Certain Employee Matters (a) During the 12-month period commencing on the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause one of its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries) to, provide each employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company who continues employment with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries) after the Effective Time (a “Continuing Employee”) with (i) an annual base salary or wage rate that is no less favorable to such Continuing Employee than the annual base salary or wage rate that is provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) employee benefits (including severance and long-term incentive opportunities but excluding annual base salary or wage rate) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those employee benefits provided to similarly situated employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including severance and long-term incentive opportunities but excluding annual base salary or wage rate).
(b) For purposes of eligibility, level of benefits and vesting and benefits accrual (including with respect to vacation or paid time off, but excluding any defined benefit or retiree medical plans) under the Parent Plans in which the Continuing Employees are eligible to participate, Parent shall, or shall cause the applicable plan sponsor to, credit each Continuing Employee with his or her years of service with the Company, any of the Subsidiaries of the Company and any of its or their predecessor entities, to the same extent as such Continuing Employee was entitled immediately prior to the Closing Date to credit for such service under any similar Company Plan, except to the extent that such service credit would result in a duplication of benefits for the same period of service. In addition, Parent or the Subsidiaries of Parent (including the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, shall cause each Parent Plan that is a welfare benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA to: (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements other than preexisting condition limitations, exclusions or waiting periods that are already in effect with respect to such Continuing Employees and that have not been satisfied or waived as of the Effective Time under the analogous welfare benefit plan maintained for the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time; and (ii) recognize for each Continuing Employee and his or her spouse, domestic partner and dependents for purposes of applying annual deductible, co-payment and out-of-pocket maximums under such Parent Plan any deductible, co-payment and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Continuing Employee and his or her spouse, domestic partner and dependents under an analogous Company Plan during the plan year of such plan in which occurs the later of the Effective Time and the date on which the Continuing Employee begins participation in such Parent Plan.
(c) Pxxxxx agrees to take the actions set forth on Section 4.11(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(d) If requested by Parent not less than ten (10) Business Days before the Closing Date, the Company Board (or the appropriate committee thereof) shall adopt resolutions and take such corporate action as is necessary to terminate the Company’s 401(k) plan (the “Company 401(k) Plan”), effective as of the day prior to the Closing Date, but contingent on the occurrence of the Closing. In the event that Parent requests that the Company 401(k) Plan be terminated, (i) the Company shall provide Parent with evidence that such plan has been terminated (the form and substance of which shall be subject to reasonable prior review and comment by Parent) not later than the day preceding the Closing Date and (ii) following the Effective Time and as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of a favorable determination letter from the IRS on the termination of the Company 401(k) Plan, the assets thereof shall be distributed to the participants, and Parent shall permit the Continuing Employees who are then actively employed to make rollover contributions of “eligible rollover distributions” (within the meaning of Section 401(a)(31) of the Code, including with respect to loans) to Parent’s 401(k) plan, in the form of cash, in an amount equal to the full account balance distributed to such Continuing Employees from the Company 401(k) Plan. If the Company 401(k) Plan is terminated prior to the Closing Date, each Continuing Employee shall be eligible to participate in Parent’s 401(k) plan on the Closing Date (subject to the terms of Parent’s 401(k) plan and giving effect to the service crediting provisions of Section 4.11(b)).
(e) Each of the Company and Parent shall provide to the other party copies of any written, broad-based communications with employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding the impact of the Merger on such employee’s employment, compensation or benefits for Parent’s or the Company’s prior approval, as applicable, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that no such prior approval shall be required in the event (i) the other party has previously approved the information contained in such communication or (ii) the information contained in such communication was previously publicly disclosed.
(f) Nothing in this Section 4.11 or elsewhere in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to create a right in any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to employment with Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of Parent or any of its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of any Continuing Employee at any time for no reason or any reason whatsoever, with or without cause. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to amend or modify any compensation or benefit arrangement of Parent, the Company or their respective Affiliates. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the right of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their Subsidiaries to amend or terminate any Parent Plan, any Company Plan or any other employee benefit plan. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Section 4.11 shall create any third party rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever in any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any beneficiaries or dependents thereof) or any other Person that is not a party to this Agreement.
Certain Employee Payments The Company is not a party to any employment agreement which could result in the payment to any current, former or future director or employee of the Company of any money or other property or rights or accelerate or provide any other rights or benefits to any such employee or director as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, whether or not (i) such payment, acceleration or provision would constitute a “parachute payment” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), or (ii) some other subsequent action or event would be required to cause such payment, acceleration or provision to be triggered.
