Employment Taxes All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.
Excise Taxes (a) If any payment or distribution by the Company or any affiliate to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a “Payment”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the benefits payable or provided under this Agreement (or other Payments as described above) shall be reduced (but not in excess of the amount of the benefits payable or provided under this Agreement) if, and only to the extent that, such reduction will allow the Executive to receive a greater Net After Tax Amount than such Executive would receive absent such reduction. (b) The Accounting Firm (as defined below) will first determine the amount of any Parachute Payments (as defined below) that are payable to the Executive. The Accounting Firm also will determine the Net After Tax Amount attributable to the Executive’s total Parachute Payments. (c) The Accounting Firm will next determine the largest amount of payments that may be made to the Executive without subjecting the Executive to the Excise Tax (the “Capped Payments”). Thereafter, the Accounting Firm will determine the Net After Tax Amount attributable to the Capped Payments. (d) The Executive then will receive the total Parachute Payments or the total Capped Payments, whichever provides the Executive with the higher Net After Tax Amount; however, if the reductions imposed under this Section 14 are in excess of the amount of benefits payable or provided under this Agreement, then the total Parachute Payments will be adjusted by first reducing, on a pro rata basis, the amount of any noncash or cash benefits under this Agreement, then noncash or cash benefits under any other plan, agreement or arrangement, then any cash payments under this Agreement and finally any cash payments under any other plan agreement or arrangement. The Accounting Firm will notify the Executive and the Company if it determines that the Parachute Payments must be reduced and will send the Executive and the Company a copy of its detailed calculations supporting that determination. (e) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999 at the time that the Accounting Firm makes its determinations under this Section 14, it is possible that the Executive will have received Parachute Payments or Capped Payments in excess of the amount that should have been paid or distributed (“Overpayments”), or that additional Parachute Payments or Capped Payments should be paid or distributed to the Executive (“Underpayments”). If the Accounting Firm determines, based on either the assertion of a deficiency by the Internal Revenue Service against the Company or the Executive, which assertion the Accounting Firm believes has a high probability of success or controlling precedent or substantial authority, that an Overpayment has been made, that Overpayment may, at the Executive’s discretion, be treated for all purposes as a loan ab initio that the Executive must repay to the Company immediately together with interest at the applicable Federal rate under Code Section 7872; provided, however, that no loan will be deemed to have been made and no amount will be payable by the Executive to the Company unless, and then only to the extent that, the deemed loan and payment would either reduce the amount on which the Executive is subject to tax under Code Section 4999 or generate a refund of tax imposed under Code Section 4999 and the Executive will receive a greater Net After Tax Amount than such Executive would otherwise receive. If the Accounting Firm determines, based upon controlling precedent or substantial authority, that an Underpayment has occurred, the Accounting Firm will notify the Executive and the Company of that determination and the amount of that Underpayment will be paid to the Executive promptly by the Company after such determination. (f) For purposes of this Section 14, the following terms shall have their respective meanings:
Labor and Employment As of the date of this Agreement, Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all collective bargaining agreements or other labor union contracts applicable to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As of the date of this Agreement, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has breached or otherwise failed to comply with any provision of any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any breaches or failures to comply that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is not any, and during the past one year there has not been any, labor strike, dispute, work stoppage or lockout pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no union organizational campaign is in progress or threatened with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no question concerning representation of such employees exists, (iii) there are no unfair labor practice charges or complaints against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened and (iv) there are, as of the date of this Agreement, no written grievances or written complaints outstanding or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no, and since November 29, 2011, have not been any “plant closings” or “mass layoffs” (as those terms are defined in the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act or any comparable state or local law) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, without complying with the notice requirements of such Laws, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours and occupational safety and health (including, without limitation, classifications of service providers as employees and/or independent contractors).
