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EXHIBIT 10.35
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 25, 1998
by and among
VERIO INC.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.,
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
and
FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of
Wheat First Securities, Inc.
as Initial Purchasers
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of November 25, 1998 by and among VERIO INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY INC. ("Salomon"), CREDIT
SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION ("CSFB"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION ("DLJ") and FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of
Wheat First Securities, Inc. ("First Union" and, together with Salomon, CSFB and
DLJ, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
dated as of November 20, 1998 by and among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement"), which provides for, among other things,
the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of
$400,000,000 principal amount of the Company's 11-1/4% Senior Notes Due 2008
(the "Notes"). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers
and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to
the closing under the Purchase 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:
"Additional Interest" see Section 2(e) hereof.
"Advice" see the last paragraph Section 3 hereof.
"Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"Applicable Period" see Section 3(s) hereof.
"Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York
are required to be closed.
"Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
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"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted
assigns.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any
other depositary appointed by the Company; provided, however, that such
depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The
City of New York.
"Effectiveness Period" see Section 2(b) hereof.
"Effectiveness Target Date" see Section 2(e) hereof.
"Event Date" see Section 2(e) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Exchange Notes" shall mean the 11-1/4% Senior Notes Due 2008,
Series B issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms
identical to the Notes (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue
from the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes or, if no
such interest has been paid, from November 25, 1998, (ii) the transfer
restrictions with respect to the Notes and all registration rights in
respect thereof shall be eliminated and (iii) the provisions relating
to Additional Interest shall be eliminated) to be offered to Holders of
Notes in exchange for Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company
of Exchange Notes for Notes pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under
the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange
offer registration statement on Form ▇-▇, ▇-▇ or 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 Period" see Section 2(a) hereof.
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"Holders" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as
they own any Transfer Restricted Notes, each of their direct and
indirect successors, assigns and transferees who become registered
owners of Transfer Restricted Notes under the Indenture and each
Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Notes for so long as
such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Notes.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Notes
dated as of November 25, 1998 between the Company, and U.S. Bank Trust
National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"Inspectors" see Section 3(m) hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean the date on which the Notes are
originally issued.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes.
"Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(s) hereof.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation,
trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Private Exchange" see Section 2(a) hereof.
"Private Exchange Notes" see Section 2(a) hereof.
"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 Transfer Restricted Notes covered
by a Shelf
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Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to
a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case
including all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"Records" see Section 3(m) hereof.
"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 applicable SEC, stock
exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") 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 one counsel
for Holders that are Initial Purchasers in connection with blue sky
qualification of any of the Exchange Notes or Transfer Restricted
Notes) and compliance with the rules of the NASD, (iii) all applicable
expenses incurred by the Company in preparing or assisting in
preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto,
and in preparing or assisting in preparing any other documents relating
to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
rating agency fees, if any, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company, (vii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing, if any, of any of the Transfer Restricted Notes on
any securities exchange or exchanges, if the Company, in its
discretion, elects to make any such listing; but excluding fees of
counsel to the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Transfer
Restricted Notes by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement
(including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement) of the Company which
covers any of the Exchange Notes or Transfer Restricted Notes 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.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event Date" see Section 2(b).
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2(b) hereof which covers all of the Transfer Restricted Notes
or all of the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities 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.
"Target Consummation Date" see Section 2(a).
"Target Effectiveness Date" see Section 2(a).
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(k) hereof.
"Transfer Restricted Notes" means each Note until (i) the date
on which such has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer
for an Exchange Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange
by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for an Exchange
Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who
receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a
copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, (iii) the date on which such Note has been effectively
registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with
the Shelf Registration Statement, (iv) the date on which such Note is
distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A under
the Securities Act), (v) such Note shall have been otherwise
transferred by the holder thereof and a new Note not bearing a legend
restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company
and subsequent disposition of such Note shall not require registration
or qualification under the Securities Act or any similar state law then
in force or (vi) such Note ceases to be outstanding.
