(i)Definition of “Separation.” For all purposes under this Agreement, “Separation” shall mean a “separation from service,” as defined in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
(j)Definition of “Code.” For all purposes under this Agreement, “Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(k)Definition of “Service.” For all purposes under this Agreement, “Service” shall mean service as an employee or consultant of the Company.
(l)Golden Parachute Tax Limitation.
(i)In the event that it is determined that any payment or distribution of any type (cash, equity or otherwise) to or for the Executive’s benefit made by the Company, by any of its affiliates, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control of the Company or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Code Section 280G and the regulations thereunder) or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or under any other agreement including the Executive’s equity award agreements (the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments shall be made to the Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Total Payments being subject to Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of benefits of the greatest value, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Total Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax.
(ii)For avoidance of doubt, the Total Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by the Company that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of the Company, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of the Company.
(iii)The determination (the “Determination”) as to whether any of the Total Payments are “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Code Section 280G) and whether to make a Reduced Payment shall be made by an independent accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide such Determination, together with detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and to the Executive within seven business days of the Executive’s Separation, if applicable, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company or by the Executive (if the Executive reasonably believes that any of the Total Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax). In any event, as promptly as practicable following the Accounting Firm’s Determination, the Company shall pay or transfer to or for the Executive’s benefit such amounts as are then due to the Executive and shall promptly pay or transfer to or for the Executive’s benefit in the future such amounts as become due to the Executive. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Executive and the Company, absent manifest error.
(iv)For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, the Company shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, the Company shall reduce or eliminate the Total Payments in the following order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are