1
EXHIBIT 99.5
________, 1998
EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Floor 00 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
US Xchange L.L.C., a Michigan limited liability company (the
"Company"), proposes to make an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange up to
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 15% Senior Notes due July 1, 2008
(the "Exchange Notes"), for a like principal amount of its outstanding 15%
Senior Notes due July 1, 2008 (the "Private Notes"). The terms and conditions of
the Exchange Offer are set forth in a prospectus (the "Prospectus") included in
the Company's registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-_____), as
amended (the "Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), proposed to be distributed to all record holders of the
Private Notes. The Private Notes and the Exchange Notes are collectively
referred to herein as the "Notes." Capitalized terms used herein and not defined
shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
The Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York to act as
exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in connection with the Exchange Offer.
References hereinafter to "you" shall refer to The Bank of New York.
The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on
or about _______, 1998. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus is
to be used by the holders of the Private Notes to accept the Exchange Offer and
contains instructions with respect to the delivery of certificates for Private
Notes tendered.
The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on _______ 1998, or on such later date or time to which the Company may extend
the Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"). Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Prospectus, the Company expressly reserves the right to extend
the Exchange Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange Offer by giving
oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice to you before 9:00 A.M., New York
City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration
Date.
The Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
to amend or terminate the Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any
Private Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange. The Company will give oral
(confirmed in writing) or written notice of any amendment, termination or
nonacceptance to you as promptly as practicable.
2
In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in
accordance with the following instructions:
1. You will perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange
Offer" or as specifically set forth herein; provided, however, that in no way
will your general duty to act in good faith and without gross negligence or
willful misconduct be limited by the foregoing.
2. You will establish an account with respect to the Private
Notes at The Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") for
purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of the
Prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of the
Private Notes by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such
Private Notes into your account in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's procedures for such transfer.
3. You are to examine each of the Letters of Transmittal and
certificates for Private Notes (and confirmation of book-entry transfers of
Private Notes into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any
other documents delivered or mailed to you by or for holders of the Private
Notes, to ascertain whether: (i) the Letters of Transmittal, certificates and
any such other documents are duly executed and properly completed in accordance
with instructions set forth therein and that such book-entry confirmations are
in due and proper form and contain the information required to be set forth
therein, and (ii) the Private Notes have otherwise been properly tendered. In
each case where the Letter of Transmittal or any other document has been
improperly completed or executed, or where book-entry confirmations are not in
due and proper form or omit certain information, or any of the certificates for
Private Notes are not in proper form for transfer or some other irregularity in
connection with the acceptance of the Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor
to inform the presenters of the need for fulfillment of all requirements and to
take any other action as may be necessary or advisable to cause such
irregularity to be corrected.
4. With the approval of the Co-Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer or Vice President of Finance of the Company (such approval, if given
orally, to be confirmed in writing) or any other party designated by such an
officer in writing, you are authorized to waive any irregularities in connection
with any tender of Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
5. Tenders of Private Notes may be made only as set forth in the
Letter of Transmittal and in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The
Exchange Offer - Procedures for Tendering", and Private Notes shall be
considered properly tendered to you only when tendered in accordance with the
procedures set forth therein. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph
5, Private Notes which the Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or Vice
President of Finance or any other designated officer of the Company shall
approve as having been properly endered shall be considered to be properly
tendered (such approval, if given orally, shall be confirmed in writing).
6. You shall advise the Company with respect to any Private Notes
received subsequent to the Expiration Date and accept its instructions with
respect to disposition of such Private Notes.
7. You shall accept tenders:
(a) in cases where the Private Notes are registered in two or
more names only if signed by all named holders;
2
3
(b) in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the
Letter of Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a representative capacity
only when proper evidence of his or her authority so to act is submitted; and
(c) from persons other than the registered holder of Private
Notes provided that customary transfer requirements, including any applicable
transfer taxes, are fulfilled.
You shall accept partial tenders of Private Notes when so
indicated and as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and deliver certificates
for Private Notes to the Trustee for split-up and return any untendered Private
Notes to the holder (or such other person as may be designated in the Letter of
Transmittal) as promptly as practicable after expiration or termination of the
Exchange Offer.
8. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the
Exchange Offer, the Company will notify you (such notice if given orally, to be
confirmed in writing) of its acceptance, on or promptly after the Expiration
Date, of all Private Notes properly tendered and you, on behalf of the Company,
will exchange such Private Notes for Exchange Notes and cause such Private Notes
to be canceled. Delivery of Exchange Notes will be made on behalf of the Company
by you at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for each $1,000
principal amount of the Private Notes tendered promptly after notice (such
notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) of acceptance of said
Private Notes by the Company; provided, however, that in all cases, Private
Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be exchanged only after
timely receipt by you of certificates for such Private Notes (or confirmation of
book-entry transfer into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), a
properly completed and, except as described in the section of the Prospectus
captioned "The Exchange Offer - Procedures for Tendering", duly executed Letter
of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees and
any other required documents. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, you
shall issue Exchange Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof.
9. Tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except
that, subject to the terms and upon the conditions set forth in the Prospectus
and the Letter of Transmittal, Private Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.
10. The Company shall not be required to exchange any Private
Notes tendered if any of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer are not
met. Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any Private Notes
tendered shall be given (and confirmed in writing) by the Company to you.
11. If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company does not
accept for exchange all or any part of the Private Notes tendered because of an
invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the
Prospectus or otherwise, you shall as soon as practicable after the expiration
or termination of the Exchange Offer return those certificates for unaccepted
Private Notes (or effect appropriate book-entry transfer), together with any
related required documents and the Letters of Transmittal relating thereto that
are in your possession, to the persons who deposited them (or effected such
book-entry transfer).
12. All certificates for reissued Private Notes, unaccepted
Private Notes or for Exchange Notes (other than those effected by book-entry
transfer) shall be forwarded by first-class
3
4
mail under a blanket surety bond obtained by you protecting you and the Company
from loss or liability arising out of the nonreceipt or nondelivery of such
certificates.
13. You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any
concessions, commissions or other solicitation fees to any broker, dealer,
commercial bank, trust company or other nominee or to engage or use any person
to solicit tenders.
14. As Exchange Agent hereunder, you:
(a) shall have no duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth in the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal or herein or
as may be subsequently agreed to in writing by you and the Company;
(b) will be regarded as making no representations and having
no responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any
of the certificates for the Private Notes deposited with you pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and will make no representation as
to the validity, value or genuineness of the Exchange Offer;
(c) shall not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder
which might in your reasonable judgment involve any expense or liability, unless
you shall have been furnished with reasonable indemnity;
(d) may reasonably rely on and shall be protected in acting in
reliance upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telegram or
other document or security delivered to you and reasonably believed by you to be
genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties;
(e) may reasonably act upon any tender, statement, request,
comment, agreement or other instrument whatsoever not only as to its due
execution and validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the
truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which you shall in good
faith believe to be genuine or to have been signed or represented by a proper
person or persons;
(f) may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon written
or oral instructions from any officer of the Company;
(g) may consult with your counsel with respect to any
questions relating to your duties and responsibilities, and the written opinion
of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by you hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with the written opinion of such counsel; and
(h) shall not advise any person tendering Private Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering
all or any portion of Private Notes or as to the market value, decline or
appreciation in market value of any Private Notes that may or not occur as a
result of the Exchange Offer or as to the market value of the Exchange Notes;
provided, however, that in no way will your general duty to act in good faith
and without gross negligence or willful misconduct be limited by the foregoing.
15. You shall take such action as may from time to time be
requested by the Company or its counsel (and such other action as you may
reasonably deem appropriate) to furnish
4
5
copies of the Prospectus, Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery (as defined in the Prospectus) or such other forms as may be approved
from time to time by the Company, to all persons requesting such documents and
to accept and comply with telephone requests for information relating to the
Exchange Offer, provided such information shall relate only to the procedures
for accepting (or withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The Company will furnish
you with copies of such documents at your request.
16. You shall advise by facsimile transmission or telephone, and
promptly thereafter confirm in writing to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Executive Vice
President of Finance of the Company and such other person or persons as the
Company may request, daily (and more frequently during the week immediately
preceding the Expiration Date and if otherwise requested) up to and including
the Expiration Date, as to the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes which
have been duly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the items received by
you pursuant to the Exchange Offer and this Agreement, separately reporting and
giving cumulative totals as to items properly received and items improperly
received. In addition, you will also inform, and cooperate in making available
to, the Company or any such other person or persons upon oral request made from
time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such other information as it or he
or she reasonably requests. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation,
the granting by you to the Company and such person as the Company may request of
access to those persons on your staff who are responsible for receiving tenders,
in order to ensure that immediately prior to the Expiration Date the Company
shall have received information in sufficient detail to enable it to decide
whether to extend the Exchange Offer. You shall prepare a final list of all
persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate principal amount of Private
Notes tendered, the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes accepted and the
identity of any Participating Broker-Dealers and the aggregate principal amount
of Exchange Notes delivered to each, and deliver said list to the Company.
17. Letters of Transmittal, book-entry confirmations and Notices
of Guaranteed Delivery received by you shall be preserved by you for a period of
time at least equal to the period of time you preserve other records pertaining
to the transfer of securities, or one year, whichever is longer, and thereafter
shall be delivered by you to the Company. You shall dispose of unused Letters of
Transmittal and other surplus materials as instructed by the Company.
18. You hereby expressly waive any lien, encumbrance or right of
set-off whatsoever that you may have with respect to funds deposited with you
for the payment of transfer taxes by reasons of amounts, if any, borrowed by the
Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to any loan or credit
agreement with you or for compensation owed to you hereunder.
19. For services rendered as Exchange Agent hereunder, you shall
be entitled to such compensation as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto.
20. You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and the
Letter of Transmittal and further acknowledge that you have examined each of
them. Any inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the
Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal (as they may be amended from time to
time), on the other hand, shall be resolved in favor of the latter two
documents, except with respect to the duties, liabilities and indemnification of
you as Exchange Agent, which shall be controlled by this Agreement.
