ENTERTAINMENT INC
SC 14D1/A, 1999-07-29
CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3
                                       to
                                 SCHEDULE 14D-1
                             Tender Offer Statement
       Pursuant to Section 14(d)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                       and

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3
                                       to
                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                              @ ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
                            (Name of Subject Company)


                              UNITEDGLOBALCOM, INC.
                      UNITED PAN-EUROPE COMMUNICATIONS N.V.
                             BISON ACQUISITION CORP.

                                    (Bidders)

                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    045920105
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)


                            Anton H.E. van Voskuijlen
                      United Pan-Europe Communications N.V.
                             Fred. Roeskestraat 123
                                 P.O. Box 74763
                       1070 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
                                 (31) 20-7789840

            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
           to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Bidders)

                                   Copies to:

  William F. Wynne, Jr., Esq.                       Michelle L. Keist, Esq.
        White & Case LLP                              UnitedGlobalCom, Inc.
   1155 Avenue of the Americas                       4643 South Ulster Street
    New York, New York 10036                              Suite 1300
         (212) 819-8200                              Denver, Colorado 80237
                                                         (303) 770-4001

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                             SCHEDULE 14D-1 AND 13D

CUSIP No.   045920105



- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
         I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
         UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. (formerly United International Holdings, Inc.)
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                    (a)    |_|
                    (b)    |X|
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
3.       SEC USE ONLY
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.       SOURCE OF FUNDS
                OO
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.       CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS  REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
         2(e) or 2(f)  | |
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
6.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                Delaware
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
7.       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
         BY EACH REPORTING PERSON*
                0*
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
8.       CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW(7)
         EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | |
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
9.       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)
                0.0%*
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
10.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                CO
- -------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------


*    UnitedGlobalCom,  Inc. (formerly United International Holdings,  Inc.) is a
     62% stockholder of United Pan-Europe  Communications N.V. United Pan-Europe
     Communications   N.V.   ("Parent")  and  Bison   Acquisition   Corp.   (the
     "Purchaser") have entered into Stockholder Agreements,  dated as of June 2,
     1999 (the "Common Stockholder Agreements"), with certain relatives of David
     T. Chase, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and certain
     of their respective affiliates (the "Chase Group"),  Samuel Chisolm,  David
     Chance,  Robert E. Fowler III, certain  affiliates of Advent  International
     Group and Morgan Grenfell Capital Development Syndications Limited ("Morgan
     Grenfell") (the "Stockholders") who are the record and beneficial owners of
     16,175,431  shares  of the  common  stock,  par value  $.01 per share  (the
     "Common  Stock")  of  @  Entertainment,   Inc.  (the  "Company"),  warrants
     exercisable  for  5,500,000  shares of Common Stock and options to purchase
     2,286,000  shares of Common Stock  (together with all additional  shares of
     Common Stock, warrants exercisable for Common Stock and options to purchase
     Common Stock, the "Option Securities") (representing approximately 48.4% of
     the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock  and  approximately  51.5% of the
     shares of Common  Stock on a fully  diluted  basis)  pursuant to which such
     Stockholders  have agreed to (i)  irrevocably  tender pursuant to the Offer
     (and not  withdraw)  all shares of Common Stock held by such  Stockholders,
     (ii)  grant to the  Purchaser  an  option  to  purchase  all of the  Option
     Securities  held by such  Stockholder  and (iii)  with  respect  to certain
     questions put to the  stockholders  of the Company for a vote, to vote such
     Stockholder's  shares  of  Common  Stock in  accordance  with the terms and
     conditions of the Common Stockholder Agreement to which such Stockholder is
     a party. Pursuant to the Common Stockholder  Agreements,  the Purchaser has
     agreed to  purchase  the Option  Securities  (other  than  shares of Common
     Stock) held by the Stockholders after the consummation of the Offer. Parent
     and the Purchaser  have entered into  Stockholder  Agreements,  dated as of
     June 2, 1999 (the "Preferred Stockholder Agreements" and, collectively with
     the Common Stockholders  Agreements,  the "Stockholder  Agreements"),  with
     certain  members of the Chase  Group and Morgan  Grenfell  (the  "Preferred
     Stockholders")  who are the holders of all of the outstanding  Series A 12%
     Cumulative  Preference  Shares of the  Company  and all of the  outstanding
     Series B 12% Cumulative  Preference Shares of the Company ( the "Preference
     Shares")  pursuant to which the Preferred  Stockholders  have agreed (i) to
     grant to the Purchaser an option to purchase all of the  Preference  Shares
     held by such  Preferred  Stockholders  and (ii)  with  respect  to  certain
     questions put to the  stockholders  of the Company for a vote, to vote such
     Preferred Stockholder's  Preference Shares in accordance with the terms and
     conditions of the Preferred  Stockholder  Agreement to which such Preferred
     Stockholder is a party. Pursuant to the Preferred  Stockholder  Agreements,
     the  Purchaser  has agreed to purchase  the  Preference  Shares held by the
     Preferred Stockholders after the consummation of the Offer.
<PAGE>


          This  Amendment No. 3 amends and  supplements  the Schedule  14D-1 and
Schedule 13D filed on June 8, 1999,  as amended,  relating to the offer by Bison
Acquisition  Corp., a Delaware  corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned
subsidiary  of United  Pan-Europe  Communications  N.V.,  a public  company with
limited liability incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands ("Parent"),  to
purchase all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of common  stock,  par value
$0.01 per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  of @  Entertainment,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), at a price of $19.00 per share (the "Offer Price"),
net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon,  upon the terms and subject
to the  conditions  set forth in the Offer to Purchase,  dated June 8, 1999 (the
"Offer to Purchase"), and in the related Letter of Transmittal.

ITEM 4.   SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

          Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

          The Offer Price and the Merger  Consideration  will be funded out of a
portion of the proceeds of a private placement of debt securities by Parent (the
"Offering").  On July 27, 1999,  Parent  entered into a Purchase  Agreement with
Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette  International and Goldman Sachs International (as
representatives of several  purchasers (the "Purchasers")  named in the Purchase
Agreement) pursuant to which the Purchasers, subject to the conditions set forth
in the  Purchase  Agreement,  agreed  to  purchase  (x) E300  million  aggregate
principal amount of 10 7/8% senior notes due 2009 (the "Senior EuroNotes");  (y)
$800 million in aggregate principal amount of 10 7/8% senior notes due 2009 (the
"Senior  Dollar  Notes" and,  together  with the Senior  EuroNotes,  the "Senior
Notes");  and (z) $735 million in aggregate  principal  amount at maturity of 12
1/2% senior  discount notes due 2009 (the "Senior  Discount Notes and,  together
with the Senior Notes, the "Notes").

          The Notes will  mature ten years from their date of  issuance  and the
issue prices will be 100%, plus accrued interest,  if any, from July 30, 1999 in
the case of the Senior Euro Notes,  100%,  plus accrued  interest,  if any, from
July 30,  1999 in the case of the Senior  Dollar  Notes,  and $545.21 per $1,000
principal  amount of  maturity  in the case of the Senior  Discount  Notes.  The
Senior  Discount  Notes will accrete at a rate of 12 1/2% per annum,  compounded
semi-annually,  to an  aggregate  principal  amount of $735 million at August 1,
2004.  The Notes will bear  interest at an annual rate of 10 7/8% for the Senior
Euro Notes and 10 7/8% for the Senior Dollar Notes payable semi-annually in cash
in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing February 1, 2000.
The Senior Discount Notes will accrue interest at the rate of 12 1/2% per annum,
commencing August 1, 2004. Interest on the Senior Discount Notes will be payable
semi-annually  in cash in  arrears  on  February  1 and  August 1 of each  year,
commencing  February 1, 2005.  The  purchase of the Notes by the  Purchasers  is
expected to close on July 30, 1999 and is subject to  customary  conditions  for
private placements of notes of the type being sold including (i) the accuracy of
certain representations and warranties of Parent, (ii) the performance by Parent
of  certain   obligations  and  (iii)  the  delivery  of  opinions  by  Parent's
accountants and legal advisors.

          Approximately $925 million of the net proceeds to Parent from the sale
of the Notes will be used to pay the Offer  Price and the  Merger  Consideration
and to pay related fees and expenses.

          The  documentation  covering the Notes will contain certain  covenants
that, among other things, place certain limitations on Parent's ability, and the
ability of Parent's subsidiaries, to (i) borrow money, (ii) issue capital stock,
(iii) pay dividends on stock or repurchase  stock,  (iv) make  investments,  (v)
create certain liens, (vi) engage in certain  transactions with affiliates,  and
(vii) sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies.

          At the  close of  trading  in New  York on  Tuesday,  July  27,  1999,
30,117,425  shares of common stock of @ Entertainment  had been validly tendered
in connection with the offer comprising  approximately  88.76% (or approximately
64.71% on a fully diluted basis) of the common stock of @ Entertainment.

ITEM 11.  MATERIALS TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

          The following is hereby added as an exhibit:

          Exhibit (a)(10) Press Release dated July 29, 1999.

          Exhibit (c)(5)  Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1998, between
                          Parent and the Purchasers named therein.
<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE

          After  due  inquiry  and to the best of my  knowledge  and  belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.


Dated:  July 29, 1999           UNITED PAN-EUROPE COMMUNICATIONS N.V.


                                By:   /s/ Mark L. Schneider
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name:   Mark L. Schneider
                                   Title:  Chairman of the Management Board
                                              and Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  July 29, 1999           BISON ACQUISITION CORP.


                                By:   /s/ Anton H.E. van Voskuijlen
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name:   Anton H.E. van Voskuijlen
                                   Title: Vice President


Dated:  July 29, 1999           UNITEDGLOBALCOM, INC., (FORMERLY UNITED
                                  INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.)


                                By:   /s/ Ellen P. Spangler
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name:   Ellen P. Spangler
                                   Title:  Senior Vice President

                                                                  Exhibit (c)(5)



UPC COMPLETES EUROPE'S LARGEST HIGH YIELD BOND OFFERING

AMSTERDAM,  NETHERLANDS,  JULY 29/PRNEWSWIRE/:  United Pan-Europe Communications
has today  announced  that it has priced its $1.5  billion  bond  offering.  The
offering  consists of three tranches:  $800 million of ten year Senior Notes due
2009 with a 10 7/8% coupon;  300 million Euros of ten year Senior Notes due 2009
with a coupon of 10 7/8%;  and $735 million  aggregate  principal  amount of ten
year 12 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2009. The Senior Discount Notes were sold
at 54.521% of the face amount  yielding  gross proceeds of $400 million and will
accrue but not pay interest  until 2004.  Total gross  proceeds from the sale of
the Senior Notes and Senior Discount Notes will be approximately $1.5 billion.

Upon  closing  of the  transaction,  the $800  million  of Senior  Notes will be
swapped into Euros to minimize UPC's  currency and interest rate  exposure.  The
swap will  yield an  average  interest  rate on the swap  portion  of 7.8% and a
weighted average interest rate on the total $1.5 billion offering of 9.7%.

UPC intends to use the proceeds of the offering to  partially  finance  recently
announced acquisitions.

Mark  Schneider,  Chairman and CEO of UPC,  commenting on the bond offering said
today:  "We are delighted to complete  what is Europe's  largest ever high yield
offering,  particularly given the recent bond market turbulence.  This financing
provides UPC with the capital  necessary  to continue our  expansion  throughout
Europe and our aggressive  roll out of digital video,  voice and high speed data
services."

The debt  securities  to be offered have not been,  and will not be,  registered
under the US Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United
States  absent  registration  or  an  applicable   exemption  from  registration
requirements. The notes will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and will
trade on the PORTAL  market of the NASD.  The  offering  is expected to close on
July 30, 1999.

Headquartered in Amsterdam,  UPC is the most innovative broadband communications
company in Europe and owns and operates one of the largest  pan-European  groups
of broadband communication  networks. UPC provides cable television,  telephony,
high-speed  Internet access and programming  services in twelve countries across
Europe and in  Israel.  As of June 30th,  1999,  subject to closure of  recently
announced  acquisitions,  UPC's systems passed  approximately  8.8 million homes
with more than 5.5 million basic cable subscribers. In addition, UPC systems had
139,600  telephone  access  lines as well as 52,700  broadband  Internet  access
subscribers.  UPC completed an IPO in February 1999 and its shares are traded on
the Amsterdam Stock Exchange ("UPC") and Nasdaq ("UPCOY").

