PROTOTYPE CASH OR DEFERRED PROFIT-SHARING PLAN
AND TRUST/CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
Sponsored By
FIRST VERMONT BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Brattleboro, Vermont
BASIC PLAN DOCUMENT #04
February 1993
COPYRIGHT 1993 THE McKAY HOCHMAN COMPANY, INC.
THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. USE,
DUPLICATION OR REPRODUCTION, INCLUDING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC MEANS, IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW WITHOUT THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARAGRAPH PAGE
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Actual Deferral Percentage 1
1.2 Adoption Agreement 1
1.3 Aggregate Limit 1
1.4 Annual Additions 2
1.5 Annuity Starting Date 2
1.6 Applicable Calendar Year 2
1.7 Applicable Life Expectancy 2
1.8 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP) 2
1.9 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) 2
1.10 Break In Service 2
1.11 Code 3
1.12 Compensation 3
1.13 Contribution Percentage 4
1.14 Custodian 5
1.15 Defined Benefit Plan 5
1.16 Defined Benefit (Plan) Fraction 5
1.17 Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation 5
1.18 Defined Contribution Plan 5
1.19 Defined Contribution (Plan) Fraction 5
1.20 Designated Beneficiary 6
1.21 Disability 6
1.22 Distribution Calendar Year 6
1.23 Early Retirement Age 6
1.24 Earned Income 6
1.25 Effective Date 6
1.26 Election Period 6
1.27 Elective Deferral 6
1.28 Eligible Participant 7
1.29 Employee 7
1.30 Employer 7
1.31 Entry Date 7
1.32 Excess Aggregate Contributions 7
1.33 Excess Amount 7
1.34 Excess Contribution 7
1.35 Excess Elective Deferrals 8
1.36 Family Member 8
1.37 First Distribution Calendar Year 8
1.38 Fund 8
1.39 Hardship 8
1.40 Highest Average Compensation 8
1.41 Highly Compensated Employee 8
1.42 Hour Of Service 9
1.43 Key Employee 10
1.44 Leased Employee 10
1.45 Limitation Year 10
1.46 Master Or Prototype Plan 10
1.47 Matching Contribution 10
1.48 Maximum Permissible Amount 10
1.49 Net Profit 10
1.50 Normal Retirement Age 11
1.51 Owner-Employee 11
1.52 Paired Plans 11
1.53 Participant 11
1.54 Participant's Benefit 11
1.55 Permissive Aggregation Group 11
1.56 Plan 11
1.57 Plan Administrator 11
1.58 Plan Year 11
1.59 Present Value 11
1.60 Projected Annual Benefit 11
1.61 Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 12
1.62 Qualified Domestic Relations Order 12
1.63 Qualified Early Retirement Age 12
1.64 Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity 12
1.65 Qualified Matching Contribution 12
1.66 Qualified Non-Elective Contributions 12
1.67 Qualified Voluntary Contribution 12
1.68 Required Aggregation Group 12
1.69 Required Beginning Date 13
1.70 Rollover Contribution 13
1.71 Salary Savings Agreement 13
1.72 Self-Employed Individual 13
1.73 Service 13
1.74 Shareholder Employee 13
1.75 Simplified Employee Pension Plan 13
1.76 Sponsor 13
1.77 Spouse (Surviving Spouse) 13
1.78 Super Top-Heavy Plan 13
1.79 Taxable Wage Base 14
1.80 Top-Heavy Determination Date 14
1.81 Top-Heavy Plan 14
1.82 Top-Heavy Ratio 14
1.83 Top-Paid Group 15
1.84 Transfer Contribution 16
1.85 Trustee 16
1.86 Valuation Date 16
1.87 Vested Account Balance 16
1.88 Voluntary Contribution 16
1.89 Welfare Benefit Fund 16
1.90 Year Of Service 16
ARTICLE 11
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Participation 17
2.2 Change In Classification Of Employment 17
2.3 Computation Period 17
2.4 Employment Rights 17
2.5 Service With Controlled Groups 17
2.6 Owner-Employees 17
2.7 Leased Employees 18
2.8 Thrift Plans 18
ARTICLE III
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Amount 19
3.2 Expenses And Fees 19
3.3 Responsibility For Contributions 19
3.4 Return Of Contributions 19
ARTICLE IV
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Voluntary Contributions 20
4.2 Qualified Voluntary Contributions 20
4.3 Rollover Contribution 20
4.4 Transfer Contribution 21
4.5 Employer Approval Of Transfer Contributions 21
4.6 Elective Deferrals 21
4.7 Required Voluntary Contributions 21
4.8 Direct Rollover of Benefits 22
ARTICLE V
PARTICIPANT ACCOUNT'S
5.1 Separate Accounts 23
5.2 Adjustments To Participant Accounts 23
5.3 Allocating Employer Contributions 24
5.4 Allocating Investment Earnings And Losses 24
5.5 Participant Statements 24
ARTICLE VI
RETIREMENT BENEFIT'S AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Normal Retirement Benefits 25
6.2 Early Retirement Benefits 25
6.3 Benefits On Termination Of Employment 25
6.4 Restrictions On Immediate Distributions 26
6.5 Normal Form Of Payment 27
6.6 Commencement Of Benefits 28
6.7 Claims Procedures 28
6.8 In-Service Withdrawals 28
6.9 Hardship Withdrawal 29
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 Joint And Survivor Annuity Requirements 32
7.2 Minimum Distribution Requirements 32
7.3 Limits On Distribution Periods 32
7.4 Required Distributions On Or After The Required Beginning Date 32
7.5 Required Beginning Date 33
7.6 Transitional Rule 34
7.7 Designation Of Beneficiary For Death Benefit 35
7.8 Nonexistence Of Beneficiary 35
7.9 Distribution Beginning Before Death 35
7.10 Distribution Beginning After Death 35
7.11 Distribution Of Excess Elective Deferrals 36
7.12 Distributions of Excess Contributions 37
7.13 Distribution Of Excess Aggregate Contributions 37
ARTICLE VIII
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
8.1 Applicability Of Provisions 39
8.2 Payment Of Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity 39
8.3 Payment Of Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity 39
8.4 Qualified Election 39
8.5 Notice Requirements For Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity 40
8.6 Notice Requirements For Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor
Annuity 40
8.7 Special Safe-Harbor Exception For Certain Profit-Sharing Plans 40
8.8 Transitional Joint And Survivor Annuity Rules 41
8.9 Automatic Joint And Survivor Annuity And Early Survivor Annuity 41
8.10 Annuity Contracts 42
ARTICLE IX
VESTING
9.1 Employee Contributions 43
9.2 Employer Contributions 43
9.3 Computation Period 43
9.4 Requalification Prior To Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In
Service 43
9.5 Requalification After Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In
Service 43
9.6 Calculating Vested Interest 43
9.7 Forfeitures 43
9.8 Amendment Of Vesting Schedule 44
9.9 Service With Controlled Groups 44
ARTICLE X
LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS
AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION TESTING
10.1 Participation In This Plan Only 45
10.2 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions 45
10.3 Participation In This Plan And Another Master and Prototype
Defined Contribution Plan, Welfare Benefit Fund Or
Individual Medical Account Maintained By The Employer 46
10.4 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions Under Two Plans 46
10.5 Participation In This Plan And Another Defined Contribution
Plan Which Is Not A Master Or Prototype Plan 47
10.6 Participation In This Plan And A Defined Benefit Plan 47
10.7 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test 47
10.8 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ADP Test 47
10.9 Recharacterization 48
10.10 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP) Test 49
10.11 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ACP Test 49
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION
11.1 Plan Administrator 51
11.2 Trustee/Custodian 51
11.3 Administrative Fees And Expenses 52
11.4 Division Of Duties And Indemnification 52
ARTICLE XII
TRUST FUND/CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
12.1 The Fund 54
12.2 Control Of Plan Assets 54
12.3 Exclusive Benefit Rules 54
12.4 Assignment And Alienation Of Benefits 54
12.5 Determination Of Qualified Domestic Relations Order(QDRO) 54
ARTICLE XIII
INVESTMENTS
13.1 Fiduciary Standards 56
13.2 Funding Arrangement 56
13.3 Investment Alternatives Of The Trustee 56
13.4 Duties Of The Custodian 57
13.5 Participant Loans 57
13.6 Insurance Policies 59
13.7 Employer Investment Direction 60
13.8 Employee Investment Direction 60
Continued 61
ARTICLE XIV
TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
14.1 Applicability Of Rules 62
14.2 Minimum Contribution 62
14.3 Minimum Vesting 62
14.4 Limitations On Allocations 63
ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
15.1 Amendment By Sponsor 64
15.2 Amendment By Employer 64
15.3 Termination 64
15.4 Qualification Of Employer's Plan 64
15.5 Mergers And Consolidations 64
15.6 Resignation And Removal 65
15.7 Qualification Of Prototype 65
ARTICLE XVI
GOVERNING LAW
PROTOTYPE CASH OR DEFERRED PROFIT-SHARING PLAN AND TRUST/CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
Sponsored By
FIRST VERMONT BANK & TRUST COMPANY
The Sponsor hereby establishes the following Prototype Retirement Plan and
Trust/Custodial Account for use by those of its customers who qualify and wish
to adopt a qualified retirement program. Any Plan and Trust/Custodial Account
established hereunder shall be administered for the exclusive benefit of
Participants and their beneficiaries under the following terms and conditions:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Actual Deferral Percentage The ratio (expressed as a percentage and
calculated separately for each Participant) of:
(a) the amount of Employer contributions [as defined at (c) and (d)]
actually paid over to the Fund on behalf of such Participant for
the Plan Year to
(b) the Participant's Compensation for such Plan Year. Compensation
will only include amounts for the period during which the Employee
was eligible to participate.
Employer contributions on behalf of any Participant shall include:
(c) any Elective Deferrals made pursuant to the Participant's deferral
election, including Excess Elective Deferrals, but excluding Elective
Deferrals that are either taken into account in the Contribution
Percentage test (provided the ADP test is satisfied both with and
without exclusion of these Elective Deferrals) or are returned as
excess Annual Additions; and
(d) at the election of the Employer, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
and Qualified Matching Contributions.
For purposes of computing Actual Deferral Percentages, an Employee who would be
a Participant but for the failure to make Elective Deferrals shall be treated as
a Participant on whose behalf no Elective Deferrals are made.
1.2 Adoption Agreement The document attached to this Plan by which an
Employer elects to establish a qualified retirement plan and trust/custodial
account under the terms of this Prototype Plan and Trust/Custodial Account.
1.3 Aggregate Limit The sum of:
(a) 125 percent of the greater of the ADP of the non-Highly Compensated
Employees for the Plan Year or the ACP of non-Highly Compensated
Employees under the Plan subject to Code Section 401(m) for the Plan
Year beginning with or within the Plan Year of the cash or deferred
arrangement as described in Code Section 401(k) or Code Section
402(h)(1)(B), and
(b) the lesser of 200% or two percent plus the lesser of such ADP or ACP.
Alternatively, the aggregate limit can be determined by substituting "the lesser
of 200% or 2 percent plus" for "125% of" in (a) above, and substituting "125%
of" for "the lesser of 200% or 2 percent plus" in (b) above.
1.4 Annual Additions The sum of the following amounts credited to a
Participant's account for the Limitation Year:
(a) Employer Contributions,
(b) Employee Contributions (under Article IV),
(c) forfeitures,
(d) amounts allocated after March 31, 1984 to an individual medical
account, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), which is part of a
pension or annuity plan maintained by the Employer (these amounts
are treated as Annual Additions to a Defined Contribution Plan
though they arise under a Defined Benefit Plan), and
(e) amounts derived from contributions paid or accrued after 1985, in
taxable years ending after 1985, which are either attributable to
post-retirement medical benefits allocated to the account of a Key
Employee, or to a Welfare Benefit Fund maintained by the Employer,
are also treated as Annual Additions to a Defined Contribution Plan.
For purposes of this paragraph, an Employee is a Key Employee if
he or she meets the requirements of paragraph 1.43 at any time
during the Plan Year or any preceding Plan Year. Welfare Benefit
Fund is defined at paragraph 1.89.
Excess amounts applied in a Limitation Year to reduce Employer contributions
will be considered Annual Additions for such Limitation Year, pursuant to the
provisions of Article X.
1.5 Annuity Starting Date The first day of the first period for which an
amount is paid as an annuity or in any other form.
1.6 Applicable Calendar Year The First Distribution Calendar Year, and in
the event of the recalculation of life expectancy, such succeeding calendar
year. If payments commence in accordance with paragraph 7.4(e) before the
Required Beginning Date, the Applicable Calendar Year is the year such payments
commence. If distribution is in the form of an immediate annuity purchased
after the Participant's death with the Participant's remaining interest, the
Applicable Calendar Year is the year of purchase.
1.7 Applicable Life Expectancy Used in determining, the required minimum
distribution. The life expectancy (or joint and last survivor expectancy)
calculated using the attained age of the Participant (or Designated Beneficiary)
as of the Participant's (or Designated Beneficiary's) birthday in the Applicable
Calendar Year reduced by one for each calendar year which has elapsed since the
date life expectancy was first calculated. If life expectancy is being
recalculated, the Applicable Life Expectancy shall be the life expectancy as so
recalculated. The life expectancy of a non-Spouse Beneficiary may not be
recalculated.
1.8 Average Contribution Percentage(ACP) The average of the Contribution
Percentages for each Highly Compensated Employee and for each non-Highly
Compensated Employee.
1.9 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) The average of the Actual Deferral
Percentages for each Highly Compensated Employee and for each non-Highly
Compensated Employee.
1.10 Break In Service A 12-consecutive month period during which an
Employee fails to complete more than 500 Hours of Service.
1.11 Code The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any amendments.
1.12 Compensation The Employer may select one of the following three safe-
harbor definitions of Compensation in the Adoption Agreement. Compensation
shall only include amounts earned while a Participant if Plan Year is chosen as
the applicable computation period.
(a) Code Section 3401(a) Wages. Compensation is defined as wages within
the meaning of Code Section 3401(a) for the purposes of Federal income
tax withholding at the source but determined without regard to any
rules that limit the remuneration included in wages based on the nature
or location of the employment or the services performed [such as the
exception for agricultural labor in Code Section 3401(a)(2)].
(b) Code Section 6041 and 6051 Wages. Compensation is defined as wages
as defined in Code Section 3401(a) and all other payments of
compensation to an Employee by the Employer (in the course of the
Employer's trade or business) for which the Employer is required
to furnish the employee a written statement under Code Section
6041(d) and 6051(a)(3). Compensation must be determined without
regard to any rules under Code Section 3401(a) that limit the
remuneration included in wages based on the nature or location of
the employment or the services performed [such as the exception
for agricultural labor in Code Section 3401(a)(2)].
(c) Code Section 415 Compensation. For purposes of applying the
limitations of Article X and Top-Heavy Minimums, the definition of
Compensation shall be Code Section 415 Compensation defined as
follows: a Participant's Earned Income, wages, salaries, and fees
for professional services and other amounts received (without
regard to whether or not an amount is paid in cash) for personal
services actually rendered in the course of employment with the
Employer maintaining the Plan to the extent that the amounts are
includible in gross income [including, but not limited to, commissions
paid salesmen, Compensation for services .on the basis of a percentage
of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe
benefits and reimbursements or other expense allowances under a non-
accountable plan (as described in Regulation 1.62-2(c)], and
excluding the following:
1. Employer contributions to a plan of deferred compensation
which are not includible in the Employee's gross income
for the taxable year in which contributed, or Employer
contributions under a Simplified Employee Pension Plan or
any distributions from a plan of deferred compensation,
2. Amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified
stock option, or when restricted stock (or property) held
by the Employee either becomes freely transferable or is
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture,
3. Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of stock acquired under a qualified stock option; and
4. other amounts which received special tax benefits, or
contributions made by the Employer (whether or not under
a salary reduction agreement) towards the purchase of an
annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b)
(whether or not the contributions are actually excludable
from the gross income of the Employee).
For purposes of applying the limitations of Article X and Top-Heavy Minimums,
the definition of Compensation shall be Code Section 415 Compensation described
in this paragraph 1.12(c). Also, for purposes of applying the limitations of
Article X, Compensation for a Limitation Year is the Compensation actually paid
or made available during such Limitation Year. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, Compensation for a Participant in a defined contribution plan who is
permanently and totally disabled [as defined in Code Section 22 e)(3)], is the
Compensation such Participant would have received for the Limitation Year if the
Participant had been paid at the rate of Compensation paid immediately before
becoming permanently and totally disabled. Such imputed Compensation for the
disabled Participant may be taken into account only if the participant is not
a Highly Compensated Employee [as defined in Code Section 414(q)] and
contributions made on behalf of such Participant are nonforfeitable when made.
If the Employer falls to pick the applicable period in the Adoption Agreement,
the Plan Year shall be used. Unless otherwise specified by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement, Compensation shall be determined as provided in Code Section
3401 (a) [as defined in this paragraph 1.12(a)]. In nonstandardized Adoption
Agreement 002, the Employer may choose to eliminate or exclude categories of
Compensation which do not violate the provisions of Code Sections 401(a)(4),
414(s) the regulations thereunder and Revenue Procedure 89-65.
Beginning with 1989 Plan Years, the annual Compensation of each Participant
which may be taken into account for determining all benefits provided under the
Plan (including benefits under Article XIV) for any year shall not exceed
$200,000, as adjusted under Code Section 415(d). In determining the
Compensation of a Participant for purposes of this limitation, the rules of Code
Section 414(q)(6) shall apply, except in applying such rules, the term "family"
shall include only the Spouse of the Participant and any lineal descendants of
the Participant who have not attained age 19 before the end of the Plan year.
If, as a result of the application of such rules the adjusted $200,000 limit-
ation is exceeded, then (except for purposes of determining the portion of
Compensation up to the integration level if this Plan provides for permitted
disparity), the limitation shall be prorated among the affected individuals in
proportion to each such individual's Compensation as determined under this
section prior to the application of this limitation.
If a Plan has a Plan Year that contains fewer than 12 calendar months, then the
annual Compensation limit for that period is an amount equal to the $200,000 as
adjusted for the calendar year in which the Compensation period begins,
multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full months in
the Short Plan Year and the denominator of which is 12. If Compensation for any
prior Plan Year is taken into account in determining an Employee's contributions
or benefits for the current year, the Compensation for such prior year is
subject to the applicable annual Compensation limit in effect for that prior
year. For this purpose, for years beginning before January 1, 1990, the
applicable annual Compensation limit is $200,000.
Compensation shall not include deferred Compensation other than contributions
through a salary reduction agreement to a cash or deferred plan under Code
Section 401(k), a Simplified Employee Pension Plan under Code Section
402(h)(1)(B), a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125 or a tax-deferred annuity
under Code Section 403(b). Unless elected otherwise by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement, these deferred amounts will be considered as Compensation
for Plan purposes. These deferred amounts are not counted as Compensation for
purposes of Articles X and XIV. When applicable to a Self-Employed Individual,
Compensation shall mean Earned Income.
1.13 Contribution Percentage The ratio (expressed as a percentage and
calculated separately for each Participant) of:
(a) the Participant's Contribution Percentage Amounts [as defined at
(c)-(f)] for the Plan Year, to
(b) the Participant's Compensation for the Plan Year. Compensation
will only include amounts for the period during which the Employee
was eligible to participate.
Contribution Percentage Amounts on behalf of any Participant shall include:
(c) the amount of Employee Voluntary Contributions, Matching
Contributions, and Qualified Matching Contributions (to the
extent not taken into account for purposes of the ADP test) made
under the Plan on behalf of the Participant for the Plan Year,
(d) forfeitures of Excess Aggregate Contributions or Matching Contributions
allocated to the Participant's account which shall be taken into
account in the year in which such forfeiture is allocated,
(e) at the election of the Employer, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions,
and
(f) the Employer also may elect to use Elective Deferrals in the
Contribution Percentage Amounts so long as the ADP test is met
before the Elective Deferrals are used in the ACP test and
continues to be met following the exclusion of those Elective
Deferrals that are used to meet the ACP test.
Contribution Percentage Amounts shall not include Matching Contributions,
whether or not Qualified, that are forfeited either to correct Excess Aggregate
Contributions, or because the contributions to which they relate are Excess
Deferrals, Excess Contributions, or Excess Aggregate Contributions.
1.14 Custodian The Sponsor of this Prototype Plan, or if applicable, an
affiliate or successor, shall serve as Custodian, if a Custodian is appointed in
the Adoption Agreement.
1.15 Defined Benefit Plan A Plan under which a Participant's benefit is
determined by a formula contained in the Plan and no individual accounts are
maintained for Participants.
1.16 Defined Benefit (Plan) Fraction A fraction, the numerator of which is
the sum of the Participant's Projected Annual Benefits under all the Defined
Benefit Plans (whether or not terminated) maintained by the Employer, and the
denominator of which is the lesser of 125 percent of the dollar limitation
determined for the Limitation Year under Code Sections 415(b) and (d) or 140
percent of the Highest Average Compensation, including any adjustments under
Code Section 415(b).
