Operation of the Company’s Business (a) Except (i) as set forth in Section 4.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) as expressly permitted by or required in accordance this Agreement, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, to the extent reasonably necessary, (A) to protect the health and safety of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ employees, (B) to respond to third party supply or service disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or (C) as required by any applicable Law, directive or guideline from any Governmental Body arising out of, or otherwise related to, the COVID-19 pandemic (including any response to COVID-19), or (v) as may be consented to in writing by Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the Pre-Closing Period: each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall conduct its business and operations in the Ordinary Course of Business and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and the requirements of all Contracts that constitute Company Material Contracts. (b) Except (i) as expressly permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by applicable Law or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), at all times during the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, do any of the following: (i) declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any shares of its capital stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other securities (except in connection with the payment of the exercise price and/or withholding Taxes incurred upon the exercise, settlement or vesting of any award granted under the Company Plan in accordance with the terms of such award in effect on the date of this Agreement); (ii) sell, issue, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber or authorize any of the foregoing with respect to: (A) any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for shares of outstanding Company Common Stock issued upon the valid exercise of Company Options); (B) any option, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any other security, other than option grants or restricted stock unit awards granted to employees and service providers in the Ordinary Course of Business which are included in the calculation of the Company Outstanding Shares; or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) except as required to give effect to anything in contemplation of the Closing, amend any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents, or effect or be a party to any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Contemplated Transactions; (iv) form any Subsidiary or acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity or enter into a joint venture with any other Entity; (A) lend money to any Person (except for the advancement of expenses to employees, directors and consultants in the Ordinary Course of Business), (B) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, (C) guarantee any debt securities of others, or (D) other than the incurrence or payment of any Transaction Expenses, make any capital expenditure in excess of the budgeted capital expenditure amounts set forth in the Company operating budget delivered to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “Company Budget”); (vi) other than as required by applicable Law or the terms of any Company Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement: (A) adopt, terminate, establish or enter into any Company Benefit Plan; (B) cause or permit any Company Benefit Plan to be amended in any material respect; (C) pay any bonus or make any profit-sharing or similar payment to, or increase the amount of the wages, salary, commissions, benefits or other compensation or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers or employees, other than increases in base salary and annual cash bonus opportunities and payments made in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice and which do not exceed, in the aggregate, the amounts specifically budgeted therefore in the Company Budget; (D) increase the severance or change of control benefits offered to any current or new employees, directors or consultants; (E) hire any (x) officer or (y) employee whose annual base salary is or is expected to be more than $250,000 per year or (F) terminate or give notice of termination to any officer other than for cause; (vii) recognize any labor union or labor organization, except as otherwise required by applicable Law and after prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); (viii) enter into any material transaction other than in the Ordinary Course of Business; (ix) acquire any material asset or sell, lease or otherwise irrevocably dispose of any of its assets or properties, or grant any Encumbrance with respect to such assets or properties, except in the Ordinary Course of Business; (x) sell, assign, transfer, license, sublicense or otherwise dispose of any Company IP (other than pursuant to non-exclusive licenses in the Ordinary Course of Business); (xi) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, fail to pay any income or other material Tax as such Tax becomes due and payable, file any amendment making any material change to any Tax Return, settle or compromise any income or other material Tax liability or submit any voluntary disclosure application, enter into any Tax allocation, sharing, indemnification or other similar agreement or arrangement (other than customary commercial contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business the principal subject matter of which is not Taxes), request or consent to any extension or waiver of any limitation period with respect to any claim or assessment for any income or other material Taxes (other than pursuant to an extension of time to file any Tax Return granted in the Ordinary Course of Business of not more than seven (7) months), or adopt or change any material accounting method in respect of Taxes; (xii) enter into, materially amend or terminate any Company Material Contract; (xiii) other than as required by Law or GAAP, take any action to change accounting policies or procedures; (xiv) initiate or settle any Legal Proceeding (xv) enter into or amend a Contract that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions; or (xvi) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing. (c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no consent of Parent shall be required with respect to any matter set forth in this Section 4.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the extent that the requirement of such consent could violate any applicable Laws.
Business and Entertainment Expenses Subject to Company’s standard policies and procedures with respect to expense reimbursement as applied to its executive employees generally, Company shall reimburse Executive for, or pay on behalf of Executive, reasonable and appropriate expenses incurred by Executive for business related purposes, including dues and fees to industry and professional organizations and costs of entertainment and business development.
