Exhibit 4.5
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated February 12, 1999
between
CARRIER1 INTERNATIONAL S.A.
(a Luxembourg societe anonyme)
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
XXXXXXX XXXXX BARNEY INC.
WARBURG DILLON READ LLC
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made and entered into February 12, 1999, between CARRIER1 INTERNATIONAL S.A., a
societe anonyme organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (the
"Company"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED, XXXXXXX XXXXX BARNEY INC.,
WARBURG DILLON READ LLC, BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC. (the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement
dated the date hereof among the Company and the Placement Agents (the "Placement
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Placement Agents
of an aggregate of 160,000 Dollar Units (the "Dollar Units"), each consisting of
one 13 1/4% Senior Dollar Note due 2009 of the Company with a principal amount
of $1,000 (each, a "Dollar Security" and collectively, the "Dollar Securities")
and one warrant (a "Dollar Warrant"), each Dollar Warrant initially entitling
the holder thereof to purchase 6.71013 shares of common stock, par value $2.00
per share, of the Company ("Common Shares"), at a per share exercise price equal
to the greater of $2.00 and the minimum par value required by Luxembourg law,
subject to adjustment, and an aggregate of 85,000 Euro Units (the "Euro Units"
and, together with the Dollar Units, the "Units"), each consisting of one
13 1/4% Senior Euro Note due 2009 of the Company with a principal amount of Euro
1,000 (each, a "Euro Security" and collectively, the "Euro Securities") and one
warrant (a "Euro Warrant"), each Euro Warrant initially entitling the holder
thereof to purchase 7.53614 Common Shares at a per share exercise price equal to
the greater of $2.00 and the minimum par value required by Luxembourg law,
subject to adjustment. The Dollar Securities and the Euro Securities are
collectively referred to as the "Securities." In order to induce the Placement
Agents to enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide
to the Placement Agents and their direct and indirect transferees the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement
is a condition to the closing under the Placement Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined
terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"1934 ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
2
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Placement Agreement.
"COMPANY" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto and shall also include the Company's successors.
"DOLLAR NOTES INDENTURE" shall mean the Indenture relating to
the Dollar Securities dated the Closing Date between the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, as the same may be amended from
time to time in accordance with its terms.
"EURO NOTES INDENTURE" means the Indenture relating to the
Euro Securities dated the Closing Date between the Company and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, as the same may be amended from time
to time in accordance with its terms.
"EXCHANGE OFFER" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company
of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration under
the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean an exchange
offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another
appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"EXCHANGE SECURITIES" shall mean securities issued by the
Company under the Dollar Notes Indenture containing terms identical to
the Dollar Securities and under the Euro Notes Indenture containing
terms identical to the Euro Securities (in each case, except that the
Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer or
include provisions relating to additional interest and will contain
terms of an administrative nature that differ from those of the
Securities) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"HOLDER" shall mean the Placement Agents, for so long as they
own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns
and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of
Registrable Securities under the Indentures; PROVIDED that for purposes
of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include
Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
3
"INDENTURES" shall mean the Dollar Notes Indenture and the
Euro Notes Indenture.
"MAJORITY HOLDERS" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities;
PROVIDED that (i) the principal amount of the Euro Notes Securities
shall be calculated in dollars based upon an exchange rate of
Euro .89 per U.S.$1.00 and (ii) whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx)
(other than the Placement Agents or subsequent Holders of Registrable
Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates
solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall
not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was
given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
"PERSON" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"PLACEMENT AGENTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"PLACEMENT AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and
supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Dollar Securities or
the Euro Securities, as the case may be; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a
Security shall cease to be Registrable Security (i) when a Registration
Statement with respect to such Security shall have been declared
effective under the 1933 Act and such Security shall have been disposed
of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Security has
been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor
provision then in force, but not Rule 144A under the 0000 Xxx) or is
saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act (or is otherwise
available for resale pursuant to Rule 144 or any successor provision
under the 0000 Xxx) without volume restriction, if any, or (iii) when
such Security shall have ceased to be outstanding.