Defined Contribution Plans The Company does not maintain, contribute to or have any liability under (or with respect to) any employee plan which is a tax-qualified "defined contribution plan" (as defined in Section 3(34) of ERISA), whether or not terminated.
ACCOUNTS SUBJECT TO ERISA The ERISA Rider is applicable to all Customers Under Section II of this Schedule A.
Third Party Administrators for Defined Contribution Plans 2.1 The Fund may decide to make available to certain of its customers, a qualified plan program (the “Program”) pursuant to which the customers (“Employers”) may adopt certain plans of deferred compensation (“Plan or Plans”) for the benefit of the individual Plan participant (the “Plan Participant”), such Plan(s) being qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and administered by TPAs which may be plan administrators as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
2.2 In accordance with the procedures established in Schedule 2.1 entitled “Third Party Administrator Procedures,” as may be amended by the Transfer Agent and the Fund from time to time (“Schedule 2.1”), the Transfer Agent shall:
(a) Treat Shareholder accounts established by the Plans in the name of the Trustees, Plans or TPAs, as the case may be, as omnibus accounts;
(b) Maintain omnibus accounts on its records in the name of the TPA or its designee as the Trustee for the benefit of the Plan; and
(c) Perform all Services under Section 1 as transfer agent of the Funds and not as a record-keeper for the Plans.
2.3 Transactions identified under Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement shall be deemed exception services (“Exception Services”) when such transactions:
(a) Require the Transfer Agent to use methods and procedures other than those usually employed by the Transfer Agent to perform transfer agency and recordkeeping services;
(b) Involve the provision of information to the Transfer Agent after the commencement of the nightly processing cycle of the TA2000 System; or
(c) Require more manual intervention by the Transfer Agent, either in the entry of data or in the modification or amendment of reports generated by the TA2000 System, than is normally required.
Excluded Employees Employees excluded from the bargaining unit who work for an Employer signatory to this Agreement may participate in any of the foregoing benefits under rules and regulations established by the Trustees. The trustees shall determine the contributions required for such benefits.
Employee Matters; Benefit Plans (a) Subject to applicable Legal Requirements, the employment of each of the Company’s employees is terminable by the Company at will. The Company is not a party to, nor is currently negotiating in connection with entering into, any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor organization or work council representing any of its employees and there are no labor organizations representing, purporting to represent or, to the knowledge of the Company, seeking to represent any employees of the Company. Since January 1, 2019, there has not been any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, material labor dispute or any union organizing activity, or any threat thereof, in each case, involving any of the Company’s employees. There is not now pending, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person has threatened in writing to commence, any such strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, material labor dispute or union organizing activity or any similar activity or dispute.
(b) Since January 1, 2019, there has been no material Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing relating to the employment or engagement of any Company Associate. Since January 1, 2019, the Company has complied with all applicable Legal Requirements related to employment, including employment practices, payment of wages and hours of work, leaves of absence, plant closing notification, privacy rights, labor dispute, workplace safety, retaliation, immigration, and discrimination matters, except any lack of compliance which has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 3.16(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each Employee Plan. The Company has either delivered or made available to Parent or Parent’s Representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement with respect to each Employee Plan, accurate and complete copies of the following, as relevant: (i) all plan documents and all amendments thereto, and all related trust, insurance or other funding documents, and all amendments thereto; (ii) the most recent determination letter or opinion letter received from the IRS; (iii) for the three most recent plan years, (A) the annual actuarial or other valuation reports, (B) the IRS Form 5500 and all schedules thereto and (C) audited financial statements; (iv) the most recent summary plan descriptions and any material modifications thereto; (v) the most recent nondiscrimination tests required to be performed under the Code; and (vi) any material non-routine communications with any Governmental Body regarding any Employee Plan.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has at any time sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to, or had any liability in respect of, (i) an “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, Code Section 412 or Section 302 of ERISA, including any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA. No Employee Plan is a (i) a “multiple employer plan” as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code, or (ii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA.
(e) Each Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has obtained a favorable determination letter (or opinion letter, if applicable) as to its qualified status under the Code. Each Employee Plan is now and has been operated, maintained, and administered in compliance in all material respects with its terms and all applicable Legal Requirements, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code. No non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the code) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Employee Plan.
(f) Except to the extent required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or 4980B of the Code (or any other similar state or local Legal Requirement) at the participant’s sole expense, neither the Company nor any Employee Plan has any present or future obligation to provide post-employment welfare benefits to or make any payment to, or with respect to any Company Associate.
