Other Employee Benefit Plans During the Employment Period, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all compensation, incentive, employee benefit, welfare and other plans, practices, policies and programs and fringe benefits on a basis no less favorable than that provided to any other executive officer of the Company.
Employee Benefit Plans (a) Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all material Benefit Plans sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their ERISA Affiliates, or under which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates may have any liability (contingent or otherwise) (the “Company Benefit Plans”). Copies of the Company Benefit Plans and any amendments thereto have been made available to Parent together with any applicable trust documents, the most recent summary plan description (and summaries of material modifications, if applicable), non-discrimination testing results, actuarial valuations, annual report (Form 5500 including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto) and tax return (Form 990) prepared in connection with any such plan or related trust. Except as set forth in Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person or entity has any express or implied commitment, whether legally enforceable or not, to adopt, terminate or materially modify any Company Benefit Plan, other than with respect to a modification or termination required by ERISA or the Code. For purposes of this Agreement, “ERISA Affiliate” of any entity means any other person, entity, trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with such entity, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
(b) Except for such non-compliance which would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to operate their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices, (i) each Company Benefit Plan has been maintained and administered in compliance with its terms and with applicable Law, including ERISA and the Code to the extent applicable thereto, and (ii) all contributions required to be made under the terms of any Company Benefit Plan have been timely made or, if not yet due, have been properly reflected in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Except as set forth in Section 3.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, any Company Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) or 401(k) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or equivalent opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and the Company has made available to Parent a copy of the most recent such letter for each such Company Benefit Plan.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries maintains, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or has in the past six years maintained, contributed to or been required to contribute to any plan or arrangement which provides retiree medical or welfare benefits, except pursuant to the continuation coverage requirements of Section 601 et. Seq. of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.9(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates maintains, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or has in the past six years maintained, contributed to or been required to contribute to any Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code. None of the Company Benefit Plans is a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code) or a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), and neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any other their ERISA Affiliates has during the past six years maintained or contributed to, or been required to contribute to, or otherwise had any obligation or liability in connection with, such a multiple employer plan or multiemployer plan.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 3.9(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee, consultant, officer or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee, consultant, officer or other service provider or (iii) trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or benefits, or (iv) increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation, benefit (including loan forgiveness), requirement or restriction pursuant to any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, Section 3.9(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of employment or consulting agreements with the Company containing “change in control” or similar provisions that will be triggered by the consummation of the Merger or the entry into this Agreement by the Company.
(f) Except as occasioned by differences between the Original Merger Agreement and this Agreement, and except as set forth on Section 3.9(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no amount or benefit that could be, or has been, received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property or the cancellation of indebtedness) by any current or former employee or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company who is a “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code could be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code) as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each Company Benefit Plan and any award thereunder (i) has been operated in good faith compliance in all material respects with Section 409A of the Code since January 1, 2005, and all applicable regulations and notices issued thereunder, and (ii) since January 1, 2009, has been in all material respects in documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Each Company Stock Award was granted with an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the underlying Company Common Stock on the date of grant. Except as set forth on Section 3.9(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no director, officer, employee or service provider of the Company or its affiliates is entitled to a gross-up, make-whole or indemnification payment with respect to taxes imposed under Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code.
(h) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to operate their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices, there are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened claims by or on behalf of any Company Benefit Plan, by any employee or beneficiary covered under any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise involving any Company Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits).
(i) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Company Benefit Plan provides benefits or compensation to any employees or other service providers who reside or provide services primarily outside of the United States.
