Conduct of Business The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity, except where such violations would not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
Conduct of the Business (a) Except as required by applicable Law, Judgment or a Governmental Authority, as expressly contemplated, required or permitted by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or otherwise undertaken to implement this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or as set forth in Schedule 6.01, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing (or such earlier date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.01), unless Purchaser otherwise consents in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (i) Seller shall, and shall cause the other Asset Seller Entities to, use its and their commercially reasonable efforts to carry on the Business in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and (ii) to the extent consistent with the foregoing, Seller shall, and shall cause the other Asset Seller Entities to, use its and their commercially reasonable efforts to (A) preserve the business organizations of the Business substantially intact and (B) preserve existing relations with key customers and distributors of the Business and with other Persons with whom Seller and the other Asset Seller Entities have significant business relationships with respect to the Business, in each case, consistent with past practice.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as required by applicable Law, Judgment or a Governmental Authority, as expressly contemplated, required or permitted by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 6.01, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing (or such earlier date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.01), unless Purchaser otherwise consents in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), Seller shall not, and shall not permit any other Asset Seller Entity to, in each case solely to the extent relating to the Business:
(i) incur any Indebtedness that creates or results in a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the Purchased Assets, except for Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that (A) constitutes an Excluded Liability, (B) does not result in a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on the Purchased Assets that will survive the Closing, or (C) constitutes a letter of credit, bank guarantee, security or performance bond or similar credit support instrument, overdraft facility or cash management program;
(ii) sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, to any Person, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, any of the Purchased Assets, except (A) ordinary course dispositions of inventory to customers and distributors consistent with past practice, (B) dispositions consistent with past practice of (1) obsolete, surplus or worn out assets or (2) assets that are no longer used or useful in the Business, or (C) transfers among the Asset Seller Entities;
(iii) make any acquisition of, or investment in, any properties, assets, Securities or business for the Business, except for the acquisitions of supplies, inventory, equipment, merchandise or products in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(iv) grant any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any of the Purchased Assets other than (A) to secure Indebtedness and other obligations permitted under Section 6.01(b)(i), or (B) any such Lien that will not survive the Closing and will not (1) require any Consent to be obtained in connection with the Transactions or (2) delay in any material respect the consummation thereof;
(A) modify, amend or terminate, or waive, in each case in any material respect, any rights or claims under, any Material Contract or any Restricted Contract other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (B) enter into any new Contract that (1) would, in the twelve (12)-month period immediately following the entry into such Contract, reasonably be expected to meet the threshold monetary requirement set forth for such type of a Contract in Section 4.11(a)(iii) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, (2) is a Restricted Contract, or (3) contains a change in control or similar provision in favor of the other party or parties thereto that would require a material payment to or would give rise to any material rights of such other party or parties in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (including in combination with any other event or circumstance), other than pursuant to a tender offer process for Contracts with a Governmental Authority in the ordinary course consistent with past practice; or
(vi) authorize any of, or commit or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of, the foregoing actions.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give Purchaser, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Business prior to the Closing, and nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give Purchaser at any time, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct any Excluded Businesses. Prior to the Closing, each of Purchaser and Seller shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and with applicable Competition Laws, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
Conduct of Third Party Claims If the matter or circumstance that may give rise to a Claim other than a Tax Claim is a result of or in connection with a claim by a third party (a “Third Party Claim”) then:
11.4.1 the Purchaser shall, to the extent reasonably practicable and subject to Applicable Law, consult with the Seller in relation to the conduct of the Third Party Claim and shall take reasonable account of the views of the Seller before taking any action in relation to the Third Party Claim;
11.4.2 no admissions in relation to the Third Party Claim shall be made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group and the Third Party Claim shall not be compromised, disposed of or settled without the written consent of the Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
11.4.3 subject to the Seller indemnifying the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned against all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional costs and expenses) that may be incurred thereby, the Purchaser shall, or the Purchaser shall procure that the members of the Purchaser’s Group shall, take such action as the Seller may reasonably request to avoid, dispute, deny, defend, resist, appeal, compromise or contest the Third Party Claim;
11.4.4 the Seller shall, subject in each case to being paid all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses:
(i) make available to the Purchaser and the relevant Group Company such persons and all such information as the Purchaser may reasonably request for assessing, contesting, disputing, defending, compromising or appealing the Third Party Claim; and