Professional Development and Training The Company shall pay for or reimburse the Executive for any reasonable professional development or training.
Professional Development 9.01 Continuous professional development is a hallmark of professional nursing practice. As a self-regulating profession, nursing recognizes the importance of maintaining a dynamic practice environment which includes ongoing learning, the maintenance of competence, career development, career counselling and succession planning. The parties agree that professional development includes a diverse range of activities, including but not limited to formal academic programs; short-term continuing education activities; certification programs; independent learning committee participation. The parties recognize their joint responsibility in and commitment to active participation in the area of professional development.
Professional Development Funds 23.1.1 Two Professional Development Funds, a Professional Development Support Fund and an Education Leave Fund, shall be established to support professional development activities as defined in 23.2. On April 1st of each year, the College will allocate an amount equal to no less than 0.9% of total faculty salary (exclusive of severance payments) to the Professional Development Support Fund, and an amount equal to no less than 0.6% of total faculty salary to the Educational Leave Fund. Any unused balances in these funds shall carry over to the next budget year. 23.1.2 The College agrees to provide the Association with the authority to administer the program on behalf of the College for those activities approved by the College in accordance with 23.2, 23.4 and 23.5. 23.1.3 Nothing in this Agreement prevents the College from funding professional development activities in addition to those activities supported through the Professional Development Funds (23.1.1) in accordance with the procedures described in this Article.
Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. Each of the Company and the subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or foreign partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as described in the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year and other than (i) those subsidiaries not required to be listed on Exhibit 21.1 by Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and (ii) those subsidiaries formed or acquired since the last day of the most recently ended fiscal year.
Professional Development Fund Article 20
Operation of the Business During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Stockholders shall cause the Company to conduct its operations and the Business in the Ordinary Course of Business and in material compliance with all laws applicable to the Company or any of its properties or assets and, to the extent consistent therewith, use its Reasonable Best Efforts to preserve intact its current business organization, keep its physical assets in good working condition, keep available the services of its current officers and employees and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with it to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall not be impaired in any material respect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Stockholders shall not and shall cause the Company not to, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, incur any funded indebtedness: (a) issue or sell, or redeem or repurchase, any stock or other securities of the Company or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire any such stock or other securities (except pursuant to the conversion or exercise of outstanding convertible securities, options or warrants outstanding on the date hereof), or amend any of the terms of (including without limitation the vesting of) any such convertible securities or options or warrants; (b) except as otherwise contemplated under Section 4.4(h), below, split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock; or, except as may be required to enable Stockholders to pay taxes on the Pre-Tax Profits of the Company through the Closing Date, and except as otherwise contemplated under Section 4.4(h), below, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock; (c) except in connection with the Required Financing (hereinafter described), create, incur, assume or guaranty any indebtedness for borrowed money (including obligations in respect of capital leases) except in the Ordinary Course of Business or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other person or entity; or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person or entity; (d) enter into, adopt or amend any Employee Benefit Plan or any employment or severance agreement or arrangement or (except for normal increases in the Ordinary Course of Business for employees who are not Affiliates) increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefits of, or materially modify the employment terms of, its directors, officers or employees, generally or individually, or pay any bonus or other benefit to its directors, officers or employees; (e) acquire, sell, lease, license or dispose of any assets or property (including without limitation any shares or other equity interests in or securities of the Company or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof), other than purchases and sales of Inventories and other assets in the Ordinary Course of Business; (f) except in connection with the Required Financing (hereinafter described), mortgage or pledge any of its property or assets (including without limitation any shares or other equity interests in or securities of the Company or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof), or subject any such property or assets to any Security Interest; (g) discharge or satisfy any Security Interest or pay any obligation or liability other than in the Ordinary Course of Business; (h) as at the Closing Date, and after giving effect to the declaration or funding of any dividends or distributions to the Stockholders, whether in cash or in property, (A) the combined stockholders’ equity of both the Company and DiscCo shall be not less than $4,000,000, (B) neither the Company nor DiscCo will have an indebtedness in excess of $100,000, and (C) not less than $500,000 of the combined assets of both the Company and DiscCo will be in the form of cash, cash equivalents or immediately marketable securities which is necessary to cover operating expenses of the Company and DiscCo incurred in the ordinary course of business; (i) amend the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company; (j) change in any material respect its accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may be required by a generally applicable change in GAAP; (k) enter into, amend, terminate, take or omit to take any action that would constitute a violation of or default under, or waive any rights under, any material Contract or agreement; (l) institute or settle any Legal Proceeding; (m) take any action or fail to take any action permitted by this Agreement with the knowledge that such action or failure to take action would result in (i) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement becoming untrue in any material respect or (ii) any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article V not being satisfied; or (n) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions.
