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HNI CORPORATION DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Employee Benefits Plan Agreement

HNI CORPORATION
 
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HNI CORP

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Title: HNI CORPORATION DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Governing Law: Iowa     Date: 11/1/2007
Industry: FURNIT     Sector: Consumer Cyclical

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EXHIBIT 10.7                         
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
HNI CORPORATION
 
DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
 














 




As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005 to comply with Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code




TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
 
  1. Amendment and Restatement         1
 
   1.1.   Amendment and Restatement        1
   1.2. Purpose       1
   1.3. Application of the Plan         1
 
  2. Definitions         1
 
   2.1. Definitions         1
   2.2. Gender and Number       4
 
  3. Eligibility and Participation        4
 
    3.1. Eligibility      4
   3.2.    Missing Persons       5
 
  4. Establishment and Entries to Accounts        5
 
    4.1.    Accounts        5
    4.2. Deferral Election Agreement       5
    4.3. Adjustments to Accounts       7
    4.4. Commencement of Distribution of Sub-Account      7
   4.5. Exceptions to Payment Terms      8
    4.6. Death Benefit    11
   4.7. Funding    11
 
  5. Administration      11
 
    5.1. Administration     11
    5.2. Actions of the Committee    11
    5.3. Delegation     12
    5.4. Expenses    12
    5.5. Reports and Records    12
    5.6. Valuation of Accounts and Account Statements    12
    5.7. Indemnification and Exculpation    12
 
  6.   Beneficiary Designation      13
 
    6.1. Designation of Beneficiary    13
    6.2. Death of Beneficiary    13
    6.3. Ineffective Designation    13
 
  7.   Amendment and Termination      13
 
  8.   Claims Procedure      13
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  9.   Miscellaneous      14
 
    9.1. Unfunded, Non-ERISA Plan    14
    9.2. Nontransferability    14
    9.3. Successors    14
    9.4. Severability    14
    9.5 . Applicable Law    15
    9.6 . No Other Agreements    15
    9.7 . Incapacity    15
    9.8 . Counterparts    15
    9.9 . Electronic Media     15
    9.10 . Administratively Reasonable    15
    9.11 . Release    15
    9.12 . Notices    15
    9.13 . No Guaranty of Board Position     16
 
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HNI Corporation
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan


1.            Amendment and Restatement

1.1.            Amendment and Restatement .  HNI Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby amends and restates, effective as of January 1, 2005 (the "Restatement Date"), the HNI Corporation Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Plan first became effective on August 9, 1999.  
 
1.2.            Purpose .  The purpose of the Plan is to give Outside Directors the opportunity to defer the fees payable to them by the Corporation to achieve their personal financial planning goals.
 
1.3.            Application of the Plan .  The terms of the Plan, as set forth in this restatement, shall apply to amounts deferred under the Plan on or after January 1, 2005, and to the payment of amounts deferred under the Plan prior to, but not yet distributed as of, January 1, 2005.   Accordingly, amounts deferred under the Plan prior to January 1, 2005, the effective date of Code Section 409A, are not intended to be grandfathered under Section 409A.  
 
2.            Definitions

2.1.            Definitions .  Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below and, when the defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized:
 
 
(a)
"Account" means the device used to measure and determine the amount of benefits payable to a Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan.  The Corporation shall establish a Cash Account and Stock Account for each Participant under the Plan, and the term "Account," as used in the Plan, may refer to either such Account or the aggregate of the two Accounts.  In addition, the Corporation shall establish a separate Sub-Account under each of the Participant's Cash Account and Stock Account for each Deferral Election Agreement entered into by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.2.

 
(b)
"Beneficiary" means the persons or entities designated by a Participant in writing pursuant to Article 6 of the Plan as being entitled to receive any benefit payable under the Plan by reason of the death of the Participant, or, in the absence of such designation, the Participant's estate pursuant to the rules specified in Article 6.

 
(c)
"Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 
(d)
"Change in Control" means:

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(i)           the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (with the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation (the "Outstanding Corporation Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors (the "Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control:  (I) any acquisition directly from the Corporation; (II) any acquisition by the Corporation; (III) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any corporation controlled by the Corporation; or (IV) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) of this paragraph; or

(ii)           individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Corporation's shareholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

(iii)           consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination:  (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Corporation Common Stock and Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities, as the case may be; (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Corporation or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination.

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(e)
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

 
(f)
"Committee" means the Committee established by the Chairman of the Board to administer the Plan.

 
(g)
"Corporation" means HNI Corporation, an Iowa corporation.

 
(h)
"Compensation," of a Participant, means the Participant's annual retainer, meeting fees, and any other amounts payable to the Participant by the Corporation for services performed as an Outside Director, in cash or Stock, excluding any amounts distributable under the Plan.

