Absence of Certain Agreements Neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates has entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding (in each case, whether oral or written), or authorized, committed or agreed to enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding (in each case, whether oral or written), pursuant to which: (i) (A) any stockholder of the Company (other than Parent and its Affiliates) would be entitled to receive consideration of a different amount or nature than the Per Share Merger Consideration, (B) except as set forth in Section 6.13, any stockholder of the Company agrees to vote to adopt this Agreement or the Merger or any stockholder of the Company agrees to vote against any Superior Proposal; or (ii) any current employee of the Company has agreed to (x) remain as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries following the Effective Time (other than pursuant to any employment Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement), (y) contribute or rollover any portion of such employee’s Shares, Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Stock and/or Phantom Stock Units to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parent or any of its Affiliates or (z) receive any capital stock or equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent or any of its Affiliates.
Absence of Certain Business Practices Neither the Seller, nor any Affiliate of the Seller, nor to the knowledge of the Seller, any agent or employee of the Seller, any other Person acting on behalf of or associated with the Seller, or any individual related to any of the foregoing Persons, acting alone or together, has: (a) received, directly or indirectly, any rebates, payments, commissions, promotional allowances or any other economic benefits, regardless of their nature or type, from any customer, supplier, trading company, shipping company, governmental employee or other Person with whom the Seller has done business directly or indirectly; or (b) directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any gift or similar benefit to any customer, supplier, trading company, shipping company, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Seller (or assist the Seller in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) which (i) may subject the Seller to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, may have had an adverse effect on the Seller or (iii) if not continued in the future, may adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Seller or subject the Seller to suit or penalty in any private or governmental litigation or proceeding.
Absence of Certain Proceedings Except as described in the SEC Reports, (i) there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, in any such case wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could have or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving (A) a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or (B) a claim of breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) the Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information and the Company has no knowledge of any expected such request that would be made prior to the Effectiveness Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement); and (iv) there has not been, and to the best of the Company's knowledge there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.
Absence of Certain Commercial Practices Except as described on Schedule 4.27, neither the Company nor any Seller has made any payment (directly or by secret commissions, discounts, compensation or other payments) or given any gifts to another business concern, to an agent or employee of another business concern or of any governmental entity (domestic or foreign) or to a political party or candidate for political office (domestic or foreign), to obtain or retain business for the Company or to receive favorable or preferential treatment, except for gifts and entertainment given to representatives of customers or potential customers of sufficiently limited value and in a form (other than cash) that would not be construed as a bribe or payoff.
Absence of Certain Changes From December 31, 1997 until the date hereof, (a) there has not occurred any event, change or development which has had or would be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and (b) except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or Section 2.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and except for the performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and its Subsidiaries have: (i) conducted its business and operations only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; (ii) used reasonable efforts to preserve intact the business organizations, rights, licenses, permits and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries, maintain their existing relationships with customers, suppliers and other Persons having business dealings with them and keep available the services of its officers and employees; (iii) used reasonable efforts to keep in full force and effect adequate insurance coverages and maintain and keep its properties and assets in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted; (iv) not amended or modified its articles of association, certificate of incorporation, by-laws or comparable governing documents; (v) not authorized for issuance, issued, sold, granted, delivered, pledged or encumbered or agreed or committed to issue, sell, grant, deliver, pledge or encumber (to or with any party other than the Company and 7 any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other equity or voting security or equity or voting interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any such shares, securities or interests, or any options, warrants, calls, commitments, subscriptions or rights to purchase or acquire any such shares, securities or interests (other than issuances of Company Shares (i) upon exercise of outstanding Stock Options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company in accordance with the Option Plans as currently in effect and (ii) pursuant to conversion of the TOPrS); (vi) except for conversion of the TOPrS in accordance with their terms, (i) split, combined or reclassified any shares of its capital stock or issued or authorized or proposed the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock, (ii) in the case of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is not wholly-owned by the Company, declared, set aside or paid any dividends on, or made other distributions in respect of, any capital stock or (iii) repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, or agreed or committed to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock or other equity or debt securities or equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than to fulfill its obligations under the Option Plans as currently in effect); (vii) not amended or otherwise modified the terms of any Stock Options or any Option Plan the effect of which was to make such terms more favorable to the holders thereof or Persons eligible for participation therein, or reserved any additional Company Shares for issuance under any such Plan; (viii) except as required by law or existing written agreements, entered into, adopted or materially amended any incentive, compensation, option or severance plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, any Benefit Plan) for the benefit or welfare of any current or former director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (except for normal increases in the ordinary course of business that are consistent with past practices) increased the compensation or benefits of any persons or pay any benefit not required by any existing plan and arrangement; (ix) not acquired or agreed to acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) from any Person, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other business organization or division thereof or otherwise acquired or agreed to acquire any assets of another Person other than the purchase of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in an aggregate amount of less than $5,000,000; (x) not sold, leased, licensed, encumbered or otherwise disposed of, or agreed to sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of, any material properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as intercompany transactions between the Company and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or in transactions with any other Person in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice and in an aggregate amount of less than $5,000,000. (xi) not made any material change in any of its accounting or financial reporting methods, principles or practices, except as may be required by GAAP; (xii) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, not amended, modified or terminated any Material Contract required to be listed in Section 2.