Exhibit 10.4
ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES, INC.
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN AND TRUST
RESTATED AS AMENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1996
ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS
As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
set
forth herein unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context:
1.1 "Act" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may
be amended from time to time.
1.2 "Administrator" means the person(s) or entity designated by the Employer
pursuant to Section 2.4 to administer the Plan on behalf of the Employer.
1.3 "Adoption Agreement" means the separate Agreement which is executed by the
Employer and accepted by the Trustee which sets forth the elective
provisions of this Plan and Trust as specified by the Employer.
1.4 "Affiliated Employer" means the Employer and any corporation which is a
member of a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Code Section
414(b)) which includes the Employer; any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which is under common control (as defined in Code Section
414(c)) with the Employer; any organization (whether or not incorporated)
which is a member of an affiliated service group (as defined in Code Section
414(m)) which includes the Employer; and any other entity required to be
aggregated with the Employer pursuant to Regulations under Code Section
414(o).
1.5 "Aggregate Account" means, with respect to each Participant, the value of
all accounts maintained on behalf of a Participant, whether attributable to
Employer or Employee contributions, subject to the provisions of Section
2.2.
1.6 "Anniversary Date" means the anniversary date specified in C3 of the
Adoption Agreement.
1.7 "Beneficiary" means the person to whom a share of a deceased Participant's
interest in the Plan is payable, subject to the restrictions of Sections 6.2
and 6.6.
1.8 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or replaced from
time to time.
1.9 "Compensation" with respect to any Participant means one of the following
as
elected in the Adoption Agreement. However, compensation for any Self-
Employed Individual shall be equal to his Earned Income.
A. Information required to be reported under Sections 6041, 6051, and 6052
(Wages, Tips, and Other Compensation Box on Form W-2). Compensation is
defined as wages, as defined in 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 Sections 6041(d) and
6051(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (hereafter referred to as "the
Code"). Compensation must be determined without regard to any rules
under Section 3401(a) that limit the renumeration included in wages based
on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed
(such as the exception for agricultural labor in Section 3401(a)(2)).
In addition, if specified in the Adoption Agreement, Compensation for all
Plan purposes also shall include compensation which is not currently
includible in the Participant's gross income by reason of the application
of Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), or 403(b).
B. Section 3401(a) wages. Compensation is defined as wages within the
meaning of Section 3401(a) for the purposes of income tax withholding at
the source but determined without regard to any rules that limit the
renumeration included in wages based on the nature or location of the
employment or the services performed (such as the exception for
agricultural labor in Section 3401(a)(2)).
In addition, if specified in the Adoption Agreement, Compensation for all
Plan purposes also shall include compensation which is not currently
includible in the Participant's gross income by reason of the application
of Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), or 403(b).
C. 415 Safe-Harbor Compensation. Compensation is defined as 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
service 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 to
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 to the extent such contributions are deductible
by the employee, 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
Section 403(b) of the Code (whether or not the contributions are
actually excludable from the gross income of the employee).
If, in connection with the adoption of this or any other amendment, the
definition of Compensation has been modified, then, for Plan Years prior to
the Plan Year which includes the adoption date of such amendment,
Compensation means compensation determined pursuant to the Plan then in
effect.
Notwithstanding the above, Compensation in excess of $200,000 shall be
disregarded. Such amount shall be adjusted at the same time and in such
manner as permitted under Code Section 415(d). In applying this limitation,
the family group of a Highly Compensated Participant who is subject to the
Family Member aggregation rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) because such
Participant is either a "five percent owner" of the Employer or one of the
ten (10) Highly Compensated Employees paid the greatest "415 Compensation"
during the year, shall be treated as a single Participant, except that for
this purpose Family Members shall include only the affected Participant's
spouse and any lineal descendants who have not attained age nineteen (19)
before the close of the year. If, as a result of the application of such
rules, the adjusted $200,000 limitation is exceeded, then (except for the
purposes of determining the portion of Compensation up to the integration
level if this plan is integrated), 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. The limitation shall also apply to the definition of
414(s) Compensation.
For Plan Years beginning prior to January 1, 1989, the $200,000 limit
(without regard to Family Member aggregation) shall apply only for Top Heavy
Plan Years and shall not be adjusted.
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 adjustment 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 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 first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1994, the OBRA '93
annual compensation limit is $150,000.
1.10 "Contract" or "Policy" means any life insurance policy, retirement income
policy, or annuity contract (group or individual) issued by the Insurer. In
the event of any conflict between the terms of this Plan and the terms of
any insurance contract purchased hereunder, the Plan provisions shall
control.
1.11 "Deferred Compensation" means that portion of a Participant's total
Compensation that such Participant has elected to defer for a Plan Year
pursuant to Section 4.2.
1.12 "Determination Date" means (1) the last day of the preceding Plan Year, or
(2) in the case of the first Plan Year, the last day of such Plan Year.
1.13 "Early Retirement Date" means the date specified in the Adoption Agreement
on which a Participant or Former Participant has satisfied the age and
service requirements specified in the Adoption Agreement (Early Retirement
Age). A Participant shall become fully Vested upon satisfying this
requirement if still employed at his Early Retirement Age.
A Former Participant who terminates employment after satisfying the service
requirement for Early Retirement and who thereafter reaches the age
requirement contained herein shall be entitled to receive his benefits under
this Plan.
1.14 "Earned Income" means, with respect to a Self-Employed Individual, the net
earnings from self-employment in the trade or business with respect to which
the Plan is established, for which the personal services of the individual
are a material income-producing factor. Net earnings will be determined
without regard to items not included in gross income and the deductions
allocable to such items. Net earnings are reduced by contributions by the
Employer to a qualified Plan to the extent deductible under Code Section
404. In addition, for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1989, net
earnings shall be determined with regard to the deduction allowed to the
Employer by Code Section 164(f).
1.15 "Elective Contribution" means the Employer's contributions to the Plan
that
are made pursuant to the Participant's deferral election pursuant to Section
4.2, excluding any such amounts distributed as "excess annual additions"
pursuant to Section 4.9. In addition, if selected in E3 of the Adoption
Agreement, the Employer's Matching Contribution shall or shall not be
considered an Elective Contribution for purposes of the Plan, as provided in
Section 4.1B. Elective Contributions shall be subject to the requirements
of Sections 4.2B and 4.2C and shall further be required to satisfy the
discrimination requirements of Regulation 1.401(k)-1(b)(3), the provisions
of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
1.16 "Eligible Employee" means any Employee specified in D1 of the Adoption
Agreement. Eligible employees shall mean all Employees who have satisfied
the eligibility requirements except Pilots shall be excluded from the
Discretionary Employer Contribution, unless they are employed on the last
day of the Plan Year, and are on the System Seniority List.
1.17 "Employee" means any person who is employed by the Employer, but excludes
any person who is employed as an independent contractor. The term Employee
also shall include Leased Employees as provided in Code Section 414(n) or
(o).
Except as provided in the Adoption Agreement, all Employees of all entities
which are an Affiliated Employer will be treated as employed by a single
employer. Employees of Affiliated Employers shall be treated as Employees
of the Employer adopting the Plan.
1.18 "Employer" means the entity specified in the Adoption Agreement, any
Participating Employer (as Defined in Section 10.1) which shall adopt this
Plan, any successor which shall maintain this Plan and any predecessor which
has maintained this Plan.
1.19 "Excess Compensation" means, with respect to a Plan that is integrated
with
Social Security, a Participant's Compensation which is in excess of the
amount set forth in the Adoption Agreement.
1.20 "Excess Contributions" means, with respect to a Plan Year, the excess of
Elective Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions made on
behalf of Highly Compensated Participants for the Plan Year over the maximum
amount of such contributions permitted under Section 4.5A.
1.21 "Excess Deferred Compensation" means, with respect to any taxable year of
a
Participant, the excess of the aggregate amount of such Participant's
Deferred Compensation and the elective deferrals pursuant to Section 4.2F
actually made on behalf of such Participant for such taxable year, over the
dollar limitation provided for in Code Section 402(g), which is incorporated
herein by reference. Excess Deferred Compensation shall be treated as an
"annual addition" pursuant to Section 4.9 when contributed to the Plan
unless distributed to the affected Participant not later than the first
April 15th following the close of the Participant's taxable year.
1.22 "Family Member" means, with respect to an affected Participant, such
Participant's spouse, and such Participant's lineal descendants and
ascendants and their spouses, all as described in Code Section 414(q)(6)(B).
1.23 "Fiduciary" means any person who (a) exercises any discretionary authority
or discretionary control respecting management of the Plan or exercises any
authority or control respecting management or disposition of its assets, (b)
renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation, direct or
indirect, with respect to any monies or other property of the Plan or has
any authority or responsibility to do so, or (c) has the administration of
the Plan, including, but not limited to, the Trustee, the Employer and its
representative body, and the Administrator.