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"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes
under the Indenture.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Exchange Offer. The Company shall, for the benefit of the
Holders, at the Company's cost, (i) unless the Exchange Offer would not be
permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, file with the SEC within 90 days
after the Closing Time an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act covering the offer by the Company to
the Holders to exchange all of the Transfer Restricted Notes (other than Private
Exchange Notes (as defined below)) for a like principal amount of Exchange
Notes, (ii) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law
or SEC policy, use its best efforts to have such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC not later than
the date which is 150 days after the Closing Time (the "Target Effectiveness
Date"), (iii) have such Registration Statement remain effective until the
closing of the Exchange Offer and (iv) unless the Exchange Offer would not be
permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, commence the Exchange Offer and use
its best efforts to issue, on or prior to the date which is 30 days after the
date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective
by the SEC (the "Target Consummation Date"), Exchange Notes in exchange for all
Notes tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer. Upon the effectiveness of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence
the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each
Holder eligible and electing to exchange Transfer Restricted Notes for Exchange
Notes (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and is not a broker-dealer
tendering Transfer Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company for its
own account, acquires the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) the Exchange Notes) and to transfer such Exchange
Notes from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under
the Securities Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
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In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an
appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period
of not less than 20 Business Days after the date notice thereof is
mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such
period referred to herein as the "Exchange Period");
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange
Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day
of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the
notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered
for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
election to have such Notes exchanged; and
(v) otherwise comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer the Initial
Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them and having the status of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of any
Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes
in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange
(the "Private Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchaser, a like
principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical (except
that such securities shall bear appropriate transfer restrictions) to the
Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes").
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be
issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical to all material
respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under
the TIA or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange
Notes shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall
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provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall
vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to
vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. The Private Exchange Notes
shall be of the same series as and the Company shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to have the Private Exchange Notes bear the same CUSIP
number as the Exchange Notes. The Company shall not have any liability under
this Agreement solely as a result of such Private Exchange Notes not bearing
the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be
subject to any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private
Exchange, as the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC (ii) no action or proceeding shall have
been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which
might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development shall have
occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company and
(iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the
Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private
Exchange. As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or
the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Transfer Restricted Notes or
portions thereof properly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant
to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which is an
exhibit thereto;
(ii) accept for exchange all Notes properly tendered pursuant
to the Private Exchange; and
(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Transfer Restricted Notes or portions thereof so
accepted for exchange by the Company, and issue, and cause the Trustee
under the Indenture to promptly authenticate and deliver to each
Holder, a new Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may
be, equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Notes surrendered by such Holder and accepted for exchange.
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To the extent not prohibited by any law or applicable
interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts
to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above, and shall comply with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other
applicable laws in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall
not be subject to any conditions, other than those set forth in the immediately
preceding paragraph. Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes who wishes to
exchange such Transfer Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer
will be required to make certain customary representations in connection
therewith, including representations that such Holder is not an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, that any
Exchange Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of
business and that at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has
no arrangement with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes. The Company shall inform
the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the
Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to
contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Transfer Restricted
Notes in the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply,
mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes that are
Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers,
and the Company shall have no further obligation to register Transfer Restricted
Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes) pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
(b) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not permitted to
file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange
Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC
policy, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by the
Target Consummation Date, (iii) any holder of Notes notifies the Company within
a specified time period that (a) due to a change in law or policy, in the
opinion of counsel, it is not entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer, (b)
due to a change in law or policy, in the opinion of counsel, it may not resell
the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
delivering a prospectus and (x) the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
holder
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and (y) such prospectus is not promptly amended or modified in order to be
suitable for use in connection with such resales for such holder and all
similarly situated holders or (c) it is a broker-dealer and owns Notes acquired
directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, (iv) the holders of a
majority of the Notes may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by them in the
Exchange Offer to the public without restriction under the Securities Act and
without restriction under applicable blue sky or state securities laws or (v)
the Exchange Offer shall not have been consummated within 150 days after the
Issue Date (the date of any of (i)-(v), the "Shelf Registration Event Date"),
then the Company shall, at its cost, use its best efforts to cause to be filed a
Shelf Registration Statement prior to the later of (A) 30 days after the Shelf
Registration Event Date or (B) 150 days after the Issue Date and use its best
efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by
the SEC on or prior to 90 days after such obligation arises. Each Holder as to
which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish to the Company
all information with respect to such Holder necessary to make any information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
The Company agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective for a period of two years from the
Issue Date (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3
hereof) (or such shorter period that will terminate when all of the Transfer
Restricted Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto) or cease to be outstanding (the "Effectiveness Period");
provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf
Registration Statement shall be extended to the extent required to permit
dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule
174 under the Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein. The Company shall
not permit any securities other than Transfer Restricted Notes to be included in
the Shelf Registration. The Company further agrees, if necessary, 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 Securities Act or by any other rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registrations, and the Company agrees to
furnish to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes copies of any such
supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
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(c) Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses
in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof and
the reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel, if any, designated in writing
by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders of the Transfer
Restricted Notes in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement. Except as
provided in the preceding sentence, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its
counsel, underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Transfer Restricted Notes
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. An Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become
effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however,
that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Transfer
Restricted Notes pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with
by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any
other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed
not to have been effective during the period of such interference, until the
offering of Transfer Restricted Notes may legally resume. The Company will be
deemed not to have used its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be,
to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily
takes any action that would result in any such Registration Statement not being
declared effective or in the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes covered
thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Transfer Restricted
Notes during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law and
except as otherwise provided in the second paragraph of Section 2(e) below.
