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DYNEGY INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008

Executive Compensation Plan Agreement

DYNEGY INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008 | Document Parties: DYNEGY HOLDINGS INC | DYNEGY INC You are currently viewing:
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DYNEGY HOLDINGS INC | DYNEGY INC

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Title: DYNEGY INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 2/26/2009

DYNEGY INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008, Parties: dynegy holdings inc , dynegy inc
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Exhibit 10.55

DYNEGY INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR
CERTAIN DIRECTORS

As Amended and Restated
Effective January 1, 2008

 

 


 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I Purposes of Plan

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II Definitions

 

 

1

 

2.1 Definitions

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III Participation

 

 

4

 

3.1 Participation

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV Company and Director Deferrals

 

 

4

 

4.1 Company Deferrals

 

 

4

 

4.2 Director Deferrals

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V Deemed Investment of Accounts

 

 

6

 

5.1 Deemed Investments

 

 

6

 

5.2 Changes to Deemed Investments

 

 

6

 

5.3 Exchange Act Restrictions

 

 

6

 

5.4 Earnings Allocations and Account Statements

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI Distributions

 

 

7

 

6.1 Distributions

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII Change in Control

 

 

9

 

7.1 Change in Control

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII Beneficiary Designation

 

 

10

 

8.1 Beneficiary

 

 

10

 

8.2 Beneficiary Designation; Change of Beneficiary Designation

 

 

10

 

8.3 Acknowledgment

 

 

10

 

8.4 No Beneficiary Designation

 

 

10

 

8.5 Doubt as to Beneficiary

 

 

10

 

8.6 Discharge of Obligations

 

 

10

 

 

i


 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE IX Nature of the Plan and Trust Establishment

 

 

11

 

9.1 Unfunded Nature of Plan and Participant’s Rights Unsecured

 

 

11

 

9.2 Discretionary Establishment of Trust

 

 

11

 

9.3 Interrelationship of the Plan and the Trust

 

 

11

 

9.4 Distributions From the Trust

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X Amendment or Termination

 

 

11

 

10.1 Amendments to the Plan

 

 

11

 

10.2 Termination of the Plan

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI Administration

 

 

12

 

11.1 Plan Rules and Regulations

 

 

12

 

11.2 Discretion

 

 

12

 

 

ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous

 

 

13

 

12.1 Payment in Event of Incapacity

 

 

13

 

12.2 Expenses

 

 

13

 

12.3 Securities Law and Other Restrictions

 

 

13

 

12.4 No Rights to Continued Service Created

 

 

13

 

12.5 Successors

 

 

13

 

12.6 Governing Law

 

 

13

 

12.7 Headings

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix A — Grandfathered Plan Provisions

 

 

15

 

 

ii


 

DYNEGY INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CERTAIN DIRECTORS

ARTICLE I
Purposes of Plan

The Company has previously established the Dynegy Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Certain Directors (the “Plan”) for the purpose of providing nonemployee directors of the Company with the opportunity to defer all or a portion of their cash compensation, to promote the long-term growth of the Company by increasing the proprietary interest of directors in the Company, to attract and retain directors with outstanding competence and ability, to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and financial success of the Company and to further the identity of interests of such directors with those of the Company’s stockholders generally. The Plan is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to amounts deferred under the Plan on or after January 1, 2005 and the related earnings thereon, effective as of January 1, 2008, to make such modifications as are necessary or desirable to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and Code Section 409A, and to make other Plan and administrative amendments. Amounts deferred under the Plan on or after January 1, 2005 have been administered in good faith compliance with Section 409A from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008. The Company intends to maintain the “grandfather” status of the Plan with respect to amounts deferred prior to January 1, 2005 and the related earnings thereon, in accordance with Section 409A, and such deferrals and earnings shall continue to be subject to, and governed by, the terms and conditions of the Plan in effect on October 3, 2004, which have not been “materially modified” for purposes of Section 409A, as set forth in Appendix A attached hereto. The Plan will be construed and administered in a manner that is consistent with and gives effect to the foregoing. The Plan is intended to be unfunded for tax purposes.

