Tax Covenants (a) Without the prior written consent of Buyer, Seller (and, prior to the Closing, the Teco Subsidiaries, and their respective Affiliates and Representatives) shall not, to the extent it may affect, or relate to, the Teco Subsidiaries, make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Buyer or the Teco Subsidiaries in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. Seller agrees that Buyer is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Seller, the Teco Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and Representatives, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer (and, after the Closing Date, the Teco Subsidiaries) against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset for periods prior to the Closing Date.
(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be borne and paid by Seller when due. Seller shall, on behalf of the Seller and at the Seller’s own expense, timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Buyer shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).
(c) Buyer shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Teco Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and without a change of any election or any accounting method and shall be submitted by Buyer to Seller (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Seller, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Seller objects to any item on any such Tax Return, it shall, within ten days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Buyer in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Buyer and Seller are unable to reach such agreement within ten days after receipt by Buyer of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm selected by Buyer and reasonably acceptable to Seller (the “Accounting Referee”) and any determination by the Accounting Referee shall be final. The Accounting Referee shall resolve any disputed items within twenty days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Accounting Referee is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Buyer and then amended to reflect the Accounting Referee’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Accounting Referee shall be borne equally by Buyer and Seller. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Teco Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be exclusively within the control of Buyer.
ERISA PROVISIONS The following provisions are part of this Agreement and are intended to meet the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”):
CONTINUING COVENANTS The Competitive Supplier agrees and covenants to perform each of the following obligations during the term of this ESA.
Suspension of Covenants (a) The following covenants (the “Suspended Covenants”) will not apply during any period during which the Notes have an Investment Grade Status (a “Suspension Period”): Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 5.01(a)(3) and Section 4.17. Additionally, during any Suspension Period, the Company will not be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
(b) In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) the Notes cease to have Investment Grade Status, then the Suspended Covenants will apply with respect to events occurring following the Reversion Date (unless and until the Notes subsequently attain an Investment Grade Status, in which case the Suspended Covenants will again be suspended for such time that the Notes maintain an Investment Grade Status); provided, however, that no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to exist under the Indenture with respect to the Suspended Covenants, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will bear any liability for any actions taken or events occurring during a Suspension Period and before any related Reversion Date, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation or binding commitment arising prior to such Reversion Date, regardless of whether those actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenant had remained in effect during such period. The Company shall notify the Trustee should the Notes achieve Investment Grade Status; provided that such notification shall not be a condition for the suspension of the covenants set forth above to be effective. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to notify the holders of the Notes that the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status.
(c) On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred during the Suspension Period prior to such Reversion Date will be deemed to be Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date. For purposes of calculating the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(4)(C) hereof on or after the Reversion Date, calculations under such covenant shall be made as though such covenant had been in effect during the entire period of time after the Issue Date (including the Suspension Period). Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period not otherwise permitted pursuant to any of clauses (2) through (6) or (18) under Section 4.07(b) hereof will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(4)(C) hereof; provided, that the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments on the Reversion Date shall not be reduced to below zero solely as a result of such Restricted Payments. In addition, for purposes of the other Suspended Covenants, all agreements entered into and all actions taken during the Suspension Period, including, without limitation, the Incurrence of Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been taken or to have existed prior to the Issue Date.
Interim Covenants (a) Except with the prior written consent of Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or as required by the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable Law, during the period prior to and up to Closing, Seller shall operate the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business in compliance in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the operation of its business. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, or as otherwise required by applicable Law, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
(i) maintain the Purchased Assets in a manner consistent with past practices, reasonable wear and tear excepted and maintain the types and levels of insurance currently in effect in respect of the Purchased Assets;
(ii) preserve intact the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business, to keep available the services of its current employees and agents and to maintain its relations and goodwill with its suppliers, customers, distributors and any others with whom or with which it has business relations;
(iii) upon any damage, destruction or loss to any Purchased Asset, apply any insurance proceeds received with respect thereto to the prompt repair, replacement and restoration thereof to the condition of such Purchased Asset before such event or, if required, to such other (better) condition as may be required by applicable Law;
(iv) promptly advise Purchaser in writing of the occurrence of any event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Change; and
(v) consult with Purchaser on all material aspects of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Business as may be reasonably requested from time to time by Purchaser, including, but not limited to, personnel, accounting and financial functions.
