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EXHIBIT 4.5
SPLITROCK SERVICES, INC.
$261,000,000
11 3/4% Senior Notes due 2008
EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
July 24, 1998
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Splitrock Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"),proposes to issue and sell to Chase Securities Inc. ("CSI" or the
"Initial Purchaser"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
a purchase agreement dated July 21, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), 261,000
units (the "Units"), each Unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount of the
Company's 11 3/4% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "Notes") and one warrant to
purchase 10.124954 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the
Company. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchaser to enter into the
Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the
Initial Purchaser thereunder, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, for
the benefit of the holders (including the Initial Purchaser) of the Notes, the
Exchange Notes (as defined herein) and the Private Exchange Notes (as defined
herein) (collectively, the "Holders"), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall (i) prepare
and, not later than 45 days following the date of original issuance of the Notes
(the "Issue Date"), file with the Commission a registration statement (the
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act with respect to a proposed offer to the Holders of the Notes (the
"Registered Exchange Offer") to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange
for the Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the
Company (the "Exchange Notes") that are identical in all material respects to
the Notes, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Notes, (ii) use
their reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
to become effective under the Securities Act no later than 105 days after the
Issue Date and the Registered Exchange Offer to be consummated no later than 135
days after the Issue Date and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer
is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "Exchange Offer
Registration Period"). The Exchange Notes will be issued under the Indenture or
an indenture (the "Exchange Notes Indenture") between the Company, the
Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, and the Trustee or such other bank or trust
company that is
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reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser, as trustee (the "Exchange
Notes Trustee"), such indenture to be identical in all material respects to the
Indenture, except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Notes (as
described above).
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Notes for Exchange Notes (assuming that such Holder (a) is
not an affiliate of the Company or an Exchanging Dealer (as defined herein) not
complying with the requirements of the next sentence, (b) is not the Initial
Purchaser holding Notes that have, or that are reasonably likely to have, the
status of an unsold allotment in an initial distribution, (c) acquires the
Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and (d) has no
arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes) and to trade such Exchange Notes from and
after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities
Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several
states of the United States. The Company, the Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by the
Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, each Holder that is a
broker-dealer electing to exchange Notes, acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange
Notes (an "Exchanging Dealer"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing
substantially the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex
B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the
Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution"
section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Notes
received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, any Holder holds any Notes acquired by it that have, or that are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in
an initial distribution, or any Holder is not entitled to participate in the
Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall, upon the request of any such
Holder, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Registered
Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to any such Holder, in exchange for the Notes
held by such Holder (the "Private Exchange"), a like aggregate principal amount
of debt securities of the Company (the "Private Exchange Notes") that are
identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes, except for the
transfer restrictions relating to such Private Exchange Notes. The Private
Exchange Notes will be issued under the same indenture as the Exchange Notes,
and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Private
Exchange Notes to bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on
which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders;
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(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time
prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last
business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open;
and
(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are
applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(a) accept for exchange all Notes tendered and not validly
withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private
Exchange;
(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation all Notes so
accepted for exchange; and
(c) cause the Trustee or the Exchange Notes Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in
principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
prospectus contained therein in order to permit such prospectus to be used by
all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Notes; provided that (i) in the case where such
prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an
Exchanging Dealer, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on
which all Exchanging Dealers have sold all Exchange Notes held by them and (ii)
the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any
Exchange Notes for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of
the Registered Exchange Offer.
The Indenture or the Exchange Notes Indenture, as the case may
be, shall provide that the Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange
Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none
of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes will have the
right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Note and Private Exchange Note
issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange
will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on
the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on
the Notes, from the Issue Date.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer
shall be required to represent to the Company that at the time of the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Notes received by
such Holder will be
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acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no
arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
of the Notes or the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and
(iii) such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or, if it is such an
affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will
ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto
complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not, as of the
consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff the Company is not
permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1
hereof, or (ii) any Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Registered Exchange
Offer are not exchanged for Exchange Notes within 135 days after the Issue Date,
or (iii) the Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Notes or Private
Exchange Notes not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Notes in the Registered
Exchange Offer and held by it following the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer, or (iv) any applicable law or interpretations do not permit any
Holder to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) any Holder that
participates in the Registered Exchange Offer does not receive freely
transferable Exchange Notes in exchange for tendered Notes, or (vi) the Company
so elects, or (vii) any affiliate of the Company so requests with respect to
Transfer Restricted Notes (as defined) held by it, then the following provisions
shall apply:
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file
as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so
required or requested pursuant to this Section 2) with the Commission,
and thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
declared effective, a shelf registration statement on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the
Transfer Restricted Notes (as defined below) by the Holders thereof
from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set
forth in such registration statement (hereafter, a "Shelf Registration
Statement" and, together with any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, a "Registration Statement").
