<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 1998
Registration No. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------------------------------------
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 75-2629477
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1625 BROADWAY
DENVER, COLORADO 80202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
------------------------------------
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS
PLAN AND TRUST
(Full title of the plan)
------------------------------------
KEITH M. CROUCH
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL
1625 BROADWAY
DENVER, COLORADO 80202
(303) 389-3600
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
------------------------------------
Copy to:
THOMAS J. EDELMAN
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
667 MADISON AVENUE
22ND FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10021
(212) 371-1117
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE OF PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE REGISTRATION
REGISTERED REGISTERED* PER SHARE* OFFERING PRICE* FEE*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCK, 250,000 SHARES $7.03 $1,757,500 $518.47
$.01 PAR VALUE*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. This
fee was calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low prices
for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 7, 1998.
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of
interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan
described herein.
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.
The information specified by Item 1 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from
this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8.
ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.
The information specified by Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from
this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8.
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<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The documents set forth below are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement. All documents subsequently filed by Patina Oil & Gas
Corporation (the "Company") and by Patina Oil & Gas Corporation Profit Sharing
and Savings Plan and Trust (the "Plan") pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.
(1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996.
(2) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
Report referred to in (1) above.
(3) The description of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 1996,
including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating
such description.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), a
Delaware corporation has the power, under specified circumstances, to indemnify
its directors, officers, employees and agents in connection with threatened,
pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in right of the
corporation), brought against them by reason of the fact that they were or are
such directors, officers, employees or agents, against expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in any
such action, suit or proceeding because such person is or was an officer or
director of the Company or is a person who is or was serving at the request of
the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service
relating to employee
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benefit plans, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it existed at the
time the indemnification provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the
Bylaws were adopted or as may be thereafter amended. Each of Article VI of the
Company's Bylaws and Article Ninth of its Certificate of Incorporation expressly
provide that it is not the exclusive method of indemnification.
Article VI of the Bylaws also provides that the Company may maintain
insurance, at its own expense, to protect itself and any director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company or of another entity against any expense,
liability or loss, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a certificate of incorporation
may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a
director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director provided that such provision shall not eliminate
or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions
not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to liability for
unauthorized acquisitions or redemptions of, or dividends on, capital stock) or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. Article Eighth of the Certificate of Incorporation contains such a
provision.
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its
officers and directors and may in the future enter into such indemnification
agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents. Such
indemnification agreements are intended to provide a contractual right to
indemnification, to the extent permitted by law, for expenses (including
attorneys' fees and disbursements), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person to be indemnified
in connection with any proceeding (including, to the extent permitted by law,
any derivative action) to which they are, or are threatened to be made, a party
by reason of their status in such positions. Such indemnification agreements do
not change the basic legal standards for indemnification set forth in the DGCL
or in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. Such provisions are
intended to be in furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the general right to
indemnification provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION
-------------- -----------
4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration
Statement in Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-572)).
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<PAGE>
4.2 Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.3 to the Company's Registration Statement in Form S-4
(Registration No. 333-572)).
4.3 Patina Oil & Gas Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan
and Trust.
5.1 Opinion of Keith M. Crouch, Esq.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23.2 Consent of Keith M. Crouch, Esq. (included in opinion filed
as Exhibit 5.1).
24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
Registration Statement).
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration
Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in this Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the
II-4
<PAGE>
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
(and, where applicable, each filing of the Plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-5
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Thomas J. Edelman and Keith M. Crouch, each of
them or any one of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in the
name and on behalf of such person, in any and all capacities, any or all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement
now or hereafter filed by or on behalf of Patina Oil & Gas Corporation (the
"Company") covering securities issued or issuable under or in connection with
the Company's Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust (as now or hereafter
amended) and to file the same, with all exhibits, thereto and other documents
required in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any state or other securities authority, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them or any of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as
such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them or any one of them, or
his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Form S-8
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 18th day of
December, 1997.
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas J. Edelman
---------------------------------------
Chairman, President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
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<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form S-8
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
/s/ Thomas J. Edelman Chairman of the Board, December 18, 1997
- ------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Thomas J. Edelman and President (Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/ Brian J. Cree Director, Executive December 18, 1997
- ------------------------- Vice President and
Brian J. Cree Chief Operating Officer
/s/ Robert J. Clark Director December 18, 1997
- -------------------------
Robert J. Clark
/s/ Jay W. Decker Director December 18, 1997
- -------------------------
Jay W. Decker
/s/ Arnold Chavkin Director December 18, 1997
- -------------------------
Arnold Chavkin
/s/ Alexander P. Lynch Director December 18, 1997
- -------------------------
Alexander P. Lynch
/s/ William Mccaulay Director December 18, 1997
- -------------------------
William Macaulay
/s/ David J. Kornder Vice President and December 18, 1997
- ------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
David J. Kornder (Principal Accounting and
Financial Officer)
II-7
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Trustee (or
other persons who administer the Plan) has duly caused this Form S-8
Registration Statement to be signed on behalf of the Plan by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on the 18th
day of December, 1997.
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN
AND TRUST
By: /s/ Brian J. Cree
-------------------------------------
Printed Name: Brian J. Cree
Title: Member, Administrative Committee
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<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
------- -------
4.3 Patina Oil & Gas Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and
Trust
5.1 Opinion of Keith M. Crouch, Esq.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.2 Consent of Keith M. Crouch, Esq. (included in opinion filed as
Exhibit 5.1)
24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
Registration Statement)
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.3
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS
PLAN AND TRUST
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1997
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
Definitions
1.1. Account Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2. Accounting Date, Valuation Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3. Accounting Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4. Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5. Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.6. Alternate Payee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.7. Anniversary Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.8. Annual Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.9. Beneficiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.10. Cash Value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.11. Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.12. Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.13. Contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.14. Determination Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.15. Disability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.16. Early Retirement Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.17. Effective Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.18. Employee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.19. Employer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.20. Employer Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.21. Entry Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.22. ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.23. Forfeiture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.24. Former Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.25. Former Participant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.26. Highly Compensated Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.27. Hour of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.28. Individual Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.29. Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.30. Limitation Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.31. Named Fiduciary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.32. Nonforfeitable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.33. Non-Highly Compensated Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.34. Normal Retirement Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.35. Normal Retirement Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.36. One Year Break in Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.37. Owner-Employee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.38. Participant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.39. Participating Employer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.40. Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.41. Plan Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.42. Predecessor Employer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.43. Related Employer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.44. Self-Employed Individual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.45. Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.46. Shareholder-Employee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.47. Top-Heavy Plan Status/Super Top-Heavy Plan Status . . . . . . . . . 10
1.48. Trust Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.49. Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.50. Year of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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ARTICLE II
Eligibility and Participation
2.1. Eligibility Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.2. Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.3. Participant Re-Entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARTICLE III
Contributions and Withdrawals
3.1. Employer Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.2. Deadline for Employer Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.3. Deposit of Employer Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.4. Crediting of Employer Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5. Withdrawal of Employer Contributions Before Separation
From Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.6. Participant Voluntary After Tax Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.7. Withdrawal of Employer Elective Contributions (Participant Elective
Deferrals), Employer Qualified Non-Elective Contributions, and
Employer Qualified Matching Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.8. Limitations on Employer Elective Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.9. Limitations on Employee Contributions and Matching Employer
Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ARTICLE IV
Adjustment of Individual Accounts
4.1. Adjustment Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ARTICLE V
Allocation of Employer Contributions to Individual Accounts
5.1. Allocation Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.2. Allocation Formula. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.3. Limitations on Allocations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5.4. Top-Heavy Minimum Allocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5.5. Post-Allocation Adjustments to Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
5.6. Employer Contribution Accounts Defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ARTICLE VI
Retirement
6.1. Crediting, Adjustment of Accounts Upon Retirement . . . . . . . . . 35
6.2. Early Retirement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.3. Payment of Retirement Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.4. Mandatory Distribution of Retirement Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.5. Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
ARTICLE VII
Death
7.1. Beneficiary Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.2. Crediting, Adjusting of Accounts Upon Death . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7.3. Payment of Death Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7.4. Mandatory Distribution of Death Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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ARTICLE VIII
Disability
8.1. Crediting, Adjusting of Accounts Upon Disability. . . . . . . . . . 42
8.2. Payment of Disability Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ARTICLE IX
Termination of Employment and Forfeiture
9.1. Crediting and Adjusting of Accounts Upon Termination. . . . . . . . 43
9.2. Vesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
9.3. Payment of Termination Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
9.4. Forfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
9.5. Determination of Amount of Vested Undistributed Account,
Forfeiture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
9.6. Crediting Years of Vesting Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
9.7. Restoration of Account Balance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
ARTICLE X
Optional Forms of Benefit
10.1. Optional Forms of Payment of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
10.2. Direct Rollover Optional Form of Benefit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
10.3. Election to Defer Receipt of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
10.4. Election of Form of Payment of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
10.5. Minority or Disability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
10.6. Commencement of Payment of Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
10.7. Unclaimed Account Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ARTICLE XI
The Employer
11.1. Employer Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
11.2. Plan Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
11.3. Discontinuance, Termination of Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11.4. Prohibition Against Reversion to Employer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11.5. Adoption by Related Employer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11.6. Requirements for Adoption by Related Employer . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11.7. Plan Sponsor as Agent of Participating Employer . . . . . . . . . . 51
11.8. Participating Employer Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
11.9. Amendment by Plan Sponsor, Participating Employers. . . . . . . . . 51
11.10. Revocation of Participation by Participating Employer . . . . . . . 51
11.11. Authority of Administrator over Participating Employers . . . . . . 52
11.12. Deficiency of Earnings or Profits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
ARTICLE XII
The Committee
12.1. Committee Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
12.2. Committee Action and Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
12.3. Committee Powers and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
12.4. Committee Reliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
12.5. Committee Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
12.6. Conflicts in Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
12.7. Appointment of Agent and Legal Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
12.8. Appointment of Investment Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
12.9. Quarterly Accounting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
12.10. Funding Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
iii
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ARTICLE XIII
Administration
13.1. Administrator Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.2. Summary Plan Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.3. Summary Annual Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.4. Individual Benefit Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.5. Copies of Additional Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.6. Documents Available for Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.7. Notice of Participant Rights under ERISA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13.8. Notice to Participant on Participant Termination. . . . . . . . . . 56
13.9. Notice to Trustee on Participant Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . 57
13.10. Claim for Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
13.11. Appeal for Decision of Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
ARTICLE XIV
The Trustee
14.1. Acceptance of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.2. General Trustee Duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.3. Bonding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.4. Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.5. Payment of Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.6. Investment Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
14.7. Investment of Employer Non-Elective Contribution. . . . . . . . . . 61
14.8. Appointment of Custodian/Nondiscretionary Trustee . . . . . . . . . 61
14.9. Investment in Common Trust Fund and Group Trust Fund. . . . . . . . 62
14.10. Reliance by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
14.11. Delegation of Authority Among Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
14.12. Appointment of Ancillary Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
14.13. Removal or Resignation of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
14.14. Multiple Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
14.15. Separate Investment Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
14.16. Composition and Maximum Permitted Investment in Employer
Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
14.17. Individual Direction of Investment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
14.18. Change of Investment Designation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
14.19. Valuation of Investment Funds and Individual Accounts . . . . . . . 64
14.20. Indemnification of Officer/Director Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
ARTICLE XV
Insurance Contracts
15.1. Investment in Insurance Contracts for the Benefit of the
Trust Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
15.2. Ownership of Contracts for the Benefit of the Trust Fund. . . . . . 65
15.3. Investment in Insurance Contracts for the Benefit of
the Participant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
15.4. Ownership of Contracts for the Benefit of a Participant . . . . . . 66
15.5. Payment of Insurance Premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
15.6. Duties of Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
15.7. Execution of Contracts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
ARTICLE XVI
Participant Loans
16.1. Participant Loan Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
16.2. Loan Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
16.3. Loan Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
16.4. Limitation on Type of Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
16.5. Limitation on Amount of Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16.6. Limitation on Number of Outstanding Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16.7. Evidence of Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16.8. Terms of Loan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16.9. Security for Loan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
iv
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16.10. Default Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
16.11. Participant Directed Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
16.12. Procedure on Benefit Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
ARTICLE XVII
Rollovers, Mergers, Direct Transfers
17.1. Participant Rollover Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
17.2. Merger and Direct Transfer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
17.3. Certain Rollovers, Mergers and Direct Transfers Prohibited. . . . . 71
ARTICLE XVIII
Exclusive Benefit
18.1. Exclusive Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
18.2. Denial of Request for Initial Approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
18.3. Mistake of Fact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
18.4. Disallowance of Deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
18.5. Spendthrift Clause. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
18.6. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
18.7. Employees in Qualified Military Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
ARTICLE XIX
Construction
19.1. Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
19.2. Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
19.3. Employment Not Guaranteed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
19.4. State Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
19.5. Parties Bound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
ARTICLE XX
Provisions Relating to Employer Securities
20.1. Investment in Employer Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
20.2. Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
20.3. Tender Offers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
20.4. Shareholder Agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
20.5. Special Provisions Applicable to Employer Securities. . . . . . . . 77
20.6. Limitation with Respect to an Electing Estate or Shareholder. . . . 77
v
<PAGE>
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation, having its
principal office in Denver, Colorado (hereinafter referred to as "Employer"),
and KEITH M. CROUCH ("Initial Trustee") and MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY OF
AMERICA (hereinafter referred to as "Trustee") make this Agreement.
R E C I T A L S:
A. The Employer has adopted the Snyder Oil Corporation Profit
Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust (the "Prior Plan") for the benefit of its
eligible Employees and their Beneficiaries.
B. The Employer recognizes the lasting contribution made by its
Employees to its successful operation and wants to reward their contribution
by continuing the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust.
C. The Employer wishes to establish a separate Profit Sharing
and Savings Plan and Trust. The Employer intends to continue its
participation in the Snyder Oil Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan
and Trust through December 31, 1997, but shall make no further Employer
Contributions under Section 5.1(a) of the Snyder Oil Corporation Plan
effective for Plan Years after December 31, 1996.
D. The Employer has authorized the execution of this Agreement
intended to establish a Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust to qualify
under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as
amended and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
E. As soon as administratively feasible following the close of
the Plan Year ending December 31, 1997, the accounts of all Employees of
Patina Oil & Gas Corporation who are active participants in the Snyder Oil
Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust, and the trust funds
allocable thereto, shall be transferred to the Patina Oil & Gas Corporation
Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust; shall be reflected in such
Participant's separate accounts established pursuant to Article XVII of the
Plan and Trust; and shall be used to fund benefits under the Plan and Trust
as therein provided.
F. If an Employee terminates employment with the Employer prior
to the Effective Date, that Employee shall be entitled to benefits under the
terms of the Snyder Oil Corporation Profit Sharing Plan and Trust as such
Plan existed on the Employee's termination date.
G. The Trustee is willing to act as Trustee under the terms of
the Plan and Trust contained in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, considering the premises and their mutual covenants,
the Employer and the Trustee agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth
in this Article unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the
context:
1.1. ACCOUNT BALANCE
Account Balance means the amount standing in a Participant's
Individual Account(s) as of any date derived from both Employer
Contributions and Employee Contributions, if any.
1.2. ACCOUNTING DATE, VALUATION DATE
The term Accounting Date means the last day of each Accounting Period
and any other days within the Accounting Period upon which,
consistent with established methods and guidelines, the Trustee
applies the valuation procedures specified in Article IV. The term
Valuation Date, unless otherwise specified, means any business day on
which the New York Stock Exchange is open. The Accounting Date is a
Valuation Date.
1.3. ACCOUNTING PERIOD
Accounting Period means each of the 3-month periods which end on
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.
1.4. ADMINISTRATOR
Administrator means PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION unless Patina Oil &
Gas Corporation designates another person to hold the position of
Administrator by written Employer action. In addition to its other
duties, Patina Oil & Gas Corporation has full responsibility for
compliance with the reporting and disclosure rules under ERISA
pertaining to this Agreement.
1.5. AGREEMENT
Agreement means this Plan and Trust Agreement and all amendments or
addendums to this Agreement.
1.6. ALTERNATE PAYEE
Alternate Payee means any spouse, former spouse, child, or other
dependent of a Participant who is recognized by a domestic relations
order as having a right to receive all, or a portion of, the benefits
payable under the Plan with respect to such Participant.
1.7. ANNIVERSARY DATE
Anniversary Date means DECEMBER 31 of each Plan Year. The
Anniversary Date is an Allocation Date.
1.8. ANNUAL COMPENSATION
(a) Annual Compensation, pursuant to the safe harbor definition
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.415-2(d)(11), means wages as
defined in Code Section 3401(a) and all other payments of
compensation to an Employee by the Employer in the course of
the Employer's trade or business for which the Employer is
required to furnish the Employee a written statement under
Code Sections 6041(d) and 6051(a)(3). Compensation must be
determined without regard to any rules under Code Section
3401(a) that limit the remuneration included in wages based
on the nature or location of the employment or the services
performed such as the exception for agricultural labor in
Code Section 3401(a)(2).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Compensation received prior to
a Participant's Entry Date shall be excluded.
(c) In addition to other applicable limitations set forth in the
Plan, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to
the contrary, the annual compensation of each employee taken
into account under the Plan shall not exceed $160,000, as
adjusted by the Commissioner for increases in the cost of
living in accordance with Section 401(a)(17)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Annual Compensation Limit"). The
cost-of-living adjustment in effect for a calendar year
applies to any period, not exceeding 12 months, over which
compensation is determined (determination period) beginning
in such calendar year. If a determination period consists of
fewer than 12 months, the Annual Compensation Limit will be
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of months in the determination period, and the
denominator of which is 12.
If compensation for any prior determination period is taken
into account in determining an employee's benefits accruing
in the current plan year, the compensation for that prior
determination period is subject to the Annual Compensation
Limit in effect for that prior determination period.
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(d) For purposes of determining whether the Plan discriminates in
favor of Highly Compensated Employees, Annual Compensation
means Annual Compensation defined in this Section 1.8, except
any exclusions from Annual Compensation other than the
exclusions described in clauses (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
and (v) do not apply. The Employer also may elect to use an
alternate nondiscriminatory definition, under Code Section
414(s) and the applicable Treasury regulations. In
determining Annual Compensation under this paragraph, the
Employer may elect to include all Elective Contributions made
by the Employer on behalf of the Employees. The Employer's
election to include Elective Contributions must be consistent
and uniform for Employees and all plans of the Employer for
any particular Plan Year. The Employer may make this
election to include Elective Contributions for
nondiscrimination testing purposes, whether or not this
Section includes Elective Contributions in the general Annual
Compensation definition of the Plan.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Annual Compensation for any
Self-Employed Individual means Earned Income.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Annual Compensation includes,
pursuant to the safe harbor definition of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.414.(s)-1(c)(4):
(i) Elective Contributions that are made by the Employer
on behalf of its Employees that are not includable in
gross income under Code Section 125 relating to a
cafeteria plan; Code Section 402(a)(8) relating to a
Code Section 401(k) arrangement; Code Section 402(h)
relating to a simplified employee pension plan; Code
Section 403(b) relating to a tax sheltered annuity
plan; and Code Section 402(k) relating to simple
retirement accounts;
(ii) Compensation deferred under an eligible deferred
compensation plan defined in Code Section 457(b) for
state and local governments and tax-exempt
organizations; and
(iii) Employee Contributions under governmental plans
described in Code Section 414(h)(2) picked up by the
employing unit and treated as Employer Contributions.
(g) For purposes of Participant Elective Deferral Contributions,
Annual Compensation shall include bonuses paid to a
Participant by the Employer during the Plan Year.
(h) For purposes of Employer Non-Elective Contributions, Annual
Compensation shall exclude bonuses paid to a Participant by
the Employer during the Plan Year.
1.9. BENEFICIARY
Beneficiary means any person or fiduciary designated by a Participant
or Former Participant who is or may become entitled to receive
benefits under Article VII following the death of the Participant or
Former Participant. A Beneficiary who becomes entitled to a benefit
under the Plan shall remain a Beneficiary under the Plan until the
Trustee has fully distributed the benefits to the Beneficiary. A
Beneficiary's right to information or data concerning the Plan, and
the respective duties of the Administrator, the Committee and the
Trustee to provide to the Beneficiary information or data concerning
the Plan, shall not arise until the Beneficiary first becomes
entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan. For purposes of
determining whether the Plan is a Top-Heavy Plan, a Beneficiary of a
deceased Participant shall be considered a Key Employee or a Non-Key
Employee in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations.
1.10. CASH VALUE
Cash Value means the cash surrender value of any Contract acquired
under the Plan, including all dividends or other accumulations
remaining with the Insurance Company as part of such Contract, on the
date cash value is to be determined.
1.11. CODE
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time. A reference to a Code Section in this Agreement means the
provisions or successor provisions of the particular Code Section, as
amended or replaced from time to time.
1.12. COMMITTEE
Committee means the Plan Committee as from time to time constituted
pursuant to Article XII.
1.13. CONTRACT
Contract means any life insurance, annuity, or other contract which
may be issued by an Insurance Company.
1.14. DETERMINATION DATE
Determination Date means (a) the last day of the preceding Plan Year
or (b) in the case of the first Plan Year, the last day of the first
Plan Year.
3
<PAGE>
1.15. DISABILITY
Disability means a Participant's total and permanent, mental or
physical disability resulting in termination of employment as
evidenced by presentation of medical evidence satisfactory to the
Administrator.
1.16. EARLY RETIREMENT DATE
An Early Retirement Date is not provided under this Plan.
1.17. EFFECTIVE DATE
The Effective Date of this Plan JANUARY 1, 1997.
1.18. EMPLOYEE
(a) Employee means any individual currently employed by the
Employer maintaining the Plan or of any other Employer
required to be aggregated with the Employer under Code
Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o).
(b) The Plan treats any Leased Employee as an Employee of the
Employer unless excluded by an exclusion classification in
Section 2.1. A Leased Employee is an individual, who
otherwise is not an Employee of the Employer, who, pursuant
to a leasing agreement between the Employer and any other
person, has performed services for the Employer (or for the
Employer and any persons related to the Employer within the
meaning of Code Section 144(a)(3)) on a substantially full
time basis for at least one (1) year and who performs
services historically performed by Employees in the
Employer's business field. If a Leased Employee is treated
as an Employee because of this Section 1.18, Annual
Compensation includes compensation from the leasing
organization which is attributable to services performed for
the Employer.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan does not treat any
Leased Employee as an Employee of the Employer if the leasing
organization covers the Employee in a safe harbor plan and,
prior to the application of this safe harbor plan exception,
twenty percent (20%) or less of the Employer's Employees
(other than Highly Compensated Employees) are Leased
Employees. A safe harbor plan is a money purchase pension
plan providing immediate participation, full and immediate
vesting, and a nonintegrated contribution formula equal to at
least ten percent (10%) of the employee's compensation
without regard to employment by the leasing organization on a
specified date. The safe harbor plan must determine the ten
percent (10%) contribution on the basis of compensation
defined in Code Section 415(c)(3) plus salary deferrals.
(d) The Committee must apply this Section 1.18 in a manner
consistent with Code Sections 414(n) and 414(o) and the
applicable Treasury regulations. The Committee will reduce a
Leased Employee's allocation of Employer Contributions under
this Plan by the Leased Employee's allocation under the
leasing organization's plan, but only to the extent that
allocation is attributable to the Leased Employee's service
provided to the Employer. The leasing organization's plan
must be a money purchase pension plan which would satisfy the
definition under this Section 1.18 of a safe harbor plan,
irrespective of whether the Employer is able to apply the
safe harbor plan exception.
1.19. EMPLOYER
Employer means PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation,
successor in interest to Gerrity Oil and Gas Corporation, or any
other employer who with the written consent of Patina Oil & Gas
Corporation adopts this Plan.
1.20. EMPLOYER SECURITIES
Employer Securities means:
(i) Common stock issued by the Employer (or by a corporation
which is a member of the same controlled group) which is
readily tradeable on an established securities market; or
(ii) If there is no common stock which meets the requirements of
(i) above, then common stock issued by the Employer (or by a
corporation which is a member of the same controlled group)
having a combination of voting power and dividend rights
equal to or in excess of:
(A) that class of common stock of the Employer (or any
other such corporation) having the greatest voting
power; and
(B) that class of common stock of the Employer (or of any
other such corporation) having the greatest dividend
rights; or
(iii) Noncallable preferred stock, if such stock is convertible at
any time into stock which meets the requirements of (i) or
(ii) above (whichever is applicable) and if such conversion
is at a conversion price that is reasonable. A preferred
stock will be
4
<PAGE>
considered noncallable if after the call there will be a
reasonable opportunity for a conversion which meets the
requirements of the preceding sentence in accordance with
applicable Treasury regulations.
1.21. ENTRY DATE
Entry Date means the Effective Date and every JANUARY 1 and JULY 1
after the Effective Date. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1998, Entry Date
means every JANUARY 1, APRIL 1, JULY 1 and OCTOBER 1 of each Plan
Year.
1.22. ERISA
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
1.23. FORFEITURE
Forfeiture means the loss, by a Participant or Beneficiary, pursuant
to Section 9.4, of that part of the benefit which the Participant or
Beneficiary otherwise would have received under the Plan at any time
prior to the termination of the Plan or the complete discontinuance
of benefits under the Plan, arising from the Participant's severance
of employment.
1.24. FORMER EMPLOYEE
Former Employee means any individual who is no longer employed by the
Employer.
1.25. FORMER PARTICIPANT
Former Participant means any individual who has been a Participant in
the Plan, but who is either no longer employed by the Employer or is
otherwise no longer eligible to participate and has not yet received
the entire benefit to which the individual is entitled under the
Plan.
1.26. HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE
Highly Compensated Employee means any Participant or Former
Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee, defined in Code
Section 414(q). Generally, any Participant or Former Participant is
considered a Highly Compensated Employee if, during the Plan Year
(the "Determination Year") or during the twelve month period
immediately preceding the Determination Year or, if the Employer
elects, the calendar year ending with or within the Determination
Year (the "Look Back Year"), the Participant or Former Participant:
(a) was at any time during the Plan Year or during the preceding
Plan Year a Five Percent Owner as defined in Section 1.47(g);
or
(b) for the preceding Plan Year (a) had Compensation from the
Employer in excess of $80,000, as adjusted by the Secretary
of the Treasury for the relevant year and (b) if the Employer
elects, was in the top-paid group during the preceding Plan
Year.
(c) An Employee is in the top-paid group of Employees for any
Plan Year if such Employee is in the group consisting of the
top twenty percent (20%) of the Employees when ranked on the
basis of Annual Compensation paid during the Plan Year.
However, solely for determining the total number of active
Employees for a year, the following Employees are
disregarded:
(i) The Employees described in this subsection (i) are
excluded on the basis of age or Service:
(A) Employees who have not completed six (6)
months of Service by the end of the year.
(An Employee's Service in the immediately
preceding year is added to the Employee's
Service in the current year to determine
whether the exclusion applies in the current
year.);
(B) Employees who normally work less than 17 1/2
hours per week. (This determination is made
independently for each year. Weeks during
which the Employee did not work are not
considered. An Employee who works less than
17 1/2 hours a week for fifty percent (50%) or
more of the total weeks worked by the
Employee during the year is deemed to
normally work less than 17 1/2 hours per week
under this rule.);
(ii) Employees who are included in a unit of employees
covered by an agreement that the Secretary of Labor
finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between
Employee representatives and the Employer which
satisfies Code Section 7701(a)(46) and Temporary
Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-17T are included
in determining the number of Employees in the
top-paid group unless the following exception
applies. If ninety percent (90%) or more of the
Employees of the Employer are covered under
collective bargaining agreements that the Secretary
of Labor finds to be collective bargaining agreements
between Employee representatives and the Employer,
which agreements satisfy Code Section 7701(a)(46) and
Temporary Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-17T,
and the Plan covers only Employees who are not
covered under the agreements, then the Employees who
are covered under the agreements are (A) not counted
in determining the number of noncollective bargaining
employees who
5
<PAGE>
will be included in the top-paid group in testing the
Plan; and (B) not included in the top-paid group in
testing the Plan.
The Committee must make the determination of who is a Highly
Compensated Employee consistent with Code Section 414(q) and
regulations issued under that Code Section. The Employer may make a
calendar year election to determine the Highly Compensated Employees
for the Look Back Year, as prescribed by Treasury regulations. A
calendar year election must apply to all plans and arrangements of
the Employer.
A Former Participant who separated from Service, or is deemed to have
separated from Service under applicable Treasury regulations, prior
to the Plan Year, performs no Service for the Employer during the
Plan Year and was a Highly Compensated Employee either for the
Separation Year or any Plan Year ending on or after such Former
Participant attained age fifty-five (55) years is considered a Highly
Compensated Employee. Generally, Separation Year means the Plan Year
during which the Employee separates from Service with the Employer.
A Former Participant who separated from Service prior to January 1,
1987 is considered a Highly Compensated Employee only if the Former
Participant was a Five Percent Owner or received Compensation in
excess of $50,000 during (a) the Participant's Separation Year or the
year preceding the Separation Year or (b) any year ending on or after
such Former Participant attained age fifty-five (55) years or the
last year ending before such Former Participant attained age
fifty-five (55) years.
For purposes of this Section, Compensation means Annual Compensation
defined in Section 1.8, and including deferrals under (a) Code
Section 402(a)(8) relating to a Code Section 401(k) arrangement; (b)
Code Section 125 relating to a cafeteria plan; (c) Code Section
403(b) relating to a tax sheltered annuity plan; (d) Code Section
408(h) relating to a simplified employee pension; and (e) effective
JANUARY 1, 1998, Code Section 402(k) relating to a simple retirement
account. Compensation from each Related Employer shall be taken into
account.
1.27. HOUR OF SERVICE
(a) Any Employee or Participant who is compensated on an
hourly-rated basis shall be credited with an Hour of Service
for:
(i) each hour for which the Employee or Participant is
either directly or indirectly paid or entitled to
payment by the Employer for the performance of duties
or for reasons other than for the performance of
duties due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity
(including disability), layoff, jury duty, military
duty or leave of absence, whether or not the
employment relationship was terminated; and
(ii) each hour for which back pay has been awarded to the
Employee or Participant or agreed to by the Employer,
irrespective of mitigation of damages.
(b) Any Employee or Participant who is compensated on a basis
other than an hourly-rated basis and who, if hourly-rated,
would be credited with one (1) Hour of Service pursuant to
the preceding sentence, shall be credited with the number of
Hours of Service as follows:
(i) ten (10) hours of service per day, if compensated on
a daily basis;
(ii) forty-five (45) hours of service per week, if
compensated on a weekly basis;
(iii) ninety (90) hours of service per bi-weekly period, if
compensated on a bi-weekly basis;
(iv) ninety-five (95) hours of service per semi-monthly
period, if compensated on a semi-monthly basis; or
(v) one hundred ninety (190) hours of service per month,
if compensated on a monthly basis.
(c) The number of Hours of Service which shall be credited to an
Employee or Participant for being entitled to payment for
reasons other than for the performance of duties shall be
determined under Sections 2530.200b-2(b) and (c) of the
Department of Labor Regulations which are incorporated herein
by this reference. The method for crediting Hours of Service
under Section 1.27(b) for each Participant shall be the same
method used for crediting Hours of Service for which the
Participant received compensation. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, not more than five hundred one (501) Hours of
Service shall be credited to any Employee or Participant
during any Computation Period for any single, continuous
period during which the Employee or Participant performs no
duties.
(d) An Hour of Service performed for any other entity that is a
Related Employer with respect to the Employer shall be
considered an Hour of Service performed for the Employer.
