CHANGE IN CONTROL; EXCISE TAX Sample Clauses
The "Change in Control; Excise Tax" clause addresses the tax implications for employees or executives who receive certain payments or benefits if the company undergoes a change in control, such as a merger or acquisition. Specifically, it outlines how any excise taxes imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code—typically triggered by "golden parachute" payments—will be handled, often specifying whether the company will provide a tax gross-up or limit payments to avoid excess taxation. This clause ensures that both the company and the affected individuals understand their financial responsibilities and protections in the event of a change in control, thereby reducing uncertainty and potential disputes over tax liabilities.
CHANGE IN CONTROL; EXCISE TAX. (a) CHANGE IN CONTROL. A “Change in Control” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the events set forth in any one of the following subparagraphs shall occur:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (iii) of this definition;
(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board;
(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally ...
CHANGE IN CONTROL; EXCISE TAX. If the Company’s legal counsel, tax advisors or accountants, as selected by the Company prior to the Change in Control, determine that any payment, benefit or transfer by the Company under this Agreement or any other plan, agreement, or arrangement to or for the benefit of the Employee (in the aggregate, the “Total Payments”) to be subject to the tax (“Excise Tax”) imposed by Code Section 4999 but for this Section 5, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Total Payments shall be delivered either (a) in full or (b) in an amount such that the value of the aggregate Total Payments that the Employee is entitled to receive shall be One Dollar ($1.00) less than the maximum amount that the Employee may receive without being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of (a) or (b) results in the receipt by the Participant of the greatest benefit on an after‑tax basis (taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax). In the event that (b) results in a greater after‑tax benefit to the Employee, payments or benefits included in the Total Payments shall be reduced or eliminated by applying the following principles, in order: (i) the payment or benefit with the higher ratio of the parachute payment value to present economic value (determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions) shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with a lower ratio; (ii) the payment or benefit with the later possible payment date shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with an earlier payment date; and (iii) cash payments shall be reduced prior to non‑cash benefits; provided that if the foregoing order of reduction or elimination would violate Section 409A of the Code, then the reduction shall be made pro rata among the payments or benefits included in the Total Payments (on the basis of the relative present value of the parachute payments). The Employee shall be entitled to receive a copy of the Company’s legal counsel, tax advisor’s or accountant’s calculations performed for purposes of this Section 5 upon request.
CHANGE IN CONTROL; EXCISE TAX. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any portion of any payment or benefit under this Agreement, or under any other agreement with the Executive or plan of the Company or any affiliate (in the aggregate, “Total Payments”) would constitute an “excess parachute payment” and would, but for this Section 11(a), result in the imposition on the Executive of an excise tax under Code Section 4999 (“Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments to be made to the Executive shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered in such amount so that no portion of such Total Payments would be subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing results in the receipt by the Executive of the greatest benefit on an after-tax basis (taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax).
(b) Within forty (40) days following a separation of service that entitles or may entitle the Executive to the Severance Package or notice by one party to the other of its belief that there is a payment or benefit due the Executive that will result in an excess parachute payment, the Executive and the Company, at the Company’s expense, shall obtain the opinion (which need not be unqualified) of nationally recognized tax counsel (“National Tax Counsel”) selected by the Company’s independent auditors and reasonably acceptable to the Executive (which may be regular outside counsel to the Company), which opinion sets forth (i) the amount of the Base Period Income (as defined below), (ii) the amount and present value of the Total Payments, (iii) the amount and present value of any excess parachute payments determined without regard to any reduction of Total Payments pursuant to Section 11(a) and (iv) the net after-tax proceeds to the Executive, taking into account the tax imposed under Code Section 4999 if (x) the Total Payments were reduced in accordance with Section 11(a) or (y) the Total Payments were not so reduced. The opinion of National Tax Counsel shall be addressed to the Company and the Executive and shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. If such National Tax Counsel opinion determines that Section 11(a)(ii) applies, then the payments and benefits hereunder or any other payments or benefits determined by such counsel to be includable in Total Payments shall be reduced or eliminated so that under the bases of calculations set forth in such opinion there will be no excess parachute payment. In such event, payments or be...
CHANGE IN CONTROL; EXCISE TAX