Superior Proposals Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 5.3, from the date hereof until the Company’s receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the Company and the Special Committee may, directly or indirectly through one or more of their Representatives (including the Advisor), contact the Person or group of Persons making such Acquisition Proposal to clarify the terms and conditions thereof so as to determine whether such Acquisition Proposal constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Superior Proposal, participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with, furnish any non-public information relating to the Company Group to, or afford access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information, or to any personnel, of the Company Group pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement to any Person or its Representatives that has made or delivered to the Company an Acquisition Proposal after the date hereof, in each case with respect to an Acquisition Proposal that did not result from any material breach of Section 5.3(a); provided, however, that prior thereto, the Special Committee has determined in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that (i) such Acquisition Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal or is reasonably expected to lead to a Superior Proposal, and (ii) the failure to take the actions contemplated by this Section 5.3(b) would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law; and provided further, however, that the Company will promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) make available to Parent any non-public information concerning the Company Group that is provided to any such Person or its Representatives that was not previously made available to Parent; and provided further, however, that if any such Person or its Representatives is a competitor of the Company Group, the Company Group shall not provide any information that in the good faith determination of the Company constitutes commercially sensitive non-public information to such Person in connection with any actions permitted by this Section 5.3(b) other than in accordance with “clean room” or other similar procedures designed to limit any potential adverse effect on the Company from sharing such information.
Acquisition Proposals (a) Except as provided in this Section 6.2(a) and in Section 6.2(d), the Company shall not (and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to not), and shall take such reasonable actions to cause (and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to take such reasonable actions to cause) each Company Entity’s officers, directors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, agents, and other representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”) not to, (i) directly or indirectly initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage, or facilitate (including by way of furnishing non-public information) any inquiries with respect to, or the making or submission of, any proposal that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with, furnish any non-public information or data relating to any Company Entity or any Company Asset to, or provide access to the properties, books or records of any Company Entity to, any Person that has made an Acquisition Proposal or in contemplation of an Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the immediately foregoing sentence, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Required Vote, the Company and the Company’s Board are permitted to take any actions described in clause (ii) of this Section 6.2(a) with respect to a third party if (w) the Company has received a written Acquisition Proposal from such third party (and such Acquisition Proposal did not result from a breach of this Section 6.2(a), whether by any Company Entity or any Representative (as if all Company Entities and Representatives were bound by this Section 6.2(a))), (x) the Company gives the Parent the notice required by Section 6.2(e), (y) after receiving the advice of its financial advisors, the Company’s Board determines in good faith that such proposal constitutes, or is reasonably likely to lead to, a Superior Proposal, and (z) the Company’s Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to participate in such negotiations or discussions or to furnish such information or data to such third party is likely to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law; except that (1) the Company shall not deliver any non-public information to such third party without first entering into a confidentiality agreement with such third party on terms no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (any such confidentiality agreement with such third party, an “Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement”) and (2) subject to applicable Law, the Company shall make available to the Parent any non-public information concerning any Company Entity that is made available to any other Person or group in connection with any actual or potential Acquisition Proposal that was not previously made available to the Parent, contemporaneously with the delivery of such information to (or as promptly as practicable after such information is delivered to) such Person. Nothing contained in this Section 6.2 will prohibit the Company or the Company’s Board from taking and disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal pursuant to Rule 14d-9 or 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any similar disclosure, in either case to the extent required by applicable Law, including the Company Board’s fiduciary duties; except that compliance with such rules will not permit the Company to make an Adverse Recommendation Change other than in accordance with Section 6.2(d).
(b) Except as provided in Section 6.2(d) and in Section 6.2(g), each of the Company, the Company’s Board, and each Company Board Committee shall not (i) withdraw or withhold (or amend or modify in a manner adverse to any Buyer Entity), or publicly propose to withdraw or withhold (or amend or modify in a manner adverse to any Buyer Entity), the approval, recommendation, or declaration of advisability by the Company’s Board or any Company Board Committee of this Agreement, the Merger, or any Transactions, (ii) recommend, adopt, or approve, or propose publicly to recommend, adopt, or approve, any Acquisition Proposal (any action described in the immediately foregoing clauses (i) or (ii), an “Adverse Recommendation Change”).
