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DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Employee Benefits Plan Agreement

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN | Document Parties: SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP INC | SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC You are currently viewing:
This Employee Benefits Plan Agreement involves

SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP INC | SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC

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Title: DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Date: 3/5/2009
Industry: Healthcare Facilities     Sector: Healthcare

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, Parties: sun healthcare group inc , sun healthcare group  inc
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EXHIBIT 4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP, INC.

 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

- PLAN DOCUMENT -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

SECTION 1     INTRODUCTION

 

1.1  

Adoption of Plan and Purpose

 

This Plan is an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan.  With the consent of the Employer (as defined in subsection 2.16) the plan may be adopted by executing the Adoption Agreement (as defined in subsection 2.3) in the form attached hereto.  The Plan contains certain variable features which the Employer has specified in the Adoption Agreement.  Only those variable features specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement will be applicable to the Employer.

 

The purpose of the Plan is to provide certain supplemental benefits under the Plan to a select group of management or highly compensated Employees of the Employer (in accordance with Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA), Members of the Board(s) of the Employer, or Other Service Providers to the Employer (as defined below), and to allow such Employees, Board Members or Other Service Providers the opportunity to defer a portion of their salaries, bonuses and other compensation, subject to the terms of the Plan.  Participants (and their Beneficiaries) shall have only those rights to payments as set forth in the Plan and shall be considered general, unsecured creditors of the Employer with respect to any such rights.  The Plan is designed to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”) and Code Section 409A.  It is intended that the Plan be interpreted according to a good faith interpretation of the Jobs Act and Code Section 409A, and consistent with published IRS guidance, including proposed and final IRS regulations under Code Section 409A. Treatment of amounts in the Plan under any transition rules provided under all IRS and other guidance in connection with the Jobs Act or Code Section 409A shall be expressly authorized hereunder in accordance with procedures developed by the Administrator.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and the Jobs Act or Code Section 409A (and regulations thereunder), the terms of the Jobs Act and Code Section 409A (and the regulations thereunder) shall control.  The Plan is intended to constitute an account balance plan (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c)).

 

By becoming a Participant and making deferrals under this Plan, each Participant agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Plan and the determinations of the Employer and the Administrator hereunder.

 

1.2  

Adoption of the Plan

 

The Employer may adopt the Plan by completing and signing the Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto.

 

1.3  

Plan Year

 

The Plan is administered on the basis of a Plan Year, as defined in subsection 2.27.

 

1.4  

Plan Administration

 

The plan shall be administered by a plan administrator (the “Administra­tor,” as that term is defined in Section 3(16)(A) of ERISA) designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.  The Administrator has full discretionary authority to construe and interpret the

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provisions of the Plan and make factual deter­minations thereunder, including the power to determine the rights or eligibility of em­ployees or participants and any other persons, and the amounts of their benefits under the plan, and to remedy ambiguities, inconsistencies or omissions, and such determina­tions shall be binding on all parties.  The Administrator from time to time may adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan and as are consistent with the terms of the Plan.  The admin­istrator may delegate all or any part of its powers, rights, and duties under the Plan to such person or persons as it may deem advisable, and may engage agents to provide cer­tain administrative services with respect to the Plan.  Any notice or document relating to the Plan which is to be filed with the Administrator may be delivered, or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, to the Administrator, or to any designated representative of the Administrator, in care of the Employer, at its principal office.

 

SECTION 2     DEFINITIONS

 

2.1  

Account

 

“Account” means all notional accounts and subaccounts maintained for a Participant in order to reflect his interest under the Plan, as described in Section 6.

 

2.2  

Administrator

 

“Administrator” means the individual or individuals (if any) delegated authority by the Employer to administer the Plan, as defined in subsection 1.4.

 

2.3  

Adoption Agreement

 

“Adoption Agreement” shall mean the form executed by the Employer and attached hereto, which Agreement shall constitute a part of the Plan.

 

2.4  

Beneficiary

 

“Beneficiary” means the person or persons to whom a deceased Participant’s benefits are payable under subsection 9.5.

 

2.5  

Board

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Employer (if applicable), as from time to time constituted.

 

2.6  

Board Member

 

“Board Member” means a member of the Board.

 

2.7  

Bonus

 

“Bonus” (also referred to herein as a “Non-Performance-Based Bonus) means an award of cash that is not a Performance-Based Bonus (as defined in subsection 2.25) that is payable to

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an Employee (or Board Member or Other Service Provider, as applicable) in a given year, with respect to the immediately preceding Bonus performance period, which may or may not be contingent upon the achievement of specified performance goals.

