Exhibit 3
EXECUTION COPY
VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of June 22, 1999 (this
"AGREEMENT"), by and among Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("PARENT") and the stockholders of AboveNet Communications Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY") listed on the signature pages hereto (each,
a "SHAREHOLDER" and, collectively, the "SHAREHOLDERS").
WHEREAS, the Company and Parent propose to enter into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the "MERGER
AGREEMENT"), which provides for, among other things, the merger of a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent with and into the Company (the "MERGER");
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Shareholders are holders
of record or Beneficially Own (as defined herein) shares of common stock, par
value $.001 per share, of the Company ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Parent to enter
into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that each Shareholder agrees, and
in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Shareholder
has agreed, severally and not jointly, to enter into this Agreement with respect
to all of the shares of Company Common Stock now held of record or Beneficially
Owned and which may hereafter be acquired by such Shareholder (collectively, the
"SHARES").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 GENERAL. Capitalized terms used and not defined
herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
Section 1.2 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. For purposes of this
Agreement, "BENEFICIALLY OWN" or "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" with respect to any
securities shall mean "beneficial ownership" of such securities (as determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT")), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, whether or not in writing.
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ARTICLE II
Section 2.1 VOTING AGREEMENT. Each of the Shareholders hereby
agrees as follows:
(a) to appear, or cause the holder of record on any
applicable record date with respect to any Shares Beneficially Owned by
such Shareholder (the "RECORD HOLDER") to appear, in person or by
proxy, for the purpose of obtaining a quorum at any annual or special
meeting of stockholders of the Company and at any adjournment thereof
at which matters relating to the Merger, Merger Agreement or any
transaction contemplated thereby are considered; and
(b) at any meeting of the stockholders of the
Company, however called, and in any action by consent of the
stockholders of the Company, to vote, or cause to be voted by the
Record Holder, in person or by proxy, the Shares held of record or
Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder: (i) in favor of the Merger, the
Merger Agreement (as amended from time to time) and the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (ii) against any proposal for
any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a recapitalization,
dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets of the Company or any
merger, consolidation or other business combination (other than the
Merger) between the Company and any Person (other than Parent or a
subsidiary of Parent) or any other action or agreement in each case
that is intended or which reasonably could be expected to (x) result in
a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other
obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement, (y)
result in any of the conditions to the Company's obligations under the
Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (z) materially impede,
interfere with, delay, postpone or materially adversely affect the
Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Section 2.2 NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST. Except as set forth in
Section 2.1, nothing contained in this Voting Agreement shall be deemed to vest
in Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with
respect to any Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and
relating to the Shares shall remain and belong to the Shareholders, and Parent
shall have no authority to manage, direct, restrict, regulate, govern, or
administer any of the policies or operations of the Company or exercise any
power or authority to direct the Shareholders in the voting of any of the Shares
except as otherwise provided herein, or the performance of the Shareholders'
duties or responsibilities as stockholders of the Company.
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Section 2.3 EVALUATION OF INVESTMENT. Each Shareholder, by
reason of its knowledge and experience in financial and business matters,
believes itself capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Parent, contemplated by the
Merger Agreement. Each of the Shareholders acknowledges receipt and review of a
copy of the Merger Agreement and Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, Parent's Proxy Statement dated April 14,
1999, and each report and registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission by Parent on Forms 10- Q and 8-K since December 31, 1998.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER
Each of the Shareholders hereby represents and warrants,
severally and not jointly, to Parent as follows:
Section 3.1 AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. Such
Shareholder has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. Where such Shareholder is a corporation,
partnership or other entity, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
such Shareholder and the consummation by such Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the board of
directors or other governing body of such Shareholder, and no other proceedings
on the part of such Shareholder are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate such transactions and where such Shareholder is an individual, such
individual has the capacity to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Shareholder and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder,
enforceable against such Shareholder in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or
other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
principles governing the availability of equitable remedies.