UPC  is  a  consolidated   subsidiary  of  Denver  based   UnitedGlobalCom  Inc.
("United"),  (Nasdaq: "UCOMA").  Microsoft has an interest of approximately 7.8%
in UPC.

"Safe Harbor"  Statement under the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of
1995:   Statements   in  this  press   release   regarding   United  Pan  Europe
Communications NV's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking
statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks
and  uncertainties,  which  could  cause  actual  results  to differ  from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's
Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.




                      UNITED PAN-EUROPE COMMUNICATIONS N.V.

                   $800,000,000 10.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2009

                   E300,000,000 10.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2009

                $735,000,000 12.5% SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2009

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                                   July 27, 1999

Goldman Sachs International,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International
     As representatives of the several Purchasers
     named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman Sachs International
     Peterborough Court
     133 Fleet Street
     London   EC4A 2BB
     England



Ladies and Gentlemen:



     United Pan-Europe  Communications  N.V., a Netherlands  public  corporation
with limited  liability having its statutory seat in Amsterdam,  The Netherlands
(the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to
issue and sell to the Purchasers  named in Schedule I hereto (the  "Purchasers")
an aggregate of  $800,000,000  principal  amount of its 10.875% Senior Notes due
2009, an aggregate of E300,000,000  principal amount of its 10.875% Senior Notes
due 2009 (the "Senior Notes") and an aggregate of $735,000,000  principal amount
at maturity of its 12.5% Senior  Discount  Notes due 2009 (the "Senior  Discount
Notes" and together with the Senior Notes, the "Notes"). The Senior Notes are to
be  issued  pursuant  to the  provisions  of an  indenture  (the  "Senior  Notes
Indenture")  to be dated as of July 30, 1999  between  the Company and  Citibank
N.A. as trustee  (the  "Trustee").  The Senior  Discount  Notes are to be issued
pursuant to the provisions of an indenture (the "Discount  Notes  Indenture" and
together with the Senior Notes  Indenture,  the  "Indentures") to be dated as of
July 30, 1999 between the Company and the Trustee.

     Holders  (including  subsequent  transferees)  of the  Notes  will have the
registration  rights  set  forth  in  the  registration  rights  agreement  (the
"Registration  Rights Agreement"),  to be dated as of July 30, 1999. Pursuant to
the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the  Company  will agree to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the  "Commission"),  under the circumstances
and on the terms set  forth  therein,  (i) a  registration  statement  under the
United States  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act") (the
"Exchange Offer  Registration  Statement")  relating to the Company's Notes (the
"Exchange Notes") to be offered in exchange for the Notes (the "Exchange Offer")
and  (ii) a  shelf  registration  statement  pursuant  to  Rule  415  under  the
Securities  Act (the  "Shelf  Registration  Statement"  and,  together  with the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement,  the "Registration  Statements") relating
to the resale by certain  holders of the Notes,  and to use its best  efforts to
cause such Registration Statements to be declared effective.

     This  Agreement,  the  Indentures,  the Notes and the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  are  hereinafter   referred  to  collectively  as  the   "Transaction
Documents."

     1. The Company  represents  and warrants  to, and agrees with,  each of the
Purchasers that:

     (a)  A  preliminary   offering   memorandum,   dated  July  12,  1999  (the
"Preliminary  Offering Circular") and an Offering Circular,  dated July 27, 1999
(the "Offering Circular"), have been prepared in connection with the offering of
the Notes. The Preliminary  Offering  Circular and the Offering Circular and any
amendments or supplements  thereto did not and will not, as of their  respective
dates,  contain  an  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit 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; provided, however,
that this  representation  and  warranty  shall not apply to any  statements  or
omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information  furnished in
writing to the Company by a Purchaser through the Representatives  expressly for
use therein;

     (b)  None  of the  Company  or its  subsidiaries,  or,  to the  best of the
Company's knowledge after due inquiry, any of @Entertainment,  Inc., Time Warner
Cable France S.A.,  Reseaux Cables de France S.A.,  Videopole S.A.,  Kabel Plus,
a.s., SBS Broadcasting S.A., GelreVision N.V., NBS Broadband Services AB and SKT
spol. S.r.o. or any of their respective subsidiaries  (together,  other than the
Company and its  subsidiaries,  the "New  Acquisition  Entities")  has sustained
since the date of its respective latest audited financial statements included in
the Offering  Circular  any loss or  interference  with its business  from fire,
explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from
any labor  dispute  or court or other  legal or  governmental  action,  order or
decree,  having a material  adverse effect on the Company,  its subsidiaries and
the New  Acquisition  Entities  taken as a  whole,  other  than as set  forth or
contemplated  in the Offering  Circular;  and, since the respective  dates as of
which information is given in the Offering Circular,  there has not been (i) any
change  in the  capital  stock  of the  Company,  or (ii)  any  increase  in the
long-term  debt of the  Company  or its  subsidiaries,  or,  to the  best of the
Company's knowledge after due inquiry, the New Acquisition  Entities,  in excess
of $25,000,000 or its equivalent,  or (iii) any material adverse change,  or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the
general affairs, management,  condition (financial or otherwise),  shareholders'
equity or results of operations  of the Company,  its  subsidiaries  and the New
Acquisition  Entities,  taken  as a  whole,  otherwise  than  as  set  forth  or
contemplated in the Offering Circular;

     (c) The  Company,  its  subsidiaries,  and,  to the  best of the  Company's
knowledge  after  due  inquiry,  the New  Acquisition  Entities,  have  good and
marketable  title in fee  simple  to all  material  real  property  and good and
marketable title to all material  personal  property owned by them, in each case
free  and  clear of all  liens,  encumbrances  and  defects  except  such as are
described in the Offering Circular or such as do not materially adversely 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,  its  subsidiaries  and the New
Acquisition  Entities;  and any real property and buildings  held under lease by
the Company,  its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company's knowledge after
due  inquiry,  the New  Acquisition  Entities,  are  held by them  under  valid,
subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not have a material
adverse  effect  on the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and  the  New  Acquisition
Entities,  taken as a whole, and do not interfere with the use made and proposed
to be made of such property and buildings by the Company,  its  subsidiaries and
the New Acquisition Entities;

     (d) The Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a
public limited liability  company under the laws of The Netherlands,  with power
and  authority  (corporate  and other) to own its  properties  and  conduct  its
business as described in the Offering Circular,  and has been duly qualified for
the  transaction  of business  outside The  Netherlands  and is in good standing
under the laws of each other  jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties
or conducts any business so as to require such  qualification,  or is subject to
no material  liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified
in any such jurisdiction; and each subsidiary of the Company and, to the best of
the Company's knowledge after due inquiry, each of the New Acquisition Entities,
has been duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a  corporation  in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

     (e) The  Company  has an  authorized  capitalization  as set  forth  in the
Offering Circular,  and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
and,  to the  best  of the  Company's  knowledge  after  due  inquiry,  the  New
Acquisition  Entities,  have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable;  and 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 (except for directors'  qualifying shares
and except as otherwise set forth in the Offering  Circular) are owned  directly
or  indirectly  by the  Company,  free  and  clear of all  liens,  encumbrances,
equities or claims; and there are no restrictions on subsequent transfers of the
Notes  under the laws of The  Netherlands  and of the United  States,  except as
described in the Offering Circular;

     (f) The Company has all necessary  corporate power and authority to execute
and deliver this  Agreement and the other  Transaction  Documents and to perform
its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction  Documents and to
authorize,  issue,  sell and deliver the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement
and to perform its obligations thereunder, as applicable;

     (g) Each of the Senior Notes Indenture and the Discount Notes Indenture has
been duly  authorized  and,  when  executed and delivered by the Company and the
Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument,  enforceable in
accordance  with  its  terms,   subject,  as  to  enforcement,   to  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization and other laws of general applicability  relating to
or  affecting  creditors'  rights and to  general  equity  principles;  and will
conform to the descriptions thereof in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the
Offering Circular and will be in substantially the form previously  delivered to
you;

     (h)  The  Senior  Notes  and the  Senior  Discount  Notes  have  been  duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement,  will have
been duly  executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered  and will  constitute
valid and legally  binding  obligations of the Company  entitled to the benefits
provided  by the  Senior  Notes  Indenture  and the  Discount  Notes  Indenture,
respectively;  and will conform to the  descriptions  thereof in the Preliminary
Offering  Circular and the Offering  Circular and will be in  substantially  the
form previously delivered to you;

     (i) The  Exchange  Notes have been duly  authorized  and,  when  issued and
authenticated   in  accordance   with  the  terms  of  the  Indentures  and  the
Registration  Rights  Agreement,  will  constitute  valid  and  legally  binding
obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits  provided by the Indentures;
and  will  conform  to the  descriptions  thereof  in the  Preliminary  Offering
Circular and the Offering Circular;

     (j) The  Registration  Rights  Agreement  has been duly  authorized  by the
Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company,  will be the valid
and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms. The Registration Rights Agreement,  when executed and
delivered,  will conform to the description thereof in the Preliminary  Offering
Circular and the Offering Circular;

     (k) The  execution and delivery of, and the  performance  by the Company of
its obligations under this Agreement,  have been duly and validly  authorized by
the Company,  and this  Agreement  has been duly  executed and  delivered by the
Company;

     (l) None of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  (including,
without  limitation,  the use of the  proceeds  from the sale of the Notes) will
violate or result in a violation  of Section 7 of the United  States  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  or any  regulation
promulgated thereunder, including, without limitation,  Regulations G, T, U, and
X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

     (m) There is no "substantial  U.S.  market  interest" in the Company's debt
securities within the meaning of Rule 903(c) under
the Securities Act;

     (n) The issue and sale of the Notes and the  compliance by the Company with
all of the provisions of the Transaction  Documents and the  consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in
a breach or  violation  of any of the terms or  provisions  of, or  constitute a
default  under,  the  Credit  Agreement  (as  defined  herein),  any  indenture,
mortgage,  deed of trust,  loan  agreement or other  agreement or  instrument to
which the Company,  its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's  knowledge
after due  inquiry,  the New  Acquisition  Entities,  is a party or by which the
Company,  its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's  knowledge after due
inquiry,  the New Acquisition  Entities is bound or to which any of the property
or assets of the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  or, to the best of the  Company's
knowledge after due inquiry,  the New Acquisition  Entities is subject, nor will
such  action  result in any  violation  of the  provisions  of the  Articles  of
Association  or bylaws or other  organizational  documents of the  Company,  its
subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's  knowledge after due inquiry,  the
New Acquisition  Entities,  or any statute or other applicable law or any order,
rule,  filing,  judgement,  injunction,  decree  or  regulation  of any court or
governmental agency or body ("Governmental Agency") having jurisdiction over the
Company,  its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's  knowledge after due
inquiry,  the New Acquisition  Entities or any of their properties except,  with
respect in any such case to the  subsidiaries  and, to the best of the Company's
knowledge after due inquiry, the New Acquisition  Entities, as would not, singly
or in the  aggregate,  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company,  its
subsidiaries  and the New  Acquisition  Entities  taken as a whole;  and no such
governmental   authorization,   consent,   approval  or  filing   ("Governmental
Authorization")  of or with any such  Governmental  Agency is  required  for the
issue  and  sale  of  the  Notes  or the  consummation  by  the  Company  of the
transactions  contemplated by the Transaction Documents except for the filing of
the  Registration  Statements with the Commission  pursuant to the  Registration
Rights Agreement and such  Governmental  Authorizations as may be required under
state  securities  or  Blue  Sky  laws  in  connection  with  the  purchase  and
distribution of the Notes by the Purchasers;

     (o) None of the Company,  its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge after due inquiry,  the New Acquisition  Entities,  is in violation of
its Articles of Association or other constituent  documents or in default in the
performance or observance of any  obligation,  agreement,  covenant or condition
contained in any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, loan agreement,  lease or
other  agreement or  instrument  to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its properties may be bound, except for such defaults as would not, singly or in
the aggregate,  have a material adverse effect on the Company,  its subsidiaries
and the New Acquisition Entities taken as a whole;

     (p) Other than as disclosed in the  Offering  Circular,  to the best of the
Company's  knowledge  after due inquiry,  the acquisition of the New Acquisition
Entities by the Company,  its  subsidiaries or affiliates will not conflict with
or result  in a breach or  violation  of any of the terms or  provisions  of, or
constitute a default under,  any agreement or instrument to which any of the New
Acquisition  Entities is a party,  except for such  defaults as would not have a
material adverse effect on the relevant New Acquisition Entity;

