Control of Litigation The Parties agree and acknowledge that ASCU shall be entitled at its option exclusively to control any Proceeding, including without limitation the Canyons Litigation, and each Party agrees (i) to promptly notify the other Party of the existence (or alleged existence) of the institution or commencement of any Proceeding instituted by any third party, and (ii) in the case of ASC, to cooperate fully with Indemnitors in connection therewith; provided, that Indemnitor’s right to control any Proceeding shall not be construed as including the right to enter into any settlement, consent judgment or decree or other order or judgment affecting Indemnitees and whether involving monetary or non-monetary relief without the prior written approval of Indemnitees, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Furthermore, Indemnitors agree to keep ASC and the Indemnitees reasonably informed of the status of each Proceeding, including providing ASC and the Indemnitees with copies of and access to ASCU’s, and any other Indemnitors’, legal counsel’s litigation files as well as providing Indemnitees with copies of all status reports or similar correspondence including, but not limited to, correspondence provided to any insurance carrier or bonding company with an interest in any such Proceeding or litigation. If ASCU fails to proceed promptly and diligently to respond to any such Proceeding as promptly as reasonably possible, including but not limited to failing to provide Indemnitees with notice of any proposed settlement prior to entering into such an agreement, and/or fails to keep Indemnitees reasonably informed of the status of any Proceeding, Indemnitees may send Notice of such failure to ASCU and if such failure is not corrected within 30 days after such Notice, Indemnitees may assume control of such Proceeding at Indemnitors’ sole expense. In the event of such an assumption of control of a Proceeding by Indemnitees, Indemnitees shall not enter into any settlement, consent decree or order without the prior written approval of ASCU, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
Litigation Matters If the FDIC Party and the Assuming Institution do not agree to submit the Dispute Item to arbitration, the Dispute Item may be resolved by litigation in accordance with Federal or state law, as provided in Section 13.10 of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement. Any litigation shall be filed in a United States District Court in the proper district.
Certain Litigation Matters The Owner Trustee shall provide prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Seller and the Servicer of any action, proceeding or investigation known to the Owner Trustee that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Trust or the Owner Trust Estate.
Litigation Affecting Closing On the Closing Date, no proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit or to obtain damages or other relief in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no investigation that might eventuate in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be pending or threatened.
Litigation, etc The Fund shall give prompt notice in writing to the Purchaser of any litigation, administrative proceeding or business development which is reasonably expected to materially adversely affect its business, properties or affairs or to impair the ability of the Fund to perform its obligations as set forth hereunder or under any of the other Related Documents. All information, reports and other papers, documentation and data with respect to the Fund furnished to the Purchaser pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be, at the time the same are so furnished, complete and correct in all material respects and, when considered with all other material delivered to the Purchaser under this Agreement or made available pursuant to the Due Diligence Request, will not contain untrue statements of material facts or omit to state material facts necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Transaction Litigation From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Acquisition Merger Closing or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, SPAC, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall each notify the other in writing promptly after learning of any stockholder demands, other stockholder Actions (including derivative claims) or Actions brought by any third-party relating to this Agreement, any related agreements or any matters relating thereto (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”) commenced against, in the case of SPAC, any of SPAC or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives (in their capacity as a Representative of SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries), or, in the case of the Company, any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives (in their capacity as a Representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). SPAC and the Company shall each (i) keep the other reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation, (ii) give the other the opportunity to, at its own cost and expense, participate in the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation and reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation, (iii) consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to any such Transaction Litigation and (iv) reasonably cooperate with each other; provided, however, that in no event shall (x) SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives settle or compromise any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (y) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any or any of their respective Representatives settle or compromise any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of SPAC (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Litigation Control (a) With respect to any Mortgage Loan (other than a Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan), any Serviced Companion Loan or any related REO Loan or related REO Property, the Special Servicer shall, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, direct, manage, prosecute and/or defend any action brought by a Mortgagor, guarantor, or other obligor on the related Note or any Affiliates thereof (each a “Borrower-Related Party”) against the Trust, the Master Servicer and/or the Special Servicer or any predecessor master servicer or special servicer, and represent the interests of the Trust in any litigation relating to the rights and obligations of the Trust, or of the Mortgagor or other Borrower-Related Party under the related Mortgage Loan documents, or with respect to the related Mortgaged Property or other collateral securing such Mortgage Loan (or Serviced Whole Loan), or otherwise with respect to the enforcement of the obligations of a Borrower-Related Party under the related Mortgage Loan documents (“Trust-Related Litigation”). In the event that the Master Servicer is named in any Trust-Related Litigation but the Special Servicer is not named in such Trust-Related Litigation (regardless of whether the Trust is named in such Trust-Related Litigation), the Master Servicer shall notify the Special Servicer of such litigation as soon as practicable but in any event no later than within ten (10) Business Days of the Master Servicer receiving service of such Trust-Related Litigation.
