Prior to the Closing the Buyer shall provide to Seller a list of those employees of the Company whose employment Buyer intends to terminate after the Closing (the "Identified Employees") and Seller shall cause the Company prior to the Closing to show on its Financial Statements and the Preliminary Closing Balance Sheet, a liability equal to the amount that the Identified Employees would be eligible to receive under Company's severance pay plan and any pay-in-lieu-of-vacation arrangement offered by the Company and all employment taxes thereon computed as if the Company had terminated such employees' employment at Closing. As to such Identified Employees, Seller shall have the sole option to determine if the Identified Employees shall continue to be employed by Seller or its Affiliates or be transferred to other divisions or facilities of the Seller or its Affiliates. Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to retain as many of the Company employees as is feasible. Buyer shall treat all service completed by an employee with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, and any predecessor thereto, the same as service completed with Buyer for all purposes, including waiting periods relating to preexisting conditions under medical plans, vacations, severance pay, eligibility to participate in, vesting or payment of benefits under, and eligibility for early retirement or any subsidized benefit provided for under, any employee benefit plan (including, but not limited to, any "employee benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) maintained by Buyer on or after the Closing Date, except for purposes of computing benefits under the actual benefit formula in a defined benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA). Prior to the Closing, Seller shall furnish Buyer with a list of the length of service with the Company or its Affiliates, or any predecessor thereof, for each of the Employees. For purposes of computing deductible amounts (or like adjustments or limitations on coverage) under any employee welfare benefit plan (including, without limitation, any "employee welfare benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), expenses and claims previously recognized for similar purposes under the applicable welfare benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate shall be credited or recognized under the comparable plan maintained after the Closing Date by Buyer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Buyer shall not be required to permit the employees of the Company to participate in the Buyer's 401(k) plan prior to the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing after the Closing Date.
Prior to Closing As used herein, “Compensation” shall mean the direct salaries and wages and other aggregate compensation paid to or accrued for the benefit of any employee together with all fringe benefits payable to or accrued for the benefit of such employee as to which the employer is responsible, including, without limitation, employer contributions under F.I.C.A., fringe benefits, annual bonuses, unemployment compensation or other employment taxes, pension fund contributions, vacation pay, sick leave, worker’s compensation, group life and accidental and health premiums, and pension or profit sharing, retirement, disability and other similar benefits. Purchaser shall be responsible for and shall pay (i) all Compensation with respect to the operations of the Property on and after the date of Closing and (ii) all Compensation which is accrued but not payable as of the Closing and for which Purchaser is credited at Closing. For these purposes, vacation benefits, sick leave, annual bonuses and related payroll expenses of Hotel Employees (the “Supplemental Employee Expenses”) as of the Closing shall be treated as accrued and subject to proration solely (A) if vested and not subject to expiration if not used or termination in the event of the employee’s departure or (B) to the extent of 70% of any such accrued Supplemental Employee Expenses subject to later vesting or expiration if not used or termination in the event of the employee’s departure. With respect to accrued bonuses for 2006, Seller’s pro-rated share at Closing shall be based upon Operator’s reasonable estimate of the bonuses to be paid to such Hotel Employees for 2006. No later than March 31, 2007, or earlier upon the mutual agreement of the parties, the parties shall adjust Seller’s pro-rated share of the bonuses paid to the Hotel Employees for 2006 based upon the actual amounts of such bonuses (as shown by such supporting documentation as may be reasonably required by either party), and Purchaser or Seller, as the case may be, shall make such additional payment or refund as shall be required by such adjustment. Purchaser acknowledges that the New HMA shall initially afford the Hotel Employees continuation of all rights under Operator’s existing Section 401(k) plans and health care plans, as previously afforded under the Current HMA.
