Operating Covenants From the Execution Date until the Closing or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement as contemplated hereby, except (t) as required by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (u) as required by any lease, Contract, or instrument listed on any Annex, Disclosure Schedule or Schedule, as applicable, (v) as required by any Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority (including by order or directive of the Bankruptcy Court or fiduciary duty of the board of managers of any Seller or its Affiliates) or any requirements or limitations resulting from the Bankruptcy Cases, (w) to the extent related solely to Excluded Assets and/or Excluded Liabilities, (x) for renewal of expiring insurance coverage in the Ordinary Course of Business, (y) for emergency operations or (z) as otherwise consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
(a) Sellers will:
(i) subject to any Bankruptcy Court order to the contrary, operate the Assets in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii) maintain or cause its Affiliates to maintain the books of account and records relating to the Assets in the usual, regular and ordinary manner, in accordance with its usual accounting practices;
(iii) give written notice to Buyer as soon as is practicable of any material damage or casualty to or destruction or condemnation of any Asset of which Sellers have Knowledge;
(iv) use reasonable best efforts to maintain insurance coverage on the Assets in the amounts and types described on Disclosure Schedule 3.10; and
(v) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain or cause its Affiliates to maintain all Permits (including Environmental Permits) required for the operation of the Assets as presently conducted; and
(b) no Seller shall:
(i) sell, lease or otherwise transfer any Asset, or otherwise voluntarily divest or relinquish any right or asset, other than (A) sales or other dispositions of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, improvements or other personal property or fixtures in the Ordinary Course of Business which have been replaced with an item of substantially equal suitability and (B) dispositions of Excluded Assets;
(ii) enter into any material Contract that if entered into prior to the Execution Date would be required to be listed in Disclosure Schedule 3.05(a) other than (A) Contracts of the type described in Section 3.05(a)(iii) and Section 3.05(a)(viii) entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business (provided that Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of the terms of any such Contract prior to the execution thereof), (B) confidentiality agreements entered into in accordance with the Bid Procedures Order, (C) contracts or agreements entered into in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases (including any in connection with an Alternative Transaction) and (D) Contracts that would not adversely affect the Assets in any material respect;
(iii) amend or modify in any material respect or terminate any Purchased Contract (other than termination or expiration in accordance with its terms) or any Permits (including Environmental Permits) required for the operation of the Assets as presently conducted;
(iv) change the methods of accounting or accounting practice by Sellers, except as required by concurrent changes in Applicable Law or GAAP as agreed to by its independent public accountants; or
(v) to the extent any of the following would reasonably have the effect of increasing the Non-Income Tax liability of Buyer for any period after the Closing Date, (A) make any settlement of or compromise any Non-Income Tax liability with respect to the Assets, (B) change any Non-Income Tax election or Non-Income Tax method of accounting or make any new Non-Income Tax election or adopt any new Non-Income Tax method of accounting with respect to the Assets; (C) surrender any right to claim a refund of Non-Income Taxes with respect to the Assets; or (D) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Non-Income Tax claim or assessment with respect to the Assets.
Interim Covenants (a) Except with the prior written consent of Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or as required by the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable Law, during the period prior to and up to Closing, Seller shall operate the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business in compliance in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the operation of its business. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, or as otherwise required by applicable Law, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
(i) maintain the Purchased Assets in a manner consistent with past practices, reasonable wear and tear excepted and maintain the types and levels of insurance currently in effect in respect of the Purchased Assets;
(ii) preserve intact the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business, to keep available the services of its current employees and agents and to maintain its relations and goodwill with its suppliers, customers, distributors and any others with whom or with which it has business relations;
(iii) upon any damage, destruction or loss to any Purchased Asset, apply any insurance proceeds received with respect thereto to the prompt repair, replacement and restoration thereof to the condition of such Purchased Asset before such event or, if required, to such other (better) condition as may be required by applicable Law;
(iv) promptly advise Purchaser in writing of the occurrence of any event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Change; and
(v) consult with Purchaser on all material aspects of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business as may be reasonably requested from time to time by Purchaser, including, but not limited to, personnel, accounting and financial functions.