ARTICLE II
Definitions

2.1

 

Definitions . The definitions set forth in this Article II apply unless the context otherwise indicates.

 

(a)

 

Accounts . “Accounts” means a Participant’s Company Deferral Account and Deferred Money Account, excluding such amounts in a Participant’s Grandfathered Deferral Account, as applicable.

 

 

(b)

 

Affiliate . “Affiliate” means all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code.

 

(c)

 

Beneficiary . “Beneficiary” with respect to a Participant is the person designated or otherwise determined under the provisions of Article VIII as the distributee of benefits payable after the Participant’s death. A person designated or otherwise determined to be a Beneficiary under the terms of the Plan has no interest in or right under the Plan until the Participant in question has died. A person will cease to be a Beneficiary on the day on which all benefits to which such person is entitled under the Plan have been distributed.

(d) Board . “Board” means the directors of the Company.

 

(e)

 

Cash Compensation . “Cash Compensation” means all cash amounts payable by the Company or an Affiliate to a Qualified Director for his or her services to the Company as a Qualified Director (i) including, without limitation, the retainers for service on the Board and fees specifically paid for attending regular or special meetings of the Board and Board committees or for acting as the chair of a committee, but (ii) excluding expense allowances or reimbursements.

 

1


 

 

(f)

 

Change in Control . “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a merger of the Company with another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or equity interests of the Company to another entity if, in any such case, (A) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such event do not beneficially own immediately after such event equity securities of the resulting entity entitled to fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the votes then eligible to be cast in the election of directors (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions that they owned the equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such event or (B) the persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such event do not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting entity immediately after such event; (ii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, but excluding a reorganization pursuant to chapter 11 of Title 11, U.S. Code, as amended; (iii) a circumstance where any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of, (A) if the Company has not engaged in a merger or consolidation, the Company, or (B) if the Company has engaged in a merger or consolidation, the resulting entity; (iv) circumstances where, as a result of or in connection with, a contested election of directors, the persons who were members of the Board immediately before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board; or (v) the Board adopts a resolution declaring that a Change in Control has occurred. For purposes of the “Change in Control” definition, (1) “resulting entity” in the context of an event that is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the subject assets or equity interests shall mean the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset or equity interest sale), unless the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) is a subsidiary of another entity and the holders of common stock of the Company receive capital stock of such other entity in such transaction or event, in which event the resulting entity shall be such other entity, and (2) subsequent to the consummation of a merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change in Control, the term “the Company” shall refer to the resulting entity and the term “Board” shall refer to the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity.

 

 

(g)

 

Code . “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (including, when the context requires, all regulations, interpretations and rulings issued thereunder). Any reference to a specific provision of the Code includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor provision.

 

(h)

 

Common Stock . “Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

 

 

(i)

 

Company . “Company” means Dynegy Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(j)

 

Company Deferral Account . “Company Deferral Account” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a) hereof.

 

 

(k)

 

Computation Date . “Computation Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

 

(l)

 

Deferred Money Account . “Deferred Money Account” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.2(d) hereof.

 

2


 

 

(m)

 

Dynegy Stock Fund . “Dynegy Stock Fund” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

 

(n)

 

Effective Date . “Effective Date” means January 1, 2008.

 

(o)

 

Exchange Act . “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Exchange Act includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor provision.

 

 

(p)

 

Funds . “Funds” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

(q)

 

Grandfathered Deferral Account . “Grandfathered Deferral Account” means the balances of a Participant’s Company Deferral Account and Deferred Money Account that are attributable to deferrals prior to January 1, 2005 and the related earnings thereon, if any.

