Regulatory and Other Approvals (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and without limiting the provisions of Annex C, the Company will proceed diligently and in good faith to, as promptly as practicable, (i) obtain all consents, approvals or actions of, make all filings with and give all notices to Governmental or Regulatory Authorities (including state securities commissions) or any other public or private third parties required of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to consummate the Offer and the other matters contemplated hereby, and (ii) provide such other information and communications to such Governmental or Regulatory Authorities or other public or private third parties as the other party or such Governmental or Regulatory Authorities or other public or private third parties may reasonably request in connection therewith. The Holders shall cooperate with the Company as it may reasonably request in connection with the Company's satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph (a).
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and without limiting the provisions of Annex C, each Holder will proceed diligently and in good faith to, as promptly as practicable, (i) obtain all consents, approvals or actions of, make all filings with and give all notices to Governmental or Regulatory Authorities (including state securities commissions) or any other public or private third parties required of such Holder or any of its Subsidiaries to consummate the Offer and the other matters contemplated hereby, and (ii) provide such other information and communications to such Governmental or Regulatory Authorities or other public or private third parties as the other party or such Governmental or Regulatory Authorities or other public or private third parties may reasonably request in connection therewith. The Company shall cooperate with each Holder as it may reasonably request in connection with such Holder's satisfaction of its obligations under this paragraph (b).
Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Consents (a) Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each party hereto shall each use its reasonable best efforts to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to take, or cause to be taken, and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to obtain all consents required under this Agreement and all regulatory approvals and to satisfy all conditions to its obligations under this Agreement and to cause the transactions contemplated hereby to be effected as soon as practicable, but in any event on or prior to the End Date, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall cooperate fully with each other party hereto and their Representatives in connection with any step required to be taken as a part of its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate in obtaining any consents and approvals that may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Companion Agreements; provided, however, that neither the Buyer nor the Sellers shall be required to compensate any Person, commence or participate in litigation or offer or grant any accommodation (financial or otherwise) to any Person to obtain any such consent or approval. Neither the Sellers nor the Buyer shall take any action that they should be reasonably aware would have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents or approvals.
(c) Each party hereto promptly shall make all filings and submissions required of such party and shall take all actions necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to obtain any required approval of any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the appropriate Governmental Authority all information required for any application or other filing to be made pursuant to any applicable Law in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. The Buyer and the Sellers shall make their respective HSR Act filings at such time as mutually agreed, if applicable. Each of the parties hereto shall cooperate with the other parties hereto in promptly filing any other necessary applications, reports or other documents with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and in seeking necessary consultation with and prompt favorable action by such Governmental Authority, including the resolution of any objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Companion Agreements under any applicable Law regarding antitrust matters.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Buyer acknowledges on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, representatives, successors and assigns that the operation of the Business shall remain in the dominion and control of the Sellers until the Closing and that none of the foregoing Persons will provide, directly or indirectly, any directions, orders, advice, aid, assistance or information to any director, officer or employee of any of the Sellers with respect to the operation of the Business, except as specifically contemplated or permitted by this Article V or as otherwise consented to in advance by an executive officer of a Seller.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.05 to the contrary, neither the Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to take any action, including responding to and/or defending any court or administrative proceeding, proposing or making any divestiture or other undertaking, or proposing or entering into any consent decree or taking any action which the Buyer reasonably determines could be material to the benefits expected to be derived by the Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby or be material to the business of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries or the Business as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted following the transactions contemplated hereby.
Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Notices and Consents (a) The Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities and officials that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant to, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and will cooperate fully with the Seller in promptly seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and approvals. Each party hereto agrees to make promptly its respective filing, if necessary, pursuant to the Competition Act (the costs of which shall be payable by the Purchaser) with respect to the Transactions within Twenty (20) Business Days of the date hereof and to supply as promptly as practicable to the appropriate Governmental Authorities any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the Competition Act, and the Purchaser will promptly make all filings or notifications required under the ICA, if any. The Purchaser and Seller each agree that, during the term of this Agreement, it will not withdraw its filing under any applicable antitrust, competition or trade regulation law without the written consent of the other party. The Purchaser and Seller each agree that it will not enter into any timing agreement with any Governmental Authority without the written consent of the other party. The Seller shall not be required to pay any fees, applicable Taxes or other payments to any Governmental Authorities in order to obtain any authorization, notice to proceed, consent, order or approval including any made pursuant to the Competition Act or the Forest Act (British Columbia) in connection with the Transactions.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the Purchaser’s undertaking pursuant to Section 5.05(a), the Purchaser agrees to use its reasonable best efforts and to take any and all steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under any antitrust, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority or any other party so as to enable the parties hereto to expeditiously close the Transactions as promptly as practicable, and in any event, no later than April 30, 2008 (the “Termination Date”), including proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate orders, or otherwise, the sale, divesture or disposition of such of its assets, properties or businesses or of the assets, properties or businesses to be acquired by it pursuant hereto, and the entry into such other arrangements as are required or advisable in order to avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order in any suit or proceeding, which would otherwise have the effect of materially delaying or preventing the consummation of the Transactions. In addition, the Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to defend through litigation on the merits any claim asserted in court by any party in order to avoid entry of, or to have vacated or terminated, any decree, order or judgment (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that would prevent the Closing by the Termination Date.
(c) Each party to this Agreement shall promptly notify the other parties of any communication it or any of its Affiliates receives from any Governmental Authority relating to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and permit the other party to review in advance any proposed communication by such party to any Governmental Authority. None of the parties to this Agreement shall agree to participate in any meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry unless it consults with the other parties in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting. Subject to the Confidentiality Agreement, the parties to this Agreement will coordinate and cooperate fully with the other parties in exchanging such information and providing such assistance as such other parties may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing and in seeking early termination of any applicable waiting periods including under the Competition Act. Subject to the Confidentiality Agreement, the parties to this Agreement will provide the other parties with copies of all correspondence, filings or communications between them or any of their representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or members of its staff, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions.
(d) The Purchaser shall not take any action, or enter into any transaction or any agreement to effect any transaction (including any merger or acquisition but not including transactions or agreements in the ordinary course of business), that would reasonably be expected to make it more difficult to: (i) obtain the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Competition Act applicable to the purchase of the Purchased Assets contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) obtain the approval under any applicable antitrust, competition or trade regulation law, (iii) avoid the entry of, the commencement of litigation seeking the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order that would prevent the completion of the Transactions, or (iv) obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of Governmental Authorities necessary for the consummation of the Transactions, in each case prior to the Termination Date.
Notice of Litigation and Other Matters Prompt (but in no event later than ten (10) days after an officer of the Parent obtains knowledge thereof) telephonic and written notice of:
(i) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any of its properties, assets or businesses which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) any violation by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof of any Applicable Law or any notice of any violation received by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority including, without limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws, which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iii) any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens to result in, a strike or other work action against the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any contractor or any material development in any labor controversy which if adversely determined could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iv) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding $1,000,000 that may be assessed against the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof (to the extent such attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is not fully covered by insurance and with respect to which the applicable insurance carrier has not acknowledged that such attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is fully covered by insurance);
(A) any Default or Event of Default or (B) any event which constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a default or event of default under any Material Contract to which the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof is a party or by which the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties may be bound which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(A) any unfavorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (B) all notices received by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (C) all notices received by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA and (D) the Parent obtaining knowledge or reason to know that the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA; and
(vii) any event which makes any of the representations set forth in Section 9 inaccurate in any respect.
Litigation and Other Proceedings Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no lawsuits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any subsidiary, nor has the Company received any written or oral notice of any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, no judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or award has been issued by or, to the knowledge of the Company, requested of any court, arbitrator or governmental agency which could result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Regulatory Approvals (a) Each Party shall, and shall cause its ultimate parent entity (as such term is defined in the HSR Act) to, use reasonable best efforts to file or otherwise submit, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, all applications, notices, reports, filings and other documents reasonably required to be filed by such Party or its ultimate parent entity with or otherwise submitted by such Party or its ultimate parent entity to any Governmental Body with respect to the Contemplated Transactions, and shall file no later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter the Notification and Report Forms required by the HSR Act. Each Party shall (i) promptly supply the other with any information which may be required in order to effectuate such filings, (ii) submit promptly any additional information which may be reasonably requested by any such Governmental Body, and (iii) coordinate with the other Party in making any such filings or information submissions pursuant to and in connection with the foregoing that may be necessary, proper, or advisable in order to consummate and make effective the Contemplated Transactions.
