Operations Prior to the Closing Date (a) From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, Sellers shall, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Buyer, operate the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sellers shall: (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep and maintain the Purchased Assets in good operating condition and repair; (ii) maintain the business organization of the Business intact; (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the goodwill of the regulators, customers, suppliers, contractors, licensors, employees and others having business relations with the Business; (iv) not take or fail to take any action that could result in the occurrence of an “Additional Default Event” (as defined in that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2023, by and between Seller 1 and Vertical Investors, LLC (the “Letter Agreement”)); and (v) use best efforts to comply with the terms and conditions of the Letter Agreement.
(b) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or with the express written approval of Buyer, no Seller shall, directly or indirectly:
(i) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, license, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, (A) any assets that are material to the Business (other than the Excluded Assets) or (B) any assets to an equity holder of a Seller or any of their respective Affiliates;
(ii) declare or make any dividend or payment of cash to, or pay, loan or advance any amount to, any equity holder of a Seller or any of their respective Affiliates;
(iii) make any material change in the Business or its operations, acquire (including by merger or consolidation) any business or entity, or otherwise acquire any material asset;
(iv) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger or consolidation;
(v) amend any of its Organizational Documents;
(vi) increase or decrease the level of inventory of the Business or make any change in the inventory purchasing patterns, stocking levels or production practices of the Business;
(vii) take actions that may result, or would result, in payments to, or accounts receivable being created for the benefit of, a Seller sooner than is usual in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(viii) grant to any Employee of a Seller any increase in compensation (other than increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice to employees that are not in senior management or executive positions) or pay or agree to pay to any Employee of a Seller any bonus, severance or termination payment not previously agreed upon and provided in any Benefit Plan or other written agreements made available to Buyer (or otherwise required by applicable law);
(ix) make any material change in the manner in which a Seller extends discounts, credits or warranties;
(x) make any capital expenditures or payment in excess of $10,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or enter into any Contract therefor;
(xi) enter into, modify, amend, terminate or grant any consent or waiver under any Transferred Contract, or any other Contract involving more than $15,000, except for the renewal of any such Contract upon its expiration in accordance with its terms;
(a) make any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy;
(xii) fail to preserve intact the Business’s and Sellers’ relationships with their employees, agents, customers, suppliers and other Persons having contacts with a Seller or the Business;
(xiii) terminate or fail to renew any Permit or have any Permit revoked or suspended;
(xiv) abandon, sell, assign, transfer, covenant not to sue, enter into a coexistence Contract, or grant any exclusive license or with respect to, or otherwise create an Encumbrance with respect to any Company IP; or
(xv) enter into any Contract to do any of the things described in subsections (i) through (xv) above or authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, such actions.
Operations Prior to Closing (a) Seller agrees to operate the Property between the Execution Date and the Closing Date in the same general manner as Seller has operated the Property during the immediately preceding six (6) month period, paying all costs and expenses as they come due, and in any event prior to Closing, and maintaining all insurance coverage currently in force.
(b) Seller shall comply with all of the obligations of landlord under the Leases and all other agreements and contractual arrangements affecting the Real Property by which Seller is bound or to which the Real Property, or any of them, are subject, and which will be binding upon Buyer or a lien upon such Real Property, after the Closing.
(c) Seller shall notify Buyer promptly of Seller's receipt of any notice from any party alleging that Seller is in default of its obligations under any of the Leases or any Permit or agreement affecting the Real Property, or any portion or portions thereof.
(d) No contract for or on behalf of or affecting the Real Property shall be negotiated or entered into which cannot be terminated by Seller upon the Closing without the payment of a specific charge, cost, penalty or premium for such termination.
