As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 24, 2000
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PRT Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-3914972
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
80 Lamberton Road
Windsor, CT 06095
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Richard L. Rosenfeld, Esq.
PRT Group Inc.
7 Skyline Drive
Hawthorne, New York 10532
(914) 345-3800
(Name and address, including telephone number and area code, of agent for
service)
Copies to:
Martin L. Budd, Esq.
Day, Berry & Howard LLP
One Canterbury Green
Stamford, Connecticut 06901-2047
Calculation of Registration Fee
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of securities to be Amount to Proposed Proposed Amount of
registered be maximum maximum registration
registered offering aggregate fee
price offering
per unit(3) price(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par value $.001 1,000,000 $ 5.47 $5,470,000 $ 1,520.66
per share(1) shares(1)(2)
</TABLE>
(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c), under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement also
covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(2) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement also
covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock
as is necessary to eliminate any dilutive effect of any future stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction.
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h), based on the average of the
high and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the Nasdaq
National Market System on January 19, 2000.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents filed by PRT Group Inc. (the "Company") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated
herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998;
(b) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ending March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999;
(c) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on July 15, 1999; and
(d) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by the Company to register its
Common Stock pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendments or reports
filed for the purposes of updating such description.
All documents filed by the Company or the PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan
(the "Plan") pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
This item is not applicable to the securities to be registered hereby.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"DGCL") provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who
was or is a party, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding provided such
person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or
her conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may also indemnify any
person who is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good
faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the corporation's best interests, except that no indemnification is permitted
without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is
adjudged to be liable to the corporation. In addition, Section 145(c) of the
DGCL provides that when an officer or director is successful on the merits or
otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation
must indemnify such person against the expenses (including attorneys' fees)
which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws contain provisions requiring indemnification of its officers and
directors to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by law, provided,
however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification,
the Company is not obligated to indemnify any director or officer in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person
unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by
the Company's Board of Directors.
Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be
paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified
by the corporation. The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws contain provisions mandating such payment.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, Section 145 of the DGCL, the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Company's By-Laws are not
deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,
both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office. In addition, Section 145 of
the DGCL authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such
capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not
the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under Section 145 of the DGCL. The Company's By-Laws contain a
similar authorization. The Company maintains an insurance policy under
which directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to
the limitation of such insurance policy, against certain liabilities which
may be imposed in connection with such persons' service as such directors
or officers.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its
certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not
be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability
(i) for any breach of a 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 the law, (iii) for
improper payment of dividends, stock purchases or redemptions of shares or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
personal benefit. The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that no director of the Company shall be personally
liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for breach of a fiduciary
duty as a director, except to the extent that such exemption from liability
is not permitted under the DGCL.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
This item is not applicable to the securities to be registered
hereunder.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
4.1 PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan.
4.2 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-44725)).
4.3 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-44725)).
5 Opinion of Day, Berry & Howard LLP as to the legality of the
securities registered hereby including the consent of such
counsel.*
23.1 Consent of Ernest & Young LLP.
23.2 Consent of Day, Berry & Howard LLP (See Exhibit 5).
24 Power of Attorney (See signature page).
* The Plan has been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")
and all changes required by the IRS have been made in order to qualify the
Plan.
Item 9. Undertakings.
A. The undersigned Registrant 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;
(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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective Registration Statement; and
(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 this Registration
Statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i)
and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
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 herein, and
the 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.
B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant 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
Registrant 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 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
The Registrant:
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant 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 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Windsor, State of Connecticut, on
this 22nd day of December, 1999.
PRT Group Inc.
By: /s/Dan S. Woodward
Name: Dan S. Woodward
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on
the date indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes Dan S. Woodward and Rocco Mitarotonda and each of
them singly, such person's true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity indicated below any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, hereby ratifying and confirming such person's signature as it
may be signed by said attorneys to any and all such amendments.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C> <C>
/s/Dan S. Woodward President , Chief Executive December 22, 1999
Dan S. Woodward Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/Rocco Mitarotonda Chief Financial Officer December 22, 1999
Rocco Mitarotonda (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
/s/Esther Dyson Director December 23, 1999
Esther Dyson
/s/Michael Enthoven Director December 23, 1999
Michael Enthoven
/s/Robert P. Forlenza Director December 23, 1999
Robert P. Forlenza
/s/Craig D. Goldman Director December 23, 1999
Craig D. Goldman
/s/Douglas K. Mellinger Director December 26, 1999
Douglas K. Mellinger
/s/Isaac Shapiro Director December 22, 1999
Isaac Shapiro
/s/Irwin J. Sitkin Director December 21, 1999
Irwin J. Sitkin
Director December __, 1999
Jack L. Rivkin
/s/Ronald E. Weinberg Director December 23, 1999
Ronald E. Weinberg
<PAGE>
The Plan:
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Windsor, State of Connecticut, on
December 22, 1999.
PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan
By: /s/ Christopher O'Neil
Name: Christopher O'Neil
Title: Director of Compensation
& Benefits for Plan Administrator
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
4.1 PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan.
4.2 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-44725)).
4.3 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-44725)).
5 Opinion of Day, Berry & Howard LLP as to the legality of the
securities registered hereby including the consent of such
counsel.*
23.1 Consent of Ernest & Young LLP.
23.2 Consent of Day, Berry & Howard LLP (See Exhibit 5).
24 Power of Attorney (See signature page).
__________
* The Plan has been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and all
changes required by the IRS have been made in order to qualify the Plan.
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
401(k) Plan Document
The PruArray Prototype Plan and
Trust and IRS Opinion Letters
PruArray 401(k) Plan
<PAGE>
401(k) Plan Document
THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. USE,
DUPLICATION OR REPRODUCTION, INCLUDING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC MEANS, IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW WITHOUT THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS
Paragraph Page
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
1.1 Actual Deferral Percentage 1
1.2 Adoption Agreement 1
1.3 Aggregate Limit The sum of: 1
1.4 Annual Additions 1
1.5 Annuity Starting Date 1
1.6 Applicable Calendar Year 1
1.7 Applicable Life Expectancy 2
1.8 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP) 2
1.9 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) 2
1.10 Break In Service 2
1.11 Code 2
1.12 Compensation 2
1.13 Contribution Percentage 3
1.14 Defined Benefit Plan 4
1.15 Defined Benefit (Plan) Fraction 4
1.16 Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation 4
1.17 Defined Contribution Plan 4
1.18 Defined Contribution (Plan) Fraction 4
1.19 Designated Beneficiary 5
1.20 Disability 5
1.21 Distribution Calendar Year 5
1.22 Early Retirement Age 5
1.23 Earned Income 5
1.24 Effective Date 5
1.25 Election Period 5
1.26 Elective Deferral 5
1.27 Eligible Participant 6
1.28 Employee 6
1.29 Employer 6
1.30 Entry Date 6
1.31 Excess Aggregate Contributions 6
1.32 Excess Amount 6
1.33 Excess Contribution 6
1.34 Excess Elective Deferrals 6
1.35 Family Member 7
1.36 First Distribution Calendar Year 7
1.37 Fund 7
1.38 Hardship 7
1.39 Highest Average Compensation 7
1.40 Highly Compensated Employee 7
1.41 Hour Of Service 7
1.42 Key Employee 9
1.43 Leased Employee 9
1.44 Limitation Year 9
1.45 Master Or Prototype Plan 9
1.46 Matching Contribution 9
1.47 Maximum Permissible Amount 9
1.48 Net Profit 9
1.49 Normal Retirement Age 9
1.50 Owner-Employee 10
1.51 Paired Plans 10
1.52 Participant 10
1.53 Participant's Benefit 10
1.54 Permissive Aggregation Group 10
1.55 Plan 10
1.56 Plan Administrator 10
1.57 Year 10
1.58 Present Value 10
1.59 Projected Annual Benefit 10
1.60 Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 10
1.61 Qualified Domestic Relations Order 11
1.62 Qualified Early Retirement Age 11
1.63 Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity 11
1.64 Qualified Matching Contribution 11
1.65 Qualified Non-Elective Contributions 11
1.66 Qualified Voluntary Contribution 11
1.67 Required Aggregation Group 11
1.68 Required Beginning Date 11
1.69 Rollover Contribution 11
1.70 Salary Savings Agreement 12
1.71 Self-Employed Individual 12
1.72 Service 12
1.73 Service Company 12
1.74 Shareholder Employee 12
1.75 Simplified Employee Pension Plan 12
1.76 Sponsor 12
1.77 Spouse (Surviving Spouse) 12
1.78 Super Top-Heavy Plan 12
1.79 Taxable Wage Base 12
1.80 Top-Heavy Determination Date 12
1.81 Top-Heavy Plan 12
1.82 Top-Heavy Ratio 12
1.83 Top-Paid Group 13
1.84 Transfer Contribution 14
1.85 Trustee 14
1.86 Valuation Date 14
1.87 Vested Account Balance 14
1.88 Voluntary Contribution 14
1.89 Welfare Benefit Fund 14
1.90 Year Of Service 14
ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Participation 14
2.2 Change In Classification Of Employment 15
2.3 Computation Period 15
2.4 Employment Rights 15
2.5 Service With Controlled Groups 15
2.6 Owner-Employees 15
2.7 Leased Employees 16
2.8 Omission Of Eligible Employee 16
2.9 Inclusion Of Ineligible Employee 16
ARTICLE III - EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Amount 16
3.2 Expenses And Fees 16
3.3 Responsibility For Contributions 16
3.4 Return Of Contributions 16
3.5 Form Of Contribution 17
ARTICLE IV - EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Voluntary Contributions 17
4.2 Qualified Voluntary Contributions 17
4.3 Rollover Contribution 17
4.4 Transfer Contribution 18
4.5 Employer Approval Of Transfer
Contributions 18
4.6 Elective Deferrals 18
4.7 Direct Rollover Of Benefits 19
ARTICLE V - PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS
5.1 Separate Accounts 19
5.2 Adjustments To Participant Accounts 19
5.3 Allocating Employer Contributions 19
5.4 Allocating Investment Earnings And Losses 20
5.5 Participant Statements 21
ARTICLE VI - RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Normal Retirement Benefits 21
6.2 Early Retirement Benefits 21
6.3 Benefits On Termination Of Employment 21
6.4 Restrictions On Immediate Distributions 22
6.5 Normal Form Of Payment 23
6.6 Commencement Of Benefits 23
6.7 Claims Procedures 23
6.8 In-Service Withdrawals 24
6.9 Hardship Withdrawal 24
6.10 Order Of Withdrawals 25
ARTICLE VII - DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 Joint And Survivor Annuity Requirements 25
7.2 Minimum Distribution Requirements 26
7.3 Limits On Distribution Periods 26
7.4 Required Distributions On Or After The
Required Beginning Date 26
7.5 Required Beginning Date 27
7.6 Transitional Rule 27
7.7 Designation Of Beneficiary For Death
Benefit 28
7.8 Nonexistence Of Beneficiary 28
7.9 Distribution Beginning Before Death 28
7.10 Distribution Beginning After Death 28
7.11 Distribution Of Excess Elective Deferrals 29
7.12 Distributions of Excess Contributions 29
7.13 Distribution Of Excess Aggregate
Contributions 30
ARTICLE VIII - JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
8.1 Applicability Of Provisions 30
8.2 Payment Of Qualified Joint And Survivor
Annuity 30
8.3 Payment Of Qualified Pre-Retirement
Survivor Annuity 31
8.4 Qualified Election 31
8.5 Notice Requirements For Qualified Joint
And Survivor Annuity 31
8.6 Notice Requirements For Qualified Pre-
Retirement Survivor Annuity 31
8.7 Special Safe-Harbor Exception For Certain
Profit-Sharing Plans 32
8.8 Transitional Joint And Survivor Annuity
Rules 32
8.9 Automatic Joint And Survivor Annuity And
Early Survivor Annuity 33
8.10 Annuity Contracts 33
ARTICLE IX - VESTING
9.1 Employee Contributions 33
9.2 Employer Contributions 33
9.3 Computation Period 34
9.4 Requalification Prior To Five Consecutive
One-Year Breaks In Service 34
9.5 Requalification After Five Consecutive
One-Year Breaks In Service 34
9.6 Calculating Vested Interest 34
9.7 Forfeitures 34
9.8 Amendment Of Vesting Schedule 34
9.9 Service With Controlled Groups 35
ARTICLE X - LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION TESTING
10.1 Participation In This Plan Only 35
10.2 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions 35
10.3 Participation In This Plan And Another
Qualified Master and Prototype Defined
Contribution Plan, Welfare Benefit Fund,
Individual Medical Account Or Simplified
Employee Pension Plan Maintained By The
Employer 36
10.4 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions
Under Two Plans 36
10.5 Participation In This Plan And Another
Defined Contribution Plan Which Is Not
A Qualified Master Or Prototype Plan 37
10.6 Participation In This Plan And A Defined
Benefit Plan 37
10.7 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test 37
10.8 Special Rules Relating To Application Of
ADP Test 37
10.9 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP)
Test 38
10.10 Special Rules Relating To Application Of
ACP Test 38
ARTICLE XI - ADMINISTRATION
11.1 Plan Administrator 39
11.2 Trustee 40
11.3 Administrative Fees And Expenses 40
11.4 Duties And Indemnification 40
11.5 Special Provisions Concerning The
Service Company 41
ARTICLE XII - TRUST FUND
12.1 The Fund 42
12.2 Control Of Plan Assets 42
12.3 Exclusive Benefit Rules 42
12.4 Assignment And Alienation Of Benefits 42
12.5 Determination Of Qualified Domestic
Relations Order (QDRO) 42
ARTICLE XIII - INVESTMENTS
13.1 Fiduciary Standards 43
13.2 No Investment Discretion 43
13.3 Investment Directions 43
13.4 Permitted Investments 44
13.5 Shareholder Rights 44
13.6 Liquidation Of Assets 44
13.7 Arbitration 45
13.8 Participant Loans 45
13.9 Insurance Policies 47
ARTICLE XIV - TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
14.1 Applicability Of Rules 48
14.2 Minimum Contribution 48
14.3 Minimum Vesting 48
14.4 Limitations On Allocations 49
ARTICLE XV - AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
15.1 Amendment By Sponsor 49
15.2 Amendment By Employer 49
15.3 Termination 49
15.4 Qualification Of Employer's Plan 49
15.5 Mergers And Consolidations 49
15.6 Resignation And Removal 50
15.7 Qualification Of Prototype 50
ARTICLE XVI - GOVERNING LAW
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
1.1 Actual Deferral Percentage
The ratio (expressed as a percentage and calculated separately for each
Participant) of:
(a) the amount of Employer contributions [as defined at (c) and (d)]
actually paid over to the Fund on behalf of such Participant for the Plan
Year to
(b) the Participant's Compensation for such Plan Year. (Unless otherwise
specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Compensation will
include all amounts earned from the Employer and actually paid during the
Plan Year).
Employer contributions on behalf of any Participant shall include:
(c) any Elective Deferrals made pursuant to the Participant's deferral
election, including Excess Elective Deferrals, but excluding Elective
Deferrals that are either taken into account in the Contribution Percentage
test (provided the ADP test is satisfied both with and without exclusion of
these Elective Deferrals) or are returned as excess Annual Additions; and
(d) at the election of the Employer, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and
Qualified Matching Contributions.
For purposes of computing 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 Elective Deferrals are made.
1.2 Adoption Agreement
The document attached to this Plan by which an Employer elects to establish a
qualified retirement plan and trust under the terms of this Prototype Plan and
Trust.
1.3 Aggregate Limit The sum of:
(a) 125 percent of the greater of the ADP of the Non-Highly Compensated
Employees for the Plan Year or the ACP of Non-Highly Compensated Employees
under the Plan subject to Code Section 401(m) for the Plan Year beginning
with or within the Plan Year of the cash or deferred arrangement as
described in Code Section 401(k) or Code Section 402(h)(1)(B), and
(b) the lesser of 200% or 2% plus the lesser of such ADP or ACP.
Alternatively, the aggregate limit can be determined by substituting "the
lesser of 200% or 2 percent plus" for "125% of" in (a) above, and substituting
"125% of" for "the lesser of 200% or 2% plus" in (b) above.
1.4 Annual Additions
The sum of the following amounts credited to a Participant's account for the
Limitation Year:
(a) Employer Contributions;
(b) Employee Contributions (under Article IV);
(c) Forfeitures;
(d) Amounts allocated after March 31, 1984, to an individual medical
account, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), which is part of a pension or
annuity plan maintained by the Employer (these amounts are treated as Annual
Additions to a Defined Contribution Plan, though they arise under a Defined
Benefit Plan); and
(e) Amounts derived from contributions paid or accrued after 1985, in
taxable years ending after 1985, which are either attributable to post-
retirement medical benefits allocated to the account of a Key Employee, or
to a Welfare Benefit Fund maintained by the Employer, are also treated as
Annual Additions to a Defined Contribution Plan. For purposes of this
paragraph, an Employee is a Key Employee if he or she meets the requirements
of paragraph 1.43 at any time during the Plan Year or any preceding Plan
Year. Welfare Benefit Fund is defined at paragraph 1.89.
(f) Allocations under a Simplified Employee Pension Plan.
Excess amounts applied in a Limitation Year to reduce Employer contributions
will be considered Annual Additions for such Limitation Year, pursuant to the
provisions of Article X.
1.5 Annuity Starting Date
The first day of the first period for which an amount is paid as an annuity or
in any other form.
1.6 Applicable Calendar Year
The First Distribution Calendar Year, and in the event of the recalculation of
life expectancy, such succeeding calendar year. If payments commence in
accordance with paragraph 7.4(e) before the Required Beginning Date, the
Applicable Calendar Year is the year such payments commence. If distribution
is in the form of an immediate annuity purchased after the Participant's death
with the Participant's remaining interest, the Applicable Calendar Year is the
year of purchase.
1.7 Applicable Life Expectancy
Used in determining the required minimum distribution. 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 first
calculated. If life expectancy is being recalculated, the Applicable Life
Expectancy shall be the life expectancy as so recalculated. The life
expectancy of a non-Spouse Beneficiary may not be recalculated.
1.8 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP)
The average of the Contribution Percentages for each Highly Compensated
Employee and for each Non-Highly Compensated Employee.
1.9 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP)
The average of the Actual Deferral Percentages for each Highly Compensated
Employee and for each Non-Highly Compensated Employee.
1.10 Break In Service
If the Hour counting method has been chosen by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement, a Break in Service is a 12-consecutive month period during which an
Employee fails to complete more than 500 Hours of Service. If the Elapsed Time
method has been chosen by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a Break in
Service is a period of severance of at least 12 consecutive months.
1.11 Code
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any amendments.
1.12 Compensation
Unless otherwise specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement,
Compensation shall include all amounts earned from the Employer and actually
paid during the Plan Year.
(a) Code Section 3401(a) Wages. Compensation is defined as wages within the
meaning of Code Section 3401(a) for the purposes of Federal income tax
withholding at the source but determined without regard to any rules 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) Code Section 415 Compensation. For purposes of applying the limitations
of Article X and Top-Heavy minimums, the definition of Compensation shall be
Code Section 415 Compensation defined as follows: a Participant's Earned
Income, wages, salaries, and fees for professional services and other
amounts received (without regard to whether or not an amount is paid in
cash) for personal services actually rendered in the course of employment
with the Employer maintaining the Plan to the extent that the amounts are
includible in gross income [including, but not limited to, commissions paid
salesmen, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits,
commissions on insurance premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe benefits and
reimbursements or other expense allowances under a nonaccountable plan (as
described in Regulation 1.62-2(c))], and excluding the following:
(1) Employer contributions to a plan of deferred compensation which are
not includible in the Employee's gross income for the taxable year in
which contributed, or Employer contributions under a Simplified Employee
Pension Plan or any distributions from a plan of deferred compensation,
(2) Amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, or
when restricted stock (or property) held by the Employee either becomes
freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture,
(3) Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under a qualified stock option; and
(4) Other amounts which received special tax benefits, or contributions
made by the Employer (whether or not under a Salary Reduction Agreement)
towards the purchase of an annuity described in Code Section 403(b)
(whether or not the amounts are actually excludaible from the gross income
of the Employee).
For purposes of applying the limitations of Article X, Compensation for a
Limitation Year is the Compensation actually paid or made available during such
Limitation Year. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation for a
Participant in a Defined Contribution Plan who is permanently and totally
disabled [as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3)] is the Compensation such
Participant would have received for the Limitation Year if the Participant had
been paid at the rate of Compensation paid immediately before becoming
permanently and totally disabled. Such imputed Compensation for the disabled
Participant may be taken into account only if the participant is not a Highly
Compensated Employee [as defined in Code Section 414(q)] and contributions made
on behalf of such Participant are nonforfeitable when made.
If the Employer fails to pick the determination period in the Adoption
Agreement, the Plan Year shall be used. Unless otherwise specified by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Compensation shall be determined as
provided in Code Section 3401(a) (as defined in this paragraph 1.12(a)). In
nonstandardized Adoption Agreement 002, the Employer may choose to eliminate or
exclude categories of Compensation which do not violate the provisions of Code
Sections 401(a)(4), 414(s) the regulations thereunder and Revenue Procedure 89-
65.
Beginning with 1989 Plan Years, the annual Compensation of each Participant
which may be taken into account for determining all benefits provided under the
Plan (including benefits under Article XIV) for any Plan Year shall not exceed
$200,000, as adjusted under Code Section 415(d). For Plan Years beginning on
or after January 1, 1994, the annual Compensation of each Participant taken
into account for determining all benefits provided under the Plan for any Plan
Year shall not exceed $150,000, as adjusted for increases in the cost-of-living
in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(17). The cost-of-living adjustment in
effect for a calendar year applies to any determination period beginning in
such calendar year.
In determining the Compensation of a Participant for purposes of this
limitation, the rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) shall apply, except in applying
such rules, the term "family" shall include only the spouse of the Participant
and any lineal descendants of the Participant who have not attained age 19
before the end of the Plan Year. If, as a result of the application of such
rules the adjusted annual Compensation limitation is exceeded, then (except for
purposes of determining the portion of Compensation up to the integration level
if this Plan provides for permitted disparity), the limitation shall be
prorated among the affected individuals in proportion to each such individual's
Compensation as determined under this section prior to the application of this
limitation.
If a Plan has a Plan Year that contains fewer than 12 Calendar Months, then the
annual compensation limit for that period is an amount equal to the annual
Compensation as adjusted for the calendar year in which the compensation period
begins, multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full
months in the short determination period and the denominator of which is 12.