 

2.8  

Code

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Reference to a specific section of the Code shall include such section, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any future legislation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section.

 

2.9  

Compensation

 

“Compensation” shall mean the amount of a Participant’s remuneration from the Employer designated in the Adoption Agreement.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation of an Other Service Provider (as defined in subsection 2.22) shall mean his remuneration from the Employer pursuant to an agreement to provide services to the Employer.   With respect to any Participant who is a Member of the Board (if applicable), “Compensation” means all cash remuneration which, absent a deferral election under the Plan, would have otherwise been received by the Board Member in the taxable year, payable to the Board Member for service on the Board and on Board committees, including any cash payable for attendance at Board meetings and Board committee meetings, but not including any amounts constituting reimbursements of expenses to Board Members.   To the extent the Employer has designated “401(k) Refunds” in the Adoption Agreement (and to the extent elected by the Participant), an amount equal to the Participant’s “401(k) Refund” shall be deferred from the Participant’s Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in the next subsequent Compensation pay period (or such later pay period in the same calendar year as the Administrator determines shall be administratively feasible), and shall be credited to the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account in accordance with subsection 4.1.  For purposes of this subsection, “401(k) Refund” means any amount distributed to the applicable Participant from the Employer’s qualified retirement plan intended to comply with Section 401(k) of the Code that is in excess of the maximum deferral for the prior calendar year allowable under such qualified retirement plan.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the definition of compensation for purposes of determining key employees under subsection 9.3 of the Plan shall be determined solely in accordance with subsection 9.3.  To the extent not otherwise designated by the Employer in a separate document forming part of the Plan, Compensation payable after December 31 of a given year solely for services performed during the Employer’s final payroll period containing December 31, is treated as Compensation payable for services performed in the subsequent year in which the non-deferred portion of the payroll payment is actually made.

 

2.10  

Compensation Deferrals

 

“Compensation Deferrals” means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account pursuant to the Participant’s election made in accordance with subsection 4.1.

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2.11  

Deferral Election

 

“Deferral Election” means an election by a Participant to make Compensation Deferrals or Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals in accordance with Section 4.

 

2.12  

Disability

 

“Disability” for purposes of this Plan shall mean the occurrence of an event as a result of which the Participant is considered disabled, as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.13  

Effective Date

 

“Effective Date” means the Effective Date of the Plan, as indicated in the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.14  

Eligible Individual

 

“Eligible Individual” means each Board Member, Other Service Provider, or Employee of an Employer who satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in the Adoption Agreement, for the period during which he is determined by the Employer to satisfy such requirements.

 

2.15  

Employee

 

“Employee” means a person who is employed by an Employer and is treated and/or classified by the Employer as a common law employee for purposes of wage withholding for Federal income taxes.  If a person is not considered to be an Employee of the Employer in accordance with the preceding sentence, a subsequent determination by the Employer, any governmental agency, or a court that the person is a common law employee of the Employer, even if such determination is applicable to prior years, will not have a retroactive effect for purposes of eligibility to participate in the Plan.

 

2.16  

Employer

 

“Employer” means the business entity designated in the Adoption Agreement, and its successors and assigns unless otherwise herein provided, or any other corporation or business organization which, with the consent of the Employer, or its successors or assigns, assumes the Employer’s obligations hereunder, and any affiliate or subsidiary of the Employer, as defined in Subsections 414(b) and (c) of the Code and Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

2.17  

Employer Contributions

 

“Employer Contributions” means the amounts other than Matching Contributions that are credited to a Participant’s Employer Contributions Account under the Plan by the Employer in accordance with subsection 4.4.

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2.18  

ERISA

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  Reference to a specific section of ERISA shall include such section, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any future legislation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section.

 

2.19  

Fiscal Year Compensation

 

“Fiscal Year Compensation” means Compensation relating to a period of service coextensive with one or more consecutive non-calendar-year fiscal years of the Employer, where no amount of such Compensation is paid or payable during the service period.  For example, a Bonus based upon a service period of two consecutive fiscal years payable after the completion of the second fiscal year would be “Fiscal Year Compensation,” but periodic salary payments or Bonuses based on service periods other than the Employer’s fiscal year would not be Fiscal Year Compensation.

 

2.20  

Investment Funds

 

“Investment Funds” means the notional funds or other investment vehicles designated pursuant to subsection 5.1.

 

2.21  

Matching Contributions

 

“Matching Contributions” means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Employer Contribution Account under the Plan by the Employer that are based on the amount of Participant Deferrals made by the Participant under the Plan, or that are based upon such other formula as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, in accordance with subsection 4.3.