1.28. INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
Individual Accounts means accounts or records maintained by the
Committee or its agent indicating the monetary value of the total
interest in the Trust Fund of each Participant, each Former
Participant, and each Beneficiary. The types of Individual Accounts
under this Plan are:
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(a) EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS holding Employer Contributions
made to the Plan under Section 3.1 and attributable earnings.
The types of Employer Contribution Accounts maintained under
this Plan are:
(i) EMPLOYER NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS holding
Employer Contributions made to the Plan for the
benefit of an Employee which the Employee could not
have elected to receive in the form of cash or other
taxable benefit.
(b) PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS holding Participant
Contributions made to the Plan and attributable earnings.
The types of Participant Contribution Accounts maintained
under this Plan are:
(i) ROLLOVER ACCOUNTS holding the Participant's qualified
rollover to the Plan pursuant to Article XVII plus
amounts transferred from the Snyder Oil Corporation
Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust Agreement
attributable to Rollover Contributions.
(ii) PARTICIPANT VOLUNTARY AFTER TAX CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS
holding the after-tax contributions of the
Participant accounts transferred from the Snyder Oil
Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and
Trust.
(iii) PRIOR MATCH ACCOUNTS holding amounts transferred from
the Snyder Oil Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings
Plan and Trust attributable to Matching Contributions
and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions under the
Gerrity Oil & Gas Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan
and amounts transferred from the DelMar Operating
Plan designated as Matching Contributions.
(iv) SALARY DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS holding the amount
contributed by the Employer as the result of an
election by a Participant to have that amount
contributed to the Plan rather than paid as cash or
other taxable benefit pursuant to Section 3.1.
1.29. INSURANCE COMPANY
Insurance Company means any legal reserve life insurance company
which may issue a Contract under this Agreement.
1.30. LIMITATION YEAR
Limitation Year means the Plan Year.
1.31. NAMED FIDUCIARY
Named Fiduciary means one or more fiduciaries named in this Agreement
who jointly and severally shall have authority to control or manage
the operation and administration of the Plan. The Committee shall be
the Named Fiduciary unless the Employer designates another person by
written Employer action.
1.32. NONFORFEITABLE
Nonforfeitable means a vested interest attained by a Participant or
Beneficiary in that part of the Participant's benefit under the Plan
arising from the Participant's Service, which claim is unconditional
and legally enforceable against the Plan.
1.33. NON-HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE
Non-Highly Compensated Employee means an Employee, Former Employee or
Beneficiary who is not a Highly Compensated Employee.
1.34. NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE
Normal Retirement Age means, for each Participant, the date the
Participant attains age 59 1/2 years. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any Participant who attained Normal Retirement Age under the terms of
the Prior Plan on or before the date of adoption of this Plan shall
be considered as having attained Normal Retirement Age.
1.35. NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE
Normal Retirement Date means, for each Participant, the first day of
the month coincident with or next following the date the Participant
attains Normal Retirement Age.
1.36. ONE YEAR BREAK IN SERVICE
(a) A One Year Break in Service, for purposes of eligibility,
means a Period of Severance of at least twelve (12)
consecutive months. A Period of Severance means a continuous
period of time during which an Employee is not employed by
the
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Employer. Such period shall begin on the date the Employee
retires, quits, is discharged, or dies, or, if earlier, the
twelve (12) month anniversary of the date on which the
Employee was otherwise first absent from work.
(b) A One Year Break in Service, for purposes of vesting, means a
Computation Period described in Section 1.50(b) relating to
Year of Service, during which an Employee has not completed
more than five hundred (500) Hours of Service with the
Employer.
(c) An Employee shall not incur a One Year Break in Service for
the Plan Year in which the Employee becomes a Participant,
dies, retires or suffers total and permanent disability.
(d) Further, solely for the purpose of determining whether a
Participant has incurred a One Year Break in Service under
(a) or (b) above, Hours of Service shall be recognized for
"authorized leaves of absence" and "maternity and paternity
leaves of absence."
(i) An "authorized leave of absence" means an unpaid
temporary cessation from active employment with the
Employer pursuant to an established nondiscriminatory
policy, whether occasioned by illness, military
service or any other reason.
(ii) A "maternity or paternity leave of absence" means an
absence from work for any period because of the
Employee's pregnancy, birth of the Employee's child,
placement of a child with the Employee relating to
the adoption of the child, or any absence for the
purpose of caring for the child for a period
immediately following the birth or placement. For
purposes of a maternity and paternity leave of
absence, Hours of Service shall be credited for the
Computation Period in which the absence from work
begins, only if the credit is necessary to prevent
the Employee from incurring a One Year Break in
Service, or, in any other case, in the immediately
following Computation Period. The Hours of Service
credited for a "maternity or paternity leave of
absence" shall be those which would normally have
been credited but for the absence, or, in any case in
which the Administrator is unable to determine the
hours normally credited, eight (8) Hours of Service
per day. The total Hours of Service required to be
credited for a "maternity or paternity leave of
absence" shall not exceed five hundred one (501)
hours.
1.37. OWNER-EMPLOYEE
Owner-Employee means a sole proprietor or a partner who owns more
than ten percent (10%) of either the capital interest or profits
interest in an unincorporated Employer and who receives income from
such unincorporated Employer for personal services.
1.38. PARTICIPANT
Participant means an Employee of the Employer who has met the
eligibility requirements of this Plan and who has been enrolled as a
Participant in this Plan.
1.39. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER
Participating Employer means any Related Employer that may elect to
adopt this Plan pursuant to Article XI.
1.40. PLAN
Plan means the profit sharing and savings plan embodied in this
Agreement, as amended from time to time, designated as the PATINA OIL
& GAS CORPORATION PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST.
1.41. PLAN YEAR
Plan Year means the twelve (12) consecutive month period from JANUARY
1 of each year to the next following DECEMBER 31.
1.42. PREDECESSOR EMPLOYER
Predecessor Employer means a business organization which has been
acquired by the Employer, whether by merger, stock purchase or
acquisition of the assets and business of the business organization.
1.43. RELATED EMPLOYER
A related group of employers is a controlled group of corporations
(defined in Code Section 414(b)), trades or businesses (whether or
not incorporated) which are under common control (defined in Code
Section 414(c)) or an affiliated service group (defined in Code
Section 414(m) or in Code Section 414(o)). If the Employer is a
member of a related group, the term "Employer" includes the related
group members for purposes of crediting Hours of Service, determining
Years of Service and Breaks in Service under Articles II and IX,
applying the participation test of Code Section 401(a)(26) and the
coverage test of Code Section 410(b), applying the limitations on
allocations in Article V, applying the top-heavy rules and the
minimum allocation requirements of Article V, the definitions of
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Employee, Highly Compensated Employee, Compensation and Leased
Employee, and for any other purpose required by the applicable Code
Section or by a Plan provision. However, an Employer may contribute
to the Plan only by being a signatory to a Participation Agreement to
the Plan. If one or more of the Employer's related group members
become Participating Employers by executing a Participation Agreement
to the Plan, the term "Employer" includes the participating related
group members for all purposes of the Plan, and Administrator means
the Employer that is the signatory to the Plan. For Plan allocation
purposes, Compensation does not include Compensation received from a
Related Employer that is not participating in this Plan.
1.44. SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL
Self-Employed Individual means an individual who has earned income
for the taxable year from the trade or business for which the Plan is
established or an individual who would have had earned income for the
fact that the trade or business had no net profits for the taxable
year.
1.45. SERVICE
(a) SERVICE means any period of time the Employee is in the
employ of the Employer. Service in all cases includes
periods during which the Employee is on an "authorized leave
of absence" or a "maternity or paternity leave of absence"
defined in Section 1.36(d) relating to One Year Break in
Service. Leaves of absence also shall include periods of
absence in connection with military service during which the
Employee's re-employment rights are legally protected.
Except for absence by reason of military service, leaves of
absence shall be for a maximum period of two (2) years.
Leaves of absence shall be granted on a uniform and
nondiscriminatory basis.
(b) If the Employer maintains the plan of a Predecessor Employer,
Service shall include service for the Predecessor Employer.
To the extent it may be required under applicable Treasury
regulations under Code Section 414, Service shall include all
service for any Predecessor Employer.
1.46. SHAREHOLDER-EMPLOYEE
Shareholder-Employee means a Participant who owns more than five
percent (5%) of the Employer's outstanding capital stock during any
year in which the Employer elected to be taxed as a Small Business
Corporation under Code Section 1362(a) and who receives income from
the Employer for personal services.
1.47. TOP-HEAVY PLAN STATUS/SUPER TOP-HEAVY PLAN STATUS
This Plan shall be a Top-Heavy Plan in any Plan Year in which, as of
the Determination Date, (a) the Present Value of Accrued Benefits of
Key Employees, or (b) the sum of the Aggregate Accounts of Key
Employees of any plan of an Aggregation Group, exceeds sixty percent
(60%) of the Present Value of Accrued Benefits or Aggregate Accounts
of all Participants under this Plan and any plan of an Aggregation
Group.
If any Participant is a Non-Key Employee for any Plan Year, but the
Participant was a Key Employee for any prior Plan Year, the
Participant's Aggregate Account balance shall not be taken into
account in determining whether this Plan is a Top-Heavy Plan (or
whether any Aggregation Group which includes this Plan is a Top-Heavy
Group) as further defined in Code Section 416(g) and the applicable
Treasury regulations.
This Plan shall be a Super Top-Heavy Plan for any Plan Year in which,
as of the Determination Date, (a) the Present Value of Accrued
Benefits of Key Employees, or (b) the sum of the Aggregate Accounts
of Key Employees of any plan of an Aggregation Group, exceeds ninety
percent (90%) of the Present Value of Accrued Benefits and the
Aggregate Accounts of all Participants under this Plan and any plan
of an Aggregation Group.
If any Participant is a Non-Key Employee for any Plan Year, but the
Participant was a Key Employee for any prior Plan Year, the
Participant's Aggregate Account balance shall not be taken into
account in determining whether this Plan is a Super Top-Heavy Plan
(or whether any Aggregation Group which includes this Plan is a
Top-Heavy Group) as further defined in Code Section 416(g) and the
applicable Treasury regulations.
For purposes of determining Top-Heavy and Super Top-Heavy status, the
following definitions shall apply:
(a) AGGREGATE ACCOUNT means, as of the Determination Date, the
sum of:
(i) the Participant Contribution Account and Employer
Contribution Account balances as of the most recent
Valuation Date occurring within a twelve (12) month
period ending on the Determination Date;
(ii) the contributions that would be allocated as of a
date not later than the Determination Date, even
though those amounts are not yet made or required to
be made;
(iii) any plan distributions made during the Determination
Period (However, in the case of distributions made
after the Valuation Date and prior to the
Determination Date, such distributions are not
included as distributions for
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Top-Heavy purposes to the extent that the
distributions are already included in the
Participant's Aggregate Account balance as of the
Valuation Date.); and
(iv) any Employee contributions, whether voluntary or
mandatory (However, amounts attributable to
Participant Deductible Voluntary Contributions shall
not be considered to be a part of the Participant's
Aggregate Account balance.).
(v) Regarding unrelated rollovers and plan-to-plan
transfers (those which are (A) initiated by the
Employee and (B) made from a plan maintained by one
employer to a plan maintained by another employer),
if this Plan provides for rollovers or plan-to-plan
transfers, an unrelated rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer shall be considered as a distribution for
purposes of this Section. If this Plan is the plan
accepting an unrelated rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer, an unrelated rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer accepted after December 31, 1983 shall not
be considered as part of the Participant's Aggregate
Account balance. However, unrelated rollovers or
plan-to-plan transfers accepted prior to January 1,
1984 shall be considered as part of the Participant's
Aggregate Account balance.
(vi) Regarding related rollovers and plan-to-plan
transfers (those either (A) not initiated by the
Employee or (B) made to a plan maintained by the same
Employer), if this Plan provides for rollovers or
plan-to-plan transfers, a related rollover or
plan-to-plan transfer shall be considered as a
distribution for purposes of this Section. If this
Plan is the plan accepting a related rollover or
plan-to-plan transfer, a related rollover or
plan-to-plan transfer shall be considered as part of
the Participant's Aggregate Account balance,
irrespective of the date on which the related
rollover or plan-to-plan transfer is accepted.
(b) AGGREGATION GROUP means either a Required Aggregation Group
or a Permissive Aggregation Group as hereinafter determined.
(i) REQUIRED AGGREGATION GROUP means the group of plans
composed of (A) each plan of the Employer in which a
Key Employee is a participant or participated at any
time during the Determination Period, regardless of
whether the plan has terminated; and (B) each other
plan of the Employer which enables any plan in which
a Key Employee participates to meet the requirements
of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or 410, which shall be
aggregated.
In the case of a Required Aggregation Group, each
plan in the group will be considered a Top-Heavy Plan
if the Required Aggregation Group is a Top-Heavy
Group. No plan in the Required Aggregation Group
will be considered a Top-Heavy Plan if the Required
Aggregation Group is not a Top-Heavy Group.
(ii) PERMISSIVE AGGREGATION GROUP means the Required
Aggregation Group plus any other plan not required to
be included in the Required Aggregation Group,
provided the resulting group, taken as a whole, would
continue to satisfy Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
In the case of a Permissive Aggregation Group, only a
plan that is part of the Required Aggregation Group
will be considered a Top-Heavy Plan if the Permissive
Aggregation Group is a Top-Heavy Group. No plan in
the Permissive Aggregation Group will be considered a
Top-Heavy Plan if the Permissive Aggregation Group is
not a Top-Heavy Group.
(iii) Only those plans of the Employer in which the
Determination Dates fall within the same calendar
year shall be aggregated to determine whether the
plans are Top-Heavy Plans.
(c) DETERMINATION DATE means for any Plan Year (i) the last day
of the preceding Plan Year, or (ii) in the case of the first
Plan Year of the Plan, the last day of the first Plan Year.
(d) DETERMINATION PERIOD means the five (5) year period ending on
the Determination Date.
(e) EMPLOYER means the Employer that adopts this Plan. Related
Employers shall be considered a single Employer for purposes
of applying the limitations of these top-heavy rules.
(f) EXCLUDED EMPLOYEES means any Employee who has not performed
any Service for the Employer during the five (5) year period
ending on the Determination Date. Excluded Employees shall
be excluded for purposes of a Top-Heavy determination.
(g) KEY EMPLOYEE means any Employee or Former Employee, or
Beneficiary of the Employee, who, for any Plan Year in the
Determination Period is:
(i) An officer of the Employer having Compensation from
the Employer and any Related Employer greater than
fifty percent (50%) of the amount in effect under
Code Section 415(b)(1)(A);
(ii) One of the ten (10) Employees having Compensation
from the Employer and any Related Employer of more
than the limitation in effect under Code Section
415(c)(1)(A) and owning (or considered as owning
within the meaning of Code Section 318) the largest
interests in the Employer;
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(iii) A Five Percent Owner of the Employer (Five Percent
Owner means any person owning, or considered as
owning within the meaning of Code Section 318, more
than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of
the Employer or stock possessing more than five
percent (5%) of the total combined voting power of
all stock of the Employer; or in the case of an
unincorporated business, any person who owns more
than five percent (5%) of the capital or profits
interest in the Employer.); or
(iv) A One Percent Owner of the Employer having
Compensation from the Employer of more than $150,000
(One Percent Owner means any person having
Compensation from the Employer and any Related
Employer in excess of $150,000 and owning, or
considered as owning within the meaning of Code
Section 318, more than one percent (1%) of the
outstanding stock of the Employer or stock possessing
more than one percent (1%) of the total combined
voting power of all stock of the Employer; or in the
case of an unincorporated business, any person who
owns more than one percent (1%) of the capital or
profits interest in the Employer.).
(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Key Employee shall
have the meaning set forth in Code Section 416(i), as
amended.
(vi) For purposes of determining whether an Employee or
Former Employee is an officer under this subsection
(g), an officer of the Employer shall have the
meaning set forth in the regulations under Code
Section 416(i).
(vii) For purposes of this Section, Compensation means
Compensation determined under Section 1.26 for the
definition of a Highly Compensated Employee.
(viii) For purposes of determining ownership hereunder,
employers that would otherwise be aggregated as
Related Employers shall be treated as separate
employers.
(h) NON-KEY EMPLOYEE means any Employee or Former Employee, or
Beneficiary of the Employee, who is not a Key Employee.
(i) PRESENT VALUE OF ACCRUED BENEFIT. Solely for the purpose of
determining if the Plan, or any other plan included in a
Required Aggregation Group of which this Plan is a part, is a
Top-Heavy Plan, the Accrued Benefit of a Non-Key Employee
shall be determined under (i) the method, if any, that
uniformly applies for accrual purposes under all plans
maintained by the Related Employers, or (ii) if there is no
uniform method, in accordance with the slowest accrual rate
permitted under the fractional accrual method described in
Code Section 411(b)(1)(C). To calculate the Present Value of
Accrued Benefits from a defined benefit plan, the Committee
will use the actuarial assumptions for interest and mortality
only, prescribed by the defined benefit plan(s) to value
benefits for Top-Heavy purposes. If an aggregated plan does
not have a Valuation Date coinciding with the Determination
Date, the Committee must value the Accrued Benefits in the
aggregated plan as of the most recent Valuation Date falling
within the twelve (12) month period ending on the
Determination Date, except as Code Section 416 and applicable
Treasury regulations require for the first and second plan
year of a defined benefit plan. The Committee will determine
whether a plan is Top-Heavy by referring to Determination
Dates that fall within the same calendar year.
(j) TOP-HEAVY GROUP means an Aggregation Group in which, as of
the Determination Date, the sum of:
(i) the Present Value of Accrued Benefits of Key
Employees under all defined benefit plans included in
the group; and
(ii) the Aggregate Accounts of Key Employees under all
defined contribution plans included in the group
exceeds sixty percent (60%) of a similar sum determined for
all Participants.
(k) For purposes of this Section, VALUATION DATE means the
Determination Date defined above.
1.48. TRUST FUND
Trust Fund means all assets of any kind and nature from time to time
held by the Trustee or its agent under this Agreement without
distinction between income and principal. This Plan creates a single
Trust for all Employers participating under the PATINA OIL & GAS
CORPORATION PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST. However, the
Trustee will maintain separate records of account to reflect properly
each Participant's Accrued Benefit derived from each Participating
Employer.
1.49. TRUSTEE
Trustee means KEITH M. CROUCH until the effective date of acceptance
by MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA as Trustee and any
successor Trustee.
1.50. YEAR OF SERVICE
(a) FOUR MONTHS OF ELIGIBILITY SERVICE means the four (4)
consecutive month period commencing on an Employee's
Employment Commencement Date and ending on the same day of
the fourth month following the Employee's Employment
Commencement
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Date. If an Employee fails to complete Four Months of
Eligibility Service during the initial Computation Period,
the Employee shall be deemed to complete Four Months of
Eligibility Service upon the completion of four (4) months of
Service. An Employee shall receive credit for the aggregate
of all time periods commencing with the first day the
Employee is entitled to credit for an Hour of Service,
including the Re-Employment Commencement Date, and ending on
the date a Break in Service begins. An Employee also shall
receive credit for any Period of Severance of less than four
(4) consecutive months. Fractional periods of a year shall
be expressed in terms of months, with credit for a month of
service being given for each thirty (30) days of Elapsed
Time.
(b) YEAR OF VESTING SERVICE means any Plan Year during which the
Employee performs not less than one thousand (1,000) Hours of
Service for the Employer. If (i) an Employee's Eligibility
Computation Period for a Plan requiring One Year of Service
for eligibility overlaps two vesting Computation Periods; and
(ii) the Employee completes one thousand (1,000) Hours of
Service in the Eligibility Computation Period but fails to
complete the one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service in either
of the overlapping Vesting Computation Periods; and (iii) the
Employee is admitted to participation in the Plan, then the
Year of Eligibility Service completed shall also be
considered a Year of Vesting Service when the Employee
becomes a Participant. In computing an Employee's Years of
Vesting Service, the following rules shall apply:
(i) For an Employee who terminates employment and is
subsequently re-employed after incurring a One Year
Break in Service, Service prior to the Break in
Service shall not be taken into account until the
Employee has completed a Year of Service after
re-employment.
(ii) For a Participant who terminates employment and who
subsequently is re-employed after incurring five (5)
consecutive One Year Breaks in Service, Years of
Service after the Break in Service shall not be taken
into account for purposes of determining the
Nonforfeitable percentage of an Employee's Account
Balance derived from Employer Contributions which
accrued before the Break in Service.
(iii) For a Participant who terminates employment without
any vested right to the Employer Contribution Account
and who is re-employed after a One Year Break in
Service, Service before the Break in Service shall
not be taken into account if the number of
consecutive One Year Breaks in Service equals or
exceeds the greater of (A) five (5), or (B) the
aggregate number of Years of Service before the Break
in Service.
(iv) Years of Service, for purposes of vesting, shall
include all Years of Service of the Employee with
GERRITY OIL AND GAS CORPORATION and SNYDER OIL
CORPORATION prior to January 1, 1998.
(v) Years of Service with the Employer before a
Participant enters the Plan shall be considered for
purposes of vesting.
(c) If the Employer is a member of a group of Related Employers,
then Year of Service for purposes of eligibility and vesting
shall include Service with any Related Employer.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE II
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
2.1. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
(a) Each Employee shall be eligible to participate in this Plan
on the Entry Date coincident with or next following the
attainment of age eighteen (18) and the completion of four
(4) months of Service with the Employer.
(b) Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an Employee who has
attained age eighteen (18) and completed at least four (4)
months of Service with the Employer on the Effective Date of
this Plan shall be eligible to participate in this Plan on
the Effective Date.
(c) The following Employees are not eligible to participate in
the Plan:
- Collective Bargaining Employees. Each Employee who
is a member of a collective bargaining unit shall not
be eligible to participate in this Plan unless the
collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.
An Employee is a member of a collective bargaining
unit if the Employee is included in a unit of
Employees covered by an agreement which the Secretary
of Labor finds to be a collective bargaining
agreement between Employee representatives and one or
more employers if there is evidence that retirement
benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining
between the Employee representatives and the employer
or employers. The term "Employee representatives"
does not include an organization of which more than
one-half (1/2) the members are owners, officers, or
executives of the Employer.
- Nonresident aliens who do not receive any earned
income (as defined in Code Section 911(d)(2)) from
the Employer which constitutes United States source
income (as defined in Code Section 861(a)(3)).
- Individuals classified by the Employer as Leased
Employees, whether or not subsequently determined to
be Employees of the Employer for purposes of the
Internal Revenue Code.
- Individuals classified by the Employer as Independent
Contractors, whether or not subsequently determined
to be Employees of the Employer for purposes of the
Internal Revenue Code.
If a Participant is no longer a member of an eligible class
of Employees and becomes ineligible to participate but has
not incurred a Break in Service, such Employee will
participate immediately upon returning to an eligible class
of Employees. If a Participant incurs a Break in Service,
eligibility will be determined under the Break in Service
rules of Section 1.36.
If an Employee who is not a member of an eligible class of
Employees becomes a member of an eligible class, the Employee
will participate immediately if the Employee has satisfied
the minimum age and service requirements and would have
otherwise previously become a Participant.
2.2. PARTICIPATION
Whenever a new Employee is hired by the Employer, the Employer
immediately shall give notice to the Committee of the employment and
shall identify the new Employee. The Committee shall notify in
writing each new Employee of the pending eligibility as soon as
administratively feasible prior to the date on which the Employee
will become eligible and shall furnish the Employee a copy of this
Agreement or any other explanation of the Plan that the Committee
shall provide for that purpose. Each Employee so notified
automatically will become a Participant upon meeting the requirements
of Section 2.1.
2.3. PARTICIPANT RE-ENTRY
If the employment of a Participant is terminated and the Participant
subsequently is re-employed, the re-employed Employee shall become a
Participant on the date of re-employment. If an Employee terminates
employment prior to satisfying the eligibility requirements of
Section 2.1 and subsequently is re-employed, the re-employed Employee
shall become a Participant after meeting the eligibility requirements
of Section 2.1, but shall be credited for Service retroactively to
the date of re-employment for purposes of eligibility and vesting.
If an Employee becomes eligible but terminates employment prior to
the first Entry Date, and the Employee is later re-employed, the
Employee shall become a Participant on the date of re-employment.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS
3.1. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) EMPLOYER ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PARTICIPANT ELECTIVE DEFERRALS.
For each Plan Year beginning on or after JANUARY 1, 1998, the amount
of the Employer Elective Contribution to the Trust Fund will equal the
amount determined under this paragraph. Each Participant may elect to
defer from 1% to 15% of Annual Compensation, as defined in Section
1.8, modified by 1.8(g), but shall not elect to defer an amount to
cause the Plan to violate the limitations of this Section or Section
5.3, or to exceed the maximum amount allowable as a deduction to the
Employer under Code Section 404. A Participant may elect to defer
Annual Compensation only in an amount which the Participant otherwise
could elect to receive in cash and which is currently available to the
Participant. Annual Compensation is not currently available to the
Participant if the Participant is not eligible to receive it at the
time of the deferral election. The amounts by which a Participant
elects to reduce Annual Compensation under this Plan shall be that
Participant's Elective Deferrals. The Employer shall contribute to
the Trust Fund the amount of each Participant's Elective Deferrals
which shall be treated as Employer Elective Contributions and credited
to that Participant's Salary Deferral Account.
(i) The Employer and the Committee shall adopt a procedure necessary
to implement the deferral elections.
(ii) The Employer shall permit changes in a Participant's deferral
election on the Entry Date(s) of each Plan Year.
(iii) ELECTIVE DEFERRALS, for purposes of the following clauses (iv)
through (viii), means for any taxable year the sum of:
(A) any Employer contribution under a qualified cash or deferred
arrangement defined in Code Section 401(k), to the extent
not includable in gross income for the taxable year under
Code Section 402(a)(8), determined without regard to the
dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g);
(B) any Employer contribution under a simplified employee
pension as defined in Code Section 408(k)(6), pursuant to a
salary reduction agreement; and
(C) any Employer contribution toward the purchase of a tax
sheltered annuity contract as defined in Code Section
403(b), pursuant to a salary reduction agreement.
Elective Deferrals shall not include any deferrals properly
distributed as excess annual additions.
(iv) A Participant's Elective Deferrals shall not exceed the statutory
dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g) for the taxable year
of the Participant. The dollar limitation under Code Section
402(g) is $10,000 in 1998 indexed in subsequent Plan Years for
cost-of-living adjustments under Code Section 415(d) or the
amount of the dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g) in
effect on January 1 of each calendar year, as adjusted annually
by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(v) EXCESS ELECTIVE DEFERRALS means those Elective Deferrals that are
includable in a Participant's gross income under Code Section
402(g) to the extent the Participant's Elective Deferrals for a
taxable year exceed the dollar limitation under Code Section
402(g). Excess Elective Deferrals shall be treated as Annual
Additions under the Plan, unless such amounts are distributed no
later than the first April 15 following the close of the
Participant's taxable year.
(vi) If the statutory dollar limitation in clause (iv) is exceeded,
the Committee shall direct the Trustee to distribute the Excess
Elective Deferrals, and any income or loss allocable to the
Excess Elective Deferrals, to the Participant not later than the
first April 15 following the close of the Participant's taxable
year. If there is a loss allocable to the Excess Elective
Deferral, the distribution shall in no event be less than the
lesser of the Participant's Salary Deferral Account or the
Participant's Elective Deferrals for the Plan Year. The amount
of Excess Elective Deferrals to be distributed to an Employee for
a taxable year will be reduced by Excess Contributions previously
distributed or recharacterized for the Plan Year beginning in the
taxable year of the Employee.
(vii) If a Participant is also a participant in (A) another qualified
cash or deferred arrangement defined in Code Section 401(k); (B)
a simplified employee pension defined in Code Section 408(k); or
(C) a salary reduction arrangement pursuant to which an employer
purchases a tax sheltered annuity contract defined in Code
Section 403(b), and the Elective Deferrals made under the other
arrangement(s) and this Plan cumulatively exceed $10,000 in 1998
indexed in subsequent Plan Years for cost-of-living adjustments
under Code Section 415(d) or the amount of the dollar limitation
under Code Section 402(g) in effect on January 1 of each calendar
year, as adjusted annually by the Secretary of the Treasury, then
the Participant may, not later than March 1 following the close
of the
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Participant's taxable year, notify the Administrator in writing
of the excess and request that the Participant's Elective
Deferrals under this Plan be reduced by an amount specified by
the Participant. The specified amount then shall be distributed
in the same manner as provided in clause (vi). A Participant is
deemed to notify the Administrator of any Excess Elective
Deferrals that arise by taking into account only those Elective
Deferrals made to this Plan and any other plans of this Employer.
(viii) If any of the foregoing provisions of this Section are not in
conformity with applicable Treasury regulations, the
nonconforming provisions may be amended retroactively to assure
conformity.
(b) EMPLOYER NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS. For each Plan Year, the amount
of the Employer Non-Elective Contribution to the Trust Fund will equal
the amount, if any, the Employer may from time to time determine and
authorize. Such contribution shall be in cash for the 1997 Plan Year
and may be in either cash or in the form of Employer Securities
(subject to Trustee acceptance) or both, as the Employer, in its
discretion, shall determine in subsequent Plan Years. Any
contribution in the form of Employer Securities shall be credited to
each eligible Participant's Employer Non-Elective Contribution Account
and allocated to the Employer Securities Investment Fund. Although
the Employer may contribute to this Plan whether or not it has net
profits, the Employer intends the Plan to be a profit sharing plan
including a qualified cash or deferred arrangement for all purposes of
the Code. The Employer shall not authorize contributions at such
times or in such amounts that the Plan in operation discriminates in
favor of Highly Compensated Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Employer Non-Elective Contribution for any Plan Year shall not
exceed the maximum amount allowable as a deduction to the Employer
under Code Section 404. The Employer Non-Elective Contributions shall
be allocated to the Participant Employer Non-Elective Contribution
Accounts under the formula provided in Section 5.2.
(c) QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS. For each Plan Year, the amount
of the Qualified Non-Elective Contribution to the Trust Fund will
equal the amount, if any, the Employer may from time to time determine
and authorize. The Employer shall not authorize contributions at such
times or in such amounts that the Plan in operation discriminates in
favor of Highly Compensated Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Qualified Non-Elective Contribution for any Plan Year shall not
exceed the maximum amount allowable as a deduction to the Employer
under Code Section 404. The Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
shall be allocated to the Participant Employer Non-Elective
Contribution Accounts under the formula provided in Section 5.2.
3.2. DEADLINE FOR EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) The Employer shall pay to the Trustee the Employer Elective
Contribution for the Plan Year no later than thirty (30) days, or
within the time prescribed by applicable Treasury regulations, after
the Plan Year for which they are deemed paid. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Employer Elective Contributions accumulated through payroll
deductions shall be paid to the Trustee with reasonable promptness and
not later than fifteen (15) business days after the end of the month
in which payroll deductions were made.
(b) The Employer shall pay to the Trustee the Employer Contributions
(other than Elective Contributions) at any time and from time to time;
except that the total Employer Contribution for any Plan Year shall be
paid in full not later than the time prescribed by Code Section
404(a)(6) to enable the Employer to obtain a deduction on its federal
income tax return for the Employer's taxable year. The total Employer
Contribution for any Plan Year shall be deemed made on the Accounting
Date immediately following the date the contribution was made, except
for contributions made after the end of the Plan Year, but within the
time prescribed by Code Section 404(a)(6), which shall be deemed made
on the last day of the Plan Year.