     (q) The  statements  set forth in the Offering  Circular  under the caption
"Description  of the Notes,"  insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of
the terms of the Notes, under the caption "Certain Taxation Considerations," and
under the caption  "Plan of  Distribution,"  insofar as they purport to describe
the  provisions  of the laws and  documents  referred to therein,  and under the
caption "Certain  Transactions and  Relationships--Relationship  with United and
Related Transactions," insofar as they purport to describe such relationship and
related   transactions,   and  under  the  caption  "Certain   Transactions  and
Relationships--Relationship with Microsoft," insofar as they purport to describe
such relationship, are accurate and complete in all material respects;

     (r) Except as otherwise  set forth in the Offering  Circular,  there are no
legal or  governmental  proceedings  pending to which the  Company or any of its
subsidiaries,  or, to the best of the Company's knowledge after due inquiry, the
New  Acquisition  Entities,  is a party or of which any property of the Company,
its  subsidiaries  or the New  Acquisition  Entities  is the subject  which,  if
determined  adversely to the Company,  its  subsidiaries  or the New Acquisition
Entities,  would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect
on the current or future consolidated  financial position,  shareholders' equity
or  results  of  operations  of  the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and  the  New
Acquisition  Entities  taken  as a  whole;  and,  to the  best of the  Company's
knowledge,  no such  proceedings  are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others;

     (s) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Circular, all interest on
the Notes may under the current laws and  regulations of The Netherlands be paid
in euros or U.S. dollars that may be converted into foreign currency that may be
freely  transferred  out of The  Netherlands,  and all such  interest  and other
distributions  on the Notes will not be subject to  withholding  or other  taxes
under the laws and  regulations  of The  Netherlands  and are otherwise free and
clear of any other tax,  withholding or deduction in The Netherlands and without
the necessity of obtaining any Governmental Authorization in The Netherlands;

     (t) The Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act and
has filed all required reports with the Commission (the "Exchange Act Reports");
and  when  the  Exchange  Act  Reports  were  filed  with  or  furnished  to the
Commission,   they  conformed  in  all  material   respects  to  the  applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder;

     (u) None of the Company,  any affiliate of the Company or any person acting
on its or their  behalf has  offered  or sold the Notes by means of any  general
solicitation or general  advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the
Securities  Act or,  with  respect to Notes sold  outside  the United  States to
non-U.S.  persons (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act), by means of
any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902 under the Securities
Act and the Company,  any  affiliate of the Company and any person acting on its
or their behalf has complied with and will implement the "offering restrictions"
within the meaning of such Rule 902;

     (v) Within the  preceding  six  months,  neither  the Company nor any other
person  acting on behalf of the  Company  has  offered or sold to any person any
Senior  Notes or  Senior  Discount  Notes,  or any  securities  of the same or a
similar class as the Senior Notes or Senior  Discount  Notes,  other than Senior
Notes or Senior Discount Notes offered or sold to the Purchasers hereunder.  The
Company will take  reasonable  precautions  designed to ensure that any offer or
sale, direct or indirect, in the United States or to any U.S. person (as defined
in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) of any Senior Notes, Senior Discount Notes
or any substantially  similar security issued by the Company,  within six months
subsequent to the date on which the  distribution of the Senior Notes and Senior
Discount   Notes  has  been  completed  (as  notified  to  the  Company  by  the
Representatives),  is made under restrictions and other circumstances reasonably
designed  not to affect the status of the offer and sale of the Senior Notes and
Senior Discount Notes in the United States and to U.S.  persons  contemplated by
this Agreement as transactions  exempt from the  registration  provisions of the
Securities Act;

     (w) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Notes, will not be, an "investment  company", as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act");

     (x) Each of the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company's
knowledge  after  due  inquiry,  the New  Acquisition  Entities,  has  filed all
material  tax returns  required to be filed,  which  returns  are  complete  and
correct in all material respects,  and none of the Company, its subsidiaries or,
to the best of the Company's  knowledge  after due inquiry,  the New Acquisition
Entities,  is in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant
to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto;

     (y) Except as otherwise  set forth in the Offering  Circular,  the Company,
its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company's  knowledge after due inquiry,
the  New  Acquisition  Entities,   have  all  licences,   franchises,   permits,
authorizations,  approvals  and  orders  and other  concessions  of and from all
Governmental  Agencies that are necessary to own or lease their  properties  and
conduct their current  businesses  as described in the Offering  Circular,  with
such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a material
adverse  effect  on the  current  or  future  consolidated  financial  position,
shareholders'  equity or results of operations of the Company,  its subsidiaries
and the New Acquisition Entities taken as a whole;

     (z) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken,  directly or
indirectly,  any action which was designed to or which has  constituted or which
might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate  the sale or resale of
the Notes;

     (aa) The  Company  is not a Passive  Foreign  Investment  Company  ("PFIC")
within the meaning of Section 1296 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and is not likely to become a PFIC;

     (bb) When the  Senior  Notes and  Senior  Discount  Notes  are  issued  and
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Senior Notes and Senior Discount Notes
will not be of the same  class  (within  the  meaning  of Rule  144A  under  the
Securities Act) as securities which are listed on a national securities exchange
registered  under  Section 6 of the Exchange  Act or quoted in a U.S.  automated
inter-dealer quotation system;

     (cc) No stamp or other  issuance or transfer taxes or duties and no capital
gains,  income,  withholding  or other  taxes are payable by or on behalf of the
Purchasers to The Netherlands or any political  subdivision or taxing  authority
thereof or therein in connection with (A) the issuance, sale and delivery by the
Company to or for the respective  accounts of the Purchasers of the Notes or (B)
the sale and delivery  outside The Netherlands by the Purchasers of the Notes to
the initial purchasers thereof;

     (dd) None of the Company, its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge after due inquiry, the New Acquisition Entities does business with the
government  of Cuba or with any person or  affiliate  located in Cuba within the
meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes;

     (ee) Arthur Andersen,  who have certified certain  financial  statements of
the Company,  its  subsidiaries  and the New  Acquisition  Entities,  and Arthur
Andersen, s.r.o., Pricewaterhouse Coopers N.V., Pricewaterhousecoopers (France),
Pricewaterhousecoopers (Malta), Pricewaterhousecoopers (Sweden), KPMG Polska Sp.
zo.o, KPMG Accountants  N.V., KPMG  Somekhchaikis,  KPMG Slovensko,  s.r.o.,  VB
Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young S.A, Ernst & Young (Netherlands), Ernst & Young
(Denmark),  Ernst & Young  AB,  Ernst &  Young,  Vachon  et  Associes,  who have
certified certain financial statements of the Company's subsidiaries and the New
Acquisition Entities,  are, insofar as the Company, its subsidiaries and the New
Acquisition  Entities are  concerned,  each  independent  public  accountants as
required by the Securities  Act and the rules and  regulations of the Commission
thereunder;

     (ff) The financial statements included in the Preliminary Offering Circular
and the Offering  Circular (and any amendment or  supplement  thereto),  present
and, as  applicable,  will present fairly the  respective  financial  positions,
results of operations and changes in financial  positions of (i) the Company and
(ii) each  subsidiary and New Acquisition  Entity,  in each case, for which such
financial  statements  are so  included on the basis  stated in the  Preliminary
Offering  Circular and the Offering  Circular at the respective dates or for the
respective  periods to which they apply;  such financial  statements and related
schedules  and notes have been prepared in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting   principles  with  appropriate   reconciliations  to  United  States
generally accepted accounting  principles,  consistently  applied throughout the
periods  involved,   except  as  disclosed  therein;  the  other  financial  and
statistical  information and data included in the Preliminary  Offering Circular
and the  Offering  Circular  (and  any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto)  are
accurately  presented  and, as applicable,  will be accurately  presented in all
material  respects  and  prepared  on a basis  consistent  with  such  financial
statements and the books and records of the Company,  its  subsidiaries  and the
New  Acquisition  Entities;  and  the pro  forma  financial  statements  and "as
adjusted"  financial  information  and the  related  notes  thereto  included or
incorporated  by reference  in the  Preliminary  Offering  Circular and Offering
Circular have been or, as  applicable,  will be prepared in accordance  with the
applicable  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  (as  though  the  Preliminary
Offering  Circular and the  Offering  Circular  were a prospectus  included in a
registration  statement  filed pursuant to the Securities  Act) and on the bases
described  therein and, in the opinion of the Company,  the assumptions  used in
the  preparation  thereof are  reasonable and the  adjustments  used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the  transactions  and  circumstances  referred to
therein.

     (gg) The Company is reviewing its operations and those of its subsidiaries,
and the New  Acquisition  Entities and any third parties with which the Company,
its subsidiaries or the New Acquisition Entities has a material  relationship to
evaluate the extent to which the  business or  operations  of the  Company,  its
subsidiaries or the New  Acquisition  Entities will be affected by the Year 2000
Problem.  As a result of such ongoing review to date, the Company  currently has
no reason to believe,  and does not currently believe that the Year 2000 Problem
will have a material  adverse  effect on the general  affairs,  management,  the
current  or  future  consolidated   financial   position,   business  prospects,
shareholders'  equity or results of operations of the Company,  its subsidiaries
and,  to the  best  of the  Company's  knowledge  after  due  inquiry,  the  New
Acquisition  Entities  taken as a  whole,  or  result  in any  material  loss or
interference with the Company's business or operations.  The "Year 2000 Problem"
as used herein means any  significant  risk that  computer  hardware or software
used in the receipt, transmission, processing, manipulation, storage, retrieval,
retransmission or other utilization of data or in the operation of mechanical or
electrical  systems of any kind 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;

     (hh) The  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and,  to the  best of the  Company's
knowledge after due inquiry, the New Acquisition  Entities,  own, possess,  have
rights to or can  acquire  adequate  patents,  licenses,  know-how,  trademarks,
copyrights,  trade secrets,  mask works, service marks and trade names necessary
to operate the  businesses  now operated by them,  and none of the Company,  its
subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's  knowledge after due inquiry,  the
New Acquisition Entities, has received any notice of infringement of or conflict
with asserted  rights or others with respect to any of the  foregoing  which the
Company reasonably believes,  singly or in the aggregate, is likely to result in
any material adverse change in the condition  (financial or otherwise) or in the
earnings,  business or operations of the Company,  its  subsidiaries and the New
Acquisition Entities taken as a whole;

     (ii) The  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and,  to the  best of the  Company's
knowledge after due inquiry,  the New Acquisition Entities (A) are in compliance
with any and all applicable 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"), (B) have received all
permits,  licenses  or other  approvals  required  of them under the  applicable
Environmental  Laws  to  conduct  their  respective  businesses  and  (C) are in
compliance  with all  terms  and  conditions  of any  such  permit,  licence  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,  its
subsidiaries and the New Acquisition Entities taken as a whole;

     (jj) There are no  contracts,  agreements  or  understandings  between  the
Company and any person  granting such person the right to require the Company to
file,  other  than in  connection  with (i) the DIC Option  Agreement,  (ii) the
Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated February 10, 1999 between the Company and
United  International  Holdings,  Inc.,  (iii) the agreement to grant  Microsoft
Corporation  certain  registration  rights as described in the Offering Circular
under the caption "Relationship with Microsoft" and (iv) the Registration Rights
Agreement, a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any
securities of the Company; and

     (kk) No "nationally  recognized  statistical  rating  organization" as such
term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)  under the Securities Act (i) has
imposed  (or has  informed  the Company  that it is  considering  imposing)  any
condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  on retaining  any rating  assigned to the
Company or any  securities of the Company,  or (ii) has indicated to the Company
that it is considering (1) the downgrading, suspension, or withdrawal of, or any
review  for a  possible  change  that does not  indicate  the  direction  of the
possible  change in, any rating so assigned or (2) any change in the outlook for
any rating of the Company or any securities of the Company.

     2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Purchasers,  and each of the Purchasers agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price for
dollar  denominated  Senior  Notes (the "Senior  Dollar  Notes") of 98.0% of the
principal amount thereof,  at a purchase price for euro denominated Senior Notes
(the  "Senior  Euro Notes") of 98.0% of the  principal  amount  thereof and at a
purchase price for Senior Discount Notes of 53.43058% of the principal amount at
maturity thereof,  plus, in each case,  accrued interest,  if any, from July 30,
1999 to the Time of Delivery  hereunder,  the principal  amount of Senior Dollar
Notes and Senior Euro Notes and the  principal  amount at maturity of the Senior
Discount  Notes set forth  opposite  the name of such  Purchaser  in  Schedule I
hereto.

