5.3    Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals. <omitted> (e)    Permissible Company Board Recommendation Change and Entry into Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, at any time prior to obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval: 

(i)    other than in connection with a written Acquisition Proposal that constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Company Board (or a committee thereof) may effect a Company Board Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event if the Company Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to do so would be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable Law if and only if: 

(1)    the Company has provided prior written notice to Parent at least three Business Days (the “Event Notice Period”) in advance to the effect that the Company Board (or a committee thereof) has (A) so determined; and (B) resolved to effect a Company Board Recommendation Change pursuant to this Section 5.3(e)(i), which notice will specify the basis for such Company Board Recommendation Change and will describe the Intervening Event in reasonable detail; and 

(2)    prior to effecting such Company Board Recommendation Change, the Company and its Representatives, during such Event Notice Period, have (A) negotiated with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent that Parent requests to negotiate) to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents so that the Company Board (or a committee thereof) no longer determines in good faith that the failure to make a Company Board Recommendation Change in response to such Intervening Event would be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable Law; (B) taken into account any adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents proposed by Parent and other information provided by Parent in response to the notice described in clause (A) of this Section 5.3(e)(i), in each case, that are offered in writing by Parent, no later than 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the Event Notice Period, in a manner that would constitute a binding agreement between the parties if accepted by the Company; (C) permitted Parent and its Representatives to make a presentation to the Company Board regarding this Agreement and any adjustments with respect thereto (to the extent that Parent requests to make such a presentation) and (D) following such Event Notice Period, the Company Board (or a committee thereof) (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel and taking into account Parent’s proposed revisions to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents) has determined that the failure of the Company Board (or a committee thereof) to make a Company Board   -65-


Recommendation Change would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable Law; it being understood that each time that material modifications to the Intervening Event occur, Company shall notify Parent of such modification and the time period set forth in the preceding clause (2) shall recommence and be extended for two Business Days from the day of such notification; or 

(ii)    if the Company has received a written Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board (or a committee thereof) has concluded in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) is a Superior Proposal, then the Company Board may (A) effect a Company Board Recommendation Change with respect to such Superior Proposal; or (B) authorize the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(h) to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, in each case if and only if: 

(1)    the Company Board (or a committee thereof) determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to do so would be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable Law; 

(2)    the Company has complied in all material respects with its obligations pursuant to this Section 5.3 with respect to such Acquisition Proposal; 

(3)    (i) the Company has provided prior written notice to Parent at least three Business Days in advance (the “Notice Period”) to the effect that the Company Board (or a committee thereof) has (A) received a written Acquisition Proposal that has not been withdrawn; (B) concluded in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; and (C) resolved to effect a Company Board Recommendation Change or to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5.3(e)(ii), which notice will describe the basis for such Company Board Recommendation Change or termination, including the identity of the Person or Group making such Acquisition Proposal, the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal and include copies of all relevant documents relating to such Acquisition Proposal (unless any such disclosure is prohibited pursuant to the terms of any confidentiality agreement with such Person or Group that is in effect on the date of this Agreement); and (ii) prior to effecting such Company Board Recommendation Change or termination, the Company and its Representatives, until 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the Notice Period, have (1) negotiated with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent that Parent requests to negotiate) to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents so that such Acquisition Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal; (2) taken into account any adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement proposed by Parent and other information provided by Parent during the Notice Period, and the Transaction Documents in each case, that are offered in writing by Parent, no later than 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the Notice Period, in a manner that would constitute a binding agreement between the parties if accepted by the Company; and (3) permitted Parent and its Representatives to make a presentation to the Company Board regarding this Agreement and any adjustments with respect thereto (to the extent that Parent requests to make such a presentation), it being understood that (a) in the event of any material revision, amendment, update or supplement to such Acquisition Proposal, the Company will be   -66-


required to deliver a new written notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of this Section 5.3(d)(ii)(3) with respect to such new written notice (with the “Notice Period” in respect of such new written notice being two Business Days); and (b) at the end of the Notice Period, the Company Board (or a committee thereof) must have in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) reaffirmed its determination that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal (Pages 69-71)

Question: Fiduciary exception to COR covenant
Category: Deal Protection and Related Provisions
Answer: Yes