(b) Without limiting the generality of anything contained in this Section 5.4, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations, and the expiration or termination of all applicable waiting periods for the Contemplated Transactions under any Antitrust Law, each Party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cooperate with the other with respect to any investigation or other inquiry; (ii) promptly provide to the other a copy of all communications received by such Party from, or given by such Party to, any Governmental Body, in each case regarding the Contemplated Transactions; and (iii) to the extent not prohibited under applicable Antitrust Law, permit the other to review in advance any communication given by it to any Governmental Body concerning the Contemplated Transactions, consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with any proposed written communications by such Party to any Governmental Body concerning the Contemplated Transactions, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or telephone or video conference with, any Governmental Body, and give the other or its outside counsel the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences unless prohibited by the applicable Governmental Body; provided, that materials required to be provided pursuant to this Section 5.4(b) may be restricted to outside counsel and redacted to (A) remove references concerning the valuation of either Party, (B) comply with contractual arrangements, and (C) preserve attorney-client privilege. Neither Party shall commit to or agree with any Governmental Body to stay, toll or extend any applicable waiting period under applicable Antitrust Law, or pull and refile under the HSR Act, without the prior written consent of the other. Parent and the Company shall each pay one-half of the filing fee under the HSR Act relating to the HSR filing required for the Merger; provided, however, that each Party shall bear its own legal fees.
(c) Except as required by this Agreement, prior to Closing, neither the Company nor Parent shall, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner, any Person or portion thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets, if the entering into of an agreement relating to or the consummation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation would reasonably be expected to (i) impose any delay in the obtaining of, or significantly increase the risk of not obtaining, any authorizations, consents, orders, declarations or approvals of any Governmental Body necessary to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period, or (ii) increase the risk of any Governmental Body entering an order prohibiting the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
Regulatory Actions The following provisions shall be applicable to the parties to the extent that they are required to be included in employment agreements between a savings association and its employees pursuant to Section 563.39(b) of the Regulations Applicable to all Savings Associations, 12 C.F.R. Section 563.39(b), or any successor thereto, and shall be controlling in the event of a conflict with any other provision of this Agreement, including without limitation Section 5 hereof.
(a) If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Employers' affairs pursuant to notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or Section 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") (12 U.S.C. Sections 1818(e)(3) and 1818(g)(1)), the Employers' obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Employers may, in their discretion: (i) pay the Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations under this Agreement were suspended, and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended.
(b) If the Executive is removed from office and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Employers' affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or Section 8(g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Sections 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of the Employers under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the Executive and the Employers as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
(c) If the Association is in default, as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but vested rights of the Executive and the Employers as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
(d) All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Section 563.39(b)(5) (except to the extent that it is determined that continuation of the Agreement for the continued operation of the Employers is necessary): (i) by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), or his/her designee, at the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Association under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Section 1823(c)); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS, or his/her designee, at the time the Director or his/her designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation of the Association or when the Association is determined by the Director of the OTS to be in an unsafe or unsound condition, but vested rights of the Executive and the Employers as of the date of termination shall not be affected.
Filings; Other Actions (a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Linn Parties and the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Form S-4, which will include the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Each of the Linn Parties and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after such filing and to keep the Form S-4 effective as long as necessary to consummate the Mergers and the other Transactions. The Linn Parties and the Company will cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to the Company stockholders, the Linn members and the LinnCo shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. The Linn Parties shall also take any action required to be taken under any applicable state or provincial securities Laws in connection with the issuance and reservation of LinnCo Common Shares in the LinnCo Merger and Linn Units in the Contribution and Issuance, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of Company Common Stock, or holders of a beneficial interest therein, as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be made by a Linn Party or the Company, as applicable, without the other’s prior consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) and without providing the other party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon. Each of Linn, LinnCo and the Company, as applicable, will advise the other parties promptly after it receives oral or written notice of the time when the Form S-4 has become effective or any supplement or amendment thereto has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of the qualification of the LinnCo Common Shares issuable in connection with the LinnCo Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any oral or written request by the SEC for amendment of the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information, and will promptly provide the other with copies of any written communication from the SEC or any state securities commission. If at any time prior to the LinnCo Effective Time any information relating to the Linn Parties or the Company, or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors, is discovered by the Linn Parties or the Company which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, so that any of such documents would not include a misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company, the shareholders of LinnCo and the members of Linn, as applicable.
