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Exhibit
10e.
NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS
COMPANY
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
2008 RESTATEMENT
Effective January 1,
1987
Restated as of
February 28, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE |
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ARTICLE I
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PURPOSE |
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1 |
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1.1
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Restatement |
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1 |
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1.2
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Purpose |
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1 |
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ARTICLE II
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DEFINITIONS |
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1 |
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2.1
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Account |
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1 |
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2.2
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Acquiror
Stock |
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1 |
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2.3
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Base
Annual Salary |
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1 |
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2.4
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Beneficiary |
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1 |
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2.5
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Board |
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1 |
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2.6
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Bonus |
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2 |
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2.7
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Cash
Compensation |
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2 |
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2.8
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Change in
Control |
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2 |
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2.9
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Committee |
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2 |
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2.10
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Common
Stock |
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2 |
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2.11
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Compensation |
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2 |
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2.12
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Corporate
Transaction |
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3 |
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2.13
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Corporation |
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3 |
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2.14
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Deferral
Commitment |
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3 |
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2.15
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Deferral
Deadline |
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3 |
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2.16
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Deferred
Cash Compensation |
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3 |
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2.17
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Deferred
Compensation Account Benefit |
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3 |
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2.18
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Determination Date |
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3 |
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2.19
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Disability |
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4 |
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2.20
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Executive |
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4 |
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2.21
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Financial
Hardship |
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4 |
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2.22
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Interest |
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4 |
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2.23
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LTIP
Compensation |
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4 |
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2.24
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Matching
Contribution |
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5 |
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2.25
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Participation Agreement |
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5 |
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2.26
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Plan
Benefits |
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5 |
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2.27
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Retirement |
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5 |
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2.28
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Retirement Plan |
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5 |
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2.29
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Supplemental Retirement Benefit |
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5 |
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2.30
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Trust |
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5 |
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ARTICLE III
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DEFERRAL
COMMITMENTS |
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5 |
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3.1
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Participation |
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5 |
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3.2
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Deferral
Election |
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5 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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PAGE |
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ARTICLE IV
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DEFERRED
COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS |
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6 |
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4.1
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Accounts |
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6 |
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4.2
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Matching
Contribution |
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6 |
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4.3
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Stock
Account |
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7 |
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4.4
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Cash
Account |
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7 |
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4.5
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Effect of
Corporate Transaction on Stock Accounts |
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7 |
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4.6
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Statement
of Account |
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8 |
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ARTICLE V
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PLAN
BENEFITS |
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8 |
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5.1
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Plan
Benefit |
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8 |
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5.2
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Commencement of Payments |
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8 |
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5.3
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Lump Sum
or Installment Payments |
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9 |
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5.4
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Form of
Benefit Payment |
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9 |
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5.5
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Hardship
Distributions |
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9 |
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5.6
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Death
Benefit |
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9 |
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5.7
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Supplemental Retirement Benefit |
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10 |
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5.8
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Withholding; Payroll Taxes |
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11 |
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5.9
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Payment
to Guardian |
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11 |
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5.10
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Accelerated Distribution |
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11 |
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ARTICLE VI
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BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION |
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11 |
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6.1
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Beneficiary Designation |
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11 |
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6.2
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Amendments |
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11 |
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6.3
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No
Beneficiary Designation |
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11 |
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6.4
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Effect of
Payment |
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11 |
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ARTICLE VII
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ADMINISTRATION |
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12 |
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7.1
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Committee; Duties |
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12 |
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7.2
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Agents |
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12 |
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7.3
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Binding
Effect of Decisions |
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12 |
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7.4
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Indemnity
of Committee |
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12 |
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ARTICLE VIII
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CLAIMS
PROCEDURE |
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12 |
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8.1
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Claim |
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12 |
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8.2
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Denial of
Claim |
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12 |
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8.3
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Review of
Claim |
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13 |
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8.4
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Final
Decision |
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13 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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PAGE |
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ARTICLE IX
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AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN |
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13 |
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9.1
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Amendment |
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13 |
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9.2
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Corporation’s Right to Terminate |