 

2.22  

Other Service Providers

 

“Other Service Providers” shall mean independent contractors, consultants, or other similar providers of services to the Employer, other than Employees and Board Members.  To the extent that an Other Service Provider is unrelated to the Employer and satisfies the other requirements under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(f)(2)(i), as described therein and in Code Section 409A and other applicable regulations, guidance, etc. thereunder, the provisions of such guidance shall not apply.  To the extent that an Other Service Provider uses an accrual method of accounting for a given taxable year, amounts deferred under the Plan in such taxable year shall not be subject to Code Section 409A and other applicable guidance thereunder, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary.

 

2.23  

Participant

 

“Participant” means an Eligible Individual who meets the requirements of Section 3 and elects to make Compensation Deferrals pursuant to Section 4, or who receives Employer Contributions or Matching Contributions pursuant to subsection 4.3 or 4.4.  A Participant shall cease being a Participant in accordance with subsection 3.2 herein.

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2.24  

Participant Deferrals

 

“Participant Deferrals” means all amounts deferred by a Participant under this Plan, including Participant Compensation Deferrals and Participant Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals.

 

2.25  

Performance-Based Bonus

 

“Performance-Based Bonus” generally means Compensation where the amount of, or entitlement to, the compensation is contingent on the satisfaction of previously established organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months in which the Eligible Individual performs services, pursuant to rules described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(e).

 

2.26  

Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals

 

“Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals” means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Compensation  Deferral Account from the Participant’s Performance-Based Bonus   pursuant to the Participant’s election made in accordance with subsection 4.2.

 

2.27  

Plan Year

 

“Plan Year” means each 12-month period specified in the Adoption Agreement, on the basis of which the Plan is administered.

 

2.28  

Retirement

 

“Retirement” for purposes of this Plan means the Participant’s Termination Date, as defined in subsection 2.30, after attaining any age and/or service minimums with respect to Retirement or Early Retirement as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.29  

Spouse

 

“Spouse” means the person to whom a Participant is legally married under applicable state law at the earlier of the date of the Participant’s death or the date payment of the Participant’s benefits commenced and who is living on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

2.30  

Termination Date

 

“Termination Date” means (i) with respect to an Employee Participant, the Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations, notices and other guidance thereunder, including death or separation following Disability) with the Employer, and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Employer as defined in Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code and Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations; (ii) with respect to a Board Member Participant, the Participant’s resignation or removal from the Board (for any reason, including death or following Disability); and (iii) with respect to any Other Service Provider, the expiration of all agreements to provide services to the Employer (for any reason, including death or following Disability).  The date that an Employee’s performance of services for all the

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Employers is reduced to a level less than 20% of the average level of services performed in the preceding 36-month period, shall be considered a Termination Date, and the performance of services at a level of 50% or more of the average level of services performed in the preceding 36-month period shall not be considered a Termination Date, based on the parties’ reasonable expectations as of the applicable date. A Participant’s Termination Date shall not be deemed to have occurred if the Employee’s average level of service performed in the preceding 36-month period drops below 50% but not less than 20%, unless the Employer: (i) has designated in a writing forming part of the Plan that a level between 20% and 50% will be deemed to trigger a Termination Date, and (ii) such writing was in place at or prior to the time of the Participant’s Deferral Election .  If such designation is subsequently changed, the change must comply with the rules regarding subsequent deferrals and the acceleration of payments described in Code Section 409A and the regulations, notices, rulings and other guidance thereunder.  If a Participant is both a Board Member Participant and an Employee Participant, “Termination Date” means the date the Participant satisfies both criteria (i) and (ii) above.

 

2.31  

Valuation Date

 

“Valuation Date” means the last day of each Plan Year and any other date that the Employer, in its sole discretion, designates as a Valuation Date, as of which the value of an Investment Fund is adjusted for notional deferrals, contributions, distributions, gains, losses, or expenses.

 

2.32  

Other Definitions

 

Other defined terms used in the Plan shall have the meanings given such terms elsewhere in the Plan.

 

SECTION 3     ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

3.1  

Eligibility

 

Each Eligible Individual on the Effective Date of the Plan shall be eligible to become a Participant by properly making a Deferral Election on a timely basis as described in Section 4, or, if applicable and eligible as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, by receiving a Matching Contribution or other Employer Contribution under the Plan.  Each other Eligible Individual may become a Participant by making a Deferral Election on a timely basis as described in Section 4 or, if applicable and eligible as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, by receiving a Matching Contribution or other Employer Contribution under the Plan.  Each Eligible Individual’s decision to become a Participant by making a Deferral Election shall be entirely voluntary.  The Employer may require the Participant to complete any necessary forms or other information as it deems necessary or advisable prior to permitting the Eligible Individual to commence participation in the Plan.