(c) Except as provided in Section 6.2(d), the Company shall not (and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to not), and shall take reasonable actions to cause (and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to take reasonable actions to cause) each Company Entity’s Representatives not to, execute or enter into any Contract (including any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar agreement), or any letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, or agreement in principle, (i) relating to or that could reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement in circumstances contemplated in the penultimate sentence of Section 6.2(a)), or (ii) requiring the Company to abandon, terminate, or fail to consummate the Merger or any of the Transactions.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing set forth in this Section 6.2, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Required Vote, and subject to the Company’s compliance at all times with the provisions of this Section 6.2 and Section 6.4(a), with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company’s Board is permitted to make an Adverse Recommendation Change if (i) a written Acquisition Proposal (that did not result from a breach of Section 6.2(a), whether by any Company Entity or any Representative (as if all Company Entities and Representatives were bound by this Section 6.2(d))) is made to the Company by a third party, and such Acquisition Proposal is not withdrawn, (ii) the Company’s Board determines in good faith after consultation with its legal and financial advisors that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal, (iii) the Company’s Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to make such an Adverse Recommendation Change is likely to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (iv) subject to compliance with applicable Law, the Company provides the Parent three Business Days’ prior written notice of the Company’s intention to make an Adverse Recommendation Change because of such Acquisition Proposal (such notice, a “Notice of Acquisition Proposal”), it being understood that a Notice of Acquisition Proposal does not in itself institute an Adverse Recommendation Change for purposes hereof, which notice must include the information with respect to such Acquisition Proposal that is specified in Section 6.2(e); except that, if there are any material revisions to the Acquisition Proposal (relative to the terms of the Acquisition Proposal as set forth in the Notice of Acquisition Proposal as provided to the Parent), then the Company must provide to the Parent a new Notice of Acquisition Proposal and, if the Company has not made an Adverse Recommendation Change, and subject to compliance with applicable Law, an additional three Business Days following the provision of such new Notice of Acquisition Proposal, and (v) at the end of the three-Business Day period described in the immediately foregoing clause (iv) (including any extension of such period required thereunder), the Company Board again makes the determination in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors (and taking into account any adjustment or modification of the terms hereof that the Parent proposes) that the Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and that the failure to make such Adverse Recommendation Change is likely to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law. If the Parent proposes to the Company any adjustment or modification of the terms hereof in response to a Notice of Acquisition Proposal, and such proposed adjustment or modification, if implemented, would reverse the determination of the Company Board that the Acquisition Proposal constituted a Superior Proposal, then the Company and Parent shall negotiate in good faith with the Parent to implement such adjustment or modification to the terms hereof and, upon implementation of such adjustment or modification, the Company Board shall not make an Adverse Recommendation Change (or, if already made, will reinstate its recommendation in favor of the Merger and this Agreement, as so adjusted or modified).
(e) As promptly as practicable after receipt thereof (but in any event within 24 hours after the Company’s receipt thereof), the Company shall (i) advise Parent in writing of any request for non-public information or any Acquisition Proposal received from any Person, or any inquiry, discussions, or negotiations with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, and the material terms of such request, Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, discussions, or negotiations, and (ii) promptly provide to Parent a detailed, written summary of all of the material terms, provisions, and other information set forth in any materials (including any draft agreements) that the Company receives in connection with any Acquisition Proposal (or, at the Company’s election, a copy thereof) and the identity of the Person or group making any such request, Acquisition Proposal, or inquiry or with whom any discussions or negotiations are taking place. The Company shall keep the Parent reasonably informed of the status of any Acquisition Proposals (including disclosing to the Parent the identity of the parties, the price involved, and any material changes to any terms thereof and providing to the Parent detailed, written summaries of all of the material terms, provisions, or other information set forth in any amended or additional documents received from or provided to any Person with respect to such Acquisition Proposal). The Company shall not release any third party from, or waive any provisions of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the Company is a party and shall use its reasonable efforts to enforce any such agreement at the request of or on behalf of the Parent.
