|
|
|
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
This matter came before the Court on the parties' Joint Motion to Modify Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. This Court, having considered the Motion and the memorandum in support thereof and being fully advised of its premise, hereby grants this Motion and modifies the Hold Separate Stipulation and Order, entered on May 30, 2001. It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between the undersigned parties, subject to approval and entry by the Court, that: As used in this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order: A. "Acquirer" means the entity to whom defendants divest the IBI business. B. "WorldCom" means defendant WorldCom, Inc., a Georgia corporation with its headquarters in Clinton, Mississippi, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents and employees. C. "Intermedia" means defendant Intermedia Communications, Inc., a Delaware Corporation with its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents and employees. D. "Intermedia Business Internet" or "IBI business" means Intermedia's Internet backbone and access services business and includes:
The Final Judgment filed in this case is meant to ensure the prompt divestiture of Intermedia's assets for the purpose of preserving a viable competitor in the provision of Internet backbone and access services and to remedy the effects that the United States alleges would otherwise result from WorldCom's acquisition of Intermedia. The parties believe this goal can be best accomplished through this modification to the original Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. This Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order ensures, prior to such divestiture, that the IBI business remains an economically viable, and ongoing business concern that will remain independent and uninfluenced by WorldCom, and that competition is maintained during the pendency of the ordered divestiture . This Court has jurisdiction over each of the parties hereto and over the subject matter of this action, and venue of this action is proper in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against defendants under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 18. A. Defendants shall continue to abide by and comply with the provisions of the Final Judgment, entered in this matter on June 27, 2001. B. Defendants shall not take any steps in contravention of the original Hold Separate Stipulation and Order before the Court has entered this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. C. This Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall apply with equal force and effect to any amended Final Judgment agreed upon in writing by the parties and submitted to the Court. D. Defendants represent that the divestiture ordered in the Final Judgment can and will be made, and that defendants will later raise no claim of mistake, hardship or difficulty of compliance as grounds for asking the Court to modify any of the provisions contained therein. E. The United States and defendants WorldCom and Intermedia, by their respective attorneys, have consented to the entry of this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and without this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order constituting any evidence against or admission by any party regarding any issue of fact or law. The United States will select and the Court will approve and appoint a Hold Separate Trustee to serve as manager of the IBI business from the time of his or her appointment until the IBI business is sold. This Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall not be interpreted to prevent the Hold Separate Trustee from becoming the divestiture trustee pursuant to Section V of the Final Judgment. A. As soon as practicable, the United States will identify to defendants the individual or entity it proposes to select as the Hold Separate Trustee. Defendants shall not object to the selection of the trustee on any grounds other than irremediable conflict of interest. Defendants must make any such objection within five (5) business days after plaintiff notifies defendants of the trustee's selection. Upon application of the United States, the Court shall approve and appoint a Hold Separate Trustee to manage the IBI business in anticipation of an expeditious sale of the IBI business. B. Promptly after the appointment of the Hold Separate Trustee by the Court, defendants shall enter into a trustee agreement with the Hold Separate Trustee subject to the approval of the United States that will grant the rights, powers, and authorities necessary to permit the Hold Separate Trustee to perform his or her duties and responsibilities, pursuant to this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. The trustee agreement shall require the following:
C. The Hold Separate Trustee will have the following powers and responsibilities with respect to the IBI business:
D. The following limitations shall apply to the Hold Separate Trustee:
E. Defendants, defendants' employees, and the Hold Separate Trustee will take all reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of information that is material to the operation of either the IBI business or defendants' businesses.
