HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL B V
8-K, 1998-07-07
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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<PAGE>   1
 
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
 
                                    FORM 8-K
 
                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
                                 JUNE 24, 1998
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
 
                          HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL, B.V.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                             <C>
          NETHERLANDS                                                        NONE
 (State or other jurisdiction      (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)                                              Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
             TERHULPSESTEENWEG 6A                                   NONE
           1560 HOEILAART, BELGIUM                               (Zip Code)
   (Address of principal executive offices)
</TABLE>
 
                                 (322) 658-5200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS
 
     On June 24, 1998, Hermes Europe Railtel, B.V. ("HER") completed the
acquisition from Ebone Holding Association of a 75% interest in Ebone A/S
("Ebone") for ECU 90 million (approximately $99.5 million based on the ECU/US
dollar exchange rate in effect on that date). HER funded the acquisition with
the proceeds of a short-term bank loan, which has been repaid. Headquartered in
Copenhagen, Denmark, Ebone is a Tier 1 Internet backbone provider focused on
connecting Internet service providers in Europe to the Internet. Currently,
Ebone serves more than 90 customers in 22 countries. As part of the transaction,
Ebone will purchase under a transmission capacity agreement long-term capacity
rights on the HER network valued at ECU 90 million. The transmission capacity
agreement is expected to provide for the majority of Ebone's current and
forecasted capacity requirements. HER will provide Ebone with capacity of up to
622 megabits per second between the majority of European cities that Ebone
serves. In addition to the majority interest held by HER, Ebone's new ownership
structure will continue to include many of Ebone's existing customers, which own
the balance of Ebone's shares through an association. It is expected that the
members of the association will have the right to buy shares of Ebone in a
future issuance to occur by the end of 1998, which, if consummated, could reduce
HER's stake in Ebone from 75% to not less than 54%.
 
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
 
     (a) Financial Statements.
 
         Financial statements of Ebone A/S are not available at the date hereof
         and shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
         by September 8, 1998.
 
     (b) Pro Forma Financial Statements.
 
         Pro forma financial statements are not available at the date hereof and
         shall be filed with the SEC by September 8, 1998.
 
     (c) Exhibits.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                      <S>
          10.1           -- Master Agreement dated June 24, 1998 between Ebone
                            Holding Association, Ebone A/S, Hermes Europe Railtel
                            Holdings B.V. and Hermes Europe Railtel (Ireland)
                            Limited.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
                                            Hermes Europe Railtel, B.V.
                                            (Registrant)
 
                                                    /s/ FRANCOIS NOTE
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                       Francois Note
                                               Corporate Financial Director--
                                                  Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: July 7, 1998
<PAGE>   4
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                    EXHIBIT
        -------                                    -------
<C>                      <S>
          10.1           -- Master Agreement dated June 24, 1998 between Ebone
                            Holding Association, Ebone A/S, Hermes Europe Railtel
                            Holdings B.V. and Hermes Europe Railtel (Ireland)
                            Limited.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                                MASTER AGREEMENT


                             DATED 24th JUNE, 1998



                                    BETWEEN



                         1)  EBONE HOLDING ASSOCIATION


                                 2)  EBONE A/S


                    3)  HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL HOLDINGS B.V.


                  4)  HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL (IRELAND) LIMITED
<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                   <C>

1        INTERPRETATION                                                                                                  4

2        IMPLEMENTATION                                                                                                  5

3        ISSUANCE OF SHARES                                                                                              5

4        TRANSMISSION CAPACITY                                                                                           6

5        RESTRUCTURING OF EBONE                                                                                          6

6        SHARE OFFER                                                                                                     6

7        AUTHORITY                                                                                                       7

8        CONFIDENTIALITY                                                                                                 7

9        PUBLICITY                                                                                                       8

10       ENTIRE CONTRACT                                                                                                 9

11       VARIATION                                                                                                       9

12       NO WAIVER                                                                                                       9

13       NOTICES                                                                                                         9

14       TERMINATION                                                                                                    10

15       ASSIGNMENT                                                                                                     10

16       FURTHER ASSURANCES                                                                                             10

17       DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW                                                                           11
</TABLE>


