Continuation of Agreement This Agreement shall become effective for each Fund as of the date first set forth above and shall continue in effect for each Fund until August 1, 2007, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter for each Fund only as long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by either the Board of Directors or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Directors, who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The annual approvals provided for herein shall be effective to continue this Agreement from year to year if given within a period beginning not more than 90 days prior to August 1st of each applicable year, notwithstanding the fact that more than 365 days may have elapsed since the date on which such approval was last given.
Continuation of Benefits (i) For a period of three years following the Termination of Employment (the “Benefit Continuation Period”), the Employee shall be treated as if he had continued to be an executive for all purposes under the Company’s health insurance plan and dental insurance plan; or if the Employee is prohibited from participating in such plans, the Company shall otherwise provide such benefits. Employee shall be responsible for any employee contributions for such insurance coverage. Following the Benefit Continuation Period, Employee shall be entitled to receive continuation coverage under Part 6 of Title I of ERISA (“COBRA Benefits”) by treating the end of this period as the applicable qualifying event (i.e., as a termination of employment) for purposes of ERISA Section 603(2)) and with the concurrent loss of coverage occurring on the same date, to the extent allowed by applicable law. (ii) For the Benefit Continuation Period, the Company shall maintain in force, at its expense, the Employee’s life insurance in effect under the Company’s voluntary life insurance benefit plan as of the Change-in-Control Date or as of the date of Termination of Employment, whichever coverage limits are greater. For purposes of clarification, the portion of the premiums in respect of such voluntary life insurance for which Employee and the Company are responsible, respectively, shall be the same as the portion for which the Company and Employee are responsible, respectively, immediately prior to the date of Termination of Employment or the Change-in-Control Date, as applicable. (iii) For the Benefit Continuation Period, the Company shall provide short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits to Employee equivalent to the coverage that the Employee would have had had he remained employed under the disability insurance plans applicable to Employee on the date of Termination of Employment, or, at the Employee’s election, the plans applicable to Employee as of the Change-in-Control Date. Should Employee become disabled during such period, Employee shall be entitled to receive such benefits, and for such duration, as the applicable plan provides. For purposes of clarification, the portion of the premiums in respect of such short-term and long-term disability benefits for which Employee and the Company are responsible, respectively, shall be the same as the portion for which Employee and the Company are responsible, respectively, immediately prior to the date of Termination of Employment or the Change-in-Control Date, as applicable. (iv) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the provision of in-kind benefits pursuant to this Section 3 during any taxable year of Employee affect the provision of in-kind benefits pursuant to this Section 3 in any other taxable year of Employee.
Benefits Continuation In addition, Executive shall be entitled to health and dental insurance benefits for a period of eighteen (18) months following the termination of this Agreement. These benefits will be provided at Employer’s expense, but such period shall count towards the Employer’s continuation of coverage obligation under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code (commonly referred to as “COBRA”).