Business Opportunities Each of the Company and each Member acknowledges and agrees that: (a) Carlyle Strategic Partners II, L.P., CSP II Coinvestment, L.P., Sola Ltd, Ultra Master Ltd, their respective affiliates and their respective shareholders, directors, officers, controlling persons, partners, members, and employees (collectively, the “Investor Group”)
(i) have investments or other business relationships with entities engaged in other businesses (including those which may compete with the business of the Company and any of its subsidiaries or areas in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may in the future engage in business) and in related businesses other than through the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) may develop a strategic relationship with businesses that are or may be competitive with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii) will not be prohibited by virtue of such Investor Group member’s investment in the Company or its subsidiaries, or such Investor Group member’s service on the Board or any subsidiary’s board of directors or board of managers, as applicable, from pursuing and engaging in any such activities; (b) neither the Company nor any other Member shall have any right in or to such other ventures or activities or to the income or proceeds derived therefrom; (c) no member of the Investor Group shall be obligated to present any particular investment or business opportunity to the Company even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Company, could be undertaken by the Company, and in fact, each member of the Investor Group shall have the right to undertake any such opportunity for itself for its own account or on behalf of another or to recommend any such opportunity to other persons; and (d) each member of the Investor Group may enter into contracts and other arrangements with the Company and its affiliates from time to time on terms approved by the Board and its affiliates. Each of the Company and the Member(s) hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claims and rights that such person may otherwise have in connection with the matters described in this Section 4.7. Without limiting the foregoing, each Member hereby acknowledges that he, she or it is familiar with the existence of, and hereby approves of, any agreement between Carlyle Strategic Partners II, L.P., CSP II Coinvestment, L.P., Sola Ltd, Ultra Master Ltd or their respective affiliates and the Company or any of its subsidiaries which provides management and transaction fees to Carlyle Strategic Partners II, L.P., CSP II Coinvestment, L.P., Sola Ltd, Ultra Master Ltd or any of their respective affiliates.
Freedom to Pursue Opportunities The Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that: (i) Sponsor and each Sponsor Director (and each Affiliate thereof) has the right to, and shall not have any duty (contractual or otherwise) to (and none of the following shall be deemed to be wrongful or improper), (x) directly or indirectly engage in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, including those deemed to be competing with the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or (y) directly or indirectly do business with any client or customer of the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries; and (ii) in the event that Sponsor or a Sponsor Director (or any Affiliate thereof) acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be an opportunity for the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries and Sponsor or any other Person, Sponsor and such Sponsor Director (and any such Affiliate) shall not have any duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present such opportunity to the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shall not be liable to the Parent Parties, their respective Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or equity holders for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of the fact that Sponsor or such Sponsor Director (or such Affiliate thereof), directly or indirectly, pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person, or does not present such opportunity to the Parent Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, that any such business, activity or transaction described in this Section 4.14 is not the direct result of Sponsor, its Affiliates or a Sponsor Director using Confidential Information in violation of Section 3.3 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4.14, any Sponsor Director may be excluded, by the members of the Board who are not Sponsor Directors, from any discussion or vote on matters in accordance with a conflicts of interest policy of the Board that is adopted by the Board in good faith and is applicable to all of the members of the Board.
Other Business Opportunities The Member and any person or entity affiliated with the Member may engage in or possess an interest in other business opportunities or ventures (unconnected with the Company) of every kind and description, independently or with others, including, without limitation, businesses that may compete with the Company. Neither the Member or any person or entity affiliated with the Member shall be required to present any such business opportunity or venture to the Company, even if the opportunity is of the character that, if presented to the Company, could be taken by it. Neither the Company nor any person or entity affiliated with the Company shall have any rights in or to such business opportunities or ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom by virtue of this Agreement, notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity. The provisions of this Section shall apply to the Member solely in its capacity as member of the Company and shall not be deemed to modify any contract or arrangement, including, without limitation, any noncompete provisions, otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Member.
Return of the Company Property All materials furnished to Director by the Company, whether delivered to Director by the Company or made by Director in the performance of Director Services under this Agreement (the “Company Property”) are the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Director agrees to promptly deliver the original and any copies of the Company Property to the Company at any time upon the Company’s request. Upon termination of this Agreement by either party for any reason, Director agrees to promptly deliver to the Company or destroy, at the Company’s option, the original and any copies of the Company Property. Director agrees to certify in writing that Director has so returned or destroyed all such the Company Property.
Trade Secrets and Confidential Information/Company Property Employee reaffirms and agrees to observe and abide by the terms of the Employment Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, specifically including the provisions therein regarding nondisclosure of the Company’s trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information, and the restrictive covenants contained therein. Employee’s signature below constitutes his certification under penalty of perjury that he has returned all documents and other items provided to Employee by the Company, developed or obtained by Employee in connection with his employment with the Company, or otherwise belonging to the Company.