Section 3.2 NO CONFLICT. (a) The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by such Shareholder does not, and the performance of this
Agreement by such Shareholder shall not, (i) where such Shareholder is a
corporation, partnership or other entity, conflict with or violate the
organizational documents of such Shareholder, (ii) conflict with or violate any
agreement, arrangement, law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree to
which such Shareholder is a party or by which such Shareholder (or the Shares
held of record or Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder) is bound or affected
or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with
notice or lapse or time or both would become a default) under,
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or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or encumbrance on any of
the Shares held of record or Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder pursuant to
any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license,
permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which such Shareholder is
a party or by which such Shareholder (or the Shares held of record or
Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder) is bound or affected, except, in the
case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 3.2, for any such conflicts,
violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not prevent the
performance by such Shareholder of its material obligations under this
Agreement.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
such Shareholder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by such
Shareholder shall not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit
of, or filing with or notification to, any governmental entity except for
applicable requirements, if any, of federal or state securities and antitrust
laws and except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not
prevent the performance by such Shareholder of its material obligations under
this Agreement.
Section 3.3 TITLE TO THE SHARES. As of the date hereof, such
Shareholder is the record or Beneficial Owner of the Shares listed opposite the
name of such Shareholder on such Shareholder's signature page hereto. The Shares
listed opposite the name of such Shareholder on such Shareholder's signature
page hereto are all the securities of the Company either held of record or
Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder. Such Shareholder has not appointed or
granted any proxy, which appointment or grant is still effective, with respect
to the Shares held of record or Beneficially Owned by such Shareholder. The
Shares listed opposite the name of such Shareholder on such Shareholder's
signature page hereto are owned free and clear of all security interests, liens,
claims, pledges, options, rights of first refusal, limitations on such
Shareholder's voting rights, charges and other encumbrances of any nature
whatsoever other than Liens under applicable Law.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS OF THE SHAREHOLDER
Section 4.1 NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Each Shareholder
hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that, except as contemplated
by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, such Shareholder has not and shall
not, and will use its reasonable best efforts to not permit any Person under
such Shareholder's control (including any Record Holder) to, enter into any
voting agreement or grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to the
Shares held of record or Beneficially
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Owned by such Shareholder which, in either case, is inconsistent with this
Agreement.
Section 4.2 TRANSFER OF TITLE. Each Shareholder hereby
covenants and agrees that such Shareholder will not, prior to the termination of
this Agreement, either directly or indirectly, offer or otherwise agree to sell,
assign, pledge, hypothecate, transfer, exchange, or dispose of any Shares or
options, warrants or other convertible securities to acquire or purchase Company
Common Stock (collectively "DERIVATIVE SECURITIES") or any other securities or
rights convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Company Common Stock,
owned either directly or indirectly by such Stockholder or with respect to which
such Stockholder has the power of disposition, whether now or hereafter
acquired, without the prior written consent of Parent (provided nothing
contained herein will be deemed to restrict the exercise or conversion of
Derivative Securities outstanding on the date hereof), unless the Person to whom
Shares or Derivative Securities have been sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated,
transferred, exchanged or disposed agrees to be bound by this Agreement as if a
party hereto. Each Shareholder hereby agrees and consents to the entry of stop
transfer instructions by the Company against the transfer of any Shares
inconsistent with the terms of this Section 4.2.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1 NO SOLICITATION. From the date hereof until the
Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with its terms, the Shareholders (a) shall not have, or shall
immediately terminate any discussions with, any third party concerning an
Acquisition Proposal and (b) shall not, and shall not permit any officer,
director, employee, controlled Affiliate, investment banker or other agent (in
such agency capacity), of the Shareholder to, directly or indirectly, (i)
solicit, engage in discussions or negotiate with any Person (whether such
discussions or negotiations are initiated by the Shareholder or otherwise) or
take any other action intended or designed to facilitate the efforts of any
Person, other than Parent, relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) provide
information with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any
Person, other than Parent, relating to a possible Acquisition Proposal by any
person other than Parent, (iii) enter into an agreement with any person, other
than Parent, providing for a possible Acquisition Proposal, or (iv) make or
authorize any statement, recommendation or solicitation in support of any
possible Acquisition Proposal by any Person, other than by Parent.