     3. Upon the  authorization  by you of the release of the Notes, the several
Purchasers propose to offer the Notes for sale upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this  Agreement  and the Offering  Circular and each  Purchaser  hereby
represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Company that:

     (a) It will offer and sell the Notes only: (i) to persons who it reasonably
believes are "qualified  institutional  buyers"  ("QIBs")  within the meaning of
Rule 144A under the Securities Act in transactions  meeting the  requirements of
Rule 144A,  and (ii) upon the terms and  conditions set forth in Annex I to this
Agreement;

     (b)      It is an institutional accredited investor; and

     (c) It will not offer or sell the Notes by any form of general solicitation
or general  advertising,  including but not limited to the methods  described in
Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

     4. Senior  Dollar Notes and Senior  Discount  Notes to be purchased by each
Purchaser  hereunder will be evidenced by one or more global notes in book-entry
form which will be  deposited  by or on behalf of the  Company  with a custodian
for, and  registered in the name of, a nominee of The  Depository  Trust Company
("DTC").  Senior Euro Notes to be purchased by each Purchaser  hereunder will be
evidenced by one or more global notes in book-entry form which will be deposited
with a common  depositary  for,  and  registered  in the name of, a  nominee  of
Euroclear and Cedelbank. The Company will (i) deliver the Senior Dollar Notes to
Goldman Sachs International,  for the account of each Purchaser, against payment
by or on behalf of such Purchaser of the purchase price therefor by certified or
official  bank check or checks  payable to the order of, or by wire transfer to,
the  Company in Federal  (same day)  funds,  by causing DTC to credit the Senior
Dollar  Notes to the account of Goldman  Sachs  International  at DTC,  and (ii)
deliver the Senior Euro Notes and the Senior Discount Notes to Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette International,  for the account of each Purchaser, against payment by
or on behalf of such  Purchaser of the purchase  price  therefor by certified or
official  bank check or checks  payable to the order of, or by wire transfer to,
the Company in Federal (same day) funds, by causing DTC, Euroclear or Cedelbank,
as the case may be, to credit  the Senior  Euro  Notes and the  Senior  Discount
Notes to the  account of  Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette  International,  at DTC,
Euroclear  or  Cedelbank,  as the  case  may be.  The  Company  will  cause  the
certificates representing the Notes to be made available to the Representatives,
for  checking  at least  twenty-four  hours  prior to the Time of  Delivery  (as
defined  below) at the office of DTC or its designated  custodian,  Euroclear or
Cedelbank,  as the case may be (the "Designated  Office").  The time and date of
such  delivery  and payment in  connection  with the Senior Euro Notes,  and the
Senior  Dollar Notes and the Senior  Discount  Notes shall be 9:00 a.m. and 2:00
p.m.(London time), respectively, on July 30, 1999 or such other time and date as
the  Representatives,  and the Company may agree upon in writing.  Such time and
date are herein called the "Time of Delivery."

     (a) The  documents  to be delivered at the Time of Delivery by or on behalf
of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the cross-receipts
for the Notes and any additional  documents requested by the Purchasers pursuant
to Section 7 hereof,  will be  delivered at such time and date at the offices of
Skadden,  Arps,  Slate,  Meagher & Flom LLP, One Canada  Square,  Canary  Wharf,
London E14 5DS (the "Closing Location"),  and the Notes will be delivered at the
Designated  Office,  all at the Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the
Closing  Location  at 4 p.m.,  London  time,  on the  London  Business  Day next
preceding  the Time of  Delivery,  at which  meeting  the  final  drafts  of the
documents to be delivered  pursuant to the preceding  sentence will be available
for review by the parties  hereto.  For the  purposes of this Section 4, "London
Business Day" shall mean each Monday,  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday and Friday
which  is not a day  on  which  banking  institutions  in  London,  England  are
generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

     5. The Company agrees with each of the Purchasers:

     (a) To prepare the Offering  Circular in a form approved by you; to make no
amendment or any supplement to the Offering  Circular which shall be disapproved
by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof;  and to furnish you with copies
thereof;

     (b)  Promptly  from time to time to take such action as you may  reasonably
request to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under the securities  laws of
such  jurisdictions  as you may  request  and to comply  with such laws so as to
permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such  jurisdictions  for
as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Notes,  provided
that in  connection  therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
foreign  corporation  or to file a general  consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction;

     (c) To furnish the Purchasers  with 10 copies of the Offering  Circular and
each  amendment or supplement  thereto  signed by an  authorized  officer of the
Company with the independent  accountants'  report(s) in the Offering  Circular,
and  any  amendment  or  supplement   containing  amendments  to  the  financial
statements  covered by such report(s),  signed by the accountants and additional
copies  thereof,  in such  quantities  as you may from  time to time  reasonably
request,  and if, at any time prior to the  expiration  of nine months after the
date of the  Offering  Circular,  any event  shall have  occurred as a result of
which the Offering  Circular as then amended or  supplemented  would  include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made when such Offering  Circular is delivered,  not misleading,
or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or
supplement the Offering Circular, to notify you and upon your request to prepare
and furnish  without charge to each Purchaser and to any dealer in securities as
many  copies  as you may from  time to time  reasonably  request  of an  amended
Offering  Circular or a supplement to the Offering  Circular  which will correct
such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

     (d) During the period  beginning from the date hereof and continuing  until
the date 90 days after the Time of  Delivery,  not to offer,  sell,  contract to
sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder any securities of the
Company  that are  substantially  similar  to the  Senior  Notes  or the  Senior
Discount Notes;

     (e) Not to be or become, at any time prior to the expiration of three years
after the Time of Delivery,  an open-end  investment  company,  unit  investment
trust,  closed-end investment company or face-amount certificate company that is
or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act;

     (f) At any time when the  Company is not  subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act or exempt from registration under Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act,  for the benefit of holders  from time to time of Notes,  to furnish at its
expense,  upon  request,  to  holders  of Notes and  prospective  purchasers  of
securities  information (the  "Additional  Issuer  Information")  satisfying the
requirements of subsection (d)(4)(i) of Rule 144A under the Securities Act;

     (g) If  requested  by you, to use its best efforts to cause the Notes to be
eligible for the PORTAL trading system of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.;

     (h) To furnish to the holders of the Notes as soon as practicable after the
end of each fiscal year an annual report (in English) (including a balance sheet
and statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and
its consolidated  subsidiaries  certified by independent  public accountants and
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.
("U.S.  GAAP")) and, as soon as  practicable  after the end of each of the first
three  quarters of each fiscal year  (beginning  with the fiscal  quarter ending
after the date of the Offering Circular),  to make available to holders of Notes
consolidated  summary financial  information of the Company and its subsidiaries
for such quarter in reasonable detail;

     (i) During a period of five years from the date of the  Offering  Circular,
to furnish to you copies of all reports or other  communications  (financial  or
other)  furnished to shareholders  of the Company,  and to deliver to you (i) as
soon as they are  available,  copies of any  reports  and  financial  statements
furnished to or filed with the  Commission or any  securities  exchange on which
the Notes,  or any class of securities  of the Company is listed;  and (ii) such
additional  information  concerning the business and financial  condition of the
Company  as you may  from  time  to  time  reasonably  request  (such  financial
statements  to be on a  consolidated  basis to the  extent the  accounts  of the
Company  and its  subsidiaries  are  consolidated  in reports  furnished  to its
shareholders generally or to the Commission);

     (j) Pursuant to the Registration  Rights Agreement,  the Company shall file
and use its best efforts to cause to be declared or become  effective  under the
Securities  Act,  a  registration  statement  on  form  S-4  providing  for  the
registration  of the  Exchange  Notes  and the  exchange  of the  Notes  for the
Exchange Notes,  all in a manner which will permit persons who acquire  Exchange
Notes to resell the Exchange  Notes  pursuant to Section 4(1) of the  Securities
Act.

     (k) Not to (and to  cause  its  subsidiaries  not  to)  take,  directly  or
indirectly,  any action which is designed to or which constitutes or which might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in  stabilization  or  manipulation of
the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Notes.

     (l) The Company  confirms that it has caused to be made an application  for
the Notes to be listed on the  Luxembourg  Stock Exchange (the  "Exchange").  In
connection  with such  application,  the Company  agrees to furnish from time to
time  any and all  documents,  instruments,  information  and  undertakings  and
publish all  advertisements  or other material that may be necessary in order to
effect and maintain  such  listing and to use its best efforts to maintain  such
listing  so  long  as  any of the  Notes  are  outstanding  (as  defined  in the
Indentures);  provided that if at any time the Company shall  determine  that it
can no longer  reasonably  comply with the requirements for listing of the Notes
on the Exchange and if maintenance of such listing becomes onerous,  it will use
its best efforts to obtain and thereafter to maintain a listing of Notes on such
other major stock exchange in a leading financial center as the  Representatives
may reasonably request and as the Trustee may approve; and

     (m) To use the net  proceeds  received  by it from  the  sale of the  Notes
pursuant to this  Agreement in the manner  specified  in the  Offering  Circular
under the caption "Use of Proceeds."

     6. The Company  covenants and agrees with the several  Purchasers  that the
Company will pay or cause to be paid the following:  (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's  counsel and  accountants  in connection  with the
issue of the Notes and all other  expenses in connection  with the  preparation,
printing  and  filing of the  Preliminary  Offering  Circular  and the  Offering
Circular  and  any  amendments  and  supplements  thereto  and the  mailing  and
delivering of copies  thereof to the  Purchasers  and dealers;  (ii) the cost of
printing or producing  any  Agreement  among  Purchasers,  this  Agreement,  the
Indentures,  the Blue Sky and  legal  investment  memoranda,  closing  documents
(including any compilations  thereof) and any other documents in connection with
the offering,  purchase,  sale and delivery of the Notes;  (iii) all expenses in
connection with the qualification of the Notes for offering and sale under state
securities  laws as  provided in Section  5(b)  hereof,  including  the fees and
disbursements   of  counsel  for  the   Purchasers  in   connection   with  such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment  surveys;
(iv) any fees charged by securities  rating  services for rating the Notes;  (v)
the cost of preparing  the Notes;  (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and
any agent of the  Trustee  and the fees and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the
Trustee in connection with the Indentures and the Notes; (vii) any cost incurred
in connection  with the  designation of the Notes for trading in PORTAL;  (viii)
all fees and expenses in  connection  with  listing the Notes on the  Luxembourg
Stock Exchange; (ix) the reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses (other than fees and
disbursements  of counsel  to the  Purchasers)  incurred  by the  Purchasers  in
connection with the transactions  contemplated herein; (x) all stamp,  transfer,
capital  issuance or similar  expenses and taxes arising as a result of the sale
and delivery of the Notes by the Company to or for the account of the Purchasers
pursuant  to this  Agreement,  and the sale  and  delivery  of the  Notes by the
Purchasers to the initial  purchasers  thereof in the manner  contemplated under
this Agreement,  and any Dutch income, capital gains,  transfer,  withholding or
other tax asserted against a Purchaser solely by reason of the purchase and sale
of any Notes pursuant to this  Agreement;  and (xi) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise
specifically  provided for in this Section,  including all  reasonable  roadshow
costs. It is understood,  however, that, except as provided in this Section, and
Sections 8 and 11  hereof,  the  Purchasers  will pay all of their own costs and
expenses.