Actions at the Closing Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement or as with regard to the transfer of securities as soon thereafter as is practicable:
(a) The Seller shall deliver to the Company (i) a copy of a certificate of good standing (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for the Seller, certified as of a date no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date hereof from the proper Governmental Authority of the Seller's jurisdiction of organization; and (ii) a certificate from the Seller’s secretary or director certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and confirming delivery of, (x) copies of the Seller’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the date hereof, (y) copies of the resolutions of its board of directors and the Shareholders authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each document to which they are a party or bound, and the consummation of the Exchange, the Series A Preferred Exchange and each of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (z) the incumbency of directors authorized to execute this Agreement or any other document to which the Seller is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.
(b) The Company shall deliver to the Seller (i) a copy of a certificate of good standing for the Company, certified as of a date no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date hereof from the proper Governmental Authority of the Company’s jurisdiction of organization; and (ii) a certificate from the Company’s secretary or authorized officer certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and confirming delivery of, (x) copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the date hereof, (y) copies of the resolutions of its board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each document to which it is a party or bound, respectively, and the consummation of the Exchange, the Series A Preferred Exchange and each of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the appointment of the individuals nominated by the Seller as the directors and Mr. Xxxxx Xxxxxx as the Chief Executive Office of the Company with immediate effect at Closing, and (z) the incumbency of officers or directors authorized to execute this Agreement or any other document to which the Company is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.
(c) Each of the Shareholders shall deliver to the Company the certificate(s) representing their Seller Securities owned by each such Shareholder, duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers duly executed in blank and otherwise in a form acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company, such certificates may be delivered to the Company’s registrar or transfer agent.
(d) The Company shall deliver to the Shareholders a copy of the transfer agent instruction letter that instructs the Company’s stock transfer agent to issue the Series B Preferred Stock in book entry form to the Shareholders calculated in accordance with Section 2.1(b).
(e) The Company Preferred Shareholder shall deliver to the Company the cancellation request and executed agreements as needed for surrendering of all of the Series A Preferred Stock owned by him on the books of the Company, such cancellation request may be delivered to the Company’s transfer agent.
(f) The Company shall deliver to the Shareholders a copy of the transfer agent instruction letter that instructs the Company’s stock transfer agent to issue all authorized shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in book entry form to the Shareholders.
(g) The Company shall deliver to the Company Preferred Shareholder a copy of the transfer agent instruction letter that instructs the Company’s stock transfer agent to issue the Series B Preferred Stock in book entry form to the Company Preferred Shareholder calculated in accordance with Section 2.1(c).
(h) The Company shall deliver to the Seller a copy of the written resignation of Xx. Xxx Xxxx from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(i) The Shareholders and the Company Preferred Shareholder shall deliver to the Company counterparts duly executed by them to the Lock-Up Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(j) The Company shall deliver to the Seller duly executed copies of the Employment Agreements.
(k) The Company and the Company Preferred Shareholder shall deliver validly executed transfer documents in accordance with Section 7.3 dated as of the date hereof and effective as of the next Business Day after the date hereof.
Transactions at the Closing The closing of the transactions set forth herein (the "Closing") shall take place at York Gate, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, within ten business days after the date on which all conditions to the Closing shall have been satisfied and all legally required regulatory approvals (including the approval of the Controller of Restrictive Trade Practices, which approval shall not include any conditions or restrictions (the “Anti-trust Approval”)) shall have been obtained, or thereafter at such other time, date and place as may be agreed by the Parties (the time and date of the Closing being herein referred to as the “Closing Date”). In the event that the Closing does not take place within 90 days of the Effective Date, each Party shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement without giving rise to any right or claim by the other Party hereto, excluding claims for breaches of obligations or representations by any Party hereto prior to such termination; provided, however, that no Party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 3 if such Party's failure to fulfill any of its obligations under this Agreement shall have been a principal reason that the Closing shall not have occurred within the 90-day period of the date hereof. At the Closing, the following transactions shall occur, which transactions shall be deemed to take place simultaneously and no transaction shall be deemed to have been completed or any document delivered until all such transactions have been completed and all required documents have been delivered:
(1) Seller shall transfer to the Purchaser the Purchased Shares, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances.