(e) Except with the prior written consent of Buyer, which Buyer agrees it shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay, Seller shall not enter into any new leases for any portion of the Real Property. Any new lease shall be on Buyer's customary form (which may vary to reflect customary negotiated revisions thereto), or such other form which is reasonably acceptable to Buyer. Further, except with the prior written consent of Buyer, which Buyer agrees it shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay, or as set forth above, Seller shall not amend, extend (except where required under the terms of the Lease in question), terminate (except by reason of a tenant's default), accept surrender of, or permit any assignments or subleases of, any of the Leases (except as may be required under such Lease), nor accept any rental more than one (1) month in advance (exclusive of any security deposit).
(f) Seller shall not make or permit to be made any capital improvements or additions to the Real Property, or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Buyer, except those made by Seller pursuant to the express requirements of this Agreement, those made by tenants pursuant to the right to do so under their Leases, or by Seller if required by applicable law or ordinance, or as required under any Lease.
(g) Seller shall timely xxxx all tenants for all rent billable under Leases, and use commercially reasonable efforts to collect any rent in arrears.
(h) Seller shall notify Buyer of any tax assessment disputes (pending or threatened) prior to Closing, and from and after the Due Diligence Expiration Date, Seller not agree to any changes in the real estate tax assessment, nor settle, withdraw or otherwise compromise any pending claims with respect to tax assessments relating to the current or any subsequent year, without Buyer's prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. If any proceedings shall result in any reduction of assessment and/or tax for the tax year in which the Closing occurs, it is agreed that the amount of tax savings or refund for such tax year, less the reasonable fees and disbursements in connection with such proceedings, shall be apportioned between the parties as of the date real estate taxes are apportioned under this Agreement. All refunds relating to any tax year prior to the Closing shall be the sole property of Seller, and all refunds relating to any year subsequent to the year in which Closing occurs shall be the sole property of Buyer. Each party agrees to promptly remit to the other any refund received by it which is the property of the other.
(i) Seller shall notify Buyer promptly of the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) Receipt of notice from any governmental or quasi-governmental agency or authority or insurance underwriter relating to the condition, use or occupancy of the Real Property, or any portion thereof;
(ii) Receipt of any notice of default from any tenant or from the holder of any lien or security interest in or encumbering the Real Property, or any portion thereof;
(iii) Notice of any actual or threatened litigation against Seller or affecting or relating to the Real Property, or any portion thereof which may materially and adversely affect the Real Property or Seller's ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iv) Vacancy of any demised Property by a tenant, other than in accordance with a scheduled lease termination.
Actions Prior to Closing From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Contributor shall not take any action or fail to take any action the result of which could (1) have a material adverse effect on the Contributed Interests or the Operating Partnership’s ownership thereof, or any Material Adverse Effect on any Contributed Entity or Property after the Closing Date or (2) cause any of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 2.2 to be untrue as of the Closing Date.
Operations Pending Closing Between the date hereof and the Closing, except as (a) set forth in this Agreement or the Option Exercise Agreement, (b) contemplated by the applicable subsection of Schedule 5.01, or (c) required by applicable Law or the regulations or requirements of any regulatory organization applicable to WTGS TV, the Seller or the LIN Companies, as the case may be, unless Buyer otherwise consents in writing which request for consent shall be directed to and promptly considered in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 5.01 by Buyer and which consent shall (i) not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed in the case of clauses (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (l), (n), (r), (s), (t), (u) or (w), and (ii) which may otherwise be withheld in Buyer’s sole discretion, the LIN Companies shall, and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause WTGS TV and, prior to the Merger Closing, the LIN Companies to, and the Seller shall, following the Merger Closing and prior to the Closing:
(a) operate the Station in the ordinary course and in all material respects in accordance with the Communications Laws, the FCC Licenses and with all other applicable Laws;
(b) not cause or permit, or agree or commit to cause or permit, by act or failure to act, any of the FCC Licenses to expire or to be revoked, suspended or adversely modified, or take or fail to take any action that would cause the FCC or any other Governmental Authority to institute proceedings (other than proceedings of general applicability) for the suspension, revocation or adverse modification of any of the FCC Licenses listed on Schedule 3.04(a);