If compensation for any prior plan year is taken into account in determining an
employee's contributions or benefits for the current year, the compensation for
such prior year is subject to the applicable annual compensation limit in
effect for that prior year. For this purpose, for years beginning before
January 1, 1990, the applicable annual compensation limit is $200,000.
Compensation shall not include deferred compensation other than contributions
through a salary reduction agreement to a cash or deferred plan under Code
Section 401(k), a Simplified Employee Pension Plan under Code Section
402(h)(1)(B), a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125 or a tax-deferred annuity
under Code Section 403(b). Unless elected otherwise by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement, these deferred amounts will be considered as Compensation
for Plan purposes. These deferred amounts are not counted as Compensation for
purposes of Articles X and XIV except for Code Sections 401(k) and 401(m)
testing. When applicable to a Self-Employed Individual, Compensation shall
mean Earned Income.
1.13 Contribution Percentage
The ratio (expressed as a percentage and calculated separately for each
Participant) of:
(a) the Participant's Contribution Percentage Amounts [as defined at (c)-
(f)] for the Plan Year, to
(b) the Participant's Compensation for such Plan Year. Unless otherwise
specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Compensation will
include all amounts earned from the Employer and actually paid during the
Plan Year.
Contribution Percentage Amounts on behalf of any Participant shall include:
(c) the amount of Employee Voluntary Contributions, Matching Contributions,
and Qualified Matching Contributions (to the extent not taken into account
for purposes of the ADP test) made under the Plan on behalf of the
Participant for the Plan Year,
(d) 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 such forfeiture is allocated,
(e) at the election of the Employer, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions,
and
(f) the Employer also may elect to use Elective Deferrals in the
Contribution Percentage Amounts so long as the ADP test is met before the
Elective Deferrals are used in the ACP test and continues to be met
following the exclusion of those Elective Deferrals that are used to meet
the ACP test.
Contribution Percentage Amounts shall not include Matching Contributions,
whether or not Qualified, 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.
1.14 Defined Benefit Plan
A Plan under which a Participant's benefit is determined by a formula contained
in the Plan and no individual accounts are maintained for Participants.
1.15 Defined Benefit (Plan) Fraction
A fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the Participant's Projected
Annual Benefits under all the Defined Benefit Plans (whether or not terminated)
maintained by the Employer, and the denominator of which is the lesser of 125
percent of the dollar limitation determined for the Limitation Year under Code
Sections 415(b) and (d) or 140 percent of the Highest Average Compensation,
including any adjustments under Code Section 415(b).
Notwithstanding the above, if the Participant was a Participant as of the first
day of the first Limitation Year beginning after 1986, in one or more Defined
Benefit Plans maintained by the Employer which were in existence on May 6,
1986, the denominator of this fraction will not be less than 125 percent of the
sum of the annual benefits under such plans which the Participant had accrued
as of the close of the last Limitation Year beginning before 1987, disregarding
any changes in the terms and conditions of the plan after May 5, 1986. The
preceding sentence applies only if the Defined Benefit Plans individually and
in the aggregate satisfied the requirements of Section 415 for all Limitation
Years beginning before 1987.
1.16 Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation
Thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or, if greater, one-fourth of the defined
benefit dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 415(b)(1) as in effect for
the Limitation Year.
1.17 Defined Contribution Plan
A Plan under which individual accounts are maintained for each Participant to
which all contributions, forfeitures, investment income and gains or losses,
and expenses are credited or deducted. A Participant's benefit under such
Plan is based solely on the fair market value of his or her account balance.
1.18 Defined Contribution (Plan) Fraction
A Fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the Annual Additions to the
Participant's account under all the Defined Contribution Plans (whether or not
terminated) maintained by the Employer for the current and all prior Limitation
Years (including the Annual Additions attributable to the Participant's
nondeductible Employee contributions to all Defined Benefit Plans, whether or
not terminated, maintained by the Employer, and the Annual Additions
attributable to all Welfare Benefit Funds, as defined in paragraph 1.89 and
individual medical accounts, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), maintained
by the Employer), and the denominator of which is the sum of the maximum
aggregate amounts for the current and all prior Limitation Years of service
with the Employer (regardless of whether a Defined Contribution Plan was
maintained by the Employer). The maximum aggregate amount in the Limitation
Year is the lesser of 125 percent of the dollar limitation determined under
Code Sections 415(b) and (d) in effect under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) or 35
percent of the Participant's Compensation for such year.
If the Employee was a Participant as of the end of the first day of the first
Limitation Year beginning after 1986, in one or more Defined Contribution Plans
maintained by the Employer which were in existence on May 6, 1986, the
numerator of this fraction will be adjusted if the sum of this fraction and the
Defined Benefit Fraction would otherwise exceed 1.0 under the terms of this
Plan. Under the adjustment, an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess
of the sum of the fractions over 1.0 times (2) the denominator of this fraction
will be permanently subtracted from the numerator of this fraction. The
adjustment is calculated using the fractions as they would be computed as of
the end of the last Limitation Year beginning before 1987, and disregarding any
changes in the terms and conditions of the Plan made after May 6, 1986, but
using the Section 415 limitation applicable to the first Limitation Year
beginning on or after January 1, 1987. The Annual Addition for any Limitation
Year beginning before 1987 shall not be re-computed to treat all Employee
Contributions as Annual Additions.
1.19 Designated Beneficiary
The individual who is designated as the beneficiary under the Plan in
accordance with Code Section 401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder.
1.20 Disability
An illness or injury of a potentially permanent nature, expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than 12 months, certified by a physician selected
by or satisfactory to the Employer, which prevents the Employee from engaging
in any occupation for wage or profit for which the Employee is reasonably
fitted by training, education or experience.
1.21 Distribution Calendar Year
A calendar year for which a minimum distribution is required.
1.22 Early Retirement Age
The age set by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement (but not less than 55),
which is the earliest age at which a Participant may retire and receive his or
her benefits under the Plan.
1.23 Earned Income
Net earnings from self-employment in the trade or business with respect to
which the Plan is established, determined without regard to items not included
in gross income and the deductions allocable to such items, provided that
personal services of the individual are a material income-producing factor.
Earned income shall be reduced by contributions made by an Employer to a
qualified plan to the extent deductible under Code Section 404. For tax years
beginning after 1989, net earnings shall be determined, taking into account the
deduction for one-half of self-employment taxes allowed to the Employer under
Code Section 164(f) to the extent deductible.
1.24 Effective Date
The date on which the Employer's retirement plan or amendment to such plan
becomes effective. Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, the
effective date shall be the first day of the Plan Year during which the
Adoption Agreement is executed by the Employer. For amendments reflecting
statutory and regulatory changes post Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Effective
Date will be the date upon which such amendment is first administratively
applied.
1.25 Election Period
The period which begins on the first day of the Plan Year in which the
Participant attains age 35 and ends on the date of the Participant's death. If
a Participant separates from service prior to the first day of the Plan Year in
which age 35 is attained, the Election Period shall begin on the date of
separation, with respect to the account balance as of the date of separation.
1.26 Elective Deferral
Employer contributions made to the Plan at the election of the Participant, in
lieu of cash Compensation. Elective Deferrals shall also include contributions
made pursuant to a Salary Savings Agreement or other deferral mechanism, such
as a cash option contribution. With respect to any taxable year, a
Participant's Elective Deferral is the sum of all Employer contributions made
on behalf of such Participant pursuant to an election to defer under any
qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Code Section 401(k), any
simplified employee pension cash or deferred arrangement as described in Code
Section 402(h)(1)(B), any eligible deferred compensation plan under Code
Section 457, any plan as described under Code Section 501(c)(18), and any
Employer contributions made on the behalf of a Participant for the purchase of
an annuity contract under Code Section 403(b) pursuant to a Salary Savings
Agreement. Elective Deferrals shall not include any deferrals properly
distributed as Excess Annual Additions.
1.27 Eligible Participant
Any Employee who is eligible to make a Voluntary Contribution, or an Elective
Deferral (if the Employer takes such contributions into account in the
calculation of the Contribution Percentage), or to receive a Matching
Contribution (including forfeitures) or a Qualified Matching Contribution. If
a Voluntary Contribution or Elective Deferral is required as a condition of
participation in the Plan, any Employee who would be a Participant in the Plan
if such Employee made such a contribution shall be treated as an Eligible
Participant even though no Voluntary Contributions or Elective Deferrals are
made.
1.28 Employee
Any person employed by the Employer (including Self-Employed Individuals and
partners), all Employees of a member of an affiliated service group [as defined
in Code Section 414(m)], Employees of a controlled group of corporations [as
defined in Code Section 414(b)], all Employees of any incorporated or
unincorporated trade or business which is under common control [as defined in
Code Section 414(c)], leased Employees [as defined in Code Section 414(n)] and
any Employee required to be aggregated by Code Section 414(o). All such
Employees shall be treated as employed by a single Employer.
1.29 Employer
The Self-Employed Individual, partnership, corporation or other organization
which adopts this Plan, including any firm that succeeds the Employer and
adopts this Plan. For purposes of Article X, Limitations on Allocations,
Employer shall mean the Employer that adopts this Plan, and all members of a
controlled group of corporations [as defined in Code Section 414(b) as modified
by Code Section 415(h)], all commonly controlled trades or businesses [as
defined in Code Section 414(c) as modified by Code Section 415(h)] or
affiliated service groups [as defined in Code Section 414(m)] of which the
adopting Employer is a part, and any other entity required to be aggregated
with the Employer pursuant to regulations under Code Section 414(o).
1.30 Entry Date
The date on which an Employee commences participation in the Plan as determined
by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. Unless the Employer specifies
otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, entry into the Plan shall be on the first
day of the Plan Year or the first day of the seventh month of the Plan Year
coinciding with or following the date on which an Employee meets the
eligibility requirements.
1.31 Excess Aggregate Contributions
The excess, with respect to any Plan Year, of:
(a) the aggregate Contribution Percentage Amounts taken into account in
computing the numerator of the Contribution Percentage actually made on
behalf of Highly Compensated Employees for such Plan Year, over
(b) the maximum Contribution Percentage Amounts permitted by the ACP test
(determined by reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly Compensated
Employees in order of their Contribution Percentages beginning with the
highest of such percentages).
Such determination shall be made after first determining Excess Elective
Deferrals pursuant to paragraph 1.34 and then determining Excess Contributions
pursuant to paragraph 1.33.
1.32 Excess Amount
The excess of the Participant's Annual Additions for the Limitation Year over
the Maximum Permissible Amount.
1.33 Excess Contribution
With respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
(a) the aggregate amount of Employer contributions actually taken into
account in computing the ADP of Highly Compensated Employees for such Plan
Year, over
(b) the maximum amount of such contributions permitted by the ADP test
(determined by reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly Compensated
Employees in order of the ADPs, beginning with the highest of such
percentages).
1.34 Excess Elective Deferrals
Those Elective Deferrals that are includible in a Participant's gross income
under Code Section 402(g) to the extent such Participant's Elective Deferrals
for a taxable year exceed the dollar limitation under such Code Section.
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.
1.35 Family Member
The Employee's Spouse, any lineal descendants and ascendants and the Spouse of
such lineal descendants and ascendants.
1.36 First Distribution Calendar Year
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. 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 paragraph 7.10.
1.37 Fund
All contributions received by the Trustee under this Plan and Trust,
investments thereof and earnings and appreciation thereon.
1.38 Hardship
An immediate and heavy financial need of the Employee where such Employee lacks
other available resources.
1.39 Highest Average Compensation
The average Compensation for the three consecutive Years of Service with the
Employer that produces the highest average. A Year of Service with the
Employer is the 12-consecutive month period defined in the Adoption Agreement.
1.40 Highly Compensated Employee
Any Employee who performs service for the Employer during the determination
year and who, during the immediate prior year:
(a) received Compensation from the Employer in excess of $75,000 [as
adjusted pursuant to Code Section 415(d)]; or
(b) received Compensation from the Employer in excess of $50,000 [as
adjusted pursuant to Code Section 415(d)] and was a member of the Top-Paid
Group for such year; or
(c) was an officer of the Employer and received Compensation during such
year that is greater than 50 percent of the dollar limitation in effect
under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A).
Notwithstanding (a), (b) and (c), an Employee who was not Highly Compensated
during the preceding Plan Year shall not be treated as a Highly Compensated
Employee with respect to the current Plan Year, unless such Employee is a
member of the 100 Employees paid the greatest Compensation during the year for
which such determination is being made.
(d) Employees who are five percent (5%) Owners at any time during the
immediate prior year or determination year.
Highly Compensated Employee includes Highly Compensated active Employees and
Highly Compensated former Employees.
1.41 Hour Of Service
(a) Hour Counting Method:
(1) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, for
the performance of duties for the Employer. These hours shall be credited
to the Employee for the computation period in which the duties are
performed; and
(2) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, by
the Employer on account of a period of time during which no duties are
performed (irrespective of whether the employment relationship has
terminated) due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including
disability), layoff, jury duty, military duty or leave of absence. No
more than 501 Hours of Service shall be credited under this paragraph for
any single continuous period (whether or not such period occurs in a
single computation period). Hours under this paragraph shall be
calculated and credited pursuant to Section 2530.200b-2 of the
Departmentof Labor Regulations which are incorporated herein by this
reference; and
(3) Each hour for which back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages,
is either awarded or agreed to by the Employer. The same Hours of Service
shall not be credited both under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the
case may be, and under this paragraph (c). These hours shall be credited
to the Employee for the computation period or periods to which the award
or agreement pertains rather than the computation period in which the
award, agreement or payment is made.
(4) Hours of Service shall be credited for employment with the Employer
and with other members of an affiliated service group [as defined in Code
Section 414(m)], a controlled group of corporations [as defined in Code
Section 414(b)], or a group of trades or businesses under common control
[as defined in Code Section 414(c)] of which the adopting Employer is a
member, and any other entity required to be aggregated with the Employer
pursuant to Code Section 414(o) and the regulations thereunder. Hours of
Service shall also be credited for any individual considered an Employee
for purposes of this Plan under Code Section 414(n) or Code Section 414(o)
and the regulations thereunder.
(5) Solely for purposes of determining whether a Break in Service, as
defined in paragraph 1.10, for participation and vesting purposes has
occurred in a computation period, an individual who is absent from work
for maternity or paternity reasons shall receive credit for the Hours of
Service which would otherwise have been credited to such individual but
for such absence, or in any case in which such hours cannot be determined,
8 Hours of Service per day of such absence. For purposes of this
paragraph, an absence from work for maternity or paternity reasons means
an absence by reason of the pregnancy of the individual, by reason of a
birth of a child of the individual, by reason of the placement of a child
with the individual in connection with the adoption of such child by such
individual, or for purposes of caring for such child for a period
beginning immediately following such birth or placement. The Hours of
Service credited under this paragraph shall be credited in the computation
period in which the absence begins if the crediting is necessary to
prevent a Break in Service in that period, or in all other cases, in the
following computation period. No more than 501 hours will be credited
under this paragraph.
(6) Unless specified otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, the Hours of
Service Method shall be used. Also, unless specified otherwise in the
Adoption Agreement, Hours of Service shall be determined on the basis of
actual hours for which an Employee is paid or entitled to payment.
(b) Elapsed Time Method:
(1) For purposes of this section, Hour of Service shall mean each hour for
which an Employee is paid or entitled to payment for the performance of
duties for the Employer.
(2) Break In Service is a period of severance of at least 12 consecutive
months.
(3) Period of severance is a continuous period of time during which the
Employee is not employed by the Employer. Such period begins on the date
the Employee retires, quits or is discharged, or if earlier, the 12 month
anniversary of the date on which the Employee was otherwise first absent
from service.
(4) In the case of an individual who is absent from work for maternity or
paternity reasons, the 12-consecutive-month period beginning on the first
anniversary of the first date of such absence shall not constitute a Break
In Service. For purposes of this paragraph, an absence from work for
maternity or paternity reasons means an absence (i) by reason of the
pregnancy of the individual, (ii) by reason of the birth of a child of the
individual, (iii) by reason of the placement of a child with the
individual in connection with the adoption of such child by such
individual, or (iv) for purposes of caring for such child for a period
beginning immediately following such birth or placement.
(5) Each Employee will share in Employer contributions for the period
beginning on the date the Employee commences participation under the plan
and ending on the date on which such Employee severs employment with the
Employer or is no longer a member of an eligible class of Employees.
(6) If the Employer is a member of an affiliated service group (under
section 414(m)), a controlled group of corporations (under section
414(b)), a group of trades or businesses under common control (under
section 414(c)) or any other entity required to be aggregated with the
Employer pursuant to section 414(o), service will be credited for any
employment for any period of time for any other member of such group.
Service will also be credited for any individual required under section
414(n) or section (414)(o) to be considered an Employee of any Employer
aggregated under section 414(b), (c), or (m).
1.42 Key Employee
Any Employee or former Employee (and the beneficiaries of such employee) who at
any time during the determination period was an officer of the Employer if such
individual's annual compensation exceeds 50% of the dollar limitation under
Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) (the defined benefit maximum annual benefit), an
owner (or considered an owner under Code Section 318) of one of the ten largest
interests in the employer if such individual's compensation exceeds 100% of the
dollar limitation under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A), a 5% owner of the Employer,
or a 1% owner of the Employer who has an annual compensation of more than
$150,000. For purposes of determining who is a Key Employee, annual
compensation shall mean Compensation as defined for Article X, but including
amounts deferred through a salary reduction agreement to a cash or deferred
plan under Code Section 401(k), a Simplified Employee Pension Plan under Code
Section 408(k), a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125 or a tax-deferred
annuity under Code Section 403(b). The determination period is the Plan Year
containing the Determination Date and the four preceding Plan Years. The
determination of who is a Key Employee will be made in accordance with Code
Section 416(i)(1) and the regulations thereunder.
1.43 Leased Employee
Any person (other than an Employee of the recipient) who, pursuant to an
agreement between the recipient and any other person ("leasing organization"),
has performed services for the recipient [or for the recipient and related
persons determined in accordance with Code Section 414(n)(6)] on a
substantially full-time basis for a period of at least one year, and such
services are of a type historically performed by Employees in the business
field of the recipient Employer.
1.44 Limitation Year
The Plan Year as designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement for
purposes of determining the maximum Annual Addition to a Participant's account.
All qualified plans maintained by the Employer must use the same Limitation
Year. If the Limitation Year is amended to a different 12-consecutive-month
period, the new Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation Year
in which the amendment is made.
1.45 Master Or Prototype Plan
A plan, the form of which is the subject of a favorable opinion letter from the
Internal Revenue Service.
1.46 Matching Contribution
An Employer contribution made to this or any other defined contribution plan on
behalf of a Participant on account of an Employee Voluntary Contribution made
by such Participant, or on account of a Participant's Elective Deferral, under
a Plan maintained by the Employer.
1.47 Maximum Permissible Amount
The maximum Annual Addition that may be contributed or allocated to a
Participant's account under the plan for any Limitation Year shall not exceed
the lesser of:
(a) the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation, or
(b) 25% of the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation Year.
The compensation limitation referred to in (b) shall not apply to any
contribution for medical benefits [within the meaning of Code Section 401(h) or
Code Section 419A(f)(2)] which is otherwise treated as an Annual Addition under
Code Section 415(l)(1) or 419(d)(2). If a short Limitation Year is created
because of an amendment changing the Limitation Year to a different 12-
consecutive month period, the Maximum Permissible Amount will not exceed the
Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation multiplied by the following fraction:
Number of months in the short Limitation Year divided by 12.
1.48 Net Profit
The current and accumulated operating earnings of the Employer before Federal
and State income taxes, excluding nonrecurring or unusual items of income, and
before contributions to this and any other qualified plan of the Employer.
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, profits will not be
required for Profit-Sharing contributions to the Plan.
1.49 Normal Retirement Age
The age, set by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, at which a Participant
may retire and receive his or her benefits under the Plan. Unless otherwise
specified in the Adoption Agreement, the Normal Retirement Age shall be 65.
1.50 Owner-Employee
A sole proprietor, or a partner owning more than 10% of either the capital or
profits interest of the partnership.
1.51 Paired Plans
Two or more Plans maintained by the Sponsor designed so that a single or any
combination of Plans adopted by an Employer will meet the antidiscrimination
rules, the contribution and benefit limitations, and the Top-Heavy provisions
of the Code.
1.52 Participant
Any Employee who has met the eligibility requirements and is participating in
the Plan.
1.53 Participant's Benefit
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. A special exception exists for the second
distribution Calendar Year. For purposes of this paragraph, 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.
1.54 Permissive Aggregation Group
Used for Top-Heavy testing purposes, it is the Required Aggregation Group of
plans plus any other plan or plans of the Employer which, when considered as a
group with the Required Aggregation Group, would continue to satisfy the
requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
1.55 Plan
The Employer's retirement plan as embodied herein and in the Adoption
Agreement.
1.56 Plan Administrator
The Employer.
1.57 Year
The 12-consecutive month period designated by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement. If no such period is designated, the Plan Year shall be the
Employer's taxable year.
1.58 Present Value
Used for Top-Heavy test and determination purposes, when determining the
Present Value of accrued benefits, with respect to any Defined Benefit Plan
maintained by the Employer, interest and mortality rates shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the respective plan. If applicable, interest
and mortality assumptions will be specified in Section 11 of the Adoption
Agreement.
1.59 Projected Annual Benefit
Used to test the maximum benefit which may be obtained from a combination of
retirement plans, it is the annual retirement benefit (adjusted to an actuarial
equivalent straight life annuity if such benefit is expressed in a form other
than a straight life annuity or Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity) to which
the Participant would be entitled under the terms of a Defined Benefit Plan or
plans, assuming:
(a) the Participant will continue employment until Normal Retirement Age
under the plan (or current age, if later), and
(b) the Participant's Compensation for the current Limitation Year and all
other relevant factors used to determine benefits under the plan will remain
constant for all future Limitation Years.
1.60 Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Any pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or other plan which meets the
requirements of Code Section 401 and includes a trust exempt from tax under
Code Section 501(a) or any annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a).
An Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual retirement account (IRA) as
described in section 408(a) of the Code, an individual retirement annuity (IRA)
as described in section 408(b) of the Code, an annuity plan as described in
section 403(a) of the Code, or a qualified trust as described in section 401(a)
of the Code, which accepts Eligible Rollover Distributions. However, in the
case of an Eligible Rollover Distribution to a surviving Spouse, an Eligible
Retirement Plan is an individual retirement account or individual retirement
annuity.
1.61 Qualified Domestic Relations Order
A QDRO is a signed Domestic Relations Order issued by a State Court which
creates, recognizes or assigns to an alternate payee(s) the right to receive
all or part of a Participant's Plan benefit and which meets the requirements of
Code Section 414(p). An alternate payee is a Spouse, former Spouse, child, or
other dependent who is treated as a beneficiary under the Plan as a result of
the QDRO.
