Material Adverse Effect. “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Acquired Corporations, taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute or be taken into account in determining whether there is, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Material Adverse Effect: (i) any change in the market price or trading volume of the Company’s stock or change in the Company’s credit ratings; provided that the underlying causes of any such change may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred to the extent not otherwise excluded by another exception herein; (ii) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect resulting from the announcement, pendency or performance of the Transactions (other than for purposes of any representation or warranty contained in Section 3.21); (iii) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect generally affecting the industries in which the Acquired Corporations operate or in the economy generally or other general business, financial or market conditions; (iv) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect arising directly or indirectly from or otherwise relating to general changes in the financial, credit, banking, securities or capital markets in the United States or any other country or region in the world (including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any market index) and including general changes or developments in or relating to currency exchange or interest rates; (v) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect arising directly or indirectly from or otherwise relating to any political or social conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the United States or any other country or region in the world, act of terrorism, war, national or international calamity, natural disaster, acts of god, epidemic, pandemic or any other similar event; (vi) the failure of the Company to meet internal or analysts’ expectations or projections; provided that the underlying causes of such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred to the extent not otherwise excluded by another exception herein; (vii) any adverse effect arising from any action taken by the Company at the written direction or request of Parent or any action required to be taken by the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (viii) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect resulting or arising from the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates; (ix) any event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect arising directly or indirectly from or otherwise relating to any change or proposed change in, or any compliance with or action taken for the purpose of complying with any change or proposed change in, any Legal Requirement or GAAP (or interpretations of any Legal Requirement or GAAP); or (x) any actual or potential sequester, stoppage, shutdown, default or similar event or occurrence by or involving any Governmental Body affecting a national or federal government as a whole; provided that any   A-8


event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect referred to in the foregoing clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (ix) and (x) may be taken into account in determining whether there is, or would be reasonably expected to be, a Material Adverse Effect to the extent such event, occurrence, circumstance, change or effect disproportionately affects the Acquired Corporations relative to other participants in the industries in which the Acquired Corporations operate. (Pages 72-73)

Question: MAE Definition
Category: Material Adverse Effect
Answer: business and operation of Target