complete performance periods deemed achieved at the actual level of performance as determined by the Compensation Committee, with all such awards to be settled no later than ten (10) days following the Separation Date, provided, that any awards that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be settled at such time without triggering a tax or penalty shall be settled at the earliest time permitted without triggering a tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.
Section 7. Recovery Upon Termination of the Merger or Release Noncompliance. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, and in addition to any rights that the Company may have pursuant to Section 2(b), Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Company may clawback (recover) the gross amount of the Restrictive Covenant Payment, the Pro Rata Bonus Payment and the Severance Payment (collectively, the “Clawback Amount”) upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Closing does not occur, including due to a termination of the Merger Agreement; or (ii) Executive does not timely execute and deliver (or revokes) the Release as requested by the Company on or within twenty-one (21) days after the Closing. In the case of a clawback, Executive must return the Clawback Amount to the Company no later than sixty (60) days after the Company delivers written notice to Executive, which notice must be delivered within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of either clawback event as described in clause (i) and clause (ii) above.
Section 8. Taxes. The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all applicable taxes, including but not limited to income, employment, and social insurance taxes, as shall be required by law. Executive acknowledges and represents that the Company has not provided any tax advice to him in connection with this Agreement and that he has been advised by the Company to seek tax advice from his own tax advisors regarding this Agreement and payments that may be made to him pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 9. Notice. Any notice to be given hereunder shall be deemed given when either mailed in the United States mails, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested or e-mailed to the applicable Party, in each case, to the addresses of the Parties specified by themselves.
Section 10. Waiver. No action, waiver or forbearance by the Company on any one occasion in pursuing any right or remedy to which it may be entitled under this Agreement shall operate to waive, modify or in any way affect or restrict the rights of the Company on any subsequent occasion, nor shall any action, waiver or forbearance by the Company under or with respect to any similar or dissimilar agreement with any past, present or future employee of the Company in any way modify, affect or restrict the rights of the Company under this Agreement.
Section 11. Entire Agreement; Blue Pencil. This is the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and all prior discussions relating to it are merged herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and oral understandings between the Parties. No covenant or agreement contained herein shall be altered, modified or waived, except, in each instance, by an instrument in writing properly executed by the Party to be charged by such alteration, modification or waiver. If any term, clause or provision of this Agreement shall be judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the validity of any other term, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. If any term, clause or provision in Section 1 shall be judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the scope of non-competition agreements permissible under applicable law, then such term, clause or provision shall be reformed to coincide with the maximum limitations permitted.
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