1.24 "Fiscal Year" means the Employer's accounting year as specified in the
Adoption Agreement.
1.25 "Forfeiture" means that portion of a Participant's Account that is not
Vested, and occurs on the earlier of:
A. the distribution of the entire Vested portion of a Participant's Account,
or
B. the last day of the Plan Year in which the Participant incurs five (5)
consecutive 1-Year Breaks in Service.
Furthermore, for purposes of A. above, in the case of a Terminated
Participant whose Vested benefit is zero, such Terminated Participant shall
be deemed to have received a distribution of his Vested benefit upon his
termination of employment. In addition, the term Forfeiture also shall
include amounts deemed to be Forfeitures pursuant to any other provision of
this Plan.
1.26 "Former Participant" means a person who has been a Participant, but who
has
ceased to be a Participant for any reason.
1.27 "414(s) Compensation" with respect to any Employee means his Compensation
as
defined in Section 1.9, including the $200,000 limit on compensation as
described in Code Section 415(d) and proration of Compensation of family
members as described in Code Section 414(q)(6). However, for purposes of
this Section, Compensation shall be Compensation paid and may be determined
by including all items that are excluded from compensation pursuant to the
Adoption Agreement and may only be recognized as of an Employee's effective
date of participation pursuant to the election in E1 of the Adoption
Agreement. If, in connection with the adoption of this or any other
amendment, the definition of "414(s) Compensation" has been modified, then,
for Plan Years prior to the Plan Year which includes the adoption date of
such amendment, "414(s) Compensation" means compensation determined pursuant
to the Plan then in effect.
In addition, if specified in the Adoption Agreement, "414(s) Compensation"
also shall include compensation which is not currently includible in the
Participant's gross income by reason of the application of Code Sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), or 403(b), plus Elective Contributions
attributable to Deferred Compensation recharacterized as voluntary Employee
contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A.
1.28 "415 Compensation" means compensation as defined in Section 4.9F.2. If,
in
connection with the adoption of this or any other amendment, the definition
of "415 Compensation" has been modified, then for Plan Years prior to the
Plan Year which includes the adoption date of such amendment, "415
Compensation" means compensation determined pursuant to the Plan then in
effect.
1.29 "Highly Compensated Employee" means an Employee described in Code Section
414(q) and the Regulations thereunder and generally means an Employee who
performed services for the Employer during the "determination year" and is
in one or more of the following groups:
A. Employees who at any time during the "determination year" or "look-back
year" were "five percent owners" as defined in Section 1.36C.
B. Employees who received "415 Compensation" during the "look-back" year
from the Employer in excess of $75,000.
C. Employees who received "415 Compensation" during the "look-back year"
from the Employer in excess of $50,000 and were in the Top Paid Group of
Employees for the Plan Year.
D. Employees who during the "look-back year" were officers of the Employer
(as that term is defined within the meaning of the Regulations under Code
Section 416) and received "415 Compensation" during the "look-back year"
from the Employer greater than 50 percent of the limit in effect under
Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) for any such Plan Year. The number of officers
shall be limited to the lesser of (1) 50 employees; or (2) the greater of
3 employees or 10 percent of all employees. If the Employer does not
have at least one officer whose annual "415 Compensation" is in excess of
50 percent of the Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) limit, then the highest paid
officer of the Employer will be treated as a Highly Compensated Employee.
E. Employees who are in the group consisting of the 100 Employees paid the
greatest "415 Compensation" during the "determination year" and are also
described in B., C. or D. above when these paragraphs are modified to
substitute "determination year" for "look-back year."
The "determination year" shall be the Plan Year for which testing is being
performed, and the "look-back year" shall be the immediately preceding
twelve-month period. However, if the Plan Year is a calendar year, or if
another Plan of the Employer so provides, then the "look-back year" shall be
the calendar year ending with or within the Plan Year for which testing is
being performed, and the "determination year" (if applicable) shall be the
period of time, if any, which extends beyond the "look-back year" and ends
on the last day of the Plan Year for which testing is being performed (the
"lag period"). With respect to this election, it shall be applied on a
uniform and consistent basis to all plans, entities, and arrangements of the
Employer.
For purposes of this Section, the determination of "415 Compensation" shall
be made by including amounts that would otherwise be excluded from a
Participant's gross income by reason of the application of Code Sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B) and in the case of Employer contributions made
pursuant to a salary reduction agreement, Code Section 403(b).
Additionally, the dollar threshold amounts specified in B. and C. above
shall be adjusted at such time and in such manner as is provided in
Regulations. In the case of such an adjustment, the dollar limits which
shall be applied are those for the calendar year in which the "determination
year" or "look-back year" begins.
In determining who is a Highly Compensated Employee, Employees who are non-
resident aliens and who received no earned income (within the meaning of
Code Section 911(d)) from the Employer constituting United States' source
income (within the meaning of Code Section 861(a)(3)), shall not be treated
as Employees. Additionally, all Affiliated Employers shall be taken into
account as a single employer and Leased Employees within the meaning of Code
Sections 414(n)(2) and 414(o)(2) shall be considered Employees unless such
Leased Employees are covered by a plan described in Code Section 414(n)(5)
and are not covered in any qualified plan maintained by the Employer. The
exclusion of Leased Employees for this purpose shall be applied on a uniform
and consistent basis for all of the Employer's retirement plans. In
addition, Highly Compensated Former Employees shall be treated as Highly
Compensated Employees without regard to whether they performed services
during the "determination year."
1.30 "Highly Compensated Former Employee" means a former Employee who had a
separation year prior to the "determination year" and was a Highly
Compensated Employee in the year of separation from service or in any
"determination year" after attaining age 55. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
an Employee who separated from service prior to 1987 will be treated as a
Highly Compensated Former Employee only if during the separation year (or
year preceding the separation year) or any year after the Employee attains
age 55 (or the last year ending before the Employee's 55th birthday), the
Employee either received "415 Compensation" in excess of $50,000 or was a
"five percent owner." For purposes of this Section, "determination year,"
"415 Compensation" and "five percent owner" shall be determined in
accordance with Section 1.29. Highly Compensated Former Employees shall be
treated as Highly Compensated Employees. The method set forth in this
Section for determining who is a "Highly Compensated Former Employee" shall
be applied on a uniform and consistent basis for all purposes for which the
Code Section 414(q) definition is applicable.
1.31 "Highly Compensated Participant" means any Highly Compensated Employee who
is eligible to participate in the Plan.
1.32 "Hour of Service" means:
A. Each hour for which an Employee is directly or indirectly compensated or
entitled to compensation by the Employer for the performance of duties
during the applicable computation period;
B. Each hour for which an Employee is directly or indirectly compensated or
entitled to compensation by the Employer (irrespective of whether the
employment relationship has terminated) for reasons other than
performance of duties (such as vacation, holidays, sickness, jury duty,
disability, lay-off, military duty or leave of absence) during the
applicable computation period;
C. Each hour for which back pay is awarded or agreed to by the Employer
without regard to mitigation of damages. The same Hours of Service shall
not be credited both under A. or B., as the case may be, and under C.
D. Notwithstanding the above,
1. No more than 501 Hours of Service are required to be credited to an
Employee on account of any single continuous period during which the
Employee performs no duties (whether or not such period occurs in a
single computation period);
2. An hour for which an Employee is directly or indirectly paid, or
entitled to payment, on account of a period during which no duties are
performed is not required to be credited to the Employee if such
payment is made or due under a plan maintained solely for the purpose
of complying with applicable worker's compensation, or unemployment
compensation or disability insurance laws; and
3. Hours of Service are not required to be credited for a payment which
solely reimburses an Employee for medical or medically related
expenses incurred by the Employee.
For purposes of this Section, a payment shall be deemed to be made by or due
from the Employer regardless of whether such payment is made by or due from
the Employer directly, or indirectly through, among others, a trust fund, or
insurer, to which the Employer contributes or pays premiums and regardless
of whether contributions made or due to the trust fund, insurer, or other
entity are for the benefit of particular Employees or are on behalf of a
group of Employees in the aggregate.
An Hour of Service must be counted for the purpose of determining a Year of
Service, a year of participation for purposes of accrued benefits, a 1-Year
Break in Service, and employment commencement date (or reemployment
commencement date). The provisions of Department of Labor regulations
2530.200b-2(b) and (c) are incorporated herein by reference.
Hours of Service will be credited for employment with all Affiliated
Employers and for any individual considered to be a Leased Employee pursuant
to Code Sections 414(n) or 414(o) and the Regulations thereunder.
Hours of Service will be determined on the basis of the method selected in
the Adoption Agreement.
