Exhibit 10.1
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC. 2006 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN |
Effective as of December 15, 2005
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
2006 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in order to retain the services of and provide incentives to its non-employee Directors, hereby adopts this deferred compensation plan, effective as of December 15, 2005.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company (as defined below) desires to adopt a deferred compensation plan that is unfunded for tax and Title I of ERISA (as defined below) purposes to permit its Directors (as defined below) to postpone receipt and taxation of certain specific amounts of compensation in accordance with the terms hereof;
NOW THEREFORE, the Company hereby establishes this deferred compensation plan.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 “Beneficiary” shall mean the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by a Director to receive his or her deferred compensation benefits in the event of the Director’s death.
1.2 “Board of Directors” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
1.3 “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any change in ownership of the Company, change in effective control of the Company, or change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as defined in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v), the regulations thereunder, and any other published interpretive authority, as issued or amended from time to time.
1.4 “Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
1.5 “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors unless an alternate committee is designated by the Board of Directors to administer this Plan in accordance with Article 8 below. If the Board of Directors has not appointed such a committee, then each reference to the “Committee” shall be construed to refer to the Board of Directors.
1.6 “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company.
1.7 “Company” shall mean Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor organization thereto.
1.8 “Deferral” shall mean a contribution of cash or an annual or other stock grant under the Plan made by the Company (or a subsidiary of the Company, as applicable) on behalf of a
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specified Participant and shall include any notional dividends credited pursuant to Section 3.4 below.
1.9 “Deferred Compensation Account” shall mean the separate account established under this Plan and the Trust, if any, for each Participant. From time to time, the Company shall furnish each Participant with a statement of his or her Deferred Compensation Account balance.
1.10 “Director” shall mean (a) a member of the Board of Directors who is not an employee of the Company or (b) a member of the board of directors of any subsidiary of the Company who is not an employee of the Company or such subsidiary of the Company.
1.11 “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
1.12 “Participant” shall mean a Director who has elected to participate in the Plan; references to a Participant herein shall refer also to his or her designated Beneficiary where the context so requires.
1.13 “Plan” shall mean this Franklin Resources, Inc. 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.
1.14 “Separation from Service” shall mean the date the Participant no longer serves as a Director of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.
1.15 “Trust” or “Trust Agreement” shall mean the Franklin Resources, Inc., Deferred Compensation Trust Agreement (when adopted by the Company) which is intended to conform to terms of the model trust described in Revenue Procedure 92-64, 1992-2 C.B. 422, including any amendments thereto, entered into between the Company and the Trustee to carry out the provisions of the Plan.
1.16 “Trust Fund” shall mean the cash and other property held and administered by the Trustee pursuant to the Trust to carry out the provisions of the Plan.
1.17 “Trustee” shall mean the designated trustee acting at any time under the Trust.
1.18 “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean an unforeseeable emergency as defined in Code Section 409(a)(2)(B)(ii)(I) (as limited by Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii)(II)), the regulations thereunder, and any other published interpretive authority, as issued or amended from time to time.1
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1Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii) provides the following definition of “unforeseeable emergency”:
Unforeseeable emergency. For purposes of subparagraph (A)(vi) —
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ARTICLE 2
PARTICIPATION
2.1 Eligible Participants. The Committee shall, from time to time, designate by name those Directors who are eligible to participate in the Plan and the date upon which each such Director’s participation may commence. All designated Directors shall be notified by the Committee of their eligibility to participate.
ARTICLE 3
CONTRIBUTIONS AND DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS
3.1 | Contributions to the Plan. |
(a) Deferrals. Participants may make Deferrals by electing to defer payment of his or her Directors’ fees (including meeting fees, committee fees, chairperson fees as well as all other fees) or issuance of his or her annual or other stock grants. Elections shall be made in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Elections must be made no later than the last day of the deferral election period. The last day of the deferral election period shall be (i) December 31st of the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the Participant will render the services for which he or she will receive any part of the Compensation payable to the Participant during that year or (ii) in the first year in which a Participant first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, 30 days after the Participant becomes eligible to participate in the Plan. No direct contributions by Participants are required or permitted. An election to defer Compensation shall be effective on the date an eligible Participant delivers a completed deferral election form; provided, however, that, if the Participant delivers another properly completed election to defer Compensation prior to the close of the deferral election period described in this Section 3.1(a), the deferral election on the form bearing the latest date shall control. On the last day of the deferral election period, the controlling election made prior to the close of the period shall be irrevocable.