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13 |
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ARTICLE X
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MISCELLANEOUS |
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14 |
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10.1
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Unfunded
Plan |
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14 |
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10.2
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Unsecured
General Creditor |
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14 |
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10.3
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Trust
Fund |
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15 |
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10.4
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Nonassignability |
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15 |
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10.5
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Not a
Contract of Employment |
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15 |
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10.6
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Protective Provision |
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15 |
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10.7
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Governing
Law |
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15 |
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10.8
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Validity |
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15 |
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10.9
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Notice |
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15 |
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10.10
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Successors |
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iii
NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS
COMPANY
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective as of
January 1, 1987
Restated as of
February 28, 2008
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
1.1 Restatement .
Northwest Natural Gas Company adopted an Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) effective
January 1, 1987, which was previously restated effective as of
January 1, 2001, January 1,
2003, December 15, 2005 and January 1, 2007. The
Plan was partially terminated in accordance with Paragraph 9(b)(i)
effective December 31, 2004, so deferrals of compensation are
no longer being made under the Plan. The Plan is now amended and
restated by this 2008 Restatement, effective as of
February 28, 2008.
1.2 Purpose . The
purpose of this Executive Deferred Compensation Plan is to provide
an unfunded deferred compensation plan for a select group of top
management personnel.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Plan,
the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
2.1 Account .
“Account” means the record or records maintained by the
Corporation for each Executive in accordance with Article IV with
respect to any deferral of Compensation pursuant to this Plan. An
Account shall be either a “Stock Account” as described
in Section 4.3 or a “Cash Account” as described in
Section 4.4.
2.2 Acquiror Stock .
“Acquiror Stock” is defined in
Section 4.5.
2.3 Base Annual Salary
. “Base Annual Salary” means the annual compensation
payable to an Executive, excluding bonuses, commissions, LTIP
Compensation and other noncash compensation.
2.4 Beneficiary .
“Beneficiary” means the person, persons or entity
designated under Article VI to receive any Plan Benefits payable
after an Executive’s death.
2.5 Board .
“Board” means the Board of Directors of Northwest
Natural Gas Company or any successor thereto.
PAGE 1 – EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
2.6 Bonus .
“Bonus” means the compensation derived under the
Corporation’s Executive Annual Incentive Plan or other
similar incentive plan and payable in any year in a lump sum to an
Executive.
2.7 Cash Compensation
. “Cash Compensation” means the total Base Annual
Salary and Bonus remuneration payable by the Corporation to the
Executive for services.
2.8 Change in Control
. “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of
the following events:
(a) The consummation
of:
(i) any consolidation, merger
or plan of share exchange involving the Corporation (a
“Merger”) as a result of which the holders of
outstanding securities of the Corporation ordinarily having the
right to vote for the election of directors (“Voting
Securities”) immediately prior to the Merger do not continue
to hold at least 50% of the combined voting power of the
outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving corporation or a
parent corporation of the surviving corporation immediately after
the Merger, disregarding any Voting Securities issued to or
retained by such holders in respect of securities of any other
party to the Merger; or
(ii) any sale, lease,
exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of
the Corporation;
(b) At any time during a
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constituted the board of directors of the
Corporation (“Incumbent Directors”) shall cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided,
however, that the term “Incumbent Director” shall also
include each new director elected during such two-year period whose
nomination or election was approved by two-thirds of the Incumbent
Directors then in office; or
(c) Any person (as such term
is used in Section 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, other than the Corporation or any employee benefit plan
sponsored by the Corporation) shall, as a result of a tender or
exchange offer, open market purchases or privately negotiated
purchases from anyone other than the Corporation, have become the
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Voting
Securities representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting
Securities.
2.9 Committee .
“Committee” means the Organization and Executive
Compensation Committee, or such other Committee as may be
designated by the Board.
2.10 Common Stock .
“Common Stock” means common stock of the
Corporation.
2.11 Compensation .
“Compensation” means Cash Compensation and LTIP
Compensation.
PAGE 2 – EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
2.12 Corporate
Transaction . “Corporate Transaction” means any of
the following:
(a) any consolidation, merger
or plan of share exchange involving the Corporation pursuant to
which shares of Common Stock would be converted into cash,
securities or other property; or
(b) any sale, lease, exchange
or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of the
Corporation.
2.13 Corporation .
“Corporation” means Northwest Natural Gas Company, an
Oregon corporation, or any successor thereto, and any corporations
or other entities affiliated with or subsidiary to it that may be
selected by the Board from time to time and which take action to
adopt and implement this Plan.
