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Exhibit 10(c)
P. H. GLATFELTER COMPANY
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective April 23, 1998)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I PURPOSE ................................................... 1
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS ............................................... 2
ARTICLE III ELIGIBILITY FOR AND FORFEITURE OF PLAN
PARTICIPATION ............................................. 5
ARTICLE IV RESTORATION PENSION ....................................... 6
ARTICLE V FINAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION PENSION ........................ 9
ARTICLE VI FUNDING .................................................. 11
ARTICLE VII ADMINISTRATION ........................................... 12
ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION ................................ 13
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS ............................................ 14
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P.H. GLATFELTER COMPANY
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 23, 1998)
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
1.1. Purpose. The Plan was originally established, effective January
1, 1988, for the purpose of providing certain officers or senior management
employees of P.H. Glatfelter Company (the "Company") with benefits which would
otherwise be provided under the Company's qualified defined benefit retirement
plan (now known as the P.H. Glatfelter Company Retirement Plan for Salaried
Employees ("Retirement Plan")) but for reductions or restrictions to such
benefits required by Federal law. Effective as of April 23, 1998, the Plan is
amended and restated in its entirety.
As restated the Plan consists of two benefits. The first benefit,
known as the "Restoration Pension", provides an additional pension benefit based
on the Participant's pension benefit earned under the terms of the Retirement
Plan, which is intended to restore that portion of the Retirement Plan's benefit
which cannot be paid from that plan due to legal limitations on the compensation
and total benefits payable thereunder.
The second benefit, known as the "Final Average Compensation Pension"
or "FAC Pension", pays a monthly pension benefit equal to a designated
percentage of the participant's Final Average Compensation (as defined herein),
offset by the actuarially equivalent value of the Participant's benefits under
the Retirement Plan and certain Company-sponsored nonqualified defined benefit
pension arrangements, including (if applicable) the Restoration Pension.
It is intended that this Plan will satisfy the requirements of an
unfunded "top hat" deferred compensation plan as described in sections 201(2),
301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. Consequently, participation shall be limited
to individuals who, in the determination of the Committee, are management
employees or who are highly compensated employees for purposes of the foregoing
provisions of ERISA.
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ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1. "Accrued Benefit" means, as of any applicable date of reference,
the amount of the Participant's Restoration Pension or Final Average
Compensation Pension, as the case may be, which has been earned to such date
payable (in the case of the Restoration Pension) in the normal form of annuity
payment commencing as of his normal retirement date under the terms of the
Retirement Plan or (in the case of the FAC Pension) in the form of the Joint and
75% Surviving Spouse's Annuity commencing as of his Normal Retirement Date (or,
in each case, immediately if the Participant has passed his normal retirement
date and is still an Employee), and calculated in accordance with Article IV or
Article V, as the case may be. In determining a Participant's Accrued Benefit as
of a particular date, his compensation and/or service credit earned after such
date shall not be taken into account.
2.2. "Benefit Commencement Date" means, for any Participant, the date
as of which his initial benefit payment is due. "Benefit Commencement Date" also
means, with respect to the Participant's Spouse, the date on which the
Survivor's Benefit under Section 5.5 commences to the Spouse.
2.3. "Benefit Years" means, subject to Section 5.4, the Participant's
Benefit Years as that term is defined for purposes of the Retirement Plan;
provided, however, that if the Participant had become a covered employee under
the Retirement Plan by reason of transfer from hourly-paid service with the
Company or an affiliate on or after January 1, 1992, Benefit Years shall also be
credited with respect to his service as an hourly employee prior to such
transfer.
2.4. "Board" means the Board of Directors of P.H. Glatfelter Company.
2.5. "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following
events, directly or indirectly or in one or more series of transactions: 2.6.
The Company enters into an agreement of reorganization, merger or consolidation
pursuant to which it is not the surviving company, 2.7. the Company sells
substantially all its assets, or (c) in excess of 51% of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company is acquired by a single
purchaser or a group of related purchasers, other than a purchaser or a group of
purchasers who are descendants of, or entities controlled by descendants of,
P.H. Glatfelter, in any case other than in a transaction in which the surviving
corporation or the purchaser is the Company or a majority-owned subsidiary of
the Company.