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(I) In general. The term “unforeseeable emergency” means a severe financial hardship to the participant resulting from an illness or accident of the participant, the participant's spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a)) of the participant, loss of the participant's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant.
(II) Limitation on distributions. The requirement of subparagraph (A)(vi) is met only if, as determined under regulations of the Secretary, the amounts distributed with respect to an emergency do not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the participant's assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).
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(b) Transfer of Account Balance from Separate Deferred Compensation Agreement. No later than December 31, 2005, Participants may elect (using the form attached hereto as Exhibit B) to transfer a deferred compensation account balance from a separate deferred compensation agreement to this Plan. Such transfer of an account balance to this Plan will be considered an amendment and restatement of the prior deferred compensation agreement.
3.2 Investment Elections. In accordance with rules, procedures and options established by the Committee, each Participant shall have the right to direct the investment of his or her Deferred Compensation Account. Each Participant may direct that his or her Deferred Compensation Account be invested in shares of Common Stock and/or one or more Franklin Templeton mutual funds as selected by the Participant; provided, however, that the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, with or without notice, to change or eliminate one or more of the foregoing investment alternatives available to the Participant at any time. Each Participant shall direct the investment of his or her Deferred Compensation Account by submitting to the Company an Investment Direction in the form set forth at Exhibit C. In accordance with procedures established by the Committee, each Participant may change his or her investment directions effective as of the first day of any calendar quarter. Such changes may be made on a validly submitted Investment Direction in the form set forth at Exhibit C no fewer than 15 days preceding the effective date of the change. If a Participant fails to provide any investment directions at a time when the Participant has a positive balance in the Deferred Compensation Account, the Company or the Committee shall deem the entire Deferred Compensation Account invested in shares of Company Common Stock. The Company may invest assets allocable to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account in any manner, in any amount and for any period of time which the Company in its sole discretion may select; but the Company must credit or charge the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account with the same earnings, gains or losses that the Participant would have incurred if the Company had invested the assets allocable to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account in the specific investments, in the specific amounts and for the specific periods directed by the Participant. If the Plan is determined to be subject to the fiduciary provisions of Part 4 of Title I of ERISA, the Plan shall be treated as a plan described in Section 404(c) of ERISA and Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 2550.404c-1, in which Plan fiduciaries may be relieved of liability for any losses which are the direct and necessary result of investment instructions given by a Participant or a Participant’s Beneficiary.
3.3 Investment Earnings or Losses. Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account may increase or decrease as a result of the Company’s investment of such amounts, as described in Section 3.2 above. In a manner consistent with the allocations described in Section 3.2, the investment earnings or losses under this Section 3.3 shall be credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account, as determined in good faith by the Committee. Each Participant and each Participant’s Beneficiary understand and agree that they assume all risk in connection with any decrease in the value of the Deferred Compensation Account as invested in accordance with these Sections 3.2 and 3.3.
3.4 Contribution of Notional Distributions. The Deferred Compensation Account of each Participant shall be credited with notional dividends and other distributions at the same time, in the same form, and in equivalent amounts as dividends and other distributions that are payable from time to time with respect to investments selected by the Participant under the Deferred
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Compensation Account. Any such notional dividends and other distributions shall be valued as of the date on which they are credited to a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account and reallocated to acquire additional shares of the investments selected by a Participant under the Deferred Compensation Account. If such notional dividends and other distributions are credited in a form other than Common Stock or cash, the Committee will determine their value in good faith.
3.5 Blackout Periods. During any “blackout period” (as defined in Regulation BTR promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and referred to hereinafter as “Regulation BTR”) in connection with the Plan, if a Participant otherwise would defer receipt of such Participant’s Director fees for services rendered as a Director during such blackout period under the Plan and direct the investment of such fees in shares of the Common Stock during such blackout period, the Company shall not cause an actual or deemed investment by the Company of such Director fees into shares of Common Stock during such blackout period, but, rather, shall take all steps necessary or appropriate to suspend such investment during, and until then end of, such blackout period required by Regulation BTR. As soon as practicable following the termination of the blackout period required by Regulation BTR, the Company shall cause an actual or deemed investment of the Director fees in shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 3.2. Also, during any period that the Director fees are not invested in Common Stock as a result of this Section 3.5, such fees will be credited with interest at the same rate applicable to dividends paid by a Franklin Templeton money market fund as determined by the Committee.
