(a)解释. Notwithstanding the other provisions hereof, this Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable, and this Agreement shall be interpreted to avoid any penalty sanctions under section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, all provisions herein, or incorporated by reference, shall be construed and interpreted to comply with section 409A of the Code and, if necessary, any such provision shall be deemed amended to comply with section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. If any payment or benefit cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without incurring sanctions under section 409A of the Code, then such benefit or payment shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such sanctions will not be imposed. Any amount payable under this Agreement that constitutes deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code shall be paid at the time provided under this Agreement or such other time as permitted under section 409A of the Code. No interest will be payable with respect to any amount paid within a time period permitted by, or delayed because of, section 409A of the Code. All payments to be made upon the Termination Date under this Agreement that are deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code may only be made upon a 「separation from service」 under section 409A of the Code. For purposes of section 409A of the Code, each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.
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(b)Payment Delay. To the maximum extent permitted under section 409A of the Code, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are intended to comply with the 「short-term deferral exception」 under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4), and any remaining amount is intended to comply with the 「separation pay exception」 under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii); provided, however, if any amount payable to Executive during the six (6) month period following the Termination Date does not qualify within either of the foregoing exceptions and constitutes deferred compensation subject to the requirements of section 409A of the Code, then such amount shall hereinafter be referred to as the 「Excess Amount.」 If at the time of Executive’s separation from service, the Company’s (or any entity required to be aggregated with the Company under section 409A of the Code) stock is publicly-traded on an established securities market or otherwise and Executive is a 「specified employee」 (as defined in section 409A of the Code and determined in the sole discretion of the Company (or any successor thereto) in accordance with the Company’s (or any successor thereto) 「specified employee」 determination policy), then the Company shall postpone the commencement of the payment of the portion of the Excess Amount that is payable within the six (6) month period following the Termination Date with the Company (or any successor thereto) for six (6) months following the Termination Date with the Company (or any successor thereto). The delayed Excess Amount shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive within ten (10) days following the date that is six (6) months following the Termination Date with the Company (or any successor thereto). If Executive dies during such six (6) month period and prior to the payment of the portion of the Excess Amount that is required to be delayed on account of section 409A of the Code, such Excess Amount shall be paid to the personal representative of Executive’s estate within sixty (60) days after Executive’s death. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment or benefit.