THE KROGER CO.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLANS
FOR CERTAIN RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLAN PARTICPANTS
APPENDIX A
GLOSSARY
“Beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons, if any and including without limitation the Participant’s surviving spouse or estate, receiving payment of theParticipant’s Retirement Benefit Plan benefits after the death Of the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Retirement Benefit Plan.
“Code” shall mean the internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor or substitute provisions of law in force.
“Company” shall mean The Kroger Co. or any successor which assumes a Supplemental Plan. To the extent provided in Section B.02 of Appendix B, Company may also refer to a Participating Employer with regard to the Participating Employer’s participation in a Supplemental Plan.
“Employee” shall mean any person who the Company determines is in the employ of the Company as a common-law employee. An independent contractor shall not be considered an Employee on account of rendering services to the Company in the capacity of an independent contractor. The term Employee does not include Leased Employees.
“ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended, or any successor or substitute provisions of law in force.
"Excess Benefit Plan" shall mean The Kroger Co.Excess Benefit Plan as in force from time to time. The Plan as amended and restated as of January 1, 1989 is set forth in this Plan document, including the accompanying appendices.
"Highly Compensated Employee" shall mean a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code.
“Insolvency" shall mean an excess of liabilities over assets as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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“Leased Employee” shall mean any person treated as a leased employee of the Company under Section 414(n) of the Code and the regulations under that Section.
“Participant” shall mean a participant in theRetirement Benefit Plan who participates in a Supplemental Plan in accordance with Article II. Participation in the Retirement Plan does not make an individual a Participant in a Supplemental Plan unless the individual meets the Plan’s participation requirements set forth in Article II. An individual may be a Participant in one or more of the Supplemental Plans. An individual’s participation in on Supplemental Plan does not make the individual a Participant in any other Supplemental Plan
“Participating Employer” shall mean any RelatedEmployer or other affiliate of the Company participating in a Supplemental Plan as provided in Section B.01 of Appendix B. Participating Employer may refer to all Participating Employers collectively or to each one individually as the context may require. Participating Employers are subject to the special rules descried in Section B.02 of Appendix B.See these rules for the extent to which the term “Company” in the Plan document refers to Participating Employers.
“Plan” or “Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Supplemental Plan or Supplemental Plans below.
“Plan Administrator” shall mean the RetirementManagement Committee appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 5.02 to administer the Supplemental Plans and to perform the duties described in Section 5.02, or if no Committee is appointed or there are no members in office, the Company or another person designated by the Company.
“Plan Year” shall mean the Company’s 52-53 week fiscal year.
“Related Employer” shall mean a corporation or other business organization during the period it is—
(a) a member with the Company of a controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code;
(b) a member with the Company of a group of trades or business under common control under Section 414(c) of the Code;
(c) a member with the Company of an affiliated service group under Section 414(m) of the Code;
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(d) a leasing organization with respect to theCompany under section 414(n) of the Code, but only if and to the extent required in regulations under Section 414(n)® or
(e) required to be aggregated with the Company under Section 414(o) of the Code.
“Retirement Benefit Plan” shall mean the Kroger Retirement Benefit Plan as in force from time to time. References to Articles 20.02 and 20.03 of the Retirement Benefit Plan refer respectively to the Article 20.02 added b the First Amendment to the Retirement Benefit Plan (As In Effect December 31, 1998) and to the Article 20.03 added by the Second Amendment to the Retirement Benefit Plan (As In Effect December 31, 1988).
“Retirement Management Committee” shall mean the committee of this name appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
“Section 401(a)(17) Supplemental Plan” shall mean The Kroger Co. Section 401(a)(17) Supplemental Plan as in force from time to time. The Plan is set forth in this Plan document, including the accompanying appendices.
“Super Highly Compensated Employee” shall mean a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q)(1) (A) or (B) of the Code. A Retirement Benefit Plan participant who is a Super Highly Compensated Employee for a plan year to which Article 20.02 of The Retirement Benefit Plan applies shall be treated a s a Super Highly Compensated Employee for subsequent plan years to which Article 20.02 applies.
“Supplemental Plan” or “Supplemental Plans” shall mean the supplemental retirement plans maintained under this Plan document as listed in Section 1.01. Supplemental Plan or Plans may refer to all of these supplemental retirement plans collectively, to a particular subgroup of the plans, or to an individual plan as the context may require. Each supplemental retirement plan maintained under this Plan document is a separate and independent plan.
“Tax Reform Transition Period” shall mean the period from January 1, 1989 to the date benefit payments to Highly Compensated Employees under the Retirement Benefit Plan generally begin to include TRA ’86 amendment amounts.
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“Tax Reform Transition Plan #1” shall mean TheKroger Co. Tax Reform Transition Plan #1 as in force from time to time. The Plan is set forth in this Plan document, including the accompanying appendices.