3.3. DEPOSIT OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
All Employer Contributions shall be added immediately to and become a part
of the Trust Fund.
3.4. CREDITING OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
All Employer Elective Contributions shall be credited to the Salary
Deferral Account of each Participant as of each Accounting Date. All
Employer Non-Elective Contributions shall be credited as of each
Anniversary Date as provided in Article V.
3.5. WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE SEPARATION FROM SERVICE.
If the Employer shall permit under a uniform and nondiscriminatory written
policy, a Participant shall have the right, subject to the following
limitations and subject to the spousal consent requirements of Code
Sections 411(a)(11) and 417, if applicable, to request withdrawal of all,
any portion, or a fixed percentage of the following fully vested and
Nonforfeitable Participant Accounts: (1) Participant Voluntary After-Tax
Contribution Account and (2) Rollover Account. Prior to attainment of age
59 1/2, the Participant shall be limited to one (1) withdrawal from his
Participant After-Tax Contribution Account and Rollover Account during a
12-month period. Upon attainment of age 591/2, a Participant shall have
the right to request withdrawal of all, any portion, or a fixed percentage
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of all amounts credited to his Individual Accounts. There is no
restriction on the number of withdrawals permitted to a Participant after
attainment of age 59 1/2.
All determinations of the amount credited to a Participant's Individual
Accounts shall be made as of the most recent Valuation Date. The written
policy of the Employer shall set forth the criteria for eligibility for
withdrawal and the Account sources and funding order. The Committee shall
establish procedures to verify that a Participant satisfies one or more of
the eligibility criteria. If the Committee determines that the Participant
is eligible to withdraw benefits from the Plan, then the Committee shall
inform the Trustee in writing and shall instruct the Trustee on the amount
to distribute to the Participant. A Participant shall make an election
under this Section on a form prescribed by and delivered to the Committee
at any time during the Plan Year for which the election will be effective.
In the written election, the Participant shall specify the desired
percentage or dollar amount to be distributed by the Trustee to the
Participant. Furthermore, the Participant's election shall relate solely
to the percentage or dollar amount specified in the election form. The
Participant's right to elect to receive an amount, if any, for a particular
Plan Year greater than the dollar amount or percentage specified in the
election form shall terminate on the Anniversary Date. The Trustee shall
distribute to a Participant as elected under this Section within the ninety
(90) day period, or as soon as administratively feasible, after the
Participant files the written election with the Trustee. The Trustee shall
distribute the balance of the Participant's Individual Account not
distributed pursuant to the election(s) according to the option selected
under Article X and subject to the survivor annuity requirements of Article
VI, if applicable, when the Participant separates from Service. The amount
of the distribution and the administrative expenses directly related to the
distribution shall be debited from the applicable Account.
3.6. PARTICIPANT VOLUNTARY AFTER TAX CONTRIBUTIONS
This Plan does not permit nor accept Participant Voluntary After Tax
Contributions.
3.7. WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYER ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS (PARTICIPANT ELECTIVE
DEFERRALS), EMPLOYER QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND EMPLOYER
QUALIFIED MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Amounts held in the Participant's
Salary Deferral Account may not be distributable prior to the earliest
of:
(i) separation from Service, total and permanent disability or death;
(ii) attainment of age fifty-nine and one-half (591/2) years;
(iii) Plan termination without establishment of another defined
contribution plan, other than an employee stock ownership plan
(as defined in Code Sections 4975(e) or 409) or a simplified
employee pension plan as defined in Code Section 408(k);
(iv) disposition by a corporation to an unrelated corporation of
substantially all of the assets (within the meaning of Code
Section 409(d)(2)) used in a trade or business of the
corporation, if the corporation continues to maintain this Plan
after the disposition, but only with respect to Employees who
continue employment with the corporation acquiring the assets;
(v) disposition by a corporation to an unrelated entity of the
corporation's interest in a subsidiary (within the meaning of
Code Section 409(d)(3)) if the corporation continues to maintain
this Plan, but only with respect to Employees who continue
employment with the subsidiary; or
(vi) proven financial hardship, subject to the following limitations.
All distributions that may be made pursuant to one or more of the
foregoing distributable events are subject to the spousal and
participant consent requirements, if applicable, of Code Sections
401(a)(11) and 417. In addition, distributions that are triggered by
one of the preceding events enumerated as (iii), (iv) or (v) must be
made in a lump sum distribution.
(b) HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS. Distribution of Elective Deferrals made
pursuant to a Participant's Elective Deferrals, may be made to a
Participant in the event of hardship. For the purposes of this
Section, a hardship distribution is defined as a distribution
necessary to satisfy an immediate and heavy financial need of an
Employee who lacks other available resources. Hardship distributions
are subject to the spousal consent requirements contained in Code
Sections 401(a)(11) and 417.
(i) A distribution will be considered to satisfy an immediate and
heavy need of an Employee if the distribution is for:
(A) expenses incurred for or necessary to obtain medical care,
described in Code Section 213(d), of the Employee, the
Employee's spouse, children, or dependents;
(B) costs directly related to the purchase, excluding mortgage
payments, of a principal residence for the Employee;
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(C) payment of tuition and related educational fees for the next
twelve (12) months of post-secondary education for the
Employee, the Employee's spouse, children or dependents; or
(D) payment necessary to prevent the eviction of the Employee
from, or a foreclosure on the mortgage of, the Employee's
principal residence.
(ii) A distribution will be considered necessary to satisfy an
immediate and heavy financial need of an Employee who lacks other
available resources only if:
(A) the Employee has obtained all distributions, other than
hardship distributions, and all nontaxable loans under all
plans maintained by the Employer; and
(B) the distribution is not in excess of the amount of an
immediate and heavy financial need, including amounts
necessary to pay any federal, state or local income taxes or
penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the
distribution.
(iii) In addition to the conditions above:
(A) each plan maintained by the Employer or a legally
enforceable arrangement provide that the Employee's
Deferrals and Employee Contributions will be suspended for
twelve (12) months after the receipt of the hardship
distribution; and
(B) each plan maintained by the Employer or a legally
enforceable arrangement prohibit the Employee from making
Elective Deferrals for the Employee's taxable year
immediately following the taxable year of the hardship
distribution in excess of the applicable limit under Code
Section 402(g) for such taxable year less the amount of such
Employee's Elective Deferrals for the taxable year of the
hardship distribution.
(C) any hardship withdrawal to a Participant made pursuant to
this Section shall be increased by an amount equal to the
lesser of:
(1) all federal, state, and local income taxes and
associated penalties (including, if applicable, the
additional income tax described in Section 72(t) of the
Internal Revenue Code) imposed with respect to such
hardship withdrawal; or
(2) the amount, if any, in such Participant's Elective
Deferrals Account in excess of such hardship
withdrawal.
3.8. LIMITATIONS ON EMPLOYER ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE TEST. The annual allocation derived from
Employer Elective Contributions to a Participant's Salary Deferral
Account shall satisfy one of the following tests:
(i) The Average Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
Eligible Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not
exceed the Average Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants
who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan
Year multiplied by 1.25; or
(ii) The Average Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
Eligible Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not
exceed the Average Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants
who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan
Year multiplied by two (2); provided that the Average Actual
Deferral Percentage for Participants who are Eligible Highly
Compensated Employees for the Plan Year does not exceed the
Average Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year by
more than two (2) percentage points or the amount as may be
prescribed in applicable Treasury regulations to prevent the
multiple use of this alternative limitation for any Highly
Compensated Employee.
(b) DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Section, the following
definitions shall apply:
(i) ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE means the ratio, expressed as a
percentage, of (A) the amount of Employer Elective Contributions
actually paid to the Trust Fund on behalf of the Eligible
Participant for the Plan Year to (B) the Eligible Participant's
Compensation for the Plan Year, whether or not the Employee was a
Participant for the entire Plan Year. Employer Contributions on
behalf of any Participant shall include: (A) any Employer
Elective Contributions made pursuant to the Eligible
Participant's Elective Deferrals, (including Excess Elective
Deferrals of Highly Compensated Employees), but excluding (1)
Excess Elective Deferrals of Nonhighly Compensated Employees that
arise solely from Elective Deferrals made under the plan or plans
of this Employer, and (2) Employer Elective Contributions that
are taken into account in the Contribution Percentage Test
(provided the
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Actual Deferral Percentage Test is satisfied both with and
without exclusion of these Employer Elective Contributions); and
(B) at the election of the Employer, Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions. An Employer
Elective Contribution will be taken into account under the Actual
Deferral Percentage Test for a Plan Year only if it relates to
compensation that either would have been received by the Employee
in the Plan Year, but for the deferral election, or is
attributable to services performed by the Employee in the Plan
Year and would have been received by the Employee within two and
one-half (21/2) months after the close of the Plan Year, but for
the deferral election. To compute Actual Deferral Percentages,
an Employee who would be a Participant but for the failure to
make Elective Deferrals shall be treated as a Participant on
whose behalf no Employer Elective Contributions are made.
(ii) AVERAGE ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE means the average, expressed
as a percentage, of the Actual Deferral Percentages of the
Eligible Participants in a group.
(iii) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT means any Employee of the Employer who is
otherwise authorized under the Plan to have Employer Elective
Contributions (or Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or
Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, if treated as Employer
Elective Contributions for the Actual Deferral Percentage Test)
allocated to his or her Salary Deferral Account for the Plan
Year.
(iv) QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS means Employer
Contributions, other than Employer Elective Contributions and
Matching Contributions, allocated to Participants' accounts which
are 100% Nonforfeitable at all times and which are subject to the
distribution restrictions described in Section 3.7(a).
Non-Elective Contributions are not 100% Nonforfeitable at all
times if the Employee has a 100% Nonforfeitable interest because
of Years of Service taken into account under a vesting schedule.
Any Non-Elective Contributions allocated to a Participant's
Salary Deferral Account under the Plan automatically satisfy the
definition of Qualified Non-Elective Contributions.
(v) QUALIFIED MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS means Employer Matching
Contributions allocated to Participants' accounts which are 100%
Nonforfeitable at all times and which are subject to the
distribution restrictions described in Section 3.7(a). Matching
Contributions are not 100% Nonforfeitable at all times if the
Employee has a 100% Nonforfeitable interest because of Years of
Service taken into account under a vesting schedule. Any
Matching Contributions allocated to a Participant's Salary
Deferral Account under the Plan automatically satisfy the
definition of Qualified Matching Contributions.
(c) SPECIAL RULES
(i) For purposes of this Section, the Actual Deferral Percentage for
any Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee for the Plan
Year who is eligible to have Employer Elective Contributions (or
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching
Contributions, or both, if treated as Employer Elective
Contributions for the Actual Deferral Percentage Test) allocated
to his or her account under two (2) or more plans or arrangements
described in Code Section 401(k) that are maintained by the
Employer or a Related Employer shall be determined as if all
Employer Elective Contributions (and, if applicable, Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contribution, or
both) were made under a single arrangement. If a Highly
Compensated Employee participates in two (2) or more cash or
deferred arrangements that have different plan years, all cash or
deferred arrangements ending with or within the same calendar
year shall be treated as a single arrangement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, certain plans shall be treated as separate if
mandatorily disaggregated under applicable Treasury regulations
pursuant to Code Section 401(k).
(ii) If this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections 401(k),
401(a)(4) or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other
plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of
the Code Sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this
Section shall be applied by determining the Actual Deferral
Percentage of Employees as if all such plans were a single plan.
For Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1989, plans may be
aggregated to satisfy Code Section 401(k) only if they have the
same Plan Year.
(iii) To determine the Actual Deferral Percentage Test, Employer
Elective Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions, and
Qualified Matching Contributions must be made before the last day
of the twelve (12) month period immediately following the Plan
Year to which contributions relate.
(iv) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the Actual Deferral Percentage Test and the
amount of Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified
Matching Contributions, or both, used in the test.
(v) The determination and treatment of the Actual Deferral Percentage
amounts of any Participant shall satisfy other requirements
prescribed by applicable Treasury regulations.
(vi) Other than an organization that is a Related Employer to the Plan
Sponsor, for purposes of this Section, Participants who are
leased employees of a recipient organization under an employee
leasing agreement with the Plan Sponsor shall be treated as
Participants in a separate plan maintained by the recipient
organization, and all
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contributions on behalf of such Participants shall be treated as
contributed to such separate plan for purposes of apply the
requirements of this Section.
(d) FAIL-SAFE PROVISIONS
If the initial allocations of the Employer Elective Contributions do
not satisfy one of the tests set forth in paragraph (a) of this
Section, the Administrator shall adjust the accounts of the
Participants pursuant to one (1) or more of the following options:
(i) DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. If the Committee
determines that the initial allocations of the Employer Elective
Contributions do not satisfy one of the Actual Deferral
Percentage Tests set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section, the
Administrator must distribute the Excess Contributions, as
adjusted for allocable income, during the next Plan Year.
However, the Employer will incur an excise tax equal to 10% of
the amount of Excess Contributions for a Plan Year not
distributed to the appropriate Highly Compensated Employees
during the first 21/2 months of the next Plan Year. The Excess
Contributions are the amount of Employer Elective Contributions
made at the election of the Highly Compensated Employees which
causes the Plan to fail to satisfy the Actual Deferral Percentage
Test. The Administrator shall make distributions to each Highly
Compensated Employee of his or her respective share of the Excess
Contributions pursuant to the following steps:
(A) The Administrator shall calculate total Excess Contributions
for the Highly Compensated Employees.
(B) The Administrator shall calculate the total dollar amount by
which the Excess Contributions for the Highly Compensated
Employees must be reduced in order to satisfy the Average
Deferral Percentage Test.
(C) The Administrator shall calculate the total dollar amount of
the Excess Contributions for each Highly Compensated
Employee.
(D) The Administrator shall reduce the Excess Contributions of
the Highly Compensated Employee(s) with the highest dollar
amount of Excess Contributions by refunding such
contributions to such Highly Compensated Employee(s) in the
amount required to cause the dollar amount of such Highly
Compensated Employee(s)' Employer Elective Contributions to
equal the dollar amount of the Employer Elective
Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employee(s) with
the next highest dollar amount of Employer Elective
Contributions.
(E) If the total dollar amount distributed pursuant to (D) above
is less than the total dollar amount of Excess
Contributions, Step (D) shall be applied to the Highly
Compensated Employee(s) with the next highest dollar amount
of Excess Contributions until the total amount of
distributed Excess Contributions equals the total dollar
amount calculated in Step (B).
(F) When calculating the amount of a distribution under Step
(D), if a lessor reduction, when added to any amounts
already distributed under this Section, would equal the
total amount of distributions necessary to permit the Plan
to satisfy the requirements of Section 3.8(a), the lesser
amount shall be distributed from the Plan.
ALLOCABLE INCOME. To determine the amount of the corrective
distribution required under this Section, the Administrator must
calculate the allocable income for the Plan Year in which the
Excess Contributions arose and for the "gap period" measured from
the beginning of the next Plan Year to the date of the
distribution. The income allocable to Excess Contributions is
equal to the sum of the allocable gain or loss for the Plan Year
and the allocable gain or loss for the gap period.
(A) METHOD OF ALLOCATING INCOME. The Administrator may use any
reasonable method for computing the income allocable to
Excess Contributions, provided that the method does not
violate Code Section 401(a)(4), is used consistently for all
Participants and for all corrective distributions under the
Plan for the Plan Year, and is used by the Plan for
allocating income to Participants' Accounts.
(B) ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ALLOCATING INCOME. A Plan may
allocate income to Excess Contributions by multiplying the
income for the Plan Year and the gap period allocable to
Elective Contributions and amounts treated as Elective
Contributions by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction
is the Excess Contributions for the Employee for the Plan
Year. The denominator of the fraction is equal to the sum
of:
(I) The total account balance of the Employee attributable
to Elective Contributions and amounts treated as
Elective Contributions as of the beginning of the Plan
Year; plus
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(II) The Employee's Elective Contributions, and amounts
treated as Elective Contributions for the Plan Year and
for the gap period.
(C) SAFE HARBOR METHOD OF ALLOCATING GAP PERIOD INCOME. Under
the safe harbor method, income or Excess Contributions for
the gap period will equal ten percent (10%) of the income
allocable to Excess Contributions for the Plan Year
(calculated under the method described in paragraph (B) of
this Section), multiplied by the number of calendar months
that have elapsed since the end of the Plan Year. For
purposes of calculating the number of calendar months that
have elapsed under the safe harbor method, a corrective
distribution that is made on or before the fifteenth day of
the month is treated as made on the last day of the
preceding month. A distribution made after the fifteenth
day of the month is treated as made on the first day of the
next month.
(ii) RECHARACTERIZATION OF EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. If the Plan permits
Participant Voluntary After Tax Contributions in Section 3.6, a
Participant may treat his or her Excess Contributions as an
amount distributed to the Participant and then contributed by the
Participant to the Plan. Recharacterized amounts will remain
nonforfeitable and subject to the same distribution requirements
as Elective Deferrals. Amounts may not be recharacterized by a
Highly Compensated Employee to the extent that such amount in
combination with other Employee Contributions made by that
Employee would exceed any stated limit under the Plan on Employee
Contributions. Recharacterization must occur no later than two
and one-half (21/2) months after the last day of the Plan Year in
which such Excess Contributions arose, and is deemed to occur no
earlier than the date the last Highly Compensated Employee is
informed in writing of the amount recharacterized and the
consequences thereof. Recharacterized amounts will be taxable to
the Participant for the Participant's tax year in which the
Participant would have received them in cash. The amount of
Excess Contributions to be recharacterized with respect to an
Employee for a Plan Year shall be reduced by any Excess Deferrals
previously distributed to the Employee for the Employee's taxable
year ending with or within the Plan Year.
(iii) RECHARACTERIZATION OF MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS. A portion of the
Employer's Matching Contribution shall be deemed an Employer
Elective Contribution for purposes of paragraph (a) of this
Section and for vesting and withdrawal purposes. The portion
shall be equal to an amount necessary to satisfy one of the tests
set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section, taking into account
the Administrator's action under any option herein and shall be
reallocated to the Salary Deferral Account. Reallocation of the
Employer's Matching Contribution shall be made on behalf of
Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees.
(iv) QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE AND QUALIFIED MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS. The
Employer shall make Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or
Qualified Matching Contributions on behalf of Participants who
are Nonhighly Compensated Employees in an amount sufficient to
satisfy one of the tests set forth in paragraph (a) of this
Section, taking into account the Administrator's action under any
option herein. The contribution shall be treated as an Employer
Elective Contribution and shall be allocated to the Salary
Deferral Account of each Participant who is a Nonhighly
Compensated Employee in the same proportion that each Nonhighly
Compensated Employee's Elective Deferrals for the year bears to
the total Elective Deferrals of all Participants who are
Nonhighly Compensated Employees. The Qualified Non-Elective and
Qualified Matching Contributions may be treated as Elective
Contributions provided that each of the following requirements,
to the extent applicable, is satisfied:
(A) The amount of Non-Elective Contributions, including those
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions treated as Elective
Contributions for purposes of the Actual Deferral Percentage
Test, satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4).
(B) The amount of Non-Elective Contributions, excluding those
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions treated as Elective
Contributions for purposes of the Actual Deferral Percentage
Test and those Qualified Non-Elective Contributions treated
as Matching Contributions under Treasury Regulations Section
1.401(m)-1(b)(5) for purposes of the Average Contribution
Percentage Test, satisfies the requirements of Code Section
401(a)(4).
(C) The Matching Contributions, including those Qualified
Matching Contributions treated as Elective Contributions for
purposes of the Actual Deferral Percentage Test, satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4).
(D) The Matching Contributions, excluding those Qualified
Matching Contributions treated as Elective Contributions for
purposes of the Actual Deferral Percentage Test, satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4).
(E) The Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and Qualified
Matching Contributions satisfy the requirements of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.401(k)-1(b)(4)(i) for the Plan Year as
if the contributions were Elective Contributions.
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(F) The plan that includes the cash or deferred arrangement and
the plan or plans to which the Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions are made
could be aggregated for purposes of Code Section 410(b).
3.9. LIMITATIONS ON EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS AND MATCHING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE TEST. The annual allocation derived
from Employee Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions, and
Qualified Matching Contributions to a Participant's Individual Account
shall satisfy one of the following tests:
(i) The Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who are
Eligible Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not
exceed the Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who
are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year
multiplied by 1.25; or
(ii) The Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who are
Eligible Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not
exceed the Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who
are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year
multiplied by two (2); provided that the Average Contribution
Percentage for Participants who are Eligible Highly Compensated
Employees for the Plan Year does not exceed the Average
Contribution Percentage for Participants who are Eligible
Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year by more than
two (2) percentage points or the amount prescribed in applicable
Treasury regulations to prevent the multiple use of this
alternative limitation for any Highly Compensated Employee.
(b) DEFINITIONS
(i) AGGREGATE LIMIT means the greater of (A) or (B), described as
follows:
(A) The sum of:
(I) 1.25 multiplied by the greater of the Actual Deferral
Percentage or the Average Contribution Percentage for
Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated
Employees, and
(II) Two (2) percentage points plus the lesser of Actual
Deferral Percentage or the Average Contribution
Percentage of Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly
Compensated Employees. (In no event shall this amount
exceed twice the lesser of the Actual Deferral
Percentage or Average Contribution Percentage of
Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated
Employees).
(B) The sum of:
(I) 1.25 multiplied by the lesser of the Actual Deferral
Percentage or the Average Contribution Percentage of
Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated
Employees, and
(II) Two (2) percentage points plus the greater of Actual
Deferral Percentage or the Average Contribution
Percentage of Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly
Compensated Employees. (In no event shall this amount
exceed twice the greater of the Actual Deferral
Percentage or Average Contribution Percentage of
Participants who are Eligible Nonhighly Compensated
Employees).
(ii) AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE means the average, expressed as a
percentage, of the Contribution Percentages of the Eligible
Participants in a group.
(iii) CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE means the ratio, expressed as a
percentage, of the sum of the Employee Contributions and Matching
Contributions under the Plan on behalf of the Eligible
Participant for the Plan Year to the Eligible Participant's
Compensation for the Plan Year.
(iv) CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE AMOUNTS means the sum of the Employee
Contributions, Matching Contributions and Qualified Matching
Contributions, to the extent not taken into account for purposes
of the Actual Deferral Percentage Test, made under the Plan on
behalf of the Participant for the Plan Year. Contribution
Percentage Amounts shall include Forfeitures of Excess Aggregate
Contributions or Matching Contributions allocated to the
Participant's Account which shall be taken into account in the
year in which the Forfeiture is allocated. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Contribution Percentage Amounts shall not include
Matching Contributions that are forfeited either to correct
Excess Aggregate Contributions or because the contributions to
which they relate are Excess Deferrals, Excess Contributions, or
Excess Aggregate Contributions. The Employer may include
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions in the Contribution
Percentage Amounts. The Employer also may elect to
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use Employer Elective Contributions in the Contribution
Percentage Amount if the Actual Deferral Percentage Test is met
before the Employer Elective Contributions are used in the
Average Contribution Percentage Test and continues to be met
following the exclusion of those Employer Elective Contributions
that are used to meet the Average Contribution Percentage Test.
(v) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT means any Employee who is eligible to make
an Employee Contribution, or an Elective Deferral, if the
Employer takes the contributions into account in calculating the
Contribution Percentage, or to receive a Matching Contribution,
including Forfeitures, or a Qualified Matching Contribution. If
an Employee Contribution is required as a condition of
participation in the Plan, any Employee who would be a
Participant in the Plan if the Employee made a required
contribution shall be treated as an Eligible Participant on
behalf of whom no Employee Contributions are made.
(vi) EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION means any contribution made to the Plan by
or on behalf of a Participant that is included in the
Participant's gross income in the year in which made and that is
maintained under a separate account to which earnings and losses
are allocated. Employer Elective Contributions are not Employee
Contributions.
(vii) EMPLOYER MATCHING CONTRIBUTION means an Employer Contribution
made to this or any other defined contribution plan on behalf of
a Participant on account of an Employee Contribution made by the
Participant, or on account of a Participant's election to defer a
portion of his or her Annual Compensation under a plan maintained
by the Employer.
(viii) QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS means Employer
Contributions, other than Employer Elective Contributions and
Employer Matching Contributions, allocated to Participants'
accounts which are 100% Nonforfeitable at all times and which are
subject to the distribution restrictions described in Section
3.7(a). Employer Non-Elective Contributions are not 100%
Nonforfeitable at all times if the Employee has a 100%
Nonforfeitable interest because of Years of Service taken into
account under a vesting schedule. Any Employer Non-Elective
Contributions allocated to a Participant's Salary Deferral
Account under the Plan automatically satisfy the definition of
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions.
(ix) QUALIFIED MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS means Employer Matching
Contributions allocated to Participants' accounts which are 100%
Nonforfeitable at all times and which are subject to the
distribution restrictions described in Section 3.7(a). Employer
Matching Contributions are not 100% Nonforfeitable at all times
if the Employee has a 100% Nonforfeitable interest because of
Years of Service taken into account under a vesting schedule.
Any Employer Matching Contributions allocated to a Participant's
Salary Deferral Account under the Plan automatically satisfy the
definition of Qualified Matching Contributions.
(c) SPECIAL RULES
(i) MULTIPLE USE. If one or more Highly Compensated Employees
participate in both a cash or deferred arrangement subject to
Code Section 401(k) and a plan maintained by the Employer subject
to Code Section 401(m) and the sum of the Actual Deferral
Percentage and Average Contribution Percentage of those Highly
Compensated Employees subject to either or both tests exceeds the
Aggregate Limit, then the Average Contribution Percentage of
those Highly Compensated Employees who also participate in a cash
or deferred arrangement will be reduced, beginning with the
Highly Compensated Employee whose Average Contribution Percentage
is the highest, so that the limit is not exceeded. The amount by
which each Highly Compensated Employee's Contribution Percentage
Amount is reduced shall be treated as an Excess Aggregate
Contribution. The Actual Deferral Percentage and Average
Contribution Percentage of the Highly Compensated Employees are
determined after
(A) use of Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and Qualified
Matching Contributions to meet the Actual Deferral
Percentage Test;
(B) use of Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and Elective
Contributions to meet the Actual Deferral Percentage Test;
(C) any corrective distribution or forfeiture of Excess
Deferrals, Excess Contributions or Excess Aggregate
Contributions; and
(D) after any recharacterization of Excess Contributions
required without regard to multiple use of the alternative
limitation.
Multiple use occurs if the Actual Deferral Percentage and Average
Contribution Percentage of the Highly Compensated Employees
exceeds 1.25 multiplied by the Actual Deferral Percentage and
Average Contribution Percentage of the Nonhighly Compensated
Employees.
(ii) For purposes of this Section, the Contribution Percentage for any
Participant who is an Eligible Highly Compensated Employee for
the Plan Year who is eligible to have Contribution Percentage
Amounts allocated
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under two (2) or more plans described in Code Section 401(a) or
arrangements described in Code Section 401(k) that are maintained
by the Employer or a Related Employer shall be determined as if
the total of the Contribution Percentage Amounts were made under
each plan. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two
(2) or more cash or deferred arrangements that have different
plan years, all cash or deferred arrangements ending with or
within the same calendar year shall be treated as a single
arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain plans shall
be treated as separate if mandatorily disaggregated under
regulations pursuant to Code Section 401(m).
(iii) If this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections 401(m),
401(a)(4) or 410(b) only if aggregated with one (1) or more other
plans, or if one (1) or more other plans satisfy the requirements
of the Code Sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this
Section shall be applied by determining the Contribution
Percentages of Eligible Participants as if all such plans were a
single plan.
(iv) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the Average Contribution Percentage Test.
(v) The determination and treatment of the Contribution Percentage of
any Participant shall satisfy other requirements prescribed by
applicable Treasury regulations.
(vi) Other than an organization that is a Related Employer to the Plan
Sponsor, for purposes of this Section, Participants who are
leased employees of a recipient organization under an employee
leasing agreement with the Plan Sponsor shall be treated as
Participants in a separate plan maintained by the recipient
organization, and all contributions on behalf of such
Participants shall be treated as contributed to such separate
plan for purposes of apply the requirements of this Section.
(d) FAIL SAFE PROVISIONS. If the initial allocations of the Employer
Matching Contributions and Employee Contributions do not satisfy one
of the tests set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section, the
Administrator shall adjust the accounts of the Participants pursuant
to one (1) or more of the following options:
(i) DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTIONS. The
Administrator will determine Excess Aggregate Contributions after
determining Excess Deferrals under Section 3.1(a)(vi) and Excess
Employer Elective Contributions under Section 3.8(d)(i). If the
Administrator determines that the Plan fails to satisfy the
Average Contribution Percentage Test for a Plan Year, it must
distribute the Excess Aggregate Contributions, as adjusted for
allocable income, during the next Plan Year. However, the
Employer will incur an excise tax equal to 10% of the amount of
Excess Aggregate Contributions for a Plan Year not distributed to
the appropriate Highly Compensated Employees during the first
21/2 months of the next Plan Year. The Excess Aggregate
Contributions are the amount of aggregate contributions allocated
on behalf of the Highly Compensated Employees which causes the
Plan to fail to satisfy the Average Contribution Percentage Test.
The Administrator shall make distributions to each Highly
Compensated Employee of his or her respective share of the Excess
Aggregate Contributions in accordance with the following steps:
(A) The Administrator shall calculate total Excess Aggregate
Contributions for the Highly Compensated Employees.
(B) The Administrator shall calculate the total dollar amount by
which the Excess Aggregate Contributions for the Highly
Compensated Employees must be reduced in order to satisfy
the Average Contribution Percentage Test.
(C) The Administrator shall calculate the total dollar amount of
the Excess Aggregate Contributions for each Highly
Compensated Employee.
(D) The Administrator shall reduce the Excess Aggregate
Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employee(s) with the
highest dollar amount of Excess Aggregate Contributions by
refunding such contributions to such Highly Compensated
Employee(s) in the amount required to cause the dollar
amount of such Highly Compensated Employee(s)' Employee
Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions and Qualified
Matching Contributions, on a pro rata basis, to equal the
sum of the Employee Contributions, Employer Matching
Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions of the
Highly Compensated Employee(s) with the next highest dollar
amount of such contributions.
(E) If the total dollar amount distributed pursuant to (D) above
is less than the total dollar amount of Excess Aggregate
Contributions, Step (D) shall be applied to the Highly
Compensated Employee(s) with the next highest dollar amount
of Excess Aggregate Contributions until the total amount of
distributed Excess Aggregate Contributions equals the total
dollar amount calculated in Step (B).
(F) When calculating the amount of a distribution under Step
(D), if a lessor reduction, when added to any amounts
already distributed under this Section, would equal the
total amount of distributions necessary
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to permit the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 3.9(a),
the lesser amount shall be distributed from the Plan.
ALLOCABLE INCOME. To determine the amount of the corrective
distribution required under this Section, the Administrator must
calculate the allocable income for the Plan Year in which the
Excess Contributions arose and for the "gap period" measured from
the beginning of the next Plan Year to the date of the
distribution. The income allocable to Excess Contributions is
equal to the sum of the allocable gain or loss for the Plan Year
and the allocable gain or loss for the gap period.