1.33 "Insurer" means any legal reserve insurance company which shall issue one
or
more policies under the Plan.
1.34 "Investment Manager" means an entity that (a) has the power to manage,
acquire, or dispose of Plan assets and (b) acknowledges fiduciary
responsibility to the Plan in writing. Such entity must be a person, firm,
or corporation registered as investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, a bank, or an insurance company.
1.35 "Joint and Survivor Annuity" means an annuity for the life of a
Participant
with a survivor annuity for the life of the Participant's spouse which is
not less than 1/2, nor greater than the amount of the annuity payable during
the joint lives of the Participant and the Participant's spouse. The Joint
and Survivor Annuity will be the amount of benefit which can be purchased
with the Participant's Vested interest in the Plan.
1.36 "Key Employee" means an Employee as defined in Code Section 416(i) and the
Regulations thereunder. Generally, any Employee or former Employee (as well
as each of his Beneficiaries) is considered a Key Employee if he, at any
time during the Plan Year that contains the "Determination Date" or any of
the preceding four (4) Plan Years, has been included in one of the following
categories:
A. An officer of the Employer (as that term is defined within the meaning of
the Regulations under Code Section 416) having annual "415 Compensation"
greater than 50 percent of the amount in effect under Code Section
415(b)(1)(A) for any such Plan Year.
B. One of the ten employees having annual "415 Compensation" from the
Employer for a Plan Year greater than the dollar limitation in effect
under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) for the calendar year in which such Plan
Year ends and owning (or considered as owning within the meaning of Code
Section 318) both more than one-half percent interest and the largest
interests in the Employer;
C. A "five percent owner" of the Employer. "Five percent owner" means any
person who owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning of Code
Section 318) more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of the
Employer or stock possessing more than five percent (5%) of the total
combined voting power of all stock of the Employer or, in the case of an
unincorporated business, any person who owns more than five percent (5%)
of the capital or profits interest in the Employer. In determining
percentage ownership hereunder, employers that would otherwise be
aggregated under Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) shall be treated
as separate employers;
D. A "one percent owner" of the Employer having an annual "415 Compensation"
from the Employer of more than $150,000. "One percent owner" means any
person who owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning of Code
Section 318) more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of the
Employer or, in the case of an unincorporated business, any person who
owns more than one percent (1%) of the capital or profits interest in the
Employer. In determining percentage ownership hereunder, employers that
would otherwise be aggregated under Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and
(o) shall be treated as separate employers. However, in determining
whether an individual has "415 Compensation" of more than $150,000, "415
Compensation" from each employer required to be aggregated under Code
Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) shall be taken into account.
For purposes of this Section, the determination of "415 Compensation" shall
be made by including amounts that would otherwise be excluded from a
Participant's gross income by reason of the application of Code Sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B) and, in the case of Employer Contributions made
pursuant to a salary reduction agreement, Code Section 403(b).
1.37 "Late Retirement Date" means the date of a Participant's actual retirement
after having reached his Normal Retirement Date.
1.38 "Leased Employee" means 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. Contributions or benefits
provided a leased employee 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:
A. Such employee is covered by a money purchase pension plan providing:
1. A non-integrated employer contribution rate of at least 10 percent of
compensation, as defined in Code Section 415(c)(3), but including
amounts contributed pursuant to a salary reduction agreement which are
excludable from the employee's gross income under Code Sections 125,
402(e)(3), 402(h) or 403(b);
2. Immediate participation; and
3. Full and immediate Vesting; and
B. Leased employees do not constitute more than 20 percent of the
recipient's non-highly compensated work force.
1.39 "Net Profit" means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the Employer's net
income or profit for such Fiscal Year determined upon the basis of the
Employer's books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, without any reduction for taxes based upon income, or for
contributions made by the Employer to this Plan and any other qualified
plan.
1.40 "Non-Elective Contribution" means the Employer's contributions to the Plan
other than those made pursuant to Section 4.2 and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contribution. In addition, if selected in E3 of the Adoption Agreement, the
Employer's Matching Contribution made pursuant to Section 4.1B shall be
considered a Non-Elective Contribution for purposes of the Plan.
1.41 "Non-Highly Compensated Participant" means any Participant who is neither
a
Highly Compensated Employee nor a Family Member.
1.42 "Non-Key Employee" means any Employee or former Employee (and his
Beneficiaries) who is not a Key Employee.
1.43 "Normal Retirement Age" means the age specified in the Adoption Agreement
at
which time a Participant shall become fully Vested in his Participant's
Account.
1.44 "Normal Retirement Date" means the date specified in the Adoption
Agreement
on which a Participant shall become eligible to have his benefits
distributed to him.
1.45 "1-Year Break in Service" means the applicable computation period during
which an Employee has not completed more than 500 Hours of Service with the
Employer. Further, solely for the purpose of determining whether a
Participant has incurred a 1-Year Break in Service, Hours of Service shall
be recognized for "authorized leaves of absence" and "maternity and
paternity leaves of absence."
"Authorized leave of absence" means an unpaid, temporary cessation from
active employment with the Employer pursuant to an established
nondiscriminatory policy, whether occasioned by illness, military service,
or any other reason.
A "maternity or paternity leave of absence" means, for Plan Years beginning
after December 31, 1984, an absence from work for any period by reason of
the Employee's pregnancy, birth of the Employee's child, placement of a
child with the Employee in connection with the adoption of such child, or
any absence for the purpose of caring for such child for a period
immediately following such birth or placement. For this purpose, Hours of
Service shall be credited for the computation period in which the absence
from work begins, only if credit therefore is necessary to prevent the
Employee from incurring a 1-Year Break in Service, or, in any other case, in
the immediately following computation period. The Hours of Service credited
for a "maternity or paternity leave of absence" shall be those which would
normally have been credited but for such absence, or, in any case in which
the Administrator is unable to determine such hours normally credited, eight
(8) Hours of Service per day. The total Hours of Service required to be
credited for a "maternity or paternity leave of absence" shall not exceed
501.
1.46 "Owner-Employee" means a sole proprietor who owns the entire interest in
the
Employer or a partner who owns more than 10% of either the capital interest
or the profits interest in the Employer and who receives income for personal
services from the Employer.
1.47 "Participant" means any Eligible Employee who participates in the Plan as
provided in Section 3.2 and has not for any reason become ineligible to
participate further in the Plan.
1.48 "Participant's Account" means the account established and maintained by
the
Administrator for each Participant with respect to his total interest under
the Plan resulting from the Employer's Non-Elective Contributions. A
separate accounting shall be maintained for Matching Contributions if they
are deemed to be Non-Elective Contributions.
1.49 "Participant's Combined Account" means the total aggregate amount of each
Participant's Elective Account, Qualified Non-Elective Account, and
Participant's Account.
1.50 "Participant's Elective Account" means the account established and
maintained by the Administrator for each Participant with respect to his
total interest in the Plan and Trust resulting from the Employer's Elective
Contributions. A separate accounting shall be maintained with respect to
that portion of the Participant's Elective Account attributable to Elective
Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.2, Employer Matching Contributions
if they are deemed to be Elective Contributions, and any Qualified Non-
Elective Contributions.
1.51 "Participant's Rollover Account" means the account established and
maintained by the Administrator for an Employee with respect to his total
interest in the Plan resulting from amounts transferred from another
qualified plan or "conduit" Individual Retirement Account in accordance with
Section 4.11.
1.52 "Plan" means this instrument (referred to as the Pension Specialists, Inc.
Qualified Retirement Plan and Trust Basic Plan Document) including all
amendments thereto, and the Adoption Agreement as adopted by the Employer.
1.53 "Plan Year" means the Plan's accounting year as specified in C2 of the
Adoption Agreement.
1.54 "Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity" means an immediate annuity for the life
of
the Participant's spouse, the payments under which must be at least equal to
the actuarial equivalent of 50% of the Participant's Vested interest in the
Plan as of the date of death.
1.55 "Qualified Non-Elective Account" means the account established hereunder
to
which Qualified Non-Elective Contributions are allocated.
1.56 "Qualified Non-Elective Contribution" means the Employer's contributions
to
the Plan that are made pursuant to Section 4.1D. and Section 4.6B. which are
used to satisfy the "Actual Deferral Percentage" tests. Qualified Non-
Elective Contributions are nonforfeitable when made and are distributable
only as specified in Sections 4.2C. and 6.11. In addition, the Employer's
contributions to the Plan that are made pursuant to Section 4.8H. and which
are used to satisfy the "Actual Contribution Percentage" tests shall be
considered Qualified Non-Elective Contributions.
1.57 "Qualified Voluntary Employee Contribution Account" means the account
established and maintained by the Administrator for each Participant with
respect to his total interest under the Plan resulting from the
Participant's tax-deductible qualified voluntary employee contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.14.
