AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among BARNES GROUP INC., GOAT HOLDCO, LLC and GOAT MERGER SUB, INC. Dated as of October 6, 2024

(ii)        cause members of senior management of the Company to participate in a reasonable number of customary meetings, presentations, road shows, due diligence sessions, drafting sessions and sessions with rating agencies, at reasonable times and with reasonable advance notice, and, in each case, which shall be telephonic or held by videoconference unless otherwise agreed to by the Company;

(iii)       as promptly as practicable (A) furnish Parent with the Required Financial Information and (B) inform ▇▇▇▇▇▇ if the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, controller or comparable officer of the Company shall have knowledge of any facts as a result of which a restatement of any financial statements (or portion thereof) included in the Required Financial Information is reasonably probable or required in order for such financial statements (or portion thereof) to comply with GAAP;

(iv)       solely with respect to financial information and data derived from the Company’s historical books and records, provide reasonable and customary assistance to Parent and Merger Sub with Parent’s and Merger Sub’s preparation of pro forma financial information and pro forma financial statements, and with Parent’s and Merger Sub’s preparation of projections, in each case, solely with respect to information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, it being agreed that Parent and Merger Sub shall provide (A) the proposed aggregate amount of Debt Financing, together with assumed interest rates and fees and expenses relating to the incurrence of such Debt Financing and (B) any post-Closing or pro forma cost savings, synergies, capitalization, ownership or other pro forma adjustments in each case arising from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(v)        provide reasonable and customary assistance to Parent and the Debt Financing Entities in their preparation of the Offering Documents and review and comment on Parent’s draft of a business description and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of the financial statements to be included in such Offering Documents;

(vi)       assist Parent in its preparation of, and facilitate execution and delivery as of but not prior to the Closing of, definitive financing documents (including any guarantee, pledge and security documents, supplemental indentures, currency or interest rate hedging arrangement, other definitive financing documents or other certificates or documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent or the Debt Financing Entities (including a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to solvency matters in the form set forth as an exhibit to the Debt Commitment Letter)) and the schedules and exhibits thereto, it being understood that the effectiveness of such documents shall be conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing;

(vii)      (A) execute customary authorization letters with respect to the Offering Documents authorizing the distribution of information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries to prospective lenders or investors in connection with the Debt Financing and containing a customary representation that the public side versions of such documents do not include material non-public information about the Company or its Subsidiaries or their securities, and a customary representation as to the accuracy of the written information contained in the disclosure and marketing materials regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications (“Financing Authorization Letters”) and (B) customary management representation letters and CFO certificates with respect to the financial information of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the marketing materials for any debt offerings; provided, however, that, in each case, the Company or any of its applicable Subsidiaries shall only be obligated to deliver such financial statements and information to the extent they do not contain Excluded Information;

(viii)     in the event the Debt Financing includes an offering of debt securities, request and facilitate its independent auditors to (A) provide, consistent with customary practice, customary accountant’s comfort letters (including “negative assurance” comfort and change period comfort), together with drafts of such comfort letters that such independent auditors are prepared to deliver upon the “pricing” of any high-yield bonds being issued in connection with the Debt Financing, and consents from the Company’s independent auditors with respect to financial information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) attend a reasonable and customary number of accounting due diligence sessions and drafting sessions, which sessions shall be telephonic or held by videoconference and held at reasonable and mutually agreed times;

(ix)       (A) cooperate with the marketing efforts for any of the Debt Financing and (B) assist Parent and the Debt Financing Entities with obtaining ratings as contemplated by the Debt Financing;

(x)        furnish Parent and the Debt Financing Entities at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (solely to the extent requested by Parent in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date) with all documentation and other information related to the Company and its Subsidiaries required by Governmental Entities with respect to the Debt Financing under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended and the requirements of 31 C.F.R. §1010.230;

(xi)       facilitate the taking, no earlier than the Closing, of customary corporate approvals, reasonably requested by Parent to permit the consummation of the Debt Financing (provided, that no such action shall be required of the Company Board);

(xii)      cooperate in satisfying the conditions precedent set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter as in effect as of the date hereof or any definitive document relating to the Debt Financing with conditions precedent substantially the same as those set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter as in effect as of the date hereof to the extent the satisfaction of such condition requires the cooperation of, or is within the control of, the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(xiii)     ensure that the Debt Financing Entities and their advisors and consultants shall have customary and reasonable access, at mutually agreed times and places and on a reasonable and customary number of occasions to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ books and records and relevant personnel to evaluate the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ current assets, inventory, cash management and accounting systems, policies and procedures relating thereto for the purposes of Parent and Merger Sub establishing collateral arrangements as of the Closing, and provide customary assistance with other collateral audits, collateral appraisals and due diligence examinations customary for debt financing of the type consistent with the Debt Financing, at mutually agreed times and places.

(e)          The foregoing notwithstanding, none of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall be required to take or permit the taking of any action pursuant to this Section 5.11 that could:  (i) require the Company or its Subsidiaries or any Persons who are officers or directors of such entities to pass resolutions or consents to approve or authorize the execution of the Debt Financing or enter into, execute or deliver any certificate, document, instrument or agreement or agree to any change or modification of any existing certificate, document, instrument or agreement (except any Financing Authorization Letters and customary management representation letters and CFO certificates as set forth in clause (d)(vii)(B) above), in each case, unless (A) such Person will continue as an officer, director or equivalent of such entities following the Closing and (B) the effectiveness of such resolutions, consents, certificates, documents, instruments, agreements, changes or modifications is contingent upon the occurrence of the Closing, (ii) cause any representation or warranty in this Agreement to be breached by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay any commitment or other similar fee or incur any other expense, liability or obligation in connection with the Debt Financing prior to the Closing or otherwise incur any obligation under any agreement, certificate, document or instrument (except to the extent the effectiveness of any such fee, expense, liability or obligation is subject to and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing), (iv) reasonably be expected to cause any director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to incur any personal liability, (v) reasonably be expected to conflict with the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Laws, (vi) reasonably be expected to result in a material violation or breach of, or a default (with or without notice, lapse of time, or both) under, any Company Material Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, (vii) require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Representatives to provide access to or disclose information that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries determines would jeopardize any attorney-client privilege or other applicable privilege or protection of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (viii) require the delivery of any opinion of counsel, (ix) require the Company to prepare or deliver any Excluded Information or (x) unreasonably interfere with the ongoing operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  Nothing contained in this Section 5.11 or otherwise in this Agreement shall require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, prior to the Closing, to be an issuer or other obligor with respect to the Debt Financing.  Parent and Merger Sub shall, promptly upon written request by the Company, reimburse the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs incurred by them or their respective Representatives in connection with such cooperation and shall reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all liabilities or losses suffered or incurred by them in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing, any action taken by them at the request of Parent or its Representatives pursuant to this Section 5.11 and any information used in connection therewith (other than liabilities or losses resulting solely from information provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries), in each case, other than to the extent any of the foregoing was suffered or incurred as a result of the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement by, the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Representatives, as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(f)          The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the provisions contained in this Section 5.11 represent the sole obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to cooperation in connection with the arrangement and implementation of any financing (including the Financing) to be obtained by Parent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Commitment Letters, and no other provision of this Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto) or the Commitment Letters shall be deemed to expand or modify such obligations.  In no event shall the receipt or availability of any funds or financing (including the Financing) by Parent any of its Affiliates or any other financing or other transactions be a condition to any of Parent’s obligations under this Agreement.

(g)          The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to periodically update any Required Financial Information provided to Parent as may be necessary so that such Required Financial Information is (i) Compliant and (ii) meets the applicable requirements set forth in the definition of “Required Financial Information”.  For the avoidance of doubt, Parent may, to most effectively access the financing markets, request the cooperation of the Company and its Subsidiaries under Section 5.11(d) at any time, and from time to time and on multiple occasions, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Marketing Period shall not be applicable as to each attempt to access the markets (it being understood and agreed that once the “Marketing Period” has commenced and then been completed in accordance with the definition thereof, there shall not be a subsequent “Marketing Period” hereunder).  Parent agrees to provide the Company drafts of all Offering Documents and all marketing materials for the Debt Financing with a reasonable time to review such documents and materials, and subject to Parent’s compliance with such obligation, the Company agrees to use reasonable best efforts to review all such Offering Documents and marketing materials and identify for Parent any information contained therein that it reasonably believes constitutes material non-public information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or their respective securities.  If the Company identifies any such information (“Identified MNPI”), and such information is customarily included in offering documents or marketing materials for debt financing of the type consistent with the Debt Financing, is reasonably requested by Parent to be included in the Offering Documents or marketing materials for the Debt Financing and does not include information as to which the Company reasonably objects (any such Identified MNPI, “Acceptable MNPI”), then the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K containing such material non-public information.  Parent shall remove all such Identified MNPI that is not Acceptable MNPI from such Offering Documents and marketing materials.