     7. The obligations of the Purchasers  hereunder shall be subject,  in their
discretion,  to the condition that all  representations and warranties and other
statements  of the Company  herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery,  true
and correct,  the  condition  that the Company  shall have  performed all of its
obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed,  and the following additional
conditions:

     (a) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, United States counsel for the
Purchasers, shall have furnished to you such opinion or opinions, dated the Time
of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

     (b) Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, United States counsel for the Company,  shall
have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery, in form
and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

          (i) Insofar as New York law is concerned,  the Purchase  Agreement has
     been duly executed and delivered by the Company;

          (ii)Under  the  laws of the  State of New York  relating  to  personal
     jurisdiction,  the  Company  has,  pursuant  to Section 14 of the  Purchase
     Agreement,  validly and irrevocably  submitted to the personal jurisdiction
     of any state or federal  court of  competent  subject  matter  jurisdiction
     located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York (each a
     "New York Court") in any action  arising out of or relating to the Purchase
     Agreement  or  the  transactions  contemplated  thereby,  has  validly  and
     irrevocably  waived any  objection to the venue of a proceeding in any such
     court,  and has validly and irrevocably  appointed the Authorized Agent (as
     defined in the Purchase  Agreement) as its authorized agent for the purpose
     described in Section 14 of the Purchase  Agreement,  and service of process
     effected  on such  agent  in the  manner  set  forth in  Section  14 of the
     Purchase Agreement will be effective to confer valid personal  jurisdiction
     over the Company;

          (iii) The Senior  Notes and the Senior  Discount  Notes have been duly
     authorized,  executed,  issued and  delivered by the Company under New York
     law and,  assuming due  authentication in accordance with the provisions of
     the  Indentures  and due payment by the  Purchasers in accordance  with the
     terms of the Purchase  Agreement,  the Senior Notes and the Senior Discount
     Notes,  will  constitute  valid  and  legally  binding  obligations  of the
     Company,  entitled  to the  benefits  provided by the  Indentures;  and the
     Notes,  the Exchange Notes and the Indentures  conform to the  descriptions
     thereof in the Offering Circular in all material respects;

          (iv)Each of the Indentures and the  Registration  Rights Agreement has
     been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by the Company under New York
     law and assuming the due  execution  and delivery of the  Indentures by the
     Trustee,   each  constitutes  a  valid  and  legally  binding   instrument,
     enforceable in accordance with its terms,  subject,  as to enforcement,  to
     bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization   and  other   laws  of  general
     applicability  relating to or  affecting  creditors'  rights and to general
     equity principles;

          (v) The issue and sale of the Notes and the  compliance by the Company
     with all of the provisions of the Notes,  the Indentures,  the Registration
     Rights  Agreement and the Purchase  Agreement and the  consummation  of the
     transactions  therein  contemplated  will not conflict  with or result in a
     breach or violation of any U.S. or New York law (it being  understood  that
     we give no opinion as to blue sky, state securities or, except with respect
     to the matters covered in paragraph (xiii) below, federal securities laws);

          (vi)To  the best of such  counsel's  knowledge  and other  than as set
     forth  in  the  Offering  Circular,  there  are  no  legal,  regulatory  or
     governmental  proceedings  pending to which the Company or its subsidiaries
     is a party or of which any property of the Company or its  subsidiaries  is
     the subject, and with respect to which there is a reasonable expectation of
     an adverse determination that would individually or in the aggregate have a
     material  adverse  effect on the current or future  consolidated  financial
     position,  shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
     its  subsidiaries;  and, to the best of such counsel's  knowledge,  no such
     proceedings are threatened by any Governmental Agency, domestic or foreign,
     or threatened by others;

          (vii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in
     the  performance or observance of any  obligation,  agreement,  covenant or
     condition  contained  in any  indenture,  mortgage,  deed  of  trust,  loan
     agreement,  lease or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to
     which the  Company or such  subsidiary  is a party or by which it or any of
     its properties may be bound,  except for such defaults as would not, singly
     or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be expected  to have a material  adverse
     effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (viii)  The  issue and sale of the  Notes  and the  compliance  by the
     Company with all provisions of the Purchase  Agreement and the consummation
     of the transactions  therein  contemplated will not conflict with or result
     in a  breach  or  violation  of any of  the  terms  or  provisions  of,  or
     constitute  a default  under or  require  consent  under,  or result in the
     imposition  of a lien or  encumbrance  on any assets or  properties  of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  or an acceleration of the indebtedness
     pursuant to any indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement,  lease
     or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries  is bound or to which  any of the  property  or  assets of the
     Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is subject,  except for such breaches,
     violations or defaults as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably
     be  expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company  and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor will such action result in any violation
     of any statue, rule or regulation or, to the knowledge of such counsel, any
     order, of any United States Federal or New York Governmental  Agency having
     jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or properties;

          (ix) No Governmental  Authorization  of the United States or the State
     of New  York is  required  for the  issue  and  sale  of the  Notes  or the
     consummation  by  the  Company  of  the  transactions  contemplated  by the
     Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement or the Indentures, except
     the filing of the Registration  Statements with the Commission  pursuant to
     the  Registration   Rights   Agreement,   and  such  consents,   approvals,
     authorizations,  registrations or  qualifications  as may be required under
     state  securities  or Blue Sky laws in  connection  with the  purchase  and
     distribution of the Notes by the Purchasers;

          (x) The  statements  set  forth in the  Offering  Circular  under  the
     caption "Description of the Notes," insofar as they purport to constitute a
     summary  of  the  terms  of  the  Notes,   and  under  the  captions  "Risk
     Factors-Original    Issue   Discount   Consequences"   and   "Certain   Tax
     Consequences-Certain   United  States  Federal  Income  Tax  Consequences,"
     insofar  as they  purport  to  describe  the  provisions  of the  laws  and
     documents referred to therein,  are accurate and fairly summarize such laws
     and documents in all material respects;

          (xi)Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is now, nor, after
     the sale of Notes to be sold by it thereunder  and the  application  of the
     proceeds  from such sales as described in the Offering  Circular  under the
     caption "Use of Proceeds," will be (a) an "investment company" or a company
     "controlled"  by  an  "investment   company"  within  the  meaning  of  the
     Investment  Company  Act,  or  (b) a  "holding  company"  or a  "subsidiary
     company" or an "affiliate"  of a holding  company within the meaning of the
     Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended;

          (xii) When the Notes are issued and delivered pursuant to the Purchase
     Agreement, none of the Senior Notes or Senior Discount Notes will be of the
     same class  (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the  Securities  Act) as
     securities of the Company that are listed on a national securities exchange
     registered  under  Section 6 of the  Exchange  Act or that are  quoted in a
     United States automated inter-dealer quotation system; and

          (xiii) No  registration  of the Notes under the Securities Act, and no
     qualification  of an indenture  under the United States Trust Indenture Act
     of 1939 with respect thereto,  is required for the offer,  sale and initial
     resale of the Notes by the  Purchasers  in the manner  contemplated  by the
     Offering Circular and by the Purchase Agreement.

     Although such counsel has not undertaken,  except as otherwise indicated in
such counsel's opinion,  to determine  independently,  and such counsel does not
assume any responsibility for, the accuracy or completeness of the statements in
the Offering  Circular,  such counsel has participated in the preparation of the
Offering Circular,  including review and discussion of the contents thereof with
certain officers and  representatives of the Company and  representatives of the
independent  public  accountants  for the Company,  and nothing has come to such
counsel's  attention  that has caused such  counsel to believe that the Offering
Circular as of the date thereof  contained  or at the Closing  Date  contains an
untrue  statement of a material fact or as of the date thereof omitted or at the
Closing  Date omits to state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements  therein not  misleading  (it being  understood
that such  counsel  need not express an opinion  with  respect to the  financial
statements and the related notes and schedules  thereto and other financial data
included in the Offering Circular);

     (c) Loeff Claeys Verbeke,  Netherlands counsel for the Company,  shall have
furnished to you their written opinion,  dated the Time of Delivery, in form and
substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

          (i) The Company has been duly  incorporated and is validly existing as
     a public limited liability company under the laws of The Netherlands,  with
     power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
     its business as described in the Offering Circular;

          (ii)The Company has an authorized share capitalization as set forth in
     the Offering Circular, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
     Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid
     and non-assessable;

          (iii)  The  issue  and  sale  of the  Notes  by the  Company  and  the
     compliance  by the  Company  with  all of the  provisions  of the  Purchase
     Agreement  and the  Registration  Rights  Agreement  and  the  transactions
     contemplated  therein  will not  conflict  with or  result  in a breach  or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of the Articles of  Association
     of the Company or the  provisions of any published  law, rule or regulation
     in The Netherlands;

          (iv)No  Governmental  Authorization of or with any Governmental Agency
     is required in The  Netherlands  for the issue and sale of the Notes by the
     Company,   or  the   consummation  by  the  Company  of  the   transactions
     contemplated  by  the  Purchase  Agreement  and  the  Registration   Rights
     Agreement;

          (v) The Notes have been duly  authorized  and  executed by the Company
     under the laws of The Netherlands and, assuming authentication and payment,
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company;

          (vi)Each of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration
     Rights Agreement has been duly authorized and executed by the Company under
     the laws of The  Netherlands  and  constitutes a valid and legally  binding
     instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

          (vii) The choice in Section 14 of the  Purchase  Agreement of the laws
     of the State of New York as the law  governing  the  Purchase  Agreement is
     valid and binding on the Company under the laws of The Netherlands,  except
     (i) to the extent that any term of the Purchase  Agreement or any provision
     of  New  York  law  applicable  to the  Purchase  Agreement  is  manifestly
     incompatible  with  the  public  policy  of  The  Netherlands,  and  (ii) a
     Netherlands court may give effect to mandatory rules of the laws of another
     jurisdiction (including The Netherlands) with which the matter under review
     has a close  connection,  if and insofar  as,  under the laws of such other
     jurisdiction those rules must be applied, irrespective of the governing law
     chosen  by the  parties;  the  Company  can sue and be sued in its own name
     under the laws of The Netherlands; the consent to the jurisdiction of a New
     York Court as provided in the  Purchase  Agreement  is valid and binding on
     the Company under the laws of The Netherlands,  provided, that such consent
     will not be given  effect  with  respect to (a) a claim the amount of which
     does not  exceed  NLG  5,000,  (b)  certain  specified  labor  and  tenancy
     law-related  disputes and (c) claims for  provisional  measures  before the
     president of a competent court in The Netherlands, a judgment rendered by a
     New York Court will not be  enforced by the court in The  Netherlands,  and
     the claim must be  relitigated  before a  competent  Netherlands  court;  a
     judgment  rendered by a New York Court  pursuant to the Purchase  Agreement
     will, under current practice,  be recognized by a Netherlands court if such
     judgment (i) results from proceedings compatible with Dutch concepts of due
     process and (ii) does not  contravene  public policy (ordre  public) of The
     Netherlands;  if such  judgment  by a New  York  Court is  recognized  by a
     Netherlands  court,  such  Netherlands  court will generally grant the same
     judgment  without  relitigation  on the  merits;  and  service  of  process
     effected  in the manner set forth in Section 14 of the  Purchase  Agreement
     will be effective,  insofar as the laws of The Netherlands are concerned to
     confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company;

          (viii) Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, no stamp or other
     issuance  or  transfer  taxes  or  duties  and no  capital  gains,  income,
     withholding or other taxes are payable by or on behalf of the Purchasers to
     The Netherlands or to any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof
     or  therein in  connection  with (A)  issuance,  sale and  delivery  by the
     Company of the Notes to or for the respective accounts of the Purchasers or
     (B) the sale and delivery  outside The Netherlands by the Purchasers of the
     Notes to the initial purchasers  thereof in the manner  contemplated by the
     Purchase Agreement;

          (ix)All  payments  to be made  under  the  Notes  may be made  free of
     withholding  or  deduction  of any  taxes of  whatsoever  nature,  imposed,
     levied,  withheld  or  assessed by The  Netherlands  or any  administrative
     subdivision or tax authority thereof or therein; and

          (x) The  indemnification  and  contribution  provisions  set  forth in
     Section 8 of the Purchase  Agreement do not contravene the public policy or
     laws of The Netherlands.

