Exhibit 10.1
BARNES
GROUP
2009
DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
IMPORTANT
NOTE
This document has
not been approved by the Department of Labor, Internal Revenue
Service or any other governmental entity. An adopting Employer must
determine whether the Plan is subject to the Federal securities
laws and the securities laws of the various states. An adopting
Employer may not rely on this document to ensure any particular tax
consequences or to ensure that the Plan is “unfunded and
maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated
employees” under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to the
Employer’s particular situation. Fidelity Employer Services
Company, its affiliates and employees cannot provide you with legal
advice in connection with the execution of this document. This
document should be reviewed by the Employer’s attorney prior
to execution.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PREAMBLE
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ARTICLE 1 –
GENERAL
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1.1
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Plan
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1.2
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Effective Dates
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1.3
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Amounts Not Subject to Code
Section 409A
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ARTICLE 2 –
DEFINITIONS
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2.1
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Account
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2.2
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Administrator
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2.3
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Adoption Agreement
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2.4
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Beneficiary
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2.5
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Board or Board of
Directors
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2.6
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Bonus
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2.7
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Change in Control
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2.8
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Code
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2.9
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Compensation
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2.10
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Director
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2.11
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Disability
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2.12
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Eligible Employee
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2.13
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Employer
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2.14
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ERISA
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2.15
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Identification Date
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2.16
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Key Employee
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2.17
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Participant
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2.18
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Plan
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2.19
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Plan Sponsor
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2.20
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Plan Year
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2.21
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Related Employer
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2.22
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Retirement
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2.23
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Separation from
Service
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2.24
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Unforeseeable
Emergency
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2.25
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Valuation Date
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2.26
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Years of Service
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ARTICLE 3 –
PARTICIPATION
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3.1
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Participation
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3.2
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Termination of
Participation
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ARTICLE 4 – PARTICIPANT
ELECTIONS
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4.1
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Deferral Agreement
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4.2
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Amount of Deferral
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4.3
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Timing of Election to
Defer
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4.4
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Election of Payment Schedule and
Form of Payment
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ARTICLE 5 – EMPLOYER
CONTRIBUTIONS
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5.1
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Matching
Contributions
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5.2
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Other Contributions
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ARTICLE 6 – ACCOUNTS AND
CREDITS
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6.1
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Establishment of
Account
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6.2
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Credits to Account
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ARTICLE 7 – INVESTMENT OF
CONTRIBUTIONS
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7.1
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Investment Options
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7.2
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Adjustment of
Accounts
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ARTICLE 8 – RIGHT TO
BENEFITS
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8.1
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Vesting
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8.2
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Death
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8.3
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Disability
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ARTICLE 9 – DISTRIBUTION
OF BENEFITS
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9.1
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Amount of Benefits
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9.2
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Method and Timing of
Distributions
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9.3
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Unforeseeable
Emergency
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9.4
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Payment Election
Overrides
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9.5
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Cashouts of Amounts Not
Exceeding Stated Limit
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9.6
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Required Delay in Payment to Key
Employees
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9.7
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Change in Control
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9.8
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Permissible Delays in
Payment
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9.9
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Permitted Acceleration of
Payment
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ii
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ARTICLE 10 – AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION
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10.1
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Amendment by Plan
Sponsor
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10.2
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Plan Termination Following
Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution
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10.3
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Other Plan
Terminations
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ARTICLE 11 – THE
TRUST
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11.1
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Establishment of
Trust
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11.2
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Grantor Trust
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11.3
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Investment of Trust
Funds
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ARTICLE 12 – PLAN
ADMINISTRATION
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12.1
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Powers and Responsibilities of
the Administrator
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12.2
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Claims and Review
Procedures
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12.3
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Plan Administrative
Costs
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ARTICLE 13 –
MISCELLANEOUS
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13.1
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Unsecured General Creditor of
the Employer
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13.2
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Employer’s
Liability
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13.3
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Limitation of Rights
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13.4
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Anti-Assignment
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13.5
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Facility of Payment
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13.6
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Notices
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13.7
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Tax Withholding
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13.8
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Indemnification
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13.9
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Successors
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13.10
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Disclaimer
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13.11
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Governing Law
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13.12
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Plan Addendums
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iii
PREAMBLE
The Plan is intended
to be a “plan which is unfunded and is maintained by an
employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees” within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3)
and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, or an “excess benefit plan” within
the meaning of Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, or a combination of both. The
Plan is further intended to conform with the requirements of
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the final regulations
issued thereunder and shall be interpreted, implemented and
administered in a manner consistent therewith.
ARTICLE 1 –
GENERAL
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1.1
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Plan. The Plan will be referred to by
the name specified in the Adoption Agreement.
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(a)
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Original Effective
Date. The
Original Effective Date is the date as of which the Plan was
initially adopted.
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(b)
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Amendment Effective
Date. The
Amendment Effective Date is the date specified in the Adoption
Agreement as of which the Plan is amended and restated. Except to
the extent otherwise provided herein or in the Adoption Agreement,
the Plan shall apply to amounts deferred and benefit payments made
on or after the Amendment Effective Date.
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(c)
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Special Effective
Date. A
Special Effective Date may apply to any given provision if so
specified in Appendix A of the Adoption Agreement. A Special
Effective Date will control over the Original Effective Date or
Amendment Effective Date, whichever is applicable, with respect to
such provision of the Plan.
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1.3
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Amounts Not Subject to Code
Section 409A
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Except as otherwise
indicated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.01 of the Adoption
Agreement, amounts deferred before January 1, 2005 that are
earned and vested on December 31, 2004 will be separately
accounted for and administered in accordance with the terms of the
Plan as in effect on December 31, 2004.