 
(i)
"Deferral Election Agreement" means the agreement described in Section 4.2 and attached hereto as Exhibit A, in which the Participant designates the amount of his or her Compensation, if any, that he or she wishes to contribute to the Plan and acknowledges and agrees to the terms of the Plan.

 
(j)
"Elective Deferral" means a contribution to the Plan made by a Participant pursuant to a Deferral Election Agreement that the Participant enters into with the Corporation.  Elective Deferrals shall be made according to the terms of the Plan set forth in Section 4.2.

 
(k)
"Enrollment Period" means the period designated by the Corporation during which a Deferral Election Agreement may be entered into with respect to a Participant's future Compensation as described in Section 4.2.  Generally, the Enrollment Period must end no later than the end of the calendar year before the calendar year in which the services giving rise to the Compensation to be deferred are performed.  As described in Section 4.2, an exception may be made to this requirement for individuals who first become eligible to participate in the Plan.

 
(l)
"Fair Market Value" means the average of the high and low transaction prices of a share of Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date as of which such value is being determined, or, if there shall be no reported transactions for such date, on the next preceding date for which transactions were reported; provided, however, that if Fair Market Value for any date cannot be so determined, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee by whatever means or method as the Committee, in the good faith exercise of its discretion, shall at such time deem appropriate.

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(m)
"Outside Director" means a non-employee member of the Board of Directors.

 
(n)
"Participant" means an Outside Director who has entered into a Deferral Election Agreement.

 
(o)
"Plan Year" means the consecutive 12-month period beginning each January 1 and ending December 31.

 
(p)
"Qualified Domestic Relations Order" has the same meaning as in Section 414(p) of the Code.

 
(q)
"Separation from Service," of a Participant, means the Participant's cessation of services for the Corporation as an Outside Director, provided that the Corporation does not then anticipate that the Outside Director will perform future services for the Corporation as an Outside Director (or other independent contractor).  .

 
(r)
"Specified Employee" means a "key employee" (as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to Section 416(i)(5)) of the Corporation.  For purposes hereof, an employee is a key employee if the employee meets the requirements of Section 416(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on December 31.  If a person is a key employee as of such date, the person is treated as a Specified Employee for the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the fourth month following such date.

 
(s)
"Stock" means the Corporation's common stock, $1.00 par value.

 
(t)
"Stock Unit" means the notational unit representing the right to receive one share of Stock.

 
(u)
"Subsidiary" means any corporation, joint venture, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity in which the Corporation has a direct or indirect ownership or other equity interest and directly or indirectly owns or controls more than 50 percent of the total combined voting or other decision-making power.

2.2.            Gender and Number .  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used in the Plan also shall include the feminine gender; and the definition of any plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
 
3.            Eligibility and Participation
 
3.1.            Eligibility .  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Outside Directors.
 

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3.2.            Missing Persons .  Each Participant and Beneficiary entitled to receive benefits under the Plan shall be obligated to keep the Corporation informed of his or her current address until all Plan benefits that are due to be paid to the Participant or Beneficiary have been paid to him or her.  If the Corporation is unable to locate the Participant or his or her Beneficiary for purposes of making a distribution, the amount of a Participant's benefit under the Plan that would otherwise be considered as non-forfeitable shall be forfeited effective one year after:  (a) the last date a payment of said benefit was made, if at least one such payment was made; or (b) the first date a payment of said benefit was due to be made pursuant to the terms of the Plan, if no payments have been made.  If such person is located after the date of such forfeiture, the benefits for such Participant or Beneficiary shall not be reinstated hereunder.
 
4 .             Establishment and Entries to Accounts
 
4.1.            Accounts .  The Committee shall establish a Cash Account, Stock Account or both for a Participant under the Plan as follows:
 
(a)            Cash Account .  A Participant's Cash Account, as of any date, shall consist of the Compensation that the Participant has elected to allocate to that Account under his or her Deferral Election Agreement(s) pursuant to Section 4.2, increased by earning thereon pursuant to Section 4.3(a), and adjusted to reflect distributions from the Account pursuant to Sections 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6.
 
(b)            Stock Account .  A Participant's Stock Account, as of any date, shall consist of the Compensation that the Participant has elected to allocate to that Account pursuant to Section 4.2, increased with earnings (including dividend equivalents) thereon and converted to Stock Units pursuant to Section 4.3(b), and adjusted to reflect distributions from the Account pursuant to Sections 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6.
 
The Committee shall establish a separate Sub-Account under each of these Accounts for each Deferral Election Agreement entered into by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.2.  As specified in Section 4.2, as part of a Participant's Deferral Election Agreement, the Participant shall elect how amounts deferred under each Deferral Election Agreement are to be distributed to him or her from among the available distribution options described in Section 4.4.  The separate Sub-Accounts are established to account for the different distribution terms that may apply to each Sub-Account.  The Corporation may combine Sub-Accounts that have identical distribution terms, or may establish other Sub-Accounts for a Participant under the Plan from time to time in its discretion, as it deems appropriate or advisable.  A Participant shall have a full and immediate nonforfeitable interest in his or her Accounts at all times.
 
