“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, violation, inaccuracy, fact, effect or circumstance (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or taken together with all other Effects that exist or have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of the Company Material Adverse Effect, (A) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (B) has prevented, materially impaired or delayed or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the consummation of the Transactions or the ability of the Company to perform its covenants and obligations pursuant to this Agreement, it being understood that, in the case of clause (A), no Effect to the extent arising from or resulting from the following (by itself or when aggregated) will be deemed to be or constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect or will be taken into account when determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur (subject to the limitations set forth below): (i) changes in general economic conditions in the United States or any other country or region in the world, or changes in conditions in the global economy generally (except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of a similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect);   4


(ii) changes in conditions in the financial markets, credit markets or capital markets in the United States or any other country or region in the world, including (A) changes in interest rates or credit ratings in the United States or any other country; (B) changes in exchange rates for the currencies of any country; or (C) any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any securities exchange or over-the-counter market operating in the United States or any other country or region in the world (except, in each case, to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of a similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect); (iii) changes in conditions in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries generally conduct business (except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of a similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect); (iv) changes in regulatory, legislative or political conditions in the United States or any other country or region in the world (except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect); (v) any geopolitical conditions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war, terrorism or military actions (including any escalation or general worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage, terrorism or military actions) in the United States or any other country or region in the world (except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect); (vi) earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions, in the United States or any other country or region in the world (except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect);   5


(vii) the announcement of this Agreement (other than any announcement by the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective Representatives that is not in compliance with this Agreement, including Section 6.13, and the Confidentiality Agreement) or the pendency of the Transactions, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries with employees, suppliers, customers, partners, vendors, Governmental Authorities or any other third Person (it being understood that this clause (vii) shall not apply for purposes of any representation or warranty the purpose of which is to address the consequences resulting from such matters or, to the extent related to any such representation or warranty, any Offer Condition); (viii) the compliance by any Party with the terms of this Agreement (other than Section 5.1 and Section 5.2), including any action taken or refrained from being taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement (other than Section 5.1 and Section 5.2), or the failure of the Company to take any action that the Company is specifically prohibited by the terms of this Agreement from taking to the extent Parent unreasonably withholds its consent thereto after a written request therefor pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.2; (ix) changes or proposed changes in GAAP or other accounting standards or applicable Law or applicable Tax Law (or the enforcement or interpretation of any of the foregoing), except to the extent that such Effect has had a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company relative to other companies of a similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect; (x) changes in the price or trading volume of the Company Common Stock, in each case in and of itself (it being understood that any cause of such change may be deemed to constitute, in and of itself, a Company Material Adverse Effect and may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred); (xi) any failure, in and of itself, by the Company and its Subsidiaries to meet (A) any public estimates or expectations of the Company’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance metrics or results of operations for any period; or (B) any internal budgets, plans, projections or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance metrics or results of operations (it being understood that any cause of any such failure may be deemed to constitute, in and of itself, a Company Material Adverse Effect and may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred); (xii) the availability or cost of equity, debt or other financing to Parent or Merger Sub; and (xiii) any Transaction Litigation. (Pages 8-10)

Question: MAE Definition
Category: Material Adverse Effect
Answer: No