                                                                    Page 2 of 11
<PAGE>   3
APPENDICES

A.   EBONE Shareholders Agreement
B.   EBONE INC. Articles of Association
C.   HER-P Guarantee (re: SHA)
D.   Transmission Capacity Agreement
E.   HER-I's Standard Terms
F.   HER-P Guarantee (re: TCA)
G.   Draft EBONE Newco B.V. Articles of Association
H.   EBONE B.V. Shareholders Agreement
I.   Extract of Minutes of Meeting No. 10A of the Board of EBONE and EHA
     dated 23 June 1998
J.   Extract of Minutes of the Extraordinary General Assembly of EHA dated
     23 June 1998
K.   Extract of Minutes of Meeting No. 10B of the Board of EBONE and EHA dated
     23 June 1998
L.   Extract of Minutes of the General Assembly of EBONE dated 23 June 1998
M.   Extract of Minutes of Extraordinary General Assembly of EBONE dated
     24 June 1998
N.   Documents provided by EBONE
O.   Share Subscription Agreement
P.   Opinion of McCann Fitzgerald (re: HER-I)
Q.   Documents provided by HER-P
R.   Documents provided by HER-H


                                                                    Page 3 of 11
<PAGE>   4
THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE THIS 24TH DAY OF JUNE, 1998
BY AND BETWEEN:

1.       EBONE HOLDING ASSOCIATION, an association registered in Copenhagen as
         number LEV 244815 and having its place of business at Vermundsgade 5,
         2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, hereinafter "EHA";

2.       EBONE A/S, a private limited liability company, registered in
         Copenhagen as number A/S 231925 and having its place of business at
         Vermundsgade 6, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, hereinafter "EBONE" or "the
         Company";

3.       HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL HOLDINGS B.V., a private limited liability
         company registered in The Netherlands under number 33299402
         (Amsterdam) and having its place of business at Strawinskylaan 305,
         1077 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands, hereinafter "HER-H"; and

4.       HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL (IRELAND) LIMITED, a company incorporated with
         limited liability under the laws of the Republic of Ireland as company
         number 276431 and whose registered office is 2 Custom House Plaza,
         Harbourmaster Place, Dublin 1, Ireland, hereinafter "HER-I";


Hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Parties" and individually as a
"Party".

WHEREAS:

A.       EBONE was founded by EHA in 1996 to develop and operate Internet
         access for the members of EHA and for other customers according to
         market developments;

B.       HER-I is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hermes Europe Railtel B.V.
         ("HER-P") which leases telecommunication transmission capacity to
         telecommunication operators and other service providers on a carriers'
         carrier basis;

C.       HER-H is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HER-P which operates as a
         holding company;

D.       In an agreement dated 18 September 1997, HER-P and EBONE entered into
         a Transmission Capacity Agreement pursuant to which HER-P agreed to
         lease transmission capacity to EBONE;

E.       HER-P assigned its rights and obligations under the agreement dated 18
         September 1997 to HER-I on March 27, 1998, with the consent of EBONE;

F.       EBONE now wishes to obtain the supply of additional telecommunications
         transmission capacity from HER-I;

G.       The Parties have agreed that the funds required to finance the
         purchase of such additional capacity shall be obtained through the
         sale by EBONE to HER-H of shares in EBONE;

H.       The Parties wish to make provision for the subsequent restructuring of
         EBONE and to provide an opportunity for members of EHA to subscribe
         for shares in EBONE or the restructured company;

I.       The Parties now wish to define their basic rights and obligations
         under the arrangements described above and to make provision for their
         implementation.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:  Interpretation

1        INTERPRETATION

1.1      The following definitions shall apply in this Agreement and in the
         Appendices hereto:





                                                                    Page 4 of 11
<PAGE>   5
Affiliated Company:               in relation to any Shareholder, a company
                                  which (a) is controlled in fact by the
                                  Shareholder, and (b) fifty-one (51)% of the
                                  shares of which are owned by the Shareholder;

Agreement:                        this Agreement and all annexes, appendices,
                                  attachments, and schedules hereto;

Appendix:                         an Appendix to this Agreement;

Members:                          the entities as listed in Annex 2 to the
                                  Shareholders' Agreement appended hereto as
                                  Appendix A;

1.2      Any inconsistencies between the documents forming part of this
         Agreement shall be resolved by giving them the following order of
         precedence, unless expressly stated to the contrary:

         (a)     The Appendices;
         (b)     The main body of this Agreement but excluding the Appendices.