1.58 "Regulation" means the Income Tax Regulations as promulgated by the
Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, and as amended from time to time.
1.59 "Retired Participant" means a person who has been a Participant, but who
has
become entitled to retirement benefits under the Plan.
1.60 "Retirement Date" means the date as of which a Participant retires for
reasons other than Total and Permanent Disability, whether such retirement
occurs on a Participant's Normal Retirement Date, Early or Late Retirement
Date (see Section 6.1).
1.61 "Self-Employed Individual" means an individual who has earned income for
the
taxable year from the trade or business for which the Plan is established,
and, also, an individual who would have earned income but for the fact that
the trade or business had no net profits for the taxable year. A Self-
Employed Individual shall be treated as an Employee.
1.62 "Shareholder-Employee" means a Participant who owns more than five percent
(5%) of the Employer's outstanding capital stock during any year in which
the Employer elected to be taxed as a Small Business Corporation under the
applicable Code Section.
1.63 "Short Plan Year" means, if specified in the Adoption Agreement, that the
Plan Year shall be less than a 12-month period. If chosen, the following
rules shall apply in the administration of this Plan. In determining
whether an Employee has completed a Year of Service for benefit accrual
purposes in the Short Plan Year, the number of the Hours of Service required
shall be proportionately reduced based on the number of days in the Short
Plan Year. The determination of whether an Employee has completed a Year of
Service for vesting and eligibility purposes shall be made in accordance
with Department of Labor Regulation 2530.203(c). In addition, if this Plan
is integrated with Social Security, the integration level also shall be
proportionately reduced based on the number of days in the Short Plan Year.
1.64 "Super Top Heavy Plan" means a plan described in Section 2.2B.
1.65 "Taxable Wage Base" means, with respect to any year, the maximum amount of
earnings which may be considered wages for such year under Code Section
3121(a)(1) in effect as of the beginning of the plan year.
1.66 "Terminated Participant" means a person who has been a Participant, but
whose employment has been terminated by reasons other than death, Total and
Permanent Disability, or retirement.
1.67 "Top Heavy Plan" means a plan described in Section 2.2A.
1.68 "Top Heavy Plan Year" means a Plan Year commencing after December 31, 1983
during which the Plan is a Top Heavy Plan.
1.69 "Top Paid Group" shall be determined pursuant to Code Section 414(q) and
the
Regulations thereunder and generally means the top 20 percent of Employees
who performed services for the Employer during the applicable year, ranked
according to the amount of "415 Compensation" (as determined pursuant to
Section 1.28) received from the Employer during such year. All Affiliated
Employers shall be taken into account as a single employer, and Leased
Employees shall be treated as Employees pursuant to Code Section 414(n) or
(o). Employees who are non-resident aliens who received no earned income
(within the meaning of Code Section 911(d)(2)) from the Employer
constituting United States source income within the meaning of Code Section
861(a)(3) shall not be treated as Employees. Additionally, for the purpose
of determining the number of active Employees in any year, the following
additional Employees also shall be excluded, however, such Employees shall
still be considered for the purpose of identifying the particular Employees
in the Top Paid Group:
A. Employees with less than (6) months of service;
B. Employees who normally work less than 17 1/2 hours per week;
C. Employees who normally work less than six (6) months during a year; and
D. Employees who have not yet attained age 21.
In addition, if 90 percent or more of the Employees of the Employer are
covered under agreements the Secretary of Labor finds to be collective
bargaining agreements between Employee representatives and the Employer, and
the Plan covers only Employees who are not covered under such agreements,
then Employees covered by such agreements shall be excluded from both the
total number of active Employees as well as from the identification of
particular Employees in the Top Paid Group.
The foregoing exclusions set forth in this Section shall be applied on a
uniform and consistent basis for all purposes for which the Code Section
414(q) definition is applicable.
1.70 "Total and Permanent Disability" means the inability to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or
which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than 12 months. The disability of a Participant shall be determined by
a licensed physician chosen by the Administrator. However, if the condition
constitutes total disability under the Federal Social Security Acts, the
Administrator may rely upon such determination that the Participant is
Totally and Permanently Disabled for the purposes of this Plan. The
determination shall be applied uniformly to all Participants.
1.71 "Trustee" means the person or entity named in B7 of the Adoption Agreement
and any successors.
1.72 "Trust Fund" means the assets of the Plan and Trust as the same shall
exist from time to time.
1.73 "Vested" means the nonforfeitable portion of any account maintained on
behalf of a participant.
1.74 "Voluntary Contribution Account" means the account established and
maintained by the Administrator for each Participant with respect to his
total interest in the Plan resulting from the Participant's nondeductible
voluntary contributions made pursuant to Section 4.12.
Amounts recharacterized as voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to
Section 4.6A. shall remain subject to the limitations of Sections 4.2B. and
4.2C. Therefore, a separate accounting shall be maintained with respect to
that portion of the Voluntary Contribution Account attributable to voluntary
Employee contributions made pursuant to Section 4.12.
1.75 "Year of Service" means the computation period of twelve (12) consecutive
months, herein set forth, and during which an Employee has completed at
least 1,000 Hours of Service.
For purposes of eligibility for participation, the initial computation
period shall begin with the date on which the Employee first performs an
Hour of Service (employment commencement date). The computation period
beginning after a 1-Year Break in Service shall be measured from the date on
which an Employee again performs an Hour of Service. The succeeding
computation periods shall begin with the first anniversary of the Employee's
employment commencement date. However, if one (1) Year of Service or less
is required as a condition of eligibility, then after the initial
eligibility computation period, the eligibility computation period shall
shift to the current Plan Year which includes the anniversary of the date on
which the Employee first performed an Hour of Service. An Employee who is
credited with 1,000 Hours of Service in both the initial eligibility
computation period and the first Plan Year which commences prior to the
first anniversary of the Employee's initial eligibility computation period
will be credited with two Years of Service for purposes of eligibility to
participate.
For vesting purposes, and all other purposes not specifically addressed in
this Section, the computation period shall be the Plan Year, including
periods prior to the Effective Date of the Plan unless specifically excluded
pursuant to the Adoption Agreement.
Years of Service and breaks in service will be measured on the same
computation period.
Years of Service with any predecessor Employer which maintained this Plan
shall be recognized. Years of Service with any other predecessor Employer
shall be recognized as specified in the Adoption Agreement. Years of
Service with any Affiliated Employer shall be recognized.
ARTICLE II: TOP HEAVY PROVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
2.1 TOP HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS
For any Top Heavy Plan Year, the Plan shall provide the special vesting
requirements of Code Section 416(b) pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Plan and
the special minimum allocation requirements of Code Section 416(c) pursuant
to Sections 4.4F. and 4.4I. of the Plan.
2.2 DETERMINATION OF TOP HEAVY STATUS
A. This Plan shall be a Top Heavy Plan for any Plan Year beginning after
December 31, 1983, in which, as of the Determination Date, (1) the
Present Value of Accrued Benefits of Key Employees and (2) the sum of the
Aggregate Accounts of Key Employees under this Plan and all plans of an
Aggregation Group, exceeds sixty percent (60%) of the Present Value of
Accrued Benefits and the Aggregate Accounts of all Key and Non-Key
Employees under this Plan and all plans of an Aggregation Group.
If any Participant is a Non-Key Employee for any Plan Year, but such
Participant was a Key Employee for any prior Plan Year, such
Participant's Present Value of Accrued Benefit and/or Aggregate Account
balance shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining
whether this Plan is a Top Heavy or Super Top Heavy Plan (or whether any
Aggregation Group which includes this Plan is a Top Heavy Group). In
addition, if a Participant or Former Participant has not performed any
services for any Employer maintaining the Plan at any time during the
five year period ending on the Determination Date, any accrued benefit
for such Participant or Former Participant shall not be taken into
account for the purposes of determining whether this Plan is a Top Heavy
or Super Top Heavy Plan.
B. This Plan shall be a Super Top Heavy Plan for any Plan Year beginning
after December 31, 1983, in which, as of the Determination Date, (1) the
Present Value of Accrued Benefits of Key Employees and (2) the sum of the
Aggregate accounts of Key Employees under this Plan and all plans of an
Aggregation Group, exceeds ninety percent (90%) of the Present Value of
Accrued Benefits and the Aggregate Accounts of all Key and Non-Key
Employees under this Plan and all plans of an Aggregation Group.
