Termination and Severance Executive shall be entitled to receive benefits upon termination of employment only as set forth in this Section 4:
Termination and Severance Pay A. In the event Employee is terminated by the Board before the expiration of the term of this agreement without just cause, and during that time Employee is willing and able to perform his duties under this Agreement, the Board shall continue to pay Employee's salary for a period of four (4) months after the date of termination (the "Severance Period") and shall continue Employee's then current health insurance coverage for a period of four (4) months. In the event Employer is not able to maintain Employee's health insurance coverage pursuant to the terms of the Township health insurance plan, then Employer shall pay to Employee, for a period of four (4) months, the cost of health insurance premiums at a rate that will continue substantially similar health benefits for Employee and Employee's family, if applicable, as provided under the then current township health insurance plan. In addition, the Board shall pay the cash value of any accrued vacation time. All of the above shall hereinafter be referred to as the Severance Compensation. The parties agree that this Severance Compensation shall constitute Employee's sole and exclusive remedy for termination without just cause B. In the event Employee is terminated by the Board before the expiration of the term of this agreement with just cause, the Board shall have no obligation to pay the Severance Compensation set forth in Section 3A. C. In the event the Board, at any time during the term of this Agreement, reduces the salary or other financial benefits of Employee in a greater percentage than an applicable across- the-board reduction for all employees of the Board, or in the event the Board refuses, following written notice, to comply with any other provision benefiting Employee herein, or Employee resigns following a written request by the Board that he resign, then, in that event, Employee may, at his option, be deemed to be "terminated without just cause" as of the date of such reduction, refusal to comply, or written request and Employee shall be entitled to the Severance Compensation as set forth in Section 3A. as if he were terminated without cause. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Board's failure to grant Employee a raise equivalent to that given any or all other Township Employees shall not be deemed a "reduction" as provided herein. D. In the event Employee desires to voluntarily resign his position with the Board before the expiration of the above term of this employment, then Employee shall give the Board thirty (30) days notice in advance, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. In the event the Employee voluntarily resigns his position, he shall not be entitled to the severance pay provisions contained in Section 3A hereof. E. For the purposes of Section 3. hereof, "just cause" shall mean the following: (a) The Employee is convicted of a felony; (b) The Employee has failed or neglected to carry out his duties hereunder in any material and significant respect, or has been guilty of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice to him from the Board specifying the nature of such failure, neglect, misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, unless such misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance is so egregious or of such a nature that it is of a criminal nature or it cannot be corrected. F. If the Employee is permanently disabled or is otherwise unable to perform his duties because of sickness, accident, injury, mental incapacity or health for a period of eight successive weeks beyond any accrued sick leave and vacation time, the Board shall have the option to terminate this Agreement, and Employee shall receive the Severance Compensation set forth under Paragraph 3A. above.
Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances:
Termination Severance Either party may terminate the employment relationship as evidenced by this Agreement at any time and for any reason upon ninety days written notice to the other. a. If You elect to terminate the employment relationship, or if You are terminated by the Company for Cause, You shall receive Base Pay and benefits through the date of termination. Cause means your termination of employment with the Corporation based upon embezzlement or other intentional misconduct which is materially injurious to the Corporation, monetarily or otherwise. b. If the Corporation elects to terminate the employment relationship or if You elect to resign for Good Reason, You shall receive a severance payment equal to one and one-half (1-1/2) times the sum of your present Base Pay plus your most recent annual incentive payment (the "Severance Payment"), in full satisfaction of the Corporation's obligations to You as an employee. The Severance Payment will be paid within fifteen (15) days of the date of termination and shall be subject to payroll taxes and any withholding obligations. Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) a material change in your responsibilities or title which are not of comparable responsibility and status as those held upon execution of this Agreement; (2) a reduction in your Base Pay, or a modification of the Corporation's incentive compensation program or benefits in a manner materially adverse to You; (3) a breach or alteration of any material term of this contract without your consent. c. If You are terminated in connection with a Change in Control, as defined by the Change in Control Severance Agreement entered into by You and the Corporation (the "Severance Agreement"), and You receive payment of the severance benefits under Section 4 of the Severance Agreement, no Severance Payment shall be due to You under this Agreement.