4
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses
incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this
Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and
filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky
qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities), (iii) all reasonable expenses of any Persons in preparing
or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing
any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or
supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales
agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and
compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees (it being
understood that no rating agency shall be engaged by any Placement
Agent or Holder without the Company's prior consent), (v) all fees and
disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indentures under
applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of each
Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which
counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may
also be counsel for the Placement Agents) and (viii) the fees and
disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company,
including the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but
excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters (other than
reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel set forth in clause
(ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions
and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of
Registrable Securities by a Holder. The Placement Agents shall bear any
fees and expenses of their counsel incurred in connection with the
Exchange Offer.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement
of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and
all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SECURITIES" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"SHELF REGISTRATION" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
5
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable
Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders
whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"TRUSTEE" shall mean the applicable trustee with respect to
the Dollar Securities or the Euro Securities.
"UNDERWRITER" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
"UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION" or "UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING" shall
mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an
Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The Company
shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best
efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days after such
effective date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the
related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder
stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable
law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the date or dates of acceptance for exchange (which
shall be a period of at least 20 business days from the date such
notice is mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");
6
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election,
not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by
sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such
Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for
exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election
to have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions
thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange
Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the relevant
Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof
so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the
relevant Trustee to promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an
Exchange Security of the same series equal in principal amount to the
principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such
Holder.
The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as and to
the extent provided above and shall comply in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws
and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall
not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not
violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC.
The Company shall inform the Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the
Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have
the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
Each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Company at or prior to the consummation of the
Exchange Offer that (i) any Exchange
7
Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any
person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange
Securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and (iii) such Holder is not an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act, of the Company. If such
Holder is a broker-dealer, it will be required to represent that the Securities
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale
of such Exchange Securities. Each such Holder, whether or not it is a
broker-dealer, shall also represent that it is not acting on behalf of any
person that could not truthfully make any of the foregoing representations
contained in this paragraph.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply (to
the extent applicable) solely with respect to Registrable Securities held by the
Placement Agents or any Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section
4(a)) as provided in (and subject to) Section 2(b)(iii), and the Company shall
have no further obligation to register Securities (other than such Registrable
Securities of the Placement Agents and Participating Broker-Dealers) pursuant to
Section 2(b) of this Agreement.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available
or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date
because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the
Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason
consummated by August 19, 1999 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed
and in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents (notice of which shall be
given to the Company within 30 days of such completion) a Registration Statement
must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agents in
connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after
such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the applicable Holders of all of their Registrable Securities and to
have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the
event the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a
result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the
Company shall use its best efforts to file and have declared effective by the
SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with
respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which
may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by
the Placement Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees
to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under
the 1933 Act with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period
that will
8
terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement or are no longer restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under
the 1993 Act, or any successor rule thereof). The Company further agrees to
supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the
Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other
rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably
requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and
to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such
Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable.
