[Draft--7/21/98]
$165,000,000
NorthEast Optic Network, Inc.
% Senior Notes Due 2008
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
________________, 1998
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
Warburg Dillon Read LLC
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. NorthEast Optic Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation"
("Company"), proposes to issue and sell $165,000,000 principal amount of its __%
Senior Notes Due 2008 ("Offered Securities") to be issued under an indenture,
dated as of _________, 1998 ("Indenture"),
between the Company and , as Trustee. The Company hereby
agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto ("Underwriters")
as follows:
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement (No. 333-53441) relating to the
Offered Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") and either (i)
has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Act")
and is not proposed to be amended or (ii) is proposed to be amended by
amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration statement
("initial registration statement") has been declared effective, either
(i) an additional registration statement ("additional registration
statement") relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("Rule 462(b)") under the Act
and, if so filed, has become effective upon filing pursuant to such
Rule and the Offered Securities all have been duly registered under the
Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and, if applicable,
the additional registration statement or (ii) such an additional
registration statement is proposed to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will become effective upon filing pursuant
to such Rule and upon such filing the Offered Securities will all have
been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial registration
statement and such additional registration statement. If the Company
does not propose to amend the initial registration statement or if an
additional registration statement has been filed and the Company does
not propose to amend it, and if any post-effective amendment to either
such registration statement has been filed with the Commission prior to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the most recent amendment
(if any) to each such registration statement has been declared
effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(c) ("Rule 462(c)") under the Act or, in the case
of the additional registration statement, Rule 462(b). For purposes of
this Agreement, "Effective Time" with respect to the initial
registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the additional registration statement means (i) if
the Company has advised the Representatives that it does not propose to
amend such registration statement, the date and time as of which such
registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereto (if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, was declared effective by the Commission or has become
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c), or (ii) if the Company
has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file an amendment
or post-effective amendment to such registration statement, the date
and time as of which such registration statement, as amended by
such amendment or post-effective amendment, as the case may be, is
declared effective by the Commission. If an additional registration
statement has not been filed prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement but the Company has advised the Representatives that it
proposes to file one, "Effective Time" with respect to such additional
registration statement means the date and time as of which such
registration statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule
462(b). "Effective Date" with respect to the initial registration
statement or the additional registration statement (if any) means the
date of the Effective Time thereof. The initial registration statement,
as amended at its Effective Time, including all information contained
in the additional registration statement (if any) and deemed to be a
part of the initial registration statement as of the Effective Time of
the additional registration statement pursuant to the General
Instructions of the Form on which it is filed and including all
information (if any) deemed to be a part of the initial registration
statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("Rule
430A(b)") under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "Initial
Registration Statement". The additional registration statement, as
amended at its Effective Time, including the contents of the initial
registration statement incorporated by reference therein and including
all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the additional
registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule
430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "Additional Registration
Statement". The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional
Registration Statement are herein referred to collectively as the
"Registration Statements" and individually as a "Registration
Statement". The form of prospectus relating to the Offered Securities,
as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with
Rule 424(b) ("Rule 424(b)") under the Act or (if no such filing is
required) as included in a Registration Statement, is hereinafter
referred to as the "Prospectus". No document has been or will be
prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i)
on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the
Initial Registration Statement conformed in all material respects to
the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 ("Trust
Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission ("Rules
and Regulations") and did not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(ii) on the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement (if
any), each Registration Statement conformed, or will conform, in all
material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture
Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not include, or will not
include, any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit, or
will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) on
the date of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement and, if
the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is prior to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional
Registration Statement each conforms, and at the time of filing of the
Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required)
at the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement in which
the Prospectus is included, each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements
of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
neither of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement: on the Effective Date of the Initial Registration
Statement, the Initial Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the
Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, neither of such
documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or will
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no
Additional Registration Statement has been or will be filed. The two
preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon written information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information is that described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the
Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business,
properties
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or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect").
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate
and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described
in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification in each case,
except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has
been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and
nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the
Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens,
encumbrances and defects except as otherwise described in the
Prospectus.
(e) The Indenture has been duly authorized and, if the
Effective Time of a Registration Statement is prior to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, has been or otherwise upon such
Effective Time will be duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
with respect to the Offered Securities registered thereby; the Pledge
Agreement has been duly authorized; the Offered Securities have been
duly authorized; and when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid
for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below),
the Indenture and the Pledge Agreement will have been duly executed and
delivered, such Offered Securities will have been duly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Indenture, the Pledge
Agreement and such Offered Securities will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
(f) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or
filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required
to be obtained or made by the company for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such
as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust Indenture
Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and such
as may be required under state or foreign securities laws.
(g) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of,
or constitute a default under, any existing statute, any existing rule,
regulation or order naming the Company of any governmental agency or
body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, or
any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary
is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or
to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is
subject (except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect), or the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary.
