JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC.
RETIREMENT RESTORATION PLAN
ARTICLE 1.
PURPOSE AND DURATION
Section 1.1. Purpose . The purpose of the Johnson
Controls Retirement Restoration Plan (formerly the Equalization
Benefit Plan) is to restore retirement benefits to certain
participants in the Company’s pension or savings plans whose
benefits under said plans are or will be limited by reason of Code
Sections 401(a)(17), 401(k), 401(m), 402(g) and/or 415, and/or by
reason of the election of such employees to defer income or reduce
salary pursuant to this Plan or to defer annual incentive payments
pursuant to the Johnson Controls, Inc. Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan. This Plan is completely separate from the
tax-qualified pension plans maintained by the Company and is not
funded or qualified for special tax treatment under the Code. The
Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan covering a select group of
management and highly compensated employees for purposes of
ERISA.
Section 1.2. Duration of the Plan . The Plan became
effective as of January 1, 1980, and was previously amended
and restated effective January 1, 2009. The Plan is now being
amended and restated effective November 17, 2009. The
provisions of the Plan as amended and restated apply to each
individual with an interest hereunder on or after
September 15, 2009. The Plan shall remain in effect until
terminated pursuant to Article 9.
ARTICLE 2.
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Section 2.1. Definitions . Wherever used in the Plan,
the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below and,
where the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is
capitalized:
(a)
“Actuarial Equivalent” means a benefit of equivalent
value determined in accordance with acceptable actuarial
principles, utilizing the interest and mortality rates specified
for actuarial equivalence in the Pension Plan.
(b)
“Administrator” means the Employee Benefits Policy
Committee of the Company.
(c)
“Affiliate” means each entity that is required to be
included in the Company’s controlled group of corporations
within the meaning of Code Section 414(b), or that is under
common control with the Company within the meaning of Code
Section 414(c); provided that for purposes of determining when
a Participant has incurred a Separation from Service, the phrase
“at least 48 percent” shall be used in place of
“at least 80 percent” each place it appears in the
regulations thereunder.
(d)
“Annual Incentive Plan” means the Johnson Controls,
Inc. Annual Incentive Performance Plan as from time to time amended
and in effect and any successor to such plan maintained by the
Company.
(e)
“Annuity Starting Date” means, with respect to a
Participant’s vested Pension Plan Supplement Benefit, the
later to occur of: (i) the first day of the month coincident
with or following the Participant’s attainment of age
fifty-five (55) (even if the Participant does not survive to such
date) or (ii) the first day of the month coincident with or
following the Participant’s Separation from
Service.
(f)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(g)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
interpreted by regulations and rulings issued pursuant thereto, all
as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference to a
specific provision of the Code shall be deemed to include reference
to any successor provision thereto.
(h)
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the
Board.
(i)
“Company” means Johnson Controls, Inc., a Wisconsin
corporation, and its successors as provided in
Article 14.
(j)
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as interpreted by regulations and rulings issued
pursuant thereto, all as amended and in effect from time to time.
Any reference to a specific provision of ERISA shall be deemed to
include reference to any successor provision thereto.
(k)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as interpreted by regulations and rules issued pursuant
thereto, all as amended and in effect from time to time. Any
reference to a specific provision of the Exchange Act shall be
deemed to include reference to any successor provision
thereto.
(l)
“Fair Market Value” means with respect to a Share,
except as otherwise provided herein, the closing sales price of a
Share on the New York Stock Exchange as of 4:00 p.m. EST on the
date in question (or the immediately preceding trading day if the
date in question is not a trading day), and with respect to any
other property, such value as is determined by the
Administrator.
(m)
“Investment Options” means the Share Unit Account and
any other options made available by the Administrator, which shall
be used for the purpose of measuring hypothetical investment
experience attributable to a Participant’s Savings Supplement
Account.
(n)
“Participant” means an employee of the Company or an
Affiliate who is described in an applicable Appendix hereto;
provided that the Committee shall limit the foregoing group
of eligible employees to a select group of management and highly
compensated employees, as determined by the Committee in accordance
with ERISA. Where the context so requires, a Participant also means
a former employee entitled to receive a benefit
hereunder.
(o)
“Pension Plan” means the Johnson Controls Pension Plan,
a defined benefit pension plan, and any successor to such plan
maintained by the Company.