1.3      References in this Agreement to any Party shall include that Parties'
         employees, agents, successors (whether by operation of law or
         otherwise) and permitted assigns.

1.4      Headings are included in this Agreement for ease of reference only and
         shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

1.5      All documentation exchanged between the parties pursuant to this
         Agreement shall be in English.

2        IMPLEMENTATION

2.1      The Parties will enter into a series of transactions as described in
         Articles 3 to 6.  Each of these transactions will take place in the
         sequence in which they are described.  It is a condition of each
         transaction that all of the other transactions shall be entered into
         on the same day.

3        ISSUANCE OF SHARES

3.1      For purposes of this Agreement, the Parties have agreed on a valuation
         of EBONE of ECU 30 million.

3.2      HER-H will subscribe for 51,000 shares in EBONE with a nominal value of
         DKK 1,000 each with the intent that HER-I will become owner of 75% of
         the shares in EBONE. EHA and EBONE will cause the nominal share capital
         of EBONE to be increased from  DKK 17 million to DKK 68 million for
         this purpose. HER-H will make a cash payment of ECU 90 million to
         EBONE for the shares.

3.3      In order to give effect to the transaction contemplated by Article
         3.2, EBONE and HER-H will enter into a Share Subscription Agreement in
         the form appended hereto as Appendix O.

3.4      Thereupon, the Parties will

         (a)     enter into a Shareholders' Agreement in the form appended
                 hereto as Appendix A; and

         (b)     cause the Articles of Association of EBONE to be amended in
                 the manner provided in Appendix B.

3.5      The shares issued to HER-H will be free from all claims, liens,
         charges and encumbrances and together with all rights attached or
         accruing thereto.

3.6      HER-H will procure from HER-P a guarantee of its due performance of
         its obligations under the Shareholders' Agreement.  The Guarantee
         shall be in the form attached as Appendix C.





                                                                    Page 5 of 11
<PAGE>   6
4        TRANSMISSION CAPACITY

4.1      EBONE will enter into a Transmission Capacity Agreement with HER-I in
         the form appended hereto as Appendix D (the "TCA") under which HER-I
         will agree to supply transmission capacity to EBONE of a value
         equivalent to ECU 90 million.  The ECU 90 million will be paid in cash
         at the date of signing of the TCA.  HER-I's standard terms, including
         the terms summarized in Appendix E will apply.  Capacity on the HER
         Network, including US connectivity will be available per the HER Ready
         For Service Date in the TCA.  Prices will be as per Schedule 3 of the
         TCA.  The term of the TCA will be 10 years.  EBONE will be free to
         relocate capacity for up to 10 years, both between routes as well as
         in time (on a monthly basis), except where the Capacity provided is
         Europe-US.

4.2      EBONE and HER-I hereby terminate the Telecommunications Capacity
         Agreement between them dated 18 September 1997.  No compensation shall
         be payable by either party to the other in respect of the termination.
         Services currently being provided by HER-I under the agreement of 18
         September 1997 will be continued by HER-I, without interruption, under
         the TCA.

4.3      HER-I will procure from HER-P a guarantee of HER-I's due performance
         of its obligations under the TCA.  The Guarantee shall be in the form
         attached as Appendix E.


5        RESTRUCTURING OF EBONE

5.1      The Parties will co-operate in the implementation of a restructuring
         plan for EBONE pursuant to which

         (a)     A new Dutch holding company will be formed ("Ebone Newco
                 B.V.");
         (b)     EHA and HER-H will swap their shares in EBONE for shares in
                 Ebone Newco B.V., which will then own 100% of the shares of
                 EBONE.

5.2      The Articles of Association of Ebone Newco B.V. will be substantially
         in the form attached hereto as Appendix G. The parties will meet to
         discuss differences between the Articles of EBONE (Appendix B) and the
         Articles of Ebone Newco B.V. (Appendix G).

5.3      The Parties will enter into (and cause Ebone Newco B.V. to enter into)
         a Shareholders' Agreement which will be substantially in the form
         attached hereto as Appendix H.

