determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided, however, that this Section 15 shall not create any obligation on the part of the Company or any Affiliate to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action. In no event shall the Company or any Affiliate be liable for any tax, interest or penalty imposed on the Participant under Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
16. No Right to Continued Service. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue as a Service Provider of the Company or any Affiliate, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or any Affiliate, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
17. Miscellaneous.
(a) Incorporation of the Plan. This Agreement is made under and subject to and governed by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall control. By signing this Agreement, the Participant confirms that he or she has received a copy of the Plan and has had an opportunity to review the contents thereof.
(b) Clawback. This Award shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy currently in effect or as may be adopted by the Company, in each case, as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Successors and Assigns. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, any business entity that succeeds to the business of the Company.
(d) Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement, together with the Plan, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties. In the event that the provisions of such other agreements or letters conflict or are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control. Except as set forth in Section 15 above, this Agreement may not be amended except in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto and approved by the Committee. No amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
(e) Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in Section 10 hereof shall survive the later of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of the Award.
(f) Severability. If for any reason one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such instrument.
7