(b) To the extent the Master Servicer is named in the Trust-Related Litigation, and neither the Trust nor the Special Servicer is named, in order to effectuate the role of the Special Servicer as contemplated by the immediately preceding Section 3.32(a), the Master Servicer shall (i) provide monthly status reports to the Special Servicer, regarding such Trust-Related Litigation; (ii) seek to have the Trust replace the Master Servicer as the appropriate party to the lawsuit; and (iii) so long as the Master Servicer remains a party to the lawsuit, consult with and act at the direction of the Special Servicer with respect to decisions and resolutions related to the interests of the Trust in such Trust-Related Litigation, including but not limited to the selection of counsel; provided that the Master Servicer shall have the right to engage separate counsel relating to claims against the Master Servicer to the extent set forth in Section 3.32(e); and provided, however, that if there are claims against the Master Servicer and the Master Servicer has not determined that separate counsel is required for such claims, such counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Master Servicer.
(c) The Special Servicer shall not (i) undertake (or direct the Master Servicer to undertake) any material settlement of any Trust-Related Litigation or (ii) initiate any material Trust-Related Litigation unless and until it has notified in writing the Directing Certificateholder (only if the related Mortgage Loan is not an Excluded Loan as to such party and prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Consultation Termination Event) (to the extent the identity of the Directing Certificateholder is actually known to the Special Servicer; provided that the Special Servicer shall make due inquiry of the Certificate Administrator as to the identity of the Directing Certificateholder) and the related holder of any Serviced Companion Loan (if such matter affects such related Serviced Companion Loan) (to the extent the identity of the holder of such Serviced Companion Loan is actually known to the Special Servicer), and the Directing Certificateholder (only if the related Mortgage Loan is not an Excluded Loan with respect to the Directing Certificateholder or the Holder of the majority of the Controlling Class and prior to the occurrence and continuation of a Control Termination Event) has not objected in writing within five (5) Business Days of having been notified thereof and having been provided with all information that the Directing Certificateholder has reasonably requested with respect thereto promptly following its receipt of the subject notice (it being understood and agreed that if such written objection has not been received by the Special Servicer within such five (5) Business Day period, then the Directing Certificateholder shall be deemed to have approved the taking of such action); provided that, if the Special Servicer determines (consistent with the Servicing Standard) that immediate action is necessary to protect the interests of the Certificateholders and, with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, the related Companion Holders, the Special Servicer may take such action without waiting for the Directing Certificateholder’s response.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Special Servicer nor the Master Servicer shall follow any advice, direction or consultation provided by the Directing Certificateholder or the Risk Retention Consultation Party (or any other party to this Agreement) that would require or cause the Special Servicer or the Master Servicer, as applicable, to violate any applicable law, be inconsistent with the Servicing Standard, require or cause the Special Servicer or the Master Servicer, as applicable, to violate provisions of this Agreement, require or cause the Special Servicer or the Master Servicer, as applicable, to violate the terms of any Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan, expose any Certificateholder or any party to this Agreement or their Affiliates, officers, directors or agents to any claim, suit or liability, cause any REMIC created hereunder to fail to qualify as a REMIC, result in the imposition of a “prohibited transaction” or “prohibited contribution” tax under the REMIC Provisions or materially expand the scope of the Special Servicer’s or the Master Servicer’s, as the case may be, responsibilities under this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding the right of the Special Servicer to represent the interests of the Trust in Trust-Related Litigation, and subject to the rights of the Special Servicer to direct the Master Servicer’s actions in this Section 3.32, the Master Servicer shall retain the right to make determinations relating to claims against the Master Servicer, including but not limited to the right to engage separate counsel and to appear in any proceeding on its own behalf in the Master Servicer’s reasonable discretion, the cost of which shall be subject to indemnification as and to the extent provided in this Agreement.
(f) Further, nothing in this section shall require the Master Servicer to take or fail to take any action which, in the Master Servicer’s good faith and reasonable judgment, may (i) result in a violation of the REMIC Provisions or (ii) subject the Master Servicer to liability or materially expand the scope of the Master Servicer’s obligations under this Agreement.
(g) Notwithstanding the Master Servicer’s right to make determinations relating to claims against the Master Servicer, the Special Servicer shall have the right at any time in accordance with the Servicing Standard to (i) direct the Master Servicer to settle any claims asserted against the Master Servicer (whether or not the Trust or the Special Servicer is named in any such claims or Trust-Related Litigation) (and with respect to any material settlements, with the consent of or in consultation with the Directing Certificateholder prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event or the occurrence and continuance of a Consultation Termination Event, respectively (in each case, other than a Mortgage Loan that is an Excluded Loan as to such party)) and (ii) otherwise reasonably direct the actions of the Master Servicer relating to claims against the Master Servicer (whether or not the Trust or the Special Servicer is named in any such claims or Trust-Related Litigation), provided in either case that (A) such settlement or other direction does not require any admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Master Servicer, (B) the cost of such settlement or any resulting judgment is and shall be paid by the Trust and payment of such cost or judgment is provided for in this Agreement, (C) the Master Servicer is and shall be indemnified as and to the extent provided in this Agreement for all costs and expenses of the Master Servicer incurred in defending and settling the Trust-Related Litigation and for any judgment, (D) any such action taken by the Master Servicer at the direction of the Special Servicer shall be deemed (as to the Master Servicer) to be in compliance with the Servicing Standard and (E) the Special Servicer provides the Master Servicer with assurance reasonably satisfactory to the Master Servicer as to the items in clauses (A), (B) and (C).
(h) In the event both the Master Servicer and the Special Servicer or Trust are named in Trust-Related Litigation, the Master Servicer and the Special Servicer shall cooperate with each other to afford the Master Servicer and the Special Servicer the rights afforded to such party in this Section 3.32. This Section 3.32 shall not apply in the event the Special Servicer authorizes the Master Servicer, and the Master Servicer agrees (both authority and agreement to be in writing), to make certain decisions or control certain Trust-Related Litigation on behalf of the Trust in accordance with the Servicing Standard. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the event that any action, suit, litigation or proceeding names the Trustee in its individual capacity, or in the event that any judgment is rendered against the Trustee in its individual capacity, the Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Master Servicer or the Special Servicer, as the case may be, may retain counsel and appear in any such proceeding on its own behalf in order to protect and represent its interests (but not to otherwise direct, manage or prosecute such litigation or claim); (ii) in the event of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, other than an action, suit, litigation or proceeding relating to the enforcement of the obligations of a Mortgagor, guarantor or other obligor under the related Mortgage Loan documents, or otherwise relating to one or more Mortgage Loans or Mortgaged Properties, neither the Master Servicer nor the Special Servicer shall, without the prior written consent of the Trustee, (A) initiate an action, suit, litigation or proceeding in the name of the Trustee, whether in such capacity or individually, (B) engage counsel to represent the Trustee, or (C) prepare, execute or deliver any government filings, forms, permits, registrations or other documents or take any other similar actions with the intent to cause, and that actually causes, the Trustee to be registered to do business in any state (provided that neither the Master Servicer nor the Special Servicer shall be responsible for any delay due to the unwillingness of the Trustee to grant such consent); and (iii) in the event that any court finds that the Trustee is a necessary party in respect of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding relating to or arising from this Agreement or any Mortgage Loan, the Trustee shall have the right to retain counsel and appear in any such proceeding on its own behalf in order to protect and represent its interests, whether as Trustee or individually (but not to otherwise direct, manage or prosecute such litigation or claim); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 3.32(h) shall be interpreted to preclude the Special Servicer (with respect to any material Trust-Related Litigation, with the consent or consultation of the Directing Certificateholder prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event or the occurrence and continuance of a Consultation Termination Event, respectively, to the extent required in Section 3.32(c) and only to the extent such Mortgage Loan is not an Excluded Loan as to such party) from initiating any action, suit, litigation or proceeding in its name as representative of the Trustee of the Trust.
Alternative to Litigation 13.2.1 The Parties desire to resolve disputes arising out of this Agreement without litigation. Accordingly, the Parties agree to use the following Dispute Resolution procedures with respect to any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its breach.
Change in Control of the Company For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean any of the following events:
(A) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (A), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subparagraph (C) below;
(B) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
(C) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;
(D) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Control of Tax Contests (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), Parent shall control, and have sole discretion in handling, settling or contesting, any Tax Contest relating to any Joint Returns, as well as any Separate Returns that relate to a Pre-Distribution Tax Period or to a Straddle Period or other Tax Return if any such Tax Return is related to Taxes for which Parent is responsible pursuant to Article II, or the Tax treatment of the Separation Transactions, provided that (x) Parent shall act in good faith in connection with its control of any such Tax Contests and (y) SpinCo shall have the right at its sole cost and expense to participate in and advise on (including the opportunity to review and comment upon Parent’s communications with the Tax Authority, which comments shall be incorporated upon the consent of Parent, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) such items for which SpinCo would reasonably be expected to be liable under Article II or Section 6.06 as a result of such Tax Contest.
(b) Parent shall have exclusive control over any Separation Related Tax Contest, including exclusive authority with respect to any settlement of such Tax Contest, subject to the following provisions of this Section 9.02(b). In the event of any Separation Related Tax Contest as a result of which SpinCo could reasonably be expected (as determined in the sole discretion of Parent acting in good faith) to become liable for any Separation Tax Losses, (A) Parent shall keep SpinCo reasonably informed in a timely manner of all significant developments in respect of such Tax Contest and all significant actions taken or proposed to be taken by Parent with respect to such Tax Contest, (B) Parent shall timely provide SpinCo with copies of any written materials prepared, furnished or received in connection with such Tax Contest, (C) Parent shall consult with SpinCo reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in connection with such Tax Contest and (D) Parent shall offer SpinCo a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Tax Contest. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, the final determination of the positions taken, including with respect to settlement or other disposition, in any Separation Related Tax Contest shall be made in the sole discretion of Parent and shall be final and not subject to the dispute resolution provisions of Article XIII of this Agreement or Section 11.02 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) or (b), SpinCo shall have sole control over any Tax Contest that relates to Separate Returns of the SpinCo Group for any Post-Distribution Tax Period.