Employee Benefits Matters (a) Parent hereby agrees that, for a period of one (1) year immediately following the Effective Time, it shall, or it shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to provide each Employee as of the Effective Time (each, a “Continuing Service Provider”) to the extent such Continuing Service Provider remains employed by Parent or its Subsidiaries with (i) a base salary or wage rate that is not less than the base salary or wage rate provided by the Company Group to such Continuing Service Provider as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) target annual cash incentive compensation opportunities for such Continuing Service Provider that are no less favorable than those in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) all other employee benefits (excluding any equity or equity-based compensation, severance, defined benefit pension benefits, non-qualified deferred compensation benefits, retiree health and welfare benefits or change in control, transaction or retention bonuses or payments) that are substantially comparable, in the aggregate to either (A) those in effect for such Continuing Service Providers immediately prior to the Effective Time or (B) those provided by Parent or its Subsidiaries to similarly situated employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of this Section 6.05(a), and subject to Section 6.05(f) from and after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or it shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, to honor all obligations under the Plans other than those terminated pursuant to Section 6.05(e), in each case in accordance with and subject to their terms as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, including with respect to any payments, benefits or rights arising as a result of the Transactions (either alone or in combination with any other event).
(b) Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to cause Continuing Service Providers to receive full service credit for purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting (but not for benefit accrual purposes, except for paid time off and severance) under any employee benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement, in each case, established or maintained by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries under which each Continuing Service Provider may be eligible to participate on or after the Effective Time (a “Parent Plan”) to the same extent recognized by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries under comparable Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that such crediting of service shall not be credited for the purposes of any retiree health or welfare plan, defined benefit pension plan or long-term equity incentive program (including in respect of any “retirement” provisions thereunder) and shall not operate to duplicate any benefit or the funding of any such benefit. In addition, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) waive, or cause to be waived, any limitations on benefits relating to any pre-existing conditions under a Parent Plan to the extent such conditions are covered immediately prior to the Effective Time a comparable Plan and to the same extent such limitations are waived under such Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) recognize, for purposes of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits under its medical and dental plans, the deductible and out-of-pocket expenses paid by Continuing Service Provider in the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs to the same extent recognized under any comparable Plan prior to the Effective Time.
(c) With respect to each Continuing Service Provider whose employment is terminated without cause during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending one (1) year after the Closing Date, Parent shall, or it shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, to provide such Continuing Service Provider with severance benefits equal in value to the severance benefits determined in accordance with (and subject to the terms and conditions of) the policy set forth on Section 6.05(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, in each case, taking into account the Continuing Service Provider’s service with the Company Group prior to the Closing and with Parent or its Subsidiaries on or after the Closing.
(d) To the extent the Closing Date occurs in the 2024 calendar year, Parent shall, or it shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, continue any Plan that is an annual bonus plan for the 2024 calendar year and will administer it in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and taking into account determinations made prior to the Closing with respect to such annual bonus program or target amounts thereunder, in all cases pursuant to and subject to the terms of Section 6.05(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(e) If requested by Parent as of at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date (but conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing), the Company shall take all necessary actions to terminate or cause to be terminated any or all of the Plans sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Company Subsidiaries. The Company shall, or shall cause its applicable Affiliate to, provide Parent with evidence that any requested terminated Plan has been terminated, with the termination of the applicable Plans effective no later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date, pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of the Company or its applicable Affiliate (the form and substance of which shall be subject to review and approval by Parent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) no later than the day immediately preceding the Effective Time.
(f) Without limiting the generality of Section 9.09, nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to be treated as an amendment to any Plan or any employee benefit plan or arrangement of Parent or any of its Affiliates, or to create any third-party beneficiary rights in any Employee or Non-Employee Service Provider, any beneficiary or dependent thereof, or any collective bargaining representative thereof. Nothing contained herein, express or implied, shall (i) alter or limit the ability of Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates to amend, modify or terminate any Plan or any other benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement at any time assumed, established, sponsored or maintained by any of them or (ii) create any rights to continued employment or service with Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates or in any way limit the ability of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates to terminate the employment or service of any Employee or Non-Employee Service Provider at any time and for any reason.
Participation in Employee Benefit Plans The Executive shall be permitted during the Term, if and to the extent eligible, to participate in any group life, hospitalization or disability insurance plan, health program, or any pension plan or similar benefit plan of the Company, which is available generally to other senior executives of the Company.
