Forum for Adjudication of Disputes Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Massachusetts law or this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or any agreement contemplated by any provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a “Covered Action”) shall be within the federal or state courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forum referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this Section 7. If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than in a federal or state court sitting within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any Shareholder, such Shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section 7 (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Shareholder. Furthermore, except to the extent prohibited by any provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law or the Declaration of Trust, if any Shareholder shall initiate or assert a Foreign Action without the written consent of the Trust, then each such Shareholder shall be obligated jointly and severally to reimburse the Trust and any officer or Trustee of the Trust made a party to such proceeding for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description (including, but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses) that the parties may incur in connection with any successful motion to dismiss, stay or transfer such Foreign Action based upon non-compliance with this Section 7. If any provision or provisions of this Section 7 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 7 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 7 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Litigation and Administrative Proceedings Except as disclosed on Schedule 6.4 hereto, there are (a) no lawsuits, actions, investigations, examinations or other proceedings pending or threatened against any Company, or in respect of which any Company may have any liability, in any court or before or by any Governmental Authority, arbitration board, or other tribunal, (b) no orders, writs, injunctions, judgments, or decrees of any court or Governmental Authority to which any Company is a party or by which the property or assets of any Company are bound, and (c) no grievances, disputes, or controversies outstanding with any union or other organization of the employees of any Company, or threats of work stoppage, strike, or pending demands for collective bargaining, in each case other than those that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Arbitration of Claims The parties shall submit all Claims (as defined in Exhibit E) arising under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any other agreement between the parties and their affiliates or any Claim relating to the relationship of the parties to binding arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions set forth in Exhibit E attached hereto (the “Arbitration Provisions”). For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the injunction described in Section 9.3 below may be pursued in an arbitration that is separate and apart from any other arbitration regarding all other Claims arising under the Transaction Documents. The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the Arbitration Provisions are unconditionally binding on the parties hereto and are severable from all other provisions of this Agreement. By executing this Agreement, Company represents, warrants and covenants that Company has reviewed the Arbitration Provisions carefully, consulted with legal counsel about such provisions (or waived its right to do so), understands that the Arbitration Provisions are intended to allow for the expeditious and efficient resolution of any dispute hereunder, agrees to the terms and limitations set forth in the Arbitration Provisions, and that Company will not take a position contrary to the foregoing representations. Company acknowledges and agrees that Investor may rely upon the foregoing representations and covenants of Company regarding the Arbitration Provisions.
Mediation and Arbitration 27.1 The parties will use their best efforts to negotiate in good faith and settle any dispute that may arise out of or relate to this agreement or any breach thereof. If such dispute cannot be settled amicably, through ordinary negotiations by the parties, the dispute shall be referred to the senior representative nominated by the Managing Director or Managing Partner of each party, who will meet in good faith in order to resolve the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved as a result of such meeting, either party may, within 7 (seven) days of its conclusion, propose to the other in writing that structured negotiations be entered into with the assistance of a mediator.
27.2 If the parties are unable to agree on a mediator, or if the mediator agreed upon is unwilling or unable to act, any party may within 7 (seven) days from the date of the proposal to appoint a mediator, or within 7 (seven) days of notice to any party that is unwilling or unable to act, apply to the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) to appoint a mediator.
27.3 The parties will, within 7 (seven) days of the appointment of the mediator, meet with him in order to agree on a program for the exchange of any information and the structure to be adopted for the negotiation to be held in Pretoria or Johannesburg.
27.4 All negotiations connected with the dispute will be conducted in complete confidentiality and the parties undertake not to divulge details of such negotiations, except to their professional advisors, who will also be subject to such confidentiality and will be without prejudice to the rights of the parties in future proceedings.
27.5 If the parties accept the mediator’s recommendations, or otherwise reach agreement on the resolution of the dispute, such agreement shall be reduced to writing and once, it is signed by the duly authorised representatives, shall be final and binding on the parties.
27.6 Failing agreement, any of the parties may invite the mediator to provide a non-binding, but informative opinion in writing as to the merits of the dispute and the rights and obligations of the parties. Such opinion will be provided on a without prejudice basis and will be private and confidential to the parties and may not be used in evidence in any proceedings commenced pursuant to the terms of this agreement, without the prior written consent of all the parties.
27.7 Should the parties fail to reach agreement in the structured negotiations within 30 (thirty) days of the mediator being appointed, such a failure shall be without prejudice to the right of any party, subsequently to refer any dispute or difference to arbitration, but the parties agree that, before resorting to arbitration, the structured negotiations in accordance with this clause shall have taken place.
27.8 That arbitration shall be held – 27.8.1 with only the parties and their representatives including their legal representatives, present thereat; 27.
Dispute Resolution and Applicable Law 1. The Parties shall first attempt to settle amicably any dispute arising out of this Agreement. Any dispute shall be resolved by arbitration, ousting jurisdiction by ordinary courts, by a panel of three arbitrators. Each party to the dispute will nominate one arbitrator. These two arbitrators will then designate a third arbitrator who will also act as chairman. The arbitration decision shall be binding on the parties. The arbitration rules of the CEPANI shall be applicable. The place of any hearing shall be Brussels and the language of the arbitration shall be English. Each Party may at any time request from any competent judicial authority any interim or conservatory measure.
2. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Belgium.