| | |
7.1 | Cross Reference. |
| | |
References within a section of the Plan to a particular subsection refer to that subsection within the same section and references within a section or subsection to a particular clause refer to that clause within the same section or subsection, as the case may be. The definitions and rules of construction and interpretation set forth in this article apply in construing the Plan unless the context otherwise indicates. |
| | |
7.2 | Governing Law. |
| | |
To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of ERISA, or any other laws of the United States, all questions pertaining to the construction, validity, effect and enforcement of the Plan will be determined in accordance with the internal, substantive laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to the conflict of law rules of the State of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction. |
| | |
7.3 | Headings. |
| | |
The headings of articles and sections are included solely for convenience of reference; if there exists any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text will control. |
| | |
7.4 | Number and Gender. |
| | |
Wherever appropriate, the singular may be read as the plural, the plural may be read as the singular and one gender may be read as the other gender. |
| | |
7.5 | Definitions. |
| | |
The terms in this section when used with initial capitalization have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise indicates. |
| | |
Account. “Account” means the bookkeeping account maintained with respect to a Participant pursuant to Section 3.1 and may mean the Savings Account, Fixed Period (Strategy 1) Account, Fixed Period (Strategy 2) Account, or Retirement Account or all of them, as the context requires. |
| | |
Active Participant. “Active Participant” with respect to a Plan Year means a Qualified Employee who is eligible to make deferrals pursuant to the Plan for the Plan Year, for the portion of the Plan Year during which he or she remains eligible. |
| | |
Administrator. “Administrator” means the Company or the person to whom administrative duties are delegated pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1, as the context requires. |
| | |
Affiliate. “Affiliate” means the Company and any other company or trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with the Company is treated as a single employer pursuant to Code section 414(b) or 414(c). |
Base Salary. “Base Salary” for a Plan Year means the base salary payable in cash to an Active Participant by a Participating Employer for the Participant’s services during the Plan Year as a Qualified Employee, net of any contributions or deductions specified in Plan Rules.
Beneficiary. “Beneficiary” with respect to a Participant is the person designated or otherwise determined under the provisions of Section 4.4(e) as the distributee of benefits payable after the Participant’s death. A person designated or otherwise determined to be a Beneficiary under the terms of the Plan has no interest in or right under the Plan until the Participant in question has died. A Beneficiary will cease to be such on the day on which all benefits to which he, she or it is entitled under the Plan have been distributed.
Board. “Board” means the board of directors of the Affiliate in question. When the Plan provides for an action to be taken by the Board, the action may be taken by any committee or individual authorized to take such action pursuant to a proper delegation by the board of directors in question.
Bonus. “Bonus” for a Plan Year means the annual bonus earned by an Active Participant during the Plan Year for his or her services during the Plan Year as a Qualified Employee and paid in cash to the Participant by a Participating Employer during the Plan Year first following the Plan Year, net of any contributions or deductions specified in Plan Rules.
Code. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Code includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor provision.
Company. “Company” means Select Comfort Corporation, a Minnesota corporation.
Disabled. A Participant will be considered to be ‘Disabled’ only if the Participant, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity, (ii) is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration; provided, however, in all cases the Employee is considered ‘Disabled’ within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(C). The Board shall determine whether the Employee is Disabled on the basis of medical evidence satisfactory to the Board.
ERISA. “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of ERISA includes a reference to that provision as it may be amended from time to time and to any successor provision.
Fixed Period (Strategy 1) Account. “Fixed Period (Strategy 1) Account” with respect to a Participant means the Account and subaccounts maintained on his or her behalf pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii).
Fixed Period (Strategy 2) Account. “Fixed Period (Strategy 2) Account” with respect to a Participant means the Account and subaccounts maintained on his or her behalf pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(iii).
22
Participant. “Participant” means a current or former Active Participant to whose Account amounts have been credited pursuant to Article 3 and who has not ceased to be a Participant pursuant to Section 2.6.
Participating Employer. “Participating Employer” means the Company and any other Affiliate that has adopted the Plan, or all of them collectively, as the context requires. An Affiliate will cease to be a Participating Employer upon a termination of the Plan as to its employees and the satisfaction in full of all of its obligations under the Plan or upon its ceasing to be an Affiliate.
Plan. “Plan” means the Select Comfort Executive Investment Plan, as from time to time amended or restated.
Plan Rules. “Plan Rules” are rules, policies, practices or procedures adopted by the Administrator pursuant to Section 8.2.