(c) other than in the ordinary course of business or for the purpose of disposing of obsolete or worthless assets, not (i) sell, lease, license or dispose of or agree to sell, lease, license or dispose of any material assets unless replaced with similar items of substantially equal or greater value and utility or (ii) create, assume or permit to exist any Liens upon their assets, except for Permitted Liens;
(d) not dissolve, liquidate, merge or consolidate with any other entity;
(e) maintain, repair and replace the Tangible Personal Property, including any Tangible Personal Property which has been damaged prior to Closing, and maintain, repair and replace the Real Property, including any improvements thereon, which has been damaged prior to Closing, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(i) upon reasonable written advance notice, give Buyer and its representatives reasonable access at reasonable, mutually agreed-upon times during normal business hours to the Station, and furnish Buyer with information relating to the Business that Buyer may reasonably request, provided, however, that such access rights shall not be exercised in a manner that interferes with the Business and (ii) otherwise provide such reasonable assistance and cooperation as may be requested by Buyer from time to time prior to the Closing Date to reasonably facilitate the transition of the Business, including facilities, operations and applicable data, to Buyer upon and effective as of the Effective Time;
(g) except as otherwise required by Law, not enter into, renew or renegotiate any employment agreement with a Transferred Employee providing for annual compensation in excess of $100,000, any severance agreement or any labor, or union agreement or plan, including any Collective Bargaining Agreement, that will be binding upon Buyer after the Closing;
(h) not hire or terminate the employment of any Station general manager or any other Transferred Employee with annual aggregate non-equity compensation, including target bonuses, in excess of $100,000, excluding any terminations for “cause” as reasonably determined by Sellers;
(i) except in the ordinary course of business, not (i) materially increase the compensation or benefits payable to any Transferred Employee, or (ii) modify any severance policy applicable to any Transferred Employee that would result in any material increase in the amount of severance payable to any such Transferred Employee (or would materially expand the circumstances in which such severance is payable);
(j) not sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Station Asset except (i) pursuant to or in accordance with existing Assumed Contracts or (ii) immaterial Station Assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(k) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Station’s MVPD carriage existing as of the date of this Agreement;
(l) except for agreements and contracts which can be terminated by WTGS TV, the Seller or LIN Companies, as applicable, without penalty upon notice of ninety (90) days or less, not (i) enter into any agreement or contract that would have been a Material Contract were WTGS TV, the Seller or LIN Companies, as applicable, a party or subject thereto on the date of this Agreement unless such agreement or contract (x) is entered into in the ordinary course of business and (y) does not involve payments by WTGS TV, the Seller or LIN Companies, as applicable, of greater than $250,000 during any twelve (12) month period, (ii) amend in any material respect any Material Contract unless such amendment (x) is effected in the ordinary course of business, (y) does not increase the amount of payments to be made by WTGS TV, the Seller or LIN Companies, as applicable, during any twelve (12) month period by $250,000 or more or (iii) terminate or waive any material right under any Material Contract other than in the ordinary course of business (excluding the expiration of any Material Contract in accordance with its terms) (it being understood that if any such entry into, or amendment or termination of any such agreement or contract is permitted pursuant to this Section 5.1(k) as a result of the references to acts taken in the ordinary course of business, but such action would otherwise be prohibited by any other provision of this Section 5.1, then this Section 5.1(k) shall not be interpreted to permit such action without the prior written consent of Buyer as contemplated hereby);
(m) not enter into any Contract constituting a Sharing Agreement with respect to the Station;
(n) not change any accounting practices, procedures or methods (except for any change required under GAAP or applicable law) or maintain its books and records, in each case in a manner other than in the ordinary course of business;
(o) not make or agree or commit to make any capital expenditure, except (i) for capital expenditures equal to or less than $200,000 in connection with any particular project or equal to or less than $500,000 in the aggregate, and (ii) for emergency commitments or expenditures;
(p) maintain its qualifications to hold the FCC Licenses with respect to the Station and not take any action that will materially impair such FCC Licenses or such qualifications;
(q) promote the programming of the Station (both on-air and using third party media) in the ordinary course of business, taking into account inventory availability;
(r) not adopt, enter into or become bound by any new Employee Plan or amend, modify or terminate any Employee Plan, except (i) to comply with applicable Law, (ii) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices without any additional post-Closing material liability to WTGS TV, the Seller or LIN Companies, as applicable, or (iii) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(s) keep in full force and effect the material insurance policies set forth on Schedule 3.12 (or other insurance policies comparable in amount and scope);
