Negotiation Meetings The first bargaining session shall be held at a mutually agreed time and date within fourteen (14) days of the request. All proposals by the parties shall be written and submitted to the representative(s) of both teams at the first meeting. No additional items shall be submitted by either party following the first meeting, unless mutually agreed by the parties. Additional ground rules, if any, will be established at the first meeting. Bargaining sessions shall not be scheduled during the regular teacher workday. Time and dates as used in this Article may be changed by mutual agreement.
Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meeting As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, but no later than June 25, 2010, the Company shall prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company relating to the Company’s stockholders meeting (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to finalize the Proxy Statement as promptly as possible after such filing. The Company shall promptly notify Phoenix upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and shall provide Phoenix with copies of all correspondence between it and its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand. Phoenix shall have the opportunity to review and approve in its reasonable discretion the proxy statement and all amendments thereto and all correspondence from the Company and its representatives to the SEC related to the Company stockholders meeting (the “Stockholders Meeting”) prior to filing with the SEC. The Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date the SEC completes review of the Proxy Statement or notifies the Company that it will not review the Proxy Statement, duly call and give notice to the Company stockholders by mailing the definitive Proxy Statement, convene and hold the Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of seeking Company stockholder approval and to solicit such approval from the stockholders. In connection with the Stockholders Meeting, the Company shall, through the Board, recommend to its stockholders that they approve (a) an increase in (i) its authorized shares of Common Stock to 519,000,000 and (ii) its authorized shares of Preferred Stock to 16,000,000, (b) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation (Series A-1) and (c) elect four directors to the Board. The Company shall within one (1) Business Day of obtaining such stockholder approvals in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement, take all requisite actions (including the filing of the Charter Amendment, the Certificate of Designation (Series B) and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation (Series A-1) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware) to effect approvals and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including the Exchange Agreement.
Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meeting (a) If, after the Acceptance Time, the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at a meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock is required under the MGCL in order to consummate the Merger (the “Company Stockholder Approval”), then:
(i) As promptly as practicable after the later of the Acceptance Time or the expiration of any subsequent offering period provided in accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the SEC the Proxy Statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company relating to the Company Stockholders Meeting. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the SEC to clear the Proxy Statement as promptly as practicable after such filing (including by responding to comments of the SEC). Parent shall furnish all information as may be reasonably requested by the Company in connection with any such action and the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy Statement.
(ii) As promptly as practicable after the clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its stockholders. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Proxy Statement will be made by the Company without providing Parent with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon.
(iii) The Company shall notify Parent promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or the staff of the SEC and of any request by the SEC or the staff of the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional information and shall supply Parent with copies of all correspondence between it or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) If, after the Acceptance Time, the Company Stockholder Approval is required under the MGCL in order to consummate the Merger, then:
(i) As soon as practicable following the clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC, the Company shall duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) for the purpose of seeking the Company Stockholder Approval.
(ii) Unless the Company has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change, the Company shall, through the Company Board, make the Board Recommendation to the extent related to the Merger, and shall include such Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement, and use its reasonable best efforts to (x) solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement, and (y) take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the Company Stockholder Approval.
(c) If, after the Acceptance Time, the Company Stockholder Approval is required under the MGCL in order to consummate the Merger, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to relieve the Company of its obligation to submit the Merger to its stockholders for a vote on the approval thereof. The Company agrees that, unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with ARTICLE 9, its obligations to hold the Company Stockholder Meeting after the Acceptance Time pursuant to this Section 7.02(c) shall not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company of any Superior Proposal or by any Adverse Recommendation Change.
Preconstruction Meeting Furnish the names of the Certified Erosion and Sediment Control/Stormwater Supervisor, Certified Foremen, Certified Installers and Certified Designer and notify the Engineer of changes in certified personnel over the life of the contract within 2 days of change. Any company performing work for the North Carolina Department of Transportation has the ethical responsibility to fully disclose any reprimand or dismissal of an employee resulting from improper testing or falsification of records.
Contract Negotiation Meetings When operational requirements permit, the Employer will grant leave without pay to an employee for the purpose of attending contract negotiation meetings on behalf of the Alliance. Preparatory Contract Negotiation Meetings
Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy (a) Seller hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints Willxxx X. Xxxxxx xxx Richxxx Xxxxxxxxx, xx either of them, in their respective capacities as officers of Parent, and any individual who shall hereafter succeed to any such office of Parent, and each of them individually, Seller's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of Seller, to vote the Tender Shares in favor of the Merger and otherwise as contemplated by Section 1.2.
(b) Seller represents that any proxies heretofore given in respect of the Tender Shares are not irrevocable, and that any such proxies are hereby revoked.