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2.6 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.7 "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Company's
Board of Directors.
2.8 "Company" means the P.H. Glatfelter Company.
2.9 "Compensation" means, with respect to each calendar month included
as part of a Participant's Final Average Compensation, the sum of (a) his base
compensation for such month and (b) that portion of his annual incentive and
profit sharing earnings which is attributable to the Participant's performance
of services during such month, as determined by the Committee.
2.10 "Confidential Information" means information which is not
generally known to the public, which is used, developed, or obtained by the
Company (or its affiliates) relating to its business and the businesses of its
clients or customers including, without limitation: products or services; fees,
costs and pricing structures; marketing information; advertising and pricing
strategies; analyses and reports; computer software including operating systems,
applications and program listings; flow charts; manuals and documentation;
databases; accounting and business methods; inventions and new developments and
methods, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to
practice; all copyrightable works; the Company's existing and prospective
clients and customers and their confidential information; existing and
prospective client and customer lists and other data related thereto; billing
and payment records; and all similar and related information in whatever form.
2.11 "Disability" means a disabling illness or injury which causes the
Participant to be absent from work and during which the Participant receives
payments under the Company's long-term disability plan.
2.12 "Early Retirement Date" means the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the Participant's attainment of age 55 and
retirement from employment with the Company and all affiliates; provided that
such date shall not be later than his Normal Retirement Date.
2.13 "Employee" means an officer or senior management employee of the
Company.
2.14 "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
2.15 "Final Average Compensation" means, with respect to the Final
Average Compensation Pension for any Participant, the annualized average of the
Participant's Compensation for the
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sixty (60) calendar months immediately preceding his retirement, as determined
by the Committee. In determining a Participant's Final Average Compensation, the
Committee may estimate the Participant's incentive and/or profit sharing
earnings with respect to his final year or partial year of employment. In such
event, after the Participant's actual Compensation is known, the amount of the
Participant's monthly FAC Pension shall be adjusted to reflect such actual
Compensation at such time and in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate.
2.16 "Final Average Compensation Pension" or "FAC Pension" means the
pension benefit described in Article V of this Plan.
2.17 "Joint and 75% Surviving Spouse's Annuity" means, with respect
to the Final Average Compensation Pension, a joint and survivor annuity with the
Participant's Spouse, with monthly installments payable to the Participant for
his lifetime in the amount determined under Section 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4, as
applicable, and with seventy-five percent (75%) of the amount of such monthly
installment payable after the death of the Participant to the Spouse of such
Participant, if then living, for the life of such surviving Spouse.
2.18 "Normal Retirement Date" means the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the Participant's attainment of age 62,
provided that he has retired from employment with the Company and all
affiliates.
2.19 "MIP" means the Company's Management Incentive Plan, as it may
be amended from time to time.
2.20 "Participant" means an Employee selected by the Committee for
participation in the Plan.
2.21 "Plan" means the P.H. Glatfelter Company Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan.
2.22 "Retirement Plan" means the P.H. Glatfelter Company Retirement
Plan for Salaried Employees, as it may be amended from time to time.
2.23 "Restoration Pension" means the pension benefit described in
Article IV of this Plan.
2.24 "Spouse" means the individual, if any, to whom the Participant
is legally married on the Participant's Benefit Commencement Date, or, with
respect to the Survivor's Benefit under Section 5.5, on the date of the
Participant's death.
2.25 "Trust" means the trust under the Trust Agreement executed
January 12, 1990 between the Company and Provident
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National Bank as Trustee, or any successor "rabbi" trust agreement conforming to
the requirements described at Section 6.1(b), as may be adopted by the Company
to hold the assets used to pay Plan benefits.
ARTICLE III
ELIGIBILITY FOR AND FORFEITURE OF PLAN PARTICIPATION
3.1. Designation of Participant. An Employee shall become a
Participant in this Plan if selected for participation by the Committee, in its
sole and absolute discretion. The Committee shall designate whether a
Participant is eligible for the Final Average Compensation Pension and/or the
Restoration Pension. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) unless specifically
designated by the Committee as eligible for the FAC Pension, a Participant shall
be eligible only for the Restoration Pension, and (b) no Employee shall be
designated as eligible for the FAC Pension who is also eligible for the
Company's Supplemental Management Pension Plan (part of the Plan of Supplemental
Retirement Benefits for the Management Committee).
