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EXHIBIT 10.4
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 17, 1997
by and among
VERIO INC.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
and
LAZARD FRERES & CO. LLC
as Initial Purchasers
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of June 17, 1997 by and among VERIO INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED
("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇") and LAZARD FRERES & CO. LLC (Lazard and, together with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated as of
June 17, 1997 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 $150,000,000 principal
amount of the Company's 13 1/2% Senior Notes due 2004 (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.
"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.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
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"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 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.
"Exchange Notes" shall mean the 13 1/2% Senior Notes due 2004, 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
June 24, 1997, (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.
"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
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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
June 24, 1997 between the Company, and First Trust National Association, as
trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with
the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" see the preamble to this Agreement.
"Inspectors" see Section 3(m) hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean the date on which the Notes are originally
issued.
"Lazard" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
agreement.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes.
"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this agreement.
"Notes" see the preamble of 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
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of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by a Shelf 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" see 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
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contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"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
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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.
"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 nine months 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 13 months 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 21st Business Day 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
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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.
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,
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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 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
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be, equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Notes surrendered by such Holder and accepted for exchange.
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
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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 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 13 months 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) 13 months 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
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copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or
filed with the SEC.
(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 Business Days of the
Effectiveness Target Date with
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respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (iv) the applicable
Registration Statement is filed and declared effective during the period
effectiveness is required by Section 2(e) and 3(a) 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.
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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 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
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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 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
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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;
(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;
17
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(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);
(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
18
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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 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
19
-18-
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;
(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
20
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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;
(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
21
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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;
(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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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
22
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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 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
23
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substantially similar to those set forth in Section 7(c) of the Purchase
Agreement.
The Company may require each seller of Transfer Restricted Notes as to
which any registration is being effected 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
24
-23-
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.
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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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
25
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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);
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
26
-25-
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 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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
27
-26-
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 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
28
-27-
(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 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]
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6. [Intentionally Omitted]
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.
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(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, 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
31
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extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or
the rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY 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
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:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
LAZARD FRERES & CO. LLC
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
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.