1-1
ARTICLE 2 –
DEFINITIONS
Pronouns used in the
Plan are in the masculine gender but include the feminine gender
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Wherever used
herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below,
unless a different meaning is clearly required by the
context:
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2.1
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“Account”
means an account
established for the purpose of recording amounts credited on behalf
of a Participant and any income, expenses, gains, losses or
distributions included thereon. The Account shall be a bookkeeping
entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the
measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a
Participant or to the Participant’s Beneficiary pursuant to
the Plan.
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2.2
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“Administrator”
means the person or
persons designated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.05 of the
Adoption Agreement to be responsible for the administration of the
Plan. If no Administrator is designated in the Adoption Agreement,
the Administrator is the Plan Sponsor.
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2.3
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“Adoption
Agreement” means the agreement adopted by
the Plan Sponsor that establishes the Plan.
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2.4
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“Beneficiary”
means the persons,
trusts, estates or other entities entitled under Section 8.2
to receive benefits under the Plan upon the death of a
Participant.
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2.5
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“Board” or
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of
the Plan Sponsor.
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2.6
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“Bonus”
means an amount of
incentive remuneration payable by the Employer to a
Participant.
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2.7
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“Change in
Control” means a “change in control
event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) & (ii) that occurs with respect to
a Participant on or after the date on which an event involving the
Plan Sponsor that is described in Section 9.7(a), (b),
(c) or (d) occurs.
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2.8
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“Code”
means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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2.9
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“Compensation”
has the meaning
specified in Section 3.01 of the Adoption
Agreement.
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2.10
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“Director”
means a non-employee
member of the Board who has been designated by the Employer as
eligible to participate in the Plan.
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2-1
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2.11
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“Disability”
means that the
Social Security Administration has determined that a Participant is
disabled under the Social Security Act. A Participant shall be
considered as incurring a Disability on the last day of the month
in which the Participant first becomes eligible for and begins to
receive Social Security disability benefits.
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2.12
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“Eligible
Employee” means an employee of the
Employer who satisfies the requirements in Section 2.01 of the
Adoption Agreement.
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2.13
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“Employer”
means the Plan
Sponsor and any other entity which is authorized by the Plan
Sponsor to participate in and, in fact, does adopt the
Plan.
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2.14
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“ERISA”
means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
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2.15
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“Identification
Date” means the date as of which Key
Employees are determined which is specified in Section 1.06 of
the Adoption Agreement.
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2.16
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“Key
Employee” means an employee who satisfies
the conditions set forth in Section 9.6.
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2.17
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“Participant”
means an Eligible
Employee or Director who commences participation in the Plan in
accordance with Article 3.
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2.18
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“Plan”
means the unfunded
plan of deferred compensation set forth herein, including the
Adoption Agreement and any trust agreement, as adopted by the Plan
Sponsor and as amended from time to time.
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2.19
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“Plan
Sponsor” means the entity identified in
Section 1.03 of the Adoption Agreement or any successor by
merger, consolidation or otherwise.
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2.20
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“Plan
Year” means the period identified in
Section 1.02 of the Adoption Agreement.
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2-2
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2.21
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“Related
Employer” means the Employer and
(a) any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of
corporations as defined in Code Section 414(b) that includes
the Employer and (b) any trade or business that is under
common control as defined in Code Section 414(c) that includes
the Employer.
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2.22
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“Retirement”
has the meaning
specified in 6.01(f) of the Adoption Agreement.
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2.23
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“Separation from
Service” means the date that the
Participant retires or otherwise has a termination of employment
(other than by death) with respect to all entities comprising the
Related Employer. A Separation from Service does not occur if the
Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide
leave of absence if the period of leave does not exceed six months
or such longer period during which the Participant’s right to
re-employment is provided by statute or contract. If the period of
leave exceeds six months and the Participant’s right to
re-employment is not provided either by statute or contract, a
Separation from Service will be deemed to have occurred on the
first day following the six-month period. If the period of leave is
due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last
for a continuous period of not less than six months, where the
impairment causes the Participant to be unable to perform the
duties of his or her position of employment or any substantially
similar position of employment, a 29 month period of absence shall
be substituted for the six month period.
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Whether a
termination of employment has occurred is based on whether the
facts and circumstances indicate that the Related Employer and the
Participant reasonably anticipated that no further services would
be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide
services the Participant would perform after such date (whether as
an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently
decrease to no more than 20 percent of the average level of bona
fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent
contractor) over the immediately preceding 36 month period (or the
full period of services to the Related Employer if the employee has
been providing services to the Related Employer for less than 36
months.
The foregoing will
be interpreted, and all determinations of whether a Separation from
Service has occurred will be made, in a manner consistent with Code
Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder.
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2.24
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“Unforeseeable
Emergency” means a severe financial
hardship of the Participant resulting from an illness or accident
of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the
Participant’s Beneficiary, or the Participant’s
dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to
Code section 152(b)(i), (b)(2) and (d)(i)(B); loss of the
Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar
extraordinary and unforeseeable
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2-3
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circumstances
arising as a result of events beyond the control of the
Participant.
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2.25
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“Valuation
Date” means each business day of the
Plan Year.
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2.26
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“Years of
Service” means each one year period for
which the Participant receives service credit in accordance with
the provisions of Section 7.01(d) of the Adoption
Agreement.
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2-4
ARTICLE 3 –
PARTICIPATION
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3.1
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Participation.
