“Laws” means all applicable laws, statutes, constitutions, rules, regulations, ordinances, rulings of any Governmental Authority and all applicable Governmental Orders.
“Leased Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(b).
“Liability” means any liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due).
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge, security interest, option, Easement, encroachment, conditional sales agreement, deed of trust, deed to secure Indebtedness, any restriction on use or transferability, right of first refusal or offer, or other claim or encumbrance of any nature affecting title or use, whether voluntarily incurred or imposed or arising by operation of Law, and includes any agreement to grant, provide or incur any of the foregoing in the future.
“Losses” means all actual Liabilities, losses, damages, fines, penalties, judgments, settlements, awards, costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, court or arbitration fees, and other costs and expenses of investigation or defense).
“Material Adverse Effect” means: (a) with respect to the Acquired Entities, any change, event, occurrence or development that has, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the assets, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Acquired Entities, taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall constitute, or be deemed to contribute to, a Material Adverse Effect, or shall otherwise be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: (i) changes generally affecting the industries in which the Acquired Entities operate, whether international, national, regional, state, provincial or local, (ii) changes in international, national, regional, state, provincial or local wholesale or retail markets for natural gas or other commodities or other related products and operations, including those due to actions or inactions by competitors or Governmental Authorities, (iii) changes in the operations or availability of upstream or downstream pipelines, gathering systems, distribution systems or end-use facilities, other than any such changes resulting from any breach by any Acquired Entity of a Material Contract, (iv) changes in general regulatory or political conditions, including any acts of war or terrorist activities, (v) changes in international, national, regional, state provincial or local natural gas, natural gas liquids, oil, electric generation, transmission or distribution systems generally, (vi) changes in the markets (including local or regional sub-markets or zones) for, or costs of, oil or natural gas or other commodities or related products, or access to such markets, (vii) effects of weather, meteorological conditions or events or other natural disasters or the operating performance of the Acquired Entities associated with such weather or meteorological conditions, events or other natural disasters, (viii) changes in Law or regulatory policy, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, (ix) changes or adverse conditions in the financial, banking or securities markets, in each case, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index, (x) any local, regional, national or global health conditions (including any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19)), including any material worsening of such conditions or any Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations issued by a Governmental Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health
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