Compensation and Benefits Upon Termination (a) The Company’s obligation to compensate Executive ceases on the Termination Date except as to: (i) any unpaid Base Salary earned by Executive as of that time; (ii) any unpaid amount actually earned and due to Executive pursuant to the MIP; (iii) any business expenses for which Executive is entitled to reimbursement under this Agreement; and (iv) any compensation and/or benefits to which Executive may be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 6.
(b) If the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay Executive the payments referenced above in Subsections 6(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) (collectively, the “Accrued Payments”). In addition, subject to Executive’s compliance with Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of this Agreement and subject to the requirements of Section 6(e) below: (i) the Company will pay Executive an amount equal to his/her Base Salary as of the Termination Date for a period of twelve (12) months following the Termination Date, payable through the Company’s regular payroll procedures (the “Severance Pay”) commencing on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date (with the first payment including a catch-up payment for any Base Salary that would have otherwise been paid as Severance Pay during such sixty (60) day period); and (ii) if Executive timely elects continued health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall, on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date, reimburse Executive for the entire amount of any premiums paid by Executive prior to such date necessary to continue such COBRA coverage for Executive and Executive’s covered spouse and eligible dependents and thereafter the Company shall pay the entire premium necessary to continue such coverage, in each case, until the earlier of (A) the expiration of the eighteen (18) month period following the Termination Date, or (B) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage under another employer’s plan, notice of which Executive shall promptly provide the Company.
(c) If the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause or if the Executive terminates his/her employment without Good Reason, or if Executive’s employment ends due to his/her death, then the Company’s sole obligation shall be to pay Executive (or his/her estate) only the Accrued Payments.
(d) If the Company terminates Executive’s employment due to Disability or upon Executive’s death, the Company shall pay Executive or his/her estate, in addition to any short term or long term disability benefits that he/she may have received and/or be entitled to receive, the Accrued Payments. In addition, Executive shall be eligible to receive payment of the Target Bonus as set forth in Section 3(b) above, subject to the terms of the MIP and to the extent actually earned for the fiscal year in which such termination takes place, prorated based on the number of days in such fiscal year that Executive was employed prior to the Termination Date, to be paid in accordance with the timing set forth in Section 3(b) (or if later, the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date).
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company’s obligation to make any payments or to provide any benefits under Sections 6(b) or Section 6(d) above is subject to and conditioned upon Executive’s execution of an enforceable release and waiver of claims agreement in a form satisfactory to the Company (the “Release Agreement”) and his/her compliance with the covenants in Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of this Agreement. If Executive chooses not to timely execute such Release Agreement, revokes the Release Agreement, or fails to comply with the covenants in Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of this Agreement, then the Company’s obligation to compensate him/her ceases on the effective Termination Date except as to the Accrued Payments. The Release Agreement shall be provided to Executive within seven (7) days of the Termination Date and Executive must execute it within the twenty-one (21) or forty-five (45) day time period specified in the Release Agreement. The Release Agreement and any payments due following its execution by Executive shall not be effective until any applicable revocation period has expired.
(f) Executive is not entitled to receive any compensation or benefits upon his/her termination except as: (i) set forth in this Agreement, (ii) otherwise required by applicable law, or (iii) otherwise specifically required by any employee benefit plan of the Company in which he/she participates. Moreover, the terms and conditions provided to Executive under this Agreement are in lieu of any severance benefits to which he/she otherwise might be entitled pursuant to any severance plan, policy and practice of the Company and or any of its affiliates. Nothing in this Agreement however, is intended to waive or supplant any accrued death, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, retirement 401 (k) or pension benefits of the Company to which he/she may be entitled under employee benefit plans of the Company in which he/she participates.
(g) If, within the twelve (12) month period following a Change in Control, as defined below, Executive is terminated without Cause or he/she resigns for Good Reason, but in either case subject to the provisions of Section 6(e) above, Executive shall, in addition to the payments and benefits set forth in Section 6(b), be entitled to a lump sum payment, payable on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date, equal to the greater of: (A) fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s then Base Salary, or (B) his/her Target Bonus under the MIP. A “Change in Control,” as defined herein solely for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean: (i) any merger, consolidation, or reorganization involving the Company, in which, immediately after giving effect to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of outstanding stock of the surviving or resulting entity is then “beneficially owned” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1943, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) in the aggregate by the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger consolidation or reorganization; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any other person or entity (other than to one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company) in a transaction or a series of related transactions; (iii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; (iv) when any person or entity not currently a stockholder, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s voting stock (based upon voting power); or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board.