(h)          All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company or any of its Affiliates obtained by Parent or its Representatives pursuant to this Section 5.11 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

(i)           The Company hereby consents to the use of its and its Subsidiaries’ trademarks and logos in connection with the Debt Financing; provided that such trademarks and logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the reputation or goodwill of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(j)           The Company shall deliver with respect to the Company Credit Agreement and, in respect of any indebtedness for borrowed money that is identified by Parent prior to the Closing Date other than the Company Credit Agreement, use reasonable best efforts to deliver, in each case, to Parent no later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date (with drafts being delivered in advance as reasonably requested by Parent) (i) copies of payoff letters (the “Payoff Letters”) with respect to the Company Credit Agreement and any other indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company that is identified by Parent prior to the Closing Date and that Parent reasonably requests to be paid off in connection with the Closing (the indebtedness under the Company Credit Agreement and any such other indebtedness, the “Subject Indebtedness”) in customary form, which Payoff Letters shall each (x) indicate the total amount required to be paid to fully satisfy all principal, interest, fees, prepayment premiums, termination costs, penalties, breakage costs and any other monetary obligations then due and payable under the Subject Indebtedness as of the anticipated Closing Date (and the daily accrual thereafter) (the “Payoff Amount”), (y) state that, upon receipt of the Payoff Amount under such Payoff Letter, the Subject Indebtedness and all related loan documents shall be terminated (other than provisions that by their nature survive payoff) (or words to that effect) and (z) provide that all security interests and guarantees (if any) in connection with the Subject Indebtedness relating to the assets and properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries securing the obligations under the Subject Indebtedness shall be released and terminated upon payment of the Payoff Amount on the Closing Date and (ii) all documentation relating to the repayment, prepayment, redemption, discharge or termination of all obligations under the Subject Indebtedness and the release of all related pledges, security interests and guarantees with respect to the Subject Indebtedness (including any mortgage releases and termination statements on Form UCC-3 or other releases reasonably necessary to effect the release of all applicable security interests granted in connection with such Subject Indebtedness).

Section 5.12        Transaction Litigation.  Each party shall promptly notify the other parties hereto in writing of (and, in any event within two (2) Business Days of becoming aware of) any stockholder litigation or other litigation or Proceeding brought or threatened in writing against it or its directors or executive officers or other Representatives relating to this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether directly or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise) (“Transaction Litigation”) and shall keep the other parties hereto informed on a reasonably current basis with respect to the status thereof (including by promptly (and, in any event, within two (2) Business Days of receipt of same) furnishing to the other parties hereto and their Representatives such information relating to such litigation or proceedings as may be reasonably requested).  Each party shall, subject to the preservation of privilege and confidential information, give the other parties hereto the opportunity to participate in (but not control) the defense or settlement of any stockholder litigation or other litigation or Proceeding against it and/or its directors or executive officers or other Representatives relating to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall give due consideration to such other parties’ advice with respect to such litigation or proceeding.  No party shall cease to defend, consent to the entry of any judgment, settle or offer to settle or take any other material action with respect to such litigation or proceeding commenced without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

Section 5.13        Obligations of Merger Sub.  Parent shall cause Merger Sub and the Surviving Company to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and whenever this Agreement requires Merger Sub to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Merger Sub to take such action.

Section 5.14        Stock Exchange Delisting; Deregistration.  Each of the parties agrees to cooperate with the other parties and use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law and rules and policies of the NYSE to cause the delisting of the Company Common Shares from the NYSE as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time and the deregistration of the Company Common Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after such delisting.

Section 5.15        Third Party Consents.  Following the date of this Agreement until the Termination Date, upon the mutual agreement of Parent and the Company, the Company shall use its, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to use their, commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any consents or waivers from any third parties in respect of any Company Material Contract set forth on Section 3.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided that this Section 5.15 shall not require the Company or any of its Affiliates to (a) make any payment of any fees, expenses, “profit sharing” payments or other consideration (including increased or accelerated payments) or concede anything of monetary or economic value, (b) amend, supplement or otherwise modify any such Company Material Contract or (c) otherwise make any accommodation or provide any benefit to the counterparty to such Company Material Contract (it being understood and agreed that no breach of this Section 5.15 shall have any effect on, or be considered with respect to, whether the condition set forth in Section 6.3(b) has been satisfied).

Section 5.16       Cooperation with Restructurings and Intercompany Loans.  To the extent reasonably requested by Parent, the Company will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, during normal business hours, use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) provide existing information with respect to such actions as may be reasonably necessary in connection with the pursuit of transfers or divestitures of certain businesses and/or Subsidiaries of the Company by the Company or restructuring transactions after the Closing Date, including, (i) furnishing available tax information and materials with respect to such transactions and the applicable businesses, entities or assets and (ii) furnishing financial (including pro forma) information and (b) upon and subject to the mutual agreement of Parent and the Company, take any reasonable actions and effect any reasonable steps which may be necessary to complete such transfers, divestitures and restructuring transactions, including without limitation, causing certain intercompany loan balances between any among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries to be repaid, restructured or settled in a manner that is mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5.16 shall be conducted in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise result in any significant interference with the prompt and timely discharge by the officers, employees and other authorized Representatives of the Company or its Subsidiaries of their normal duties; provided, further, that no breach of this Section 5.16 shall have any effect on, or be considered with respect to, whether the condition set forth in Section 6.3(b) has been satisfied.

Section 5.17        The Connecticut Transfer Act.  Prior to Closing, the Parties will evaluate the applicability of the Connecticut Transfer Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-134 et seq.) (“CTA”) to the Merger and whether the locations set forth on Section 5.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Locations”) are Establishments as such term is defined in the CTA.  To the extent that it is determined that the transfer of the Company is a “transfer” as such term is defined by the CTA and one or more of the above locations of the Company is determined to be an Establishment, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Surviving Company shall be the Certifying Party (as such term is defined by the CTA) on an appropriate CTA form (e.g., Form I-IV) filed for each of the Locations, as applicable, in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and be solely responsible for the performance of all obligations of the Certifying Party for each such filing.  The Company shall prepare and deliver to Parent at least ten (10) days prior to Closing all forms required under the CTA in connection with the Merger in compliance with the terms and requirements of the CTA for each of the applicable Locations.  Parent shall execute the appropriate form(s), as transferee, and the Surviving Company shall execute such forms, including an Environmental Condition Assessment Form (as such term is defined by the CTA) for each applicable Location, as Certifying Party and transferor.  Within ten (10) days after Closing, the Surviving Company shall deliver to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection all forms, documents, and fees required under the CTA.

ARTICLE VI

Section 6.1          Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger.  The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment (or mutual waiver by the Company and Parent, to the extent permissible under applicable Law) at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)          The Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

(b)          No injunction by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction shall have been entered and shall continue to be in effect and no Law shall have been adopted that remains in effect or be effective, in each case that prevents, enjoins, prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger.

(c)          All (i) waiting periods applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated and (ii) other approvals and clearances and expirations or terminations of waiting periods (as applicable) identified in Section 6.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter (clauses (i) and (ii), the “Required Regulatory Approvals”) shall have been obtained or shall have occurred (as applicable).

Section 6.2        Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger.  The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Company, to the extent permissible under applicable Law) at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)          The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Article IV (without regard to any qualifications as to materiality or Parent Material Adverse Effect contained in such representations and warranties) shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b)          Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them prior to the Effective Time.

(c)          Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized executive officer of Parent on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(b) for each of Parent and Merger Sub have been satisfied.

Section 6.3          Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger.  The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is further subject to the fulfillment (or the waiver by Parent, to the extent permissible under applicable Law) at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)          (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.1(a), Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.18 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(b)(ii), Section 3.2(b)(iii), Section 3.2(b)(iv) and Section 3.2(b)(v) shall be true in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except for inaccuracies in such representations and warranties that are de minimis relative to the total fully-diluted equity capitalization of the Company, (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.10(b) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and (iv) the other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article III (disregarding all materiality and Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein) (other than those included in the reference to “material weakness” in Section 3.5 and in Section 3.16(a)) shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except with respect to this clause (iv) where such failures to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)          The Company shall have performed in all material respects and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Effective Time.

(c)          Since the date of this Agreement there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect that is continuing.

