EXHIBIT 1.1
_______________ Shares
CHOICE ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Common Stock $.01 Par Value
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________, 2000
_____________, 2000
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
Warburg Dillon Read LLC
First Union Securities, Inc.
CIBC World Markets
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers International (Europe)
UBS AG, acting through its division Warburg Dillon Read
First Union Securities, Inc.
CIBC World Markets
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
England
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Choice One Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters (as defined below)
________________ shares of its common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Firm
Shares").
It is understood that, subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
____________ Firm Shares (the "U.S. Firm Shares") will be sold to the several
U.S. Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "U.S. Underwriters") in
connection with the offering and sale of such U.S. Firm Shares in the United
States and Canada to United States and Canadian Persons (as such terms are
defined in the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters of even
date herewith), and __________ Firm Shares (the "International Shares") will be
sold to the several International Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
"International Underwriters") in connection with the offering and sale of such
International Shares outside the United States and Canada to persons other than
United States and Canadian Persons. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Brothers Inc. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers"), Warburg Dillon Read LLC, First Union
Securities, Inc. and CIBC World Markets shall act as representatives (the "U.S.
Representatives") of the several U.S. Underwriters, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
International Limited, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers International (Europe), UBS AG, acting
through its division Warburg Dillon Read, First Union Securities, Inc. and CIBC
World Markets shall act as representatives (the "International Representatives")
of the several International Underwriters. The U.S. Underwriters and the
International Underwriters are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
Underwriters.
The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several U.S.
Underwriters not more than an additional __________ shares of its common stock,
par value $.01 per share, (the "Additional Shares") if and to the extent that
the U.S. Representatives shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the
U.S. Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to
the U.S. Underwriters in Section hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Shares." The shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company to be outstanding after
giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as
the "Common Stock."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement relating to the Shares. The registration
statement contains two prospectuses to be used in connection with the offering
and sale of the Shares: the U.S. prospectus, to be used in connection with the
offering and sale of Shares in the United States and Canada to United States and
Canadian Persons, and the international prospectus, to be used in connection
with the offering and sale of Shares outside the United States and Canada to
persons other than United States and Canadian Persons. The international
prospectus is identical to the U.S. prospectus except for the outside front
cover page. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes
effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), is hereinafter
referred to as the "Registration Statement"; the U.S. prospectus and the
international prospectus in the respective forms first used to confirm sales of
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Prospectus." If the
Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional
shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the
"Rule 462 Registration Statement"), then any reference herein to the term
"Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration
Statement.
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") has agreed to reserve
a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to
the Company's directors, officers, employees and business associates and other
parties related to the Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set forth in
the Prospectus under the heading "Underwriters" (the "Directed Share Program").
The Shares to be sold by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to the Directed Share Program
are referred to hereinafter as the "Directed Shares". Any Directed Shares not
orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by the end of the business day
on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did
not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and the Prospectus does not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, 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, except that the representations
and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the State of Delaware, has the corporate
power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
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qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(d) Each significant subsidiary of the Company (as such term is
defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) has
been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(h) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will
not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any
judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent,
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approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company
of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by
the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with
the offer and sale of the Shares.
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or observance of
any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
material bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or in any
material lease, contract, indenture, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint
venture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its subsidiaries or its
properties may be bound; and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in material violation of any law, order, rule, regulation,
writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court, government of
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or over its properties.
(k) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that
set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements
thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).
(l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to
which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes, regulations,
contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
(m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(n) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
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described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(o) The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with any and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
("Environmental Laws"), have received all permits, licenses or other
approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
their respective businesses and are in compliance with all terms and
conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental
Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures
required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related
constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third
parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(q) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting
such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the
Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the
Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(r) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or
with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
(s) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) have all necessary
licenses, consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and
permits of and from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all
federal, state, local and other governmental, administrative and regulatory
authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other
tribunals, to own, lease, license and use its properties and assets and to
conduct its business in the manner described in the Prospectus, except
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to the extent that the failure to obtain such licenses, consents,
authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits or make such
declarations and filings would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) have not received
any notice of proceedings relating to revocation or modification of any
such license, consent, authorization, approval, order, certificate or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(t) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general
or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general
or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets
is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
(u) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and valid
title to all real property and good and valid title to all personal
property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances and defects, except such as are described in the
Prospectus and such other liens as do not materially affect the value of
such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real
property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries
are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such
exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use
made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company
and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in or contemplated
by the Prospectus.