The Participants in
the Plan shall be those Directors and employees of the Employer who
satisfy the requirements of Section 2.01 of the Adoption
Agreement.
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3.2
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Termination of
Participation. The Administrator may terminate
a Participant’s participation in the Plan in a manner
consistent with Code Section 409A. If the Employer terminates
a Participant’s participation before the Participant
experiences a Separation from Service the Participant’s
vested Accounts shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of
Article 9.
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3-1
ARTICLE 4 –
PARTICIPANT ELECTIONS
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4.1
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Deferral Agreement.
If permitted by the
Plan Sponsor in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Adoption
Agreement, each Eligible Employee and Director may elect to defer
his Compensation within the meaning of Section 3.01 of the
Adoption Agreement by executing in writing or electronically, a
deferral agreement in accordance with rules and procedures
established by the Administrator and the provisions of this Article
4.
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A new deferral
agreement must be timely executed for each Plan Year during which
the Eligible Employee or Director desires to defer Compensation. An
Eligible Employee or Director who does not timely execute a
deferral agreement shall be deemed to have elected zero deferrals
of Compensation for such Plan Year.
A deferral agreement
may be changed or revoked during the period specified by the
Administrator. Except as provided in Section 9.3 or in
Section 4.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement, a deferral
agreement becomes irrevocable at the close of the specified
period.
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4.2
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Amount of Deferral.
An Eligible Employee
or Director may elect to defer Compensation in any amount permitted
by Section 4.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement.
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4.3
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Timing of Election to
Defer. Each Eligible Employee or
Director who desires to defer Compensation otherwise payable during
a Plan Year must execute a deferral agreement within the period
preceding the Plan Year specified by the Administrator. Each
Eligible Employee who desires to defer Compensation that is a Bonus
must execute a deferral agreement within the period preceding the
Plan Year during which the Bonus is earned that is specified by the
Administrator, except that if the Bonus can be treated as
performance based compensation as described in Code
Section 409A(a)(4)(B)(iii), the deferral agreement may be
executed within the period specified by the Administrator, which
period, in no event, shall end after the date which is six months
prior to the end of the period during which the Bonus is earned,
provided the Participant has performed services continuously from
the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date
the performance criteria are established through the date the
Participant executed the deferral agreement and provided further
that the compensation has not yet become ‘readily
ascertainable’ within the meaning of Reg. Sec 1.409A-2(a)(8).
In addition, if the Compensation qualifies as ‘fiscal year
compensation’ within the meaning of Reg. Sec. 1.409A
-2(a)(6), the deferral agreement may be made not later than the end
of the Employer’s taxable year immediately preceding the
first taxable year of the Employer in which any services are
performed for which such Compensation is payable.
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4-1
Except as otherwise
provided below, an employee who is classified or designated as an
Eligible Employee during a Plan Year or a Director who is
designated as eligible to participate during a Plan Year may elect
to defer Compensation otherwise payable during the remainder of
such Plan Year in accordance with the rules of this
Section 4.3 by executing a deferral agreement within the
thirty (30) day period beginning on the date the employee is
classified or designated as an Eligible Employee or the date the
Director is designated as eligible, whichever is applicable, if
permitted by Section 4.01(b)(ii) of the Adoption Agreement. If
Compensation is based on a specified performance period that begins
before the Eligible Employee or Director executes his deferral
agreement, the election will be deemed to apply to the portion of
such Compensation equal to the total amount of Compensation for the
performance period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days
remaining in the performance period after the election becomes
irrevocable and effective over the total number of days in the
performance period. The rules of this paragraph shall not apply
unless the Eligible Employee or Director can be treated as
initially eligible in accordance with Reg. Sec.
1.409A-2(a)(7).
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4.4
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Election of Payment Schedule and
Form of Payment.
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All elections of a
payment schedule and a form of payment will be made in accordance
with rules and procedures established by the Administrator and the
provisions of this Section 4.4.
(a) If
the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit annual distribution
elections in accordance with Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption
Agreement the following rules apply. At the time an Eligible
Employee or Director completes a deferral agreement, the Eligible
Employee or Director must elect a distribution event (which
includes a specified time) and a form of payment for the
Compensation subject to the deferral agreement from among the
options the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and
which are specified in 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. Prior to
the time required by Reg. Sec. 1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or
Director shall elect a distribution event (which includes a
specified time) and a form of payment for any Employer
contributions that may be credited to the Participant’s
Account during the Plan Year. If an Eligible Employee or Director
fails to elect a distribution event, he shall be deemed to have
elected Separation from Service as the distribution event. If he
fails to elect a form of payment, he shall be deemed to have
elected a lump sum form of payment.
4-2
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(b)
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If the Plan Sponsor has elected
not to permit annual distribution elections in accordance with
Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption Agreement but does allow
elections of the time and/or form of payment of amounts credited to
a Participant’s Account, the following rules apply. At the
time an Eligible Employee or Director first completes a deferral
agreement but in no event later than the time required by Reg. Sec.
1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or Director must elect a
distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of
payment for amounts credited to his Account from among the options
the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and which are
specified in Section 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. If an
Eligible Employee or Director fails to elect a distribution event,
he shall be deemed to have elected Separation from Service in the
distribution event. If he fails to elect a form of payment, he
shall be deemed to have elected a lump sum form of
payment.
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(c)
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If the Plan Sponsor has elected
not to permit any distribution elections to be made by a
Participant the following rule shall apply. The amount credited to
a Participant’s Account shall be paid at the time and in the
form specified in Section 6.01 of the Adoption
Agreement.