(b) Except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or by applicable Law, during the period prior to and up to Closing, Seller shall not, without the prior written consent of Purchaser:
(i) enter into, terminate or amend or reject any of the Transferred Agreements, or cancel, modify or waive any material claims held in respect of the Purchased Assets or waive any material rights of value;
(ii) do any act or fail to do any act that will cause a material breach or default under any of the Transferred Agreements;
(iii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Purchased Assets;
(iv) modify any of its sales practices or receivables collections practices from those in place on the date hereof, including offering any discounts, incentives or other accommodations for early payment;
(v) conduct any “going out of business,” liquidation, bankruptcy, or similar sales or take any action to fashion its business as going out of business, liquidating or closing;
(vi) dispose of or fail to keep in effect any material rights in, to, or for the use of any of the Intellectual Property, except for rights which expire or terminate in accordance with their terms;
(vii) subject any Purchased Assets to any Liens;
(viii) enter into, or negotiate any licenses or grant any party any rights or license in any of the Purchased Assets; or
(ix) authorize any of the foregoing, or commit or agree to take actions, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
(c) Seller take all action to properly and timely (i) exercise its option for the next season of Yu-Gi-Oh! such that the expiration dates of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Grant Agreements at Closing shall be August 31, 2019 for broadcast and home video rights in the United States, August 31, 2020 for broadcast and home video rights in the territory described therein outside of the United States, and August 31, 2019 with respect to merchandising rights and (ii) make any required payments under the Yu-Gi-Oh Grant Agreements.
Joint Covenants Buyer and Seller hereby covenant and agree that between the date hereof and Closing:
Parent Covenants Except as otherwise provided below, during the time period from the Agreement Date until the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time or (b) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, Parent covenants and agrees with the Company as follows:
Information Covenants The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
REPORTING COVENANTS The Borrower agrees with the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent to each of the following, as long as any Obligation or any Revolving Credit Commitment remains outstanding and, in each case, unless the Requisite Lenders otherwise consent in writing:
Non-Competition Covenants a. The provisions of this subparagraph a. shall apply both during normal working hours and at all other times including, but not limited to, nights, weekends and vacation time, while Optionee is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Optionee shall not directly or indirectly (i) engage in any employment, business, or activity that is competitive with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) assist any other person or organization in competing with, or in preparing to engage in competition with, the business of the Company or any Subsidiary. Direct competition shall include, but not be limited to, the design, development, production, promotion or sale of products, software, or services competitive with those of the Company or any Subsidiary. In addition, Optionee shall not directly or indirectly (i) engage in any employment, business, or activity that is competitive with either (A) the proposed business of the Subsidiary that employs Optionee (“Employing Subsidiary”) or (B) any proposed business of any of the Company’s other Subsidiaries (the “Non-Employing Subsidiaries”) of which Optionee has actual knowledge, or (ii) assist any other person or organization in competing with, or in preparing to engage in competition with, either (A) the proposed business of the Employing Subsidiary or (B) any proposed business of any Non-Employing Subsidiary of which Optionee has actual knowledge.
b. The provisions of this subparagraph b. shall apply during Optionee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary and for a period of twelve months after Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Optionee shall not directly or indirectly solicit to conduct any Competitive Business with, or conduct any Competitive Business with, any (i) then-current customer of the Employing Subsidiary or (ii) any person that has been a customer of the Employing Subsidiary within the six months prior to the time of Optionee’s separation from employment. The phrase “Competitive Business” means the line(s) of business(es) conducted by the Employing Subsidiary.
c. The provisions of this subparagraph c. shall apply during Optionee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary and for a period of 12 months after Optionee’s separation from employment. Optionee shall not directly or indirectly solicit to hire, or cause to be hired, any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary as an employee or agent of, or consultant to, any business enterprise that Optionee is associated with.
d. Each non-competition covenant of Optionee contained in the preceding provisions of this Paragraph 10 (the “non-competition covenant”) shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Optionee against the Company or any Subsidiary, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company or any Subsidiary of such non-competition covenant.
e. The Company and Optionee have in good faith used their best efforts to make each non-competition covenant contained in the preceding provisions of this Paragraph 10 reasonable in both scope and in duration. It is not anticipated, nor is it intended, by either party to this Agreement that any court or other tribunal having jurisdiction over the matter will find it necessary to reform any non-competition covenant to make it reasonable in both scope and in duration, or otherwise. If any non-competition covenant is deemed by a tribunal having jurisdiction over the matter to be unlawful or unenforceable, such provision will be deemed severable from this Agreement and such provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and be enforceable. Furthermore, in lieu of such unlawful or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms as may be possible and be enforceable.
f. Optionee is agreeing to the provisions of this Paragraph 10 in consideration of the grant of this Option. The provisions of this Paragraph 10 shall be valid and enforceable by the Company and its Subsidiaries, regardless of whether or not any of this Option granted hereunder actually becomes exercisable, or whether or not Optionee actually exercises any rights under this Option. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any provision of this Paragraph 10 and any similar or analogous provision of any other agreement (either currently in effect or that may be entered into in the future) between Optionee, on the one hand, and the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, whichever provision is most favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary shall govern.