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire
on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses,
inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information,
systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently
employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
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any notice or infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others
with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(w) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is
imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or
imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal
suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers
of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in
such amounts as are customary in the businesses in which they are engaged;
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any
insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to
renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or
to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to
continue its business at a cost that would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(y) All licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (the
"FCC") required for the operation of the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries (the "FCC Licenses") are in full force and effect, other than
those the failure of which to obtain would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole, and there are no pending modifications, amendments or revocation
proceedings which would materially adversely affect the operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries. All fees due and payable to governmental
authorities pursuant to the rules governing such FCC Licenses have been
paid and no event has occurred with respect to the FCC Licenses held by the
Company and its subsidiaries which, with the giving of notice or the lapse
of time or both, would constitute grounds for revocation thereof. Each of
the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects
with the terms of such FCC Licenses, as applicable, and there is no
condition, event or occurrence existing, nor is there any proceeding being
conducted of which the Company has received notice, nor, to the Company's
knowledge, is there any proceeding threatened, by any governmental
authority, which would cause the
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termination, suspension, cancellation or nonrenewal of any of such FCC
Licenses, or the imposition of any penalty or fine by any regulatory
authority. No registrations, filings, applications, notices, transfers,
consents, approvals, audits, qualifications, waivers or other action of any
kind is required by virtue of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than
as previously obtained from the FCC (i) to avoid the loss of any asset,
property or right pursuant to the terms thereof, or the violation or breach
of any applicable law thereto or (ii) to enable the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to hold and enjoy the same after the Closing Date (as defined
herein) in the conduct of its business as conducted prior to the Closing
Date.
(z) The Company has reviewed its operations and that of its
subsidiaries to evaluate the extent to which the business or operations of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be affected by the Year 2000
Problem (that is, any significant risk that computer hardware or software
applications used by the Company and its subsidiaries will not, in the case
of dates or time periods occurring after December 31, 1999, function at
least as effectively as in the case of dates or time periods occurring
prior to January 1, 2000); as a result of such review, (i) the Company has
no reason to believe, and does not believe, that (A) there are any issues
related to the Company's preparedness to address the Year 2000 Problem that
are of a character required to be described or referred to in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus which have not been accurately
described in all material respects in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus and (B) the Year 2000 Problem will have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (ii) the
Company reasonably believes, after due inquiry, that the suppliers,
vendors, customers or other material third parties used or served by the
Company and such subsidiaries are addressing or will address the Year 2000
Problem in a timely manner, except to the extent that a failure to address
the Year 2000 Problem by any supplier, vendor, customer or material third
party would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or as otherwise described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus.
Furthermore, the Company represents and warrants to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ that (i)
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus
comply, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any
applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus
or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are
distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no
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authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or qualification
of or with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than
such as have been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and
regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered
outside the United States.
The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, Shares to
any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to
unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the
customer's or supplier's level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a
trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about
the Company or its products.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to
the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedules I and II
hereto opposite its names at U.S.$_____ a share ("Purchase Price").
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the U.S. Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the U.S. Underwriters shall
have a one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to __________
Additional Shares at the Purchase Price. If the U.S. Representatives, on behalf
of the U.S. Underwriters, elect to exercise such option, the U.S.