 

3.2  

Cessation of Participation

 

If a Termination Date occurs with respect to a Participant, or if a Participant otherwise ceases to be an Eligible Individual, no further Compensation Deferrals, Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals, Matching Contributions or other Employer Contributions shall be credited to

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the Participant’s Accounts after the end of the then-current Plan Year or performance period applicable to Performance-Based Bonuses , unless he is again determined to be an Eligible Individual, but the balance credited to his Accounts shall continue to be adjusted for notional investment gains and losses under the terms of the Plan and shall be distributed to him at the time and manner set forth in Section 9.  An Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider shall cease to be a Participant after his Termination Date or other loss of eligibility as soon as his entire Account balance has been distributed.

 

3.3  

Eligibility for Matching or Employer Contributions

 

An Employee Participant who has satisfied the requirements necessary to become an Eligible Individual with respect to Matching Contributions as specified in the Adoption Agreement, and who has made a Compensation Deferral election pursuant to subsection 4.1 herein or who has satisfied such other criteria as specified in the Adoption Agreement, shall be eligible to receive Matching Contributions described in subsection 4.3.  An Employee Participant who has satisfied the requirements necessary to become an Eligible Individual with respect to Employer Contributions other than Matching Contributions as specified in the Adoption Agreement, shall be eligible to receive Employer Contributions described in subsection 4.4.

 

SECTION 4     DEFERRALS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

 

4.1  

Compensation Deferrals Other Than Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals

 

Each Plan Year, an Eligible Individual may elect to defer receipt of no less than the minimum and no greater than the maximum percentage or amount selected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement with respect to each type of Compensation (other than Performance-Based Bonuses) earned with respect to pay periods beginning on and after the effective date of the election; provided, however, that Compensation earned prior to the date the Participant satisfies the eligibility requirements of Section 3 shall not be eligible for deferral under this Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a Participant’s Deferral Election for a Plan Year under this subsection must be made not later than December 31 of the preceding Plan Year (or such earlier date as determined by the Administrator) with respect to Compensation (other than Performance-Based Bonuses) earned in pay periods beginning on or after the following January 1 in accordance with rules established by the Administrator.

 

An Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider who first becomes an Eligible Individual during a Plan Year (by virtue of a promotion, Compensation increase, commencement of employment with the Employer, commencement of Board service, execution of an agreement to provide services to an Employer, or any other reason) shall be provided enrollment documents (including Deferral Election forms) as soon as administratively feasible following such initial notification of eligibility.   Such Eligible Individual must make his Deferral Elections within 30 days after first becoming an Eligible Individual, with respect to his Compensation (other than Performance-Based Bonuses) earned on or after the effective date of the Deferral Election (provided, however, that if such Eligible Individual is participating in any other account balance plan maintained by the Employer or any member of the Employer’s “controlled group” (as defined in subsections 414(b) and (c) of the Code), such Eligible Individual must make his Compensation Deferral Election no later than December 31 of the preceding Plan Year (or such

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earlier date as determined by the Administrator), or he may not elect to make Compensation Deferrals for that initial Plan Year).  If an Eligible Individual does not elect to make Compensation Deferrals during that initial 30-day period, he may not later elect to make Compensation Deferrals for that year under this subsection.  In the event that an Eligible Individual first becomes eligible during a Plan Year with respect to which Fiscal Year Compensation is payable, such Eligible Individual must make his Fiscal Year Compensation Deferral Election on or before the end of the fiscal year of the Employer immediately preceding the first fiscal year in which any services are performed for which the Fiscal Year Compensation is payable.

 

In the case of an Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider who is rehired (or who recommences Board Service or recommences providing services to an Employer as an Other Service Provider) after having previously been an Eligible Individual, the phrase “first becomes an Eligible Individual” in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph shall be interpreted to apply only where the Eligible Individual either (i) previously received payment of his total Account balances under the Plan, or (ii) did not previously receive payment of his total Account balances under the Plan, but is rehired (or recommences Board Service or recommences providing services to an Employer as an Other Service Provider) at least 24 months after his last day as a previously Eligible Individual prior to again becoming such an Eligible Individual.  In all other cases such rehired Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider may not elect to make Compensation Deferrals until the next date determined by the Administrator with respect to Compensation earned after the following January 1.  Similarly, in the case of an Employee who recommences status as an Eligible Individual for any other reason after having previously lost his status as an Eligible Individual (due to Compensation fluctuations, transfer from an ineligible location or job classification, or otherwise), the phrase “first becomes an Eligible Individual” shall be interpreted to apply only where the Eligible Individual either:  (i) previously received payment of his total Account balances under the Plan, or (ii) did not previously receive payment of his total Account balances under the Plan, but regains his status as an Eligible Individual at least 24 months after his last day as a previously Eligible Individual prior to again becoming such an Eligible Individual.  In all other cases such Re-Eligible Participant may not elect to make Compensation Deferrals until the next date determined by the Administrator with respect to Compensation earned after the following January 1.