Compensation and Benefits (a) For all services rendered by Employee the Company shall pay Employee during the term of this Agreement an annual salary (“Base Salary”) as set forth herein, payable semi-monthly in arrears. Employee’s initial Base Salary shall be $350,000.00. During the term of this Agreement, the amount of Employee’s Base Salary shall be subject to periodic reviews and adjustments as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.
(b) The Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus in respect of each calendar year, beginning with the 2015 calendar year, to the extent earned based on the achievement of personal and financial performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors no later than 45 days after the commencement of the relevant bonus period. The target annual bonus that the Employee may earn is equal to 30 percent (30%) of the Employee’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the end of the relevant calendar year, pro-rated to properly reflect any partial year of employment. If applicable performance goals are not attained at least at the minimum level, no annual performance bonus is payable. The amount of such annual bonus awarded for a calendar year shall be determined by the Board or a committee thereof after the end of the calendar year to which such bonus relates, and shall be paid to the Employee when annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company generally, but in no event later than April 30 of the calendar year following the year for which the bonus is earned. To be eligible for any such annual bonus under this Section 3(b), the Employee must be actively employed by the Company at the time the Company pays bonuses for the relevant year.
(c) The Company shall pay to the Employee a lump sum sign-on bonus in the amount of $70,000, less all applicable withholdings, no later than 15 days after the Employee’s employment commencement date.
(d) The Company shall provide Employee, during the term of this Agreement, with the benefits of such insurance plans, hospitalization plans and other employee fringe benefit plans as shall be generally provided to employees of the Company and for which Employee may be eligible under the terms and conditions thereof. Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to adopt or maintain any such employee benefit plans.
(e) During the term of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 5(b), Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and annual vacation consistent with the Company’s customary paid time off policies.
(f) During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in connection with the business of the Company and in the performance of his duties under this Agreement to the extent consistent with applicable Company policy in effect from time to time and upon presentation to the Company of an itemized accounting of such expenses with reasonable supporting data.
(g) In consideration of the Employee’s entering into this Agreement and as an inducement to join the Company, the Employee shall be granted under the Company’s option incentive plan as in effect from time to time (the “Option Plan”), a stock option to purchase 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Option”), subject to approval of the Board of Directors. The exercise price per share of the Option shall be the fair market value of the Company’s common stock (as determined by the Board of Directors) on the Option grant date. Subject to terms of the Option Plan and the Option award agreement, twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of Employee’s employment start date which is anticipated to be February 4, 2015, and 1/48th of the shares subject to the Option shall vest monthly thereafter so that one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the Option are vested on the fourth anniversary of the employment start date, so long as the Employee remains employed at each such vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting schedule, upon the effective date of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 5(g)), fifty percent (50%) of the shares subject to the Option which are not then vested will automatically become vested so long as the Employee remains employed on the effective date of such Change in Control. In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between this Agreement and the Option Plan or the Option award agreement, the Option Plan and the Option award agreement shall govern.
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The Executive shall receive the following additional compensation and welfare and fringe benefits:
PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION (a) If within eighteen (18) months after a Change in Control, the Company terminates Employee's employment other than by reason of Employee's death, Disability, Retirement or for Cause, or if Employee terminates Employee's employment for Good Reason, then the Employee shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(i) The Company shall pay to Employee as compensation for services rendered, no later than five (5) business days following the date of termination, a lump sum severance payment equal to 2.50 multiplied by the sum of (A) Employee's Base Salary, (B) the highest annual bonus that was paid to Employee in any of the three fiscal years ending prior to the date of termination under the Company's Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP") or Varian Associates, Inc.'s Management Incentive Plan, and (C) the highest cash bonus for a performance period of more than one fiscal year that was paid to Employee in any of the three fiscal years ending prior to the date of termination under the MIP.
