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EXHIBIT 4.2
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated June 25, 1998
between
US XCHANGE, L.L.C.
and
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into June 25, 1998, between US XCHANGE, L.L.C., a Michigan limited
liability company (the "Company"), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED (the
"Placement Agent").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement dated June
22, 1998, between the Company and the Placement Agent (the "Placement
Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Placement Agent
of an aggregate of $150 million principal amount of the Company's 15% Senior
Notes due 2008 (the "Securities"). In order to induce the Placement Agent to
enter into the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the
Placement Agent and its direct and indirect transferees the registration rights
set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to
the closing under the Placement Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms
shall have the following meanings:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Placement
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
also include the Company's successors.
"Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii)
hereof.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933
Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
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"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an
exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable,
on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the
Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to, and for a
like aggregate principal amount of, the Securities (except that (i)
interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was
paid on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid, from
December 25, 1998 and (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain
restrictions on transfer) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in
exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Placement Agent, for so long as it
owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns
and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of
Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes
of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include
Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the
Securities dated as of June 25, 1998 between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to
time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities;
provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as
such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) (other than the
Placement Agent or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such
subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of
their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage or amount.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 4(a) hereof.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Placement Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Placement Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
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"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and
supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all material
incorporated by reference therein.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall
have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities
shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement,
(ii) when such Securities have been sold, or are eligible to be sold,
to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or (iii) when such
Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses
incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this
Agreement, including, without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange
or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and
filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters in connection
with blue sky qualification of any Registrable Securities), (iii) all
expenses relating to preparing, printing and distributing any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements
thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and
other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements
relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable
securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its
counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be
selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel
for the Placement Agent) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the
independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses
of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of
counsel to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in
clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement
of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and
all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
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"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Semi-Annual Accrual Date" shall mean the Semi-Annual Accrual
Date as defined in the Indenture.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable
Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Holders
whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the
Securities under the Indenture.
"Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in the final
paragraph of Section 3 hereof.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall
mean a registration or offering in which Registrable Securities are
sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of
the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the Exchange Date. The Company shall commence
the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
been declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to have
the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days after such effective date.
The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Exchange
Offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition
to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
validly tendered will be accepted
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for exchange;
(ii) the last date of acceptance for exchange (which shall be
a period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is
mailed and which may be extended by the Company) (the "Exchange Date");
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election,
not later than the close of business on the Exchange Date, by sending
to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such
Holder, the principal amount at maturity of Registrable Securities
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
the election of such Holder to have such Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the Exchange Date, the Company
shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions
thereof validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted
for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to
promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security
equal in principal amount at maturity to the principal amount at
maturity of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer
as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions,
other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. The Company shall inform the
Placement Agent of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange
Offer is made, and the Placement Agent shall have the right, subject to
applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the
Exchange Offer
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Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available
or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the Exchange Date because
it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff
of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by
December 25, 1998 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and in the
opinion of counsel for the Placement Agent a Registration Statement must be
filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Placement Agent in connection
with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such
determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. In the event the Company
is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the
matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall
use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC
both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with
respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which
may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by
the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer. The Company
agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the period referred to
in Rule 144(k) with respect to the Registrable Securities or such shorter period
that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf
Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations
thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder with
respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its reasonable best
efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration of Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) and
Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay all agency or brokerage fees and
commissions, underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
and the fees and disbursements of any counsel and experts retained by such
Holder (other than the one counsel for the Holders selected by the Majority
Holders), relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared
effective by the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared
effective, the Exchange Offer or the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or
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court, such Registration Statement will not be deemed to have become
effective during the period of such interference until the Exchange Offer or the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may
legally resume. In the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or
prior to December 25, 1998, interest on the Securities (in addition to interest
otherwise due on the Securities after such date) will accrue, at the rate of
0.5% per annum and be payable in cash semi-annually on July 1 and January 1 of
each year, commencing January 1, 1999 until either the Exchange Offer is
consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC
(after which time no such additional interest will accrue).
