Exhibit 10.1
SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of November 12, 2002 among Commonwealth Telephone
Enterprises, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), Level 3
Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Level 3") and Eldorado Equity
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Eldorado").
WHEREAS, Level 3 is the indirect beneficial owner of 4,741,326 issued and
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(together with any shares distributed as a dividend with respect to, or issued
in exchange for or in replacement of such stock, the "Common Stock"), and
1,017,061 issued and outstanding shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share (together with any shares distributed as a dividend
with respect to, or issued in exchange for or in replacement of such stock, the
"Class B Common Stock"; and together with the Common Stock, the "Capital
Stock").
WHEREAS, Eldorado is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Level 3 and
the holder of record of the Capital Stock.
WHEREAS, the Company and Level 3 have entered into a Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of February 7, 2002 (the "Registration Rights Agreement").
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to govern
the filing and use of a shelf registration statement (the "Registration
Statement") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
to allow for the offer and sale from time to time of the Common Stock by
Eldorado.
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to supersede the Registration Rights
Agreement with this Agreement insofar as the Registration Rights Agreement
relates to offers and sales of Common Stock.
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend for the Registration Rights Agreement
to remain operative as it relates to offers and sales of Class B Common Stock.
WHEREAS, the Company and Level 3 desire to amend and restate the
allocation of registration expenses and certain other terms that are set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"Adverse Disclosure" means public disclosure of material non-public
information, which disclosure in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company: (i) would be required to be made in the Registration
Statement or any supplement thereto filed by the Company with the Commission so
that the Registration Statement would not be materially misleading; (ii) would
not be required to be made at such time but for the filing of such supplement
to the Registration Statement; and (iii) is such that it would be seriously
detrimental to the Company or its shareholders if it were publicly disclosed.
"Agent" means a securities broker who arranges for the purchase of shares
and who does not purchase such shares as principal.
"Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
which is not a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan or
the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
"Company Expenses" means: (i) registration and filing fees with the
Commission and the NASD, Inc., (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with
securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel in connection with applicable blue sky qualifications), (iii) printing
expenses, (iv) fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or
quotation of shares, (v) fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and fees
and expenses of independent certified public accountants for the Company
(including fees and expenses associated with any special audits or the delivery
of comfort letters), (vi) reasonable fees and expenses of any additional
experts retained by the Company in connection with any offer of shares, and
(vii) reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel for both Xxxxx 0 and Eldorado
not to exceed $25,000.
"Demand Registration" means a Demand Registration as such term is defined
in Section 2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a
government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
"Subsidiary" means each corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
legal entity of which a holder of Common Stock beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding stock or other equity interests.
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"Underwriter" means a securities dealer who purchases shares as principal
and not as part of such dealer's market-making activities.
ARTICLE 2
STATUS OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SECTION 2.01. Status of Registration Rights Agreement. (a) The parties
hereto hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement shall no longer be effective insofar as the
Registration Rights Agreement relates to offers and sales of Common Stock.
(b) The Registration Rights Agreement shall remain operative and in full
force and effect at all times insofar as it relates to offers and sales of
Class B Common Stock.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 2.01(a) hereof and for the avoidance of doubt,
the indemnification and contribution provisions contained in Article 4 of the
Registration Rights Agreement, insofar as such provisions relate to sales of
Capital Stock made thereunder, shall remain operative in their entirety and in
full force and effect at all times and regardless of the effectiveness of this
Agreement.
(d) Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, Section 3.2(a) of the
Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended and restated as set forth in
Section 4.02 hereof.
(e) Nothing contained herein shall limit the number of Demand
Registrations that may be exercised under the Registration Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE 3
SHELF REGISTRATION
SECTION 3.01. Shelf Registration. (a) The Company is currently eligible to
use Form S-3 and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such
eligibility during the Effective Period (as defined in Section 3.01(c)), and,
in the event such eligibility is not maintained, the Company shall convert the
Registration Statement to a registration statement on Form S-1.