Employee Benefit Matters (a) A Person who is an active Company Employee immediately prior to the Closing and who remains an active Company Employee immediately following the Closing shall be a “Continuing Employee.” From and after the Closing Date until the twelve (12)-month anniversary thereof (or such later period as may be required by applicable law), Acquiror shall, and shall cause the Company to, provide each Continuing Employee with (i) an annual base salary, cash-based bonus opportunity, and cash sales commission opportunity that are no less favorable in the aggregate than such compensation items that each Continuing Employee was eligible to receive from the Company as of immediately prior to the Closing (other than any retention, sale bonus, change in control or other similar special or non-recurring compensation) and (ii) employee benefits (other than any severance benefits, retiree or post-termination health or welfare benefits, defined benefit pension benefits, incentive equity, equity-based, retention, sale bonus, change in control or other similar special or non-recurring compensation) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate than the employee benefits that such Continuing Employee was entitled or eligible to receive immediately prior to the Closing. With respect to any Accrued Bonus that remains unpaid as of the Closing, Acquiror shall, or shall cause the Company to, make payment of such Accrued Bonus within thirty (30) days following the Closing.
(b) Effective as of, and following, the Closing, Acquiror shall, and shall cause the Company to, cause each Continuing Employee’s length of service with the Company prior to the Closing Date (including any length of service with the Seller Guarantors) to be taken into account for all purposes (including eligibility, vesting and benefit accrual) under each employee benefit plan, program, policy and arrangement of Acquiror (each, an “Acquiror Plan”), except that such prior service credit will not be required (i) to the extent that such credit results in a duplication of benefits, (ii) with respect to the vesting of awards under Acquiror’s equity compensation plans, if any or (iii) for benefit accrual purposes under any defined benefit pension plan.
(c) Effective as of, and following, the Closing, to the extent permitted or required by applicable Law, Acquiror shall, and shall cause the Company to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Acquiror Plan in which any Continuing Employee participates that is a health or welfare benefit plan (collectively, “Acquiror Welfare Plans”) to (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, requirements for insurability, exclusions and service conditions with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to Continuing Employees (and their eligible dependents), (ii) honor any payments, charges and expenses of such Continuing Employees (and their eligible dependents) that were applied toward the deductible and out-of-pocket maximums under the corresponding Company Benefit Arrangement in satisfying any applicable deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums or co-payments under a corresponding Acquiror Welfare Plan during the same plan year in which such payments, charges and expenses were made, and (iii) with respect to any medical plan, waive any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement that would otherwise be applicable to a Continuing Employee following the Closing.
(d) If requested by Xxxxxxxx in a writing delivered to the Company following the date hereof and at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall take all necessary action (including the adoption of resolutions and plan amendments and the delivery of any required notices) to vest all account balances and terminate, effective as of no later than the day before the Closing Date, any Company 401(k) Plan. In the event Acquiror makes a written request as set forth in the prior sentence, the Company shall provide Acquiror with a copy of any resolutions, plan amendments, notices or other documents prepared to effectuate the termination of the Company 401(k) Plan in advance and give Acquiror a reasonable opportunity to comment on such documents (which comments shall be considered in good faith), and prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide Acquiror with the final documentation evidencing that any Company 401(k) Plans have been terminated.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.3 to the contrary, nothing contained herein, whether express or implied, shall be treated as an establishment, amendment or other modification of any Company Benefit Arrangement or any Acquiror Welfare Plan, or shall limit the right of Acquiror or any of its Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Company Benefit Arrangement or other employee benefit plan following the Closing Date. The Seller Guarantors and Acquiror acknowledge and agree that all provisions contained in this Section 7.3 are included for their sole benefit, and that nothing in this Section 7.3, whether express or implied, shall create any third party beneficiary or other rights: (i) in any other Person, including any Continuing Employee, any participant in any Company Benefit Arrangement or any Acquiror Welfare Plan, or any dependent or beneficiary thereof, or (ii) to continued employment with Acquiror or any of its Affiliates or to any particular term or condition of employment.
Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters; ERISA (a) Section 2.16(a) of the GFI Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of each material employment, bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock purchase, stock option, retention, change of control, severance or termination pay, hospitalization or other medical, life or other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit-sharing, pension or retirement plan, program, trust, agreement or arrangement, and each other material employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement (collectively, the “GFI Benefit Plans”) currently maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by (i) GFI, (ii) any GFI Subsidiary or (iii) any ERISA Affiliate, in any case for the benefit of any current or former employee, worker, consultant, director or member of GFI or any GFI Subsidiary.
(b) With respect to each of the GFI Benefit Plans, GFI has delivered or made available to Parent complete copies of each of the following documents: (i) the GFI Benefit Plan governing documentation (including all amendments thereto); (ii) the annual report and actuarial report, if required under ERISA or the Code or any Law, for the most recent plan year; (iii) the most recent Summary Plan Description, together with each Summary of Material Modifications, if required under ERISA, and other booklets or information issued to participants and beneficiaries; (iv) if the GFI Benefit Plan is funded through a trust or any third party funding vehicle, the trust or other funding agreement (including all amendments thereto) and the most recent financial statements thereof; and (v) the most recent determination letter received from the IRS with respect to each GFI Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
(c) In the past six years, neither GFI nor any ERISA Affiliate has maintained or contributed to or was required to contribute to any plan or arrangement that is or was (i) subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of Title IV of ERISA, (ii) a multiple employer welfare arrangement within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA or (iii) a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
(d) Each GFI Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS as to its qualification and, to the Knowledge of GFI, no event has occurred that could reasonably be expected to result in disqualification of such GFI Benefit Plan.
(e) Each of the GFI Benefit Plans has been operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code.
(f) Neither GFI nor any GFI Subsidiary has made any loans to employees in violation of Section 402 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. Each transfer of funds by GFI or any GFI Subsidiary to any of their respective employees that was deemed a loan was when made (and at all times since has been) properly treated by GFI and the GFI Subsidiaries as such for federal income tax purposes.
(g) Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions will (either alone or together with any other event) (i) cause any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise) to become due to any current or former employee or director of GFI or a GFI Subsidiary, (ii) cause an increase in the amount of compensation or benefits or the acceleration of the vesting or timing of payment of any compensation or benefits payable to or in respect of any current or former employee or director of GFI or a GFI Subsidiary, (iii) cause any individual to accrue or receive additional benefits, services or accelerated rights to payment of benefits under any GFI Benefit Plan, (iv) provide for payments that could subject any person to liability for tax under Section 4999 of the Code or (v) result in payments under any of the GFI Benefit Plans which would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
(h) There are no pending or, to the Knowledge of GFI, threatened material claims in respect of or relating to any of the GFI Benefit Plans, by any employee or beneficiary covered under any GFI Benefit Plan or otherwise involving any GFI Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits).
(i) Neither GFI, any GFI Subsidiary, any GFI Benefit Plan, any trust created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator thereof has engaged in a transaction in connection that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a civil liability under either Section 409 of ERISA or Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code.
(j) No GFI Benefit Plan provides benefits, including death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees or directors of GFI or any GFI Subsidiary beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated solely by applicable Law, (ii) death benefits or retirement benefits under any “employee pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), (iii) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of GFI or a GFI Subsidiary or (iv) benefits the full costs of which are borne by the current or former employee or director or his or her beneficiary.
(k) Each stock option issued since January 1, 2005 with respect to GFI Common Stock was granted with a per-share exercise or base price, as the case may be, not less than the fair market value of a share of GFI Common Stock on the date of grant.
