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EXHIBIT 4.51
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated September 17, 1997
between
NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED,
TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
and
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into September 17, 1997, between NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇"), TD SECURITIES (USA) INC., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED and NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
(collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
dated September 10, 1997, between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement"), which provides for the sale by the Company to the
Initial Purchasers of an aggregate principal amount of $840,000,000 of the
Company's Senior Redeemable Discount Notes due 2007 (the "Securities"). 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 with respect to the Securities
set forth in this Agreement. The execution 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:
"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.
"Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and
shall also include the Company's successors.
"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.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company
of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to section
2(a) hereof.
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"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under
the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange
offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on
another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the
Company containing terms identical to the Securities (except that such
Exchange Securities shall bear no legend and shall be free from
restrictions on transfers), to be offered to Holders of Securities in
exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as
they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors,
assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered
owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that
for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder"
shall include Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section
4(a)).
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the
Securities, dated as of September 17, 1997, between the Company and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee, as the same may be amended,
supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" or "Initial Purchasers" shall have the
meaning set forth in the preamble
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount at Stated Maturity of outstanding
Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval
of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is
required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any
of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇) (other than the Initial Purchasers or subsequent holders of
Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to be
such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or
amount.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation,
trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any
such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the
terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities
covered by
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a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and
supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all
material incorporated by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided,
however, that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
(i) except in the case of the Initial Purchasers to the extent of any
unsold allotment and Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in
section 4) to the extent set forth in paragraph 4(a), upon the
expiration date of the Exchange Offer, (ii) when a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared
effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (iii) when such
Securities are saleable to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any
similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act
or (iv) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses
incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this
Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange
or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and
filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or
Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of
any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing,
printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus,
any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements,
securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating
agency fees, if any, (v) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee,
(vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of
one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the
Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial
Purchasers) and (vii) the fees and disbursements of the independent
public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any
special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to
such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of
counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in
clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement
of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference therein.
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"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf"
registration statement of the Company which covers all of the
Registrable Securities (and may include other securities of other
Persons) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments
and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.
"Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the
Securities under the Indenture.
"Underwriters" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
"Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall
mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an
Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
(a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration
Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer. The
Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use its best
efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days after
such effective date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing
the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder
stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable
law:
(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to
this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered
will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be
a period of at least 30 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the
"Exchange Dates");
(iii) that any Registrable Securities not tendered will
remain outstanding and shall continue to accrue dividends at the
initial rate borne by the Registrable Securities and, other than
Registrable Securities referred to in Section 2(b) below, will not
retain any rights under this Agreement;
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(iv) that Holders electing to have Registrable Securities
exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
such Registrable Securities, together with the enclosed letters of
transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their
election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange
Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of such Holder, the number of shares of Registrable Securities
delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Registrable Securities exchanged.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or
portions thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the
Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so
accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee
to promptly countersign and register and mail to each Holder, Exchange
Securities with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the
aggregate liquidation preference of the Registrable Securities
surrendered by such Holder.
The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The 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, subject to applicable law, to contact
such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in
the Exchange Offer.
(b) in the event that the Exchange Offer has been
completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers a
Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the
Initial Purchasers in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable
Securities held by them that constitute an unsold allotment, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such
determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the
Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the
sale by the Initial Purchasers of such Registrable Securities and to have such
Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. The Initial
Purchasers shall sell out their unsold allotments before making sales of any
other Registrable Securities and the Initial Purchasers shall notify the
Company upon the sale of all of their unsold allotments. The Company agrees to
use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective for the period referred to in Rule 144(k) or until all of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration
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Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf
Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations
thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder with
respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its best efforts to
cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration
Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company
agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such
supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b).
Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer
taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared
effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if, after it has been declared
effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or
other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or
court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective
during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume. As
provided for in the Indenture, in the event the Exchange Offer is not
consummated on or prior to March 17, 1998, thereafter an additional incremental
interest amount will accrue at an annual rate of 0.5% of the Accreted Value of
the Securities as of the most recent Semi-Annual Accretion Date (as defined in
the Indenture), beginning on March 18, 1998, and, if the Exchange Offer is not
consummated on or prior to June 17, 1998, thereafter an additional incremental
interest amount will accrue at an annual rate of 0.5% of the Accreted Value of
the Securities as of the most recent Semi-Annual Accretion Date, beginning on
June 18, 1998, until the earlier of the date upon which (i) the Exchange Offer
is consummated, (ii) a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all
Registrable Securities is declared effective or (iii) the Securities become
freely tradeable without registration under the 1933 Act; provided that, upon
the request of any Holder of the Securities, the Company will deliver to such
Holder certificates evidencing such Holder's Securities without the legends
restricting the transfer thereof.
(e) Without limiting the remedies available to the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure
by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section
2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers
or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not
be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the
event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such
relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations
under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures.