(ii) shall give the Purchaser and the relevant Group Company reasonable access to its premises and to its books and records for such purpose during normal business hours on any Business Day following reasonable notice being given to the Seller;
11.4.5 subject to 11.4.3, the Seller shall be entitled at its own expense and in its absolute discretion, by notice in writing to the Purchaser, to assume conduct of any Third Party Claim and to have the conduct of any related proceedings, negotiations or appeals;
11.4.6 if the Seller sends a notice to the Purchaser pursuant to Clause 11.4.5 and until such time as any final compromise, agreement, expert determination or non-appealable decision of a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction is made in respect of that Third Party Claim or that Third Party Claim is otherwise finally disposed of:
(i) the Purchaser shall, and the Purchaser shall procure that any member of the Purchaser’s Group shall:
(a) give, subject to being paid all reasonable costs and expenses, all such information and assistance including access to premises and personnel, and the right to examine and copy or photograph any assets, accounts, documents and records (excluding, in each case, information or documents which are protected by legal professional privilege but including, in each case, information or documents that are subject to common interest privilege), as the Seller may reasonably request, including instructing such professional or legal advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Purchaser or other member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned but in accordance with the Seller’s instructions, provided that the appointment of such adviser or advisers shall have been approved in writing by the Purchaser (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and
(b) not make any admission of liability, agreement or compromise in relation to that Third Party Claim without the prior written approval of the Seller (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed);
(ii) the Seller shall:
(a) consult with the Purchaser and take reasonable account of the views of the Purchaser before taking any action in relation to the Third Party Claim;
(b) without prejudice to its ability to defend the Third Party Claim, conduct the Third Party Claim with a view to minimising any material harm to the goodwill and reputation of the Wider Group or the Purchaser’s Group;
(c) keep the Purchaser informed of all relevant matters relating to the Third Party Claim and shall promptly forward or procure to be forwarded to the Purchaser copies of all correspondence and other written communications with such other information, including non-written records (except information or documents which are protected by legal professional privilege), relating to the Third Party Claim;
(d) not make any admission of liability, settlement or compromise of the Third Party Claim without the written consent of the Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group fails to consent to a settlement or compromise, the maximum liability of the Seller shall (without prejudice to Clause 10) not exceed the full amount of the proposed settlement or compromise and the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group shall be liable for any damages awarded in excess of the proposed settlement or compromise and costs incurred from (and including) the date the Seller notified the Purchaser of the settlement or compromise; and
(e) indemnify, save as set out in Clause 11.4.6(ii)(d), the Purchaser or other member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned against all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional costs and expenses) that may be incurred as a result of the Seller assuming conduct of the Third Party Claim.
11.4.7 The covenants in this Clause 11.4 may be enforced:
(i) by any Group Company against the Seller; and
(ii) by any member of the Seller’s Group against the Purchaser or a Group Company, under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000.
11.4.8 The provisions of this Clause 11.4 may be varied or terminated by agreement between the Seller and the Purchaser (and the Purchaser may also release or compromise in whole or in part any liability in respect of rights or claims contemplated by this Clause 11.4) without the consent of any Group Company.
Conduct of Logging Unless otherwise specifi- cally provided herein, Purchaser shall fell trees desig- nated for cutting and shall remove the portions that meet Utilization Standards, as provided in B2.2, prior to accep- tance of subdivision for completion of logging under B6.36. Forest Service may make exceptions for occa- sional trees inadvertently not cut or trees or pieces not removed for good reason, including possible damage to forest resources or gross economic impracticability at the time of removal of other timber. Logging shall be con- ducted in accordance with the following, unless C6.4 pro- visions set forth requirements to meet special or unusual logging conditions:
Conduct of mediation In consultation with the mediator, the parties must determine a location, timetable and procedure for the mediation or, if the parties cannot agree on these matters within 7 Working Days of the appointment of the mediator these matters will be determined by the mediator.
Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence (a) Continue to engage in its principal line of business as now conducted by it, (b) preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its principal line of business, except, in any such case, as otherwise permitted pursuant to subsection 6.5 or to the extent that failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Conduct of the Parties The parties will not engage in behaviour that is, or may reasonably be considered to be intimidating, bullying, or harassing or commit any act or behaviour which is offensive or abusive in connection with this Agreement.
Interim Conduct of Business (a) Except (i) as contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) as set forth in Section 6.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, at all times during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article X and the Effective Time, unless Parent otherwise provides its prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (A) carry on its business and conduct its operations in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted, and (B) use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with past practices and policies, to (I) keep available the services of the current officers, key employees and consultants of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, (II) preserve the current relationships of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers and other Persons whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has significant business relations, (III) maintain all of its material operating assets in their current condition (normal wear and tear excepted) and (IV) maintain and preserve its business organization and its material rights and franchises.