 

An election to make Compensation Deferrals under this subsection 4.1 shall remain in effect through the last pay period commencing in the calendar year to which the election applies (except as provided in Section 2.9 or subsection 4.5), shall apply with respect to the applicable type of Compensation (other than Performance-Based Bonuses) to which the Deferral Election relates earned for pay periods commencing in the applicable calendar year to which the election applies, and shall be irrevocable (provided, however, that a Participant making a Deferral Election under this subsection may change his election at any time prior to December 31 of the year preceding the year for which the Deferral Election is applicable, subject to rules established by the Administrator).   If a Participant fails to make a Compensation Deferral election for a given Plan Year, such Participant’s Compensation Deferral Election for that Plan Year shall be deemed to be zero; provided, however, that if the Employer has elected in the Adoption Agreement that a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Election shall be “evergreen”, then such Participant’s Compensation Deferral Election shall be deemed to be identical to the most recent

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applicable Deferral Election on file with the Administrator with respect to the applicable type of Compensation.

 

Compensation Deferrals shall be credited to the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Account as soon as administratively feasible after such amounts would have been payable to the Participant.

 

4.2  

Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals

 

Each Plan Year, an Eligible Individual may elect to defer receipt of no less than the minimum and no greater than the maximum percentage or amount selected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement with respect to Performance-Based Bonuses earned with respect to the performance period for which the Performance-Based  Bonus is earned; provided, however, that the Eligible Individual performed services continuously from a date no later than the date upon which the performance criteria are established through a date no earlier than the date upon which the Eligible Individual makes a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election; and further provided that in no event may an election to defer Performance-Based Bonuses be made after such Bonuses have become readily ascertainable.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a Participant’s Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election under this subsection must be made not later than six months (or such earlier date as determined by the Administrator) prior to the end of the performance period.

 

An Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider who first becomes an Eligible Individual during a Plan Year (by virtue of a promotion, Compensation increase, commencement of employment with the Employer, commencement of Board service, execution of an agreement to provide services to an Employer, or any other reason) shall be provided enrollment documents (including Deferral Election forms) as soon as administratively feasible following such initial notification of eligibility.   Such Eligible Individual must make his Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election within 30 days after first becoming an Eligible Individual (provided, however, that if such Eligible Individual is participating in any other account balance plan maintained by the Employer or any member of the Employer’s “controlled group” (as defined in subsections 414(b) and (c) of the Code), such Eligible Individual must perform services continuously from a date no later than the date upon which the performance criteria are established, and must make his Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election no later than six months (or such earlier date as determined by the Administrator) prior to the end of the performance period and at a time when the Performance-Based Bonus is not readily ascertainable, or he may not elect to make Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals for such initial Plan Year).  In the case of a Deferral Election in the first year of eligibility that is made after the beginning of the Performance-Based Bonus performance period, the Deferral Election will apply to the portion of the Performance-Based Bonus equal to the total amount of the Performance-Based Bonus for the performance period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the performance period after the effective date of the Deferral Election over the total number of days in the Performance Period.  If such an Eligible Individual does not elect to make a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral during that initial 30-day period, he may not later elect to make a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral for that performance period under this subsection.  Rules relating to the timing of elections to make a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral with respect to an Employee, Board Member or Other Service Provider who becomes an Eligible Individual (due to rehire or other

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similar event) after having previously been an Eligible Individual shall be applied in a manner similar to rules described applicable to rehired and other Re-Eligible Participants in subsection 4.1 above.