Representatives shall so notify the Company in writing not later than 30 days
after the date of this Agreement, which notice shall specify the number of
Additional Shares to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters and the date on which
such shares are to be purchased. Such date may be the same as the Closing Date
(as defined below) but not earlier than the Closing Date nor later than ten
business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased
as provided in Section hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-
allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. If any
Additional Shares are to be purchased, each U.S. Underwriter agrees, severally
and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the U.S. Representatives may
determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional
Shares to be purchased as the number of U.S. Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I
hereto opposite the name of such U.S. Underwriter bears to the total number of
U.S. Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
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during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in
clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such
other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) file a registration statement
other than a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of common
stock subject to outstanding options or options to be issued under the Company's
stock option plans. The restrictions contained in the foregoing sentence shall
not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder or (B) the issuance by the
Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or
the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the
Underwriters have been advised in writing.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by you that
the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions
of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further
advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at
U.S.$_____ a share (the "Public Offering Price") and to certain dealers selected
by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of U.S.$____ a
share under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and
such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of U.S.$____ a share, to
any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be
made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the
several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on ____________, 2000 or
at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than _________,
2000 as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment
are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal
or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such
Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the notice described in
Section or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event
not later than _______, 2000 as shall be designated in writing by the U.S.
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Representatives. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to
as the "Option Closing Date."
Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable
in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid,
against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations
of the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the
Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall
have become effective not later than [_______] (New York City time) on the date
hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following
further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction
of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment,
impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus.
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(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed, on behalf of the Company,
by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section
above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing
Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and
satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon
the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described
in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) each significant subsidiary of the Company (as such term
is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act)
has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
13
(iii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms in
all material respects as to legal matters to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus;
(iv) the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the
issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(v) all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned of record
directly or indirectly by the Company, to such counsel's knowledge,
free and clear of all adverse claims, except as described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus and except for the liens securing
obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as
of November 3, 1999 to which the Company is a party and related
agreements;
(vi) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and, to the knowledge
of such counsel, the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to
any preemptive or similar rights;
(vii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(viii) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement
will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company
or any of its subsidiaries that is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, or, to such counsel's knowledge, any judgment,
order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the
Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares by the U.S.
Underwriters;
14
(ix) such counsel has considered the statements in the
Prospectus under the captions "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions" and "Description of Capital Stock"and in the
Registration Statement in Items 14 and 15, relating to legal matters,
documents or proceedings, and in the opinion of such counsel, such
statements fairly summarize in all material respects such matters,
documents or proceedings;
(x) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal
or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the
properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and are not so described or of any statutes, regulations,
contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
required;
(xi) to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not and,
after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus,
will not be an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(xii) the statements in the Prospectus under the caption "United
States Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of Common
Stock," insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the United
States federal tax laws referred to therein, are accurate and fairly
summarize in all material respects the United States federal tax laws
referred to therein; and
(xiii) such counsel has no reason to believe that the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (except for the financial
statements and notes thereto and schedules and other financial,
accounting, numerical or statistical information or data included
therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief) do not
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
Such counsel shall also state that, although such counsel has not
undertaken to determine independently, and therefore does not assume, except as
expressly indicated in paragraphs (ix) and (xii) above, any responsibility,
15
explicitly or implicitly, for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, such
counsel has participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and the other customary
qualifications and limitations contained in such counsel's letter, nothing has
come to such counsel's attention which causes such counsel to believe that
(except for financial statements and notes thereto and schedules and other
financial, accounting, numerical or statistical information or data included
therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief) the Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein at the time the Registration
Statement became effective 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 therein not misleading or that the Prospectus as of its date
and as of the Closing Date contained or contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Berlin Shereff ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, regulatory counsel for the Company, dated
the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) (A) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not violate
(1) the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, (2) any federal communications law
applicable to the Company and/or its subsidiaries, (3) any state
communications law applicable to the Company and/or its subsidiaries,
and (4) to the best of our knowledge, any decree from any court; and
(B) no authorization of the FCC or any Public Utilities Commission
("PUC") that has not already been received from or prior filing that
has not already been made with, such agency is necessary for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance
with the terms hereof, except where the failure to obtain such
authorization or make such filing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) to the best of our knowledge: (1) each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has made all reports and filings, and paid all fees,
required by the FCC and the PUCs, and has all certificates, orders,