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedule (other than in response to Section 2.16(a)(iii) thereof) or waived, released or assigned any material rights or claims thereunder; (xiii) not adopted a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (xiv) not made any loans, advances or capital contributions to any Person other than as required by existing agreements or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or 8
Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings (a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. (b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto. (c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. (d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. (e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions Since the Interim Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice as contemplated herein, there has not been, with respect to the Companies, any: (a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Business Material Adverse Effect; (b) amendment of such entities’ chartering documents; (c) split, combination or reclassification of any shares of its limited liability company/membership interests, capital stock or other equity interests; (d) except any transaction that may occur pursuant to the WSDA Agreement, issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its limited liability company/membership interests, capital stock or other equity interests, or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its limited liability company/membership interests, capital stock or other equity interests; (e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its limited liability company/membership interests, capital stock or other equity interests, or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its limited liability company/membership interests, capital stock or other equity interests; (f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice, except as required by GAAP or SAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements; (g) material change in its cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits; (h) entry into any contract that would constitute a Material Contract; (i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any material assets shown or reflected in the Interim Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements; (k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Company Intellectual Property or Company IP Agreements; (l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to an asset material to it; (m) capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person; (n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any Material Contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound; (o) material capital expenditures; (p) imposition of any Encumbrance upon its properties, capital stock or assets, tangible or intangible; (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of the Companies current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, independent contractors or consultants, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (B) as provided for in any written agreements or (C) as required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000, or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, manager, independent contractor or consultant; (r) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business; (s) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, manager, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement with a union, in each case whether written or oral; (t) loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its shareholders or members, or current or former directors, managers, officers and employees; (u) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business; (v) except for this Agreement, adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law; (w) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $100,000 individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (x) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or stock or limited liability company/membership interests of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof; (y) action by it to make, change or revoke any material election in respect of Taxes (except as required by Law), change an annual accounting period, adopt or change any accounting method with respect to Taxes except as may be required as a result of a change in Law, make any material agreement or settlement with respect to Taxes, file any amended Tax return, surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes, or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment; (z) entry, issuance, or filing, with or without the request or consent or over the objection of it, or any order, consent order, of directive relating to any Company of or by any Applicable Regulator, or undertaking or agreement by such Company to or with any Applicable Regulator; or (aa) Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing.
Presumptions and Effects of Certain Proceedings 10.1 In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9.1 of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. 10.2 If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 9 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith require(s) such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2 shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the shareholders pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement and if (A) within 15 days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the shareholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of shareholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement. In connection with each meeting at which a shareholder determination will be made, the Company shall solicit proxies that expressly include a proposal to indemnify or reimburse the Indemnitee. The Company shall afford the Indemnitee ample opportunity to present evidence of the facts upon which the Indemnitee relies for indemnification in any Company proxy statement relating to such shareholder determination. Subject to the fiduciary duties of its members under applicable law, the Board will not recommend against indemnification or reimbursement in any proxy statement relating to the proposal to indemnify or reimburse the Indemnitee. 10.3 The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Termination of Certain Agreements On and as of the Closing, the Company shall take all actions necessary to cause the Contracts listed on Schedule 6.04 to be terminated without any further force and effect and without any cost or other liability or obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and there shall be no further obligations of any of the relevant parties thereunder following the Closing.
Absence of Certain Relationships No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers or stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any executive officer of the Company or the Operating Partnership, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company or the Operating Partnership.