 

An election to make Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals under this subsection 4.2 shall remain in effect through the end of the performance period to which the election applies (except as provided in subsection 4.5), and shall be irrevocable (provided, however, that as long as the Performance-Based Bonus is not readily ascertainable, a Participant making a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election under this subsection (other than a Participant who first becomes an Eligible Individual and who makes his Deferral Election after the beginning of the performance period and within 30 days after first becoming an Eligible Individual) may change his election at any time prior to the first day of the six-month period ending on the last day of the performance period for which the Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election is applicable, subject to rules established by the Administrator).   If a Participant fails to make a Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election for a given performance period, such Participant’s Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election for that performance period shall be deemed to be zero; provided, however, that if the Employer has elected in the Adoption Agreement that a Participant’s Performance-Based Deferral Election shall be “evergreen”, then such Participant’s Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election shall be deemed to be identical to the most recent applicable Performance-Based Bonus Deferral Election on file with the Administrator.

 

Performance-Based Bonus Deferrals shall be credited to the Participant’s Compensation  Deferral Account as soon as administratively feasible after such amounts would have been payable to the Participant.

 

4.3  

Matching Contributions

 

Matching Contributions shall be discretionary from year to year, shall be determined in accordance with the formula specified in the Adoption Agreement, and shall be credited to the Employer Contribution Accounts of Participants who have satisfied the eligibility requirements for Matching Contributions specified in the Adoption Agreement.  Matching Contributions under this Plan shall be credited to such Participants’ Employer Contribution Accounts as soon as administratively feasible after the Applicable Period selected in the Adoption Agreement, but only with respect to Participants eligible to receive such Matching Contributions as described in the Adoption Agreement.

 

4.4  

Other Employer Contributions

 

Employer Contributions other than Matching Contributions shall be discretionary from year to year, and shall be credited to the Employer Contribution Accounts of Participants who have satisfied the eligibility requirements for Employer Contributions, all as determined by the Employer and documented in writing, and such writings will form part of the Plan, as specified in the Adoption Agreement.  Employer Contributions under this Plan shall be credited to such Participants’ Employer Contributions Accounts as soon as administratively feasible.

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4.5  

No Election Changes During Plan Year

 

A Participant shall not be permitted to change or revoke his Deferral Elections (except as otherwise described in subsections 4.1 and 4.2), except that, if a Participant’s status changes such that he becomes ineligible for the Plan, the Participant’s Deferrals under the Plan shall cease as described in subsection 3.2 .   Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Employer maintains a qualified plan designed to comply with the requirements of Code Section 401(k) that requires the cessation of all deferrals in the event of a hardship withdrawal under such plan, the Participant’s Deferrals under this Plan shall cease and be cancelled as soon as administratively feasible upon notification to the Administrator that the participant has taken such a hardship withdrawal.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employer has elected in the Adoption Agreement to permit Unforeseeable Emergency Withdrawals pursuant to subsection 9.8, the Participant’s Deferrals under this Plan shall cease and be cancelled as soon as administratively feasible upon approval by the Administrator of a Participant’s properly submitted request for an Unforeseeable Emergency Withdrawal under subsection 9.8.

 

4.6  

Crediting of Deferrals

 

The amount of deferrals pursuant to subsections 4.1 and 4.2 shall be credited to the Participant’s Accounts as of a date determined to be administratively feasible by the Administrator.

 

4.7  

Reduction of Deferrals or Contributions

 

Any Participant Deferrals or Employer Contributions to be credited to a Participant’s Account under this Section may be reduced by an amount equal to the Federal, state, local or foreign income, payroll, or other taxes required to be withheld on such deferrals or contributions .  A Participant shall be entitled only to the net amount of such deferral or contribution (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Plan).

 

SECTION 5     NOTIONAL INVESTMENTS

 

5.1  

Investment Funds

 

The Employer may designate, in its discretion, one or more Investment Funds for the notional investment of Participants’ Accounts.  The Employer, in its discretion, may from time to time establish new Investment Funds or eliminate existing Investment Funds.  The Investment Funds are for recordkeeping purposes only and do not allow Participants to direct any Employer assets (including, if applicable, the assets of any trust related to the Plan).  Each Participant’s Accounts shall be adjusted pursuant to the Participant’s notional investment elections made in accordance with this Section 5, except as otherwise determined by the Employer or Administrator in their sole discretion.