3.6 Valuation of Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account. The value of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account as of any date shall be determined based on the value of the underlying investments (selected by the Participant) as of the date the value of the Deferred Compensation Account is determined. The value of each underlying investment shall be determined based on the closing sales price for such investment as quoted or otherwise reported on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price was reported on that date, on the last trading date such closing sales price was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.
ARTICLE 4
VESTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
4.1 Vesting of Deferred Compensation Accounts. A Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be fully vested at all times.
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4.2 Scheduled Distribution of Deferred Compensation Accounts. Subject to Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6, distribution of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall occur on the dates elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 3.1. In the event the valuation and distribution of all or a portion of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall occur on the same date, the distribution of all or a portion of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be made as soon as administratively practicable following the valuation of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account.
4.3 Change of Distribution Schedule. A Participant may elect, at any time, to change his or her distribution date(s), provided that such election shall not take effect for one (1) year from the date of the new election and that under the amended payment schedule, each distribution installment (or lump sum) shall occur no earlier than five (5) years after such installment (or lump sum) would have been paid under the prior distribution schedule, and in conformance with Code Section 409A(a)(4)(C), the regulations thereunder, and any other published interpretive authority, as issued or amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of subsequent changes to an election to receive distributions in a series of installment payments, the series of installment payments shall be treated as the entitlement to a single payment. As a result, any change shall not take effect for one (1) year from the date of the new election and distribution installments (or a lump sum payment) shall occur no earlier than five (5) years after the date the first distribution would have been paid under the prior schedule of installment payments.
4.4 Accelerated Full or Partial Distributions. The following amounts shall be deducted from a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account balance.
(a) Unforeseeable Emergency. In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit distribution to a Participant from his or her Deferred Compensation Account of an amount no greater than the amount necessary to satisfy the emergency plus any taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.
(b) Domestic Relations Order. In its sole discretion, the Committee may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of a distribution under the Plan to an individual other than the Plan Participant as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).
(c) Conflict of Interest. In its sole discretion, the Committee may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of a distribution under the Plan as may be necessary to comply with a certificate of divestiture (as defined in Code Section 1043(b)(2)).
(d) De Minimus Distribution. In its sole discretion, the Committee may distribute a Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account to the Participant, provided that (i) the Participant’s account balance as of the distribution date is $10,000 or less, (ii) the payment accompanies the termination of the entirety of the Participant’s interest in the Plan; and (iii) the payment is made on or before the later of (A) December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant’s Separation from Service occurs or (B) the date 2 ½ months after the Participant’s Separation from Service.
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(e) Employment Taxes. In its sole discretion, the Committee may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of a distribution under the Plan as may be necessary to pay the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) tax imposed under Section 3101, 3121(a) and 3121(v)(2) of the Code (as applicable) on compensation deferred under the Plan. In addition, the Committee may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of a distribution under the Plan as may be necessary to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code or the corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws as a result of the payment of the FICA tax, and to pay the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Section 3401 wages and taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total accelerated distribution to a Participant under this Section 4.4(e) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of FICA taxes and the income tax withholding related to such amount of FICA taxes.
(f) Income Inclusion under Section 409A of the Code. In its sole discretion, the Committee may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of a distribution under the Plan at any time the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the corresponding regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total accelerated distribution to a Participant under this Section 4.4(f) shall not exceed the amount required to be included as income by the Participant as a result of the failure to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the corresponding regulations.
(g) Dissolution or Bankruptcy. To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan and distribute each Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account to the Participant or, if applicable, his Beneficiary within twelve months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Section 331 of the Code or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §503(b)(1)(a). The total accelerated distribution under this Section 4.4(g) must be included in a Participant’s gross income in the latest of:
(i) The calendar year in which the Plan is terminated;
(ii) The calendar year in which the amount of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or
(iii) The calendar year in which distribution of the Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account is administratively practicable.
(h) Change in Control. To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan and distribute each Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account to the Participant or, if applicable, his or her Beneficiary within thirty days prior to or within twelve months after a Change in Control. Each Participant’s participation in the Plan (and his or her Deferred Compensation Account) will be treated as terminated under this Section 4.4(h) only if all substantially similar arrangements sponsored by the Company are terminated so that all Participants in the Plan and all participants under substantially similar arrangements are required to receive all amounts of compensation
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deferred under the terminated arrangements within 12 months of the date of termination of the arrangements.
