Code Section 409A Compliance (a) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable guidance thereunder (“Code Section 409A”) or comply with an exemption from the application of Code Section 409A and, accordingly, all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Code Section 409A.
Code Section 409A This Agreement shall be interpreted to avoid any penalty sanctions under Section 409A of the Code and the final regulations and any guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”). If any payment or benefit cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without incurring sanctions under Section 409A, then such benefit or payment shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such sanctions will not be imposed. All payments to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may be made only upon a “separation of service” under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment, Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, and the deferral of the commencement of any severance payments or benefits otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated income recognition or additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1), then the Company will not commence any payment of any such severance payments or benefits otherwise required hereunder (but without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Executive) that (a) will not and may not under any circumstances, regardless of when such termination occurs, be paid in full by March 15 of the year following Executive’s termination (or two and one half (2 1⁄2) months after the close of the Company’s fiscal year, if later), and (b) are in excess of the lesser of (i) two (2) times Executive’s then annual compensation or (ii) two (2) times the limit on compensation set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated and will not be paid by the end of the second calendar year following the year in which the termination occurs, until the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six (6) months following Executive’s “separation of service” with the Company (as defined under Code Section 409A). If any payments are delayed due to such requirements, such amounts will be paid in a lump sum to Executive on the earliest of (x) Executive’s death following the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or (y) the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six (6) months following Executive’s “separation of service” with the Company. For these purposes, each severance payment or benefit is designated as a separate payment or benefit and will not collectively be treated as a single payment or benefit. This provision is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. The Company and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, to the extent that any amendment to this Agreement with respect to the payment of any severance payments or benefits would constitute under Section 409A a delay or acceleration in a payment or a change in the form of payment, then such amendment must be done in a manner that complies with Section 409A(a)(4)(C).