Section 5.2 TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate upon
the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms or (iii) unless this Agreement is
extended by agreement of each of the parties hereto, December 31, 1999. Upon
such termination,
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no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that nothing in this Agreement shall relieve any party from liability
for the breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination.
Section 5.3 ADDITIONAL SHARES. If, after the date hereof, a
Shareholder acquires the right to vote any additional shares of Company Common
Stock (any such shares shall be referred to herein as "ADDITIONAL SHARES"),
including, without limitation, upon exercise or conversion of any Derivative
Security or through any stock dividend or stock split, the provisions of this
Agreement applicable to the Shares shall be applicable to such Additional Shares
as if such Additional Shares had been outstanding Shares as of the date hereof.
The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall be effective with
respect to Additional Shares without action by any Person immediately upon the
acquisition by a Shareholder of record or Beneficial Ownership of such
Additional Shares.
Section 5.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree
that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement
was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall
be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any
other remedy at law or in equity.
Section 5.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement together with the
Affiliate Letters, in the form attached as Exhibit D to the Merger Agreement, if
and to the extent entered into by each Shareholder and Parent, constitutes the
entire agreement between Parent and the Shareholders with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, between Parent and the Shareholders with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
Section 5.6 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
Section 5.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of
this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or
law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement
shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or
legal substance of this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereby shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the terms of this
Agreement remain as originally contemplated.
Section 5.8 NOTICES. All notices and other communications
given or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given
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or made and shall be effective upon receipt, if delivered personally, upon
receipt of a transmission confirmation if sent by facsimile (with a confirming
copy sent by overnight courier) and on the next business day if sent by Federal
Express, United Parcel Service, Express Mail or other reputable overnight
courier to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for
a party as shall be specified by notice):
If to a Shareholder to the address set forth on such
Shareholder's signature page hereto.
If to Parent, to:
c/o Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Section 5.9 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state without giving
effect to the provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law.
Section 5.10 OBLIGATIONS OF SHAREHOLDERS. The obligations of
the Stockholders hereunder shall be "several" and not "joint" or "joint and
several." Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, under no
circumstances will any Stockholder have any liability or obligation with respect
to any misrepresentation or breach of covenant of any other Shareholder.
Section 5.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which,
when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 5.12 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. No person who is or
becomes (during the term of this Agreement) a director or officer of the Company
makes any agreement or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such
director or officer, and nothing herein will limit or affect, or give rise to
any liability to any Shareholder
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by virtue of, any actions taken by any Shareholder in his or her capacity as an
officer or director of the Company in exercising its rights under the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and no such actions shall
be deemed a breach or default under this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Shareholders and Parent have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date hereof.
METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: President
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XXXXX XXXXXX CALIFORNIA SBIC, L.P.
By: Xxxxx Xxxxxx California SBIC GP, a limited
partnership, its general partner
By: Xxxxx Xxxxxx Management SBIC, Inc., its
general partner
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Title: Chairman
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,818,460
ADDRESS: 00000 Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., #000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,818,460
ADDRESS: 00000 Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., #000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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TECHGAINS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxx
Title: Managing Director
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,191,690
ADDRESS: 0000 X. 000xx Xx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxx
Title: Managing Director
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,191,690
ADDRESS: 0000 X. 000xx Xx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
/s/ Xxx Xxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxx Xxxx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,191,690
ADDRESS: 0000 X. 000xx Xx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
00
/x/ Xxx-Xxx Xx
----------------------------------------------
Xxx-Xxx Xx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1,443,390
ADDRESS: c/o D-Link Corporation
SF Xx. 000-0 Xxx-Xxxxx Xx.
Xxxx-Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx R.O.C.
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 686,540
ADDRESS: c/o AboveNet Communications Inc.
00 X. Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
14
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 481,934
ADDRESS: c/o AboveNet Communications Inc.
00 X. Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
NUMBER OF SHARES: 737,800
ADDRESS: c/o AboveNet Communications Inc.
00 X. Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
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