(b) Subject to Section 3.01(c) below, the Company will use all
commercially reasonable efforts to expeditiously prepare and file, within 5
Business Days of the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement with
the Commission on Form S-3 to register the Common Stock for offer and sale by
Eldorado or its permitted assigns on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
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(c) The Company will use all commercially reasonable efforts to
expeditiously cause the Registration Statement to become effective and to
remain so until the date on which Level 3 and its affiliates no longer
beneficially own any shares of Common Stock (the "Effective Period"); provided
that if the Company shall furnish to Level 3 a certificate signed by the
Company's Chairman or President stating that, in the good faith judgment of the
Company's Board of Directors, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company
or its shareholders for the Registration Statement to be filed or become
effective as expeditiously as possible, the Company may postpone, upon giving
prompt (but in any event within 5 Business Days of such determination) written
notice of such action to Xxxxx 0, the filing or effectiveness of the
Registration Statement for a period of not more than 120 days (provided that
the Company may not defer such filing or effectiveness pursuant to this clause
more than once); and provided further that if (i) the effective date of the
Registration Statement would otherwise be at least 45 days, but fewer than 90
days, after December 31, 2002, and (ii) the Securities Act requires the Company
to include audited financials as of December 31, 2002, the Company may delay
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for such period as is
reasonably necessary to include therein its audited financial statements as of
and for the year ended December 31, 2002, although the Company will use all
commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the length of such delay. The
Company shall promptly (but in any event within 5 Business Days) notify Xxxxx 0
of the termination of any such suspension period.
(d) The Company will, if requested, prior to filing the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to Level 3 and each
managing Underwriter or Agent, if any, copies thereof, and thereafter furnish
to Level 3 and each such Underwriter or Agent, if any, such number of copies of
the Registration Statement, amendment and supplement thereto (in each case
including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein)
and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including each
preliminary prospectus supplement and prospectus supplement) as Level 3 or each
such Underwriter or Agent may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
offer and sale of the Common Stock.
(e) The Company will promptly notify Xxxxx 0 of any stop order issued in
connection with the Registration Statement or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened to be issued by the Commission, and will take all commercially
reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to
remove it if entered.
(f) Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the
Company will pay all pre-effective expenses that do not relate to a specific
Shelf Takedown (as defined in Section 4.01(a)) incurred in connection with the
Registration Statement.
(g) To the extent a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
is required by Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the Company shall at its
expense file such an amendment (or take such other action to fulfill such
requirement as is then permitted by the Staff of the Commission) within 2
Business Days of the effective date of the event requiring such action.
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ARTICLE 4
SHELF TAKEDOWNS
SECTION 4.01. Shelf Takedowns. (a) So long as the Registration Statement
is effective, Eldorado may offer and sell some or all of the Common Stock
through Underwriters or Agents ("Underwritten Takedowns") or directly to
investors ("Direct Takedowns", and together with Underwritten Takedowns, "Shelf
Takedowns"), as more fully described in the Registration Statement. Level 3
shall have the right to select the managing Underwriters or Agents and any
additional investment bankers, managers, dealers, brokers or agents to be used
in connection with any Underwritten Takedown, subject to the Company's
approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
(b) Level 3 shall provide verbal notice to the Company immediately prior
to a proposed Direct Takedown and shall provide written notice to the Company 5
Business Days prior to a proposed Underwritten Takedown. Such written notice
shall state that Level 3, to the best knowledge of one of its authorized
officers, is not, and will not be at the time of the sale, in possession of any
material, non-public information regarding the Company and shall specify the
number of shares of Common Stock to be offered and the intended method of
disposition of such shares.
(c) At the request of any Underwriter or Agent (as the case may be) in
connection with any Underwritten Takedown, Level 3 and Eldorado will complete
and execute all customary and normal questionnaires, powers of attorney,
custody arrangements, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting or placement
agreements and this Agreement.
(d) The Company will use all commercially reasonable efforts to qualify
the shares to be offered in a Shelf Takedown under such securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as Level 3 shall reasonably
request; provided that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this paragraph, (ii) subject itself to taxation in
any such jurisdiction, or (iii) consent to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction.
(e) At the request of any Underwriter or Agent (as the case may be) in
connection with any Underwritten Takedown, the Company will enter into
customary agreements (including an underwriting or placement agreement in
customary form) and take such other actions as are required in order to
expedite or facilitate such Underwritten Takedown, including furnishing (i) an
opinion of counsel addressed to the Underwriters or Agents (as the case may be)
covering such customary matters as the managing Underwriter or Agent (as the
case may be) may reasonably request and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort
letters from the Company's independent public accountants covering such
customary matters as the managing Underwriter or Agent (as the case may be) may
reasonably request. In connection with any Direct Takedown, the Company will
enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably
required in order to expedite or facilitate the Direct Takedown.