(e) Additional Interest. In the event that (i) the applicable
Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the date
specified herein for such filing, (ii) the applicable Registration Statement is
not declared effective on or prior to the date specified herein for such
effectiveness after such obligation arises (the "Effectiveness Target Date"),
(iii) if the Exchange Offer is required to be consummated hereunder, the Company
fails to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 days of the date on which the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective or (iv) the
applicable Registration Statement is filed and declared effective during the
period effectiveness is required by Section 2(e) and 3(a)
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but shall thereafter cease to be effective or usable without being succeeded
immediately by an additional Registration Statement covering the Transfer
Restricted Notes which has been filed and declared effective (each such event
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the
interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Notes as to which such Registration
Default relates will increase ("Additional Interest"), with respect to the first
90-day period (or portion thereof) while a Registration Default is continuing
immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default in an amount
equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes. The rate of
additional Interest will increase by an additional 0.50% per annum of the
principal amount of the Notes for each subsequent 90-day period (or portion
thereof) while a Registration Default is continuing until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of 1.50% of the principal
amount of the Notes. Additional Interest shall be computed based on the actual
number of days elapsed during which any such Registration Defaults exist.
Following the cure of a Registration Default, the accrual of Additional Interest
with respect to such Registration Default will cease.
If the Company issues a notice that the Shelf Registration
Statement is unusable due to the pendency of an announcement of a material
corporate transaction, or such notice is required under applicable securities
laws to be issued by the Company, and the aggregate number of days in any
consecutive twelve-month period for which the Shelf Registration Statement shall
not be usable due to all such notices issued or required to be issued exceeds 30
days in the aggregate, then the interest rate borne by the Notes will be
increased by 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes for the first
90-day period (or portion thereof) beginning on the 31st such date that such
Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be usable, which rate shall be increased
by an additional 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes at the
beginning of each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum amount of 1.50% of
the principal amount of the Notes. Upon the Shelf Registration Statement once
again becoming usable, the interest rate borne by the Notes will be reduced to
the original interest rate if the Company is otherwise in compliance with this
Agreement at such time. Additional Interest shall be computed based on the
actual number of days elapsed in each 90-day period in which the Shelf
Registration Statement is unusable.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within three Business
Days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be
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paid (an "Event Date"). Additional Interest shall be paid by depositing with the
Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes,
on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately
available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The
Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the
record Holder of Notes entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on
such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each obligation to pay Additional
Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the
applicable Event Date.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations
of the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Sections
2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof
within the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the
appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be
selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted
Notes by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) 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 their best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof. The Company shall not file any Registration Statement
or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of
which the Holders must provide information for inclusion therein
without the Holders being afforded an opportunity to review such
documentation a reasonable time prior to the filing of such document if
the Majority Holders or such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, their counsel or the managing underwriters, if any, shall
reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; and
cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus
supplement and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule
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424 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act,
and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to it
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each
Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
described in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating
Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, at least three Business Days prior
to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the
Transfer Restricted Notes is being filed and advising such Holder that
the distribution of Transfer Restricted Notes will be made in
accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii)
furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, without charge, as
many copies of each Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto
and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request, in
order to facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Notes;
and (iii) subject to the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof, hereby
consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes in
connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes
covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
subject to the limitations on the use thereof provided in Sections 2(b)
and 2(c);
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts
to register or qualify, as may be required by applicable law, the
Transfer Restricted Notes under all applicable state securities or
"blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC as any Holder
of Transfer Restricted Notes covered by a Registration Statement shall
reasonably request in advance of such date of effectiveness, 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 Transfer Restricted Notes owned by such
Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
(i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a broker or dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required
to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to
service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction if it is not so subject;
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(e) in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2)
Participating Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they
will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, notify each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, or such Participating
Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel, if any, promptly and
confirm such notice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has
become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements
thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state
securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after the
Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by
the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if the Company receives any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Transfer Restricted Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any
Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or
the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening
of any event or the failure of any event to occur or the discovery of
any facts or otherwise, 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 causes such Registration Statement or Prospectus to
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (vi) the Company's reasonable determination that a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as
soon as practicable;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement relating to such Shelf
Registration and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
requested);
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(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates not bearing any restrictive
legends representing Notes covered by such Shelf Registration to be
sold and relating to the subsequent transfer of such Notes; and cause
such Transfer Restricted Notes 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 two Business Days
prior to the closing of any sale of Transfer Restricted Notes;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by
Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(iv), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use
their best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment
to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Transfer
Restricted Notes, 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 the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; and to notify each Holder to suspend
use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence
of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the
Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus
to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes or Transfer
Restricted Notes, as the case may be, not later than the effective date
of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with certificates
for the Exchange Notes or the Transfer Restricted Notes, as the case
may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(k) 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 Notes or Transfer Restricted Notes, 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
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execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all
documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other
forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(l) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
agreements (including underwriting agreements) and take all such other
appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Transfer
Restricted Notes, and in such connection, (i) make such representations
and warranties to Holders of such Transfer Restricted Notes with
respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as then
conducted and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if
any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in
each case, 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 and updates thereof in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes being sold,
addressed to each selling Holder covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders; (iii) obtain
"cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants 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 of
Transfer Restricted Notes, 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 such other
matters as reasonably requested by such selling Holders; and (iv) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those
set forth in Section 4 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to the Company and the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such
Registration with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to
said Section (including, without limitation, such selling Holders). The
above shall be done at each closing in respect of the sale of Transfer
Restricted Notes, or as and to the extent required thereunder;
19
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(m) if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
2(b) or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, make available for
inspection by each such person who would be an "underwriter" as a
result of either (i) the sale by such person of Notes covered by such
Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) the sale during the Applicable
Period by a Participating Broker-Dealer of Exchange Notes (provided
that a Participating Broker-Dealer shall not be deemed to be an
underwriter solely as a result of it being required to deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes) and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such person
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept,
during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence
responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case
reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such
Registration Statement. Records which the Company determines, in good
faith, to be confidential and any Records which it notifies the
Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors
unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration
Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a
subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii)
the information in such Records has been made generally available to
the public. Each selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted Notes and
each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that
information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be
deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the Company unless and until
such is made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of
such Transfer Restricted Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of
competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the
Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
20
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(n) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC and make generally available to its securityholders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
Securities Act) no later than 60 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 135 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
which Transfer Restricted Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm
commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold
to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the
first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a
Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month
periods;
(o) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private
Exchange, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the
Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes
participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the
case may be, and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company has
duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Notes and Private
Exchange Notes, and (ii) each of the Exchange Notes or the Private
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its respective terms (in each case, with customary
exceptions);
(p) if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
consummated, upon proper delivery of the Transfer Restricted Notes by
Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the
Company) in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange
Notes, as the case may be, the Company shall ▇▇▇▇, or cause to be
marked, on such Transfer Restricted Notes and on the books of the
Trustee, the Transfer Agent, the Registrar and the Depositary delivered
by such Holders that such Transfer Restricted Notes are being canceled
in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as
the case may be; but in no event shall such Transfer Restricted Notes
be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied solely as a result of being
exchanged for Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be;
21
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(q) cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted Notes
covered by any Registration Statement participating in the disposition
of such Transfer Restricted Notes and one counsel acting on behalf of
all such sellers in connection with the filings, if any, required to be
made with the NASD;
(r) use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to
effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by a
Registration Statement contemplated hereby; and
(s) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
section entitled "Plan of Distribution," which section shall be
reasonably acceptable to Salomon, as representative of the Initial
Purchasers, and which shall contain a summary statement of the
positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect
to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer") that holds Transfer Restricted Notes
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities and that will be the beneficial owner (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes to be
received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such
positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of
the SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of
Salomon, as representative of the Initial Purchasers or such other
representative, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC,
including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange
Notes for Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may
be deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Notes, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer
who has delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section
3(e), without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request;
(iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration
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Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including
all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or
transfer of the Exchange Notes covered by the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, (iv) use their best efforts to keep
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and
supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such
Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period
of time as such Persons must comply with such requirements in order to
resell the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that such period shall
not be required to exceed 90 days (or such longer period if extended
pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3 hereof) (the "Applicable
Period"), and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or similar
documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding
Transfer Restricted Notes acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, it will deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of
Exchange Notes received in respect of such Transfer
Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer";
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus
in connection with the exchange of Transfer Restricted Notes, such
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company agrees to deliver, upon request, to the Trustee or to
Participating Broker-Dealers upon consummation of the Exchange Offer
(i) an opinion of counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A, and (ii) an officers' certificate containing certifications
substantially similar to those set forth in Section 6(c) of the
Purchase Agreement.