(l) With respect to each GFI Benefit Plan established or maintained outside of the U.S. primarily for the benefit of employees of GFI or any GFI Subsidiary residing outside of the U.S. (a “Foreign GFI Benefit Plan”): (i) all material employer and employee contributions to each Foreign GFI Benefit Plan required by Law or by the terms of such Foreign GFI Benefit Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices; (ii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign GFI Benefit Plan and the liability of each insurer for any Foreign GFI Benefit Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve established for any Foreign GFI Benefit Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is not materially less than the accrued benefit obligations with respect to all current and former participants in such plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine employer contributions to such Foreign GFI Benefit Plan and none of the Transactions shall cause such assets or insurance obligations to be materially less than such benefit obligations; and (iii) each Foreign GFI Benefit Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities (including tax authorities). Section 2.16(l) of the GFI Disclosure Letter separately identifies each Foreign GFI Benefit Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan.
Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA (i) Such party's Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of each material employee or director benefit plan, arrangement or agreement (including, without limitation, stock purchase, stock option, severance, employment, change in control, fringe benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA) that is maintained, or contributed to, as of the date of this Agreement (the "Benefit Plans") by such party or any of its Subsidiaries or by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated (an "ERISA Affiliate"), all of which together with such party would be deemed a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 4001 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").
(ii) Such party has made available to the other party true and complete copies of each of such party's Benefit Plans and certain related documents, including, but not limited to, (A) the actuarial report for such party's Benefit Plans (if applicable) for each of the last two years, and (B) the most recent determination letter from the IRS (as defined herein) (if applicable) for such plan.
(iii) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (A) each of such party's Benefit Plans has been operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with their terms and with applicable laws, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, (B) each of such party's Benefit Plans intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter with respect to such qualified status, or such Benefit Plans shall be submitted for such determination in a timely fashion and there are no existing circumstances or events that have occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such plan, (C) with respect to each Benefit Plan of such party which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the present value of accrued benefits under such Plan, based upon the actuarial assumptions used for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial report prepared by such Plan's actuary with respect to such Plan, did not, as of its latest valuation date, exceed the then current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such secured benefits, (D) no Benefit Plan of such party provides benefits, including, without limitation, death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees or directors of such party or its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than (1) coverage mandated by applicable law, (2) death benefits or retirement benefits under any "employee pension plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), (3) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of such party or its Subsidiaries or (4) benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or former employee or director (or his beneficiary), (E) no material liability under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred by such party, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists that could reasonably be expected to present a material risk to such party, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of such party incurring a material liability thereunder (other than the payment of premiums and funding obligations in the ordinary course of business), (F) no Benefit Plan is a "multiemployer pension plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (G) all contributions or other amounts payable by such party or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with respect to each Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP and Section 412 of the Code, (H) neither such party nor its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to such party's Benefit Plans in connection with which such party or its Subsidiaries reasonably could be subject to either a material civil penalty accessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a material tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code, and (I) to the best knowledge of such party, there are no pending, threatened or anticipated claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the Benefit Plans of such party or any trusts related thereto.
(iv) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (A) result in any material payment (including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, "excess parachute payment" (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), forgiveness of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of such party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Benefit Plan of such party or otherwise, (B) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Benefit Plan of such party or (C) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits to any material extent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will constitute or be deemed a "Change of Control" within the meaning of the Firstar Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key Executives and the Firstar Corporation Pension Plan.
Certain Employee Matters (a) Purchaser has delivered to Seller a list (the "Prospective Employee List") containing the names of all persons who are actively employed by Seller in connection with the Acquired Business to whom Purchaser intends to offer employment (each a "Prospective Employee" and, collectively, the "Prospective Employees"). Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Purchaser in obtaining the employment of the Prospective Employees.
(b) Effective on such date as mutually agreed between Purchaser and Seller , each Prospective Employee who accepts an offer of employment by Purchaser and thereafter commences such employment shall become an employee of Purchaser.
(c) Seller shall, from January 1, 1998 to the Closing Date, accrue bonuses and commissions of Seller's employees consistent with past practices.