ALLOCABLE INCOME. To determine the amount of the corrective
distribution required under this Section, the Administrator must
calculate the allocable income for the Plan Year in which the
Excess Aggregate Contributions arose and for the "gap period"
measured from the beginning of the next Plan Year to the date of
the distribution. The income allocable to Excess Aggregate
Contributions is equal to the sum of the allocable gain or loss
for the Plan Year and the allocable gain or loss for the gap
period.
(A) METHOD OF ALLOCATING INCOME. The Administrator may use any
reasonable method for computing the income allocable to
Excess Aggregate Contributions, provided that the method
does not violate Code Section 401(a)(4), is used
consistently for all Participants and for all corrective
distributions under the Plan for the Plan Year, and is used
by the Plan for allocating income to Participants' Accounts.
(B) ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ALLOCATING INCOME. A Plan may
allocate income to Excess Aggregate Contributions by
multiplying the income for the Plan Year and the gap period
allocable to Employee Contributions, Employer Matching
Contributions, and amounts treated as Employer Matching
Contributions by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction
is the Excess Aggregate Contributions for the Employee for
the Plan Year. The denominator of the fraction is equal to
the sum of:
(I) The total account balance of the Employee attributable
to Employee Contributions and Employer Matching
Contributions, and amounts treated as Employer Matching
Contributions as of the beginning of the Plan Year;
plus
(II) The Employee Contributions and Employer Matching
Contributions, and amounts treated as Employer Matching
Contributions for the Plan Year and for the gap period.
(C) SAFE HARBOR METHOD OF ALLOCATING GAP PERIOD INCOME. Under
the safe harbor method, income or Excess Aggregate
Contributions for the gap period will equal ten percent
(10%) of the income allocable to Excess Aggregate
Contributions for the Plan Year (calculated under the method
described in paragraph (B) of this Section), multiplied by
the number of calendar months that have elapsed since the
end of the Plan Year. For purposes of calculating the
number of calendar months that have elapsed under the safe
harbor method, a corrective distribution that is made on or
before the fifteenth day of the month is treated as made on
the last day of the preceding month. A distribution made
after the fifteenth day of the month is treated as made on
the first day of the next month.
(ii) CHARACTERIZATION OF EXCESS AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTIONS. The
Administrator will treat a Highly Compensated Employee's
allocable share of Excess Aggregate Contributions in the
following priority: (A) first as attributable to his or her
Employee Contributions which are voluntary contributions, if any;
(B) then as Employer Matching Contributions allocable with
respect to Excess Contributions determined under the Actual
Deferral Percentage Test described in Section 3.8(a); (C) then on
a pro rata basis to Employer Matching Contributions and to the
Employer Elective Contributions relating to those Employer
Matching Contributions which the Administrator has included in
the Average Contribution Percentage Test; (D) then on a pro rata
basis to Employee Contributions which are mandatory
contributions, if any, and to the Employer Matching Contributions
allocated on the basis of those mandatory contributions; and (E)
last to Qualified Non-Elective Contributions used in the Average
Contribution Percentage Test. To the extent the Highly
Compensated Employee's Excess Aggregate Contributions are
attributable to Employer Matching Contributions, and he or she is
not 100% vested in the Account Balance attributable to Employer
Matching Contributions, the Administrator will distribute only
the vested portion and forfeit the nonvested portion. The vested
portion of the Highly Compensated Employee's Excess Aggregate
Contributions attributable to Employer Matching Contributions is
the total amount of the Excess Aggregate Contributions (as
adjusted for allocable income) multiplied by his or her vested
percentage (determined as of the last day of the Plan Year for
which the Employer made the Employer Matching Contribution).
(iii) QUALIFIED NON-ELECTIVE AND ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS. The Employer
shall make Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or Elective
Contributions that, in combination with Employee Contributions
and Employer Matching Contributions, satisfy one of the tests set
forth in paragraph (a) of this Section, taking into account the
Administrator's action under any option herein. The contribution
shall be treated as an Employer Elective Contribution and shall
be allocated to the Salary Deferral Account of each Participant
who is a Nonhighly Compensated Employee. The Qualified
Non-Elective and Elective Contributions may be treated as
Employer Matching Contributions provided that each of the
following requirements, to the extent applicable, is satisfied:
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(A) The amount of Non-Elective Contributions, including those
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions treated as Employer
Matching Contributions for purposes of the Average
Contribution Percentage Test, satisfies the requirements of
Code Section 401(a)(4).
(B) The amount of Non-Elective Contributions, excluding those
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions treated as Employer
Matching Contributions for purposes of the Average
Contribution Percentage Test and those Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions treated as Elective Contributions
under Treasury Regulations Section 1.401(k)-1(b)(5) for
purposes of the Actual Deferral Percentage Test, satisfies
the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4).
(C) The Elective Contributions, including those treated as
Qualified Matching Contributions for purposes of the Average
Contribution Percentage Test, satisfy the requirements of
Code Section 401(k)(3) for the Plan Year.
(D) The Qualified Non-Elective Contributions are allocated to
the Employee under the Plan as of a date within the Plan
Year, and the Elective Contributions satisfy the
requirements of Treasury Regulations Section
1.401(k)-1(b)(4)(i) for the Plan Year.
(E) The plan that takes Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and
Elective Contributions into account in determining whether
Employee Contributions and Employer Matching Contributions
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 401(m)(2)(A), and
the plans to which the Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
and Elective Contributions are made, are or could be
aggregated for purposes of Code Section 410(b).
(iv) FORFEITURE OF NON-VESTED EMPLOYER MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.
Employer Matching Contributions that are not vested may be
forfeited to correct Excess Aggregate Contributions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Excess Aggregate
Contributions for a Plan Year may not remain unallocated or be
allocated to a suspense account for allocation to one or more
Employees in any future year. Forfeitures of Employer Matching
Contributions to correct Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be:
(A) Applied to reduce Employer Contributions for the Plan Year
in which the excess arose, but allocated according to the
following paragraph (B), to the extent the excess exceeds
Employer Contributions or the Employer has already
contributed for the Plan Year.
(B) Allocated, after all other Forfeitures under the Plan, to
the Employer Matching Contribution Account of each Nonhighly
Compensated Participant who made Elective Deferrals or
Employee Contributions in the ratio which each such
Participant's Compensation for the Plan Year bears to the
total Compensation of all such Participants for the Plan
Year.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE IV
ADJUSTMENT OF INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
4.1. ADJUSTMENT RULES
As of the end of each Accounting Period on the Accounting Date, the Trustee
will determine the fair market value of each Investment Fund being
administered by the Trustee. To determine the gain or loss of the Accounts
in each Investment Fund, the Trustee will first calculate the change in
value of each Investment Fund between the current Accounting Period and the
last preceding Accounting Period. The net gain or loss in each Investment
Fund will be allocated to the accounts of those Participants who are
participating in each Investment Fund on the Accounting Date. The Trustee
will then charge to the prior account balances all previously uncharged
payments or distributions made from the Accounts since the last preceding
Accounting Period. Finally, the Trustee will allocate and credit Employer
Contributions that are to be allocated and credited as of that date in
accordance with Article V.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE V
ALLOCATION OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
5.1. ALLOCATION RULES
As of each Anniversary Date, but after the adjustment of Individual
Accounts as provided in Article IV, the Employer Non-Elective
Contributions, including any Forfeitures allocated as of the Anniversary
Date, for the Plan Year which ends on the Anniversary Date shall be
allocated and credited to the Employer Non-Elective Contribution Account of
each eligible Participant in the Plan on the Anniversary Date. A
Participant who completes one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service and is
employed by the Employer on the Anniversary Date for the Plan Year will be
allocated Employer Non-Elective Contributions and Participant Forfeitures
under the allocation formula of Section 5.2. A Participant who has failed
to aggregate at least one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service during the Plan
Year for which the contribution was made shall not share in an allocation,
unless the failure to aggregate one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service
occurred because of the Participant's death, disability or retirement. No
Participant, other than one who died, became disabled or retired during the
Plan Year, shall be entitled to have any Employer Non-Elective
Contributions allocated to his or her Individual Account, unless the
Participant shall be employed by the Employer on the Anniversary Date for
the Plan Year.
The Committee will suspend the accrual requirements for Includable
Employees who are Participants, beginning first with the Includable
Employee(s) employed with the Employer on the last day of the Plan Year,
then the Includable Employee(s) who have the latest Separation from Service
during the Plan Year, and continuing to suspend in descending order the
accrual requirements for each Includable Employee who incurred an earlier
Separation from Service, from the latest to the earliest Separation from
Service date, until the Plan satisfies both the Code Section 401(a)(26)
Participation Test and the Code Section 410(b) Coverage Test for the Plan
Year. If two or more Includable Employees have a Separation from Service
on the same day, the Committee will suspend the accrual requirements for
all such Includable Employees, irrespective of whether the Plan can satisfy
the Code Section 401(a)(26) Participation Test and the Code Section 410(b)
Coverage Test by accruing benefits for fewer than all such Includable
Employees. If the Plan suspends the accrual requirements for an Includable
Employee, that Employee will share in the allocation of Employer
contributions and Participant forfeitures, if any, without regard to the
number of Hours of Service he has earned for the Plan Year and without
regard to whether he is employed by the Employer on the last day of the
Plan Year. If the Employer's Plan includes Employer matching contributions
subject to Code Section 401(m), this suspension of accrual requirements
applies separately to the Code Section 401(m) portion of the Plan, and the
Committee will treat an Employee as benefiting under that portion of the
Plan if the Employee is an Eligible Employee for purposes of the Code
Section 401(m) nondiscrimination test. "Includable" Employees are all
Employees other than: (a) those Employees excluded from participating in
the Plan for the entire Plan Year by reason of the collective bargaining
unit exclusion or the nonresident alien exclusion or by reason of the
participation requirements of Section 2.1 and (b) any Employee who incurs a
Separation from Service during the Plan Year and fails to complete at least
501 Hours of Service for the Plan Year.
5.2. ALLOCATION FORMULA
Subject to the minimum allocation for Top-Heavy Plans under Section 5.4 and
any restoration allocation required under Section 9.7, the Committee shall
allocate the Employer Non-Elective Contributions and Participant
Forfeitures, if any, to each eligible Participant's Employer Non-Elective
Contribution Account as follows:
(a) The Committee shall make simultaneous allocations of Employer
Non-Elective Contributions and Participant Forfeitures under this
paragraph. The simultaneous allocations must result in an equal
allocation percentage (not exceeding the greater of 5.7% or the
percentage equal to the portion of the rate of tax applicable under
Code Section 3111(a) relating to the Employer's Old Age Insurance Tax,
as defined in Code Section 401(l), in effect at the beginning of the
Plan Year) of each Participant's Annual Compensation and of each
Participant's Excess Compensation. The allocation based on a
Participant's Annual Compensation is in the same ratio that the
Participant's Annual Compensation for the Plan Year bears to the total
Annual Compensation of all Participants for the Plan Year. The
allocation based on a Participant's Excess Compensation is in the same
ratio that the Participant's Excess Compensation for the Plan Year
bears to the total Excess Compensation of all Participants for the
Plan Year.
(b) The Committee shall allocate any remaining portion of the Employer
Non-Elective Contributions and Participant Forfeitures in the same
ratio that each Participant's Annual Compensation for the Plan Year
bears to the total Annual Compensation of all Participants eligible to
share in the allocation for the Plan Year.
(c) The Integration Level shall be the Taxable Wage Base. Excess
Compensation means Annual Compensation in excess of the Taxable Wage
Base. The Taxable Wage Base is the maximum amount of compensation
which may be considered wages for the Plan Year under Code Section
3121(a)(1). For a Participant whose Entry Date is other than the
first day of the Plan Year, the Integration Level of the Participant
for the Plan Year in which the Participant enters the Plan shall be
reduced by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in
the Plan Year remaining on and after the Participant's Entry Date and
the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Plan Year.
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(d) For Section 5.2(a), the applicable percentage that is the maximum
allocation percentage for allocations shall be determined under the
following table:
Integration Level
(As a Percentage of The Taxable Wage Base) Applicable Percentage
100% 5.7%
More than 80%, but less than 100% 5.4%
More than 20%, (but not less than $10,001)
and not more than 80% 4.3%
20% (or $10,000, if greater) or less 5.7%
(e) For purposes of this Section, Annual Compensation shall be determined
in accordance with Section 1.8, as modified by Section 1.8(h).
Subject to the minimum allocation for Top-Heavy Plans under Section 5.4 and
any restoration allocation required under Section 9.7, the Committee will
allocate a Participant Forfeiture from an Employer Non-Elective
Contribution Account under the allocation formula in this Section, to
reduce the Employer Non-Elective Contribution for the Plan Year in which
the Forfeiture occurs. The Committee will continue to hold the
undistributed, nonvested portion of a terminated Participant's Account
Balance in the Individual Account solely for the benefit of the Participant
until a Forfeiture occurs at the time specified in Section 9.4.
5.3. LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS
(a) DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN LIMITS. The amount of Annual Additions
which the Committee may allocate under this Plan on a Participant's
behalf for a Limitation Year may not exceed the Maximum Permissible
Amount. If the amount the Employer otherwise would contribute to the
Participant's Account would cause the Annual Additions for the
Limitation Year to exceed the Maximum Permissible Amount, the Employer
will reduce the amount of its contribution so the Annual Additions for
the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum Permissible Amount. If an
allocation of Employer Contributions pursuant to Section 5.2 would
result in an Excess Amount (other than an Excess Amount resulting from
the circumstances described in Section 5.3(c)) to the Participant's
Account, the Committee will reallocate the Excess Amount to the
remaining Participants who are eligible for an allocation of Employer
Contributions for the Plan Year in which the Limitation Year ends.
The Committee will make this reallocation on the basis of the
allocation method under the Plan as if the Participant whose
Individual Account otherwise would receive the Excess Amount is not
eligible for an allocation of Employer Contributions.
(b) ESTIMATION. Prior to the determination of the Participant's actual
Annual Compensation for a Limitation Year, the Committee may determine
the Maximum Permissible Amount on the basis of the Participant's
estimated Annual Compensation defined in Section 5.3(f) for the
Limitation Year. The Committee must make this determination on a
reasonable and uniform basis for all Participants similarly situated.
The Committee must reduce any Employer Contributions (including any
allocation of Forfeitures) based on estimated Annual Compensation by
any Excess Amounts carried over from prior years. As soon as
administratively feasible after the end of the Limitation Year, the
Committee will determine the Maximum Permissible Amount for the
Limitation Year based on the Participant's actual Annual Compensation
for the Limitation Year.
(c) DISPOSITION OF EXCESS AMOUNT. If, pursuant to Section 5.3(b) or
because of an allocation of Forfeitures, there is an Excess Amount
attributable to a Participant for a Limitation Year, then the
Committee will dispose of the Excess Amount as follows:
(i) The Committee shall return any nondeductible Participant
Voluntary After Tax Contributions to the Participant to the
extent that the return would reduce the Excess Amount.
(ii) If, after the application of clause (i) an Excess Amount still
exists, and the Plan covers the Participant at the end of the
Limitation Year, then the Committee will use the Excess Amounts
to reduce future Employer Contributions (including any allocation
of Forfeitures) under the Plan for the next Limitation Year and
for each succeeding Limitation Year, as is necessary, for the
Participant. The Participant may elect to limit Compensation for
allocation purposes to the extent necessary to reduce the
allocation for the Limitation Year to the Maximum Permissible
Amount and eliminate the Excess Amount.
(iii) If, after the application of clause (i) an Excess Amount still
exits and the Plan does not cover the Participant at the end of
the Limitation Year, then the Committee shall hold the Excess
Amount in a suspense account and use the Excess Amount to reduce
Employer Contributions on behalf of remaining Participants and
shall allocate and reallocate to the Individual Accounts of
remaining Participants in succeeding Limitation Years to the
extent permissible under the foregoing limitations, prior to any
further Annual Additions to the Plan. If the Plan should be
terminated or contributions should be completely discontinued,
the funds in the suspense account will be allocated to the extent
not prohibited by Code Section 415. Any suspense account shall
not be adjusted for investment gains or losses of the Trust Fund.
(iv) The Committee will not distribute any Excess Amount(s) to
Participants or to Former Participants.
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(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and the foregoing
paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), the Committee may
distribute Elective Deferrals (within the meaning of Code Section
402(g)(3)) or return voluntary or mandatory Employee
Contributions, to the extent the distribution or return would
reduce the excess amounts in the Participant's account.
(d) MULTIPLE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN LIMITS. If the Employer maintains
any other qualified defined contribution plan, the amount of the
Annual Addition which may be allocated to a Participant's Individual
Account in this Plan shall not exceed the Maximum Permissible Amount,
reduced by the amount of Annual Additions to such Participant's
accounts for the same Limitation Year in the other plan(s). The
Excess Amount attributed to this Plan equals the product of:
(i) the total Excess Amount allocated as of such date (including any
amount the Committee would have allocated but for the limitations
of Code Section 415), multiplied by
(ii) the ratio of
(A) the amount allocated to the Participant as of such date
under this Plan, divided by
(B) the total amount allocated as of such date under all
qualified defined contribution plans (determined without
regard to the limitations of Code Section 415).
(e) DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN LIMITS. The Employer does not maintain and never
has maintained a defined benefit plan covering any Participant in this
Plan. Accordingly, no special defined benefit plan limitation applies
under this Plan.
(f) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the limitations of Code Section 415 set
forth in this Section, the following definitions shall apply:
(i) ANNUAL ADDITIONS means the sum of the following amounts allocated
on behalf of a Participant for a Limitation Year:
(A) all Employer Contributions;
(B) all Forfeitures;
(C) all Employee Contributions;
(D) excess contributions described in Code Section 401(k) and
excess aggregate contributions described in Code Section
401(m), irrespective of whether the Plan distributes or
forfeits such Excess Amounts, and excess deferrals described
in Code Section 402(g), unless the excess deferrals are
distributed no later than the first April 15 following the
close of the Participant's taxable year;
(E) Excess Amounts reapplied to reduce Employer Contributions
under this Section 5.3;
(F) amounts allocated after March 31, 1984 to an individual
medical account, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2),
included as part of a pension or annuity plan maintained by
the Employer;
(G) contributions paid or accrued after December 31, 1985, in
taxable years ending after that date, which are attributable
to post-retirement medical benefits allocated to the
separate account of a Key Employee as defined in Code
Section 419A(d)(3), under a welfare benefit fund, as
described in Code Section 419(e), maintained by the
Employer; and
(H) allocations under a simplified employee pension plan.
(ii) ANNUAL COMPENSATION means the total amount of salary, wages,
commissions, bonuses and overtime, paid or otherwise includable
in the gross income of a Participant during the Limitation Year,
but excluding:
(A) Employer contributions to any deferred compensation plan (to
the extent the contributions are not included in the
Participant's gross income for the taxable year in which
contributed) or simplified employee pension under Code
Section 408(k) (to the extent the contributions are
excludable from the Participant's gross income) except that
for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1997, Elective
Contributions under Code Section 402(a)(8) relating to a
401(k) arrangement shall not be excluded from the definition
of Annual Compensation.
(B) distributions from any plan of deferred compensation,
regardless of whether such amounts are includable in the
gross income of the Employees when distributed;
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(C) amounts realized from the exercise of any nonqualified stock
option, or when restricted stock becomes freely
transferrable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk
of forfeiture;
(D) amounts realized from the sale, exchange, or other
disposition of stock acquired under a qualified stock option
described in Part II, Subchapter D, Chapter 1 of the Code;
(E) premiums paid by the Employer for group term life insurance
(to the extent the premiums are not includable in the
Participant's gross income); contributions by the Employer
to an annuity under Code Section 403(b) (to the extent not
includable in the Participant's gross income); and any other
amounts received under any Employer sponsored fringe benefit
plan (to the extent not includable in the Participant's
gross income);
(F) any contribution for medical benefits, within the meaning of
Code Section 419A(f)(2), after separation from Service which
is otherwise treated as an Annual Addition; and
(G) any amount otherwise treated as an Annual Addition under
Code Section 415(l)(1).
(iii) AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION means the average compensation during
a Participant's highest three (3) consecutive Years of Service,
which period is the three (3) consecutive calendar years (or the
actual number of consecutive years of employment for those
Employees who are employed for less than three (3) consecutive
years with the Employer) during which the Participant had the
greatest aggregate compensation from the Employer.
(iv) EMPLOYER means the Employer that adopts this Plan. All Related
Employers shall be considered a single Employer for purposes of
applying the limitations of this Section.
(v) EXCESS AMOUNT means the excess of the Participant's Annual
Additions for the Limitation Year over the Maximum Permissible
Amount, less administrative charges allocable to such Excess
Amount.
(vi) LIMITATION YEAR means the Limitation Year specified in the Plan
or, if none is specified, the calendar year.
(vii) MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT means the lesser of:
(A) the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation, or
(B) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Participant's Compensation,
within the meaning of Code Section 415(c)(3)
for a Limitation Year with respect to any Participant.
Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation means $30,000 or, if
greater, twenty-five percent (25%) of the Defined Benefit Dollar
Limitation set forth in Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) as in effect
for the Limitation Year.
(viii) PROJECTED ANNUAL BENEFIT means the benefit of the Participant
payable annually in the form of a straight life annuity (with no
ancillary benefits) under the terms of a defined benefit plan to
which employees do not contribute and under which no rollover
contributions are made, assuming that the Participant continues
employment until Normal Retirement Age (or current age, if
later), compensation continues at the same rate as in effect in
the Limitation Year under consideration until the date of Normal
Retirement Age, and all other relevant factors used to determine
benefits under the defined benefit plan remain constant as of the
current Limitation Year for all future Limitation Years.
5.4. TOP-HEAVY MINIMUM ALLOCATION
(a) MINIMUM ALLOCATION. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Plan Year
in which the Plan is determined to be Top-Heavy, the amount of
Employer Non-Elective Contributions and Forfeitures allocated to the
Individual Account of each Non-Key Employee shall be equal to the
lesser of three percent (3%) of each Non-Key Employee's Compensation
or the highest contribution rate for the Plan Year made on behalf of
any Key Employee. However, if a defined benefit plan maintained by
the Employer which benefits a Key Employee depends on this Plan to
satisfy the nondiscrimination rules of Code Section 401(a)(4) or the
coverage rules of Code Section 410 (or another plan benefitting the
Key Employee so depends on the defined benefit plan), the top heavy
minimum allocation is three percent (3%) of the Non-Key Employee's
Compensation regardless of the contribution rate for the Key Employee.
(b) COMPENSATION. For purposes of this Section, Compensation means Annual
Compensation defined in Section 1.8 except (i) Compensation does not
include Elective Contributions, and (ii) any exclusions from Annual
Compensation (other than the exclusion of Elective Contributions and
the exclusions described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 1.8, if
applicable) do not apply. Notwithstanding the definition of Annual
Compensation in Section 1.8, the period preceding a Participant's
Entry Date shall be included in determining the minimum top-heavy
allocation provided by this Section.
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(c) CONTRIBUTION RATE. For purposes of this Section, a Participant's
contribution rate is the sum of Employer Contributions (not including
Employer Contributions to Social Security) and Forfeitures allocated
to the Participant's Account for the Plan Year divided by his or her
Compensation for the entire Plan Year. To determine a Participant's
contribution rate, the Committee must treat all qualified top-heavy
defined contribution plans maintained by the Employer (or by any
related Employers described in Section 1.43) as a single plan. For
purposes of this Section, for Plan Years beginning after 1988, the
following rules apply:
(i) Employer Elective Contributions on behalf of Key Employees are
taken into account in determining the minimum required
contribution under Code Section 416(c)(2). However, Employer
Elective Contributions on behalf of Employees other than Key
Employees may not be treated as Employer Contributions for the
minimum contribution or benefit requirement of Code Section 416.
(ii) Employer Matching Contributions allocated to Key Employees are
treated as Employer Contributions for determining the minimum
contribution or benefit under Code Section 416. However, if a
plan utilizes Matching Contributions allocated to Employees other
than Key Employees as Employee Contributions or Elective
Contributions to satisfy the minimum contribution requirement,
the Matching Contributions are not treated as Matching
Contributions for applying the requirements of Code Section
401(k) and 401(m).
(iii) Qualified Non-Elective Contributions described in Code Section
401(m)(4)(C) may be treated as Employer Contributions for the
minimum contribution or benefit requirement of Code Section 416.
(d) PARTICIPANT ENTITLED TO TOP-HEAVY MINIMUM ALLOCATION. The minimum
allocation under this Section shall be provided to each Non-Key
Employee who is a Participant and is employed by the Employer on the
last day of the Plan Year, whether or not the Participant has been
credited with one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service for the Plan Year.
The minimum allocation under this Section shall not be provided to any
Participant who was not employed by the Employer on the last day of
the Plan Year. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any
Participant to the extent the Participant is covered under any other
plan or plans of the Employer under which the minimum allocation or
benefit requirements under Code Section 416(c)(1) or (c)(2) are met
for the Participant.
(e) COMPLIANCE. The Plan will satisfy the top-heavy minimum allocation
under this Section. The Committee first will allocate the Employer
Contributions (and Participant Forfeitures, if any) for the Plan Year
pursuant to the allocation formula under Section 5.2. The Employer
then will contribute an additional amount for the Individual Account
of any Participant entitled under this Section to a top-heavy minimum
allocation and whose contribution rate for the Plan Year, under this
Plan and any other plan aggregated under this Section, is less than
the top-heavy minimum allocation. The additional amount is the amount
necessary to increase the Participant's contribution rate to the
top-heavy minimum allocation. The Committee will allocate the
additional contribution to the Account of the Participant on whose
behalf the Employer makes the contribution.
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5.5. POST-ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENTS TO ACCOUNTS
After the amount or amounts have been allocated and credited to each
Participant's Employer Non-Elective Contribution Account, as provided in
this Article, the then value of each Employer Non-Elective Contribution
Account shall remain unchanged until the next Anniversary Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant's Employer Contribution
Accounts may be adjusted prior to the next Anniversary Date under:
(a) other provisions in this Agreement authorizing the Committee to reduce
the Participant's Employer Contribution Accounts by disbursements
properly chargeable to them or increased by funds received and
credited to them; or
(b) a special valuation of the Participant's Employer Contribution Account
required under Articles VII, VIII, and IX.
5.6. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS DEFINED
For purposes of this Article, reference to the Employer Contribution
Accounts of Participants shall include the Employer Contribution Accounts
of those Participants who die, become disabled or retire during the Plan
Year considered.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE VI
RETIREMENT
6.1. CREDITING, ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS UPON RETIREMENT
At Normal Retirement Age, a Participant shall be fully vested in the
Participant's Individual Accounts and the Trustee shall hold the Individual
Accounts for the Participant's benefit. A Participant has an ongoing
election to receive distribution of normal retirement benefits as stated
hereunder. Upon a Participant's request for distribution after attainment
of Normal Retirement Age, the Committee shall credit and adjust the
Individual Accounts of the Participant, as provided in Articles IV and V,
as of the Valuation Date immediately preceding the date of distribution of
the Participant's vested benefits. A Participant shall be entitled to
benefits under Section 6.3 after attaining Normal Retirement Age or upon
retiring after attaining Normal Retirement Age.
6.2. EARLY RETIREMENT
This Plan does not provide for retirement by a Participant prior to the
Normal Retirement Date.
6.3. PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS
As soon as administratively feasible after the Committee has credited and
adjusted a Participant's Individual Accounts as provided in Section 6.1,
the Trustee shall make payments to the Participant pursuant to Article X.
Subject to the mandatory distribution requirements of Section 6.4, the
survivor annuity requirements of Section 6.5, if applicable, and the
immediate cashout provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c), payments shall
begin as soon as administratively feasible after the Participant attains
Normal Retirement Age, whether or not the Participant actually retires or
elects to receive retirement benefit distributions after attaining Normal
Retirement Age. The Committee shall charge each payment to the
Participant's Individual Account and payment shall continue until death
(when Article VII shall control the disposition of the deceased
Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance) or until the Nonforfeitable
Account Balance is paid to the Participant in full, whichever event shall
occur first. Unless a Participant elects otherwise, payment of benefits
shall commence as soon as administratively feasible after the end of the
Plan Year in which the latest of the follow events occur: (a) the date on
which the Participant attains the earlier of age sixty-five (65) or Normal
Retirement Age under the Plan; (b) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the year
in which the Participant commenced participation in the Plan; or (c) the
date on which the Participant terminates service with the Employer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may not defer commencement of
benefits or elect a form of installment payment which would result in the
Participant receiving less than fifty-one percent (51%) of the total
benefits to be paid during the Participant's life expectancy.
6.4. MANDATORY DISTRIBUTION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Committee may not direct the Trustee to distribute the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance, nor may the Participant elect to make the
Trustee distribute the Nonforfeitable Account Balance under a method of
payment which, as of the Required Beginning Date, does not satisfy the
minimum distribution requirements under Code Section 401(a)(9) and the
applicable Treasury regulations.
(a) LIMITS ON DISTRIBUTION PERIODS. As of the first Distribution Calendar
Year, distributions, if not made in a lump sum, may only be made over
one of the following periods or a combination of such periods:
(i) the life of the Participant;
(ii) the life of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary, subject
to the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the applicable
Treasury regulations;
(iii) a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of the
Participant; or
(iv) a period certain not extending beyond the joint and last survivor
expectancy of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary.
Under no circumstances may a Participant elect payment of benefits in
the form of an annuity. All distributions required under this Article
shall be determined and made under Code Section 401(a)(9) and
applicable Treasury regulations, including the minimum distribution
incidental benefit requirements of Treasury Regulations Section
1.401(a)(9)-2. A mandatory distribution at the Participant's Required
Beginning Date will be in lump sum unless the Participant, pursuant to
this Article, makes a valid election to receive an alternative form of
payment.
(b) MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION AMOUNTS
(i) NON-LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTION. If the Participant's entire interest
will be distributed in other than a lump sum, then the minimum
distribution for a calendar year equals the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance as of the
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last Valuation Date preceding the beginning of the calendar year
divided by the Participant's life expectancy or, if applicable,
the joint and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and his
or her Designated Beneficiary, subject to the requirements of
Code Section 401(a)(9) and the applicable Treasury regulations.
The Committee will increase the Participant's Nonforfeitable
Account Balance, as determined on the relevant Valuation Date,
for Contributions or Forfeitures allocated after the Valuation
Date and by December 31 of the Valuation Calendar Year, and will
decrease the valuation by distributions made after the Valuation
Date and by December 31 of the Valuation Calendar Year. For
purposes of this valuation, the Committee will treat any portion
of the minimum distribution for the first Distribution Calendar
Year made after the close of that year as a distribution
occurring in the first Distribution Calendar Year. Life
expectancy and joint and last survivor expectancy must be
computed by the use of the expected return multiples contained in
Section 1.72-9 of the Income Tax Regulations. Unless otherwise
elected by the Participant, or Spouse in the case of
distributions described in this Section 6.4(b), by the time
distributions are required to begin, life expectancies shall be
recalculated annually. The election shall be irrevocable for the
Participant, or spouse, and shall apply to all subsequent years.
The life expectancy of a non-spouse Beneficiary may not be
recalculated.
(ii) NON-SPOUSE BENEFICIARY. If the Participant's spouse is not the
Designated Beneficiary, a method of payment to the Participant
may not provide more than incidental benefits to the Beneficiary.