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep
the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to
permit the prospectus forming part thereof to be used by Holders of
Transfer Restricted Notes for a period ending on the earlier of (i) two
years from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate
when all the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto and (ii) the
date on which the Notes become eligible for resale without volume
restrictions pursuant
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to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in any such case, such period
being called the "Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be
deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer
Restricted Notes covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such
Transfer Restricted Notes during that period, unless such action is
required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company
will ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement
thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Shelf
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (in either case, other
than with respect to information included therein in reliance upon or
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of any Holder specifically for use therein (the "Holders'
Information")) does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any
prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any
supplement to such prospectus (in either case, other than with respect
to Holders' Information), does not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
3. Liquidated Damages. (a) The parties hereto agree that the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to
fulfill its obligations under Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, and that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, if
(i) the applicable Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or
prior to 45 days after the Issue Date, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is not
declared effective within 105 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law
or the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 45
days after publication of the change in law or interpretation), (iii) the
Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to 135 days after the
Issue Date, or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective within 135 days after the Issue Date (or in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement required to be filed in response to a change in law or
the applicable interpretations of Commission's staff, if later, within 45 days
after publication of the change in law or interpretation) but shall thereafter
cease to be effective (at any time that the Company is obligated to maintain the
effectiveness thereof) without being succeeded within 30 days by an additional
Registration Statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), the Company will be
obligated to pay liquidated damages to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes,
during the period of one or more such Registration Defaults, in an amount equal
to $ 0.192 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes
held by such Holder until (i) the applicable Registration Statement is filed,
(ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and the
Registered Exchange Offer is consummated, (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement
is declared effective or (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes
effective, as the case may be. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults,
the accrual of liquidated damages will cease. As
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used herein, the term "Transfer Restricted Notes" means (i) each Note until the
date on which such Note has been exchanged for a freely transferable Exchange
Note in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) each Note or Private Exchange Note
until the date on which it has been effectively registered under the Securities
Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iii)
each Note or Private Exchange Note until the date on which it is distributed to
the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant
to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 3(a), the Company shall not be required to pay
liquidated damages to a Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes if such Holder
failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in
the second to last paragraph of Section 1 or failed to provide the information
required to be provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 4(n).
(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent
under the Indenture immediately upon the happening of each and every
Registration Default. The Company shall pay the liquidated damages due on the
Transfer Restricted Notes by depositing with the Paying Agent (which may not be
the Company for these purposes), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders
thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment
date specified by the Indenture and the Notes, sums sufficient to pay the
liquidated damages then due. The liquidated damages due shall be payable on each
interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the Notes to the record
holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date. Each
obligation to pay liquidated damages shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the date of the applicable Registration Default.
(c) The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages
provided for in this Section 3 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are
intended to constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of
Transfer Restricted Notes by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration
Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the
Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Registered Exchange
Offer to be consummated, in each case to the extent required by this Agreement.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to the Initial Purchaser,
prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
if any, to the prospectus included therein and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
Commission, such comments as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably
propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on
the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto
in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and include the
information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and (iii) if
requested by any Initial Purchaser, include the information required by
Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the prospectus
forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
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(b) The Company shall advise the Initial Purchaser, each
Exchanging Dealer and the Holders (if applicable) and, if requested by
any such person, confirm such advice in writing (which advice pursuant
to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to
suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been
made):
(i) when any Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when
such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
or supplements to any Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private
Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the
making of any changes in any Registration Statement or the
prospectus included therein in order that the statements
therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will furnish to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of such Shelf
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules and, if any such Holder so
requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any,
incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company will, during the Shelf Registration Period,
promptly deliver to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes included
within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without
charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary
prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request;
and the Company consents to the use of such prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Transfer
Restricted Notes in connection with the offer and sale of the Transfer
Restricted Notes covered by such prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
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(f) The Company will furnish to the Initial Purchaser and each
Exchanging Dealer, and to any other Holder who so requests, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules and, if the Initial Purchaser or Exchanging
Dealer or any such Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto
(including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(g) The Company will, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period or the Shelf Registration Period, as applicable, promptly
deliver to the Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and such other
persons that are required to deliver a prospectus following the
Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final
prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
the Initial Purchaser, such Exchanging Dealer or other persons may
reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use of such
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Initial
Purchaser, such Exchanging Dealer or other persons, as applicable, as
aforesaid.