1.62 Qualified Early Retirement Age
For purposes of paragraph 8.9, Qualified Early Retirement Age is the latest of:
(a) the earliest date, under the Plan, on which the Participant may elect to
receive retirement benefits, or
(b) the first day of the 120th month beginning before the Participant
reaches Normal Retirement Age, or
(c) the date the Participant begins participation.
1.63 Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity
An immediate annuity for the life of the Participant with a survivor annuity
for the life of the Participant's Spouse which is at least one-half of but not
more than the amount of the annuity payable during the joint lives of the
Participant and the Participant's Spouse. The exact amount of the Survivor
Annuity is to be specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. If not
designated by the Employer, the Survivor Annuity will be 1/2 of the amount paid
to the Participant during his or her lifetime. The Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity will be the amount of benefit which can be provided by the
Participant's Vested Account Balance.
1.64 Qualified Matching Contribution
Matching Contributions which when made are subject to the distribution and
nonforfeitability requirements under Code Section 401(k).
1.65 Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
Contributions (other than Matching Contributions or Qualified Matching
Contributions) made by the Employer and allocated to Participants' accounts
that the Participants may not elect to receive in cash until distributed from
the Plan; that are nonforfeitable when made; and that are distributable only in
accordance with the distribution provisions that are applicable to Elective
Deferrals and Qualified Matching Contributions.
1.66 Qualified Voluntary Contribution
A tax-deductible voluntary Employee contribution. These contributions may no
longer be made to the Plan.
1.67 Required Aggregation Group
Used for Top-Heavy testing purposes, it consists of:
(a) each qualified plan of the Employer in which at least one Key Employee
participates or participated at any time during the determination period
(regardless of whether the plan has terminated), and
(b) any other qualified plan of the Employer which enables a plan described
in (a) to meet the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or 410.
1.68 Required Beginning Date
The date on which a Participant is required to take his or her first minimum
distribution under the Plan. The rules are set forth at paragraph 7.5.
1.69 Rollover Contribution
A contribution made by a Participant of an amount distributed to such
Participant from another Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan in accordance
with Code Sections 402(a)(5), (6), and (7). An Eligible Rollover Distribution
is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the
Participant except that an Eligible Rollover Distribution does not include:
(a) 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 Participant or the joint lives (or joint life
expectancies) of the Participant and the Participant's Designated
Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more;
(b) any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under
section 401(a)(9) of the Code; and
(c) the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income
(determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation
with respect to employer securities).
A Direct Rollover is a payment by the plan to the Eligible Retirement Plan
specified by the Participant.
1.70 Salary Savings Agreement
An agreement between the Employer and a participating Employee where the
Employee authorizes the Employer to withhold a specified percentage of his
or her Compensation for deposit to the Plan on behalf of such Employee.
1.71 Self-Employed Individual
An individual who has Earned Income for the taxable year from the trade or
business for which the Plan is established including an individual who would
have had Earned Income but for the fact that the trade or business had no Net
Profit for the taxable year.
1.72 Service
The period of current or prior employment with the Employer. If the Employer
maintains a plan of a predecessor employer, Service for such predecessor shall
be treated as Service for the Employer.
1.73 Service Company
Prudential Mutual Fund Services, Inc., or its successor serving from time to
time.
1.74 Shareholder Employee
An Employee or Officer who owns [or is considered as owning within the meaning
of Code Section 318(a)(1)], on any day during the taxable year of an electing
small business corporation (S Corporation), more than 5% of such corporation's
outstanding stock.
1.75 Simplified Employee Pension Plan
An individual retirement account which meets the requirements of Code Section
408(k), and to which the Employer makes contributions pursuant to a written
formula. These plans are considered for contribution limitation and Top-Heavy
testing purposes.
1.76 Sponsor
Shall be Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc.
1.77 Spouse (Surviving Spouse)
The Spouse or Surviving Spouse of the Participant, provided that a former
Spouse will be treated as the Spouse or Surviving Spouse and a current Spouse
will not be treated as the Spouse or Surviving Spouse to the extent provided
under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order as described in Code Section 414(p).
1.78 Super Top-Heavy Plan
A Plan described at paragraph 1.81 under which the Top-Heavy Ratio [as defined
at paragraph 1.82] exceeds 90%.
1.79 Taxable Wage Base
For plans with an allocation formula which takes into account the Employer's
contribution under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), the
contribution and benefit base in effect under Section 230, of the Social
Security Act, at the beginning of the Plan Year, or the amount elected by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
1.80 Top-Heavy Determination Date
For any Plan Year subsequent to the first Plan Year, the last day of the
preceding Plan Year. For the first Plan Year of the Plan, the last day of that
year.
1.81 Top-Heavy Plan
For any Plan Year beginning after 1983, the Employer's Plan is top-heavy if any
of the following conditions exist:
(a) If the Top-Heavy Ratio for the Employer's Plan exceeds 60% and this Plan
is not part of any required Aggregation Group or Permissive Aggregation
Group of Plans.
(b) If the Employer's plan is a part of a Required Aggregation Group of
plans but not part of a Permissive Aggregation Group and the Top-Heavy Ratio
for the group of plans exceeds 60%.
(c) If the Employer's plan is a part of a Required Aggregation Group and
part of a Permissive Aggregation Group of plans and the Top-Heavy Ratio for
the Permissive Aggregation Group exceeds 60%.
1.82 Top-Heavy Ratio
(a) If the Employer maintains one or more Defined Contribution plans
(including any Simplified Employee Pension Plan) and the Employer has not
maintained any Defined Benefit Plan which during the 5-year period ending on
the Determination Date(s) has or has had accrued benefits, the Top-Heavy
Ratio for this Plan alone, or for the Required or Permissive Aggregation
Group as appropriate, is a fraction,
(1) the numerator of which is the sum of the account balances of all Key
Employees as of the Determination Date(s) [including any part of any
account balance distributed in the 5-year period ending on the
Determination Date(s)], and
(2) the denominator of which is the sum of all account balances [including
any part of any account balance distributed in the 5-year period ending
on the Determination Date(s)], both computed in accordance with Code
Section 416 and the regulations thereunder.
Both the numerator and denominator of the Top-Heavy Ratio are increased to
reflect any contribution not actually made as of the Determination Date, but
which is required to be taken into account on that date under Code Section 416
and the regulations thereunder.
(b) If the Employer maintains one or more Defined Contribution Plans
(including any Simplified Employee Pension Plan) and the Employer maintains
or has maintained one or more Defined Benefit Plans which during the 5-year
period ending on the Determination Date(s) has or has had any accrued
benefits, the Top-Heavy Ratio for any Required or Permissive Aggregation
Group as appropriate is a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of
account balances under the aggregated Defined Contribution Plan or Plans for
all Key Employees, determined in accordance with (a) above, and the Present
Value of accrued benefits under the aggregated Defined Benefit Plan or Plans
for all Key Employees as of the Determination Date(s), and the denominator
of which is the sum of the account balances under the aggregated Defined
Contribution Plan or Plans for all Participants, determined in accordance
with (a) above, and the Present Value of accrued benefits under the Defined
Benefit Plan or Plans for all Participants as of the Determination Date(s),
all determined in accordance with Code Section 416 and the regulations
thereunder. The accrued benefits under a Defined Benefit Plan in both the
numerator and denominator of the Top-Heavy Ratio are increased for any
distribution of an accrued benefit made in the 5-year period ending on the
Determination Date.
(c) For purposes of (a) and (b) above, the value of account balances and the
Present Value of accrued benefits will be determined as of the most recent
Valuation Date that falls within or ends with the 12-month period ending on
the Determination Date, except as provided in Code Section 416 and the
regulations thereunder for the first and second plan years of a Defined
Benefit Plan. The account balances and accrued benefits of a participant
(1) who is not a Key Employee but who was a Key Employee in a prior year, or
(2) who has not been credited with at least one hour of service with any
Employer maintaining the Plan at any time during the 5-year period ending on
the Determination Date, will be disregarded. The calculation of the Top-
Heavy Ratio, and the extent to which distributions, rollovers, and transfers
are taken into account will be made in accordance with Code Section 416 and
the regulations thereunder. Qualified Voluntary Employee Contributions
will not be taken into account for purposes of computing the Top-Heavy
Ratio. When aggregating plans the value of account balances and accrued
benefits will be calculated with reference to the Determination Dates that
fall within the same calendar year. The accrued benefit of a Participant
other than a Key Employee shall be determined under (1) the method, if any,
that uniformly applies for accrual purposes under all Defined Benefit Plans
maintained by the Employer, or (2) if there is no such method, as if such
benefit accrued not more rapidly than the slowest accrual rate permitted
under the fractional rule of Code Section 411(b)(1)(C).
1.83 Top-Paid Group
The group consisting of the top 20% of Employees when ranked on the basis of
Compensation paid during such year. For purposes of determining the number of
Employees in the group (but not who is in it), the following Employees shall be
excluded:
(a) Employees who have not completed 6 months of Service.
(b) Employees who normally work less than 17-1/2 hours per week.
(c) Employees who normally do not work more than 6 months during any year.
(d) Employees who have not attained age 21.
(e) Employees included in a collective bargaining unit, covered by an
agreement between employee representatives and the Employer, where
retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining and provided
that 90% or more of the Employer's Employees are covered by the agreement.
(f) Employees who are nonresident aliens and who receive no earned income
which constitutes income from sources within the United States.
1.84 Transfer Contribution
A non-taxable transfer of a Participant's benefit directly from a Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plan to this Plan.
1.85 Trustee
The individual(s) or institution appointed by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement.
1.86 Valuation Date
The last business day of each Plan Year or such other date consistent with the
operational cycle of the Service Company, as agreed to by the Employer and the
Service Company on which Participant accounts are revalued in accordance with
Article V hereof. For Top-Heavy purposes, the date selected by the Employer as
of which the Top-Heavy Ratio is calculated.
The value of mutual funds and other marketable investments shall be determined
using the most recent price quoted on a national securities exchange or over
the counter market. The value of investments for which there is no market
shall be determined in the sole judgement of the Employer or issuer and neither
the Trustee nor Service Company shall have responsibility with respect to the
valuation of such assets.
1.87 Vested Account Balance
The aggregate value of the Participant's Vested Account Balances derived from
Employer and Employee contributions (including Rollovers), whether vested
before or upon death, including the proceeds of insurance contracts, if any, on
the Participant's life. The provisions of Article VIII shall apply to a
Participant who is vested in amounts attributable to Employer contributions,
Employee contributions (or both) at the time of death or distribution.
1.88 Voluntary Contribution
An Employee 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.
1.89 Welfare Benefit Fund
Any fund that is part of a plan of the Employer, or has the effect of a plan,
through which the Employer provides welfare benefits to Employees or their
beneficiaries. For these purposes, Welfare Benefits means any benefit other
than those with respect to which Code Section 83(h) (relating to transfers of
property in connection with the performance of services), Code Section 404
(relating to deductions for contributions to an Employee's trust or annuity and
Compensation under a deferred payment plan), Code Section 404A (relating to
certain foreign deferred compensation plans) apply. A "Fund" is any social
club, voluntary employee benefit association, supplemental unemployment benefit
trust or qualified group legal service organization described in Code Section
501(c)(7), (9), (17) or (20); any trust, corporation, or other organization not
exempt from income tax, or to the extent provided in regulations, any account
held for an Employer by any person.
1.90 Year Of Service
If the Hour counting method has been chosen by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement, a Year Of Service is a 12-consecutive month period during which an
Employee is credited with not less than 1,000 (or such lesser number as
specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement) Hours of Service. If the
Elapsed Time Method has been chosen by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement,
an Employee will receive credit for the aggregate of all time period(s)
commencing with the Employee's first day of employment or reemployment and
ending on the date a Break In Service begins. The first day of employment or
reemployment is the first day the Employee performs an Hour of Service. An
Employee will also receive credit for any period of severance of less than 12
consecutive months. Fractional periods of a year will be expressed in terms of
days.
ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Participation
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, the Plan shall cover all
Employees having completed at least one Year of Service and who have attained
age 21. Employees who meet the eligibility requirements in the Adoption
Agreement on the Effective Date of the Plan shall become Participants as of the
Effective Date of the Plan. Unless stated to the contrary in the Adoption
Agreement, all Employees employed on the Effective Date of the Plan may
participate, even if they have not satisfied the Plan's specified eligibility
requirements. Other Employees shall become Participants on the Entry Date
coinciding with or immediately following the date on which they meet the
eligibility requirements. The Employee must satisfy the eligibility
requirements specified in the Adoption Agreement and be employed on the Entry
Date to become a Participant in the Plan. In the event an Employee who is not
a member of the eligible class of Employees becomes a member of the eligible
class, such Employee shall participate immediately if such Employee has
satisfied the minimum age and service requirements and would have previously
become a Participant had he or she been in the eligible class. A former
Participant shall again become a Participant upon returning to the employ of
the Employer. For this purpose, Participant's Compensation and Service shall
be considered from date of rehire.
2.2 Change In Classification Of Employment
If a Participant is transferred to an ineligible class of Employees, or is
otherwise reclassified as an ineligible Employee, any contribution or
allocation of forfeitures which would otherwise be made for him hereunder for
the Plan Year of such transfer or reclassification shall be made. No
contribution or allocation of forfeitures for or by him shall be made, however,
for any subsequent Plan Year prior to the Plan Year in which he again becomes a
Participant.
2.3 Computation Period
To determine Years of Service and Breaks in Service for purposes of
eligibility, the 12-consecutive month period shall commence on the date on
which an Employee first performs an Hour of Service for the Employer and each
anniversary thereof, such that the succeeding 12-consecutive month period
commences with the employee's first anniversary of employment and so on. If,
however, the period so specified is one year or less, the succeeding 12-
consecutive month period shall commence on the first day of the Plan Year prior
to the anniversary of the date they first performed an Hour of Service
regardless of whether the Employee is entitled to be credited with 1,000 (or
such lesser number as specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement)
Hours of Service during their first employment year.
2.4 Employment Rights
Participation in the Plan shall not confer upon a Participant any employment
rights, nor shall it interfere with the Employer's right to terminate the
employment of any Employee at any time.
2.5 Service With Controlled Groups
All Years of Service with other members of a controlled group of corporations
[as defined in Code Section 414(b)], trades or businesses under common control
[as defined in Code Section 414(c)], or members of an affiliated service group
[as defined in Code Section 414(m)] shall be credited for purposes of
determining an Employee's eligibility to participate.
2.6 Owner-Employees
If this Plan provides contributions or benefits for one or more Owner-Employees
who control both the business for which this Plan is established and one or
more other trades or businesses, this Plan and the Plan established for other
trades or businesses must, when looked at as a single Plan, satisfy Code
Sections 401(a) and (d) for the Employees of this and all other trades or
businesses.
If the Plan provides contributions or benefits for one or more Owner-Employees
who control one or more other trades or businesses, the Employees of the other
trades or businesses must be included in a Plan which satisfies Code Sections
401(a) and (d) and which provides contributions and benefits not less favorable
than provided for Owner-Employees under this Plan.
If an individual is covered as an Owner-Employee under the plans of two or more
trades or businesses which are not controlled, and the individual controls a
trade or business, then the contributions or benefits of the Employees under
the plan of the trades or businesses which are controlled must be as favorable
as those provided for him or her under the most favorable plan of the trade or
business which is not controlled.
For purposes of the preceding sentences, an Owner-Employee, or two or more
Owner-Employees, will be considered to control a trade or business if the
Owner-Employee, or two or more Owner-Employees together:
(a) own the entire interest in an unincorporated trade or business, or
(b) in the case of a partnership, own more than 50% of either the capital
interest or the profits interest in the partnership.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, an Owner-Employee, or two or more
Owner-Employees shall be treated as owning any interest in a partnership which
is owned, directly or indirectly, by a partnership which such Owner-Employee,
or such two or more Owner-Employees, are considered to control within the
meaning of the preceding sentence.
2.7 Leased Employees
Any leased Employee shall be treated as an Employee of the recipient Employer;
however, contributions or benefits provided by the leasing organization which
are attributable to services performed for the recipient Employer shall be
treated as provided by the recipient Employer. A leased Employee shall not be
considered an Employee of the recipient if such Employee is covered by a money
purchase pension plan providing:
(a) a non-integrated Employer contribution rate of at least 10% of
Compensation, [as defined in Code Section 415(c)(3) but including amounts
contributed by the Employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement, which
are excludable from the Employee's gross income under a cafeteria plan
covered by Code Section 125, a cash or deferred profit-sharing plan under
Section 401(k) of the Code, a Simplified Employee Pension Plan under Code
Section 402(h)(1)(B ) and a tax-sheltered annuity under Code Section
403(b)],
(b) immediate participation, and
(c) full and immediate vesting.
This exclusion is only available if Leased Employees do not constitute more
than twenty percent (20%) of the recipients non-highly compensated work force.
2.8 Omission Of Eligible Employee
If, in any Plan Year, any Employee who should be included as a Participant in
the Plan is erroneously omitted and discovery of such omission is not made
until after a contribution for the year has been made, the omitted Employee
shall be included in the next valuation. The Employer shall make any
additional contribution with respect to the omitted Employee that may be deemed
necessary.
Such contribution shall be made regardless of whether it is deductible in whole
or in part in any taxable year under applicable provisions of the Code. The
Employee shall receive credit under the terms of the Plan for any period during
which he should have been included as a Participant.
2.9 Inclusion Of Ineligible Employee
If in any Plan Year, any person who should not have been included as a
Participant in the Plan is erroneously included and discovery of such incorrect
inclusion is not made until after a contribution for the year has been made,
the Employer shall not be entitled to recover the contribution made with
respect to the ineligible person regardless of whether or not a deduction is
allowable with respect to such contribution. In such event, the amount
contributed with respect to the ineligible person shall be removed from the
ineligible Employee's Account and treated as a forfeiture.
ARTICLE III - EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Amount
The Employer intends to make periodic contributions to the Plan in accordance
with the formula or formulas selected in the Adoption Agreement. However, the
Employer's contribution for any Plan Year shall be subject to the limitations
on allocations contained in Article X.
3.2 Expenses And Fees
The Employer shall also be authorized to reimburse the Fund for all expenses
and fees incurred in the administration of the Plan or Trust and paid out of
the assets of the Fund. Such expenses shall include, but shall not be limited
to, fees for professional services, printing and postage. Commissions may not
be reimbursed.
3.3 Responsibility For Contributions
The Trustee shall not be required to determine if the Employer has made a
contribution or if the amount contributed is in accordance with the Adoption
Agreement or the Code. The Employer shall have sole responsibility in this
regard. The Trustee shall be accountable solely for contributions actually
received by it, within the limits of Article XI.
3.4 Return Of Contributions
Contributions made to the Fund by the Employer shall be irrevocable except as
provided below:
(a) Any contribution forwarded to the Trustee because of a mistake of fact,
provided that the contribution is returned to the Employer within one year
of the contribution.
(b) In the event that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue determines that
the Plan is not initially qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, any
contribution made incident to that initial qualification by the Employer
must be returned to the Employer within one year after the date the initial
qualification is denied, but only if the application for the qualification
is made by the time prescribed by law for filing the Employer's return for
the taxable year in which the Plan is adopted, or such later date as the
Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.
(c) Contributions forwarded to the Trustee are presumed to be deductible and
are conditioned on their deductibility. Contributions which are determined
to not be deductible will be returned to the Employer.
3.5 Form Of Contribution
Except as contemplated in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4, no contribution shall be made
in property other than United States currency or such other property as is
acceptable to the Service Company.
ARTICLE IV - EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Voluntary Contributions
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, an Employee may not make
Voluntary Contributions to the Plan established hereunder. If permitted, they
will be made in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner. Such contributions are
subject to the limitations on Annual Additions and are subject to
antidiscrimination testing.
4.2 Qualified Voluntary Contributions
A Participant may no longer make Qualified Voluntary Contributions to the Plan.
Amounts already contributed may not remain in the Trust Fund. The Participant
must withdraw the Qualified Voluntary Contribution amounts already contributed
by making a written application to the Plan Administrator.
4.3 Rollover Contribution
Unless provided otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant and an
Employee in an eligible class of Employees who has not met the eligibility
requirements for participation in the Plan may make a Rollover Contribution to
any Defined Contribution Plan established hereunder of all or any part of an
amount distributed or distributable to him or her from a Qualified Deferred
Compensation Plan provided:
(a) the amount distributed to the Participant is deposited in the Plan no
later than the sixtieth day after such distribution was received by the
Participant,
(b) the amount distributed is not one of a series of substantially equal
periodic payments made for the life (or life expectancy) of the Participant
or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the Participant and the
Participant's Designated Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years
or more;
(c) the amount distributed is not required under section 401(a)(9) of the
Code;
(d) if the amount distributed included property such property is rolled
over, or if sold the proceeds of such property may be rolled over,
(e) the amount distributed is not includible in gross income (determined
without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with respect
to employer securities).
In addition, if the Adoption Agreement allows Rollover Contributions, the Plan
will also accept any Eligible Rollover Distribution (as defined at paragraph
1.69) directly to the Plan.
Rollover Contributions, which relate to distributions prior to January 1, 1993,
must be made in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (e) and additionally
meet the requirements of paragraph (f):
(f) the distribution from the Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
constituted the Participant's entire interest in such Plan and was
distributed within one taxable year to the Participant:
(1) on account of separation from Service, a Plan termination, or in the
case of a profit-sharing or stock bonus plan, a complete discontinuance of
contributions under such plan within the meaning of Section 402(a)(6)(A)
of the Code, or
(2) in one or more distributions which constitute a qualified lump sum
distribution within the meaning of Code Section 402(e)(4)(A), determined
without reference to subparagraphs (B) and (H),
Such Rollover Contribution may also be made through an Individual Retirement
Account qualified under Code Section 408 where the IRA was used as a conduit
from the Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, the Rollover Contribution is
made in accordance with the rules provided under paragraph (a) through (e) and
the Rollover Contribution does not include any regular IRA contributions, or
earnings thereon, which the Participant may have made to the IRA. Rollover
Contributions which relate to distributions prior to January 1, 1993, may be
made through an IRA in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (f) and
additional requirements as provided in the previous sentence. The Trustee
shall not be held responsible for determining the tax-free status of any
Rollover Contribution made under this Plan.
4.4 Transfer Contribution
Unless provided otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant and an
Employee in an eligible class of Employees who has not met the eligibility
requirements for participation in the Plan, may, subject to the provisions of
paragraph 4.5, also arrange for the direct transfer of his or her benefit from
a Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan to this Plan. For accounting and
record keeping purposes, Transfer Contributions shall be identical to Rollover
Contributions.