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In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect
to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)
hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration
Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x)
shall be selected by the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities
by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
Section 2 hereof;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus
current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174
under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or
dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities;
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial
Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an
Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without
charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary
Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other
documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in
order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the
Registrable Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with
applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering
and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner
described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in
accordance with applicable law;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably
request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement
is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holder in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any and all other acts
and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable
such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of
such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d),
(ii) file any general
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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 a Shelf Registration, notify each
Holder of Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel
for the Initial Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any such
Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a
Registration Statement has become effective and when any
post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective,
(ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus
or for additional information after the Registration Statement has
become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state
securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or
other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be
true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of
any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is
effective which makes any statement made in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or
which requires the making of any changes in such Shelf Registration
Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal
of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement
at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each
Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon request,
furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated
therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with
the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and
enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
(consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in
such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least two
business days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
Securities;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use
its best efforts to prepare and file with the
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SEC 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 Registrable Securities,
such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Company agrees to notify the Holders to suspend use
of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of
such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the
Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the
Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a
Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or
any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement (other than filings pursuant to the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇)
or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a Registration Statement,
provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their
counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the
Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or
their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the
Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document,
and shall not at any time file or make any amendment to the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or
supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document
which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement
(other than filings pursuant to the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) or a Prospectus, of
which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a
Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not
have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the
Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the
effective date of a Registration Statement;
(1) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available
for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable
Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants
designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable
manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and
properties of the Company, and cause the respective officers,
directors and employees of the Company to supply all information
reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney
or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best
efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any
securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by
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the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities
satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(n) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (as such term
is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇);
(o) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably
requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of
such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such filing; and
(p) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection
therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including,
but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection,
(i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties
to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities
with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by
reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case,
in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and
when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which
counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their
respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter
of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) obtain "cold
comfort" letters from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant
of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are
required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to
each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such
letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters,
and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to
evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties
of the Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence
compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting
agreement.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may
require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the
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Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable
Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, 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)(v) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities 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, and, if
so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its
expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in
such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. The Company shall
not suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement for more than an aggregate of 120 days during any 365
day period. If the Company shall suspend the disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement for more than an
aggregate of 60 days during any 365 day period, then the Company shall pay each
Holder of Registrable Securities that are registered pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and have not been sold pursuant thereto an illiquidity
fee in an amount equal to [one half] of one percent per annum (calculated at an
annual rate for the actual number of days of suspension in excess of 60 days in
such 365 day period) of the Accreted Value of such Registrable Securities held
by such Holder as of the most recent Semi-Annual Accretion Date.
The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf
Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities
in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment
banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that
will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.
(a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that
if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and
the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange
Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the
amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered
by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation
under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their
own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the
1933 Act.
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(b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this
Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an
Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable
modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers
or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in
clause (ii) below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any
Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the
positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above; provided that:
(i) the Company shall not be required to amend or
supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i) of this
Agreement, for a period exceeding 90 days after the last Exchange Date
(as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph
of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall
not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall not deliver such
Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales
contemplated by this Section 4;
(ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures
set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer
Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff
of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company by
the Initial Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing to
the Company by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Initial
Purchasers and the Company in writing that they anticipate that they
will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided further that, in
connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures
set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer
Registration, the Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one
entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ unless it elects not to act as such representative and
(y) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold comfort" letter
with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last
Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or
supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i)
above; and
(iii) on a weekly basis, the representative of the
Participating Broker-Dealers will confirm with the Company that the
Shelf Registration Statement is available.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the
Company or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to
Section 4(b) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each
Underwriter and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder or Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
as follows:
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(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage and expense whatsoever, 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) pursuant to which Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
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, as incurred, to the extent of
the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or
any investigation or proceeding by any 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 Section 5(d) below) any such settlement is effected with
the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as
incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel
chosen by any indemnified party), reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation,
or any investigation or proceeding by any 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) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Initial Purchasers, such Holder or Underwriter expressly for use in a
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto); provided, further, however, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to
the benefit of any Initial Purchaser or Holder from whom the person asserting
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Securities, or any
person controlling such Initial Purchaser or Holder, if a copy of the final
prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Initial Purchaser or Holder to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Securities to such person, and if the final prospectus (as so amended or
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by
the Company with Section 3(c) hereof.
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(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other selling Holders, and each
of their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense to the same extent as described in Section
5(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included
therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided,
however, that 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
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(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. Upon request
of the indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to
retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel
or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due
to actual or potential differing interests between them, in which case the
indemnifying party shall pay the expenses of the separate counsel of such
indemnified party. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 5(a)
above, such counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 5(b) above,
such counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. In
no event shall the indemnifying party or parties be liable for the 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 in the same jurisdiction
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 5 (whether
or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless
such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim 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; provided, that such unconditional release may be subject
to a parallel release of a claimant or
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plaintiff by such indemnified party from all liability in respect of claims or
counterclaims asserted by such indemnified party arising out of the same
subject matter.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have
requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for
any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 5(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) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5
is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on another 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
Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Holders or
the Initial Purchasers and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Holders and the Initial Purchasers agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above
in this Section 5. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in
this Section 5 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Initial
Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Securities sold by it were offered exceeds
the amount of any damages which such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission.
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No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution
from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 5, each person, if any, who
controls an Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each director of the
Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Company. The Initial Purchasers' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several in proportion
to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names
in Schedule I(a) to the Purchase Agreement and not joint.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not
entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into,
any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any
way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the
holders of the Company's other issued and outstanding securities under any such
agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consents to any departure from the
provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of
Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to
the 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 6(c).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two
business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied;
and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
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Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee
under the Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees
of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for
an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall
be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement. If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding much Registrable Securities 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. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall
have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a
Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations
of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall
not, and shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule
405 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer
any Securities.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third
party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on
the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and each Holder
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
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.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any
circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Principal
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