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4-3
ARTICLE 5 –
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
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5.1
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Matching
Contributions. If elected by the Plan Sponsor
in Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement, the Employer
will credit the Participant’s Account with a matching
contribution determined in accordance with the formula specified in
Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. The matching
contribution will be treated as allocated to the
Participant’s Account at the time specified in
Section 5.01(a)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.
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5.2
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Other Contributions.
If elected by the
Plan Sponsor in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement, the
Employer will credit the Participant’s Account with a
contribution determined in accordance with the formula or method
specified in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. The
contribution will be treated as allocated to the
Participant’s Account at the time specified in
Section 5.01(b)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.
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5-1
ARTICLE 6 –
ACCOUNTS AND CREDITS
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6.1
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Establishment of
Account. For accounting and computational
purposes only, the Administrator will establish and maintain an
Account on behalf of each Participant which will reflect the
credits made pursuant to Section 6.2, distributions or
withdrawals, along with the earnings, expenses, gains and losses
allocated thereto, attributable to the hypothetical investments
made with the amounts in the Account as provided in Article 7. The
Administrator will establish and maintain such other records and
accounts, as it decides in its discretion to be reasonably required
or appropriate to discharge its duties under the Plan.
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6.2
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Credits to Account.
A
Participant’s Account will be credited for each Plan Year
with the amount of his elective deferrals under Section 4.1 at
the time the amount subject to the deferral election would
otherwise have been payable to the Participant and the amount of
Employer contributions treated as allocated on his behalf under
Article 5.
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6-1
ARTICLE 7 –
INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS
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7.1
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Investment Options.
The amount credited
to each Account shall be treated as invested in the investment
options designated for this purpose by the
Administrator.
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7.2
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Adjustment of
Accounts. The amount credited to each
Account shall be adjusted for hypothetical investment earnings,
expenses, gains or losses in an amount equal to the earnings,
expenses, gains or losses attributable to the investment options
selected by the party designated in Section 9.01 of the
Adoption Agreement from among the investment options provided in
Section 7.1. If permitted by Section 9.01 of the Adoption
Agreement, a Participant (or the Participant’s Beneficiary
after the death of the Participant) may, in accordance with rules
and procedures established by the Administrator, select the
investments from among the options provided in Section 7.1 to
be used for the purpose of calculating future hypothetical
investment adjustments to the Account or to future credits to the
Account under Section 6.2 effective as of the Valuation Date
coincident with or next following notice to the Administrator. Each
Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect:
(a) the hypothetical earnings, expenses, gains and losses
described above; (b) amounts credited pursuant to
Section 6.2; and (c) distributions or withdrawals. In
addition, each Account may be adjusted for its allocable share of
the hypothetical costs and expenses associated with the maintenance
of the hypothetical investments provided in
Section 7.1.
|
7-1
ARTICLE 8 –
RIGHT TO BENEFITS
|
8.1
|
Vesting. A Participant, at all times, has
the 100% nonforfeitable interest in the amounts credited to his
Account attributable to his elective deferrals made in accordance
with Section 4.1.
|
Subject to the
amendment and termination provisions of Article 10, a
Participant’s right to the amounts credited to his Account
attributable to Employer contributions made in accordance with
Article 5 shall be determined in accordance with the relevant
schedule and provisions in Section 7.01 of the Adoption
Agreement.
|
8.2
|
Death. The Plan Sponsor may elect to
accelerate vesting upon the death of the Participant in accordance
with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement and/or to make
distributions upon Death in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or
Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement
|
A Participant may
designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or change any prior
designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries in accordance with
rules and procedures established by the Administrator and subject
to the Administrator’s approval. Although the rules of the
Administrator may permit a Participant to designate one or more
alternative Beneficiaries (for example, an individual who shall
become a Participant’s Beneficiary in case the
Participant’s first choice of a Beneficiary dies before
benefits become payable), a Participant may not designate persons
who shall jointly receive benefits as Beneficiaries (for example,
the designation of two or more children to jointly receive benefits
as Beneficiaries is prohibited). Subject to the approval of the
Administrator as provided above, a Participant may designate a
trust as a Beneficiary.
A copy of the death
notice or other sufficient documentation must be filed with and
approved by the Administrator. If upon the death of the Participant
there is, in the opinion of the Administrator, no designated
Beneficiary for part or all of the Participant’s vested
Account, the Administrator shall apply default rules determined by
it, in its sole discretion, but generally following a priority list
of living persons in the following order: Spouse, children,
parents, siblings, estate.
The term
“Spouse” shall mean the individual to whom the
Participant is legally married by civil or religious ceremony under
the laws of the state in which the Participant is legally domiciled
on the date the determination of whether there is a Spouse is being
made. After a Participant’s death, his or her
“Spouse” shall be the individual, if any, who met these
criteria as of the date of the Participant’s
death.
|
8.3
|
Disability.
If the Plan Sponsor
has elected to accelerate vesting upon the occurrence of a
Disability in accordance with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption
Agreement and/or to permit distributions upon Disability
in
|
9-1
|
|
accordance with
Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption
Agreement, the determination of whether a Participant has incurred
a Disability shall be made in accordance with Section 2.11 of
this Plan.
|
9-2
ARTICLE 9 –
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
|
9.1
|
Amount of Benefits.