In the event the Employer accepts a Transfer Contribution from a Plan in which
the Employee was directing the investments of his or her account, the Employer
may continue to permit the Employee to direct his or her investments in
accordance with paragraph 13.7 with respect only to such Transfer Contribution.
Notwithstanding the above, the Employer may refuse to accept such Transfer
Contributions.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if a Participant changes
classification of employment between eligible and ineligible classes, then the
Employer may transfer said Participant's account balance between the
appropriate plans maintained by the Employer, so long as such transfer will not
result in an illegal cut back in benefits in violation of Code Section
411(d)(6).
4.5 Employer Approval Of Transfer Contributions
The Employer maintaining a Safe-Harbor Profit-Sharing Plan in accordance with
the provisions of paragraph 8.7, acting in a nondiscriminatory manner, may in
its sole discretion refuse to allow Transfer Contributions to its profit-
sharing plan, if such contributions are directly or indirectly being
transferred from a defined benefit plan, a money purchase pension plan
(including a target benefit plan), a stock bonus plan, or another profit-
sharing plan which would otherwise provide for a life annuity form of payment
to the Participant.
4.6 Elective Deferrals
A Participant may enter into a Salary Savings Agreement with the Employer
authorizing the Employer to withhold a portion of such Participant's
Compensation not to exceed $7,000 per calendar year as adjusted under Code
Section 415(d) or, if lesser, the percentage of Compensation specified in the
Adoption Agreement and to deposit such amount to the Plan. No Participant
shall be permitted to have Elective Deferrals made under this Plan or any other
qualified plan maintained by the Employer, during any taxable year, in excess
of the dollar limitation contained in Code Section 402(g) in effect at the
beginning of such taxable year. Thus, the $7,000 limit may be reduced if a
Participant contributes pre-tax contributions to qualified plans of this or
other Employers. Any such contribution shall be credited to the Employee's
Salary Savings Account. Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement,
a Participant may amend his or her Salary Savings Agreement to increase,
decrease or terminate the percentage upon 30 days written notice to the
Employer. If a Participant terminates his or her agreement, such Participant
shall not be permitted to put a new Salary Savings Agreement into effect until
the first pay period in the next Plan Year, unless otherwise stated in the
Adoption Agreement. The Employer may also amend or terminate said agreement on
written notice to the Participant. If a Participant has not authorized the
Employer to withhold at the maximum rate and desires to increase the total
withheld for a Plan Year, such Participant may authorize the Employer upon 30
days notice to withhold a supplemental amount up to 100% of his or her
Compensation for one or more pay periods. In no event may the sum of the
amounts withheld under the Salary Savings Agreement plus the supplemental
withholding exceed 25% of a Participant's Compensation for a Plan Year.
Elective Deferrals shall be deposited in the Trust no later than the date
described in Section 2510.3-102 of the Department of Labor Regulations.
4.7 Direct Rollover Of Benefits
Notwithstanding any provision of the plan to the contrary that would otherwise
limit a Participant's election under this Paragraph, for distributions made on
or after January 1, 1993, a Participant 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 Participant in a Direct Rollover. Any portion of a distribution which is
not paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan shall be distributed to the
Participant. For purposes of this Paragraph, a Surviving Spouse or a spouse or
former spouse who is an alternate payee under a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order as defined in section 414(p) of the Code, will be permitted to elect to
have any Eligible Rollover Distribution paid directly to an individual
retirement account (IRA), an individual retirement annuity (IRA), or another
qualified retirement Plan.
The plan provisions otherwise applicable to distributions continue to apply to
Rollover and Transfer Contributions.
ARTICLE V - PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS
5.1 Separate Accounts
The Employer shall establish a separate bookkeeping account for each
Participant showing the total value of his or her interest in the Fund. Each
Participant's account shall be separated for bookkeeping purposes into the
following sub-accounts:
(a) Employer contributions.
(1) Matching Contributions.
(2) Qualified Matching Contributions.
(3) Qualified Non-Elective Contributions.
(4) Discretionary Contributions.
(5) Elective Deferrals.
(b) Voluntary Contributions (and additional amounts including required
contributions and, if applicable, either repayments of loans previously
defaulted on and treated as "deemed distributions" on which a tax report has
been issued, and amounts paid out upon a separation from service which have
been included in income and which are repaid after being re-hired by the
Employer).
(c) Transfer Contributions.
(d) Rollover Contributions.
5.2 Adjustments To Participant Accounts
As of each Valuation Date of the Plan, the Employer shall add to each account:
(a) the Participant's share of the Employer's contribution and forfeitures
as determined in the Adoption Agreement,
(b) any Elective Deferrals, Voluntary, Rollover or Transfer Contributions
made by the Participant,
(c) any repayment of amounts previously paid out to a Participant upon a
separation from Service and repaid by the Participant since the last
Valuation Date, and
(d) the Participant's proportionate share of any investment earnings and
increase in the fair market value of the Fund since the last Valuation Date,
as determined at paragraph 5.4.
The Employer shall deduct from each account:
(e) any withdrawals or payments made from the Participant's account since
the last Valuation Date, and
(f) the Participant's proportionate share of any decrease in the fair market
value of the Fund since the last Valuation Date, as determined at paragraph
5.4.
5.3 Allocating Employer Contributions
The Employer's contribution shall be allocated to Participants in accordance
with the allocation formula selected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement,
and the minimum contribution and allocation requirements for Top-Heavy Plans.
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, the Plan will not be
integrated with Social Security. Beginning with the 1990 Plan Year and
thereafter, for plans on Standardized Adoption Agreement 001, Participants who
are credited with more than 500 Hours of Service or are employed on the last
day of the Plan Year must receive a full allocation of Employer contributions.
In Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement 002, Employer contributions shall be
allocated to the accounts of Participants employed by the Employer on the last
day of the Plan Year unless indicated otherwise in the Adoption Agreement. In
the case of a non-Top-Heavy, Nonstandardized Plan, Participants must also have
completed a Year of Service unless otherwise specified in the Adoption
Agreement. For Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement 002, the Employer may only
apply the last day of the Plan Year and Year of Service requirements if the
Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(26) and 410(b) and the
regulations thereunder including the exception for 401(k) plans. If, when
applying the last day and Year of Service requirements, the Plan fails to
satisfy the aforementioned requirements, additional Participants will be
eligible to receive an allocation of Employer Contributions until the
requirements are satisfied. Participants who are credited with a Year of
Service, but not employed at Plan Year end, are the first category of
additional Participants eligible to receive an allocation. If the requirements
are still not satisfied, Participants credited with more than 500 Hours of
Service and employed at Plan Year end are the next category of Participants
eligible to receive an allocation. Finally, if necessary to satisfy the said
requirements, any Participant credited with more than 500 Hours of Service will
be eligible for an allocation of Employer Contributions. The Service
requirement is not applicable with respect to any Plan Year during which the
Employer's Plan is Top-Heavy.
In the event the Employer selects an integrated allocation formula, the
Employer's contribution will be allocated in accordance with the following
method unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement:
(a) First, to the extent contributions and forfeitures are sufficient, all
Participants will receive an allocation equal to 3% of their Compensation.
(b) Next, any remaining Employer Contributions and forfeitures will be
allocated to Participants who have Compensation in excess of the Taxable
Wage Base (excess Compensation). Each such Participant will receive an
allocation in the ratio that his or her excess compensation bears to the
excess Compensation of all Participants. Participants may only receive an
allocation of 3% of excess Compensation.
(c) Next, any remaining Employer contributions and forfeitures will be
allocated to all Participants in the ratio that their Compensation plus
excess Compensation bears to the total Compensation plus excess Compensation
of all Participants. Participants may only receive an allocation of up to
2.7% of their Compensation plus excess Compensation, under this allocation
method. If the Taxable Wage Base as defined in Section 3 of the Adoption
Agreement is less than the maximum, but more than the greater of $10,000 or
20% of the maximum, then the 2.7% must be reduced. If the amount specified
is greater than 80% but less than 100% of the maximum Taxable Wage Base, the
2.7% must be reduced to 2.4%. If the amount specified is greater than the
greater of $10,000 or 20% of the maximum Taxable Wage Base, but not more
than 80%, 2.7% must be reduced to 1.3%.
(d) Next, any remaining Employer contributions and forfeitures will be
allocated to all Participants (whether or not they received an allocation
under the preceding paragraphs) in the ratio that each Participant's
Compensation bears to all Participants' Compensation.
If the Plan is not Top-Heavy, subparagraphs (a) and (b) above may be
disregarded and 5.7%, 5.4% or 4.3% may be substituted for 2.7%, 2.4% or 1.3%
where it appears in (c) above.
5.4 Allocating Investment Earnings And Losses
A Participant's share of investment earnings and any increase or decrease in
the fair market value of the Fund shall be based on the proportionate value of
all active accounts (other than accounts with segregated investments) as of the
last Valuation Date less withdrawals since the last Valuation Date. If
applicable, segregated accounts may be allocated earnings, up through the date
of segregation, under the above method, at the Plan Administrator's discretion.
If Employer and/or Employee contributions are made monthly, quarterly, or on
some other systematic basis, the adjusted value of such accounts for allocation
of investment income and gains or losses shall include one-half the
contributions for such period. If Employer and/or Employee contributions are
not made on a systematic basis, it is assumed that they are made at the end of
the valuation period and therefore will not receive an allocation of investment
earnings and gains or losses for such period. Notwithstanding the above, if
contributions are made on a nonsystematic basis, at the Plan Administrator's
discretion, such contributions will be credited with an allocation of the
actual investment earnings and gains and losses from the actual date of deposit
of each such contribution until the end of the period. In no event shall this
election of allocating gains and losses be used to discriminate. Finally, the
Plan Administrator may elect to disregard nonsystematic contributions made
during the year, altogether, and allocate earnings exclusively on the basis of
all active accounts (other than accounts with segregated investments) as of the
last Valuation Date less withdrawals since the last Valuation Date, or, if
applicable, take into consideration any systematic contributions, as provided
above. Accounts with segregated investments shall receive only the income or
loss on such segregated investments.
5.5 Participant Statements
The Employer shall periodically (not less often than annually), prepare a
statement for each Participant showing the additions to and subtractions from
his or her account since the last such statement and the fair market value of
his or her account as of the date for which the statement is prepared.
ARTICLE VI - RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Normal Retirement Benefits
A Participant shall be entitled to receive the balance held in his or her
account from Employer contributions upon attaining Normal Retirement Age or at
such earlier dates as the provisions of this Article VI may allow. If the
Participant elects to continue working past his or her Normal Retirement Age,
he or she will continue as an active Plan Participant and no distribution shall
be made to such Participant until his or her actual retirement date unless the
employer elects otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, or a minimum distribution
is required by law. Settlement shall be made in the normal form, or if
elected, in one of the optional forms of payment provided below.
6.2 Early Retirement Benefits
If the Employer so provides in the Adoption Agreement, an Early Retirement
Benefit will be available to individuals who meet the age and Service
requirements. An individual who meets the Early Retirement Age requirements
and separates from Service, will become fully vested, regardless of any vesting
schedule which otherwise might apply. If a Participant separates from Service
before satisfying the age requirements, but after having satisfied the Service
requirement, the Participant will be entitled to elect an Early Retirement
benefit upon satisfaction of the age requirement.
6.3 Benefits On Termination Of Employment
(a) If a Participant terminates employment prior to Normal Retirement Age,
such Participant shall be entitled to receive the vested balance held in his
or her account payable at Normal Retirement Age in the normal form, or if
elected, in one of the optional forms of payment provided hereunder. If
applicable, the Early Retirement Benefit provisions may be elected.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a former Participant may, if allowed
in the Adoption Agreement, make application to the Employer requesting early
payment of any deferred vested and nonforfeitable benefit due.
(b) If a Participant terminates employment, and the value of that
Participant's vested account balance derived from Employer and Employee
contributions is not greater than $3,500, the Participant may receive a lump
sum distribution of the value of the entire vested portion of such account
balance and the non-vested portion will be treated as a forfeiture. The
Employer shall continue to follow their consistent policy, as may be
established, regarding immediate cash-outs of Vested Account Balances of
$3,500 or less. For purposes of this Article, if the value of a
Participant's Vested Account Balance is zero, the Participant shall be
deemed to have received a distribution of such Vested Account Balance
immediately following termination. Likewise, if the Participant is
reemployed prior to incurring 5 consecutive 1-year Breaks In Service they
will be deemed to have immediately repaid such distribution. For Plan Years
beginning prior to 1989, a Participant's Vested Account Balance shall not
include Qualified Voluntary Contributions. Notwithstanding the above, if
the Employer maintains or has maintained a policy of not distributing any
amounts until the Participant's Normal Retirement Age, the Employer can
continue to uniformly apply such policy.
(c) If a Participant terminates employment with a Vested Account Balance
derived from Employer and Employee contributions in excess of $3,500, and
elects (with his or her Spouse's consent, if required) to receive 100% of
the value of his or her Vested Account Balance in a lump sum, the non-vested
portion will be treated as a forfeiture. The Participant (and his or her
Spouse, if required) must consent to any distribution, when the Vested
Account Balance described above exceeds $3,500 or if at the time of any
prior distribution it exceeded $3,500. For purposes of this paragraph, for
Plan Years beginning prior to 1989, a Participant's Vested Account Balance
shall not include Qualified Voluntary Contributions.
(d) Distribution of less than 100% of the Participant's Vested Account
Balance shall be permitted upon termination of employment.
(e) If a Participant who is not 100% vested receives or is deemed to
receive a distribution pursuant to this paragraph and resumes employment
covered under this Plan, the Participant shall have the right to repay to
the Plan the full amount of the distribution attributable to Employer
contributions on or before the earlier of the date that the Participant
incurs 5 consecutive 1-year Breaks in Service following the date of
distribution or five years after the first date on which the Participant
is subsequently reemployed. In such event, the Participant's account shall
be restored to the value thereof at the time the distribution was made and
may further be increased by the Plan's income and investment gains and/or
losses on the undistributed amount from the date of distribution to the
date of repayment.
(f) A Participant shall also have the option, to postpone payment of his or
her Plan benefits until the first day of April following the calendar year
in which he or she attains age 70-1/2. Any balance of a Participant's
account resulting from his or her Employee contributions not previously
withdrawn, if any, may be withdrawn by the Participant immediately following
separation from Service.
(g) If a Participant ceases to be an active Employee as a result of a
Disability as defined at paragraph 1.21, such Participant shall be able to
make an application for a disability retirement benefit payment. The
Participant's account balance will be deemed "immediately distributable" as
set forth in paragraph 6.4, and will be fully vested pursuant to paragraph
9.2.
6.4 Restrictions On Immediate Distributions
(a) An account balance is immediately distributable if any part of the
account balance could be distributed to the Participant (or Surviving
Spouse) before the Participant attains (or would have attained if not
deceased) the later of the Normal Retirement Age or age 62.
(b) If the value of a Participant's vested account balance derived from
Employer and Employee Contributions exceeds (or at the time of any prior
distribution exceeded) $3,500, and the account balance is immediately
distributable, the Participant and his or her Spouse (or where either the
Participant or the Spouse has died, the survivor) must consent to any
distribution of such account balance. The consent of the Participant and
the Spouse shall be obtained in writing within the 90-day period ending on
the annuity starting date, which is the first day of the first period for
which an amount is paid as an annuity or any other form. The Plan
Administrator shall notify the Participant and the Participant's Spouse of
the right to defer any distribution until the Participant's account balance
is no longer immediately distributable. Such notification shall include a
general description of the material features, and an explanation of the
relative values of, the optional forms of benefit available under the plan
in a manner that would satisfy the notice requirements of Code Section
417(a)(3), and shall be provided no less than 30 days and no more than 90
days prior to the annuity starting date.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Participant need consent to the
commencement of a distribution in the form of a qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity while the account balance is immediately distributable.
Furthermore, if payment in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity is not required with respect to the Participant pursuant to
paragraph 8.7 of the Plan, only the Participant need consent to the
distribution of an account balance that is immediately distributable.
Neither the consent of the Participant nor the Participant's Spouse shall be
required to the extent that a distribution is required to satisfy Code
Section 401(a)(9) or Code Section 415. In addition, upon termination of
this Plan if the Plan does not offer an annuity option (purchased from a
commercial provider), the Participant's account balance may, without the
Participant's consent, be distributed to the Participant or transferred to
another Defined Contribution Plan [other than an employee stock ownership
plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7)] within the same controlled
group.
(d) For purposes of determining the applicability of the foregoing consent
requirements to distributions made before the first day of the first Plan
Year beginning after 1988, the Participant's vested account balance shall
not include amounts attributable to Qualified Voluntary Contributions.
(e) If a distribution is one to which Code Section 401(a)(11) and 417 do not
apply, such distribution may commence less than 30 days after the notice
required under Section 1.411(a)-11(c) of the Income Tax Regulations is
given, provided that:
(1) the Plan Administrator clearly informs the Participant that the
Participant has a right to a period of at least 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
(2) the Participant, after receiving the notice, affirmatively elects a
distribution.
6.5 Normal Form Of Payment
The normal form of payment for a profit- sharing plan satisfying the
requirements of paragraph 8.7 hereof shall be a lump sum with no option for
annuity payments. For all other plans, the normal form of payment hereunder
shall be a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity as provided under Article VIII.
A Participant whose vested account balance derived from Employer and Employee
contributions exceeds $3,500, or if at the time of any prior distribution it
exceeded $3,500, shall (with the consent of his or her Spouse) have the right
to receive his or her benefit in a lump sum or in monthly, quarterly, semi-
annual or annual payments from the Fund over any period not extending beyond
the life expectancy of the Participant and his or her Beneficiary. For
purposes of this paragraph, for Plan Years prior to 1989, a Participant's
Vested Account Balance shall not include Qualified Voluntary Contributions.
The normal form of payment shall be automatic, unless the Participant files a
written request with the Employer prior to the date on which the benefit is
automatically payable, electing a lump sum or installment payment option. No
amendment to the Plan may eliminate one of the optional distribution forms
listed above.
6.6 Commencement Of Benefits
(a) Unless the Participant elects otherwise, distribution of benefits will
begin no later than the 60th day after the close of the Plan Year in which
the latest of the following events occurs:
(1) the Participant attains age 65 (or normal retirement age if earlier),
(2) the 10th anniversary of the year in which the Participant commenced
participation in the Plan, or
(3) the Participant terminates Service with the Employer.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a Participant and Spouse
(if necessary) to consent to a distribution while a benefit is immediately
distributable, within the meaning of paragraph 6.4 hereof, shall be deemed
an election to defer commencement of payment of any benefit sufficient to
satisfy this paragraph.
6.7 Claims Procedures
Upon retirement, death, or other severance of employment, the Participant or
his or her representative may make application to the Employer requesting
payment of benefits due and the manner of payment. If no application for
benefits is made, the Employer shall automatically pay any vested benefit due
hereunder in the normal form at the time prescribed at paragraph 6.4. If an
application for benefits is made, the Employer shall accept, reject, or modify
such request and shall notify the Participant in writing setting forth the
response of the Employer and in the case of a denial or modification the
Employer shall:
(a) state the specific reason or reasons for the denial,
(b) provide specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
denial is based,
(c) provide a description of any additional material or information
necessary for the Participant or his representative to perfect the claim and
an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and
(d) explain the Plan's claim review procedure as contained in this Plan.
In the event the request is rejected or modified, the Participant or his or her
representative may within 60 days following receipt by the Participant or
representative of such rejection or modification, submit a written request for
review by the Employer of its initial decision. Within 60 days following such
request for review, the Employer shall render its final decision in writing to
the Participant or representative stating specific reasons for such decision.
If the Participant or representative is not satisfied with the Employer's final
decision, the Participant or representative can institute an action in a
federal court of competent jurisdiction; for this purpose, process would be
served on the Employer.
6.8 In-Service Withdrawals
An Employee may withdraw all or any part of the fair market value of his or her
Voluntary Contributions, Qualified Voluntary Contributions, Rollover
Contributions, upon written request to the Employer. Transfer Contributions,
which originate from a Plan meeting the safe-harbor provisions of paragraph
8.7, may also be withdrawn, by an Employee, upon written request to the
Employer. Transfer Contributions not meeting the safe-harbor provisions may
only be withdrawn upon retirement, death, disability, termination or
termination of the Plan, and will be subject to Spousal consent requirements
contained in Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417. No such withdrawals are
permitted from a money purchase plan until the participant reaches Normal
Retirement Age. Such request shall include the Employee's address, social
security number, birthdate, and amount of the withdrawal. If at the time a
distribution of Qualified Voluntary Contributions is received the Participant
has not attained age 59-1/2 and is not disabled, as defined at Code Section
22(e)(3), the Participant will be subject to a federal income tax penalty,
unless the distribution is rolled over to a qualified plan or individual
retirement plan within 60 days of the date of distribution. A Participant may
withdraw all or any part of the fair market value of his or her pre-1987
Voluntary Contributions with or without withdrawing the earnings attributable
thereto. Post-1986 Voluntary Contributions may only be withdrawn along with a
portion of the earnings thereon. The amount of the earnings to be withdrawn is
determined by using the formula: DA [1-(V <divide> V+E)], where DA is the
distribution amount, V is the amount of Voluntary Contributions and V+E is the
amount of Voluntary Contributions plus the earnings attributable thereto. A
Participant withdrawing his or her other contributions prior to attaining age
59-1/2, will be subject to a federal tax penalty to the extent that the
withdrawn amounts are includible in income. Any Participant in a profit-
sharing plan may, if permitted by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement,
withdraw all or any part of the fair market value of any of such vested
contributions, plus the investment earnings thereon, after attaining age 59-1/2
without separating from Service. Such Employer contributions may not have been
used to satisfy the antidiscrimination test of Code Section 401(k). Such
distributions shall not be eligible for redeposit to the Fund. A withdrawal
under this paragraph shall not prohibit such Participant from sharing in any
future Employer Contribution he or she would otherwise be eligible to share in.
A request to withdraw amounts pursuant to this paragraph must if applicable, be
consented to by the Participant's Spouse. The consent shall comply with the
requirements of paragraph 6.4 relating to immediate distributions.
