Conditions to the Merger
The Merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including: (i) the approval of the Merger Agreement by holders of more than 50% of the Shares and the Preference Shares, voting together as if they were a single class (the “Requisite Company Vote”); (ii) the expiration or termination of all applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and, if applicable, any contractual waiting periods under any timing agreements with a governmental entity applicable to the consummation of the Merger, and the receipt of certain other approvals, clearances or expirations of waiting periods under other applicable antitrust laws, including by the European Commission and China; (iii) the receipt of clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States; (iv) the absence of an injunction or law restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger; (v) the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) having declared effective registration statements with respect to the BIPC Shares issuable to shareholders of the Company, and the units such stock consideration is exchangeable into, and no stop order or similar restraining order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement being in effect; (vi) the authorization for listing on the NYSE and conditional approval for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the BIPC Shares issuable to shareholders of the Company; (vii) subject to customary materiality qualifiers, the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement; (viii) the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement); (ix) the absence of any Parent Burdensome Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement); and (x) performance in all material respects by the other party of its covenants under the Merger Agreement.
Representations and Warranties; Covenants; No-Shop
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including, among others, covenants by the Company to conduct its business in the ordinary course between execution of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, to convene a meeting of the Company’s shareholders to consider and vote upon the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement, the Statutory Merger Agreement and the Merger, and certain other covenants regarding the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time.
Additionally, the Company is bound by a covenant not to initiate, solicit, propose, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any competing acquisition proposals. However, at any time before receiving the Requisite Company Vote, if the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that an acquisition proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a “Superior Proposal” (as defined in the Merger Agreement), then the Company is permitted to engage in discussions or negotiations with the third party with respect to such third party’s acquisition proposal.
Before receiving the Requisite Company Vote, if there has been no breach (other than an immaterial breach) of the Company’s obligations under the no-shop provisions in the Merger Agreement and an unsolicited, bona fide written acquisition proposal is received by the Company, the Board may cause the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement for a Superior Proposal or change its recommendation that the Company’s shareholders vote in favor of the Merger, if the Board determines that failure to do so would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law, subject to certain matching rights in favor of Parent. The Board may also withdraw or change its recommendation that the Company’s shareholders vote in favor of the Merger in response to an “Intervening Event” (as defined in the Merger Agreement), subject to the foregoing procedural requirements.
Termination and Termination Fees
The Merger Agreement contains customary termination rights for either party, including: (i) by mutual written consent, (ii) if the Merger has not have been consummated by 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on April 11, 2024 (the “Outside Date”); (iii) failure to obtain the Requisite Company Vote; or (iv) as a result of any law that prohibits consummation of the Merger.
In addition, the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement (i) if there has been a breach by Public Parent, Parent or Merger Sub that would cause the closing conditions not to be satisfied, subject to a cure period, (ii) at any time prior to the Requisite Company Vote being obtained, in order for the Company to enter into an alternative
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