(ii) The Company shall pay to Employee as compensation for services rendered, no later than five (5) business days following the date of termination, a lump sum payment equal to a pro rata portion (based on the number of days elapsed during the fiscal year and/or other bonus performance period in which the termination occurs) of Employee's target bonus under the MIP for the fiscal year and for any other partially completed bonus performance period in which the termination occurs.
(iii) All waiting periods for the exercise of any stock options granted to Employee and all conditions or restrictions of any restricted stock granted to Employee shall terminate, and all such options shall be exercisable in full according to their terms, and the restricted stock shall be transferred to Employee as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.
(iv) Employee's participation as of the date of termination in the life, medical/dental/vision and disability insurance plans and financial/tax counseling plan of the Company shall be continued on the same terms (including any cost sharing) as if Employee were an employee of the Company (or equivalent benefits provided) until the earlier of Employee's commencement of substantially equivalent full-time employment with a new employer or twenty-four (24) months after the date of termination; provided, however, that after the date of termination, Employee shall no longer be entitled to receive Company-paid executive physicals or, upon expiration of the applicable memberships, Company- paid airline memberships. In the event Employee shall die before the expiration of the period during which the Company is required to continue Employee's participation in such insurance plans, the participation of Employee's surviving spouse and family in the Company's insurance plans shall continue throughout such period.
(v) Employee may elect upon termination to purchase any automobile then in the possession of Employee and subject to a lease of which the Company is the lessor by payment to the Company of the residual value set forth in the lease, without any increase for remaining lease payments during the term or other lease breakage costs. Employee may elect to have any such payment deducted from any payments due the Employee hereunder.
(vi) All payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall be subject to applicable tax withholding.
(b) Following Employee's termination of employment for any reason, the Company shall have the unconditional right to reduce any payments owed to Employee hereunder by the amount of any due and unpaid principal and interest on any loans by the Company to Employee and Employee hereby agrees and consents to such right on the part of the Company.
Compensation in the Event of Termination In the event that the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates prior to the expiration of this Agreement for any reason provided in Section 5 hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive, compensation and provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents with benefits as follows:
Compensation Upon Termination Upon termination of the Executive’s employment within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control of the Corporation, unless such termination is because of the Executive’s death, or by the Corporation for Cause or Disability or by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive the following:
(i) The Corporation shall pay the Executive his full salary (whether such salary has been paid by the Corporation or by any of its subsidiaries) through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given and all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination under any plan or other arrangement of the Company, at the time such payments are due (and in any event within 90 days after the Separation from Service);
(A) The Corporation shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to 1.5 multiplied by the Executive’s annualized includable compensation for the base period, within the meaning of Section 280G(d)(1) of the Code, provided, however, that if any of such payment is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed (“Excise Tax”), such payment shall be reduced to a smaller amount, even to zero, which smaller amount shall be the largest amount payable under this paragraph that would not be subject in whole or in part to the Excise Tax after considering all other payments to the Executive required to be considered under Sections 4999 or 280G of the Code. Such payment shall be referred to as the “Severance Payment.” The Severance Payment shall be made in a lump sum within 90 days after the Separation from Service.
(B) In the event that the Severance Payment is subsequently determined to be less than the amount actually paid hereunder, the Executive shall repay the excess to the Corporation at the time that the proper amount is finally determined, plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the Applicable Federal Rate. In the event that the Severance Payment is determined to exceed the amount actually paid hereunder, the Corporation shall pay the Executive such difference plus interest on the amount of such additional payment at the Applicable Federal Rate at the time that the amount of such difference is finally determined.
(C) In the event that the amount of the Severance Payment exceeds or is less than the amount initially paid, such difference shall constitute a loan by the Corporation to the Executive, or by the Executive to the Corporation, as the case may be, payable on the fifth (5th) day after demand (together with interest at the Applicable Federal Rate).
(D) The amount of any payment provided for in this subparagraph shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company or the Company’s Successor by reason of any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another Corporation after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.
(ii) The Corporation shall also pay to the Executive all legal fees and related expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with this Agreement, whether or not the Executive prevails (including, without limitation, all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement).