(2) Seller shall deliver to Purchaser duly executed irrevocable instructions from the Seller to the broker holding the Purchased Shares or to the holder registered as holding the Purchased Shares with any registration company or otherwise, instructing the electronic transfer of the Purchased Shares to the respective accounts of the Purchaser, as shall be provided to Seller by Purchaser.
(3) The Purchaser shall transfer to the bank account of the Seller the Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be paid in US$ by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Any tax due by Seller with respect to the Seller's sale of the Purchased Shares shall be borne exclusively by the Seller and Seller shall indemnify the Purchaser in the event that any taxing authority requires Purchaser to pay the tax liability of Seller with respect to the sale of the Purchased Shares hereunder. The Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller, promptly following its receipt, any notice, demand or claim it receives from any taxing authority in respect of any tax due with respect to the Seller and its sale of the Purchased Shares. Without derogating from Seller's indemnification obligations as set forth above and the Purchaser's right to timely comply with any requirement made to it by a taxing authority, the Seller shall have the right (at its sole discretion and expense) to directly negotiate and settle any such tax requirement with the relevant taxing authority.
Deliveries at the Closing At the Closing: -------------------------
(a) Seller and/or Parent shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer the following:
(i) a good and sufficient xxxx of sale for the Assets, selling, delivering, transferring and assigning to Buyer all of Seller's and Affiliate's right, title and interest in and to the Assets, free and clear of any and all Liens other than Permitted Liens, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Xxxx of Sale"), together with such assignments and --------- ------------ other documentation reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, Buyer to validly vest Buyer with all of Seller's and Affiliate's right, title and interest in or to the Assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens;
(ii) consents, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1, to the assignment of the contracts listed on Schedules 2.30 and ----------- -------------- 2.31 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule; ----
(iii) copies, certified by an authorized officer of Seller, of minutes or resolutions of the board of directors and Parent, as sole stockholder, which shall not have been rescinded or modified, unconditionally authorizing the execution of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iv) copies, certified by an authorized officer of Parent, of minutes or resolutions of the board of directors, which shall not have been rescinded or modified, unconditionally authorizing the execution of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(v) the Escrow Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the "Escrow Agreement"), executed by each of --------- ---------------- Seller and Parent;
(vi) documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel evidencing that the approvals and consents specified in Sections 6.1(c) and 6.3(c) hereof have been obtained and are in full force and effect; and
(vii) all other documents and instruments required hereunder to be delivered by Seller to Buyer at the Closing;
(b) Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller the following:
(i) an instrument of assumption of liabilities, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, by which Buyer shall assume --------- the Assumed Liabilities as of the Closing, together with such other documentation reasonably requested by Seller to cause Buyer to assume the Assumed Liabilities;
(ii) the Escrow Agreement executed by Buyer; and
(iii) all other documents and instruments required hereunder to be delivered by Buyer to Seller at the Closing;
(c) Buyer shall deposit the Escrow Amount with the Escrow Agent in accordance with Article VIII and the Escrow Agreement. ------------
At Closing (1) Seller shall execute and deliver a general warranty deed conveying title to the Property to Buyer and showing no additional exceptions to those permitted in Paragraph 6 and furnish tax statements or certificates showing no delinquent taxes on the Property.
(2) Buyer shall pay the Sales Price in good funds acceptable to the escrow agent.
(3) Seller and Xxxxx shall execute and deliver any notices, statements, certificates, affidavits, releases, loan documents and other documents reasonably required for the closing of the sale and the issuance of the Title Policy.
(4) There will be no liens, assessments, or security interests against the Property which will not be satisfied out of the sales proceeds unless securing the payment of any loans assumed by Buyer and assumed loans will not be in default.
At the Closing (i) Echo shall, and the Echo Shareholders shall cause Echo to, contribute, convey, transfer, assign and deliver, or cause to be contributed, conveyed, transferred, assigned and delivered, to the Company, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and the Company will accept from Echo, shares of common stock of Echo Holdco representing the Echo Contributed Percentage of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Echo Holdco, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (the “Echo Contribution”). In consideration of the Echo Contribution, the Company shall, at the Closing, (A) issue Units to Echo representing a Membership Percentage equal to 30.0% (before taking into account the Employee Pool), subject to adjustment as set forth herein, and Echo shall accept such Units, and (B) admit Echo as a Member, with the rights, powers, obligations and duties set forth in the LLC Agreement (the “Echo Membership Consideration”).