Term Termination 10.1. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein. 10.2. This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following provisions: (a) At the option of the Company or the Trust at any time from the date hereof upon 180 days’ notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the parties; (b) At the option of the Company or the Trust, if Fund shares are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the Company. The termination will be effective ten days after receipt of notice unless the Trust makes available a sufficient number of Fund shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts within the ten-day period; (c) At the option of the Company, upon the institution of formal proceedings against the Trust, the Distributor or Adviser by the SEC, FINRA, or any other regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which would, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, materially impair the Trust’s, the Distributor’s or the Adviser’s ability to meet and perform their respective obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the Company with said termination to be effective upon receipt of notice; (d) At the option of the Trust, the Distributor or the Adviser, upon the institution of formal proceedings against the Company by the SEC, FINRA, or any other regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which would, in Trust’s reasonable judgment, materially impair the Company’s ability to meet and perform its obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by Trust with said termination to be effective upon receipt of notice; (e) At the option of the Company, in the event the Trust’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state or federal law, or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium of Variable Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company. Termination shall be effective immediately upon notice to the Trust; (f) At the option of the Trust if the Variable Contracts cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code, or if the Trust reasonably believes that the Variable Contracts may fail to so qualify. Termination shall be effective upon receipt of notice by the Company; (g) At the option of the Company, upon the Trust’s breach of any material provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the Company within ten days after written notice of such breach is delivered to the Trust; (h) At the option of the Trust, upon the Company’s breach of any material provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the Trust within ten days after written notice of such breach is delivered to the Company; (i) At the option of the Trust, if the Variable Contracts are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law. Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice to the Company; (j) At the option of the Company in the event that any Fund ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that any Fund may fail to so qualify. Termination shall be effective immediately upon notice to the Trust; (k) At the option of the Company in the event that any Fund fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article II hereof or if the Company reasonably believes that any Fund may fail to meet such diversification requirements. Termination shall be effective immediately upon notice to the Trust; and (l) In the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior written consent of the Company, the Trust, the Distributor and the Adviser, termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice. 10.3. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2 hereof, the Trust shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional Fund shares, as provided below, for so long as the Company desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Variable Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (“Existing Contracts”). Specifically, without limitation, if the Company so elects to make additional Fund shares available, the owners of the Existing Contracts or the Company, whichever shall have legal authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Trust, redeem investments in the Trust and/or invest in the Trust upon the payment of additional premiums under the Existing Contracts. In the event of a termination of this Agreement, the Company, as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, shall notify the Trust, the Distributor and the Adviser whether the Company elects to continue to make Fund shares available after such termination. If Fund shares continue to be made available after such termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect. 10.4. Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract owner initiated transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Company shall not redeem the shares attributable to the Variable Contracts (as opposed to the shares attributable to the Company’s assets held in the Separate Accounts or invested directly), and the Company shall not prevent Variable Contract owners from allocating payments to a Fund that was otherwise available under the Variable Contracts, until thirty (30) days after the Company shall have notified the Trust of its intention to do so.
Term; Termination of Agreement This Agreement shall continue in force for a period of one year from the date hereof, subject to an unlimited number of successive one-year renewals upon mutual consent of the parties. It is the duty of the Independent Directors to evaluate the performance of the Advisor annually before renewing the Agreement, and each such renewal shall be for a term of no more than one year.
Obligations of the Company Upon Termination of Employment (a) Expiration of Term, By the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason. If Executive's employment shall be terminated: (i) due to and upon expiration of the Term of this Agreement the Company shall pay Executive his full salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, and an amount equal to the product of (x) all bonuses and awards that would have been earned by Executive upon completion of each award cycle that began during the Term but had not been completed as of the Date of Termination, calculated as though the full achievement of all goals and targets relating thereto had been achieved in full and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days from the beginning of the applicable bonus or award cycle to and including the Date of Termination and the denominator of which shall be the number of days in such cycle; or (ii) if Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, then the Company shall pay Executive his Base Salary (at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given) through the Date of Termination, and the Company shall have no additional obligations to Executive under this Agreement. (b) For any other reason. If Executive's employment shall be terminated for any reason other than those provided in Section 6(a) above, then: (i) the Company shall pay Executive his full salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, and an amount equal to the product of (x) all bonuses and awards that would have been earned by Executive upon completion of each award cycle that began during the Term but had not been completed as of the Date of Termination, calculated as though the full achievement of all goals and targets relating thereto had been achieved in full and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days from the beginning of the applicable bonus or award cycle to and including the Date of Termination and the denominator of which shall be the number of days in such cycle; and (ii) in lieu of paying any further compensation to Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive severance payments in the form of continuation of Executive's Base Salary in effect as of the Date of Termination for a period of two (2) years following such Date of Termination (the "Severance Payment Period").
TERM, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT (a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date of its execution and shall remain in full force and effect until March 31, 2008 (the “Initial Term”) and shall automatically continue in full force and effect after the Initial Term on an annual basis thereafter unless the Administrators terminate or the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent terminates this Agreement by written notice to the Administrators or the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, as applicable, at least three hundred and sixty-five (365) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any annual term thereafter. If this Agreement is terminated by either party as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent shall, at the request of the Administrators, continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the “Extension Period”) of one hundred and eighty (180) days after the date of termination under the immediately preceding sentence and the compensation payable to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent for such Extension Period shall be (i) if this Agreement is terminated under the first sentence of this Section 15(a) by the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, the compensation described on Schedule D attached hereto as in effect on the date of the commencement of the Extension Period, or (ii) if this Agreement is terminated under the first sentence of this Section 15(a) by the Administrators, one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of the compensation described on Schedule D attached hereto as in effect on the date of the commencement of the Extension Period for the duration of such Extension Period. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) herein, and subject to the provisions of clause (c) herein, within thirty (30) days of each Constructive Termination Date (as defined herein) the Administrators shall pay to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent a fee (a “Termination Fee”) which is equal to 25% of the aggregate amount of fees which would have been payable to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent under this Agreement with respect to the Terminated Funds, calculated in accordance with the Schedule D in effect on such Constructive Termination Date (as defined herein) but based on, in the case of the calculation of the sub-administration fees, the average assets of the Fund during the sixty (60) day period preceding its termination as a Fund hereunder, and for the greater of (A) three (3) years from such Constructive Termination Date or (B) the remainder of the Initial Term of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 15, (i) a “Terminated Fund” is a Fund (A) to which an Administrator no longer furnishes administrative and/or fund accounting services as a result of the termination, expiration or non-renewal of the applicable administration, advisory or other service agreement by and between such Fund and the Administrator (an “Administration Agreement*), and the provision of services by the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent to any Administrator (or its affiliates) under this Agreement with respect to each such Fund is then eliminated or terminated; (B) that has not entered into a State Street Agreement as set forth in clause (c) below; and (C) with respect to which a Termination Fee has not been paid, and (ii) a “Constructive Termination Date” will occur (A) when the aggregate number of Terminated Funds since the date hereof equals 15% or more of the sum of (y) the aggregate number of Funds listed on Schedule A on the date hereof plus (z) the number of Funds added to Schedule A from time to time prior to such Constructive Termination Date and (B) thereafter, each time when the aggregate number of Terminated Funds since the last Constructive Termination Date equals 15% or more of the sum of (y) the aggregate number of Funds listed on Schedule A on the most recent Constructive Termination Date plus (z) the number of Funds added to Schedule A from time to time prior to the next Constructive Termination Date. (c) If, prior to the expiration of the Initial Term and on or before the thirtieth (30/th/) day after the most recent Constructive Termination Date, the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent is directly appointed by any Terminated Fund to perform such administrative and accounting services directly to such Fund pursuant to an agreement with substantially similar terms as this Agreement (the “State Street Agreement”), a term equal to or greater than the remaining portion of the Initial Term of this Agreement, and with a Fee Schedule comparable to the Fee Schedule currently in effect under this Agreement and attached as Schedule D with respect to the sub-administration services listed on Schedule X-x attached hereto and the sub-accounting services listed on Schedule B-3 attached hereto, then the Administrators shall not be required to include such Terminated Fund in the calculation of the Termination Fee then payable. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c), however, in the event that the State Street Agreement is terminated by any Fund for any reason other than cause (such as the negligence or willful misconduct of the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, its officers or employees) prior to March 31, 2008 (the expiration of the Initial Term under this Agreement), the Administrators shall pay to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, within thirty (30) days of such termination, a Termination Fee which is equal to 25% of the fees that would have been payable to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent under this Agreement with respect to the relevant Terminated Fund, calculated in accordance with the Schedule D as in effect on the last day that such Terminated Fund was listed on Schedule A to this Agreement (but based on, in the case of the calculation of the sub-administration fees, the average assets of the fund during the sixty (60) day period prior to the termination), and for the remainder of the Initial Term of this Agreement. The amount of the termination fee, if any, payable and actually paid by such Terminated Fund to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent in connection with the termination of, and as described in, the State Street Agreement shall reduce any fee payable by the Administrators under this subsection (c). (d) The portion of any Termination Fee payable with respect to a Terminated Fund under subsection (b) and the Termination Fee payable with respect to a Terminated Fund under subsection (c) hereof shall be reduced by 40% in the event that the Terminated Fund is or becomes, on or before the date that such Termination Fee is due, a part of any fund family not listed on Schedule A attached hereto, and for which the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent provides sub-administrative and sub-acconting services. (e) Termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund shall in no way affect the continued validity of this Agreement with respect to any other Fund. Upon termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund, and subject to the provisions of Section 7.2, Schedule A shall be amended to reflect the Funds subject to the terms of this Agreement. (f) Notwithstanding clause (d), the Administrators may terminate this Agreement (i) upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent that the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent is in breach of this Agreement, and the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent within such period fails to cure such breach, (ii) upon intervention of bankruptcy or receivership with respect to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, or (iii) upon the execution by the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent of any assignment for the benefit of creditors. Any such termination shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any rights the Administrators may have at law or in equity against the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent. (g) Upon termination of this Agreement, the Administrators shall pay to the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent such compensation and any reimbursable expenses as may be due under the terms hereof as of the date of such termination. (h) If a successor sub-administrator/accounting agent or administrator or accounting agent for any Fund shall be appointed by any Administrator or by a Fund, respectively, the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent stall upon termination of this Agreement with respect to that Fund use commercially reasonable efforts to transfer the records of such Fund to the designated successor sub-administrator/accounting agent or administrator or accounting agent for that Fund, as appropriate, to provide reasonable assistance to the applicable Administrator and that Fund’s designated successor sub-administrator/accounting agent or administrator or accounting agent, and to provide other information relating to its services provided hereunder (subject, in each case, to the recompense of the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent for such assistance at its standard rates and fees in effect at the time of such transfer). If no such successor sub-administrator/accounting agent or administrator or accounting agent shall be appointed for a Fund, the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent shall, upon receipt of Proper Instructions on or before the termination of this Agreement for such Fund, deliver such Fund’s property in accordance with such instructions. If no successor sub-administrator/accounting agent or administrator or accounting agent shall be appointed for a Fund and no Proper Instructions have been received, in each case, on or before the termination of this Agreement for such Fund, the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent shall upon such termination deliver to the Administrator of such Fund (or its successor), at the office of the Sub-Administrator/Accounting Agent, all property of such Fund. (i) This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of all parties hereto.
Termination of Employment Severance Your immediate supervisor or the Company's Board of Directors may terminate your employment, with or without cause, at any time by giving you written notice of your termination, such termination of employment to be effective on the date specified in the notice. You also may terminate your employment with the Company at any time. The effective date of termination (the "Effective Date") shall be the last day of your employment with the Company, as specified in a notice by you, or if you are terminated by the Company, the date that is specified by the Company in its notice to you. The following subsections set forth your rights to severance in the event of the termination of your employment in certain circumstances by either the Company or you. Section 5 also sets forth certain restrictions on your activities if your employment with the Company is terminated, whether by the Company or you. That section shall survive any termination of this Agreement or your employment with the Company.