(i) Termination of the Plan by the Company. To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan and distribute each Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account to the Participant or, if applicable, his Beneficiary provided that:
(i) All arrangements sponsored by the Company that would be aggregated with this Plan under Proposed Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Participants participated in all of the arrangements are terminated;
(ii) No payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of this Plan and the other aggregated arrangements if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve months of the termination of this Plan and the other aggregated arrangements;
(iii) All payments under this Plan and the other aggregated arrangements are made within twenty four months of the termination of this Plan and the other aggregated arrangements; and
(iv) The Company does not adopt a new arrangement that would be aggregated with this Plan and any other terminated arrangements under Proposed Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Participants had participated in both arrangements, at any time within five years following the date of termination of this Plan and the other terminated arrangements.
(j) Other Events and Conditions. The Committee shall have the authority to terminate the Plan and distribute a Participant’s entire Deferred Compensation Account to the Participant or, if applicable, his Beneficiary upon the occurrence of such other events and conditions as may be prescribed in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
4.5 Death Benefit. Upon the death of a Participant prior to complete distribution to him or her of the entire balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account, the remaining balance of his or her Deferred Compensation Account on the date of death shall be payable to the Participant’s Beneficiary designated on Exhibit A. The remaining balance of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account on the date of death shall be payable to the Participant’s Beneficiary either (a) in accordance with the Participant’s distribution schedule or (b) in a lump sum, as elected by the Participant on Exhibit B.
4.6 Delay of Distributions. To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, a scheduled distribution of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be delayed to a date after the scheduled payment date under any of the following circumstances:
(a) Violation of a Loan Agreement or Similar Contract. A scheduled distribution of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be delayed to a date after the scheduled
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payment date in the event the Company reasonably anticipates that making the distribution will violate a loan agreement or other similar contract to which the Company is a party, and such violation will cause material harm to the Company. The delayed distribution must be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that making the distribution will not cause such violation, or such violation will not cause material harm to the Company. In addition, the facts and circumstances must indicate that the Company entered into such loan agreement or other similar contract for legitimate business reasons, and not to avoid the restrictions on deferral elections under Code Section 409A.
(b) Payments that would Violate Federal Securities Laws or other Applicable Law. A scheduled distribution of a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall be delayed to a date after the scheduled payment date in the event the Company reasonably anticipates that making the distribution will violate federal securities laws or other applicable law. The delayed distribution must be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that making the distribution will not cause such violation. For purposes of this Section 4.6(b), making a payment that would cause inclusion in gross income or the application of any penalty provision or other provision of the Code is not considered a violation of applicable law.
(c) Other Events and Conditions. The Company may delay a scheduled distribution of the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account upon such other events and conditions as may be prescribed in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
4.7 | Form of Payment. Distributions under the Plan shall be paid solely in cash. |
4.8 Participant’s Rights Unsecured. The right of Participants and their Beneficiaries to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company, and neither the Participants nor their Beneficiaries shall have any rights in or against any amount credited to their Deferred Compensation Accounts or any other specific assets of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the Trust Agreement. The Deferred Compensation Accounts shall be kept solely as nominal accounts, may be carried in cash or any other liquid assets, may be invested in Common Stock, or may be invested in any other assets as may be selected by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.
ARTICLE 5
DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
5.1 Designation of Beneficiary. A Participant may designate a Beneficiary to receive any amount due hereunder to the Participant via written notice thereof to the Committee at any time prior to his or her death and may revoke or change the Beneficiary designated therein without the Beneficiary’s consent by written notice delivered to the Committee at any time and from time to time prior to the Participant’s death, provided that any such designation or change of designation naming a primary Beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse shall be effective only if written spousal consent is provided to the Committee. If a Participant’s spouse is
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incapacitated, then the person who holds a power of attorney for the incapacitated spouse or other person authorized to act on behalf of the incapacitated spouse may provide the required spousal consent. If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary, or if no such designated Beneficiary shall survive him or her, then such amount shall be paid to his or her estate. The designations of Beneficiaries shall be made in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
ARTICLE 6
TRUST PROVISIONS
6.1 Trust Agreement. The Company may establish the Trust for the purpose of retaining assets set aside by the Company pursuant to the Trust Agreement for payment of all or a portion of the amounts payable pursuant to the Plan. Any benefits not paid from the Trust shall be paid from the Company’s general funds, and any benefits paid from the Trust shall be credited against and reduce by a corresponding amount the Company’s liability under the Plan. All Trust Funds shall be subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company in the event the Company is insolvent as defined in the Trust Agreement. The obligations of the Company to pay benefits under the Plan and the obligation of the Trustee to pay benefits under the Trust constitute an unfunded, unsecured promise to pay benefits in the future and the Participant and his or her Beneficiaries shall have no greater rights than general creditors of the Company. No Trust may hold assets located outside of the United States nor provide that assets will become restricted to the provision of benefits under the Plan in connection with a change in the Company’s financial health.