(d)          The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized executive officer of the Company, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a), Section 6.3(b) and Section 6.3(c) have been satisfied.

Section 6.4         Frustration of Closing Conditions.  None of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Merger or terminating this Agreement and abandoning the Merger, on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.1, Section 6.2 or Section 6.3, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was due to the breach by such party of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement of such party set forth in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 5.5).

ARTICLE VII

Section 7.1          Termination or Abandonment.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether prior to or after the Company Stockholder Approval (except as otherwise provided below):

(a)          by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;

(b)          by either the Company or Parent, if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on April 7, 2025 (the “End Date”); provided, however, that if the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 6.1(b) (to the extent related to the Required Regulatory Approvals or any Antitrust Law) or Section 6.1(c) have not been satisfied or waived on or prior to the End Date but all other conditions to Closing set forth in Article VI have been satisfied or waived (except for those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, but subject to such conditions being capable of being satisfied at the Closing), the End Date will be automatically extended to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on July 7, 2025, and such date, as so extended, shall be the End Date; provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available to a party if the failure of the Merger to be consummated by the End Date shall be primarily attributable to the breach by such party of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement of such party set forth in this Agreement (it being understood that a breach of this Agreement by Merger Sub shall be deemed to be a breach by Parent for all purposes of this Agreement); provided, further, that (A) if all of the conditions set forth in Article VI are satisfied (or in the case of conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, are then capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur on such date) on a date that occurs on or prior to the End Date but the Closing would thereafter occur in accordance with Section 1.2 on a date (the “Specified Date”) that occurs within two (2) Business Days after the End Date, then the End Date shall automatically be extended to such Specified Date and the Specified Date shall become the End Date for purposes of this Agreement and (B) in the event the Marketing Period has commenced on or prior to the End Date but has not completed by the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to the End Date, the End Date shall automatically be extended (or further extended) to the date that is two (2) Business Days after the then-scheduled expiration date of the Marketing Period and such date shall become the End Date for purposes of this Agreement;

(c)          by either the Company or Parent if an Order by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) shall not be available to a party if such Order shall be primarily attributable to the breach by such party of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement of such party set forth in this Agreement (it being understood that a breach of this Agreement by Merger Sub shall be deemed to be a breach by Parent for all purposes of this Agreement);

(d)          by either the Company or Parent, if the Company Stockholders’ Meeting (including any adjournments or postponements thereof) at which a vote on the Company Stockholder Approval was taken shall have concluded and the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained;

(e)          by the Company, if Parent or Merger Sub shall have breached or there is any inaccuracy in any of its representations or warranties, or shall have breached or failed to perform any of its covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach, inaccuracy or failure to perform (i) if it occurred or was continuing to occur on the Closing Date, would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(b) and (ii) is either not curable or is not cured by the earlier of (A) the End Date and (B) the date that is thirty (30) days following written notice from the Company to Parent of such breach, inaccuracy or failure; provided that the Company is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that would give rise to a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b);

(f)           by Parent, if the Company shall have breached or there is any inaccuracy in any of its representations or warranties, or shall have breached or failed to perform any of its covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach, inaccuracy or failure to perform (i) if it occurred or was continuing to occur on the Closing Date, would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) and (ii) is either not curable or is not cured by the earlier of (A) the End Date and (B) the date that is thirty (30) days following written notice from Parent to the Company of such breach, inaccuracy or failure; provided that Parent or Merger Sub is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that would give rise to a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b);

(g)          at any time prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, by Parent in the event of an Adverse Recommendation Change;

(h)         by the Company (at any time prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval) in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 5.3(f); and

(i)          by the Company, if (i) the Marketing Period has ended and all of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3 are satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, but subject to such conditions being capable of being satisfied at the Closing), (ii) Parent and Merger Sub fail to consummate the Closing within three (3) Business Days after the first date on which Parent and Merger Sub were required to consummate the Closing pursuant to Section 1.2, (iii) the Company has irrevocably notified Parent in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to such termination that it is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing (provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.1(b), no party shall be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(b) during any such three (3)-Business Day period) and (iv) Parent failed to consummate the Closing within such three (3)-Business Day period.

Section 7.2         Effect of Termination.  In the event of a valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall terminate (except that the Guarantee, the Confidentiality Agreement, and the provisions of the final sentence of Section 5.11(e), this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 and Article VIII (in each case, including the limitations set forth therein) shall survive any termination), and there shall be no other Liability on the part of the Company, on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, to the other, except as expressly provided in the Guarantee, the Confidentiality Agreement and the final sentence of Section 5.11(e) and Section 7.3; provided that, subject in all respects to the limitations set forth in this Section 7.2, Section 7.3, Section 8.5 and Section 8.16, nothing in this Agreement shall relieve any party hereto from Liability for fraud or a Willful Breach of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination, in each case, which the parties acknowledge and agree will not be limited to reimbursement of expenses or out-of-pocket costs, and in the case of any damages sought by the non-breaching party, including any Willful Breach, such damages will include the benefit of the bargain lost by the non-breaching party, taking into consideration relevant matters, including opportunity costs and the time value of money (including any obligations of the parties pursuant to the Limited Guarantee to make such payments in accordance with, and subject to the terms, thereof).

Section 7.3          Termination Fees.

(a)          In the event that:

(i)         this Agreement is validly terminated (A) by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(h) or (B) by Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(g); or

(ii)        (A) after the date of this Agreement and prior to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, an Alternative Proposal (substituting fifty percent (50%) for the twenty percent (20%) threshold set forth in the definition of “Alternative Proposal”) (a “Qualifying Transaction”) shall have been publicly made and not withdrawn prior to the Company Stockholders’ Meeting or publicly disclosed or otherwise announced and not withdrawn prior to the Company Stockholders’ Meeting, (B) thereafter this Agreement is validly terminated by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(d) or by Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(f), and (C) at any time on or prior to the nine (9)-month anniversary of such valid termination, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have entered into a definitive agreement for any Qualifying Transaction, which such Qualifying Transaction is subsequently consummated, whether during or following such nine (9)-month period,

then, the Company shall pay Parent (or its designees) the Company Termination Fee in immediately available funds to one or more accounts designated by Parent in writing (I) in the case of Section 7.3(a)(i)(A) above, prior to or substantially concurrently with such valid termination, (II) in the case of Section 7.3(a)(i)(B) above, within three (3) Business Days after valid termination of this Agreement, or (III) in the case of Section 7.3(a)(ii) above, substantially concurrently with the consummation of a Qualifying Transaction.

(b)          In the event that:

(i)         this Agreement is validly terminated (A) by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(e) or Section 7.1(i) or (B) by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(b) and at such time the Company was entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) or Section 7.1(i),

then Parent shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the Company the Parent Termination Fee in immediately available funds within three (3) Business Days after the date of such valid termination by Parent or the Company to one or more accounts designated by the Company in writing.

(c)          Each party acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 7.3 are an integral part of this Agreement and that, without this Section 7.3, Parent (in the case of Section 7.3(a)) or the Company (in the case of Section 7.3(b)) would not have entered into this Agreement.  Accordingly, if a party fails to promptly pay any amount due pursuant to Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b), as applicable, the failing party shall pay to the other party all fees, costs and expenses of enforcement (including attorneys’ fees as well as expenses incurred in connection with any action initiated by such party), together with interest on the amount of the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee at the prime lending rate as published in the Wall Street Journal, in effect on the date such payment is required to be made (together with the obligations of Parent under the final sentence of Section 5.11(e), the “Additional Obligations”).  The parties further acknowledge that neither the Company Termination Fee nor the Parent Termination Fee shall constitute a penalty but is each liquidated damages, in a reasonable amount that will compensate each party in the circumstances in which the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee, as applicable, is payable for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Merger, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that in no event will the Company or Parent be required to pay the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee, as applicable, on more than one occasion, whether or not the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee, as applicable, may be payable pursuant to more than one provision of this Agreement at the same or at different times and upon the occurrence of different events.

