In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to another compensation or benefit program or otherwise (“Payments”) would # constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and # but for this Section 13, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (“Excise Tax”), then such Payments shall either be # provided in full pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any other plan, program or applicable agreement, or # provided as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (“Reduced Amount”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income, employment and other taxes and the Excise Tax (including, without limitation, any interest or penalties on such taxes), results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of payments and benefits provided for hereunder or otherwise, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax.

In the event that any benefits payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement or any other benefit plan or agreement (“Payments”) # constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and # but for this [Article 6.7] would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any comparable successor provisions (the “Excise Tax”), then Executive’s Payments shall be provided to Executive as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax. In the event that the payments and/or benefits are to be reduced pursuant to this [Article 6.7], such payments and benefits shall be reduced such that the amount the Payments are reduced to as close to the amount that is $1.00 below the amount where the Excise Tax would be required to be paid as is reasonably possible. In applying this principle, the reduction shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and where two economically equivalent amounts are subject to reduction but payable at different times, such amounts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis but not below zero. For purposes of making the calculations required by this [Article 6.7], the Company’s finance personnel responsible for the calculation may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and Executive shall furnish to such finance personnel such information and documents as the finance personnel may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this [Article 6.7].

Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, if any payments or benefits that you would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (collectively, the “Payments”) would, either separately or in the aggregate, # constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and # but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments will be equal to the Reduced Amount (defined below). The “Reduced Amount” will be either # the entire amount of the Payments, or # an amount equal to the largest portion of the Payments that would result in no portion of any of the Payments (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever amount after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes), results in your receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payments. If a reduction in the Payments is to be made so that the amount of the Payments equals the Reduced Amount, the Payments will be paid only to the extent permitted under the Reduced Amount alternative; provided, that in the event the Reduced Amount is paid, the cash payments set forth in Section 3.1 shall be reduced as required by the operation of this Section 6.9.

Best Pay. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit Executive would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“Payment”) would # constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and # but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment will be equal to the Reduced Amount (as defined below). The “Reduced Amount” will be either # the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or # the entire Payment, whichever amount after taking into account all applicable federal, state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes), results in Executive’ s receipt, on an after- tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A (as defined below) that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: # as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on an after-tax basis; # as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and # as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of [Section 409A] shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of [Section 409A].

If any payment or benefit Executive would receive under this Agreement, when combined with any other payment or benefit Executive receives pursuant to the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates (“Payment”), would # constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and # but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be either # the full amount of such Payment or # such lesser amount (with cash payments being reduced before stock option compensation) as would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.

Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), and the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which the Executive has the right to receive (collectively, the “Payments”), would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), then the Payments shall be either # reduced (but not below zero) so that the aggregate present value of the Payments will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times the Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code) and so that no portion of the Payments shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or # paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax result for the Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any applicable income tax). The reduction of Payments, if any, shall be made by reducing the Payments in the reverse order in which the Payments would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time).

General. In the event that the payments and benefits (the “Payments”) paid or provided to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise # constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (“[Section 280G]”), and # but for this Section 8, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (“[Section 4999]”), then the Payments shall be either # delivered in full, or # delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to excise tax under [Section 4999], whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by [Section 4999], results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payments, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be taxable under [Section 4999]. The provisions of this Section 8 shall apply if, at the time of any change in ownership or control of the Company (within the meaning of [Section 280G]), the Company is an entity whose stock is readily tradable on an established securities market (or otherwise), within the meaning of [Section 280G].

Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which Executive has the right to receive from Company, any member of the Company Group or any of their respective affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement shall be either # reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from Company, any member of the Company Group or any of their respective affiliates shall be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or # paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The reduction of payments and benefits hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash hereunder in the order in which such payment or benefit would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder in a similar order. The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the payments and benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by Company in good faith. If a reduced payment or benefit is made or provided and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from Company, any member of the Company Group or any of their respective affiliates used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 22 shall require Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.

If any payment or benefit Executive would receive under this Agreement, when combined with any other payment or benefit Executive receives pursuant to a Change of Control (for purposes of this section, a “Payment”) would: # constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of [Section 280G] the Code; and # but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be either: # the full amount of such Payment; or # such lesser amount (with cash payments being reduced before stock option compensation) as would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employments taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.

constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and # but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either # the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or # the total amount of the Payment, whichever of the amounts determined under [(A) and (B)], after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments; reduction of employee benefits; and cancellation of accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards. In the event that acceleration of vesting of outstanding equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be undertaken in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s outstanding equity awards. All calculations and determinations made pursuant this [Section 6] will be made by an independent accounting or consulting firm or independent tax counsel appointed by the Company (the “Tax Counsel”) whose determinations shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Executive for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations and determinations required by this [Section 6], the Tax Counsel may rely on reasonable, good faith assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Section 280G of the Code and Section 4999 of the Code. The Company shall bear all costs the Tax Counsel may reasonably incur in connection with its services.