(t) not make or rescind any election relating to Taxes, settle or compromise any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, for any taxable period ending on or after September 30, 2012, or change any of its methods of reporting income or deductions on its Income Tax Returns, or the classifications of its existing property and assets, in each case, to the extent such action would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect Buyer or its Affiliates after the Closing;
(u) not (i) enter into or agree or commit to enter into any new Tradeout Agreement relating to the Station with a value in excess of $40,000, and $200,000 in the aggregate, prior to Closing that will not be fully performed prior to the Closing or (ii) make any guarantee of commercial ratings other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(i) utilize the Program Rights only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) not sell or otherwise dispose of any such Program Rights;
(w) not extend credit to advertisers other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(x) timely make retransmission consent elections with all MVPDs located in or serving the Station’s Markets;
(y) not enter into any retransmission consent agreement relating to the Station other than as set forth on Schedule 5.01(y);
(z) not enter into any Contract with any Affiliate or Subsidiary of Seller that survives the Closing; and
(aa) not agree, commit or resolve to take any actions inconsistent with the foregoing.
Conditions to the Closing Date The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Loans hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent to the Administrative Agent satisfaction:
(a) The Administrative Agent receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimile or other electronic image transmission (e.g., “PDF” or “TIF” via electronic mail) (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a member of the Senior Management of the signing Credit Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) (A) executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Credit Parties, and (B) executed counterparts of each Security Document sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent and the Credit Parties, and an executed Note for each Lender who requests a Note;
(ii) an officer’s certificate of each Credit Party executing a Loan Document, (A) certifying and attaching true, correct and complete copies of: (1) the certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation (or such equivalent thereof) of such Credit Party, and, where applicable, certified as of a recent date from the Secretary of State (or applicable Governmental Authority) of the jurisdiction in which such Credit Party is incorporated or formed, (2) the by-laws, limited liability company agreement, articles of association, partnership agreement or other applicable Governing Document of such Credit Party, and (3) the resolutions or votes of the board of directors or board of managers or partners (or equivalent thereof) of such Credit Party, authorizing such Credit Party’s entry into the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and (B) certifying the incumbency of members of the Senior Management of such Credit Party authorized to act in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Credit Party is a party and providing a specimen signature of such members of the Senior Management of such Credit Party who will be signing Loan Documents on the Closing Date and thereafter;
(iii) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may require to evidence that each Credit Party executing a Loan Document is validly existing and in good standing (where applicable) in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as applicable;
(iv) a favorable legal opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, special New York counsel to the Credit Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to matters concerning the Credit Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; and
(v) a certificate of a member of the Senior Management of the Borrower certifying that (1) the condition specified in Sections 4.02(b) has been satisfied, (2) there has been no event or circumstance since December 31, 2023 that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (3) all consents, licenses, and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party and the validity against each Credit Party of the Loan Documents to which such Credit Party is a party have been obtained.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Agency Account Agreements, signed by each of the applicable parties thereto, for each deposit account or securities account required to be subject to an Agency Account Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section 6.16 hereof.
Parties to Lock-Up Agreements The Company has furnished to the Underwriters a letter agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Lock-up Agreement”) from each of the persons listed on Exhibit B. Such Exhibit B lists under an appropriate caption the directors and executive officers of the Company. If any additional persons shall become directors or executive officers of the Company prior to the end of the Company Lock-up Period (as defined below), the Company shall cause each such person, prior to or contemporaneously with their appointment or election as a director or executive officer of the Company, to execute and deliver to the Representatives a Lock-up Agreement.