     (d) Anton M. Tuijten,  General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished
to you his written  opinion,  dated the Time of Delivery,  in form and substance
satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

          (i) The Company has been duly  incorporated and is validly existing as
     a public limited liability company under the laws of The Netherlands,  with
     power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
     its business as described in the Offering Circular;

          (ii)the Company has an authorized  capitalization  as set forth in the
     Offering  Circular,  and all of the issued  shares of capital  stock of the
     Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid
     and non-assessable;

          (iii) the  Company  has been duly  qualified  for the  transaction  of
     business  outside The Netherlands and is in good standing under the laws of
     each other  jurisdiction in which it owns or leases  properties or conducts
     any  business  so as to  require  such  qualification,  or is subject to no
     material  liability  or  disability  by  reason  of  the  failure  to be so
     qualified in any such jurisdiction  (such counsel being entitled to rely in
     respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and in
     respect of matters of fact upon  certificates  of officers of the  Company,
     provided  that such counsel  shall state that he believes that both you and
     he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);

          (iv)Each  subsidiary of the Company has been duly  incorporated and is
     validly  existing as a corporation  in good standing  under the laws of its
     jurisdiction  of  incorporation;  and all of the  issued  shares of capital
     stock of each such  subsidiary  have been duly and validly  authorized  and
     issued,  are fully paid and  non-assessable,  and  (except  for  directors'
     qualifying  shares  and  except  as  otherwise  set  forth in the  Offering
     Circular) are owned  directly or indirectly by the Company,  free and clear
     of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (such counsel being entitled
     to rely in respect of the  opinion in this  clause  upon  opinions of local
     counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon  certificates of officers of
     the Company or its  subsidiaries,  provided  that such counsel  shall state
     that he believes  that both you and he are  justified  in relying upon such
     opinions and certificates);

          (v) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to
     all material  real  property  owned by them, in each case free and clear of
     all liens,  encumbrances  and defects  except such as are  described in the
     Offering  Circular  or such 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  do  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company  and  its
     subsidiaries  taken as a whole and do not  interfere  with the use made and
     proposed to be made of such  property and  buildings by the Company and its
     subsidiaries (in giving the opinion in this clause,  such counsel may state
     that no  examination  of record  titles for the purpose of such opinion has
     been made,  and that he is relying  upon a general  review of the titles of
     the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,  upon  opinions  of local  counsel and
     abstracts, reports and policies of title companies rendered or issued at or
     subsequent  to the time of  acquisition  of such property by the Company or
     its subsidiaries,  upon opinions of counsel to the lessors of such property
     and, in respect of matters of fact,  upon  certificates  of officers of the
     Company or its  subsidiaries,  provided  that such counsel shall state that
     they  believe  that both you and they are  justified  in relying  upon such
     opinions, abstracts, reports, policies and certificates);

          (vi)To  the best of such  counsel's  knowledge  and other  than as set
     forth  in the  Offering  Circular,  there  are  no  legal  or  governmental
     proceedings  pending to which the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a
     party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     the subject  which,  if  determined  adversely to the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries,  would  individually  or in the  aggregate  have  a  material
     adverse effect on the current or future  consolidated  financial  position,
     shareholders'  equity or  results  of  operations  of the  Company  and its
     subsidiaries;  and,  to the  best  of  such  counsel's  knowledge,  no such
     proceedings are threatened or  contemplated by governmental  authorities or
     threatened by others;

          (vii)  The  issue  and  sale  of the  Notes  by the  Company  and  the
     compliance  by the  Company  with  all of the  provisions  of the  Purchase
     Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the
     transactions  contemplated  therein will not  conflict  with or result in a
     breach or violation  of, or  constitute  a default  under,  any  indenture,
     mortgage,  deed of  trust,  loan  agreement,  lease or other  agreement  or
     instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
     which the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is  subject,  nor will such
     action result in any violation of any of the  provisions of the Articles of
     Association  of the Company or any  statute,  other  applicable  law or any
     order,  rule or regulation of any Governmental  Agency having  jurisdiction
     over the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  or any of their  properties
     except,  with respect in any such case to the  subsidiaries of the Company,
     as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
     the Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole;

          (viii)  No  Governmental  Authorization  of or with  any  Governmental
     Agency is required in The  Netherlands  for the issue and sale of the Notes
     by the  Company,  or the  consummation  by the Company of the  transactions
     contemplated by the Purchase Agreement;

          (ix)Other than as set forth in the Offering Circular,  the Company and
     each  of  its  subsidiaries   have  all  licenses,   franchises,   permits,
     authorizations,  approvals and orders and other concessions of and from all
     Governmental  Agencies  that  are  necessary  to own or lease  their  other
     properties  and  conduct  their  current  businesses  as  described  in the
     Offering  Circular,  with such exceptions as would not,  individually or in
     the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse  effect on the  current or future
     financial consolidated financial position,  shareholders' equity or results
     of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (x) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
     its Articles of Association or other constituent documents or in default in
     the  performance  or  observance  of any  material  obligation,  agreement,
     cove-nant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
     loan  agreement,  lease or other  agreement or  instrument to which it is a
     party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

          (xi)The  statements  set  forth in the  Offering  Circular  under  the
     caption "Certain Tax  Consequences-Certain  Netherlands Tax  Consequences,"
     insofar as it purports to describe the provisions of the laws and documents
     referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair;

          (xii) The Notes have been duly  authorized and executed by the Company
     under the laws of The Netherlands and, assuming authentication and payment,
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company;

          (xiii)  Each  of  the  Purchse  Agreement,   the  Indentures  and  the
     Registration  Rights  Agreement has been duly  authorized  and executed and
     delivered by the Company under the laws of The  Netherlands and constitutes
     a valid and legally binding instrument,  enforceable in accordance with its
     terms;

          (xiv) The Company is not in violation  of its articles of  association
     and,  further the Company is not in material  default in the performance of
     any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any permit or any bond,
     note,  debenture  or other  evidence  of  indebtedness,  except  where such
     violation  would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  condition
     (financial or other), business, properties, prospects, net worth or results
     of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (xv)The   Company  is  not  in  violation   of  any  law,   ordinance,
     administrative  or  governmental  rule  or  regulation  of The  Netherlands
     applicable  to the  Company  or of any  decree of any Dutch  court or Dutch
     governmental  agency,  in each case,  except where such violation would not
     have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  condition  (financial  or other)
     business, properties, net worth or results of operations of the Company and
     its subsidiaries  taken as a whole. There are no pending formal complaints,
     proceedings,   investigations,   protests,   petitions  or  other   written
     objections  against  the  Company at any Dutch  regulatory  agencies,  in a
     court, before any arbitrator or mediator,  or before any other governmental
     authority, except for matters which individu-ally or in the aggregate would
     not have a material  adverse effect on the condition  (financial or other),
     business, properties,  prospects, net worth or results of operations of the
     Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and

          (xvi) Although he does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
     completeness  or  fairness  of the  statements  contained  in the  Offering
     Circular, except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (xi) of
     this Section 7(d),  he has no reason to believe  that, as of its date,  the
     Offering Circular or any supplement thereto made by the Company (other than
     the financial  statements and related schedules  therein,  as to which such
     counsel  need  express  no  opinion)  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,
     as of its date, the Offering Circular or any supplement thereto made by the
     Company (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein,
     as to which such  counsel  need  express no  opinion)  contained  an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact  necessary
     to make the statements  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under
     which they were made, not misleading.

     In giving such  opinion,  such  counsel may state that with  respect to all
matters  of  United  States  federal  and New  York law he has  relied  upon the
opinions  of  United  States  counsel  for the  Company  delivered  pursuant  to
paragraph (b) of this Section 7.

     (e) O.T.  Zuidema,  General Counsel of United Telekabel Holding N.V., shall
have furnished to you his written opinion,  dated the Time of Delivery,  in form
and substance satisfactory to you;

     (f) With respect to the  jurisdictions  in which  certain of the  Company's
subsidiaries  and certain of the New  Acquisition  Entities  operate,  listed on
Schedule II hereto,  you shall have had furnished to you written  opinions dated
the Time of Delivery,  in the form previously  provided to you, from the special
foreign  counsel  listed on Schedule II, in form and substance  satisfactory  to
you, to the effect that:

          (i)  Each  of  [Foreign  Subsidiary]  [and  each of  [insert  material
     subsidiaries of Foreign Subsidiary]] (collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has
     been duly organized/incorporated and is validly existing as a [corporation]
     and   in   good   standing   under   the   laws   of    [jurisdiction    of
     organization/incorporation],  with the power and authority  (corporate  and
     other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
     as described in the Offering Circular;

          (ii)All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other
     equity interest of [Foreign  Subsidiary] [and its Subsidiaries],  have been
     duly  and   validly   authorized   and   issued  and  are  fully  paid  and
     non-assessable  and  (except  for  directors'   qualifying  shares  and  as
     otherwise set forth or incorporated by reference in the Offering  Circular)
     are owned of record by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear,
     to the best  knowledge of such counsel  after  reasonable  inquiry,  of any
     security interest, lien, encumbrance, equity or other claim.

          (iii) The  Company's  ownership  interest  with  respect  to  [Foreign
     Subsidiary][and  each of its  Subsidiaries] is as described in the Offering
     Circular;

          (iv)None of [Foreign  Subsidiary][or its Subsidiaries] is in violation
     of its respective  certificate or articles of incorporation  or bylaws,  or
     other organizational documents; to the best knowledge of such counsel after
     reasonable   inquiry,   none  of   [Foreign   Subsidiary][or   any  of  its
     Subsidiaries]  is in material default in the performance of any obligation,
     agreement or condition contained in any permit or any bond, debenture, note
     or other  evidence  of  indebtedness,  except  as may be  disclosed  in the
     Offering Circular;

          (v) Neither the offer,  sale or delivery of the Notes,  the execution,
     delivery  or  performance  of the  Purchase  Agreement,  compliance  by the
     Company with the provisions of the Purchase  Agreement and  consummation by
     the Company of the transactions  contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
     including  the  use  of  proceeds,  conflicts  or  will  conflict  with  or
     constitutes  or will  constitute  a breach  of,  or a  default  under,  the
     certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational
     documents,  of  [Foreign  Subsidiary][or  any of its  Subsidiaries]  or any
     license,   concession,   franchise,   other   governmental   authorization,
     agreement,   indenture,   lease  or  other  instrument  to  which  [Foreign
     Subsidiary][or  any of its Subsidiaries] is a party or by which any of them
     or any of  their  respective  properties  is  bound  that is  known to such
     counsel after reasonable inquiry, or, to the best knowledge of such counsel
     after reasonable inquiry,  will result in the creation or imposition of any
     material  lien,  charge  or  encumbrance  upon any  property  or  assets of
     [Foreign  Subsidiary][or  its Subsidiaries] nor will any such action result
     in any  violation  of  any  existing  law,  regulation,  ruling,  judgment,
     injunction, order or decree known to such counsel after reasonable inquiry,
     applicable to [Foreign  Subsidiary][or  any of its  Subsidiaries] or any of
     their respective  properties,  except where such violation would not have a
     material  adverse  effect on the current or future  consolidated  financial
     position,  shareholders'  equity  or  results  of  operations  of  [Foreign
     Subsidiary][and  its  Subsidiaries]  taken as a whole (a "Material  Adverse
     Effect");

          (vi)To  the best of our  knowledge  and other than as set forth in the
     Offering  Circular,  there  are no legal or  governmental  proceedings,  or
     legislation or regulations  pending to which [Foreign  Subsidiary][and  its
     Subsidiaries]   are  a  party  or  of  which  any   property   of  [Foreign
     Subsidiary][or any of its Subsidiaries] is the subject which, if determined
     adversely to [Foreign  Subsidiary][or  any of its Subsidiaries] or enacted,
     as the case may be, would  individually or in the aggregate have a Material
     Adverse Effect.

          (vii) [Foreign  Subsidiary][and  its Subsidiaries]  have all necessary
     licenses,  concessions,  franchises and other governmental  authorizations,
     certificates  and other  agreements with  governmental  entities,  and have
     filed all required notifications (collectively referred to as "Governmental
     Approvals")  necessary  for the  operation  of  their  currently  conducted
     businesses in [name of country] as described or  incorporated  by reference
     in  the  Offering  Circular.  All  Governmental  Approvals  granted  to the
     [Foreign Subsidiary][and its Subsidiaries] are validly held, remain in full
     force  and  effect,  and have not been  revoked,  suspended,  cancelled  or
     modified  in any adverse  way,  and are not  subject to any  conditions  or
     requirements  that  are not  generally  imposed  upon the  holders  of such
     Governmental  Approvals.  [Foreign  Subsidiary] [and its Subsidiaries] have
     taken all steps  necessary  to preserve  their  rights to seek  renewals of
     their Governmental Approvals.

          (viii) To the best knowledge of such counsel after reasonable enquiry,
     [Foreign  Subsidiary][and  its Subsidiaries] are not in violation of, or in
     default  under,  any  statute  of  [name  of  country]  or  any  applicable
     governmental  or  administrative  rule,  regulation  or  requirement,   any
     Governmental Approval, or any decree of any court or governmental agency or
     body having  jurisdiction over [Foreign  Subsidiary] [or its Subsidiaries],
     applicable  to  [Foreign  Subsidiary]  [and its  Subsidiaries],  except for
     matters which, individually or in the aggregate,  would not have a Material
     Adverse  Effect.  There  are no  pending  formal  complaints,  proceedings,
     investigations,  protests,  petitions or other written  objections  against
     [Foreign  Subsidiary] [or its Subsidiaries] at [name regulatory agency], in
     a  court,   before  any  arbitrator  or  mediator,   or  before  any  other
     governmental  authority,  except for matters which,  individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (ix)No  consent,  approval,   authorization  or  other  order  of,  or
     registration  or filing  with any court,  regulatory  body,  administrative
     agency or other government body is required for the execution,  delivery or
     performance  of the  Transaction  Documents  with  respect to the  Company,
     [Foreign   Subsidiary][and   its   Subsidiaries]  or  consummation  of  the
     transactions contemplated thereby. The Company's execution and delivery of,
     and its performance of its obligations  under,  the Transaction  Documents,
     and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  thereby,  do not
     violate or conflict with any judgement,  decree,  order,  statute,  rule or
     regulation  of any  governmental  agency or body having  jurisdiction  over
     [Foreign  Subsidiary]  [and its  Subsidiaries]  relating  to the  currently
     conducted  businesses of [Foreign  Subsidiary] [and its  Subsidiaries]  and
     will not cause any  cancellation,  termination,  revocation,  forfeiture or
     material  impairment of any of their Governmental  Approvals or prevent the
     Company,  [Foreign Subsidiary] [and its Subsidiaries] from conducting their
     respective  currently  conducted  businesses  as  described in the Offering
     Circular.

