Tax Considerations Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event any payments or benefits provided to the Executive hereunder upon a Change in Control are determined by the Company to be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code", with all Code Section references used herein being deemed to include any regulations thereunder), or any similar federal or state excise tax, FICA tax, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay to the Executive at the time specified in Section 5.5 (b) or 5.7 above (whichever applies), an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that after the payment by the Executive of all federal, state, or local income taxes, Excise Taxes, FICA tax, or other taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect thereto) imposed upon the receipt of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed on the severance payments and benefits provided herein.
(a) For purposes of determining whether any payments or benefits to the Executive hereunder will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax:
(i) all payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or of any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company) 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) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code, 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;
(ii) the amount of the severance payments which shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of Sections 280G(b)(1) and (4) (after applying clause (a), above); and
(iii) the parachute value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by Company in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.
(b) If the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of termination of employment, the Executive shall repay to the Company, at the time the reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction. If the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of termination of employment, the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment to the Executive in respect of such excess at the time the amount of such excess is finally determined. The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later that ten business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 calendar day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including legal and accounting fees and additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax, FICA tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this section, the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. If any such claim referred to in this Section is made by the Internal Revenue Service and the Company does not request the Executive to contest the claim within the 30 calendar day period following notice of the claim, the Company shall pay to the Executive the amount of any Gross-Up Payment owed to the Executive, but not previously paid pursuant to Section 7.1(b), immediately upon the expiration of such 30 calendar day period. If any such claim is made by the Internal Revenue Service and the Company requests the Executive to contest such claim, but does not advance the amount of such claim to the Executive for purposes of such contest, the Company shall pay to the Executive the amount of any Gross-Up Payment owed to the Executive, but not previously paid under the provisions of Section 7.1(b), within 5 business days of a Final Determination of the liability of the Executive for such Excise Tax. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Final Determination" shall be deemed to occur with respect to a claim when (i) there is a decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction, which decision, judgment, decree or other order has become final, i.e., all allowable appeals pursuant to this section have been exhausted by either party to the action, (ii) there is a closing agreement made under Section 7121 of the Code, or (iii) the time for instituting a claim for refund has expired, or if a claim was filed, the time for instituting suit with respect thereto has expired. If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to this section, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of this Section) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to this Section, a determination is made by the Internal Revenue Service that the Executive is not entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 calendar days after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