Actions Prior to the Distribution Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties shall take, or cause to be taken, the following actions in connection with the Distribution:
Conditions to Closing of the Company The Company’s obligation to sell the Securities at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to its satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
Vendor’s Resellers as Related to This Agreement
Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing Except as contemplated on Schedule 4.1, or with the written consent of Buyer, which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Seller shall (i) conduct the Business in the ordinary course of business, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the Business’s business organization and relationships with third parties (including lessors, licensors, suppliers, distributors and customers) and keep available the service of their present employees and service providers, and (iii) continue to obtain all necessary consents and provide required notices in connection with any Acquired Agreement to be acquired by Buyer in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Buyer (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Seller shall not, during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, directly or indirectly do, or propose or commit to do, or otherwise cause to occur, any of the following with respect to any member of the Company Group:
(a) make any change in or amendment to its organizational documents;
(b) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, other than distributions paid solely in cash;
(i) except in the ordinary course of business, (A) enter into any Contract that, had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would be a Material Contract or an Affiliate Contract, or (B) materially amend, modify, terminate or cancel (x) any existing Material Contract or (y) any Contract that, had it been entered into or amended prior to the date of this Agreement, would be a Material Contract, (ii) fail to perform any of its material obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting the Assets or Business, or (iii) amend, terminate or cancel any Acquired Agreement, any Acquired IP or Acquired Lease (other than the termination of any such agreement in accordance with its terms);
(d) enter into any agreement that restricts the ability of any member of the Company Group to engage or compete in any line of business, or enter into any agreement that restricts the ability of any member of the Company Group to enter a new line of business;
(e) except in the ordinary course of business, discontinue any business material to the Business or sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose or permit the cancellation, abandonment or dedication to the public domain of any of the material property rights (including Intellectual Property) or assets of the Business, other than as required pursuant to existing Contracts or commitments;
(f) acquire (by merger, consolidation, purchase, or other acquisition of equity interests or assets) any Person or any material properties or assets of any Person, except for acquisitions of properties, assets, inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of business;
(g) incur any Indebtedness, issue any debt securities, or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any Person;
(h) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, or forgive, cancel or compromise any debt or claim, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business;
(i) fail to pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;
(j) except as required by applicable Law or the terms of any Company Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement, (A) amend, terminate, enter into or adopt any Company Benefit Plan (or any arrangement that would be a Company Benefit Plan if it was in effect on the date hereof) or any collective bargaining agreement; (B) grant or increase the compensation or benefits or other pay (including base salary or hourly rate, bonus, severance, termination, commissions and incentive compensation) of any Business Employee or other individual service provider of the Business; (C) pay, grant, or increase any severance or termination pay to (or otherwise amend any such existing arrangement with) any current or former Business Employee or other individual service provider of the Business; (D) accelerate the vesting or payment of, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, compensation or benefits under, any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise; or (E) grant any new awards, or modify the terms of any outstanding awards under any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise;
(k) hire any employee other than any hourly employee in the ordinary course of business;
(l) modify any employment arrangement with any Business Employee or terminate the employment of any Business Employee, other than (y) terminations for cause;
(m) implement or announce any group employee layoffs, plant closings, reductions in force, furloughs or temporary layoffs that would trigger notice obligations under the WARN Act;
(n) cancel, compromise or settle any material Litigation, or intentionally waive or release any material rights, with respect to the Business;
(o) make any changes to its accounting principles or practices, other than as may be required by Law or GAAP;
(p) other than in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices, change in any material respect the policies or practices of the Business with regard to the extension of discounts or credit to customers or collection of receivables from customers;
(q) change or revoke any Tax election or change any method of accounting for Tax purposes; in each case with respect to the Business or Assets to the extent such election or method of accounting would be binding on Buyer following the Closing Date;
(r) violate any applicable Law or Order;
(s) enter into or adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, merger or consolidation or other reorganization; or
(t) agree, authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.