Notwithstanding the above, if the Participant was a Participant as of the first
day of the first Limitation Year beginning after 1986, in one or more Defined
Benefit Plans maintained by the Employer which were in existence on May 6, 1986,
the denominator of this fraction will not be less than 125 percent of the sum of
the annual benefits under such plans which the Participant had accrued as of
the close of the last Limitation Year beginning before 1987, disregarding any
changes in the terms and conditions of the plan after May 5, 1986. The
preceding sentence applies only if the Defined Benefit Plans individually and in
the aggregate satisfied the requirements of Section 415 for all Limitation Years
beginning before 1987.
1.17 Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation Thirty thousand dollars
($30,000) or if greater, one-fourth of the defined benefit dollar limitation set
forth in Code Section 415(b)(1) as in effect for the Limitation Year.
1.18 Defined Contribution Plan A Plan under which individual accounts are
maintained for each Participant to which all contributions, forfeitures,
investment income and gains or losses, and expenses are credited or deducted. A
Participant's benefit under such Plan is, based solely on the fair market value
of his or her account balance.
1.19 Defined Contribution (Plan) Fraction A Fraction, the numerator of which
is the sum of the Annual Additions to the Participant's account under all the
Defined Contribution Plans (whether or not terminated) maintained by the
Employer for the current and all prior Limitation Years (including the Annual
Additions attributable to the Participant's nondeductible Employee contributions
to all Defined Benefit Plans, whether or not terminated, maintained by the
Employer, and the Annual Additions attributable to all Welfare Benefit Funds, as
defined in paragraph 1.89 and individual medical accounts, as defined in Code
Section 415(i)(2), maintained by the Employer), and the denominator of which is
the sum of the maximum aggregate amounts for the current and all prior
Limitation Years of service with the Employer (regardless of whether a Defined
Contribution Plan was maintained by the Employer). The maximum aggregate amount
in the Limitation Year is the lesser of 125 percent of the dollar limitation
determined under Code Sections 415(b) and (d) in effect under Code Section
415(c)(1)(A) or 35 percent of the Participant's Compensation for such year.
If the Employee was a Participant as of the end of the first day of the first
Limitation Year beginning after 1986, in one or more Defined Contribution Plans
maintained by the Employer which were in existence on May 6, 1986, the numerator
of this fraction will be adjusted if the sum of this fraction and the Defined
Benefit Fraction would otherwise exceed 1.0 under the terms of this Plan. Under
the adjustment, an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess of the sum of
the fractions over 1.0 times (2) the denominator of this fraction will be
permanently subtracted from the numerator of this fraction. The adjustment is
calculated using the fractions as they would be computed as of the end of the
last Limitation Year beginning before 1987, and disregarding any changes in the
terms and conditions of the Plan made after May 6, 1986, but using the Section
415 limitation applicable to the first Limitation Year beginning on or after
January 1, 1987. The Annual Addition for any Limitation Year beginning before
1987, shall not be re-computed to treat all Employee Contributions as Annual
Additions.
1.20 Designated Beneficiary The individual who is designated as the
beneficiary under the Plan in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(9) and the
regulations thereunder.
1.21 Disability An illness or injury of a potentially permanent nature,
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, certified
by a physician selected by or satisfactory to the Employer, which prevents the
Employee from engaging in any occupation for wage or profit for which the
Employee is reasonably fitted by training, education or experience.
1.22 Distribution Calendar Year A calendar year for which a minimum
distribution is required.
1.23 Early Retirement Age The age set by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement (but not less than 55), which is the earliest age at which a
Participant may retire and receive his or her benefits under the Plan.
1.24 Earned Income Net earnings from self-employment in the trade or
business with respect to which the Plan is established, determined without
regard to items not included in gross income and the deductions allocable to
such items, provided that personal services of the individual are a material
income-producing factor. Earned income shall be reduced by contributions made
by an Employer to a qualified plan to the extent deductible under Code Section
404. For tax years beginning after 1989, net earnings shall be determined
taking into account the deduction for one-half of self-employment taxes allowed
to the Employer under Code Section 164(f) to the extent deductible.
1.25 Effective Date The date on which the Employer's retirement plan or
amendment to such plan becomes effective. For amendments reflecting statutory
and regulatory changes post Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Effective Date will be
the earlier of the date upon which such amendment is first administratively
applied or the first day of the Plan Year following the date of adoption of such
amendment.
1.26 Election Period The period which begins on the first day of the Plan
Year in which the Participant attains age 35 and ends on the date of the
Participant's death. If a Participant separates from service prior to the first
day of the Plan Year in which age 35 is attained, the Election Period shall
begin on the date of separation, with respect to the account balance as of the
date of separation.
1.27 Elective Deferral Employer contributions made to the Plan at the
election of the Participant, in lieu of cash Compensation. Elective Deferrals
shall also include contributions made pursuant to a Salary Savings Agreement or
other deferral mechanism, such as a cash option contribution. With respect to
any taxable year, a Participant's Elective Deferral is the sum of all Employer
contributions made on behalf of such Participant pursuant to an election to
defer under any qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Code
Section 401(k), any simplified employee pension cash or deferred arrangement as
described in Code Section 402(h)(1)(B), any eligible deferred compensation plan
under Code Section 457, any plan as described under Code Section 501(c)(18), and
any Employer contributions made on the behalf of a Participant for the purchase
of an annuity contract under Code Section 403(b) pursuant to a Salary Savings
Agreement. Elective Deferrals shall not include any deferrals properly
distributed as Excess Annual Additions.
1.28 Eligible Participant Any Employee who is eligible to make a Voluntary
Contribution, or an Elective Deferral (if the Employer takes such contributions
into account in the calculation of the Contribution Percentage), or to receive
a Matching Contribution (including forfeitures) or a Qualified Matching
Contribution. If a Voluntary Contribution or Elective Deferral is required as
a condition of participation in the Plan, any Employee who would be a
Participant in the Plan if such Employee made such a contribution shall be
treated as an Eligible Participant even though no Voluntary Contributions or
Elective Deferrals are made.
1.29 Employee Any person employed by the Employer (including Self-Employed
Individuals and partners), an Employees of a member of an affiliated service
group [as defined in Code Section 414(m)], Employees of a controlled group of
corporations [as defined in Code Section 414(b)], all Employees of any
incorporated or unincorporated trade or business which is under common control
[as defined in Code Section 414(c)], Leased Employees [as defined in Code
Section 414(n)] and any Employee required to be aggregated by Code Section
414(o). All such Employees shall be treated as employed by a single Employer.
1.30 Employer The Self-Employed Individual, partnership, corporation or
other organization which adopts this Plan including any firm that succeeds the
Employer and adopts this Plan. For purposes of Article X, Limitations on
Allocations, Employer shall mean the Employer that adopts this Plan, and all
members of a controlled group of corporations [as defined in Code Section 414(b)
as modified by Code Section 415(h)], all commonly controlled trades or
businesses [as defined in Code Section 414(c) as modified by Code Section
415(h)] or affiliated service groups [as defined in Code Section 414(m)] of
which the adopting Employer is a part, and any other entity required to be
aggregated with the Employer pursuant to regulations under Code Section 414(o).
1.31 Entry Date The date on which an Employee commences participation in
the Plan as determined by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
1.32 Excess Aggregate Contributions The excess, with respect to any Plan
Year, of:
(a) The aggregate Contribution Percentage Amounts taken into account in
computing the numerator of the Contribution Percentage actually made
on behalf of Highly Compensated Employees for such Plan Year, over
(b) The maximum Contribution Percentage Amounts permitted by the ACP
test (determined by reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly
Compensated Employees in order of their Contribution Percentages
beginning with the highest of such percentages).
Such determination shall be made after first determining Excess Elective
Deferrals pursuant to paragraph 1.35 and then determining Excess Contributions
pursuant to paragraph 1.34.
1.33 Excess Amount The excess of the Participant's Annual Additions for
the Limitation Year over the Maximum Permissible Amount.
1.34 Excess Contribution With respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
(a) The aggregate amount of Employer contributions actually taken into
account in computing the ADP of Highly Compensated Employees for
such Plan Year, over
(b) The maximum amount of such contributions permitted by the ADP test
(determined by reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly
Compensated Employees in order of the ADPS, beginning with the
highest of such percentages).
1.35 Excess Elective Deferrals Those Elective Deferrals that are
includible in a Participant's gross income under Code Section 402(g) to the
extent such Participant's Elective Deferrals for a taxable year exceed the
dollar limitation under such Code Section. Excess Elective Deferrals shall be
treated as Annual Additions under the Plan, unless such amounts are distributed
no later than the first April 15th following the close of the Participant's
taxable year.
1.36 Family Member The Employee's Spouse, any lineal descendants and
ascendants and the Spouse of such lineal descendants and ascendants.
1.37 First Distribution Calendar Year For distributions beginning before
the Participant's death, the First Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar
year immediately preceding the calendar year which contains the Participant's
Required Beginning Date. For distributions beginning after the Participant's
death, the First Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar year in which
distributions are required to begin pursuant to paragraph 7.10.
1.38 Fund All contributions received by the Trustee/Custodian under this
Plan and Trust/Custodial Account, investments thereof and earnings and
appreciation thereon.
1.39 Hardship An immediate and heavy financial need of the Employee where
such Employee lacks other available resources.
1.40 Highest Average Compensation The average Compensation for the three
consecutive Years of Service with the Employer that produces the highest
average. A Year of Service with the Employer is the 12-consecutive month period
defined in the Adoption Agreement.
1.41 Highly Compensated Employee Any Employee who performs service for the
Employer during the determination year and who, during the immediate prior year:
(a) received Compensation from the Employer in excess of $75,000 [as
adjusted pursuant to Code Section 415(d)]; or
(b) received Compensation from the Employer in excess of $50,000 [as
adjusted pursuant to Code Section 415(d)] and was a member of the
Top-Paid Group for such year; or
(c) was an officer of the Employer and received Compensation during such
year that is greater than 50 percent of the dollar limitation in
effect under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A).
Notwithstanding (a), (b) and (c), an Employee who was not Highly Compensated
during the preceding Plan Year shall not be treated as a Highly Compensated
Employee with respect to the current Plan Year unless such Employee is a member
of the 100 Employees paid the greatest Compensation during the year for which
such determination is being made.
(d) Employees who are five percent (5%) Owners at any time during the
immediate prior year or determination year.
Highly Compensated Employee includes Highly Compensated active Employees and
Highly Compensated former Employees.
1.42 Hour Of Service
(a) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, for
the performance of duties for the Employer. These hours shall be
credited to the Employee for the computation period in which the duties
are performed; and
(b) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, by
the Employer on account of a period of time during which no duties are
performed (irrespective of whether the employment relationship has
terminated) due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including
disability), layoff, jury duty, military duty or leave of absence.
No more than 501 Hours of Service shall be credited under this
paragraph for any single continuous period (whether or not such period
occurs in a single computation period). Hours under this paragraph
shall be calculated and credited pursuant to Section 2530.200b-2 of
the Department of Labor Regulations which are incorporated herein by
this reference; and
(c) Each hour for which back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages,
is either awarded or agreed to by the Employer. The same Hours of
Service shall not be credited both under paragraph (a) or paragraph
(b), as the case may be, and under this paragraph (c). These hours
shall be credited to the Employee for the computation period or
periods to which the award or agreement pertains rather than the
computation period in which the award, agreement or payment is made.
(d) Hours of Service shall be credited for employment with the Employer
and with other members of an affiliated service group [as defined in
Code Section 414(m)], a controlled group of corporations [as defined
in Code Section 414(b)], or a group of trades or businesses under
common control [as defined in Code Section 414(c)] of which the
adopting Employer is a member, and any other entity required to be
aggregated with the Employer pursuant to Code Section 414(o) and the
regulations thereunder. Hours of Service shall also be credited for
any individual considered an Employee for purposes of this Plan under
Code Section 414(n) or Code Section 414(o) and the regulations
thereunder.
(e) Solely for purposes of determining whether a Break in Service, as
defined in paragraph 1.10, for participation and vesting purposes
has occurred in a computation period, an individual who is absent from
work for maternity or paternity reasons shall receive credit for the
Hours of Service which would otherwise have been credited to such
individual but for such absence, or in any case in which such hours
cannot be determined, 8 Hours of Service per day of such absence. For
purposes of this paragraph, an absence from work for maternity or
paternity reasons means an absence by reason of the pregnancy of the
individual by reason of a birth of a child of the individual, by
reason of the placement of a child with the individual in connection
with the adoption of such child by such individual or for purposes of
caring for such child for a period beginning immediately following
such birth or placement. The Hours of Service credited under this
paragraph shall be credited, in the computation period in which the
absence begins if the crediting is necessary to prevent a Break in
Service in that period, or in all other cases, in the following
computation period. No more than 501 hours will be credited under
this paragraph.
(f) Hours of Service shall be determined on the basis of the method
selected in the Adoption Agreement.
1.43 Key Employee Any Employee or former Employee (and the beneficiaries
of such employee) who at any time during the determination period was an officer
of the Employer if such individual's annual compensation exceeds 50% of the
dollar limitation under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) (the defined benefit maximum
annual benefit), an owner (or considered an owner under Code Section 318) of one
of the ten largest interests in the employer if such individual's compensation
exceeds 100% of the dollar limitation under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A), a 5%
owner of the Employer, or a 1% owner of the Employer who has an annual
compensation of more than $150,000. For purposes of determining who is a Key
Employee, annual compensation shall mean Compensation as defined for Article X,
but including amounts deferred through a salary reduction agreement to a cash
or deferred plan under Code Section 401(k), a Simplified Employee Pension Plan
under Code Section 408(k), a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125 or a tax-
deferred annuity under Code Section 403(b). The determination period is the
Plan Year containing the Determination Date and the four preceding Plan Years.
The determination of who is a Key Employee will be made in accordance with
Code Section 416(i)(1) and the regulations thereunder.
1.44 Leased Employee Any person (other than an Employee of the recipient)
who, pursuant to an agreement between the recipient and any other person
("leasing organization"), has performed services for the recipient [or for the
recipient and related persons determined in accordance with Code Section
414(n)(6)] on a substantially full-time basis for a period of at least one year,
and such services are of a type historically performed by Employees in the
business field of the recipient Employer.
1.45 Limitation Year The calendar year or such other 12-consecutive month
period designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement for purposes of
determining the maximum Annual Addition to a Participant's account. All
qualified plans maintained by the Employer must use the same Limitation Year.
If the Limitation Year is amended to a different 12-consecutive month period,
the new Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation Year in which
the amendment is made.
1.46 Master Or Prototype Plan A plan, the form of which is the subject
of a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service.
1.47 Matching Contribution An Employer contribution made to this or any
other defined contribution plan on behalf of a Participant on account of an
Employee Voluntary Contribution made by such Participant, or on account of a
Participant's Elective Deferral under a Plan maintained by the Employer.
1.48 Maximum Permissible Amount The maximum Annual Addition that may be
contributed or allocated to Participant's account under the plan for any
Limitation Year shall not exceed the lesser of:
(a) the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation, or
(b) 25% of the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation Year.
The compensation limitation referred to in (b) shall not apply to any
contribution for medical benefits [within the meaning of Code Section 401(h)
or Code Section 419A(f)(2)] which is otherwise treated as an Annual Addition
under Code Section 415(l)(1) or 419(d)(2). If a short Limitation Year is
created because of an amendment changing the Limitation Year to a different
12-consecutive month period, the Maximum Permissible Amount will not exceed
the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation multiplied by the following
fraction: Number of months in the short Limitation Year divided by 12.
1.49 Net Profit The current and accumulated operating earnings of the
Employer before Federal and State income taxes, excluding nonrecurring or
unusual items of income, and before contributions to this and any other
qualified plan of the Employer. Alternatively, the Employer may fix another
definition in the Adoption Agreement.
1.50 Normal Retirement Age The age, set by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement, at which a Participant may retire and receive his or her benefits
under the Plan.
1.51 Owner-Employee A sole proprietor, or a partner owning more than 10%
of either the capital or profits interest of the partnership.
1.52 Paired Plans Two or more Plans maintained by the Sponsor designed so
that a single or any combination of Plans adopted by an Employer will meet the
antidiscrimination rules, the contribution and benefit limitations, and the Top-
Heavy provisions of the Code.
1.53 Participant Any Employee who has met the eligibility requirements and
is participating in the Plan.
1.54 Participant's Benefit The account balance as of the last Valuation
Date in the calendar year immediately preceding the Distribution Calendar Year
(valuation calendar year) increased by the amount of any contributions or
forfeitures allocated to the account balance as of the dates in the valuation
calendar year after the Valuation Date and decreased by distributions made in
the valuation calendar year after the Valuation Date. A special exception
exists for the second distribution Calendar Year. For purposes of this
paragraph, if any portion of the minimum distribution for the First Distribution
Calendar Year is made in the second Distribution Calendar Year on or before the
Required Beginning Date, the amount of the minimum distribution made in the
second distribution calendar year shall be treated as if it had been made in the
immediately preceding Distribution Calendar Year.
1.55 Permissive Aggregation Group Used for Top-Heavy testing purposes, it
is the Required Aggregation Group of plans plus any other plan or plans of the
Employer which, when considered as a group with the Required Aggregation Group,
would continue to satisfy the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
1.56 Plan The Employer's retirement plan as embodied herein and in the
Adoption Agreement.
1.57 Plan Administrator The Employer.
1.58 Plan Year The 12-consecutive month period designated by the Employer
in the Adoption Agreement.
1.59 Present Value Used for Top-Heavy test and determination purposes,
when determining the Present Value of accrued benefits, with respect to any
Defined Benefit Plan maintained by the Employer, interest and mortality rates
shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the respective plan. If
applicable, interest and mortality assumptions will be specified in Section II
of the Adoption Agreement.
1.60 Projected Annual Benefit Used to test the maximum benefit which may
be obtained from a combination of retirement plans, it is the annual retirement
benefit (adjusted to an actuarial equivalent straight life annuity if such
benefit is expressed in a form other than a straight life annuity or Qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity) to which the Participant would be entitled under the
terms of a Defined Benefit Plan or plans, assuming:
(a) the Participant will continue employment until Normal Retirement Age
under the plan (or current age, if later), and
(b) the Participant's Compensation for the current Limitation Year and
all other relevant factors used to determine benefits under the plan
will remain constant for all future Limitation Years.
1.61 Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Any pension, profit-sharing,
stock bonus, or other plan which meets the requirements of Code Section 401 and
includes a trust exempt from tax under Code Section 501(a) or any annuity plan
described in Code Section 403(a).
An Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual retirement account (IRA) as
described in Code Section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity (IRA) as
described in Code Section 408(b), an annuity plan as described in Code Section
403(a), or a qualified trust as described in Code Section 401(a), which accepts
Eligible Rollover Distributions. However in the case of an Eligible Rollover
Distribution to a Surviving Spouse, an Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual
retirement account or individual retirement annuity.
1.62 Qualified Domestic Relations Order A QDRO is a signed Domestic
Relations Order issued by a State Court which creates, recognizes or assigns to
an alternate payee(s) the right to receive all or part of a Participant's Plan
benefit and which meets the requirements of Code Section 414(p). An alternate
payee is a Spouse, former Spouse, child, or other dependent who is treated as a
beneficiary under the Plan as a result of the QDRO.
1.63 Qualified Early Retirement Age For purposes of paragraph 8.9,
Qualified Early Retirement Age is the latest of:
(a) the earliest date, under the Plan, on which the Participant may
elect to receive retirement benefits, or
(b) the first day of the 120th month beginning before the Participant
reaches Normal Retirement Age, or
(c) the date the Participant begins participation.
1.64 Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity An immediate annuity for the
life of the Participant with a survivor annuity for the life of the Partici-
pant's Spouse which is at least one-half of but not more than the amount of the
annuity payable during the joint lives of the Participant and the Participant's
Spouse. The exact amount of the Survivor Annuity is to be specified by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement. If not designated by the Employer, the
Survivor Annuity will be 1/2 of the amount paid to the Participant during his or
her lifetime. The Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity will be the amount of
benefit which can be provided by the Participant's Vested Account Balance.
1.65 Qualified Matching Contribution Matching Contributions which when
made are subject to the distribution and nonforfeitability requirements under
Code Section 401(k).
1.66 Qualified Non-Elective Contributions Contributions (other than
Matching Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions) made by the Employer
and allocated to Participants' accounts that the Participants may not elect to
receive in cash until distributed from the Plan; that are nonforfeitable when
made; and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution
provisions that are applicable to Elective Deferrals and Qualified Matching
Contributions.
1.67 Qualified Voluntary Contribution A tax-deductible voluntary Employee
contribution. These contributions may no longer be made to the Plan.
1.68 Required Aggregation Group Used for Top-Heavy testing purposes, it
consists of:
(a) each qualified plan of the Employer in which at least one Key Employee
participates or participated at any time during the determination
period (regardless of whether the plan has terminated), and
(b) any other qualified plan of the Employer which enables a plan described
in (a) to meet the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or 410.