(d)          Except as expressly set forth in Section 7.3(c), and Section 8.2, upon the payment by the Company of the Company Termination Fee and the Additional Obligations, as and when required by Section 7.3(a), none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members, Affiliates and Representatives shall have any further liability with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates or Representatives, except pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement.  Payment of the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(a) shall be deemed to be liquidated damages for any and all losses or damages suffered or incurred by Parent, Merger Sub, any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives or any other Person in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination, and none of Parent, Merger Sub, any of their or their respective Affiliates’ respective former, current or future officers, directors, employees, partners, stockholders, optionholders, managers, members, other Representatives or Affiliates (collectively, “Parent Related Parties”) or any other Person shall be entitled to bring or maintain any claim, action or proceeding against the Company or any of its Affiliates arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters forming the basis for such termination.  Parent’s right to receive payment from the Company of the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(a) and the amounts, if any, due and owing under Section 7.3(c), Parent’s right to specific performance pursuant to Section 8.5 and Parent’s right to damages as a result of fraud or a Willful Breach by the Company of this Agreement  (in each case, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Parent Related Parties against the Company and its Subsidiaries and any of their or their respective Affiliates’ respective former, current or future officers, directors, employees, partners, stockholders, optionholders, managers, members, other Representatives or Affiliates (collectively, “Company Related Parties”) in respect of this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby, and upon payment of such amounts, none of the Company Related Parties will have any further monetary liability or obligation to the Parent Related Parties relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby (except that the parties hereto (or their Affiliates), as applicable, will remain obligated with respect to, and the parties hereto (or their Affiliates), as applicable, may be entitled to remedies with respect to, the Confidentiality Agreement).  Except with respect to Parent’s right in connection with claims against the Company pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement and subject in all respects to Section 7.2, Section 7.3 and Section 8.5 (including, in each case, the limitations set forth therein), upon the payment of the Company Termination Fee to the extent owed pursuant to Section 7.3(a) and the amounts, if any, due and owing under Section 7.3(c), none of the Company Related Parties shall have any further liability (whether in equity or at law, in contract, in tort or otherwise) with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to the Parent Related Parties.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 7.3(d) shall limit any remedies of Parent prior to such termination, including specific enforcement pursuant to Section 8.5.

(e)          Except as expressly set forth in Section 7.3(c) and Section 8.2, upon the payment by Parent of the Parent Termination Fee and the Additional Obligations as and when required by Section 7.3(b), none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or their respective former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members, Affiliates and Representatives shall have any further liability with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the Company or its Affiliates or Representatives, other than with respect to the Confidentiality Agreement.  Payment of the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(b) shall be deemed to be liquidated damages for any and all losses or damages suffered or incurred by the Company, any of its Affiliates or Representatives or any other Person in connection with this Agreement (and the termination hereof), the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the abandonment thereof) or any matter forming the basis for such termination, and none of the Company Related Parties or any other Person shall be entitled to bring or maintain any claim, action or proceeding against Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters forming the basis for such termination, except with respect to the Confidentiality Agreement.  The Company’s right to receive payment from Parent of the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(b) and any Additional Obligations pursuant to Section 7.3(c), the Company’s right to specific performance pursuant to Section 8.5, the Company’s rights in connection with claims against Apollo Management X, L.P. pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company’s rights pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and the Company’s right to damages as a result of fraud or a Willful Breach by Parent or Merger Sub of this Agreement (in each case, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company Related Parties against the Parent Related Parties for any loss suffered as a result of the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder or otherwise, and, except with respect to the Company’s right in connection with claims against Apollo Management X, L.P. pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, upon payment of the Parent Termination Fee and any Additional Obligations pursuant to Section 7.3(c), none of the Parent Related Parties shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 7.3(e) shall limit any remedies of the Company prior to such termination, including specific enforcement pursuant to Section 8.5; provided that, in no event shall the Company be entitled to receive both (i) an order for specific performance or any other equitable remedy of the type contemplated by Section 8.5 to cause the consummation of transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) to occur and (ii) the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 7.3(b).

(f)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, but subject to Section 8.5, the maximum aggregate liability, whether in equity or at Law, in Contract, in tort or otherwise, together with any payment of the Company Termination Fee and any other payment in connection with any Transaction Document or otherwise, of the Company Related Parties collectively (including monetary damages for fraud or breach, whether willful, intentional, unintentional or otherwise) (A) under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; (B) in connection with the failure of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereunder or under the Transaction Documents to be consummated; or (C) in respect of any representation or warranty made or alleged to have been made in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, will not exceed under any circumstances an amount equal to (i) the Parent Termination Fee, plus (ii) the amounts, if any, due and owing under Section 7.3(c), if any, (collectively, the “Company Maximum Liability Amount”), except with respect to Parent’s rights in connection with claims against the Company pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement.

(g)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, but subject to Section 8.5, the maximum aggregate liability, whether in equity or at Law, in Contract, in tort or otherwise of the Parent Related Parties collectively (including monetary damages for fraud or breach, whether willful, intentional, unintentional or otherwise) (i) under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; (ii) in connection with the failure of the Merger (including the Financing) or the other transactions contemplated hereunder or under the Transaction Documents to be consummated; or (iii) in respect of any representation or warranty made or alleged to have been made in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, will not exceed under any circumstances an amount equal to (A) the Parent Termination Fee plus (B) the Additional Obligations, if any, due and owing under Section 7.3(c) (collectively, the “Parent Maximum Liability Amount”), except with respect to the Company’s rights in connection with claims against Apollo Management X, L.P. pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

Section 8.1          No Survival.  None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for covenants and agreements that contemplate performance after the Effective Time or otherwise expressly by their terms survive the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the Equity Commitment Letter, Section 5.5, Section 5.9 and this Article VIII).

Section 8.2         Expenses; Transfer Taxes.

(a)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including in Section 5.11(f) and Section 7.3) or any other Transaction Document, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or the other Transaction Documents shall be paid by the party incurring or required to incur such expenses; provided that Parent shall pay all filing fees required under the HSR Act and other Antitrust Laws.

(b)          Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2(d), all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes imposed with respect to the transfer of Company Common Shares pursuant to the Merger shall be borne by Parent or Merger Sub, and expressly shall not be a liability of the holders of Company Common Shares.

Section 8.3         Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other parties.  Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

Section 8.4          Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

(a)          This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether at Law, in contract or in tort or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of Law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

(b)         Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) (the “Chosen Courts”).  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Chosen Courts.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any claim that (A) the Proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Proceeding is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that service of process upon such party in any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement will be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 8.7 and waives any further requirements for such service of process; provided that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.

Section 8.5          Specific Enforcement.

(a)          The parties hereto agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached or threatened to be breached, irreparable damage would occur, no adequate remedy at law would exist and damages would be difficult to determine, and accordingly (i) the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to specific performance of the terms hereof, without proof of actual damages, in each case in the Chosen Courts (in the order expressed in Section 8.4(b)), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, (ii) the parties waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any specific performance or injunctive relief and (iii) the parties will waive, in any action for specific performance, the defense of adequacy of a remedy at law.  In circumstances where Parent and Merger Sub are obligated to consummate the Merger pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Merger has not been consummated by Parent or Merger Sub, Parent and Merger Sub expressly acknowledge and agree that the Company and its stockholders shall have suffered irreparable harm, that monetary damages will be inadequate to compensate the Company and its stockholders, and that the Company on behalf of itself and its stockholders shall be entitled (in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it whether in law or equity, including monetary damages) to enforce specifically Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the Merger pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  The Company’s pursuit of specific performance at any time will not be deemed an election of remedies or waiver of the right to pursue any other right or remedy to which the Company may be entitled, including the right to pursue remedies for liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by the Company and its stockholders.  The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 8.5(b), the Company shall be entitled to specific performance (or any other equitable relief) to cause Parent to consummate the Closing and to cause Parent to draw down the cash equity committed pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter to consummate the Closing, on the terms set forth herein.

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 8.5(a) or anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, neither the Company nor its Affiliates shall be entitled to enforce or seek to enforce specifically Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to cause to be funded all or any portion of the Equity Financing or otherwise consummate the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents unless and only if (i) the Marketing Period has ended and all of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to such conditions being capable of being satisfied at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or (to the extent permissible under applicable Law) waived, (ii) the full amount of the Debt Financing (or any Alternative Financing in accordance with Section 5.11) has been funded or will be funded at the Closing (in each case, in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof) if the Equity Financing was funded at the Closing, (iii) Parent and Merger Sub have failed to consummate the Merger by the first date the Closing is required to have occurred pursuant to Section 1.2 and (iv) the Company has irrevocably confirmed to Parent in writing that if specific performance is granted and the Equity Financing and Debt Financing (or the Alternative Financing, in accordance with Section 5.11) are funded, then it will take such actions as required by this Agreement to cause the Closing to occur.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, under no circumstances will the Parent or the Company, directly or indirectly, be permitted or entitled to receive both (i) an order for specific performance or other equitable relief of the type contemplated by this Section 8.5 to cause the Closing to occur and (ii) any monetary damages or other payments (including payment of the Parent Termination Fee or the Company Termination Fee, as applicable).

Section 8.6         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (INCLUDING ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE FINANCING OR THE COMMITMENT LETTERS OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES THEREUNDER OR RELATED THERETO).

Section 8.7          Notices.  Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) upon personal delivery to the recipient; (b) when sent by email (without receipt of a delivery failure notice) or facsimile (provided that any notice sent by facsimile or otherwise to the recipient on any Business Day after 5:00 p.m. (recipient’s local time) shall be deemed to have been sent at 9:00 a.m. (recipient’s local time) on the next Business Day); (c) by reliable overnight delivery service (with proof of service); or (d) by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class postage prepaid); in each case addressed as follows:

if to Parent or Merger Sub, or the Surviving Company after the Effective Time:

c/o Apollo Management X, L.P.

▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

43^rd Floor

New York, New York 10019

Attention:	▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Partner ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Legal Officer
Email:	[***] [***]

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10020

Attention:	▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Email:	▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇

if to the Company prior to the Effective Time:

▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Bristol, Connecticut 06010

Attention:	▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Email:	[***]

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile:	(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention:	▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Esq. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Email:	▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so telecommunicated or personally delivered.  Any party to this Agreement may notify any other party of any changes to the address or any of the other details specified in this Section 8.7; provided that such notification shall only be effective on the date specified in such notice or five (5) Business Days after the notice is given, whichever is later.  Rejection or other refusal to accept or the inability to deliver because of changed address of which no notice was given shall be deemed to be receipt of the notice as of the date of such rejection, refusal or inability to deliver.

Section 8.8          Assignment; Binding Effect.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided that, each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have the right, without the prior written consent of the Company, to assign all or any portion of their respective rights, interests and obligations hereunder (i) to a wholly owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent or to any of their respective Affiliates, in each case, that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or a domestic limited liability company treated as an entity disregarded as separate from such a “United States person” for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, or (ii) to any debt financing sources (including the Debt Financing Entities) for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assigning as collateral in respect of any debt financing (including the Debt Financing) in accordance with the terms of such debt financing (including the Debt Financing), but in each case no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Merger Sub of any of its obligations hereunder.  Subject to the first sentence of this Section 8.8, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section 8.8 shall be null and void.

Section 8.9          Severability.  Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.  If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

Section 8.10        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto) and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

Section 8.11        Amendments; Waivers.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided that after receipt of Company Stockholder Approval, if any such amendment or waiver shall by applicable Law or in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE require further approval of the stockholders of the Company, the effectiveness of such amendment or waiver shall be subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.

Section 8.12        Headings.  Headings of the articles and sections of this Agreement are for convenience of the parties only and shall be given no substantive or interpretive effect whatsoever.  The table of contents to this Agreement is for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 8.13        No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Except (a) for the provisions of Article II (which, from and after the Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of holders of the Company Common Shares and Company Equity Awards as of the Effective Time) and Section 5.9 (which, from and after the Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of the Covered Persons), (b) for the limitations on liability of the Company Related Parties set forth in Section 7.3(d) and Section 7.3(f), (c) for the limitations on liability of the Parent Related Parties set forth in Section 7.3(e) and Section 7.3(g) and (d) as set forth in Section 8.16, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing in this Agreement is intended to and shall not confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.  In accordance with Section 261(b) of the DGCL, the Company shall, in its sole discretion and as a representative of the stockholders of the Company, including the holders of Company Common Shares, have the sole and exclusive authority to take action on behalf of the stockholders of the Company, including the holders of Company Common Shares, to enforce the rights of such stockholders under this Agreement.

Section 8.14        Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  All references in this Agreement to “$” or “dollars” shall be to U.S. dollars.  The phrase “date hereof” or “date of this Agreement” shall be deemed to refer to October 6, 2024.  The words “day” or “days” when used in this Agreement shall refer to calendar days unless specified as Business Days. When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and, if the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.  The word “or” is not exclusive.  The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” References to days mean calendar days unless otherwise specified.  The term “third party” shall mean any person, including any “group” as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates or any “group” that includes the Company, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates.  The phrase “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be construed to mean an action taken, or omitted to be taken, by any person in the ordinary course of such person’s business; provided that any modifications, suspensions and/or alterations of policies or operations resulting from, or determined by such person to be advisable and reasonably necessary in response to Sanctions Measures or Cybersecurity Measures shall be deemed to be in the ordinary course of business.  All references to information or documents having been “made available” (or words of similar import) shall be deemed satisfied, among other means (such as by electronic data room, management presentation or otherwise), by such information or documents being publicly available on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (▇▇▇▇▇) database of the SEC.  All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto unless otherwise defined therein.  The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.  Each of the parties has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement.  References to specific laws or to specific provisions of laws shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and references to specific laws, Contracts or specific provisions thereof are to such laws, Contracts or provisions as amended, restated, supplemented, re-enacted, consolidated, replaced or modified from time to time, in each case as of the applicable date or period of time.  All accounting terms used in this Agreement and not expressly defined shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.  If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 8.15        Attorney-Client Privilege.  (a) All attorney-client privilege and attorney work-product protection of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of legal counsel representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) all documents subject to the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection described in Section 8.15(a) and (c) all documents maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall, from and after the Closing, be held by the persons serving as directors of the Company immediately prior to the Closing, and their respective successors.

Section 8.16        Debt Financing Parties.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company, on behalf of itself, its Subsidiaries and each of its controlled Affiliates, hereby:  (a) agrees that any legal action, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, involving the Debt Financing Parties, arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, the Debt Financing, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, so long as such forum is and remains available, and any appellate court thereof and each party hereto irrevocably submits itself and its property with respect to any such legal action to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court, (b) agrees that any such legal action shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another state), except as otherwise provided in any agreement relating to the Debt Financing and except to the extent relating to the interpretation of any provisions in this Agreement (including any provision in the Debt Commitment Letter or in any definitive documentation related to the Debt Financing that expressly specifies that the interpretation of such provisions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware), (c) knowingly, intentionally and voluntarily waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any rights or claims to trial by jury in any such legal action brought against the Debt Financing Parties in any way arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, or the Debt Financing, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (d) agrees that none of the Debt Financing Parties shall have any liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective controlled Affiliates or representatives relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Debt Financing, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (subject to the last sentence of this Section 8.16), and (e) agrees that the Debt Financing Parties are express third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, any of the provisions of this Section 8.16 (and any definition in this Agreement to the extent that an amendment of such provision would modify the provisions of this Section 8.16) and that this Section 8.16 may not be amended in a manner materially adverse to the Debt Financing Parties without the written consent of the Debt Financing Entities (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 8.16 shall in any way limit or modify the rights and obligations of Parent under this Agreement or any Debt Financing Party’s obligations under the Debt Commitment Letter, or the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries against the Debt Financing Parties with respect to the Debt Financing or any of the transactions contemplated thereby or any services thereunder following the Closing Date.

Section 8.17        Non-Recourse.  Each party agrees, on behalf of itself and its Related Parties, that all Proceedings (whether in Contract or in tort, in Law or in equity or otherwise, or granted by statute or otherwise, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company veil or any other theory or doctrine, including alter ego or otherwise) that may be based upon, in respect of, arise under, out or by reason of, be connected with, or relate in any manner to: (a) this Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or the Merger (including the Financing) or any other transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder; (b) the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents (including any representation or warranty made in connection with, or as an inducement to, this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents); (c) any breach or violation of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents; and (d) any failure of the Merger or any other transactions contemplated under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (including the Financing) to be consummated, in each case, may be made only against the Persons that are, in the case of this Agreement, expressly identified as parties to this Agreement, and in the case of the other Transaction Documents, Persons expressly identified as parties to such Transaction Documents, and their respective successors and assigns, and in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement or such Transaction Documents, as applicable.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party agrees, on behalf of itself and its respective Related Parties, that no recourse under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the Merger or any other transactions contemplated hereunder or under any other Transaction Document (including the Financing) will be sought or had against the other Person, or its Related Parties, and no other Person, including any Related Party, will have any liabilities or obligations, for any claims arising under, out of, in connection with or related to the items in the immediately preceding clauses (a) through (d), except for claims that (i) the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, may assert (subject, with respect to the following clauses (B) and (C), in all respects to the limitations set forth in Section 7.2, Section 7.3(d), Section 7.3(e), Section 8.5(b) and this Section 8.17) (A) against any Person that is party to, and solely pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement; (B) against each Equity Investor under, if, as and when required pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Guarantee; (C) against the Equity Investors for specific performance of their obligation to fund their committed portions of the Equity Financing solely in accordance with, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6 of the Equity Commitment Letter; or (D) against the Company, Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or (ii) the third parties identified as third party beneficiaries in Section 8.13 may assert solely in accordance with, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, no Parent Related Party will be responsible or liable for any multiple, consequential, indirect, special, statutory, exemplary or punitive damages that may be alleged as a result of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents (excluding under the Confidentiality Agreement in accordance with their terms) or the Merger (including the Financing), or the termination or abandonment of any of the foregoing.

