(2) Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) Consulting Fees. During the Consultation Period, the Company shall pay the Consultant consulting fees in the amount of $3,500.00 per month for up to ten (10) hours of Services per month performed hereunder (provided, however, that, with the advance written approval of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Consultant may perform Services in excess of ten (10) hours per month (but no more than the amount provided in Section 1(a) hereof), and for each such hour of Services performed in excess of ten (10) in any month the Company shall pay the Consultant consulting fees in the amount of $350.00 per hour), to be paid to the Consultant in accordance with Section 2(c) below (the “Consulting Fees”). The parties agree that (i) the level of services to be performed by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement is, and in all events shall be, less than 20 percent of the average level of services performed by Consultant as an employee of the Company during the 36-month period prior to the Separation Date, and (ii) nothing in this Agreement is intended to alter the fact that Consultant experienced a “separation from service” as of the Separation Date for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”).
(b) During the Consultation Period, the Options will continue to vest and become exercisable in accordance with the applicable option agreement(s) and equity plan(s).
(c) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Consultant in connection with the performance of the Services under this Agreement, so long as they are approved in writing in advance by the Company.
All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirements that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the Consultant’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
(d) Itemized Statements. At the end of any month in which the Consultant performs Services and incurs expenses in accordance with Section 2(c), the Consultant shall submit to the Company an itemized statement of the Services performed, including the number of hours worked and the project to which the Services relate, and the expenses incurred, including appropriate and reasonable documentation. The Company shall pay the Consultant the amount set forth on such itemized statement within thirty (30) days after receipt.
(e) No Employee Benefits. The Consultant’s relationship with the Company will be that of an independent contractor, and the Consultant shall not, in connection with this relationship, be entitled to any benefits, coverages or privileges, including without limitation health insurance, social security, unemployment, workers compensation, or pension payments, made available to employees of the Company.
(3) Term and Termination.
(a) Consultation Period. Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and provided the Consultant has timely signed the Separation Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall commence on the Consulting Effective Date and shall continue for three (3) months thereafter unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions below (such period, the “Consultation Period”).