9.1 IN GENERAL. If the Company shall be the surviving or resulting entity in any merger, sale of assets or sale of stock, consolidation, or corporate reorganization (including a reorganization in which the holders of stock receive securities of another entity), the Committee shall make such appropriate determinations and adjustments as it deems necessary so as to substantially preserve the rights and benefits of Participants under this Plan.
10.1 AMENDMENTS. The Company reserves the right to amend or modify, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan at any time by a written instrument; provided, however, that no amendment or modification shall be made which will deprive any Participant or any Participant’s beneficiary of any benefit to which he or she is entitled under the Plan.
10.2 TERMINATION. Continuation of the Plan is not assumed as a contractual obligation of the Company and the right is reserved by the Company to at any time suspend or discontinue the Plan. However, no such suspension or discontinuance shall deprive any Participant or beneficiary of any benefit to which he or she is entitled under the Plan.
ARTICLE XI- CLAIMS PROCEDURE
11.1 CLAIMS PROCEDURE AND REVIEW. A Participant or beneficiary may make a claim for Plan benefits within the time and in the manner described herein. Such claim shall be made within 60 days after the claim arises by filing a written request with the Committee. The claim shall be reviewed by the Committee within a reasonable time after the receipt of the written claim. Notice of the Committee’s decision shall be communicated to the claimant in writing. If the claim is denied, the notice shall include the specific reasons for the denial (including reference to pertinent Plan provisions), a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Committee to reconsider the claim, the reasons for any of such additional material or information, and an explanation of the review procedure.
11.2 APPEAL. The claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may, within 90 days after receiving such written notice, request the Board to review the Committee’s decision. The Board shall afford the claimant a hearing and the opportunity to review all pertinent documents and submit issues and comments orally and in writing and shall render a review decision in writing within 120 days after receipt of request for review. The review proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted from time to time by the Board.
ARTICLE XII- MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
12.1 TITLE TO ASSETS. No Participant or former Participant shall have any legal or equitable right or interest in any of the funds set aside by the Company or in any assets in which the Company may invest, from time to time, to fund this Plan.
12.2 ASSIGNMENT AND LEVY. The Plan is for the benefit and protection of the Participants and their beneficiaries and the rights, privileges and benefits herein conferred shall not, to the extent permitted by law, be subject to alienation, assignment, pledge, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process or in any manner anticipated, encumbered, committed, withdrawn or surrendered, and neither shall the same be subject or liable in any way for debts, contracts, or agreements or other claims of creditors of such Participants or their beneficiaries whether such claims are now contracted or which may hereafter be contracted or incurred.
12.3 PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS. The establishment of this Plan shall not create any legal or equitable right against the Company unless such right is specifically provided for in this Plan. Furthermore, nothing in this Plan shall be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employment of the Company, and a Participant shall remain subject to discharge at any time to the same extent as if this Plan had not been adopted.
12.4 INCOMPETENCY. Every person receiving or claiming Incentive Payments under this Plan shall be conclusively presumed to be mentally competent until the date on which the Committee receives a written notice in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee that such person is incompetent and that a guardian, conservator or other person vested with the care of his or her estate has been appointed. In such event, the Committee may direct payments of Incentive Payments to such guardian, conservator or other person vested with the care of his or her estate and any such payments so made shall be a complete discharge of the Committee and the Company to the extent so made.
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12.5 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Incentive Payments any federal, state, local, or employment taxes which it deems are required by law to be withheld with respect to such Incentive Payments. At the request of a Participant, or as required by law, such sums as may be required for the payment of any estimated or accrued income tax liability may be withheld and paid over to the governmental entity entitled to receive the same.
12.6 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS. The obligation of the Company to make payment of Incentive Payments shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any government agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
12.7 INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or who at any time serves as a member of the Committee or the Internal Compensation Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under this Plan; and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such person in satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding relating to the Plan. Each person covered by this indemnification shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend the same on such person’s own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the charter or bylaws of the Company, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify such person or hold such person harmless.
12.8 NOTICES. Notices required by this Plan to be given to the Company, the Committee or a Participant shall be in writing and shall be considered to have been duly given or served if personally delivered, or sent by first class, certified or registered mail.
12.9 SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or partial invalidity of any portion of this Plan shall not invalidate the remainder thereof, and said remainder shall remain in full force and effect.
12.10 RELEASE. Any payment to or for the benefit of any Participant or his or her beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions hereof shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims hereunder against the Company.
12.11 GOVERNING LAW. All matters relating to this Plan or to Incentive Payments granted hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States.
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12.12 ARBITRATION. All disputes and claims relating to any provision hereof shall be settled by submission for arbitration at the Minneapolis, Minnesota office of the American Arbitration Association, under the then current rules of the American Arbitration Association. The award and decision of the arbitrator shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties acknowledge and agree that any arbitration award may be enforced against them in any court of competent jurisdiction and each waives any right to contest the validity of such award.
12.13 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No Incentive Payment under this Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under the group life insurance plan, or long or short term disability plan of the Company, but shall be considered as compensation when paid under the Company’s Section 401(k) plan and employee stock ownership plan.
12.14 EXPENSES. The expenses of implementing and administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company.
12.15 TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Articles and Sections in this Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of this Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
12.16 PRIOR AGREEMENTS; CONTROLLING DOCUMENT. This Plan shall replace and supersede any and all prior agreements relating to the Plan and participation in the future equity growth of the Company. Subject to the terms of the EIC Plan, this Plan shall otherwise constitute the controlling document with respect to all Plan matters.
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