1.69 Required Beginning Date The date on which a Participant is required
to take his or her first minimum distribution under the Plan. The rules are set
forth at paragraph 7.5.
1.70 Rollover Contribution A contribution made by a Participant of an
amount distributed to such Participant from another Qualified Deferred
Compensation Plan in accordance with Code Sections 402(a)(5), (6), and (7).
An Eligible Rollover Distribution is any distribution of all or any portion of
the balance to the credit of the Participant except that an Eligible Rollover
Distribution does not include:
(a) any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal
periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the
life (or life expectancy) of the Participant or the joint lives (or
joint life expectancies) of the Participant and the Participant's
Designated Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more;
(b) any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code
Section 401(a)(9); and
(c) the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income
(determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized
appreciation with respect to Employer securities).
A Direct Rollover is a payment by the plan to the Eligible Retirement Plan
specified by the Participant.
1.71 Salary Savings Agreement An agreement between the Employer and a
participating Employee where the Employee authorizes the Employer to withhold a
specified percentage of his or her Compensation for deposit to the Plan on
behalf of such Employee.
1.72 Self-Employed Individual An individual who has Earned Income for the
taxable year from the trade or business for which the Plan is established
including an individual who would have had Earned Income but for the fact that
the trade or business had no Net Profit for the taxable year.
1.73 Service The period of current or prior employment with the Employer.
If the Employer maintains a plan of a predecessor employer, Service for such
predecessor shall be treated as Service for the Employer.
1.74 Shareholder Employee An Employee or Officer who owns [or is
considered as owning within the meaning of Code Section 318(a)(1)], on any day
during the taxable year of an electing small business corporation (S
Corporation), more than 5% of such corporation's outstanding stock.
1.75 Simplified Employee Pension Plan An individual retirement account
which meets the requirements of Code Section 408(k), and to which the Employer
makes contributions pursuant to a written formula. These plans are considered
for contribution limitation and Top-Heavy testing purposes.
1.76 Sponsor First Vermont Bank & Trust Company, or any successor(s) or
assign(s).
1.77 Spouse (Surviving Spouse) The Spouse or Surviving Spouse of the
Participant, provided that a former Spouse will be treated as the Spouse or
Surviving Spouse and a current Spouse will not be treated as the Spouse or
Surviving Spouse to the extent provided under a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order as described in Code Section 414(p).
1.78 Super Top-Heavy Plan A Plan described at paragraph 1.81 under which
the Top-Heavy Ratio [as defined at paragraph 1.82] exceeds 90%.
1.79 Taxable Wage Base For plans with an allocation formula which takes
into account the Employer's contribution under the Federal Insurance
Contributions Act (FICA), the maximum amount of earnings which may be considered
wages for such Plan Year under the Social Security Act [Code Section
3121(a)(1)], or the amount elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
1.80 Top-Heavy Determination Date For any Plan Year subsequent to the
first Plan Year, the last day of the preceding Plan Year. For the first Plan
Year of the Plan, the last day of that year.
1.81 Top-Heavy Plan For any Plan Year beginning after 1983, the Employer's
Plan is top-heavy if any of the following conditions exist:
(a) If the Top-Heavy Ratio for the Employer's Plan exceeds 60% and this
Plan is not part of any required Aggregation Group or Permissive
Aggregation Group of Plans.
(b) If the Employer's plan is a part of a Required Aggregation Group of
plans but not part of a Permissive Aggregation Group and the Top-Heavy
Ratio for the group of plans exceeds 60%.
(c) If the Employer's plan is a part of a Required Aggregation Group and
part of a Permissive Aggregation Group of plans and the Top-Heavy Ratio
for the Permissive Aggregation Group exceeds 60%.
1.82 Top-Heavy Ratio
(a) If the Employer maintains one or more Defined Contribution plans
(including any Simplified Employee Pension Plan) and the Employer has
not maintained any Defined Benefit Plan which during the 5-year period
ending on the Determination Date(s) has or has had accrued benefits,
Top-Heavy Ratio for this Plan alone, or for the Required or Permissive
Aggregation Group as appropriate, is a fraction,
(1) the numerator of which is the sum of the account balances of all Key
Employees as of the Determination Date(s) [including any part of any
account balance distributed in the 5-year period ending on the
Determination Date(s)], and
(2) the denominator of which is the sum of all account balances [including
any part of any account balance distributed in the 5-year period
ending, on the Determination Date(s)], both computed in accordance
with Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder.
Both the numerator and denominator of the Top-Heavy Ratio are
increased to reflect any contribution not actually made as of the
Determination Date, but which is required to be taken into account
on that date under Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder.
(b) If the Employer maintains one or more Defined Contribution Plans
(including any Simplified Employee Pension Plan) and the Employer
maintains or has maintained one or more Defined Benefit Plans which
during the 5-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) has or
has had any accrued benefits, the Top-Heavy Ratio for any Required
or Permissive Aggregation Group as appropriate is a fraction, the
numerator of which is the sum of account balances under the aggregated
Defined Contribution Plan or Plans for all Key Employees, determined
in accordance with (a) above, and the Present Value of accrued benefits
under the aggregated Defined Benefit Plan or Plans for any Key
Employees as of the Determination Date(s), and the denominator of
which is the sum of the account balances under the aggregated Defined
Contribution Plan or Plans for all Participants, determined in
accordance with (a) above, and the Present Value of accrued benefits
under the Defined Benefit Plan or Plans for all Participants as of the
Determination Date(s), all determined in accordance with Code Section
416 and the regulations thereunder. The accrued benefits under a
Defined Benefit Plan in both the numerator and denominator of the Top-
Heavy Ratio are increased for any distribution of an accrued benefit
made in the 5-year period ending on the Determination Date.
(c) For purposes of (a) and (b) above, the value of account balances and
the Present Value of accrued benefits will be determined as of the
most recent Valuation Date that falls within or ends with the 12-month
period ending on the Determination Date, except as provided in Code
Section 416 and the regulations thereunder for the first and second
plan years of a Defined Benefit Plan. The account balances and accrued
benefits of a participant (1) who is not a Key Employee but who was a
Key Employee in a prior year, or (2) who has not been credited with at
least one hour of service with any Employer maintaining the Plan at any
time during the 5-year period ending on the Determination Date, will be
disregarded. The calculation of the Top-Heavy Ratio, and the extent to
which distributions, rollovers, and transfers are taken into account
will be made in accordance with Code Section 416 and the regulations
thereunder. Qualified Voluntary Employee Contributions will not be
taken into account for purposes of computing the Top-Heavy Ratio. When
aggregating plans the value of account balances and accrued benefits
will be calculated with reference to the Determination Dates that fall
within the same calendar year. The accrued benefit of a Participant
other than a Key Employee shall be determined under (1) the method, if
any, that uniformly applies for accrual purposes under all Defined
Benefit Plans maintained by the Employer, or (2) if there is no such
method, as if such benefit accrued not more rapidly than the slowest
accrual rate permitted under the fractional rule of Code Section
411(b)(1)(C).
1.83 Top-Paid Group The group consisting of the top 20% of Employees when
ranked on the basis of Compensation paid during such year. For purposes of
determining the number of Employees in the group (but not who is in it), the
following Employees shall be excluded:
(a) Employees who have not completed 6 months of Service.
(b) Employees who normally work less than 17-1/2 hours per week.
(c) Employees who normally do not work more than 6 months during any year.
(d) Employees who have not attained age 21.
(e) Employees included in a collective bargaining unit, covered by an
agreement between employee representatives and the Employer, where
retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining and
provided that 90% or more of the Employer's Employees are covered by
the agreement.
(f) Employees who are nonresident aliens and who receive no earned income
which constitutes income from sources within the United States.
1.84 Transfer Contribution A non-taxable transfer of a Participant's
benefit directly from a Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan to this Plan.
1.85 Trustee The Sponsor of this Prototype or the individual(s) appointed
by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
1.86 Valuation Date The last day of the Plan Year or such other date
as agreed to by the Employer and the Trustee/Custodian on which Participant
accounts are revalued in accordance with Article V hereof for Top-Heavy
purposes, the date selected by the Employer as of which the Top-Heavy Ratio
is calculated.
1.87 Vested Account Balance The aggregate value of the Participant's
Vested Account Balances derived from Employer and Employee contributions
(including Rollovers), whether vested before or upon death, including the
proceeds of insurance contracts, if any, on the Participant's life. The
provisions of Article VII shall apply to a Participant who is vested in amounts
attributable to Employer contributions, Employee contributions (or both) at the
time of death or distribution.
1.88 Voluntary Contribution An Employee contribution made to the Plan by
or on behalf of a Participant that is included in the Participant's gross income
in the year in which made and that is maintained under a separate account to
which earnings and losses are allocated.
1.89 Welfare Benefit Fund Any fund that is part of a plan of the Employer,
or has the effect of a plan, through which the Employer provides welfare
benefits to Employees or their beneficiaries. For these purposes, Welfare
Benefits means any benefit other than those with respect to which Code Section
83(h) (relating to transfers of property in connection with the performance of
services), Code Section 404 (relating to deductions for contributions to an
Employee's trust or annuity and Compensation under a deferred payment plan),
Code Section 404A (relating to certain foreign deferred compensation plans)
apply. A "Fund" is any social club, voluntary employee benefit association,
supplemental unemployment benefit trust or qualified group legal service
organization described in Code Section 501(c)(7), (9), (17) or (20); any trust,
corporation, or other organization not exempt from income tax, or to the extent
provided in regulations, any account held for an Employer by any person.
1.90 Year Of Service A 12-consecutive month period during which an
Employee is credited with not less than 1,000 (or such lesser number as
specified by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement) Hours of Service.
ARTICLE II
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Participation Employees who meet the eligibility requirements in the
Adoption Agreement on the Effective Date of the Plan shall become Participants
as of the Effective Date of the Plan. If so elected in the Adoption Agreement,
all Employees employed on the Effective Date of the Plan may participate, even
if they have not satisfied the Plan's specified eligibility requirements.
Other Employees shall become Participants on the Entry Date coinciding with or
immediately following the date on which they meet the eligibility requirements.
The Employee must satisfy the eligibility requirements specified in the Adoption
Agreement and be employed on the Entry Date to become a Participant in the Plan.
In the event an Employee who is not a member of the eligible class of Employees
becomes a member of the eligible class, such Employee shall participate immed-
iately if such Employee has satisfied the minimum age and service requirements
and would have previously become a Participant had he or she been in the
eligible class. A former Participant shall again become a Participant upon
returning to the employ of the Employer at the next Entry Date or if earlier,
the next Valuation Date. For this purpose, Participant's Compensation and
Service shall be considered from date of rehire.
2.2 Change In Classification Of Employment In the event a Participant
becomes ineligible to participate because he or she is no longer a member of an
eligible class of Employees, such Employee shall participate upon his or her
return to an eligible class of Employees.
2.3 Computation Period To determine Years of Service and Breaks in
Service for purposes of eligibility, the 12-consecutive month period shall
commence on the date on which an Employee first performs an Hour of Service for
the Employer and each anniversary thereof, such that the succeeding 12-
consecutive month period commences with the employee's first anniversary of
employment and so on. If, however, the period so specified is one year or less,
the succeeding 12-consecutive month period shall commence on the first day of
the Plan Year prior to the anniversary of the date they first performed an Hour
of Service regardless of whether the Employee is entitled to be credited with
1,000 (or such lesser number as specified by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement) Hours of Service during their first employment year.
2.4 Employment Rights Participation in the Plan shall not confer upon a
Participant any employment rights, nor shall it interfere with the Employer's
right to terminate the employment of any Employee at any time.
2.5 Service With Controlled Groups All Years of Service with other
members of a controlled group of corporations [as defined in Code Section
414(b)], trades or businesses under common control [as defined in Code Section
414(c)], or members of an affiliated service group [as defined in Code Section
414(m)] shall be credited for purposes of determining an Employee's eligibility
to participate.
2.6 Owner-Employees If this Plan provides contributions or benefits for
one or more Owner-Employees who control both the business for which this Plan is
established and one or more other trades or businesses, this Plan and the Plan
established for other trades or businesses must, when looked at as a single
Plan, satisfy Code Sections 401(a) and (d) for the Employees of this and all
other trades or businesses.
If the Plan provides contributions or benefits for one or more Owner-Employees
who control one or more other trades or businesses, the Employees of the other
trades or businesses must be included in a Plan which satisfies Code Sections
401(a) and (d) and which provides contributions and benefits not less favorable
than provided for Owner-Employees under this Plan.
If an individual is covered as an Owner-Employee under the plans of two or more
trades or businesses which are not controlled, and the individual controls a
trade or business, then the contributions or benefits of the Employees under the
plan of the trades or businesses which are controlled must be as favorable as
those provided for him or her under the most favorable plan of the trade or
business which is not controlled.
For purposes of the preceding sentences, an Owner-Employee, or two or more
Owner-Employees, will be considered to control a trade or business if the Owner-
Employee, or two or more Owner-Employees together:
(a) own the entire interest in an unincorporated trade or business, or
(b) in the case of a partnership, own more than 50% of either the capital
interest or the profits interest in the partnership.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, an Owner-Employee, or two or more Owner-
Employees shall be treated as owning any interest in a partnership which is
owned, directly or indirectly, by a partnership which such Owner-Employee, or
such two or more Owner-Employees, are considered to control within the meaning
of the preceding sentence.
2.7 Leased Employees Any Leased Employee shall be treated as an Employee
of the recipient Employer; however, contributions or benefits provided by the
leasing organization which are attributable to services performed for the
recipient Employer shall be treated as provided by the recipient Employer. A
Leased Employee shall not be considered an Employee of the recipient if such
Employee is covered by a money purchase pension plan providing:
(a) a non-integrated Employer contribution rate of at least 10% of
Compensation, [as defined in Code Section 415(c)(3) but including
amounts contributed by the Employer pursuant to a salary reduction
agreement, which are excludable from the Employee's gross income
under a cafeteria plan covered by Code Section 125, a cash or
deferred profit-sharing plan under Section 401(k) of the Code, a
Simplified Employee Pension Plan under Code Section 402(h)(1)(B)
and a tax-sheltered annuity under Code Section 403(b)],
(b) immediate participation, and
(c) full and immediate vesting.
This exclusion is only available if Leased Employees do not constitute more than
twenty percent (20%) of the recipient's non-highly compensated work force.
2.8 Thrift Plans If the Employer makes an election in the Adoption
Agreement to require Voluntary Contributions to participate in this Plan, the
Employer shall notify each eligible Employee in writing of his or her
eligibility for participation at least 30 days prior to the appropriate Entry
Date. The Employee shall indicate his or her intention to join the Plan by
authorizing the Employer to withhold a percentage of his or her Compensation as
provided in the Plan. Such authorization shall be returned to the Employer at
least 10 days prior to the Employee's Entry Date. The Employee may decline
participation by so indicating on the enrollment form or by failure to return
the enrollment form to the Employer prior to the Employee's Entry Date. If the
Employee declines to participate, such Employee shall be given the opportunity
to join the Plan on the next Entry Date. The taking of a Hardship Withdrawal
under the provisions of paragraph 6.9 will impact the Participant's ability
to make these contributions.
ARTICLE III
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Amount The Employer intends to make periodic contributions to the
Plan in accordance with the formula or formulas selected in the Adoption
Agreement. However, the Employer's contribution for any Plan Year shall be
subject to the limitations on allocations contained in Article X.
3.2 Expenses And Fees The Employer shall also be authorized to reimburse
the Fund for all expenses and fees incurred in the administration of the Plan or
Trust/Custodial Account and paid out of the assets of the Fund. Such expenses
shall include, but shall not be limited to, fees for professional services,
printing and postage. Brokerage commissions may not be reimbursed.
3.3 Responsibility For Contributions Neither the Trustee/Custodian nor
the Sponsor shall be required to determine if the Employer has made a
contribution or if the amount contributed is in accordance with the Adoption
Agreement or the Code. The Employer shall have sole responsibility in this
regard. The Trustee/Custodian shall be accountable solely for contributions
actually received by it, within the limits of Article XI.
3.4 Return Of Contributions Contributions made to the Fund by the
Employer shall be irrevocable except as provided below:
(a) Any contribution forwarded to the Trustee/Custodian because of a
mistake of fact, provided that the contribution is returned to the
Employer within one year of the contribution.
(b) In the event that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue determines
that the Plan is not initially qualified under the Internal Revenue
Code, any contribution made incident to that initial qualification
by the Employer must be returned to the Employer within one year
after the date the initial qualification is denied, but only if the
application for the qualification is made by the time prescribed by
law for filing the Employer's return for the taxable year in which
the Plan is adopted, or such later date as the Secretary of the
Treasury may prescribe.
(c) Contributions forwarded to the Trustee/Custodian are presumed to be
deductible and are conditioned on their deductibility. Contributions
which are determined to not be deductible will be returned to the
Employer.
ARTICLE IV
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Voluntary Contributions An Employee may make Voluntary Contributions
to the Plan established hereunder if so authorized by the Employer in a uniform
and nondiscriminatory manner. Such contributions are subject to the limitations
on Annual Additions and are subject to antidiscrimination testing.
4.2 Qualified Voluntary Contributions A Participant may no longer make
Qualified Voluntary Contributions to the Plan. Amounts already contributed may
remain in the Trust Fund/Custodial Account until distributed to the Participant.
Such amounts will be maintained in a separate account which will be
nonforfeitable at all times. The account will share in the gains and losses of
the Trust in the same manner as described at paragraph 5.4 of the Plan. No part
of the Qualified Voluntary Contribution account will be used to purchase life
insurance. Subject to Article VIII, Joint and Survivor Annuity Requirements (if
applicable), the Participant may withdraw any part of the Qualified Voluntary
Contribution account by making a written application to the Plan Administrator.
4.3 Rollover Contribution Unless provided otherwise in the Adoption Agree-
ment, a Participant may make a Rollover Contribution to any Defined Contribution
Plan established hereunder of all or any part of an amount distributed or dis-
tributable to him or her from a Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan provided:
(a) the amount distributed to the Participant is deposited to the Plan no
later than the sixtieth day after such distribution was received by the
Participant,
(b) the amount distributed is not one of a series of substantially equal
periodic payments made for the life (or life expectancy) of the
Participant or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the
Participant and the Participant's Designated Beneficiary, or for a
specified period of ten years or more;
(c) the amount distributed is not required under Code Section 401(a)(9);
(d) if the amount distributed included property such property is rolled
over, or if sold the proceeds of such property may be rolled over,
(e) the amount distributed is not includible in gross income (determined
without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with
respect to employer securities).
In addition, if the Adoption Agreement allows Rollover Contributions, the Plan
will also accept any Eligible Rollover Distribution (as defined at paragraph
1.70) directly to the Plan.
Rollover Contributions, which relate to distributions prior to January 1, 1993,
must be made in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (e) and additionally meet
the requirements of paragraph (f):
(f) The distribution from the Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
constituted the Participant's entire interest in such Plan and was
distributed within one taxable year to the Participant:
(1) on account of separation from Service, a Plan termination, or in
the case of a profit-sharing or stock bonus plan, a complete
discontinuance of contributions under such plan within the meaning
of Code Section 402(a)(6)(A), or
(2) in one or more distributions which constitute a qualified lump sum
distribution within the meaning of Code Section 402(e)(4)(A),
determined without reference to subparagraphs (B) and (H).
Such Rollover Contribution may also be made through an individual retirement
account qualified under Code Section 408 where the IRA was used as a conduit
from the Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, the Rollover Contribution is made
in accordance with the rules provided under paragraphs (a) through (e) and the
Rollover Contribution does not include any regular IRA contributions, or
earnings thereon, which the Participant may have made to the IRA. Rollover
Contributions, which relate to distributions prior to January 1, 1993, may be
made through an IRA in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (f) and additional
requirements as provided in the previous sentence. The Trustee/Custodian shall
not be held responsible for determining the tax-free status of any Rollover
Contribution made under this Plan.
4.4 Transfer Contribution Unless provided otherwise in the Adoption
Agreement a Participant may, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4.5, also
arrange for the direct transfer of his or her benefit from a Qualified Deferred
Compensation Plan to this Plan. For accounting and record keeping purposes,
Transfer Contributions shall be treated in the same manner as Rollover
Contributions.
In the event the Employer accepts a Transfer Contribution from a Plan in which
the Employee was directing the investments of his or her account, the Employer
may continue to permit the Employee to direct his or her investments in
accordance with paragraph 13.7 with respect only to such Transfer Contribution.
Notwithstanding the above, the Employer may refuse to accept such Transfer
Contributions.
4.5 Employer Approval Of Transfer Contributions The Employer maintaining
a Safe-Harbor Profit-Sharing Plan in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
8.7, acting in a nondiscriminatory manner, may in its sole discretion refuse to
allow Transfer Contributions to its profit-sharing plan, if such contributions
are directly or indirectly being transferred from a defined benefit plan, a
money purchase pension plan (including a target benefit plan), a stock bonus
plan, or another profit-sharing plan which would otherwise provide for a life
annuity form of payment to the Participant.