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(f) An Underwritten Takedown will not count as an Underwritten Takedown
for the purposes of Section 4.02 hereof unless the distribution contemplated
thereby is actually consummated. Should the distribution contemplated by an
Underwritten Takedown not be consummated due to the failure of Level 3 or
Eldorado to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the inability of
Level 3 or Eldorado to reach agreement with the Underwriters or Agents (as the
case may be) for the proposed sale on the price or other customary terms for
such transaction, or in the event that Level 3 or Eldorado withdraws or does
not pursue the Underwritten Takedown (in each of the foregoing cases, provided
that at such time the Company is in compliance in all material respects with
its obligations under this Agreement), then such Underwritten Takedown shall
not be deemed to have been effected for the purposes of Section 4.02 hereof but
Level 3 shall pay those expenses incurred by the Company in connection
therewith as set forth in Section 4.02 hereof.
(g) (i) The Company will have the right to preempt, subject to Sections
4.01(g)(ii) and (iii) hereof, any Underwritten Takedown with a primary
registration (a "Proposed Offering") by delivering written notice (the
"Proposed Offering Notice") of such intention to Level 3 (within 5 Business
Days after the Company has received from Level 3 a request for such a takedown)
indicating that the Company has identified a specific business need and use for
the proceeds of the sale of such securities, the required time frame for such
need directly interferes with the proposed Underwritten Takedown and the
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the sale of
such securities pursuant to such primary registration within 90 days of such
notice. Upon the Company's preemption of an Underwritten Takedown, such
takedown shall not count as an Underwritten Takedown for the purposes of
Section 4.02. The Company shall not be entitled to exercise this right of
preemption more than one time in any 180-day period.
(ii) In the case of a Proposed Offering (other than an offering made on
Form S-4 or S-8 or pursuant to Rule 415 (or any substitute form or rule,
respectively, that may be adopted by the Commission)), the Company shall offer
Level 3 the opportunity in the Proposed Offering Notice to conduct a concurrent
offering of such number of shares (subject to 4.01(g)(iii) hereof) of Common
Stock held by Eldorado as Level 3 may request (a "Concurrent Offering") on the
same terms and conditions as the Proposed Offering. Level 3 will have 5
Business Days after receipt of the Proposed Offering Notice to notify the
Company as to whether it wishes to conduct a Concurrent Offering and, if so,
the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such offering;
provided that should Level 3 fail to provide timely notice to the Company,
Level 3 and Eldorado will forfeit any rights to conduct a Concurrent Offering
with respect to such Proposed Offering. The Company shall be entitled to select
the Underwriters in connection with any Proposed Offering and any Concurrent
Offering.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if the managing
underwriter of a Proposed Offering advises the Company and Level 3 that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, then the number of securities to be offered in the Proposed
Offering for the account of selling persons exercising piggy-back registration
rights (other than Eldorado) shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce
the total size of the Proposed Offering and the Concurrent Offering to the
number of securities recommended (the "Recommended Amount") by the managing
underwriter; provided however that, to the extent that the total number of
shares to be offered in the Proposed Offering and the Concurrent Offering after
such reduction continues to exceed the Recommended Amount, the number of shares
to be offered by Eldorado in the Proposed Offering and the Concurrent Offering
shall then be reduced until the Recommended Amount is met. For the avoidance of
doubt, nothing contained in this Section 4.01(g)(iii) shall reduce the number
of securities to be offered by the Company in the Proposed Offering.
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(iv) If the Company shall determine in its sole discretion not to conduct
such Proposed Offering, the Company shall provide written notice of such
determination within 1 Business Day of such determination to Level 3. Upon
receipt of such notice, Xxxxx 0 and Eldorado shall have the right to exercise a
Shelf Takedown.
(h) Notwithstanding the preemption provision contained in the immediately
preceding paragraph, if a Shelf Takedown would require the Company to make an
Adverse Disclosure, the Company shall have the right to prevent, for the
shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company to be necessary for such purpose (the "Suspension Period"), any
Shelf Takedown by delivering written notice of such intention (the "Suspension
Notice") to Level 3 within 2 Business Days after the Company has received from
Level 3 a request for such a takedown. The Company shall deliver a written
notice to Level 3 stating that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company has
determined in good faith that the Suspension Period has expired (the
"Suspension Expiration Notice") within 1 Business Day of such determination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be permitted to
exercise such suspension right more than 1 time in any 12-month period or for a
period that exceeds 90 days per exercise of such right and (ii) Level 3 shall
have the right to exercise a Shelf Takedown upon the earlier of (x) the 90th
day following the date on which Level 3 receives the Suspension Notice and (y)
the date on which such Adverse Disclosure is made or Level 3 receives the
Suspension Expiration Notice.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article 4, Level 3 shall
not request an Underwritten Takedown within 90 days of the completion of a
prior Underwritten Takedown.