Separateness Covenants Each Originator hereby acknowledges that this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are being entered into in reliance upon the Buyer’s identity as a legal entity separate from such Originator and its Affiliates. Therefore, from and after the date hereof, each Originator shall take all reasonable steps necessary to make it apparent to third Persons that the Buyer is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of such Originator and any other Person, and is not a division of such Originator, its Affiliates or any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition to and consistent with the other covenants set forth herein, such Originator shall take such actions as shall be required in order that:
(a) such Originator shall not be involved in the day to day management of the Buyer;
(b) such Originator shall maintain separate records and books of account from the Buyer and otherwise will observe corporate formalities and have a separate area from the Buyer for its business (which may be located at the same address as the Buyer, and, to the extent that it and the Buyer have offices in the same location, there shall be a fair and appropriate allocation of overhead costs between them, and each shall bear its fair share of such expenses);
(c) the financial statements and books and records of such Originator shall be prepared after the date of creation of the Buyer to reflect and shall reflect the separate existence of the Buyer; provided, that the Buyer’s assets and liabilities may be included in a consolidated financial statement issued by an Affiliate of the Buyer; provided, however, that any such consolidated financial statement or the notes thereto shall make clear that the Buyer’s assets are not available to satisfy the obligations of such Affiliate;
(d) except as permitted by the Receivables Financing Agreement, (i) such Originator shall maintain its assets (including, without limitation, deposit accounts) separately from the assets (including, without limitation, deposit accounts) of the Buyer and (ii) such Originator’s assets, and records relating thereto, have not been, are not, and shall not be, commingled with those of the Buyer;
(e) such Originator shall not act as an agent for the Buyer (except in the capacity of Servicer or a Sub-Servicer);
(f) such Originator shall not conduct any of the business of the Buyer in its own name (except in the capacity of Servicer or a Sub-Servicer);
(g) such Originator shall not pay any liabilities of the Buyer out of its own funds or assets;
(h) such Originator shall maintain an arm’s-length relationship with the Buyer;
(i) such Originator shall not assume or guarantee or become obligated for the debts of the Buyer or hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations of the Buyer;
(j) such Originator shall not acquire obligations of the Buyer (other than the Intercompany Loan Agreement and the Intercompany Loans);
(k) such Originator shall allocate fairly and reasonably overhead or other expenses that are properly shared with the Buyer, including, without limitation, shared office space;
(l) such Originator shall identify and hold itself out as a separate and distinct entity from the Buyer;
(m) such Originator shall correct any known misunderstanding respecting its separate identity from the Buyer;
(n) such Originator shall not enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with the Buyer, except in the ordinary course of its business and on terms which are intrinsically fair and not less favorable to it than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an unrelated third party;
(o) such Originator shall not pay the salaries of the Buyer’s employees, if any; and
(p) to the extent not already covered in paragraphs (a) through (o) above, such Originator shall comply and/or act in accordance with all of the other separateness covenants set forth in Section 8.03 of the Receivables Financing Agreement.
CONTINUING COVENANTS The Competitive Supplier agrees and covenants to perform each of the following obligations during the term of this ESA.
Post Termination Covenants During the term of Employee’s employment hereunder and for 12 months (“the Designated Period”) after termination of Employee’s employment hereunder, Employee will not (a) anywhere within any county in which any of the Companies conducts business, engage, directly or indirectly, alone or as a shareholder (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the common stock of any publicly traded corporation), partner, officer, director, employee, consultant or advisor, or otherwise in any way participate in or become associated with, any other business organization that is engaged or becomes engaged in any business that provides the same or any substantially similar services or products offered by any of the Companies during the term of Employee’s employment or at the time of Employee’s termination or that any of the Companies has notified Employee at any time prior to the time of such termination that it proposes to conduct and for which any of the Companies have, prior to the time of such termination, expended substantial resources (the “Designated Industry”), (b) solicit any employee of any of the Companies to leave its employ for alternative employment, or hire or offer employment to any person to whom Employee actually knows any of the Companies has offered employment, (c) solicit, or attempt to divert or otherwise interfere with the relationship with, any customers or suppliers of the Companies, and (d) disparage the Companies or any of their officers, directors or employees. Employee acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 9 are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Companies. Employee will continue to be bound by the provisions of this Section §9 until their expiration and shall not be entitled to any compensation from CURO with respect thereto except as provided above. If at any time the provisions of this Section 9 shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable by reason of being vague or unreasonable as to area, duration or scope of activity, this Section 9 shall be considered divisible and shall become and be immediately amended to only such area, duration and scope of activity as shall be determined to be reasonable and enforceable by the court or other body having jurisdiction over the matter; and Employee agrees that this Section 9 as so amended shall be valid and binding as though any invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included herein. Employee hereby acknowledges that he has agreed to be bound by the provisions of this Section 9 in consideration for the compensation, severance and other benefits to be provided by CURO to Employee pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.