6.9 Hardship Withdrawal
Unless otherwise specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a
Participant may not request a Hardship withdrawal prior to attaining age 59-
1/2. If permitted and the Participant has not attained age 59-1/2, the
Participant may be subject to a federal income tax penalty. Such request shall
be in writing to the Employer who shall have sole authority to authorize a
hardship withdrawal, pursuant to the rules below. Hardship withdrawals may
include Elective Deferrals regardless of when contributed and any earnings
accrued and credited thereon as of the last day of the Plan Year ending before
July 1, 1989 and Employer related contributions including but not limited to
Employer Matching Contributions, plus the investment earnings thereon to the
extent vested. Qualified Matching Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions and Elective Deferrals reclassified as Voluntary Contributions
plus the investment earnings thereon are only available for hardship withdrawal
prior to age 59-1/2 to the extent that they were credited to the Participant's
Account as of the last day of the Plan Year ending prior to July 1, 1989. The
Plan Administrator may limit withdrawals to Elective Deferrals and the earnings
thereon as stipulated above. Hardship withdrawals are subject to the Spousal
consent requirements contained in Code Sections 401(a)(11) and 417. Only the
following reasons are valid to obtain hardship withdrawal:
(a) medical expenses [within the meaning of Code Section 213(d)], incurred
or necessary for the medical care of the Participant, his or her Spouse,
children and other dependents,
(b) purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of the principal residence for
the Participant,
(c) payment of tuition and related educational expenses for the next twelve
(12) months of post-secondary education for the Participant, his or her
Spouse, children or other dependents, or
(d) the need to prevent eviction of the Employee from or a foreclosure on
the mortgage of, the Employee's principal residence.
Furthermore, the following conditions must be met in order for a withdrawal to
be authorized:
(e) the Participant has obtained all distributions, other than hardship
distributions, and all nontaxable loans under all plans maintained by the
Employer,
(f) all plans maintained by the Employer, other than flexible benefit plans
under Code Section 125 providing for current benefits, provide that the
Employee's Elective Deferrals and Voluntary Contributions will be suspended
for twelve months after the receipt of the Hardship distribution,
(g) the distribution is not in excess of the amount of the immediate and
heavy financial need [(a) through (d) above], including amounts necessary
to pay any federal, state or local income tax or penalties reasonably
anticipated to result from the distribution, and
(h) all plans maintained by the Employer provide that an Employee may not
make 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 pre-tax contributions for the taxable year of the
hardship distribution.
If a distribution is made at a time when a Participant has a nonforfeitable
right to less than 100% of the account balance derived from Employer
contributions and the Participant may increase the nonforfeitable percentage in
the account:
(i) A separate account will be established for the Participant's interest in
the Plan as of the time of the distribution, and
(j) At any relevant time the Participant's nonforfeitable portion of the
separate account will be equal to an amount ("X") determined by the formula:
X = P [AB + (R * D)] - (R * D)
For purposes of applying the formula: "P" is the 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 distribution.
6.10 Order Of Withdrawals
Unless the Participant directs otherwise, withdrawals shall be made:
(a) First, from amounts attributable to Voluntary Contributions;
(b) Second, from amounts attributable to Rollover Contributions;
(c) Third, from amounts attributable to Transfer Contributions;
(d) Fourth, from amounts attributable to Elective Deferrals;
(e) Fifth, from amounts attributable to Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions;
(f) Sixth, from amounts attributable to Qualified Matching Contributions;
(g) Seventh, from amounts attributable to vested matching Contributions; and
(h) Eighth, from amounts attributable to vested Discretionary Contributions.
ARTICLE VII - DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 Joint And Survivor Annuity Requirements
All distributions made under the terms of this Plan must comply with the
provisions of Article VIII including, if applicable, the safe harbor provisions
thereunder.
7.2 Minimum Distribution Requirements
All distributions required under this Article shall be determined and made in
accordance with the minimum distribution requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9)
and the regulations thereunder, including the minimum distribution incidental
benefit rules found at Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-2. The entire interest
of a Participant must be distributed or begin to be distributed no later than
the Participant's Required Beginning Date. Life expectancy and joint and last
survivor life expectancy are computed by using the expected return multiples
found in Tables V and VI of Regulations Section 1.72-9.
In determining required distributions under the Plan, Participants and/or their
Spouse (Surviving Spouse) shall have the right to have their life expectancy
recalculated annually. Whether the Participant only or both the Participant
and Spouse's lives shall be recalculated shall be determined by the
Participant.
7.3 Limits On Distribution Periods
As of the First Distribution Calendar Year, distributions if not made in a
single-sum, may only be made over one of the following periods (or a
combination thereof):
(a) the life of the Participant,
(b) the life of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary,
(c) a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of the
participant, or
(d) a period certain not extending beyond the joint and last survivor
expectancy of the Participant and a designated beneficiary.
7.4 Required Distributions On Or After The Required Beginning Date
(a) If a participant's benefit is to be distributed over (1) a period not
extending beyond the life expectancy of the Participant or the joint life
and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the Participant's
Designated Beneficiary or (2) a period not extending beyond the life
expectancy of the Designated Beneficiary, the amount required to be
distributed for each calendar year, beginning with distributions for the
First Distribution Calendar Year, must at least equal the quotient obtained
by dividing the Participant's benefit by the Applicable Life Expectancy.
(b) For calendar years beginning before 1989, if the Participant's Spouse is
not the Designated Beneficiary, the method of distribution selected must
have assured that at least 50% of the Present Value of the amount available
for distribution was to be paid within the life expectancy of the
Participant.
(c) For calendar years beginning after 1988, the amount to be distributed
each year, beginning with distributions for the First Distribution Calendar
Year shall not be less than the quotient obtained by dividing the
Participant's benefit by the lesser of (1) the Applicable Life Expectancy or
(2) if the Participant's Spouse is not the Designated Beneficiary, the
applicable divisor determined from the table set forth in Q&A-4 of
Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-2. Distributions after the death of the
Participant shall be distributed using the Applicable Life Expectancy as the
relevant divisor without regard to Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-2.
(d) The minimum distribution required for the Participant's First
Distribution Calendar Year must be made on or before the Participant's
Required Beginning Date. The minimum distribution for other calendar years,
including the minimum distribution for the Distribution Calendar Year in
which the Participant's Required Beginning Date occurs, must be made on or
before December 31 of that Distribution Calendar Year.
(e) If the Participant's benefit is distributed in the form of an annuity
purchased from an insurance company, distributions thereunder shall be made
in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the
Regulations thereunder.
(f) For purposes of determining the amount of the required distribution for
each Distribution Calendar Year, the account balance to be used is the
account balance determined as of the last valuation preceding the
Distribution Calendar Year. This balance will be increased by the amount of
any contributions or forfeitures allocated to the account balance after the
valuation date in such preceding calendar year. Such balance will also be
decreased by distributions made after the Valuation Date in such preceding
Calendar Year.
(g) For purposes of subparagraph 7.4(f), 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.
7.5 Required Beginning Date
(a) General Rule. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant is the first
day of April of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Participant attains age 70-1/2.
(b) Transitional Rules. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant who
attains age 70-1/2 before 1988, shall be determined in accordance with (1)
or (2) below:
(1) Non-5-percent owners. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant
who is not a 5-percent owner is the first day of April of the calendar
year following the calendar year in which the later of retirement or
attainment of age 70-1/2 occurs. In the case of a Participant who is not
a 5-percent owner who attains age 70-1/2 during 1988 and who has not
retired as of January 1, 1989, the Required Beginning Date is April 1,
1990.
(2) 5-percent owners. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant who is
a 5-percent owner during any year beginning after 1979, is the first day
of April following the later of:
(i) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70-1/2, or
(ii) the earlier of the calendar year with or within which ends the
plan year in which the Participant becomes a 5-percent owner, or the
calendar year in which the Participant retires.
(c) A Participant is treated as a 5-percent owner for purposes of this
Paragraph if such Participant is a 5-percent owner as defined in Code
Section 416(i) (determined in accordance with 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 such Owner attains age 66-
1/2 or any subsequent Plan Year.
(d) Once distributions have begun to a 5-percent owner under this paragraph,
they must continue to be distributed, even if the Participant ceases to be a
5-percent owner in a subsequent year.
7.6 Transitional Rule
(a) Notwithstanding the other requirements of this Article and subject to
the requirements of Article VIII, Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements,
distribution on behalf of any Employee, including a 5-percent owner, may be
made in accordance with all of the following requirements (regardless of
when such distribution commences):
(1) The distribution by the Trust is one which would not have disqualified
such Trust under Code Section 401(a)(9) as in effect prior to amendment by
the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.
(2) The distribution is in accordance with a method of distribution
designated by the Employee whose interest in the Trust is being
distributed or, if the Employee is deceased, by a beneficiary of such
Employee.
(3) Such designation was in writing, was signed by the Employee or the
beneficiary, and was made before 1984.
(4) The Employee had accrued a benefit under the Plan as of December 31,
1983.
(5) The method of distribution designated by the Employee or the
beneficiary specifies the time at which distribution will commence, the
period over which distributions will be made, and in the case of any
distribution upon the Employee's death, the beneficiaries of the Employee
listed in order of priority.
(b) A distribution upon death will not be covered by this transitional rule
unless the information in the designation contains the required information
described above with respect to the distributions to be made upon the death
of the Employee.
(c) For any distribution which commences before 1984, but continues after
1983, the Employee or the beneficiary, to whom such distribution is being
made, will be presumed to have designated the method of distribution under
which the distribution is being made if the method of distribution was
specified in writing and the distribution satisfies the requirements in
subparagraphs (a)(1) and (5) above.
(d) If a designation is revoked, any subsequent distribution must satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder.
If a designation is revoked subsequent to the date distributions are
required to begin, the Trust must distribute by the end of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the revocation occurs the total amount
not yet distributed which would have been required to have been distributed
to satisfy Code Section 401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder, but for
the section 242(b)(2) election of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 1982. For calendar years beginning after 1988, such distributions
must meet the minimum distribution incidental benefit requirements in
section 1.401(a)(9)-2 of the Income Tax Regulations. Any changes in the
designation will be considered to be a revocation of the designation.
However, the mere substitution or addition of another beneficiary (one not
named in the designation) under the designation will not be considered to be
a revocation of the designation, so long as such substitution or addition
does not alter the period over which distributions are to be made under the
designation, directly or indirectly (for example, by altering the relevant
measuring life). In the case in which an amount is transferred or rolled
over from one plan to another plan, the rules in Q&A J-2 and Q&A J-3 of the
regulations shall apply.
7.7 Designation Of Beneficiary For Death Benefit
Each Participant shall file a written designation of beneficiary with the
Employer upon qualifying for participation in this Plan. Such designation
shall remain in force until revoked by the Participant by filing a new
beneficiary form with the Employer. The Participant may elect to have a
portion of his or her account balance invested in an insurance contract. If an
insurance contract is purchased under the Plan, the Trustee must be named as
Beneficiary under the terms of the contract. However, the Participant shall
designate a Beneficiary to receive the proceeds of the contract after
settlement is received by the Trustee. Under a profit-sharing plan satisfying
the requirements of paragraph 8.7, the Designated Beneficiary shall be the
Participant's Surviving Spouse, if any, unless such Spouse properly consents
otherwise.
7.8 Nonexistence Of Beneficiary
Any portion of the amount payable hereunder which is not disposed of because of
the Participant's or former Participant's failure to designate a beneficiary,
or because all of the Designated Beneficiaries predeceased the Participant,
shall be paid to his or her Spouse. If the Participant had no Spouse at the
time of death, payment shall be made to the personal representative of his or
her estate in a lump sum.
7.9 Distribution Beginning Before Death
If the Participant dies after distribution of his or her interest has begun,
the remaining portion of such interest will continue to be distributed at least
as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used prior to the
Participant's death.
7.10 Distribution Beginning After Death
If the Participant dies before distribution of his or her interest begins,
distribution of the Participant's entire interest shall be completed by
December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the
Participant's death except to the extent that an election is made to receive
distributions in accordance with (a) or (b) below:
(a) If any portion of the Participant's interest is payable to a Designated
Beneficiary, distributions may be made 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 died;
(b) If the Designated Beneficiary is the Participant's surviving Spouse, the
date distributions are required to begin in accordance with (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 died or (2)
December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have
attained age 70-1/2.
If the Participant has not made an election pursuant to this paragraph 7.10 by
the time of his or her death, the Participant's Designated Beneficiary must
elect the method of distribution no later than the earlier of (1) December 31
of the calendar year in which distributions would be required to begin under
this section, or (2) December 31 of the calendar year which contains the fifth
anniversary of the date of death of the participant. If the Participant has no
Designated Beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does not elect a
method of distribution, then distribution of the Participant's entire interest
must be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth
anniversary of the Participant's death.
For purposes of this paragraph if the Surviving Spouse dies after the
Participant, but before payments to such Spouse begin, the provisions of this
paragraph with the exception of paragraph (b) therein, shall be applied as if
the Surviving Spouse were the Participant. For the purposes of this paragraph
and paragraph 7.9, distribution of a Participant's interest is considered to
begin on the Participant's Required Beginning Date (or, if the preceding
sentence is applicable, the date distribution is required to begin to the
Surviving Spouse). If distribution in the form of an annuity described in
paragraph 7.4(e) irrevocably commences to the Participant before the Required
Beginning Date, the date distribution is considered to begin is the date
distribution actually commences.
For purposes of paragraph 7.9 and this paragraph, if an amount is payable to
either a minor or an individual who has been declared incompetent, the benefits
shall be paid to the legally appointed guardian for the benefit of said minor
or incompetent individual, unless the court which appointed the guardian has
ordered otherwise.
7.11 Distribution Of Excess Elective Deferrals
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, Excess Elective
Deferrals plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be
distributed no later than April 15, 1988, and each April 15 thereafter, to
Participants to whose accounts Excess Elective Deferrals were allocated for
the preceding taxable year, and who claim Excess Elective Deferrals for such
taxable year. Excess Elective Deferrals shall be treated as Annual
Additions under the plan, unless such amounts are distributed no later than
the first April 15th following the close of the Participant's taxable year.
A Participant is deemed to notify the Plan 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.
(b) Furthermore, a Participant who participates in another plan allowing
Elective Deferrals may assign to this Plan any Excess Elective Deferrals
made during a taxable year of the Participant, by notifying the Plan
Administrator of the amount of the Excess Elective Deferrals to be assigned.
The Participant's claim shall be in writing; shall be submitted to the Plan
Administrator not later than March 1 of each year; shall specify the amount
of the Participant's Excess Elective Deferrals for the preceding taxable
year; and shall be accompanied by the Participant's written statement that
if such amounts are not distributed, such Excess Elective Deferrals, when
added to amounts deferred under other plans or arrangements described in
Code Sections 401(k), 408(k) [Simplified Employee Pensions], or 403(b)
[annuity programs for public schools and charitable organizations] will
exceed the $7,000 limit as adjusted under Code Section 415(d) imposed on the
Participant by Code Section 402(g) for the year in which the deferral
occurred.
(c) Excess Elective Deferrals shall be adjusted for any income or loss up to
the end of the taxable year, during which such excess was deferred. Income
or loss will be calculated under the method used to calculate investment
earnings and losses elsewhere in the Plan or any other reasonable method.
Whichever method is selected shall be used for all Participants and for all
corrective distributions made from the Plan for the Plan Year.
(d) If the Participant receives a return of his or her Elective Deferrals,
the amount of such contributions which are returned must be brought into the
Employee's taxable income.
7.12 Distributions of Excess Contributions
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Excess Contributions,
plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be distributed
no later than the last day of each Plan Year to Participants to whose
accounts such Excess Contributions were allocated for the preceding Plan
Year. If such excess amounts are distributed more than 2-1/2 months after
the last day of the Plan Year in which such excess amounts arose, a ten (10)
percent excise tax will be imposed on the Employer maintaining the Plan with
respect to such amounts. Such distributions shall be made to Highly
Compensated Employees on the basis of the respective portions of the Excess
Contributions attributable to each of such Employees. Excess Contributions
of Participants who are subject to the Family Member aggregation rules of
Code Section 414(q)(6) shall be allocated among the Family Members in
proportion to the Elective Deferrals (and amounts treated as Elective
Deferrals) of each Family Member that is combined to determine the Average
Deferral Percentage.
(b) Excess Contributions (including the amounts recharacterized) shall be
treated as Annual Additions under the Plan.
(c) Excess Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss up to the
end of the Plan Year. Income or loss will be calculated under the method
used to calculate investment earnings and losses elsewhere in the Plan.
(d) Excess Contributions shall be distributed from the Participant's
Elective Deferral account and Qualified Matching Contribution account (if
applicable) in proportion to the Participant's Elective Deferrals and
Qualified Matching Contributions (to the extent used in the ADP test) for
the Plan Year. Excess Contributions shall be distributed from the
Participant's Qualified Non-Elective Contribution account only to the extent
that such Excess Contributions exceed the balance in the Participant's
Elective Deferral account and Qualified Matching Contribution account.
7.13 Distribution Of Excess Aggregate Contributions
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Excess Aggregate
Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall
be forfeited, if forfeitable, or if not forfeitable, distributed no later
than the last day of each Plan Year to Participants to whose accounts such
Excess Aggregate Contributions were allocated for the preceding Plan Year.
Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be allocated to Participants who are
subject to the Family Member aggregation rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) in
the manner prescribed by the regulations.
If such Excess Aggregate Contributions are distributed more than 2-1/2
months after the last day of the Plan Year in which such excess amounts
arose, a ten (10) percent excise tax will be imposed on the Employer
maintaining the Plan with respect to those amounts. Excess Aggregate
Contributions shall be treated as Annual Additions under the plan.
(b) Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss
up to the end of the Plan Year. The income or loss allocable to Excess
Aggregate Contributions is the sum of income or loss for the Plan Year
allocable to the Participant's Voluntary Contribution account, Matching
Contribution account (if any, and if all amounts therein are not used in
the ADP test) and, if applicable, Qualified Non-Elective Contribution
account and Elective Deferral account. Income or loss will be calculated
under the method used to calculate investment earnings and losses elsewhere
in the Plan.
(c) Forfeitures of Excess Aggregate Contributions may either be reallocated
to the accounts of non-Highly Compensated Employees or applied to reduce
Employer contributions, as elected by the employer in the Adoption
Agreement.
(d) Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be forfeited if such amount is not
vested. If vested, such excess shall be distributed in the following order:
(i) First, from the Participant's Voluntary Contribution account;
(ii) Second, from the Participant's Matching Contribution account; and
(iii) Third, from the Participant's Qualified Matching Contribution
account (if applicable).
ARTICLE VIII - JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
8.1 Applicability Of Provisions
The provisions of this Article shall apply to any Participant who is credited
with at least one Hour of Service with the Employer on or after August 23, 1984
and such other Participants as provided in paragraph 8.8.
8.2 Payment Of Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity
Unless an optional form of benefit is selected pursuant to a Qualified Election
within the 90-day period ending on the Annuity Starting Date, a married
Participant's Vested Account Balance will be paid in the form of a Qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity and an unmarried Participant's Vested Account
Balance will be paid in the form of a life annuity. The Participant may elect
to have such annuity distributed upon attainment of the Early Retirement Age
under the Plan.
8.3 Payment Of Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity
Unless an optional form of benefit has been selected within the Election Period
pursuant to a Qualified Election, if a Participant dies before benefits have
commenced then the Participant's vested account balance shall be paid in the
form of an annuity for the life of the Surviving Spouse. The Surviving Spouse
may elect to have such annuity distributed within a reasonable period after the
Participant's death.
A Participant who does not meet the age 35 requirement set forth in the
Election Period as of the end of any current Plan Year may make a special
qualified election to waive the qualified Pre-retirement Survivor Annuity for
the period beginning on the date of such election and ending on the first day
of the Plan Year in which the Participant will attain age 35. Such election
shall not be valid unless the Participant receives a written explanation of the
Qualified Pre-retirement Survivor Annuity in such terms as are comparable to
the explanation required under paragraph 8.5. Qualified Pre-retirement
Survivor Annuity coverage will be automatically reinstated as of the first day
of the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35. Any new waiver on or
after such date shall be subject to the full requirements of this Article.
8.4 Qualified Election
A Qualified Election is an election to either waive a Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity or a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity. Any such
election shall not be effective unless:
(a) the Participant's Spouse consents in writing to the election;
(b) the election designates a specific beneficiary, including any class of
beneficiaries or any contingent beneficiaries, which may not be changed
without spousal consent (or the Spouse expressly permits designations by the
Participant without any further spousal consent);
(c) the Spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of the election; and
(d) the Spouse's consent is witnessed by a Plan representative or notary
public.
Additionally, a Participant's waiver of the Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity shall not be effective unless the election designates a form of benefit
payment which may not be changed without spousal consent (or the Spouse
expressly permits designations by the Participant without any further spousal
consent). If it is established to the satisfaction of the Plan Administrator
that there is no Spouse or that the Spouse cannot be located, a waiver will be
deemed a Qualified Election. Any consent by a Spouse obtained under this
provision (or establishment that the consent of a Spouse may not be obtained)
shall be effective only with respect to such Spouse. A consent that permits
designations by the Participant without any requirement of further consent by
such Spouse must acknowledge that the Spouse has the right to limit consent to
a specific beneficiary, and a specific form of benefit where applicable, and
that the Spouse voluntarily elects to relinquish either or both of such rights.
A revocation of a prior waiver may be made by a Participant without the
consent of the Spouse at any time before the commencement of benefits. The
number of revocations shall not be limited. No consent obtained under this
provision shall be valid unless the Participant has received notice as provided
in paragraphs 8.5 and 8.6 below.
8.5 Notice Requirements For Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity
In the case of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, the Plan Administrator
shall, no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days prior to the Annuity
Starting date, provide each Participant a written explanation of:
(a) the terms and conditions of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity;
(b) the Participant's right to make and the effect of an election to waive
the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity form of benefit;
(c) the rights of a Participant's Spouse; and
(d) the right to make, and the effect of, a revocation of a previous
election to waive the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity.
8.6 Notice Requirements For Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity
In the case of a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity as described in
paragraph 8.3, the Plan Administrator shall provide each Participant within the
applicable period for such Participant a written explanation of the qualified
pre-retirement survivor annuity in such terms and in such manner as would be
comparable to the explanation provided for meeting the requirements of
paragraph 8.5 applicable to a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity. The
applicable period for a Participant is whichever of the following periods ends
last:
(a) the period beginning with the first day of the Plan Year in which the
Participant attains age 32 and ending with the close of the Plan Year
preceding the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35;
(b) a reasonable period ending after the individual becomes a Participant;
(c) a reasonable period ending after this Article first applies to the
Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice must be provided within
a reasonable period ending after separation from Service in the case of a
Participant who separates from Service before attaining age 35.
For purposes of applying the preceding paragraph, a reasonable period ending
after the events described in (b) and (c) is the end of the two-year period
beginning one-year prior to the date the applicable event occurs, and ending
one-year after that date. In the case of a Participant who separates from
Service before the Plan Year in which age 35 is attained, notice shall be
provided within the two-year period beginning one year prior to separation and
ending one year after separation. If such a Participant subsequently returns
to employment with the Employer, the applicable period for such Participant
shall be re-determined.