3.2. Cessation of Participation; Termination of Benefit Accruals. (a)
A Participant shall cease to be a Participant and shall forfeit the right to his
Accrued Benefit under the Plan if, prior to the time he attains age 55, he
voluntarily terminates employment with the Company and all affiliates other than
by reason of Disability or death.
(b) The Committee shall have the right, in its sole and absolute
discretion, to terminate the accrual of benefits for a Participant at any time
prior to his Benefit Commencement Date; provided however, that such termination
of benefit accruals shall be prospective only and shall not affect the right of
such Participant, subject to the application of subsections 3.2(a), (c) and (d),
to receive a Restoration Pension or FAC Pension, as the case may be, based on
his Accrued Benefit determined as of the date benefit accruals are terminated.
(c) If a Participant who is receiving, or may be entitled to
receive, a benefit hereunder should, without the prior consent of the Committee,
(1) become an employee, officer or a director of a competitor of the Company, or
(2) use or disclose Confidential Information (except as required in the
performance of the Participant's duties with the Company), then payments
thereafter payable hereunder to such Participant or such Participant's
beneficiary will be forfeited and neither the Company nor the Plan will have any
further obligation hereunder to such Participant or his beneficiary. The
Committee in its sole and absolute discretion shall determine if another entity
or person is a "competitor" for purposes of this subsection.
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(d) Except as provided in Section 3.3, the Committee shall have
broad, sole and absolute discretion under Section 3.1 and subsections (b) and
(c) hereof, including but not limited to determining who will become a
Participant in the Plan, when participation in the Plan commences and ceases and
when benefits accruals commence or terminate.
3.3. Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Article III or any other portion of the Plan, when a Change in
Control occurs, the right to receive benefits under this Plan for each Employee
who is a Participant in the Plan on the date such change occurs shall become
fixed and nonforfeitable with respect to his Accrued Benefit on such date, and
shall not be subsequently divested. All discretion of the Committee regarding
the forfeiture or termination of a Participant's participation or benefits as
provided under Section 3.2 shall be eliminated upon such Change in Control, and
the Applicable Percentage of each Participant's Final Average Compensation
Pension (see Section 5.1(b)) shall be fixed at fifty-five percent (55%). Also,
within five (5) days following such Change in Control the Company shall fund the
Trust with sufficient assets to pay the Accrued Benefits of all Participants
under the Plan.
ARTICLE IV
RESTORATION PENSION
4.1. Amount of Restoration Pension. A Participant's Restoration
Pension shall be equal to:
(a) (1) except as provided under paragraph (2), the benefit that would
have been payable to the Participant under the Retirement Plan calculated
(A) on the basis of his compensation and final average
compensation (each as defined in the Retirement Plan but including for any
period that portion of the Participant's incentive award under the MIP which he
has elected to defer in accordance with paragraph 7 of the MIP (or any
successor)) determined without regard to the limit on annual compensation under
section 401(a)(17) of the Code, and
(B) without regard to any applicable maximum benefit
limitation under section 415 of the Code;
(2) with respect to any Participant who was a participant in the
Pension Plan of P.H. Glatfelter Company and The Glatfelter Pulp Wood Company
(the "Spring Grove Plan") which plan was merged into the Retirement Plan, whose
benefit under such plan is determined under the "Modified Grandfathered Accrued
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Benefit" for 1970 Spring Grove participants, as defined in the Spring Grove
Plan, the benefit that would have been payable to the Participant under the
Spring Grove Plan as in effect as of December 31, 1988 calculated
(A) on the basis of base earnings and final average excess
earnings (each as defined in the Retirement Plan but including, with respect to
the determination of the Participant's excess earnings for any period, that
portion of the Participant's incentive award under the MIP which he has elected
to defer in accordance with paragraph 7 of the MIP (or any successor))
determined without regard to the limit on annual compensation under section
401(a)(17) of the Code and
(B) without regard to any applicable maximum benefit
limitation under section 415 of the Code; reduced by
(b) the benefit payable to the Participant under the Retirement Plan;
both determined as of the date the Restoration Pension will commence in
accordance with Section 4.2 and with respect to the form of payments elected by
Participant in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Plan, based on the actuarial
assumptions used to calculate actuarial equivalences or the reduction factors
for early commencement of benefits, as applicable, under the Retirement Plan.