ARTICLE 7
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
7.1 Amendment. The Committee shall have the general authority, in its sole discretion, to amend or suspend the Plan at any time and for any reason it deems appropriate; provided however, that no amendment of the Plan may adversely affect a Participant’s rights thereunder without such Participant’s prior written consent. Any amendment or suspension of the Plan must be pursuant to a written document that is executed by a duly-authorized officer of the Company. Except as required under Code Section 409A, no Deferrals shall be made during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.
7.2 Automatic Termination of Plan. The Plan shall automatically terminate on the date when no Participant (or Beneficiary) has any right to or expectation of payment of further benefits under the Plan.
ARTICLE 8
ADMINISTRATION
8.1 Administration. The Committee shall administer and interpret this Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Trust Agreement (if any) and shall have the
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authority in its discretion to adopt, amend or rescind such rules and regulations as it deems advisable in the administration of the Plan. Any determination or decision by the Committee shall be made in its sole discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all persons who at any time have or claim to have any interest under this Plan. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall administer and construe the Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A, the regulations thereunder, and any other published interpretive authority, as issued or amended from time to time
8.2 Liability of Committee, Indemnification. The Committee shall not be liable for any determination, decision, or action made in good faith with respect to the Plan. The Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the members of the Committee from and against any and all liabilities, costs, and expenses incurred by such person(s) as a result of any act, or omission, in connection with the performance of such persons’ duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the Plan, other than such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may result from the bad faith, gross misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, willful failure to follow the lawful instructions of the Board or criminal acts of such persons. All members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.
8.3 Expenses. The cost of the establishment and the adoption of the Plan by the Company, including but not limited to legal and accounting fees, shall be borne by the Company. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company, and the Company shall bear, and shall not be reimbursed by the Trust, for any tax liability of the Company associated with the investment of assets held by the Trust.
ARTICLE 9
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Rights Against Company. Except as expressly provided by the Plan, the establishment of this Plan shall not be construed as giving to any Participant, employee or any person, any legal, equitable or other rights against the Company, or against its officers, directors, agents or members, or as giving to any Participant or Beneficiary any equity or other interest in the assets or business of the Company or giving any Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company. In no event shall the terms of service of a Participant, expressed or implied, be modified or in any way affected by the adoption of the Plan or Trust or any election under the Plan made by a Participant. The rights of a Participant or his or her Beneficiaries hereunder shall be solely those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
9.2 Claims Procedures. Claims for benefits under the Plan by a Participant (or his or her beneficiary or duly appointed representative) shall be filed in writing with the Committee. The Committee shall follow the procedures set forth in this Section 9.2 in processing a claim for benefits.
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(a) Within 90 days following receipt by the Committee of a claim for benefits and all necessary documents and information, the Committee shall furnish the person claiming benefits under the Plan (the “Claimant”) with written notice of the decision rendered with respect to such claim. Should special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the expiration of the initial 90 day period. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which a final decision is expected to be rendered. In no event shall the period of the extension exceed 90 days from the end of the initial 90 day period.
(b) In the case of a denial of the Claimant’s claim, the written notice of such denial shall set forth (1) the specific reason(s) for the denial, (2) references to the Plan provisions upon which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional information or material necessary for perfection of the application (together with an explanation why such material or information is necessary), and (4) an explanation of the Plan’s appeals procedures and the time limits applicable to these procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse determination on review. If no notice of denial is provided as herein described, the Claimant may appeal the claim as though his or her claim had been denied.
9.3 Appeals Procedures. A Claimant who wishes to appeal the denial of his or her claim for benefits or to contest the amount of benefits payable shall follow the administrative procedures for an appeal as set forth in this Section 9.3 and shall exhaust such administrative procedures prior to seeking any other form of relief.
(a) In order to appeal a decision rendered with respect to his or her claim for benefits or with respect to the amount of his or her benefits, the Claimant must file an appeal with the Committee in writing within 60 days after the date of notice of the decision with respect to the claim.
