Section 4.12 Mutual Release.
(a) Effective as of the Closing, Acquiror, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries and its and their respective successors and assigns (each, an “Acquiror Releasing Party”), hereby unconditionally and irrevocably forever releases and discharges each Sponsor and each of its Affiliates, and any past, present or future directors, managers, officers, employees, Representatives, agents, lenders, investors, partners, principals, members, managers, direct or indirect shareholders or equityholders of any of the foregoing Persons, and the respective successors and assigns of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Acquiror Released Party”), of and from, and hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives, releases and discharges any and all proceedings, covenants, claims, liabilities, suits, judgments, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind or character whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, in Contract, direct or indirect, primary or secondary, at Law or in equity, that such Acquiror Releasing Party ever had, now has or ever may have or claim to have against any Acquiror Released Party, for or by reason of any matter, circumstance, event, action, inaction, omission, cause or thing arising at or prior to the Closing, or otherwise related to the pre-Closing period; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 4.11(a) shall be construed as a waiver of any rights under (i) this Sponsor Agreement, (ii) any other Transaction Agreement to which any Acquiror Releasing Party is party or (iii) with respect to any Acquiror Released Party who is a natural person, any indemnification, employment or other similar arrangements (including any such arrangement providing for exculpation or advancement of expenses). Acquiror, on behalf of itself and the other Acquiror Releasing Parties, expressly waives all rights afforded by any statute which limits the effect of a release with respect to unknown claims, and understands the significance of this release of unknown claims and waiver of statutory protection against a release, on behalf of itself and the other Acquiror Releasing Parties, of unknown claims, and acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is an essential and material term of this Sponsor Agreement. Acquiror, on behalf of itself and each other Acquiror Releasing Party, acknowledges that each Sponsor will be relying on the waiver and release provided in this Section 4.11(a) in connection with entering into this Sponsor Agreement and that this Section 4.11(a) is intended for the benefit of the Acquiror Released Parties and to grant third party beneficiary rights to each Acquiror Released Party to enforce this Section 4.11(a).
(b) Effective as of the Closing, each Sponsor, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries and its and their respective successors and assigns (each, a “Sponsor Releasing Party”), hereby unconditionally and irrevocably forever releases and discharges Acquiror and each of its Affiliates, and any past, present or future directors, managers, officers, employees, Representatives, agents, lenders, investors, partners, principals, members, managers, direct or indirect shareholders or equityholders of any of the foregoing Persons, and the respective successors and assigns of the foregoing Persons (each, a “Sponsor Released Party”), of and from, and hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives, releases and discharges any and all proceedings, covenants, claims, liabilities, suits, judgments, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind or character whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, in Contract, direct or indirect, primary or secondary, at Law or in equity, that such Sponsor Releasing Party ever had, now has or ever may have or claim to have against any Sponsor
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