4.2. Payment of Restoration Pension. The Restoration Pension shall be
paid to a Participant in accordance with Section 4.3 within thirty (30) days
following the later of (a) his retirement or other separation from service with
the Company and all affiliates or (b) the termination of benefits under the
Supplemental Management Pension Plan; provided, however, that if the Participant
separates from service before age 65, such amount shall be paid in accordance
with 4.3 within thirty (30) days following such later specified time, but at or
before his attainment of age 65, as the Participant may have elected at the time
the Participant first became a Participant.
4.3. Form of Payments. (a) At the time a Participant first becomes a
Participant he shall elect whether the Restoration Pension shall be paid in a
single sum (equal to its present value determined in accordance with subsection
4.3(c)) or in any other form of distribution permitted under the Retirement
Plan. The Company shall pay the Participant his Restoration Pension in the
manner he has elected; provided, however, that the Company in its sole
discretion may pay the Restoration Pension in a single sum distribution as soon
as practicable after the Participant's separation from service if the present
value of his Restoration Pension is not more than $20,000 at the time the
Participant separates from service; provided further, that a
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Participant who has elected a form of payment that includes a survivor annuity,
and who is not married as of his Benefit Commencement Date or who ceases to be
married within one year after such date, will receive (or will thereafter
receive, as the case may be) his Restoration Pension in the form of a single
life annuity.
(b) If a Participant fails to elect a form of payment and the
present value of his Restoration Pension exceeds $20,000, his Restoration
Pension will be paid in the form of (1) a joint and 50% survivor annuity if he
is married on his Benefit Commencement Date or (2) a single life annuity if he
is unmarried on such date; provided, however, that a Participant receiving a
joint and 50% survivor annuity who ceases to be married within one year after
his Benefit Commencement Date will thereafter receive his Restoration Pension in
the form of a single life annuity.
(c) The present value of a Participant's Restoration Pension
payable in a single sum in accordance with this Section 4.3 shall be determined
by the Committee according to the actuarial assumptions used at such time by the
Plan's actuary for valuing the Plan's benefits for financial accounting and
disclosure purposes.
4.4. Death. In the event that an Employee designated as a Participant
with respect to the Restoration Pension should die before the Benefit
Commencement Date thereof and is survived by his Spouse, the Spouse shall
receive a Death Benefit in the same form and at the same time that any death
benefit is paid to the surviving Spouse under the Retirement Plan. The amount of
any Death Benefit under this Section 4.4 shall be
(a) the amount which would have been payable to the surviving
Spouse under the Retirement Plan calculated on the basis of the Participant's
compensation and final average compensation (or, if applicable, base earnings
and final average excess earnings), as defined in the Retirement Plan subject to
the modifications described in Section 4.1 of this Plan, determined without
regard to the annual limit on compensation under section 401(a)(17) of the Code
and without regard to any applicable maximum benefit limitation under section
415 of the Code, reduced by
(b) the amount payable to the surviving Spouse under the
Retirement Plan
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ARTICLE V
FINAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION PENSION
5.1. Amount of Final Average Compensation Pension.
(a) The annual amount of a Participant's Final Average Compensation
Pension, payable to the Participant on a monthly basis beginning as of his
Normal Retirement Date, shall be equal to
(1) the Applicable Percentage (not to exceed fifty-five percent
(55%)) of the Participant's Final Average Compensation, reduced by
(2) the Offset Amount.
(b) For purposes of the foregoing, a Participant's "Applicable
Percentage" shall be fifty-five percent (55%) multiplied by a fraction, not to
exceed 1, the denominator of which is 27.5 and the numerator of which is the
Participant's Benefit Years determined as of his Benefit Commencement Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the happening of a Change in Control, the
Participant's Applicable Percentage shall be fifty-five percent (55%) without
regard to his Benefit Years at such time.
