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EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated June 17, 1998
among
IMPSAT CORPORATION
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into June 17, 1998, among IMPSAT CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED and CREDIT
SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION (the "Placement Agents").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement
dated June 12, 1998, among the Company and the Placement Agents (the "Placement
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Placement Agents
of an aggregate of $225,000,000 principal amount of the Company's 12_% Senior
Notes due 2008 (the "Securities"). In order to induce the Placement Agents to
enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the
Placement Agents and their direct and indirect transferees the registration
rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing under the Placement Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined
terms shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Placement Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble 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.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under
the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
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"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 the Exchange Securities will not contain terms
with respect to transfer restrictions) and to be offered to Holders in
exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean each of the Placement Agents, for so long
as any of them owns 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 June 17, 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.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount 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 affiliates
(other than the Placement Agents or any other Holder deemed an
affiliate solely by reason of its holding one or more Registrable
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or
amount.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation,
trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Placement Agents" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Placement Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with
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respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other
amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case
including all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the 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(k) (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, provided, further, that the Securities
with respect to which the Company has caused to be filed and declared
effective an Exchange Offer Registration Statement and has commenced
an Exchange Offer, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with
Section 2 hereof, and which have not been tendered by the last
Exchange Date (as defined in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof) by the Holder
thereof shall be deemed not be to Registrable Securities.
"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
Placement Agents) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the
independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses
of any special audits or "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 and underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
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"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.
"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 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
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the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and
accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other
disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to
this Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be
a period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is
mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will
remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain
any rights under this Registration Rights Agreement (including any
right to have the interest rate therein increased pursuant thereto);
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their
election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange
Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or
portions thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the 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 Exchange Security
equal in principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by
such Holder.
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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 Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the
Exchange Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have the right, subject
to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender
of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(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 December 17, 1998 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed
and in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents a Registration Statement
must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agents in
connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after
such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC (such obligation, arising
solely under clause (ii) above, to have filed a Shelf Registration Statement
shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Holder upon consummation of the
Exchange Offer with respect to such Holder). In the event the Company is
required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the
matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company
shall use its best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both
an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect
to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be
a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by
the Placement Agents after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company
agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) with respect to the Registrable Securities 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 practicable. The
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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 December 17, 1998, the interest rate on the Securities will
increase by .5% per annum to 12_% per annum. Upon consummation of the Exchange
Offer or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement as declared by
the SEC, as the case may be, the rate of interest on the Securities will
decrease to the original rate of interest of 12_% per annum for the Securities.
If a Shelf Registration Statement is required solely by the matters referred to
in clause (iii) of the first sentence of Section 2(b), such increase in
interest rate shall be payable only to the Placement Agents, with respect to
the Securities held by them, and only with respect to any period (after
December 17, 1998) during which such Shelf Registration Statement is not
effective.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the
Placement Agents and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by
the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Placement Agents or the
Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, the Placement Agents or any Holder may obtain such relief
as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect
to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
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(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration
Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x)
shall be selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities
by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus
current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174
under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or
dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agents,
to counsel for the Holders 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
Exchange and 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 Exchange and Registrable Securities owned by such
Holder; provided,
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however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a
foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process or
(iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not
so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each
Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel
for the Placement Agents promptly and, if requested by any such Holder
or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment
thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by
the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
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
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reasonably request at least one business day prior to the closing of
any sale of Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use
their 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 the initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the
Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, to the Holders and their counsel) and make
such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably
requested by the Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case
of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Holders or their counsel)
available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time
file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration
Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated
by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which
the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have
previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Placement
Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange 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 their
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best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be
required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents
required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so
qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, 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 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 the
Securities 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
to be rated or continue to be rated by two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Rule
436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act), if the Registrable Securities have been
so rated;
(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 "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 "comfort" letters in connection
with underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold
or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in
underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the
representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause
(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may
require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder
of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request in writing.
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. The Company may
give any such notice only twice during any 365 day period and any such
suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there may not be
more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.
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.
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4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that
if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and
the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered
by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an
Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable
modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents
or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in
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
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures
set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer
Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff
of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by
the Placement Agents or with the reasonable request in writing to the
Company by one or
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more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement Agents and the
Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be
Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection
with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth
in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be
obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the
Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated unless it elects not to act as such representative, (y)
to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the
Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Placement
Agents unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be
delivered only one, if any, "comfort" letter with respect to the
Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange Date and with
respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected
during the period specified in clause (i) above.
(c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to 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
Placement Agents, each Holder and each person, if any, who controls the
Placement Agents 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, the Placement Agents or any Holder, from and against all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Placement Agents, 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 untrue statement or
omission based upon information relating to the Placement Agents or any Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by the Placement Agents or any Holder
expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity
shall not inure to the benefit of any of the foregoing parties from whom the
person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the
Securities or Exchange Securities, or any person
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controlling any of the foregoing parties, if such party failed to send or give
a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
furnished such amendments or supplements thereto) to such person within the
time required by the Securities Act (and if so required), and if the Prospectus
(as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities. 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 Securities
Act and the Exchange Act) 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 Placement Agents 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, the
Placement Agents and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Placement Agents and the
Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)
above, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing
and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to
such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the
right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (a)
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Placement Agents and for all Holders and all persons, if any,
who control the Placement Agents and any Holders within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act,
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unless the Placement Agents determine in their sole discretion that such a
joint representation of the Placement Agents and the Holders would involve
differences or potential differences that render such joint representation
inadvisable, in which case the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for
(i) the fees and expenses of more than 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 Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the
1934 Act and (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all persons, if
any, who control the Placement Agents within the meaning of either Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and (b) 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 that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. In such case involving the Placement Agents and persons who control
the Placement Agents, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Placement
Agents. In such case involving the Holders and such persons who control
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 30 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
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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 number of Registrable Securities of such Holder
that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not
be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5, 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 Placement Agents, any Holder or any person controlling the Placement
Agents 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.
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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 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 be effective as against any Holder of
Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to
the Placement Agents, the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and
(ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the
Placement Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied;
and on the second succeeding 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.
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(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees
of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for
an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall
be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement.
If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement and such person shall be entitled to receive the benefits
hereof. The Placement Agents (in their capacity as Placement Agents) shall
have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a
Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations
of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on
the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and shall have the
right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their 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
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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
IMPSAT CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
By: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By: ------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
