change in your duties and responsibilities (it being agreed that a change in duties and responsibilities following an Acquisition that is inherent in the Company becoming part of a larger business organization shall not be an event of Good Reason); provided, however, that a resignation by you shall not be considered to be for a “Good Reason” under this Agreement unless: (1) you provide written notice to the Company of the occurrence of the event which you contend constitutes Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the date such event occurs, which notice states your intention to resign for a “Good Reason” under this Agreement as a result thereof, (2) the Company does not effect a cure with respect to such event within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice, and (3) you thereafter resign and cease to perform services as an employee of the Company within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period.
6.Section 409A. It is intended that all of the severance payments and benefits, and all other payments payable under this Agreement, satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9) (“collectively “Section 409A”), and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A. 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 letter 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 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”, 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 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 Paragraph 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. The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty and will have no liability to you or to any other person if any of the provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, but does not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, Section 409A.
7.Arbitration. As a condition of your ongoing employment with the Company, you and the Company agree to submit to mandatory final, binding and confidential arbitration any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of, related to or connected with your employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, claims of discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages, breach of contract (express or implied), wrongful termination, torts, claims for stock or stock options, as well as claims based upon any federal, state or local ordinance, statute, regulation or constitutional provision, including, but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and any and all state or local laws prohibiting discrimination or regulating any terms or conditions of employment “Arbitrable Claims”). Arbitration shall be the exclusive method by which to resolve all Arbitrable Claims and shall be final and binding upon the parties. BY