(c) For purposes of the foregoing, a Participant's "Offset Amount"
means the sum of (1) the annual amount of the Participant's pension payable from
the Retirement Plan, plus (2) the annual amount, if any, of the Participant's
pension payable from any other qualified or nonqualified defined benefit pension
plan or arrangement sponsored by the Company or any affiliate, including without
limitation the Restoration Pension and/or the Company's qualified defined
benefit plan for hourly employees. The Offset Amount shall be determined by
assuming that each benefit under each plan or arrangement which comprises the
Offset Amount is paid beginning at the same time as the Final Average
Compensation Pension and in the form of a joint and 75% survivor annuity with
the Participant's Spouse, and shall be valued by using the actuarial assumptions
used to calculate actuarial equivalences or the reduction factors for early
commencement, as applicable, under such plan or arrangement, if any, or
otherwise under the Retirement Plan. If the Participant has no Spouse, the
Offset Amount payable in the form of a joint and 75% survivor annuity shall be
determined by assuming the Participant had a spouse of the same age.
5.2. Early Retirement. A Participant who retires from employment with
the Company and all affiliates on or after attaining age 55 but prior to age 62
will receive a Final Average Compensation Pension beginning as of his Early
Retirement Date.
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The amount of the Participant's FAC Pension shall be equal to the amount
described at subsection 5.1(a)(l), determined as of his Early Retirement Date
but reduced by 2.5% for each year (0.208% for each month) by which his Early
Retirement Date precedes his Normal Retirement Date, reduced by the
Participant's Offset Amount.
5.3. Late Retirement. A Participant who retires from employment with
the Company and all affiliates after his Normal Retirement Date will receive a
Final Average Compensation Pension beginning as of the first day of the calendar
month coincident with or next following the month in which he retires. Such
pension shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.1 taking into account
all Benefit Years earned up until his Benefit Commencement Date.
5.4. Disability. In the event an Employee designated as a Participant
with respect to the Final Average Compensation Pension suffers a Disability
prior to his Normal Retirement Date, he shall be eligible to begin to receive
his FAC Pension beginning as of his Normal Retirement Date. The Participant may
make a written request to the Committee or its delegate to begin to receive his
FAC Pension as of his Early Retirement Date, provided he has retired from
employment with the Company and all affiliates and is no longer eligible for
long-term disability payments. Such written request must be received by the
Committee at least 60 days prior to the Participant's intended Benefit
Commencement Date and is subject to the approval of the Committee (or its
delegate) in its sole discretion. The amount of the Participant's FAC Pension
shall be calculated on the basis of his Final Average Compensation determined on
the date his Disability commenced, and actual and projected Benefit Years
following the onset of his Disability until the first to occur of (a) the
cessation of his Disability (including by reason of a determination that he is
no longer eligible for payments under the Company's long-term disability plan)
or (b) his Benefit Commencement Date. If the Participant's Benefit Commencement
Date precedes his Normal Retirement Date, the amount of his FAC Pension shall be
reduced to reflect its early commencement in accordance with Section 5.2.
5.5. Survivor's Benefit. 5.6. In the event that an Employee designated
as a Participant with respect to the Final Average Compensation Pension should
die before his Benefit Commencement Date and is survived by his Spouse, the
Spouse shall receive a Survivor's Benefit. The Survivor's Benefit shall be a
monthly pension for life and shall begin as of the first day of the month
following the month of the Participant's death, provided the Committee is given
timely notice of the Participant's death.
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(b) The Survivor's Benefit shall be the benefit the Spouse
would have received if the Participant (1) had separated from service on the
date of his death (if he is then an Employee), (2) had survived to the Benefit
Commencement Date determined under paragraph (a) above, (3) had then begun to
receive an immediate FAC Pension in the form of a Joint and 75% Surviving
Spouse's Annuity and (4) died on the following day. If the Survivor's Benefit
begins to be paid before what would have been the Participant's Normal
Retirement Date, the amount of the Final Average Compensation Pension on which
the Survivor's Benefit is based shall be reduced as set forth in Section 5.2 to
reflect its early commencement, but such reduction shall not take into account
any period of time before what would have been the Participant's 55th birthday.