(b) Except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or by applicable Law, during the period prior to and up to Closing, Seller shall not, without the prior written consent of Purchaser:
(i) enter into, terminate or amend or reject any of the Transferred Agreements, or cancel, modify or waive any material claims held in respect of the Purchased Assets or waive any material rights of value;
(ii) do any act or fail to do any act that will cause a material breach or default under any of the Transferred Agreements;
(iii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Purchased Assets;
(iv) modify any of its sales practices or receivables collections practices from those in place on the date hereof, including offering any discounts, incentives or other accommodations for early payment;
(v) conduct any “going out of business,” liquidation, bankruptcy, or similar sales or take any action to fashion its business as going out of business, liquidating or closing;
(vi) dispose of or fail to keep in effect any material rights in, to, or for the use of any of the Intellectual Property, except for rights which expire or terminate in accordance with their terms;
(vii) subject any Purchased Assets to any Liens;
(viii) enter into, or negotiate any licenses or grant any party any rights or license in any of the Purchased Assets; or
(ix) authorize any of the foregoing, or commit or agree to take actions, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
(c) Seller take all action to properly and timely (i) exercise its option for the next season of Yu-Gi-Oh! such that the expiration dates of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Grant Agreements at Closing shall be August 31, 2019 for broadcast and home video rights in the United States, August 31, 2020 for broadcast and home video rights in the territory described therein outside of the United States, and August 31, 2019 with respect to merchandising rights and (ii) make any required payments under the Yu-Gi-Oh Grant Agreements.
Joint Covenants Buyer and Seller hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Additional Negative Covenants Not to, without the Bank’s written consent:
(a) Enter into any consolidation, merger, or other combination, or become a partner in a partnership, a member of a joint venture, or a member of a limited liability company.
(b) Acquire or purchase a business or its assets.
(c) Engage in any business activities substantially different from the Borrower’s present business.
(d) Liquidate or dissolve the Borrower’s business.
Termination of Covenants The covenants set forth in this Section 5, except for Subsections 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.
REPORTING COVENANTS The Borrower agrees with the Lenders, the Issuers and the Administrative Agent to each of the following, as long as any Obligation or any Revolving Credit Commitment remains outstanding and, in each case, unless the Requisite Lenders otherwise consent in writing:
Operating Covenants From the Execution Date until the Closing or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement as contemplated hereby, except (t) as required by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (u) as required by any lease, Contract, or instrument listed on any Annex, Disclosure Schedule or Schedule, as applicable, (v) as required by any Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority (including by order or directive of the Bankruptcy Court or fiduciary duty of the board of managers of any Seller or its Affiliates) or any requirements or limitations resulting from the Bankruptcy Cases, (w) to the extent related solely to Excluded Assets and/or Excluded Liabilities, (x) for renewal of expiring insurance coverage in the Ordinary Course of Business, (y) for emergency operations or (z) as otherwise consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
(a) Sellers will:
(i) subject to any Bankruptcy Court order to the contrary, operate the Assets in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii) maintain or cause its Affiliates to maintain the books of account and records relating to the Assets in the usual, regular and ordinary manner, in accordance with its usual accounting practices;
(iii) give written notice to Buyer as soon as is practicable of any material damage or casualty to or destruction or condemnation of any Asset of which Sellers have Knowledge;
(iv) use reasonable best efforts to maintain insurance coverage on the Assets in the amounts and types described on Disclosure Schedule 3.10; and
(v) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain or cause its Affiliates to maintain all Permits (including Environmental Permits) required for the operation of the Assets as presently conducted; and
(b) no Seller shall:
(i) sell, lease or otherwise transfer any Asset, or otherwise voluntarily divest or relinquish any right or asset, other than (A) sales or other dispositions of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, improvements or other personal property or fixtures in the Ordinary Course of Business which have been replaced with an item of substantially equal suitability and (B) dispositions of Excluded Assets;
(ii) enter into any material Contract that if entered into prior to the Execution Date would be required to be listed in Disclosure Schedule 3.05(a) other than (A) Contracts of the type described in Section 3.05(a)(iii) and Section 3.05(a)(viii) entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business (provided that Sellers shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of the terms of any such Contract prior to the execution thereof), (B) confidentiality agreements entered into in accordance with the Bid Procedures Order, (C) contracts or agreements entered into in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases (including any in connection with an Alternative Transaction) and (D) Contracts that would not adversely affect the Assets in any material respect;
(iii) amend or modify in any material respect or terminate any Purchased Contract (other than termination or expiration in accordance with its terms) or any Permits (including Environmental Permits) required for the operation of the Assets as presently conducted;
(iv) change the methods of accounting or accounting practice by Sellers, except as required by concurrent changes in Applicable Law or GAAP as agreed to by its independent public accountants; or
(v) to the extent any of the following would reasonably have the effect of increasing the Non-Income Tax liability of Buyer for any period after the Closing Date, (A) make any settlement of or compromise any Non-Income Tax liability with respect to the Assets, (B) change any Non-Income Tax election or Non-Income Tax method of accounting or make any new Non-Income Tax election or adopt any new Non-Income Tax method of accounting with respect to the Assets; (C) surrender any right to claim a refund of Non-Income Taxes with respect to the Assets; or (D) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Non-Income Tax claim or assessment with respect to the Assets.