Plan Year. ‘Plan Year’ means the calendar year; provided that the first Plan Year is the period beginning on December 20, 2002 and ending on December 31, 2002.
Qualified Employee. “Qualified Employee” means an individual who performs services for a Participating Employer as an employee of the Participating Employer (as classified by the Participating Employer at the time the services are performed without regard to any subsequent reclassification) and who is determined by the Administrator to be a management or highly compensated employee of the Participating Employer.
Retirement Account. “Retirement Account” with respect to a Participant means the Account maintained on his or her behalf pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(iv).
Savings Account. “Savings Account” with respect to a Participant means the Account maintained on his or her behalf pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i).
Termination Date. “Termination Date” means the date on which a Participant has completely severed his or her employment relationship with the Participating Employer and all other Affiliates provided such termination constitutes a separation from service under Code Section 409A, or the Participant has experienced a change in his or her employment relationship that constitutes a ‘separation from service’ under Code Section 409A. A Participant’s employment will be treated as remaining intact while the Participant is on a military leave, a sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence (pursuant to which there is a reasonable expectation that the Participant will return to perform services for a Participating Employer or other Affiliate) but only if the period of such leave does not exceed six (6) months, or if longer, so long as the Participant retains a right to reemployment with a Participating Employer or other Affiliate under applicable statute or by contract.
Trust. “Trust” means any trust or trusts established by a Participating Employer pursuant to Section 5.1.
Trustee. “Trustee” means the independent corporate trustee or trustees that at the relevant time has or have been appointed to act as Trustee of the Trust.
23
Unforeseeable Emergency. “Unforeseeable Emergency” means an unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event beyond the Participant’s control resulting in a severe financial hardship that cannot be satisfied through other means. The existence of an unforeseeable emergency will be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. An Unforeseeable Emergency will exist only if and to the extent the Administrator determines that it constitutes an ‘unforeseeable emergency’ under Code Section 409A.
Years of Service. “Years of Service” for purposes of determining a Participant’s vested interest in his or her Retirement Account pursuant to Section 3.7, means the sum of a Qualified Employee’s periods of service as an employee with the Affiliates (measured in the case of any Affiliate from not earlier than the date on which it became an Affiliate), commencing as of the Qualified Employee’s employment commencement date and ending with the Qualified Employee’s Termination Date.
24
ARTICLE 8.
ADMINISTRATION
| |
8.1 | Administrator. |
| |
The general administration of the Plan and the duty to carry out its provisions is vested in the Company. The Company may delegate such duty or any portion thereof to a named person or persons and may from time to time revoke such authority and delegate it to another person or persons. |
| |
8.2 | Plan Rules and Regulations. |
| |
The Administrator has the discretionary power and authority to make such Plan Rules as the Administrator determines to be consistent with the terms, and necessary or advisable in connection with the administration, of the Plan and to modify or rescind any such Plan Rules. |
| |
8.3 | Administrator’s Discretion. |
| |
The Administrator has the discretionary power and authority to make all determinations necessary for administration of the Plan, except those determinations that the Plan requires others to make, and to construe, interpret, apply and enforce the provisions of the Plan and Plan Rules whenever necessary to carry out its intent and purpose and to facilitate its administration, including, without limitation, the discretionary power and authority to remedy ambiguities, inconsistencies, omissions and erroneous benefit calculations. In the exercise of its discretionary power and authority, the Administrator will treat all similarly situated persons uniformly. |
| |
8.4 | Specialist’s Assistance. |
| |
The Administrator may retain such actuarial, accounting, legal, clerical and other services as may reasonably be required in the administration of the Plan, and may pay reasonable compensation for such services. All costs of administering the Plan will be paid by the Participating Employers. |
| |
8.5 | Indemnification. |
| |
The Participating Employers jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each director, officer, and employee of any Affiliates against any and all liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including legal fees) of every kind and nature that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such person at any time by reason of such person’s services in connection with the Plan, but only if such person did not act dishonestly or in bad faith or in willful violation of the law or regulations under which such liability, loss, cost or expense arises. The Participating Employers have the right, but not the obligation, to select counsel and control the defense and settlement of any action for which a person may be entitled to indemnification under this provision. |
25
| | | | |
8.6 | Benefit Claim Procedure. |
| | | | |
| (a) | The Administrator will notify a Participant in writing, within 90 days of the Participant’s written application for benefits, of the Participant’s eligibility or noneligibility for benefits under the Plan. If the Administrator determines that a Participant is not eligible for benefits or full benefits, the notice will: |
| | | | |
| | | (1) | state the specific reasons for the denial of any benefits; |
| | | | |
| | | (2) | provide a specific reference to the provision of the Plan on which the denial is based; |