2.14 Deferral
Commitment . “Deferral Commitment” means a Deferral
Commitment made by an Executive pursuant to Article III and for
which a Participation Agreement has been submitted by the Executive
to the Committee.
2.15 Deferral Deadline
. “Deferral Deadline” means, for any Compensation
payable to an Executive, the last day on which the Executive can
submit a Participation Agreement to make a Deferral Commitment with
respect to such Compensation. The Deferral Deadlines for various
forms of Compensation shall be as follows:
(a) For Base Annual Salary
payable in any calendar year, the Deferral Deadline shall be the
last day of the previous calendar year; provided, however, that for
a person who becomes an eligible Executive during a year, the
Deferral Deadline for Base Annual Salary payable for the remainder
of the year shall be 30 days after the person becomes an Executive
and the Deferral Commitment shall only apply to Base Annual Salary
payable after the Participation Agreement is submitted.
(b) For Bonus payable in any
calendar year, including Bonus payable with respect to the
Executive’s or the Corporation’s performance in the
previous calendar year, the Deferral Deadline shall be the last day
of the previous calendar year.
(c) For LTIP Compensation
payable at any time, the Deferral Deadline shall be the date one
year prior to the vesting date for time-based awards and the date
one year prior to the last day of the award period for
performance-based awards; provided, however, that the Deferral
Deadline for any LTIP Compensation that becomes payable in any
calendar year on an accelerated basis as a result of a Change in
Control shall be the last day of the previous calendar
year.
2.16 Deferred Cash
Compensation . “Deferred Cash Compensation” means
the amount of Cash Compensation that the Executive elects to defer
pursuant to a Deferral Commitment.
2.17 Deferred Compensation
Account Benefit . “Deferred Compensation Account
Benefit” means the benefit payable to an Executive as
calculated pursuant to Article IV and payable under Sections 5.1
through 5.6.
2.18 Determination
Date . “Determination Date” means the last day of
each calendar quarter.
PAGE 3 – EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
2.19 Disability .
“Disability” means a physical or mental condition that,
in the opinion of the Committee, prevents the Executive from
satisfactorily performing the Executive’s usual duties for
the Corporation. The Committee’s decision as to Disability
will be based upon medical reports and/or other evidence
satisfactory to the Committee.
2.20 Executive .
“Executive” means one of a select group of management
or highly compensated employees of the Corporation, which shall
consist of all executive officers of the Corporation and any other
employee of the Corporation designated in writing by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation for participation in the
benefits of the Plan.
2.21 Financial
Hardship . “Financial Hardship” means a severe
financial hardship to the Executive resulting from a sudden and
unexpected illness or accident of the Executive or of a dependent
of the Executive, loss of the Executive’s property due to
casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable
circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of
the Executive. Financial Hardship shall be determined by the
Committee on the basis of information supplied by the Executive in
accordance with uniform guidelines promulgated from time to time by
the Committee.
2.22 Interest .
“Interest” is credited to Cash Accounts under the Plan
and means the quarterly equivalent of an annual yield that is two
percentage points (2%) higher than the annual yield on
Moody’s Average Corporate Bond Yield for the preceding
quarter, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or
any successor thereto), or, if such index is no longer published, a
substantially similar index selected by the Board. At no time shall
such Interest rate be less than six percent
(6%) annually.
Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 2.22, effective as of
January 1, 2017, the Interest rate shall equal the rate of
interest for interest credited to cash accounts under the
Corporation’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and
Executives, as such plan may be amended from time to time (the
“DCPDE”), regardless of whether or not such rate of
interest shall be more or less than six percent (6%) annually;
provided, however, that if at any time on or after January 1,
2017 there is no interest credited to cash accounts under the DCPDE
because the DCPDE shall have ceased to operate or for any other
reason, then, at such time on or after January 1, 2017, the
Interest rate shall equal the quarterly equivalent of an annual
yield that is equal to the annual yield on Moody’s Average
Corporate Bond Yield for the preceding quarter, as published by
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor thereto),
or, if such index is no longer published, a substantially similar
index selected by the Board, regardless of whether or not such
Interest rate shall be more or less than six percent
(6%) annually. Any change in the Interest rate that occurs on
January 1, 2017 or thereafter pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph shall not constitute a “change in the
definition of Interest” within the meaning of
Section 9.1(b) below.
