▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Benefits (1) In addition to the salary and benefits described in Paragraph 7A, if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraphs 6C or 6D, the Executive shall be entitled to the following: (i) the continuation of his Base Salary at the annual salary rate then in effect (before any reduction under Paragraph 6D(3) which is made on a proportionally equal basis to all executive officers and which is made within the one (1) year period preceding the date the Executive’s employment is terminated), for a period of one year following the termination of the Executive’s employment (the “Severance Period”), payable in accordance with the Employer’s payroll policy from time to time in effect and subject to the limitations imposed under subparagraph 7B(3); (ii) a pro-rata portion of the Bonus for the year in which the Executive’s employment terminates, if such Bonus would have been earned had the Executive been employed and in good standing as of the date the Bonus otherwise is paid to other senior level executive of the Employer, and payable at the time the Bonus otherwise is paid to other senior level executives of the Employer; (iii) the Bonus attributable to the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Executive’s employment terminates, if such Bonus would have been earned had the Executive been employed and in good standing as of the date the Bonus otherwise is paid to other senior level executive of the Employer, and provided such Bonus had not yet been paid in accordance with the timing provisions set forth in Paragraph 4B, and payable at the time the Bonus otherwise is paid to other senior level executives of the Employer; (iv) a payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Target Bonus (before any reduction under Paragraph 6D(3) which is made on a proportionally equal basis to all executive officers and which is made within the one (1) year period preceding the date the Executive’s employment is terminated), based upon the Base Salary for such year, to be paid at the same time that performance bonuses are generally paid by the Employer to its executives for the year in which such termination occurs; (v) equity compensation, if any, subject to the terms of the Executive’s award agreement; (vi) professional outplacement services by a company selected by, and paid by, the Employer within one (1) year after the date of termination, in an amount not to exceed $32,000; and (vii) continued coverage of the Executive and his dependents in the medical and dental insurance plans sponsored by the Employer, as mandated by COBRA, which may continue to the extent required by applicable law and the Employer shall pay for such coverage, at the same rate the Employer pays for health insurance coverage for its active employees under its group health plan (with the Executive required to pay for any employee-paid portion of such coverage), through the earlier of (a) the last day of the Severance Period or (b) the date the Executive becomes eligible for coverage under another group health plan that does not impose preexisting condition limitations on the Executive’s coverage, provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to extend the period of time over which such COBRA continuation coverage may be provided to the Executive and his dependents beyond that mandated by law and, provided further, that the Executive shall be required to pay the entire cost of such COBRA continuation coverage for any time following the last day of the Severance Period.
(2) The foregoing notwithstanding, if at any time within one hundred twenty (120) days immediately preceding or one (1) year immediately following a “Change in Control,” the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraph 6C or 6D, the Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation, in lieu of any payments otherwise set forth in Paragraph 7B(1) above, and payable within sixty (60) days following the later of the Change in Control or the termination, subject, however, to the limitations imposed under subparagraph 7B(3): two (2.0) times the Executive’s Base Salary at the annual rate then in effect (before any reduction under Paragraph 6D(3) which is made on a proportionally equal basis to all executive officers and which is made within the one (1) year period preceding the date the Executive’s employment is terminated) and two (2.0) times the Target Bonus (before any reduction under Paragraph 6D(3) which is made on a proportionally equal basis to all executive officers and which is made within the one (1) year period preceding the date the Executive’s employment is terminated), based upon the Base Salary for such year. In addition, upon the termination of the Executive’s employment as set forth in this subparagraph 7B(2) the Executive and his dependents shall be offered continued coverage under the Employer’s group health plan for the duration of the COBRA continuation period on the same financial terms as described above in subparagraph 7B(1)(vii) and shall also be entitled to the compensation and benefits, if any, set forth in subparagraphs 7B(1)(ii), (iii), (v) and (vi), above.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive is a “specified employee” as such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, any payments described in this Paragraph 7B shall be delayed for a period of six (6) months following the Executive’s separation of employment to the extent and up to an amount necessary to ensure such payments are not subject to the penalties and interest under Section 409A of the Code. The payments to be made under this Paragraph 7B shall be further conditioned upon the Executive’s execution of an agreement acceptable to the Employer that (i) waives any rights the Executive may otherwise have against the Employer, and (ii) releases the Employer from actions, suits, claims, proceedings and demands related to the period of employment and/or the termination of employment. For purposes of this Paragraph 7B, “Change in Control” shall be as defined under the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan, as in effect on the date hereof, which definition is incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, the definition of Change in Control as set forth herein is not intended to be broader than the definition of a “change in control event” as defined by reference to the regulations under Section 409A of the Code, and the payments described in Paragraph 7B(2) shall not be payable unless the applicable Change in Control constitutes a change in control event in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
Severance Benefits If (x) the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than for Cause (as defined below), death or Disability (as defined below), or (y) you resign from your employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined below) (each such event, a “Qualified Separation”), subject to the terms of this Agreement (including satisfaction of the Release Requirement) and your continued compliance in all material respects with your Non-Disclosure and Non-Compete Agreement (which noncompliance, if curable in the reasonable discretion of the Company, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company of such noncompliance), then the Company shall pay or provide you with the following benefits: (i) severance payments in the form of salary continuation at a rate equal to your Base Salary, at the rate in effect at the time of your separation date (and prior to any reduction that would constitute Good Reason hereunder), for the Severance Period; (ii) a pro-rata portion (based upon the number of days you were employed in the applicable year) of your annual bonus target for the year in which your termination occurs (iii) provided you timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, or state continuation coverage (as applicable), under the Company’s group health plans following such termination, the Company will pay the full COBRA, or state continuation coverage, premiums to continue your (and your covered dependents, as applicable) health insurance coverage in effect on the termination date until the earliest of: (1) the last day of the final full month of the Severance Period; (2) the date when you become eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment; or (3) the date you cease to be eligible for COBRA or state law continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination; provided that if at any time the Company determines that its payment of COBRA, or state continuation coverage, premiums on your behalf would result in a violation of applicable law (including, but not limited to, the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of paying such premiums pursuant to this Section, the Company shall pay you on the last day of each remaining month of the period specified above, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA or state continuation coverage premium for such month, subject to applicable tax withholding, for the remainder of such period; and (iv) unless an option award provides for a more favorable post-termination exercise period, with respect to any options granted to you, such options (to the extent that you are entitled to exercise such options as of the date of termination of continuous service) shall be exercisable until the date that is six (6) months after the termination of your employment with the Company (whether voluntary or involuntary), subject to earlier termination in accordance with the Plan, and in no event will your options be exercisable beyond the original expiration date of such options. In addition, the Company shall pay or provide you with the following: (i) any unpaid accrued bonus for the immediately prior year (payable when bonuses are paid to other executives of the Company), (ii) any unpaid accrued vacation in accordance with the Company’s paid time off policies, (iii) unreimbursed expenses (paid pursuant to the Company’s expense reimbursement policy) and (iv) all accrued vested benefits provided pursuant to the terms of the Company’s benefit plans (the “Accrued Obligations”). Your right to receive your severance amounts shall not be subject to mitigation or reduced by any other amounts you receive from a subsequent employer or otherwise except as provided under clause (2) of the COBRA reimbursement provisions set forth above. In addition, if a Change in Control (as defined below) is consummated and a Qualified Separation occurs within the Change in Control Period, then (i) 100% of the then-unvested portion of any stock option or restricted stock award issued to you by the Company shall vest as of the Release Effective Date, (ii) unless an option award provides for a more favorable post-termination exercise period, with respect to any options granted to you, such options shall be exercisable until the date that is eighteen (18) months after the termination of your employment with the Company (whether voluntary or involuntary), subject to earlier termination in accordance with the Plan, and in no event will your options be exercisable beyond the original expiration date of such options and (iii) provided such transaction constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the cash severance payments described in clause (i) of the preceding paragraph will be paid in a single lump sum on the first payroll date that follows the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such termination occurs during the Change in Control Period, but prior to a Change in Control, cash severance shall commence to be paid in installments in accordance with clause (i) of the preceding paragraph, and upon the occurrence of such Change in Control, the remainder of the cash severance payment shall be payable in a lump-sum in accordance with this section on the first regular payroll date following the closing of such Change in Control. The severance payments described above will be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures, and, subject to your satisfaction of the Release Requirement (as defined below), will commence on the first payroll date that follows the Release Effective Date, and once they commence will be retroactive to the date of your Qualified Separation. The pro-rata portion of your bonus will be paid within seven business days following the Release Effective Date. You will not be entitled to any of the benefits described above unless you (i) have returned all Company property in your possession, including (without limitation) copies of documents that belong to the Company and files stored on your computer(s) that contain information belonging to the Company and (ii) have satisfied the following release requirements (the “Release Requirement”): sign and return a separation agreement and general release of claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, including any reasonable modifications taking into consideration relevant federal and state laws at the time of termination (the “Release”) and such Release becomes effective and irrevocable no later than sixty (60) days following the date of your Qualified Separation or such earlier date required by the release (the “Release Deadline”), and permit the Release to become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms (such effective date of the Release, the “Release Effective Date”). If you fail to return the release on or before the Release Deadline, or if you revoke the release, then you will not be entitled to the benefits described above. You acknowledge and agree that if you resign without Good Reason or if the Company terminates your employment for Cause, you will not be eligible to receive any of the benefits described above, other than the Accrued Obligations (but not including the payment under clause (i) of Accrued Obligations). It is intended that all of the payments and benefits payable under this Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent no so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A. If the parties agree in good faith that this Agreement is not in compliance with Section 409A, the parties shall cooperate to attempt to modify this Agreement to comply with Section 409A while endeavoring to maintain its economic benefits to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of Code Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), your right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement (whether severance payments, reimbursements or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if you are deemed by the Company at the time of your “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder, a “Separation from Service”) to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), and if any of the payments upon Separation from Service set forth herein and/or under any other agreement with the Company are deemed to be “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments shall not be provided to you prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six-month and one day period measured from the date of your Separation from Service with the Company, (ii) the date of your death or (iii) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation. Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section shall be paid in a lump sum to you, and any remaining payments due shall be paid as otherwise provided herein or in the applicable agreement. No interest shall be due on any amounts so deferred. If the Company determines that any severance benefits provided under this Agreement constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, for purposes of determining the schedule for payment of the severance benefits, the effective date of the Release will not be deemed to have occurred any earlier than the sixtieth (60th) date following the Separation From Service, regardless of when the Release actually becomes effective. In addition to the above, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A and the applicable regulations and guidance issued thereunder, if the applicable time period for you to execute (and not revoke) the applicable Release spans two calendar years, payment of the applicable severance benefits shall not commence until the beginning of the second calendar year. The Company makes no representation that compensation paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to any such payment. In addition, you acknowledge and agree that the payments and benefits described in this agreement (in addition to any other payments and benefits payable to you by the Company or any affiliate thereof) may be subject to reduction as set forth on Attachment A, which is hereby incorporated into this Agreement.