“Tax Reform Transition Plan #2” shall mean TheKroger Co. Tax Reform Transition Plan #2 as in force from time to time. The Plan is set forth in this Plan document, including the accompanying appendices.
“Tax Reform Transition Plan #3” shall mean TheKroger Co. Tax Reform Transition Plan #3 as in force from time to time. The Plan is set forth in this Plan document, including the accompanying appendices.
“TRA ‘86” shall mean those qualification requirements described in Income Tax Regulations section 1.401(b)-1(b)(2)(ii).
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THE KROGER CO.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLANS
FOR CERTAIN RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLAN PARTICIPANTS
APPENDIX B
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
| Page |
B.0l Adoption of the Plan by Participating Employers | B-1 |
| (a) | | Procedure | B-1 |
| (b) | | Variation in Plan Provisions | B-2 |
|
B.02 | Rules for Participating Employers | B-2 |
| (a) | | Meaning of “Company” | B-2 |
| (b) | | Employee Eligibility and Participation | B-2 |
| (c) | | Plan Benefits | B-3 |
| (d) | | Plan Expenses | B-3 |
| (e) | | Plan Amendment or Termination | B-4 |
| (f) | | Plan Administration | B-5 |
| (g) | | Exoneration and Indemnification of the Company | B-6 |
| | | (1) Exoneration | B-6 |
| | | (2) Indemnification | B-6 |
|
B.03 | Termination of Participation | B-8 |
| (a) | | By the Company | B-8 |
| (b) | | By a Participating Employer. | B-8 |
| (c) | | Effect of Termination of Participation | B-8 |
|
|
* * * |
B.01Adoption of the Plans by Participating Employers.
(a)Procedure. With the consent of the Company or thePlan Administrator, a Related Employer or other affiliate of theCompany may become a Participating Employer under a Supplemental Plan by appropriate action of the affiliate's board of directors, other governing body, or duly authorized officer.The Plan Administrator shall keep a list of all ParticipatingEmployers. A Participating Employer's participation in a Supplemental Plan may be documented by a participation agreement prescribed by or acceptable to the Company or the Plan Administrator.
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(b)Variation in Plan Provisions. With the consent of the Company or the Plan Administrator, a Participating Employer may vary certain of the provisions of a Supplemental Plan (e.g., eligibility) as they relate to Employees of the Participating Employer. Any variance shall be reflected in a participation agreement with the Participating Employer.
B.02Rules for Participating Employers.
(a)Meaning of "Company". When used in this Appendix B, "Company" shall refer solely to The Kroger Co. or any successor which assumes a Supplemental Plan. When used in the remainder of the Plan document, "Company" shall also refer solely to The Kroger Co. or any successor which assumes a Supplemental Plan if plainly required by the context, or if so provided in this Section B.02 (e.g., in the provisions of subsection (e) concerning Plan amendment or termination and subsection (f) concerning Plan administration). Otherwise, when used in the remainder of the Plan document, "Company" may also refer to a Participating Employer, mutatis mutandis, as regards the Participating Employer’s participation in a Supplemental Plan.
(b)Employee Eligibility and Participation. Eligibility and participation for Employees of a Participating Employer shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Article II and any rules of the Plan Administrator concerning determinations of eligibility and participation. Generally, service with the Company and all Participating Employers shall be considered for eligibility purposes as though the Company and Participating Employers were a single employer.
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(c)Plan Benefits. Benefits for Participants of a Participating Employer shall be determined and provided in accordance with Articles II and III, as modified by any participation agreement of the Participating Employer, and in accordance with any rules of the Plan Administrator concerning the determination and provision of benefits. Supplemental Plan benefits for the Participants of a Participating Employer shall be unfunded benefits payable solely from the general assets of the Participating Employer. If the Company or another person advances funds to pay benefits for the Participants of a Participating Employer, the Participating Employer shall reimburse the amount of the advance to the Company or other person immediately upon request.
(d)Plan Expenses. Upon the request of the Company or the Plan Administrator, each Participating Employer shall pay its share of the cost of any necessary or appropriate expenses incurred by the Company, the Plan Administrator" or their agents in the administration of a Supplemental Plan. A Participating Employer's share of any cost for a Plan Year shall be determined on the basis of the Participating Employer's proportionate share of the total Participants in the Plan for the Plan Year unless the Company or the Plan Administrator, from time to time or with respect to particular expenses, determines that another reasonable basis of allocation shall apply. The Company or the Plan Administrator may charge identifiable costs incurred solely for the Participants of a Participating Employer to that Participating Employer.
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(e)Plan Amendment or Termination.