2
(p)
“Pension Plan Benefits” means the aggregate monthly
benefits payable under the Pension Plan.
(q)
“Pension Plan Supplement Benefits” means the aggregate
monthly benefits payable under an applicable Appendix hereto as a
supplement to a Participant’s Pension Plan
Benefits.
(r)
“Savings Plan” means the Johnson Controls Savings and
Investment (401(k)) Plan, a defined contribution plan, and any
successor to such plan maintained by the Company.
(s)
“Savings Supplement Account” means the record keeping
account or accounts maintained to record the interest of each
Participant under Article 5 of the Plan and the applicable
Appendices. A Savings Supplement Account is established for record
keeping purposes only and not to reflect the physical segregation
of assets on the Participant’s behalf, and may consist of
such subaccounts or balances as the Administrator may determine to
be necessary or appropriate.
(t)
“Separation from Service” means a Participant’s
cessation of service for the Company and all Affiliates within the
meaning of Code Section 409A, including the following
rules:
|
|
(1)
|
|
If
a Participant takes a leave of absence from the Company or an
Affiliate for purposes of military leave, sick leave or other bona
fide leave of absence, the Participant’s employment will be
deemed to continue for the first six (6) months of the leave
of absence, or if longer, for so long as the Participant’s
right to reemployment is provided by either by statute or by
contract; provided that if the leave of absence is due to the
Participant’s 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 six (6) months or
more, and such impairment causes the Participant to be unable to
perform the duties of his position with the Company or an Affiliate
or a substantially similar position of employment, then the leave
period may be extended for up to a total of 29 months. If the
period of the leave exceeds the time periods set forth above and
the Participant’s right to reemployment is not provided by
either statute or contract, the Participant will be considered to
have incurred a Separation from Service on the first day following
the end of the time periods set forth above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
A
Participant will be presumed to have incurred a Separation from
Service when the level of bona fide services performed by the
Participant for the Company and
|
3
|
|
|
|
its Affiliates
permanently decreases to a level that equal to 20% or less of the
average level of services performed by the Participant for the
Company and its Affiliates during the immediately preceding
36 month period (or such lesser period of service).
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
The
Participant will be presumed not to have incurred a Separation from
Service while the Participant continues to provide bona fide
services to the Company or an Affiliate in any capacity (whether as
an employee or independent contractor) at a level that at least
fifty percent (50%) of the average level of services performed by
the Participant for the Company and its Affiliates during the
immediately preceding 36 month period (or such lesser period
of service).
|
(u)
“Share” means a share of common stock of the
Company.
(v)
“Share Unit Account” means the portion of the
Participant’s Savings Supplement Account that is deemed
invested in Shares.
(w)
“Share Units” means the hypothetical Shares that are
credited to the Share Unit Accounts in accordance with
Section 5.3.
(x)
“Spouse” means the person to whom a Participant is
lawfully married pursuant to Federal law; provided that for
purposes of payment of the death benefit under Section 4.3,
“Spouse” means the person to whom a deceased
Participant was lawfully married pursuant to Federal law throughout
the 1-year period preceding the date of his or her
death.
(y)
“Valuation Date” means each day when the United States
financial markets are open for business, as of which the
Administrator will determine the value of each Account and will
make allocations to Accounts.
Section 2.2. Construction . Wherever any words are used
in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were used
in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and
wherever any words are used in the singular or the plural, they
shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or the
singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so
apply. Titles of articles and sections are for general information
only, and the Plan is not to be construed by reference to such
items.
Section 2.3. Severability . In the event any provision
of the Plan is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the
illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of
the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the
illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
4
ARTICLE 3.
ADMINISTRATION
Section 3.1. General . The Committee shall have overall
discretionary authority with respect to administration of the Plan,
provided that the Administrator shall have discretionary
authority and responsibility for the general operation and daily
administration of the Plan and to decide claims and appeals as
specified herein. If at any time the Committee shall not be in
existence, then the administrative functions of the Committee shall
be assumed by the Board (with the assistance of the Administrator),
and any references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to
include references to the Board.