 

5.2  

Investment Fund Elections

 

The Employer shall have full discretion in the direction of notional investments of Participants’ Accounts under the Plan; provided, however, that if the Employer so elects in the Adoption Agreement, each Participant may elect from among the Investment Funds for the

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notional investment of such of his Accounts as are permitted under the Adoption Agreement from time to time in accordance with procedures established by the Employer.  The Administrator, in its discretion, may adopt (and may modify from time to time) such rules and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate to implement the notional investment of the Participant’s Accounts.  Such procedures may differ among Participants or classes of Participants, as determined by the Employer or the Administrator in its discretion.  The Employer or Administrator may limit, delay or restrict the notional investment of certain Participants’ Accounts, or restrict allocation or reallocation into specified notional investment options, in accordance with rules established in order to comply with Employer policy and applicable law,  to minimize regulated filings and disclosures, or under any other circumstances in the discretion of the Employer.  Any deferred amounts subject to a Participant’s investment election that must be so limited, delayed or restricted under such circumstances may be notionally invested in an Investment Fund designated by the Administrator, or may be credited with earnings at a rate determined by the Administrator, which rate may be zero.  A Participant’s notional investment election shall remain in effect until later changed in accordance with the rules of the Administrator.  If a Participant does not make a notional investment election, all deferrals by the Participant and contributions on his behalf will be deemed to be notionally invested in the Investment Fund designated by the Employer for such purpose, or, at the Employer’s election, may remain uninvested until such time as the Administrator receives proper direction, or may be credited with earnings at a rate determined by the Administrator or Employer, which rate may be zero.

 

5.3  

Investment Fund Transfers

 

A Participant may elect that all or a part of his notional interest in an Investment Fund shall be transferred to one or more of the other Investment Funds.  A Participant may make such notional Investment Fund transfers in accordance with rules established from time to time by the Employer or the Administrator, and in accordance with subsection 5.2.

 

SECTION 6     ACCOUNTING

 

6.1  

Individual Accounts

 

Bookkeeping Accounts shall be maintained under the Plan in the name of each Participant, as applicable, along with any subaccounts under such Accounts deemed necessary or advisable from time to time, including a subaccount for each Plan Year that a Participant’s Deferral Election is in effect.  Each such subaccount shall reflect (i) the amount of the Participant’s Deferral during that year, any Matching Contributions or Employer Contributions credited during that year, and the notional gains, losses, expenses, appreciation and depreciation attributable thereto.

 

Rules and procedures may be established relating to the maintenance, adjustment, and liquidation of Participants’ Accounts, the crediting of deferrals and contributions and the notional gains, losses, expenses, appreciation, and depreciation attributable thereto, as are considered necessary or advisable.

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6.2  

Adjustment of Accounts

 

Pursuant to rules established by the Employer,  Participants’ Accounts will be adjusted on each Valuation Date, except as provided in Section 9, to reflect the notional value of the various Investment Funds as of such date, including adjustments to reflect any deferrals and contributions, notional transfers between Investment Funds, and notional gains, losses, expenses, appreciation, or depreciation with respect to such Accounts since the previous Valuation Date.  The “value” of an Investment Fund at any Valuation Date may be based on the fair market value of the Investment Fund, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

6.3  

Accounting Methods

 

The accounting methods or formulae to be used under the Plan for purposes of monitoring Participants’ Accounts, including the calculation and crediting of notional gains, losses, expenses, appreciation, or depreciation, shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  The accounting methods or formulae selected by the Administrator may be revised from time to time.

 

6.4  

Statement of Account

 

At such times and in such manner as determined by the Administrator, but at least annually, each Participant will be furnished with a statement reflecting the condition of his Accounts.

 

SECTION 7     VESTING

 

A Participant shall be fully vested at all times in his Compensation Deferral Account (if applicable).  A Participant shall be vested in his Matching Contributions and/or Employer Contributions (if applicable), in accordance with the vesting schedule elected by the Employer under the Adoption Agreement.  Vesting Years of Service shall be determined in accordance with the election made by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.  Amounts in a Participant’s Accounts that are not vested upon the Participant’s Termination Date  shall be forfeited.

 

If a Participant has a Termination Date with the Employer as a result of the Participant’s Misconduct (as defined by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement), or if the Participant engages in Competition with the Employer (as defined by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement), and the Employer has so elected in the Adoption Agreement, the Participant shall forfeit all amounts allocated to his or her Matching Contribution Account and/or Employer Contribution Accounts (if applicable).

 

Neither the Administrator nor the Employer in any way guarantee the Participant’s Account balance from loss or depreciation.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Participant’s Account balance is subject to Section 8.

 

Vesting Years of Service in the event of the rehire of a Participant shall be reinstated.

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SECTION 8     FUNDING

 

No Participant or other person shall acquire by reason of the Plan any right in or title to any assets, funds, or property of the Employer whatsoever, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any specific funds, assets, or other property of the Employer.  Benefits under the Plan are unfunded and unsecured.  A Participant shall have only an unfunded, unsecured right to the amounts, if any, payable hereunder to that Participant.  The Employer’s obligations under this Plan are not secured or funded in any manner, even if the Employer elects to establish a trust with respect to the Plan.  Even though benefits provided under the Plan are not funded, the Employer may establish a trust to assist in the payment of benefits.  All investments under this Plan are notional and do not obligate the Employer (or its delegates) to invest the assets of the Employer or of any such trust in a similar manner.