C. Aggregate Account: A Participant's Aggregate Account as of the
Determination Date is the sum of:
1. His Participant's Combined Account balance as of the most recent
valuation occurring within a twelve (12) month period ending on the
Determination Date;
2. An adjustment for any contributions due as of the Determination Date.
Such adjustment shall be the amount of any contributions actually
made after the valuation date but on or before the Determination Date,
except for the first Plan Year when such adjustment also shall reflect
the amount of any contributions made after the Determination Date that
are allocated as of a date in that first Plan Year;
3. Any Plan distributions made within the Plan Year that includes the
Determination Date or within the four (4) preceding Plan Years.
However, in the case of distributions made after the Valuation Date
but prior to the Determination Date, such distributions are not
included as distributions for Top Heavy purposes to the extent that
such distributions are already included in the Participant's Aggregate
Account balance as of the Valuation Date. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, all distributions, including distributions
made prior to January 1, 1984, and distributions under a terminated
plan which if it had not been terminated would have been required to
be included in an Aggregation Group, will be counted. Further,
distributions from the Plan (including the cash value of life
insurance policies) of a Participant's account balance because of
death shall be treated as a distribution for the purposes of this
paragraph.
4. Any Employee contributions, whether voluntary or mandatory. However,
amounts attributable to tax deductible qualified voluntary employee
contributions shall not be considered to be a part of the
Participant's Aggregate Account balance.
5. With respect to unrelated rollovers and plan-to-plan transfers (ones
which are both initiated by the Employee and made from a plan
maintained by one employer to a plan maintained by another employer),
if this Plan provides the rollovers or plan-to-plan transfers, it
shall always consider such rollovers or plan-to-plan transfers as a
distribution for the purposes of this Section. If this Plan is the
plan accepting such rollovers or plan-to-plan transfers, it shall not
consider such rollovers or plan-to-plan transfers accepted after
December 31, 1983 as part of the Participant's Aggregate Account
balance. However, rollovers or plan-to-plan transfers accepted prior
to January 1, 1984 shall be considered as part of the Participant's
Aggregate Account balance.
6. With respect to related rollovers and plan-to-plan transfers (ones
either not initiated by the Employee or made to a plan maintained by
the same employer), if this Plan provides the rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer, it shall not be counted as a distribution for purposes of
this Section. If this Plan is the plan accepting such rollover or
plan-to-plan transfer, it shall consider such rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer as part of the Participant's Aggregate Account balance,
irrespective of the date on which such rollover or plan-to-plan
transfer is accepted.
7. For the purposes of determining whether two employers are to be
treated as the same employer in 2.2C.5. and 2.2C.6. above, all
employers aggregated under Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) are
treated as the same employer.
D. "Aggregation Group" means either a Required Aggregation Group or a
Permissive Aggregation Group as hereinafter determined.
1. Required Aggregation Group: In determining a Required Aggregation
Group hereunder, each qualified plan of the Employer, including any
Simplified Employee Pension Plan, in which a Key Employee is a
participant in the Plan Year containing the Determination Date or any
of the four preceding Plan Years, and each other qualified plan of the
Employer which enables any qualified plan in which a Key Employee
participates to meet the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or
410, will be required to be aggregated. Such group shall be known as
a Required Aggregation Group.
In the case of a Required Aggregation Group, each plan in the group
will be considered a Top Heavy Plan if the Required Aggregation Group
is a Top Heavy Group. No plan in the Required Aggregation Group will
be considered a Top Heavy Plan if the Required Aggregation Group is
not a Top Heavy Group.
2. Permissive Aggregation Group: The Employer also may include any other
plan of the Employer, including any Simplified Employee Pension Plan,
not required to be included in the Required Aggregation Group,
provided the resulting group, taken as a whole, would continue to
satisfy the provisions of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410. Such group
shall be known as a Permissive Aggregation Group.
In the case of a Permissive Aggregation Group, only a plan that is
part of the Required Aggregation Group will be considered a Top Heavy
Plan if the Permissive Aggregation Group is a Top Heavy Group. No
plan in the Permissive Aggregation Group will be considered a Top
Heavy Plan if the Permissive Aggregation Group is not a Top Heavy
Group.
3. Only those plans of the Employer in which the Determination Dates fall
within the same calendar year shall be aggregated in order to
determine whether such plans are Top Heavy Plans.
4. When aggregating plans, the value of Aggregate Accounts and Accrued
Benefits will be calculated with reference to the Determination Dates
that fall within the same calendar year.
5. An Aggregation Group shall include any terminated plan of the Employer
if it was maintained within the last five (5) years ending on the
Determination Date.
E. "Determination Date" means (1) the last day of the preceding Plan Year,
or (2) in the case of the first Plan Year, the last day of such Plan
Year.
F. Present Value of Accrued Benefit: In the case of a defined benefit plan,
the Present Value of Accrued Benefit for a Participant other than a Key
Employee shall be as determined using the single accrual method used for
all plans of the Employer and Affiliated Employers, or if no such single
method exists, using a method which results in benefits accruing not more
rapidly than the slowest accrual rate permitted under Code Section
411(b)(1)(C). The determination of the Present Value of Accrued Benefit
shall 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.
However, any such determination must include present value of accrued
benefit attributable to any Plan distributions referred to in Section
2.2C.3. above, any Employee contributions referred to in Section 2.2C.4.
above or any related or unrelated rollovers referred to in Sections
2.2C.5. and 2.2C.6. above.
G. "Top Heavy Group" means an Aggregation Group in which, as of the
Determination Date, the sum of:
1. the Present Value of Accrued Benefits of Key Employees under all
defined benefit plans included in the group, and
2. the Aggregate Accounts of Key Employees under all defined contribution
plans included in the group,
exceeds sixty percent (60%) of a similar sum determined for all
Participants.
H. The Administrator shall determine whether this Plan is a Top Heavy Plan
on the Anniversary Date specified in the Adoption Agreement. Such
determination of the Top Heavy ratio shall be in accordance with Code
Section 416 and the Regulations thereunder.
2.3 POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EMPLOYER
A. The Employer shall be empowered to appoint and remove the Trustee and the
Administrator from time to time as it deems necessary for the proper
administration of the Plan to assure that the Plan is being operated for
the exclusive benefit of the Participants and their Beneficiaries in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Code, and the Act.
B. The Employer shall establish a "funding policy and method," '-' i.e., it
shall determine whether the Plan has a short run need for liquidity
(e.g., to pay benefits) or whether liquidity is a long run goal and
investment growth (and stability of same) is a more current need, or
shall appoint a qualified person to do so. The Employer or its delegate
shall communicate such needs and goals to the Trustee, who shall
coordinate such Plan needs with its investment policy. The communication
of such a "funding policy and method" shall not, however, constitute a
directive to the Trustee as to investment of the Trust Funds. Such
"funding policy and method" shall be consistent with the objectives of
the Plan and with the requirements of Title I of the Act.
C. The Employer may, in its discretion, appoint an Investment Manager to
manage all or a designated portion of the assets of the Plan. In such
event, the Trustee shall follow the directive of the Investment Manager
in investing the assets of the Plan managed by the Investment Manager.
D. The Employer shall periodically review the performance of any Fiduciary
or other person to whom duties have been delegated or allocated by it
under the provisions of the Plan or pursuant to procedures established
hereunder. This requirement may be satisfied by formal periodic review
by the Employer or by a qualified person specifically designated by the
Employer, through day-to-day conduct and evaluation, or through other
appropriate ways.
2.4 DESIGNATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
The Employer shall appoint one or more Administrators. Any person,
including, but not limited to, the Employees of the Employer, shall be
eligible to serve as an Administrator. Any person so appointed shall
signify his acceptance by filing written acceptance with the Employer. An
Administrator may resign by delivering his written resignation to the
Employer or be removed by the Employer by delivery of written notice of
removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery to the
Administrator if no date is specified.
The Employer, upon the resignation or removal of an Administrator, shall
promptly designate in writing a successor to this position. If the Employer
does not appoint an Administrator, the Employer will function as the
Administrator.
2.5 ALLOCATION AND DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
If more than one person is appointed as Administrator, the responsibilities
of each Administrator may be specified by the Employer and accepted in
writing by each Administrator. In the event that no such delegation is made
by the Employer, the Administrators may allocate the responsibilities among
themselves, in which event the Administrators shall notify the Employer and
the Trustee in writing of such action and specify the responsibilities of
each Administrator. The Trustee thereafter shall accept and rely upon any
documents executed by the appropriate Administrator until such time as the
Employer or the Administrators file with the Trustee a written revocation of
such designation.