8.7 Special Safe-Harbor Exception For Certain Profit-Sharing Plans
(a) This paragraph shall apply to a Participant in a profit-sharing plan,
and to any distribution, made on or after the first day of the first plan
year beginning after 1988, from or under a separate account attributable
solely to Qualified Voluntary contributions, as maintained on behalf of a
Participant in a money purchase pension plan, (including a target benefit
plan) if the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) the Participant does not or cannot elect payments in the form of a
life annuity; and
(2) on the death of a Participant, the Participant's Vested Account
Balance will be paid to the Participant's Surviving Spouse, but if there
is no Surviving Spouse, or if the Surviving Spouse has consented in a
manner conforming to a Qualified Election, then to the Participant's
Designated Beneficiary.
The Surviving Spouse may elect to have distribution of the Vested Account
Balance commence within the 90-day period following the date of the
Participant's death. The account balance shall be adjusted for gains or losses
occurring after the Participant's death in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan governing the adjustment of account balances for other types of
distributions. These safe-harbor rules shall not be operative with respect to
a Participant in a profit-sharing plan if that plan is a direct or indirect
transferee of a Defined Benefit Plan, money purchase plan, a target benefit
plan, stock bonus plan, or profit-sharing plan which is subject to the survivor
annuity requirements of Code Section 401(a)(11) and Code Section 417, and would
therefore have a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity as its normal form of
benefit.
(b) The Participant may waive the spousal death benefit described in this
paragraph at any time provided that no such waiver shall be effective unless
it satisfies the conditions (described in paragraph 8.4) that would apply to
the Participant's waiver of the Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity.
(c) If this paragraph 8.7 is operative, then all other provisions of this
Article other than paragraph 8.8 are inoperative.
8.8 Transitional Joint And Survivor Annuity Rules
Special transition rules apply to Participants who were not receiving benefits
on August 23, 1984.
(a) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23, 1984, who
would otherwise not receive the benefits prescribed by the previous
paragraphs of this Article, must be given the opportunity to elect to have
the prior paragraphs of this Article apply if such Participant is credited
with at least one Hour of Service under this Plan or a predecessor Plan in a
Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1976 and such Participant had at
least 10 Years of Service for vesting purposes when he or she separated from
Service.
(b) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23, 1984, who
was credited with at least one Hour of Service under this Plan or a
predecessor Plan on or after September 2, 1974, and who is not otherwise
credited with any Service in a Plan Year beginning on or after January 1,
1976, must be given the opportunity to have his or her benefits paid in
accordance with paragraph 8.9.
(c) The respective opportunities to elect [as described in (a) and (b)
above] must be afforded to the appropriate Participants during the period
commencing on August 23, 1984 and ending on the date benefits would
otherwise commence to said Participants.
8.9 Automatic Joint And Survivor Annuity And Early Survivor Annuity
Any Participant who has elected pursuant to paragraph 8.8(b) and any
Participant who does not elect under paragraph 8.8(a) or who meets the
requirements of paragraph 8.8(a), except that such Participant does not have at
least 10 years of vesting Service when he or she separates from Service, shall
have his or her benefits distributed in accordance with all of the following
requirements if benefits would have been payable in the form of a life annuity.
(a) Automatic Joint and Survivor Annuity. If benefits in the form of a life
annuity become payable to a married Participant who:
(1) begins to receive payments under the Plan on or after Normal
Retirement Age, or
(2) dies on or after Normal Retirement Age while still working for the
Employer, or
(3) begins to receive payments on or after the Qualified Early Retirement
Age, or
(4) separates from Service on or after attaining Normal Retirement (or the
Qualified Early Retirement Age) and after satisfying the eligibility
requirements for the payment of benefits under the Plan and thereafter
dies before beginning to receive such benefits, then such benefits will be
received under this Plan in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity, unless the Participant has elected otherwise during the Election
Period. The Election Period must begin at least 6 months before the
Participant attains Qualified Early Retirement Age and end not more than
90 days before the commencement of benefits. Any election will be in
writing and may be changed by the Participant at any time.
(b) Election of Early Survivor Annuity. A Participant who is employed after
attaining the Qualified Early Retirement Age will be given the opportunity
to elect, during the Election Period, to have a survivor annuity payable on
death. If the Participant elects the survivor annuity, payments under such
annuity must not be less than the payments which would have been made to the
Spouse under the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity if the Participant had
retired on the day before his or her death. Any election under this
provision will be in writing and may be changed by the Participant at any
time. The Election Period begins on the later of:
(1) the 90th day before the Participant attains the Qualified Early
Retirement Age, or
(2) the date on which participation begins, and ends on the date the
Participant terminates employment.
8.10 Annuity Contracts
Any annuity contract distributed under this Plan must be nontransferable. The
terms of any annuity contract purchased and distributed by the Plan to a
Participant or Spouse shall comply with the requirements of this Plan.
ARTICLE IX - VESTING
9.1 Employee Contributions
A Participant shall always have a 100% vested and nonforfeitable interest in
his or her Elective Deferrals, Voluntary Contributions, Qualified Voluntary
Contributions, Rollover Contributions, and Transfer Contributions plus the
earnings thereon. No forfeiture of Employer related contributions (including
any minimum contributions made under paragraph 14.2) will occur solely as a
result of an Employee's withdrawal of any Employee contributions.
9.2 Employer Contributions
A Participant shall acquire a vested and nonforfeitable interest in his or her
account attributable to Employer contributions in accordance with the table
selected in the Adoption Agreement, provided that if a Participant is not
already fully vested, he or she shall become so upon attaining Normal
Retirement Age, Early Retirement Age, on death prior to normal retirement, on
retirement due to Disability, or on termination of the Plan. If no table is
selected in the Adoption Agreement, an Employee shall acquire a vested and
nonforfeitable interest in his or her account attributable to Employer
contributions in accordance with the following percentages: 20% after 2 Years
Of Service, 20% additional for each of the following Years Of Service, reaching
100% after 6 Years Of Service with the Employer.
9.3 Computation Period
The computation period for purposes of determining Years of Service and Breaks
in Service for purposes of computing a Participant's nonforfeitable right to
his or her account balance derived from Employer contributions shall be the
Plan Year. In the event a former Participant with no vested interest in his or
her Employer contribution account requalifies for participation in the Plan
after incurring a Break in Service, such Participant shall be credited for
vesting with all pre-break and post-break Service.
9.4 Requalification Prior To Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In Service
The account balance of such Participant shall consist of any undistributed
amount in his or her account as of the date of re-employment plus any future
contributions added to such account plus the investment earnings on the
account. The vested account balance of such Participant shall be determined by
multiplying the Participant's account balance (adjusted to include any
distribution or redeposit made under paragraph 6.3) by such Participant's
vested percentage. All Service of the Participant, both prior to and following
the break, shall be counted when computing the Participant's vested percentage.
9.5 Requalification After Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In Service
If such Participant is not fully vested upon re-employment, a new account shall
be established for such Participant to separate his or her deferred vested and
nonforfeitable account, if any, from the account to which new allocations will
be made. The Participant's deferred account to the extent remaining shall be
fully vested and shall continue to share in earnings and losses of the Fund.
When computing the Participant's vested portion of the new account, all pre-
break and post-break Service shall be counted. However, notwithstanding this
provision, no such former Participant who has had five consecutive one-year
Breaks in Service shall acquire a larger vested and nonforfeitable interest in
his or her prior account balance as a result of requalification hereunder.
9.6 Calculating Vested Interest
A Participant's vested and nonforfeitable interest shall be calculated by
multiplying the fair market value of his or her account attributable to
Employer contributions on the Valuation Date preceding distribution by the
decimal equivalent of the vested percentage as of his or her termination date.
The amount attributable to Employer contributions for purposes of the
calculation includes amounts previously paid out pursuant to paragraph 6.3 and
not repaid if the non-vested portion has not been forfeited. The Participant's
vested and nonforfeitable interest, once calculated above, shall be reduced to
reflect those amounts previously paid out to the Participant and not repaid by
the Participant. The Participant's vested and nonforfeitable interest so
determined shall continue to share in the investment earnings and any increase
or decrease in the fair market value of the Fund up to the Valuation Date
preceding or coinciding with payment.
9.7 Forfeitures
Any balance in the account of a Participant who has separated from Service to
which he or she is not entitled under the foregoing provisions, shall be
forfeited and applied as provided in the Adoption Agreement. A forfeiture may
only occur if the Participant has received a distribution from the Plan or if
the Participant has incurred five consecutive 1-year Breaks in Service.
Furthermore, a Highly Compensated Employee's Matching Contributions may be
forfeited, even if vested, if the contributions to which they relate are Excess
Deferrals, Excess Contributions or Excess Aggregate Contributions.
9.8 Amendment Of Vesting Schedule
No amendment to the Plan shall have the effect of decreasing a Participant's
vested interest determined without regard to such amendment as of the later of
the date such amendment is adopted or the date it becomes effective. Further,
if the vesting schedule of the Plan is amended, or the Plan is amended in any
way that directly or indirectly affects the computation of any Participant's
nonforfeitable percentage or if the Plan is deemed amended by an automatic
change to or from a Top-Heavy vesting schedule, each Participant with at least
three Years of Service with the Employer may elect, within a reasonable period
after the adoption of the amendment, to have his or her nonforfeitable
percentage computed under the Plan without regard to such amendment. For
Participants who do not have at least one Hour of Service in any Plan Year
beginning after 1988, the preceding sentence shall be applied by substituting
"Five Years of Service" for "Three Years of Service" where such language
appears. The period during which the election may be made shall commence with
the date the amendment is adopted and shall end on the later of:
(a) 60 days after the amendment is adopted;
(b) 60 days after the amendment becomes effective; or
(c) 60 days after the Participant is issued written notice of the amendment
by the Employer or the Trustee. If the Trustee is asked to so notify, the
Fund will be charged for the costs thereof.
No amendment to the Plan shall be effective to the extent that it has the
effect of decreasing a Participant's accrued benefit. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, a Participant's account balance may be reduced to the
extent permitted under section 412(c)(8) of the Code (relating to financial
hardships). For purposes of this paragraph, a Plan amendment which has the
effect of decreasing a Participant's account balance or eliminating an optional
form of benefit, with respect to benefits attributable to service before the
amendment, shall be treated as reducing an accrued benefit.
9.9 Service With Controlled Groups
All Years of Service with other members of a controlled group of corporations
[as defined in Code Section 414(b)], trades or businesses under common control
[as defined in Code Section 414(c)], or members of an affiliated service group
[as defined in Code Section 414(m)] shall be considered for purposes of
determining a Participant's nonforfeitable percentage.
ARTICLE X - LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION TESTING
10.1 Participation In This Plan Only
If the Participant does not participate in and has never participated in
another qualified plan, a Welfare Benefit Fund (as defined in paragraph 1.89)
or an individual medical account, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), or a
Simplified Employee Pension Plan, as defined in Code Section 408(k), maintained
by the adopting Employer, which provides an Annual Addition as defined in
paragraph 1.4, the amount of Annual Additions which may be credited to the
Participant's account for any Limitation Year will not exceed the lesser of the
Maximum Permissible Amount or any other limitation contained in this Plan. If
the Employer contribution that would otherwise be contributed or allocated to
the Participant's account would cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation
Year to exceed the Maximum Permissible Amount, the amount contributed or
allocated will be reduced so that the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year
will equal the Maximum Permissible Amount. Prior to determining the
Participant's actual Compensation for the Limitation Year, the Employer may
determine the Maximum Permissible Amount for a Participant on the basis of a
reasonable estimate of the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation Year,
uniformly determined for all Participants similarly situated. As soon as is
administratively feasible after the end of the Limitation Year, the Maximum
Permissible Amount for the Limitation Year will be determined on the basis of
the Participant's actual Compensation for the Limitation Year.
10.2 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions
If, pursuant to paragraph 10.1 or as a result of the allocation of forfeitures,
there is an Excess Amount, the excess will be disposed of under one of the
following methods as determined in the Adoption Agreement. If no election is
made in the Adoption Agreement then method "(a)" below shall apply.
(a) Suspense Account Method
(1) Any Elective Deferrals and nondeductible Employee Voluntary
Contributions, to the extent they would reduce the Excess Amount, will be
returned to the Participant;
(2) If after the application of paragraph (1) an Excess Amount still
exists, and the Participant is covered by the Plan at the end of the
Limitation Year, the Excess Amount in the Participant's account will be
used to reduce Employer contributions (including any allocation of
forfeitures) for such Participant in the next Limitation Year, and each
succeeding Limitation Year if necessary;
(3) If after the application of paragraph (1) an Excess Amount still
exists, and the Participant is not covered by the Plan at the end of the
Limitation Year, the Excess Amount will be held unallocated in a suspense
account. The suspense account will be applied to reduce future Employer
contributions (including allocation of any forfeitures) for all remaining
Participants in the next Limitation Year, and each succeeding Limitation
Year if necessary;
(4) If a suspense account is in existence at any time during the
Limitation Year pursuant to this paragraph, it will not participate in the
allocation of investment gains and losses. If a suspense account is in
existence at any time during a particular Limitation Year, all amounts in
the suspense account must be allocated and reallocated to Participants'
accounts before any Employer contributions or any Employee Contributions
may be made to the Plan for that Limitation Year. Excess amounts may not
be distributed to Participants or former Participants.
(b) Spillover Method
(1) Any Elective Deferrals and nondeductible Employee Voluntary
Contributions, to the extent they would reduce the Excess Amount, will be
returned to the Participant.
(2) Any Excess Amount which would be allocated to the account of an
individual Participant under the Plan's allocation formula will be
reallocated to other Participants in the same manner as other Employer
contributions. No such reallocation shall be made to the extent that it
will result in an Excess Amount being created in such Participant's own
account.
(3) To the extent that amounts cannot be reallocated under (1) above, the
suspense account provisions of (a) above will apply.
10.3 Participation In This Plan And Another Qualified Master and Prototype
Defined Contribution Plan, Welfare Benefit Fund, Individual Medical
Account Or Simplified Employee Pension Plan Maintained By The Employer
The Annual Additions which may be credited to a Participant's account under
this Plan for any Limitation Year will not exceed the Maximum Permissible
Amount reduced by the Annual Additions credited to a Participant's account
under the other qualified Master or Prototype Defined Contribution Plans,
Welfare Benefit Funds, and individual medical accounts as defined in Code
Section 415(l)(2), or Simplified Employee Pension Plan, maintained by the
Employer, which provide an Annual Addition as defined in paragraph 1.4 for the
same Limitation Year. If the Annual Additions, with respect to the Participant
under other Defined Contribution Plans and Welfare Benefit Funds maintained by
the Employer, are less than the Maximum Permissible Amount and the Employer
contribution that would otherwise be contributed or allocated to the
Participant's account under this Plan would cause the Annual Additions for the
Limitation Year to exceed this limitation, the amount contributed or allocated
will be reduced so that the Annual Additions under all such plans and funds for
the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum Permissible Amount. If the Annual
Additions with respect to the Participant under such other Defined Contribution
Plans and Welfare Benefit Funds in the aggregate are equal to or greater than
the Maximum Permissible Amount, no amount will be contributed or allocated to
the Participant's account under this Plan for the Limitation Year. Prior to
determining the Participant's actual Compensation for the Limitation Year, the
Employer may determine the Maximum Permissible Amount for a Participant in the
manner described in paragraph 10.1. As soon as administratively feasible after
the end of the Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for the
Limitation Year will be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual
Compensation for the Limitation Year.
10.4 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions Under Two Plans
If, pursuant to paragraph 10.3 or as a result of forfeitures, a Participant's
Annual Additions under this Plan and such other plans would result in an Excess
Amount for a Limitation Year, the Excess Amount will be deemed to consist of
the Annual Additions last allocated except that Annual Additions attributable
to a Simplified Employee Pension Plan will be deemed to have been allocated
first, followed by Annual Additions attributable to a Welfare Benefit Fund or
Individual Medical Account as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2) regardless of
the actual allocation date. If an Excess Amount was allocated to a Participant
on an allocation date of this Plan which coincides with an allocation date of
another plan, the Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be the product of:
(a) the total Excess Amount allocated as of such date, times
(b) the ratio of:
(1) the Annual Additions allocated to the Participant for the Limitation
Year as of such date under the Plan, to
(2) the total Annual Additions allocated to the Participant for the
Limitation Year as of such date under this and all the other qualified
Master or Prototype Defined Contribution Plans.
Any Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be disposed of in the manner
described in paragraph 10.2.
10.5 Participation In This Plan And Another Defined Contribution Plan Which Is
Not A Qualified Master Or Prototype Plan
If the Participant is covered under another qualified Defined Contribution Plan
maintained by the Employer which is not a qualified Master or Prototype Plan,
Annual Additions which may be credited to the Participant's account under this
Plan for any Limitation Year will be limited in accordance with paragraphs 10.3
and 10.4 as though the other plan were a Master or Prototype Plan, unless the
Employer provides other limitations in the Adoption Agreement.
10.6 Participation In This Plan And A Defined Benefit Plan
If the Employer maintains, or at any time maintained, a qualified Defined
Benefit Plan covering any Participant in this Plan, the sum of the
Participant's Defined Benefit Plan Fraction and Defined Contribution Plan
Fraction will not exceed 1.0 in any Limitation Year. For any Plan Year during
which the Plan is Top-Heavy, the Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plan
Fractions shall be calculated in accordance with Code Section 416(h). The
Annual Additions which may be credited to the Participant's account under this
Plan for any Limitation Year will be limited in accordance with the provisions
set forth in the Adoption Agreement.
10.7 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test
With respect to any Plan Year, the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants
who are Highly Compensated Employees and the Average Deferral Percentage for
Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees must satisfy one of the
following tests:
(a) Basic Test - The Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year is not more than 1.25 times
the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly
Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year, or
(b) Alternative Test - The Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who
are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year does not exceed the
Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated
Employees for the same Plan Year by more than 2 percentage points provided
that the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are Highly
Compensated Employees is not more than 2.0 times the Average Deferral
Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees.
10.8 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ADP Test
(a) The Actual Deferral Percentage for any Participant who is a Highly
Compensated Employee for the Plan Year and who is eligible to have Elective
Deferrals (and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching
Contributions, or both, if treated as Elective Deferrals for purposes of the
ADP test) allocated to his or her accounts under two or more arrangements
described in Code Section 401(k), that are maintained by the Employer, shall
be determined as if such Elective Deferrals (and, if applicable, such
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or
both) were made under a single arrangement. If a Highly Compensated
Employee participates in two 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.
(b) In the event that 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 such 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 1989, plans
may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code Section 401(k) only if they have
the same Plan Year.
(c) For purposes of determining the Actual Deferral Percentage of a
Participant who is a 5-percent owner or one of the ten most highly-paid
Highly Compensated Employees, the Elective Deferrals (and Qualified Non-
Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, if
treated as Elective Deferrals for purposes of the ADP test) and Compensation
of such Participant shall include the Elective Deferrals (and, if
applicable, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions and Qualified Matching
Contributions, or both) for the Plan Year of Family Members as defined in
paragraph 1.36 of this Plan. Family Members, with respect to such Highly
Compensated Employees, shall be disregarded as separate Employees in
determining the ADP both for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated
Employees and for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees. In the
event of repeal of the family aggregation rules under Code Section
414(q)(6), all applications of such rules under this Plan will cease as of
the effective date of such repeal.
(d) For purposes of determining the ADP test, Elective Deferrals, Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions must be made
before the last day of the twelve-month period immediately following the
Plan Year to which contributions relate.
(e) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the ADP test and the amount of Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, used in such
test.
(f) The determination and treatment of the Actual Deferral Percentage
amounts of any Participant shall satisfy such other requirements as may be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
10.9 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP) Test
If the Employer makes Matching Contributions or if the Plan allows Employees to
make Voluntary Contributions the Plan must meet additional nondiscrimination
requirements provided under Code Section 401(m). If Employee Contributions
(including any Elective Deferrals recharacterized as Voluntary Contributions)
are made pursuant to this Plan, then in addition to the ADP test referenced in
paragraph 10.7, the Average Contribution Percentage test is also applicable.
The Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees for each Plan Year and the Average Contribution Percentage for
Participants who are Non-Highly Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year
must satisfy one of the following tests:
(a) Basic Test - The Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who
are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not exceed the
Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly
Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year multiplied by 1.25; or
(b) Alternative Test - The ACP for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees for the Plan Year shall not exceed the Average Contribution
Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees for the
same Plan Year multiplied by two (2), provided that the Average Contribution
Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees does not
exceed the Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who are non-
Highly Compensated Employees by more than two (2) percentage points.
10.10 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ACP Test
(a) If one or more Highly Compensated Employees participate in both a cash
or deferred arrangement and a plan subject to the ACP test maintained by the
Employer and the sum of the ADP and ACP of those Highly Compensated
Employees subject to either or both tests exceeds the Aggregate Limit, then
the ADP or ACP of those Highly Compensated Employees who also participate in
a cash or deferred arrangement will be reduced (beginning with such Highly
Compensated Employee whose ADP or ACP is the highest) as set forth in the
Adoption Agreement so that the limit is not exceeded. The amount by which
each Highly Compensated Employee's Contribution Percentage Amounts is
reduced shall be treated as an Excess Aggregate Contribution. The ADP and
ACP of the Highly Compensated Employees are determined after any corrections
required to meet the ADP and ACP tests. Multiple use does not occur if both
the ADP and ACP of the Highly Compensated Employees does not exceed 1.25
multiplied by the ADP and ACP of the non-Highly Compensated Employees.
(b) For purposes of this Article, the Contribution Percentage for any
Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee and who is eligible to have
Contribution Percentage Amounts allocated to his or her account under two or
more plans described in Code Section 401(a), or arrangements described in
Code Section 401(k) that are maintained by the Employer, shall be determined
as if the total of such Contribution Percentage Amounts was made under each
Plan. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two 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.
(c) In the event that this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections
401(a)(4), 401(m), or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other
plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of such Code
Sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this Section shall be
applied by determining the Contribution Percentage of Employees as if all
such plans were a single plan. For plan years beginning after 1989, plans
may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code Section 401(m) only if the
aggregated plans have the same Plan Year.
(d) For purposes of determining the Contribution percentage of a Participant
who is a five-percent owner or one of the ten most highly-paid, Highly
Compensated Employees, the Contribution Percentage Amounts and Compensation
of such Participant shall include the Contribution Percentage Amounts and
Compensation for the Plan Year of Family Members as defined in Paragraph
1.36 of this Plan. Family Members, with respect to Highly Compensated
Employees, shall be disregarded as separate Employees in determining the
Contribution Percentage both for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated
Employees and for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees. In the
event of repeal of the family aggregation rules under Code Section
414(q)(6), all applications of such rules under this Plan will cease as of
the effective date of such repeal.
