{'index': 5, 'text': "     SECTION 3.8  Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since July 31, 2004, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and, since such date, there has not been: (i) any change, event, condition, development or occurrence which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution in cash, stock, property or otherwise in respect of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' capital stock, except for (x) regular quarterly cash dividends on Company Common Stock and (y) any dividend or distribution by a subsidiary of the Company to the Company or a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; (iii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) prior to the date of this Agreement, (x) any granting by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any of their directors, officers, employees, independent contractors or consultants of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits, except for increases in the ordinary course of business with respect to employees who are not directors or officers or increases required under any Company Plan, (y) any granting to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or its subsidiaries of the right to receive any severance or termination pay not provided for under any Company Plan, or (z) any entry by the Company or any of its subsidiaries into any employment, consulting, change of control or severance agreement or arrangement with any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or its subsidiaries, or any material amendment of any Company Plan; (v) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material change by the Company in its accounting principles, except as may be appropriate to conform to changes in statutory or regulatory accounting rules or generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory requirements with respect thereto; (vi) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material Tax election made or revoked by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any settlement or compromise of any material Tax liability by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (vii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material change in tax accounting principles by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except insofar as may have been required by applicable law."}
Instruction: Read the segment of a merger agreement and answer the multiple-choice question by choosing the option that best characterizes the agreement.
Question: Do changes in law that have disproportionate impact qualify for Material Adverse Effect (MAE)?
Option A: No
Option B: Yes

Merger Agreement: “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, circumstance, event, condition, development, occurrence or effect (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate, when taken together with all other Effects, (x) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, business, financial condition or continuing results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (y) does or would reasonably be expected to prevent the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger (other than as a result of any material breach of this Agreement by Parent or Sub and provided that, any Order or Law relating to Antitrust Laws or Investment Screening Laws, as may be applicable, prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall not, in and of itself, constitute a “Company Material Adverse Effect” per this clause (y)); provided, however, that none of the following, and no Effect arising out of or resulting from the following, shall constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a “Company Material Adverse Effect” under the foregoing clause (x) (subject to the limitations set forth below): (a) the entry into or the announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the Transactions, the performance by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, in each case,   including (i) by reason of the identity of Parent, Sub or any of their respective affiliates, (ii) by reason of any public communication by Parent or any of its affiliates regarding the plans or intentions of Parent with respect to the conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries following the Effective Time and (iii) the impact of any of the foregoing on, including the disruption, loss or deterioration of, any of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s relationships (contractual or otherwise) with its respective customers, suppliers, vendors, business partners or employees; provided, however, that this clause (a) shall not apply with respect to the representations and warranties (in whole or in relevant part) made by the Company in this Agreement, the purpose of which is to address the consequences resulting from, relating to or arising out of the entry into or the announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the Transactions; (b) any change in or Effect affecting the economy or the financial, credit or securities markets in the United States or elsewhere in the world (including interest rates and exchange rates or any changes therein), or any change in or Effect affecting any business or industries in which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries operates; (c) the suspension of trading in securities generally on NYSE; (d) any change in applicable Law, including any COVID-19 Measures, or GAAP or other applicable accounting standards or the authoritative interpretation of any of the foregoing, in each case, occurring following the date hereof; (e) any action taken by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries that is expressly required by this Agreement or with Parent’s express prior written consent, or the failure of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries to take any action that is expressly prohibited by this Agreement; (f) the commencement, occurrence, continuation or escalation of any armed hostilities or acts of war (whether or not declared) or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of acts of terrorism, armed hostilities or war; (g) any Proceeding made or brought by any current or former stockholders of the Company (or on their behalf or on behalf of the Company, but in any event only in their capacities as current or former stockholders of the Company) alleging breach of fiduciary duty or inadequate disclosure arising out of this Agreement or any of the Transactions; (h) the existence, occurrence, continuation or escalation of any acts of God, force majeure events, any earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms, fires or other natural disasters or weather-related events or any national, international or regional calamity or any civil unrest or any disease outbreak, pandemic or epidemic, including COVID-19 (and the Effect of any COVID-19 Measures related thereto); (i) any labor strike, slowdown, lockout or stoppage of Company Employees pending or threatened, in each case resulting primarily from the entry into or announcement of this Agreement; or (j) any changes in the market price or trading volume of the Shares, any changes in recommendations or ratings with respect to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any failure of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to meet any internal or external projections, budgets, guidance, forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial results or metrics for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement (it being understood that the exceptions in this clause (j) shall not prevent or otherwise affect the Effect underlying any such change or failure referred to therein (to the extent not otherwise falling within any of the exceptions provided by clauses (a) through (i)) from being taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred); provided that this clause (j) shall not be construed as implying that the Company is making any representation or warranty with respect to any internal or external projections, budgets, guidance, forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial results or metrics for any period; provided, further, that, with respect to clauses (b), (c), (d), (f) and (h), such Effects may be taken into account to the extent they materially and disproportionately adversely affect the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies operating in the same industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate. (Pages 41-42)
Answer: B

Merger Agreement: {{text}}
Answer:
Instruction: Read the segment of a merger agreement and answer the multiple-choice question by choosing the option that best characterizes the agreement.
Question: Do changes in law that have disproportionate impact qualify for Material Adverse Effect (MAE)?
Option A: No
Option B: Yes
Merger Agreement:      SECTION 3.8  Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since July 31, 2004, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and, since such date, there has not been: (i) any change, event, condition, development or occurrence which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution in cash, stock, property or otherwise in respect of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' capital stock, except for (x) regular quarterly cash dividends on Company Common Stock and (y) any dividend or distribution by a subsidiary of the Company to the Company or a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; (iii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) prior to the date of this Agreement, (x) any granting by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any of their directors, officers, employees, independent contractors or consultants of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits, except for increases in the ordinary course of business with respect to employees who are not directors or officers or increases required under any Company Plan, (y) any granting to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or its subsidiaries of the right to receive any severance or termination pay not provided for under any Company Plan, or (z) any entry by the Company or any of its subsidiaries into any employment, consulting, change of control or severance agreement or arrangement with any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or its subsidiaries, or any material amendment of any Company Plan; (v) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material change by the Company in its accounting principles, except as may be appropriate to conform to changes in statutory or regulatory accounting rules or generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory requirements with respect thereto; (vi) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material Tax election made or revoked by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any settlement or compromise of any material Tax liability by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (vii) prior to the date of this Agreement, any material change in tax accounting principles by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except insofar as may have been required by applicable law.
Answer: