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.
Employee Matters; ERISA 15 Section 4.11
Plan Terminations Under Section 409A Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7.2, if the Company terminates this Agreement in the following circumstances: (a) Upon the Company’s termination and liquidation of the Agreement pursuant to irrevocable action taken within thirty (30) days before, or twelve (12) months after a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company as described in Section 409A(2)(A)(v) of the Code, provided that all distributions are made no later than twelve (12) months following such termination of the Agreement and further provided that all the Company’s arrangements which are substantially similar to the Agreement are terminated so the Executive and all participants in the similar arrangements are required to receive all amounts of compensation deferred under the terminated arrangements within twelve (12) months of the termination of the arrangements; (b) Upon the Company’s termination and liquidation of the Agreement within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Section 331 of the Code or with the approval of a bankruptcy court provided that the amounts deferred under the Agreement are included in the Executive’s gross income in the latest of the following years (or, if earlier, the taxable year in which the amount is actually or constructively received): (i) the calendar year in which the Agreement terminates; (ii) the first calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which the distribution is administratively practical; or (c) Upon the Company’s termination and liquidation of this and all other non-account balance plans (as referenced in Section 409A of the Code) provided that (i) such action does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Company; (ii) all distributions are made no earlier than twelve (12) months and no later than twenty-four (24) months following such termination, and (iii) the Company does not adopt any new non-account balance plans for a minimum of three (3) years following the date of such termination; the Company may distribute the vested Accrual Balance as shown on Schedule A, determined as of the date of the termination of the Agreement, to the Executive in a lump sum subject to the above terms.
Pension and Welfare Plans During the twelve-consecutive-month period prior to the Closing Date and prior to the date of any Credit Extension hereunder, no steps have been taken to terminate any Pension Plan, and no contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA. No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which might reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence by the Borrowers or any member of the Controlled Group of any material liability, fine or penalty. Except as disclosed in Item 6.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither any Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.
Welfare Plans Effective as of the Closing Date, Purchaser shall provide group health, life insurance, long term disability and other welfare and fringe benefit plan coverage and benefits (for the purposes of this Section 6.8, “Purchaser’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans”) for Newsprint Employees and Apache Employees who are offered and accept employment with Purchaser as of the Closing Date and who otherwise qualify for such coverage or benefits. In the case of Hourly Newsprint Employees and Hourly Apache Employees, such coverage or benefits shall provide substantially comparable coverage and benefits in the aggregate as Seller’s health, life insurance, welfare and fringe benefit plans provide (for the purposes of this Section 6.8, “Seller’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans”) and otherwise comply with the relevant Collective Bargaining Agreements and in part shall provide for Purchaser’s assumption and continuation of Seller’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans covering Hourly Newsprint Employees and Hourly Apache Employees. In the case of Salaried Employees, Purchaser shall offer substantially comparable coverage and benefits in the aggregate as provided under Seller’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans, except for including retiree health and retiree life insurance. Purchaser may assume and continue any or all of Seller’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans, except for Seller’s health and dental benefits for Salaried Employees, coverage under which shall be provided to Retained Employees and Hired Employees in accordance with the terms of the Transitional Services Agreement. A Newsprint Employee’s or Apache Employee’s last continuous period of service with Seller or Apache shall be counted as if it had been service for Purchaser in determining eligibility for the coverage and benefits set forth in this Section 6.8. Attached as Schedule 6.8 is a list of the last continuous period of service of Newsprint Employees and Apache Employees as of the date set forth on Schedule 6.8. If Purchaser assumes and continues one or more of Seller’s Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans, the parties shall enter into the Welfare Benefit Plans Assignment and Assumption Agreement in this regard.
Terminability of Welfare Plans No Employee Benefit Plan, which is an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of ss.3(1) or ss.3(2)(B) of ERISA, provides benefit coverage subsequent to termination of employment, except as required by Title I, Part 6 of ERISA or the applicable state insurance laws. The Borrower may terminate each such Plan at any time (or at any time subsequent to the expiration of any applicable bargaining agreement) in the discretion of the Borrower without liability to any Person other than for claims arising prior to termination.
Health and Welfare Plans (a) A copy of the master contracts with the carriers for the extended health care, dental and group life plans shall be sent to the President of the Union. (b) The Employer will consult the Union before developing any pamphlet explaining the highlights of the plans for distribution to employees. The cost of such a pamphlet shall be borne by the Employer.
WELFARE PLAN Section 1: The Plan Section 2: Joint Welfare Board
Employee Matters and Benefit Plans (a) Section 6.17(a) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter contains an accurate and complete list of each Employee Agreement and Employee Plan of HealthAxis (including for each such plan a description of any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement). Except as set forth in Section 6.17(a) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter, neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries or Affiliates has any announced plan or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to establish any new Employee Plan or Employee Agreement, to modify any Employee Plan or Employee Agreement (except to the extent required by law or to conform any such Employee Plan or Employee Agreement to the requirements of any applicable law, in each case as previously disclosed to BPOMS in writing, or as required by this Agreement), or to enter into any Employee Plan or Employee Agreement, nor does it have any intention or commitment to do any of the foregoing. (b) HealthAxis has provided or made available to BPOMS correct and complete copies of all material documents embodying or relating to each HealthAxis Employee Plan and Employee Agreement including: (i) all amendments thereto; (ii) the most recent annual actuarial valuations, if any, prepared for each HealthAxis Employee Plan; (iii) the three most recent annual reports (Series 5500 and all schedules thereto), if any, required under ERISA or the Code in connection with each HealthAxis Employee Plan or related trust; (iv) if the HealthAxis Employee Plan is funded, the most recent annual and periodic accounting of Employee Plan assets; (v) the most recent summary plan description together with the most recent summary of material modifications, if any, required under ERISA with respect to each HealthAxis Employee Plan; (vi) all IRS determination letters and rulings relating to HealthAxis Employee Plans and copies of all applications and correspondence to or from the IRS or DOL with respect to any HealthAxis Employee Plan; and (vii) all communications material to any Employee or Employees relating to any HealthAxis Employee Plan and any proposed HealthAxis Employee Plans, in each case, relating to any amendments, terminations, establishments, increases or decreases in benefits, acceleration of payments or vesting schedules or other events which would result in any material liability to HealthAxis or any HealthAxis Subsidiary. (i) Except as set forth in Section 6.l7(c) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter, HealthAxis and each of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries and Affiliates has performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under each HealthAxis Employee Plan, and each HealthAxis Employee Plan has been established and maintained in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no “prohibited transaction,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA for which no class or statutory exemption is available, has occurred with respect to any HealthAxis Employee Plan; (iii) there are no material actions, suits or claims pending or, to the knowledge of HealthAxis, threatened or anticipated (other than routine claims for benefits) against any HealthAxis Employee Plan or against the assets of any HealthAxis Employee Plan; (iv) such HealthAxis Employee Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, without material liability to HealthAxis or any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates (other than ordinary administration expenses typically incurred in a termination event); (v) there are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of HealthAxis, threatened by the IRS or DOL with respect to any HealthAxis Employee Plan; (vi) neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries is subject to any penalty or tax with respect to any HealthAxis Employee Plan under Section 402(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 through 4980 of the Code; and (vii) all contributions, including any top heavy contributions, required to be made prior to the Closing by HealthAxis or any Affiliate to any Employee Plan have been made or shall be made on or before the Closing Date. (d) Neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries or Affiliates currently maintain, sponsor, participate in or contribute to, nor have they ever maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to, any Pension Plan which is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. (e) At no time has HealthAxis or any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries or Affiliates contributed to or been requested or obligated to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan. (f) Except as set forth in Section 6.17(f) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter or as required by local, state or federal law, no Employee Plan or any Employment Agreement to which HealthAxis is a party provides, or is required to provide, life insurance, medical or other employee benefits to any Employee upon his or her retirement or termination of employment for any reason, and HealthAxis and each of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries has never represented, promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any Employee (either individually or to Employees as a group) that such Employee(s) would be provided with life insurance, medical or other employee welfare benefits upon their retirement or termination of employment. (g) The execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under any HealthAxis Employee Plan, Employee Agreement, trust or loan that will or may result in any payment (whether of severance payor otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund benefits with respect to any HealthAxis Employee, except as set forth in Section 6.17(g) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter. (h) Except as set forth in Section 6.17(h) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter, HealthAxis and each of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries (i) is in compliance in all respects with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations respecting employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours; in each case, with respect to Employees except as would not have an HealthAxis Material Adverse Effect; (ii) has withheld all amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld from the wages, salaries, and other payments to Employees; (iii) is not liable for any arrears of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing; and (iv) is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund or to any governmental or administrative authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice). (i) No work stoppage or labor strike against HealthAxis or any HealthAxis Subsidiary is pending or, to the knowledge of HealthAxis, threatened. Neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries is involved in or, to the knowledge of HealthAxis, threatened with, any labor dispute, grievance, administrative proceeding or litigation relating to labor, safety, employment practices or discrimination matters involving any Employee, including, without limitation, charges of unfair labor practices or discrimination complaints, which, if adversely determined, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a HealthAxis Material Adverse Effect. Neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act which would, individually or in the aggregate, directly or indirectly have a HealthAxis Material Adverse Effect. Neither HealthAxis nor any of the HealthAxis Subsidiaries or Affiliates has ever been a party to any agreement with any labor organization or union, and none of the HealthAxis Employees are represented by any labor organization or union, nor have any HealthAxis Employees threatened to organize or join a union or filed a petition for representation with the National Labor Relations Board. (j) There are no (i) bonus or severance payments that could be payable to Employees of HealthAxis under existing Employee Agreements or Employee Plans on account of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (without regard to termination of employment), or (ii) severance obligations that could be payable to Employees of HealthAxis under existing Employee Agreements and Employee Plans on account of terminations of employment following the Effective Time, except as disclosed in Schedule 6.17(j) of the HealthAxis Disclosure Letter. (k) The employment agreements contemplated by Section 8.1(d) of this Agreement and the addition to shares of the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (or a new plan) contemplated by Section 2.2(a)(viii) of this Agreement shall in all respects be excepted from the representations set forth in this Section 6.17.
Health and Welfare Benefit Plans During the Employment Period, Executive and Executive’s immediate family shall be entitled to participate in such health and welfare benefit plans as the Employer shall maintain from time to time for the benefit of senior executive officers of the Employer and their families, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in such plan. Nothing in this Section shall limit the Employer’s right to change or modify or terminate any benefit plan or program as it sees fit from time to time in the normal course of business so long as it does so for all senior executives of the Employer.