The vested amount
credited to a Participant’s Account as determined under
Articles 6, 7 and 8 shall determine and constitute the basis for
the value of benefits payable to the Participant under the
Plan.
|
|
9.2
|
Method and Timing of
Distributions. Distributions under the Plan
shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the
Adoption Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.6
requiring a six month delay for certain distributions to Key
Employees, distributions following a distribution event shall
commence at the time specified in Section 6.01 of the Adoption
Agreement. If permitted by Section 6.01(g) of the Adoption
Agreement, a Participant may elect, at least twelve months before a
scheduled distribution event, to delay the payment date for a
minimum period of sixty months from the originally scheduled date
of payment, provided the election does not take effect for at least
twelve months from the date on which the election is made. The
distribution election change must be made in accordance with
procedures and rules established by the Administrator. The
Participant may, at the same time the date of payment is deferred,
change the form of payment but such change in the form of payment
may not effect an acceleration of payment in violation of Code
Section 409A or the provisions of Reg. Sec. 1.409A-2(b). For
purposes of this Section 9.2, a series of installment payments
is always treated as a single payment and not as a series of
separate payments.
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|
9.3
|
Unforeseeable
Emergency. A Participant may request a
distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency if the Plan Sponsor
has elected to permit Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawals under
Section 8.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. The request must be
in writing and must be submitted to the Administrator along with
evidence that the circumstances constitute an Unforeseeable
Emergency. The Administrator has the discretion to require whatever
evidence it deems necessary to determine whether a distribution is
warranted, and may require the Participant to certify that the need
cannot be met from other sources reasonably available to the
Participant. Whether a Participant has incurred an Unforeseeable
Emergency will be determined by the Administrator on the basis of
the relevant facts and circumstances in its sole discretion, but,
in no event, will an Unforeseeable Emergency be deemed to exist if
the hardship can be relieved: (a) through reimbursement or
compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of
the Participant’s assets to the extent such liquidation would
not itself cause severe financial hardship, or (c) by
cessation of deferrals under the Plan.
|
9-3
A distribution due
to an Unforeseeable Emergency must be limited to the amount
reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need and may include
any amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, foreign or local
income taxes and penalties reasonably anticipated to result from
the distribution. The distribution will be made in the form of a
single lump sum cash payment. If permitted by Section 8.01(b)
of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant’s deferral elections
for the remainder of the Plan Year will be cancelled upon a
withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency. If the payment of all
or any portion of the Participant’s vested Account is being
delayed in accordance with Section 9.6 at the time he
experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency, the amount being delayed
shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 9.3
until the expiration of the six month period of delay required by
Section 9.6.
|
9.4
|
Payment Election
Overrides. If the Plan Sponsor has elected
one or more payment election overrides in accordance with
Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the following
provisions apply. Upon the occurrence of the first event selected
by the Plan Sponsor, the remaining vested amount credited to the
Participant’s Account shall be paid in the form designated to
the Participant or his Beneficiary regardless of whether the
Participant had made different elections of time and /or form of
payment or whether the Participant was receiving installment
payments at the time of the event.
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|
9.5
|
Cashouts Except as provided in
Section 9.9(c) of this Plan, lump sum cashouts shall not be
made under the Plan,
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|
9.6
|
Required Delay in Payment to Key
Employees . Except as otherwise provided
in this Section 9.6, a distribution made on account of
Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) to a
Participant who is a Key Employee as of the date of his Separation
from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) shall not be made
before the date which is six months after the Separation from
Service (or Retirement, if applicable).
|
9-4
|
|
(a)
|
A Participant is treated as a
Key Employee if (i) he is employed by a Related Employer any
of whose stock is publicly traded on an established securities
market, and (ii) he satisfies the requirements of Code
Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii), determined
without regard to Code Section 416(i)(5), at any time during
the twelve month period ending on the Identification
Date.
|
|
|
(b)
|
A Participant who is a Key
Employee on an Identification Date shall be treated as a Key
Employee for purposes of the six month delay in distributions for
the twelve month period beginning on the first day of a month no
later than the fourth month following the Identification Date. The
Identification Date and the effective date of the delay in
distributions shall be determined in accordance with
Section 1.06 of the Adoption Agreement.
|
|
|
(c)
|
The Plan Sponsor may elect to
apply an alternative method to identify Participants who will be
treated as Key Employees for purposes of the six month delay in
distributions if the method satisfies each of the following
requirements. The alternative method is reasonably designed to
include all Key Employees, is an objectively determinable standard
providing no direct or indirect election to any Participant
regarding its application, and results in either all Key Employees
or no more than 200 Key Employees being identified in the class as
of any date. Use of an alternative method that satisfies the
requirements of this Section 9.6(c) will not be treated as a
change in the time and form of payment for purposes of Reg. Sec.
1.409A-2(b).
|
|
|
(d)
|
The six month delay does not
apply to payments described in Section 9.9(a),(b) or
(d) or to payments that occur after the death of the
Participant. If the payment of all or any portion of the
Participant’s vested Account is being delayed in accordance
with this Section 9.6 at the time he incurs a Disability which
would otherwise require a distribution under the terms of the Plan,
no amount shall be paid until the expiration of the six month
period of delay required by this Section 9.6.
|
|
9.7
|
Change in Control.
If the Plan Sponsor
has elected to permit distributions upon a Change in Control, the
following provisions shall apply. A distribution made upon a Change
in Control will be made at the time specified in
Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in the form elected
by the Participant in accordance with the procedures described in
Article 4.
|
9-5
Alternatively, if
the Plan Sponsor has elected in accordance with Section 11.02
of the Adoption Agreement to require distributions upon a Change in
Control, the Participant’s remaining vested Account shall be
paid to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary at
the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption
Agreement as a single lump sum payment. A Change in Control, for
purposes of the Plan, will occur upon the occurrence of an event
described in this Section 9.7. All distributions made in
accordance with this Section 9.7 are subject to the provisions
of Section 9.6.