(d) Seller shall be solely responsible for and shall pay and fund in full to all of its employees and contractors all compensation, incentive payments, bonuses, retirement annuities, deferred compensation, profit sharing benefits, stock incentives and any accrued sick pay, vacation pay and severance pay accrued through to and including the Closing Date for which Seller is obligated under any Contract or Employee Benefit Plan, or under any personnel or employee manual or policy or under any law or regulation, and Seller shall satisfy all other obligations to such employees accrued through to and including the Closing Date, including without limitation all required withholding tax liabilities and tax deposits. Except as expressly provided herein, no such responsibility or obligation shall constitute an Assumed Purchaser Liability in any way whatsoever. Seller agrees not to accelerate or change the terms of any employee loan as a result of the change of employer for so long as such employees are employed by Purchaser. Seller shall be solely responsible for satisfying any obligations resulting from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under Section 4980B(f) of the Code with respect to continuation of group medical coverage with respect to its respective employees.
(e) Except as may otherwise be provided in the Transitional Agreement, Purchaser is not assuming, nor shall it have any responsibility whatsoever for the continuation of, or any liabilities under or in connection with, any Employee Benefit Plan or any employment contract, collective bargaining agreement, severance or retirement arrangement. Purchaser is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a successor employer to Seller with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan; and no plan adopted or maintained by Purchaser after the Closing is or shall be deemed to be a "successor plan," as such term is defined in Section 4021(a) of ERISA, of any Employee Benefit Plan. No assets held under any Employee Benefit Plan shall be transferred to Purchaser or to any plan adopted or maintained by Purchaser. Except as specifically set forth herein, Purchaser shall not be obligated to assume or continue any term or condition of employment currently or previously promised or maintained by Seller with regard to its current, former or retired employees or contractors, and shall not be responsible for any debt, payment, obligation, claim, liability or agreement which relates to or arises from Seller's employment (or termination of employment) of, or contract (or termination of contract) with its current, former or retired employees, regardless of whether such employees are offered employment by Purchaser.
(f) Neither Purchaser nor Seller intend this Agreement to create any rights or interests, except as between Purchaser and Seller, and no present, former or future employee or contractor of Purchaser or Seller shall be treated as a third party beneficiary in or under this Agreement
Employee Benefit Plans and Compensation (a) For purposes of this Section 2.22, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
ERISA and Employee Benefits Matters (A) To the knowledge of the Company, no “prohibited transaction” as defined under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and not exempt under ERISA Section 408 and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan. At no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, sponsored, participated in, contributed to or has or had any liability or obligation in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code or any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or any multiple employer plan for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or could incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA. No Employee Benefit Plan provides or promises, or at any time provided or promised, retiree health, life insurance, or other retiree welfare benefits except as may be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or similar state law. Each Employee Benefit Plan is and has been operated in material compliance with its terms and all applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists that would subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty or liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable law. Each Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a) is so qualified and has a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS upon which it can rely, and any such determination or opinion letter remains in effect and has not been revoked; to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since the date of any such determination or opinion letter that is reasonably likely to adversely affect such qualification; (B) with respect to each Foreign Benefit Plan, such Foreign Benefit Plan (1) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets, in all material respects, the requirements for such treatment, and (2) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law, and with respect to all other Foreign Benefit Plans, adequate reserves therefor have been established on the accounting statements of the applicable Company or subsidiary; (C) the Company does not have any obligations under any collective bargaining agreement with any union and no organization efforts are underway with respect to Company employees. As used in this Agreement, “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; “Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, without limitation, all stock purchase, stock option, stock-based severance, employment, change-in-control, medical, disability, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, under which (x) any current or former employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or its subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which are contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries or (y) the Company or any of its subsidiaries has had or has any present or future obligation or liability; “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; “ERISA Affiliate” means any member of the company’s controlled group as defined in Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o); and “Foreign Benefit Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained or contributed to outside of the United States of America or which covers any employee working or residing outside of the United States.