Labor and Employment Matters (1) (i) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened arbitration or grievance, charge, complaint, audit or investigation by or before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other Governmental Entity with respect to any current or former employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, nor has been since January 1, 2021, a party to, bound by or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement, work rules or practices, or any other labor-related agreement, arrangement or contract with a labor union, trade union, works council or labor organization applicable to persons employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor has any labor union, trade union, labor organization or group of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made a pending demand (in writing) for recognition or certification, and there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or threatened in writing to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority; (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no contemplated or pending proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees; (iv) there are no Unfair Labor Practice (as defined under the National Labor Relations Act) complaints pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board; and (v) since January 1, 2021, there has not been any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, picketing, unfair labor practice, concerted refusal to work overtime or other labor disruption or dispute affecting, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threat thereof, by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. (2) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any requirement under contract or Law to provide notice to, or to enter into any consultation procedure with, any union, labor organization, work council or similar organization in connection with the execution of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (3) The Company and its Subsidiaries are and since January 1, 2021 have been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the employment of labor, including with respect to employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, employment discrimination or harassment, termination of employment, employee whistle-blowing, immigration and employment eligibility verification, occupational health and safety, wages and hours, withholding, classification of employees as exempt or nonexempt, and classification of consultants and independent contractors. (4) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 and the regulations promulgated thereunder or any similar state or local Law that remains unsatisfied.
Employment and Employee Benefits Matters (a) Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation and each of its other Subsidiaries to, for the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending December 31, 2019, maintain for each individual employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the Effective Time (each, a “Current Employee”) (i) each of base compensation and a target annual cash incentive compensation opportunity at least as favorable as that provided to the Current Employee as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) benefits that are at least as favorable as the benefits maintained for and provided to the Current Employee as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and (iii) severance benefits that are at least as favorable as the severance benefits provided by the Company to the Current Employees as of immediately prior to the Effective Time to the extent set forth in Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. (b) Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, cause service rendered by Current Employees to the Company and its Subsidiaries, prior to the Effective Time to be taken into account for all purposes under employee benefit plans of Parent, the Surviving Corporation, and its Subsidiaries, to the same extent as such service was taken into account under the corresponding Company Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time for those purposes; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits or the funding thereof with respect to the same period of service. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent shall not, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to not, subject Current Employees to any eligibility requirements, waiting periods, actively-at-work requirements or pre-existing condition limitations under any employee benefit plan of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or its Subsidiaries for any condition for which they would have been entitled to coverage under the corresponding Company Plan in which they participated prior to the Effective Time. Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, to give such Current Employees credit under such employee benefit plans for any eligible expenses incurred by such Current Employees and their covered dependents under a Company Plan during the portion of the year prior to the Effective Time for purposes of satisfying all co-payment, co-insurance, deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket requirements, and other out-of-pocket expenses applicable to such Current Employees and their covered dependents in respect of the plan year in which the Effective Time occurs; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits or the funding thereof with respect to the same period of service. (c) No provision of this Agreement (i) prohibits Parent or the Surviving Corporation from amending or terminating any individual Company Plan or any other employee benefit plan, (ii) confers upon any director, Current Employee or service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof any right to continue in the employ or service of the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate thereof for any period of time, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof to discharge or terminate the services of any director, employee or individual service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, or (iii) constitutes the establishment or adoption of, or amendment to, any Company Plan or employee benefit plan. No Current Employee or any other individual employed by, or providing services to, the Company or its Subsidiaries has any third-party beneficiary or other rights with respect to this Agreement.
Excise Tax In the event you become entitled to any amounts payable hereunder or any other amounts in connection with a change in control (whether or not such amounts are payable pursuant to this Agreement) (the "Severance Payments"), if any of such Severance Payments are subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any similar federal, state or local tax that may hereafter be imposed), the Company shall pay to you at the time specified in Section 7 hereof an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by you, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments (as hereinafter defined) and any federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this Section 6, shall be equal to the Total Payments. For purposes of determining whether any of the Severance Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax: (i) any other payments or benefits received or to be received by you in connection with a Change in Control or your termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions result in a Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person) (which, together with the Severance Payments, constitute the "Total Payments") shall be treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of nationally-recognized tax counsel selected by you such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the base amount within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax; (ii) the amount of the Total Payments which shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the total amount of the Total Payments and (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after applying Section 6(i) hereof); and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payments or benefit shall be determined by a nationally-recognized accounting firm selected by you in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of your residence, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder, you shall repay to the Company within ten days after the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal and state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by you if such repayment results in a 5 5 reduction in Excise Tax and/or federal and state and local income tax deduction) plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional gross-up payment in respect of such excess) within ten days after the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.