(ii) Each outstanding and unexercised vested (or vesting upon the Closing) Echo Holdco Option with an exercise price less than the Echo Per Share Purchase Price shall immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled, and the Echo Optionholder thereof (a “Vested Optionholder”) shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (i) an amount of the Echo Purchase Price (including any additional payments pursuant to Section 2.03(a)) equal to such Vested Optionholder’s pro rata portion (based on such Vested Optionholder’s Echo Deemed Option Shares Outstanding) of the Total Echo Option Cash Amount and (ii) Echo Securities (with equivalent value to such vested (or vesting upon the Closing) Echo Holdco Options other than those Echo Holdco Options receiving a portion of the Echo Purchase Price in clause (i) above) subject to terms to be agreed upon by MCK, Echo and Echo Holdco.
(iii) Each Echo Holdco Option (i) that was outstanding but unvested immediately prior to the Closing and (ii) that was outstanding and vested (or vesting upon the Closing) with an exercise price greater than or equal to the Echo Per Share Purchase Price, shall immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled and the Echo Optionholder thereof shall be entitled to receive in exchange thereof Echo Securities (with equivalent value to such Echo Holdco Options) subject to terms to be agreed upon by MCK, Echo and Echo Holdco.
(iv) The Echo Shareholders shall sell to the Company, and the Company will purchase from the Echo Shareholders, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), shares of common stock of Echo Holdco (allocated among the Echo Shareholders as determined by Echo Holdco prior to Closing and set forth on the Estimated Echo Closing Statement) representing the Echo Purchase Price Percentage of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Echo Holdco, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (the “Echo Holdco Share Transfer” and, together with the Echo Contribution, the “Echo Contributions and Transfers”). At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Echo Shareholders, as the aggregate purchase price for the shares transferred to the Company pursuant to the Echo Holdco Share Transfer and Vested Optionholders, an amount equal to the Echo Purchase Price, in immediately available funds by wire transfer to accounts for the benefit of the Echo with a bank in the United States designated by the Echo Representative by notice to the Company, which notice shall be delivered not later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “Echo Holdco Sale Consideration” and, together with the Echo Membership Consideration, the “Echo Membership and Sale Consideration”).
(v) MCK shall cause one or more of its wholly-owned, direct or indirect Subsidiaries (each, an “MCK Contributor”) to contribute, convey, transfer, assign and deliver, or cause to be contributed, conveyed, transferred, assigned and delivered, to the Company, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and the Company will accept from the MCK Contributors, 100% of the Core MTS Business (including the MCK Licensed Intellectual Property but excluding the MCK IPCo Owned Intellectual Property and the equity interests of certain MCK Contributed Entities (the “MCK DRE Contributed Entities”)), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (the “Non-IP Contribution”). In consideration of the Non-IP Contribution, the Company shall, at the Closing, (i) issue Units to the MCK Contributors representing an aggregate Membership Percentage equal to the Non-IP Initial Percentage, subject to adjustment as set forth herein, and MCK shall cause the MCK Contributors to accept such Units, and (ii) admit each MCK Contributor as a Member, with the rights, powers, obligations and duties set forth in the LLC Agreement (the “Non-IP Membership Consideration”).