| | | | |
| | | (3) | provide a description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim, and a description of why it is needed; |
| | | | |
| | | (4) | state that the claimant will be provided, on request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim; |
| | | | |
| | | (5) | state the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following a continued denial of a claim after appeal review; and |
| | | | |
| | | (6) | provide an explanation of the Plan’s claims review procedure and other appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Participant wishes to have the claim reviewed. If the Administrator determines that there are special circumstances requiring additional time to make a decision, the Administrator will notify the Participant of the special circumstances and the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and may extend the time for up to an additional 90-day period. |
| | | | |
| (b) | If a Participant is determined by the Administrator not to be eligible for benefits or if the Participant believes that he or she or she is entitled to greater or different benefits, the Participant will be provided the opportunity to have his or her claim reviewed by the Administrator by filing a petition for review with the Administrator within 60 days after the Participant receives the notice issued by the Administrator. The petition must state the specific reasons the Participant believes he or she or she is entitled to benefits or greater or different benefits. Within 60 days after the Administrator receives the petition, the Administrator will give the Participant (and his or her counsel, if any) an opportunity to present his or her position to the Administrator in writing, and the Participant (or his or her counsel) may review the pertinent documents, and the Administrator will notify the Participant of its decision in writing within such 60-day period, stating specifically the basis of the decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant and the specific provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. If because of special circumstances requiring additional time to |
26
| | |
| | make a decision, the 60-day period is not sufficient, the decision may be deferred for up to another 60-day period at the election of the Administrator, but notice of this deferral must be given to the Participant. |
| | |
| (c) | The same procedure applies to the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant. |
| | |
| (d) | A claimant must exhaust the procedure described in this section before pursuing the claim in any other proceeding. |
| | |
8.7 | Disputes. |
| | |
| (a) | In the case of a dispute between a Participant or his or her Beneficiary and a Participating Employer, the Administrator or other person relating to or arising from the Plan, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is a proper venue for any action initiated by or against the Participating Employer, Administrator or other person and such court will have personal jurisdiction over any Participant or Beneficiary named in the action. |
| | |
| (b) | Regardless of where an action relating to or arising from the participation in the Plan by any Participant is pending, the law as stated and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit or the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota will apply to and control all actions relating to the Plan brought against the Plan, a Participating Employer, the Administrator or any other person or against any such Participant or his or her Beneficiary. |
27
ARTICLE 9.
MISCELLANEOUS
| |
9.1 | Withholding and Offsets. |
| |
The Participating Employers and the Trustee retain the right to withhold from any compensation, deferral and/or benefit payment pursuant to the Plan, any and all income, employment, excise and other tax as the Participating Employers or Trustee deems necessary and the Participating Employers may offset against amounts then payable to a Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan any amounts then owing to the Participating Employers by such Participant or Beneficiary. |
| |
9.2 | Other Benefits. |
| |
Neither amounts deferred nor amounts paid pursuant to the Plan constitute salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any other benefit plan, practice, policy or procedure of a Participating Employer unless otherwise expressly provided thereunder. |
| |
9.3 | No Warranties Regarding Tax Treatment. |
| |
The Participating Employers make no warranties regarding the tax treatment to any person of any deferrals or payments made pursuant to the Plan and each Participant will hold the Administrator and the Participating Employers and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors harmless from any liability resulting from any tax position taken in good faith in connection with the Plan. |
| |
9.4 | No Rights to Continued Employment or Service Created. |
| |
Neither the establishment of nor participation in the Plan gives any individual the right to continued employment or service on the Company’s board of directors or limits the right of the Participating Employer to discharge, transfer, demote, modify terms and conditions of employment or service on the Company’s board of directors or otherwise deal with any individual without regard to the effect which such action might have on him or her with respect to the Plan. |
| |
9.5 | Special Provisions. |
| |
Special provisions of the Plan applicable only to certain Participants may be set forth on an exhibit to the Plan adopted in the same manner as an amendment to the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the exhibit and the terms of the Plan, the exhibit controls. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the exhibit, the generally applicable terms of the Plan control all matters not covered by the exhibit. |
| |
9.6 | Successors. |
| |
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all obligations of the Participating Employers under the Plan are binding on any successor to the Participating Employer whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Participating Employer. |
28