EXHIBIT
4.2
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
$555,890,000
9.47% Senior Discount Notes Due 2007
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
Dated: October 15, 1997
4.2-1
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
$555,890,000 9.47% SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2007
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT
New York, New York
October 15, 1997
Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Dear Sirs:
Qwest Communications International Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to certain initial purchasers (the
"Initial Purchasers"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated
October 9, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), its $555,890,000 9.47% Senior
Discount Notes Due 2007 (the "Securities") (the "Initial Placement"). As an
inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the
Company agrees with you, (i) for your benefit and the benefit of the other
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of
the Securities (including you and the other Initial Purchasers), as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of
a person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such person whether by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 1-year period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
4.2-2
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, 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.
"Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the
Initial Purchasers) that is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, for New Securities.
"Expiration Date" means the date of consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer which shall be not less than 30 days and not more than
50 days after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is
mailed to the Holders pursuant to clause 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.
"Final Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Holder" means a holder from time to time of Securities
(including the Initial Purchasers) or of New Securities.
"Indenture" means the Indenture relating to the Securities dated
as of October 15, 1997, between the Company and Bankers Trust Company, as
trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof.
"Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of securities registered under a Registration
Statement.
"Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.
"New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical
in all material respects to the Securities (except that the New Securities will
not contain terms with respect to registration rights or transfer restrictions,
and interest rate and interest rate step-up provisions will be modified or
eliminated, as appropriate), to be issued under the Indenture or the New
Securities Indenture.
"New Securities Indenture" means an indenture between the Company
and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects with the
Indenture (except that the interest rate and interest rate step-up provisions
and the transfer restrictions will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).
"New Securities Trustee" means the Trustee or a bank or trust
company reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with
respect to the New Securities under the New Securities Indenture.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended
4.2-3
or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities, covered by such
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the
Holders to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a
like principal amount of the New Securities.
"Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, 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.
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.
"Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which
covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the Commission, 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" means the trustee with respect to the Securities under the
Indenture.
"Underwriter" means any underwriter of securities in connection
with an offering thereof under an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a
Shelf Registration Statement.
2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Company shall prepare and, within
90 days following the Closing Date, shall file with the Commission the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement to become effective under the Act within 150 days of the Closing Date.
(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming (i) that such
Holder is not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Act, of the Company,
(ii) that such Holder is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course of
such Holder's business and (iii) that such Holder has no arrangement or
undertaking with any person to participate in the distribution (within the
meaning of the Act) of the New Securities) to trade such New Securities from and
after their receipt without any limitations or
4.2-4
restrictions under the Act and without material restrictions under the
securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United
States.
(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the
Company shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate
letter of transmittal (which shall include deemed representations by
the Holders to the effect set forth under (i), (ii) and (iii) in
paragraph (b) above) and related documents;
(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
days and not more than 50 days after the date notice thereof is mailed
to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);
(iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York; and
(iv) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities
so accepted for exchange; and
(iii) cause the Trustee or the New Securities Trustee, as the
case may be, promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of
Securities a principal amount of New Securities equal in principal
amount to the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
(e) The Initial Purchasers and the Company acknowledge that,
pursuant to interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act,
and in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer
is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New
Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Accordingly, the
Company shall:
(i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the
cover of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto
in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a
section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, and in Annex C
hereto in the "Underwriting" or "Plan of Distribution" section of the
Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the letter
of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and
(ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Act during the Exchange Offer Registration Period
for delivery by Exchanging Dealers in connection
4.2-5
with sales of New Securities received pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below.
(f) In the event that any Initial Purchaser determines that it is
not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the
request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such
Initial Purchaser or the party purchasing New Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such
Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of
New Securities. The Company shall seek to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to
issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.
3. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company
determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect
the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or (ii) for
any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180
days of the date hereof, or (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect
to Securities held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange
Offer, or (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to
participate in the Registered Exchange Offer and so notifies the Company as soon
as practicable, but in any event not later than 30 days following consummation
of the Registered Exchange Offer, or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser
that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities
pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely
tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of
an unsold allotment (it being understood that, for purposes of this Section 3,
(x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing
the information required by Items 507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act
in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such
Securities shall result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable" but
(y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not
"freely tradeable"), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall, as promptly as practicable (but in no
event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this
Section 3), file with the Commission, and thereafter shall cause to be
declared effective under the Act, a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities,
as applicable, by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the
methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such
Shelf Registration Statement; provided that, with respect to New
Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities
constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if
permitted by current interpretations by the Commission's staff, file a
post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
containing the information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or
508, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this
paragraph (a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as,
and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf
Registration Statement.
4.2-6
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of
three years from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such shorter period that will terminate
when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by
the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the
"Shelf Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed not to have
used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any
action that would result in Holders of securities covered thereby not
being able to offer and sell such securities during that period, unless
(i) such action is required by applicable law, or (ii) such action is
taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not
including avoidance of the Company's obligations hereunder), including
the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company as
promptly as practicable thereafter complies with the requirements of
Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.
4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall furnish to you, prior to the filing thereof
with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and any
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and
each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included
therein, and shall reflect in each such document, when so filed with
the Commission, such comments as you reasonably may propose.
(b) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and
any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects
with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it
becomes effective, contain an 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 and (iii) any
Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) (1) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby, and,
if requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in writing:
(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto
has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
effective; and
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
included therein or for additional information.
4.2-7
(2) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby, and,
in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Exchanging
Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a telephone or
facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or
any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such advice in writing:
(i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities
included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(iii) of the happening of any event that requires the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so
that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading
and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made) not misleading (which advice shall be accompanied by
an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the
requisite changes have been made).
(d) The Company shall obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement at the
earliest possible time.
(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of securities
included within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement,
without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement
and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing,
all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
deliver to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of
any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such
Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as
such Holder may reasonably request; and the Company consents to the use
of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders of securities in connection with the offering and sale
of the securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, any documents
incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so
requests in writing, all exhibits (including those incorporated by
reference).
(h) The Company shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration
Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer
4.2-8
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
Exchanging Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such
Exchanging Dealer in connection with a sale of New Securities received
by it pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company
consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto by any such Exchanging Dealer, as aforesaid.
(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering
of securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
Holders of securities included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of such securities
for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any such Holders reasonably request in writing and do
any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the securities covered by such
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company will not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject
it to general service of process or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration
Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and
registered in such names as Holders may request prior to sales of
securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
(c)(2)(iii) above, the Company shall as promptly as practicable prepare
a post-effective amendment to any Registration Statement or an
amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the
securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
Statement hereunder, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the
Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such
Registration Statement, and provide the trustee with printed
certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(m) The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to its
security holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the
applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture or the New
Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.
(o) The Company may require each Holder of securities to be
sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
4.2-9
Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of
such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall, if requested, as promptly as practicable
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a
Shelf Registration Statement, such information as the Managing
Underwriters and Majority Holders reasonably determine and agree should
be included therein and shall make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified
of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements)
and take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or
facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities, and
in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into,
cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no
less favorable than those set forth in Section 6 (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the
Managing Underwriters, if any), with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to Section 6 from Holders of Securities to the
Company.
(r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
securities to be registered thereunder, any Underwriter participating
in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such
Underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply
all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any
such Underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any
such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
examinations; provided, however, that any information that is
designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at
the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
the Holders or any such Underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent,
unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or
required by law, or such information becomes available to the public
generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation
of confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and warranties to
the Holders of securities registered thereunder and the Underwriters,
if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers
to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters
including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any)
addressed to each selling Holder and the Underwriters, if any, covering
such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in
underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Holders and Underwriters; (v) obtain "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
4.2-10
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 of
securities registered thereunder and the Underwriters, if any, in
customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with primary underwritten
offerings; and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing
Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with
Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.