 

 

(r)

 

Participant . “Participant” is a current or a former Qualified Director whose account amounts have been credited under the Plan and who has not ceased to be a Participant pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

(s)

 

Phantom Stock Amount . “ Phantom Stock Amount” means the quarterly phantom stock grant dollar amount for a member of the Board as recommended by the Governance Committee of the Company and approved by the Board.

 

 

(t)

 

Plan . “Plan” means the Dynegy Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For Certain Directors as provided herein and as amended from time to time.

 

(u)

 

Plan Administrator . “Plan Administrator” means the Company; provided, that the Company has delegated to Dynegy Administrative Services Company, an Affiliate, certain recordkeeping and plan administration functions.

 

 

(v)

 

Plan Rules . “Plan Rules” means the rules, policies, practices or procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator pursuant to Section 11.1.

 

(w)

 

Plan Year . “Plan Year” means the period commencing on January 1 of each calendar year and continuing through December 31 of such calendar year.

 

 

(x)

 

Qualified Director . “Qualified Director” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.1 hereof.

 

(y)

 

Section 409A . “Section 409A” means Code Section 409A and all rules, regulations, interpretations and rulings issued thereunder.

 

 

(z)

 

Section 409A Change in Control . “Section 409A Change in Control” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.2(b).

 

(aa)

 

Securities Act . “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Securities Act includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor provision.

 

3


 

 

(bb)

 

Separation from Service . “Separation from Service” means a complete termination of a Qualified Director’s service with the Company and all Affiliates as a director, voluntarily or involuntarily, for any reason or, if less than a complete termination, such service decreases to a level that is less than 20 percent of the average level of services performed by the Participant over the immediately preceding 36-month period. For the sake of clarity and notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a Participant shall be considered to have incurred a “Separation from Service” for purposes of the Plan if such separation constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Final Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

 

(cc)

 

Trading Day . “Trading Day” means a day during which trading in securities generally occurs in the principal securities market in which Common Stock is traded.

 

(dd)

 

Trust . “Trust” means one or more grantor trusts established, if any, as provided in Article IX, by and between Dynegy Administrative Services Company, as a Plan Administrator pursuant to the delegation of certain administrative authority by the Company, and the trustee named pursuant to a trust agreement.

ARTICLE III
Participation

3.1

 

Participation . An individual who is a member of the Board and who is not an employee of the Company or any Affiliate, shall become a Qualified Director under the Plan 0n the later 0f (a) the Effective Date 0r (b) the date he 0r she becomes such a Board member. An individual who was a Qualified Director or other Participant in the Plan on the day prior to the Effective Date shall remain as a Qualified Director or Participant in the Plan as of the Effective Date. An individual shall cease to be a Participant as of the date his or her account balances have been distributed.

ARTICLE IV
Company and Director Deferrals

4.1

 

Company Deferrals .

 

(a)

 

Quarterly Deferral Amount . On each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 that occurs after the Effective Date, the Plan Administrator shall credit to a Company deferral account on behalf of each Qualified Director (a “Company Deferral Account”) a number of hypothetical shares (including fractional shares) of Common Stock equal to (a) the Phantom Stock Amount divided by (b) the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last Trading Day of the calendar quarter ending on such March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31, as applicable; provided, however, that a Qualified Director’s Company Deferral Account shall receive such credit only if such individual was a Qualified Director on the March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 to which such credit relates or he or she incurred a Separation from Service during the calendar quarter ending on such date by reason of death or disability. The Company Deferral Account shall be a bookkeeping entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to a Participant pursuant to the Plan, if any.

 

 

(b)

 

Dividends . Dividends and other distributions that would be paid with respect to a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of hypothetical shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant’s Company Deferral Account as of the date of such dividend or other distribution shall be credited to the Participant’s Company Deferral Account as of such date and shall be deemed to be invested in hypothetical shares (including fractional shares) of Common Stock based on the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the date of such dividend or other distribution (or the next preceding Trading Day if such date is not a Trading Day). Amounts credited to a Participant’s Company Deferral Account shall be paid to or on behalf of the Participant as hereinafter provided.