If a Participant
continues to make deferrals in accordance with Article 4 after he
has received a distribution due to a Change in Control, the
residual amount payable to the Participant shall be paid at the
time and in the form specified in the elections he makes in
accordance with Article 4 or upon his death or Disability as
provided in Article 8.
Whether a Change in
Control has occurred will be determined by the Administrator in
accordance with the rules and definitions set forth in this
Section 9.7. A distribution to the Participant will be treated
as occurring upon a Change in Control within the meaning of
Section 11.01 of the Adoption Agreement and this
Section 9.7 if the Plan Sponsor terminates the Plan in
accordance with Section 10.2 and distributes the
Participant’s benefits within twelve months of the date the
Plan Sponsor irrevocably takes all necessary action to terminate
the Plan as provided in Section 10.2.
A Change in Control
means a “change in control event” within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) & (ii) that
occurs with respect to a Participant on or after the date on which
any of the following events occurs:
|
|
(a)
|
any Person is or becomes the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Plan
Sponsor (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such
Person any securities acquired directly from the Plan Sponsor or
its Affiliates) representing 25% or more of the combined voting
power of the Plan Sponsor’s then outstanding securities,
excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in
connection with a transaction described in clause (A) of
paragraph (c) below; or
|
|
|
(b)
|
the following
individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
number of directors serving on the Board: individuals who, at the
beginning of any period of two consecutive years, constitute the
Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial
assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened
election contest, including but not limited to a consent
solicitation,
|
9-6
|
|
relating to the
election of directors of the Plan Sponsor) whose appointment or
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Plan
Sponsor’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote
of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in
office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or
whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended; or
|
|
|
(c)
|
there is consummated a merger or
consolidation of the Plan Sponsor or any Subsidiary with any other
corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which
would result in the voting securities of the Plan Sponsor
outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or
any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Plan Sponsor or any Subsidiary, at least 60% of
the combined voting power of the securities of the Plan Sponsor or
such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Plan
Sponsor (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes
the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Plan Sponsor (not including in the securities beneficially owned by
such Person any securities acquired directly from the Plan Sponsor
or its Affiliates) representing 25% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
or
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|
|
(d)
|
the shareholders of the Plan
Sponsor approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of
the Plan Sponsor or there is consummated an agreement for the sale
or disposition by the Plan Sponsor of all or substantially all of
the Plan Sponsor’s assets, other than a sale or disposition
by the Plan Sponsor of all or substantially all of the Plan
Sponsor’s assets to an entity, at least 60% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by
shareholders of the Plan Sponsor in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of the Plan Sponsor immediately
prior to such sale.
|
For purposes of the
foregoing provisions of this Section 9.7,
|
|
(i)
|
the term “Affiliate”
shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act;
|
|
|
(ii)
|
the term “Beneficial
Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act; and
|
9-7
|
|
(iii)
|
the term “Person”
shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) any
member of the Barnes family (by blood or marriage) or any entity
for the benefit of, or controlled by, a member of the Barnes family
(by blood or marriage), (ii) the Plan Sponsor or any of its
subsidiaries, (iii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Plan Sponsor or
any of its Affiliates, (iv) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or
(v) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareholders of the Plan Sponsor in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Plan
Sponsor.
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|
9.8
|
Permissible Delays in
Payment. Distributions may be delayed
beyond the date payment would otherwise occur in accordance with
the provisions of Articles 8 and 9 in any of the following
circumstances as long as the Employer treats all payments to
similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent
basis.
|
|
|
(a)
|
The Employer may delay payment
if it reasonably anticipates that its deduction with respect to
such payment would be limited or eliminated by the application of
Code Section 162(m). Payment must be made during the
Participant’s first taxable year in which the Employer
reasonably anticipates, or should reasonably anticipate, that if
the payment is made during such year the deduction of such payment
will not be barred by the application of Code Section 162(m)
or during the period beginning with the Participant’s
“separation from service” and ending on the later of
the last day of the Employer’s taxable year in which the
Participant separates from service or the 15th day of the third
month following the Participant’s “separation from
service.” If a scheduled payment to a Participant is delayed
in accordance with this Section 9.8(a), all scheduled payments
to the Participant that could be delayed in accordance with this
Section 9.8(a) will also be delayed. The term
“separation from service” and the other provisions
hereof shall be determined in a manner consistent with applicable
Treasury regulations.
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|
|
(b)
|
The Employer may also delay
payment if it reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment
will violate federal securities laws or other applicable laws
provided payment is made at the earliest date on which the Employer
reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not
cause such violation.
|
9-8
|
|
(c)
|
The Employer reserves the right
to amend the Plan to provide for a delay in payment upon such other
events and conditions as the Secretary of the Treasury may
prescribe in generally applicable guidance published in the
Internal Revenue Bulletin.
|
|
9.9
|
Permitted Acceleration of
Payment . The Employer may permit
acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment or amount
scheduled to be paid pursuant to a payment under the Plan provided
such acceleration would be permitted by the provisions of Reg. Sec.
1.409A-3(j)(4), including the following events:
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|
|
(a)
|
Domestic Relations
Order. A
payment may be accelerated if such payment is made to an alternate
payee pursuant to and following the receipt and qualification of a
domestic relations order as defined in Code
Section 414(p).
|
|
|
(b)
|
Compliance with Ethics
Agreements and Legal Requirements. A payment may be accelerated as
may be necessary to comply with ethics agreements with the Federal
government or as may be reasonably necessary to avoid the violation
of Federal, state, local or foreign ethics law or conflicts of
laws, in accordance with the requirements of Code
Section 409A.
|
|
|
(c)
|
De Minimis Amounts.