Section 3.2. Authority and Responsibility . In addition
to the authority specifically provided herein, the Committee and
the Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to take
any action or make any determination deemed necessary for the
proper administration of the Plan with regard to the respective
duties of each, including but not limited to the power and
authority to: (a) prescribe rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan; (b) prescribe forms for use with
respect to the Plan; (c) interpret and apply all of the
Plan’s provisions, reconcile inconsistencies or supply
omissions in the Plan’s terms; (d) make appropriate
determinations, including factual determinations, and calculations;
and (e) prepare all reports required by law. Any action taken
by the Committee shall be controlling over any contrary action of
the Administrator. The Committee and the Administrator may delegate
their ministerial duties to third parties and to the extent of such
delegation, references to the Committee or Administrator hereunder
shall mean such delegates, if any.
Section 3.3. Decisions Binding . The Committee’s
and the Administrator’s determinations shall be final and
binding on all parties with an interest hereunder, unless
determined to be arbitrary and capricious.
Section 3.4. Procedures for Administration . The
Committee’s determinations must be made by not less than a
majority of its members present at the meeting (in person or
otherwise) at which a quorum is present, or by written majority
consent, which sets forth the action, is signed by the members of
the Committee and filed with the minutes for proceedings of the
Committee. A majority of the entire Committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. Service on the Committee
shall constitute service as a director of the Company so that the
Committee members shall be entitled to indemnification, limitation
of liability and reimbursement of expenses with respect to their
Committee services to the same extent that they are entitled under
the Company’s By-laws and Wisconsin law for their services as
directors of the Company. The Administrator’s determinations
shall be made in accordance with procedures it
establishes.
Section 3.5. Restrictions to Comply with Applicable Law
. All transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all
applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The
Committee and the Administrator shall administer the Plan so that
transactions under the Plan will be exempt from or comply with
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and shall have the right to
restrict or rescind any transaction, or impose other rules and
requirements, to the extent it deems necessary or desirable for
such exemption or compliance to be met.
5
ARTICLE 4.
PENSION PLAN SUPPLEMENT
Section 4.1. Eligibility for and Amount of Benefits .
Participants shall be eligible for Pension Plan Supplement Benefits
in accordance with the terms of the applicable Appendix.
Section 4.2. Payment of Pension Plan Supplement
Benefits . The following provisions apply to all Participants
except those specified on the Addendum.
(a)
Timing of Payment . Payment of the vested Pension Plan
Supplement Benefit shall begin on the Participant’s Annuity
Starting Date, or if later, the first day of the seventh month
following the month in which the Participant’s Separation
from Service occurs (the “Delayed Payment Date”). If
monthly payments are to begin on a Delayed Payment Date, then all
monthly payments that were due from the Annuity Starting Date to
the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid in a lump
sum on the Delayed Payment Date, and the Participant shall receive
an additional payment of interest (equal to the interest rate
assumption used for non-lump sum Actuarial Equivalence) calculated
on a simple (i.e. non-compounded) basis from the Annuity Starting
Date to the Delayed Payment Date.
(b)
Normal Form of Payment . Subject to the Participant’s
election of an alternative form of benefit under subsection
(c),
|
|
(1)
|
|
For
a Participant who has no Spouse on the Annuity Starting Date,
payment shall be made in the form of a single life annuity, which
provides monthly payments for the life of the Participant,
beginning on the Annuity Starting Date and ending with the payment
due for the month in which the Participant’s death occurs, in
the amount calculated under the applicable Appendix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
For
a Participant who has a Spouse on the Annuity Starting Date,
payment shall be made in the form of a joint and fifty percent
(50%) survivor annuity, which provides monthly payments for the
life of the Participant in reduced amounts which are the Actuarial
Equivalent of the payments calculated under the applicable
Appendix, and in the event the Participant predeceases his Spouse,
monthly payments equal to fifty percent (50%) of such reduced
amounts shall be continued to such Spouse for the Spouse’s
life. Payments of such benefits shall end with the payment due for
the month in which the later of the death of the Participant or his
Spouse (as applicable) occurs.
|
(c)
Optional Forms of Benefit . In lieu of the normal form of
payment described in subsection (b), a Participant may elect at any
time prior to his Annuity Starting Date to receive his benefit in
one of the following optional forms of payment. Payments made under
each optional form of payment shall be the Actuarial Equivalent of
the benefit payment amount
6
determined
under the applicable Appendix. The Participant’s election of
an optional form of distribution shall be made in the form and
manner and within such timeframes as the Administrator may
prescribe and shall be irrevocable once benefit payments
commence.