(h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(i) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and
all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from
liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value
thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof
by them; except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and
enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere
with the use made or to be made thereof by them; and except as
described in the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries hold
easements and indefeasible rights of use under valid and enforceable
agreements with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the
use made or to be made thereof by them.
(j) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate
certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental
agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by
them (except where the failure to possess the same would not
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect) and
have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation
or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if
3
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any
subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
might have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(l) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can
acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other
rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential
information and other intellectual property (collectively,
"intellectual property rights") necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received
any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of
others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could
individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule,
regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any
court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of
hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or
restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic
substances (collectively, "environmental laws"), owns or operates any
real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any
environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or
contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any
claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation,
contamination, liability or claim could individually or in the
aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the Company is
not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a
claim.
(n) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company,
any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or
would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under the Indenture or this Agreement, or which
are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered
Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened
or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.
(o) The financial statements included in each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and
their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and
such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied
on a consistent basis and the assumptions used in preparing the pro
forma financial information included in each Registration Statement and
the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the
significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or events
described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate
effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect
the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding
historical financial statement amounts.
(p) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of
the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus
there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event
involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as
disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no
dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company on any class of its capital stock.
(q) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the
proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an
"investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(r) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does
business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate
located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes
and the Company agrees to comply with such Section if prior to the
completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities it commences
doing such business.
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(s) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any of subsidiaries is currently, nor will the conduct of its
business as described in the Prospectus cause it to be in the future,
subject to the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended
by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Communications Act") or to
any rules, regulations and policies of the Federal Communications
Commission (the "FCC") related thereto.
(t) The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all
material respects with all federal, state and local telecommunications
laws, rules, regulations and policies to which they are subject,
including, with respect to subsidiaries, the Communications Act and the
related rules, regulations and policies of the FCC.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis of
the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company, at a purchase price of % of the principal amount thereof
plus accrued interest from , 1998, to the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined), the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth
opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.
The Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price the
Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities in
definitive form (the "Global Securities") deposited with the Trustee as
custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent Global Securities
will be held only in book-entry form through DTC, except in the limited
circumstances described in the Prospectus. Payment for the Offered Securities
shall be made by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by official bank
check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") drawn to the order of the Company at
the office of Cravath, Swaine & ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, at
10:00 A.M., (New York time), on , 1998, or at such other time not
later than seven full business days thereafter as CSFBC and the Company
determine, such time being herein referred to as the "Closing Date", against
delivery to the Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities
representing all of the Offered Securities. The Global Securities will be made
available for checking at the above office of Cravath, Swaine & ▇▇▇▇▇ at least
24 hours prior to the Closing Date.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the
several Underwriters that:
(a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in
accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to
by CSFBC, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier
of (A) the second business day following the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective
Date of the Initial Registration Statement. The Company will advise
CSFBC promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b). If the
Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and an additional registration
statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered Securities
under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of
such execution and delivery, the Company will file the additional
registration statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective
amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance
with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date
of this Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time the
Prospectus is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or will make
such filing at such later date as shall have been consented to by
CSFBC.
(b) The Company will advise CSFBC promptly of any proposal to
amend or supplement the initial or any additional registration
statement as filed or the related prospectus or the Initial
Registration Statement, the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
or the Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplementation
without CSFBC's consent; and the Company will also advise CSFBC
promptly of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement (if its
Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement) and of any amendment or supplementation of a Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission of
any stop order proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement and
will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.
5
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of
which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is
necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act,
the Company will promptly notify CSFBC of such event and will promptly
prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment
or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an
amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither CSFBC's consent
to, nor the Underwriters' delivery of, any such amendment or supplement
shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section
6.
(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally
available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a
period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective Date of the
Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement) that will satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence,
"Availability Date" means the 45th day after the end of the fourth
fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such
Effective Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last
quarter of the Company's fiscal year, "Availability Date" means the
90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of
each Registration Statement (three of which will be signed and will
include all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so
long as a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to
be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter
or dealer, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such
documents, in each case in such quantities as CSFBC requests. The
Prospectus shall be so furnished on or prior to 5:00 P.M., New York
time, on the business day following the later of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement. All other documents shall be so furnished as
soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and
distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.
(f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States and Canada as CSFBC designates and will continue such
qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution.
(g) During the period of 3 years hereafter, the Company will
furnish to the Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of
each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such
year; and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters (i) as soon as
available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of
the Company filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such
other information concerning the Company as CSFBC may reasonably
request, which such other information shall be kept confidential by the
Underwriters.