5.4      The transactions contemplated by this Article will be undertaken as
         soon as possible, but only after the parties have applied for and
         obtained a tax ruling from the Danish and Dutch authorities confirming
         that the swap as described in Clause 5.1(b) will not have any adverse
         tax consequences for the Parties.  If the Parties do not obtain a
         favourable tax ruling by 1 December 1998, HER-H will have the option,
         exercisable until 4 December 1998, of requiring that the Parties
         proceed with the restructuring on condition that HER-H will indemnify
         EHA in respect of any such adverse tax consequence for it.

5.5      Upon completion of the share swap referred to in Article 5.1, the
         EBONE Shareholders' Agreement (Appendix A) shall, notwithstanding any
         provision therein to the contrary, terminate.

5.6      The Boards of Directors and Management of EBONE and Ebone Newco B.V.
         shall be identical.

5.7      HER-H and EHA bind themselves to vote their shares in EBONE and in
         Ebone Newco B.V. in the manner necessary to give effect to the
         arrangements described in this Article.

6        SHARE OFFER

6.1      Members of the EHA will be invited to subscribe to 32% of the shares of
         EBONE or a nominal value of up to DKK 32 million, thus bringing the
         share capital up to DKK 100 million for a total consideration of up to
         ECU 56.47 million (to be reduced proportionately if the entire
         percentage allocated




                                                                    Page 6 of 11
<PAGE>   7
         is not taken up). There will be restriction of any single Member
         acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than ten (10)% of the total
         shares in EBONE.  If the offering is oversubscribed by Members, shares
         will be allocated amongst them on a pro rata basis.

6.2      HER-H's holding of shares in EBONE will as a consequence be reduced
         from 75% to no less than 51% (depending on the number of shares taken
         by Members).

6.3      EHA will hold the balance of the shares (17% to 25%).

6.4      An offer to Members to subscribe for the shares referred to in Article
         5.1 will be circulated as soon as practical after execution of this
         Agreement.  Members desiring to accept the offer will be required to
         sign and return a binding commitment letter by 15 September 1998.
         Shares will be issued no later than 31 December 1998.

6.5      It will be a condition to issuing of shares that any Member committed
         to take up shares shall agree to become a party to the relevant
         Shareholders Agreement (Appendix H, or if the restructuring
         contemplated by Article 5 does not proceed, Appendix A).

7        AUTHORITY

7.1      Attached hereto as Appendices I, J, K and L are copies of extracts of
         minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly
         of EHA and EBONE of 23 of June 1998.

7.2      Attached hereto as Appendix M is a copy of an extract of the Minutes of
         a Meeting of the Extraordinary General Assembly of EBONE dated 24 June 
         1998.

7.3      Attached hereto as Appendix N are copies of the following documents
         provided by EBONE:

           1. Power of Attorney made by Ebone A/S dated 23 June 1998.
           2. Declaration re material changes.

7.4      Attached hereto as Appendix P is a copy of an opinion of McCann
         Fitzgerald, Solicitors, dated 23 June 1998 provided by HER-I.
 
7.5      Attached hereto as Appendix Q are copies of the following documents
         provided by HER-P:

           1. Unanimous Written Consent of the Board of Directors of GTS-Hermes
              Inc. with attached Minute of Resolution of Mr. Jan Loeber;
           2. Notarial Declaration;
           3. Extract from Register of Commerce (translation);
           4. Extract of Minutes of Meeting of Board of Supervisory Directors;
           5. Opinion of Richards, Layton and Finger dated 23 June 1998.

7.6      Attached hereto as Appendix R are copies of the following documents
         provided by HER-H:

           1. Minute of Resolution of Sole Director Mr. Jan Loeber;
           2. Notarial Declaration;
           3. Extract from Register of Commerce (translation).

7.7      Nothing in this Agreement is intended to impose any liability on any
         member of EHA, except in a case where such member becomes a
         Shareholder of EBONE or Ebone Newco B.V. pursuant to a Shareholders'
         Agreement (Appendices A and H).

8        CONFIDENTIALITY

8.1      Each Party shall promptly supply to the other such information and
         assistance which the other may reasonably request to enable it to
         perform its obligations under this Agreement.  Each Party shall ensure
         that information provided to other Parties in accordance or in
         connection with this Agreement is correct to the best of its knowledge
         at the time that it is provided.