 

(c)

 

Vesting . A Qualified Director shall be 100% vested in his or her Company Deferral Account.

 

4


 

4.2

 

Director Deferrals .

 

(a)

 

Annual Election to Defer Cash Compensation . With respect to any Plan Year, a Qualified Director may irrevocably elect, in accordance with this Section 4.2 and Plan Rules, to defer the receipt of all or a portion of his or her Cash Compensation earned during that Plan Year. In the event that the deferral election is expressed as a percentage of Cash Compensation, any such deferral election will automatically apply to any adjusted Cash Compensation during the applicable Plan Year.

 

 

(b)

 

Time of Filing Election . A deferral election will not be effective unless it is made on a properly completed election form received by the Company before the first day of the Plan Year to which the deferral election relates or such earlier time as may be required by the Company. However, in the case of an individual who first becomes a Qualified Director on or after the first day of a Plan Year, the deferral election may be made within 30 days after the date such individual becomes a Qualified Director, which shall apply to the Cash Compensation earned after the date of such election; provided such new Qualified Director was not eligible to participate in a plan of the Company that is to be aggregated with this Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c)(2).

 

(c)

 

Duration of Deferral Elections . A deferral election made pursuant to this Section 4.2 for a Plan Year (or remainder thereof in the case of a new Qualified Director) is irrevocable after the latest date by which the deferral election is required to be given to the Plan Administrator for such Plan Year (or remainder thereof) and will remain in effect for future Plan Years unless and until the Qualified Director changes his or her deferral for future Plan Years. A Qualified Director may change his or her deferral, including reducing it to zero, by delivering a new deferral election not later than the day before the first Plan Year to which the new deferral election relates or such earlier time as may be required by the Plan Administrator.

 

 

(d)

 

Deferred Money Account . For each Qualified Director electing to defer Cash Compensation under the Plan in accordance with this Section 4.2, there shall be maintained a deferred money account (a “Deferred Money Account”). Deferred Compensation of each Qualified Director shall be credited as a dollar amount to the Qualified Director’s Deferred Money Account on the date such Cash Compensation otherwise would be payable in cash to the Qualified Director. The Deferred Money Account shall be a bookkeeping entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amount to be paid to a Participant pursuant to the Plan, if any.

 

(e)

 

Vesting . A Participant shall at all times be 100% vested in his or her Deferred Money Account.

 

5


 

ARTICLE V
Deemed Investment of Accounts

5.1

 

Deemed Investments . Each Participant shall designate, in accordance with Plan Rules, the manner in which the amounts allocated to his or her Deferred Money Account shall be deemed to be invested from among the investment funds made available from time to time for such purpose (the “Funds”); provided, however, that one of the Funds that shall be made available for purposes of this Section 5.1 shall be a hypothetical fund maintained by the Plan Administrator consisting primarily of Common Stock (the “Dynegy Stock Fund”). A Participant may designate one of such Funds for the deemed investment of all such amounts allocated to the Participant’s Deferred Money Account, or he or she may split the deemed investment of such amounts allocated to his or her Deferred Money Account among such Funds in such increments as the Plan Administrator may prescribe. If a Participant fails to make a proper designation, then his or her Deferred Money Account shall be deemed to be invested in the Fund or Funds designated by the Plan Administrator from time to time in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner.

5.2

 

Changes to Deemed Investments .