(h) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, for any filing
fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel)
incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for
sale under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States and
Canada as CSFBC designates and the printing of memoranda relating
thereto for the filing fee incident to, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the
review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the
Offered Securities, for any travel expenses of the Company's officers
and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with
attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the
Offered Securities and for expenses incurred in distributing
preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any amendments
and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters.
(i) The Company will purchase U.S. government obligations (the
"Pledged Securities") in an amount sufficient, upon receipt of
scheduled principal and interest payments on such securities, to
provide for payment in full of the first seven regularly scheduled
interest payments due on the Notes. The Pledged Securities will be
pledged by the Company to the Trustee for the benefit of holders of the
Notes pursuant to a pledge agreement dated the Closing Date and between
the Company and the Trustee (the "Pledge Agreement").
6
6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations
of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities on
the Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements
of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) The Underwriters shall have received a letter, dated the
date of delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, shall be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if
the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the
filing of the amendment or post-effective amendment to the registration
statement to be filed shortly prior to such Effective Time), of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants
within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations thereunder and stating to the effect that:
(i) in their opinion the financial statements and
schedules, examined by them and included in the Registration
Statements comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related
published Rules and Regulations;
(ii) they have performed the procedures specified by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a
review of interim financial information as described in
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 71, Interim Financial
Information, on the unaudited financial statements included in
the Registration Statements;
(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in
clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available interim
financial statements of the Company, inquiries of officials of
the Company who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing
came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) the unaudited financial statements
included in the Registration Statements do not comply
as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related published Rules and Regulations or any
material modifications should be made to such
unaudited financial statements for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles;
(B) at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a
subsequent specified date not more than three
business days prior to the date of this Agreement,
there was any change in the capital stock or any
increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or,
at the date of the latest available balance sheet
read by such accountants, there was any decrease in
consolidated net assets, as compared with amounts
shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
Prospectus; or
(C) for the period from the closing date of
the latest income statement included in the
Prospectus to the closing date of the latest
available income statement read by such accountants
there were any decreases, as compared with the
corresponding period of the previous year and with
the period of corresponding length ended the date of
the latest income statement included in the
Prospectus, in consolidated net sales, or net
operating income, or consolidated net income or in
EBITDA or the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
except in all cases set forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for
changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses
have occurred or may occur and which are described in such
letter;
(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or
percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other
financial information contained in the Registration Statements
(in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts,
percentages and other financial information are derived from
the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of the Company's
accounting system
7
or are derived directly from such records by analysis or
computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a
reading of such general accounting records and other
procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar
amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in
agreement with such results, except as otherwise specified in
such letter;
(v) they have:
(A) read the unaudited adjusted and pro
forma summary balance sheet data as of December 31,
1997 and March 31, 1998;
(B) inquired of certain officials of the
Company who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters about (x) the basis for their
determination of the adjustments and (y) whether such
unaudited adjusted and pro forma financial
information comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements
of the Act; and
(C) confirmed the arithmetic accuracy of the
adjustments; and
(vi) based on the proceedings described in (v),
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
that the unaudited adjusted and pro forma financial
information contained in the Registration Statements do not
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and that the adjustments
have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in
the compilation of that information.
For purposes of this subsection, (i) if the Effective Time of the
Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, "Registration Statements" shall mean the
initial registration statement as proposed to be amended by the
amendment or post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its
Effective Time, (ii) if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but
the Effective Time of the Additional Registration is subsequent to such
execution and delivery, "Registration Statements" shall mean the
Initial Registration Statement and the additional registration
statement as proposed to be filed or as proposed to be amended by the
post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective
Time, and (iii) "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in the
Registration Statements.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New
York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date as shall
have been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall
have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of
this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Prospectus is printed and
distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later
date as shall have been consented to by CSFBC. If the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been filed with
the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section
5(a) of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Underwriters,
shall be contemplated by the Commission.
(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any
development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of
the Company or its subsidiaries which, in the judgment of a majority in
interest of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public
offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii)
any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by
any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined
for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement
that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating
of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with
positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a
possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any suspension or
limitation of trading
8
in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting
of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of
trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the
over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared by U.S.
Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of
major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any
declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial national or
international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of a majority
in interest of the Underwriters, the effect of any such outbreak,
escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the
sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated
such Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, to
the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification;
(ii) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered and has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act; the Pledge Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered; the Offered Securities have been duly
authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus; and the Indenture, the Pledge
Agreement and the Offered Securities constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, ▇▇▇▇▇, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles;
(iii) There are no contracts, agreements or
understandings known to such counsel between the Company and
any person granting such person the right to require the
Company to file a registration statement under the Act with
respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned
by such person or to require the Company to include such
securities in the securities registered pursuant to the
Registration Statement or in any securities being registered
pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the
Company under the Act;
(iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court
is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance
or sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such
as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and such as may be required under state
securities laws;
(v) The execution, delivery and performance of the
Indenture, the Pledge Agreement and this Agreement and the
issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and compliance
with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation
or order of any governmental agency or body or any court
having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound
or to which any of the properties of the Company or any such
subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the
Company or any such subsidiary, and the Company has requisite
corporate power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;
(vi) The Initial Registration Statement was declared
effective under the Act as of the date and time specified in
such opinion, the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
was filed and became effective under the Act as of the date
and time (if determinable) specified in such opinion, the
Prospectus either was filed with the Commission pursuant to
the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in such opinion on
the date specified therein or was included in the Initial
Registration Statement or the
9
Additional Registration Statement (as the case may be), and,
to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated
under the Act, and each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of
their respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the
Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations; such
counsel have no reason to believe that any part of a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, as of its
effective date or as of such Closing Date, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
issue date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; the descriptions in the Registration Statements
and Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings
and contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be shown; and such counsel
do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required
to be described in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus
which are not described as required or of any contracts or
documents of a character required to be described in a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to a Registration Statement which are not described
and filed as required; it being understood that such counsel
need express no opinion as to the financial statements or
other financial data contained in the Registration Statements
or the Prospectus;
(vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company;
(viii) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly
incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good
standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock
of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and
validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the
capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company,
directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens,
encumbrances and defects;
(ix) The Company is not and, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(x) The Company and its Subsidiaries are not, nor
will their respective businesses as described in the
Prospectus cause any of them to be in the future, subject to
the provisions of (x) the Communications Act or to any rules,
regulations and policies of the FCC related thereto or (y) any
state and local telecommunications laws, rules, regulations
and policies other than, in the case of certain of the
Company's subsidiaries, regulation by the FCC as a "common
carrier" under the Communications Act;
(xi) The statements in the Prospectus under the
captions "Regulation" and "Certain United States Federal
Income Tax Consequences", insofar as they constitute summaries
of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to
therein, fairly present the information called for with
respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and
fairly summarize the matters referred to therein; and
(xii) The Pledge Agreement creates a valid security
interest in favor of the Trustee in all right, title and
interest of the Company in and to the Pledge Account and the
Pledged Securities.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated
such Closing Date, with respect to the
10
incorporation of the Company, the validity of the Offered Securities,
the Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other related matters
as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received a certificate, dated
the Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such
officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable
investigation, on behalf of the Company shall state that: the
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated
by the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
satisfying the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b)
was filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable
filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under the Act, prior
to the time the Prospectus was printed and distributed to any
Underwriter; and, subsequent to the dates of the most recent financial
statements in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse
change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material
adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business,
properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the
Prospectus or as described in such certificate.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received a letter, dated the
Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP which meets the requirements of
subsection (a) of this Section, except that the specified date referred
to in such subsection will be a date not more than three business days
prior to the Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.
(h) The Equity Offering (as defined in the Prospectus) shall
be simultaneously consummated on substantially the same terms as
described in the Registration Statements.
The Company will furnish the Underwriters with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Underwriters reasonably
request. CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters
compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability 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
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through CSFBC
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such
information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described
as such in subsection (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the CSFBC specifically for
use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by the Company in connection
11
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following
information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the last
paragraph at the bottom of the cover page concerning the terms of the offering
by the Underwriters, the legend concerning over-allotments and stabilizing on
the inside front cover page, the concession and reallowance figures appearing in
the third paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information
contained in the fourth and sixth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting".
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against
any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified
party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified
party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened action in respect of which any 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 any claims that are the subject
matter of such action.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities
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 the Underwriters on the other in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters.
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 information
supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first
sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this
subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in
this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the
respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms
and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each officer of the Company
who has signed a Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Act.
12
8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default
in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder and arrangements
satisfactory to CSFBC and the Company for the purchase of such Offered
Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 9. As
used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted
for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.
9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of
and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the
expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective
obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall
remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters
is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified
in clause (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 6(c), the Company will reimburse the
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the
Offered Securities.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if
sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to the Representatives c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: Investment Banking
Department-Transactions Advisory Group, or, if sent to the Company, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.;
provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will
be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.
11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
12. Representation of Underwriters. Any action under this Agreement
taken by CSFBC will be binding upon all the Underwriters.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
principles of conflicts of laws.
The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
13
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Underwriters' understanding
of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts
hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the
several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
NORTHEAST OPTIC NETWORK, INC.,
by
---------------------------
[Insert Title]
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
WARBURG DILLON READ LLC
By CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
by
-----------------------------------
14
SCHEDULE A
Principal
Amount of
Underwriter Offered Securities
----------- ------------------
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation...................... $
Warburg Dillon Read LLC.....................................
----------------
Total..................................... $
================
15