(g) Since January 1, 2019, all individuals who perform or have performed services for the Company have been properly classified under applicable law as (i) employees or independent contractors and (ii) for employees, as an “exempt” employee or a “non-exempt” employee (within the meaning of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and applicable state laws), and no such individual has been improperly included or excluded from any Employee Plan, except for misclassifications, non-compliance or exclusions which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and the Company has not received notice of any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened inquiry or audit from any Governmental Body concerning such classifications.
(h) The Company maintains no obligations to gross-up or reimburse any individual for any tax or related interest or penalties incurred by such individual under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.
(i) Each “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” maintained by the Company has been at all times in material documentary and operational compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the guidance provided thereunder.
(j) The consummation of the Transactions (including in combination with other events or circumstances) will not (i) result in any payment or benefit becoming due to any Company Associate or under any Employee Plan, (ii) increase any amount of compensation or benefits otherwise payable to any Company Associate or under any Employee Plan, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, funding or vesting of any benefits to any current or former employee, contractor or director of the Company or under any Employee Plan, (iv) limit the right to modify, amend or terminate any Employee Plan (except any limitations imposed by applicable Legal Requirements, if any).
(k) The consummation of the Transactions (including in combination with other events or circumstances) will not result in the payment of any amount that could, individually or in combination with any other payment or benefit, constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, result in the payment of an excise tax by any Person under Section 4999 of the Code or any amount that would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
(l) With respect to any Employee Plan, (i) no Legal Proceeding (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Employee Plan, the assets of any of the trusts under such plans or the plan sponsor or administrator, or against any fiduciary of any Employee Plan with respect to the operation thereof, and (ii) no facts or circumstances exist that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Legal Proceeding.
Defined Contribution Plan The Employer will establish the following Employer contribution programs in the existing salary deferral plans: » Beginning in 2006 and continuing throughout the term of the Agreement, a performance-based contribution
ADJUSTMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR’S ALLOCABLE PORTION AND EACH SUCCESSOR DISTRIBUTOR’S ALLOCABLE PORTION The parties to the Distribution Agreement recognize that, if the terms of any distributor’s contract, any distribution plan, any prospectus, the FINRA Conduct Rules or any other applicable law change so as to disproportionately reduce, in a manner inconsistent with the intent of this Distribution Agreement, the amount of the Distributor’s Allocable Portion or any Successor Distributor’s Allocable Portion had no such change occurred, the definitions of the Distributor’s Allocable Portion and/or the Successor Distributor’s Allocable Portion in respect of the Class C shares relating to a Fund shall be adjusted by agreement among the relevant parties; provided, however, if the Distributor, the Successor Distributor and the Fund cannot agree within thirty (30) days after the date of any such change in applicable laws or in any distributor’s contract, distribution plan, prospectus or the FINRA Conduct Rules, they shall submit the question to arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association and the decision reached by the arbitrator shall be final and binding on each of them. The following relates solely to Class 529-C shares. The Distributor’s Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of Class 529-C shares shall be 100% until such time as the Distributor shall cease to serve as exclusive distributor of Class 529-C shares; thereafter, collections that constitute CDSCs and Distribution Fees relating to Class 529-C shares shall be allocated among the Distributor and any successor distributor (“Successor Distributor”) in accordance with this Schedule. At such time as the Distributor’s Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees equals zero, the Successor Distributor shall become the Distributor for purposes of this Allocation Schedule. Defined terms used in this Schedule and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Principal Underwriting Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”), of which this Schedule is a part. As used herein the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Excluded Assets and Liabilities Notwithstanding that this ------------------------------- Agreement relates to the purchase of capital stock from Seller by Purchaser, which results in the Company retaining any and all of its assets and liabilities, it is understood and agreed that Seller shall remove from the Company's premises prior to Closing and/or, as appropriate, remove from the Company's books and records, only those particular assets set forth on Schedule 1.3 hereto (the "EXCLUDED ASSETS"). Further, Seller shall assume any and all liabilities set forth on Schedule 1.3 hereto (the "EXCLUDED LIABILITIES"). Purchaser agrees that it shall cause Penta-Gen and the Company to execute any and all such bills of sale, assignments and/or agreements as may be necessary to transfer title to the Excluded Assets to Seller and to assign and/or transfer the Excluded Liabilities to Seller. The parties hereto further agree that no other assets of the Company, whether tangible or intangible, shall be removed from the Company's premises or from the Company's books and records except in the ordinary course of the Company's Business as provided herein from and after December 31, 1995 through the Closing Date.