4.2            Deferral Election Agreement .  A Participant wishing to make an Elective Deferral under the Plan for a Plan Year shall enter into a Deferral Election Agreement during the Enrollment Period immediately preceding the beginning of the Plan Year.  A separate Deferral Election Agreement must be entered into for each Plan Year that a Participant wishes to make Elective Deferrals under the Plan.  In order to be effective, the Deferral Election Agreement must be completed and submitted to the Corporation at the time and in the manner specified by the Committee, which may be no later than the last day of the Enrollment Period.  The Corporation shall not accept Deferral Election Agreements entered into after the end of the Enrollment Period.
 

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For the Plan Year in which an individual first becomes a Director, the Committee may, in its discretion, allow the Director to enter into a Deferral Election Agreement within 30 days after the date on which he or she becomes a Director.  In order to be effective, the Deferral Election Agreement must be completed and submitted to the Committee on or before the 30-day period has elapsed.  The Committee will not accept Deferral Election Agreements entered into after the 30-day period has elapsed.  If the Director fails to complete a Deferral Election Agreement by such time, he or she may enter into a Deferral Election Agreement during any succeeding Enrollment Period in accordance with the rules described in the preceding paragraph.  For purposes of the exception described in this paragraph, the term "Plan" means the Plan and any other plan required to be aggregated with the Plan pursuant to Code Section 409A, and the regulations and other guidance thereunder.  Accordingly, if an Outside Director has previously been eligible to participate in a plan required to be aggregated with the Plan, then the 30-day exception described in this paragraph shall not apply to him or her.

For each Deferral Election Agreement the Participant enters into, the Participant shall specify:

(a)           The amount, by dollar amount or percentage, of Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in cash to be deferred under the Plan, and the amount, by number of shares or percentage, of Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in Stock to be deferred under the Plan;

(b)           The manner in which the amount in (a), above, is to be allocated between the Participant's Cash Account and Stock Account, by dollar amount or percentage; provided, however, that in the case of Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in Stock, the Compensation shall automatically be allocated to the Stock Account; and

(c)           The time and manner of distribution (consistent with the requirements of Section 4.4) of the Sub-Accounts established with respect to the Deferral Election Agreement.

The Committee may from time to time establish a minimum amount that may be deferred by a Participant pursuant to this Section 4.2 for any Plan Year.

Elective Deferrals shall be credited to the Participant's Cash Account or Stock Account, as the case may be, on, or as soon as administratively reasonable after, the Compensation would have been paid to the Participant had the Participant not elected to defer it under the Plan.
 
In general, a Deferral Election Agreement shall become irrevocable as of the last day of the Enrollment Period applicable to it.  However, if a Participant incurs an "unforeseeable emergency," as defined in Section 4.5(d)(ii) after the Deferral Election Agreement otherwise becomes irrevocable, the Deferral Election Agreement shall be cancelled as of the date on which the Participant is determined to have incurred the unforeseeable emergency and no further Elective Deferrals will be made under it.
 
4.3.            Adjustments to Accounts .

(a)           A Participant's Cash Account shall be credited with earnings on a calendar monthly basis in an amount equal to the product of: (1) the lowest Cash Account balance during the month; and (2) the rate specified by the Committee for the month, which rate may be changed by the Committee from time to time in its discretion as it deems appropriate.  The interest so computed for a month shall be credited to the Cash Account as of the first day of the immediately succeeding month.
 
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(b)           The Elective Deferrals allocable to a Participant's Stock Account under a Deferral Election Agreement shall be converted to Stock Units on the date they are credited to the Account.  In the case of Elective Deferrals of Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in cash, the number of whole and fractional Stock Units so credited shall be equal to the dollar amount of the Elective Deferrals allocated to the Stock Account as of such date divided by the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date.  In the case of Elective Deferrals of Compensation otherwise payable to the Participant in Stock, the number of Stock Units so credited shall be equal to the number of shares of Stock that the Participant has elected to defer pursuant to the Deferral Election Agreement.  On each date on which the Corporation pays a cash dividend (the "dividend date"), the Stock Account shall be credited with an additional number of Stock Units determined by dividing the dollar amount that the Corporation would have paid as a dividend if the Stock Units held in the Participant's Stock Account as of the record date for the dividend were actual shares of Stock divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the dividend date.  Appropriate adjustments in the Stock Account shall be made as equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Account from any Stock dividend, Stock split, reorganization or other such corporate transaction or event.
 
4.4.            Commencement and Form of Distribution of Sub-Account .  As stated in Section 4.2(c), above, as part of his or her Deferral Election Agreement, a Participant shall elect:  (a) the date on which distribution of the Compensation deferred under the Deferral Election Agreement (as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3) is to commence, which date may be no earlier than one

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