5.6 Form of Benefit. 5.6.3. Except as provided in subsections (b) or
(c), the only form of benefit payable under this Plan with respect to the Final
Average Compensation Pension shall be the Joint and 75% Surviving Spouse's
Annuity (or, in the case of the Survivor's Benefit under Section 5.5, a single
life annuity based on the survivor portion of a Joint and 75% Surviving Spouse's
Annuity.) If the Participant is not married as of his Benefit Commencement Date,
his monthly pension benefit will end as of the month in which his death occurs,
and will not be adjusted to reflect that there is no survivor benefit payable.
(b) The Participant may make a written request to the Committee or
its delegate to receive payment of the present value of his FAC Pension in a
single sum. Such written request must be received by the Committee at least 60
days prior to the Participant's termination of employment and is subject to the
approval of the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.
(c) The Committee may in its sole discretion pay the present value
of a Participant's FAC Pension in a single sum as soon as practicable following
the Participant's termination of employment if such present value is not more
than $20,000 at the time the Participant terminates employment.
(d) For purposes of subsections (b) and (c) above, the present
value of a Participant's FAC Pension, as of any date of reference, shall be
determined by the Committee according to the actuarial assumptions used at such
time by the Plan's actuary for valuing the Plan's benefits for financial
accounting and disclosure purposes.
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ARTICLE VI
FUNDING
6.1 Source of Funding. 8. This Plan shall be unfunded, and payment of
benefits hereunder shall be made from the general assets of the Company. Any
such asset which may be set aside, earmarked or identified as being intended for
the provision of benefits hereunder shall remain an asset of the Company and
shall be subject to the claims of its general creditors. Each Participant shall
be a general creditor of the Company to the extent of the value of his or her
benefit accrued hereunder, but he shall have no right, title, or interest in any
specific asset that the Company may set aside or designate as intended to be
applied to the payment of benefits under this Plan.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its
discretion, establish an irrevocable grantor trust for the purpose of funding
all or part of its obligations under this Plan; provided however, that the terms
of such trust require that the assets thereof remain subject to the claims of
the Company's judgment creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency and
are non-assignable and non-alienable by any Participant or beneficiary prior to
distribution thereof, and that such terms otherwise comply with such other
requirements as the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe so that the assets
placed in such trust, and the income therefrom, do not constitute income to any
participant or beneficiary until actual receipt thereof.
ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATION
7.1 Administration by Committee. This Plan shall be administered by
the Committee, which shall be responsible for the general administration of the
Plan under the policy guidance of the Board. The Committee is hereby designated
as the Plan's named fiduciary, as defined in ERISA.
7.2 Duties and Powers of Committee. In addition to the duties and
powers described elsewhere hereunder, the Committee shall have the following
specific duties and powers:
(a) to retain such consultants, accounts, attorneys, and actuaries
as may be deemed necessary or desirable to render statements, reports, and
advice with respect to the
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Plan and to assist the Committee in complying with all applicable rules and
regulations affecting the Plan; any consultants, accountants, attorneys, and
actuaries may be the same as those retained by the Company;
(b) to decide appeals under this Article;
(c) to enact rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of
the Plan;
(d) to resolve questions or disputes relating to eligibility for
benefits or the amount of benefits under the Plan;
(e) to construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan and
supply any omissions in accordance with the intent of the Plan;
(f) to decide all questions of eligibility for benefits under the
Plan, to determine the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits
hereunder, and to authorize the payment of benefits;
(g) to evaluate administrative procedures; and
(h) to delegate such duties and powers as the Committee shall
determine from time to time to any person or persons. To the extent of any such
delegation, the delegate shall have the duties, powers, authority and discretion
of the Committee.
Any determinations made by the Committee pursuant to this Article
shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. The Committee shall have sole
discretion in carrying out its responsibilities.
The expenses incurred by the Committee in connection with the
operation of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the expenses incurred by
reason of the engagement of professional assistants and consultants, shall be
paid by the Company and shall not affect the Participants' right to or amount of
benefits.