Section 8.18        Definitions.

(a)          Certain Specified Definitions.  As used in this Agreement:

“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means any confidentiality agreement that contains confidentiality provisions that are not materially less favorable, in the aggregate, to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (it being understood that (i) such Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement need not contain any “standstill” or similar provisions or otherwise prohibit the making or amendment of any Alternative Proposal and (ii) such confidentiality agreement shall not prohibit compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement).  For the avoidance of doubt, a joinder to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement pursuant to which a third party agrees to be bound by the confidentiality and use provisions of an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement shall be deemed to be an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided that, other than in the case of the definition of “Parent Related Party” and for purposes of Section 3.12, Section 4.4, Section 4.6, Section 4.9, Section 4.10, Section 4.12, Section 5.4, Section 5.6, Section 5.8, Article VII and Section 8.8), in no event shall Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries be considered an Affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (“Apollo”) or any portfolio company or investment fund affiliated with or managed by affiliates of Apollo, nor shall Apollo or any portfolio company or investment fund affiliated with or managed by affiliates of Apollo, be considered to be an Affiliate of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries.  As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by Contract or otherwise.

“Bribery Legislation” means all and any of the following: the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; the Organization For Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related implementing legislation; the UK Bribery Act 2010; the U.S. PATRIOT Act; and any applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws and regulations of any jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has operated or operates.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA) and any employment, individual consulting, retention, profit-sharing, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, restricted stock unit or other equity or equity‑based, incentive, commission, deferred compensation, severance, redundancy, termination, retirement, supplemental retirement, pension, change in control, health, welfare, vacation, fringe benefit or other compensation or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former directors, officers or employees (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have any obligation or liability, other than any Multiemployer Plan or any plan or program maintained by a Governmental Entity to which the Company or any of its Affiliates contributes or is required to contribute pursuant to applicable Law.

“Company Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2023, among the Company, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Switzerland GmbH, a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) organized under the laws of Switzerland, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Acquisition GmbH, a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) incorporated under the laws of Germany, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, as collateral agent and as swingline lender, and each issuing bank and lender party thereto from time to time (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 6, 2024, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of March 19, 2024, and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

“Company Equity Awards” means the Company Options, Company RSU Awards, Company PSU Awards and Company DSU Awards.

“Company Equity Plans” means the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan, as amended March 15, 2010, the 2014 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan, the 2023 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Inc. Inducement Stock Option Award Summary of Grant and Inducement Stock Option Award Agreement dated July 14, 2022, in each case as amended.

“Company Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Registered Intellectual Property” means each (i) Patent, (ii) registered Mark and (iii) registered Copyright, and including any applications or recordations, for any of the foregoing, that as of the date hereof are owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Termination Fee” means $85,000,000.

“Compliant” means, with respect to the Required Financial Information, that (a) such Required Financial Information does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries or omit to state any material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries necessary in order to make such Required Financial Information not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made available, (b) such Required Financial Information complies in all material respects with all requirements of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X under the Securities Act for a registered public offering of non-convertible debt securities on Form S-1 that would be applicable to such Required Financial Information (other than such provisions for which compliance is not customary in a Rule 144A offering of high yield debt securities) and (c) the financial statements and other financial information included in such Required Financial Information would not be deemed stale or otherwise be unusable under customary practices for offerings and private placements of high yield debt securities under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act and are sufficient to permit the Company’s independent accountants to issue a customary “comfort” letter to the Debt Financing Entities to the extent required as part of the Debt Financing, including as to customary negative assurances and change period, in order to consummate any offering of debt securities on any day during the Marketing Period (and such accountants have confirmed they are prepared to issue a comfort letter subject to their completion of customary procedures; it being understood that such issuance of the comfort letter shall not occur until the “pricing” of such debt securities).

“Contract” means any written contract, subcontract, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, sublicense, lease, agreement, arrangement, commitment or other instrument or obligation that is legally binding.

“Cybersecurity Measures” means (a) any measures enacted or regulations promulgated by a Governmental Entity relating to cybercrime, cyberterrorism, ransomware, malware, privacy or the protection of Personal Data that are applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries and (b) any measures, changes in business operations or other practices adopted in good faith by the Company and its Subsidiaries in response to a Security Incident to increase the protection of its IT Assets or any stored Personal Data.

“Debt Financing Entities” means the entities that have committed to provide or otherwise entered into agreements in connection with the Debt Financing, or to purchase securities from or place securities or arrange or provide loans for Parent or Merger Sub in lieu of the Debt Financing under the Debt Commitment Letter, in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter and any joinder agreements, indentures or credit agreements (including any definitive agreements) relating thereto and their respective successors and assigns.

“Debt Financing Parties” means the Debt Financing Entities and their respective Affiliates and their and their respective Affiliates’ former, current or future officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, advisors, general or limited partners, shareholders and representatives and their respective successors and assigns.

“Environmental Law” means any Law (i) relating to pollution or the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, climate, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource) or any exposure to or Release of, or the management of (including the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production or disposal of) any Hazardous Materials or (ii) that regulates, imposes liability (including for enforcement, investigatory costs, cleanup, removal or response costs, natural resource damages, contribution, injunctive relief, personal injury or property damage) or establishes standards of care with respect to any of the foregoing.

“Environmental Permit” means any permit, certificate, registration, notice, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any applicable Environmental Law.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, trade or business, any other entity, trade or business that is, or was at the relevant time, a member of a group described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes or included the first entity, trade or business, or that is, or was at the relevant time, a member of the same “controlled group” as the first entity, trade or business pursuant to Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

“Excluded Information” means (a) any description of post-Closing capital structure, including descriptions of indebtedness or equity or ownership of Parent or any of its affiliates (including the Company and its Subsidiaries on or after the Closing Date), (b) any description of the Debt Financing (including any such descriptions to be included in liquidity and capital resources disclosures and any “description of notes”) or any information customarily provided by a lead arranger, underwriter or initial purchaser in a customary information memorandum or offering memorandum for a secured bank financing or high yield debt securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as applicable, including sections customarily drafted by a lead arranger or an initial purchaser or underwriter, such as those regarding confidentiality, timelines, syndication process, limitations of liability and plan of distribution, (c) any information regarding any post-Closing or pro forma cost savings or synergies, (d) risk factors relating to all or any component of the Debt Financing, (e) financial statements or information required by Rule 3-09, 3-10 or 3-16, 13.01 or 13.02 of Regulation S-X, any compensation discussion and analysis or other information required by Item 402 and Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, XBRL exhibits or any information regarding executive compensation or related persons related to SEC Release Nos. 33-8732A, 34-54302A and IC-27444A, (f) separate subsidiary financial statements, (g) projections and (h) other information customarily excluded from an offering memorandum for private placements of non-convertible high-yield debt securities under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Government Contract” means any Contract (including any purchase, delivery or task order, basic ordering agreement, pricing agreement, letter contract, grant, cooperative agreement, other transactional authority agreement, or change order) between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any Governmental Entity or any prime contractor or subcontractor (at any tier) of any Governmental Entity, in its capacity as such, on the other hand.

“Governmental Entity” means any transnational, U.S. or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, court, department, body, entity, official or authority, including any subdivision thereof.

“Hazardous Materials” means all substances defined or regulated as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous, or a pollutant or a contaminant, in each case, under any Environmental Law, including any regulated pollutant or contaminant (including any constituent, raw material, product or by-product thereof), petroleum or natural gas hydrocarbons or any liquid or fraction thereof, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- or polyfluoroalkyl substance, any hazardous or solid waste, and any toxic, radioactive, infectious or hazardous substance, material or agent.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, as of the date of determination:  (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations under finance leases recorded on the books and records of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (iv) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby have been assumed, (v) all letters of credit or performance bonds issued for the account of such Person, in each case, to the extent drawn upon and payable thereunder, (vi) all guarantees of such Person of any Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (v) above of any other Person other than a wholly owned subsidiary of such Person; and (vii) interest, premium, fees, expenses, penalties (including prepayment and early termination penalties) that would arise at Closing as a result of the discharge of such amount owed and directly attributable to the consummation of the Closing; provided that Indebtedness shall not include any intercompany indebtedness owing between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Information Privacy and Security Laws” means all applicable Laws and binding standards to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are bound concerning privacy, data security, or the receipt, collection, use, storage, processing, sharing, security, privacy, disclosure or transfer of any Personal Data, including where applicable and to the extent applicable to Personal Data, state data privacy and breach notification laws, state social security number protection Laws, any applicable Laws concerning requirements for website and mobile application privacy policies, notices and/or practices, data or web scraping, electronic monitoring or recording or any outbound communications (including outbound calling and text messaging), telemarketing, outbound calls, faxes, text messaging and e-mail marketing, the General Regulation of the European Union 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons, the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Gramm ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, the CAN-SPAM Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the California Consumer Privacy Act, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

“Intellectual Property” means any and all statutory and/or common law rights anywhere in the world arising out of, or associated with, the following:  all (i) United States and foreign patents and patent applications, statutory invention registrations, registered designs or similar rights anywhere in the world in inventions and designs, and all rights therein provided by international treaties and conventions (“Patents”), (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos and other similar designations of origin and registrations and applications for registration thereof (“Marks”), (iii) World Wide Web addresses, domain names, uniform resource locators, social media handles and other names, identifiers and locators associated with Internet addresses, sites and services, (iv) copyrights, registrations and applications for registration thereof, and any equivalent rights in works of authorship (including rights in software as a work of authorship) and any other related rights of authors (“Copyrights”), (v) trade secrets, industrial secret rights, rights in know-how, inventions, data, databases, confidentiality or proprietary business or technical information, and other rights in confidential information that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being known to other Persons (“Trade Secrets”), (vi) computer software programs, including all source code, object code, systems, specifications, network tools, data, databases, firmware, designs and documentation related thereto and (vii) similar, corresponding or equivalent intellectual property rights anywhere in the world.

“IT Assets” means computers (including databases stored therein), hardware, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, circuits, networks, data communications lines and all other information technology equipment (including communications equipment and terminals) owned by, or leased to, the Company or its Subsidiaries.

“ITAR” means the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130, administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

“knowledge” means (i) with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge, after due inquiry of their respective direct reports, of the individuals listed on Section 8.18(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, and (ii) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge, after due inquiry of their respective direct reports, of the individuals listed on Section 8.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

“Liability” means any and all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether fixed, contingent or absolute, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, determined or determinable, secured or unsecured, disputed or undisputed, subordinated or unsubordinated, or otherwise.

“Lien” means any lien, claim, mortgage, pledge, conditional or installment sale agreement, encumbrance, covenant, condition, restriction, charge, option, put, call, right of first refusal, right of first offer, easement, security interest, deed of trust, right-of-way, encroachment, occupancy right, community property interest or other restriction of any nature.

“Marketing Period” means the first period of seventeen (17) consecutive days after the date of this Agreement (a) throughout and at the end of which Parent shall have the Required Financial Information and the Required Financial Information shall be Compliant and (b) throughout and at the end of which the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.3 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) have been satisfied or waived and nothing has occurred and no condition exists that would cause any of such conditions to fail to be satisfied assuming the Closing were to be scheduled for any time during such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period; provided that (a) November 27, 2024, November 28, 2024, November 29, 2024, January 20, 2025, February 17, 2025, May 26, 2025, June 19, 2025, July 3, 2025, and July 4, 2025, shall not constitute days for purposes of calculating such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period (provided, however, that such exclusion shall not restart such period) and (b) if the seventeen (17)-consecutive day period shall not have ended on or prior to December 20, 2024, then such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period shall be deemed not to have commenced until January 2, 2025; provided, further, that (x) the Marketing Period shall end on any earlier date prior to the expiration of the seventeen (17)-consecutive day period described above if the Debt Financing is closed on such earlier date and (y) the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to have commenced if, after the date of this Agreement and prior to the completion of such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period:  (A) the Company has publicly announced its intention to, or determines that it must, restate any historical financial statements or other financial information included in the Required Financial Information or any such restatement is under active consideration, in which case, the Marketing Period shall not commence or be deemed to commence unless and until such restatement has been completed and the applicable Required Financial Information has been amended and updated or the Company has publicly announced or informed Parent that it has concluded that no restatement shall be required in accordance with GAAP, (B) the Company’s independent auditor shall have withdrawn its audit opinion with respect to any audited financial statements contained in the Required Financial Information, in which case the Marketing Period shall not commence or be deemed to commence unless and until a new audit opinion is issued with respect to such audited financial statements (or portion thereof) for the applicable periods by the independent auditor of the Company or another independent public accounting firm of national standing reasonably acceptable to Parent (it being understood that any “big four” accounting firm will be deemed acceptable), or (C) any Required Financial Information would not be Compliant at any time during such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period or otherwise ceases to meet the requirement of “Required Financial Information”, in which case the Marketing Period shall not commence or be deemed to commence unless and until such Required Financial Information is updated or supplemented so that it is Compliant and meets the requirement of “Required Financial Information” (it being understood that if any Required Financial Information provided at the commencement of the Marketing Period ceases to be Compliant during such seventeen (17)-consecutive day period, then the Marketing Period shall be deemed not to have commenced).  If at any time the Company shall in good faith believe that it has provided the Required Financial Information and that such Required Financial Information is Compliant, it may deliver to Parent a written notice to that effect (stating when it believes it completed such delivery), in which case, the requirement in the immediately preceding sentence to deliver the Required Financial Information that is Compliant will be deemed to have been satisfied as of the date of delivery of such notice, unless Parent in good faith reasonably believes the Company has not completed the delivery of the Required Financial Information that is Compliant on such date and, within three (3) Business Days after the date of delivery of such notice, delivers a written notice to the Company to that effect (stating with specificity which Required Financial Information the Company has not delivered or how such Required Financial Information is not Compliant) and, following delivery of such Required Financial Information that is Compliant specified in such notice, the Marketing Period will commence so long as all other conditions and requirements for the Marketing Period to commence are satisfied; provided that such written notice from Parent to the Company will not prejudice the Company’s right to assert that the Required Financial Information was, in fact, delivered and is Compliant.

“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Company, any change, effect, event, occurrence or development that, individually or in the aggregate, (x) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby by the End Date or (y) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding, however, solely in the case of clause (y), the impact of (i) any changes or developments in domestic, regional, foreign or global markets or domestic, regional, foreign or global economic conditions generally, including (A) any changes or developments in or affecting domestic or any foreign securities, equity, credit, financial or commodities markets or (B) any changes or developments in or affecting domestic or any foreign interest or exchange rates, (ii) changes after the date of this Agreement in GAAP or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, (iii) changes after the date of this Agreement in Law or the interpretation or enforcement thereof by Governmental Entities, (iv) any geopolitical conditions, military conflict or actions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), acts of foreign or domestic terrorism, cyberterrorism, cyber attack, rebellion or insurrection, acts of espionage, trade wars, sabotage or cybercrime or escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing by or sponsored by a Governmental Entity, or escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing, or any action taken by any Governmental Entity in response to any of the foregoing, including sanctions or similar restrictions imposed in connection with the dispute between the Russian Federation and Ukraine or the disputes between or among Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and other Persons in the Middle East, (v) changes or developments in the business or regulatory conditions affecting the industries in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operate, (vi) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, or the announcement or the existence of, or compliance with or performance under (except with respect to the Company’s obligations (subject to the limitations therein) under Section 5.1(a)(A) to use reasonable best efforts to conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects), the express terms of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with employees, labor unions, financing sources, customers, suppliers, partners or other business relationships); provided that this clause (vi) shall not apply to any representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.3(c) or the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) to the extent related thereto, (vii) the identity of Parent or Merger Sub as the acquiror of the Company or any communication by Parent or its Affiliates regarding plans or intentions with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (viii) hurricanes, tornados, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, nuclear incidents, foreign or domestic social protest or social unrest (whether or not violent), pandemics, epidemics or other outbreaks of diseases, quarantine restrictions, severe weather conditions, power outages or electrical blackouts, wild fires or other natural or man-made disasters or any acts of God (or escalation or worsening of any such events or occurrences or any action, Law, pronouncement or guideline taken or promulgated by any Governmental Entity or the World Health Organization in response to any of the foregoing), (ix) any decline in the trading price or trading volume of the Company Common Shares or any change in the ratings or ratings outlook for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (provided that the underlying causes thereof may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if not otherwise excluded hereunder), (x) the failure to meet any projections, guidance, budgets, forecasts or estimates for any period (provided that the underlying causes thereof may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if not otherwise excluded hereunder), (xi) any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except with respect to the Company’s obligations (subject to the limitations therein) under Section 5.1(a)(A) to use reasonable best efforts to conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects) at the express written request or with the express written consent of Parent or as required or expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (xii) any Transaction Litigation (provided that the underlying facts or occurrences giving rise to such Transaction Litigation may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if not otherwise excluded hereunder), and (xiii) any labor strike, slow down, lockage or stoppage, pending or threatened, affecting the business or any group of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (viii) and (xiii) to the extent such change, effect, event, change, occurrence or development referred to therein are not otherwise excluded from the definition hereof and have a materially disproportionate adverse impact on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other persons engaged in the same industry, then the incremental disproportionate adverse effect (and only the incremental disproportionate adverse effect) of such change, effect, event, change, occurrence or development shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a Material Adverse Effect exists or has occurred.

