Certain Rights of Rights Agent The Rights Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. In addition:
(a) the Rights Agent may rely and shall be authorized and protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder but as to which no notice was provided, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith unless and until it has received such notice;
(b) whenever the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by Buyer before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, the Rights Agent may, in the absence of willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence on its part (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), request and rely upon an Officer’s Certificate from Buyer with respect to such fact or matter; and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent instructions received from Buyer. In the event the Rights Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Rights Agent hereunder, the Rights Agent, may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to Buyer or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Rights Agent receives written instructions from Buyer that eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Rights Agent;
(c) the Rights Agent may engage and consult with counsel of its selection (who may be legal counsel for Buyer and/or an employee of the Rights Agent) and the advice of such counsel or any opinion of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in reliance thereon in the absence of willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Rights Agent (as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction);
(d) in the event of arbitration, the Rights Agent may engage and consult with tax experts, valuation firms and other experts and third parties that it, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate or necessary to enable it to discharge its duties hereunder;
(e) the permissive rights of the Rights Agent to do things enumerated in this Agreement shall not be construed as a duty;
(f) the Rights Agent shall not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of such powers or otherwise in respect of the premises;
(g) Buyer agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and hold the Rights Agent harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, suit, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of legal counsel), incurred without willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Rights Agent (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, or the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, including without limitation, the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability hereunder, directly or indirectly. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by Buyer. The provisions of this Article 3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the payment of any distributions made pursuant to this Agreement, and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent hereunder, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of defending a claim of liability hereunder;
(h) Except as paid pursuant to Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to pay the Rights Agent Fees and Expenses in connection with this Agreement, as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and further including reimbursement of the Rights Agent for all taxes and charges, reasonable expenses and other charges of any kind and nature incurred by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement (other than taxes measured by the Rights Agent’s net income) and reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of the Rights Agent’s counsel and agent) paid or incurred by it in connection with the preparation, negotiation, delivery, amendment, administration and execution by the Rights Agent of this Agreement and its duties hereunder;
(i) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by Buyer only;
(j) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for or be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof; nor shall it be responsible for any breach by Buyer of any covenant or failure by Buyer to satisfy conditions contained in this Agreement;
(k) Buyer agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of its duties under this Agreement;
(l) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer, employee or agent of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of Buyer or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which Buyer may be interested, or contract with or lend money to Buyer or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent or any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer, employee or agent from acting in any other capacity for Buyer or for any other Person; and
(m) The Rights Agent shall not be subject to, nor be required to comply with, or determine if any person or entity has complied with, the Merger Agreement or any other agreement between or among any of Buyer, Target, Stockholders’ Representative or any other parties hereto, even though reference thereto may be made in this Agreement, or to comply with any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