In the discretion of
the Administrator, a payment may be accelerated if (i) the
amount of the payment is not greater than the applicable dollar
amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B), and (ii) at the
time the payment is made the amount constitutes the
Participant’s entire interest under the Plan and all other
plans that are aggregated with the Plan under Reg. Sec.
1.409A-1(c)(2).
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|
|
(d)
|
FICA Tax.
A payment may be
accelerated to the extent required to pay the Federal Insurance
Contributions Act tax imposed under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a) and
3121(v)(2) of the Code with respect to compensation deferred under
the Plan (the “FICA Amount”). Additionally, a payment
may be accelerated to pay the income tax on wages imposed under
Code Section 3401 of the Code on the FICA Amount and to pay
the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the
pyramiding Code Section 3401 wages and taxes. The total
payment under this subsection (d) may not exceed the aggregate
of the FICA Amount and the income tax withholding related to the
FICA Amount.
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|
|
(e)
|
Section 409A Additional
Tax. A
payment may be accelerated if the Plan fails to meet the
requirements of Code Section 409A; provided that such payment
may not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a
result of the failure to comply with the requirements of Code
Section 409A.
|
9-9
|
|
(f)
|
Offset. A payment may be accelerated in
the Employer’s discretion as satisfaction of a debt of the
Participant to the Employer, where such debt is incurred in the
ordinary course of the service relationship between the Participant
and the Employer, the entire amount of the reduction in any of the
Employer’s taxable years does not exceed $5,000, and the
reduction is made at the same time and in the same amount as the
debt otherwise would have been due and collected from the
Participant.
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|
|
(g)
|
Other Events.
A payment may be
accelerated in the Administrator’s discretion in connection
with such other events and conditions as permitted by Code
Section 409A.
|
9-10
ARTICLE 10
– AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
|
10.1
|
Amendment and Termination by
Plan Sponsor. The Plan Sponsor reserves the
right to amend and/or terminate the Plan (for itself and each
Employer) through action of its Board of Directors at any time for
whatever reasons it may deem appropriate (or for no reason), except
that no such amendment or termination shall adversely affect the
benefits payable to any person who has begun to receive benefits
hereunder and no such amendment or termination may accelerate or
defer the payment of compensation except as permitted by
Section 409A of the Code.
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|
10.2
|
Plan Termination Following
Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution. If so elected by the Plan
Sponsor in Section 11.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the Plan
Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan pursuant to
irrevocable action taken within the 30 days preceding or the twelve
months following a Change in Control as determined in accordance
with the rules set forth in Section 9.7. For this purpose, the
Plan will be treated as terminated only if all agreements, methods,
programs and other arrangements sponsored by the Related Employer
immediately after the Change in Control which are treated as a
single plan with the Plan under Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(c)(2) are
also terminated so that all participants under the Plan and all
similar arrangements that experienced the Change in Control are
required to receive all amounts deferred under the terminated
arrangements within twelve months of the date the Plan Sponsor
irrevocably takes all necessary action to terminate the
arrangements. The foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2
and Section 11.01 of the Adoption Agreement shall be
administered, interpreted and construed in accordance with Treasury
Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B). In addition, the Plan Sponsor
reserves the right to terminate and liquidate the Plan within
twelve months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code
Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court
pursuant to 11 U. S. C. Section 503(b)(1)(A) provided that
amounts deferred under the Plan are included in the gross incomes
of Participants in the latest of the following years (or, if
earlier, the taxable year in which the amount is actually or
constructively received): (a) the calendar year in which the
termination and liquidation occurs, (b) the first calendar
year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk
of forfeiture, or (c) the first calendar year in which payment
is administratively practicable. The preceding sentence shall be
administered, interpreted and construed in accordance with Treasury
Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(A).
|
10-1
|
10.3
|
Other Plan
Terminations. The Plan Sponsor retains the
discretion to terminate the Plan if (a) all arrangements
sponsored by the Plan Sponsor that would be aggregated with any
terminated arrangement under Code Section 409A and Reg. Sec.
1.409A-1(c)(2) are terminated, (b) no payments other than
payments that would be payable under the terms of the arrangements
if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve months
of the termination of the arrangements, (c) all payments are
made within twenty-four months of the termination of the
arrangements, (d) the Plan Sponsor does not adopt a new
arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated
arrangement under Code Section 409A and the regulations
thereunder at any time within the three year period following the
date of termination of the arrangement, and (e) the
termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial
health of the Plan sponsor. The foregoing provisions of this
Section 10.3 shall be administered, interpreted and construed
in accordance with Treasury Regulation
1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C).
|
The Plan Sponsor
also reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide that
termination of the Plan will occur under such conditions and events
as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in generally
applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue
Bulletin.
10-2
ARTICLE 11
– THE TRUST
|
11.1
|
Establishment of
Trust. The Plan Sponsor may but is not
required to establish a trust to hold amounts which the Plan
Sponsor may contribute from time to time to correspond to some or
all amounts credited to Participants under Section 6.2. If the
Plan Sponsor elects to establish a trust in accordance with
Section 10.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the provisions of
Sections 11.2 and 11.3 shall become operative.
|
|
11.2
|
Grantor Trust.