4.6 Elective Deferrals A Participant may enter into a Salary Savings
Agreement with the Employer authorizing the Employer to withhold a portion of
such Participant's Compensation not to exceed $7,000 per calendar year as
adjusted under Code Section 415(d) or, if lesser, the percentage of Compensation
specified in the Adoption Agreement and to deposit such amount to the Plan. No
Participant shall be permitted to have Elective Deferrals made under this Plan
or any other qualified plan maintained by the Employer, during any taxable year,
in excess of the dollar limitation contained in Code Section 402(g) in effect at
the beginning of such taxable year. Thus, the $7,000 limit may be reduced if a
Participant contributes pre-tax contributions to qualified plans of this or
other Employers. Any such contribution shall be credited to the Employee's
Salary Savings Account. Unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agreement, a
Participant may amend his or her Salary Savings Agreement to increase, decrease
or terminate the percentage upon 30 days written notice to the Employer. If a
Participant terminates his or her agreement, such Participant shall not be
permitted to put a new Salary Savings Agreement into effect until the first pay
period in the next Plan Year, unless otherwise stated in the Adoption Agreement.
The Employer may also amend or terminate said agreement on written notice to the
Participant. If a Participant has not authorized the Employer to withhold at
the maximum rate and desires to increase the total withheld for a Plan Year,
such Participant may authorize the Employer upon 30 days notice to withhold a
supplemental amount up to 100% of his or her Compensation for one or more pay
periods. In no event may the sum of the amounts withheld under the Salary
Savings Agreement plus the supplemental withholding exceed 25% of a Partici-
pant's Compensation for a Plan Year. The Employer may also recharacterize as
after-tax Voluntary Contributions all or any portion of amounts previously
withheld under any Salary Savings Agreement within the Plan Year as provided for
at paragraph 10.9. This may be done to insure that the Plan will meet one of
the antidiscrimination tests under Code Section 401(k). Elective Deferrals
shall be deposited in the Trust within 30 days after being withheld from the
Participant's pay.
4.7 Required Voluntary Contributions If the Employer makes a thrift
election in the Adoption Agreement, each eligible Participant shall be required
to make Voluntary Contributions to the Plan for credit to his or her account as
provided in the Adoption Agreement. Such Voluntary Contributions shall be with-
held from the Employee's Compensation and shall be transmitted by the Employer
to the Trustee/Custodian as agreed between the Employer and Trustee/Custodian.
A Participant may discontinue participation or change his or her Voluntary
Contribution percentage by so advising the Employer at least 10 days prior to
the date on which such discontinuance or change is to be effective. If a
Participant discontinues his or her Voluntary Contributions, such Participant
may not again authorize Voluntary Contributions for a period of one year from
the date of discontinuance. A Participant may voluntarily change his or her
Voluntary Contribution percentage once during any Plan Year and may also agree
to have a reduction in his or her contribution, if required to satisfy the
requirements of the ACP test.
4.8 Direct Rollover of Benefits Notwithstanding any provision of the
Plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a Participant's election under
this paragraph, for distributions made on or after January 1, 1993, a
Participant may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan
Administrator, to have any portion of an Eligible Rollover Distribution paid
directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Participant in a Direct
Rollover. Any portion of a distribution which is not paid directly to an
Eligible Retirement Plan shall be distributed to the Participant. For purposes
of this paragraph, a Surviving Spouse or a Spouse or former Spouse who is an
alternate payee under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order as defined in Code
Section 414(p), will be permitted to elect to have any Eligible Rollover
Distribution paid directly to an individual retirement account (IRA) or an
individual retirement annuity (IRA).
The plan provisions otherwise applicable to distributions continue to apply to
Rollover and Transfer Contributions.
ARTICLE V
PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS
5.1 Separate Accounts The Employer shall establish a separate bookkeeping
account for each Participant showing the total value of his or her interest in
the Fund. Each Participant's account shall be separated for bookkeeping
purposes into the following sub-accounts:
(a) Employer contributions.
(1) Matching Contributions.
(2) Qualified Matching Contributions.
(3) Qualified Non-Elective Contributions.
(4) Discretionary Contributions.
(5) Elective Deferrals.
(b) Voluntary Contributions (and additional amounts including required
contributions and, if applicable, either repayments of loans previously
defaulted on and treated as "deemed distributions" on which a tax report has
been issued, which a tax report has been issued, and amounts paid out upon a
separation from service which have been included in income and which are repaid
after being re-hired by the Employer).
(c) Qualified Voluntary Contributions (if the Plan previously accepted
these).
(d) Rollover Contributions and Transfer Contributions.
5.2 Adjustments To Participant Accounts As of each Valuation Date of the
Plan, the Employer shall add to each account:
(a) the Participant's share of the Employer's contribution and forfeitures
as determined in the Adoption Agreement,
(b) any Elective Deferrals, Voluntary, Rollover or Transfer Contributions
made by the Participant,
(c) any repayment of amounts previously paid out to a Participant upon a
separation from Service and repaid by the Participant since the last
Valuation Date, and
(d) the Participant's proportionate share of any investment earnings and
increase in the fair market value of the Fund since the last Valuation
Date, as determined at paragraph 5.4.
The Employer shall deduct from each account:
(e) any withdrawals or payments made from the Participant's account since
the last Valuation Date, and
(f) the Participant's proportionate share of any decrease in the fair
market value of the Fund since the last Valuation Date, as determined
at paragraph 5.4.
5.3 Allocating Employer Contributions The Employer's contribution shall be
allocated to Participants in accordance with the allocation formula selected by
the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, and the minimum contribution and allo-
cation requirements for Top-Heavy Plans. Beginning with the 1990 Plan Year and
thereafter, for plans on Standardized Adoption Agreement 001, Particpants who
are credited with more than 500 Hours of Service or are employed on the last day
of the Plan Year must receive a full allocation of Employer contributions. In
Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement 002, Employer contributions shall be allo-
cated to the accounts of Participants employed by the Employer on the last day
of the Plan Year unless indicated otherwise in the Adoption Agreement. In the
case of a non-Top-Heavy, Nonstandardized Plan, Participants must also have
completed a Year of Service unless otherwise specified in the Adoption Agree-
ment. For Nonstandardized Adoption Agreement 002, the Employer may only apply
the last day of the Plan Year and Year of Service requirements if the Plan
satisfies the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(26) and 410(b) and the
regulations thereunder including the exception for 401(k) plans. If, when
applying the last day and Year of Service requirements, the Plan fails to
satisfy the aforementioned requirements, additional Participants will be
eligible to receive an allocation of Employer contributions until the require-
ments are satisfied. Participants who are credited with a Year of Service, but
not employed at Plan Year end, are the first category of additional Participants
eligible to receive an allocation. If the requirements are still not satisfied,
Participants credited with more than 500 Hours of Service and employed at Plan
Year end are the next category of Participants eligible to receive an allo-
cation. Finally, if necessary to satisfy the said requirements, any Participant
credited with more than 500 Hours of Service will be eligible for an allocation
of Employer Contributions. The Service requirement is not applicable with
respect to any Plan Year during which the Employer's Plan is Top-Heavy.
5.4 Allocating Investment Earnings And Losses A Participant's share of
investment earnings and any increase or decrease in the fair market value of the
Fund shall be based on the proportionate value of all active accounts (other
than accounts with segregated investments) as of the last Valuation Date less
withdrawals since the last Valuation Date. If Employer contributions are made
monthly, made monthly, quarterly, or on some other systematic basis, the
adjusted value of such accounts for allocation of investment income and gains or
losses shall include one-half the Employer contributions for such period. If
contributions are not made on a systematic basis, it is assumed that they are
made at the end of the valuation period and therefore will not receive an
allocation of investment earnings and gains or losses for such period. Account
balances not yet forfeited shall receive an allocation of earnings and/or
losses. Accounts with segregated investments shall receive only the income or
loss on such segregated investments.
5.5 Participant Statements Upon completing the allocations described above
for the Valuation Date coinciding with the end of the Plan Year, the Employer
shall prepare a statement for each Participant showing the additions to and
subtractions from his or her account since the last such statement and the fair
market value of his or her account as of the current Valuation Date. Employers
so choosing may prepare Participant statements for each Valuation Date.
ARTICLE VI
RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Normal Retirement Benefits A Participant shall be entitled to receive
the balance held in his or her account from Employer contributions upon
attaining Normal Retirement Age or at such earlier dates as the provisions of
this Article VI may allow. If the Participant elects to continue working past
his or her Normal Retirement Age, he or she will continue as an active Plan
Participant and no distribution shall be made to such Participant until his or
her actual retirement date unless the employer elects otherwise in the Adoption
Agreement, or a minimum distribution is required by law. Settlement shall be
made in the normal form, or if elected, in one of the optional forms of payment
provided below.
6.2 Early Retirement Benefits If the Employer so provides in the Adoption
Agreement, an Early Retirement Benefit will be available to individuals who meet
the age and Service requirements. An individual who meets the Early Retirement
Age requirements and requirements and separates from Service, will become fully
vested, regardless of any vesting schedule which otherwise might apply. If a
Participant separates from Service before satisfying the age requirements, but
after having satisfied the Service requirement, the Participant will be entitled
to elect an Early Retirement benefit upon satisfaction of the age requirement.
6.3 Benefits On Termination Of Employment
(a) If a Participant terminates employment prior to Normal Retirement Age,
such Participant shall be entitled to receive the vested balance held
in his or her account payable at Normal Retirement Age in the normal
form, or if elected, in one of the optional forms of payment provided
hereunder. If applicable, the Early Retirement Benefit provisions may
be elected. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a former Partic-
ipant may, if allowed in the Adoption Agreement, make application to
the Employer requesting early payment of any deferred vested and
nonforfeitable benefit due.
(b) If a Participant terminates employment, and the value of that Partici-
pant's Vested Account Balance derived from Employer and Employee
contributions is not greater than $3,500, the Participant may receive
a lump sum distribution of the value of the entire vested portion of
such account balance and the non-vested portion will be treated as a
forfeiture. The Employer shall continue to follow their consistent
policy, as may be established, regarding immediate cash-outs of Vested
Account Balances of $3,500 or less. For purposes of this Article, if
the value of a Participant's Vested Account Balance is zero, the
Participant shall be deemed to have received a distribution of such
Vested Account Balance immediately following termination. Likewise, if
the Participant is reemployed prior to incurring 5 consecutive 1-year
Breaks in Service they will be deemed to have immediately repaid such
distribution. For Plan Years beginning prior to 1989, a Participant's
Vested Account Balance shall not include Qualified Voluntary Contri-
butions. Notwithstanding the above, if the Employer maintains or has
maintained a policy of not distributing any amounts until the Partici-
pant's Normal Retirement Age, the Employer can continue to uniformly
apply such policy.
(c) If a Participant terminates employment with a Vested Account Balance
derived from Employer and Employee contributions in excess of $3,500,
and elects (with his or her Spouse's consent, if required) to receive
100% of the value of his or her Vested Account Balance in a lump sum,
the non-vested portion will be treated as a forfeiture. The Partici-
pant (and his or her Spouse, if required) must consent to any distri-
bution, when the Vested Account Balance described above exceeds $3,500
or if at the time of any prior distribution it exceeded $3,500. For
purposes of this paragraph, for Plan Years beginning prior to 1989, a
Participant's Vested Account Balance shall not include Qualified
Voluntary Contributions.
(d) Distribution of less than 100% of the Participant's Vested Account
Balance shall only be permitted if the Participant is fully vested
upon termination of employment.
(e) If a Participant who is not 100% vested receives or is deemed to
receive a distribution pursuant to this paragraph and resumes
employment covered under this Plan, the Participant shall have the
right to repay to the Plan the full amount of the distribution
attributable to Employer contributions on or before the earlier of
the date that the Participant incurs 5 consecutive 1-year Breaks in
Service following the date of distribution or five years after the
first date on which the Participant is subsequently reemployed. In
such event, the Participant's account shall be restored to the value
thereof at the time the distribution was made and may further be
increased by the Plan's income and investment gains and/or losses
on the undistributed amount from the date of distribution to the date
of repayment.
(f) A Participant shall also have the option, to postpone payment of his or
her Plan benefits until the first day of April following the calendar
year in which he or she attains age 70-1/2. Any balance of a Partici-
pant's account resulting from his or her Employee contributions not
previously withdrawn, if any, may be withdrawn by the Participant
immediately following separation from Service.
(g) If a Participant ceases to be an active Employee as a result of a
Disability as defined at paragraph 1.21, such Participant shall be able
to make an application for a disability retirement benefit payment.
The Participant's account balance will be deemed "immediately
distributable" as set forth in paragraph 6.4, and will be fully vested
pursuant to paragraph 9.2.
6.4 Restrictions On Immediate Distributions
(a) An account balance is immediately distributable if any part of the
account balance could be distributed to the Participant (or Surviving
Spouse) before the Participant attains (or would have attained if not
deceased) the later of the Normal Retirement Age or age 62.
(b) If the value of a Participant's Vested Account Balance derived from
Employer and Employee Contributions exceeds (or at the time of any
prior distribution exceeded) $3,500, and the account balance is
immediately distributable, the Participant and his or her Spouse (or
where either the Participant or the Spouse has died, the survivor) must
consent to any distribution of such account balance. The consent of
the Participant and the Spouse shall be obtained in writing within
the 90-day period ending on the annuity starting date, which is the
first day of the first period for which an amount is paid as an annuity
or any other form. The Plan Administrator shall notify the Participant
and the Participant's Spouse of the right to defer any distribution
until the Participant's account balance is no longer immediately
distributable. Such notification shall include a general description
of the material features, and an explanation of the relative values of,
the optional forms of benefit available under the plan in a manner that
would satisfy the notice requirements of Code Section 417(a)(3), and
shall be provided no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days prior
to the annuity starting date.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Participant need consent to
the commencement of a distribution in the form of a qualified Joint
and Survivor Annuity while the account balance is immediately
distributable. Furthermore, if payment in the form of a Qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity is not required with respect to the
Participant pursuant to paragraph 8.7 of the Plan, only the Participant
need consent to the distribution of an account balance that is
immediately distributable. Neither the consent of the Participant nor
the Participant's Spouse shall be required to the extent that a
distribution is required to satisfy Code Section 401(a)(9) or Code
Section 415. In addition, upon termination of this Plan if the Plan
does not offer an annuity option (purchased from a commercial
provider), the Participant's account balance may, without the Partici-
pant's consent, be distributed to the Participant or transferred to
another Defined Contribution Plan [other than an employee stock
ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7)] within the same
controlled group.
(d) For purposes of determining the applicability of the foregoing consent
requirements to distributions made before the first day of the first
Plan Year beginning after 1988, the Participant's Vested Account
Balance shall not include amounts attributable to Qualified Voluntary
Contributions.
6.5 Normal Form Of Payment The normal form of payment for a profit-sharing
plan satisfying the requirements of paragraph 8.7 hereof shall be a lump sum
with no option for annuity payments. For all other plans, the normal form of
payment hereunder shall be a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity as provided
under Article VIII. A Participant whose Vested Account Balance derived from
Employer and Employee contributions exceeds $3,500, or if at the time of any
prior distribution it exceeded $3,500, shall (with the consent of his or her
Spouse) have the right to receive his or her benefit in a lump sum or in
monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments from the Fund over any period
not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Participant and his or her
Beneficiary. For purposes of this paragraph, for Plan Years prior to 1989, a
Participant's Vested Account Balance shall not include Qualified Voluntary
Contributions. The normal form of payment shall be automatic, unless the
Participant files a written request with the Employer prior to the date on which
the benefit is automatically payable, electing a lump sum or installment payment
option. No amendment to the Plan may eliminate one of the optional distribution
forms listed above.
6.6 Commencement Of Benefits
(a) Unless the Participant elects otherwise, distribution of benefits will
begin no later than the 60th day after the close of the Plan Year in
which the latest of the following events occurs:
(1) the Participant attains age 65 (or normal retirement age if
earlier),
(2) the 10th anniversary of the year in which the Participant
commenced participation in the Plan, or
(3) the Participant terminates Service with the Employer.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a Participant and Spouse
(if necessary) to consent to a distribution while a benefit is
immediately distributable, within the meaning of paragraph 6.4 hereof,
shall be deemed an election to defer commencement of payment of any
benefit sufficient to satisfy this paragraph.
6.7 Claims Procedures Upon retirement, death, or other severance of employ-
ment, the Participant or his or her representative may make application to the
Employer requesting payment of benefits due and the manner of payment. If no
application for benefits is made, the Employer shall automatically pay any
vested benefit due hereunder in the normal form at the time prescribed at
paragraph 6.4. If an application for benefits is made, the Employer shall
accept, reject, or modify such request and shall notify the Participant in
writing setting forth the response of the Employer and in the case of a denial
or modification the Employer shall:
(a) state the specific reason or reasons for the denial,
(b) provide specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
denial is based,
(c) provide a description of any additional material or information
necessary for the Participant or his representative to perfect the
claim and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary, and
(d) explain the Plan's claim review procedure as contained in this Plan.
In the event the request is rejected or modified, the Participant or his or her
representative may within 60 days following receipt by the Participant or
representative of such rejection or modification, submit a written request for
review by the Employer of its initial decision. Within 60 days following such
request for review, the Employer shall render its final decision in writing to
the Participant or representative stating specific reasons for such decision. If
the Participant or representative is not satisfied with the Employer's final
decision, the Participant or representative can institute an action in a federal
court of competent jurisdiction; for this purpose, process would be served on
the Employer.
6.8 In-Service Withdrawals An Employee may withdraw all or any part of the
fair market value of his or her Mandatory Contributions, Voluntary Contri-
butions, Qualified Voluntary Contributions or Rollover Contributions, upon
written request to the Employer. Transfer Contributions, which originate from a
Plan meeting the safe-harbor provisions of paragraph 8.7, may also be withdrawn
by an Employee upon written request to the Employer. Transfer Contributions not
meeting the safe-harbor provisions may only be withdrawn upon retirement, death,
Disability, termination or termination of the Plan, and will be subject to
Spousal consent requirements contained in Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417. No
such withdrawals are permitted from a money purchase plan until the participant
reaches Normal Retirement Age. Such request shall include the Employee's
address, social security number, birthdate, and amount of the withdrawal. If at
the time a distribution of Qualified Voluntary Contributions is received the
Participant has not attained age 59-1/2 and is not disabled, as defined at Code
Section 22(e)(3), the Participant will be subject to a federal income tax
penalty, unless the distribution is rolled over to a qualified plan or individ-
ual retirement plan within 60 days of the date of distribution. A Participant
may withdraw all or any part of the fair market value of his or her pre-1987
Voluntary Contributions with or without withdrawing the earnings attributable
thereto. Post-1986 Voluntary Contributions may only be withdrawn along with a
portion of the earnings thereon. The amount of the earnings to be withdrawn is
determined by using the formula: DA [1-(V + V+E)], where DA is the distribution
amount, V is the amount of Voluntary Contributions and V+E is the amount of
Voluntary Contributions plus the earnings attributable thereto. A Participant
withdrawing his or her other contributions prior to attaining age 59-1/2, will
be subject to a federal tax penalty to the extent that the withdrawn amounts are
includible in income. Unless the Employer provides otherwise in the Adoption
Agreement, any Participant in a profit-sharing plan who is 100% fully vested in
his or her Employer contributions may withdraw all or any part of the fair
market value of any of such contributions that have been in the account at least
two years, plus the investment earnings thereon, after attaining 59-1/2 without
separation from Service. Such Employer contributions may not have been used to
satisfy the antidiscrimination test of Code Section 401(k). Such distributions
shall not be eligible for redeposit to the Fund. A withdrawal under this para-
graph shall not prohibit such Participant from sharing in any future Employer
Contribution he or she would otherwise be eligible to share in. A request to
withdraw amounts pursuant to this paragraph must if applicable, be consented to
by the Participant's Spouse. The consent shall comply with the requirements of
paragraph 6.4 relating to immediate distributions. Elective Deferrals,
Qualified Non-elective Contributions, and Qualified Matching Contributions, and
income allocable to each are not distributable to a Participant or his or her
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, in accordance with such Participant's or
Beneficiary's or Beneficiaries' election, earlier than upon separation from
Service, Death, or Disability. Such amounts may also be distributed upon:
(a) Termination of the Plan without the establishment of another Defined
Contribution Plan.
(b) The disposition by a corporation to an unrelated corporation of
substantially all of the assets [within the meaning of Code Section
409(d)(2)] used in a trade or business of such corporation if such
corporation continues to maintain this Plan after the disposition, but
only with respect to Employees who continue employment with the
corporation acquiring such assets.
(c) The disposition by a corporation to an unrelated entity of such
corporation's interest in a subsidiary [within the meaning of Code
Section 409(d)(3)] if such corporation continues to maintain this
plan, but only with respect to Employees who continue employment with
such subsidiary.
(d) The attainment of age 59-1/2.
(e) The Hardship of the Participant as described in paragraph 6.9.