 

SECTION 9     DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS

 

9.1  

Distribution of Accounts

 

A Participant’s vested Account balances shall be distributed to the Participant upon the first to occur of the Participant’s Termination Date, Disability or a Change in Control of the Employer, to the extent that each such event is designated as a payment event by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. To the extent designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may elect one time and form of payment that will apply if the Participant’s Termination Date occurs as a result of Retirement or Early Retirement, and another time and form of payment that will apply if the Participant’s Termination Date occurs for any other reason, however the time and form of payment for Retirement and Early Retirement must be the same.  In addition, to the extent designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, if distribution of the Participant’s vested Account balances is triggered by the Participant’s Termination Date or Disability, the Participant may elect to have any unpaid amounts become payable in a single lump sum payment upon an intervening Change in Control of the Employer that occurs before the Participant’s entire vested Account balances is paid.

 

 The Participant’s vested Account balances shall be distributed to the Participant (or, in the case of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s Beneficiary), in the form of a single lump sum payment, or, if subsection 9.2 applies, in the form of installment payments as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.  Subject to subsection 9.3 hereof, distribution of a Participant’s Accounts shall be made within the 90-day period following the occurrence of a distribution event  (provided, however, that if calculation of the amount of the payment is not administratively practicable due to events beyond the control of the Participant, the payment will be made as soon as administratively practicable for the Administrator to make such payment).    Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, for purposes of this subsection, a Participant’s Accounts shall be valued as of a Valuation Date as soon as administratively feasible preceding the date such distribution is made, in accordance with rules established by the Administrator.  A Participant’s Accounts may be offset by any amounts owed by the Participant to the Employer, but such offset shall not occur in excess of or prior to the date distribution of the amount would otherwise be made to the Participant.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may elect, in accordance with this subsection, a distribution date for his Compensation Deferral Accounts that is prior to either his Termination Date, Disability or a Change in Control  (an “In-Service Distribution”).  A Participant’s election of an In-Service Distribution date must: (i) be made at the time of his Deferral Election for a Plan Year; and (ii) apply only to amounts deferred pursuant to that election, and any earnings, gains, losses, appreciation, and depreciation credited thereto or debited therefrom with respect to such amounts.  The Employer may limit the number of In-Service Distribution dates permitted for Participants to elect under the Plan. Payments made pursuant to an In-Service Distribution election shall be made in a lump sum or installments, to the extent elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.  Each such payment pursuant to an In-Service Distribution election shall be made as soon as administratively feasible following January 1 of the calendar year in which the payment was elected to be made, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year in which the payment was elected to be made (provided, however, that if calculation of the amount of the payment is not administratively practicable due to events beyond the control of the Participant, the payment will be made as soon as administratively practicable for the Administrator to make such payment).  For purposes of such payment, the value of the Participant’s Accounts for the applicable Plan Year shall be determined as of a Valuation Date preceding the date that such distribution is made, in accordance with rules established by the Administrator.  In the event a Participant’s Termination Date occurs (or, if elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, in the event Disability or a Change in Control of the Employer occurs) prior to the date the Participant had previously elected to have an In-Service Distribution payment made to him, such amount shall be paid to the Participant under the rules applicable for payment on Termination of Employment (or, if elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, for payment on Disability or a Change in Control) in accordance with this subsection 9.1 and subsection 9.2.  In addition, to the extent designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, if distribution of the Participant’s vested Account balances is triggered by an In-Service Distribution Election, the Participant may elect to have any unpaid amounts become payable in a single lump sum payment upon an intervening Change in Control of the Employer that occurs before the Participant’s entire vested Account balances attributable to the In-Service Distribution election is paid.

 

To the extent elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Participants whose Termination Date has not yet occurred may elect to defer payment of any In-Service Distribution (whether paid in a lump sum or installments), provided that such election is made in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator, and further provided that any such election must be made no later than 12 calendar months prior to the first originally elected In-Service Distribution Date (which for these purposes shall be January 1 of the calendar year in which the payment was elected to be made).  Participants may elect any deferred payment date, but such date must be no fewer than five years from the first original In-Service Distribution Date (which for these purposes shall be January 1 of the calendar year in which the payment was elected to be made).

 

9.2  

Installment Distributions

 

To the extent elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, upon a Termination Date or Disability, a Parti


 
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