(iii) The Corporation shall maintain in full force and effect, for the Executive’s continued benefit until the earlier of (A) the death of the Executive; (B) the Executive’s commencement of full-time employment with a new Corporation; or (C) twenty-four (24) months following the Operative Date, all life insurance, medical, health and accident, and disability plans, programs or arrangements in which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Operative Date, provided that the Executive’s continued participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs. In the event that the Executive’s participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the Executive is entitled to receive under such plans and programs. In the case of any insurance provided the Executive pursuant to this subparagraph (iii), each premium therefor shall be paid after, but no later than 30 days after, the Corporation’s receipt of the invoice for such premium. No coverage shall be provided to the Executive under a self-insured medical plan of the Corporation after the Separation from Service; provided that such coverage may be provided during the period of time during which the Executive would be entitled to continuation coverage under such plan pursuant to Section 4980A of the Code if the Executive elected such continuation coverage and paid the applicable premiums. Except for coverage permitted by the preceding sentence, no benefits shall be provided pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) other than through the purchase of insurance by the Corporation.
(iv) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided under the Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. It is specifically understood that any compensation the Executive receives from the Corporation or any other person for services rendered prior to or after termination of employment, such as a payment under any deferred compensation plan maintained by the Corporation, will not reduce or offset the benefits to which he is entitled hereunder.
Compensation Following Termination In the event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated, Executive shall be entitled only to the following compensation and benefits upon such termination:
Accrued Compensation and Benefits Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2 and 3 above, in connection with any termination of employment upon or following a Change in Control (whether or not a Qualifying Termination or CIC Qualifying Termination), the Company or its subsidiary shall pay Executive’s earned but unpaid base salary and other vested but unpaid cash entitlements for the period through and including the termination of employment, including unused earned vacation pay and unreimbursed documented business expenses incurred by Executive prior to the date of termination (collectively “Accrued Compensation and Expenses”), as required by law and the applicable Company or its subsidiary, as applicable, plan or policy. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to any other vested benefits earned by Executive for the period through and including the termination date of Executive’s employment under any other employee benefit plans and arrangements maintained by the Company or its subsidiary, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of such plans and arrangements, except as modified herein (collectively “Accrued Benefits”). Any Accrued Compensation and Expenses to which the Executive is entitled shall be paid to the Executive in cash as soon as administratively practicable after the termination, and, in any event, no later than two and one-half (2-1/2) months after the end of the taxable year of the Executive in which the termination occurs or at such earlier time as may be required by applicable law or Section 10 below, and to such lesser extent as may be mandated by Section 9 below. Any Accrued Benefits to which the Executive is entitled shall be paid to the Executive as provided in the relevant plans and arrangements.
Compensation on Termination An Employee whose services have been terminated for any cause and who within three (3) months of separation is diagnosed by a physician as having tuberculosis, shall be entitled to the above compensation and the salary rate shall be based on the salary he was receiving at the time his services were terminated. The benefits of this provision may be extended for an additional three (3) months, provided that the former Employee concerned submits a x-ray plate taken within three (3) months after the termination of employment.
Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability (i) During any period in which the Executive fails to perform his duties as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, he shall continue to receive his full base salary at the rate then in effect until his employment is terminated pursuant to paragraph 3(i) hereof. Thereafter, his benefits, if any, shall be determined in accordance with whatever disability income insurance plan or plans the Corporation may then have in effect; provided, however, that, if at the time Disability of the Executive is established the disability benefits then available are less advantageous to the Executive than the disability benefits which were available on the date the Change in Control became effective, then his termination of employment by the Corporation shall be deemed to have occurred as a voluntary termination for Good Reason under paragraph 3(iii) hereof and not by reason of Disability, and the provisions of paragraph 4(iii) hereof shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this paragraph 4(i).
(ii) If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated for Cause or if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay to him his full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given and the Corporation shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
(iii) If the Corporation shall terminate the Executive’s employment other than pursuant to paragraph 3(i) or 3(ii) hereof within 24 months after a Change in Control of the Corporation, or if the Executive shall terminate his employment for Good Reason pursuant to paragraph 3(iii) hereof within 24 months after a Change in Control, then:
(A) The Corporation shall pay to the Executive, not later than thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination, the Executive’s accrued but unpaid base salary through the Date of Termination, plus compensation for current and carried-over unused vacation and compensation days in accordance with the Corporation’s personnel policy, and reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses in accordance with the Corporation’s business expense policy.