(h) Prior to the effective date of any Registration Statement,
the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify, or cooperate with the Holders of Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of, such Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for offer and sale under the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder
reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
jurisdictions of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
covered by such Registration Statement; provided that the Company will
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would
subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company will cooperate with the Holders of Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Notes, Exchange
Notes or Private Exchange Notes to be sold pursuant to any Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Holders thereof may request in writing
prior to sales of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) If any event contemplated by Section 4(b)(ii) through (v)
occurs during the period for which the Company is required to maintain
an effective Registration Statement, the Company will promptly prepare
and file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
purchasers of the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes from
a Holder, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
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(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the
Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates
for the Notes, the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the
case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and the Company will make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable after the
effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earning
statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act; provided that in no event shall such earning statement be
delivered later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
date of the applicable Registration Statement, which statement shall
cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company will cause the Indenture or the Exchange Notes
Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act as required by applicable law in a timely manner.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted
Notes to be registered pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to
furnish to the Company such information concerning the Holder and the
distribution of such Transfer Restricted Notes as the Company may from
time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Shelf
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such
registration the Transfer Restricted Notes of any Holder that fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request.
(o) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
of Transfer Restricted Notes to be registered pursuant thereto agrees
by acquisition of such Transfer Restricted Notes that, upon receipt of
any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) through (v),
such Holder will discontinue disposition of such Transfer Restricted
Notes until such Xxxxxx's receipt of copies of the supplemental or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(j) or until advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
prospectus may be resumed. If the Company shall give any notice under
Section 4(b)(ii) through (v) during the period that the Company is
required to maintain an effective Registration Statement (the
"Effectiveness Period"), such Effectiveness Period shall be extended by
the number of days during such period from and including the date of
the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Registration Statement shall
have received (x) the copies of the supplemental or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(j) (if an amended or supplemental prospectus
is required) or (y) the Advice (if no amended or supplemental
prospectus is required).
(p) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an
underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other
action, if any, as Holders of
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a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, Exchange Notes
and Private Exchange Notes being sold or the managing underwriters (if
any) shall reasonably request in order to facilitate any disposition of
Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement.
(q) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by a representative
of, and Special Counsel (as defined below) acting for, Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, Exchange Notes and
Private Exchange Notes being sold and any underwriter participating in
any disposition of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, all relevant financial
and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to have its officers,
directors, employees, accountants and counsel supply all relevant
information reasonably requested by such representative, Special
Counsel or any such underwriter (an "Inspector") in connection with
such Shelf Registration Statement.
(r) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall, if requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes being
sold, their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) in
connection with such Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable
best efforts to cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion relating to
the Shelf Registration Statement and the Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes, as applicable, in customary form, (ii) its
officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and
certificates requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes, Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes being
sold, their Special Counsel or the managing underwriters (if any) and
(iii) its independent public accountants to provide a comfort letter or
letters in customary form, subject to receipt of appropriate
documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of
Auditing Standards No. 72.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company will bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1,
2, 3 and 4 and the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser and the Holders
for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of attorneys (in addition
to any local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes to be
sold pursuant to each Registration Statement (the "Special Counsel") acting for
the Initial Purchaser or Holders in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification. (a) In the event of a Shelf Registration
Statement or in connection with any prospectus delivery pursuant to an Exchange
Offer Registration Statement by the Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer, as
applicable, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder
(including, without limitation, the Initial Purchaser or such Exchanging
Dealer), its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively
referred to for purposes of this Section 6 and Section 7 as a Holder) from and
against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof (including, without limitation, any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action relating to purchases and sales of
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Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes), to which that Holder may
become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any
prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or
(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and
shall reimburse each Holder promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by that Holder in connection with investigating or defending
or preparing to defend against or appearing as a third party witness in
connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in
reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information; and provided,
further, that with respect to any such untrue statement in or omission from any
related preliminary prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person
asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action received Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to the extent that such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action of or with respect to such Holder results from the
fact that both (A) a copy of the final prospectus was not sent or given to such
person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Notes,
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes to such person and (B) the untrue
statement in or omission from the related preliminary prospectus was corrected
in the final prospectus unless, in either case, such failure to deliver the
final prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with Section
4(d), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g).
