Third Party Claims Each Notice of Claim given by Acquiror, which involves a third party (a “Third Party Claim”), shall be resolved as follows:
(a) If, within thirty (30) days after a Notice of Claim is delivered to the Seller Representative, (x) the Seller Representative produces a notice of election and (y) such notice of election includes a written acknowledgment from the Seller Representative on behalf of the Seller Guarantors and the Sellers (the “Indemnifying Persons”) that the Indemnifying Persons would be required to indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Persons for all Damages in connection with such Third Party Claim Notice, the Indemnifying Persons shall have the right, but not the obligation to (i) take control of the defense and investigation of such Third Party Claim, (ii) employ and engage attorneys of their own choice (subject to the approval of Acquiror, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to handle and defend the same, at the Indemnifying Persons’ sole cost and expense, and (iii) compromise or settle such Third Party Claim, which compromise or settlement shall be made only with the written consent of Acquiror; provided, that such consent will not be required if such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Acquiror Indemnified Persons and provides solely for payment of monetary damages for which the Acquiror Indemnified Persons will be indemnified in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Persons shall not have the right to assume the defense of a Third Party Claim if (1) the Indemnifying Persons fail to actively and diligently conduct the defense of the Third Party Claim (after notice and reasonable opportunity to cure), (2) the Acquiror Indemnified Persons have received advice from counsel that an actual or potential conflict exists between the Acquiror Indemnified Persons and the Indemnifying Persons in connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim, (3) such Third Party Claim seeks a finding or admission of a violation of any criminal Law by an Acquiror Indemnified Person, (4) such Third Party Claim seeks an injunction or other equitable remedies in respect of an Acquiror Indemnified Person or its business, (5) such Third Party Claim relates to a Material Customer or Material Supplier, or (6) such Third Party Claim is reasonably likely to result in Damages that, taken with any other then existing claims under this Article 12, would not be not be fully indemnified hereunder.
(b) In the event that the Indemnifying Persons defend the Acquiror Indemnified Persons against a Third Party Claim, the Acquiror Indemnified Persons shall cooperate in all reasonable respects, at the Indemnifying Persons’ request, with the Indemnifying Persons and their attorneys in the investigation, trial and defense of such Third Party Claim and any appeal arising therefrom, including, if appropriate and related to such Third Party Claim, in making any counterclaim against the third party claimant, or any cross complaint against any Person, in each case, at the expense of the Indemnifying Persons. The Acquiror Indemnified Persons may, at their own sole cost and expense, monitor and further participate in (but not control) the investigation, trial and defense of such Third Party Claim and any appeal arising therefrom.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Indemnifying Persons do not assume such defense and investigation or does not acknowledge in writing within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Third Party Claim Notice its obligation to indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Persons against any Damages arising from such Third Party Claim, then the Acquiror Indemnified Persons shall have the right to retain separate counsel of their choosing, defend such Third Party Claim and have the sole power to direct and control such defense (all at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Persons if it is ultimately determined that the Acquiror Indemnified Persons are entitled to indemnification hereunder); it being understood that the Acquiror Indemnified Persons’ right to indemnification for a Third Party Claim shall not be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, whether or not the Indemnifying Persons shall have assumed the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Acquiror Indemnified Persons shall not settle, compromise or pay such Third Party Claim for which they seeks indemnification hereunder without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Persons, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(d) The Acquiror Indemnified Persons and the Indemnifying Persons shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid production of confidential information (consistent with Law), and to cause all communications among employees, counsel and others representing any party to a Third Party Claim to be made so as to preserve any applicable attorney-client or work-product privileges.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 8.1(d) shall exclusively govern S Corporation Tax Proceedings.