|
|
(1)
|
|
Joint and Survivor
Annuity : The
joint and survivor annuity form provides monthly payments to the
Participant while living and, in the event the Participant
predeceases his or her joint annuitant, monthly payments equal to
100%, 75% or 50% (as elected by the Participant) of the
Participant’s monthly payments shall be continued to such
joint annuitant for his or her life. Such payments shall end with
the payment due on the first day of the month in which the later of
the death of the Participant or the joint annuitant (as applicable)
occurs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
Life Only Annuity
: The Life Only Annuity
form provides monthly payments to the Participant for life, ending
with the payment due on the first day of the month in which the
death of the Participant occurs.
|
(d)
Life Annuity – 10 Years Certain : The Life Annuity
– 10 Years Certain form provides monthly payments to the
Participant while living and, in the event the Participant dies
before receiving 120 monthly payments, such payments will
continue to the Participant’s designated beneficiary. Such
payments shall end with the payment due on the first day of the
month in which the death of the Participant occurs or with the
120 th
payment, as applicable.
Section 4.3. Death Benefit . The Spouse, if any, of a
deceased Participant shall be entitled to a pre-retirement
surviving spouse’s benefit if the Participant’s death
occurs before his or her Annuity Starting Date and after the
Participant has become vested in his or her Pension Plan Supplement
Benefit. The amount of the pre-retirement surviving spouse benefit
payable to the Participant’s Spouse shall be equal to the
amount that would have been payable to the Spouse had the
Participant (i) ceased employment; (ii) commenced a
Pension Plan Supplement Benefit at the Annuity Starting Date having
elected a joint and 50% survivor annuity form of benefit payment
with his or her Spouse as contingent annuitant; and (iii) died
the next day. Payments shall be made in the form of a single life
annuity for the life of the Spouse and shall commence on the
Annuity Starting Date, and end with the payment due for the month
in which the Spouse’s death occurs. If a deceased
Participant’s Spouse dies before the Annuity Starting Date,
no benefit shall be payable under this Article 4.
Section 4.4. Small Benefit Cashout . Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the single sum Actuarial Equivalent value of a
Participant’s Pension Plan Supplement Benefit as determined
on the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or
death is less than the applicable dollar limit under Code
Section 402(g)(1)(B) as in effect for such year, then the
Actuarial Equivalent single sum value of the Pension Plan
Supplement Benefit shall be paid to the Participant or Spouse in a
lump sum within 90 days of the date of the Participant’s
Separation from Service or death.
7
ARTICLE 5.
SAVINGS PLAN SUPPLEMENT
Section 5.1. Eligibility for and Amount of Benefits .
Participants shall be eligible for a Savings Plan Supplement
Account in accordance with the terms of the applicable
Appendix.
Section 5.2. Investment Election . Amounts credited to
a Participant’s Savings Supplement Account shall reflect the
investment experience of the Investment Options selected by the
Participant. The Participant may make an initial investment
election at the time of enrollment in the Plan. A Participant may
also elect to reallocate his or her Savings Supplement Account, and
may elect to allocate any future deferrals, among the various
Investment Options from time to time. Such investment elections
shall remain in effect until changed by the Participant. All
investment elections shall become effective as soon as practicable
after receipt of such election, and must be made in the form and
manner and within such time periods as the Administrator may
prescribe in order to be effective. In the absence of an effective
election, the Participant’s Savings Supplement Account shall
be deemed invested in the default fund specified for the Savings
Plan (or any successor plan thereto). Deferrals will be deemed
invested in an Investment Option as of the date on which the
deferrals are allocated under the Plan as described in the
Appendices.
On
each Valuation Date, the Administrator or its delegate shall credit
the deemed investment experience with respect to the selected
Investment Options to each Participant’s Savings Supplement
Account.
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Company retains the right to
allocate actual amounts hereunder without regard to a
Participant’s request.
Section 5.3. Valuation of Share Unit Account . When any
amounts are to be allocated to a Share Unit Account (whether in the
form of deferrals or amounts that are deemed transferred from
another Investment Option), such amount shall be converted to whole
and fractional Share Units, by dividing the amount to be allocated
by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the effective date of such
allocation. If any dividends or other distributions are paid on
Shares while a Participant has Share Units credited to his Account,
such Participant shall be credited with a dividend award equal to
the amount of the cash dividend paid or Fair Market Value of other
property distributed on one Share, multiplied by the number of
Share Units credited to his Share Unit Account on the date the
dividend is declared. The dividend award shall be converted into
additional Share Units as provided above using the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date the dividend is paid or distributed.