(f) Immediately after the execution and delivery hereof, the Company shall (and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to) instruct the Representatives to cease and terminate any existing activities, discussions, or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any possible Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall (i) take the necessary steps to promptly inform the Representatives involved in the Transactions of the obligations undertaken in Section 6.2(a) and (ii) request each Person who has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with such Person’s consideration of acquiring the Company or any portion thereof to return or destroy (and certify such destruction in writing by an executive officer of such Person) all confidential information heretofore furnished to such Person by or on its behalf.
(g) Nothing in this Agreement will prohibit or restrict the Company’s Board from effecting an Adverse Recommendation Change not involving or relating to an Acquisition Proposal in response to a material adverse development or change in circumstances with respect to the Parent Business occurring or arising after the Signing Date, if (i) the Company’s Board determines in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel that not making such Adverse Recommendation Change is likely to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law (ii) subject to compliance with applicable Law, the Company provides the Parent three Business Days’ prior written notice of the Company’s intention to make public an Adverse Recommendation Change because of such material development or change in circumstances (such notice, a “Notice of Material Development”); and that it is considering such a recommendation change and summarizing in reasonable detail the reasons therefor; and (iii) at the end of the three-Business Day period described in the immediately foregoing clause (ii), the Company Board again makes the determination in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors (and taking into account any adjustment or modification of the terms hereof that the Parent proposes in writing) that failure to make such an Adverse Recommendation Change is likely to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law. If the Parent proposes to the Company any adjustment or modification of the terms hereof in response to a Notice of Material Development, and such proposed adjustment or modification, if implemented, would reverse the determination of the Company Board that it make an Adverse Recommendation Change, then the Company and Parent shall negotiate in good faith (during a period not exceeding three Business days, unless otherwise mutually agreed) with respect to such adjustment or modification to the terms hereof and, upon implementation of such adjustment or modification, the Company Board shall not make an Adverse Recommendation Change (or, if already made, will reinstate its recommendation in favor of the Merger and this Agreement, as so adjusted or modified).
Superior Proposal (a) Each party agrees and acknowledges that from and after the date hereof until the close of business on April 28, 1997, if Assignor receives a Superior Proposal, Assignor may (i) furnish any information requested by the Offering Party with respect to such Superior Proposal (other than the contents of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), (ii) participate in negotiations with such Offering Party regarding such Superior Proposal or (iii) enter into one or more letters of intent, term sheets or agreements with respect to any Superior Proposals; provided, however, that if Assignor proposes to take any of the actions specified in clause (iii) hereof, Assignor shall give Assignee prior written notice setting forth Assignor's proposed actions.
(b) Not later than the close of business on May 12, 1997, Assignor shall require each Offering Party with whom it is still engaged in discussions to submit a final binding offer, subject only to acceptance by Assignor. Not later than the close of business on May 16, 1997, Assignor shall (i) determine whether any such offer constitutes a Superior Proposal, (ii) if there is more than one Superior Proposal, select which Superior Proposal Assignor intends to accept and (iii) provide written notice to Assignee setting forth all the material terms and conditions of such selected Superior Proposal ("SP Notice").
(c) After receipt of the SP Notice, Assignee shall have five (5) days to notify Assignor of its agreement to modify this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement as necessary to acquire the Transferred Interests at the same price and under the same terms and conditions as set forth in the SP Notice ("Assignee Acceptance Notice"); provided further, however, if under the terms set forth in the SP Notice Assignor is proposing to accept property (other than cash or promissory notes), Assignee shall have the right to substitute cash in an amount equal to the value of such other property.
(d) If Assignor does not give an SP Notice to Assignee on or before May 16, 1997, or if Assignee gives an Assignee Acceptance Notice to Assignor in accordance with subsection (c) hereof, neither Assignor nor Assignee shall thereafter have any right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 15(c).
Acquisition Proposal “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any offer or proposal (other than an offer or proposal made or submitted by Parent) contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction.
No Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement The board of directors of the Company and each committee of the board of directors shall not:
(i) (A) withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify), in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company Recommendation (B) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement, (C) approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable or propose or resolve to approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable (publicly or otherwise), any Acquisition Proposal, or (D) fail to publicly reaffirm the Company Recommendation within ten business days after Parent so requests in writing (provided, that Parent shall be entitled to make such a written request for reaffirmation only once for each Acquisition Proposal and once for each material amendment to such Acquisition Proposal) (any action described in clauses (A) and (D) a “Change of Recommendation”); or
(ii) Except as expressly permitted by, and after compliance with this Section 6.2(d), cause or permit the Company to enter into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, prior to the time, but not after, the Company Requisite Vote is obtained, the board of directors of the Company (x) may make a Change of Recommendation and in connection therewith, approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable, and enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement in connection with a Superior Proposal made after the date of this Agreement (if such Superior Proposal did not result from a material breach of Section 6.2(a) and such Superior Proposal is not withdrawn) or (y) may make a Change of Recommendation as a result of the occurrence of an Intervening Event, if, the board of directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law; provided, however, that the board of directors of the Company shall not (i) in the case of clause (x) make a Change of Recommendation with respect to a Superior Proposal and authorize the Company to enter into any Alterative Acquisition Agreement or (ii) in the case of clause (y) make a Change of Recommendation unless:
(i) the Company has notified Parent in writing that it intends to effect a Change of Recommendation, describing in reasonable detail the reasons for such Change of Recommendation (a “Recommendation Change Notice”) (it being agreed that the Recommendation Change Notice and any amendment or update to such notice and the determination to so deliver such notice, or update or amend public disclosures with respect thereto shall not constitute a Change of Recommendation for purposes of this Agreement), and if such proposed Change of Recommendation relates to an Acquisition Proposal, has provided copies of the most current version of all documents relating to such Acquisition Proposal, and if such proposed Change of Recommendation relates to an Intervening Event, such Recommendation Change Notice specifies the facts and circumstances of such Intervening Event; and
(ii) (x) if requested by Parent, the Company shall have made its Representatives available to discuss and negotiate in good faith with Parent and its Representatives any proposed modifications to the terms and conditions of this Agreement during the three business days following the date on which the Recommendation Change Notice is delivered to Parent and (y) if Parent shall have delivered to the Company a written, binding and irrevocable offer to alter the terms or conditions of this Agreement during such three business day period, the board of directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, after considering the terms of such offer by Parent, that the failure to effect a Change of Recommendation would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and that in the case of a Change of Recommendation with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, such Acquisition Proposal would continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if the changes offered by Parent were given effect, and that in the case of an Intervening Event, the board of directors of the Company still intends to effect a Change of Recommendation if the changes offered by Parent were given effect; provided that in the event the Acquisition Proposal is thereafter modified by the party making such Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall notify Parent in writing of such modified Acquisition Proposal and shall again comply with the requirements of this clause (ii).
Additional proposals If the Company at any time during the continuance of this Agreement desires to modify expand or otherwise vary its activities carried on pursuant to this Agreement beyond those specified in any approved proposal, it shall give notice of such desire to the Minister and within 2 months after giving such notice shall submit to the Minister detailed proposals in respect of such modifications expansions or variations and such other matters as the Minister may require. The provisions of clause 4 and 5 (including (for the avoidance of doubt) clause 5(9)) shall apply, the necessary changes being made, to proposals submitted pursuant to this clause.
Alternative Proposals (a) Prior to the Offer Closing Date, GFI and the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) may (directly or through their Representatives), in response to a bona fide written Takeover Proposal, subject to compliance with Section 5.4(c) (Change in Recommendation):
(i) furnish information with respect to GFI and the GFI Subsidiaries to the Person making such Takeover Proposal and its Representatives pursuant to and in accordance with a customary confidentiality agreement; provided, further, that a copy of all such information provided to such Person has previously been provided to Parent or its Representatives or is provided to Parent substantially concurrently with the time it is provided to such Person; and
(ii) participate in discussions or negotiations with such Person or its Representatives regarding such Takeover Proposal; provided, in each case, that the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor) that such Takeover Proposal is or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal.