Excise Tax Gross-Up If Executive becomes entitled to one or more payments (with a "payment" including the vesting of restricted stock, a stock option, or other non-cash benefit or property), whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan or agreement with the Company or any affiliated company (collectively, "Change of Control Payments"), which are or become subject to the tax ("Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Company shall pay to Executive at the time specified below such amount (the "Gross-up Payment") as may be necessary to place Executive in the same after-tax position as if no portion of the Change of Control Payments and any amounts paid to Executive pursuant to this paragraph 5(c) had been subject to the Excise Tax. The Gross-up Payment shall include, without limitation, reimbursement for any penalties and interest that may accrue in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up Payment, Executive shall be deemed: (A) to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation for the year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made; and (B) to pay any applicable state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes if paid in such year. If the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, Executive shall repay to the Company at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined (but, if previously paid to the taxing authorities, not prior to the time the amount of such reduction is refunded to Executive or otherwise realized as a benefit by Executive) the portion of the Gross-up Payment that would not have been paid if such Excise Tax had been used in initially calculating the Gross-up Payment, plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, the Company shall make an additional Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest and penalties payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined. The Gross-up Payment provided for above shall be paid on the 30th day (or such earlier date as the Excise Tax becomes due and payable to the taxing authorities) after it has been determined that the Change of Control Payments (or any portion thereof) are subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that if the amount of such Gross-up Payment or portion thereof cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to Executive on such day an estimate, as determined by counsel or auditors selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive, of the minimum amount of such payments. The Company shall pay to Executive the remainder of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined. In the event that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to Executive, payable on the fifth day after demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code). The Company shall have the right to control all proceedings with the Internal Revenue Service that may arise in connection with the determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and, at its sole option, the Company may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings, and conferences with any taxing authority in respect of such Excise Tax (including any interest or penalties thereon); provided, however, that the Company's control over any such proceedings shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-up Payment would be payable hereunder, and Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. Executive shall cooperate with the Company in any proceedings relating to the determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and shall not take any position or action that would materially increase the amount of any Gross-up Payment hereunder.
Employment and Compensation The following terms and conditions will govern the Executive’s employment with the Company throughout the Term.
Current Taxes Adequate provisions have been made for taxes payable for the current period for which tax returns are not yet required to be filed and there are no agreements, waivers, or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to the filing of any tax return by, or payment of, any tax, governmental charge or deficiency by the Company. The Vendors are not aware of any contingent tax liabilities or any grounds which would prompt a reassessment including aggressive treatment of income and expenses in filing earlier tax returns; The Company- Applicable Laws and Legal Matters
Employees and Employee Benefits (a) Prior to the Closing Date, Buyer shall determine in its sole discretion which Business Employees, if any, to offer employment, and shall set initial terms and conditions of employment for any such employees to whom it offers employment, including wages, benefits, job duties and responsibilities, and work assignments. Only Business Employees who are offered and accept such offers of employment, and actually commence employment with Buyer based upon the initial terms and conditions set by Buyer, shall become “Buyer Employees” after the Closing Date. Seller shall make available for interviews the Business Employees if so requested by Buyer to facilitate Buyer’s right to offer employment to such employees in its sole discretion pursuant to this Section 6.03(a). Buyer shall be responsible for any liability, obligation or commitment arising out of or relating to the (i) employment (including the application for or termination of employment) of any Buyer Employee by Buyer arising after the Closing Date pursuant to the terms and conditions of employment set by Buyer, and (ii) the provision of services by any other Person to Buyer after the Closing Date. (b) Seller shall terminate, or shall cause to be terminated, on or prior to the Closing Date the employment and service of all Business Employees (which shall include releasing such Business Employees from any obligations to Seller or its Affiliates following the Closing Date incurred or that arose in connection with such employment or service, including confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements) who are offered and accept offers of employment with Buyer pursuant to this Section 6.03. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) Buyer shall not be obligated to provide any severance, separation pay, final wage payments, or other payment or benefits to any Business Employee on account of any termination of such Business Employee’s employment on or before the Closing Date, and (ii) Seller acknowledges and agrees that any and all liabilities, obligations or commitments of Seller to pay any employee or former employee of Seller (including the Buyer Employees) for any salary, bonus, commission, vacation pay, severance, separation, key employee retention payments, or other compensation earned or accrued on or prior to the Closing Date, shall be an Excluded Liability and be borne solely by Seller. (c) Seller shall have full responsibility under the WARN Act or any other labor or employment Law relating to any obligation, act, or omission of Seller prior to or on the Closing Date with respect to the Business Employees including, without limitation, any Liabilities that result from the Business Employees’ separation of employment from Seller or Business Employees not becoming Buyer Employees. (d) With respect to any employee benefit plan maintained by Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer for the benefit of any Buyer Employee (collectively, “Buyer Benefit Plans”), effective as of the Closing, Buyer shall, or shall cause its Affiliate to, recognize, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, all service of the Buyer Employees with Seller, as if such service were with Buyer, for purposes of any applicable Buyer Benefit Plan; provided, however, such service shall not be recognized to the extent that (x) such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits or (y) such service was not recognized under the corresponding Benefit Plan. Further, with respect to each Buyer Benefit Plan, in which any Buyer Employee will be eligible to participate effective as of the Closing, Buyer shall, or shall cause its applicable Affiliate(s) to, (i) waive, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, all pre-existing conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to such Buyer Employee under any such Buyer Benefit Plan in which such Buyer Employee may be eligible to participate on or after the Closing, except to the extent such pre-existing conditions, exclusions or waiting periods would apply under the analogous Benefit Plan; and (ii) to the extent permitted under applicable Law, provide each such Buyer Employee with credit for any payments made under any cost-sharing provisions prior to the Closing (to the same extent such credit was given under the analogous Benefit Plan prior to the Closing) in satisfying any applicable cost-sharing provisions in any Buyer Benefit Plan in which such Buyer Employee may be eligible to participate on or after the Closing. (e) Effective as of the Closing Date, the Buyer Employees shall cease active participation in the Benefit Plans. Seller shall remain liable for all eligible claims for benefits under the Benefit Plans that are incurred by the Business Employees on or prior to the Closing Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the following claims shall be deemed to be incurred as follows: (i) life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and workers’ compensation insurance benefits, on the event giving rise to such benefits; (ii) medical, vision, dental, and prescription drug benefits, on the date the applicable services, materials or supplies were provided; and (iii) long-term disability benefits, on the eligibility date determined by the long-term disability insurance carrier for the plan in which the applicable Business Employee participates. (f) Buyer and Seller intend that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement should not constitute a separation, termination or severance of employment of any Business Employee who accepts an employment offer by Buyer that is consistent with the requirements of Section 6.03(b), including for purposes of any Benefit Plan that provides for separation, termination or severance benefits (if any). Each Buyer Employee shall resign from Seller and accept employment with Buyer at the same time resulting in no period of unemployment. Buyer shall be liable and hold Seller harmless for any claims relating to the employment of any Buyer Employee only to the extent such claims relate to activity occurring after the Closing Date. (g) This Section 6.03 shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 6.03, express or implied, shall confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 6.03. Nothing contained herein, express or implied, shall be construed to establish, amend or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the terms set forth in this Section 6.03 shall not create any right in any Business Employee, Buyer Employee or any other Person to any continued employment with Buyer or any of its Affiliates or compensation or benefits of any nature or kind whatsoever. (h) Seller shall follow the “standard procedure” for preparing and filing Internal Revenue Service Forms W-2 (Wage and Tax Statements), as described in Revenue Procedure 2004-53 for Buyer Employees. Under this procedure, (i) Seller shall provide all required Forms W-2 to (x) all Buyer Employees reflecting wages paid and Taxes withheld by Seller in respect of such Buyer Employees’ employment with Seller through the Closing Date, and (y) all other employees and former employees of Seller who are not Buyer Employees reflecting all wages paid and taxes withheld by Seller, and (ii) Buyer (or one of its Affiliates) shall provide all required Forms W-2 to all Buyer Employees reflecting all wages paid and taxes withheld by Buyer (or one of its Affiliates) after the Closing Date.