Any other provision of this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,
if a dividend is declared on Shares in the form of a right or
rights to purchase shares of capital stock of the Company or any
entity acquiring the Company, no additional Share Units shall be
credited to the Participant’s Share Unit Account with respect
to such dividend, but each Share Unit credited to a
Participant’s Share Unit Account at the time such dividend is
paid, and each Share Unit thereafter credited to the
Participant’s Share Unit Account at a time when such rights
are attached to Shares, shall thereafter be valued as of any point
in time on the basis of the aggregate of the then Fair Market Value
of one Share plus the then Fair Market Value of such right or
rights then attached to one Share.
8
In
the event of any merger, share exchange, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or
other change in corporate structure of the Company affecting
Shares, the Committee may make appropriate equitable adjustments
with respect to the Share Units credited to the Share Unit Account
of each Participant, including without limitation, adjusting the
date as of which such units are valued and/or distributed, as the
Committee determines is necessary or desirable to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be provided
under the Plan.
Section 5.4. Securities Law Restrictions .
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all elections
under this Article by a Participant who is subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act are subject to review by the
Administrator prior to implementation. In accordance with
Section 3.5, the Administrator may restrict additional
transactions, rescind transactions, or impose other rules and
procedures, to the extent deemed desirable by the Administrator in
order to comply with the Exchange Act, including, without
limitation, application of the review and approval provisions of
this Section 5.4 to Participants who are not subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Section 5.5. Accounts are For Record Keeping Purposes
Only . The Savings Supplement Accounts and the record keeping
procedures described herein serve solely as a device for
determining the amount of benefits accumulated by a Participant
under Article 5 of the Plan, and shall not constitute or imply
an obligation on the part of the Company or any Affiliate to fund
such benefits.
Section 5.6. Payment of Benefits . Upon a
Participant’s Separation from Service for any reason, the
Participant shall be entitled to payment of the vested balance of
the Participant’s Savings Supplement Account in cash in the
manner specified in the applicable Appendix.
Section 5.7. Death Benefit . In the event of the
Participant’s death prior to receiving all payments due under
this Article 5, the vested balance of the Participant’s
Savings Supplement Account shall be paid to the Participant’s
beneficiary in a cash lump sum in the first calendar quarter or the
third calendar quarter, whichever first occurs after the
Participant’s death; provided that if the Participant dies
prior to November 18, 2010, the death benefit shall be paid
according to the prior provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in lieu of such lump sum death benefit, a Participant
who has an installment payment election in effect may, prior to his
or her termination of employment, elect to have any remaining
installment payments continue to his or her Beneficiary in the
event the Participant dies after beginning to receive such
installment payments, provided that such election shall be given
effect only if filed at least twelve (12) months prior to the
date of the Participant’s death.
ARTICLE 6. ADDITIONAL PAYMENT
PROVISIONS
Section 6.1. Acceleration of Payment . Notwithstanding
the foregoing,
(a) If
an amount deferred under this Plan is required to be included in
income under Code Section 409A prior to the date such amount
is actually distributed, a Participant shall receive a
distribution, in a lump sum within ninety (90) days after the
date the Plan fails to meet
9
the
requirements of Code Section 409A, of the amount required to
be included in the Participant’s income as a result of such
failure.
(b) With
respect to the Savings Plan Supplement benefit only, if an amount
under the Plan is required to be immediately distributed in a lump
sum under a domestic relations order within the meaning of Code
Section 414(p)(1)(B), it may be distributed according to the
terms of such order, provided the Participant holds the
Administrator harmless with respect to such distribution. The Plan
shall not distribute amounts required to be distributed under a
domestic relations order other than in the limited circumstance
specifically stated herein.
Section 6.2. Delay in Payment . Notwithstanding the
foregoing,
(a) If
a distribution required under the terms of this Plan would
jeopardize the ability of the Company or of an Affiliate to
continue as a going concern, the Company or the Affiliate shall not
be required to make such distribution. Rather, the distribution
shall be delayed until the first date that making the distribution
does not jeopardize the ability of the Company or of an Affiliate
to continue as a going concern. Any distribution delayed under this
provision shall be treated as made on the date specified under the
terms of this Plan.