          (x)  Insofar  as the  statements  included  in the  Offering  Circular
     purport to describe or summarize (i)  contracts,  agreements,  Governmental
     Approvals, litigation,  complaints,  arbitration,  mediation or other legal
     documents to which [Foreign  Subsidiary] [and its Subsidiaries] are a party
     or are bound or (ii) the provisions of statutes, laws, rules,  regulations,
     orders,  judgments,  decrees or pending legislation or regulations relating
     to regulation in [name of country] of the  respective  currently  conducted
     businesses of the Company,  [Foreign  Subsidiary]  [and its  Subsidiaries],
     such statements are accurate and complete in all material respects.

     (g) On the date of the  Offering  Circular  prior to the  execution of this
Agreement  and  also  at  the  Time  of  Delivery,   Arthur  Andersen,   s.r.o.,
Pricewaterhouse     Coopers     N.V.,      Pricewaterhousecoopers      (France),
Pricewaterhousecoopers (Malta), Pricewaterhousecoopers (Sweden), KPMG Polska Sp.
zo.o, KPMG Accountants  N.V., KPMG  Somekhchaikis,  KPMG Slovensko,  s.r.o.,  VB
Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young S.A, Ernst & Young (Netherlands), Ernst & Young
(Denmark),  Ernst & Young AB, Ernst & Young,  Vachon et Associes shall each have
furnished  to you a letter or letters,  dated the  respective  dates of delivery
thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

     (h) The Company and its subsidiary Belmarken Holding B.V. shall have (i) at
or  prior  to  the  date  of  this   Agreement,   entered  into  completed  loan
documentation  pursuant  to the  Underwriting  Letter  dated  July  10,  1999 in
relation to a credit agreement with Bank of America International  Limited, CIBC
World Markets plc,  Citibank N.A.,  MeesPierson N.V., The Royal Bank of Scotland
plc,  Toronto  Dominion Bank Europe  Limited and The Toronto  Dominion Bank (the
"Lenders")  (the "Credit  Agreement"),  and (ii) at or prior to the date of this
Agreement,  delivered to the Lenders an irrevocable and  unconditional  drawdown
notice  in  relation  to funds to be  delivered  by the  Lenders  at the Time of
Delivery, and the Lenders shall have accepted such drawdown notice;

     (i) None of the Company,  its subsidiaries or the New Acquisition  Entities
shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited  financial  statements
included in the  Offering  Circular any loss or  interference  with its business
from  fire,  explosion,  flood or other  calamity,  whether  or not  covered  by
insurance,  or from any labor dispute or court or governmental  action, order or
decree,  otherwise than as set forth or contemplated  in the Offering  Circular,
and (ii)  since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is given in the
Offering Circular there shall not have been: (x) any change in the capital stock
of the Company,  or (y) any increase in the long-term debt of the Company or its
subsidiaries,  or, to the best of the Company's knowledge after due inquiry, the
New Acquisition Entities, in excess of $25,000,000 or its equivalent, or (z) any
material  adverse change,  or any development  involving a prospective  material
adverse  change,  in or affecting  the general  affairs,  management,  condition
(financial or otherwise),  shareholders'  equity or results of operations of the
Company,  its  subsidiaries and the New Acquisition  Entities,  taken as a whole
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Offering Circular; the effect
of which,  in any such case  described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment
of the  Representatives  so material and adverse as to make it  impracticable or
inadvisable  to proceed  with the  offering or the  delivery of the Notes on the
terms and in the  manner  contemplated  in this  Agreement  and in the  Offering
Circular;

     (j) On or after the date hereof (i) no  downgrading  shall have occurred in
the rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any "nationally  recognized
statistical rating organization",  as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes  of  Rule  436(g)(2)  under  the  Securities  Act,  and  (ii)  no  such
organization  shall have publicly  announced that it has under  surveillance  or
review, with possible negative implications,  its rating of any of the Company's
debt securities;

     (k) On or after the date hereof  there shall not have  occurred  any of the
following:  (i) a suspension  or material  limitation  in trading in  securities
generally  on the New York Stock  Exchange,  the NASDAQ,  the  Luxembourg  Stock
Exchange or Amsterdam Stock Exchange  and/or the London Stock  Exchange;  (ii) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company's  securities on the
NASDAQ or the Amsterdam Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial
banking  activities  in New York,  London or Amsterdam  declared by the relevant
authorities;  (iv) a change or  development  involving a  prospective  change in
Dutch taxation  affecting the Company,  the Notes or the transfer thereof or the
imposition of exchange controls by the United States or The Netherlands; (v) the
outbreak or escalation of hostilities  involving the United  States,  the United
Kingdom or The Netherlands or the  declaration by the United States,  the United
Kingdom or The Netherlands of a national  emergency or war, if the effect of any
such event  specified in this Clause (v) in the judgment of the  Representatives
makes it  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to proceed  with the  offering  or the
delivery  of the  Notes  on the  terms  and in the  manner  contemplated  in the
Offering Circular;  or (vi) the occurrence of any material adverse change in the
existing  financial,  political or economic conditions in the United States, the
United  Kingdom,  The  Netherlands  or elsewhere  which,  in the judgment of the
Representatives,  would materially and adversely affect the financial markets or
the market for the Notes and other debt securities;

     (l)      The Notes have been designated for trading on PORTAL;

     (m) The  Company  has  applied  to list the Notes on the  Luxembourg  Stock
Exchange;

     (n) The Company  shall have  furnished  or caused to be furnished to you at
the Time of Delivery  certificates  of officers of the Company  satisfactory  to
you, as to the accuracy of the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company
herein at and as of such Time of Delivery,  as to the performance by the Company
of all of its  respective  obligations  hereunder to be performed at or prior to
such Time of  Delivery,  as to the matters set forth in  subsection  (i) of this
Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.

     (o) Arthur  Andersen  shall have  furnished  you with its written  opinion,
dated the Time of Delivery,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to you, to the
effect that:

          (i)  The  statements  in the  Offering  Circular  under  "Certain  Tax
     Consequences-Certain  Netherlands  Tax  Consequences,"  to the extent  such
     statements  relate  to  matters  of Dutch law or  regulation,  are true and
     accurate in all material  respects,  and nothing has been omitted from such
     statements that would make the same misleading in any material respect;

          (ii)The opinions of Arthur Andersen set forth in the Offering Circular
     under "Certain Tax  Consequences-Certain  Netherlands Tax Consequences" are
     confirmed as of the Time of Delivery; and

          (iii)Except  to  the  extent  otherwise  set  forth  in  the  Offering
     Circular,  no stamp or other  issuance or  transfer  taxes or duties and no
     capital  gains,  income,  withholding  or other  taxes are payable by or on
     behalf of the Purchasers to The Netherlands or to any political subdivision
     or taxing authority  thereof or therein in connection with (A) the sale and
     delivery  by  the  Company  of the  Notes  to or for  the  accounts  of the
     Purchasers  or (B) the sale and delivery by the  Purchasers of the Notes to
     the initial purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated herein;

     8. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser  against any
losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities,  joint or  several,  to  which  such
Purchaser  may  become  subject,  under the Act or  otherwise,  insofar  as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based  upon an untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a
material fact  contained in any  Preliminary  Offering  Circular or the Offering
Circular,  or any amendment or supplement  thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Purchaser
for any  legal  or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  Purchaser  in
connection  with  investigating  or  defending  any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred;  provided,  however, that the Company shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss,  claim,  damage or  liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement
or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Offering Circular or the
Offering  Circular or any such  amendment or  supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity  with written  information  furnished to the Company by any Purchaser
through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

     (a) Each Purchaser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any
losses,  claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject,
under  the  Act or  otherwise,  insofar  as  such  losses,  claims,  damages  or
liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof)  arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary  Offering  Circular or the Offering  Circular,  or any  amendment or
supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are based upon the  omission or alleged
omission  to state  therein a material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such  untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  or alleged
omission was made in any Preliminary  Offering Circular or the Offering Circular
or any such  amendment or supplement  in reliance  upon and in  conformity  with
written  information  furnished  to the  Company by such  Purchaser  through the
Representatives  expressly for use therein;  and will  reimburse the Company for
any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Company in  connection
with  investigating  or defending  any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

     (b) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action,  such  indemnified  party
shall,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying
party under such  subsection,  notify the  indemnifying  party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any  liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party
otherwise than under such  subsection.  In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying  party of the
commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying  party shall be entitled to participate
therein  and,  to the  extent  that  it  shall  wish,  jointly  with  any  other
indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense  thereof,  with
counsel  satisfactory to such indemnified  party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified  party, be counsel to the indemnifying  party),  and,
after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof,  the indemnifying  party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses,  in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified  party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party,  effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or  threatened  action or
claim  in  respect  of  which  indemnification  or  contribution  may be  sought
hereunder  (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim)  unless such  settlement,  compromise  or judgment  (i)
includes an  unconditional  release of the indemnified  party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to,
or an admission of, fault,  culpability  or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.

     (c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to
or  insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified  party under  subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect  thereof)  referred to therein,  then each  indemnifying  party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such  indemnified  party as a result
of such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received
by the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other from the offering
of the Notes. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately  preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the  indemnified  party failed
to give the notice required under subsection (c) above,  then each  indemnifying
party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative  benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers on
the other in connection  with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses,  claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable  considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the  Purchasers  on the other shall be deemed
to be in the same  proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Notes purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Purchasers with respect to the Notes  purchased  under this  Agreement,  in each
case as set  forth  in the  Offering  Circular.  The  relative  fault  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 on the one hand
or the  Purchasers  on the other and the parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,
access to  information  and  opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.  The  Company and the  Purchasers  agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro
rata  allocation  (even if the  Purchasers  were  treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable  considerations  referred to above in this  subsection (d). The amount
paid or  payable  by an  indemnified  party as a result of the  losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include 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 subsection (d),
no Purchaser  shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Notes  underwritten  by it and distributed
to investors  were offered to investors  exceeds the amount of any damages which
such  Purchaser 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 Purchasers' obligations in this
subsection  (d) to  contribute  are several in  proportion  to their  respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.

     (d) The  obligations  of the  Company  under  this  Section  8 shall  be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and  conditions,  to each  person,  if any, who controls any
Purchaser  within the meaning of the Securities  Act; and the obligations of the
Purchasers  under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the
respective  Purchasers may otherwise have and shall extend,  upon the same terms
and conditions,  to each officer and director of the Company and to each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     9. If any Purchaser  shall default in its  obligation to purchase the Notes
which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your
discretion  arrange for you or another  party or other  parties to purchase such
Notes on the terms  contained  herein.  If within  thirty-six  hours  after such
default by any Purchaser you do not arrange for the purchase of such Notes, then
the Company  shall be entitled to a further  period of  thirty-six  hours within
which to procure another party or other parties  satisfactory to you to purchase
such Notes on such terms.  In the event that,  within the respective  prescribed
periods,  you notify the Company  that you have so arranged  for the purchase of
such Notes, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase
of such Notes,  you or the Company  shall have the right to postpone the Time of
Delivery for a period of not more than seven days,  in order to effect  whatever
changes may thereby be made necessary in the Offering Circular,  or in any other
documents  or  arrangements,  and the  Company  agrees to prepare  promptly  any
amendments  to the Offering  Circular  which in your opinion may thereby be made
necessary.  The term  "Purchaser"  as used in this  Agreement  shall include any
person  substituted  under this  Section  with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Notes.