2.6 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
The primary responsibility of the Administrator is to administer the Plan
for the exclusive benefit of the Participants and their Beneficiaries,
subject to the specific terms of the Plan. The Administrator shall
administer the Plan in accordance with its terms and shall have the power
and discretion to construe the terms of the Plan and determine all questions
arising in connection with the administration, interpretation, and
application of the Plan. Any such determination by the Administrator shall
be conclusive and binding upon all persons. The Administrator may establish
procedures, correct and defect, supply any information, or reconcile any
inconsistency in such manner and to such extent as shall be deemed necessary
or advisable to carry out the purpose of the Plan; provided, however, that
any procedure, discretionary act, interpretation, or construction shall be
done in a nondiscriminatory manner based upon uniform principles
consistently applied and shall be consistent with the intent that the Plan
shall continue to be deemed a qualified plan under the terms of Code Section
401(a), and shall comply with the terms of the Act and all regulations
issued pursuant thereto. The Administrator shall have all powers necessary
or appropriate to accomplish his duties under the Plan.
The Administrator shall be charged with the duties of the general
administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. The discretion to determine all questions relating to the eligibility of
Employees to participate or remain a Participant hereunder and to receive
benefits under the Plan;
B. To compute, certify, and direct the Trustee with respect to the amount
and the kind of benefits to which any Participant shall be entitled
hereunder;
C. To authorize and direct the Trustee with respect to all non-discretionary
or otherwise directed disbursements from the Trust Fund;
D. To maintain all necessary records for the administration of the Plan;
E. To interpret the provisions of the Plan and to make and publish such
rules for regulation of the Plan as are consistent with the terms hereof;
F. To determine the size and type of any Contract to be purchased from the
Insurer from which such Contract shall be purchased;
G. To compute and certify to the Employer and the Trustee from time to time
the sums of money necessary or desirable to be contributed to the Trust
Fund;
H. To consult with the Employer and the Trustee regarding the short and
long-term liquidity needs of the Plan in order that the Trustee can
exercise any investment discretion in a manner designed to accomplish
specific objectives;
I. To prepare and distribute to Employees a procedure for notifying
Participants and Beneficiaries of their rights to elect Joint and
Survivor Annuities and Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuities if required by
the Code and Regulations thereunder and if provided by this Plan;
J. To prepare and implement a procedure to notify Eligible Employees that
they may elect to have a portion of their Compensation deferred or paid
to them in cash;
K. To assist any Participant regarding his rights, benefits, or elections
available under the Plan.
2.7 RECORDS AND REPORTS
The Administrator shall keep a record of all actions taken and shall keep
all other books of account, records, and other data that may be necessary
for proper administration of the Plan and shall be responsible for supplying
all information and reports to the Internal Revenue Service, Department of
Labor, Participants, Beneficiaries and others as required by law.
2.8 APPOINTMENT OF ADVISERS
The Administrator, or the Trustee with the consent of the Administrator, may
appoint counsel, specialists, advisers, and other persons as the
Administrator or the Trustee deems necessary or desirable in connection with
the administration of the Plan.
2.9 INFORMATION FROM EMPLOYER
To enable the Administrator to perform his functions, the Employer shall
supply full and timely information to the Administrator on all matters
relating to the Compensation of all Employees, their Hours of Service, their
Years of Service, their retirement, death, disability, or termination of
employment, and such other pertinent facts as the Administrator may require;
and the Administrator shall advise the Trustee of such of the foregoing
facts as may be pertinent to the Trustee's duties under the Plan. The
Administrator may rely upon such information as is supplied by the Employer
and shall have no duty or responsibility to verify such information.
2.10 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES
All expenses of administration may be paid out of the Trust Fund unless paid
by the Employer. Such expenses shall include any expenses incident to the
functioning of the Administrator, including, but not limited to, fees of
accountants, counsel, and other specialists and their agents, and other
costs of administering the Plan. Until paid, the expenses shall constitute
a liability of the Trust Fund. However, the Employer may reimburse the
Trust Fund for any administration expense incurred. Any administration
expense paid to the Trust Fund as a reimbursement shall not be considered an
Employer contribution.
2.11 MAJORITY ACTIONS
Except where there has been an allocation and delegation of administrative
authority pursuant to Section 2.5, if there shall be more than one
Administrator, they shall act by a majority of their number, but may
authorize one or more of them to sign all papers on their behalf.
2.12 CLAIMS PROCEDURE
Claims for benefits under the Plan may be filed in writing with the
Administrator. Written notice of the disposition of a claim shall be
furnished to the claimant within 90 days after the application is filed. In
the event the claim is denied, the reasons for the denial shall be
specifically set forth in the notice in language calculated to be understood
by the claimant, pertinent provisions of the Plan shall be cited, and, where
appropriate, an explanation as to how the claimant can perfect the claim
will be provided. In addition, the claimant shall be furnished with an
explanation of the Plan's claims review procedure.
2.13 CLAIMS REVIEW PROCEDURE
Any Employee, former Employee, or Beneficiary of either, who has been denied
a benefit by a decision of the Administrator pursuant to Section 2.12 shall
be entitled to request the Administrator to give further consideration to
his claim by filing with the Administrator a written request for a hearing.
Such request, together with a written statement of reasons why the claimant
believes his claim should be allowed, shall be filed with the Administrator
no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification provided for
in Section 2.12. The Administrator shall then conduct a hearing within the
next 60 days, at which the claimant may be represented by an attorney or any
other representative of his choosing, and expense and at which the claimant
shall have an opportunity to submit written and oral evidence and arguments
in support of his claim. At the hearing (or prior thereto upon 5 business
days' written notice to the Administrator) the claimant or his
representative shall have an opportunity to review all documents in the
possession of the Administrator which are pertinent to the claim at issue
and its disallowance. Either the claimant or the Administrator may cause a
court reporter to attend the hearing and record the proceedings. In such
event, a complete written transcript of the proceedings shall be furnished
to both parties by the court reporter. The full expense of any such court
reporter and such transcripts shall be borne by the party causing the court
reporter to attend the hearing. A final decision as to the allowance of the
claim shall be made by the Administrator within 60 days of receipt of the
appeal (unless there has been an extension of 60 days due to special
circumstances, provided the delay and the special circumstances occasioning
it are communicated to the claimant within the 60-day period). Such
communication shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by
the claimant and shall include specific reasons for the decision and
specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision
is based.
ARTICLE III: ELIGIBILITY
3.1 CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY
Any Eligible Employee shall be eligible to participate hereunder on the
date he has satisfied the requirements specified in the Adoption Agreement.
Any Eligible Employee will be eligible to participate in the Plan if such
Eligible Employee has satisfied the service and age requirements, below:
The Employee must be 18 years of age (cannot exceed 21).
The Employee must complete 1 year of service.
For flight crew members a Year of Service shall be defined as the
computation period of twelve (12) consecutive months during which an
Employee has completed 750 Hours of Service. The computation period is
defined under Article I, Section 1.75 of the Plan Document. A Year of
Service for all other Employees shall be defined under Section 1.75 of the
Plan Document.
3.2 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PARTICIPATION
An Eligible Employee who has become eligible to be a Participant shall
become a Participant effective as of the day specified in the Adoption
Agreement.
In the event an Employee who has satisfied the Plan's eligibility
requirements and would otherwise have become a Participant shall go from a
classification of a noneligible Employee to an Eligible Employee, such
Employee shall become a Participant as of the date he becomes an Eligible
Employee.
In the event an Employee who has satisfied the Plan's eligibility
requirements and would otherwise become a Participant shall go from a
classification of an Eligible Employee to a noneligible Employee and becomes
ineligible to participate and has not incurred a 1-Year Break in Service,
such Employee shall participate in the Plan as of the date he returns to an
eligible class of Employees. If such Employee does incur a 1-Year Break in
Service, eligibility will be determined under the Break in Service rules of
the Plan.
3.3 DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY
The Administrator shall determine the eligibility of each Employee for
participation in the Plan based upon information furnished by the Employer.
Such determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons, as
long as the same is made pursuant to the Plan and the Act. Such
determination shall be subject to review per Section 2.13.
3.4 TERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY
In the event a Participant shall go from a classification of an Eligible
Employee to an ineligible Employee, such Former Participant shall continue
to Vest in his interest in the Plan for each Year of Service completed while
a noneligible Employee, until such time as his Participant's Account shall
be forfeited or distributed pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Additionally, his interest in the Plan shall continue to share in the
earnings of the Trust Fund.
3.5 OMISSION OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
If, in any Plan Year, any Employee who should be included as a Participant
in the Plan is erroneously omitted and discovery of such omission is not
made until after a contribution by his Employer for the year has been made,
the Employer shall make a subsequent contribution, if necessary, after the
application of Section 4.4E., so that the omitted Employee receives a total
amount which the said Employee would have received had he not been omitted.
Such contribution shall be made regardless of whether or not it is
deductible in whole or in part in any taxable year under applicable
provisions of the Code.