(j) The Company will as promptly as is practicable notify Level 3, at any
time when a prospectus relating to the sale of shares of Common Stock is
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or
Agent (as the case may be), of the occurrence of any event requiring the
preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such shares, such prospectus (as
amended or supplemented) will not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading and promptly make available to Xxxxx
0 and any Underwriters or Agents (as the case may be) any such amendment or
supplement. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in the preceding sentence, Level 3 will
forthwith discontinue, or cause to be discontinued, the offer and sale of
shares pursuant to the Registration Statement until receipt by Xxxxx 0 and the
Underwriters or Agents (as the case may be) of the copies of such supplemented
or amended prospectus and, if so directed by the Company, Level 3 will deliver,
or cause to be delivered, to the Company all copies, other than permanent file
copies then in the possession of Level 3 or any of its affiliates, of the most
recent prospectus covering such shares at the time of receipt of such notice.
(k) The Company may require Level 3 to promptly furnish in writing to the
Company such information regarding Level 3 and its affiliates, the plan of
distribution of the shares of Common Stock and other information as the Company
may from time to time reasonably request or as may be legally required in
connection with a Shelf Takedown.
(l) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders, as
soon as reasonably practicable, an earning statement covering a period of 12
months, beginning within three months after
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the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(m) The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Common Stock to be listed on each securities exchange or quoted on each
inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or
quoted.
(n) Xxxxx 0 and Eldorado agree, if requested by the Company and an
underwriter of equity securities of the Company, not to offer, sell, contract
to sell or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during the
90-day period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement
filed in connection therewith, provided that all executive officers and
directors of the Company enter into similar arrangements.
SECTION 4.02. Registration and Shelf Takedown Expenses. (a) Subject to
Section 3.01(f) hereof, Level 3 shall bear 50% of the Company Expenses incurred
in connection with each of an aggregate of any three (including the Demand
Registration that was consummated on or about April 2, 2002) Underwritten
Takedowns or Demand Registrations (up to $500,000 per Underwritten Takedown or
Demand Registration, as the case may be) and the Company shall bear the balance
of the Company Expenses in such cases. Xxxxx 0 shall bear 100% of the Company
Expenses incurred in connection with any other Underwritten Takedowns or Demand
Registrations. Level 3 shall also bear 100% of the Company Expenses incurred in
connection with any Direct Takedown, except for (i) ordinary expenses that the
Company would have otherwise incurred in satisfying its ongoing reporting
requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") and (ii) any expenses that the Company may incur in connection
with the issuance of a legal opinion to the transfer agent for the shares of
Common Stock. The Company shall bear all of the Company Expenses incurred in
connection with a Proposed Offering and a Concurrent Offering, whether or not
such offerings are consummated. Level 3 shall pay any underwriting fees,
discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of any Capital Stock and any
out-of-pocket expenses of Level 3 and its affiliates (other than the fees and
expenses of counsel described in clause (vii) of the definition of "Company
Expenses" set forth in Article I hereof). In the event that a distribution
contemplated by an Underwritten Takedown or a Demand Registration is not
consummated for any reason other than the failure by the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, all
reasonable Company Expenses incurred in connection with such takedown or
registration shall be borne by Level 3; provided that should the distribution
contemplated by an Underwritten Takedown or Demand Registration not be
consummated due to Level 3 or any of its affiliates withdrawing such
Underwritten Takedown or a Demand Registration as a result of either (x) a
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business,
assets or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole or (y) a material adverse change in the United States financial markets,
in either case occurring subsequent to the date of the written request made by
Xxxxx 0 xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0 and the Company shall each bear 50% of the Company
Expenses incurred with such withdrawn Underwritten Takedown or Demand
Registration.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, each
party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses (including attorneys' fees
and expenses and the fees and expenses of any financial adviser) incurred by
that party in connection with the negotiation, review, preparation and
execution of this Agreement, and Level 3 shall have no responsibility for the
payment of any other expenses incurred by the Company related to the
transactions contemplated herein other than as set forth in Section 4.02(a)
hereof.
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ARTICLE 5
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
SECTION 5.01. Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless Level 3 and Eldorado from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) or any preliminary prospectus supplement, 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,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by or
contained in or based upon any information furnished in writing to the Company
by Xxxxx 0 or any Underwriter or Agent (as the case may be) expressly for use
therein. The Company also agrees to indemnify any Underwriters or Agents (as
the case may be) of Common Stock, their officers and directors, and each person
who controls such Underwriters or Agents (as the case may be), on substantially
the same basis as that of the indemnification of Level 3 and Eldorado provided
in this Section 5.01.
