Efforts to Consummate (a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein, each of the Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as reasonably practicable the Transactions (including (i) the satisfaction of the closing conditions set forth in Article IX and (ii) using reasonable best efforts to obtain PIPE Investments as contemplated by Section 8.04). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain, file with or deliver to, as applicable, any consents of any Governmental Authorities or other Persons necessary to consummate the Transactions and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements. Each Party shall (A) make all required filings pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the Transactions promptly (and in any event within 10 Business Days) following the Original Agreement Date and (B) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any requests by any Governmental Authority for additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act. Acquiror shall promptly inform the Company of any communication between Acquiror, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, and the Company shall promptly inform Acquiror of any communication between either Company, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, in either case, regarding any of the Transactions or any Transaction Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, (x) the Parties agree to request early termination of all waiting periods applicable to the Transactions under the HSR Act, and (y) each Party and its respective Affiliates shall not extend any waiting period, review period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority not to consummate the Transactions, except with the prior written consent of the other Parties. The Company will pay all filing fees in connection with the HSR Act when due and such fees shall be deemed 50% Company Transaction Expenses and 50% Acquiror Transaction Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Section 8.01 or any other provision of this Agreement obligates any Party or any of its Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, license or otherwise dispose of, or hold separate and agree to sell, license or otherwise dispose of, any entities or assets of the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any entity or asset of such Party or any of its Affiliates or any other Person or (ii) terminate, amend or assign any existing relationships and contractual rights or obligations. No Party shall agree to any of the measures in the foregoing sentence with respect to any other Party or any of its Affiliates, except with each of the other Parties’ prior written consent. During the Interim Period, Acquiror, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall give counsel for the Company (in the case of Acquiror) or Acquiror (in the case of the Company), a reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, any proposed written communication to any Governmental Authority relating to the Transactions or the Transaction Agreements. Each of the Parties agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by telephone, with any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions unless it consults with, in the case of Acquiror and the Company, in advance and, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental Authority, gives, in the case of Acquiror and the Company, or, in the case of either Company or Acquiror, the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting or discussion.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, (i) if this Section 8.01 conflicts with any other covenant or agreement in this Agreement that is intended to specifically address any subject matter, then such other covenant or agreement shall govern and control solely to the extent of such conflict and (ii) in no event shall Acquiror or the Company be obligated to bear any expense or pay any fee or grant any concession in connection with obtaining any consents, authorizations or approvals pursuant to the terms of any Contract to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party.
(c) During the Interim Period, Acquiror, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall each notify the other in writing promptly after learning of any shareholder demands or other shareholder proceedings (including derivative claims) relating to this Agreement, any Transaction Agreements or any matters relating thereto (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”) commenced against, in the case of Acquiror or any of its Representatives (in their capacity as a representative of Acquiror) or, in the case of the Company, or any respective Representatives of the Company (in their capacity as a representative of the Company). Acquiror 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 (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), (iii) consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to any such Transaction Litigation, and (iv) reasonably cooperate with each other. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Acquiror shall, subject to and without limiting the covenants and agreements, and the rights of the Company, set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation; provided, however, that in no event shall Acquiror settle or compromise any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in no event shall the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives settle or compromise any Transaction Litigation without Acquiror’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, contained or delayed).
(d) If Acquiror and the Company determine in good faith that it is probable that the Transactions will not be consummated on or before March 12, 2023 (the “Acquiror Termination Date”), then (i) Acquiror shall call a special meeting of its stockholders to be held and shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval from such stockholders prior to the Acquiror Termination Date of a proposal to amend the Acquiror Organizational Documents to extend the deadline by which Acquiror is required to consummate the Transactions to a date that is no earlier than June 30, 2023 (such proposed extended deadline, the “Extension Date”, and such proposal, the “Extension Proposal”), (ii) Acquiror and the Company shall cooperate with the preparation, filing and mailing of proxy materials to be sent to Acquiror’s stockholders seeking approval of the Extension Proposal in accordance with the same efforts, notice, consent and other cooperation standards applicable to the preparation, filing and mailing of the Proxy Statement, and other related materials and actions, as set forth in Section 8.02, (iii) to the extent required to obtain approval of the Extension Proposal and to cause sufficient funds to be retained in the Trust Account as is reasonably expected to be needed to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 9.01(f), Acquiror shall deposit such additional amount of funds to the Trust Account (which deposit shall be funded by a loan from the Sponsor to Acquiror) necessary to obtain approval of the Extension Proposal in a manner that is expected to cause sufficient funds to be retained in the Trust Account as is reasonably expected to be needed to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 9.01(f), such amount to be determined in good faith by Acquiror after consultation with its advisors, and (iv) and in the event the Extension Proposal is duly approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of the requisite number of Acquiror Common Stock entitled to vote thereon in accordance with the Acquiror Organizational Documents and applicable Law, Acquiror shall promptly thereafter amend the Acquiror Organizational Documents to provide for the extension of the deadline by which Acquiror is required to consummate the Transactions to the Extension Date contemplated by the Extension Proposal. If, following any such approval of the Extension Proposal, Acquiror and the Company determine in good faith that it is probable that the Transactions will not be consummated on or before the Extension Date, Acquiror and the Company shall cooperate in good faith to request and effectuate further amendments to the Acquiror Organizational Documents to provide for additional extensions of the deadline applicable to the consummation of a business combination in accordance with the foregoing sentence.