All distributions that may be made pursuant to one or more of the foregoing
distributable events are subject to the Spousal and Participant consent require-
ments, if applicable, contained in Code Sections 401(a)(11) and 417.
6.9 Hardship Withdrawal If permitted by the Trustee/Custodian and the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may request a Hardship
withdrawal prior to attaining age 59-1/2. If the Participant has not attained
age 59-1/2, the Participant may be subject to a federal income tax penalty.
Such request shall be in writing to the Employer who shall have sole authority
to authorize a hardship withdrawal pursuant to the rules below. Hardship
withdrawals may include Elective Deferrals regardless of when contributed and
any earnings accrued and credited thereon as of the last day of the Plan Year
ending before July 1, 1989 and Employer related contributions, including but not
limited to Employer Matching Contributions, plus the investment earnings thereon
to the extent vested. Qualified Matching Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions and Elective Deferrals reclassified as Voluntary Contributions
plus the investment earnings thereon are only available for Hardship withdrawal
prior to age 59-1/2 to the extent that they were credited to the Participant's
Account as of the last day of the Plan Year ending prior to July 1, 1989. The
Plan Administrator may limit withdrawals to Elective Deferrals and the earnings
thereon as stipulated above. Hardship withdrawals are subject to the Spousal
consent requirements contained in Code Sections 401(a)(11) and 417. Only the
following reasons are valid to obtain hardship withdrawal:
(a) medical expenses [within the meaning of Code Section 213(d)], incurred
or necessary for the medical care, of the Participant, his or her
Spouse, children and other dependents,
(b) the purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of the principal residence
for the Participant,
(c) payment of tuition and related educational expenses for the next twelve
(12) months of post-secondary education for the Participant, his or her
Spouse, children or other dependents, or
(d) the need to prevent eviction of the Employee from or a foreclosure on
the mortgage of, the Employee's principal residence.
Furthermore, the following conditions must be met in order for a withdrawal to
be authorized:
(e) the Participant has obtained all distributions, other than hardship
distributions, and all nontaxable loans under all plans maintained by
the Employer,
(f) all plans maintained by the Employer provide that the Employee's
Elective Deferrals and Voluntary Contributions will be suspended for
twelve months after the receipt of the Hardship distribution,
(g) the distribution is not in excess of the amount of the immediate and
heavy financial need [(a) through (d)] above, and
(h) all plans maintained by the Employer provide that an Employee may not
make Elective Deferrals for the Employee's taxable year immediately
following the taxable year of the hardship distribution in excess of
the applicable limit under Code Section 402(g) for such taxable year,
less the amount of such Employee's pre-tax contributions for the
taxable year of the hardship distribution.
If a distribution is made at a time when a Participant has a nonforfeitable
right to less than 100% of the account balance derived from Employer
contributions and the Participant may increase the nonforfeitable percentage in
the account:
(a) A separate account will be established for the Participant's interest
in the Plan as of the time of the distribution, and
(b) At any relevant time the Participant's nonforfeitable portion of the
separate account will be equal to an amount ("X") determined by the
formula:
X = P [AB + (R X D)] - (R X D)
For purposes of applying the formula: "P" is the nonforfeitable percentage at
the relevant time, "AB" is the account balance at the relevant time, "D" is the
amount of the distribution and "R" is the ratio of the account balance at the
relevant time to the account balance after distribution.
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 Joint And Survivor Annuity Requirements All distributions made under
the terms of this Plan must comply with the provisions of Article VIII
including, if applicable, the safe harbor provisions thereunder.
7.2 Minimum Distribution Requirements All distributions required under this
Article shall be determined and made in accordance with the minimum distribution
requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder, including
the minimum distribution incidental benefit rules found at Regulations Section
1.401(a)(9)-2. The entire interest of a Participant must be distributed or begin
to be distributed no later than the Participant's Required Beginning Date. Life
expectancy and joint and last survivor life expectancy are computed by using the
expected return multiples found in Tables V and VI of Regulations Section
1.72-9.
7.3 Limits On Distribution Periods As of the First Distribution Calendar
Year, distributions if not made in a single-sum, may only be made over one of
the following periods (or a combination thereof):
(a) the life of the Participant,
(b) the life of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary,
(c) a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of the
participant, or
(d) a period certain not extending beyond the joint and last survivor
expectancy of the Participant and a designated beneficiary.
7.4 Required Distributions On Or After The Required Beginning Date
(a) If a participant's benefit is to be distributed over (1) a period not
extending beyond the life expectancy of the Participant or the joint
life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the
Participant's Designated Beneficiary or (2) a period not extending
beyond the life expectancy of the Designated Beneficiary, the amount
required to be distributed for each calendar year, beginning with
distributions for the First Distribution Calendar Year, must at least
equal the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant's benefit by
the Applicable Life Expectancy.
(b) For calendar years beginning before 1989, if the Participant's Spouse
is not the Designated Beneficiary, the method of distribution selected
must have assured that at least 50% of the Present Value of the amount
available for distribution was to be paid within the life expectancy of
the Participant.
(c) For calendar years beginning after 1988, the amount to be distributed
each year, beginning with distributions for the First Distribution
Calendar Year shall not be less than the quotient obtained by dividing
the Participant's benefit by the lesser of (1) the Applicable Life
Expectancy or (2) if the Participant's Spouse is not the Designated
Beneficiary, the applicable divisor determined from the table set forth
in Q&A-4 of Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-2. Distributions after the
death of the Participant shall be distributed using the Applicable Life
Expectancy as the relevant divisor without regard to Regulations
Section 1.401(a)(9)-2.
(d) The minimum distribution required for the Participant's First
Distribution Calendar Year must be made on or before the Participant's
Required Beginning Date. The minimum distribution for other calendar
years, including the minimum distribution for the Distribution Calendar
Year in which the Participant's Required Beginning Date occurs, must be
made on or before December 31 of that Distribution Calendar Year.
(e) If the Participant's benefit is distributed in the form of an annuity
purchased from an insurance company, distribution thereunder shall be
made in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and
the Regulations thereunder.
(f) For purposes of determining the amount of the required distribution for
each Distribution Calendar Year, the account balance to be used is the
account balance determined as of the last valuation preceding the
Distribution Calendar Year. This balance will be increased by the
amount of any contributions or forfeitures allocated to the account
balance after the valuation date in such preceding calendar year. Such
balance will also be decreased by distributions made after the
Valuation Date in such preceding Calendar Year.
(g) For purposes of subparagraph 7.4(f), if any portion of the minimum
distribution for the First Distribution Calendar Year is made in the
second Distribution Calendar Year on or before the Required Beginning
Date, the amount of the minimum distribution made in the second
Distribution Calendar Year shall be treated as if it had been made in
the immediately preceding Distribution Calendar Year.
7.5 Required Beginning Date
(a) General Rule. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant is the
first day of April of the calendar year following the calendar year in
which the Participant attains age 70-1/2.
(b) Transitional Rules. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant who
attains age 70-1/2 before 1988, shall be determined in accordance with
(1) or (2) below:
(1) Non-5-percent owners. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant
who is not a 5-percent owner is the first day of April of the calendar
year following the calendar year in which the later of retirement of
attainment of age 70-1/2 occurs. In the case of a Participant who is
not a 5-percent owner who attains age 70-1/2 during 1988 and who has
not retired as of January 1, 1989, the Required Beginning Date is April
1, 1990.
(2) 5-percent owners. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant who is
a 5-percent owner during any year beginning after 1979, is the first
day of April following the later of:
(i) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70-1/2, or
(ii) the earlier of the calendar year with or within which ends the plan
year in which the Participant becomes a 5-percent owner, or the
calendar year in which the Participant retires.
(c) A Participant is treated as a 5-percent owner for purposes of this
Paragraph if such Participant is a 5-percent owner as defined in Code
Section 416 (i) (determined in accordance with Code Section 416 but
without regard to whether the Plan is Top-Heavy) at any time during the
Plan Year ending with or within the calendar year in which such Owner
attains age 66-1/2 or any subsequent Plan Year.
(d) Once distributions have begun to a 5-percent owner under this
paragraph, they must continue to be distributed, even if the
Participant ceases to be a 5-percent owner in a subsequent year.
7.6 Transitional Rule
(a) Notwithstanding the other requirements of this Article and subject
to the requirements of Article VIII, Joint and Survivor Annuity
Requirements, distribution on behalf of any Employee, including a
5-percent owner, may be made in accordance with all of the following
requirements (regardless of when such distribution commences):
(1) The distribution by the Trust is one which would not have disqualified
such Trust under Code Section 401(a)(9) as in effect prior to amendment
by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.
(2) The distribution is in accordance with a method of distribution
designated by the Employee whose interest in the Trust is being
distributed or, if the Employee is deceased, by a beneficiary of such
Employee.
(3) Such designation was in writing, was signed by the Employee or the
beneficiary, and was made before 1984.
(4) The Employee had accrued a benefit under the Plan as of December 31,
1983.
(5) The method of distribution designated by the Employee or the
beneficiary specifies the time at which distribution will commence, the
period over which distributions will be made, and in the case of any
distribution upon the Employee's death, the beneficiaries of the
Employee listed in order of priority.
(b) A distribution upon death will not be covered by this transitional
rule unless the information in the designation contains the required
information described above with respect to the distributions to be
made upon the death of the Employee.
(c) For any distribution which commences before 1984, but continues
after 1983, the Employee or the beneficiary, to whom such distribution
is being made, will be presumed to have designated the method of
distribution under which the distribution is being made if the method
of distribution was specified in writing and the distribution satisfies
the requirements in subparagraphs (a)(1) and (5) above.
(d) If a designation is revoked, any subsequent distribution must satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the regulations
thereunder. If a designation is revoked subsequent to the date
distributions are required to begin, the Trust must distribute by the
end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
revocation occurs the total amount not yet distributed which would have
been required to have been distributed to satisfy Code Section
401(a)(9) and the regulations thereunder, but for the section 242(b)(2)
election of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. For
calendar years beginning after 1988, such distributions must meet the
minimum distribution incidental benefit requirements in section
1.401(a)(9)-2 of the Income Tax Regulations. Any changes in the
designation will be considered to be a revocation of the designation.
However, the mere substitution or addition of another beneficiary
(one not named in the designation) under the designation will not be
not be considered to be a revocation of the designation, so long as
such substitution or addition does not alter the period over which
distributions are to be made under the designation, directly or
indirectly (for example, by altering the relevant measuring life). In
the case in which an amount is transferred or rolled over from one plan
to another plan, the rules in Q&A J-2 and Q&A J-3 of the regulations
shall apply.
7.7 Designation Of Beneficiary For Death Benefit Each Participant shall
file a written designation of beneficiary with the Employer upon qualifying for
participation in this Plan. Such designation shall remain in force until
revoked by the Participant by filing a new beneficiary form with the Employer.
The Participant may elect to have a portion of his or her account balance
invested in an insurance contract. If an insurance contract is purchased under
the Plan, the Trustee must be named as Beneficiary under the terms of the
contract. However, the Participant shall designate a Beneficiary to receive the
proceeds of the contract after settlement is received by the Trustee. Under a
profit-sharing plan satisfying the requirements of paragraph 8.7, the Designated
Beneficiary shall be the Participant's Surviving Spouse, if any, unless such
Spouse properly consents otherwise.
7.8 Nonexistence Of Beneficiary Any portion of the amount payable hereunder
which is not disposed of because of the Participant's or former Participant's
failure to designate a beneficiary, or because all of the Designated
Beneficiaries predeceased the Participant, shall be paid to his or her Spouse.
If the Participant had no Spouse at the time of death, payment shall be made to
the personal representative of his or her estate in a lump sum.
7.9 Distribution Beginning Before Death If the Participant dies after
distribution of his or her interest has begun, the remaining portion of such.
interest will continue to be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method
of distribution being used prior to the Participant's death.
7.10 Distribution Beginning After Death If the Participant dies before
distribution of his or her interest distribution of the Participant's entire
interest shall be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the
fifth anniversary of the Participant's death except to the extent that an
election is made to receive distributions in accordance with (a) or (b) below:
(a) If any portion of the Participant's interest is payable to a Designated
Beneficiary, distributions may be made over the life or over a period
certain not greater than the life expectancy of the Designated
Beneficiary commencing on or before December 31 of the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died;
(b) If the Designated Beneficiary is the Participant's surviving Spouse,
the date distributions are required to begin in accordance with (a)
above shall not be earlier than the later of (1) December 31 of the
calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the
participant died or (2) December 31 of the calendar year in which the
Participant would have attained age 70-1/2.
If the Participant has not made an election pursuant to this paragraph 7.10 by
the time of his or her death, the Participant's Designated Beneficiary must
elect the method of distribution no later than the earlier of (1) December 31 of
the calendar year in which distributions would be required to begin under this
section, or (2) December 31 of the calendar year which contains the fifth
anniversary of the date of death of the participant. If the Participant has no
Designated Beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does not elect a method
of distribution, then distribution of the Participant's entire interest must be
completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary
of the Participant's death.
For purposes of this paragraph if the Surviving Spouse dies after the
Participant, but before payments to such Spouse begin, the provisions of this
paragraph with the exception of paragraph (b) therein, shall be applied as if
the Surviving Spouse were the Participant. For the purposes of this paragraph
and paragraph 7.9, distribution of a Participant's interest is considered to
begin on the Participant's Required Beginning Date (or, if the preceding
sentence is applicable, the date distribution is required to begin to the
Surviving Spouse). If distribution in the form of an annuity described in
paragraph 7.4(e) irrevocably commences to the Participant before the Required
Beginning Date, the date distribution is considered to begin is the date
distribution actually commences.
For purposes of paragraph 7.9 and this paragraph, if an amount is payable to
either a minor or an individual who has been declared incompetent, the benefits
shall be paid to the legally appointed guardian for the benefit of said minor or
incompetent individual unless the court which appointed the guardian has ordered
otherwise.
7.11 Distribution Of Excess Elective Deferrals
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, Excess Elective
Deferrals plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall
be distributed no later than April 15, 1988, and each April 15
thereafter, to Participants to whose accounts Excess Elective Deferrals
were allocated for the preceding taxable year, and who claim Excess
Elective Deferrals for such taxable year. Excess Elective Deferrals
shall be treated as Annual Additions under the Plan, unless such
amounts are distributed no later than the first April 15th following
the close of the Participant's taxable year. A Participant is deemed
to notify the Plan Administrator of any Excess Elective Deferrals that
arise by taking into account only those Elective Deferrals made to this
Plan and any other plans of this Employer.
(b) Furthermore, a Participant who participates in another plan allowing
Elective Deferrals may assign to this Plan any Excess Elective
Deferrals made during a taxable year of the Participant, by notifying
the Plan Administrator of the amount of the Excess Elective Deferrals
to be assigned. The Participant's claim shall be in writing; shall be
submitted to the Plan Administrator not later than March 1 of each
year; shall specify the amount of the Participant's Excess Elective
Deferrals for the preceding taxable year; and shall be accompanied by
the Participant's written statement that if such amounts are not
distributed. such Excess Elective Deferrals, when added to amounts
deferred under other plans or arrangements described in Code Sections
401(k), 408(k) [Simplified Employee Pensions], or 403(b) [annuity
programs for public schools and charitable organizations] will exceed
the $7,000 limit as adjusted under Code Section 415(d) imposed on the
Participant by Code Section 402(g) for the year in which the deferral
occurred.
(c) Excess Elective Deferrals shall be adjusted for any income or loss up
to the end of the taxable year, during which such excess was deferred.
Income or loss will be calculated under the method used to calculate
investment earnings and losses elsewhere in the Plan.
(d) If the Participant receives a return of his or her Elective Deferrals,
the amount of such contributions which are returned must be brought
into the Employee's taxable income.
7.12 Distributions of Excess Contributions
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Excess Contributions,
plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be
distributed no later than the last day of each Plan Year to
Participants to whose accounts such Excess Contributions were allocated
for the preceding Plan Year. If such excess amounts are distributed
more than 2-1/2 months after the last day of the Plan Year in which
such excess amounts arose, a ten (10) percent excise tax will be
imposed on the Employer maintaining the Plan with respect to such
amounts. Such distributions shall be made to Highly Compensated
Employees on the basis of the respective portions of the Excess
Contributions attributable to each of such Employees. Excess
Contributions shall be allocated to Participants who are subject to the
Family Member aggregation rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) in the manner
prescribed by the regulations.
(b) Excess Contributions (including the amounts recharacterized) shall be
treated as Annual Additions under the Plan.
(c) Excess Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss up to the
end of the Plan Year. Income or loss will be calculated under the
method used to calculate investment earnings and losses elsewhere in
the Plan.
(d) Excess Contributions shall be distributed from the Participant's
Elective Deferral account and Qualified Matching Contribution account
(if applicable) in proportion to the Participant's Elective Deferrals
and Qualified Matching Contributions (to the extent used in the ADP
test) for the Plan Year. Excess Contributions shall be distributed
from the Participant's Qualified Non-Elective Contribution account only
to the extent that such Excess Contributions exceed the balance in the
Participant's Elective Deferral account and Qualified Matching
Contribution account.
7.13 Distribution Of Excess Aggregate Contributions
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Excess Aggregate
Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto,
shall be forfeited, if forfeitable, or if not forfeitable, distributed
no later than the last day of each Plan Year to Participants to whose
accounts such Excess Aggregate Contributions were allocated for the
preceding Plan Year. Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be allocated
to Participants who are subject to the Family Member aggregation rules
of Code Section 414(q)(6) in the manner prescribed by the regulations.
If such Excess Aggregate Contributions are distributed more than 2-1/2
months after the last day of the Plan Year in which such excess amounts
arose, a ten (10) percent excise tax will be imposed on the Employer
maintaining the Plan with respect to those amounts. Excess Aggregate
Contributions shall be treated as Annual Additions under the plan.
(b) Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss
up to the end of the Plan Year. The income or loss allocable to Excess
Aggregate Contributions is the sum of income or loss for the Plan Year
allocable to the Participant's Voluntary Contribution account, Matching
Contribution account (if any, and if all amounts therein are not used
in the ADP test) and, if applicable, Qualified Non-Elective
Contribution account and Elective Deferral account. Income or loss
will be calculated under the method used to calculate investment
earnings and losses elsewhere in the Plan.
(c) Forfeitures of Excess Aggregate Contributions may either be reallocated
to the accounts of non-Highly Compensated Employees or applied to
reduce Employer contributions, as elected by the employer in the
Adoption Agreement.
(d) Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be forfeited if such amount is not
vested. If vested, such excess shall be distributed on a pro-rata
basis from the Participant's Voluntary Contribution account (and, if
applicable, the Participant's Qualified Non-Elective Contribution
account, Matching Contribution account, Qualified Matching Contribution
account, or Elective Deferral account, or both).
ARTICLE VIII
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
8.1 Applicability Of Provisions The provisions of this Article shall apply
to any participant who is credited with at least one Hour of Service with the
Employer on or after August 23, 1984 and such other Participants as provided in
paragraph 8.8.
8.2 Payment Of Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity Unless an optional form
of benefit is selected pursuant to a Qualified Election within the 90-day period
ending on the Annuity Starting Date, a married Participant's Vested Account
Balance will be paid in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity and
an unmarried Participant's Vested Account Balance will be paid in the form of a
life annuity. The Participant may elect to have such annuity distributed upon
attainment of the Early Retirement Age under the Plan.
8.3 Payment Of Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity Unless an optional
form of benefit has been selected within the Election Period pursuant to a
Qualified Election, if a Participant dies before benefits have commenced then
the Participant's Vested Account Balance shall be paid in the form of an annuity
for the life of the Surviving Spouse. The Surviving Spouse may elect to have
such annuity distributed within a reasonable period after the Participant's
death.
A Participant who does not meet the age 35 requirement set forth in the Election
Period as of the end of any current Plan Year may make a special qualified
election to waive the qualified Pre-retirement Survivor Annuity for the period
beginning on the date of such election and ending on the first day of the Plan
Year in which the Participant will attain age 35. Such election shall not be
valid unless the Participant receives a written explanation of the Qualified
Pre-retirement Survivor Annuity in such terms as are comparable to the
explanation required under paragraph 8.5. Qualified Pre-retirement Survivor
Annuity coverage will be automatically reinstated as of the first day of the
Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35. Any new waiver on or after
such date shall be subject to the full requirements of this Article.
8.4 Qualified Election A Qualified Election is an election to either waive a
Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity or a qualified pre-retirement survivor
annuity. Any such election shall not be effective unless:
(a) the Participant's Spouse consents in writing to the election;
(b) the election designates a specific beneficiary, including any class of
beneficiaries or any contingent beneficiaries, which may not be changed
without spousal consent (or the Spouse expressly permits designations
by the Participant without any further spousal consent);
(c) the Spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of the election; and
(d) the Spouse's consent is witnessed by a Plan representative or notary
public.
Additionally, a Participant's waiver of the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity
shall not be effective unless the election designates a form of benefit payment
which may not be changed without spousal con sent (or the Spouse expressly
permits designations by the Participant without any further spousal consent).