                                                                    Page 7 of 11
<PAGE>   8
8.2      Each Party shall keep in confidence all confidential information and
         will not (and will use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that its
         directors, employees, officers, servants, agents, Affiliated Companies
         and professional advisers will not) disclose such information to any
         third party other than in accordance with this Agreement.  Each party
         shall exercise no lesser degree of care in relation to confidential
         information than it would apply to its own confidential information.

8.3      The following disclosures shall not constitute a breach of Clauses
         8.2:

         (a)     a disclosure authorized in writing;

         (b)     publication of confidential information in accordance with a
                 statutory or other regulatory requirement or pursuant to an
                 order of a competent court or tribunal;

         (c)     a disclosure made to any regulator or any expert or arbitrator
                 appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement
                 to the extent that such disclosure is a legal requirement;

         (d)     a disclosure made to financial institutions, a lender of funds
                 or a financial advisor where such disclosure is required as
                 part of an arrangement for the financing or refinancing of
                 such party; or

         (e)     a disclosure to Shareholders or majority owned Group Companies
                 of the party provided that any third party which receives
                 confidential information pursuant to this provision has agreed
                 to be bound by the restrictions contained in Clauses 8.2, 8.3
                 and 8.4 (a)-(e) in the same manner as it were a party to this
                 Agreement.

8.4      The provisions of Clause 8.2 do not apply to any confidential
         information which:

         (a)     enters into the public domain other than by reason of a breach
                 of this Agreement;

         (b)     is known to the party to which it is disclosed at the time of
                 its disclosure;

         (c)     is independently generated, developed or discovered at any
                 time by or for the party to which it is disclosed;

         (d)     is disclosed by a third party without any restriction on
                 further disclosure; or

         (e)     is necessary for the purposes of permitting a party to perform
                 its obligations under this Agreement or a Capacity Order (as
                 defined in the TCA) provided that any third party which
                 receives confidential information pursuant to this provision
                 has agreed to be bound by the restrictions contained in
                 Clauses 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 (a)-(e) in the same manner as if it
                 were a party to this Agreement.

8.5      Confidential information shall only be used for the purposes for which
         it was disclosed and/or for the purposes of performing the obligations
         of the parties under this Agreement or a Capacity Order.

8.6      The obligations of confidentiality in this Clause 8 shall continue for
         five (5) years following the termination of this Agreement.


9        PUBLICITY

         (a)     For the duration of this Agreement, any formal press release,
                 public announcement, news release or other form of major
                 publicity relating to this Agreement shall be made only after
                 prior consultation between the Parties and mutual agreement as
                 to the substantive contents thereof.  No party shall
                 unreasonably withhold or delay any consent required under this
                 provision.

         (b)     Where a formal press release, public announcement, news
                 release, filings or other form of major publicity relating to
                 the existence of this Agreement or its terms is required by
                 the laws of any jurisdiction governing any of the Parties or
                 in connection with the procurement of




                                                                    Page 8 of 11
<PAGE>   9
                 capital, no consultation or agreement between the Parties shall
                 be required but the Company shall provide the Parties with
                 advance copies prior to making any formal press release, public
                 announcement, news release, filings or other form of major
                 publicity.


10       ENTIRE CONTRACT

         This Agreement and its Appendices contains the entire agreement among
         the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
         all prior agreements among the Parties in relation to the same subject
         matter.  Each Party confirms to each of the others that it is not
         relying on any representation, warranty, or commitment of any kind
         save as set out in or explicitly contemplated by this Agreement.


11       VARIATION

11.1     No variation, modification or addition to or cancellation of any
         provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless agreed in
         writing by a duly authorized representative of each of the Parties.

12       NO WAIVER

12.1     Failure by any party at any time to enforce any of the provisions of
         this Agreement shall neither be construed as a waiver of any rights
         or remedies hereunder nor in any way affect the validity of this
         Agreement or any part of it, and no waiver of a breach of this
         Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach.

12.2     Termination of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any
         breach by a Party of any of the provisions thereof and shall be
         without prejudice to any rights or remedies of either Party which may
         arise as a consequence of such breach or which may have accrued
         hereunder up to the date of such termination.