     (a) If, after  giving  effect to any  arrangements  for the purchase of the
Notes of a defaulting Purchaser or Purchasers by you and the Company as provided
in  subsection  (a) above,  the aggregate  principal  amount of such Notes which
remains  unpurchased  does not exceed  one-eleventh  of the aggregate  principal
amount of all the Notes,  then the Company  shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting  Purchaser to purchase the  principal  amount of Notes which such
Purchaser  agreed to  purchase  hereunder  and,  in  addition,  to require  each
non-defaulting  Purchaser to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal
amount of Notes which such Purchaser agreed to purchase  hereunder) of the Notes
of such defaulting  Purchaser or Purchasers for which such arrangements have not
been  made;  but  nothing  herein  shall  relieve a  defaulting  Purchaser  from
liability for its default.

     (b) If, after  giving  effect to any  arrangements  for the purchase of the
Notes of a defaulting Purchaser or Purchasers by you and the Company as provided
in subsection (a) above,  the aggregate  principal amount of Notes which remains
unpurchased  exceeds  one-eleventh of the aggregate  principal amount of all the
Notes,  or if the Company  shall not exercise the right  described in subsection
(b) above to require non-defaulting Purchasers to purchase Notes of a defaulting
Purchaser or Purchasers, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate,  without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Purchaser or the Company, except for
the  expenses  to be borne by the  Company  and the  Purchasers  as  provided in
Section 6 hereof and the  indemnity  and  contribution  agreements  in Section 8
hereof;  but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting  Purchaser from liability
for its default.

     10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company and the several Purchasers, as set forth in this
Agreement  or made by or on  behalf  of  them,  respectively,  pursuant  to this
Agreement,   shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect,   regardless   of  any
investigation  (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Purchaser or any controlling person of any Purchaser,  or the Company, or
any officer or director or controlling person of the Company,  and shall survive
delivery of and payment for the Notes.

     11. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the
Company  shall  not then be under  any  liability  to any  Purchaser  except  as
provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, the Notes are
not  delivered  by or on behalf of the Company as provided  herein,  the Company
will  reimburse  the  Purchasers  through  you  for all  out-of-pocket  expenses
approved  in  writing  by you,  including  fees and  disbursements  of  counsel,
reasonably  incurred by the Purchasers in making  preparations for the purchase,
sale and delivery of the Notes,  but the Company  shall then be under no further
liability to any Purchaser except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

     12.  In all  dealings  hereunder,  you  shall  act on behalf of each of the
Purchasers,  and the parties  hereto  shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Purchaser made or given
by you jointly.

     All  statements,  requests,  notices and agreements  hereunder  shall be in
writing,  and if to the Purchasers  shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile  transmission to you as the  representatives  in care of Goldman Sachs
International,  Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street,  London EC4A 2BB, England,
Attention:  New Issues  Syndicate Desk; and if to the Company shall be delivered
or sent by mail,  telex or facsimile  transmission to the address of the Company
set forth in the Offering Circular,  Attention:  President;  provided,  however,
that any  notice  to a  Purchaser  pursuant  to  Section  8(c)  hereof  shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile  transmission to such Purchaser at
its address set forth in its Purchasers'  Questionnaire,  or telex  constituting
such  Questionnaire,  which  address will be supplied to the Company by you upon
request. Any such statements,  requests, notices or agreements shall take effect
upon receipt thereof.

     13. This  Agreement  shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit
of, the Purchasers, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10
hereof,  the officers and  directors of the Company and each person who controls
the  Company  or  any  Purchaser,   and  their  respective   heirs,   executors,
administrators,  successors  and assigns,  and no other person shall  acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the
Notes from any Purchaser  shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely
of such purchase.

     14. Each of the parties hereto  irrevocably (i) agrees that any legal suit,
action or  proceeding  against the Company  brought by any  Purchaser  or by any
person who controls any Purchaser arising out of or based upon this Agreement or
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby may be instituted in any New York court,
(ii) waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding,  and
(iii) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit,
action or proceeding. The Company has appointed CT Corporation System, New York,
New York, as its authorized agent (the "Authorized Agent") upon whom process may
be served in any such action  arising out of or based on this  Agreement  or the
transactions  contemplated  hereby which may be instituted in any New York Court
by any Purchaser or by any person who controls any Purchaser; expressly consents
to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such action,  and waives
any other  requirements of or objections to personal  jurisdiction  with respect
thereto.  Such  appointment  shall be  irrevocable.  The Company  represents and
warrants that the  Authorized  Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service
of process  and agrees to take any and all action,  including  the filing of any
and all  documents  and  instruments,  that may be  necessary  to continue  such
appointment  in full force and effect as aforesaid.  Service of process upon the
Authorized  Agent and written  notice of such  service to the  Company  shall be
deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company.

     15. In respect of any  judgment  or order  given or made for any amount due
hereunder  that is expressed  and paid in a currency (the  "Judgment  Currency")
other than United States  dollars,  the Company will  indemnify  each  Purchaser
against any loss  incurred by such  Purchaser  as a result of any  variation  as
between  (i) the rate of exchange at which the United  States  dollar  amount is
converted  into the Judgment  Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order
and (ii) the rate of exchange at which a  Purchaser  is able to purchase  United
States  dollars with the amount of the Judgment  Currency  actually  received by
such  Purchaser.  The  foregoing  indemnity  shall  constitute  a  separate  and
independent  obligation  of the  Company  and shall  continue  in full force and
effect  notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid.  The term "rate
of  exchange"  shall  include  any  premiums  and costs of  exchange  payable in
connection with the purchase of or conversion into United States dollars.

     16. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.

     17. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of New York.

     18. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto
in any number of counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such respective  counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.


<PAGE>


     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,  please sign and
return to us five counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Purchasers,  this letter and such acceptance  hereof shall
constitute a binding  agreement  between each of the Purchasers and the Company.
It is  understood  that your  acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the
Purchasers is pursuant to the  authority set forth in a form of Agreement  among
Purchasers,  the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination
upon  request,  but  without  warranty on your part as to the  authority  of the
signers thereof.

                                           Very truly yours,
                                           United Pan-Europe Communications N.V.


                                           By: /s/ Mark L. Schneider
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:  Mark L. Schneider
                                              Title:  Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>




Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman Sachs International


By:  /s/ Kenneth A.K. Martin
   -------------------------------
   Name:  Kenneth A.K. Martin
   Title:  Attorney-in-fact

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International


By   /s/ Marc Dien
   -------------------------------
   Name:  Marc Dien
   Title:  Senior Vice President

On behalf of each  of the  Purchasers, except Morgan Stanley & Co. International
  Limited



Accepted as of the date hereof:

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited


By:  /s/ John Watowicz
   -------------------------------
   Name:  John Watowicz
   Title:  Executive Director


<PAGE>
<TABLE>



                                                     SCHEDULE I



                         PURCHASER                               PRINCIPAL AMOUNT     PRINCIPAL AMOUNT    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
                                                                  OF SENIOR EURO      OF SENIOR DOLLAR      AT MATURITY OF
                                                                       NOTES               NOTES               SENIOR
                                                                       TO BE               TO BE          DISCOUNT NOTES TO
                                                                     PURCHASED           PURCHASED          BE PURCHASED
                                                                     IN EUROS           IN DOLLARS           IN DOLLARS

<S>                                                                 <C>                  <C>                 <C>
Goldman Sachs International............................             100,500,000          268,000,000         246,225,000

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International.............             100,500,000          268,000,000         246,225,000

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited.............               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

TD Securities (USA) Inc................................              30,000,000           80,000,000          73,500,000

Bank of America International Limited..................               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

Chase Manhattan International Limited..................               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

CIBC World Markets Corp................................               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited............               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

Merrill Lynch International............................               9,000,000           24,000,000          22,050,000

Salomon Brothers International Limited.................              15,000,000           40,000,000          36,750,000

     Total.............................................            E300,000,000         $800,000,000        $735,000,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE II

                                  Jurisdictions


Belgium                                       Stibbe Simont Monahan Duhot

Austria                                       Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Lober

Israel                                        Yigal Arnon & Co.

Norway                                        Advokatfirmaet Steenstrup

France                                        Jeantet & Associes and Nomos

Hungary                                       Squire, Sanders & Dempsey

The Netherlands                               Houthoff Advocaten & Notarissen

Poland, USA, UK                               White & Case and Caron &
                                                Stevens/Baker & McKenzie

Sweden                                        Rydin & Carlsten

Czech Republic and Slovak Republic            Burns Schwartz
<PAGE>



                                     ANNEX I


     (1) The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities
Act and may not be  offered or sold  within the United  States or to, or for the
account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under
the  Securities   Act  or  pursuant  to  an  exemption  from  the   registration
requirements  of the  Securities  Act.  Each  Purchaser  represents  that it has
offered  and sold the  Notes,  and will  offer and sell the Notes (i) as part of
their  distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later
of the commencement of the offering and the Time of Delivery, only in accordance
with  Rule  903  of  Regulation  S  or  Rule  144A  under  the  Securities  Act.
Accordingly,  each  Purchaser  agrees that  neither it, its  affiliates  nor any
persons acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed
selling  efforts  with respect to the Notes,  and it and they have  complied and
will comply with the offering  restrictions  requirement  of  Regulation S. Each
Purchaser  agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of sale of Notes (other than
a sale pursuant to Rule 144A), it will have sent to each distributor,  dealer or
person receiving a selling concession,  fee or other remuneration that purchases
Notes  from it  during  the  restricted  period  a  confirmation  or  notice  to
substantially the following effect:

          "The Notes  covered  hereby  have not been  registered  under the U.S.
     Securities  Act of 1933 (the  "Securities  Act") and may not be offered and
     sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S.
     persons  (i) as part of their  distribution  at any time or (ii)  otherwise
     until 40 days after the later of the  commencement  of the offering and the
     closing  date,  except in either case in accordance  with  Regulation S (or
     Rule 144A if available) under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the
     meaning given to them by Regulation S."

     Terms used in this  paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation
S.

     Each  Purchaser  further  agrees that it has not entered and will not enter
into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution or delivery of
the Notes,  except with its affiliates or with the prior written  consent of the
Company.

     (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes in registered form may be offered,
sold and delivered by the  Purchasers  in the United States and to U.S.  persons
pursuant  to  Section  3 of  this  Agreement  without  delivery  of the  written
statement required by paragraph (1) above.

     (3)  Each  Purchaser  further  represents  and  agrees  that (i) it has not
offered  or sold and will not offer or sell any Notes to  persons  in the United
Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary  activities  involve them in acquiring,
holding,  managing or disposing of  investments  (as principal or agent) for the
purposes  of their  businesses  or  otherwise  in  circumstances  which have not
resulted  and will not result in an offer to the  public in the  United  Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities  Regulations  1995, (b) it
has complied,  and will comply, with all applicable  provisions of the Financial
Services Act of 1986 of Great  Britain  with  respect to anything  done by it in
relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise  involving the United  Kingdom,  and
(c) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in the United
Kingdom any document received by it in connection with the issuance of the Notes
to a  person  who is of a kind  described  in  Article  11(3)  of the  Financial
Services Act 1986 (Investment  Advertisements)  (Exemptions) Order 1996 of Great
Britain or is a person to whom the document may otherwise  lawfully be issued or
passed on.

     (4) Each  Purchaser  agrees that it will not offer,  sell or deliver any of
the Notes,  other than to individuals or legal entities,  situated in or outside
The  Netherlands,  who or which trade or invest in  securities in the conduct of
their profession or business (which includes banks, brokers, dealers,  insurance
companies,  pension  funds,  other  institutional  investors  and other  parties
(including treasury  departments of commercial  enterprise and finance companies
or groups), which regularly trade or invest in securities).

     (5) Each  Purchaser  agrees that it will not offer,  sell or deliver any of
the  Notes  in  any   jurisdiction   outside  the  United  States  except  under
circumstances  that will result in compliance  with the applicable laws thereof,
and that it will take at its own expense  whatever  action is required to permit
its  purchase  and  resale of the Notes in such  jurisdictions.  Each  Purchaser
understands  that no action  has been taken to permit a public  offering  in any
jurisdiction  outside the United  States where action would be required for such
purpose. Each Purchaser agrees not to cause any advertisement of the Notes to be
published in any  newspaper or  periodical or posted in any public place and not
to issue any  circular  relating to the Notes,  except in any such case with the
Representatives'  express  written  consent  and  then  only at its own risk and
expense.


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