If it is established to the satisfaction of the Plan Administrator that there is
no Spouse or that the Spouse cannot be located, a waiver will be deemed a
Qualified Election. Any consent by a Spouse obtained under this provision (or
establishment that the consent of a Spouse may not be obtained) shall be
effective only with respect to such Spouse. A consent that permits designations
by the Participant without any requirement of further consent by such Spouse
must acknowledge that the Spouse has the right to limit consent to a specific
beneficiary, and a specific form of benefit where applicable, and that the
Spouse voluntarily elects to relinquish either or both of such rights. A
revocation of a prior waiver may be made by a Participant without the consent of
the Spouse at any time before the commencement of benefits. The number of
revocations shall not be limited. No consent obtained under this provision
shall be valid unless the Participant has received notice as provided in
paragraphs 8.5 and 8.6 below.
8.5 Notice Requirements For Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity In the
case of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, the Plan Administrator shall, no
less than 30 days and no more than 90 days prior to the Annuity Starting date,
provide each Participant a written explanation of:
(a) the terms and conditions of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity;
(b) the Participant's right to make and the effect of an election to waive
the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity form of benefit;
(c) the rights of a Participant's Spouse; and
(d) the right to make, and the effect of, a revocation of a previous
election to waive the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity.
8.6 Notice Requirements For Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity In
the case of a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity as described in
paragraph 8.3, the Plan Administrator shall provide each Participant within the
applicable period for such Participant a written explanation of the qualified
pre-retirement survivor annuity in such terms and in such manner as would be
comparable to the explanation provided for meeting the requirements of paragraph
8.5 applicable to a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity. The applicable period
for a Participant is whichever of the following periods ends last:
(a) the period beginning with the first day of the Plan Year in which the
Participant attains age 32 and ending with the close of the Plan Year
preceding the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35;
(b) a reasonable period ending after the individual becomes a Participant;
(c) a reasonable period ending after this Article first applies to the
Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice must be provided
within a reasonable period ending after separation from Service in
the case of a Participant who separates from Service before attaining
age 35.
For purposes of applying the preceding paragraph, a reasonable period ending
after the events described in (b) and (c) is the end of the two-year period
beginning one-year prior to the date the applicable event occurs, and ending
one-year after that date. In the case of a Participant who separates from
Service before the Plan Year in which age 35 is attained, notice shall be
provided within the two-year period beginning one year prior to separation and
ending one year after separation. If such a Participant subsequently returns to
employment with the Employer, the applicable period for such Participant shall
be re-determined.
8.7 Special Safe-Harbor Exception For Certain Profit-Sharing Plans
(a) This paragraph shall apply to a Participant in a profit-sharing plan,
and to any distribution, made on or after the first day of the first
plan year beginning after 1988, from or under a separate account
attributable solely to Qualified Voluntary contributions, as maintained
on behalf of a Participant in a money purchase pension plan, (including
a target benefit plan) if the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) the Participant does not or cannot elect payments in the form of a
life annuity, and
(2) on the death of a Participant, the Participant's Vested Account
Balance will be paid to the Participant's Surviving Spouse, but if
there is no Surviving Spouse, or if the Surviving Spouse has
consented in a manner conforming to a Qualified Election, then to
the Participant's Designated Beneficiary.
The Surviving Spouse may elect to have distribution of the Vested Account
Balance commence within the 90-day period following the date of the
Participant's death. The account balance shall be adjusted for gains or losses
occurring after the Participant's death in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan governing the adjustment of account balances for other types of
distributions. These safe-harbor rules shall not be operative with respect to a
Participant in a profit-sharing plan if that plan is a direct or indirect
transferee of a Defined Benefit Plan, money purchase plan, a target benefit
plan, stock bonus plan, or profit-sharing plan which is subject to the survivor
annuity requirements of Code Section 401(a)(11) and Code Section 417, and would
therefore have a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity as its normal form of
benefit.
(b) The Participant may waive the spousal death benefit described in this
paragraph at any time provided that no such waiver shall be effective
unless it satisfies the conditions (described in paragraph 8.4) that
would apply to the Participant's waiver of the Qualified Pre-Retirement
Survivor Annuity.
(c) If this paragraph 8.7 is operative, then all other provisions of this
Article other than paragraph 8.8 are inoperative.
8.8 Transitional Joint And Survivor Annuity Rules Special transition rules
apply to Participants who were not receiving benefits on August 23, 1984.
(a) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23, 1984, who
would otherwise not receive the benefits prescribed by the previous
paragraphs of this Article, must be given the opportunity to elect to
have the prior paragraphs of this Article apply if such Participant is
credited with at least one Hour of Service under this Plan or a
predecessor Plan in a Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1976
and such Participant had at least 10 Years of Service for vesting
purposes when he or she separated from Service.
(b) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23, 1984,
who was credited with at least one Hour of Service under this Plan
or a predecessor Plan on or after September 2, 1974, and who is not
otherwise credited with any Service in a Plan Year beginning on or
after January 1, 1976, must be given the opportunity to have his or
her benefits paid in accordance with paragraph 8.9.
(c) The respective opportunities to elect [as described in (a) and (b)
above] must be afforded to the appropriate Participants during the
period commencing on August 23, 1984 and ending on the date benefits
would otherwise commence to said Participants.
8.9 Automatic Joint And Survivor Annuity And Early Survivor Annuity Any
Participant who has elected pursuant to paragraph 8.8(b) and any Participant who
does not elect under paragraph 8.8(a) or who meets the requirements of paragraph
8.8(a), except that such Participant does not have at least 10 years of vesting
Service when he or she separates from Service, shall have his or her benefits
distributed in accordance with all of the following requirements if benefits
would have been payable in the form of a life annuity.
(a) Automatic Joint and Survivor Annuity. If benefits in the form of life
annuity become payable to a married Participant who:
(1) begins to receive payments under the Plan on or after Normal
Retirement Age, or
(2) dies on or after Normal Retirement Age while still working for the
Employer, or
(3) begins to receive payments on or after the Qualified Early
Retirement Age, or
(4) separates from Service on or after attaining Normal Retirement
(or the Qualified Early Retirement Age) and after satisfying the
eligibility requirements for the payment of benefits under the Plan
and thereafter dies before beginning to receive such benefits,
then such benefits will be received under this Plan in the form of
a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, unless the Participant has
elected otherwise during the Election Period. The Election Period
must begin at least 6 months before the Participant attains
Qualified Early Retirement Age and end not more than 90 days before
the commencement of benefits. Any election will be in writing and
may be changed by the Participant at any time.
(b) Election of Early Survivor Annuity. A Participant who is employed
after attaining the Qualified Early Retirement Age will be given the
opportunity to elect, during the Election Period, to have a survivor
annuity payable on death. If the Participant elects the survivor
annuity, payments under such annuity must not be less than the payments
which would have been made to the Spouse under the Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity if the Participant had retired on the day before his
or her death. Any election under this provision will be in writing and
may be changed by the Participant at any time. The Election Period
begins on the later of:
(1) the 90th day before the Participant attains the Qualified Early
Retirement Age, or
(2) the date on which participation begins, and ends on the date the
Participant terminates employment.
8.10 Annuity Contracts Any annuity contract distributed under this Plan
must be non transferable. The terms of any annuity contract purchased and
distributed by the Plan to a Participant or Spouse shall comply with the
requirements of this Plan.
ARTICLE IX
VESTING
9.1 Employee Contributions A Participant shall always have a 100% vested
and nonforfeitable interest in his or her Elective Deferrals, Voluntary
Contributions, Qualified Voluntary Contributions, Rollover Contributions, and
Transfer Contributions plus the earnings thereon. No forfeiture of Employer
related contributions (including any minimum contributions made under paragraph
14.2) will occur solely as a result of an Employee's withdrawal of any Employee
contributions.
9.2 Employer Contributions A Participant shall acquire a vested and
nonforfeitable interest in his or her account attributable to Employer
contributions in accordance with the table selected in the Adoption Agreement,
provided that if a Participant is not already fully vested, he or she shall
become so upon attaining Normal Retirement Age, Early Retirement Age, on death
prior to normal retirement, on retirement due to Disability, or on termination
of the Plan.
9.3 Computation Period The computation period for purposes of determining
Years of Service and Breaks in Service for purposes of computing a Participant's
nonforfeitable right to his or her account balance derived from Employer
contributions shall be determined by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. In
the event a former Participant with no vested interest in his or her Employer
contribution account requalifies for participation in the Plan after incurring a
Break in Service, such Participant shall be credited for vesting with all pre-
break and post-break Service.
9.4 Requalification Prior To Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In Service
The account balance of such Participant shall consist of any undistributed
amount in his or her account as of the date of re-employment plus any future
contributions added to such account plus the investment earnings on the account.
The Vested Account Balance of such Participant shall be determined by
multiplying the Participant's account balance (adjusted to include any
distribution or redeposit made under paragraph 6.3) by such Participant's vested
percentage. All Service of the Participant, both prior to and following the
break, shall be counted when computing the Participant's vested percentage.
9.5 Requalification After Five Consecutive One-Year Breaks In Service If
such Participant is not fully vested upon re-employment, a new account shall be
established for such Participant to separate his or her deferred vested and
nonforfeitable account, if any, from the account to which new allocations will
be made. The Participant's deferred account to the extent remaining shall be
fully vested and shall continue to share in earnings and losses of the Fund.
When computing the Participant's vested portion of the new account, all pre-
break and post-break Service shall be counted. However, notwithstanding this
provision, no such former Participant who has had five consecutive one-year
Breaks in Service shall acquire a larger vested and nonforfeitable interest in
his or her prior account balance as a result of requalification hereunder.
9.6 Calculating Vested Interest A Participant's vested and nonforfeitable
interest shall be calculated by multiplying the fair market value of his or her
account attributable to Employer contributions on the Valuation Date preceding
distribution by the decimal equivalent of the vested percentage as of his or her
termination date. The amount attributable to Employer contributions for
purposes of the calculation includes amounts previously paid out pursuant to
paragraph 6.3 and not repaid. The Participant's vested and nonforfeitable
interest, once calculated above, shall be reduced to reflect those amounts
previously paid out to the Participant and not repaid by the Participant. 'Me
Participant's vested and nonforfeitable interest so determined shall continue to
share in the investment earnings and any increase or decrease in the fair market
value of the Fund up to the Valuation Date preceding or coinciding with payment.
9.7 Forfeitures Any balance in the account of a Participant who has
separated from Service to which he or she is not entitled under the foregoing
provisions, shall be forfeited and applied as provided in the Adoption
Agreement. A forfeiture may only occur if the Participant has received a
distribution from the Plan or if the Participant has incurred five consecutive
1-year Breaks in Service. Furthermore, a Highly Compensated Employee's Matching
Contributions may be forfeited, even if vested, if the contributions to which
they relate are Excess Deferrals, Excess Contributions or Excess Aggregate
Contributions.
9.8 Amendment Of Vesting Schedule No amendment to the Plan shall have the
effect of decreasing a Participant's vested interest determined without regard
to such amendment as of the later of the date such amendment is adopted or the
date it becomes effective. Further, if the vesting schedule of the Plan is
amended, or the Plan is amended in any way that directly or indirectly affects
the computation of any Participant's nonforfeitable percentage or if the Plan is
deemed amended by an automatic change to or from a Top-Heavy vesting schedule,
each Participant with at least three Years of Service with the Employer may
elect, within a reasonable period after the adoption of the amendment, to have
his or her nonforfeitable percentage computed under the Plan without regard to
such amendment. For Participants who do not have at least one Hour of Service
in any Plan Year beginning after 1988, the preceding sentence shall be applied
by substituting "Five Years of Service" for "Three Years of Service" where such
language appears. The period during which the election may be made shall
commence with the date the amendment is adopted and shall end on the later of:
(a) 60 days after the amendment is adopted;
(b) 60 days after the amendment becomes effective; or
(c) 60 days after the Participant is issued written notice of the amendment
by the Employer or the Trustee/Custodian. If the Trustee/Custodian
is asked to so notify, the Fund will be charged for the costs thereof
No amendment to the Plan shall be effective to the extent that it has the effect
of decreasing a Participant's accrued benefit. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, a Participant's account balance may be reduced to the extent permitted
under section 412(c)(8) of the Code (relating to financial hardships). For
purposes of this paragraph, a Plan amendment which has the effect of decreasing
a Participant's account balance or eliminating an optional form of benefit, with
respect to benefits attributable to service before the amendment, shall be
treated as reducing an accrued benefit.
9.9 Service With Controlled Groups All Years of Service with other members
of a controlled group of corporations [as defined in Code Section 414(b)],
trades or businesses under common control [as defined in Code Section 414(c)],
or members of an affiliated service group [as defined in Code Section 414(m)]
shall be considered for purposes of determining a Participant's nonforfeitable
percentage.
ARTICLE X
LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS
AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION TESTING
10.1 Participation In This Plan Only If the Participant does not
participate in and has never participated in another qualified plan, a Welfare
Benefit Fund (as defined in paragraph 1.89) or an individual medical account, as
defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), maintained by the adopting Employer, which
provides an Annual Addition as defined in paragraph 1.4, the amount of Annual
Additions which may be credited to the Participant's account for any Limitation
Year will not exceed the lesser of the Maximum Permissible Amount or any other
limitation contained in this Plan. If the Employer contribution that would
otherwise be contributed or allocated to the Participant's account would cause
the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed the Maximum Permissible
Amount, the amount contributed or allocated will be reduced so that the Annual
Additions for the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum Permissible Amount.
Prior to determining the Participant's actual Compensation for the Limitation
Year, the Employer may determine the Maximum Permissible Amount for a
Participant on the basis of a reasonable estimate of the Participant's
Compensation for the Limitation Year, uniformly determined for all Participants
similarly situated. As soon as is administratively feasible after the end of
the Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for the Limitation Year will
be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual Compensation for the
Limitation Year.
10.2 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions If, pursuant to paragraph 10.1
or as a result of the allocation of forfeitures, there is an Excess Amount, the
excess will be disposed of under one of the following methods as determined in
the Adoption Agreement. If no election is made in the Adoption Agreement then
method "(a)" below shall apply.
(a) Suspense Account Method
(1) Any nondeductible Employee Voluntary, Required Voluntary
Contributions and unmatched Elective Deferrals to the extent they
would reduce the Excess Amount will be returned to the Participant.
To the extent necessary to reduce the Excess Amount, non-Highly
Compensated Employees will have all Elective Deferrals returned
whether or not there was a corresponding match.
(2) If after the application of paragraph (1) an Excess Amount still
exists, and the Participant is covered by the Plan at the end
of the Limitation Year, the Excess Amount in the Participant's
account will be used to reduce Employer contributions (including
any allocation of forfeitures) for such Participant in the next
Limitation Year, and each succeeding Limitation Year if necessary;
(3) If after the application of paragraph (1) an Excess Amount still
exists, and the Participant is not covered by the Plan at the end of
the Limitation Year, the Excess Amount will be held unallocated in a
suspense account. The suspense account will be applied to reduce
future Employer contributions (including allocation of any
forfeitures) for all remaining Participants in the next Limitation
Year, and each succeeding Limitation Year if necessary;
(4) If a suspense account is in existence at any time during the
Limitation Year pursuant to this paragraph, it will not participate
in the allocation of investment gains and losses. If a suspense
account is in existence at any time during a particular Limitation
Year, all amounts in the suspense account must be allocated and
reallocated to Participants' accounts before any Employer
contributions or any Employee Contributions may be made to the Plan
for that Limitation Year. Excess amounts may not be distributed to
Participants or former Participants.
(b) Spillover Method
(1) Any nondeductible Employee Voluntary, Required Voluntary
Contributions and unmatched Elective Deferrals to the extent they
would reduce the Excess Amount will be returned to the Participant.
To the extent necessary to reduce the Excess Amount, non-Highly
Compensated Employees will have all Elective Deferrals returned
whether or not there was a corresponding match.
(2) Any Excess Amount which would be allocated to the account of
an individual Participant under the Plan's allocation formula will
be reallocated to other Participants in the same manner as other
Employer contributions. No such reallocation shall be made to the
extent that it will result in an Excess Amount being created in such
Participant's own account.
(3) To the extent that amounts cannot be reallocated under (1) above,
the suspense account provisions of (a) above will apply.
10.3 Participation In This Plan And Another Master and Prototype Defined
Contribution Plan, Welfare Benefit Fund Or Individual Medical Account Maintained
By The Employer The Annual Additions which may be credited to a Participant's
account under this Plan for any Limitation Year will not exceed the Maximum
Permissible Amount reduced by the Annual Additions credited to a Participant's
account under the other Master or Prototype Defined Contribution Plans, Welfare
Benefit Funds, and individual medical accounts as defined in Code Section
415(l)(2), maintained by the Employer, which provide an Annual Addition as
defined in paragraph 1.4 for the same Limitation Year. If the Annual Additions,
with respect to the Participant under other Defined Contribution Plans and
Welfare Benefit Funds maintained by the Employer, are less than the Maximum
Permissible Amount and the Employer contribution that would otherwise be
contributed or allocated to the Participant's account under this Plan would
cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed this limitation,
the amount contributed or allocated will be reduced so that the Annual Additions
under all such plans and funds for the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum
Permissible Amount. If the Annual Additions with respect to the Participant
under such other Defined Contribution Plans and Welfare Benefit Funds in the
aggregate are equal to or greater than the Maximum Permissible Amount, no amount
will be contributed or allocated to the Participant's account under this Plan
for the Limitation Year. Prior to determining the Participant's actual
Compensation for the Limitation Year, the Employer may determine the Maximum
Permissible Amount for a Participant in the manner described in paragraph 10.1.
As soon as administratively feasible after the end of the Limitation Year, the
Maximum Permissible Amount for the Limitation Year will be determined on the
basis of the Participant's actual Compensation for the Limitation Year.
10.4 Disposition Of Excess Annual Additions Under Two Plans If, pursuant to
paragraph 10.3 or as a result of forfeitures, a Participant's Annual Additions
under this Plan and such other plans would result in an Excess Amount for a
Limitation Year, the Excess Amount will be deemed to consist of the Annual
Additions last allocated except that Annual Additions attributable to a Welfare
Benefit Fund or Individual Medical Account as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2)
will be deemed to have been allocated first regardless of the actual allocation
date. If an Excess Amount was allocated to a Participant on an allocation date
of this Plan which coincides with an allocation date of another plan, the Excess
Amount attributed to this Plan will be the product of:
(a) the total Excess Amount allocated as of such date, times
(b) the ratio of:
(1) the Annual Additions allocated to the Participant for the
Limitation Year as of such date under the Plan, to
(2) the total Annual Additions allocated to the Participant for the
Limitation Year as of such date under this and all the other
qualified Master or Prototype Defined Contribution Plans.
Any Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be disposed of in the manner
described in paragraph 10.2.
10.5 Participation In This Plan And Another Defined Contribution Plan Which
Is Not A Master Or Prototype If the Participant is covered under another
qualified Defined Contribution Plan maintained by the Employer which is not a
Master or Prototype Plan, Annual Additions which may be credited to the
Participant's account under this Plan for any Limitation Year will be limited in
accordance with paragraphs 10.3 and 10.4 as though the other plan were a Master
or Prototype Plan, unless the Employer provides other limitations in the
Adoption Agreement.
10.6 Participation In This Plan And A Defined Benefit Plan If the Employer
maintains, or at any time maintained, a qualified Defined Benefit Plan covering
any Participant in this Plan, the sum of the Participant's Defined Benefit Plan
Fraction and Defined Contribution Plan Fraction will not exceed 1.0 in any
Limitation Year. For any Plan Year during which the Plan is Top-Heavy, the
Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plan Fractions shall be calculated in
accordance with Code Section 416(h). The Annual Additions which may be credited
to the Participant's account under this Plan for any Limitation Year will be
limited in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Adoption Agreement.
10.7 Average Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test With respect to any Plan Year,
the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees and the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are non-
Highly Compensated Employees must satisfy one of the following tests:
(a) Basic Test - The Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who
are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year is not more than
1.25 times the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
non-Highly Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year, or
(b) Alternative Test - The Average Deferral Percentage for Participants
who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year does not
exceed the Average Deferral Percentage for Participants who are
non-Highly Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year by more
than 2 percentage points provided that the Average Deferral
Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees
is not more than 2.0 times the Average Deferral Percentage for
Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees.
10.8 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ADP Test
(a) The Actual Deferral Percentage for any Participant who is a Highly
Compensated Employee for the Plan Year and who is eligible to have
Elective Deferrals (and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or
Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, if treated as Elective
Deferrals for purposes of the ADP test) allocated to his or her
accounts under two or more arrangements described in Code Section
401(k), that are maintained by the Employer, shall be determined as
if such Elective Deferrals (and, if applicable, such Qualified Non-
Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both)
were made under a single arrangement. If a Highly Compensated Employee
participates in two or more cash or deferred arrangements that have
different Plan Years, all cash or deferred arrangements ending with or
within the same calendar year shall be treated as a single arrangement.