permits, licenses, authorizations, consents, and approvals of and
from, and has made all filings and registrations,
16
with the FCC and the PUCs necessary to own, lease, license and use its
properties and assets and to conduct its business in the manner
described in the Prospectus; and (2) none of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
violation, revocation or modification of any such certificates,
orders, permits, licenses, authorizations, consents, or approvals, or
the qualification or rejection of any such filing or registration, the
effect of which, singly or in the aggregate, would have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) to the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any
provision of Federal Communications Law or State Communications Law,
the effect of which, singly or in the aggregate, would have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iv) to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry: (1) no
adverse judgment, decree or order of the FCC or any PUC has been
issued against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (2) no
litigation, proceeding (other than certification applications
initiated by the Company or its subsidiaries), inquiry or
investigation has been commenced or threatened against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries before or by the FCC or any PUC which, if
decided adversely to the Company's interest, would have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
and
(v) the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
Factors -- Difficulties in Implementation of Local and Enhanced
Services -- We may need to rely on the established local telephone
companies to implement successfully our switched and enhanced
services," "Risk Factors -- Competition -- We face a high level of
competition in the telecommunications industry," "Risk Factors --
Government Regulation -- FCC and state regulations may limit the
services we can offer," "Business -- Regulation," and "Business --
Competition," exclusive of cross references therein to other sections
of the Prospectus, to the extent that they discuss international and
U.S. federal, state, and local statutes, regulations and proceedings
with respect to telecommunications regulatory matters, fairly
summarize the matters referred to therein.
17
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the
Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in Sections5(c)(vi),
5(c)(vii), 5(c)(ix) (but only as to the statements in the Prospectus under
"Underwriters") and 5(c)(xiii) above (including the paragraph immediately
following 5(c)(xiii).
With respect to Section 5(c)(xiii) above (including the paragraph
immediately following 5(c)(xiii)), ▇▇▇▇▇ Peabody LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
verification, except as specified. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ need not express any opinion or belief with respect to matters
governed by or related to (i) federal, state, local or foreign
communications law or the rules, regulations or policies of the FCC
thereunder or with respect thereto, or (ii) any laws other than the federal
laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of New York or
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
The opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇ Peabody LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Berlin Shereff ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
LLP described in Sections and 5(d) above shall be rendered to the
Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof
and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date,
as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters,
from each of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and Ernst & Young LLP, independent public
accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to
the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided that the letters
delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than
the date hereof.
(g) The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and
directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions
of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on
or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
18
(h) The several obligations of the U.S. Underwriters to purchase
Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the U.S.
Representatives on the Option Closing Date of such documents as they may
reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the
due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares and other matters
related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.
6. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements
of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, 6 signed copies of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to
each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
(without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without
charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next
succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in
Section below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and
amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably
request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the
applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public
offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a
result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in
the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the
Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish
to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf of the
Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
19
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
request.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the twelve-
month period ending March 31, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(f) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid
all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, including:(i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Company's counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with the
registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all
other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing
costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove
specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery
of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes
payable thereon,(iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky
memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state
securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of
the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 6(d) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky memorandum,(iv) all
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of
the offering of the Shares by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
incurred on behalf of or disbursements by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers in its capacity
as "qualified independent underwriter", (v) all fees and expenses in
connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on
Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all costs and expenses
20
incident to listing the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market,(vi) the cost
of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and
charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs
and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any "road
show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the
Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the
production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any
consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the
prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the
representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and
the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, and
(ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise
made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in
this Section, Section 7 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution", and the last
paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs
and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock
transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any
advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(g) In connection with the Directed Share Program, to ensure that the
Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or the NASD rules from
sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three
months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will notify the Company as to which Participants
will need to be so restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent
to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of
time.
(h) To pay all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp
duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
Furthermore, the Company covenants with ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ that the Company
will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and
regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are
offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
21
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused
by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein provided, however, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person
controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the 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 Underwriter to such
person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the 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 6(a) hereof.