The Plan must satisfy the minimum distribution incidental benefit
("MDIB") requirements in the applicable Treasury regulations
under Code Section 401(a)(9) for distributions made on or after
the Participant's Required Beginning Date and before the
Participant's death. To satisfy the MDIB requirement, the
Committee will compute the minimum distribution required by this
Section 6.4(b) by substituting the applicable MDIB divisor for
the applicable life expectancy factor, if the MDIB divisor is a
lesser number. Following the Participant's death, the Committee
will compute the minimum distribution required by this Section
6.4(b) solely on the basis of the applicable life expectancy
factor and will disregard the MDIB factor. For Plan Years
beginning prior to January 1, 1989, the Plan satisfies the
incidental benefits requirement if the distributions to the
Participant satisfied the MDIB requirement or if the present
value of the retirement benefits payable solely to the
Participant is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the present
value of the total benefits payable to the Participant and
Beneficiaries. The Committee must determine whether benefits to
the Beneficiary are incidental on the date the Trustee is to
commence payment of the retirement benefits to the Participant,
or on the date the Trustee redetermines the payment period to the
Participant.
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS. The Trustee must distribute or begin to
distribute the entire interest of a Participant no later than the
Participant's Required Beginning Date. The minimum distribution for
the first Distribution Calendar Year is due by the Participant's
Required Beginning Date. The minimum distribution for each subsequent
Distribution Calendar Year, including the calendar year of the
Participant's Required Beginning Date, is due by December 31 of that
year. A Participant's "Required Beginning Date" shall be as follows:
(i) For a Participant who is a Five Percent Owner, the Required
Beginning Date shall commence on the first day of April following
the later of:
(a) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age
seventy and one-half (701/2) years; or
(b) the earlier of the calendar year with or within which ends
the Plan Year in which the Participant becomes a Five
Percent Owner, or the calendar year in which the Participant
retires.
(ii) For a Participant who is not a Five Percent Owner, the Required
Beginning Date is the first day of April of the calendar year
immediately following the later of:
(a) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age
seventy and one-half (701/2); or
(b) the calendar year in which the Participant terminates
employment with the Employer.
A Participant is treated as a "Five Percent Owner" for purposes of
this Section if the Participant is a Five Percent Owner as defined in
Section 1.47(g)(iii) and Code Section 416(i) (determined under Code
Section 416 but without regard to whether the Plan is Top-Heavy) at
any time during the Plan Year ending with or within the calendar year
in which the owner attains age sixty-six and one-half (661/2) years or
any subsequent Plan Year. Once distributions have begun to a Five
Percent Owner under this Section, they must continue to be
distributed, even if the Participant ceases to be a Five Percent Owner
in a subsequent year.
(d) DEFINITIONS
(i) APPLICABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY means the life expectancy (or joint
and last survivor expectancy) calculated using the attained age
of the Participant (or Designated Beneficiary) as of the
Participant's (or Designated Beneficiary's) birthday in the
applicable calendar year reduced by one for each calendar year
which has elapsed since the date life expectancy was calculated
first. If life expectancy is being recalculated, the applicable
life expectancy shall
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be the life expectancy as so recalculated. The applicable
calendar year shall be the first Distribution Calendar Year and,
if life expectancy is being recalculated, the succeeding calendar
year.
(ii) DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY means the individual who is designated as
the Beneficiary under the Plan in accordance with Code Section
401(a)(9) and the applicable Treasury regulations.
(iii) DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR YEAR means a calendar year for which a
minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning
before the Participant's death, the first Distribution Calendar
Year is the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year
which contains the Participant's Required Beginning Date.
(iv) PARTICIPANT'S NONFORFEITABLE ACCOUNT BALANCE means the account
balance as of the last Valuation Date in the calendar year
immediately preceding the Distribution Calendar Year (Valuation
Calendar Year), increased by the amount of any Contributions or
Forfeitures allocated to the account balance as of the dates in
the Valuation Calendar Year after the Valuation Date and
decreased by distributions made in the Valuation Calendar Year
after the Valuation Date. If any portion of the minimum
distribution for the first Distribution Calendar Year is made in
the second Distribution Calendar Year on or before the Required
Beginning Date, the amount of the minimum distribution made in
the second Distribution Calendar Year shall be treated as if it
had been made in the immediately preceding Distribution Calendar
Year.
6.5. JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
The joint and survivor annuity requirements do not apply to this Plan. The
Plan does not provide any annuity distributions to Participants nor to
surviving spouses. A transfer agreement described in Section 17.2 may not
permit a plan which is subject to Code Section 417 to transfer assets to
this Plan, unless the transfer is an elective transfer as described in
Section 17.3.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE VII
DEATH
7.1. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
(a) Each Participant and Former Participant may from time to time select
one or more Beneficiaries to receive benefits under this Article on
the death of the Participant or Former Participant. The selection
shall be made in writing on a form provided by the Committee and shall
be filed with the Committee. Subject to Section 7.1(b), the last
selection filed with the Committee shall control.
A married Participant's Beneficiary designation is not valid unless
the Participant's spouse consents, in writing, to the Beneficiary
designation. The spouse's consent must acknowledge the effect of that
consent and a notary public or the Administrator (or Plan
representative) must witness that consent. The spousal consent
requirements of this paragraph do not apply if:
(i) the Participant and spouse are not married throughout the one
year period ending on the date of the Participant's death;
(ii) the Participant's spouse is the Participant's sole primary
beneficiary;
(iii) the Administrator is not able to locate the Participants' spouse;
(iv) the Participant is legally separated or has been abandoned
(within the meaning of State law) and the Participant has a court
order to that effect; or
(v) other circumstances exist under which the Secretary of the
Treasury will excuse the consent requirement.
If the Participant's spouse is legally incompetent to give consent,
the spouse's legal guardian (even if the guardian is the Participant)
may give consent. If a Participant fails to name a Beneficiary under
this Section, Section 7.1(b) shall control.
(b) Unless elected in accordance with Section 7.1(c), the Beneficiary of
the death benefit shall be the Participant's spouse, who shall receive
the benefit in the manner prescribed in this Article. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, the Participant may designate a Beneficiary
other than the spouse if:
(i) the Participant has no spouse; or
(ii) the spouse cannot be located.
(c) In the case of a married Participant or Former Participant, the
designation of a non-spouse as Beneficiary shall be valid only if:
(i) the spouse consents in writing to the designation;
(ii) the designation specifies the beneficiary and the method of
payment of benefits and may not be changed without spousal
consent (or the spouse's consent expressly permits designations
by the Participant without any requirement of further spousal
consent); and
(iii) the spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of the election and
the written consent is witnessed by a Plan representative or by a
Notary Public.
(d) If a Participant dies without a spouse or alternative Beneficiary
surviving; if the alternative Beneficiary (other than the spouse) does
not survive until final distribution of the Participant's balance; if
a Participant who is not married dies without having designated a
Beneficiary and/or alternative Beneficiary; or if a Participant who is
not married dies after having made and revoked a designation but prior
to having made a subsequent designation, then the amount remaining in
the deceased Participant's Individual Account shall be payable in the
following descending order to:
(i) the Participant's surviving children, including adopted persons
and their descendants;
(ii) the Participant's other living heirs-at-law determined under the
Texas laws concerning intestate succession;
(iii) the Participant's estate, personal representatives, heirs or
devisees; and
(iv) the estate, personal representatives, heirs or devisees of the
deceased Participant's prior Beneficiary.
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The Committee shall determine the applicable person, class of persons,
or legal entity to whom the benefit shall be paid beginning with (i),
in the descending order of (i) to (iv). Each class shall be
determined to be not in existence and, therefore, inapplicable by the
Committee before proceeding to the next class. In determining if a
classification is inapplicable, the Committee shall be required only
to make reasonable inquiry into the existence of the person or
persons.
Remaining death benefits shall be payable under Section 7.4 regarding
mandatory distributions. Payment made pursuant to the power conferred
on the Committee in this Section shall operate as a complete discharge
of all obligations under the Plan concerning the share of a deceased
Participant and shall not be subject to review by anyone but shall be
final, binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes.
7.2. CREDITING, ADJUSTING OF ACCOUNTS UPON DEATH
Upon death, a Participant or Former Participant shall be fully vested in
his or her Individual Accounts and the Trustee shall hold the Individual
Accounts for the benefit of the Designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries.
The Committee shall credit and adjust the Individual Accounts of a deceased
Participant or Former Participant, as provided in Articles IV and V, as of
the Valuation Date immediately preceding the date of distribution of the
Participant's vested benefits. The Designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries
shall be entitled to benefits under Section 7.3 after the death of the
Participant or Former Participant. At its discretion, the Committee may
conduct a special valuation to establish the value of a deceased
Participant's Individual Accounts as of death, or any other date that is
administratively feasible, in which case payment of death benefits can
commence immediately thereafter.
7.3. PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFITS
As soon as administratively feasible after the Committee has credited and
adjusted the Individual Accounts of the deceased Participant or Former
Participant as provided in Section 7.2, the Trustee shall make payments to
the Designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries pursuant to Article X. Subject
to the survivor annuity requirements of Section 6.5, if applicable, the
mandatory distribution requirements of Section 7.4, and the immediate
cashout provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c), the payments shall begin
as soon as administratively feasible after the Participant dies. The
Committee shall charge each payment to the Participant's or Former
Participant's Individual Account. Payments shall continue until the death
of the last survivor of the Beneficiaries or until the Individual Account
is paid in full, whichever event shall occur first.
7.4. MANDATORY DISTRIBUTION OF DEATH BENEFITS
The Committee may not direct the Trustee to distribute the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance, to the Beneficiary or Designated
Beneficiary, under a method of payment which, as of the Required Beginning
Date, does not satisfy the minimum distribution requirements under Code
Section 401(a)(9) and the applicable Treasury regulations.
(a) LIMITS ON DISTRIBUTION PERIODS
(i) If the Participant or Former Participant dies after distribution
has commenced, the Trustee shall continue to distribute the
remaining portion of the Participant's or Former Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance at least as rapidly as under the
method of distribution used prior to the Participant's death.
(ii) If the Participant or Former Participant dies before distribution
commences, the Trustee shall complete distribution of the
Participant's or Former Participant's Nonforfeitable Account
Balance by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth
(5th) anniversary of the Participant's or Former Participant's
death, except to the extent that the Designated Beneficiary
elects to receive distributions under paragraphs (A) or (B)
below:
(A) If any portion of the Participant's or Former Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance is payable to a Designated
Beneficiary, the Designated Beneficiary may elect
distributions over the life or over a period certain not
greater than the life expectancy of the Designated
Beneficiary commencing on or before December 31 of the
calendar year immediately following the calendar year in
which the Participant or Former Participant died;
(B) If the Designated Beneficiary is the Participant's Surviving
Spouse, the date distributions must begin under paragraph
(A) above shall not be earlier than the later of: (1)
December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the
calendar year in which the Participant or Former Participant
died; and (2) December 31 of the calendar year in which the
Participant or Former Participant would have attained age
seventy and one-half (70 1/2) years. If the Participant has
not made an election pursuant to this Section by the time of
death, the Designated Beneficiary must elect the method of
distribution no later than the earlier of: (1) December 31
of the calendar year in which distributions must begin under
this Section; or (2) December 31 of the calendar year which
contains the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date of death of
the Participant or Former Participant. If the Participant
has no Designated Beneficiary, or if the Designated
Beneficiary does not elect a method of distribution,
distribution of the Nonforfeitable Account Balance of the
Participant or Former Participant must be completed by
December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth (5th)
anniversary of death.
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(C) If the Surviving Spouse is the Beneficiary of any portion of
a deceased Participant's or Former Participant's benefits
under the Plan, the Surviving Spouse shall be permitted to
direct that this distribution of benefits commence at a
reasonable time following the death of the Participant or
Former Participant under applicable Treasury regulations.
(D) If the Surviving Spouse dies after the Participant or Former
Participant, but before payments to the Spouse begin, the
preceding provisions of this Section, with the exception of
paragraph (B), shall be applied as if the Surviving Spouse
had been the Participant.
(b) MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION AMOUNTS. If the Trustee will distribute a
Participant's or Former Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance
in accordance with the Designated Beneficiary's life expectancy, the
minimum distribution for a calendar year equals the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance as of the latest Valuation Date
preceding the beginning of the calendar year divided by the Designated
Beneficiary's life expectancy.
For purposes of this Section, payments will be calculated by using the
expected return multiples specified in Tables V and VI of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.72-9. Life expectancy of a Surviving Spouse
shall be recalculated annually; however, in the case of any other
Designated Beneficiary, life expectancy will be calculated when the
first payment commences without further recalculation. For purposes
of this Section, any amount paid to a child of the Participant or
Former Participant will be treated as if it had been paid to the
Surviving Spouse, if the amount becomes payable to the Surviving
Spouse when the child reaches the age of majority.
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS
(i) GENERAL RULE. For the purposes of this Section, distribution of
a Participant's or Former Participant's Nonforfeitable Account
Balance is considered to begin on the Participant's or Former
Participant's Required Beginning Date or, if Section
7.4(a)(ii)(D) applies, the date distribution is required to begin
to the Surviving Spouse pursuant to Section 7.4(a)(ii)(A). If
distribution in the form of an annuity irrevocably commences
before the Required Beginning Date, the date distribution is
considered to begin is the date distribution actually commences.
Except as otherwise provided, the Required Beginning Date of a
Participant or Former Participant is the first day of April of
the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Participant attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) years.
(ii) TRANSITIONAL RULES. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant
or Former Participant who attains age seventy and one-half
(70 1/2) years before January 1, 1988, shall be determined under
paragraphs (A) or (B) below:
(A) OTHER THAN FIVE PERCENT OWNERS. The Required Beginning Date
of a Participant or Former Participant who is not a Five
Percent Owner is the first day of April of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the later of retirement
or the attainment of age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) years
occurs. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant who is
not a Five Percent Owner who attains age seventy and
one-half (70 1/2) years during 1988 and who has not retired
as of January 1, 1989, is April 1, 1990.
(B) FIVE PERCENT OWNERS. The Required Beginning Date of a
Participant or Former Participant who is a Five Percent
Owner during any year beginning after December 31, 1979, is
the first day of April following the later of:
(1) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age
seventy and one-half (70 1/2) years, or
(2) the earlier of the calendar year with or within which
ends the Plan Year in which the Participant becomes a
Five Percent Owner, or the calendar year in which the
Participant retires.
(iii) FIVE PERCENT OWNER. A Participant is treated as a Five Percent
Owner for purposes of this Section 7.4 if the Participant is a
Five Percent Owner as defined in Section 1.47(g)(iii) and Code
Section 416(i) (determined under Code Section 416 but without
regard to whether the Plan is Top-Heavy) at any time during the
Plan Year ending with or within the calendar year in which the
owner attains age sixty-six and one-half (66 1/2) years or any
subsequent Plan Year. If distributions have begun to a Five
Percent Owner under this Section, they must continue to be
distributed, even if the Participant ceases to be a Five Percent
Owner in a subsequent year.
(d) DEFINITIONS
(i) APPLICABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY means the life expectancy calculated
using the attained age of the Designated Beneficiary as of the
Designated Beneficiary's birthday in the applicable calendar year
reduced by one for each calendar year which has elapsed since the
date life expectancy was calculated first. If life expectancy is
being recalculated, the Applicable Life Expectancy shall be the
life expectancy as recalculated. The applicable calendar year
shall be the first Distribution Calendar Year and, if life
expectancy is being recalculated, the succeeding calendar year.
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(ii) DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY means the individual who is designated as
the Beneficiary under the Plan under Code Section 401(a)(9) and
the applicable Treasury regulations.
(iii) DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR YEAR means a calendar year for which a
minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning
after the Participant's death, the first Distribution Calendar
Year is the calendar year in which distributions are required to
begin pursuant to this Section.
(iv) PARTICIPANT'S NONFORFEITABLE ACCOUNT BALANCE means the Account
Balance as of the last Valuation Date in the calendar year
immediately preceding the Distribution Calendar Year (Valuation
Calendar Year), increased by the amount of any Contributions or
Forfeitures allocated to the Account Balance as of the dates in
the Valuation Calendar Year after the Valuation Date and
decreased by distributions made in the Valuation Calendar Year
after the Valuation Date. If any portion of the minimum
distribution for the first Distribution Calendar Year is made in
the second Distribution Calendar Year on or before the Required
Beginning Date, the amount of the minimum distribution made in
the second Distribution Calendar Year shall be treated as if it
had been made in the immediately preceding Distribution Calendar
Year.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE VIII
DISABILITY
8.1. CREDITING, ADJUSTING OF ACCOUNTS UPON DISABILITY
Upon termination of employment due to disability, a Participant shall be
fully vested in his or her Individual Accounts and the Trustee shall hold
the Individual Accounts for the Participant's benefit. The Committee shall
credit and adjust the Individual Accounts of a disabled Participant, as
provided in Articles IV and V, as of the Valuation Date immediately
preceding the date of distribution of the Participant's vested benefits.
The disabled Participant shall be entitled to benefits under Section 8.2
after the date of disability. At its discretion, the Committee may conduct
a special valuation to establish the value of a disabled Participant's
Individual Accounts as of the date of disability, or any other date that is
administratively feasible, in which case payment of disability benefits can
commence immediately thereafter.
8.2. PAYMENT OF DISABILITY BENEFITS
As soon as administratively feasible after the Committee has credited and
adjusted the Individual Accounts of the disabled Participant as provided in
Section 8.1, the Trustee shall make payments to the disabled Participant
pursuant to Article X. Subject to the mandatory distribution requirements
of Section 6.4, the survivor annuity requirements of Section 6.5, if
applicable, and the immediate cashout provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and
9.3(c), payments shall begin as soon as administratively feasible after the
Participant terminates Service with the Employer. The Committee shall
charge each payment to the disabled Participant's Individual Account, and
payments shall continue until death (when Article VII shall control the
disposition of the deceased Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance)
or until the Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance is paid to the
disabled Participant in full, whichever event shall occur first.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND FORFEITURE
9.1. CREDITING AND ADJUSTING OF ACCOUNTS UPON TERMINATION
If a Participant's employment by the Employer shall terminate for any
reason other than retirement, death or disability, the Participant shall
become vested in his or her Individual Accounts as provided in Section 9.2
and the Trustee shall hold the Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance
in the Individual Accounts for the Participant's benefit. The Committee
shall credit and adjust the Individual Accounts of the terminated
Participant, as provided in Articles IV and V, as of the Valuation Date
immediately preceding the date of distribution of the Participant's vested
benefits. The terminated Participant shall be entitled to benefits under
Sections 9.2 and 9.3 after the date of termination. At its discretion, the
Committee may conduct a special valuation to establish the value of the
terminated Participant's Individual Accounts as of the date of termination,
or any other date that is administratively feasible.
9.2. VESTING
(a) A Participant to whom Section 9.1 applies shall be fully vested at all
times in amounts credited to the Participant's After-Tax Contribution
Account, Salary Deferral Account, Rollover Account and Prior Match
Account. In addition, the Participant also shall be entitled to
receive a Nonforfeitable percentage of the balance credited to the
Employer Non-Elective Account, determined under the following vesting
schedule:
Nonforfeitable
Years Of Service Percentage
---------------- --------------
Less than 1 year 0%
At least 1 but less than 2 years 0%
At least 2 but less than 3 years 40%
At least 3 but less than 4 years 80%
At least 4 years 100%
9.3. PAYMENT OF TERMINATION BENEFITS
(a) The Committee shall combine the Nonforfeitable percentage of the
Individual Accounts of a Participant determined under Section 9.2 with
the Participant Contribution Account into one Individual Account, and
the Trustee shall make payments to the Participant pursuant to Article
X. Subject to the third and fourth sentences of Section 6.3, the
mandatory distribution requirements of Section 6.4 and the survivor
annuity requirements of Section 6.5, if applicable, payments shall
begin as soon as administratively feasible after the Participant
terminates. The Committee shall charge each payment to the
Participant's Individual Account and payment shall continue until
death (when Article VII shall control the disposition of the deceased
Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance) or until the
Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance is paid to the
Participant in full, whichever event shall occur first.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, if a Participant separates
from Service with the Employer and the Participant's Nonforfeitable
Account Balance determined under Section 9.2 is $3,500 or less, the
Committee may direct the Trustee to make immediate distribution to the
Participant in the form of a lump sum distribution; provided, however,
the Trustee shall not make a lump sum distribution after benefit
distributions have commenced, without the written consent of the
Participant and spouse. For purposes of this paragraph, if the value
of an Employee's vested Account Balance is zero (0), the Employee
shall be deemed to have received a distribution of his or her vested
Account Balance. Notwithstanding any contrary provision, if the
Nonforfeitable Account Balance of a Participant exceeds $3,500, then
the Trustee shall make no distribution without the Participant's and
the spouse's consent pursuant to Article X until the later of
attainment of age sixty-two (62) years or attainment of Normal
Retirement Age. The foregoing sentence shall not apply after the
death of the Participant.
(c) If requested by a Participant and approved by the spouse in writing
after the Participant has separated from Service with the Employer,
the Committee shall direct the Trustee to distribute the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Account Balance determined under Section 9.2 in the
form of a lump sum distribution.
9.4. FORFEITURES
A Participant to whom this Article applies shall forfeit that portion of
the amount of the Individual Account to which the Participant is not
entitled under Section 9.2 on the earlier of the date on which the
Participant incurs five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks in Service or the
date on which the Participant receives a Cashout Distribution (the
Forfeiture Event). A Cashout Distribution means a lump sum distribution
pursuant to Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c), that occurs no later than the last
day of the second Plan Year following
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the Plan Year in which the Participant separates from Service. For
purposes of this Section, a Participant who separates from Service without
a Nonforfeitable percentage in the Participant's Employer Contribution
Account shall be deemed to have received a distribution of the
Nonforfeitable Account Balance on the date of separation from Service. The
amount forfeited under this Section shall remain in the Trust Fund and
shall be applied to restore the Individual Accounts of Former Participants
pursuant to Sections 9.7 or 10.7, pay Plan fees and expenses, or reduce the
Employer Non-Elective Contribution for the Plan Year during which the
Forfeiture Event occurred. If any amounts remain unallocated, the
additional amounts shall be allocated under Article V among the Individual
Accounts of the remaining Participants as of the Anniversary Date
coincident with or next following the Forfeiture Event.
9.5. DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT OF VESTED UNDISTRIBUTED ACCOUNT, FORFEITURE
If the Trustee pays any amount outstanding to the credit of a Participant
in the Participant's Individual Account while the Participant is not fully
vested in the Individual Account, other than a Cashout Distribution defined
in Section 9.4, and prior to the Anniversary Date on which the Participant
shall incur five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks in Service, the value of
his or her vested and undistributed Account shall be held in a separate
account and shall be determined at any time prior to and including the
Anniversary Date on which the Participant shall incur five (5) consecutive
One Year Breaks in Service under the following formula:
X = P(AB + (RxD)) - (RxD).
For this formula, the variables represent the following factors:
X is the value of the vested portion of the Participant's Account;
P is the Participant's Nonforfeitable percentage at the relevant time;
AB is the Account Balance at the relevant time;
D is the amount of the distribution; and
R is the ratio of the Account Balance at the relevant time to the
Account Balance after the distribution.
The nonvested portion of the Participant's Individual Account shall be
forfeited on the Anniversary Date on which the Participant incurs five (5)
consecutive One Year Breaks in Service.
9.6. CREDITING YEARS OF VESTING SERVICE
(a) If a Participant's Service with the Employer is terminated and the
Former Participant receives a distribution from the Trustee and
subsequently re-enters the Service of the Employer after incurring
five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks in Service, the reemployed
Participant's Years of Service after the break need not be taken into
account to determine the Nonforfeitable percentage of the
Participant's Account Balance derived from Employer Contributions
which accrued before the Break in Service. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, any reemployed Participant's Years of Service
prior to the Break in Service must be taken into account to determine
the Nonforfeitable percentage of the Participant's Account Balance
derived from Employer Contributions which accrued after the Break in
Service; provided that, for vesting purposes, the pre-break Service
shall not be taken into account until the Participant completes a Year
of Service measured on a twelve (12) month Computation Period
commencing with the date of re-employment of the Participant.
(b) If a Participant's Service with the Employer is terminated and the
Participant is reemployed by the Employer prior to incurring five (5)
consecutive One Year Breaks in Service, the reemployed Participant
shall continue to vest at the level in the vesting schedule in Section
9.2 that the Participant had attained prior to termination in both the
pre-separation and post-separation Account Balance.
9.7. RESTORATION OF ACCOUNT BALANCE
If a partially vested Participant is reemployed after termination of
employment, but prior to incurring five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks in
Service, the Participant shall have the right to repay the amount
previously distributed pursuant to Sections 9.3(b) or 9.3(c). If the
Participant repays the entire amount previously distributed prior to the
earlier of (a) incurring five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks in Service
commencing after the withdrawal, or (b) five years after the first date on
which the Participant is subsequently reemployed by the Employer, then the
Committee shall restore to the Participant's Individual Account an amount
equal to the amount forfeited under Section 9.4. The Committee will treat
a non-vested Participant who is deemed to have received a distribution on
the date of separation from Service of the Participant's Nonforfeitable
Account Balance as having repaid the deemed distribution on the first date
of the Participant's reemployment with the Employer. Restoration of the
Participant's Account Balance includes restoration of all Code Section
411(d)(6) protected benefits pertaining to that restored Account under
applicable Treasury regulations.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE X
OPTIONAL FORMS OF BENEFIT
10.1. OPTIONAL FORMS OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
(a) Whenever a Participant, Former Participant or Beneficiary is
entitled to receive a distribution of benefits, he or she may
elect that benefits be paid in any one (1) or more of the
following forms:
(i) A lump sum, payable in cash, in kind or partly in cash and
partly in kind, at the fair market value when distributed;
(ii) A transfer or rollover to:
(A) another plan qualified under Code Section 401(a);
(B) an individual retirement account defined in Code
Section 408(a); or
(C) an individual retirement annuity defined in Code
Section 408(b).
(iii) Periodic installments over the periods of time and in the
amounts the Committee shall determine. The total payments
for each year shall not be less than an amount sufficient
to cause the Participant's Employer Contribution Account to
be paid in full not later than the end of a period measured
by the joint life expectancy of the Participant and Spouse.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the annual amount payable
under this paragraph shall be at least as large as would be
provided under a life annuity with a period certain
extending to age eighty-five (85) years. Under no
circumstances shall benefits be paid in the form of a life
annuity. If the Trustee pays the Individual Account of a
Participant, Former Participant or Beneficiary under an
installment method prescribed in this paragraph, the
Trustee shall invest and reinvest the entire unpaid balance
remaining in the Individual Account from time to time and
shall credit and charge the Individual Account its
proportionate share of gains and losses of the Trust Fund
under Article V until the entire Individual Account is paid
pursuant to this Article.
(b) The Participant shall be limited in the optional forms of payment
of benefits to those which will result in the payment of greater
than fifty percent (50%) of the anticipated benefits over the
Participant's life expectancy. The purpose of this limitation is
to ensure that death benefits will be incidental to retirement
benefits under Revenue Ruling 72-241.
(c) If the Participant so requests, the Committee may direct the
Trustee to distribute any Contract, other than an annuity contract
held for the Participant, to that Participant, provided that under
no circumstances may the Trustee continue to pay premiums on the
Contracts after the actual separation from Service of a
Participant.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a distribution made pursuant to
this Section shall be subject to the immediate cashout provisions
of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c).
10.2. DIRECT ROLLOVER OPTIONAL FORM OF BENEFIT
(a) DIRECT ROLLOVER. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the
contrary that would otherwise limit a distributee's election under
this Section, a distributee may elect, at the time and in the
manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator, to have any portion
of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible
retirement plan specified by the distributee in a direct rollover.
(b) DEFINITIONS
(i) ELIGIBLE ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTION. An eligible rollover
distribution is any distribution of all or any portion of
the balance to the credit of the distributee, except that
an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any
distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal
periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made
for the life (or life expectancy) of the distributee or the
joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the distributee
and the distributee's designated beneficiary, or for a
specified period of ten years or more; any distribution to
the extent such distribution is required under Section
401(a)(9) of the Code; and the portion of any distribution
that is not includable in gross income (determined without
regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation
with respect to Employer Securities).
(ii) ELIGIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN. An eligible retirement plan is
an individual retirement account described in Section
408(a) of the Code, an individual retirement annuity
described in Section 408(b) of the Code, an annuity plan
described in Section 403(a) of the Code, or a qualified
trust described in Section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts
43
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the distributee's eligible rollover distribution. However,
in the case of an eligible rollover distribution to the
surviving spouse, an eligible retirement plan is an
individual retirement account or individual retirement
annuity.
(iii) DISTRIBUTEE. A distributee includes an employee or former
employee. In addition, the employee's or former employee's
surviving spouse and the employee's or former employee's
spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a
qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Section
414(p) of the Code, are distributees with regard to the
interest of the spouse or former spouse.
(iv) DIRECT ROLLOVER. A direct rollover is a payment by the
plan to the eligible retirement plan specified by the
distributee.
10.3. ELECTION TO DEFER RECEIPT OF BENEFITS
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who leaves the employment of
the Employer before his or her Normal Retirement Date or Early Retirement
Date may elect to leave his or her Nonforfeitable Account Balance under
the management of the Trustee until Normal Retirement Date or Early
Retirement Date. The Trustee shall invest and reinvest and shall credit
and charge the Individual Account with its proportionate share of gains
and losses of the Trust Fund pursuant to Article V until the
Nonforfeitable Account Balance is paid out to the Former Participant
under this Article. Any election made under this Section shall be
irrevocable and shall be made no later than fourteen (14) days before the
electing Participant becomes entitled to receive his or her
Nonforfeitable Account Balance in the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Participant who has elected to leave his or her
Nonforfeitable Account Balance under the management of the Trustee may
later elect to have the Account Balance transferred to any pension or
profit sharing plan maintained by another Employer in which the
Participant has, at the time of the later election, become a participant
under the transferee plan.
10.4. ELECTION OF FORM OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
(a) The Participant, Former Participant, or Beneficiary shall elect
the form or forms of payment of benefits permitted in Section 10.1
which the Committee and Trustee shall implement. Not earlier than
ninety (90) days, but not later than thirty (30) days, before the
Participant's Annuity Starting Date, the Committee must provide a
benefit notice to a Participant who is eligible to make an
election under this Section. The Participant's Annuity Starting
Date means the first day of the first period for which an amount
is paid as an annuity or any other form. The benefit notice must
explain the optional forms of benefit in the Plan, including the
material features and relative values of those options, and the
Participant's right to defer distribution until he or she attains
the later of Normal Retirement Age or age 62.
(b) If a distribution is one to which Code Sections 401(a)(11) and 417
do not apply, such distribution may commence less than thirty (30)
days after the notice required under Section 1.411(a)-11(c) of the
Income Tax Regulations is given, provided that:
(i) the Plan Administrator clearly informs the Participant that
he or she has a right to a period of at least thirty (30)
days after receiving the notice to consider the decision of
whether or not to elect a distribution (and, if applicable,
a particular distribution option), and
(ii) the Participant, after receiving the notice, affirmatively
elects a distribution.