2.23 LTIP Compensation
. “LTIP Compensation” means compensation paid to an
Executive pursuant to an award under the Corporation’s Long
Term Incentive Plan. LTIP Compensation may be payable to the
Executive either in Common Stock (“Stock LTIP
Compensation”) or in cash (“Cash LTIP
Compensation”).
PAGE 4 – EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
2.24 Matching
Contribution . “Matching Contribution” means the
contribution made by the Corporation and credited to the
Executive’s Account under Section 4.2.
2.25 Participation
Agreement . “Participation Agreement” means the
agreement submitted by an Executive to the Committee no later than
the applicable Deferral Deadline with respect to one or more
Deferral Commitments.
2.26 Plan Benefits .
“Plan Benefits” mean the Deferred Compensation Account
Benefit and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit.
2.27 Retirement .
“Retirement” means either early retirement, normal
retirement, or disability retirement under the Retirement
Plan.
2.28 Retirement Plan .
“Retirement Plan” means the Corporation’s
Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Unit Employees.
2.29 Supplemental
Retirement Benefit . “Supplemental Retirement
Benefit” means the benefit payable to an Executive under
Section 5.7.
2.30 Trust .
“Trust” means the Northwest Natural Gas Company
Umbrella Trust™ For Executives established by the Corporation
in connection with this Plan.
ARTICLE III
DEFERRAL
COMMITMENTS
3.1 Participation . An
eligible Executive may elect to participate in the Plan by
submitting a Participation Agreement to the Committee no later than
the applicable Deferral Deadline. An election to defer Compensation
by the Executive shall continue from year to year and shall be
irrevocable with respect to Compensation once the Deferral Deadline
for that Compensation has passed, but may be modified or terminated
by written notice from the Executive at any time on or prior to the
Deferral Deadline for that Compensation.
3.2 Deferral Election
.
(a) Election to Defer Cash
Compensation . An Executive may, no later than the applicable
Deferral Deadline, elect to defer receipt of a certain whole
percentage, up to fifty percent (50%), of the Base Annual Salary
and a certain whole percentage, up to one hundred percent (100%),
of any Bonus payable to the Executive as an employee of the
Corporation.
(b) Election to Defer LTIP
Compensation . An Executive may, no later than the applicable
Deferral Deadline, elect to defer receipt of a certain whole
percentage, up to one hundred percent (100%), of any Stock LTIP
Compensation and a certain whole percentage, up to one hundred
percent (100%), of any Cash LTIP Compensation that becomes payable
to the Executive.
PAGE 5 – EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN
(c) FICA Withholding .
Under current law, all Compensation and Matching Contributions
credited to an Executive’s Accounts will be treated as wages
subject to FICA tax, and the Corporation will be required to
withhold FICA tax from the Executive. The amount required to be
withheld for FICA tax with respect to any amount of deferred
Compensation or related Matching Contribution shall be withheld
from the non-deferred portion, if any, of the same Compensation;
provided, however, that if the non-deferred portion of the
Compensation is insufficient to cover the full required
withholding, the Corporation shall withhold the remaining amount
from other non-deferred Compensation payable to the Executive
unless the Executive otherwise pays such remaining amount to the
Corporation.
(d) Financial Hardship
. Termination of the Executive’s election to defer may,
solely in the Committee’s discretion, become applicable as
soon as practicable after the Committee’s determination that
the Executive has incurred Financial Hardship, as evidenced by the
Executive to the Committee.
ARTICLE IV
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
ACCOUNTS
4.1 Accounts . The
Corporation shall establish on its books one or two separate
Accounts for each Executive who elects to defer Compensation under
the Plan: a Cash Account and/or a Stock Account. Compensation
deferred by an Executive shall be credited to the Stock Account or
the Cash Account as elected by the Executive at the time the
Executive elects to defer Compensation. Such election may be
divided between the two Accounts in increments of twenty-five
percent (25%) of the deferred Compensation covered by the
election. An Executive may change the allocation of new deferrals
of Compensation between the Stock Account and the Cash Account, but
such change shall apply to new deferrals only if it is submitted on
or prior to the Deferral Deadline for such new deferrals. Once
Compensation has been credited to the Stock Account or the Cash
Account, no transfers between
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