(vi) MCK shall cause MCK IPCo to contribute, convey, transfer, assign and deliver, or cause to be contributed, conveyed, transferred, assigned and delivered, to the Company, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), and the Company will accept from MCK IPCo, the MCK IPCo Owned Intellectual Property and the equity interests of the MCK DRE Contributed Entities, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (the “MCK IPCo Contribution” and, together with the Non-IP Contribution, the “MCK Contributions”). In consideration of the MCK IPCo Contribution, the Company shall, at the Closing, (i) issue Units to MCK IPCo representing a Membership Percentage equal to the MCK IPCo Initial Percentage, subject to adjustment as set forth herein, and MCK shall cause MCK IPCo to accept such Units, (ii) admit MCK IPCo as a Member, with the rights, powers, obligations and duties set forth in the LLC Agreement, and (iii) assume the MCK Promissory Note (the “IPCo Membership Consideration” and, together with the Non-IP Membership Consideration, the “MCK Membership Consideration”). On the Closing Date, the Company shall repay the MCK Promissory Note Principal Amount in full satisfaction thereof in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account of MCK with a bank in New York City designated by MCK, by notice to the Company, which notice shall be delivered not later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the “MCK Note Payment”).
(vii) Immediately after consummation of the Echo Contributions and Transfer and the MCK Contributions, the Company shall contribute all the assets and liabilities from the Echo Contributions and Transfer and the MCK Contributions to NewCo Intermediate Holdings, which in turn shall contribute all the assets and liabilities from the Echo Contributions and Transfer and the MCK Contributions to NewCo Holdings, in each case for which no additional equity interests of NewCo Intermediate Holdings or NewCo Holdings will be issued.
Termination Prior to Closing Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties will be relieved of the obligation to consummate the Closing and purchase or sell the Assets:
(a) By the mutual written consent of the Buyer and the Seller;
(b) By the Seller in writing, without liability, if the Buyer (i) fails to perform in any material respect its agreements contained herein required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) materially breaches any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, which in either case is not cured within ten (10) days after the Seller has notified the Buyer of its intent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph;
(c) By the Buyer in writing, without liability, if the Seller (i) fails to perform in any material respect its agreements contained herein required to be performed by them on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) materially breaches any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, which in either case is not cured within ten (10) days after the Buyer has notified the Seller of its intent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph;
(d) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, by either the Seller or the Buyer in writing, without liability, if there is issued any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency binding on the Buyer or the Seller which prohibits or materially restrains the Buyer or the Seller from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the Buyer and the Seller have used their reasonable, good faith efforts to have any such order, writ, injunction or decree lifted and the same has not been lifted within sixty (60) days after entry, by any such court or governmental or regulatory agency;
(e) By the Buyer in writing, without liability, if Buyer elects to terminate pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 hereof;
(f) By either the Seller or the Buyer in writing, without liability, if for any reason the Closing has not occurred by March 31, 1999 other than as a result of the breach of this Agreement by the party attempting to terminate this Agreement;
(g) By Seller in writing, without liability, upon a "Change of Control" of Buyer (for purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" means (i) the acquisition by any individual, corporation, company, association, joint venture or other entity, of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the voting securities of the Buyer; or (ii) individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board of Directors of the Buyer cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Buyer; or (iii) the consummation by the Buyer of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or exchange of shares or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Buyer, if immediately after giving effect to such transaction the individuals or entities who beneficially own voting securities immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own
Operations Prior to the Closing Date (a) From the ------------------------------------ date hereof through the Closing Date, Parent shall cause the Companies to operate and carry on the Business in the ordinary course in accordance with past practice and in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law, including Environmental Laws. Consistent with the foregoing, Parent shall cause each of the Companies to use its reasonable efforts consistent with good business practice to (i) maintain the business organization of the Companies intact, (ii) keep available the services of any key employees of the Companies and (iii) preserve the goodwill and beneficial relationships of the suppliers, contractors, licensors, employees, customers, distributors and others having business relations with the Companies.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 7.4(a), except as set forth in Schedule -------------- -------- 7.4, except as contemplated by this Agreement or except with the express written --- approval of Buyer (which, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii), (vi), (ix), (x) and (xviii), Buyer agrees shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), Parent shall cause each of the Companies not to:
(i) make any material change in the Business or its operations, except such changes as may be required to comply with any applicable Requirements of Law;