 

 

(a)

 

A Participant may change his or her deemed investment designation for future deferrals to be allocated to the Participant’s Deferred Money Account. Any such change shall be made in accordance with Plan Rules, and the frequency of such changes may be limited by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b)

 

A Participant may elect to convert his or her deemed investment designation with respect to the amounts already allocated to the Participant’s Deferred Money Account. Any such conversion shall be made in accordance with Plan Rules, and the frequency of such conversions may be limited by the Plan Administrator. No election of a conversion designation by a Participant which has the effect of increasing the total amount allocated to the Dynegy Stock Fund may be made on a date which is less than six months following (i) the date of any prior election of a conversion designation by such Participant which had the effect of decreasing the total amount allocated to the Dynegy Stock Fund or (ii) the date of any election by such Participant with respect to any other plan of the Company or any subsidiary thereof which had the effect (directly or indirectly) of making a disposition on behalf of such Participant of Common Stock. No election of a conversion designation by a Participant which has the effect of decreasing the total amount allocated to the Dynegy Stock Fund may be made on a date which is less than six months following (1) the date of any prior election of a conversion designation by such Participant which had the effect of increasing the total amount allocated to the Dynegy Stock Fund or (2) the date of any election by such Participant with respect to any other plan of the Company or any subsidiary thereof which had the effect (directly or indirectly) of making an acquisition on behalf of the Participant of Common Stock. The restrictions set forth in the two preceding sentences shall not apply to a Participant at any time he or she is not subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

5.3

 

Exchange Act Restrictions . The restrictions contained in the Plan regarding investment designations, changes, and/or conversions by Participants who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act respecting the Dynegy Stock Fund are intended to comply with, and enable such Participants to rely upon, the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Any future amendment to Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission affecting the investment by such Participants in the Dynegy Stock Fund shall be incorporated by reference herein and be deemed to be an amendment to the Plan in order that such Participants shall continue to be entitled to rely upon the exemption provided by such rule without any interruption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may alter the designation, change and/or conversion restrictions applicable to Participants, as set forth in the Plan, as a result of changes in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

5.4

 

Earnings Allocations and Account Statements . The balance of each account maintained on behalf of a Participant shall reflect the result of daily pricing of the assets in which such account is deemed invested from time to time until the time of distribution. Each Participant shall be furnished at least annually with a statement of his accounts, which statement shall show the balance, if any, credited to each of his or her Deferred Money Account and Company Deferral Account.

 

6


 

ARTICLE VI
Distributions

6.1

 

Distributions .

 

(a)

 

Elections as to Time and Form of Payment .

 

 

(i)

 

Initial Election . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.1(a)(iv) or in Sections 6.1(g), 7.1 and 10.2, a Participant shall elect, in accordance with Plan Rules and subject to Section 409A, the manner of distribution (as described in clause (ii)) and the time of distribution (as defined in clause (iii)), provided such election, as it relates to deferrals under Sections 4.1 and 4.2, is made no later than the date of the initial deferral election in the first year of participation and, as it relates to deferrals credited under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 after the first year of participation, is made no later than the close of the Plan Year preceding the first Plan Year during which the services giving rise to such Cash Compensation are performed or such earlier time as may be required by the Plan Administrator.

 

(ii)

 

Form of Distribution . When making an election as to the form of payment of his or her Accounts, a Participant may elect to receive the balance in such Accounts in a lump sum or in monthly, quarterly, or annual installment payments over a specified term certain. In the event a Participant fails to elect (or elect timely) the form in which his or her Account benefit payments are to be made, such benefit payments shall be in the form of a single, lump sum payment to such Participant.

 

 

(iii)

 

Time of Distribution . When making an election as to the time of payment of his or her Accounts, a Participant may elect to receive the balance in such Accounts as of the later of his or her Separation from Service or a specified date or dates following his or her Separation from Service. If no such election is made with respect to such Accounts, the Participant’s Accounts will be distributed as of his or her Separation from Service. Distribution upon a Separation from Service will be made, or will commence, as soon as administratively practicable following his or her Separation from Service, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which the Separation from Service occurs or, if later, the 15 th day of the third month following the Separation from Service. Distributions upon a specified date will be made, or will commence, as soon as administratively practicable following such specified date, but no later than the end of the calendar year in which the specified date occurs or, if later, the 15 th day of t


 
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