21. The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold you
harmless in your capacity as Exchange Agent hereunder against any loss,
liability, cost or expense, including
5
6
attorneys' fees and expenses arising out of or in connection with any act,
omission, delay or refusal made by you in reliance upon any signature,
endorsement, assignment, certificate, order, request, notice, instruction or
other instrument or document reasonably believed by you to be valid, genuine and
sufficient and in accepting any tender or effecting any transfer of Private
Notes reasonably believed by you in good faith to be authorized, and in delaying
or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders or effect any transfer of
Private Notes; provided, however, that anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be liable for indemnification or
otherwise for any loss, liability, cost or expense to the extent arising out of
your gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no case shall the Company be
liable under this indemnity with respect to any claim against you unless the
Company shall be notified by you, by letter or cable or by facsimile which is
confirmed by letter, of the written assertion of a claim against you or of any
other action commenced against you, promptly after you shall have received any
such written assertion or notice of commencement of action. The Company shall be
entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of any such claim or
other action, and, if the Company so elects, the Company may assume the defense
of any pending or threatened action against you in respect of which
indemnification may be sought hereunder, in which case the Company shall not
thereafter be responsible for the subsequently-incurred fees and disbursements
of legal counsel for you under this paragraph so long as the Company shall
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to you to defend such suit; provided,
that the Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any such action
if the named parties to such action include both you and the Company and
representation of both parties by the same legal counsel would, in the written
opinion of your counsel, be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicting
interests between you and the Company. You understand and agree that the Company
shall not be liable under this paragraph for the fees and expenses of more than
one legal counsel for you.
22. You shall arrange to comply with all requirements under the
tax laws of the United States, including those relating to missing Tax
Identification Numbers, and shall file any appropriate reports with the Internal
Revenue Service. The Company understands that you are required, in certain
instances, to deduct thirty-one percent (31%) with respect to interest paid on
the Exchange Notes and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or
retirement of the Exchange Notes from holders who have not supplied their
correct Taxpayer Identification Number or required certification. Such funds
will be turned over to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with
applicable regulations.
23. You shall notify the Company of the amount of any transfer
taxes payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes for Exchange Notes
and, upon receipt of a written approval from the Company, shall deliver or cause
to be delivered, in a timely manner to each governmental authority to which any
transfer taxes are payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes for
Exchange Notes, your check in the amount of all transfer taxes so payable, and
the Company shall reimburse you for the amount of any and all transfer taxes
payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes for Exchange Notes For
Exchange Notes; provided, however, that you shall reimburse the Company for
amounts refunded to you in respect of your payment of any such transfer taxes,
at such time as such refund is received by you.
24. This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange Agent
hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely
within such state, and without regard to its conflicts of law principles.
25. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and
nothing in this Agreement, express or
6
7
implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit
or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the parties hereto expressly agree that no holder
of Private Notes or Exchange Notes shall have any right, benefit or remedy of
any nature whatsoever under, or by reason of, this Agreement.
26. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
27. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
28. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be
modified, amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by
a written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to
be charged. This Agreement may not be modified orally.
29. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and
other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including
facsimile or similar writing) and shall be given to such party, addressed to it,
at its address or telecopy number set forth below:
If to the Company:
US Xchange, L.L.C.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx X.X., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Vice President of Finance
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxx LLP
000 X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Exchange Agent:
The Bank of New York
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile (000) 000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
30. Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto, this
Agreement shall terminate 90 days following the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, paragraphs 17, 19, 21 and 23 shall survive the termination of
this Agreement. Upon any termination of this Agreement, you shall promptly
deliver to the Company any certificates for Notes, funds or property then held
by you as Exchange Agent under this Agreement.
7
8
31. This Agreement shall be binding and effective as of the date
hereof.
(the remainder of page intentionally left blank)
8
9
Please acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm the
arrangements herein provided by signing and returning the enclosed copy.
US XCHANGE, L.L.C.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted as the date
first above written:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
Exchange Agent
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
9
10
SCHEDULE I
FEE SCHEDULE FOR
EXCHANGE AGENT SERVICES
-----------------------
I. ACCEPTANCE FEE Waived
Our Acceptance Fee includes review of all relevant documentation,
closing of transaction, setting up records and opening accounts.
II. ADMINISTRATIVE FEE $2,500
Our administrative fee covers all duties of the Agent including
distributing exchange offer documents to DTC, receipt and examination of
required exchange offer documentation, reporting to Company, calculation
of and delivery to participants and DTC. Fees shall be billed upon
closing.
III. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES
All out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to postage, express
mail, telecopier, long distance telephone, wire transfer charges,
courier expenses, or other expense incurred by the Bank during its
acceptance and administration shall be billed at cost as incurred.
IV. EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES
Charges for the performance of any service not of a routine
administrative nature or not contemplated at closing and specifically
covered elsewhere in this schedule of fees will be determined by
appraisal in amounts commensurate with the service rendered.
10