(b) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the receipt, directly or indirectly, by GFI of any Takeover Proposal or any inquiry with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal, and in any case within 24 hours after the receipt thereof, GFI shall provide oral and written notice to Parent of (i) such Takeover Proposal or inquiry, (ii) the identity of the Person making any such Takeover Proposal or inquiry and (iii) the material terms and conditions of any such Takeover Proposal or inquiry (including a copy of any such written Takeover Proposal and any amendments or modifications thereto). Commencing upon the provision of any notice referred to above and continuing until such Takeover Proposal is withdrawn or the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) has provided written notice to Parent that it is prepared to effect a Change in Recommendation pursuant to Section 5.4(c) (Change in Recommendation), (A) GFI (or its outside legal counsel) shall, in person or by telephone, keep Parent (or its outside legal counsel) reasonably informed of, and shall provide to Parent or Purchaser upon request, the status of such Takeover Proposal and any material developments related thereto, including material amendments or proposed amendments as to price and other material terms of such Takeover Proposal and (B) GFI shall, promptly upon receipt or delivery, and in any case within 24 hours after the receipt thereof, provide Parent (or its outside legal counsel) with copies of all drafts and final versions (and any comments thereon) of agreements (including schedules and exhibits thereto) relating to such Takeover Proposal exchanged between GFI or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the person making such Takeover Proposal or any of its Representatives, on the other hand.
(c) Neither the Board of Directors of GFI nor any committee thereof (including the Special Committee) shall, directly or indirectly, effect a Change in Recommendation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) may, in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event, effect a Change in Recommendation; provided that the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor) that the failure to do so would reasonably be likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of GFI under applicable Law; provided, further, that the Board of Directors of GFI may not effect such a Change in Recommendation unless (i) the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) shall have first provided prior written notice to Parent that it is prepared to effect a Change in Recommendation in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event, which notice shall, in the case of a Superior Proposal, attach the most current version of any written agreement relating to the transaction that constitutes such Superior Proposal, and, in the case of an Intervening Event, attach information specifying such Intervening Event in reasonable detail and any other information related thereto reasonably requested by Parent, it being understood and agreed that the delivery of such notice shall not, in and of itself, be deemed a Change in Recommendation, and (ii) Parent does not make, within four Business Days after receipt of such notice a proposal that the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor) would cause the proposal previously constituting a Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal or obviates the need for a Change in Recommendation as a result of the Intervening Event, as the case may be. GFI agrees that, during the four Business Day period prior to its effecting a Change in Recommendation, GFI and its Representatives shall, if requested by Parent, negotiate in good faith with Parent and its Representatives (so long as Parent and its Representatives are negotiating in good faith) regarding any revisions to the terms of the Transactions proposed by Parent intended to cause such Takeover Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal or to obviate the need for a Change in Recommendation as a result of an Intervening Event. Any material amendment to the terms of such Superior Proposal or material change to the facts and circumstances that are the basis for such Intervening Event occurring or arising prior to the making of a Change in Recommendation shall require GFI to provide to Parent a new notice and a new negotiation period of two Business Days (instead of four Business Days).
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 5.4 shall prohibit GFI or the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) from taking and disclosing any position contemplated by Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act or making any statement contemplated by Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A or Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act in respect of any Takeover Proposal, providing any information to stockholders of GFI required by Section 220 of the DGCL or making any disclosure to the stockholders of GFI if the Board of Directors of GFI (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) that the failure to make such disclosure would reasonably be likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of GFI under applicable Law; provided, however, that neither the Board of Directors of GFI nor any committee thereof (including the Special Committee) shall, except as expressly permitted by Section 5.4(c) (Change in Recommendation), effect a Change in Recommendation.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement:
Financial Proposal Tender Forms – prices
Acquisition Transactions The Company shall provide the holder of this Warrant with at least twenty (20) days’ written notice prior to closing thereof of the terms and conditions of any of the following transactions (to the extent the Company has notice thereof): (i) the sale, lease, exchange, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s property or business, or (ii) its merger into or consolidation with any other corporation (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), or any transaction (including a merger or other reorganization) or series of related transactions, in which more than 50% of the voting power of the Company is disposed of.
Requisite Stockholder Approval The Requisite Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