(b) Except (i) as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or (ii) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, at all times during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article X and the Effective Time, unless Parent otherwise provides its prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall not do any of the following and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the following:
(i) amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or comparable organizational documents or create any new Subsidiaries;
(ii) issue, sell, deliver or agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase or otherwise) any Company Securities or any Subsidiary Securities, except for (A) the issuance, delivery and sale of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to Company Options, Company RSUs or Company Restricted Stock Awards which are outstanding as of the date hereof upon the exercise or vesting thereof, as applicable, or pursuant to the Company ESPP in compliance with this Agreement or (B) grants to newly hired employees or directors of (x) Company RSUs and (y) Company Options, in each case, issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in accordance with the limitations specified on Section 6.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter and with respect to Company Options, with a per share exercise price that is no less than the then-current market price of a share of Company Common Stock;
(iii) directly or indirectly acquire, repurchase or redeem any Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities, except in connection with (A) Company RSUs in the ordinary course of business, (B) dissolution or reorganization of a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) Tax withholdings and exercise price settlements upon the exercise of Company Options or vesting of Company RSUs or Company Restricted Stock Awards or (D) the forfeiture to or repurchase by the Company of Company Common Stock in connection with the termination of service of a holder of a Company Restricted Stock Award;
(iv) (A) split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any shares of capital stock, or (B) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, shares or property or any combination thereof) in respect of any shares of capital stock, or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution in respect of the shares of capital stock, except for cash dividends made by any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or one of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries;
(v) propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(vi) (A) redeem, repurchase, prepay, defease, cancel, incur, create, assume or otherwise acquire or modify in any material respect any long-term or short-term debt for borrowed monies or issue or sell any debt securities or calls, options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or enter into any agreement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for (1) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business under letters of credit, lines of credit or other credit facilities or arrangements in effect on the date hereof, and (2) loans or advances between the Company and any direct or indirect Subsidiaries, or between any direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company, (B) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person, except with respect to obligations of direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company, (C) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any other Person (other than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries), except for travel advances and business expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice to employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (D) mortgage or pledge any of the Assets, or create or suffer to exist any Lien thereupon (other than Permitted Liens), except pursuant to the terms of any letters of credit, lines of credit or other credit facilities or arrangements in effect on the date hereof;
(vii) except as may be required by applicable Law or the terms of any Employee Plan as in effect on the date hereof or as contemplated by this Agreement, (A) enter into, adopt, amend (including acceleration of vesting), modify or terminate any bonus, profit sharing, incentive, compensation, severance, retention, termination, option, appreciation right, performance unit, stock equivalent, share purchase agreement, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, severance, change in control, pension, retirement, collective bargaining or other employee benefit agreement, trust, plan, fund or other arrangement for the compensation, benefit or welfare of any director, officer or employee in any manner, (B) increase the compensation payable or to become payable of any director, officer or employee, pay or agree to pay any special bonus or special remuneration to any director, officer or employee, or pay or agree to pay any benefit not required by any plan or arrangement as in effect as of the date hereof, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice with respect to any employee who is not a director or executive officer, except in any such case (1) in connection with the hiring of new employees who are not directors or executive officers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and (2) in connection with the promotion of employees who are not directors or executive officers (and who will not be directors or executive officers after such promotion) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) grant or pay any severance or termination pay to (or amend any such existing arrangement with) any current or former director, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice with respect to any independent contractor or employee who is not a director or executive officer or (D) increase benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements.
(viii) settle any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding, except for the settlement of any Legal Proceeding (A) for solely money damages not in excess of $250,000.00 individually or $500,000.00 in the aggregate and (B) as would not be reasonably likely to have any adverse impact on any other Legal Proceedings;
(ix) except as may be required as a result of a change in applicable Law or in GAAP, make any material change in any of the accounting methods, principles or practices used by it or change an annual accounting period;
(x) (A) make or change any material Tax election, (B) settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign income Tax liability, (C) consent to any extension or waiver of any limitation period with respect to any claim or assessment for material Taxes, (D) change any annual Tax accounting period or method of Tax accounting, (E) file any materially amended Tax Return, (F) enter into any closing agreement with respect to any Tax or (G) surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund;
(xi) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (A) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any other Person or any material equity interest therein or (B) dispose of any properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, which are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(xii) make any capital expenditures other than capital expenditures provided for in the capital budget provided to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement and set forth on Section 6.1(b)(xii) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(xiii) make any changes or modifications to any investment or risk management policy or other similar policies (including with respect to hedging) or any cash management policy;
(xiv) permit any insurance policy naming the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a beneficiary or a loss payable payee to lapse, be canceled or expire unless a new policy with substantially identical coverage is in effect as of the date of lapse, cancellation or expiration;
(xv) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, amend in any material respect, terminate or fail to renew any Material Contract, or any other Contract that would have been a Material Contract had it not been amended, terminated or non-renewed prior to the date of this Agreement; or
(xvi) enter into a Contract to or otherwise authorize, commit, resolve, propose or agree to take any of the actions prohibited by this Section 6.1(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to the Appointment Time.