(c) If a Participant, Former Participant, or Beneficiary makes an
election prescribed by this Section, the Committee will direct the
Trustee to distribute the Participant's Nonforfeitable Account
Balance pursuant to that election. Any election under this
Section is subject to the mandatory distribution requirements of
Sections 6.4 and 7.4 and the survivor annuity requirements of
Section 6.5, if applicable. The Participant, Former Participant
or Beneficiary must make an election under this Section by filing
an election form with the Committee at any time before the Trustee
otherwise would commence to pay a Participant's Account Balance
under the applicable requirements of Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX,
and X.
10.5. MINORITY OR DISABILITY
During the minority or disability of an individual entitled to receive
benefits under this Plan, the Participant may elect to have the Committee
instruct the Trustee to make payments due the individual directly to the
individual or to the spouse or a relative or to any individual or
institution having custody of the individual. Neither the Committee nor
the Trustee shall be required to cause or to verify the application of
any payments so made, and the receipt of the payee, including the
endorsement of a check or checks, shall be conclusive to all interested
parties.
10.6. COMMENCEMENT OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
Unless a Participant elects otherwise, payment of benefits shall commence
not later than sixty (60) days after the end of the Plan Year in which
the latest of the following events occur:
(a) the day the Participant attains the earlier of age sixty-five (65)
years or Normal Retirement Age;
(b) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the year in which the Participant
commenced participation in the Plan; or
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(c) the day the Participant terminates employment with the Employer.
10.7. UNCLAIMED ACCOUNT PROCEDURE
The Plan does not require either the Trustee or the Committee to search
for, or to ascertain the whereabouts of, any Participant or Beneficiary.
At the time the Participant's or Beneficiary's benefit becomes
distributable under Articles VI, VII, VIII or IX, the Committee, by
certified or registered mail addressed to his or her last known address
of record with the Committee or the Employer, must notify any
Participant, or Beneficiary, that he or she is entitled to a distribution
under this Plan. The notice must quote the provisions of this Section
and otherwise must comply with the applicable notice requirements of
Article VI. If the Participant, or Beneficiary, fails to claim his or
her distributive share or make his or her whereabouts known in writing to
the Committee within (6) months from the date of mailing of the notice,
the Committee will treat the Participant's or Beneficiary's unclaimed
payable Accrued Benefit as forfeited and will reallocate the unclaimed
payable Accrued Benefit to reduce the Employer's contribution for the
Plan Year in which the forfeiture occurs. A forfeiture under this
paragraph will occur at the end of the notice period or, if later, the
earliest date applicable Treasury Regulations would permit the
forfeiture. Pending forfeiture, the Committee, following the expiration
of the notice period, may direct the Trustee to segregate the
Nonforfeitable Accrued Benefit in a segregated Account and to invest that
segregated Account in Federally insured interest bearing savings accounts
or time deposits (or in combination or both), or in other fixed income
investments.
If a Participant or Beneficiary who has incurred a forfeiture of his or
her Accrued Benefit under the provisions of the first paragraph of this
Section makes a claim, at any time, for the forfeited Accrued Benefit,
the Committee must restore the Participant's or Beneficiary's forfeited
Accrued Benefit to the same dollar amount as the dollar amount of the
Accrued Benefit forfeited, unadjusted for any gains or losses occurring
subsequent to the date of the forfeiture. The Committee will make the
restoration during the Plan Year in which the Participant or Beneficiary
makes the claim, first from the amount, if any, of Participant
forfeitures the Committee otherwise would allocate for the Plan Year,
then from the amount, if any, of the Trust Fund net income or gain for
the Plan Year, then from the amount, or additional amount, the Employer
contributes to enable the Committee to make the required restoration.
The Committee must direct the Trustee to distribute the Participant's or
Beneficiary's restored Accrued Benefit not later than 60 days after the
close of the Plan Year in which the Committee restores the forfeited
Accrued Benefit. The forfeiture provisions of this Section apply solely
to the Participant's or the Beneficiary's Accrued Benefit derived from
Employer Contributions.
Upon termination of the Plan, in lieu of the unclaimed account procedure
set forth in this Section, Section 18.6 shall apply.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XI
THE EMPLOYER
11.1. EMPLOYER ACTION
Whenever the Employer is permitted or required to do or perform any act
under this Agreement, it shall be done and performed by a person duly
authorized to do or perform the act by its legally constituted authority.
The legally constituted authority of a corporation shall be the Board of
Directors.
11.2. PLAN AMENDMENT
(a) At any time the Employer, by formal written action, may amend or
modify this Agreement in any manner it deems necessary or
desirable, retroactively or prospectively, subject to the
following provisions of this Article.
(b) The Employer must make all amendments in writing, signed by duly
authorized persons with the legally constituted authority of the
Employer and with the consent or approval, if any, as provided in
this Section. An amendment shall become effective upon its
delivery to the Trustee. Each amendment must state the date on
which it is either retroactively or prospectively effective.
(c) Unless it is made to secure the approval of the Commissioner of
the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental bureau or
agency, no amendment or modification of this Agreement by the
Employer shall:
(i) operate retroactively to reduce or divest the then vested
interest in any Individual Account or to reduce or divest
any benefit then payable hereunder unless all Participants,
Former Participants and Beneficiaries then having
Individual Accounts or benefit payments affected thereby
shall consent to the amendments or modifications;
(ii) directly or indirectly affect any Participant's
Nonforfeitable percentage outside the protection of
Treasury Regulations Section 1.411(a)(8);
(iii) decrease a Participant's accrued benefit, except to the
extent permitted under Code Section 412(c)(8), and reduce
or eliminate Code Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits
determined immediately prior to the adoption date (or, if
later, the effective date) of the amendment, except as
permitted by applicable Treasury regulations (An amendment
reduces or eliminates Code Section 411(d)(6) protected
benefits if the amendment has the effect of either: (A)
eliminating or reducing an early retirement benefit or a
retirement-type subsidy (as defined in applicable Treasury
regulations); or (B) except as provided by applicable
Treasury regulations, eliminating an optional form of
benefit. The Committee must disregard an amendment to the
extent application of the amendment would fail to satisfy
this paragraph. If the Committee must disregard an
amendment because the amendment would violate clause (A) or
clause (B), the Committee must maintain a schedule of the
early retirement option or other optional forms of benefit
the Plan must continue for the affected Participant.); or
(iv) affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the
Trustees, the Plan Administrator or the Committee without
the written consent or approval of the Trustee,
Administrator, or affected Committee member.
(d) If the vesting schedule described in Section 9.2 is amended, a
Participant's vested interest in any contribution to which the
vesting schedule in Section 9.2 applied, shall not be less than
the Nonforfeitable percentage determined as of the later of the
effective date of the amendment or the date of its adoption. A
Participant with at least three (3) Years of Service on the last
day of the election period described in this paragraph, may elect
to have the Nonforfeitable percentage of the Employer Contribution
Accounts determined without regard to the amendment. For
Participants who do not have at least one (1) Hour of Service in
any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1988, the preceding
sentence shall be applied by substituting "five (5) Years of
Service" for "three (3) Years of Service" where the language
appears. If a Participant fails to make an election, then the
Participant shall be subject to the new vesting schedule. The
election period shall commence on the date the amendment is
adopted or deemed to be made and shall end sixty (60) days after
the latest of:
(i) the date of the adoption of the amendment;
(ii) the effective date of the amendment; or
(iii) the date the Participant receives written notice of the
amendment from the Employer or Administrator.
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11.3. DISCONTINUANCE, TERMINATION OF PLAN
(a) The Employer has the right, at any time, to suspend or discontinue
its contributions under the Plan to the Trust Fund, and to
terminate, at any time, the Plan and the Trust created under this
Agreement. The Plan will terminate on the first to occur of the
following events:
(i) the date the Plan is terminated by action of the Employer;
(ii) the date the Employer is judicially declared bankrupt or
insolvent, unless the proceeding authorized continued
maintenance of the Plan; or
(iii) the dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of
the Employer or the sale by the Employer of all or
substantially all of its assets, unless the successor or
purchaser elects and makes provision to continue the Plan,
in which event the successor or purchaser will substitute
itself as the Employer under this Plan.
(b) Upon either full or partial termination of the Plan, or, if
applicable, upon complete discontinuance of contributions to the
Plan, the Individual Accounts of all Participants, Former
Participants and Beneficiaries shall be and become fully vested
and Nonforfeitable, notwithstanding the Nonforfeitable percentage
which otherwise would apply under Article IX. The Trustee, in its
discretion, may convert some or all of the Trust Fund to cash and
shall deduct therefrom all unpaid charges and expenses, except as
the same may be paid by the Employer. The Committee then shall
adjust the balance of all Individual Accounts on the basis of the
net cash balance and fair market value of all property in the
Trust Fund. Thereafter, the Trustee shall distribute the amount
to the credit of each Participant, Former Participant and
Beneficiary in cash, in kind, or partly in cash and partly in
kind, as the Committee shall direct. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a distribution made because of a termination of the
Plan shall be subject to the mandatory distribution requirements
of Sections 6.4 and 7.4, the survivor annuity requirements of
Section 6.5, if applicable, and the immediate cashout distribution
provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c).
11.4. PROHIBITION AGAINST REVERSION TO EMPLOYER
Under no circumstances or conditions, other than those specifically
provided herein, shall the Trust Fund or any portion thereof revert to
the Employer or be used for or diverted to purposes other than the
exclusive benefit of the Participants, Former Participants and
Beneficiaries. No amendment or revocation by the Employer of this
Section may cause or permit any portion of the Trust Fund to revert to or
become a property of the Employer.
11.5. ADOPTION BY RELATED EMPLOYER
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, with
the written consent of the Plan Sponsor, any other association,
corporation, or other business organization, which is a Related Employer
may adopt this Plan and Trust in its entirety, participate herein and be
known as a Participating Employer, by executing a properly authorized
document evidencing the intent and will of the Participating Employer.
Unless the context of this Agreement clearly indicates the contrary, the
term "Employer" shall be deemed to include each Participating Employer
relating to its adoption of the Plan.
11.6. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION BY RELATED EMPLOYER
The following requirements shall apply to any Participating Employer who
elects to adopt this Plan pursuant to this Article:
(a) Each Participating Employer shall be required to use the same
Trustee as provided in this Agreement.
(b) The Trustee may, but shall not be required to, commingle, hold and
invest as one (1) Trust Fund all contributions made by
Participating Employers and all increments thereof.
(c) The transfer of any Participant from or to any corporation
participating in this Plan, whether the Participant is an Employee
of the Plan Sponsor or a Participating Employer, shall not affect
the Participant's rights under the Plan; all amounts credited to
the Participant's Individual Account, all accumulated service with
the transferor or Predecessor Employer, and the length of
participation in the Plan shall continue to the Participant's
credit.
(d) All rights and values forfeited by termination of employment shall
inure only to the benefit of the Employees and Participants of the
Participating Employer which employed the forfeiting Participant,
except, if the Forfeiture is for an Employee whose Employer is a
Related Employer, then the Forfeiture shall be allocated based on
Annual Compensation to all Individual Accounts of Participating
Employers who are Related Employers. Should an Employee of one
("First") Employer be transferred to a Related ("Second") Employer
the transfer shall not cause the Employee's Account Balance,
generated while an Employee of the First Employer, in any manner
or by any amount, to be forfeited. The Employee's Account Balance
for all purposes of the Plan, including length of service, shall
be considered as though the Employee had always been employed by
the Second Employer and as such had received contributions,
forfeitures, earnings or losses, and appreciation or depreciation
in value of assets totaling the amount so transferred.
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(e) Upon an Employee's transfer between Participating Employers, the
Employee involved shall carry accumulated Years of Service for
eligibility and vesting. No transfer shall effect a termination
of employment under this Agreement and the Participating Employer
to which the Employee transfers shall thereupon become obligated
under this Agreement to the Employee in the same manner as the
Participating Employer from whom the Employee transfers.
(f) Any expenses of the Plan and Trust which are to be paid by the
Employer or borne by the Trust Fund shall be paid by each
Participating Employer in the same proportion that the total
amount standing to the credit of all Participants employed by the
Participating Employer bears to the total amount standing to the
credit of all Participants.
(g) Any contributions made by a Participating Employer under this
Plan, shall be paid to and held by the Trustee for the exclusive
benefit of the Employees of the Participating Employer and the
Beneficiaries of the Employees, subject to all the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
(h) Based on information furnished by the Administrator, the Committee
and the Trustee shall keep separate books and records concerning
the affairs of each Participating Employer and of the Account
Balances of the Participants of each Participating Employer. The
Trustee may, but need not, register Contracts to evidence that a
particular Participating Employer is the interested Employer under
this Agreement, but upon an Employee's transfer from one
Participating Employer to another, the employing Employer shall
immediately notify the Trustee of the transfer.
11.7. PLAN SPONSOR AS AGENT OF PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER
Each Participating Employer shall be deemed to be a part of this Plan;
however, each Participating Employer shall be deemed to have designated
irrevocably the Plan Sponsor as its agent in all of its relations with
the Trustee, the Committee and the Administrator under this Agreement.
11.8. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
(a) All contributions provided for in this Plan made by each
Participating Employer who is a member of the same controlled
group and/or affiliated service group shall be combined and
allocated among the eligible Participants as if made by a single
employer. The Participating Employers shall pay the contributions
to the Trustee who shall hold the contribution for the exclusive
benefit of the Employees (and their Beneficiaries) of the
Participating Employers who are members of the same controlled
group and/or affiliated service group, subject to all of the terms
and conditions of this Plan.
(b) All contributions made by a Participating Employer who is not a
member of a controlled group and/or affiliated service group
provided for in this Plan shall be determined separately on the
basis of its net profit and total Annual Compensation paid. The
Participating Employer shall pay the contributions to the Trustee
who shall hold the contribution for the exclusive benefit of the
Employees of the Participating Employer and the Beneficiaries of
the Employees, subject to all of the terms and conditions of this
Plan.
11.9. AMENDMENT BY PLAN SPONSOR, PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
Amendment of this Plan by the Plan Sponsor at any time when there shall
be a Participating Employer under this Agreement shall be effective only
upon the written action of each and every Participating Employer and with
the consent of the Trustee where the consent is necessary under this
Agreement.
11.10. REVOCATION OF PARTICIPATION BY PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER
Any Participating Employer shall be permitted to discontinue or revoke
its participation in this Plan. Upon any discontinuance or revocation,
satisfactory evidence thereof and of any applicable conditions imposed
shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall thereafter
transfer, deliver and assign Contracts and other Trust Fund assets
allocable to the Participants of the Participating Employer to the new
plan as shall have been designated by the Participating Employer, if it
has established a separate employee benefit pension plan for its
employees. If no successor plan is designated, the Trustee shall retain
the assets for the Employees of the Participating Employer under Article
X. No part of the corpus or income of the Trust Fund relating to the
Participating Employer shall be used for or diverted to purposes other
than the exclusive benefit of the Employees of the Participating Employer
and the Beneficiaries of the Employees.
11.11. AUTHORITY OF ADMINISTRATOR OVER PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
The Administrator shall have the authority to make any and all necessary
rules or regulations binding on all Participating Employers and all
Participants and Beneficiaries to effectuate the purposes of this
Article.
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11.12. DEFICIENCY OF EARNINGS OR PROFITS
If any Participating Employer is prevented in whole or in part from
making a contribution to the Trust Fund which it otherwise would have
made under the Plan because of having no current or accumulated earnings
or profits, or because the earnings or profits are less than the
contribution which it otherwise would have made, then so much of the
contribution which the Participating Employer was prevented from making
may be made for the benefit of the participating Employees of the
Participating Employer by the other Participating Employers who are
Related Employers. The contribution by each other Participating Employer
shall be limited to the proportion of its total current and accumulated
earnings or profits remaining after adjustment for its contribution to
the Plan made without regard to this Section, which the total prevented
contribution bears to the total current and accumulated earnings or
profits of all the Participating Employers remaining after adjustment for
all contributions made to the Plan without regard to this Section. A
Participating Employer on behalf of whose Employees a contribution is
made under this Section shall not reimburse the contributing
Participating Employer unless it has otherwise agreed to do so in
writing.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XII
THE COMMITTEE
12.1. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
The Employer shall appoint a Committee consisting of one (1) or more
members. The Employer may remove any member of the Committee at any time
and a member may resign by written notice to the Employer. Any vacancy
in the membership of the Committee shall be filled by appointment made by
the Employer, but pending the filling of any vacancy, the then members of
the Committee may act under this Agreement as though they alone
constitute the full Committee. The Employer shall notify the Trustee
promptly of the appointment of the original Committee and of any change
in the membership of the Committee.
12.2. COMMITTEE ACTION AND PROCEDURE
(a) Any and all acts and decisions of the Committee shall be by at
least a majority of the then members. The Committee may delegate
to any one or more of its members the authority to sign notices or
other documents on its behalf or to perform ministerial acts for
it, in which event the Trustee and any other person may accept the
notice, document or act without question as having been authorized
by the Committee.
(b) The Committee may, but need not, call or hold formal meetings, and
any decisions made or actions taken pursuant to written approval
of a majority of the then members shall be sufficient.
(c) The Committee shall maintain adequate records of its decisions,
which records shall be subject to inspection by the Employer and
by any Participant, Former Participant, or Beneficiary, but only
to the extent that they apply to the individuals.
(d) The Committee may designate one (1) of its members as Chairman and
one (1) of its members as Secretary and may establish policies and
procedures governing it if they are consistent with this
Agreement.
12.3. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES
The Committee shall perform the duties and may exercise the powers and
discretion given to it in this Agreement, and its decisions and actions
shall be final and conclusive regarding all persons affected thereby.
The Committee shall exercise its discretion at all times in a
nondiscriminatory manner. Subject to any limitations stated in this
Agreement, the Committee is authorized and empowered with the following
powers, rights, and duties:
(a) To select a Secretary, who need not be a member of the Committee;
(b) To determine the rights of eligibility of an Employee to
participate in the Plan, the value of a Participant's Account
Balance and the Nonforfeitable percentage of each Participant's
Accrued Benefit;
(c) To adopt rules of procedure and regulations necessary for the
proper and efficient administration of the Plan provided the rules
are consistent with the terms of this Agreement;
(d) To construe and enforce the terms of the Plan and the rules and
regulations it adopts, including interpretation of the Plan
documents and documents related to the Plan's operation;
(e) To direct the Trustee concerning the crediting and distribution of
the Trust;
(f) To review and render decisions respecting a claim for, or denial
of a claim for, a benefit under the Plan;
(g) To furnish the Employer with information which the Employer may
require for tax or other purposes;
(h) To engage the service of agents whom it may deem advisable to
assist it with the performance of its duties;
(i) To engage the services of an Investment Manager or Managers (as
defined in ERISA Section 3(38)), each of whom will have full power
and authority to manage, acquire or dispose, or direct the Trustee
with respect to acquisition or disposition, of any Plan asset
under its control;
(j) To establish, in its sole discretion, a nondiscriminatory policy,
pursuant to this Section, which the Trustee must observe in making
loans, if any, to Participants and Beneficiaries; and
(k) To establish and maintain a funding standard account and to make
credits and charges to the account to the extent required by and
in accordance with applicable Code provisions.
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The Committee must exercise all of its powers, duties, and discretion
under the Plan in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner.
12.4. COMMITTEE RELIANCE
The Trustee may rely without question on any notices or other documents
received from the Committee. The Employer shall furnish the Committee
with all data and information available to the Employer, which the
Committee may reasonably require to perform its functions under this
Agreement. The Committee may rely without question on any data or
information furnished by the Employer.
12.5. COMMITTEE AUTHORITY
Any and all disputes which may arise involving Participants, Former
Participants, Beneficiaries and/or the Trustee shall be referred to the
Committee, and its decisions shall be final and conclusive regarding all
affected persons. Furthermore, if any issue arises concerning the
meaning, interpretation or application of any provisions of this
Agreement, the decision of the Committee on any issue shall be final.
12.6. CONFLICTS IN INTEREST
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, no member of the
Committee shall vote or act on any matter involving the Committee
member's rights, benefits or other participation under this Agreement.
12.7. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT AND LEGAL COUNSEL
The Committee may engage agents to assist it and may engage legal counsel
who may be counsel for the Employer. The Committee shall not be
responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken on the advice of
counsel. All reasonable expenses incurred by the Committee shall be paid
by the Employer.
12.8. APPOINTMENT OF INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Committee may delegate investment management authority pertaining to
all or a portion of the Plan assets by appointing an Investment
Manager(s) and may authorize payment of the fees and expenses of the
Investment Manager(s) from the Plan assets. For purposes of this
Agreement, any Investment Manager so appointed shall, during the period
of appointment, possess fully and absolutely those powers, rights and
duties of the Trustee (to the extent delegated by the Committee)
regarding the investment or reinvestment of that portion of the Plan
assets over which the Investment Manager has investment management
authority. An Investment Manager must be one (1) of the following:
(a) an Investment Advisor registered under the Investment Advisors Act
of 1949;
(b) a bank, as defined in the Investment Advisors Act of 1940; or
(c) an insurance company qualified to manage, acquire, or dispose of
Plan assets under the laws of more than one (1) state.
Any Investment Manager shall acknowledge in writing to the party making
the appointment and to the Trustee that it is a fiduciary respecting the
Plan. During any period when the Investment Manager is appointed and
serving, and regarding those assets in the Plan over which the Investment
Manager exercises investment management authority, the Trustee's
responsibility shall be limited to holding assets as a custodian,
providing accounting services, disbursing benefits as authorized, and
executing investment instructions only as directed by the Investment
Manager. Any certificates or other instrument duly signed by the
Investment Manager (or the authorized representative of the Investment
Manager), purporting to evidence any instruction, direction or order of
the Investment Manager regarding the investment of those assets of the
Plan over which the Investment Manager has investment management
authority, shall be accepted by the Trustee as conclusive proof thereof.
The Trustee also shall be fully protected in acting in good faith on any
notice, instruction, direction, order, certificate, opinion, letter,
telegram or other document believed by the Trustee to be genuine and to
be from the Investment Manager (or the authorized representative of the
Investment Manager). The Trustee shall not be liable for any action
taken or omitted by the Investment Manager or for any mistakes of
judgment or other action made, taken or omitted by the Trustee in good
faith on direction of the Investment Manager.
12.9. QUARTERLY ACCOUNTING
As soon as administratively feasible after the Accounting Date of each
Plan Year, but within the time prescribed by ERISA and the applicable
Labor regulations and at least annually, the Committee shall advise each
Participant, Former Participant and Beneficiary for whom Individual
Accounts are held under this Plan of the then balance in the
Participant's Individual Accounts and the other information ERISA
requires to be furnished. No Participant except a member of the
Committee shall have the right to inspect the records reflecting the
Individual Accounts of any other Participant.
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12.10. FUNDING POLICY
The Committee will review, not less often than annually, all pertinent
Employee information and Plan data to establish the funding policy of the
Plan and to determine the appropriate methods of carrying out the Plan's
objectives. The Committee must communicate periodically, as it deems
appropriate, to the Trustee and to any Plan Investment Manager the Plan's
short-term and long-term financial needs so investment policy can be
coordinated with Plan financial requirements.
* * * * * *
52
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ARTICLE XIII
ADMINISTRATION
13.1. ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTMENT
The Employer shall be the Administrator of this Plan and shall be
responsible for filing all reporting and disclosure documents required by
the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service in accordance
with ERISA, the Code and the respective regulations. The Employer may
delegate any of its duties and responsibilities as Administrator to the
Committee. Service of process on the Plan or Trust may be obtained by
personal service on the Employer or any Committee member.
13.2. SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
The Administrator shall furnish a summary plan description to each
Participant within ninety (90) days after becoming a Participant and to
each Beneficiary receiving benefits under the Plan within ninety (90)
days after beginning to receive benefits. Every fifth (5th) year after
the Effective Date of the Plan, the Administrator shall furnish an
updated summary plan description, which integrates all amendments made
within the five (5) year period, to each Participant and Beneficiary
receiving benefits. If no amendments have been made within the five (5)
year period, the Administrator shall furnish the updated summary plan
description only every tenth (10th) year. If there is a modification or
change in the Plan, the Administrator shall furnish to each Participant
and each Beneficiary who is receiving benefits, a summary description of
the change or modification not later than two hundred ten (210) days
after the end of the Plan Year in which the change is adopted.
13.3. SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
The Administrator shall furnish to each Participant and each Beneficiary
receiving benefits a summary of the Annual Return/Report of the Plan
containing a statement of the Plan assets and liabilities, receipts and
disbursements and other information fairly summarizing the Plan's
financial statement within two hundred ten (210) days after the close of
each Plan Year, or an extended period as may be permitted by the
Secretary of Labor.
13.4. INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT STATEMENTS
The Administrator shall furnish to any Participant or Beneficiary
receiving benefits, who requests in writing, a statement reporting the
total benefits accrued and the Nonforfeitable benefits, if any, which
have accrued or the earliest date on which benefits will become
Nonforfeitable. In no event shall a Participant or Beneficiary be
entitled to receive the report described in this Section more than once
in every twelve (12) month period.
13.5. COPIES OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
Upon written request from a Participant or Beneficiary receiving
benefits, the Administrator shall furnish a copy of any one (1) or all of
the following documents: the latest updated summary plan description,
the latest annual report, any terminal report, Trust agreement, contract
or other instruments under which the Plan was established or is operated.
The Administrator may make a reasonable charge to cover the cost of
furnishing complete copies.
13.6. DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION
Copies of the Plan description and the latest annual report, Trust
agreement, contract or other instruments under which the Plan was
established or is operated shall be available for examination at the
principal office of the Employer by any Participant or Beneficiary
receiving benefits. Examination may be made during reasonable hours in
person or by agent, accountant or attorney.
13.7. NOTICE OF PARTICIPANT RIGHTS UNDER ERISA
The Committee shall furnish to each Participant and to each Beneficiary
receiving benefits information on their rights under the Plan and how the
rights may be protected by law.
13.8. NOTICE TO PARTICIPANT ON PARTICIPANT TERMINATION
The Administrator shall furnish a statement to a Participant who
terminated Service with the Employer for any of the reasons set forth in
Articles VI through IX, describing the nature, amount and form of the
Nonforfeitable Account Balance, if any, to which the Participant is
entitled as soon as administratively feasible after the close of the Plan
Year in which the Participant terminated Service.
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13.9. NOTICE TO TRUSTEE ON PARTICIPANT TERMINATION
(a) As soon as practicable after a Participant terminates Service with
the Employer for any of the reasons set forth in Articles VI
through IX, the Committee shall give written notice to the
Trustee, including the following information and directions which
may be necessary or advisable under the circumstances:
(i) name and address of the Participant;
(ii) reason the Participant terminated Service with the
Employer;
(iii) name and address of the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries of a
deceased Participant;
(iv) Nonforfeitable percentage or amount to which the
Participant is entitled on termination of employment
pursuant to Article IX; and
(v) time, manner and amount of payment to be made pursuant to
the Participant's election under Article X.
If a Former Participant or Beneficiary dies, the Committee shall
give like notice to the Trustee, but only if the Committee learns
of the death.
(b) At any time and from time to time after giving the notice provided
under this Section, the Committee may modify the original notice
or any subsequent notice by a further written notice or notices to
the Trustee, but any action taken or payments made by the Trustee
pursuant to a prior notice shall not be affected by a subsequent
notice.
(c) A copy of each notice provided under this Section shall be mailed
by the Committee to the Participant, Former Participant or
Beneficiary involved, but the failure to send or receive the copy
shall not affect the validity of any action taken or payment made
pursuant thereto.
(d) Upon receipt of any notice provided under this Section, the
Trustee shall promptly take any action and make any payments
directed in the notice. The Trustee may rely on the information
and directions in the notice absolutely and without question.
However, the Trustee may inform the Committee of any error or
oversight which the Trustee believes to exist in any notice.
13.10. CLAIM FOR BENEFITS
Normally, whenever a Participant or Beneficiary becomes entitled to
benefits under this Agreement, the Committee and the Trustee will
automatically initiate procedures to provide for the payment of the
benefits. If a Participant or Beneficiary believes that he or she is
entitled to the payment of benefits under this Agreement and no action is
forthcoming from the Committee or the Trustee, then the Participant or
Beneficiary may file a written claim for benefits with the Committee or
the Trustee.
13.11. APPEAL FOR DECISION OF COMMITTEE
(a) If any Participant or Beneficiary files a claim for benefits under
this Plan ("Claimant") and the claim is denied in whole or in
part, the Administrator shall give notice of the decision to the
Claimant in writing setting forth:
(i) the specific reasons for the denial;
(ii) a specific reference to pertinent provisions of the Plan,
if any, upon which the denial is based;
(iii) a description of any additional material or information
necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim with an
explanation of the necessity therefor; and
(iv) that any appeal the Claimant wishes to make of the adverse
determination must be in writing to the Committee within
seventy-five (75) days after receipt of the Administrator's
notice of denial of benefits. The Administrator's notice
must further advise the Claimant that failure to appeal the
action to the Committee in writing within the seventy-five
(75) day period will render the Committee's determination
final, binding and conclusive.
(b) The written notice shall be given to the Claimant as soon as
administratively feasible after the decision is made, but not
later than sixty (60) days after the claim is filed. The Claimant
shall have the right to be represented, to review pertinent
documents and to present written and oral evidence.
(c) If the Claimant should appeal to the Committee, the Claimant or
the duly authorized representative, may submit, in writing, issues
and comments the Claimant or the duly authorized representative
considers pertinent. The Committee shall render the decision on
the review and shall set forth the specific reasons for the
decision with specific references to pertinent provisions. The
Committee shall render the decision in writing within sixty (60)
days after receipt of the request for review unless special
circumstances, such as the need for a hearing, require an
extension which shall not exceed an additional sixty (60) days.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XIV
THE TRUSTEE
14.1. ACCEPTANCE OF TRUST
The Trustee accepts the Trust created under this Agreement and agrees to
perform the obligations imposed.
14.2. GENERAL TRUSTEE DUTIES
The Trustee is accountable to the Employer for the funds contributed to
the Trust Fund by the Employer but does not have any duty to ascertain
that the contributions received comply with Plan provisions. The Trustee
shall maintain adequate books and records reflecting all transactions
affecting the Trust Fund, which books and records shall be open at all
reasonable times for the inspection of the Employer and the Committee or
their authorized representatives. Furthermore, the Trustee shall furnish
the Committee, at least annually, statements showing the assets then held
in the Trust Fund and showing all transactions in the Trust Fund since
the last preceding statement. Each statement shall be conclusive and
final as between the Trustee and all interested parties unless the
Committee delivers written objections to the statement to the Trustee
within sixty (60) days after receipt of such statement.
14.3. BONDING
Any Trustee shall comply with the fiduciary bonding requirements of ERISA
Section 412 unless specifically exempt.
14.4. COMPENSATION
The Trustee shall be paid reasonable compensation commensurate with the
services and responsibilities involved under this Agreement from time to
time. The Employer shall pay the Trustee's compensation, but, if not so
paid, the Trustee may pay itself from the Trust Fund. No Trustee who
already receives full-time pay from the Employer shall receive any
compensation except as provided in the following Section.
14.5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES
The Trustee may employ counsel, brokers or agents and may pay for their
services and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the Trustee from
the Trust Fund.