(e) For purposes of determining the Contribution Percentage test, Employee
Contributions are considered to have been made in the Plan Year in which
contributed to the trust. Matching Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions will be considered made for a Plan Year if made no later than
the end of the twelve-month period beginning on the day after the close of
the Plan Year.
(f) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the ACP test and the amount of Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, used in such
test.
(g) The determination and treatment of the Contribution Percentage of any
Participant shall satisfy such other requirements as may be prescribed by
the Secretary of the Treasury.
(h) Qualified Matching Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions used to satisfy the ADP test may not be used to satisfy the
ACP test.
ARTICLE XI - ADMINISTRATION
11.1 Plan Administrator
The Employer shall be the named fiduciary and Plan Administrator. These duties
shall include:
(a) appointing the Plan's attorney, accountant, actuary, or any other party
needed to administer the Plan,
(b) directing the Trustee with respect to payments from the Fund,
(c) communicating with Employees regarding their participation and benefits
under the Plan, including the administration of all claims procedures,
(d) filing any returns and reports with the Internal Revenue Service,
Department of Labor, or any other governmental agency,
(e) reviewing and approving any financial reports, investment reviews, or
other reports prepared by any party appointed by the Employer under
paragraph (a),
(f) establishing a funding policy and investment objectives consistent with
the purposes of the Plan and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, and
(g) construing and resolving any question of Plan interpretation. The Plan
Administrator's interpretation of Plan provisions including eligibility and
benefits under the Plan is final, and unless it can be shown to be arbitrary
and capricious will not be subject to "de novo" review.
11.2 Trustee
The Trustee shall only be responsible for maintaining the trust account(s) in
accordance with applicable laws on behalf of the Employer. The Trustee's
duties shall include:
(a) receiving contributions under the terms of the Plan, but not determining
the amount or enforcing the payment thereof,
(b) making distributions from the Fund in accordance with written
instructions received from an authorized representative of the Employer, and
(c) keeping accurate and detailed records of all contributions, receipts,
investments, distributions, disbursements and all other transactions with
respect to each account (in the case of Employee Investment Direction) or
the Fund (in the case of Employer Investment Direction). Periodically (not
less than annually), the Trustee shall provide a transcript of all activity
in the account or in the Fund (which may consist of regularly issued
statements from the Service Company). In the case of Employee Investment
Direction, each such transcript will be provided to the Participant. In the
case of Employer Investment Direction, each such transcript will be provided
to the Employer. Each such transcript shall be the sole accounting required
of the Trustee. Unless the Participant or Employer files a written
objection to the transcript within 60 days following the date it is
furnished, he shall be deemed to have consented to the accounting, and the
Trustee and Service Company shall be forever released and discharged from
all liability and accountability to anyone with respect to its acts,
transactions, duties, obligations or responsibilities as shown in, or
reflected by the transcript.
(d) employing such agents, attorneys or other professionals as the Trustee
may deem necessary or advisable in the performance of its duties.
The Trustee's duties shall be limited to those described above. The Employer
shall be responsible for any other administrative duties required under the
Plan or by applicable law.
11.3 Administrative Fees And Expenses
All reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Trustee and Service
Company in connection with the administration of the Fund and all reasonable
costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Plan Administrator in connection
with the administration of the Plan (including fees for legal services rendered
to the Trustee and Service Company or Plan Administrator) may be paid by the
Employer, but if not paid by the Employer when due, shall be paid from the
Fund. Such reasonable compensation to the Trustee and Service Company as may
be agreed upon from time to time between the Employer and the Trustee and
Service Company and such reasonable compensation to the Plan Administrator as
may be agreed upon from time to time between the Employer and Plan
Administrator and the compensation of the Service Company in accordance with
its fee schedule as in effect at the applicable time, may be paid by the
Employer, but if not paid by the Employer when due shall be paid by the Fund.
The Trustee and Service Company shall have the right to liquidate trust assets
to cover its fees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no compensation other than
reimbursement for expenses shall be paid to a Plan Administrator who is the
Employer or a full-time Employee of the Employer. In the event any part of the
Trust becomes subject to tax, all taxes incurred will be paid from the Fund
unless the Plan Administrator advises the Trustee not to pay such tax.
11.4 Duties And Indemnification
(a) The Trustee shall have the authority and discretion to manage and govern
the Fund to the extent provided in this instrument, but does not guarantee
the Fund in any manner against investment loss or depreciation in asset
value, or guarantee the adequacy of the Fund to meet and discharge all or
any liabilities of the Plan.
(b) The Trustee shall not be liable for the making, retention or sale of any
investment or reinvestment made by it, as herein provided, or for any loss
to, or diminution of the Fund, or for any other loss or damage which may
result from the discharge of its duties hereunder except to the extent it is
judicially determined that the Trustee has failed to exercise the care,
skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a
prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters
would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character with like
aims.
(c) The Employer warrants that all directions issued to the Trustee by it
or the Plan Administrator will be in accordance with the terms of the Plan
and not contrary to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 and regulations issued thereunder.
(d) The Trustee shall not be answerable for any action taken pursuant to any
direction, consent, certificate, or other paper or document on the belief
that the same is genuine and signed by the proper person. All directions by
the Employer, Participant or the Plan Administrator shall be given in a
manner and form prescribed by the Trustee and approved by the Service
Company. The Employer shall deliver to the Trustee certificates evidencing
the individual or individuals authorized to act as set forth in the
Adoption Agreement or as the Employer may subsequently inform the Trustee in
writing and shall deliver to the Trustee specimens of their signatures.
(e) The duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be limited to those
expressly imposed upon it by this instrument or subsequently agreed upon by
the parties. Responsibility for administrative duties required under the
Plan or applicable law not expressly imposed upon or agreed to by the
Trustee shall rest solely with the Employer.
(f) The Trustee shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Employer from
and against any and all liability to which the Trustee may be subjected,
including all expenses reasonably incurred in its defense, for any action or
failure to act resulting from compliance with the instructions of the
Employer, the employees or agents of the Employer, the Plan Administrator,
or any other fiduciary to the Plan, and for any liability arising from the
actions or non-actions of any predecessor Trustee or fiduciary or other
fiduciaries of the Plan.
(g) The Trustee shall not be responsible in any way for the application of
any payments it is directed to make or for the adequacy of the Fund to meet
and discharge any and all liabilities under the Plan.
(h) With respect to non-mutual fund investments, the Trustee in
administering the Trust Fund is authorized and empowered to exercise
generally, any of the powers which a trustee might customarily exercise in
connection with investments held by the Trust Fund and to do all other acts
that the Trustee may deem necessary or proper to carry out any of the powers
and duties set forth in this Article XI.
11.5 Special Provisions Concerning The Service Company
(a) To the full extent permitted under ERISA, the Code, any other applicable
federal or state law, the regulations, rules and interpretations thereunder,
and subject to any written instrument executed by the Trustee and the
Service Company allocating responsibilities between them, all ministerial
functions assigned to the Trustee under the Plan shall be delegated to the
Service Company. All instructions required to be given to the Trustee under
the Plan will be effective if given to the Service Company in the manner
prescribed by the Service Company. To the extent the Service Company is
performing a function assigned to the Trustee under the Plan, the Service
Company shall have the benefit of all of the limitations of the scope of the
Trustee's duties and liabilities, all rights of indemnification granted to
the Trustee and all other protections of any nature afforded the Trustee
under the Plan.
(b) It is understood and agreed that while the Service Company will perform
certain ministerial duties (such as custodial, reporting, recording, and
bookkeeping functions) with respect to Plan assets, such duties do not
involve the exercise of any discretionary authority or other authority to
manage or control Plan assets.
(c) With respect to any transaction which the Service Company is directed to
engage in, the Employer, the Trustee, the Named Investment Fiduciary and the
person directing the transaction shall be responsible for making sure that
the transaction does not violate any applicable provision of law or
disqualify the Plan under the Code, and the Service Company shall have no
responsibility therefor.
(d) The Employer and, where the Service Company is following the directions
or instructions of a Participant, the Trustee, Plan Administrator or the
Named Investment Fiduciary, such Participant, the Trustee, Plan
Administrator or the Named Investment Fiduciary (as the case may be) shall
at all times fully indemnify and save harmless the Service Company from any
liability which may arise in connection with this Plan, except liability
arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Service
Company. For purposes of this Section 11.5, "liability" shall include,
without limitation, taxes, expenses, claims, damages, actions, suits,
attorneys' fees, expenses of litigation or preparation for threatened
litigation, and any other charges. The Service Company shall be liable for
its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the
duties expressly assumed by it under the Plan.
ARTICLE XII - TRUST FUND
12.1 The Fund
The Fund shall consist of all contributions made under Article III and Article
IV of the Plan and the investment thereof and earnings thereon. All
contributions and the earnings thereon less payments made under the terms of
the Plan, shall constitute the Fund. The Fund shall be administered as
provided in this document.
12.2 Control Of Plan Assets
The assets of the Fund or evidence of ownership shall be held by the Trustee
under the terms of the Plan and Trust. If the assets represent amounts
transferred from another trustee under a former plan, the Trustee named
hereunder shall not be responsible for the propriety of any investment under
the former plan.
12.3 Exclusive Benefit Rules
No part of the Fund shall be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for
the exclusive benefit of Participants, former Participants with a vested
interest, and the beneficiary or beneficiaries of deceased Participants having
a vested interest in the Fund at death.
12.4 Assignment And Alienation Of Benefits
No right or claim to, or interest in, any part of the Fund, or any payment from
the Fund, shall be assignable, transferable, or subject to sale, mortgage,
pledge, hypothecation, commutation, anticipation, garnishment, attachment,
execution, or levy of any kind. The Trustee shall not recognize any attempt to
assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute, or anticipate
the same, except to the extent required by law. The preceding sentences shall
also apply to the creation, assignment, or recognition of a right to any
benefit payable with respect to a Participant pursuant to a domestic relations
order, unless such order is determined to be a qualified domestic relations
order, as defined in Code Section 414(p), or any domestic relations order
entered before January 1, 1985 which the Plan attorney and Plan Administrator
deem to be qualified.
12.5 Determination Of Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
A Domestic Relations Order shall specifically state all of the following in
order to be deemed a Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO"):
(a) The name and last known mailing address (if any) of the Participant and
of each alternate payee covered by the QDRO. However, if the QDRO does not
specify the current mailing address of the alternate payee, but the Plan
Administrator has independent knowledge of that address, the QDRO will still
be valid.
(b) The dollar amount or percentage of the Participant's benefit to be paid
by the Plan to each alternate payee, or the manner in which the amount or
percentage will be determined.
(c) The number of payments or period for which the order applies.
(d) The specific plan (by name) to which the Domestic Relations Order
applies.
The Domestic Relations Order shall not be deemed a QDRO if it requires the Plan
to provide:
(e) any type or form of benefit, or any option not already provided for in
the Plan;
(f) increased benefits, or benefits in excess of the Participant's vested
rights;
(g) payment of a benefit earlier than allowed by the Plan's earliest
retirement provisions or in the case of a profit-sharing plan, prior to the
allowability of in-service withdrawals, or
(h) payment of benefits to an alternate payee which are required to be paid
to another alternate payee under another QDRO.
Promptly, upon receipt of a Domestic Relations Order ("Order") which may or may
not be "Qualified", the Plan Administrator shall notify the Participant and any
alternate payee(s) named in the Order of such receipt, and include a copy of
this paragraph 12.5. The Plan Administrator shall then forward the Order to
the Plan's legal counsel for an opinion as to whether or not the Order is in
fact "Qualified" as defined in Code Section 414(p). Within a reasonable time
after receipt of the Order, not to exceed 60 days, the Plan's legal counsel
shall make a determination as to its "Qualified" status and the Participant and
any alternate payee(s) shall be promptly notified in writing of the
determination.
If the "Qualified" status of the Order is in question, there will be a delay in
any payout to any payee including the Participant, until the status is
resolved. In such event, the Plan Administrator shall segregate the amount
that would have been payable to the alternate payee(s) if the Order had been
deemed a QDRO. If the Order is not Qualified, or the status is not resolved
(for example, it has been sent back to the Court for clarification or
modification) within 18 months beginning with the date the first payment would
have to be made under the Order, the Plan Administrator shall pay the
segregated amounts plus interest to the person(s) who would have been entitled
to the benefits had there been no Order. If a determination as to the
Qualified status of the Order is made after the 18-month period described
above, then the Order shall only be applied on a prospective basis. If the
Order is determined to be a QDRO, the Participant and alternate payee(s) shall
again be notified promptly after such determination. Once an Order is deemed a
QDRO, the Plan Administrator shall pay to the alternate payee(s) all the
amounts due under the QDRO, including segregated amounts plus interest which
may have accrued during a dispute as to the Order's qualification.
Unless specified otherwise in the Adoption Agreement, the earliest retirement
age with regard to the Participant against whom the order is entered shall be
the date the order is determined to be qualified. This will only allow payouts
to alternate payee(s) and not the Participant.
ARTICLE XIII - INVESTMENTS
13.1 Fiduciary Standards
The Trustee shall invest and reinvest income in the same Fund in accordance
with the investment objectives established by the Employer, provided that:
(a) such investments are prudent under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
(b) such investments are sufficiently diversified or otherwise insured or
guaranteed to minimize the risk of large losses, and
(c) such investments are similar to those which would be purchased by
another professional money manager for a like plan with similar investment
objectives.
13.2 No Investment Discretion
The Plan Sponsor and the Trustee shall have no discretion to direct any
investments of the Trust and are authorized solely to make and hold investments
only as directed pursuant to Section 13.3.
13.3 Investment Directions
(a) Responsibility for directing the Trustee with respect to the investment
of the Trust Fund shall be allocated to the Employer, or a named fiduciary
appointed by the Employer for that purpose (the "Named Investment
Fiduciary"), the Participants, or any investment manager (an "Investment
Manager"), who meets the requirements of Section 3(38) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) appointed by the Named
Investment Fiduciary, all as provided in the Plan (including the Adoption
Agreement). To the extent investment responsibility is allocated to the
Participant, the Designated Beneficiary of a deceased Participant shall
discharge the responsibility subsequent to the Participant's death and any
reference to the Participant in any provision of the Plan pertaining to
investment directions shall in such event be construed as a reference to
the Designated Beneficiary.
(b) Investment directions shall be given in a manner and form prescribed by
the Trustee and shall be subject to such limitations, including limitations
as to the frequency with which any standing investment instructions may be
changed and funds may be moved among investment choices, as the Employer or
other Named Investment Fiduciary shall prescribe. If Investment
responsibility is allocated to Participants, to the extent permitted by the
Trustee, investment directions may be given directly to the Service Company
in a manner and form prescribed by the Service Company.
(c) Cash for which no investments are directed shall be automatically
invested in such investment or investments as the Employer or other Named
Investment Fiduciary shall select from the investments the Service Company
makes available for that purpose unless and until the person responsible for
giving directions directs otherwise. Such automatic investment shall be
made at regular intervals and pursuant to procedures provided by the Service
Company (which procedures may, without limitation, provide for more frequent
intervals only if reinvested balances exceed a stated amount). Absent a
contrary direction in accordance with the preceding provisions of Section
13.2 the Service Company is hereby directed to make such automatic
investments.
Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, if another
qualified plan is amended and restated in the form of this Plan, the Employer
or the named investment fiduciary shall have the power to prescribe rules
regarding the investment of the assets held under the other qualified plan
until such time as any resulting reconciliation of Participant Accounts is
completed and the assets may be reinvested in investments permitted under
Section 13.4 of the Plan.
13.4 Permitted Investments
Except as Section 13.9 may apply, all amounts held in the Trust Fund under the
Plan shall be invested in mutual fund shares and annuities which are offered
through the Service Company, and such other investments as shall be accepted in
writing by the Service Company for availability under the Plan.
All dividends, including capital gain dividends, paid by any mutual fund shall
be reinvested in full and fractional shares of the mutual fund paying the
dividend in the manner specified in the prospectus of the mutual fund, and such
dividends shall be credited to the Trust Fund.
Each of the mutual funds in which the Plan may invest carries its own fees and
expenses, which may include management fees, Rule 12b-1 fees and/or other fees
and expenses, which are described in detail in each fund's prospectus.
Participants who invest in these mutual funds will, as shareholders of those
funds, bear their prorata portion of each fund's fees and expenses. Employer
acknowledges that Prudential Mutual Fund Distributors (PMFD) and Prudential
Securities Incorporated (PSI) may act as distributor of each fund's shares and
that PSI, PMFD and Pruco Securities Corporation (Prusec) are subsidiaries of
The Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) (through which the
Guaranteed Interest Account is offered) and are each affiliated with the Funds
as described in each fund's prospectus. Employer acknowledges that Prudential,
PMFD, PSI and Prusec are not fiduciaries to the Plan, have no obligation to the
Plan or the Participants and are acting solely in their own interest. Employer
further acknowledges that Prudential, PMFD, PSI and Prusec may be deemed to
benefit from advisory and other fees paid to it or its affiliates in connection
with the management and operation of the mutual funds in which the Participants
may invest, from sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges imposed as
described in the prospectus and from fees paid to The Prudential Insurance
Company of America in connection with the Guaranteed Interest Account.
13.5 Shareholder Rights
The Trustee shall exercise any rights of a shareholder (including voting
rights) with respect to any securities held, but only in accordance with the
instructions of the Participant or the Designated Beneficiary of a deceased
Participant subject to and except as permitted by any applicable rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchange.
13.6 Liquidation Of Assets
If the Trustee must liquidate assets in order to make distributions, transfer
assets, or pay fees, expenses or taxes assessed against all or a part of the
Fund, and the Trustee is not instructed as to the liquidation of such assets,
assets will be liquidated in accordance with the rules and procedures
customarily followed by the Service Company, which rules shall be formulated in
a manner to eliminate the potential for exercise of discretion by the Service
Company in the liquidation of assets and shall be applied consistently with
respect to all similarly situated plans in the form of the Prototype Plan;
provided that if a contribution is being made to an affected subaccount as of
the date the Trustee would otherwise be liquidating assets pursuant to this
section, the Trustee may withdraw the necessary amount of cash and invest the
remainder of the contribution in investments in the same proportion as would
have resulted had the withdrawal not been made. The Trustee is expressly
authorized to liquidate assets in order to satisfy the Trust Fund's obligation
to pay the Trustee's compensation if such compensation is not paid on a timely
basis.
13.7 Arbitration
This Plan requires that certain controversies be arbitrated as provided below.
In this regard it is to be noted that:
(a) Arbitration is final and binding on the parties.
(b) The parties are waiving their right to seek remedies in court including
the right to jury trial.
(c) Pre-arbitration discovery is generally more limited than and different
from court proceedings.
(d) The arbitrator's award is not required to include factual findings or
legal reasoning and any party's right to appeal or to seek modification of
rulings by the arbitrators is strictly limited.
(e) The panel of arbitrators will typically include a minority of
arbitrators who were or are affiliated with the securities industry.
Unless the following procedure for the resolution of controversies is not
enforceable under ERISA, any controversy arising out of or relating to the
Plan, or with respect to transactions of any kind executed by, through or with
the Service Company or otherwise pertaining to the Plan shall be settled by
arbitration. The arbitration may be before either the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., as
Employer/Employee, as the case may be, may elect and shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York. If Employer/Employee does not make the above
election by registered mail addressed to PSI at its main office within 5
business days after demand by PSI that Employer/Employee make such election,
then PSI shall have the right to elect the arbitration tribunal of its choice.
Notice preliminary to, in conjunction with or incident to arbitration, may be
sent to Employer/Employee by mail and personal service is hereby waived.
Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof, without notice to Employer/Employee.
No person shall bring a putative or certified class action to arbitration, nor
seek to enforce any pre-dispute arbitration agreement against any person who
has initiated in court a putative class action; or who is a member of a
putative class who has not opted out of the class with respect to any claims
encompassed by the putative class action until: (i) the class certification is
denied; or (ii) the class is decertified; or (iii) the customer is excluded
from the class by the court. Such forbearance to enforce an agreement to
arbitrate shall not constitute a waiver of any rights under this agreement
except to the extent stated herein.
13.8 Participant Loans
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, Participant Loans will
not be permitted. If permitted by the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may
make application to the Employer requesting a loan from the Fund. Loans shall
be made available to all Participants on a reasonably equivalent basis and
shall not be made available to highly compensated employees who are
Participants in amounts greater than made available to all other Participants.
The Employer will administer all Participant Loans unless the Trustee otherwise
agrees in writing to accept these duties. Loan administration duties shall
include, but are not limited to: approving or disapproving loan applications
from Participants, loan origination and closing, providing proper disclosures
to Participant borrowers under applicable federal and state lending laws,
notifying Participant borrowers of default, and collecting current and past due
payments on such loans. The Employer will notify the Trustee of any loan to be
made from the Fund. The Trustee will reflect the amount of each such loan and
its repayments on records of the Fund. Any loan granted hereunder shall be
made subject to the following rules:
(a) No loan when aggregated with any outstanding Participant loan(s), shall
exceed the lesser of (i) $50,000 reduced by the excess, if any, of the
highest outstanding balance of loans during the one year period ending on
the day before the loan is made, over the outstanding balance of loans from
the Plan on the date the loan is made or (ii) one-half of the fair market
value of a Participant's vested account balance built up from Employer
Contributions, Voluntary Contributions, and Rollover Contributions. For
the purpose of the above limitation, all loans from all plans of the
Employer and other members of a group of employers described in Code
Sections 414(b), 414(c), and 414(m) are aggregated. An assignment or pledge
of any portion of the Participant's interest in the Plan and a loan, pledge,
or assignment with respect to any insurance contract purchased under the
Plan, will be treated as a loan under this paragraph.
(b) All applications must be made on forms provided by the Employer and must
be signed by the Participant.
(c) Any loan granted hereunder shall bear interest at a rate reasonable at
the time of application, considering the purpose of the loan and the rate
being charged by representative commercial banks in the local area for a
similar loan unless the Employer sets forth a different method for
determining loan interest rates in its loan procedures. The loan agreement
shall also provide that the payment of principal and interest be amortized
in level payments not less frequently than quarterly.
(d) The term of such loan shall not exceed five years except in the case of
a loan for the purpose of acquiring any house, apartment, condominium, or
mobile home (not used on a transient basis) which is used or is to be used
within a reasonable time as the principal residence of the Participant. The
term of such loan shall be determined by the Employer considering the
maturity dates quoted by representative commercial banks in the local area
for a similar loan.