(b) The Committee shall provide a full and fair review of all appeals filed under the Plan and shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. In connection with the filing of an appeal, the Claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her appeal. The Committee will provided, upon the Claimant’s request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits. The decision of the Committee shall be made not later than 60 days after the Claimant has completed his or her submission to the Committee of his or her appeal and any documentation or other information to be submitted in support of such appeal. Should special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the expiration of the initial 60 day period. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which a final decision is expected to be rendered. In no event shall the period of the extension exceed 60 days from the end of the initial 60 day period.
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(c) The decision on the Claimant’s appeal shall be in writing and shall include specific reason(s) for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant and shall, in the case of a adverse determination, include: (1) the specific reason or reasons for the adverse determination; (2) reference to the specific plan provisions on which the benefit determination is based; (3) a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her claim for benefits; and (4) a statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and the Claimant’s right to obtain the information about such procedures and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA
(d) If the Committee does not respond within 120 days, the Claimant may consider his or her appeal denied.
(e) In the event of any dispute over benefits under this Plan, all remedies available to the disputing individual under this Section 9.3 must be exhausted before legal recourse of any type is sought.
9.4 Assignment or Transfer. No right, title or interest of any kind in the Plan shall be transferable or assignable by any Participant or Beneficiary or be subject to alienation, anticipation, encumbrance, garnishment, attachment, execution or levy of any kind, whether voluntary or involuntary, nor subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of a Participant or his or her Beneficiary. Any attempt to alienate, anticipate, encumber, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, garnish, attach or otherwise subject to legal or equitable process or to dispose of any interest in the Plan shall be void.
9.5 Severability. If any provision of this Plan shall be declared illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegal or invalid provision shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Plan but shall be fully severable, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision was not part of this Plan.
9.6 Construction. The article and section headings and numbers are included only for convenience of reference and are not to be taken as limiting or extending the meaning of any of the terms and provisions of this Plan. Whenever appropriate, words used in the singular shall include the plural or the plural may be read as the singular. When used herein, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders, the feminine gender includes the masculine and neuter genders and the neuter gender includes the masculine and feminine genders.
9.7 Governing Law. The validity and effect of this Plan and the rights and obligations of all persons affected hereby shall be construed, administered and enforced in accordance with ERISA and, to the extent applicable, the internal laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law rule.
9.8 Payment Due to Incompetence. If the Committee receives evidence that a Participant or Beneficiary entitled to receive any payment under the Plan is physically or mentally
13
incompetent to receive such payment, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, direct the payment to any other person who or trust which has been legally appointed or established for the benefit of such person.
9.9 Taxes. All amounts payable hereunder shall be reduced by any and all federal, state, and local taxes imposed upon the Participant or his or her Beneficiary which are required to be paid or withheld by the Company. The determination of the Company regarding applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements shall be final and binding on the Participant.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of this 15th day of December, 2005.
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: | /s/ Gregory E. Johnson |
Gregory E. Johnson
Its: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
14
EXHIBIT A
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
2006 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
In the event that I should die prior to the receipt of all amounts credited to my Deferred Compensation Account under the Franklin Resources, Inc. 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), and in lieu of disposing of my interest2 in my Deferred Compensation Account by my will or the laws of intestate succession, I hereby designate the following person(s) as primary Beneficiary(ies) and contingent Beneficiary(ies) of my interest in my Deferred Compensation Account (please attach additional sheets if necessary):
| Primary Beneficiary(ies) (Select only one of the three alternatives) |
|
o (a) Individuals and/or Charities |
| % Share | ||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
_________________________
2 A married Participant whose Deferred Compensation Account is community property may dispose only of his or her own interest in the Deferred Compensation Account. In such cases, the Participant’s spouse may (a) consent to the Participant’s designation by signing the Spousal Consent or (b) designate the Participant or any other person(s) as the beneficiary(ies) of his or her interest in the Deferred Compensation Account on a separate Beneficiary Designation.
