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement and the other Transaction
Agreements shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of
proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement.
16
Section 8.7 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed
as giving any Person, other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns, any right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 8.8 Severability. It is expressly understood and agreed that any condition or
provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof nor shall it affect the validity or
enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction.
Section 8.9 Amendment; Waiver; Requirement of Writing. This Agreement cannot be
amended other than pursuant to a written agreement executed by each Party, and no performance, term
or condition hereof may be waived in whole or in part except by a writing signed by the Party
against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought or who is entitled to the benefit thereof. No
delay or failure on the part of any Party in exercising any rights hereunder, and no partial or
single exercise thereof, will constitute a waiver of such rights or of any other rights hereunder.
No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver
of any other provisions, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
Section 8.10 Entire Agreement; Proceedings.
(a) This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements constitute the entire agreement and
understanding of the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof
and thereof.
(b) Alfa and certain of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Telenor and certain of its
Affiliates, on the other, are parties to the Proceedings. If for whatever reason the Closing does
not occur by the Cut-off Date or the Share Exchange Agreement is terminated prior to the Cut-off
Date, nothing in this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement shall limit or prevent any Party
or any of its Affiliates from continuing to prosecute or defend any of the Proceedings, and in such
event, (i) any Party may continue to prosecute or defend any Proceeding as if this Agreement did
not exist, and (ii) the Parties agree not to seek, or permit their respective Affiliates to seek, a
dismissal, stay, postponement or other similar relief in respect of any Proceeding by reason (in
whole or in part) of this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement.
Section 8.11 Successors and Assigns. Subject to the requirements of Article VII, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of
each of the Parties hereto.
Section 8.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 8.13 Further Assurances. Each Party shall do and perform, or cause to be done
and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other Party may reasonably request in
order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
VimpelCom Ltd. |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | /s/ Lars Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Lars Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Altimo Holdings & Investments Ltd. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Altimo Cooperatief U.A. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Eco Telecom Limited |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Telenor East Invest AS |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
Telenor Mobile Communications AS |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement