Training and Development 3.1 Authorities will develop local 'Workforce Development Plans (see Part 4.8),' closely linked to their service delivery plans, which will provide the focus for the establishment of training and development priorities. Training and development should be designed to meet the corporate and service needs of authorities both current and in the future, taking into account the individual needs of employees. Local schemes on training and development should enable authorities to attain their strategic objectives through development of their employees. Training and development provisions should be shaped to local requirements and take account of the full range of learning methods. Such an approach should enable access to learning for all employees. The needs of part time employees and shift workers need particular consideration.
3.2 Employees attending or undertaking required training are entitled to payment of normal earnings; all prescribed fees and other relevant expenses arising. Employees are also entitled to paid leave for the purpose of sitting for required examinations. When attending training courses outside contracted daily hours, part-time employees should be paid on the same basis as full- time employees. (Assistance for other forms of learning, for example that directed at individual development, will be locally determined). Some training can be very expensive and authorities may require repayment of all or part of the costs incurred should an employee leave the authority before a reasonable time period has expired. The authority's policy in this regard should be made explicit.
3.3 Objectives for training and development programmes should include the following: • To enable Councils to attain their strategic objectives via investment in their employees. • To promote equity of access to learning. • To encourage employees to develop their skills and level of responsibility to the maximum of their individual potential. • To widen and modernise the skills profile of employees to maximise their versatility, employability and so, job security. • To enable employees to raise productivity, quality and customer service in pursuit of sustainable improvement
3.4 Authorities should establish local partnership arrangements, to include recognised trade unions, to develop their local workforce development plans.
3.5 The NJC endorses partnership provision such as the "Return to Learn" scheme. Authorities and the recognised trade unions shall encourage and support employees taking on the statutory Union Learning Representative (ULR) role. This will include agreeing facilities and paid release in accordance with statutory provisions. ULRs should be enabled to play a full part in promoting and implementing local training and development programmes.
Creation and Development Fee If the Prospectus related to a Trust specifies a creation and development fee, the Trustee shall, on or immediately after the end of the initial offering period, withdraw from the Capital Account, an amount equal to the unpaid creation and development fee as of such date and credit such amount to a special non-Trust account designated by the Depositor out of which the creation and development fee will be distributed to the Depositor (the "Creation and Development Account"). The creation and development fee is the per unit amount specified in the Prospectus for the Trust.
(16) Article III is hereby amended by adding the following section:
Research and Development (i) Advice and assistance in relation to research and development of Party B;
(ii) Advice and assistance in strategic planning; and
Mergers and Acquisitions The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, become a party to any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or agree to or effect any asset acquisition or stock acquisition, or enter into any LMA Agreement, except:
(a) upon prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the merger or consolidation of one (1) or more of the Operating Subsidiaries of the Borrower with and into the Borrower, or the merger or consolidation of two (2) or more wholly-owned (A) Operating Subsidiaries or (B) License Subsidiaries of the Borrower, so long as in each case the surviving Subsidiary is a Guarantor;
(b) after the Revert Date upon prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the acquisition (whether pursuant to an Asset Swap or otherwise) of stock, or other securities of, or any assets of, any Person, in each case to the extent such acquisition would involve all or substantially all of a radio broadcasting, television broadcasting or publishing business or business unit thereof, provided that:
(i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such acquisition;
(ii) not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the consummation of such proposed acquisition, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, and upon the Administrative Agent’s request, such financial projections as shall be necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, to demonstrate that, after giving effect to such acquisition, all covenants contained herein will be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis and that the Borrower’s ability to satisfy its payment obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents will not be impaired in any way;
(iii) all actions have been taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent to provide to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, a first priority perfected security interest in all of the assets so acquired (excluding any Excluded Assets) pursuant to the Security Documents, free of all Liens other than Permitted Liens;
(iv) in the event of a stock acquisition, the acquired Person shall become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower and shall comply with the terms and conditions set forth in §9.15;
(v) the board of directors and (if required by applicable law) the shareholders, or the equivalent thereof, of the business to be acquired has approved such acquisition;
(vi) all of the Borrower’s and/or its Subsidiaries’ (as the case may be) rights and interests in, to and under each contract and agreement entered into by such Person in connection with such acquisition to the extent permitted have been assigned to the Administrative Agent as security for the irrevocable payment and performance in full of the Obligations, pursuant to Collateral Assignments of Contracts in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(vii) in the case of any acquisition involving domestic radio or television assets, the FCC shall have issued orders approving or consenting to such acquisition;
(viii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that all liens and encumbrances with respect to the properties and assets so acquired, other than Permitted liens, have been discharged in full;
(ix) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (A) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Borrower or such Subsidiary has completed such acquisition in accordance with the terms of the contracts and agreements entered into by such Person in connection with such acquisition, and (B) certified copies of all such documents shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent;
(x) all FCC Licenses acquired in connection with such acquisition shall be transferred immediately upon consummation of such acquisition to a License Subsidiary;
(xi) substantially contemporaneously with such acquisition, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an updated Schedule 8.3(b) and an updated Schedule 8.21 to this Credit Agreement, as applicable, after giving effect to such acquisition.
Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, etc The Borrower will not be a party to any merger or consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or any stock of any class of, or any partnership or joint venture interest in, any other Person, or, sell, transfer, convey or lease all or any substantial part of its assets, or sell or assign with or without recourse any Loan, Contracts, Related Security or other Collateral or any interest therein (other than pursuant to and in accordance with the Transaction Documents).
Procurement of Goods and Services (a) If the HSP is subject to the procurement provisions of the BPSAA, the HSP will abide by all directives and guidelines issued by the Management Board of Cabinet that are applicable to the HSP pursuant to the BPSAA.
(b) If the HSP is not subject to the procurement provisions of the BPSAA, the HSP will have a procurement policy in place that requires the acquisition of supplies, equipment or services valued at over $25,000 through a competitive process that ensures the best value for funds expended. If the HSP acquires supplies, equipment or services with the Funding it will do so through a process that is consistent with this policy.
Economic Sanctions None of the Company, the Sponsor, any non-independent director or officer or, to the knowledge of the Company, any independent director or director nominee, agent or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or any similar sanctions imposed by any other body, governmental or other, to which any of such persons is subject (collectively, “other economic sanctions”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any sanctions administered by OFAC or other economic sanctions.
Economic Sanctions, Etc The Company will not, and will not permit any Controlled Entity to (a) become (including by virtue of being owned or controlled by a Blocked Person), own or control a Blocked Person or (b) directly or indirectly have any investment in or engage in any dealing or transaction (including any investment, dealing or transaction involving the proceeds of the Notes) with any Person if such investment, dealing or transaction (i) would cause any holder or any affiliate of such holder to be in violation of, or subject to sanctions under, any law or regulation applicable to such holder, or (ii) is prohibited by or subject to sanctions under any U.S. Economic Sanctions Laws.
Permitted Acquisitions (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 9.14 and the requirements contained in the definition of Permitted Acquisition, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may from time to time after the Closing Date effect Permitted Acquisitions, so long as (in each case except to the extent the Required Lenders otherwise specifically agree in writing in the case of a specific Permitted Acquisition): (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the consummation of the proposed Permitted Acquisition or immediately after giving effect thereto and (ii) at the time of the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period for which Section 9.01 Financials were required to have been delivered, does not exceed 5.25 to 1.00; provided that the aggregate consideration paid by the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with Permitted Acquisitions consummated from and after the Closing Date where the Acquired Entity or Business does not become a Credit Party or owned by a Credit Party, shall not exceed the sum of (x) the greater of $25,000,000 and 2.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured at the time of such Permitted Acquisition is consummated), plus (y) the Available Amount.
(b) At the time of each Permitted Acquisition involving the creation or acquisition of a Restricted Subsidiary, or the acquisition of Equity Interests of any Person, the Equity Interests thereof created or acquired in connection with such Permitted Acquisition shall be pledged for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to (and to the extent required by) the Pledge Agreement; provided that the pledge of the outstanding capital stock of any FSHCO or Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC directly owned by the Lead Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Credit Party shall be limited to (x) no more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the total combined voting power for all classes of the voting Equity Interests of such FSHCO or Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC and (y) one-hundred percent (100%) of the non-voting Equity Interest of such FSHCO or Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, no FSHCO, Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, or Subsidiary of a CFC shall be required to pledge any of its assets in connection with any such Permitted Acquisition.
(c) Each Borrower shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) which is formed to effect, or is acquired pursuant to, a Permitted Acquisition to comply with, and to execute and deliver all of the documentation as and to the extent required by, Section 9.12, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
(d) The consummation of each Permitted Acquisition shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by each Borrower that the certifications pursuant to this Section 9.14 are true and correct in all material respects and that all conditions thereto have been satisfied and that same is permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty for all purposes hereunder, including, without limitation, Sections 8 and 11.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Lead Borrower has made a LCT Election pursuant to Section 1.03 in respect of a Permitted Acquisition, then any determination of compliance with the provisions of Section 9.14(a)(i) and 9.14(d) shall be made effective as of the date of entering the definitive agreement for such Permitted Acquisition.
Investments and Acquisitions Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have outstanding, acquire, commit itself to acquire or hold any Investment (including any Investment consisting of the acquisition of any business) (or become contractually committed to do so) except for the following:
(a) Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries in Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (a) which are domestic Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement or (b) which become domestic Wholly Owned Subsidiaries after the Closing Date and become Guarantors to the extent required by Section 10.09; provided, however, that the aggregate book value of all assets (other than intercompany obligations) owned by Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not exceed $10,000,000.
(b) Intercompany loans and advances from any Subsidiary to the Company or any Guarantor that, in the case of loans or advances from Foreign Subsidiaries, are subordinated to the Obligations in accordance with the Foreign Subsidiary Subordination Agreement.
(c) Investments in Cash Equivalents.
(d) Guarantees permitted by Section 6.06.
(e) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default exists, and so long as the Company (if the Company is party thereto) or a Guarantor (if the Company is not party thereto) is the surviving entity, the Company and its Subsidiaries may acquire another entity in the same line of business as the Company as described in Section 6.02(a) if:
(i) at all times when the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.50 for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to the proposed acquisition as if such acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period) for which financial reports have been (or are required to have been) furnished to the Lenders in accordance with Sections 6.04(a) or 6.04(b), the purchase price for all such acquisitions permitted pursuant to this clause (e)(i) does not exceed, except with the consent of the Required Lenders, $100,000,000 in cash (excluding consideration consisting of Capital Stock, the proceeds of the issuance of Capital Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness) in the aggregate over the term of the Agreement;
(ii) at all times when the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to the proposed acquisition as if such acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such period) for which financial reports have been (or are required to have been) furnished to the Lenders in accordance with Sections 6.04(a) or 6.04(b), the Company and its Subsidiaries may make unlimited acquisitions; provided, however that in the event a transaction permitted pursuant to this clause (e)(ii) would, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto, cause the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed 2.50, the portion of the cash purchase price with respect to such transaction attributed to causing the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to be greater than 2.50 shall only be permitted to be paid to the extent the Company has sufficient availability in the $100,000,000 basket set forth in clause (e)(i) to take into account such excess amount; provided, further, that with respect to any acquisition permitted pursuant to this Section 6.08(e)(ii), (i) the acquisition must be approved by the target entity’s board of directors, (ii) the Company must be in compliance with the Computation Covenants immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, (iii) the acquired entity must not have any environmental liabilities which, after giving effect to such acquisition, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (iv) any Subsidiary acquired under this Section 6.08(e) (other than (a) a Foreign Subsidiary or (b) any Immaterial Subsidiary if the aggregate book value of the assets (other than intercompany obligations) of all Immaterial Subsidiaries acquired under this Section 6.08(e) since the Closing Date does not exceed $10,000,000) shall guarantee the Obligations, as contemplated by Section 10.09.
(f) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default exists, the Company and its Subsidiaries may make (i) Investments in Unrestricted Affiliates engaged in businesses contemplated by Section 6.02(a) and (ii) Investments consisting of contributions of Property to Unrestricted Affiliates, in an aggregate amount for all such Investments permitted pursuant to this clause (f) (calculated at net book value at the time of such Investment), when taken together with the aggregate amount of all Dispositions permitted pursuant to Section 6.10(e), not to exceed $100,000,000.
(g) Loans or advances to employees of the Company in an amount not to exceed (i) $1,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time for the purchase of capital stock of the Company and (ii) $5,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time for all other purposes.
(h) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default exists, Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries in foreign Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; provided, however, that other than with respect to Investments outstanding as of the Closing Date as described on Schedule 6.08(h), (i) such Investments shall not involve the transfer of substantial noncash assets from the Company and its domestic Subsidiaries to its Foreign Subsidiaries other than up to $35,000,000 in book value of foreign patents and foreign trademarks; and (ii) net cash Investments of the Company and its domestic Subsidiaries in Foreign Subsidiaries made pursuant to this Section 6.08(h) at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $125,000,000 in the aggregate.
(i) So long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Default exists, and provided that the Company complies with Section 10.09, the Company may create a Wholly Owned Subsidiary that constitutes a holding company for the Company’s European Subsidiaries.