Maintenance of Existence and Conduct of Business Each Credit Party shall: do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and its rights and franchises; continue to conduct its business substantially as now conducted or as otherwise permitted hereunder; at all times maintain, preserve and protect all of its assets and properties used or useful in the conduct of its business, and keep the same in good repair, working order and condition in all material respects (taking into consideration ordinary wear and tear) and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all necessary or appropriate repairs, replacements and improvements thereto consistent with industry practices; and transact business only in such corporate and trade names as are set forth in Disclosure Schedule (5.1).
Conduct of Business by Parent (a) From and after the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the Termination Date, and except (i) as may be required by applicable Law or the regulations or requirements of any stock exchange or regulatory organization applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) as may be agreed in writing by the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (iii) as may be contemplated or required by this Agreement or (iv) as set forth in Section 5.2(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent covenants and agrees that the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted in the ordinary course of business, and Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use their commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact their present lines of business, maintain their rights, franchises and Parent Permits and preserve their relationships with customers and suppliers; provided, however, that no action by Parent or its Subsidiaries with respect to matters specifically addressed by any provision of Section 5.2(b) shall be deemed a breach of this sentence unless such action would constitute a breach of such other provision.
(b) Parent agrees with the Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that from the date hereof and prior to the earlier of the Effective Time and the Termination Date, except (i) as may be required by applicable Law or the regulations or requirements of any stock exchange or regulatory organization applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) as may be consented to by the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (iii) as may be contemplated or required by this Agreement or (iv) as set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent:
(A) shall not adopt any material amendments to the Parent Organizational Documents or the organizational documents and governance arrangement of Parent GP;
(B) shall not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, split, combine or reclassify any of their equity interests or other ownership interests or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or equity interests, except for any such transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent which remains a wholly owned Subsidiary after consummation of such transaction;
(C) except in the ordinary course of business, shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries that is not wholly owned by Parent or wholly owned Subsidiaries of any such Subsidiaries to, authorize or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding equity securities (whether in cash, assets, partnership units, stock or other securities of Parent or its Subsidiaries), except (1) dividends or distributions by any Subsidiaries only to Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent in the ordinary course of business, (2) dividends or distributions required under the applicable organizational documents of such entity in effect on the date of this Agreement, and (3) regular quarterly cash distributions with respect to the Common Units and the Energy Transfer Operating Preferred Units as set forth in Section 5.2(b)(C) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule;
(D) shall not, and shall not permit any of its material Subsidiaries to, adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization, other than the Merger and other than any merger, consolidation, restructuring or reorganization solely among Parent and its Subsidiaries or among Parent’s Subsidiaries or in connection with an acquisition not prohibited by clause (E) of this Section 5.2(b);
(E) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any acquisition of any other person or business or make loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Merger;
(F) shall not issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any equity interest or other ownership interest in Parent or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such equity interest or other ownership interest, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such equity interest, ownership interest or convertible or exchangeable securities or take any action to cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable option under any existing Parent Benefit Plans (except as otherwise provided by the terms of this Agreement or the express terms of any unexercisable or unexercised options or warrants outstanding on the date hereof), other than (1) as set forth in Section 5.2(b)(F) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, (2) issuances of Common Units in respect of any exercise of Parent equity awards and settlement of any Parent equity awards outstanding on the date hereof or as may be granted after the date hereof as permitted under this Section 5.2(b), (3) the sale of Common Units pursuant to the exercise of options to purchase Common Units if necessary to effectuate an option direction upon exercise or for withholding of Taxes, (4) the grant of equity compensation awards under the Parent Equity Plans, or (5) for transactions among Parent and its Subsidiaries or among Parent’s Subsidiaries;
(G) shall not directly or indirectly, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity securities of Parent or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such equity securities, except (1) as set forth on Section 5.2(b)(G) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule or (2) for transactions among Parent and its Subsidiaries or among Parent’s Subsidiaries;
(H) shall not take any action or fail to take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause Parent to be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a corporation; and
(I) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions that are prohibited pursuant to clauses (A) through (H) of this Section 5.2(b).