SECTION 5.02. Indemnification by Level 3. Level 3 agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors, and each Person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to Level 3 and Eldorado, but only with
reference to information furnished in writing by or on behalf of Level 3 and
Eldorado expressly for use in the Registration Statement, prospectus or
prospectus supplement relating to the Common Stock, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus supplement or the failure to
deliver a copy of such Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendments
or supplements thereto due to the fault of Level 3 or Eldorado. Level 3 and
Eldorado also agree to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriters or Agents
(as the case may be) of Common Stock, their officers and directors and each
person who controls such Underwriters or Agents (as the case may be), their
officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters or Agents
(as the case may be) on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Company provided in this Section 5.02. The extent of
Level 3 and Eldorado's liability under this Section 5.02 shall be limited to
the amount Eldorado receives in the relevant offering of Common Stock.
SECTION 5.03. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. In case any
proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, 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 the request
of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party to represent such 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 Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying 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 the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at
any time for all such Indemnified Parties,
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and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.
In the case of any such separate firm for the Indemnified Parties, such firm
shall be designated in writing by the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, but if
settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified
Parties from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by
reason of such settlement or judgment.
SECTION 5.04. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this
Article 5 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities in respect of which indemnity is to be provided
hereunder, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law 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 Company (on the one hand) and Level 3 and
Eldorado (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 (on
the one hand) and Level 3 and Eldorado (on the other hand) 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 such party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, Level 3 and Eldorado agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5.04 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if Level 3 and Eldorado were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph 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 Article 5, neither Level 3 nor
Eldorado shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the net proceeds of the offerings (before deducting expenses) received by
Eldorado exceeds the amount of any damages which Level 3 and Eldorado have
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 Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices,
requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing
(including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given,
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If to the Company, to:
Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.
000 XXX Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to Xxxxx 0 or Eldorado, to:
Xxxxx 0 Communications, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
or such other address or telecopier number as such party may hereafter specify
for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. Each such notice,
request or other communication shall be effective when delivered at the address
specified in this Section 6; provided that any copy provided to counsel to a
party hereto shall not constitute delivery of such notice, request or other
communication to such party for purposes of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.02. Amendments; No Waivers. (a) Any provision of this Agreement
may be amended or waived if and only if such amendment or waiver is in writing
and signed, in the case of an amendment, by Xxxxx 0 and the Company, or in the
case of a waiver, by the party or parties against whom the waiver is to be
effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder shall operate as a wavier thereof nor shall any single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein
provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law.
SECTION 6.03. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns;
provided that, except as set forth in Section 6.03(b) hereof, no party may
assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under
this Agreement, directly or indirectly, whether by operation of law or
otherwise, without the written consent of the other parties hereto, and any
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attempted assignment contrary to the terms hereof shall be null and void.
Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof is intended to confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.03(a) hereof, Eldorado or
any other holder who holds shares pursuant to this subsection may transfer and
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the Company under the following circumstances:
(i) the transfer by a deceased person to his or her executors or
heirs or by an incompetent person to his or her legal guardian;
(ii) the transfer by such a holder of a minimum of 1,500,000 shares
of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations,
splits, recapitalizations and the like) to any Person in a bona fide
private placement transaction; and
(iii) the transfer by such a holder to any Subsidiary of such a
holder, provided that such entity continues as a Subsidiary to such
transferring or assigning holder to and including the time such Subsidiary
exercises any of its rights hereunder.
(c) Prior to any transfer or assignment of rights under Section 6.03(b)
hereof, the transferring or assigning holder shall provide the Company with
notice of the transferee's or assignee's name and address and of the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which such rights are being transferred or
assigned. The transferee or assignee of rights under Section 6.03(b) hereof
shall assume the obligations of the transferring or assigning holder under this
Agreement in a written instrument delivered to the Company, whereupon the
transferring and assigning holder shall be released from all liability under
this Agreement other than, and solely with regard to, the provisions of Section
4.02 of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.04. Counterparts: Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have
received a counterpart hereof signed by the other parties hereto.
SECTION 6.05. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and negotiations, both
written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.06. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to the conflicts of law rules of such state.
SECTION 6.07. Jurisdiction. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the
Agreement, the parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking
to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in
connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall
be brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York or any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, and each
of the parties hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the
appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding
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 in any such court or that any such suit, action or
proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an
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inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be
served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the
jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party
agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 6.01 shall
be deemed effective service of process on such party.
SECTION 6.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATE
HEREBY.
SECTION 6.09. Headings. The headings contained in the Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning of
interpretation of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, or
caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
officers, as of the day and year first above written.
COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
ELDORADO EQUITY HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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