The Company may require each seller of Transfer Restricted
Notes as to which any registration is being effected
23
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to furnish to the Company such information regarding such seller and the
proposed distribution of such Transfer Restricted Notes, as the Company may
from time to time reasonably request in writing. The Company may exclude from
such registration the Transfer Restricted Notes of any seller who fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time (not to exceed 10 Business
Days) after receiving such request and shall be under no obligation to
compensate any such seller for any lost income, interest or other opportunity
forgone, or any liability incurred, as a result of the Company's decision to
exclude such seller.
In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2)
Participating Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be
utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, that are seeking to sell Exchange Notes and
are required to deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of
any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v), 3(e)(vi) or 3(e)(vii) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Notes
pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof
or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of
the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company,
such Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies
in such Holder's possession, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Notes
or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, current at the time of receipt of such
notice. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of
Transfer Restricted Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file and have
declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and, in the case of an amendment, have
such amendment declared effective as soon as practicable and shall extend the
period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective
pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days in the period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when
the Company shall have made available to the Holders (x) copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y)
the Advice.
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4. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each
Participating Broker-Dealer, each underwriter who participates in an offering
of Transfer Restricted Notes, their respective affiliates, each Person, if any,
who controls any of such parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising out of any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), covering Transfer Restricted Notes or Exchange
Notes, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the extent of
the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon
any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission; provided that (subject to Sections 4(c) and
4(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the prior written
consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (in
addition to any local counsel) chosen by Salomon, such Holder, such
Participating Broker-Dealer or any underwriter (except to the extent
otherwise expressly provided in Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any court or
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this Section
4(a);
25
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provided, however, that this indemnity does not apply to any loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission (i) made in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of such Initial Purchaser, such Holder, such Participating
Broker-Dealer or any underwriter with respect to such Initial Purchaser,
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or underwriter, as the case may be,
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (ii)
contained in any preliminary prospectus if such Initial Purchaser, such Holder,
such Participating Broker-Dealer or such underwriter failed to send or deliver
a copy of the Prospectus (in the form it was first provided to such parties for
confirmation of sales) to the Person asserting such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities on or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of any sale of
securities covered thereby to such Person in any case where the Company shall
have previously furnished copies thereof to such Initial Purchaser, such
Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer or such underwriter, as the case may
be, in accordance with this Agreement, at or prior to the written confirmation
of the sale of such Notes to such Person and the untrue statement contained in
or the omission from the preliminary prospectus was corrected in the Final
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). Any amounts advanced by
the Company to an indemnified party pursuant to this Section 4 as a result of
such losses shall be returned to the Company if it shall be finally determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment not subject to appeal or
final review that such indemnified party was not entitled to indemnification by
the Company.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Initial Purchaser, each
underwriter who participates in an offering of Transfer Restricted Notes and
the other selling Holders and each of their respective directors and each
Person, if any, who controls any of the Company, any Initial Purchaser, any
underwriter or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever described in the indemnity contained in
Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made
26
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in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such selling Holder with respect to such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any supplement thereto), or any such Prospectus (or
any amendment thereto); provided, however, that, in the case of the Shelf
Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder
in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale
of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement;
provided, further, however, that for purposes of Section 4(a)(iii), such
counsel shall (subject to Section 4(c) hereof) be chosen by the Company.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as
reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced
against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure
to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party
from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a
result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which
it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case
of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 4(a) above, one counsel to all the
indemnified parties shall be selected by Salomon, and, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 4(b) above, counsel to all the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate
at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that
counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the
indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such
notice, an indemnifying party, jointly with any other indemnifying parties
receiving such notice, may assume the defense of such action with counsel
chosen by it and approved by the indemnified parties defendant in such action
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified
parties reasonably object to such assumption on the ground that there may be
legal defenses available to them which are different from or in addition to
those available to such indemnifying party. If an indemnifying party assumes
the defense of such action, the indemnifying parties shall not be liable for
any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties incurred
thereafter in connection with such action. In no event shall the indemnifying
parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition
to any local counsel) separate from
27
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their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action
or separate but similar or related actions arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes a full and unconditional release of each indemnified party
from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or
claim and the offer and sale of any Notes and (ii) does not include a statement
as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf
of any indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees
and expenses of counsel pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) above, then such
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the
nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if
(i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall
have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to
such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to
the date of such settlement.