14.6. INVESTMENT POWERS
The Employer designates the Trustee to administer the Trust as a
nondiscretionary Trustee. The Trustee will not have any discretion or
authority regarding investment of the Trust Fund, but must act solely as
a directed trustee of the funds contributed to it. Subject to any
limitations stated in this Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and
empowered, but not by way of limitation, with the following powers,
rights and duties, each of which the nondiscretionary Trustee exercises
solely as a directed trustee according to the written direction of the
Named Fiduciary (except to the extent a Plan asset is subject to the
control and management of a properly appointed Investment Manager or
subject to Committee or Participant direction of investment):
(a) To hold, manage, control, collect, and use the Trust Fund pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement under the direction of the Named
Fiduciary;
(b) To invest, reinvest, pay, expend or otherwise apply the Trust Fund
for any purpose, in any manner, and in any kind of property, real,
personal or mixed, wherever situated, whether or not productive of
income or whether consisting of wasting assets, of any description
whatsoever (including without limitation, oil, gas and other
mineral leases, royalties, overriding royalties, and other
interests, stocks, common or preferred, securities, bonds, notes
and debentures, convertible stock and securities [including
securities and stock of the Trustee or an affiliate to the extent
consistent with Section 113.055 of the Texas Trust Code], or any
other interest in any corporation, leaseholds, mortgages
[including, without limitation, any collective or part interest in
any bond and mortgages, or note and mortgages], certificates of
deposit or time deposits [including any deposit with any bank
serving as Trustee, or an affiliate, hereunder if the deposits
bear a reasonable rate of interest], shares of investment trusts
or companies and mutual funds, interests in partnerships and
trusts, interests or shares of "Massachusetts Business Trusts,"
and contracts), and to make any other investments the Named
Fiduciary deems appropriate. As the Named Fiduciary directs in
writing, the Trustee may make or hold investments of any part of
the Trust Fund in common or undivided interests with other persons
or entities, including an undivided interest in any property in
which the Trustee, individually or otherwise, may hold an
undivided interest, and may buy, sell and deal with any person or
entity regardless of any relationship of the Trustee or an
Employee to the person or entity unless the action would
constitute a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code.
Except as required by ERISA, the investment powers shall not be
restricted to any class of investments which fiduciaries under any
character of trust are permitted by law or any regulation to make,
and may be exercised without any regard to any requirements of
diversification of kind or amount;
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(c) To invest in insurance contracts at the direction of the Committee
or Participants subject to the limitations contained in this
Article regarding individual direction of investment and Article
XV regarding Contracts. To the extent directed by the Committee,
the Trustee may buy investment insurance contracts, and may buy
ordinary, group, and term life insurance contracts (and shall be
the sole and exclusive beneficiary under the contracts) on the
life of any officer or Employee of the Employer, which insurance,
and including proceeds, dividends or refunds thereof, shall be
treated as any other investment of the Trust Fund;
(d) To assume indebtedness, lend or borrow money in any manner,
including by joint and several obligations, with or without
security, under the terms, regardless of the duration of the Trust
created by this instrument, and to mortgage (including the making
of purchase money mortgages), pledge, or in any other manner
encumber all or any part of the Trust Fund, as the Named Fiduciary
may deem advisable;
(e) To exchange, sell, partition or lease (including leases for terms
exceeding the duration of the Trust created by this instrument)
for cash, property or credit, on the terms and conditions, all or
any part of the assets of the Trust Fund as the Named Fiduciary
directs in writing;
(f) To partition any property or interest held as part of the Trust
Fund, and to pay or receive money or property necessary or
advisable to equalize differences; to credit the Trust and to make
any distribution from the Trust Fund in cash or in kind (including
an undivided interest in any property), or both, as directed by
the Committee, and to value any property belonging to the Trust
Fund;
(g) To execute lease, pooling or unitization agreements (including
agreements extending beyond the terms of the Trust created by this
instrument) regarding any mineral or royalty interests held or
acquired by the Trust Fund; to drill or contract for the drilling
of wells for oil, gas or other minerals; to make dry hole or
bottom hole contributions; to enter into any operating agreements
regarding any mineral leases or properties held or acquired by the
Trust Fund as the Named Fiduciary directs in writing; and
generally, regarding oil, gas and other mineral properties and
operations, to enter into the agreements and to do all other
things (whether or not presently recognized as common or proper
practice) as the Named Fiduciary may deem to be advantageous;
(h) To vote in person or by proxy, with or without power of
substitution, any stocks, bonds or other securities held by it; to
exercise any options appurtenant to any stocks, bonds or other
securities for the conversion thereof into other stocks, bonds or
securities, or to exercise any rights to subscribe for additional
stocks, bonds or other securities and to make any and all
necessary payments thereof, if the exercise of any of these powers
is at the direction of the Named Fiduciary;
(i) To hold uninvested, in cash, without liability for interest
thereon, any reasonable amount of money until it shall be
reinvested or distributed from the Trust, and to deposit any cash
held in the Trust Fund in a bank account at reasonable interest as
the Named Fiduciary directs in writing;
(j) To cause any investment to be registered and held in the name of
the nondiscretionary Trustee one or more of its nominees, or in
the nominee of any system for the centralized handling of
securities, or in bearer or Federal Reserve Book-Entry form,
without any increase or decrease of liability as the Named
Fiduciary may deem best, with or without disclosing the custodial
relationship;
(k) To combine into a single trust (i) the assets of the Trust Fund
and (ii) the assets of any other trusts having trust provisions
substantially identical to the trust provisions in this Plan, if
each other trust is a "qualified trust" under Code Section 401(a)
and is maintained for another plan of the Employer; or to
administer jointly the Trust Fund and the assets of any other
trusts if deemed desirable by the Trustee;
(l) To begin, join in, maintain, defend, compromise, submit to
arbitration, settle, or abandon any litigation, claim, obligation
or controversy in favor of or against the Trust Fund, all in the
name of the Named Fiduciary and without the joinder of any
Participant except that the Trustee is not obliged or required to
do so unless indemnified to its satisfaction;
(m) To retain any funds or property subject to any dispute without
liability for the payment of interest, and to decline to make
payment or delivery of the funds or property until final
adjudication is made by a court of competent jurisdiction as the
Named Fiduciary directs in writing;
(n) To file all tax returns required of the Trustee;
(o) To furnish to the Named Fiduciary, the Employer, the
Administrator, and the Committee an annual statement of account
showing the condition of the Trust Fund and all investments,
receipts, disbursements, and other transactions effected by the
Trustee during the Plan Year covered by the statement and also
stating the assets of the Trust held at the end of the Plan Year,
which accounts are conclusive on all persons, including the Named
Fiduciary, the Employer, the Administrator and the Committee,
except for any act or transaction concerning which the Named
Fiduciary, the Employer, the Administrator or the Committee files
with the Trustee written exceptions or objections within ninety
(90) days after the receipt of the accounts or for which ERISA
authorizes a longer period within which to object;
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(p) To perform any and all other acts in its judgment the Named
Fiduciary deems necessary or appropriate for the proper and
advantageous management, investment and distribution of the Trust;
(q) To employ accountants, lawyers, brokers, banks, investment counsel
or other agents or employees and to delegate to them the duties,
rights, and powers of the Trustee (including the power to vote
shares of stock) that the Named Fiduciary deems advisable in
administering the Trust Fund;
(r) To appoint any person or corporation in any state of the United
States to act as Ancillary Trustee for any portion of the Trust
Fund as the Named Fiduciary directs in writing. Any Ancillary
Trustee shall have the rights, powers, duties and discretions
delegated to it by the Named Fiduciary, but shall exercise the
same subject to the limitations or further directions of the Named
Fiduciary as shall be specified in the instrument evidencing its
appointment. Any Ancillary Trustee shall be accountable solely to
the Named Fiduciary and shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation;
(s) To exercise all the rights, powers, options, and privileges now or
hereafter granted to trustees under the Texas Trust Code, and any
amendments thereto, except those which conflict with the terms of
this Agreement or ERISA, provided the exercise of any powers is at
the direction of the Named Fiduciary.
(t) To acquire or hold qualifying employer securities, defined in
ERISA Section 407(d)(5), or qualifying employer real property,
defined in ERISA Section 407(d)(4), of an Employer not to exceed a
stated percentage, if any, of the Trust Fund and such additional
authority as enumerated above under the description of the
Trustee's authority, to the extent necessary and convenient to
carry out its duties.
14.7. INVESTMENT OF EMPLOYER NON-ELECTIVE CONTRIBUTION
Such portion of the Employer Non-Elective Contributions in cash, to the
extent directed by the Board of Directors of the Employer, shall be
invested by the Trustee in Employer Securities, as defined in Section
1.20, as soon as administratively feasible after receipt.
14.8. APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN/NONDISCRETIONARY TRUSTEE
(a) APPOINTMENT. The Employer may appoint a Custodian under the Plan,
the acceptance by the Custodian indicated on the execution page of
this Agreement. A Custodian has the same powers, rights, and
duties as a nondiscretionary Trustee, described in Section 14.6.
The Custodian accepts the terms of the Plan and Trust by executing
the Agreement. Any reference in the Plan to a Trustee also is a
reference to a Custodian where the context of the Plan dictates.
A limitation of the Trustee's liability by Plan provision also
acts as a limitation of the Custodian's liability. Any action
taken by the Custodian at the discretionary Trustee's direction
satisfies any provision in the Plan referring to the Trustee's
taking that action.
(b) MODIFICATION OF POWERS/LIMITED RESPONSIBILITY. The Employer and
the Custodian or nondiscretionary Trustee, by letter agreement,
may limit the powers of the Custodian or nondiscretionary Trustee
to any combination of powers listed within Section 14.6. If there
is a Custodian or a nondiscretionary Trustee under the Employer's
Plan, then the Employer, in adopting this Plan acknowledges the
Custodian or nondiscretionary Trustee has no discretion concerning
the investment or re-investment of the Trust Fund and that the
Custodian or nondiscretionary Trustee is acting solely as
custodian or as directed trustee with respect to the assets
comprising the Trust Fund.
(c) LIMITATION OF POWERS OF CERTAIN CUSTODIANS. If a Custodian is a
bank which, under its governing state law, does not possess trust
powers, then paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), and (k) of
Section 14.6 do not apply to that bank and that bank only has the
power and authority to exercise the remaining powers, rights and
duties under Section 14.6.
(d) NAMED FIDUCIARY/LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF NONDISCRETIONARY
TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN. Under a nondiscretionary Trustee
designation, the Named Fiduciary under the Employer's Plan has the
sole responsibility for the management and control of the
Employer's Trust Fund, except regarding a Plan asset under the
control or direction of a properly appointed Investment Manager or
regarding a Plan asset properly subject to Participant or
Committee direction of investment. If the Employer appoints a
Custodian, the Named Fiduciary is the discretionary Trustee.
Under a nondiscretionary Trustee designation, unless the Employer
designates in writing another person or persons to serve as Named
Fiduciary, the Named Fiduciary under the Plan is the president of
a corporate Employer, the managing partner of a partnership
Employer or the sole proprietor, as appropriate. The Named
Fiduciary will exercise its management and control of the Trust
Fund through its written direction to the nondiscretionary Trustee
or to the Custodian, whichever applies to the Employer's Plan.
The nondiscretionary Trustee or Custodian has no duty to review or
to make recommendations regarding investments made at the written
direction of the Named Fiduciary. The nondiscretionary Trustee or
Custodian must retain any investment obtained at the written
direction of the Named Fiduciary until further directed in writing
by the Named Fiduciary to dispose of the investment. The
nondiscretionary Trustee or Custodian is not liable in any manner
or for any reason for making, retaining or disposing of any
investment pursuant to any written direction described in this
paragraph. Furthermore, the Employer agrees to indemnify and to
hold the nondiscretionary Trustee or Custodian harmless from any
damages, costs or expenses, including reasonable counsel fees,
which the nondiscretionary Trustee or Custodian may incur as a
result of any claim asserted against the nondiscretionary Trustee,
the Custodian or the Trust arising out of the nondiscretionary
Trustee's or Custodian's compliance with any written direction
described in this paragraph.
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14.9. INVESTMENT IN COMMON TRUST FUND AND GROUP TRUST FUND
The Trustee is authorized, pursuant to written directions of the Named
Fiduciary, to invest all or any portion of the assets comprising the
Trust Fund in any common trust fund which at the time of the investment
provides for the pooling of the assets of plans qualified under Code
Section 401(a). The authorization applies solely to a common trust fund
the Trustee, any affiliate, or its agent, maintains and only if the
common trust fund: (a) is exempt from taxation under Code Section 584 or
under Code Section 501(a); (b) expressly limits participation to pension
and profit sharing trusts which are exempt under Code Section 501(a) for
qualifying under Code Section 401(a); (c) prohibits that part of its
corpus or income which equitably belongs to any participant trust from
being used for or diverted to any purposes other than for the exclusive
benefit of the Employees or their Beneficiaries who are entitled to
benefits under such participating trust; (d) prohibits assignment by
participating trust of any part of its equity or interest in the group
trust; and (e) the sponsor of the group trust created or organized the
group trust in the United States and maintains the group trust at all
times as a domestic trust in the United States. The provisions of the
common trust fund agreement, as amended by the Trustee from time to time,
are by this reference incorporated within this Agreement. The provisions
of the common trust fund shall govern any investment of Plan assets in
that fund. In addition, the Trustee shall have the power, pursuant to
written directions of the Named Fiduciary, to invest all or any part of
the Trust Fund in any single, collective, or common trust fund permitted
for employee benefit plans qualified under Code Section 401(a), as
amended, maintained by the Trustee or its affiliates. Specifically, the
Trustee may invest and reinvest the assets transferred to it in an
interest in any group trust fund that has been or shall be created and
maintained by the Trustee or its affiliates as trustee for the collective
investment of funds of trust for employee benefit plans qualified under
Code Section 401(a), as amended, and to the extent required by Revenue
Ruling 81-100 and further to the extent consistent with this Agreement,
the instrument creating such trust fund, together with any amendments
thereto, is hereby incorporated and made a part of this Agreement.
14.10. RELIANCE BY TRUSTEE
The Trustee may rely on any notice, certificate, letter, telegram,
facsimile or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine or on
any evidence believed by it to be sufficient in making any payment or in
taking any action whatsoever under this Agreement.
14.11. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY AMONG TRUSTEES
At any time and from time to time, the Trustee is authorized to delegate
to any Co-Trustee the exercise of any or all powers or duties,
discretionary or otherwise, and to revoke any delegation at will. The
delegation of any power, and also the revocation of any delegation, shall
be evidenced by an instrument in writing, executed and acknowledged and
delivered to the Co-Trustee to whom the power or duty may have been
delegated. So long as any delegation is in effect, any of the powers or
duties, discretionary or otherwise, thereby granted and so delegated may
be exercised or carried out and action may be taken by the Co-Trustee
with the same force and effect as if the Trustee joined in the exercise
of the power and/or taking of the action. Any person or corporation
dealing with the Trustee may rely on the certification of the Co-Trustee
to whom the power or duty has been delegated that the Co-Trustee has full
authority to act.
14.12. APPOINTMENT OF ANCILLARY TRUSTEE
Whenever and as often as the Named Fiduciary deems such action desirable,
the Trustee may appoint, by written instrument, pursuant to written
directions of the Named Fiduciary, any person or corporation in any state
of the United States to act as Ancillary Trustee with respect to any
portion of the Trust Fund assets then held or about to be acquired on
behalf of the Trustee. Each Ancillary Trustee shall have the rights,
duties and discretionary powers delegated to it by the Trustee, but shall
exercise them subject to the limitations or further directions of the
Trustee as shall be specified in the instrument evidencing its
appointment. The Ancillary Trustee may resign or may be removed by the
Trustee, as directed by the Named Fiduciary, regarding all or any portion
of the assets so held at any time or from time to time, by written
instrument delivered one to the other, and the Trustee may thereupon
appoint another Ancillary Trustee or successor, as directed by the Named
Fiduciary, to whom the assets shall be transferred, or may itself receive
the assets in termination of the ancillary trusteeship to that extent.
The Ancillary Trustee shall be accountable solely to the Trustee and
shall be entitled to reasonable compensation.
14.13. REMOVAL OR RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEE
The Employer may remove any Trustee at any time by sixty (60) days
written notice to the Trustee, and any Trustee may resign at any time by
sixty (60) days written notice to the Employer. Upon the removal or
resignation of the Trustee, the Employer shall appoint a Successor
Trustee. The receipt by the Successor Trustee of all securities,
property and money then held hereunder shall be a full and complete
acquittance and discharge of the Trustee who has been removed or
resigned.
14.14. MULTIPLE TRUSTEES
If more than two persons act as Trustee, a decision of the majority of
such persons controls with respect to any decision regarding the
administration or investment of the Trust Fund, or any portion of the
Trust Fund with respect to which such persons act as Trustee. However,
the signature of only one Trustee is necessary to effect any transaction
on behalf of the Trust.
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14.15. SEPARATE INVESTMENT FUNDS
(a) The Plan Committee will select the Investment Funds available
under the Plan in a separate written Investment Policy and is
delegated the authority to direct the Trustee to invest Trust
assets in one or more of such Investment Funds. The Committee
shall maintain such Investment Funds in accordance with the
Employer's written Investment Policy. The Investment Funds
selected by the Committee shall be communicated to Participants in
writing. The number and composition of the Investment Funds may
be changed from time to time. The Trustee may establish
reasonable limits on the number of Investment Funds as well as the
acceptable assets for any such Investment Fund. Each of the
Investment Funds may be comprised of any of the following:
(i) shares of a registered investment company, whether or not
the Trustee or any of its affiliates is an advisor to, or
other service provider to, such company;
(ii) collective investment funds maintained by the Trustee, or
any other fiduciary to the Plan, which are available for
investment by trusts which are qualified under Code
Sections 401(a) and 501(a);
(iii) individual equity and fixed income securities which are
readily tradeable on the open market;
(iv) guaranteed investment contracts issued by a bank or
insurance company;
(v) Employer Securities.
All Individual Accounts shall be allocated by the Committee to the
Plan's Investment Funds specified in a separate written Investment
Policy. Dividends, interest and other distributions shall be
reinvested in the same Investment Fund from which received.
Except as provided hereafter in this Section, the assets of each
such Investment Fund shall be invested exclusively in shares of
the registered investment company designated by the Board,
provided that such shares constitute securities described in ERISA
Section 401(b)(1). Amounts in any such Investment Fund in amounts
estimated by the Trustee to be needed for cash withdrawals, or in
amounts too small to be reasonably invested, or in amounts which
the Trustee deems to be in the best interest of the Participants,
may be retained by the Trustee in cash or invested temporarily.
(b) Each Participant shall by written or telephonic direction to the
Committee, direct that the contributions made to his or her
accounts for which the Participant may direct investments be
invested in one or more of the Investment Funds chosen by the
Employer in a separate written Investment Policy as investment
vehicles for the Trust Fund. The Participant's direction shall
include the percentage of his or her accounts to be invested pro
rata in each such Investment Fund.
(c) A Participant may change an investment direction with respect to
future contributions. A Participant may elect to transfer all or
a portion of such Participant's interest in each Investment Fund
(based on the value of such interest on the date immediately
preceding such election) to any other of the Investment Funds
selected by the Employer.
14.16. COMPOSITION AND MAXIMUM PERMITTED INVESTMENT IN EMPLOYER SECURITIES
The Employer Securities Fund shall be comprised of Employer Securities
and sufficient deposit or money market type assets to handle the Fund's
liquidity and disbursement needs. The Fund may be as large as necessary
to comply with Participants' and Beneficiaries' investment elections.
14.17. INDIVIDUAL DIRECTION OF INVESTMENT
A Participant may elect to have all or any portion of his Individual
Accounts invested in one or more Investment Funds established hereunder;
provided, however, that such election shall apply either equally to
existing Individual Accounts, or current contributions made on behalf of
or by Participants or both, as the Participant shall so direct. Such
election shall be expressed in terms of the percentage amount of the
Individual Accounts to be allocated pro rata to each Investment Fund. To
the extent a Participant fails to direct the investment of all or any
portion of his account, it shall be invested in the Investment Fund or
Funds selected by the Committee. Upon a Participant's termination of
employment or cessation of participation for any reason, including death,
total and permanent disability or retirement, if payment of such
Participant's Individual Accounts is to be deferred, such Participant
shall no longer have the right to direct the investment of his Individual
Accounts. Individual Accounts shall be invested in the Investment
Fund(s) selected by the Committee.
14.18. CHANGE OF INVESTMENT DESIGNATION
A Participant may change telephonically such Participant's designation of
the manner for investment of such Participant's existing Individual
Accounts or current contributions made on behalf of or by the Participant
or both to any other manner permitted hereunder. The change shall be
applicable to contributions made after the date the change was entered in
the voice response system, or to the interest of the Participant in each
Investment Fund, as of the date the application for change shall have
become effective, as the case may be. In order to comply with applicable
federal or state securities laws, the Committee may establish such rules
with respect to
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the change of investment designation by participants as it shall deem
necessary or advisable to prevent possible violations of such laws.
14.19. VALUATION OF INVESTMENT FUNDS AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
(a) As of each Accounting Period ending on the Accounting Date, the
Committee shall determine the fair market value of each Investment
Fund being administered by the Trustee. With respect to each such
Investment Fund, the Committee shall determine (a) the change in
value between the current Accounting Period and the then last
preceding Accounting Period, (b) the net gain or loss resulting
from expenses paid (including fees and expenses, if any, which are
to be charged to such Fund) and (c) realized and unrealized gains
and losses.
The transfer of funds to or from an Investment Fund pursuant to
Section 14.17 and payments, distributions and withdrawals from an
Investment Fund to provide benefits under the Plan for
Participants or Beneficiaries shall not be deemed to be gains,
expenses or losses of an Investment Fund.
After each Accounting Period, the Committee shall allocate the net
gain or loss of each Investment Fund on the Accounting Date to the
accounts of Participants participating in such Investment Fund on
such Accounting Date. Contributions and rollovers received and
credited to Participants' accounts as of such Accounting Date, or
as of an earlier date since the last preceding Accounting Period
shall not be considered in allocating gains or losses allocated to
Participants' accounts.
(b) The reasonable and equitable decision of the Committee as to the
value of each Investment Fund, and of any Individual Account as of
each Accounting Period shall be conclusive and binding upon all
persons having any interest, direct or indirect, in the Investment
Funds or in any account.
14.20. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICER/DIRECTOR TRUSTEE
The Employer shall indemnify and save harmless any Trustee who is an
Officer or Director of the Employer ("Officer/Director Trustee") from and
against any and all loss resulting from liability to which the Trustee
may be subjected by reason of any act or conduct (except willful
misconduct or gross negligence unless done with knowledge and consent or
at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Employer) in its
official capacity in the administration of the Plan and Trust, including
all court costs and other expenses reasonably incurred in the
Officer/Director Trustee's defense, in the event that the Employer fails
to provide such defense. The indemnification provisions of this Section
do not relieve the Trustee from any liability under ERISA that may result
from breach of a fiduciary duty. The indemnification provisions of this
Section do not relieve the Officer/Director Trustee from any liability
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can
be taken pursuant to a final judgment that the actions or omissions were
the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct, unless such actions
or omissions were done with the knowledge and consent or at the direction
of the Board of Directors of the Employer. The Officer/Director Trustee
and the Employer may execute a letter agreement further delineating the
indemnification agreement of this Section, provided that the letter
agreement is consistent with and does not violate ERISA and Texas law.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XV
INSURANCE CONTRACTS
15.1. INVESTMENT IN INSURANCE CONTRACTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST FUND
At the written direction of the Committee, the Trustee shall have the
right to apply for and pay premiums on Contracts for the benefit of the
Trust Fund as a whole. The Contracts may be on the lives of any persons
in whom there is an insurable interest, including Participants. The
Employer shall direct the Trustee regarding the insurance company and
insurance agent through which the Trustee shall purchase the Contracts,
the amount of the coverage and the applicable dividend plan.
15.2. OWNERSHIP OF CONTRACTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST FUND
(a) Each application for a policy, and the policies themselves, must
designate the Trustee as sole owner, with the right reserved to
the Trustee to exercise any right or option contained in the
policies, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
The Trustee must be the named beneficiary of the insured for the
Trust Fund.
(b) All Contracts owned by the Trustee for the benefit of the Trust
Fund as a whole shall be treated as investments of the Trust Fund.
The cash value of the Contracts shall be used in valuing the Trust
Fund, and all premiums paid thereon by the Trustee shall be
charged to the Trust Fund and shall not be charged to any
Individual Accounts. All dividends, death benefits and other
payments actually received by the Trustee under the Contracts
shall be credited to the Trust Fund, the same as proceeds derived
from the sale of an asset held under this Agreement.
15.3. INVESTMENT IN INSURANCE CONTRACTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTICIPANT
If the Employer shall permit, each Participant shall have the right to
request that the Committee direct the Trustee to purchase one (1) or more
Contracts for the benefit of an Individual Account of the Participant,
subject to the following restrictions:
(a) If only ordinary life insurance contracts are purchased, the
aggregate premiums payable thereon in the case of each Participant
shall not exceed forty-nine percent (49%) of the total
contributions allocated to the Individual Account of the
Participant.
(b) If only term life, accident and/or health insurance contracts
(including hospitalization, major medical or similar types of
insurance) are purchased, the aggregate premiums payable thereon
in the case of each Participant shall not exceed twenty-five
percent (25%) of the total Contributions allocated to the
Individual Account of the Participant.
(c) If both ordinary life and term life, accident and/or health
insurance contracts are purchased, the amount expended for the
term life, accident and/or health insurance premiums plus one-half
(1/2) of the amount expended for the ordinary life insurance
premiums shall not exceed, in the aggregate, twenty-five percent
(25%) of the total Contributions allocated to the Individual
Account of the Participant.
(d) The payment of the premiums thereon shall be reasonably assured,
taking into consideration the then credit balance in the
Participant's Individual Account and the probable sums to be
credited thereto in the future.
(e) Any Contract which provides primarily life insurance protection
shall be one which can be converted at or before retirement of the
Participant to provide periodic income payable to him on
retirement, but provided that the periodic income cannot be paid
in the form of a life annuity. When a Contract is obtained, the
Trustee shall be required to convert the entire value of the
Contract at or before retirement into cash, or to provide periodic
income so that no portion of the value may be used to continue
life insurance protection beyond retirement; or the Trustee may,
at the option of the Participant, distribute the entire Contract
to the Participant.
(f) Any Contract may contain a waiver of premium benefit if and when
the insured becomes disabled. The cost of the benefits may be
paid either by the Participant or by the Trustee, but if the cost
will be paid by the Trustee, the requirements of paragraphs (a),
(b) and (c) of this Section shall remain fully applicable, and no
cost of the waiver of premium benefit shall be paid by the Trustee
which would violate the restrictions.
(g) The incidental insurance benefits requirement does not apply to
the Plan if the Plan purchases life insurance benefits only from
Employer Contributions accumulated in the Participant's Individual
Account for at least two years measured from the Allocation Date.
15.4. OWNERSHIP OF CONTRACTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF A PARTICIPANT
(a) Each application for a policy, and the policies themselves, must
designate the Trustee as sole owner, with the right reserved to
the Trustee to exercise any right or option contained in the
policies, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
The Trustee must be the named beneficiary for the Individual
Account of the insured Participant.
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(b) All Contracts owned by the Trustee for the individual benefit of a
Participant shall be noted on the Participant's Individual
Accounts, but so long as the individual remains a Participant, the
Contracts shall be treated as having no value for the Individual
Accounts. All dividends and other payments actually received by
the Trustee on any Contract shall be credited to the Individual
Account of the Participant for whose individual benefit the
Contract is held. Contracts for the individual benefit of
Participants may be continued after Normal Retirement Date during
the period of continued employment of a Participant who elects not
to retire, if the preceding limitations on the protection of funds
so expendable are applied.
(c) All premiums paid by the Trustee on Contracts held under this
Agreement for the individual benefit of Participants shall be
charged against the Individual Account of the respective
Participants for whom the Contracts are held; however, the Trustee
shall not pay a premium unless the balance in the Individual
Account to be charged is sufficient to pay the premium. The
premium first shall be charged against the Participant
Contribution Account until the Account is reduced to zero (0), and
thereafter against the Employer Contribution Account of the
Participant. If the balance is not sufficient to pay a premium
when due, the Trustee shall notify the Committee of that fact and
shall take the action on the Contract that the Committee shall
direct.
(d) Proceeds of Contracts paid to the Participant's Individual Account
under this Article are subject to the distribution requirements of
Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX and X. The Trustee will not retain any
proceeds for the benefit of the Trust.
15.5. PAYMENT OF INSURANCE PREMIUMS
The Trustee shall take the action regarding all Contracts held under the
Plan that the Committee may from time to time direct in writing. Unless
the Committee directs otherwise, the Trustee may pay the net premium due
on any Contract by applying any available dividend to reduce the premium.
15.6. DUTIES OF INSURANCE COMPANY
(a) No insurance company is a party to this Agreement nor shall any
insurance company be responsible for the validity of this
Agreement. No insurance company is required to examine the terms
of this Agreement nor be responsible for any action taken by the
Trustee.
(b) Any Insurance Company issuing a Contract or Contracts under this
Agreement shall be fully protected in dealing with the Trustee and
shall not be required to ascertain whether the Trustee is acting
pursuant to this Agreement. For the purpose of making application
to an insurance company and in the exercise of any right or option
contained in any policy, the insurance company may rely on the
signature of the Trustee and shall be saved harmless and
completely discharged in acting at the direction and authorization
of the Trustee. An insurance company shall be discharged from all
liability for any amount paid to the Trustee or paid pursuant to
the direction of the Trustee, and it shall not be obliged to see
to the distribution or further application of any monies it so
pays.
15.7. EXECUTION OF CONTRACTS
For convenience of administration, the Trustee and the Committee,
respectively, may designate one of their number to sign all applications
and other forms required by any Insurance Company issuing Contracts under
this Agreement, and the signature of any individual Trustee or Committee
member in regard to the Insurance Company applications and forms shall be
binding on the Trust and may be relied on by the Insurance Company.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XVI
PARTICIPANT LOANS
16.1. PARTICIPANT LOAN PROGRAM
This Plan authorizes the Trustee to make loans on a nondiscriminatory
basis to a Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the loan policy
established by the Committee, provided (a) the loan policy satisfies the
requirements of Section 12.3; (b) loans are available to all Participants
and Beneficiaries on a reasonably equivalent basis and are not available
in a greater amount for Highly Compensated Employees than for other
Employees; (c) any loan is adequately secured and bears a reasonable rate
of interest; (d) the loan provides for repayment within a specified time;
(e) the default provisions of the note prohibit offset of the
Participant's Nonforfeitable Accrued Benefit prior to the time the
Trustee otherwise would distribute the Participant's Nonforfeitable
Accrued Benefit; (f) the amount of the loan does not exceed (at the time
the Plan extends the loan) the present value of the Participant's
Nonforfeitable Accrued Benefit; and (g) the loan otherwise conforms to
the exemption provided by Code Section 4975(d)(1). If the joint and
survivor requirements of Article VI apply to the Participant, the
Participant may not pledge any portion of his or her Accrued Benefit as
security for a loan made after August 18, 1985, unless, within the 90-day
period ending on the date the pledge becomes effective, the Participant's
spouse, if any, consents (in a manner described in Section 6.5 other than
the requirement relating to the consent of a subsequent spouse) to the
security or, by separate consent, to an increase in the amount of
security. If the Employer is an unincorporated trade or business, a
Participant who is an Owner-Employee may not receive a loan from the
Plan, unless he or she has obtained a prohibited transaction exemption
from the Department of Labor. If the Employer is an "S Corporation," a
Participant who is a shareholder-employee (an employee or an officer)
who, at any time during the Employer's taxable year, owns more than 5%,
either directly or by attribution under Code Section 318(a)(1), of the
Employer's outstanding stock may not receive a loan from the Plan, unless
he has obtained a prohibited transaction exemption from the Department of
Labor. If the Employer is not an unincorporated trade or business nor an
"S Corporation," this Section does not impose any restrictions on the
class of Participants eligible for a loan from the Plan.