12.3     No waiver of a breach of this Agreement shall be effective unless
         given in writing.


13       NOTICES

13.1     Any notice given under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent or
         delivered:

         in the case of EBONE, to:

                 EBONE A/S
                 Vermundsgade 5
                 DK-2100 Copenhagen
                 Denmark

                 Attention:  Frode Greisen

         in the case of EHA, to:

                 EBONE HOLDING ASSOCIATION
                 Vermundsgade 5
                 DK-2100 Copenhagen
                 Denmark

                 Attention:  Peter Rastl

         in the case of HER-I, to:

                 Hermes Europe Railtel (Ireland) Limited
                 2 Custom House Plaza
                 Harbourmaster Place
                 Dublin 1




                                                                    Page 9 of 11
<PAGE>   10
                 Ireland

                 Attention:  Managing Director

         in the case of HER-H, to:
                 Hermes Europe Raitel B.V.
                 Terhulpsesteenweg 6A
                 1560 Hoeilaart
                 Belgium
                 Attention:  Managing Director
13.2     Any notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received:
                 o        if sent by facsimile transmission, when sent;

                 o        if delivered by hand (including courier), when
                          delivered;

                 o        if sent by air mail (where appropriate), 5 working
                          days after posting; or


                 o        if sent by ordinary first class mail (where the 
                          recipient is within the same jurisdiction as the
                          sender), 2 working days after posting.

         In proving posting it shall be sufficient to show that the envelope
         containing such notice or communication was properly addressed,
         stamped and posted.
13.3     Any Party may amend its address and facsimile number specified in
         Clause 13.1 by written notice to the other Parties.
14       TERMINATION
14.1     EBONE may terminate this Agreement immediately upon giving notice in
         writing to the other parties in the event that HER-H becomes bankrupt
         or insolvent; has sought protection from its creditors under any
         statute or legal process; has suffered or permitted a trustee,
         liquidator, receiver, receiver-manager or similar custodian to be
         appointed or to take possession of its property or assets; has
         voluntarily or involuntarily commenced proceedings for dissolution,
         liquidation or winding up; or has ceased to carry on business in the
         ordinary course.
14.2     If EBONE terminates this Agreement pursuant to Article 13.1, EBONE may
         by notice in writing to HER-H retract the shares issued to HER-H
         pursuant hereto in EBONE (or in the event that the share swap referred
         to in Article 5.1 is completed, in EBONE Newco B.V.), provided that
         EBONE pays to HER-H a sum equivalent to the value of the services
         rendered by HER-I under the TCA to the date of said notice calculated
         in accordance with Schedule  3 of the TCA.
15       ASSIGNMENT
15.1     This Agreement is personal to the Parties and may not be assigned by
         either of them without the consent of the other, except that HER-H may
         assign this Agreement to an Affiliated Company, and such an Affiliated
         Company may further assign to another Affiliated Company; provided
         always that HER-P guarantees the performance of the relevant
         Affiliated Company in the manner contemplated by Articles 3.6 and 4.3.
16       FURTHER ASSURANCES

         The Parties shall do, execute and perform and shall procure to be
         done, executed and performed all such further acts, deeds, documents
         and things as may be required from time to time to give full effect to
         this Agreement.


                                                                   Page 10 of 11
<PAGE>   11
17       DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW.

17.1     All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall be
         finally settled under the Rules of Conciliation and Arbitration of the
         International Chamber of Commerce by one or more arbitrators appointed
         in accordance with the said Rules.  The place of arbitration shall be
         Paris and the language of arbitration shall be English.

17.2     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
         English Law.

Signed in four counterparts in Brussels                
                                            
EBONE HOLDINGS                              HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL
                                            HOLDINGS B.V.
                                            
/s/ [Illegible]                             /s/ Jan Loeber
- -----------------------------------         ------------------------------------
By:                                         By:    Hermes Europe Railtel B.V.
Title:                                             Jan Loeber
Date:                                       Title: Managing Director
                                            
                                            
EBONE A/S                                   HERMES EUROPE RAILTEL
                                            (IRELAND) LIMITED
                                            
/s/ [Illegible]                             /s/ [Illegible]
- -----------------------------------         ------------------------------------
By:                                         By:
Title:                                      Title:
Date:                                       Date:





                                                                   Page 11 of 11


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