F. If the Hold Separate Trustee ceases to act or fails to act diligently and consistent with the purposes of this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order, if the Hold Separate Trustee resigns, or if for any other reason the Hold Separate Trustee ceases to serve in his or her capacity as Hold Separate Trustee, the United States may select and the Court may appoint a substitute Hold Separate Trustee in the same manner as provided in Paragraph V.A of this Order. VI. DEFENDANTS' PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THE IBI BUSINESS A. In connection with support services not included within the IBI business, defendants shall provide to the IBI business at no cost to IBI the following services and products from the Defendants:
B. If in the judgment of the Hold Separate Trustee, WorldCom fails to provide the services listed in VI.A to the satisfaction of the Hold Separate Trustee, upon notification to WorldCom and approval by the United States, the Hold Separate Trustee may engage third parties unaffiliated with the defendants to provide those services for the IBI business, provided, however, that WorldCom may satisfy itself that the IBI business is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. C. At the option of the Hold Separate Trustee, defendants may also provide other products and services, including but not limited to local access and backbone services, on an arms-length basis provided that IBI is not obligated to obtain any other service from defendants and may acquire such services from third parties unaffiliated with defendants. VII. HOLD SEPARATE PROVISIONS After this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order is approved by the Court and until the divestiture required by the Final Judgment have been accomplished, except as otherwise approved in advance in writing by the United States: A. Defendants and the Hold Separate Trustee shall preserve, maintain, and continue to support the IBI business as an independent, ongoing, economically viable competitive business, with management, sales and operations of such assets held entirely separate, distinct and apart from those of defendants' other operations. Within twenty (20) days after the entry of the Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order, defendants will inform the United States of the steps defendants have taken to comply with this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. B. Defendants and the Hold Separate Trustee shall take all steps necessary to ensure that (1) the IBI business will be maintained and operated as independent, ongoing, economically viable and active competitors in the market for Internet backbone and access services; (2) management of the IBI business will not be influenced by Defendants; and (3) the books, records, competitively sensitive sales, marketing and pricing information, and decision-making concerning production, distribution or sales of products by or under any of the IBI business will be kept separate and apart from Defendants' other operations. C. The Hold Separate Trustee and Defendants shall use all reasonable efforts to increase revenues, profitability, and the competitive viability of the IBI business. D. Defendants shall provide sufficient working capital and lines and sources of credit as deemed necessary by the Hold Separate Trustee to continue to maintain the IBI business as economically viable and competitive ongoing business, consistent with the requirements of this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. E. The Hold Separate Trustee, with the Defendants' cooperation consistent with this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order and the Final Judgment, shall take all steps necessary to manage the IBI business in order to maximize its revenue, profitability, and the competitive viability so as to permit its expeditious divestiture in a matter consistent with the Final Judgment including, without limitation by maintaining and adhering to normal repair and maintenance schedules for the assets of the IBI business. F. Defendants shall not, except 1) as recommended by the Hold Separate Trustee and approved by the United States, or 2) as part of a divestiture approved by the United States in accordance with the terms of the Final Judgment, remove, sell, lease, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of the IBI business. G. The Hold Separate Trustee, with the Defendants' cooperation consistent with this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order and the Final Judgment, shall maintain, in accordance with sound accounting principles, separate, accurate and complete financial ledgers, books and records that report on a periodic basis, such as the last business day of every month, consistent with past practices, the assets, liabilities, expenses, revenues and income of the IBI business. H. Defendants shall take no action that would jeopardize, delay, or impede the sale of the IBI business. I. Defendants shall take no action that would interfere with the ability of any trustee appointed pursuant to the Final Judgment to complete the divestitures pursuant to the Final Judgment to an Acquirer acceptable to the United States. L. Except for support services employees involved in providing services to the IBI business pursuant to subparagraph VI.A, defendants shall not permit any other of its employees, officers, or directors to be involved in the operations of the IBI business. M. Except as required by law in the course of 1) complying with this Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order or the Final Judgment; 2) overseeing compliance with policies and standards concerning the safety, health and environmental aspects of the operations of the IBI business and the integrity of the IBI business financial controls; 3) defending legal claims, investigations or enforcement actions threatened or brought against the IBI business; or 4) obtaining legal advice, defendants' employees (excluding support services employees involved in providing support to the IBI business pursuant to subparagraph VI.A) shall not receive, or have access to, or use or continue to use any material confidential information, not in the public domain, of the IBI business. Defendants may receive aggregate financial information relating to the IBI business to the extent necessary to allow defendants to prepare the defendants' consolidated financial reports, tax returns, reports required by securities laws, and personnel reports. Any such information that is obtained pursuant to this subparagraph shall be used only for the purposes set forth in this subparagraph. N. Defendants may offer a bonus or severance to employees included in the IBI business that continue their employment with the IBI business until the divestiture (in addition to any other bonus or severance to which the employees would otherwise be entitled). O. This Modified Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall remain in effect until consummation of the divestiture required by the Final Judgment or until further order of the Court. Done and Ordered this 29th day of August, 2001 in Washington, D.C.
Approved as to form and Substance:
|