(b) If
a distribution will violate the terms of Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act or other Federal securities laws, or any other
applicable law, then the distribution shall be delayed until the
earliest date on which making the distribution will not violate
such law.
ARTICLE 7.
NON-ALIENATION OF PAYMENTS
Section 7.1. Non-Alienation . Except as specifically
provided herein, benefits payable under the Plan shall not be
subject in any manner to alienation, sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge, attachment, garnishment or encumbrance of any kind. Any
attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise
encumber any such benefit payment, whether currently or thereafter
payable, shall not be recognized by the Administrator or the
Company. Any benefit payment due hereunder shall not in any manner
be liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of any
Participant or other person entitled thereto. If any such person
shall attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or
encumber any benefit payments to be made to that person under the
Plan or any part thereof, or if by reason of such person’s
bankruptcy or other event happening at any time, such payments
would devolve upon anyone else or would not be enjoyed by such
person, then the Administrator, in its discretion, may terminate
such person’s interest in any such benefit payment, and hold
or apply it to or for the benefit of that person, the spouse,
children or other dependents thereof, or any of them, in such
manner as the Administrator deems proper.
Section 7.2. Designation of Beneficiary . Each
Participant may designate a beneficiary in such form and manner and
within such time periods as the Administrator may prescribe. A
Participant can change his beneficiary designation at any time,
provided that each beneficiary designation shall revoke the
most recent designation, and the last designation received by the
Administrator (or its delegate) while the Participant was alive
shall be given effect. If a Participant designates a beneficiary
without providing in the designation that the
10
beneficiary
must be living at the time of each distribution, the designation
shall vest in the beneficiary all of the distribution whether
payable before or after the beneficiary’s death, and any
distributions remaining upon the beneficiary’s death shall be
made to the beneficiary’s estate. In the event there is no
valid beneficiary designation in effect at the time of the
Participant’s death, in the event the Participant’s
designated beneficiary does not survive the Participant, or in the
event that the beneficiary designation provides that the
Beneficiary must be living at the time of each distribution and
such designated beneficiary does not survive to a distribution
date, the Participant’s estate will be deemed the beneficiary
and will be entitled to receive payment. If a Participant
designates his spouse as a beneficiary, such beneficiary
designation automatically shall become null and void on the date of
the Participant’s divorce or legal separation from such
spouse, provided the Administrator has notice of such
divorce or legal separation prior to payment.
ARTICLE 8.
LIMITATION OF RIGHTS
Section 8.1. No Right to Employment . Participation in
this Plan, or any modifications thereof, or the payments of any
benefits hereunder, shall not be construed as giving to any person
any right to be retained in the service of the Company or any
Affiliate, limiting in any way the right of the Company or any
Affiliate to terminate such person’s employment at any time,
evidencing any agreement or understanding that the Company or any
Affiliate will employ such person in any particular position or at
any particular rate of compensation or guaranteeing such person any
right to receive any other form or amount of remuneration from the
Company or any Affiliate.
Section 8.2. No Right to Benefits .
(a)
Unsecured Claim . The right of a Participant, his Spouse or
his beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an
unsecured claim, and neither the Participant, his Spouse nor any
beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any amount credited
to his Savings Supplement Account, any accrued benefit under
Article 4 or any other specific assets of the Company or an
Affiliate. The right of a Participant or beneficiary to the payment
of benefits under this Plan shall not be assigned, encumbered, or
transferred, except as permitted under Section 7.2. The rights
of a Participant hereunder are exercisable during the
Participant’s lifetime only by him or his guardian or legal
representative.
(b)
Contractual Obligation . The Company or an Affiliate may
authorize the creation of a trust or other arrangements to assist
it in meeting the obligations created under the Plan, subject to
the restrictions on such funding such trust or arrangement imposed
by Code Section 409A(b)(2) or (3). However, any liability to any
person with respect to the Plan shall be based solely upon any
contractual obligations that may be created pursuant to the Plan.
No obligation of the Company or an Affiliate shall be deemed to be
secured by any pledge of, or other encumbrance on, any property of
the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing contained in this Plan and no
action taken pursuant to its terms shall create or be construed to
create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company or an Affiliate and any Participant or beneficiary, or any
other person.
11
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
Section 9.1. Amendment . The Committee may at any time
amend the Plan, including but not li
|