3.6 INCLUSION OF INELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
If, in any Plan Year, any person who should not have been included as a
Participant in the Plan is erroneously included and discovery of such
incorrect inclusion is not made until after a contribution for the year has
been made, the Employer shall not be entitled to recover the contribution
made with respect to the ineligible person regardless of whether or not a
deduction is allowable with respect to such contribution. In such event,
the amount contributed with respect to the ineligible person shall
constitute a Forfeiture for the Plan Year in which the discovery is made.
3.7 ELECTION NOT TO PARTICIPATE
An Employee may, subject to the approval of the Employer, elect voluntarily
not to participate in the Plan. The election not to participate must be
communicated to the Employer, in writing, at least thirty (30) days before
the beginning of a Plan Year. Furthermore, the foregoing election not to
participate shall not be available with respect to partners in a
partnership.
3.8 CONTROL OF ENTITIES BY OWNER-EMPLOYEE
A. 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 entities, 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 entities.
B. If the Plan provides contributions or benefits for 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.
C. 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 benefits or contributions of the
employees under the plan of the trades or businesses which are controlled
must be as favorable as those provided for him under the most favorable
plan of the trade or business which is not controlled.
D. For purposes of the preceding paragraphs, an Owner-Employee, or two or
more Owner-Employees, will be considered to control an entity if the
Owner-Employee, or two or more Owner-Employees together:
1. own the entire interest in an unincorporated entity, or
2. in the case of a partnership, own more than 50 percent of either the
capital interest or the profits interest in the partnership.
E. 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, is considered to
control within the meaning of the preceding sentence.
ARTICLE IV: CONTRIBUTION AND ALLOCATION
4.1 FORMULA FOR DETERMINING EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTION
For each Plan Year, the Employer shall contribute to the Plan:
A. The amount of the total salary deduction elections of all Participants
made pursuant to Section 4.2A., which amount shall be deemed an
Employer's Elective Contribution, plus
B. If specified in E3 of the Adoption Agreement, a matching contribution
equal to the percentage specified in the Adoption Agreement of the
Deferred Compensation of each Participant eligible to share in the
allocations of the matching contribution (which amount shall be deemed an
Employer's Non-Elective Contribution or, if the matching contribution is
to be used in satisfying the Actual Deferral Percentage test as specified
in the Adoption Agreement, then it shall be deemed an Elective
Contribution), plus
C. If specified in E4 of the Adoption Agreement, a discretionary amount, if
any, which amount shall be deemed an Employer's Non-Elective
Contribution, plus
D. If specified in E5 of the Adoption Agreement, a Qualified Non-Elective
Contribution.
E. Effective October 1, 1994, the Employer shall make a contribution to the
Plan for each participant who is a pilot. This contribution shall be
equal to 3% of the first $15,000 of compensation plus 2% of compensation
in excess of $15,000 compensation for each said participant. For the
period of October 1, 1994 to December 31, 1994, the preceding sentence
shall be modified by replacing $15,000 with $3,750. This contribution
shall be 100% vested. This contribution shall be limited to each
participant by the limits of IRC Section 415.
However, regardless of the above, the Employer's contributions for this
section 4.1E., without considering the contributions made pursuant to all
other sections, shall not exceed 15% (3.75% for the 1994 Plan Year) of
the Employer's Adjusted Net Income Before Extraordinary Items for such
Plan Year. Furthermore contributions made pursuant to this section 4.1E.
shall not exceed $2,500,000 for the Plan Year.
Adjusted Net Income Before Extraordinary items shall mean the Income
Before Extraordinary Items(s) reported in the Employer's Consolidated
Statements of Operations filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Form 10-K, adjusted such that interest expense shall not
exceed 2.5% of total revenues.
For purposes of this section 4.1E. compensation shall only include
compensation paid during the period for which this section applies.
Compensation for this section 4.1E. shall include any salary deferrals
made to a 401(k) plan and any elective contributions made to a IRC
Section 125 Plan.
Contributions made pursuant to this section 4.1E. shall be due and
payable to the trust by the April 1 following the Plan Year end. A
participant may withdraw this contribution on and after the date which is
two years after the date such contributions were made to the trust.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Employer's contributions for any
Fiscal Year shall not exceed the maximum amount allowable as a deduction to
the Employer under the provisions of Code Section 404. All contributions by
the Employer shall be made in cash or in such property as is acceptable to
the Trustee. Any Property contributed to the Plan will be valued, at its
fair market value, at the time it is contributed to the Plan.
Except, however, to the extent necessary to provide the Top Heavy minimum
allocations, the Employer shall make a contribution even if it exceeds
current or accumulated Net Profit or the amount which is deductible under
Code Section 404.
Regardless of Section 3.1 above, for purposes of Section 4.1E. of the Plan
only, any employee who is a pilot shall become a participant on the later of
October 1, 1994 or on the date they first perform an hour of service for the
employer.
4.2 PARTICIPANT'S SALARY REDUCTION ELECTION
A. Each Participant may elect to defer a portion of his gross Compensation,
subject to the limitations of this Section and the Adoption Agreement. A
deferral election (or modification of an earlier election) may not be
made with respect to Compensation which is currently available on or
before the date the Participant executed such election, or if later, the
latest of the date the Employer adopts this cash or deferred arrangement,
or the date such arrangement first became effective. Any elections made
pursuant to this Section shall become effective as soon as is
Administratively feasible.
Additionally, if elected in the Adoption Agreement, each Participant may
elect to defer and have allocated for a Plan Year all or a portion of any
cash bonus attributable to services performed by the Participant for the
Employer during such Plan Year and which would have been received by the
Participant on or before two and one-half months following the end of the
Plan Year, if not for the deferral. A deferral election may not be made
with respect to cash bonuses which are currently available on or before
the date the Participant executed such election. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, cash bonuses attributable to services performed by the
Participant during a Plan Year but which are to be paid to the
Participant later than two and one-half months after the close of such
Plan Year will be subjected to whatever deferral election is in effect at
the time such cash bonus would have otherwise been received.
The amount by which Compensation and/or cash bonuses are reduced shall be
that Participant's Deferred Compensation and be treated as an Employer
Elective Contribution and allocated to that Participant's Elective
Account.
Once made, a Participant's election to reduce Compensation shall remain
in effect until modified or terminated. Modifications may be made as
specified in the Adoption Agreement, and terminations may be made at any
time. Any modification or termination of an election will become
effective as soon as is administratively feasible.
B. The balance in each Participant's Elective Account shall be fully Vested
at all times and shall not be subject to Forfeiture for any reason.
C. Amounts held in the Participant's Elective Account and Qualified Non-
Elective Account may be distributable as permitted under the Plan, but in
no event prior to the earlier of:
1. A Participant's termination of employment, Total and Permanent
Disability, or death;
2. A Participant's attainment of age 59 1/2;
3. The proven financial hardship of a Participant, subject to the
limitations of Section 6.11;
4. The termination of the Plan without the existence at the time of Plan
termination, or the twelve months immediately preceding the Plan
termination, of another defined contribution plan (other than an
employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7))
or the establishment of a successor defined contribution plan (other
than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section
4975(e)(7)) by the Employer or an Affiliated Employer within the
period ending twelve months after distribution of all assets from the
Plan maintained by the Employer;
5. The date of the sale by the Employer to an entity that is not an
Affiliated Employer of substantially all of the assets (within the
meaning of Code Section 409(d)(2)) with respect to a Participant who
continues employment with the corporation acquiring such assets; or
6. The date of the sale by the Employer or an Affiliated Employer of its
interest in a subsidiary (within the meaning of Code Section
409(d)(3)) to an entity that is not an Affiliated Employer with
respect to a Participant who continues employment with such
subsidiary.
D. In any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1986, a Participant's
Deferred Compensation made under this Plan and all other plans, contracts
or arrangements of the Employer maintaining this Plan shall not exceed
the limitations imposed by Code Section 402(g), as in effect for the
calendar year in which such Plan Year began. If such dollar limitation
is exceeded solely from elective deferrals made under this Plan or any
other Plan maintained by the Employer, a Participant will be deemed to
have notified the Administrator of such excess amount which shall be
distributed in a manner consistent with Section 4.2F. This dollar
limitation shall be adjusted annually pursuant to the method provided in
Code Section 415(d) in accordance with Regulations.
Each Employee may elect to have his Compensation reduced up to 17 % not
to exceed the limits of Code Sections 401(k), 404 and 415. The above
percentage may be reduced by the Plan Administrator, on a
nondiscriminatory basis, to allow the Employer to make Discretionary
Contributions, Non-Elective Contributions, or Matching Contributions
without exceeding the limits of Code Sections 401(k), 401(m), 404, and
415, regardless of whether the contributions are actually made to the
Plan. A Participant may elect to commence salary reductions as of the
participants entry date, and as of any other dates established by the
plan administrator. A Participant may modify the amount of salary
reductions as of the beginning of each plan year, and as of any other
dates the Plan Administrator may establish on a non-discriminatory basis.