Any trust
established by the Plan Sponsor shall be between the Plan Sponsor
and a trustee pursuant to a separate written agreement under which
assets are held, administered and managed, subject to the claims of
the Plan Sponsor’s creditors in the event of the Plan
Sponsor’s insolvency. The trust is intended to be treated as
a grantor trust under the Code, and the establishment of the trust
shall not cause the Participant to realize current income on
amounts contributed thereto. The Plan Sponsor must notify the
trustee in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency.
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|
11.3
|
Investment of Trust
Funds. Trust investments need not
reflect the hypothetical investments selected by Participants under
Section 7.1 for the purpose of adjusting Accounts and the
earnings or investment results of the trust need not affect the
hypothetical investment adjustments to Participant Accounts under
the Plan.
|
11-1
ARTICLE 12
– PLAN ADMINISTRATION
|
12.1
|
Powers and Responsibilities of
the Administrator. The Administrator has the full
power and discretion, and the full responsibility, to administer,
interpret, and construe the Plan in all of its details, subject,
however, to any applicable requirements of ERISA. The
Administrator’s powers and responsibilities include, but are
not limited to, the following:
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|
|
(a)
|
To make and enforce such rules
and procedures as it deems necessary or proper for the efficient
administration of the Plan;
|
|
|
(b)
|
To interpret the Plan, its
interpretation thereof to be final on all persons claiming benefits
under the Plan;
|
|
|
(c)
|
To decide all questions
concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to
participate in the Plan;
|
|
|
(d)
|
To compute the amount of
benefits which will be payable to any Participant, former
Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan;
|
|
|
(e)
|
To determine the person or
persons to whom such benefits will be paid;
|
|
|
(f)
|
To authorize the payment of
benefits;
|
|
|
(g)
|
To appoint such agents, counsel,
accountants, and consultants as may be required to assist in
administering the Plan;
|
|
|
(h)
|
To allocate and delegate its
responsibilities to administer the Plan.
|
12-1
|
12.2
|
Claims and Review
Procedures. The claims and review procedures
applicable to this Plan are set forth in a supplemental document;
the following provisions of this Section 12.2 are
inapplicable.
|
If any person
believes he is being denied any rights or benefits under the Plan,
such person may file a claim in writing with the Administrator. If
any such claim is wholly or partially denied, the Administrator
will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such
notification will contain (i) specific reasons for the denial,
(ii) specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions,
(iii) a description of any additional material or information
necessary for such person to perfect such claim and an explanation
of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) a
description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time
limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the
person’s right to bring a civil action following an adverse
decision on review. Such notification will be given within 90 days
after the claim is received by the Administrator. The Administrator
may extend the period for providing the notification by 90 days if
special circumstances require an extension of time for processing
the claim and if written notice of such extension and circumstance
is given to such person within the initial 90 day period. If such
notification is not given within such period, the claim will be
considered denied as of the last day of such period and such person
may request a review of his claim.
Within 60 days after
the date on which a person receives a written notification of
denial of claim (or, if written notification is not provided,
within 60 days of the date denial is considered to have occurred),
such person (or his duly authorized representative) may
(i) file a written request with the Administrator for a review
of his denied claim and of pertinent documents and (ii) submit
written issues and comments to the Administrator. The Administrator
will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such
notification will be written in a manner calculated to be
understood by such person and will contain specific reasons for the
decision as well as specific references to pertinent Plan
provisions. The notification will explain that the person is
entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable
access to and copies of all pertinent documents and has the right
to bring a civil action following an adverse decision on
review.
12-2
The decision on
review will be made within 60 days. The Administrator may extend
the period for making the decision on review by 60 days if special
circumstances require an extension of time for processing the
request such as an election by the Administrator to hold a hearing,
and if written notice of such extension and circumstances is given
to such person within the initial 60-day period. If the decision on
review is not made within such period, the claim will be considered
denied.
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(c)
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Special Procedure for Claims Due
to Disability.
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To the extent an
application for distribution as a result of a Disability requires
the Administrator or the panel reviewing the Administrator’s
determination, as applicable, to make a determination of Disability
under the terms of the Plan, then such determination shall be
subject to all of the general rules described in this Section,
except as they are expressly modified by this
Section 12(c).
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(i)
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The initial decision on the
claim for a Disability distribution will be made within forty-five
(45) days after the Plan receives the claimant’s claim,
unless special circumstances require additional time, in which case
the Administrator will notify the claimant before the end of the
initial forty-five (45)-day period of an extension of up to thirty
(30) days. If necessary, the Administrator may notify the
claimant, prior to the end of the initial thirty (30)-day extension
period, of a second extension of up to thirty (30) days. If an
extension is due to the claimant’s failure to supply the
necessary information, then the notice of extension will describe
the additional information and the claimant will have forty-five
(45) days to provide the additional information. Moreover, the
period for making the determination will be delayed from the date
the notification of extension was sent out until the claimant
responds to the request for additional information. No additional
extensions may be made, except with the claimant’s voluntary
consent. The contents of the notice shall be the same as described
in Section 12.2(a) above. If a disability distribution claim
is denied in whole or in part, then the claimant will receive
notification, as described in Section 12.2(c).
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12-3
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(ii)
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If an internal rule, guideline,
protocol or similar criterion is relied upon in making the adverse
determination, then the denial notice to the claimant will either
set forth the internal rule, guideline, protocol or similar
criterion, or will state that such was relied upon and will be
provided free of charge to the claimant upon request (to the extent
not legally-privileged) and if the claimant’s claim was
denied based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or
similar exclusion or limit, then the claimant will be provided a
statement either explaining the decision or indicating that an
explanation will be provided to the claimant fr
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