Governmental Matters The filing or commencement of, or the threat in writing of, any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting Group Members thereof not previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders or any material adverse development in any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration (whether or not previously disclosed to the Lenders) that, in either case, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
Litigation and Environmental Matters (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.
Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts (i) Except for (A) compliance with, and filings under, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including the filing with the SEC of a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Registration Statement”, with the Consent Statement/Prospectus constituting a part thereof); (B) compliance with state securities, takeover and “blue sky” Laws and the filing of documents with various state securities authorities that may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger and other appropriate merger documents required by the DLLCA with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (D) compliance with the applicable requirements of the NYSE American, no filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations are required to be made by a Parent Group Entity with, nor are any required to be obtained by a Parent Group Entity from, any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the issuance of the Parent Common Stock as Merger Consideration), except those that the failure to make or obtain, as the case may be, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent, the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of Merger Sub or the organizational documents of any other Parent Group Entity, or (B) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) or a default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under or the creation of a Lien on any of the assets of the Parent Group Entities pursuant to any Contracts binding upon the Parent Group Entities or, assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.2(d)(i), under any Law to which a Parent Group Entity is subject, except, in the case of this clause (B), for any breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration or change that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
Certain Environmental Matters (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) have received and are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (z) none of the Company or its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.
Disclosure Relating to Certain Federal Protections The parties acknowledge that they have been advised that:
(a) in the case of Transactions in which one of the parties is a broker or dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”), the Securities Investor Protection Corporation has taken the position that the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 (“SIPA”) do not protect the other party with respect to any Transaction hereunder;
(b) in the case of Transactions in which one of the parties is a government securities broker or a government securities dealer registered with the SEC under Section 15C of the 1934 Act, SIPA will not provide protection to the other party with respect to any Transaction hereunder; and
(c) in the case of Transactions in which one of the parties is a financial institution, funds held by the financial institution pursuant to a Transaction hereunder are not a deposit and therefore are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, as applicable.
Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are required to be made or obtained by CenterState or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by CenterState of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Bank Merger, except for (i) the Requisite CenterState Shareholder Approval, (ii) the Regulatory Approvals, (iii) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement and the filing and declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, (iv) the filing of the Articles of Merger contemplated by Section 1.05(a) and the filing of documents with the FDIC, the OCC, applicable state banking agencies, the Department of State of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Florida to cause the Bank Merger to become effective, (v) such other filings and reports as required pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or applicable stock exchange requirements, (vi) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules and regulations of any applicable SRO and the rules of the NASDAQ and (vii) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of CenterState Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and approval of listing of such CenterState Common Stock on the NASDAQ. Subject to the receipt of the approvals referred to in the preceding sentence and the Requisite CenterState Shareholder Approval, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by CenterState do not and will not, (1) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of CenterState, (2) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to CenterState or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, (3) violate, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of CenterState or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which CenterState or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound. As of the date hereof, CenterState is not aware of any reason why the Regulatory Approvals and other necessary consents and approvals will not be received in order to permit consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger on a timely basis.
Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations (a) No consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required on the part of a Parent Party with respect to such Parent Party’s execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Ancillary Documents, except for (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and (B) such reports under Section 13(a), 15(d) or 16 of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) such filings with and approvals of Nasdaq to permit the Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Ancillary Documents to be listed on Nasdaq, (iii) filing of the Certificates of Merger, (iv) the approvals and consents to be obtained by each Merger Sub pursuant to Section 5.9, or (v) the Parent Stockholder Approval.
(b) Subject to the receipt of the Consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 4.3(a), neither the execution, delivery or performance by a Parent Party of this Agreement nor the Ancillary Documents to which a Parent Party is or will be a party nor the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) (i) result in any breach of any provision of the Governing Documents of a Parent Party, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which a Parent Party is a party, (iii) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which any such Parent Party or any of its properties or assets are bound or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets or properties (other than any Permitted Liens) of a Parent Party, except, in the case of any of clauses (ii) through (iv) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of a Parent Party to consummate the Transactions.