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EXHIBIT 4.4
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated January 29, 1998
between
ALLEGIANCE TELECOM, INC.
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX SECURITIES CORPORATION
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NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS NOTES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made and entered into January 29, 1998, between ALLEGIANCE TELECOM, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED,
SALOMON BROTHERS INC, BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC. and XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION (the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
dated January 29, 1998, between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers of an aggregate of $445,000,000 principal amount at maturity of the
Company's 11 3/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 (the "Securities"). In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers 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 Purchase 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.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement and shall also include the Company's successors.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company
of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(a) hereof.
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"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 Indenture containing terms identical to the
Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last
date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such
interest has been paid, from August 15, 2003 and (ii) the Exchange
Securities will not provide for an increase in the rate of interest and
will not contain restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders
of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange
Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, 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 Indenture; 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)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the
Securities dated as of February 3, 1998 between the Company and The
Bank of New York, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount at maturity of outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided that 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
subsidiaries 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, corporation,
limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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"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.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall
have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities
shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement,
(ii) when such Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule
144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under
the 1933 Act or (iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be
outstanding.
"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 for any underwriters or Holders in
connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange
Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all 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, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the
qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi)
the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the 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 Initial
Purchasers) 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 fees and expenses set forth in
clause (ii) above) or the Holders
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and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a
Holder.
"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.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"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.
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the
Securities under the Indenture.
"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
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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 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
Notes Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a
period of at least 20 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the
"Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Notes 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 at maturity 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 Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted
for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to
promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an
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Exchange Security equal in principal amount at maturity to the
principal amount at maturity of the Registrable Securities surrendered
by such Holder.
The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply 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
Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the
Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right, subject
to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender
of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(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 3, 1998 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and
in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers a Registration Statement
must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Initial Purchasers 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 Holders of all of the 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 Initial
Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees to use its
best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
until two years after the Closing Date or such shorter period that will
terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement. 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
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practicable. The Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable
Securities 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 have become 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 Indenture, in the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to August 3, 1998,
the annual interest rate on the Securities (and the Exchange Securities) will
increase by 0.5% until the Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial
Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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
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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 Initial
Purchasers, to counsel for the 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 best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable 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 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;
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(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
Initial Purchasers 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
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 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 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 Indenture) and registered in
such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one
business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities;
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(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence
of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its 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 copies of
such document to the Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial
Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(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) cause the Indenture 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 Trustee and the Holders to effect
such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to
be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute,
and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents
as may be required to effect such
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changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the
SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the execution of
customary confidentiality agreements reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, 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;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts
to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities
exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority
Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable
listing requirements;
(o) use its 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);
(p) 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
(q) 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 the Holders of a majority 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 or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the
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same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the
Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance,
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders 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, (iii) 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 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 at maturity 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.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, 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(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of 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. 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 only twice during any
365-day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 60 days for each
suspension and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any
365-day period.
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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. 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 Company understands that 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.
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 Initial Purchasers or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (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 180 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
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(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 Initial
Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by
one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Initial Purchasers 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, (y) to
pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the
Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Initial
Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the
Company or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to
Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Initial Purchasers, each Holder and each person, if any, who controls any
Initial Purchaser or any 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 Initial Purchaser or any Holder, from and against all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any Initial Purchaser, any 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
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untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Initial
Purchasers or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by the Initial
Purchasers or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. 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 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, the Initial Purchasers 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
Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchasers 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
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers and all
persons, if any, who control any Initial Purchaser 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 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
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one separate 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 the Initial Purchasers and persons who control
any Initial Purchaser, such firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated. In such case involving the Holders and such persons
who control any Holders, such firm shall be designated in writing by 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 and (ii) 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. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, 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 includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(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' 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 amount
of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a
Registration Statement.
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(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, 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 the Initial Purchasers, any Holder or any person controlling any Initial
Purchaser 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.
(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 at maturity of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consents to any departure from the
provisions of Section 5 hereof shall
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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 Initial
Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the
Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase 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 Indenture.
(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 Purchase 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
Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) 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) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and any Holder shall have
the right to enforce such agreements
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directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to
protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(f) 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(i) 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.
(j) Miscellaneous. The Company agrees, for the sole benefit of
the Initial Purchasers;
(i) prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement if, in the reasonable
judgment of any Initial Purchaser, such Initial Purchaser or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations under
the 0000 Xxx) is required to deliver an offering memorandum in
connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect to,
the Securities or the Exchange Securities, (A) to periodically amend or
supplement the Final Memorandum so that the information contained in
the Final Memorandum complies with the requirements of Rule 144A of the
1933 Act, (B) to amend or supplement the Final Memorandum when
necessary to reflect any material changes in the information provided
therein so that the Final Memorandum will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances existing as of the date the Final Memorandum is so
delivered, not misleading and (C) to provide such Initial Purchaser
with copies of each such amended or supplemental Final Memorandum, as
such Initial Purchaser may reasonably request;
(ii) following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement and for so long as the
Securities or, the Exchange
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Securities are outstanding if, in the reasonable judgement of any
Initial Purchaser, such Initial Purchaser or any of its affiliates (as
such term is defined in the rules and regulations under the 0000 Xxx)
is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of, or
market-making activities with respect to, such securities, (A) to
periodically amend the applicable registration statement so that the
information contained therein complies with the requirements of Xxxxxxx
00(x) xx xxx 0000 Xxx, (X) if requested by such Initial Purchaser,
within 45 days following the end of the Company's most recent fiscal
quarter, file a supplement to the prospectus included in the applicable
registration statement which sets forth the financial results of the
Company for the previous quarter, (C) to amend the applicable
registration statement or supplement the related prospectus or the
documents incorporated therein when necessary to reflect any material
changes in the information provided therein so that the registration
statement and the prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances existing as
of the date the prospectus is so delivered, not misleading and (D) to
provide such Initial Purchaser with copies of each such amendment or
supplement as such Initial Purchaser may reasonably request;
(iii) notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) above, (A) prior to
amending the Final Memorandum or to filing any post-effective amendment
to any registration statement or to supplementing any related
prospectus, to furnish to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel,
copies of all such documents proposed to be amended, filed or
supplemented, and (B) it will not issue any amendment to the Final
Memorandum, any post-effective amendment to a registration statement or
any supplement to a prospectus to which the Initial Purchasers or their
counsel shall object;
(iv) it shall notify the Initial Purchasers and their counsel
and (if requested by any such person) confirm such advice in writing,
(A) when any amendment to the Final Memorandum has been issued, when
any prospectus supplement or amendment or post-effective amendment has
been filed, and, with respect to any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (B) of any request by the SEC for any
post-effective amendment or supplement to a registration statement, any
supplement or amendment to a prospectus or for additional information,
(C) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (D) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities or the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or
the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose and
(E) of the happening of any event which makes any statement made in the
Final Memorandum, a registration statement, a prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto untrue or which requires the making of
any change in
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the Final Memorandum, a registration statement, a prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, in order to make the statements
therein not misleading;
(v) it consents to the use of the Final Memorandum and any
prospectus referred to in this paragraph (j) or any amendment or
supplement thereto, by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case
may be;
(vi) it will comply with the provisions of this paragraph (j)
at its own expense and will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for its
expenses associated with this paragraph (j) (including fees of
counsel); and
(vii) and hereby expressly acknowledges that the
indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 8 of the
Purchase Agreement shall be specifically applicable and relate to each
offering memorandum, registration statement, prospectus, amendment or
supplement referred to in this paragraph (j).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
ALLEGIANCE TELECOM, INC.
By /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman and
Chief Executive
Officer
Agreed, as of the first date written above
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation
By Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated
By /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