(e) The Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company
to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may
result in material irreparable injury to the Placement Agent or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Placement Agent or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect
to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof,
the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on
the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be
selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities
by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in
accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period and cause each Prospectus included therein to be
supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so
supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to
keep such Prospectus current during the period described under Section
4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions
by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or
Exchange Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Placement Agent,
to counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten
Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many
copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and
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any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such
Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate
the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and
the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best reasonable efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement shall reasonably request in
writing by the time such Registration Statement is declared effective
by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holders in connection with any
filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts and things which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate
the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable
Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign limited liability
company or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would
not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii)
file any general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself
to taxation in any such jurisdiction in which it is not so subject;
(e) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, notify each
Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel
for the Placement Agent promptly and, if requested by any such Holder
or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when such Registration
Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment
thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by
the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to such Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information after the Registration Statement has become
effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of such Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered
thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar
agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and
correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event
during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which
makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making
of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to
make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to such
Registration
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Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at
the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each
Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish to
each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference
or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
(consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in
such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least 3:00
p.m. New York city time two business days prior to the closing of any
sale of Registrable Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its
reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement
or post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to
the purchasers of the Registrable Securities sold thereunder, such
Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Company agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use of
the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such
an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of such
Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus
to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or
amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be
incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of
such document to the Placement Agent and its counsel (and, in the case
of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and
make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably
requested by the Placement Agent or its counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available
for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make
any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any
amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Placement Agent
and its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
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Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have
previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Placement
Agent or its counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration
Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the
effective date of a Registration Statement;
(l) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Indenture to
be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"TIA"), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate with the
Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may
be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA and execute, and cause the Trustee to execute all
documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms
and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture
to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for
inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable
Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants
designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable
manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and
properties of the Company, and cause the officers, members and
employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested
by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in
connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable
best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any
securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the
Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy
applicable listing requirements;
(o) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably
requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of
such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated
in such filing; and
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection
therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority of
the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities being
sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten
Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such
representations and warranties to the
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Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by
reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when
requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which
counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective
counsel) addressed to the selling Holders and such Underwriters of
Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "cold
comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant
of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are
required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to the
selling Holders and such Underwriters of Registrable Securities, such
letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily
delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity
of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to
clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary
conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may
require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of
such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, upon receipt of
any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, each Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the
Company shall extend the period during which a Shelf Registration Statement
covering any unsold Registrable Securities shall be maintained effective
pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when
the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
necessary to resume such dispositions, but not beyond the period referred to in
Rule 144(k). The Company may give such notice no more than five times during any
365-day period and may implement such suspensions for no more than an
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aggregate of 75 days during any 365-day period; provided, however, that
no such suspension may exceed 45 days.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities
in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment
banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that
will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided that such
Underwriters are reasonably acceptable to the Company.
4. Resales by Broker-Dealers of Exchange Securities.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that
if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and
the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell any such Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by
Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange
Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto
as may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agent or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement
the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period
exceeding 90 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be
extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this
Agreement) or after Participating Broker-Dealers no longer own any such
Exchange Securities and Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be
authorized by the Company to deliver and shall not deliver such
Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales
contemplated by this Section 4; and
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(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set
forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration,
to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or
the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in
conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by the Placement
Agent or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company by one
or more broker-dealers who certify to the Placement Agent and the
Company in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating
Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in connection with such
application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3
to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x)
to deal only with one entity representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated unless
it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and
expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating
Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Placement Agent unless
such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only
one, if any, "cold comfort" letter with respect to the Prospectus in
the form existing on the Exchange Date and with respect to each
subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period
specified in clause (i) above, and shall not be obligated to effect an
Underwritten Offering as part of an Exchange Offer Registration for the
benefit of or on behalf of any Participating Broker-Dealers.
(c) The Placement Agent shall have no liability to the Company
or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section
4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Placement Agent, each selling Holder and each Person, if any, who controls the
Placement Agent or any selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act from and against all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Placement Agent, any selling Holder or any
such controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all
documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based
upon information relating to the Placement Agent or any selling Holder furnished
to the Company in writing by
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated or any selling Holder expressly for use
therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3,
the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers,
dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the
distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such
Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 0000 Xxx) to the same extent
as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if
requested in connection with any Registration Statement.
(b) Each Holder and the underwriters, if any, selling brokers
and dealers participating in the distribution shall agree, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Placement Agent and the
other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign
the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company,
the Placement Agent and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Placement Agent and the Holders,
but only with reference to information relating to such Person furnished to the
Company in writing by such Person expressly for use in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above,
such Person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel to the extent required for effective
representation) for all such indemnified parties, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated
in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 5(a), and by the Company in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 5(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected by an indemnified party without
its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but, if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if
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at any time an indemnifying party is obligated, upon request by the indemnified
party, to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 90 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with its obligation prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which 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 claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in
paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an
indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the
indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other
hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The selling Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective
principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to Section 5(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5(d), no selling Holder shall be required to
indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the
amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any
Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies
provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not
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limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified
party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in
this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
(i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Placement Agent, any Holder or any Person controlling the
Placement Agent or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers
or members or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the
Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Shelf Registration Statement.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered
into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any
agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way
conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of
the Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5
hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Placement Agent,
the address set forth in the Placement Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company,
initially at the Company's address set forth in the Placement Agreement and
thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and
on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
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Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at
the address specified in the Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each
of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement and the Placement Agreement,
and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities each such Person shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Placement Agreement and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof and thereof. The
Placement Agent (in its capacity as Placement Agent) shall have no liability or
obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply
with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder
under this Agreement or the Placement Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall not,
and shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405
under the 0000 Xxx) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any
Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Placement Agent, on the other hand, and each Holder shall have the
right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of all
Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
US XCHANGE, L.L.C.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Principal