(ii) make any capital expenditure or enter into any contract or commitment therefor, other than in the ordinary course of the Business, which is in excess of $50,000;
(iii) other than in the ordinary course of the Business, enter into any contract, agreement, undertaking or commitment which would have been required to be set forth in Schedule 5.14(a) or 5.14(b) if in effect on the ---------------- ------- date hereof or amend any Business Agreement in any material respect;
(iv) enter into any contract that contains a "change of control" provision that would give the other party a right to terminate such contract upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or under which the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby would constitute a default;
(v) enter into any contract for the purchase of real property or exercise any option to extend a lease listed in Schedule 5.9; ------------
(vi) sell, lease (as lessor), transfer or otherwise dispose of (including any transfers to any of its Affiliates), or mortgage or pledge, or impose or suffer to be imposed any Encumbrance on, any of its properties, rights or assets, other than inventory and minor amounts of personal property sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice and other than Permitted Encumbrances;
(vii) cancel any debts owed to or claims held by it or pay, settle or discharge any claims/litigation, proceedings, actions or liabilities, other than in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice;
(viii) create, incur or assume, or agree to create, incur or assume, any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money (other than money borrowed or advances from any of its Affiliates in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice) or enter into, as lessee, any capitalized lease obligations (as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13);
(ix) accelerate or delay collection of any notes or accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or the dates when the same would have been collected in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice;
(x) delay or accelerate payment of any account payable or other liability beyond or in advance of its due date or the date when such liability would have been paid in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice;
(xi) make, or agree to make, any distribution of assets (other than cash) to Parent or any of its Affiliates;
(xii) institute any increase in any benefit provided, or loan or advance any money or property, to any present or former director, officer, consultant or employee of any of the Companies, other than in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice or as required by any Company Plan, Parent Plan or Requirements of Law;
(xiii) make any material change in the compensation of its employees, other than changes made in accordance with normal compensation practices of the Companies or pursuant to existing contractual commitments and consistent with past compensation practices, or grant any severance or termination pay to any of its employees or amend the form of retention and severance agreement contained in Schedule 7.4; ------------
(xiv) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any Company Plan, or any plan, agreement, program, policy, trust, fund or other arrangement that would be a Company Plan if it were in existence on the date hereof, other than in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice or as required by any Company Plan, Parent Plan or Requirement of Law;
(xv) make any material change in the accounting policies applied in the preparation of the Interim Financial Statements, unless such change is required by GAAP;
(xvi) make any change in its charter, by-laws or other organizational document or issue any capital stock (or securities exchangeable, convertible or exercisable for capital stock);
(xvii) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or partnership or membership interests or declare, set aside or pay any dividends or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or other property) in respect of such shares or interests, except for cash dividends and distributions payable by a Conveyed Companies Subsidiary to any of the Companies, Parent or Affiliates of Parent;
(xviii) except as required by law, and except in cases where doing so would not have a material adverse consequence to Buyer Group Members with respect to taxable years or periods beginning after the Closing Date or, with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date, file any Tax Return in a manner inconsistent with past practice or take any position, make any election, or adopt any method that is inconsistent with positions taken, elections made or methods used in prior periods in filing Tax Returns (including any such position, election or method which would have the effect of deferring income to periods for which Buyer is liable or accelerating deductions to periods for which Parent is liable);
(xix) amend any Tax Returns or settle or compromise any proceeding relating to Tax liabilities of any Company, in either case if doing so would, or would reasonably be expected to, materially adversely affect any Buyer Group Member with respect to taxable years or periods beginning after the Closing Date or, with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date;
(xx) enter into or amend any aviation, manufacturing or transportation customer contract, other than new contracts with existing customers and amendments to existing contracts, in each case, where the terms of such new contract or amendment are not materially less favorable to the Companies than existing contracts with such customers;
(xxi) enter into any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement or acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture association or other business organization or division thereof;
(xxii) merge or consolidate with or into any other Person or dissolve or liquidate; or
(xxiii) authorize, commit or agree, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
COVENANTS PRIOR TO CLOSING 37 7.1 Access and Cooperation; Due Diligence...........................37 7.2 Conduct of Business Pending Closing.............................38 7.3
