Scope of Cooperation 1. The Authorities recognise the importance of close communication concerning the Covered CCPs and intend to cooperate regarding:
a) general issues, including with respect to regulatory, supervisory, enforcement or other developments concerning the Covered CCPs and Australia;
b) issues relevant to the operations, activities and services of the Covered CCPs;
c) the coordination of supervisory activities and, where appropriate and consistent with applicable laws and each Authority’s mandate, providing assistance in the implementation of enforcement decisions;
d) any other areas of mutual interest.
2. The Authorities recognise in particular the importance of close cooperation in the event that a Covered CCP, particularly one whose failure likely would be systemically important to an Authority, experiences, or is threatened by, a potential financial crisis or other Emergency Situation. One or both of the Local Authorities should provide notification to ESMA, and ESMA should provide notification to the Local Authorities, consistent with Article 3(4) below and each Authority should keep the other Authorities appropriately informed throughout the Emergency Situation. The Local Authorities should coordinate and lead in an Emergency Situation and should consult with and take account of the views of ESMA to the greatest extent practicable. ESMA should coordinate with the relevant CBI(s) regarding an Emergency Situation of a Covered CCP and any emergency measures that the CBI may consider appropriate.
3. Cooperation will be most useful in circumstances where issues of regulatory, supervisory or enforcement concern may arise, including but not limited to:
a) the initial application of a Covered CCP for recognition in the European Union pursuant to Article 25 of EMIR and the periodic reviews of its recognition pursuant to Article 25(5) of EMIR;
b) ESMA’s assessment of compliance and monitoring of the ongoing compliance by a Covered CCP with the Recognition Conditions;
c) the tiering determination of a Covered CCP by ESMA pursuant to Article 25(2a) of EMIR;
d) changes in a Covered CCP's internal rules, policies and procedures that could affect the way in which the Covered CCP complies with any Recognition Conditions;
e) regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions or approvals taken by a Local Authority or ESMA in relation to a Covered CCP, including changes to the relevant obligations and requirements to which the Covered CCPs are subject that may impact the Covered CCPs' continued compliance with the Recognition Conditions; and
f) changes to regulatory status or requirements that could result in a change in the regulatory status of, relief granted to, or supervisory treatment of a Covered CCP and potentially could disrupt cross-border clearing arrangements.
Technical Cooperation In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement, developed country Members shall provide, on request and on mutually agreed terms and conditions, technical and financial cooperation in favour of developing and least-developed country Members. Such cooperation shall include assistance in the preparation of laws and regulations on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as on the prevention of their abuse, and shall include support regarding the establishment or reinforcement of domestic offices and agencies relevant to these matters, including the training of personnel.
Access and Cooperation Each Party will, and will cause its Other Indemnified Persons to, cooperate and assist in all reasonable respects regarding such Third Party Claim, including by promptly making available to such other Party (and its legal counsel and other professional advisers with a reasonable need to know) all books and records of such Person relating to such Third Party Claim, subject to reasonable confidentiality precautions.
Assistance and Cooperation (a) Each of the Companies shall provide (and shall cause its Affiliates to provide) the other Companies and their respective agents, including accounting firms and legal counsel, with such cooperation or information as they may reasonably request in connection with (i) preparing and filing Tax Returns, (ii) determining the liability for and amount of any Taxes due (including estimated Taxes) or the right to and amount of any refund of Taxes, (iii) examinations of Tax Returns, and (iv) any administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes assessed or proposed to be assessed. Such cooperation shall include making available, upon reasonable notice, all information and documents in their possession relating to the other Companies and their respective Affiliates as provided in Section 9. Each of the Companies shall also make available to the other Companies, as reasonably requested and available, personnel (including employees and agents of the Companies or their respective Affiliates) responsible for preparing, maintaining, and interpreting information and documents relevant to Taxes.
(b) Any information or documents provided under this Section 8 or Section 9 shall be kept confidential by the Company or Companies receiving the information or documents, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other agreement, in no event shall any of the Companies or any of their respective Affiliates be required to provide the other Companies or any of their respective Affiliates or any other Person access to or copies of any information if such action could reasonably be expected to result in the waiver of any Privilege. In addition, in the event that any of the Companies determine that the provision of any information to the other Companies or their respective Affiliates could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or agreement or waive any Privilege, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to permit compliance with their obligations under this Section 8 or Section 9 in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.
Audit Cooperation In the event either Party is audited by a taxing authority, the other Party agrees to cooperate fully with the Party being audited in order to respond to any audit inquiries in a proper and timely manner so that the audit and/or any resulting controversy may be resolved expeditiously.
Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 7(f).
Review by the Association of Procurement Decisions The Procurement Plan shall set forth those contracts which shall be subject to the Association’s Prior Review. All other contracts shall be subject to Post Review by the Association.
General Cooperation The Parties shall each cooperate fully (and each shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to cooperate fully) with all reasonable requests in writing from another Party hereto, or from an agent, representative or advisor to such Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, claims for Refunds, Tax Proceedings, and calculations of amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, related or attributable to or arising in connection with Taxes of any of the Parties (including matters related to a Party’s qualification as a “real estate investment trust” under the Code) or their respective Subsidiaries covered by this Agreement and the establishment of any reserve required in connection with any financial reporting (a “Tax Matter”). Such cooperation shall include the provision of any information reasonably necessary or helpful in connection with a Tax Matter and shall include, without limitation, at each Party’s own cost:
(a) the provision of any Tax Returns of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, books, records (including information regarding ownership and Tax basis of property), documentation and other information relating to such Tax Returns, including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by Taxing Authorities;
(b) the execution of any document (including any power of attorney) in connection with any Tax Proceedings of any of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries, or the filing of a Tax Return or a Refund claim of the Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries;
(c) the use of the Party’s reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation in connection with a Tax Matter; and
(d) the use of the Party’s reasonable best efforts to obtain any Tax Returns (including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents), documents, books, records or other information in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns of any of the Parties or their Subsidiaries. Each Party shall make its employees, advisors, and facilities available, without charge, on a reasonable and mutually convenient basis in connection with the foregoing matters.
Governing Law; Submission to Process EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION IS EXPRESSLY ELECTED IN A TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF BIONOVA AND SAVIA HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS ITSELF AND EACH OTHER RELATED PERSON TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK AND AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS BY ANY MEANS ALLOWED UNDER NEW YORK OR FEDERAL LAW. EACH OF BIONOVA AND SAVIA IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
Litigation and Compliance with Law (a) There are no actions, suits, arbitrations, controversies or other proceedings or investigations (or, to the best knowledge and belief of management of FNB, any facts or circumstances which reasonably could result in such), including, without limitation, any such action by any governmental or regulatory authority, which currently exist or are ongoing, pending or, to the best knowledge and belief of management of FNB, threatened, contemplated or probable of assertion, against, relating to or otherwise affecting FNB, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or employees which, if determined adversely, could result in liability on the part of FNB or its subsidiaries for, or subject FNB or its subsidiary to, material monetary damages, fines or penalties or an injunction, or which could have a Material Adverse Effect on FNB and its subsidiaries or on FNB’s ability to consummate the Merger.
(b) Except for such licenses, permits, orders, authorizations or approvals (“Permits”) the absence of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect on FNB or its subsidiaries, each of FNB and its subsidiaries has all Permits of any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory body that are material to or necessary for the conduct of its respective business or to own, lease and operate its respective properties. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on FNB and its subsidiaries, all such Permits are in full force and effect and no violations are or have been recorded in respect of any such Permits. No proceeding is pending or, to the best knowledge and belief of management of FNB, threatened or probable of assertion to suspend, cancel, revoke or limit any Permit.
(c) Neither FNB nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any supervisory agreement, enforcement order, writ, injunction, capital directive, supervisory directive, memorandum of understanding or other similar agreement, order, directive, memorandum or consent of, with or issued by any regulatory or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC or the OCC) relating to its financial condition, directors or officers, employees, operations, capital, regulatory compliance or otherwise; there are no judgments, orders, stipulations, injunctions, decrees or awards against FNB or its subsidiaries which in any manner limits, restricts, regulates, enjoins or prohibits any present or past business or practice of FNB or its subsidiaries; and neither FNB nor any of its subsidiaries has been advised or has any reason to believe that any regulatory or other governmental authority or any court is contemplating, threatening or requesting the issuance of any such agreement, order, injunction, directive, memorandum, judgment, stipulation, decree or award.
(d) Neither FNB nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation or default under, and each has complied with, all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees of any court or federal, state, municipal or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction or authority over it or its business operations, properties or assets (including without limitation all provisions of North Carolina law relating to usury, the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and all other laws and regulations applicable to extensions of credit) except for any such violation, default or noncompliance as does not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect on FNB and its subsidiaries, and, to the best knowledge and belief of management of FNB, there is no basis for any claim by any person or authority for compensation, reimbursement or damages or otherwise for any violation of any of the foregoing.
