Employment and Employee Benefits Matters (a) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, for the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the date that is 12 months after the Effective Time, to maintain for and provide to any Company Employee the compensation and employee benefits maintained and provided to the Company Employees immediately prior to the date of this Agreement (subject to modifications and increases permitted by Section 5.1) and at levels in the aggregate that are no less valuable than those maintained for and provided immediately prior to the date of this Agreement (subject to modifications and increases permitted by Section 5.1); provided that incentive compensation will be discretionary or based on performance.
(b) As of and after the Effective Time, Parent will, or will cause the Surviving Corporation to, give Company Employees who are employed by Parent or its Subsidiaries immediately following the Effective Time full credit for purposes of eligibility and vesting and benefit accruals (but not for purposes of benefit accruals under any defined benefit pension plans or to the extent this credit would result in a duplication of benefits for the same period of service and not where past service credit was not provided for other new participants in such Parent Plans), under any employee benefit (including vacation) plans, programs, policies and arrangements maintained for the benefit of Company Employees as of and after the Effective Time by Parent, its Subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation for the Company Employees’ pre-Effective Time service with the Company, its Subsidiaries and their predecessor entities (each, a “Parent Plan”) to the same extent recognized by the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time. With respect to each Parent Plan that is a “welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), Parent or its Subsidiaries shall (i) cause there to be waived any pre-existing condition or eligibility limitations to the same extent waived by the Company and its Subsidiaries under the comparable Company Plans and (ii) give effect, in determining any deductible and maximum out-of-pocket limitations with respect to the plan year in which the Effective Time occurs, to claims incurred and amounts paid by, and amounts reimbursed to, Company Employees, in each case under similar plans maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Parent acknowledges and agrees that the consummation of the Merger shall constitute a “Change in Control” for purposes of each Company Plan listed in Section 6.5(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. From and after the Effective Time, Parent will honor, and will cause its Subsidiaries to honor, in accordance with its terms, each Company Plan listed in Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the amendment, suspension or termination of any Company Plan pursuant to its terms or interfere with the Parent’s or Surviving Corporation’s right or obligation to make such changes as are necessary to conform with applicable Law.
(d) Parent shall provide to Company Employees the severance benefits set forth in Section 6.5(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule on the terms and conditions set forth therein, except with respect to any Person that is a party to a Change in Control Severance Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall prevent Parent from terminating the employment of any Company Employee.