Professional Development Leave A. Policy. Professional development leave shall be made available to employees who meet the requirements set forth below. Such leaves are granted to increase an employee's value to the University through enhanced opportunities for professional renewal, educational travel, study, formal education, research, writing, or other experience of professional value, not as a reward for service.
Professional Growth This Section applies to those regularly assigned teachers who do not hold a clear multiple or single subject teaching credential and to those who desire to maintain such a credential. The minimum requirement for compliance with this Section shall be: 18.8.1 Successful service as a classroom teacher or successful service authorized by a services credential. The minimum length of service shall be equivalent to one-half (0.5) of a school year; 18.8.2 Completion of an individual program of Professional Growth that shall consist of a minimum of one-hundred-and-fifty (150) clock hours of participation in activities which contribute to competence, performance or effectiveness in the profession of education. Acceptable activities shall be defined to include: • the completion of courses offered by regionally accredited colleges and universities; • participation in educational conferences, workshops, teacher center programs, or staff development programs, including District approved school site staff development programs; • participation in systematic programs of observation and analysis of teaching; • service in a leadership role in a professional organization related to instruction; and • participation in educational research or innovation efforts. 18.8.3 An individual program of Professional Growth shall be developed and planned by the holder of a clear teaching credential. 18.8.4 Before a teacher coming under the provisions of this section commences or amends an individual program of Professional Growth, the advisor shall certify to the teacher that the planned program or amendment complies with this section. 18.8.5 The District shall designate only certificated administrators to serve as Professional Growth Advisors (hereinafter referred to as “advisor”). A list of these advisors, including work location, will be published by the District annually, prior to the beginning of the school calendar year. The responsibility of an advisor shall be to determine whether activities identified in the plan of a teacher comply with these provisions. 18.8.6 On a form provided by the state, a credential holder shall write a Professional Growth plan, which shall identify his or her Professional Growth goals, and the Professional Growth activities he or she proposes to pursue. 18.8.7 A credential holder may amend a Professional Growth plan by adding, deleting or changing any of the original or previously amended goals or proposed activities. 18.8.8 The Professional Growth advisor shall sign a Professional Growth plan, and shall initial an amendment to a Professional Growth plan, if it is in compliance with this section and the Professional Growth needs of the teacher. 18.8.9 An advisor shall complete and return to the credential holder certification of this initial plan, initialing any revisions or verification of completion within ten (10) working days of submission to the advisor. If an advisor finds that he/she cannot certify an initial plan, initial a modification, or verify completion, the advisor shall notify the credential holder of the reason(s) in writing within ten (10) working days of submission. 18.8.10 If a credential holder believes that his/her advisor has taken an adverse action that he/she considers to be arbitrary or contrary to the terms of this section, the credential holder may seek another advisor or appeal the adverse action to the Executive Secretary of the Commission on Teaching Credentialing. 18.8.11 A clock hour for purposes of credited Professional Growth Activities shall be the actual time spent in the activity, including preparation time spent only if the teacher is a presenter of the course. College, university or equivalent courses shall be credited as fifteen (15) clock hours for each semester unit, ten (10) clock hours for each quarter unit, and thirteen (13) hours for each trimester unit. 18.8.12 A teacher shall submit evidence to prove that the Professional Growth activity has been satisfactorily completed. 18.8.13 The Union and the District shall provide a joint meeting for credential holders no later than October 1st of each school year. This meeting shall be mandatory for all teachers who are subject to the provisions of this section and who are new to the District. 18.8.14 The Union and the District agree to form a Professional Growth Program Joint Advisory/Planning Committee to consider possible recommendations for modifications to this section. 18.8.15 The committee shall be composed of three (3) members appointed by the Union and three (3) members appointed by the District.