(b) In the event that this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections
401(k), 401(a)(4), or 410(b), only if aggregated with one or more
other plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of
such Code Sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this
Section shall be applied by determining the Actual Deferral Percentage
of Employees as if all such plans were a single plan. For Plan Years
beginning after 1989, plans may be aggregated in order to satisfy
Code Section 401(k) only if they have the same Plan Year.
(c) For purposes of determining the Actual Deferral Percentage of a
Participant who is a 5-percent owner or one of the ten most highly-paid
Highly Compensated Employees, the Elective Deferrals (and Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or
both, if treated as Elective Deferrals for purposes of the ADP test)
and Compensation of such Participant shall include the Elective
Deferrals (and, if applicable, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
and Qualified Matching Contributions, or both) for the Plan Year of
Family Members as defined in paragraph 1.36 of this Plan. Family
Members, with respect to such Highly Compensated Employees,
shall be disregarded as separate Employees in determining the ADP
both for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees and
for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees. In the event
of repeal of the family aggregation rules under Code Section 414(q)(6),
all applications of such rules under this Plan will cease as of the
effective date of such repeal.
(d) For purposes of determining the ADP test, Elective Deferrals, Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions must
be made before the last day of the twelve-month period immediately
following the Plan Year to which contributions relate.
(e) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the ADP test and the amount of Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, used in
such test.
(f) The determination and treatment of the Actual Deferral Percentage
amounts of any Participant shall satisfy such other requirements as
may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
10.9 Recharacterization If the Employer allows for Voluntary Contributions
in the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may treat his or her Excess
Contributions as an amount distributed to the Participant and then contributed
by the Participant to the Plan. Recharacterized amounts will remain
nonforfeitable and subject to the same distribution requirements as Elective
Deferrals. Amounts may not be recharacterized by a Highly Compensated Employee
to the extent that such amount in combination with other Employee Contributions
made by that Employee would exceed any stated limit under the Plan on Voluntary
Contributions. Recharacterization must occur no later than two and one-half
months after the last day of the Plan Year in which such Excess Contributions
arose and is deemed to occur no earlier than the date the last Highly
Compensated Employee is informed in writing of the amount recharacterized and
the consequences thereof. Recharacterized amounts will be taxable to the
Participant for the Participant's tax year in which the Participant would have
received them in cash.
10.10 Average Contribution Percentage (ACP) Test If the Employer makes
Matching Contributions or if the Plan allows Employees to make Voluntary
Contributions the Plan must meet additional nondiscrimination requirements
provided under Code Section 401(m). If Employee Contributions (including any
Elective Deferrals recharacterized as Voluntary Contributions) are made pursuant
to this Plan, then in addition to the ADP test referenced in paragraph 10.7,
the Average Contribution Percentage test is also applicable. The Average
Contribution Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees
for each Plan Year and the Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who
are Non-Highly Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year must satisfy one of
the following tests:
(a) Basic Test - The Average Contribution Percentage for Participants
who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not
exceed the Average Contribution Percentage for Participants who
are non-Highly Compensated Employees for the same Plan Year
multiplied by 1.25; or
(b) Alternative Test - The ACP for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees for the Plan Year shall not exceed the Average Contribution
Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees
for the same Plan Year multiplied by two (2), provided that the Average
Contribution Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees does not exceed the Average Contribution Percentage for
Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees by more than two
(2) percentage points.
10.11 Special Rules Relating To Application Of ACP Test
(a) If one or more Highly Compensated Employees participate in both a
cash or deferred arrangement and a plan subject to the ACP test
maintained by the Employer and the sum of the ADP and ACP of those
Highly Compensated Employees subject to either or both tests exceeds
the Aggregate Limit, then the ADP or ACP of those Highly Compensated
Employees who also participate in a cash or deferred arrangement will
be reduced (beginning with such Highly Compensated Employee whose ADP
or ACP is the highest) as set forth in the Adoption Agreement so that
the limit is not exceeded. The amount by which each Highly Compensated
Employee's Contribution Percentage Amounts is reduced shall be treated
as an Excess Aggregate Contribution. The ADP and ACP of the Highly
Compensated Employees are determined after any corrections required to
meet the ADP and ACP tests. Multiple use does not occur if both the
ADP and ACP of the Highly Compensated Employees does not exceed 1.25
multiplied by the ADP and ACP of the non-Highly Compensated Employees.
(b) For purposes of this Article, the Contribution Percentage for any
Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee and who is eligible
to have Contribution Percentage Amounts allocated to his or her account
under two or more plans described in Code Section 401(a), or arrange-
ments described in Code Section 401(k) that are maintained by the
Employer, shall be determined as if the total of such Contribution
Percentage Amounts was made under each Plan. If a Highly Compensated
Employee participates in two or more cash or deferred arrangements
that have different plan years, all cash or deferred arrangements
ending with or within the same calendar year shall be treated as a
single arrangement.
(c) In the event that this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Sections
401(a)(4), 401(m), or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other
plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of such
Code Sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this Section
shall be applied by determining the Contribution Percentage of
Employees as if all such plans were a single plan. For plan years
beginning after 1989, plans may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code
Section 401(m) only if the aggregated plans have the same Plan Year.
(d) For purposes of determining the Contribution percentage of a
Participant who is a five-percent owner or one of the ten most highly-
paid, Highly Compensated Employees, the Contribution Percentage Amounts
and Compensation of such Participant shall include the Contribution
Percentage Amounts and Compensation for the Plan Year of Family Members
as defined in Paragraph 1.36 of this Plan. Family Members, with
respect to Highly Compensated Employees, shall be disregarded as
separate Employees in determining the Contribution Percentage both for
Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees and for
Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees. In the event of
repeal of the family aggregation rules under Code Section 414(q)(6),
all applications of such rules under this Plan will cease as of the
effective date of such repeal.
(e) For purposes of determining the Contribution Percentage test, Employee
Contributions are considered to have been made in the Plan Year in
which contributed to the trust. Matching Contributions and Qualified
Non-Elective Contributions will be considered made for a Plan Year if
made no later than the end of the twelve-month period beginning on the
day after the close of the Plan Year.
(f) The Employer shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate
satisfaction of the ACP test and the amount of Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, used in
such test.
(g) The determination and treatment of the Contribution Percentage of any
Participant shall satisfy such other requirements as may be prescribed
by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(h) Qualified Matching Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions used to satisfy the ADP test may not be used to satisfy
the ACP test.
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION
11.1 Plan Administrator The Employer shall be the named fiduciary and Plan
Administrator. These duties shall include:
(a) appointing the Plan's attorney, accountant, actuary, or any other
party needed to administer the Plan,
(b) directing the Trustee/Custodian with respect to payments from the Fund,
(c) communicating with Employees regarding their participation and benefits
under the Plan, including the administration of all claims procedures,
(d) filing any returns and reports with the Internal Revenue Service,
Department of Labor, or any other governmental agency,
(e) reviewing and approving any financial reports, investment reviews,
or other reports prepared by any party appointed by the Employer
under paragraph (a),
(f) establishing a funding policy and investment objectives consistent
with the purposes of the Plan and the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, and
(g) construing and resolving any question of Plan interpretation. The
Plan Administrator's interpretation of Plan provisions including
eligibility and benefits under the Plan is final, and unless it can be
shown to be arbitrary and capricious will not be subject to "de novo"
review.
11.2 Trustee/Custodian The Trustee/Custodian shall be responsible for the
administration of investments held in the Fund. These duties shall include:
(a) receiving contributions under the terms of the Plan,
(b) making distributions from the Fund in accordance with written
instructions received from an authorized representative of the
Employer, and
(c) keeping accurate records reflecting its administration of the Fund
and making such records available to the Employer for review and
audit. Within 90 days after each Plan Year, and within 90 days
after its removal or resignation, the Trustee/Custodian shall file
with the Employer an accounting of its administration of the Fund
during such year or from the end of the preceding Plan Year to the
date of removal or resignation. Such accounting shall include a
statement of cash receipts and disbursements since the date of its
last accounting and shall contain an asset list showing the fair
market value of investments held in the Fund as of the end of the
Plan Year. The value of marketable investments shall be determined
using the most recent price quoted on a national securities exchange
or over the counter market. The value of non-marketable investments
shall be determined in the sole judgement of the Trustee/Custodian
which determination shall be binding and conclusive. The value of
investments in securities or obligations of the Employer in which there
is no market shall be determined in the sole judgement of the Employer
and the Trustee/Custodian shall have no responsibility with respect
to the valuation of such assets. The Employer shall review the
Trustee/Custodian's accounting and notify the Trustee/Custodian in the
event of its disapproval of the report within 90 days, providing the
Trustee/Custodian with a written description of the items in question.
The Trustee/Custodian shall have 60 days to provide the Employer with
a written explanation of the items in question. If the Employer again
disapproves, the Trustee/Custodian shall file its accounting in a court
of competent jurisdiction for audit and adjudication.
(d) employing such agents, attorneys or other professionals as the Trustee
may deem necessary or advisable in the performance of its duties.
The Trustee's/Custodian's duties shall be limited to those described above.
The Employer shall be responsible for any other administrative duties required
under the Plan or by applicable law.
11.3 Administrative Fees And Expenses All reasonable costs, charges and
expenses incurred by the Trustee/Custodian in connection with the administration
of the Fund and all reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Plan
Administrator in connection with the administration of the Plan (including fees
for legal services rendered to the Trustee/Custodian or Plan Administrator) may
be paid by the Employer, but if not paid by the Employer when due, shall be paid
from the Fund. Such reasonable compensation to the Trustee/Custodian as may be
agreed upon from time to time between the Employer and the Trustee/Custodian and
such reasonable compensation to the Plan Administrator as may be agreed upon
from time to time between the Employer and Plan Administrator may be paid by the
Employer, but if not paid by the Employer when due shall be paid by the Fund.
The Trustee shall have the right to liquidate trust assets to cover its fees.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no compensation other than reimbursement for
expenses shall be paid to a Plan Administrator who is the Employer or a full-
time Employee of the Employer. In the event any part of the Trust/Custodial
Account becomes subject to tax, all taxes incurred will be paid from the Fund
unless the Plan Administrator advises the Trustee/Custodian not to pay such tax.
11.4 Division Of Duties And Indemnification
(a) The Trustee/Custodian shall have the authority and discretion to
manage and govern the Fund to the extent provided in this instrument,
but does not guarantee the Fund in any manner against investment loss
or depreciation in asset value, or guarantee the adequacy of the Fund
to meet and discharge all or any liabilities of the Plan.
(b) The Trustee/Custodian shall not be liable for the making, retention
or sale of any investment or reinvestment made by it, as herein
provided, or for any loss to, or diminution of the Fund, or for any
other loss or damage which may result from the discharge of its duties
hereunder except to the extent it is judicially determined that the
Trustee/Custodian has failed to exercise the care, skill prudence and
diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent
person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would
use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character with like aims.
(c) The Employer warrants that all directions issued to the
Trustee/Custodian by it or the Plan Administrator will be in
accordance with the terms of the Plan and not contrary to the
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and regulations issued thereunder.
(d) The Trustee/Custodian shall not be answerable for any action taken
pursuant to any direction, consent, certificate, or other paper or
document on the belief that the same is genuine and signed by the
proper person. All directions by the Employer, Participant or the Plan
Administrator shall be in writing. The Employer shall deliver to the
Trustee/Custodian certificates evidencing the individual or individuals
authorized to act as set forth in the Adoption Agreement or as the
Employer may subsequently inform the Trustee/Custodian in writing and
shall deliver to the Trustee/Custodian specimens of their signatures.
(e) The duties and obligations of the Trustee/Custodian shall be limited to
those expressly imposed upon it by this instrument or subsequently
agreed upon by the parties. Responsibility for administrative duties
required under the Plan or applicable law not expressly imposed upon or
agreed to by the Trustee/Custodian, shall rest solely with the
Employer.
(f) The Trustee shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Employer
from and against any and all liability to which the Trustee/Custodian
may be subjected, including all expenses reasonably incurred in its
defense, for any action or failure to act resulting from compliance
with the instructions of the Employer, the employees or agents of the
Employer, the Plan Administrator, or any other fiduciary to the Plan,
and for any liability arising from the actions or non-actions of any
predecessor Trustee/Custodian or fiduciary or other fiduciaries of the
Plan.
(g) The Trustee/Custodian shall not be responsible in any way for the
application of any payments it is directed to make or for the adequacy
of the Fund to meet and discharge any and all liabilities under the
Plan.
ARTICLE XII
TRUST FUND / CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
12.1 The Fund The Fund shall consist of all contributions made under
Article III and Article IV of the Plan and the investment thereof and earnings
thereon. All contributions and the earnings thereon less payments made under
the terms of the Plan, shall constitute the Fund. The Fund shall be
administered as provided in this document.
12.2 Control Of Plan Assets The assets of the Fund or evidence of owner-
ship shall be held by the Trustee/Custodian under the terms of the Plan and
Trust/Custodial Account. if the assets represent amounts transferred from
another trustee/custodian under a former plan, the Trustee/Custodian named
hereunder shall not be responsible for the propriety of any investment under the
former plan.
12.3 Exclusive Benefit Rules No part of the Fund shall be used for, or
diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of Participants,
former Participants with a vested interest, and the beneficiary or beneficiaries
of deceased Participants having a vested interest in the Fund at death.
12.4 Assignment And Alienation Of Benefits No right or claim to, or
interest in any part of the Fund, or any payment from the Fund, shall be
assignable, transferable, or subject to sale, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
commutation, anticipation, garnishment, attachment, execution, or levy of any
kind. The Trustee/Custodian shall not recognize any attempt to assign,
transfer, sell mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute, or anticipate the same,
except to the extent required by law. The preceding sentences shall also apply
to the creation, assignment, or recognition of a right to any benefit payable
with respect to a Participant pursuant to a domestic relations order, unless
such order is determined to be a qualified domestic relations order, as defined
in Code Section 414(p), or any domestic relations order entered before January
1, 1985 which the Plan attorney and Plan Administrator deem to be qualified.
12.5 Determination Of Qualified Domestic Relations Order(QDRO) A Domestic
Relations Order shall specifically state all of the following in order
to be deemed a Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO'):
(a) The name and last known mailing address (if any) of the Participant
and of each alternate payee covered by the QDRO. However, if the
QDRO does not specify the current mailing address of the alternate
payee, but the Plan Administrator has independent knowledge of that
address, the QDRO will still be valid.
(b) The dollar amount or percentage of the Participant's benefit to be
paid by the Plan to each alternate payee, or the manner in which the
amount or percentage will be determined.
(c) The number of payments or period for which the order applies.
(d) The specific plan (by name) to which the Domestic Relations
Order applies.
The Domestic Relations Order shall not be deemed a QDRO if it requires
the Plan to provide:
(e) any type or form of benefit, or any option not already provided
for in the Plan;
(f) increased benefits, or benefits in excess of the Participant's vested
rights;
(g) payment of a benefit earlier than allowed by the Plan's earliest
retirement provisions or in the case of a profit-sharing plan, prior
to the allowability of in-service withdrawals, or
(h) payment of benefits to an alternate payee which are required to be
to another alternate payee under another QDRO.
Promptly, upon receipt of a Domestic Relations Order ("Order") which may or
may not be "Qualified", the Plan Administrator shall notify the Participant
and any alternate payee(s) named in the Order of such receipt, and include a
copy of this paragraph 12.5. The Plan Administrator shall then forward the
Order to the Plan's legal counsel for an opinion as to whether or not the Order
is in fact "Qualified" as defined in Code Section 414(p). Within a reasonable
time after receipt of the Order, not to exceed 60 days, the Plan's legal counsel
shall make a determination as to its "Qualified" status and the Participant and
any alternate payee(s) shall be promptly notified in writing of the
determination.
If the "Qualified" status of the Order is in question, there will be a delay in
any payout to any payee including the Participant, until the status is resolved.
In such event, the Plan Administrator shall segregate the amount that would have
been payable to the alternate payee(s) if the Order had been deemed a QDRO. If
the Order is not Qualified, or the status is not resolved (for example, it has
been sent back to the Court for clarification or modification) within 18 months
beginning with the date the first payment would have to be made under the Order,
the Plan Administrator shall pay the segregated amounts plus interest to the
person(s) who would have been entitled to the benefits had there been no Order.
If a determination as to the Qualified status of the Order is made after the
18-month period described above, then the Order shall only be applied on a
prospective basis. if the Order is determined to be a QDRO, the Participant and
alternate payee(s) shall again be notified promptly after such determination.
Once an Order is deemed a QDRO, the Plan Administrator shall pay to the
alternate payee(s) all the amounts due under the QDRO, including segregated
amounts plus interest which may have accrued during a dispute as to the Order's
qualification.
ARTICLE XIII
INVESTMENTS
13.1 Fiduciary Standards The Trustee/Custodian shall invest and reinvest
principal and income in the same Fund in accordance with the investment
objectives established by the Employer, provided that:
(a) such investments are prudent under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 and the regulations thereunder,
(b) such investments are sufficiently diversified or otherwise insured
or guaranteed to minimize the risk of large losses, and
(c) such investments are similar to those which would be purchased by
another professional money manager for a like plan with similar
investment objectives.
13.2 Funding Arrangement The Employer shall, in the Adoption Agreement,
appoint the Sponsor or an individual or individuals to serve as Trustee of the
Fund. If the Sponsor is not named Trustee, the Sponsor will serve as Custodian
under the Plan as provided at paragraph 13.4 herein.
13.3 Investment Alternatives Of The Trustee As Trustee, the Sponsor shall
implement an investment program based on the Employer's investment objectives
and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In addition to powers
given by law, the Trustee may:
(a) invest the Fund in any form of property, including common and
preferred stocks, exchange traded put and call options, bonds, money
market instruments, mutual funds (including funds for which the
Trustee or its affiliates serve as investment advisor), savings
accounts, certificates of deposit, Treasury bills, insurance policies
and contracts, or in any other property, real or personal having a
ready market including securities issued by the Trustee and/or
affiliates of the Trustee. The Trustee may invest in its own deposits
and, if applicable, those of affiliates, which bear a reasonable
interest rate. No portion of any Qualified Voluntary Contribution, or
the earnings thereon, may be invested in life insurance contracts or,
as with any Participant-directed investment, in tangible personal
property characterized by the IRS as a collectible,
(b) transfer any assets of the Fund to a group or collective trust
established to permit the pooling of funds of separate pension and
profit-sharing trusts, provided the Internal Revenue Service has
ruled such group or collective trust to be qualified under Code
Section 401(a) and exempt under Code Section 501(a) (or the
applicable corresponding provision of any other Revenue Act) or to
any other common, collective, or commingled trust fund which has
been or may hereafter be established and maintained by the Trustee
and/or affiliates of the Trustee. Such commingling of assets of the
Fund with assets of other qualified trusts is specifically authorized,
and to the extent of the investment of the Fund in such a group or
collective trust, the terms of the instrument establishing the group or
collective trust shall be a part hereof as though set forth herein,
(c) invest up to 100% of the Fund in the common stock, debt obligations,
or any other security issued by the Employer or by an affiliate of
the Employer within the limitations provided under Sections 406,
407, and 408 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and further provided that such investment does not constitute a
prohibited transaction under Code Section 4975. Any such investment
in Employer securities shall only be made upon written direction of the
Employer who shall be solely responsible for propriety of such
investment,
(d) hold cash uninvested and deposit same with any banking or savings
institution, including its own banking department,
(e) join in or oppose the reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation,
sale or merger of corporations or properties, including those in
which it is interested as Trustee, upon such terms as it deems wise,
(f) hold investments in nominee or bearer form,
(g) vote proxies and, if appropriate, pass them on to any investment
manager which may have directed the investment in the equity giving
rise to the proxy,
(h) exercise all ownership rights with respect to assets held in the Fund.
13.4 Duties Of The Custodian As Custodian, the Sponsor shall be depository
of all or part of the Fund and shall, at the direction of the Trustee hold any
assets received from the Trustee or its agents. The Custodian shall receive and
deliver assets as instructed by the Trustee or its agents. To the extent that
the Custodian holds title to Plan assets and such ownership requires action on
the part of the registered owner, such action will be taken by the Custodian
only upon receipt of specific instructions from the Trustee or its agents.
Proxies shall be voted by or pursuant to the express direction of the Trustee or
authorized agent of the Trustee. As Custodian, the Sponsor shall not give any
investment advice, including any opinion on the prudence of directed
investments. The Employer and Trustee and the agents thereof assume all
responsibility for adherence to fiduciary standards under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and all amendments thereof, and
regulations thereunder.