Change in Control Severance Except as otherwise set forth herein, if a Change in Control occurs, and on, or at any time during the 24 months following, the Change in Control, (i) the Company terminates Executive’s employment for any reason other than Cause or Disability, or (ii) Executive terminates Executive’s employment for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits: (i) The Company shall pay Executive, in a lump sum within 60 days following termination of Executive’s employment, severance equal to two times the sum of Executive’s Base Salary and Bonus (the full, non- prorated Bonus for the year of termination assuming attainment of the targeted performance goals at the 100% payout level). (ii) Executive also shall be entitled to receive any and all vested benefits accrued under any other incentive plans to the date of termination of employment, the amount, entitlement to, form, and time of payment of such benefits to be determined by the terms of such incentive plans. For purposes of calculating Executive’s benefits under the incentive plans, Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have terminated under circumstances that have the most favorable result for Executive under the applicable incentive plan. (iii) If, upon the date of termination of Executive’s employment, Executive holds any awards with respect to securities of the Company, (i) all such awards that are options shall immediately become vested and exercisable upon such date and shall be exercisable thereafter until the earlier of the third (3rd) year anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment or the expiration of the term of the options; (ii) all restrictions on any such awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other awards shall terminate or lapse, and all such awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other awards shall be vested and payable; and (iii) all performance goals applicable to any such performance-based awards that are “in cycle” (i.e., the performance period is not yet complete) shall be deemed satisfied at the “target” level (assuming 100% payout), and (iv) all such awards shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject (and defer) to the provisions of any incentive plan, award agreement or other agreement as it relates to an individual award to the extent such provisions provide treatment that is more favorable to Executive than the treatment described in this subsection and such more favorable provisions in such incentive plan, award agreement or other agreement shall supersede any inconsistent or contrary provision of this subsection. All of Executive’s awards with respect to securities of the Company that are outstanding upon the date of termination of Executive’s employment shall continue to be subject to, and enjoy the benefits and protections under, the terms of the incentive plan, the award agreement and any other plan, agreement, policy or other arrangement to which such awards are subject as of the effective date of Executive’s participation, including any employment security agreement or other written compensation arrangement (even if the remaining terms thereof are waived), without application of this subsection. (iv) Executive and Executive’s spouse and other qualified beneficiaries shall be eligible for continued coverage as follows: (A) If the Executive, Executive’s spouse and/or Executive’s other qualified beneficiaries are enrolled under a group health plan as defined by COBRA, on the date of termination of Executive’s employment, Executive, Executive’s spouse and/or Executive’s qualified beneficiaries may elect to continue such coverage under COBRA, except that the maximum coverage period shall be extended to no less than the Severance Period (but no more than 2 years) for that Executive, unless, after electing COBRA, the individual attains age 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare, in which case COBRA shall end for that individual. If Executive, Executive’s spouse and/or Executive’s other qualified beneficiaries elect COBRA coverage, the Company shall pay a portion of the COBRA costs for the Severance Period for that Executive (subject to any earlier termination of COBRA). The portion to be paid by the Company shall equal the amount necessary so that the total of the COBRA costs paid by Executive is equal to the costs that would have been paid by Executive for such coverage as an active employee immediately prior to termination of Executive’s employment or, if less, prior to the Change in Control. The cost of COBRA coverage paid by the Company may be taxable income to the Executive and reported on Executive’s Internal Revenue Service Form W-2. Executive, Executive’s spouse and/or Executive’s qualified beneficiaries may continue coverage under COBRA after the Severance Period for that Executive, provided they pay the full COBRA costs and COBRA otherwise remains available. (B) The benefits and/or extended coverage provided under this subsection shall cease prior to the date such benefits and/or extended coverage would otherwise end under subsection if and when Executive (A) obtains employment with another employer during the Severance Period and becomes eligible for coverage under any substantially similar plan provided by his/her new employer or (B) fails to pay the required active employee portion of the cost of coverage provided under this subsection in the time and manner specified by the Company or its designee. (v) Executive shall be entitled to payment for any accrued but unused vacation in accordance with the Company’s policy in effect at the time of termination of Executive’s employment, in a lump sum within 60 days following such termination. Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other compensation attributable to vacation that would have been earned had Executive’s employment continued during the Severance Period, and Executive waives any right to receive any such compensation. (vi) The Company shall, at the Company’s expense, provide Executive with 12 months of executive outplacement services with a professional outplacement firm selected by the Company; provided that Executive must use the outplacement services by no later than the end of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination of Executive’s employment occurred and the total cost of such outplacement services must not exceed any per individual cap on such amounts in the Company’s agreement with the professional outplacement firm selected by the Company. (vii) Executive shall not be entitled to reimbursement for any other fringe benefits or perquisite payments during the Severance Period, including but not limited to dues and expenses related to club memberships, automobile, cell phone, expenses for professional services, executive physicals, and other similar perquisites. (viii) The Company shall pay as incurred (within ten calendar days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from Executive) Executive’s out-of-pocket expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by Executive at any time from the date of this Agreement through Executive’s remaining lifetime or, if longer, the statute of limitations for contract claims under applicable state law, in connection with any action taken to enforce the Executive’s rights under this Agreement or construe or determine the validity of this Agreement or otherwise in connection herewith, including any claim or legal action or proceeding, whether brought by Executive or the Company or another party; provided, Executive must be successful through judgment in his/her favor with respect to such action in order to recover fees under this Section 5(f)(viii); provided further, that Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least fifteen calendar days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred. The amount of such legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and Executive’s right to have the Company pay such legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. The Company’s obligation to pay Executive’s eligible legal fees and expenses under this Section 5(f)(viii) shall not be conditioned upon the termination of Executive’s employment.