Quality Control A. Controlled Affiliate agrees to use the Licensed Marks and Name only in connection with the licensed services and further agrees to be bound by the conditions regarding quality control shown in attached Exhibit A as they may be amended by BCBSA from time-to-time.
B. Controlled Affiliate agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
C. Controlled Affiliate agrees that it will provide on an annual basis (or more often if reasonably required by Plan or by BCBSA) a report or reports to Plan and BCBSA demonstrating Controlled Affiliate’s compliance with the requirements of this Agreement including but not limited to the quality control provisions of this paragraph and the attached Exhibit A.
D. Controlled Affiliate agrees that Plan and/or BCBSA may, from time-to-time, upon reasonable notice, review and inspect the manner and method of Controlled Affiliate’s rendering of service and use of the Licensed Marks and Name.
E. As used herein, a Controlled Affiliate is defined as an entity organized and operated in such a manner, that it meets the following requirements:
(1) A Plan or Plans authorized to use the Licensed Marks in the Service Area of the Controlled Affiliate pursuant to separate License Agreement(s) with BCBSA, other than such Controlled Affiliate’s License Agreement(s), (the “Controlling Plan(s)”), must have the legal authority directly or indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries to select members of the Controlled Affiliate’s governing body having not less than 50% voting control thereof and to:
(a) prevent any change in the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other establishing or governing documents of the Controlled Affiliate with which the Controlling Plan(s) do(es) not concur;
(b) exercise control over the policy and operations of the Controlled Affiliate at least equal to that exercised by persons or entities (jointly or individually) other than the Controlling Plan(s); and Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in (a) through (b) hereof, the Controlled Affiliate’s establishing or governing documents must also require written approval by the Controlling Plan(s) before the Controlled Affiliate can:
(i) change its legal and/or trade names;
(ii) change the geographic area in which it operates;
(iii) change any of the type(s) of businesses in which it engages;
(iv) create, or become liable for by way of guarantee, any indebtedness, other than indebtedness arising in the ordinary course of business;
(v) sell any assets, except for sales in the ordinary course of business or sales of equipment no longer useful or being replaced;
(vi) make any loans or advances except in the ordinary course of business;
(vii) enter into any arrangement or agreement with any party directly or indirectly affiliated with any of the owners or persons or entities with the authority to select or appoint members or board members of the Controlled Affiliate, other than the Plan or Plans (excluding owners of stock holdings of under 5% in a publicly traded Controlled Affiliate);
(viii) conduct any business other than under the Licensed Marks and Name;
(ix) take any action that any Controlling Plan or BCBSA reasonably believes will adversely affect the Licensed Marks and Name. In addition, a Plan or Plans directly or indirectly through wholly owned subsidiaries shall own at least 50% of any for-profit Controlled Affiliate.
(2) A Plan or Plans authorized to use the Licensed Marks in the Service Area of the Controlled Affiliate pursuant to separate License Agreement(s) with BCBSA, other than such Controlled Affiliate’s License Agreement(s), (the “Controlling Plan(s)”), have the legal authority directly or indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries to select members of the Controlled Affiliate’s governing body having more than 50% voting control thereof and to:
(a) prevent any change in the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other establishing or governing documents of the Controlled Affiliate with which the Controlling Plan(s) do(es) not concur;
(b) exercise control over the policy and operations of the Controlled Affiliate. In addition, a Plan or Plans directly or indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries shall own more than 50% of any for-profit Controlled Affiliate.