Continuity of Business Enterprise Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, there has not been any sale, distribution or spin-off of significant assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates other than in the ordinary course of business within the two (2) year period preceding the date of this Agreement.
Operation of Business (a) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or consented to by the Buyer in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article XI hereof (the “Pre-Closing Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to, conduct its operations only in the Ordinary Course of Business and in compliance with all applicable Laws and, to the extent consistent therewith, use its Reasonable Best Efforts to preserve intact its current business organization, keep available the services of its current officers and employees and preserve its relationships with customers, vendors and independent contractors and consultants. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, during the Pre-Closing Period the Company shall not, and shall cause each Consolidated Subsidiary not to, without the written consent of the Buyer (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
(i) issue or sell any stock or other securities of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary or any options, warrants or rights to acquire any such stock or other securities;
(ii) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock; or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock;
(iii) create, incur or assume any Indebtedness in excess of $*** per occurrence or $*** in the aggregate, except accounts payable arising in the Ordinary Course of Business; assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person; or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iv) except as required to comply with applicable Law or agreements, plans or arrangements existing on the date of this Agreement and listed in the Disclosure Schedule (A) take any action with respect to, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any Employee Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement (other than matters with respect to lxxxxxxxx unions in Canada, following consultation with Buyer) (B) increase the compensation or benefits of, or pay or promise any bonus to, any director or officer, or materially modify their terms of employment or engagement, (C) amend or accelerate the payment, right to payment or vesting of any compensation or benefits, including any outstanding equity compensation, except in the Ordinary Course of Business, (D) hire any new officers or (except in the Ordinary Course of Business) any new employees, (E) grant any awards under any bonus, incentive, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or benefit plan, including the grant of performance units or the removal of existing restrictions in any benefit plans or agreements or awards made thereunder, or (F) take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or benefit plan; *** Represents material omitted per the registrant's Confidential Treatment Request and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(v) acquire, sell, lease, license or dispose of any material assets or property (including any shares or other equity interests in or securities of any Consolidated Subsidiary or any other corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof), other than (A) acquisition of capital assets permitted by subsection (xii) below, and (B) sales of obsolete or worn-out inventory or assets in the Ordinary Course of Business and having a fair market value of not more than $*** in the aggregate;
(vi) mortgage or pledge any of its property or assets or subject any such property or assets to any Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances);
(vii) amend its charter, bylaws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents;
(viii) change the flag or registry of a Vessel;
(ix) change its accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may be required by a generally applicable change in GAAP;
(x) make or change any Tax election, change an annual accounting period, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, waive or extend any statute of limitation with respect to Taxes, settle or compromise any Tax Liability, claim or assessment, surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes or take any other similar action relating to the filing of any Tax Return or the payment of any Tax;
(xi) enter into, amend, terminate, take or omit to take any action that would constitute a violation of or default under, or waive any rights under, any contract or agreement of a nature required to be listed in Section 5.17 of the Disclosure Schedule, except in the Ordinary Course of Business, provided, for avoidance of doubt, amendments, modifications and termination of ocean service contracts with customers shall be deemed to be in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xii) make or commit to make any capital expenditures in an aggregate amount exceeding by more than *** the year-to-date budgeted expenditures set forth on Schedule 6.3(a)(xii);
(xiii) institute or settle any material Legal Proceeding, except in the Ordinary Course of Business, provided for avoidance of doubt, settlements of cargo damage and loss claims by customers and claims of salvors or declaration and settlement of any general average shall be deemed in the Ordinary Course of Business; or
(xiv) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions. *** Represents material omitted per the registrant's Confidential Treatment Request and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain business conducted by the Company and Consolidated Subsidiaries may be in competition with business conducted by one or more subsidiaries of Buyer (such businesses referred to herein as the “Competing Trades”). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to restrict the Company, the Consolidated Subsidiaries or the Buyer and its subsidiaries from continuing to engage in business in competition with each other.
Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement; provided, however, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Return or Destruction of Confidential Information If an Interconnection Party provides any Confidential Information to another Interconnection Party in the course of an audit or inspection, the providing Interconnection Party may request the other party to return or destroy such Confidential Information after the termination of the audit period and the resolution of all matters relating to that audit. Each Interconnection Party shall make Reasonable Efforts to comply with any such requests for return or destruction within ten days of receiving the request and shall certify in writing to the other Interconnection Party that it has complied with such request.
Protected Activity Not Prohibited Nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between you and the Company, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge, complaint, or report with, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any state, federal, or local governmental agency or commission, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (the “Government Agencies”). You understand that in connection with such Protected Activity, you are permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information under the Confidentiality Agreement to any parties other than the Government Agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications. Any language in the Confidentiality Agreement regarding your right to engage in Protected Activity that conflicts with, or is contrary to, this paragraph is superseded by this Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, you are notified that an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (directly or indirectly) or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if (and only if) such filing is made under seal. In addition, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