Exhibit A
|
o (b) Residuary Testamentary Trust |
|
|
| In trust, to the trustee of the trust named as the beneficiary of the residue of my probate estate. | ||
|
o (c) Living Trust |
|
|
| The_____________________________________ Trust, dated ___________________________ (print name of trust) (fill in date trust was established)
| ||
| Contingent Beneficiary(ies) (Select only one of the three alternatives) |
| o (a) Individuals and/or Charities |
| % Share | ||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
| Name____________________________________________________________ | _______ |
| ||
| Address ___________________________________________________________________ | ||||
|
o (b) Residuary Testamentary Trust |
|
|
| In trust, to the trustee of the trust named as the beneficiary of the residue of my probate estate. | ||
Exhibit A
|
o (c) Living Trust |
|
|
| The_____________________________________ Trust, dated ________________________ (print name of trust) (fill in date trust was established)
| ||
Should all the individual primary Beneficiary(ies) fail to survive me or if the trust named as the primary Beneficiary does not exist at my death (or no will of mine containing a residuary trust is admitted to probate within six months of my death), the contingent Beneficiary(ies) shall be entitled to my interest in the Deferred Compensation Account in the shares indicated. Should any individual beneficiary fail to survive me or a charity named as a beneficiary no longer exists at my death, such beneficiary’s share shall be divided among the remaining named primary or contingent Beneficiaries, as appropriate, in proportion to the percentage shares I have allocated to them. In the event that no individual primary Beneficiary(ies) or contingent Beneficiary(ies) survives me, no trust (excluding a residuary testamentary trust) or charity named as a primary Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary exists at my death, and no will of mine containing a residuary trust is admitted to probate within six months of my death, then my interest in the Deferred Compensation Account shall be disposed of by my will or the laws of intestate succession, as applicable.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Plan.
This Beneficiary Designation is effective until I file another such Beneficiary Designation with the Company. Any previous Beneficiary Designations are hereby revoked.
Submitted by: o Participant o Participant’s Spouse _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Date: _________________________________ | Filing Acknowledgement: Franklin Resources, Inc. By: __________________________________ Its: __________________________________ Filed with the records of the Company this _____ day of _________________, 20___ |
Exhibit A
Spousal Consent for any interest in a Deferred Compensation Account that is Community Property (necessary if separate Beneficiary Designation is not filed by spouse):
I hereby consent to this Beneficiary Designation and agree that this designation of beneficiaries provided herein shall apply to my community property interest in any Deferred Compensation Account balance payable to my spouse in connection with his or her service to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. This consent does not apply to any subsequent Beneficiary Designation which may be filed by my spouse unless consented to by me while I am still married to the Participant. This Spousal Consent may be revoked by me at any time, whether by filing a Beneficiary Designation disposing of my interest in the Deferred Compensation Account or by filing a written notice of revocation with the Company.
___________________________________
(Signature of Spouse) |
Date: _______________________________
Spousal Consent for any interest in the Deferred Compensation Account that is not Community Property (necessary if beneficiary is other than spouse):
I hereby consent to this Beneficiary Designation. This Spousal Consent does not apply to any subsequent Beneficiary Designation which may be filed by my spouse unless consented to by me while I am still married to the Participant.
___________________________________
(Signature of Spouse) |
Date: ______________________________
Exhibit A
EXHIBIT B
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
2006 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
DEFERRAL ELECTION FORM
Name: ___________________
I hereby elect to defer the following amounts in accordance with the terms of the Franklin Resources, Inc. 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). This election shall be effective for amounts earned as a Director of the Company and/or any subsidiary of the Company. This election shall remain in effect indefinitely for all years of service until terminated or modified by a subsequent deferral election form which shall generally be effective for amounts earned in the calendar year following the calendar year such subsequent deferral election form is filed with the Company:
□ | ___% of my annual stock grant(s). |
| |||||
□ | ___% of my other stock grant(s). |
| |||||
□ | ___% of my Directors’ fees relating to my service as a Director. |
| |||||
□ | ___% of my meeting fees relating to my service as a Director. |
| |||||
□ | ___% of my committee fees relating to my service as a Director. |
| |||||
□ | ___% of my chairperson fees relating to my service as a Director. | ||||||
□ | ___% of all other fees relating to my service as a Director. |
| |||||
Note: As stated above, this election shall remain in effect indefinitely for all years of service until terminated or modified by a subsequent deferral election form. You can file a new election form at any time with respect to deferrals in a subsequent calendar year. A new election form must be filed no later than December 31st of the calendar year prior to the calendar year for which the new election form will be effective.