(b) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the clearance of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by the SEC, the Company shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Laws and the Company Organizational Documents to duly give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval (the “Company Stockholders’ Meeting”) and not postpone or adjourn the Company Stockholders’ Meeting except to the extent required by applicable Law or to solicit additional proxies and votes in favor of adoption of this Agreement if sufficient votes to constitute the Company Stockholder Approval have not been obtained; provided, that, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the Company Stockholders’ Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is more than 20 days after the date for which the Company Stockholders’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law). The Company will, except in the case of a Company Adverse Recommendation Change, through its Board of Directors, recommend that its stockholders adopt this Agreement and will use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and to take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its stockholders required by the rules of the NYSE or applicable Laws to obtain such approvals. The Company will not submit to the vote of its stockholders any Company Takeover Proposal other than the Mergers.
(c) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the clearance of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by the SEC, LinnCo shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Law and its organizational documents to duly give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the LinnCo Shareholder Approvals (the “LinnCo Shareholders’ Meeting”), including the approval of the amendments (the “LinnCo Amendments”) to the limited liability company agreement of LinnCo (the “LinnCo LLC Agreement”) set forth in Annex C and the approval of the Contribution and Issuance, and to conduct a vote of the LinnCo Shareholders with respect to the voting of the Linn Units owned by LinnCo on the proposals to be presented at the Linn Members’ Meeting, and not postpone or adjourn the LinnCo Shareholders’ Meeting except to the extent required by applicable Law or to solicit additional proxies and votes in favor of the LinnCo Issuance, the Contribution and Issuance and the LinnCo Amendments if sufficient votes to constitute the LinnCo Shareholder Approvals have not been obtained; provided, that, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the LinnCo Shareholders Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is more than 20 days after the date for which the LinnCo Shareholders Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law). As promptly as reasonably practicable following the clearance of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by the SEC, Linn shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Law and its organizational documents to duly give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its members for the purpose of obtaining the Linn Member Approval (the “Linn Members’ Meeting”) and not postpone or adjourn the Linn Members’ Meeting except to the extent required by applicable Law or to solicit additional proxies and votes in favor of the Issuance if sufficient votes to constitute the Linn Member Approval have not been obtained; provided, that, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the Linn Members’ Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is more than 20 days after the date for which the Linn Members’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law). LinnCo will, through its Board of Directors, except in the case of a Linn Party Adverse Recommendation Change, recommend that its shareholders approve the LinnCo Issuance and the LinnCo Amendments and will use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the LinnCo Issuance and the LinnCo Amendments and to take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its shareholders required by the rules of NASDAQ or applicable Law to obtain such approvals. Linn will, through its Board of Directors, recommend that its members approve the Issuance and will use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its members proxies in favor of the approval of the Issuance and to take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its members required by the rules of NASDAQ or applicable Law to obtain such approvals. If the approval of the LinnCo Amendments by the holders of a majority of the LinnCo Common Shares entitled to vote thereon is obtained, LinnCo shall take all action necessary in accordance with applicable Law and its organizational documents to adopt the LinnCo Amendments.
(d) Each of the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Stockholders’ meeting, the LinnCo Shareholders Meeting and the Linn Members’ Meeting to be held on the same date.
Other Regulatory Approvals All necessary approvals, authorizations and consents of any governmental or regulatory entity required to consummate the Merger shall have been obtained and remain in full force and effect, and all waiting periods relating to such approvals, authorizations and consents shall have expired or been terminated.
Regulatory Matters and Approvals Each of the Parties will give any notices to, make any filings with, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any necessary authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