16.2. LOAN APPLICATION
(a) APPLICANTS. Any Plan Participant may apply for a loan from the
Plan. For purposes of this Section, "Participant" means any
Participant, Former Participant or Beneficiary who is a party in
interest, determined under ERISA Section 3(14) with respect to the
Plan. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, an
Owner-Employee or Shareholder-Employee, as these terms are defined
in Article I, or a member of the family of the Owner-Employee or
Shareholder-Employee, shall not be eligible to apply for or
receive a Participant loan, unless an administrative exemption
from the Prohibited Transaction Rules under ERISA has been granted
in advance of the loan and only under the terms and conditions of
the written administrative exemption issued by the U. S.
Department of Labor. For purposes of this paragraph, "member of
the family" means the individual's brothers and sisters (whether
by whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants
under Code Section 267(c)(4).
(b) APPLICATION FORM. All Participants shall have equal rights to
obtain a Participant loan, and the Committee shall not favor
Participants who are officers, shareholders or Highly Compensated
Employees. A Participant must apply for each loan in writing on
an application form provided by the Committee which specifies the
desired amount, requested duration and security for the loan.
16.3. LOAN APPROVAL
The Committee shall review each loan application and, if the Participant
satisfies all conditions established by this Article, the Committee shall
approve the loan. The Committee shall not approve any loan if, based on
the information at its disposal, it is reasonably likely that the
Participant will not repay the loan under its terms.
16.4. LIMITATION ON TYPE OF LOAN
A Participant loan may be approved for one (1) or any combination of the
following purposes:
(a) expenses incurred for or necessary to obtain medical care,
described in Code Section 213(d), of the Employee, the Employee's
spouse, children, or dependents;
(b) costs directly related to the purchase, excluding mortgage
payments, of a principal residence for the Employee;
(c) payment of tuition and related educational fees for the next
twelve (12) months of post-secondary education for the Employee,
the Employee's spouse, children or dependents; or
(d) payment necessary to prevent the eviction of the Employee from, or
a foreclosure on the mortgage of, the Employee's principal
residence.
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16.5. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF LOAN
The Committee will approve a Participant loan only if the loan, plus the
current outstanding balance of all other outstanding loans to the
Participant, does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the Participant's
vested Account Balance on the date of the loan. The maximum aggregate
dollar amount of loans outstanding to any Participant may not exceed
$50,000, considering all Participant loans from other employer qualified
plans, reduced by the excess of the Participant's highest outstanding
Participant loan balance during the twelve (12) month period ending on
the date of the loan over the Participant's current outstanding
Participant loan balance on the date of the loan. The minimum loan
amount that the Committee may approve is $1,000.00.
16.6. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING LOANS
A Participant may have no more than two (2) loans outstanding at any
time.
16.7. EVIDENCE OF LOAN
The Committee shall document every loan in the form of a promissory note
signed by the Participant for the face amount of the loan bearing a
commercially reasonable rate of interest.
16.8. TERMS OF LOAN
(a) INTEREST RATE. The Committee will determine the applicable
interest rate by obtaining at least one (1) quote from a financial
institution, chosen by the Committee, that is in the business of
lending money. The quote must address the term of the loan, the
security on the loan, the Participant's creditworthiness; whether
the interest rate is adjustable during the term of the loan, and
the intended use of the loan proceeds. The quote must reflect a
commercially reasonable rate for the geographical region in which
the Participant lives. The Committee must reevaluate interest
rates for loans made more than one (1) month since the most recent
Participant loan made by the Committee. The interest rate may be
fixed or adjustable, as negotiated between the Committee and the
Participant. The Committee will determine whether the interest
rate is commercially reasonable when it approves the loan and at
each scheduled adjustment, if any.
(b) PAYMENT. The loan must provide for at least quarterly payments
under a level amortization schedule.
(c) TERM. The term for repayment of the loan will be fixed by the
Committee. The term shall not be greater than five (5) years
unless the loan is a home loan. A home loan may be repaid over a
term not exceeding a period that is commercially reasonable. A
home loan is a Participant loan used to acquire a dwelling which,
within a reasonable time, the Participant will use as a principal
residence.
(d) LOAN RENEWAL. The Trustee may renew any loan against a vested
Account Balance except that for purposes of the limitations
contained in Section 16.5, the outstanding balance of any loan
which is renegotiated, extended, renewed, or revised shall be
treated as an amount received as a loan on the date of the
renegotiation, extension, renewal, or revision.
16.9. SECURITY FOR LOAN
(a) FORM
(i) A Participant must secure each loan with an irrevocable
pledge and assignment of the Participant's Account Balance
in the form provided by the Committee; and
(ii) A Participant shall, as the Committee may require, secure
each loan with additional security the Committee accepts as
adequate.
(b) ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL. The Committee subsequently may request the
Participant to secure each loan with additional collateral or
substitute collateral if the original collateral is determined to
be inadequate.
16.10. DEFAULT EVENTS
The Committee shall treat a Participant loan in default:
(a) if any scheduled payment remains unpaid more than ninety (90)
days;
(b) upon the making or furnishing of any representation or statement
to the Plan by or on behalf of the Participant which proves to
have been false in any material respect when made or furnished;
(c) upon the loss, theft, damage, destruction, sale or encumbrance to
or of any of the collateral, or the making of any levy seizure or
attachment thereof or thereon; or
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(d) upon the insolvency, business failure, appointment of receiver of
any part of the property of, assignment for the benefit of
creditors by, or the commencement of any proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency laws of, by or against the Participant,
unless the Participant provides reasonable assurance to the Plan
Committee that the ability of the Participant to repay the loan
has not been substantially impaired and the obligation of the
Participant to repay the loan will not be affected by any
proceeding under applicable bankruptcy law.
The Participant will make the opportunity to repay the loan, restore the
loan to current status by paying any delinquent payments plus interest
or, request distribution of the note, if and when the Participant is
entitled to a Plan distribution. If the loan remains in default, the
Committee may foreclose on other security or offset the Participant's
vested account balance by the outstanding balance of the loan, if and
when the Participant is entitled to a Plan distribution. If the amount
of any payment or distribution is inadequate to repay the remaining
balance of the note, the Participant shall be liable for any unpaid
principal and accrued interest payment on the balance due.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles VI through IX, if a
Participant shall be in default under the terms of any Participant loans
held by the Plan, then, for purposes of the Trustee's ability to
foreclose, the Participant's Account, to the extent of such default,
shall be considered immediately distributable at any time after the
Participant's separation from Service with the Employer.
16.11. PARTICIPANT DIRECTED INVESTMENT
The Committee shall administer any Participant loan as a Participant
directed investment of that portion of the Participant's vested Account
Balance equal to the outstanding principal balance of the loan. The Plan
will credit that portion of the Participant's interest with the interest
earned on the note and with principal payments received. The Plan will
charge that portion of the Participant's Account Balance with expenses
directly related to the loan application, investigation of the
Participant's credit, maintenance and collection of the note.
16.12. PROCEDURE ON BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION
When a Participant's vested benefits are distributable, the Trustee first
shall offset any amount to which a Participant or Beneficiary otherwise
shall be entitled by the outstanding balance of any loan made by the
Participant.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XVII
ROLLOVERS, MERGERS, DIRECT TRANSFERS
17.1. PARTICIPANT ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS
Any Participant who has the Employer's written consent and who has filed
with the Trustee the form prescribed by the Committee may contribute cash
or other property to the Trust other than as a voluntary contribution if
the contribution is a Rollover Contribution which the Code permits an
Employee to transfer either directly or indirectly from one qualified
plan to another qualified plan. Before accepting a Rollover
Contribution, the Employer or Trustee may require an Employee to furnish
satisfactory evidence that the proposed transfer is in fact a Rollover
Contribution which the Code permits an Employee to make to a qualified
plan. A Rollover Contribution is not an Annual Addition.
An eligible Employee, prior to satisfying the Plan's conditions, may make
a Rollover Contribution to the Trust to the same extent and in the same
manner as a Participant. If an Employee makes a Rollover Contribution to
the Trust prior to satisfying the Plan's eligibility conditions, the
Committee and Trustee must treat the Employee as a Participant for all
purposes of the Plan except the Employee is not a Participant for
purposes of sharing in Employer Contributions or Participant Forfeitures
under the Plan until the Employee actually becomes a Participant in the
Plan. If the Employee has a separation from Service prior to becoming a
Participant, the Trustee will distribute the Rollover Account to the
Participant as if it were an Employer Contribution Account.
For any Rollover Contribution, the following requirements shall be met:
(a) The Committee shall maintain a Participant's Rollover
Contributions in a separate Rollover Account;
(b) The Employer will direct the Trustee to invest the Rollover
Contribution in a segregated investment Rollover Account for the
Participant's sole benefit unless the Employer directs the Trustee
to invest the Rollover Contribution as part of the Trust Fund.
The Trustee will not have any investment responsibility for a
Participant's segregated Rollover Account. The Participant,
however, from time to time, may direct the Trustee in writing as
to the investment of the segregated Rollover Account in property,
or property interests, of any kind, real, personal or mixed;
provided however, the Participant may not direct the Trustee to
make loans to the Employer. A Participant's segregated Rollover
Account alone will bear any extraordinary expenses resulting from
investments made at the direction of the Participant. As of the
Accounting Date, or other Valuation Date, for each Plan Year, the
Committee will allocate and credit the net income or charge the
net loss from a Participant's segregated Rollover Account and
credit or charge respectively the increase or decrease in the fair
market value of the assets of a segregated Rollover Account solely
to that Rollover Account. The Trustee is not liable nor
responsible for any loss resulting to any Beneficiary, nor to any
Participant, because of any sale or investment made or other
action taken pursuant to and in accordance with the direction of
the Participant. In all other respects, the Trustee will hold,
administer and distribute a Rollover Contribution in the same
manner as any Employer Contribution made to the Trust Fund.
(c) A Participant's Rollover Contributions shall not be forfeitable
nor reduce in any way the obligations of the Employer under this
Agreement.
17.2. MERGER AND DIRECT TRANSFER
The Employer possesses the specific authority to enter into merger
agreements or direct transfer of assets agreements with the trustees of
other retirement plans described in Code Section 401(a), including an
Elective Transfer defined in Section 17.3, and to accept the direct
transfer of plan assets or to transfer plan assets, as a party to any
agreement. Further, the Employer may permit the transfer of plan assets
to an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity.
However, the Employer, before any merger or direct transfer is
consummated, shall be satisfied that the holding of any transferred
assets is permitted by the transferee trusts. When the Trustee is so
satisfied, the Trustee shall accept the direct transfer of plan assets or
shall cause to be transferred the assets directed to be transferred and
as appropriate shall direct the insurance company to transfer any
Contracts held by it to the new Trustee. The Employer may direct the
Trustee to accept a direct transfer of plan assets on behalf of an
Employee prior to the date the Employee satisfies the Plan's eligibility
conditions. If the Employer directs the Trustee to accept a direct
transfer of plan assets, the Committee and Trustee must treat the
Employee as a Participant for all purposes of the Plan except that the
Employee is not a Participant for purposes of sharing in Employer
Contributions or Participant Forfeitures under the Plan until the
Employee actually becomes a Participant in the Plan.
The Employer may not consent to, or be a party to, any merger or
consolidation with another plan or to a transfer of assets and
liabilities to another plan, unless, immediately after the merger,
consolidation or transfer the surviving plan provides each Participant a
benefit equal to or greater than the benefit each Participant would have
received had the plan terminated immediately before the merger,
consolidation or transfer.
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17.3. CERTAIN ROLLOVERS, MERGERS AND DIRECT TRANSFERS PROHIBITED
Notwithstanding any contrary provision, neither the Employer nor the
Trustee, after August 9, 1988, may consent to or be a party to a
rollover, merger, consolidation or transfer of assets from a qualified
plan which is required to provide benefits in the form of a joint and
survivor annuity under Code Section 417, except with respect to an
Elective Transfer, or unless the transferred benefits are in the form of
paid-up individual annuity contracts guaranteeing the payment of the
transferred benefits under the terms of the transferor plan and in a
manner consistent with the Code and ERISA. The Employer will direct the
Trustee to hold, administer and distribute the transferred assets as a
part of the Trust Fund and to maintain a separate Employer Contribution
Account for the benefit of the Employee on whose behalf the Trustee
accepted the transfer to reflect the value of the transferred assets.
Unless a transfer of assets to this Plan is an Elective Transfer, the
Plan will preserve all Code Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits with
respect to those transferred assets, in the manner described in Section
11.2(c)(iii). A transfer is an Elective Transfer if: (a) the transfer
satisfies Section 17.2; (b) the transfer is voluntary, under a fully
informed election by the Participant; (c) the Participant has an
alternative that retains his or her Code Section 411(d)(6) protected
benefits, including an option to leave the benefit in the transferor
plan, if that plan is not terminating; (d) the transfer satisfies the
applicable spousal consent requirements of the Code; (e) the transferor
plan satisfies the joint and survivor notice requirements of the Code, if
the Participant's transferred benefit is subject to those requirements;
(f) the Participant has a right to immediate distribution from the
transferor plan, in lieu of the Elective Transfer; (g) the transferred
benefit is at least the greater of the single sum distribution provided
by the transferor plan for which the Participant is eligible or the
present value of the Participant's Accrued Benefit under the transferor
plan payable at that plan's normal retirement age; (h) the Participant
has a one hundred percent (100%) Nonforfeitable interest in the
transferred benefit; and (i) the transfer otherwise satisfies applicable
Treasury regulations. An Elective Transfer may occur between qualified
plans of any type.
If the Plan receives a direct transfer, by merger or otherwise, of
Elective Contributions, or amounts treated as Elective Contributions,
under a Plan with a Code Section 401(k) arrangement, the distribution
restrictions of Code Sections 401(k)(2) and 401(k)(10) continue to apply
to those transferred Elective Contributions.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XVIII
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
18.1. EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT
Except as provided under this Article and Article III, the Employer has
no beneficial interest in any asset of the Trust and no part of any asset
in the Trust may ever revert to or be repaid to an Employer, either
directly or indirectly. Further, prior to the satisfaction of all
liabilities with respect to the Participants and their Beneficiaries
under the Plan, no part of the corpus or income of the Trust Fund, or any
asset of the Trust, may be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than
the exclusive benefit of the Participants or their Beneficiaries. No
amendment or revocation by the Employer of this Section may cause or
permit any portion of the Trust Fund to revert to or become a property of
the Employer.
18.2. DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR INITIAL APPROVAL
Any contribution to the Trust Fund associated with this Plan is
conditioned on initial qualification of the Plan under applicable Code
Sections 401(a), 403(a) or 405(a) and of the exemption of the Trust
created under the Plan under Code Section 501(a). If the Commissioner of
the Internal Revenue Service, upon the Employer's request for initial
approval of this Plan and Trust, determines that the Plan is not
qualified or the Trust is not exempt, then the Trustee may return to the
Employer, within one (1) year after the date of final disposition of the
Employer's request for initial approval, any contribution made by the
Employer, and any increment attributable to the contribution.
18.3. MISTAKE OF FACT
Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, if a
contribution is made by an Employer by a mistake of fact, the
contribution may be returned to the Employer within one (1) year after
the payment of the contribution. The amount of the mistaken contribution
is equal to the excess of (a) the amount contributed over (b) the amount
that would have been contributed had there not occurred a mistake of
fact. Earnings attributable to mistaken contributions may not be
returned to the Employer, but losses attributable thereto shall reduce
the amount to be returned.
18.4. DISALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION
Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, any
contributions by the Employer to the Plan and Trust are conditioned on
the deductibility of the contribution by the Employer under the Code. To
the extent any deduction is disallowed, the Employer, within one (1) year
following a final determination of the disallowance, whether by agreement
with the Internal Revenue Service or by final decision in a court of
competent jurisdiction, may demand repayment of the disallowed
contribution, and the Trustee shall return the contribution within one
(1) year following the disallowance. Earnings attributable to excess
contributions may not be returned to the Employer, but losses
attributable thereto shall reduce the amount to be returned.
18.5. SPENDTHRIFT CLAUSE
Except as provided below, no Participant, Former Participant or
Beneficiary shall have the right to anticipate, assign or alienate any
benefit provided under the Plan and the Trustee will not recognize any
anticipation, assignment or alienation. Furthermore, a benefit under the
Plan is not subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other
legal or equitable process. All provisions of this Agreement shall be
for the exclusive benefit of those designated herein. These restrictions
shall not apply in the following case(s):
- PARTICIPANT LOANS. If a Participant, Former Participant or
Beneficiary who has become entitled to receive payment of benefits
under this Agreement is indebted to the Trustee, by virtue of a
Participant Loan, the Committee may direct the Trustee to pay the
indebtedness and charge it against the Individual Account of the
Participant, Former Participant or Beneficiary; provided that in
the case of a married Participant, the Participant's spouse must
consent in writing to the application of the Participant's
benefits toward the repayment and discharge of the Participant
Loan.
- DISTRIBUTIONS PURSUANT TO QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS.
The Committee may direct the Trustee under the nondiscriminatory
policy adopted by the Committee to pay an Alternate Payee
designated under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order as defined
in Code Section 414(p) or any domestic relations order entered
before January 1, 1985 if payment of benefits pursuant to the
order has commenced as of that date. To the extent provided under
a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, a former spouse of a
Participant shall be treated as the spouse or surviving spouse for
all purposes of the Plan.
- DISTRIBUTIONS UNDER DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS. Nothing contained
in this Plan prevents the Trustee, under the direction of the
Committee, from complying with the provisions of a qualified
domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p)
("QDRO"). This Plan specifically permits distribution to an
Alternate Payee under a QDRO at any time, whether or not the
Participant has attained the earliest retirement age (as defined
under Code Section 414(p)) under the Plan. A distribution to an
Alternate Payee prior to the Participant's attainment of earliest
retirement age is available only if: (1) the order specifies
distribution at that time or permits an agreement between the Plan
and the Alternate Payee to authorize an earlier distribution;
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and (2) if the present value of the Alternate Payee's benefits
under the Plan exceeds $3,500, and the order requires, the
Alternate Payee's consent to any distribution occurring prior to
the Participant's attainment of earliest retirement age. Nothing
in this Section gives a Participant a right to receive
distribution at a time otherwise not permitted under the Plan nor
does it permit the Alternate Payee to receive a form of payment
not otherwise permitted under the Plan.
The Committee must establish reasonable procedures to determine
the qualified status of a domestic relations order. Upon receiving
a domestic relations order, the Committee promptly will notify the
Participant and any Alternate Payee named in the order, in
writing, of the receipt of the order and the Plan's procedures for
determining the qualified status of the order. Within a reasonable
period of time after receiving the domestic relations order, the
Committee must determine the qualified status of the order and
must notify the Participant and each Alternate Payee, in writing,
of its determination. The Committee must provide notice under this
paragraph by mailing to the individual's address specified in the
domestic relations order, or in a manner consistent with
Department of Labor regulations.
If any portion of the Participant's Nonforfeitable Accrued Benefit
is payable during the period the Committee is making its
determination of the qualified status of the domestic relations
order, the Committee must make a separate accounting of the
amounts payable. If the Committee determines the order is a QDRO
within eighteen (18) months of the date amounts first are payable
following receipt of the order, the Committee will direct the
Trustee to distribute the payable amounts pursuant to the order.
If the Committee does not make its determination of the qualified
status of the order within the eighteen (18) month determination
period, the Committee will direct the Trustee to distribute the
payable amounts in the manner the Plan would distribute if the
order did not exist and will apply the order prospectively if the
Committee later determines the order is a QDRO.
To the extent it is consistent with the provisions of the QDRO,
the Committee may direct the Trustee to invest any partitioned
amount in a segregated subaccount or separate account and to
invest the account in Federally insured, interest-bearing savings
account(s) or time deposit(s) (or a combination of both), or in
other fixed income investments. A segregated subaccount remains a
part of the Trust, but it alone shares in any income it earns, and
it alone bears any expense or loss it incurs. The Trustee will
make any payments or distributions required under this Section by
separate benefit checks or other separate distribution to the
Alternate Payee(s).
18.6. TERMINATION
Upon termination of the Plan, in lieu of the distribution provisions of
Article X, the Committee will direct the Trustee to distribute each
Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance, in a single sum, as soon as
administratively feasible after the later of the termination of the Plan
or the receipt of a favorable determination letter from the Office of the
Key District Director, if an application is filed, irrespective of the
present value of the Participant's Nonforfeitable Account Balance and
whether the Participant consents to that distribution. This paragraph
applies only if:
(a) the Plan does not provide an annuity option;
(b) the Plan is a profit sharing plan on its termination date; and
(c) as of the period between the Plan termination date and the final
distribution of assets, the Employer does not maintain any other
defined contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership
plan).
For Participants or Beneficiaries who cannot be located upon Plan
termination, and whose Nonforfeitable Account Balance exceeds $3,500, to
liquidate the Trust, the Committee will purchase a deferred annuity
contract, distribute the benefits to an individual retirement account, or
transfer the account to an ongoing qualified plan of a Related Employer.
If the Committee distributes the lost Participant's or Beneficiary's
benefits to an individual retirement account or purchases an annuity, and
the Participant's or Beneficiary's whereabouts remain unknown for the
duration of the escheat period, the benefits will ultimately escheat to
the state under applicable state law.
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18.7. EMPLOYEES IN QUALIFIED MILITARY SERVICE
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary,
contributions, benefits and service credits with respect to qualified
military service will be provided in accordance with Section 414(u) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XIX
CONSTRUCTION
19.1. HEADINGS
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be
considered in construing this Agreement.
19.2. CONTEXT
In this Agreement, wherever the context of the Plan dictates, words used
in the masculine may be construed in the feminine, the plural includes
the singular and the singular includes the plural.
19.3. EMPLOYMENT NOT GUARANTEED
Nothing contained in this Agreement, or regarding the establishment of
the Plan or Trust, or any modification or amendment to the Agreement,
Plan or Trust, or in the creation of any Individual Account, or the
payment of any benefit, shall be construed as giving any Employee,
Participant or Beneficiary whomsoever any right to continue in the
Service of the Employer, any legal or equitable right against the
Committee, against the Employer, its stockholders, officers or directors
or against the Trustee, except as expressly provided by the Agreement,
the Plan, the Trust, ERISA or by separate agreement. Employment of all
persons by the Employer shall remain subject to termination by the
Employer to the same extent as if this Agreement had never been executed.
19.4. STATE LAW
This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be construed and their
validity determined by the laws of the State of Texas and applicable
Federal law to the extent Federal statute supersedes Texas law.
19.5. PARTIES BOUND
This Agreement shall be binding on all persons entitled to benefits under
the Plan, their respective heirs and legal representatives, on the
Employer, its successors and assigns, and on the Trustee, the Committee
and their successors.
* * * * * * *
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ARTICLE XX
PROVISIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYER SECURITIES
20.1. INVESTMENT IN EMPLOYER SECURITIES
(a) The Trustee may invest Participant Accounts in Employer
Securities. The Employer Securities may be Treasury Stock which
has been purchased by the Employer; stock which has been
authorized, but never issued by the Employer; Employer Securities
traded on a public market; or Employer Securities owned by
shareholders of the Employer.
(b) PURCHASE PRICE. For the purchase of Employer Securities from the
Employer or from a shareholder of the Employer, the Trustee shall
not pay more than fair market value as determined by the current
market price of the Employer Securities. For the purchase of
Company Stock from a Disqualified Person, the value of the Company
Stock must be determined as of the date of the transaction. For
any other purchase, the value shall be at the discretion of the
Trustee, based on a current valuation or based upon the price
fixed as of the most recent Valuation Date. Notwithstanding the
preceding provisions of this Section, the Trustee may purchase
Employer Securities at a price lower than that determined in
accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section from any
source whatsoever. If a public market is made for the Employer
Securities, the Trustee shall purchase the Employer Securities at
the public trading price determined at the time of the purchase
regardless of whether such stock is purchased from the Employer or
on the open market.
20.2. VOTING RIGHTS
Regarding the Employer Securities held in the Trust Fund, the Trustee may
vote the same in person or by proxy; may join in any merger,
reorganization of capital adjustment; may exercise or sell any
conversion, subscription, or similar rights; and may hold any assets in
the name of its nominee or unregistered agent. A majority vote of the
Trustees shall control the vote of the Employer Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employer has a registration-type
class of securities defined in Code Section 409(e)(4), each Participant
or Beneficiary in the Plan shall be entitled to direct the Trustee as to
the manner in which his or her allocable share of the Employer Securities
held in the Trust Fund will be voted. If the Employer does not have a
registration-type class of securities defined in Code Section 409(e)(4),
each Participant or Beneficiary shall be entitled to direct the Trustee
as to the manner in which the voting rights under securities of the
Employer which are allocated to his or her account are to be exercised
regarding any corporate matter involving the voting of the shares with
respect to the approval or disapproval of any corporate merger or
consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation,
dissolution, sale of substantially all assets of a trade or business, or
any similar transaction which the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.
20.3. TENDER OFFERS
Each Participant, or, in the event of his death, his Beneficiary, shall
have the right, to the extent of the number of full shares of Employer
Securities in his account, to direct the Trustee in writing as to the
manner in which to respond to a tender or exchange offer with respect to
shares of such Employer Securities.
The Employer shall utilize its best efforts to timely distribute or cause
to be distributed to each Participant (or Beneficiary) such information
as will be distributed to shareholders of the Employer in connection with
any such tender or exchange offer.
The Trustee shall, with respect to all Employer Securities held in the
Trust Fund, accept or reject the terms of any tender offer and,
accordingly, tender Employer Securities held by the Trustee in the Trust
Fund in accordance with the terms and provisions of any tender offer, or
not tender such Employer Securities, as directed by the respective
Participants (or Beneficiaries). With respect to shares of Employer
Securities which are allocated to Participants who have not given
directions, the Trustee shall not tender any shares of Employer
Securities with respect to which such Participants (or Beneficiaries)
have the right of direction.
The Committee may establish such rules and guidelines as it deems
appropriate to properly effect the provisions of this Section.
20.4. SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS
The Trustee may enter into agreements with shareholders to purchase
shares of Employer Securities under which the Trustee is granted an
option to purchase all or a portion of the shares of Employer Securities
owned by the shareholders on the death of the shareholder or
shareholders. To provide for the funding of the purchase of shares of
Employer Securities, the Trustee may apply for and pay premiums on
contracts of life insurance on the life of such shareholder for the
benefit of the Trust Fund as a whole, provided, however, that if this
Plan invests in Leveraged Employer Securities the Trustee may not enter
into any agreement which would obligate the Plan and Trust to purchase
Employer Securities from a particular shareholder at an indefinite time
determined upon the happening of an event such as the death of the
shareholder.
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20.5. SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO EMPLOYER SECURITIES
In accordance with Rule 16(b)-3 adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the following provisions shall apply with respect to
purchases, sales and allocations to Participant accounts of Employer
Securities, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Plan or
in any rules adopted hereunder:
(a) ANNUAL LIMIT ON SHARES ACQUIRED OR AWARDED
The Plan shall not acquire or award to Participants in any fiscal
year of the Plan more than 2% of the outstanding shares of
Employer Securities of the Corporation based on the number of such
shares outstanding as of the beginning of each such fiscal year;
and
(b) FIDUCIARY DUTIES WITH REGARD TO PRICES AND VALUES
The Trustee and other Plan Fiduciaries shall act in accordance
with their fiduciary duties in determining the prices at which the
Trustee shall purchase Employer Securities and in determining the
value used in allocating such securities to Participant Accounts.
20.6. LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO AN ELECTING ESTATE OR SHAREHOLDER
(a) If the executor of the estate of a deceased shareholder sells
Employer Securities to the Trust and elects (with the consent of
the Corporation) an estate tax deduction pursuant to Section
2057(a) of the Code, or if a shareholder sells Employer Securities
to the Trust and elects (with the consent of the Corporation)
favorable tax treatment under Section 1042 of the Code, then no
portion of the Trust Assets attributable to (or allocable in lieu
of) the Employer Securities acquired by the Trust in such
transaction may be allocated (directly or indirectly):
(i) During the "nonallocation period", to the Accounts of the
decedent whose estate makes such sale; or to the
shareholder who makes the sale;
(ii) During the "nonallocation period" to the Accounts of any
person related to the decedent or shareholder (within the
meaning of Section 267(b) of the Code; or
(iii) To the Accounts of any shareholder owning (as determined
under Section 318(a) of the Code, at any time described in
Code Section 409(n)(3)(B), more than 25% (in value or in
number of shares) of any class of outstanding stock of the
Company.
(b) For purposes of this Section, the "nonallocation period" is the
ten-year period beginning on the later of:
(i) the date on which the Employer Securities held by the
estate or shareholder are sold to the Plan, or
(ii) if such Employer Securities are acquired with the proceeds
of an exempt loan, the date of allocation of the shares of
Employer Securities released from the suspense account with
respect to the final payment on such exempt loan.
* * * * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer, PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION, and the
Trustee, MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA, have caused this instrument to
be executed on this 23rd day of December, 1997.
EMPLOYER:
PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Brian J. Cree
------------------------------
Executive Vice President
INITIAL TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Keith M. Crouch
------------------------------
Keith M. Crouch
TRUSTEE:
MERRILL LYNCH TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: /s/ Timothy Thomas
------------------------------
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PATINA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
1625 BROADWAY
DENVER, COLORADO 80202
(303) 389-3600
(303) 389-3680
January 6, 1998
Patina Oil & Gas Corporation
1625 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80202
Re: Registration of 250,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01,
pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am General Counsel of Patina Oil & Gas Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and have acted for the Company in connection with
the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement"), of 250,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") to be offered to employees of the Company pursuant
to the Patina Oil & Gas Corporation Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust
(the "Plan").
Based upon my examination of such papers and documents as I have deemed
relevant or necessary in rendering this opinion, and based on my review of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, I hereby advise you that I am of the opinion
that assuming, with respect to shares of Common Stock issued after the date
hereof, (i) the receipt of proper consideration for the issuance thereof in
excess of the par value thereof, (ii) the availability of a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
then in effect, (iii) compliance with the terms of any agreement entered into in
connection with any options or shares of Common Stock issued or allocated in
connection with the Plan, and (iv) no change occurs in the applicable law or the
pertinent facts, shares of Common Stock allocable to participants' accounts
under the Plan will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of
Common Stock.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By
so consenting, I do not thereby admit that my consent is required by Section 7
of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Keith M. Crouch
------------------------------------------
Keith M. Crouch, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
reports and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 related to Patina Oil and Gas Corporation's
Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and Trust.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Dallas, Texas
January 8, 1998