13.5 Participant Loans If agreed upon by the Trustee and permitted by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement, a Plan Participant may make application
to the Employer requesting a loan from the Fund. The Employer shall have the
sole right to approve or disapprove a Participant's application provided that
loans shall be made available to all Participants on a reasonably equivalent
basis. Loans shall not be made available to highly compensated employees [as
defined in Code Section 414(q)] in an amount greater than the amount made
available to other Employees. Any loan granted hereunder shall be made subject
to the following rules:
(a) No loan, when aggregated with any outstanding Participant loan(s),
shall exceed the lesser of (i) $50,000 reduced by the excess, if any,
of the highest outstanding balance of loans during the one year period
ending on the day before the loan is made, over the outstanding balance
of loans from the Plan on the date the loan is made or (ii) one-half of
the fair market value of a Participant's vested account balance built
up from Employer Contributions, Voluntary Contributions, and Rollover
Contributions. If the Participant's vested account balance is $20,000
or less, the maximum loan shall not exceed the lesser of $10,000 or
100% of the Participant's vested account balance. For the purpose of
the above limitation, all loans from all plans of the Employer and
other members of a group of employers described in Code Sections
414(b), 414(c), and 414(m) are aggregated. An assignment or pledge of
any portion of the Participant's interest in the Plan and a loan,
pledge, or assignment with respect to any insurance contract purchased
under the Plan, will be treated as a loan under this paragraph.
(b) All applications must be made on forms provided by the Employer and
must be signed by the Participant.
(c) Any loan granted hereunder shall bear interest at a rate reasonable at
the time of application, considering the purpose of the loan and the
rate being charged by representative commercial banks in the local area
for a similar loan unless the Employer sets forth a different method
for determining loan interest rates in its loan procedures. The loan
agreement shall also provide that the payment of principal and interest
be amortized in level payments not less frequently than quarterly.
(d) The term of such loan shall not exceed five years except in the case
of a loan for the purpose of acquiring any house, apartment, condo-
minium, or mobile home (not used on a transient basis) which is used or
is to be used within a reasonable time as the principal residence of
the Participant. The term of such loan shall be determined by the
Employer considering the maturity dates quoted by representative
commercial banks in the local area for a similar loan.
(e) The principal and interest paid by a Participant on his or her loan
shall be credited to the Fund in the same manner as for any other Plan
investment. If elected in the Adoption Agreement, loans may be treated
as segregated investments of the individual Participants. This
provision is not available if its election will result in discrimin-
ation in operation of the Plan.
(f) If a Participant's loan application is approved by the Employer, such
Participant shall be required to sign a note, loan agreement, and
assignment of one-half of his or her interest in the Fund as collateral
for the loan. The Participant, except in the case of a profit-sharing
plan satisfying the requirements of paragraph 8.7 must obtain the
consent of his or her Spouse, if any, within the 90 day period before
the time his or her account balance is used as security for the loan.
A new consent is required if the account balance is used for any
renegotiation, extension, renewal or other revision of the loan,
including an increase in the amount thereof. The consent must be
written, must acknowledge the effect of the loan, and must be witnessed
by a plan representative or notary public. Such consent shall there-
after be binding with respect to the consenting Spouse or any
subsequent Spouse.
(g) If a valid Spousal consent has been obtained, then, notwithstanding any
other provision of this Plan, the portion of the Participant's vested
account balance used as a security interest held by the Plan by reason
of a loan outstanding to the Participant shall be taken into account
for purposes of determining the amount of the account balance payable
at the time of death or distribution, but only if the reduction is used
as repayment of the loan. If less than 100% of the Participant's
vested account balance (determined without regard to the preceding
sentence) is payable to the surviving Spouse, then the account balance
shall be adjusted by first reducing the vested account balance by the
amount of the security used as repayment of the loan, and then
determining the benefit payable to the Surviving Spouse.
(h) The Employer may also require additional collateral in order to
adequately secure the loan.
(i) A Participant's loan shall immediately become due and payable if such
Participant terminates employment for any reason or fails to make a
principal and/or interest payment as provided in the loan agreement.
If such Participant terminates employment, the Employer shall
immediately request payment of principal and interest on the loan. If
the Participant refuses payment following termination, the Employer
shall reduce the Participant's vested account balance by the remaining
principal and interest on his or her loan. If the Participant's vested
account balance is less than the amount due, the Employer shall take
whatever steps are necessary to collect the balance due directly from
the Participant. However, no foreclosure on the Participant's note or
attachment of the Participant's account balance will occur until a
distributable event occurs in the Plan. No loans will be made to
Owner-Employees (as defined in paragraph 1.51) or Shareholder-Employees
(as defined in paragraph 1.74), unless an exemption from the prohibited
transactions rules is first obtained from the Department of Labor.
13.6 Insurance Policies If agreed upon by the Trustee and approved by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Employees may elect the purchase of life
insurance policies under the Plan. If elected, the maximum annual premium for a
whole life policy shall not exceed 50% of the aggregate Employer contributions
allocated to the account of a Participant. For profit-sharing plans the 50%
test need only be applied against Employer contributions allocated in the last
two years. Whole life policies are policies with both nondecreasing death
benefits and nonincreasing premiums. The maximum annual premium for term
contracts or universal life policies and all other policies which are not whole
life shall not exceed 25% of aggregate Employer contributions allocated to the
account of a Participant. The two year rule for profit-sharing plans again
applies. The maximum annual premiums for a Participant with both a whole life
and a term contract or universal life policies shall be limited to one-half of
the whole life premiums plus the term premium but shall not exceed one-half of
the whole life premium plus the term premium shall not exceed 25% of the
aggregate Employer contributions allocated to the account of a Participant,
subject to the two year rule for profit-sharing plans. Any policies purchased
hereunder shall be held subject to the following rules:
(a) The Trustee shall be applicant and owner of any policies issued
hereunder.
(b) All policies or contracts purchased hereunder, shall be endorsed as
nontransferable, and must provide that proceeds will be payable to
the Trustee; however, the Trustee shall be required to pay over all
proceeds of the contracts to the Participant's Designated Beneficiary
in accordance with the distribution provisions of this Plan. Under no
circumstances shall the Trust retain any part of the proceeds.
(c) Each Participant shall be entitled to designate a beneficiary under
the terms of any contract issued hereunder; however, such designation
will be given to the Trustee which must be the named beneficiary on
any policy. Such designation shall remain in force, until revoked by
the Participant, by filing a new beneficiary form with the Trustee.
A Participant's Spouse will be the Designated Beneficiary of the
proceeds in all circumstances unless a Qualified Election has been
made in accordance with paragraph 8.4. The beneficiary of a deceased
Participant shall receive in addition to the proceeds of the
Participant's policy or policies, the amount credited to such
Participant's investment account.
(d) A Participant who is uninsurable or insurable at substandard rates,
may elect to receive a reduced amount of insurance, if available, or
may waive the purchase of any insurance.
(e) All dividends or other returns received on any policy purchased
hereunder, shall be applied to reduce the next premium due on
such policy, or if no further premium is due, such amount shall be
credited to the Fund as part of the account of the Participant for
whom the policy is held.
(f) If Employer contributions are inadequate to pay all premiums on all
insurance policies, the Trustee may, at the option of the Employer,
utilize other amounts remaining in each Participant's account to pay
the premiums on his respective policy or policies, allow the policies
to lapse, reduce the policies to a level at which they may be main-
tained, or borrow against the policies on a prorated basis, provided
that the borrowing does not discriminate in favor of the policies on
the lives of Officers, Shareholders, and highly compensated Employees.
(g) On retirement or termination of employment of a Participant, the
Employer shall direct the Trustee to cash surrender the Participant's
policy and credit the proceeds to his or her account for distribution
under the terms of the Plan. However, before so doing, the Trustee
shall first offer to transfer ownership of the policy to the
Participant in exchange for payment, by the Participant of the cash
value of the policy at the time of transfer. Such payment shall be
credited to the Participant's account for distribution under the terms
of the Plan. All distributions resulting from the application of this
paragraph shall be subject to the Joint and Survivor Annuity Rules of
Article VIII, if applicable.
(h) The Employer shall be solely responsible to see that these insurance
provisions are administered properly and that if there is any conflict
between the provisions of this Plan and any insurance contracts
issued hereunder that the terms of this Plan will control.
13.7 Employer Investment Direction If agreed upon by the Trustee and
approved by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, the Employer shall have the
right to direct the Trustee with respect to investments of the Fund, may appoint
an investment manager (registered as an investment advisor under the Investment
Advisors Act of 1940) to direct investments, or may give the Trustee sole
investment management responsibility. The Employer may purchase and sell
interests in a registered investment company (i.e., mutual funds) for which the
Sponsor, its parent, affiliates, or successors, may serve as investment advisor
and receive compensation from the registered investment company for its services
as investment advisor. The Employer shall advise the Trustee in writing
regarding the retention of investment powers, the appointment of an investment
manager, or the delegation of investment powers to the Trustee. Any investment
directive hereunder shall be made in writing by the Employer or investment
manager, as the case may be. In the absence of such written directive, the
Trustee shall automatically invest the available cash in its discretion in an
appropriate interim investment until specific investment directions are
received. Such instructions regarding the delegation of investment
responsibility shall remain in force until revoked or amended in writing. The
Trustee shall not be responsible for the propriety of any directed investment
made hereunder and shall not be required to consult with or advise the Employer
regarding the investment quality of any directed investment held hereunder. If
the Employer fails to designate an investment manager, the Trustee shall have
full investment authority. If the Employer does not issue investment
directions, the Trustee shall have authority to invest the Fund in its sole
discretion. While the Employer may direct the Trustee with respect to Plan
investments, the Employer may not:
(a) borrow from the Fund or pledge any of the assets of the Fund
as security for a loan,
(b) buy property or assets from or sell property or assets to the Fund,
(c) charge any fee for services rendered to the Fund, or
(d) receive any services from the Fund on a preferential basis.
13.8 Employee Investment Direction If agreed to by the Trustee and approved
by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, Participants shall be given the
option to direct the investment of their personal contributions and their share
of the Employer's contribution among alternative investment funds established as
part of the overall Fund. Unless otherwise specified by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement, such investment funds shall be restricted to funds offered
by the Trustee. In this connection, a Participant's right to direct the
investment of any contribution shall apply only to selection of the desired
fund. The following rules shall apply to the administration of such funds.
(a) At the time an Employee becomes eligible for the Plan, he or she
shall complete an investment designation form stating the percentage
of his or her contributions to be invested in the available funds.
(b) A Participant may change his or her election with respect to
future contributions by filing a new investment designation form
with the Employer in accordance with the procedures established
by the Plan Administrator.
(c) A Participant may elect to transfer all or part of his or her balance
from one investment fund to another by filing an investment designation
form with the Employer in accordance with the procedures established
by the Plan Administrator.
(d) The Employer shall be responsible when transmitting Employee and
Employer contributions to show the dollar amount to be credited to
each investment fund for each Employee.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, neither the Trustee, nor
the Employer, nor any fiduciary of the Plan shall be liable to the
Participant or any of his or her beneficiaries for any loss resulting
from action taken at the direction of the Participant.
ARTICLE XIV
TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
14.1 Applicability Of Rules If the Plan is or becomes Top-Heavy in any
Plan Year beginning after 1983, the provisions of this Article will supersede
any conflicting provisions in the Plan or Adoption Agreement.
14.2 Minimum Contribution Notwithstanding any other provision in the
Employer's Plan, for any Plan Year in which the Plan is Top-Heavy or Super Top-
Heavy, the aggregate Employer contributions and forfeitures allocated on behalf
of any Participant (without regard to any Social Security contribution) under
this Plan and any other Defined Contribution Plan of the Employer shall be
lesser of 3% of such Participant's Compensation or the largest percentage of
Employer contributions and forfeitures, as a percentage of the first $200,000,
as adjusted under Code Section 415(d), of the Key Employee's Compensation,
allocated on behalf of any Key Employee for that year.
Each Participant who is employed by the Employer on the last day of the Plan
Year shall be entitled to receive an allocation of the Employer's minimum
contribution for such Plan Year. The minimum allocation applies even though
under other Plan provisions the Participant would not otherwise be entitled to
receive an allocation, or would have received a lesser allocation for the year
because the Participant fails to make Mandatory Contributions to the Plan, the
Participant's Compensation is less than a stated amount, or the Participant
fails to complete 1,000 Hours of Service (or such lesser number designated by
the Employer in the Adoption Agreement) during the Plan Year. A Paired profit-
sharing plan designated to provide the minimum Top-Heavy contribution must
do so regardless of profits. An Employer may make the minimum Top-Heavy
contribution available to all Participants or just non-Key Employees.
For purposes of computing the minimum allocation, Compensation shall mean
Compensation as defined in paragraph 1.12(c) of the Plan.
The Top-Heavy minimum contribution does not apply to any Participant to the
extent the Participant is covered under any other plan(s) of the Employer and
the Employer has provided in Section 11 of the Adoption Agreement that the
minimum allocation or benefit requirements applicable to Top-Heavy Plans will
be met in the other plan(s).
If a Key Employee makes an Elective Deferral or has an allocation of Matching
Contributions made to his or her account, a Top-Heavy minimum will be required
for non-Key Employees who are Participants, however, neither Elective Deferrals
by nor Matching Contributions to non-Key Employees may be taken into account for
purposes of satisfying the top-heavy Minimum Contribution requirement.
14.3 Minimum Vesting For any Plan Year in which this Plan is Top-Heavy,
the minimum vesting schedule elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement
will automatically apply to the Plan. If the vesting schedule selected by the
Employer in the Adoption Agreement is less liberal than the allowable schedule,
the schedule will automatically be modified. If the vesting schedule under the
Employer's Plan shifts in or out of the Top-Heavy schedule for any Plan Year,
such shift is an amendment to the vesting schedule and the election in paragraph
9.8 of the Plan applies. The minimum vesting schedule applies to all accrued
benefits within the meaning of Code Section 411(a)(7) except those attributable
to Employee contributions, including benefits accrued before the effective date
of Code Section 416 and benefits accrued before the Plan became Top-Heavy.
Further, no reduction in vested benefits may occur in the event the Plan's
status as Top-Heavy changes for any Plan Year. However, this paragraph does not
apply to the account balances of any Employee who does not have an Hour of
Service after the Plan initially becomes Top-Heavy and such Employee's account
balance attributable to Employer contributions and forfeitures will be
determined without regard to this paragraph.
14.4 Limitations On Allocations In any Plan Year in which the Top-Heavy
Ratio exceeds 90% (i.e., the Plan becomes Super Top-Heavy), the denominators of
the Defined Benefit Fraction (as defined in paragraph 1.16) and Defined
Contribution Fraction (as defined in paragraph 1. 19) shall be computed using
100 % of the dollar limitation instead of 125%.
ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
15.1 Amendment By Sponsor The Sponsor may amend any or all provisions of
this Plan and Trust/Custodial Account at any time without obtaining the approval
or consent of any Employer which has adopted this Plan and Trust/Custodial
Account provided that no amendment shall authorize or permit any part of the
corpus or income of the Fund to be used for or diverted to purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their beneficiaries, or eliminate
an optional form of distribution. In the case of a mass-submitted plan, the
mass-submitter shall amend the Plan on behalf of the Sponsor.
15.2 Amendment By Employer The Employer may amend any option in the Adoption
Agreement, and may include language as permitted in the Adoption Agreement,
(a) to satisfy Code Section 415, or
(b) to avoid duplication of minimums under Code Section 416 because
of the required aggregation of multiple plans.
The Employer may add certain model amendments published by the Internal Revenue
Service which specifically provide that their adoption will not cause the Plan
to be treated as an individually designed plan for which the Employer must
obtain a separate determination letter.
If the Employer amends the Plan and Trust/Custodial Account other than as
provided above, the Employer's Plan shall no longer participate in this Proto-
type Plan and will be considered an individually designed plan.
15.3 Termination Employers shall have the right to terminate their Plans
upon 60 days notice in writing to the Trustee/Custodian. If the Plan is
terminated, partially terminated, or if there is a complete discontinuance of
contributions under a profit-sharing plan maintained by the Employer, all
amounts credited to the accounts of Participants shall vest and become
nonforfeitable. In the event of a partial termination, only those who are
affected by such partial termination shall be fully vested. In the event of
termination, the Employer shall direct the Trustee/Custodian with respect to the
distribution of accounts to or for the exclusive benefit of Participants or
their beneficiaries. The Trustee/Custodian shall dispose of the Fund in
accordance with the written directions of the Plan Administrator, provided that
no liquidation of assets and payment of benefits, (or provision therefor), shall
actually be made by the Trustee/Custodian until after it is established by the
Employer in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee/Custodian, that the applicable
requirements, if any, of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and
the Internal Revenue Code governing the termination of employee benefit plans,
have been or are being, complied with, or that appropriate authorizations,
waivers, exemptions, or variances have been, or are being obtained.
15.4 Qualification Of Employer's Plan If the adopting Employer fails to
attain or retain internal Revenue Service qualification, such Employer's Plan
shall no longer participate in this Prototype Plan and will be considered an
individually designed plan.
15.5 Mergers And Consolidations
(a) In the case of any merger or consolidation of the Employer's Plan
with, or transfer of assets or liabilities of the Employer's Plan to,
any other plan, Participants in the Employer's Plan shall be entitled
to receive benefits immediately after the merger, consolidation, or
transfer which are equal to or greater than the benefits they would
have been entitled to receive immediately before the merger,
consolidation, or transfer if the Plan had then terminated.
(b) Any corporation into which the Trustee/Custodian or any successor
trustee/custodian may be merged or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to
which the Trustee/Custodian or any successor trustee/custodian may be a
party, or any corporation to which all or substantially all the trust
business of the Trustee/Custodian or any successor trustee/custodian
may be transferred, shall be the successor of such Trustee/Custodian
without the filing of any instrument or performance of any further act,
before any court.
15.6 Resignation And Removal The Trustee/Custodian may resign by written
notice to the Employer which shall be effective 60 days after delivery. The
Employer may discontinue its participation in this Prototype Plan and
Trust/Custodial Account effective upon 60 days written notice to the Sponsor.
In such event the Employer shall prior to the effective date thereof, amend the
Plan to eliminate any reference to this Prototype Plan and Trust/Custodial
Account and appoint a successor trustee or custodian or arrange for another
funding agent. The Trustee/Custodian shall deliver the Fund to its successor
on the effective date of the resignation or removal or as soon thereafter as
practicable, provided that this shall not waive any lien the Trustee/Custodian
may have upon the Fund for its compensation or expenses. If the Employer
fails to amend the Plan and appoint a successor trustee, custodian, or other
funding agent within the said 60 days, or such longer period as the Trustee/
Custodian may specify in writing, the Plan shall be deemed individually
designed and the Employer shall be deemed the successor trustee/custodian.
The Employer must then obtain its own determination letter.
15.7 Qualification Of Prototype The Sponsor intends that this Prototype
Plan will meet the requirements of the Code as a qualified Prototype
Retirement Plan and Trust/Custodial Account. Should the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue or any delegate of the Commissioner at any time determine
that the Plan and Trust/Custodial Account fails to meet the requirements of
the Code, the Sponsor will amend the Plan and Trust/Custodial Account
to maintain its qualified status.
ARTICLE XVI
GOVERNING LAW
Construction, validity and administration of the Prototype Plan and
Trust/Custodial Account, and any Employer Plan and Trust/Custodial Account as
embodied in the Prototype document and accompanying Adoption Agreement, shall be
governed by Federal law to the extent applicable and to the extent not
applicable by the laws of the State/Commonwealth in which the principal office
of the Sponsor is located.
MODEL AMENDMENT
Revenue Procedure 93-47
(This model amendment allows Participants receiving distribution from
safe-harbored profit sharing plans to waive the 30-day period required under the
Unemployment Compensation Act of 1992. Non-safe harbored plans must still
provide notice not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days prior to the
distribution.)
If a distribution is one to which Section 401(a)(11) and 417 of the Internal
Revenue Code do not apply, such distribution may commence less than 30 days
after the notice required under Section 1.411(a)-ll(c) of the Income Tax
Regulations is given, provided that:
(1) the plan administrator clearly informs the Participant that the
Participant has a right to a period of at least 30 days after receiving
the notice to consider the decision of whether or not to elect a
distribution (and, if applicable, a particular distribution option),
and
(2) the Participant, after receiving the notice, affirmatively elects a
distribution.
PART I - SECTION 401(a)(17) LIMITATION
[MAY BE ADOPTED BY DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
AND DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS]
In addition to other applicable limitations set forth in the Plan, and
notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, for Plan Years
beginning on or after January 1, 1994, the annual Compensation of each Employee
taken into account under the Plan shall not exceed the OBRA '93 annual
compensation limit. The OBRA '93 annual compensation limit is $150,000, as
adjusted by the Commissioner for increases in the cost of living in accordance
with Section 401(a)(17)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The cost-of-living in
effect for a calendar year applies to any period, not exceeding 12 months, over
which Compensation is determined (determination period) beginning in such
calendar year. If a determination period consists of fewer than 12 months, the
OBRA '93 annual compensation limit will be multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of months in the determination period, and the
denominator of which is 12.
For Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, any reference in
this Plan to the limitation under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code shall mean the
OBRA '93 annual compensation limit set forth in this provision.
If Compensation for any prior determination period is taken into
account in determining an Employee's benefits accruing in the current Plan
Year, the Compensation for that prior determination period is subject to the
OBRA'93 annual compensation limit in effect for that prior determination period.
For this purpose, for determination periods beginning before the first day of
the first Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1994, the OBRA '93 annual
compensation limit is $150,000.