Exhibit B
My Plan deferrals, as adjusted for losses or gains under the Plan, shall be paid to me on the following date(s) and in the following increment(s). If the payment date is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, then the payment shall be made on the next business day. Please elect either Equal Payments Over a Period of Years or Fixed Payment Dates and then make the appropriate sub-election(s).
o | Equal Payments Over a Period of Years |
o Substantially equal quarterly installments over five (5) years beginning the April 20 following my Separation from Service and continuing on each July 20, October 20, January 20 and April 20 thereafter.
o Substantially equal quarterly installments over ten (10) years beginning the April 20 following my Separation from Service and continuing on each July 20, October 20, January 20 and April 20 thereafter. (Note: Elect this alternative if you are not a resident of California and intend to comply with California R&TC Section 17952.5.)
Note: For purposes of subsequent changes in the timing of the payments as elected above, the series of installment payments shall be treated as the entitlement to a single payment. If you wish to change this election for amounts previously deferred, (a) any change shall not take effect for 1 year from the date of the new election and (b) distribution installments (or a lump sum payment) shall occur no earlier than 5 years after the date the first distribution would have been paid under the prior distribution schedule.
o | Fixed Payment Dates |
| ||||||
| o | ________________ | ________________________________________________ | |||||
| Percentage | Month | Day | Year |
| |||
o | ________________ | ________________________________________________ | ||||
| Percentage | Month | Day | Year |
| |
o | ________________ | ________________________________________________ | ||||
| Percentage | Month | Day | Year |
| |
Exhibit B
o | ________________ | ________________________________________________ | ||||
| Percentage | Month | Day | Year |
| |
o | ________________ | ________________________________________________ | ||
| Percentage | Upon Separation from Service |
| |
Note: If you wish to change this election for amounts previously deferred, (a) any change shall not take effect for 1 year from the date of the new election and (b) each distribution (or lump sum) shall occur no earlier than 5 years after such distribution (or lump sum) would have been paid under the prior distribution election.
Once the payout of my Plan deferrals has commenced, cash/stock dividends accrued with respect to my Plan deferrals shall be paid to me in the following manner:
Cash dividends accrued with respect to Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds:
o | Cash dividends reinvested. |
|
o | Cash dividends paid out on the next payment date. | |
Cash/stock dividends accrued with respect to Company Common Stock:
o | Cash/stock dividends reinvested. |
|
o | Cash/stock dividends paid out on the next payment date. | |
Upon my death prior to the complete distribution of my Plan deferrals (as adjusted for losses or gains under the Plan), the remaining balance shall be payable to my designated beneficiary in the following manner:
o | In a lump sum. |
|
o | In accordance with the distribution schedule elected by me on this Exhibit B, above. | |
Exhibit B
Transfer of Account Balance from Separate Franklin Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation Agreement
By checking the following box you elect to transfer the deferred compensation account balance from your Franklin Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation Agreement for Director’s Fees dated ______________ to this Plan. This transfer of the account balance to this Plan will be considered an amendment and restatement of your prior deferred compensation agreement. This transfer may be elected no later than December 31, 2005.
o | Transfer of Account Balance from Separate Franklin Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation Agreement. |
Transfer of Account Balance from Separate Fiduciary Trust Company International Deferred Compensation Agreement
By checking the following box you elect to transfer the deferred compensation account balance from your Fiduciary Trust Company International Deferred Compensation Agreement for Director’s Fees dated ______________ to this Plan. This transfer of the account balance to this Plan will be considered an amendment and restatement of your prior deferred compensation agreement. This transfer may be elected no later than December 31, 2005.
o | Transfer of Account Balance from Separate Fiduciary Trust Company International Deferred Compensation Agreement. |
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Plan.
[Signature page follows]
Exhibit B
Submitted by: Participant _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________________________ | Filing Acknowledgement: Franklin Resources, Inc. By: _________________________________ Its: _________________________________ Filed with the records of the Company this _____ day of _________________, 20___ |
Exhibit B
EXHIBIT C
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
2006 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
INVESTMENT DIRECTION
The Participant hereby directs the investment of his or her Deferred Compensation Account in Franklin Resources, Inc. Common Stock and/or one or more Franklin Templeton mutual funds in accordance with the percentages indicated below.
INVESTMENT | Percentage |
|
|
Franklin Resources, Inc. Common Stock | % |
_______________________________________ | % |
_______________________________________ | % |
_______________________________________ | % |
_______________________________________ | % |
|
|
| 100% |
Submitted by: Participant _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________________________ | Filing Acknowledgement: Franklin Resources, Inc. By: _________________________________ Its: _________________________________ Filed with the records of the Company this _____ day of _________________, 20___ |
Exhibit C