(b) In the event of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, their respective
officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (collectively referred to for purposes of this Section 6(b) and
Section 7 as the Company), from and against any loss, claim, damage or
liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the
Company may become subject, whether commenced or threatened, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration
Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with any Holders' Information furnished to
the Company by such Holder, and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against or appearing as a
third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Holder
shall be liable for any indemnity claims hereunder in excess of the amount of
net
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proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party pursuant to Section 6(a) or 6(b), notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,
however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have under this Section 6 except to the extent
that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than the reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any
such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the
indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1)
the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably
concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may
be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are
different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3)
a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party
has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the
reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the
expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the
indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees,
disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or
parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements
contained in Sections 6(a) and 6(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or
claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any
loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been
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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.
7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
Section 6 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under Section 6(a) or 6(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or
action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the offering and sale
of the Notes, on the one hand, and a Holder with respect to the sale by such
Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, on the other, or (ii)
if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the
Company, on the one hand, and such Holder, on the other, with respect to the
statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand,
and a Holder, on the other, with respect to such offering and such sale shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received by or on behalf of the Company
as set forth in the table on the cover of the Offering Memorandum, on the one
hand, bear to the total proceeds received by such Holder with respect to its
sale of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, on the other. The
relative fault 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 the Company or information
supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or to any Holders' Information
supplied by such Holder, on the other, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were to be
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim,
damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7, any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, an indemnifying party that is
a Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes sold by such
indemnifying party to any purchaser exceeds the amount of any damages which such
indemnifying party has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any
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.
8. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is
not required to file
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such reports, it will, upon the written request of any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes, make publicly available other information so long as necessary
to permit sales of such Holder's securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The
Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes may reasonably request, all to the extent required
from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Notes
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including, without limitation, the
requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). Upon the written request of any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
9. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer
Restricted Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in
an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted
Notes included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company (which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and such Holders shall be
responsible for all underwriting commissions and discounts in connection
therewith.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer
Restricted Notes on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions
of this Agreement 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 a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange
Notes, taken as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Notes, Exchange Notes or
Private Exchange Notes are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and
that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be
given by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, the
Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes being sold by such Holders
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
first-class mail, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
such Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 10(b), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder,
the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the
Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Chase Securities Inc.;
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(2) if to the Initial Purchaser, initially at its address
set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at the address of the
Company set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business
day after being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after
being deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's
telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.
(c) Successors And Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) 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.
(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a)
the term "business day" means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
is open for trading, (b) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act and (c) except where otherwise expressly provided,
the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(g) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(h) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by any
Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages (other than the recovery of
damages for a breach by the Company of its obligations under Sections 1 or 2
hereof for which liquidated damages have been paid pursuant to Section 3
hereof), will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not be
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by each such
person of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agree that,
in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach,
each such person shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents,
warrants and agrees that (i) it has not entered into, shall not, on or after the
date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof, (ii) it has not previously entered into any agreement which
remains in effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
debt securities to any person and (iii) (with respect to the Company)
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without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Transfer Restricted Notes, it shall not grant to any person the right to request
the Company to register any debt securities of the Company under the Securities
Act unless the rights so granted are not in conflict or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(j) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes in
such capacity) shall have the right to include any securities of the Company in
any Shelf Registration or Registered Exchange Offer other than Transfer
Restricted Notes.
(k) Severability. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term, provision,
covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated,
and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is
hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they
would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions
without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable.
(l) Future Subsidiary Guarantors. The Company agrees to cause
each subsidiary that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture to
become jointly and severally liable for the performance of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchaser.
Very truly yours,
SPLITROCK SERVICES, INC.,
By /s/
------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
By /s/
-------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