The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of
this Section 4(r) shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such
Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto and
(B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to
the extent required thereunder.
(s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by such
Initial Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained
by such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries; (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by
such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in
connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for
similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any
information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good
faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information
shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such
attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in
connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
information becomes available to the public generally or through a
third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;
(iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial
Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering
matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase
Agreement; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance)
shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its
counsel), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as
are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial
Purchaser or its counsel; (v) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates
thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the
Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business
acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial
data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and
covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort"
letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if
requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a "cold
comfort" letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such Initial
Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser
or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance
4.2-11
with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in
underwriting agreements. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses
(iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section 4(s) shall be performed at
the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of
any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2,
3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will
reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or
counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.
6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of securities covered thereby (including each Initial Purchaser and, with
respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each
Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such
Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or
in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse
each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein.
This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have.
The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses of,
as provided in Section 6(d), any Underwriters of Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such Underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Initial Purchaser and the selling Holders provided in
this Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an
underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q)
hereof.
(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery
as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its directors,
(iii) each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and (iv) each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of
4.2-12
either the Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to written
information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the
foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 or notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i)
will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and
to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results
in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any
obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation
provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled
to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying
party's expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which
indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not
thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified
party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to
represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the
indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such
separate counsel (and local counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the
indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate
counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will
not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is
4.2-13
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying
party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the
Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses;
provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent
Holder of any Security or New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any
amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such
Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to the Security which was
exchangeable into such New Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, nor shall any Underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of
the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased
by such Underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such
Losses. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is
unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the
one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial
Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the
Final Memorandum and (y) the total amount of additional interest which the
Company was not required to pay as a result of registering the securities
covered by the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits
received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total
purchase discounts and commissions as set forth on the cover page of the Final
Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Securities or New Securities, as applicable,
registered under the Act. Benefits received by any Underwriter shall be deemed
to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on
the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement
which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference
to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information
provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified
party, on the other hand. The parties agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6,
each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall
have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act,
each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and
each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this
paragraph (d).
(e) The provisions of this Section 6 will remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder
or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred
to in Section 6 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities
covered by a Registration Statement.
4.2-14
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the
date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
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 the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any Exchange Offer
in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Securities); provided that, with
respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any
Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of
each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification,
supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing
(except the foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the
provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other
Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of
securities being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail,
telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such
Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section
7(c), which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the
address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture,
with a copy in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc;
(2) if to you, initially at the respective addresses set
forth in the Purchase Agreement; and
(3) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in
the Purchase Agreement.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given when received.
The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by
the Company thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and/or New Securities. The
Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of
Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may specifically enforce
the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.
4.2-15
(e) 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.
(f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State.
(h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired
or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of
the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(i) Securities Held by the Company, Etc. Whenever the consent or
approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities
or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as
applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders
of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval
was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
4.2-16
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the
agreement between the Company and you.
Very truly yours,
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
By: /s/
Name:
Title:
Accepted in New York, New York
October 15, 1997
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: /s/
Name:
Title:
4.2-17
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
New Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business on
the first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution" in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer who holds Securities for its own account
acquired as a result of marketmaking activities or other trading activities and
who receives New Securities pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of he Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and must acknowledge that it will deliver a Prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of
the New Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto. See "Plan of Distribution" in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement.
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own
account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in
exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the
first anniversary of the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. In addition, until ______, 19__, all dealers effecting
transactions in the New Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 1 year after the Expiration Date, the Company
will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the letter of transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
The Company has not entered into any arrangements or
understandings with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received
in the Exchange Offer.
C-2
ANNEX D
Rider A
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name:
Address:
Number of copies:
- ------------------------------------------
Rider B
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned
represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a
distribution of New Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will
receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it
represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired
by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and
acknowledges that it will deliver a Prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by
so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, the undersigned will not be
deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities
Act.
5.1-3