Excess Parachute Excise Tax.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (including any acceleration) by the Company or any entity which effectuates a transaction described in Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Code to or for the benefit of
the Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined
before application of without regard to any
reductions additional payments required
pursuant t...o under this Section 10) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred with respect to such excise tax by the Executive (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company will automatically reduce such Payments to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary so that no portion of the remaining Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, unless the amount of such Payments that the Executive would retain after payment of the Excise Tax and all applicable Federal, state and local income taxes without such reduction would exceed the amount of such Payments that the Executive would retain after payment of all applicable Federal, state and local taxes after applying such reduction. Unless otherwise elected by the Executive, Executive to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, such reduction the Company shall reduce or eliminate the Payments by first reducing 8 or eliminating any cash severance benefits (with the payments to be applied to made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any severance payments payable to the Executive under this Agreement, then to the accelerated vesting on any Equity Awards, starting with stock options and stock appreciation rights reversing accelerated vesting of those options and stock appreciation rights with the smallest spread between fair market value and exercise price first and after reversing the accelerated vesting of all stock options and stock appreciation rights, thereafter reversing or similar awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares, performance units or similar awards, then by reducing or eliminating any other similar Equity Awards on a pro rata basis. remaining Payments; provided, that no such reduction or elimination shall apply to any non-qualified deferred compensation amounts (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) to the extent such reduction or elimination would accelerate or defer the timing of such payment in manner that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code. (b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by the Company's independent auditors or such other certified public accounting firm of national standing reasonably acceptable to the Executive as may be designated by the Company (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by either the Company or the Executive. Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to such effect. effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on Executive's applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.
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Excess Parachute Excise Tax.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (including any acceleration) by the Company or any entity which effectuates a transaction described in Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Code to or for the benefit of
the Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined
before application of without regard to any
reductions additional payments required
pursuant t...o under this Section 10) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred with respect to such excise tax by the Executive (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company will automatically reduce such Payments to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary so that no portion of the remaining Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, unless the amount of such Payments that the Executive would retain after payment of the Excise Tax and all applicable Federal, state and local income taxes without such reduction would exceed the amount of such Payments that the Executive would retain after payment of all applicable Federal, state and local taxes after applying such reduction. Unless otherwise elected by the Executive, Executive to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, such reduction the Company shall reduce or eliminate the Payments by first reducing or eliminating any cash severance benefits (with the payments to be applied to made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any severance payments payable to the Executive under this Agreement, then to the accelerated vesting on any Equity Awards, starting with stock options and stock appreciation rights reversing accelerated vesting of those options and stock appreciation rights with the smallest spread between fair market value and exercise price first and after reversing the accelerated vesting of all stock options and stock appreciation rights, thereafter reversing or similar awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares, performance units or similar awards, then by reducing or eliminating any other similar Equity Awards on a pro rata basis. remaining Payments; provided, that no such reduction or elimination shall apply to any non-qualified deferred compensation amounts (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) to the extent such reduction or elimination would accelerate or defer the timing of such payment in manner that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code. (b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by the Company's independent auditors or such other certified public accounting firm of national standing reasonably acceptable to the Executive as may be designated by the Company (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by either the Company or the Executive. Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to such effect. effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on Executive's applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. 8 11. Legal Fees. All reasonable legal fees and related expenses (including costs of experts, evidence and counsel) paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any claim, dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed by the Executive. Company if Executive is successful on the merits pursuant to a legal judgment or arbitration. Except as provided in this Section 11, each party shall be responsible for its own legal fees and expenses in connection with any claim or dispute relating to this Agreement.
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