(e) The principal and interest paid by a Participant on his or her loan
shall be credited to the Fund in the same manner as for any other Plan
investment. Loans will be treated as segregated investments of the
individual Participants.
(f) If a Participant's loan application is approved by the Employer, such
Participant shall be required to sign a note, loan agreement, and assignment
of one-half of his or her interest in the Fund as collateral for the loan.
The Participant, except in the case of a profit-sharing plan satisfying the
requirements of paragraph 8.7, must obtain the consent of his or her Spouse,
if any, within the 90 day period before the time his or her account balance
is used as security for the loan. A new consent is required if the account
balance is used for any renegotiation, extension, renewal or other revision
of the loan, including an increase in the amount thereof. The consent must
be written, must acknowledge the effect of the loan, and must be witnessed
by a plan representative or notary public. Such consent shall thereafter be
binding with respect to the consenting Spouse or any subsequent Spouse.
(g) If a valid Spousal consent has been obtained, then, notwithstanding any
other provision of this Plan, the portion of the Participant's vested
account balance used as a security interest held by the Plan by reason of a
loan outstanding to the Participant shall be taken into account for purposes
of determining the amount of the account balance payable at the time of
death or distribution, but only if the reduction is used as repayment of the
loan. If less than 100% of the Participant's vested account balance
(determined without regard to the preceding sentence) is payable to the
surviving Spouse, then the account balance shall be adjusted by first
reducing the vested account balance by the amount of the security used as
repayment of the loan, and then determining the benefit payable to the
Surviving Spouse.
(h) The Employer may also require additional collateral in order to
adequately secure the loan.
(i) A Participant's loan shall immediately become due and payable if
such Participant terminates employment for any reason or fails to make a
principal and/or interest payment as provided in the loan agreement. If
such Participant terminates employment, the Employer shall immediately
request payment of principal and interest on the loan. If the Participant
refuses payment following termination, the Employer shall reduce the
Participant's vested account balance by the remaining principal and interest
on his or her loan. If the Participant's vested account balance is less
than the amount due, the Employer shall take whatever steps are necessary to
collect the balance due directly from the Participant. However, no
foreclosure on the Participant's note or attachment of the Participant's
account balance will occur until a distributable event occurs in the Plan.
(j) No loans will be made to Owner-Employees (as defined in paragraph 1.50)
or Shareholder-Employees (as defined in paragraph 1.74), unless an exemption
from the prohibited transactions rules is first obtained from the Department
of Labor.
(k) If a Participant requests a loan, the funds to be loaned will be taken
from the subaccount or subaccounts specified by the Participant or, in the
absence of such a specification, form the subaccounts in the order specified
in Section 6.10 pertaining to withdrawals. If specific assets of the Trust
Fund are allocable to individual Participants' Accounts, such assets equal
in value to the amount of the loan shall be sold at the direction of the
Participant to provide the funds to be loaned.
13.9 Insurance Policies
Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, the insurance provisions
of this Section 13.9 shall not be applicable. If agreed upon by the Trustee
and approved by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Employees may elect the
purchase of life insurance policies under the Plan. If elected, the maximum
annual premium for a whole life policy shall not exceed 50% of the aggregate
cumulative Employer contributions allocated to the account of a Participant.
Whole life policies are policies with both nondecreasing death benefits and
nonincreasing premiums. The maximum annual premium for term contracts or
universal life policies and all other policies which are not whole life shall
not exceed 25% of aggregate Employer contributions allocated to the account of
a Participant. The maximum annual premiums for a Participant with both a whole
life and a term contract or universal life policies shall be limited to one-
half of the whole life premiums plus the term premium but shall not exceed 25%
of the aggregate Employer contributions allocated to the account of a
Participant. It may also be elected to have policies purchased on behalf of a
Participant's spouse, their dependents, or any individual in whom the
Participant has an insurable interest. If any policy is maintained on the
joint lives of a Participant and another individual, it may not be maintained
under the Plan should the other individual predecease the Participant. Any
policies purchased under this Plan shall be held subject to the following
rules:
(a) The Trustee shall be applicant and owner of any policies issued.
(b) All policies or contracts purchased shall be endorsed as
nontransferable, and must provide that proceeds will be payable to the
Trustee; however, the Trustee shall be required to pay over all proceeds of
the contracts to the Participant's Designated Beneficiary in accordance with
the distribution provisions of this Plan. Under no circumstances shall the
Trust retain any part of the proceeds.
(c) Each Participant shall be entitled to designate a beneficiary under the
terms of any contract issued; however, such designation will be given to the
Trustee which must be the named beneficiary on any policy. Such designation
shall remain in force, until revoked by the Participant, by filing a new
beneficiary form with the Trustee. A Participant's Spouse will be the
Designated Beneficiary of the proceeds in all circumstances unless a
Qualified Election has been made in accordance with paragraph 8.4. The
beneficiary of a deceased Participant shall receive, in addition to the
proceeds of the Participant's policy or policies, the amount credited to
such Participant's investment account.
(d) A Participant who is uninsurable or insurable at substandard rates, may
elect to receive a reduced amount of insurance, if available, or may waive
the purchase of any insurance.
(e) At the discretion of the Participant, any dividends or credits earned on
a life insurance contract shall, either be allocated to the Participant's
account in the Fund, applied in reduction of any premiums thereon, or, if no
premiums are due, applied to increase the proceeds of the life insurance
contract.
(f) If Employer contributions are inadequate to pay all premiums on all
insurance policies, the Trustee may, at the option of the Employer, utilize
other amounts remaining in each Participant's account to pay the premiums on
his or her respective policy or policies, allow the policies to lapse,
reduce the policies to a level at which they may be maintained, or borrow
against the policies on a prorated basis, provided that the borrowing does
not discriminate in favor of the policies on the lives of Officers,
Shareholders, and highly compensated Employees.
(g) On retirement or termination of employment of a Participant, the
Employer shall direct the Trustee to cash surrender the Participant's policy
and credit the proceeds to his or her account for distribution under the
terms of the Plan. However, before so doing, the Trustee shall first offer
to distribute the policy to the Participant as a part of the benefit
distribution. If a Participant on whose life an insurance policy is held
under the Plan does not make a timely direction regarding the policy under
this Section (g), the Participant shall be deemed to have directed that the
policy be converted into cash to be distributed in the manner in which the
balance of the Participant's Account is to be distributed. All
distributions resulting from the application of this paragraph shall be
subject to the Joint and Survivor Annuity Rules of Article VIII, if
applicable.
(h) The Employer shall be solely responsible to see that these insurance
provisions are administered properly and that if there is any conflict
between the provisions of this Plan and any insurance contracts issued that
the terms of this Plan will control.
ARTICLE XIV - TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
14.1 Applicability Of Rules
If the Plan is or becomes Top-Heavy in any Plan Year beginning after 1983, the
provisions of this Article will supersede any conflicting provisions in the
Plan or Adoption Agreement.
14.2 Minimum Contribution
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Employer's Plan, for any Plan Year
in which the Plan is Top-Heavy or Super Top-Heavy, the aggregate Employer
contributions and forfeitures allocated on behalf of any Participant (without
regard to any Social Security contribution) under this Plan and any other
Defined Contribution Plan of the Employer shall be lesser of 3% of such
Participant's Compensation or the largest percentage of Employer contributions
and forfeitures, as a percentage of the Key Employee's annual Compensation
allocated on behalf of any Key Employee for that year.
Each Participant who is employed by the Employer on the last day of the Plan
Year shall be entitled to receive an allocation of the Employer's minimum
contribution for such Plan Year. The minimum allocation applies even though
under other Plan provisions the Participant would not otherwise be entitled to
receive an allocation, or would have received a lesser allocation for the year
because the Participant fails to make Mandatory Contributions to the Plan, the
Participant's Compensation is less than a stated amount, or the Participant
fails to complete 1,000 Hours of Service (or such lesser number designated by
the Employer in the Adoption Agreement) during the Plan Year. A Paired profit-
sharing plan designated to provide the minimum Top-Heavy contribution must do
so regardless of profits. An Employer may make the minimum Top-Heavy
contribution available to all Participants or just non-Key Employees.
For purposes of computing the minimum allocation, Compensation shall mean
Compensation as defined in the second paragraph of paragraph 1.12 of the Plan.
The Top-Heavy minimum contribution does not apply to any Participant to the
extent the Participant is covered under any other plan(s) of the Employer and
the Employer has provided in Section 11 of the Adoption Agreement that the
minimum allocation or benefit requirements applicable to Top-Heavy Plans will
be met in the other plan(s).
If a Key Employee makes an Elective Deferral or has an allocation of Matching
Contributions made to his or her account, a Top-Heavy minimum will be required
for non-Key Employees who are Participants, however, neither Elective Deferrals
by nor Matching Contributions to non-Key Employees may be taken into account
for purposes of satisfying the top-heavy Minimum Contribution requirement.
14.3 Minimum Vesting
For any Plan Year in which this Plan is Top-Heavy, the minimum vesting schedule
elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement will automatically apply to
the Plan. If the vesting schedule selected by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement is less liberal than the allowable schedule, the schedule will
automatically be modified. If the vesting schedule under the Employer's Plan
shifts in or out of the Top-Heavy schedule for any Plan Year, such shift is an
amendment to the vesting schedule and the election in paragraph 9.8 of the Plan
applies. The minimum vesting schedule applies to all accrued benefits within
the meaning of Code Section 411(a)(7) except those attributable to Employee
contributions, including benefits accrued before the effective date of Code
Section 416 and benefits accrued before the Plan became Top-Heavy. Further, no
reduction in vested benefits may occur in the event the Plan's status as Top-
Heavy changes for any Plan Year. However, this paragraph does not apply to the
account balances of any Employee who does not have an Hour of Service after the
Plan initially becomes Top-Heavy and such Employee's account balance
attributable to Employer contributions and forfeitures will be determined
without regard to this paragraph.
14.4 Limitations On Allocations
In any Plan Year in which the Top-Heavy Ratio exceeds 90% (i.e., the Plan
becomes Super Top-Heavy), the denominators of the Defined Benefit Fraction (as
defined in paragraph 1.15) and Defined Contribution Fraction (as defined in
paragraph 1.18) shall be computed using 100% of the dollar limitation instead
of 125%.
ARTICLE XV - AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
15.1 Amendment By Sponsor
The Sponsor may amend any or all provisions of this Plan and Trust at any time
without obtaining the approval or consent of any Employer which has adopted
this Plan and Trust provided that no amendment shall authorize or permit any
part of the corpus or income of the Fund to be used for or diverted to purposes
other than for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their beneficiaries,
or eliminate an optional form of distribution. In the case of a mass-submitted
plan, the mass-submitter shall amend the Plan on behalf of the Sponsor.
15.2 Amendment By Employer
The Employer may amend any option in the Adoption Agreement, and may include
language as permitted in the Adoption Agreement,
(a) to satisfy Code Section 415, or
(b) to avoid duplication of minimums under Code Section 416, because of the
required aggregation of multiple plans.
The Employer may add certain model amendments published by the Internal Revenue
Service which specifically provide that their adoption will not cause the Plan
to be treated as an individually designed plan for which the Employer must
obtain a separate determination letter.
If the Employer amends the Plan and Trust other than as provided above, the
Employer's Plan shall no longer participate in this Prototype Plan and will be
considered an individually designed plan.
15.3 Termination
Employers shall have the right to terminate their Plans upon 60 days notice in
writing to the Trustee. If the Plan is terminated, partially terminated, or if
there is a complete discontinuance of contributions under a profit-sharing plan
maintained by the Employer, all amounts credited to the accounts of
Participants shall vest and become nonforfeitable. In the event of a partial
termination, only those who are affected by such partial termination shall be
fully vested. In the event of termination, the Employer shall direct the
Trustee with respect to the distribution of accounts to or for the exclusive
benefit of Participants or their beneficiaries. The Trustee shall dispose of
the Fund in accordance with the written directions of the Plan Administrator,
provided that no liquidation of assets and payment of benefits, (or provision
therefor), shall actually be made by the Trustee until after it is established
by the Employer in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee, that the applicable
requirements, if any, of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code governing the
termination of employee benefit plans, have been or are being, complied with,
or that appropriate authorizations, waivers, exemptions, or variances have
been, or are being obtained.
15.4 Qualification Of Employer's Plan
If the adopting Employer fails to attain or retain Internal Revenue Service
qualification, such Employer's Plan shall no longer participate in this
Prototype Plan and will be considered an individually designed plan.
15.5 Mergers And Consolidations
(a) In the case of any merger or consolidation of the Employer's Plan with,
or transfer of assets or liabilities of the Employer's Plan to, any other
plan, Participants in the Employer's Plan shall be entitled to receive
benefits immediately after the merger, consolidation, or transfer which are
equal to or greater than the benefits they would have been entitled to
receive immediately before the merger, consolidation, or transfer if the
Plan had then terminated.
(b) Any corporation into which the Trustee or any successor trustee may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Trustee or any successor
trustee may be a party, or any corporation to which all or substantially all
the trust business of the Trustee or any successor trustee may be
transferred, shall be the successor of such Trustee without the filing of
any instrument or performance of any further act, before any court.
15.6 Resignation And Removal
The Trustee may resign by written notice to the Employer which shall be
effective 60 days after delivery. The Employer may discontinue its
participation in this Prototype Plan and Trust effective upon 60 days written
notice to the Sponsor. In such event the Employer shall, prior to the
effective date thereof, amend the Plan to eliminate any reference to this
Prototype Plan and Trust and appoint a successor trustee or arrange for another
funding agent. The Trustee shall deliver the Fund to its successor on the
effective date of the resignation or removal, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, provided that this shall not waive any lien the Trustee may have
upon the Fund for its compensation or expenses. If the Employer fails to amend
the Plan and appoint a successor trustee, or other funding agent within the
said 60 days, or such longer period as the Trustee may specify in writing, the
Plan shall be deemed individually designed and the Employer shall be deemed the
successor trustee. The Employer must then obtain its own determination letter.
15.7 Qualification Of Prototype
The Sponsor intends that this Prototype Plan will meet the requirements of the
Code as a qualified Prototype Retirement Plan and Trust. Should the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue or any delegate of the Commissioner at any
time determine that the Plan and Trust fails to meet the requirements of the
Code, the Sponsor will amend the Plan and Trust to maintain its qualified
status.
ARTICLE XVI - GOVERNING LAW
Construction, validity and administration of the Prototype Plan and Trust, and
any Employer Plan and Trust as embodied in the Prototype document and
accompanying Adoption Agreement, shall be governed by Federal law to the extent
applicable and to the extent not applicable by the laws of the
State/Commonwealth in which the principal office of the Sponsor is located.
<PAGE>
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Plan Description: Prototype Standardized Profit
Sharing Plan with CODA Washington, DC 20224
FFN: 50296321903-001
Case: 9400380 EIN: 13-3408212
BPD: 03 Plan: 001 Letter Serial No: D256803b Person to Contact: Mr. Dua
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT INC. Telephone Number:(202)622-8380
1 SEAPORT PLAZA Refer Reply to: CP:E:EP:Q:3
NEW YORK, NY 10292 Date: 03/11/94
Dear Applicant:
In our opinion, the amendment to the form of the plan identified above does not
in and of itself adversely affect the plan's acceptability under Section 401
of the Internal Revenue Code. This opinion relates only to the amendment to
the form of the plan. It is not an opinion as to the acceptability of any
other amendment or of the form of the plan as a whole, or as to the effect of
other Federal or local statutes.
You must furnish a copy of this letter to each employer who adopts this plan.
You are also required to send a copy of the approved form of the plan, any
approved amendments and related documents to each Key District Director of
Internal Revenue Service in whose jurisdiction there are adopting employers.
Our opinion on the acceptability of the form of the plan is not a ruling or
determination as to whether an employer's plan qualifies under code section
401(a). An employer who adopts this plan will be considered to have a plan
qualified under Code section 401(a) provided all the terms of the plan are
followed, and the eligibility requirements and contribution or benefit
provisions are not more favorable for highly compensated employees than for
other employees. Except as stated below, the Key District Director will not
issue a determination letter with regard to this plan.
Our opinion does not apply to the form of the plan for purposes of Code section
401(a)(16) if: (1) an employer ever main-tained another qualified plan for one
or more employees who are covered by this plan, other than a specified paired
within the meaning of Section 7 of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-1 C.B. 780: or (2)
after December 31, 1985, the employer maintains a welfare benefit fund defined
in Code Section 419(e), which provides post retirement medical benefits
allocated to separate accounts for key employees as defined in Code section
419A(d)(3).
An employer that has adopted a standardized plan may not rely on this opinion
letter with respect to: (1) whether any amendment or series of amendments to
the plan satisfies the nondiscrimination requirements of section. 1.401(a)(4)-
5(a) of the regulations, except with respect to the plan amendments granting
past service that meet the safe harbor described in section 1.401(a)(4)-5(a)(5)
and are not part of a pattern of amendments that significantly discriminates in
favor of a highly compensated employees; or (2) whether the plan satisfies the
effective availability requirement of section 1.401(a)(4)-4(c) of the
regulations with respect to any benefits, right or feature.
An employer that has adopted a standardized plan as an amendment to a plan
other than a standardized plan may not rely on this opinion letter with respect
to whether a benefit, right or other feature that is prospectively eliminated
satisfies the current availability requirements of section 1.401(a)-4 of the
regulations.
The employer may request a determination (1) as to whether the plan, considered
with all related qualified plans and, if appropriate, welfare benefit funds,
satisfies the requirements of Code section 401(a)(16) as to limitations on
benefits and contributions in Code section 415; (2) regarding the
nondiscriminatory effect of grants of past service; and (3) with respect to
whether a prospectively eliminated benefit, right or feature satisfies the
current availability requirements.
Our opinion does not apply to the form of the plan for purposes of section
401(a) of the code unless the terms of the plan, as adopted or amended, that
pertain to the requirements of sections 401(a)(4), 401(a)(5), 401(a)(17),
401(l), 401(b) and 401(s) of the Code, as amended by the Tax Reform Act of 1986
or subsequent legislation, (a) are made effective retroactively to the first
day of the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1988 (or such other
date on which these requirements first became effective with respect to this
plan); or (b) are made effective no later than the first day on which the
employer is no longer entitled, under regulations, to rely on a reasonable,
good faith interpretation of these requirements, and the prior provisions of
the plan constitute such an interpretation.
This letter with respect to the amendment to the form of the plan does no
affect the applicability to the plan of the continued, interim and extended
reliance provisions of section 13 and 17.03 of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-1 C.B. 780
The applicability of such provisions may be determined by reference to the
initial opinion letter issued with respect to the plan.
If you, the sponsoring organization, have any questions concerning the IRS
processing of this case, please call the above telephone number. This number
is only for use of the sponsoring organization. Individual participants and/or
adopting employers with questions concerning the plan should contact the
sponsoring organization. The plan's adoption agreement must include the
sponsoring organization's address and telephone number for inquiries by
adopting employers.
If you write to the IRS regarding this plan, please provide your telephone
number and the most convenient time for us to call in case we need more
information. Whether you call or write, please refer to the Letter Serial
Number and File Folder Number shown in the heading of this letter.
You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you
modify or discontinue sponsorship of this plan.
Sincerely yours,
Chief Employee Plans Qualifications Branch
<PAGE>
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Plan Description: Prototype Non-standardized
Profit Sharing Plan with
CODA Washington, DC 20224
FFN: 50396321903-002
Case: 9400381 EIN: 13-3408212
BPD: 03 Plan: 002 Letter Serial No: D356804b Person to Contact: Mr. Dua
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT INC. Telephone Number:(202)622-8380
1 SEAPORT PLAZA Refer Reply to: CP:E:EP:Q:3
NEW YORK, NY 10292 Date: 03/11/94
Dear Applicant:
In our opinion, the amendment to the form of the plan identified above does not
in and of itself adversely affect the plan's acceptability under Section 401 of
the Internal Revenue Code. This opinion relates only to the amendment to the
form of the plan. It is not an opinion as to the acceptability of any other
amendment or of the form of the plan as a whole, or as to the effect of other
Federal or local statutes.
You must furnish a copy of this letter to each employer who adopts this plan.
You are also required to send a copy of the approved form of the plan, any
approved amendments and related documents to each Key District Director of
Internal Revenue Service in whose jurisdiction there are adopting employers.
An employer who adopts the amended form of the plan after the date of the
amendment should apply for a determination letter by filing an application with
the Key District Director of the Internal Revenue on Form 5307, Short Form
Application for Determination for Employee Benefit Plan.
This letter with respect to the amendment to the form of the plan does not
affect the applicability to the plan of the continued, interim and extended
reliance provisions of sections 13 and 17.03 of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-1 C.B.
780. The applicability of such provisions may be determined by reference to
the initial opinion letter issued with respect to the plan.
If you, the Sponsoring organization, have any questions concerning the IRS
processing of this case, please call the above telephone number. This number
is only for use of the sponsoring organization. Individual participants
and./or adopting employers with questions concerning the plan should contact
the sponsoring organization. The plan's adoption agreement must include the
sponsoring organization's address and telephone number for inquiries by
adopting employers.
If you write to the IRS regarding this plan, please provide your telephone
number and the most convenient time for us to call in case we need more
information. Whether you call or write, please refer to the Letter Serial
Number and File Folder Number shown in the heading of this letter.
You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you
modify or discontinue sponsorship of this plan.
Sincerely yours
Chief Employees Plan Qualifications Branch
Exhibit 5
December 22, 1999
PRT Group Inc.
342 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10173
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel for PRT Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and issue the following opinion in connection with a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"), to be
filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), with respect to the proposed offering by the Company of up to
1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Shares"), and interests in the PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan (the "Plan").
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of the Plan, the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws of the
Company, and such other documents, corporate records, certificate of public
officials and instruments as we have considered necessary or advisable for
the purpose of this opinion. We have assumed the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original
documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have not
independently verified such information and assumptions.
We are members of the Bar of the State of Connecticut and we express
no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the
State of Connecticut and Delaware corporate law.
Subject to the foregoing and based on such examination and review, we
are of the opinion that, when the Registration Statement has become
effective under the Act and the Shares have been issued and delivered
against payment therefor in accordance with the applicable provisions of
the Plan and proper resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company
relating thereto, any Shares originally issued pursuant to the Plan will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (assuming
that, at the time of such issuance, the Company has a sufficient number of
authorized shares available for such issuance).
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Day, Berry & Howard LLP
DAY, BERRY & HOWARD LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8) pertaining to the PRT Group Inc. 401(k) Plan of our report dated
February 4, 1999, with respect to the financial statements of PRT Group Inc.
included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1998.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
January 12, 2000