“Offering Documents” means prospectuses, private placement memoranda, offering memoranda, syndication memoranda, ratings agency presentations, information memoranda and lender and investor presentations, in each case, to the extent the same are customary and required, in connection with the Debt Financing.

“Order” means any charge, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, determination, directive, award or settlement, whether civil, criminal or administrative.

“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any fact, change, circumstance, event, occurrence, condition or development that prevents, impairs or materially delays the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to timely consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (including the Merger).

“Parent Termination Fee” means a cash amount equal to $168,504,000.

“Permitted Lien” means (i) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for which adequate reserves have been established by the Company in accordance with GAAP, (ii) vendors’, mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workers’, landlords’, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s, construction and other similar Liens (A) with respect to Liabilities that are not yet due and payable or, if due, are not delinquent, (B) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves (based on good faith estimates of management) have been set aside in accordance with GAAP for the payment thereof or (C) arising or incurred in the ordinary and usual course of business and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and do not materially adversely affect the market value or continued use of the asset encumbered thereby, (iii) Liens imposed or promulgated by applicable Law or any Governmental Entity with respect to real property, including zoning, building or similar restrictions but only to the extent that the Company and its Subsidiaries and their assets are materially in compliance with the same, (iv) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, (v) Liens relating to intercompany borrowings among any Person and its wholly owned subsidiaries, (vi) any Lien that is disclosed on the most recent condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company or notes thereto or securing liabilities reflected on such balance sheet, (vii) with respect to Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property, utility easements, minor encroachments, rights of way, imperfections in title, charges, easements, rights of way (whether recorded or unrecorded), restrictions, declarations, covenants, conditions, defects and similar Liens, but not including any monetary Liens, that are imposed by any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction thereon or otherwise are typical for the applicable property type and locality and do not individually or in the aggregate materially interfere with the present occupancy or use or market value of the respective Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property or otherwise materially impair the business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property to which they relate, (viii)  licenses, covenants not to sue and similar rights granted with respect to Intellectual Property other than in furtherance of a security interest or similar contingent payment obligation, (ix) Liens to be released at or prior to Closing, (x) any purchase money security interests, equipment leases or similar financing arrangements, and (xi) Liens that secure indebtedness (A) in existence on the date of this Agreement and set forth on Section 8.18(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or (B) arising subsequent to the date hereof and not prohibited by Section 5.1(b)(vii).

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) or organization, including a Governmental Entity and the media, and any of their permitted successors and assigns.

“Personal Data” means any and all information that can reasonably be used to identify an individual natural person, household or personal device (or that relates to an identified natural person, household or personal device).  Personal Data also includes any information defined as “personal data,” “personally identifiable information,” “individually identifiable health information,” “protected health information,” “personal information” or any similar term under any applicable Laws.

“Proceeding” means any action, suit, claim, hearing, arbitration, litigation or other proceeding, in each case, by or before any Governmental Entity.

“Related Party” means a Company Related Party or a Parent Related Party, as applicable.

“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, emitting, emptying, leaching, escaping, dumping, injection, deposit, discharge or disposing of any Hazardous Material into, onto or through the environment.

“Representatives” means, with respect to a Person, such Person’s officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, financial advisors and agents and other representatives.

“Required Financial Information” means (i) all financial statements, financial data, audit reports and other information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries of the type and form that would be required by Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC and Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC for a registered public offering of non-convertible high-yield debt securities on a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act in order for Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the offering of high-yield debt securities contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter (including all audited financial statements and all unaudited quarterly interim financial statements, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis for the periods covered thereby, including applicable comparison period, which, in the case of unaudited quarterly interim financial statements (other than the fourth quarter), will have been reviewed by the Company’s independent public accountants as provided in Statement on Auditing Standards 100); and (ii) (A) such other pertinent and customary information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Parent (or the Debt Financing Entities) to the extent that such information is required in connection with the Debt Financing or of the type and form customarily included in (I) marketing documents used to syndicate credit facilities of the type contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or (II) an offering memorandum for private placements of non-convertible high-yield bonds pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act or (B) is necessary to receive from the Company’s independent public accountants (and any other accountant to the extent that financial statements audited or reviewed by such accountants are or would be included in such offering memorandum) customary “comfort” (including negative assurance and customary change period comfort), together with drafts of customary comfort letters that such independent public accountants are prepared to deliver upon the “pricing” of any non-convertible high-yield bonds being issued in connection with the Debt Financing, with respect to the financial information to be included in such offering memorandum.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, nothing in this Agreement will require the Company to provide (or be deemed to require the Company to prepare) and the Required Financial Information shall not include, any Excluded Information.  The parties hereto agree that the filing by the Company with the SEC of an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that includes any annual audited financial statements or quarterly interim financial statements of the Company included in the Required Financial Information will be deemed to satisfy any requirement to deliver such financial statements to the Parent so long as such financial statements otherwise comply with the requirements set forth in “Required Financial Information” with respect thereto.

“Sanctioned Country” means any of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic.

“Sanctioned Person” means any Person with whom dealings are restricted or prohibited under Sanctions Laws, including (a) any Person listed on any Sanctions Laws-related list of designated persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, or the United Kingdom; (b) any Person located, organized or resident in, or a Governmental Entity or government instrumentality of, any Sanctioned Country; (c) the Government of Venezuela or any government instrumentality of Venezuela; and (d) any Person, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more owned or controlled by, or acting for the benefit or on behalf of, a Person described in clause (a) - (c).

“Sanctions Laws” means all economic, financial, or trade sanctions imposed, administered, or enforced by (a) the United States government (including by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), and (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, or the United Kingdom.

“Sanctions Measures” means reasonable measures, changes in business operations or other practices, affirmative or negative, adopted by the Company and its Subsidiaries in response to any Sanctions Laws or similar restrictions imposed on the Russian Federation, or certain persons associated with the Russian Federation, in each case as a result of or in connection with the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Subsidiaries” of any party means any corporation, partnership, association, trust or other form of legal entity of which (a) more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned by such party or (or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests) are, as of such date, owned by such party or one or more Subsidiaries of such party or by such party and one or more Subsidiaries of such party or (b) such party or one or more of its Subsidiaries has the right to designate a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Person.

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed by any Taxing Authority, including all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, and property (real or personal) taxes, including any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect thereto.

“Tax Return” means any return, report, election or similar filing required to be filed with any Taxing Authority with respect to Taxes, including any information return, claim for refund, amended return, or declaration of estimated Taxes.

“Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Entity responsible for the administration, collection or imposition of any Tax.

“Trade Controls” means (a) all applicable trade, export control, import, and antiboycott laws and regulations imposed, administered, or enforced by the U.S. government, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 1778), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1706), Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the U.S. customs laws at Title 19 of the U.S. Code, the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. §§ 4801-4861), the ITAR, the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774), the U.S. customs regulations at 19 C.F.R. Chapter 1, and the Foreign Trade Regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 30), and (b) the applicable trade, export control, import, and antiboycott laws and regulations imposed, administered, or enforced by the United Kingdom, the EU, and any EU member state, except to the extent inconsistent with U.S. law.

“Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letter, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Guarantee and any other document contemplated hereby or thereby or any document or instrument delivered in connection hereunder or thereunder.

“U.S. Company Benefit Plan” means, each Company Benefit Plan that is not a Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan.

“Willful Breach” means a material breach that is a consequence of an act undertaken by the breaching party or the failure by the breaching party to take an act it is required to take under this Agreement, with knowledge that the taking of or failure to take such act would, or would reasonably be expected to, result in, constitute or cause a breach of this Agreement.

(b)          The following terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as indicated below:

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

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