The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement copies of any such supplement or amendment
promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each
Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes,
if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared
effective by the SEC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if, after it has been declared
effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other
order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such
Registration Statement will be deemed not to be effective during the period of
such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided for in the Indentures, in
the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective on or prior to August 19, 1999, the annual
interest rate borne by the Securities shall be increased by 0.5% per annum on
the Securities from August 19, 1999 and be payable in cash semi-annually,
commencing February 15, 2000, until the Exchange Offer is consummated or the
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Placement
Agents and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company
to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Placement Agents or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect
to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof,
the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on
the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be
selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities
by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus
current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174
under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or
dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents,
to counsel for the Holders (selected by the Majority Holders) and to
each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities,
if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including
each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto
and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably
request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of
the Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with
applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities
and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in
such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance
with applicable law;
(d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable U.S. state securities or
"blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request
in writing by the time the applicable Registration
10
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such
Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all
other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such
jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to (i)
qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but
for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of
process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if
it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder
of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Placement Agents promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or
counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment
thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by
the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for material
additional information after the Registration Statement has become
effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered
thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar
agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and
correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event
during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which
makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making
of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading and (vi)
of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to
a Registration Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at
the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each
Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement
11
and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents
incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
(consistent with the provisions of the applicable Indenture) and
registered in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request
at least two business days prior to the closing of any sale of such
Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence
of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its reasonable
best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company
agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as
promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the
Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company
has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement
or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document
which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement
or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement,
provide a reasonable number of copies of such document to the Placement
Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the
representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the
Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for
discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any
amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Placement Agents
and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement,
the Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised
and furnished a copy or to which the Placement Agents or their counsel
(and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or
their counsel) shall reasonably object;
12
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the
effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) use its best efforts to cause the Indentures to be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"TIA"), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate with the
Trustees and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indentures as
may be required for the Indentures to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Trustees to execute, all documents as may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indentures to be so
qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon execution of
customary confidentiality agreements reasonably satisfactory to the
Company and its counsel, make available for inspection by a
representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any
Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the
Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial
and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company,
and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the
Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with
a Shelf Registration Statement as shall be necessary to enable such
persons to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
Xxxxxxx 00 xx xxx 0000 Xxx.
(x) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to be rated
by two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (as such
term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the 0000 Xxx) if, at the time
of filing of either Registration Statement, the Registrable Securities
are rated;
(o) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably
requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of
such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated
in such filing; and
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection
therewith (including those requested by
13
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable
Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited
to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent
possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and
any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein
or deemed incorporated by reference therein, if any, in each case, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when
requested, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain opinions of
counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and
substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold
and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each
selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the
matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings (it being understood that the matters to be covered by such
opinion may be subject to customary or other reasonable qualifications
and exceptions), (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain "cold
comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant
of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the
Company for which separate financial statements and financial data are
or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed
to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such
letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold
or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in
underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the
representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause
(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may
require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of
such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request in writing. The Company may exclude from such registration the
Registrable Securities of any Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
agrees hereby that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening
of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of
14
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will
deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than
permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus
covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such
notice. Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Placement Agents and
the other selling Holders and each of their respective directors and officers
who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who such person
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
for any losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by the failure of such
Holder to discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities after receipt of the
notice referred to in the preceding sentence or the failure of such Holder to
comply with applicable prospectus delivery requirements with respect to any
Prospectus (including, but not limited to, any amended or supplemental
Prospectus) provided by the Company for such use. If the Company shall give any
such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which the
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have
received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume
such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice (i) twice during any 365
day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension
and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365 day
period and (ii) five additional times, for non-consecutive three-day periods
each, if the Company's Board of Directors determines in good faith that the
Company cannot provide adequate disclosure during such period due to
circumstances beyond its control.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities
in an Underwritten Offering; PROVIDED that the Company's approval (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the managing underwriters
therefor is required. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
4. PARTICIPATION OF BROKER-DEALERS IN EXCHANGE OFFER.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. No
Participating
15
Broker-Dealers other than the Placement Agents and persons who have obtained the
Company's prior written consent to act as a market maker shall have any rights
as Participating Broker-Dealers under this Agreement.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that
if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and
the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by
Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange
Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto
as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clauses (i) and (ii)
below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange
Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the
Staff recited in Section 4(a) above; PROVIDED that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period
exceeding 90 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be
extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this
Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by
the Company to deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such
period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4;
and
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set
forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration,
to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or
the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in
conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Placement
Agents or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by one
or more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement Agents and the
Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating
Broker-Dealers; and PROVIDED FURTHER that, in connection with such
application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3
to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x)
to deal only with one entity representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated unless
it elects not to act as such representative,
16
(y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the
Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Placement
Agents unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be
delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter with respect to the
Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange Date and with
respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected
during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to any
Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b)
above.
5. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
17
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Placement Agent, each selling Holder of Securities covered thereby and each
Person, if any, who controls any Placement Agent or any such Holder within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or
is under common control with, or is controlled by, any Placement Agent or any
such Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by any Placement Agent, any such Holder or any such controlling or affiliated
Person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to
which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the
1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused
by 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, or
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission based upon information relating to the Placement Agents or any Holder
furnished to the Company in writing through Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated or
any selling Holder expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Holder to the extent that any such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities result from the fact that such Holder sold
securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Holder (if required by law so to have been delivered) a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto) at or prior to the written confirmation
of the sale of the Registrable Securities to such person, and if the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities result from an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or an omission or alleged omission contained in such preliminary
Prospectus that was corrected in the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented),
unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company with its
obligations to deliver copies of the Prospectus to the Holders, nor shall this
indemnity agreement inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person
asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the
Registrable Securities concerned to the extent that at the time of such purchase
such Holder had received written notice from the Company that the use of such
Prospectus, amendment, supplement or preliminary Prospectus was suspended as
provided in the penultimate paragraph of Section 3. In connection with any
Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify
the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the
18
1933 Act and the 0000 Xxx) to the same extent as provided above with respect to
the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any
Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Placement Agent and the other
selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any
Placement Agent and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Placement Agents and the
Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above,
such Person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
Persons, if any, who control any Placement Agent within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Xxxxxxx 00 xx xxx 0000 Xxx, (x) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate law firm (in addition to any local counsel)
for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement
and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either
such Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate law firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who
control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case
involving any Placement Agent and Persons who control such Placement Agent, such
firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated. In
such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm
shall be designated in writing by
19
the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm shall be designated by the
Company. The indemnifying party 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 from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party for such fees and expenses of counsel in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement effected
without its consent if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified
party in accordance with such request to the extent such request is reasonable
and made in good faith and (ii) provides written notice to the indemnified party
substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the
date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in
respect of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless
such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and
(ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability
or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or
paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each
indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified
party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
Company and the Holders 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 Company or by the Holders and the parties'
20
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the
respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were
registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by
PRO RATA allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5, with respect to any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission referred to in Section 5(a) hereof
(other than in the first exception thereto), to the fullest extent permitted by
law, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were sold
by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
any indemnified party at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Placement Agent, any Holder or any Person controlling any Placement Agent
or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or
any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange
Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not entered
into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any
agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way
conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of
the Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
21
(b) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent (assuming an exchange rate equal to Euro .89 per
U.S.$1.00 in the case of the Euro Securities); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the
provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of
Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Placement Agents,
the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company,
initially at the Company's address set forth in the Placement Agreement and
thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and
on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at
the address specified in the Indentures.
22
(d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of
each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; PROVIDED that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The
Placement Agents (in their capacity as Placement Agents) shall have no liability
or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply
with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder
under this Agreement.
(e) PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES. The Company shall
not, and shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule
405 under the 0000 Xxx) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer
any Securities prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf
Registration Statement being declared effective.
(f) THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. The Holders shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and shall have the right
to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York.
(j) SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
23
(k) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR
SERVICE. The Company irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or
proceeding brought by any Placement Agent or by any person who controls any
Placement Agent arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any federal or state court
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the State of New York and
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action
or proceeding and any claim of inconvenient forum, and irrevocably submits to
the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or
proceeding.
The Company (i) irrevocably designates and appoints CT
Corporation System, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (together with any
successor, the "Authorized Agent") as its authorized agent upon which process
may be served in any suit, action or proceeding described in Section 11 of the
Placement Agreement and represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has
accepted such designation and (ii) agrees that service of process upon the
Authorized Agent and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or
delivered to Carrier1 International S.A. c/o Carrier1 International GmbH,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Attention: General Counsel),
shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company
in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all
action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and
instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of
the Authorized Agent in full force and effect so long as any of the Units, Notes
or Warrants shall be outstanding.
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
CARRIER1 INTERNATIONAL S.A.
By: /s/ Stig Johansson
-----------------------------
Name: Stig Johansson
Title: Director
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Authorized Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
XXXXXXX XXXXX BARNEY INC.
WARBURG DILLON READ LLC
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
By: XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Principal