(c) Seller understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance, among other things, upon Seller's execution and delivery of this Agreement. Seller hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 1.3 is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of Seller under this Agreement. Seller hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no circumstances be revoked. Seller hereby ratifies and confirms all that such proxies and attorneys-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the provisions of Section 212(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Stockholder Meeting; Proxy Material Subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, the Company shall cause the Company Stockholder Meeting to be duly called and held as soon as reasonably practicable for the purpose of voting on the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger unless a vote of stockholders of the Company is not required by New York Law. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, the Directors of the Company shall recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by the Company's stockholders at the Company Stockholder Meeting, and will include such recommendation in the Company Proxy Statement; provided, however, that, consistent with its fiduciary duties set forth in Section 5.04, the Board of Directors of the Company shall be permitted to (i) not recommend to the Company's stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval or (ii) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Buyer and Merger Subsidiary its recommendation to the Company's stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval, but in each of cases (i) and (ii) only if and to the extent that the Company has complied with Section 5.04 and this Section 5.02 and a Superior Proposal (as defined below) is pending at the time the Company's Board of Directors determines to take any such action or inaction. The Company will (i) in connection with the Company Stockholder Meeting, promptly prepare and file with the SEC, use commercially reasonable efforts to have cleared by the SEC as promptly as practicable and thereafter mail to its stockholders as promptly as practicable the Company Proxy Statement and all other proxy materials for such Company Stockholder Meeting and (ii) unless, to the extent permitted by the second sentence of this Section 5.02, and subject to Section 5.04, the Board of Directors shall not recommend to the Company's stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval or shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Buyer its recommendation, use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit proxies in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Merger, provided that the obligation of the Company to cause the Company Proxy Statement and the proxy to be mailed to the Company's stockholders is subject to the Board of Directors of the Company having received from Jefferies & Co., Inc. confirmation of its opinion referred to in Section 3.02 as of the date scheduled for mailing of the Company Proxy Statement if the Board of Directors requests such a confirmation. For purposes of this Agreement, "Superior Proposal" means any bona fide Acquisition Proposal, on terms that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its reasonable good faith judgment are more favorable to the Company's stockholders taken as a whole than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and with respect to which the Company's Board of Directors determines, in its reasonable good faith judgment, after consultation with its financial advisors, the Person making such Acquisition Proposal has the financial means to consummate such Acquisition Proposal. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" means any offer or proposal for a merger, consolidation or tender or exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or the acquisition of any substantial debt or equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company or of any Company Subsidiary, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting 3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule B) as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus on computer diskette or other electronic means at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for a Designated Portfolio is amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the prospectus for the Designated Portfolios printed together in one document. Expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne as provided under Article V.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available from the Fund and the Fund shall provide a copy of such SAI to any owner of a Contract who requests such SAI and to the Company in such quantities as the Company may reasonably request. Expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne as provided under Article V.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to shareholders of the Designated Portfolios in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners. Expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne as provided under Article V.
3.4. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the shares of each Designated Portfolio in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote shares of each Designated Portfolio for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as fund shares of such Designated Portfolio for which instructions have been received, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to the extent otherwise required by law. The Company reserves the right to vote shares of each Designated Portfolio held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
3.5. The Fund reserves the right, upon prior written notice to the Company (given at the earliest practicable time), to take all actions, including but not limited to, the dissolution, termination, merger and sale of all assets of the Fund or any Designated Portfolio upon the sole authorization of the Board, to the extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may adopt and provide in writing.
3.7. It is understood and agreed that, except with respect to information regarding the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser or Designated Portfolios provided in writing by the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser, none of the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser is responsible for the content of the prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts.
Inspection; Lender Meeting Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representatives designated by any Agent or Lender to visit and inspect any of the properties of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including its and their financial and accounting records, and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with its and their officers independent public accountants, all upon reasonable advance notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably requested. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, Company will, upon the request of Administrative Agent, participate in a meeting of Agents and Lenders once during each Fiscal Year to be held at Company's corporate offices (or such other location as may be agreed to by Company and Administrative Agent) at such time as may be agreed to by Company and Administrative Agent.
PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING 3.1. At least annually, the Trust or its designee shall provide the Company, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus (describing only the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto) for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Policy owners whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Trust or its designee shall provide such documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of the new prospectus as set in type or, at the request of the Company, as a diskette in the form sent to the financial printer) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the parties hereto once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Policies and the prospectus for the Shares printed together in one document; the expenses of such printing to be apportioned between (a) the Company and (b) the Trust or its designee in proportion to the number of pages of the Policy and Shares' prospectuses, taking account of other relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as covers, columns, graphs and charts; the Trust or its designee to bear the cost of printing the Shares' prospectus portion of such document for distribution to owners of existing Policies funded by the Shares and the Company to bear the expenses of printing the portion of such document relating to the Accounts; provided, however, that the Company shall bear all printing expenses of such combined documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by the Shares. In the event that the Company requests that the Trust or its designee provides the Trust's prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette format, the Trust shall be responsible for providing the prospectus in the format in which it or MFS is accustomed to formatting prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing the prospectus in such format (e.g., typesetting expenses), and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the statement of additional information for the Shares is available from the Trust or its designee. The Trust or its designee, at its expense, shall print and provide such statement of additional information to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to any owner of a Policy funded by the Shares. The Trust or its designee, at the Company's expense, shall print and provide such statement to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement or to an owner of a Policy not funded by the Shares.
3.3. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust's proxy materials, reports to Shareholders and other communications to Shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to Policy owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above, or of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or providing documents to the extent such cost is considered a distribution expense. Distribution expenses would include by way of illustration, but are not limited to, the printing of the Shares' prospectus or prospectuses for distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by such Shares.
3.5. The Trust hereby notifies the Company that it may be appropriate to include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Policy is offered disclosure regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding.
3.6. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received from Policy owners; and
(c) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio for which instructions have been received from Policy owners; so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass through voting privileges for variable contract owners. The Company will in no way recommend action in connection with or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such Policy owners. The Company reserves the right to vote shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts holding Shares calculates voting privileges in the manner required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order. The Trust and MFS will notify the Company of any changes of interpretations or amendments to the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