7.3 Records. The Committee shall keep or cause to be kept records of
all proceedings and actions, shall maintain all such books of account, records,
and other data as shall be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan.
7.4 Claims for Benefits.
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(a) If the Participant or the Participant's beneficiary
(hereinafter referred to as the "Claimant") is denied all or a portion of any
expected benefit under this Plan for any reason, he may file a claim with the
Committee. The Committee shall notify the Claimant within ninety (90) days of
receipt of the claim of allowance or denial of the claim, unless the claimant
receives written notice from the Committee prior to the end of the 90-day period
stating the special circumstances requiring an extension of time for decision
and the date by which a final decision shall be made. If a decision is not
provided within 90 days, the claim is deemed denied, and the Claimant may
proceed to request a review of the claim as described in subsection (b) below.
The notice of a denial of benefits shall be in writing, sent by mail to
Claimant's last known address, and shall contain the following information: the
specific reasons for the denial; specific reference to pertinent provisions of
the Plan on which the denial is based; if applicable, a description of any
additional information or material necessary to perfect the claim and an
explanation of why such information or material is necessary; and explanation of
the review procedure.
(b) A Claimant is entitled to request a review of any denial of
his claim by the Committee. The request for review must be submitted to the
Committee in writing within sixty days of mailing and notice of the denial.
Absent a request for review within the sixty day period, the claim will be
deemed to be conclusively denied.
(c) The Claimant or his representative shall be entitled to review
all pertinent documents and to submit issues and comments in writing. The
Committee in its sole discretion may afford the Claimant a hearing. The
Committee shall render a review decision in writing within sixty days after
receipt of a request for a review, provided that, in special circumstances (such
as to hold a hearing) the Committee may extend the time for decision by not more
than sixty days upon written notice to the Claimant. The Claimant shall receive
written notice of the Committee's decision, which shall contain specific reasons
for the decision with reference to the pertinent provisions of the Plan.
(d) The filing of litigation against the Company, the Committee or
any of its agents concerning the granting or denial of Plan benefits will be
deemed a waiver of all rights under the Plan.
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ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
8.1 Amendment and Termination. The Company reserves the right to amend
this Plan at any time and from time to time in any fashion, and to terminate it
at will; provided however, that no such amendment or termination may result in
the reduction of the Accrued Benefit of any Participant as of the date of such
amendment or termination.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Nonalienation of Benefits. Except as hereinafter provided with
respect to marital disputes, none of the benefits or rights of a Participant or
any beneficiary of a Participant shall be subject to the claim of any creditor,
and in particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such benefits and
rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment or any other legal or
equitable process available to any creditor of the Participant or the
beneficiary. Neither the Participant nor his Spouse shall have the right to
alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any of the benefits
or payments which either of them may expect to receive, contingently or
otherwise, under this Plan. In cases of marital dispute, the Company will
observe the terms of the Plan unless and until ordered to do otherwise by a
state or Federal court. As a condition of participation, a Participant agrees to
hold the Company harmless from any claim that may arise out of the Company's
compliance with an order of any state or Federal court, whether such order
effects a judgment of such court or is issued to enforce a judgment or order of
another court.
9.2 No Contract of Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be
construed as conferring upon any person the right to be employed or continue in
the employ of the Company.
9.3 Applicable Law. This Plan shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
9.4 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the
context, any masculine terminology used herein shall also include the feminine
and vice versa, and the
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definition of any term herein in the singular shall also indicate the plural,
and vice versa.
9.5 Additional Benefits. In addition to the benefits provided under
the other provisions of this Plan, any benefits authorized by the Company's
Board for employees who are members of a select group of management or highly
compensated employees which are not payable under the terms of any other Plan
maintained by the Company shall be paid under this Plan at the times and in the
manner authorized by the Board.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the P.H. Glatfelter Company has caused this Plan,
as amended and restated effective April 23, 1998, to be executed this 8th day of
May, 1998.
ATTEST: P.H. GLATFELTER COMPANY
/s/ Robert S. Wood By: /s/ Robert P. Newcomer
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[Corporate Seal]
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