The Company also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers and
each person, if any, who controls ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Act, or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments incurred as a result
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers' participation as a "qualified independent underwriter"
within the meaning of Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities
Dealers' Conduct Rules in connection with the offering of the shares, except for
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and judgements resulting from ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Brothers', or such controlling person's, bad faith or gross negligence.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter,
but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to
22
the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), such person (the "indemnified party") shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"indemnifying party") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a), and by the Company, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a)
hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such
separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be
liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers in its capacity as a
"qualified independent underwriter" and all persons, if any, who control ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Brothers within the meaning of either Section 15 of the act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
23
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b)
is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party
under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 7(d)(i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net
proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the
Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters 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 Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section
7 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have
purchased hereunder, and not joint.
24
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section and
the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in
this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
(i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on
behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the
Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
8. Directed Share Program Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and its affiliates, and each person,
if any, who controls ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or its affiliates within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities"), from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the
Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant
to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to
purchase; or (iii) related
25
to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are
finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross
negligence of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities.
(b) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in respect of which indemnity
may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a), the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity seeing
indemnity, shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon
request of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity to represent the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity unless (i) the Company shall have agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The
Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities. Any such
separate firm for the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities shall be designated in writing by
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to
indemnify the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
if at any time a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall have requested the Company to
reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and
third sentences of this paragraph, the Company agrees that it shall be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company
of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in
respect of which any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
26
(c) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) is
unavailable to a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company in lieu of
indemnifying the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed
Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(c)(i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(c)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities
on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted
in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand in connection with
the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before
deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the
aggregate Public Offering Price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim,
damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(g) The Company and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(c). The amount
paid or payable by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds
27
the amount of any damages that such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity has otherwise been
required to pay. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to
any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any
person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of
the Directed Shares.
9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice
given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been
suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any
securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of
the events specified in clauses 9(a)(i) through 9(a)(iv), such event, singly or
together with any other such event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to
market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it
has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number
of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite their respective names in Schedule I or Schedule II bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-
defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to
purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or
28
refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of
Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be
increased pursuant to this Section by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such
number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the
Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to
be purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the
purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-
defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for
longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. If, on the Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the
aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs
is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be
purchased, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i)
terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase Additional Shares or (ii)
purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting
Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such
default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them,
because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the
terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any
reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or
the offering contemplated hereunder.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
12. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
29
13. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
CHOICE ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
30
Accepted as of the date hereof
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
WARBURG DILLON READ LLC
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
CIBC WORLD MARKETS
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the
several U.S. Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
By: _____________________________________________________
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE)
UBS AG, ACTING THROUGH ITS DIVISION WARBURG DILLON READ
FIRST UNION SECURITIES INC.
CIBC WORLD MARKETS
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the
several International Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited
By: _____________________________________________________
Name:
Title:
31
SCHEDULE I
U.S. UNDERWRITERS
Number of Firm Shares To Be
Underwriter Purchased
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated.....
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc...................
Warburg Dillon Read LLC...............
First Union Securities, Inc...........
CIBC World Markets....................
_____________________________
Total U.S. Firm Shares..........
=============================
SCHEDULE II
INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS
Number of Firm Shares To Be
Underwriter Purchased
------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited......
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers International (Europe)..........
UBS AG, acting through its division Warburg
Dillon Read.....................................
First Union Securities, Inc.....................
CIBC World Markets..............................
__________________________
Total International Firm Shares
==========================
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
____________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
Warburg Dillon Read LLC
First Union Securities, Inc.
CIBC World Markets
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers International (Europe)
UBS AG, acting through its division Warburg Dillon Read
First Union Securities, Inc.
CIBC World Markets
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
England
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. International Limited ("MSIL") propose to
enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Choice
One Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") providing for
the public offering (the "Public Offering") by the several Underwriters,
including ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and MSIL (the "Underwriters") of _________ shares (the
"Shares") of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock").
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to
continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned
hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on
behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating
to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock,
or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the sale of any Shares
to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement or (b) transactions
relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market
transactions after the completion of the Public Offering. In addition, the
undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on
behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any
demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares
of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Common Stock.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of
factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
_________________________________________
Name
_________________________________________
Address
2