(e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution
in circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company, the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders, as applicable, shall contribute to the aggregate
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
such indemnity agreement incurred by the Company, the Initial Purchasers and
the Holders; provided, however, that no Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person that was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. As between the Company and the Initial Purchasers
and the Holders, such parties shall contribute to such aggregate losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such
28
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indemnity agreement in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer or Initial Purchaser, as the
case may be, on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer or the
Initial Purchasers, as the case may be, 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 Company, or by the Holder
of Transfer Restricted Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer or the Initial
Purchasers, as the case may be, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company and the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Notes
and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 4.
For purposes of this Section 4, each affiliate of any Person,
if any, who controls a Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, an Initial
Purchaser or a Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights
to contribution as such other Person, and each director of the Company, each
affiliate of the Company, each executive officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
5. [Intentionally Omitted]
6. [Intentionally Omitted]
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7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. The Company shall provide to each
Holder such reports as are required under Section 10.23 of the Indenture and,
upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes (a) make publicly
available such information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective
purchaser as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act and it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes may reasonably request, and (c) take such further action, if
any, that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Transfer
Restricted Notes without registration under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
as such rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any
similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable
request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, the Company will deliver to
such Holder a written statement as to whether they have complied with such
requirements.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not, and will not for the term of this Agreement in any
way conflict with and are not, and will not during the term of this Agreement
be inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's other
issued and outstanding securities under any other agreements entered into by
the Company.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including 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, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the Company
and the Majority Holders; provided, however, that no amendment, modification,
or supplement or waiver or consent to the departure with respect to the
provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes or the Company unless consented to in writing by such
Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes or the Company, as the case may be.
(d) 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,
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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 7(d), which address initially
is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company's
address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other
address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7(d).
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.
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.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the
Initial Purchasers, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Transfer Restricted Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement
or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer
Restricted Notes, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Notes shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Notes, such
Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to
perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall
be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. Each of the Initial Purchasers
and each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made
hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on
the other hand, and 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 Holders hereunder.
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(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 AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY
REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
(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.
(k) Notes Held by the Company or any of its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Transfer Restricted Notes is required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Notes held
by the Company or any of their affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
[Signature Page Follows]
32
S-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
VERIO INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
DONALDSON, LUFKIN, & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES
CORPORATION
FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of
Wheat First Securities, Inc.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-fact
33
Exhibit A
Form of Opinion of Counsel
1. Each of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (other than the financial statements, notes or schedules thereto and
other financial and statistical information and supplemental schedules included
or referred to therein or omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion), complies as to form in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.
2. In the course of such counsel's review and discussion of
the contents of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus
with certain officers and other representatives of the Company and
representatives of the independent certified public accountants of the Company,
but without independent check or verification or responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained therein, on the
basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large extent upon
representations and opinions of officers and other representatives of the
Company), no facts have come to such counsel's attention which cause such
counsel to believe that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (other than
the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and other financial and
statistical information contained or referred to therein and the Form T-1, as
to which such counsel need express no belief), at the time the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement became effective and at the time of the consummation of
the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus (other than
the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and other financial and
statistical information contained or referred to therein, as to which such
counsel need express no belief) contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