(1) The Company or the Plan Administrator may amend or terminate a Supplemental Plan as provided in Article IV with respect to the Company's Participants and the Participants of Participating Employers, provided that any Participating Employer may terminate participation in a Supplemental Plan under Section B.03 within 30 days after notification of an amendment or termination affecting its Participants without the amendment or termination becoming effective as to its Participants. If timely termination of participation is not made by a Participating Employer, the amendment or termination shall apply to the Participants of the Participating Employer.A Participating Employer may waive its 30 day notificationperiod.
(2) With the consent of the Company, a Participating Employer may amend or terminate a Supplemental Plan as provided in Article IV with respect to its Participants. amendment shall be reflected in an amended participation agreement. An amendment or termination by a Participating Employer shall not apply to or affect the Participants of the Company or other Participating Employers unless, with the consent of the Company, the amendment or termination is also adopted by them. If a Participating Employer purports to amend or terminate a Supplemental Plan without the consent of the Company, the amendment or termination shall not be effective and the Company may terminate the Participating Employer's participation in the Plan pursuant to Section B.03, or may take whatever alternative action the Company decides is appropriate under the circumstances.
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(f)Plan Administration.
(1) The Company, or persons to whom it has delegated its authority, shall appoint the Retirement Management Committee serving as Plan Administrator.
(2) Participation in a Supplemental Plan by a Participating Employer shall constitute an appointment of the Company and the Plan Administrator as the Participating Employer's exclusive agents to exercise on the Participating Employer's behalf all of the power and authority conferred by the Plan or by other applicable law upon the Company and the Plan Administrator. This appointment shall continue until participation in the Plan is terminated as to the Participating Employer in accordance with Section B.03.
(3) The Company and the Plan Administrator shall have the authority to make any necessary or appropriate rules concerning the participation of Participating Employers in a Supplemental Plan, and these rules shall be binding upon all persons, including without limitation Participating Employers, Employees, and Participants. The Company and the Plan Administrator may delegate some or all of their powers and duties as they relate to the Participants of a Participating Employer to the Participating Employer, or to an agent appointed by the Participating Employer. Any delegation may be revoked by the Company or the Plan Administrator at any time with or without cause. Unless a delegation is in force, a Participating Employer shall have only the power and duties expressly set forth in the Plan for the Participating Employer and shall have none of the powers and duties expressly set forth in the Plan for the Company or for the Plan Administrator.
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(g)Exoneration and Indemnification of the Company,
(1)Exoneration. In the absence of fraud or bad faith, the Company and its directors, officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable to a Participating Employer, or to any Participants or their beneficiaries, heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns, or to anyone else, by reason of the exercise or non-exercise of any power vested in the Company or the Plan Administrator under a Supplemental Plan or applicable law, or by reason of any action taken or omitted, or mistake of judgment made, by them in good faith, or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by them, on their behalf, or by their agent.
(2)Indemnification. Participation in a Supplemental Plan by a Participating Employer shall constitute an irrevocable agreement by the Participating Employer to indemnify and hold harmless the company as provided in this Section B.02(g)(2). This indemnification agreement shall survive any termination of participation in the Plan by the Participating Employer, whether the termination is caused by action of the Company or by action of the Participating Employer.
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(A) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Participating Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers, employees, and agents against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim in the discretion of the company) arising in connection with the participation of the Participating Employer in a Supplemental Plan, including without limitation any cost or expense or liability arising out of any act or omission on the part of the Company or its directors, officers, employees, or agents in connection with the participation of the Participating Employer in the Plan unless arising out of their own fraud or bad faith.
(B) To the maximum extent permitted by law, and without limiting the generality of subsection(g) (2) (A) above, the Participating Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company against the cost and expense of any indemnification payments made by the Company under Section 5.04 to individuals having powers or duties with respect to a Supplemental Plan that are not paid or reimbursed by proceeds from an insurance policy and that arise out of any act or omission of the individuals in connection with the participation of the Participating Employer in the Plan.
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B.03Termination of Participation.
(a)By the Company. With or without cause, the Company or the Plan Administrator may terminate the participation in a Supplemental Plan of any Participating Employer by written notice to the Participating Employer.
(b)By Participating Employer. Any Participating Employer may voluntarily terminate its participation in a Supplemental Plan by written notice to the Company or the Plan Administrator.
(c) Effect of Termination of Participation. A termination of a Participating Employer's participation in a Supplemental Plan shall not affect the continuing participation in the Plan of the Company and other Participating Employers. Following termination of a Participating Employer's participation in a Plan, the Participants of the terminating Participating Employer shall be treated as though the Plan were terminated with respect to them. A terminating Participating Employer may adopt its own separate supplemental retirement plan to replace the Plan and to continue supplemental retirement plan benefits for its employees.
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