(B) In lieu of any further payments of salary to the Executive after the Date of Termination the Corporation shall pay to the Executive, not later than thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination and notwithstanding any dispute between the Executive and the Corporation as to the payment to the Executive of any other amounts under this Agreement or otherwise, a lump sum severance payment (the “Severance Payment”) equal to 2.99 times an amount equal to the sum of (1) the greater of the Executive’s highest annual base salary in effect at any time within the twelve-month period preceding a Change in Control or the Date of Termination, and (2) the greater of (I) the Target Incentive Award or Target Amount to which the Executive would have been entitled under the Corporation’s Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”) or Annual Discretionary Management Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ADMICP”), as applicable, and the base or target amount to which the Executive would have been entitled under any other annual cash bonus program of the Corporation, had he been employed by the Corporation at the end of the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs, or (II) the highest amount awarded to the Executive under the EICP or ADMICP and under any other annual cash bonus program of the Corporation during the last three fiscal years prior to the Date of Termination.
(C) In addition to the foregoing amounts payable under paragraph 4(iii)(A) and (B) above, the Executive will be entitled to the following:
(i) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination equal to the Target Incentive Award or Target Amount under the EICP or ADMICP, as applicable, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days that have elapsed from the beginning of the fiscal year in which such termination occurs through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the fiscal year, payable not later than thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination;
(ii) any stock option rights held by the Executive which were not fully exercisable on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully exercisable by the Executive and any restricted stock rights held by the Executive which were not fully vested on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested;
(iii) the Corporation shall maintain in full force and effect, for the Executive’s continued benefit, until the earlier of (I) 36 months after the Date of Termination or (II) the Executive’s 65th birthday, all life, medical and dental insurance programs in which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination; provided that his continued participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of such programs; provided, further, that, in the event the Executive’s participation in any such program is barred, the Corporation shall arrange to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which he was entitled to receive under such programs;
(iv) in addition to the benefits to which the Executive is entitled under the Corporation’s retirement plans in which he participates or any successor plans or programs in effect on the Date of Termination, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive in one lump sum in cash, an amount equal to the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension to which the Executive would have been entitled under the terms of such retirement plan or programs had he accumulated 36 additional months of continuous service after the Date of Termination (or, if less, the number of months between the Date of Termination and the date on which the Executive attains normal retirement age under the plan) at his base salary rate in effect on the Date of Termination reduced by the single sum actuarial equivalent of any amounts to which the Executive is entitled pursuant to the provisions of said retirement plans and programs, discounted to reflect its then present value, paid at the same time as the Severance Payment; provided that, for purposes of this subparagraph (3), the actuarial equivalents shall be determined, and all other calculations shall be made, using the same methods and assumptions utilized under the Corporation’s retirement plan or programs; provided, however, that such methods and assumptions shall be no less favorable to the Executive than those in effect on the date of the Change in Control; and
(v) If a Change of Control occurs and Executive becomes entitled to compensation under this Paragraph that would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, the Company shall reduce its payment of Separation Benefits to the Participant to $1.00 less than that amount which would trigger the excise tax if such reduction would result in the Participant receiving an equal or greater after-tax benefit than the Participant would receive if the full Separation Benefits were paid.
(vi) The Executive’s right to receive payments under this Agreement shall not decrease the amount of, or otherwise adversely affect, any other benefits payable to the Executive under any plan, agreement or arrangement relating to employee benefits provided by the Corporation.
(vii) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this paragraph 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this paragraph 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer or by reason of the Executive’s receipt of or right to receive any retirement or other benefits after the date of termination of employment or otherwise.
(viii) The Corporation may, but shall not be obligated to, provide security for payment of the amounts set forth in this Agreement in a form that will cause such amounts to be includible in the Executive’s gross income only for the taxable year or years in which such amounts are paid to the Executive under the terms of this Agreement. The form of security may include a funded irrevocable grantor trust established so as to satisfy any published Internal Revenue Service guidelines.
(ix) The Corporation may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