E. In the event a Participant has received a hardship distribution pursuant
to Regulation 1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iii)(B) from any other plan maintained by
the Employer or from his Participant's Elective Account pursuant to
Section 6.11C., then such Participant shall not be permitted to elect to
have Deferred Compensation contributed to the Plan on his behalf for a
period of twelve (12) months following the receipt of the distribution.
Furthermore, the dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g) shall be
reduced, with respect to the Participant's taxable year following the
taxable year in which the hardship distribution was made, by the amount
of such Participant's Deferred Compensation, if any, made pursuant to
this Plan (and any other plan maintained by the Employer) for the taxable
year of the hardship distribution.
F. If a Participant's Deferred Compensation under this Plan together with
any elective deferrals (as defined in Regulation 1.402(g)-1(b)) under
another qualified cash or deferred arrangement (as defined in Code
Section 401(k)), a simplified employee pension (as defined in Code
Section 408(k)), a salary reduction arrangement (within the meaning of
Code Section 3121(a)(5)(D)), a deferred compensation plan under Code
Section 457, or a trust described in Code Section 501(c)(18) cumulatively
exceed the limitation imposed by Code Section 402(g) (as adjusted
annually in accordance with the method provided in Code Section 415(d)
pursuant to Regulations) for such Participant's taxable year, the
Participant may, not later than March 1st following the close of his
taxable year, notify the Administrator in writing of such excess and
request that his Deferred Compensation under this Plan be reduced by an
amount specified by the Participant. In such event, the Administrator
shall direct the Trustee to distribute such excess amount (and any Income
allocable to such excess amount) to the Participant not later than the
first April 15 following the close of the Participant's taxable year.
Distributions in accordance with this paragraph may be made for any
taxable year of the Participant which begins after December 31, 1986.
Any distribution of less than the entire amount of Excess Deferred
Compensation and Income shall be treated as a pro rata distribution of
Excess Deferred Compensation and Income. The amount distributed shall
not exceed the Participant's Deferred Compensation under the Plan for the
taxable year. Any distribution on or before the last day of the
Participant's taxable year must satisfy each of the following conditions:
1. The Participant shall designate the distribution as Excess Deferred
Compensation;
2. The distribution must be made after the date on which the Plan
received the Excess Deferred Compensation; and
3. The Plan must designate the distribution as a distribution of Excess
Deferred Compensation.
Any distribution under this Section shall be made first from unmatched
Deferred Compensation and, thereafter, simultaneously from Deferred
Compensation which is matched and matching contributions which relate to
such Deferred Compensation. However, any such matching contributions
which are not Vested shall be forfeited in lieu of being distributed.
For the purpose of this Section, "Income" means the amount of income or
loss allocable to a Participant's Excess Deferred Compensation and shall
be equal to the sum of the allocable gain or loss for the taxable year of
the Participant and the allocable gain or loss for the period between the
end of the taxable year of the Participant and the date of distribution
("gap period"). The income or loss allocable to each such period is
calculated separately and is determined by multiplying the income or loss
allocable to the Participant's Deferred Compensation for the respective
period by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Participant's
Excess Deferred Compensation for the taxable year of the Participant.
The denominator is the balance, as of the last day of the respective
period, of the Participant's Elective Account that is attributable to the
Participant's Deferred Compensation reduced by the gain allocable to such
total amount for the respective period and increased by the loss
allocable to such total amount for the respective period.
In lieu of the "fractional method" described above, a "safe harbor
method" may be used to calculate the allocable income or loss for the
"gap period." Under such "safe harbor method," allocable income or loss
for the "gap period" shall be deemed to equal ten percent (10%) of the
income or loss allocable to the Participant's Excess Deferred
Compensation for the taxable year of the Participant multiplied by the
number of calendar months in the "gap period." For purposes of
determining the number of calendar months in the "gap period," a
distribution occurring on or before the fifteenth day of the month shall
be treated as having been made on the last day of the preceding month and
a distribution occurring after such fifteenth day shall be treated as
having been made on the first day of the next subsequent month.
Income or loss allocable to any distribution of Excess Deferred
Compensation on or before the last day of the taxable year of the
Participant shall be calculated from the first day of the taxable year of
the Participant to the date on which the distribution is made pursuant to
either the "fractional method" or the "safe harbor method."
Notwithstanding the above, for any distribution under this Section which
is made after August 15, 1991, such distribution shall not include any
income for the "gap period." Further provided, for any distribution under
this Section which is made after August 15, 1991, the amount of Income
may be computed using a reasonable method that is consistent with Section
4.4C provided such method is used consistently for all Participants and
for all such distributions for the Plan Year.
Notwithstanding the above, for the 1987 calendar year, Income during the
"gap period" shall not be taken into account.
G. Notwithstanding Section 4.2F. above, a Participant's Excess Deferred
Compensation shall be reduced, but not below zero, by any distribution
and/or recharacterization of Excess Contributions pursuant to Section
4.6A. for the Plan Year beginning with or within the taxable year of the
Participant.
H. At Normal Retirement Date, or such other date when the Participant shall
be entitled to receive benefits, the fair market value of the
Participant's Elective Account shall be used to provide benefits to the
Participant or his Beneficiary.
I. Employer Elective Contributions made pursuant to this Section may be
segregated into a separate account for each Participant in a federally
insured savings account, certificate of deposit in a bank or savings and
loan association, money market certificate, or other short-term debt
security acceptable to the Trustee until such time as the allocations
pursuant to Section 4.4 have been made.
J. The Employer and the Administrator shall adopt a procedure necessary to
implement the salary reduction elections provided for herein.
4.3 TIME OF PAYMENT OF EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTION
The Employer shall generally pay to the Trustee its contribution to the Plan
for each Plan Year within the time prescribed by law, including extensions
of time, for the filing of the Employer's federal income tax return for the
Fiscal Year.
However, Employer Elective Contributions accumulated through payroll
deductions shall be paid to the Trustee as of the earliest date on which
such contributions can reasonably be segregated from the Employer's general
assets, but in any event within ninety (90) days from the date on which such
amounts would otherwise have been payable to the Participant in cash. The
provisions of Department of Labor regulations 2510.3-102 are incorporated
herein by reference. Furthermore, any additional Employer contributions
which are allocable to the Participant's Elective Account for a Plan Year
shall be paid to the Plan no later than the twelve-month period immediately
following the close of such Plan Year.
4.4 ALLOCATION OF CONTRIBUTION, FORFEITURES AND EARNINGS
A. The Administrator shall establish and maintain an account in the name of
each Participant to which the Administrator shall credit as of each
Anniversary Date, or other valuation dates, all amounts allocated to each
such Participant as set forth herein.
B. The Employer shall provide the Administrator with all information
required by the Administrator to make a proper allocation of the
Employer's contributions for each Plan Year. Within a reasonable period
of time after the date of receipt by the Administrator of such
information, the Administrator shall allocate such contribution as
follows:
1. With respect to the Employer's Elective Contribution made pursuant to
Section 4.1A., to each Participant's Elective Account in an amount
equal to each such Participant's Deferred Compensation for the year.
2. With respect to the Employer's Matching Contribution, if any, made
pursuant to Section 4.1B., to each Participant's Account, or
Participant's Elective Account as selected in E3 of the Adoption
Agreement, in accordance with Section 4.1B.
Except, however, a Participant who is not credited with a Year of
Service during any Plan Year shall or shall not share in the
Employer's Matching Contribution for that year as provided in E3 of
the Adoption Agreement.
3. With respect to the Employer's Non-Elective Contribution, made
pursuant to Section 4.1C., to each Participant's Account in accordance
with the provisions of E4 of the Adoption Agreement.
However, if an integrated allocation formula is selected at E4 of the
Adoption Agreement, then such contribution shall be allocated with the
forfeitures from such accounts, to each Participant's Combined Account
in a dollar amount equal to 5.7% of the sum of each Participant's
total Compensation plus Excess Compensation. If the Employer does not
contribute such amount for all Participants, each Participant will be
allocated a share of the contribution and forfeitures in the same
proportion that his total Compensation plus his total Excess
Compensation for the Plan Years bears to the total Compensation plus
the total Excess Compensation of all Participants for that year. The
balance of the contribution and forfeitures, if any, will be allocated
in the same proportion that his total Compensation bears to the total
Compensation of all Participants eligible to share the allocation.
Regardless of the preceding, 4.3% shall be substituted for 5.7% above
if Excess Compensation is based on more than 20% and less than or
equal to 80% of the Taxable Wage Base. If Excess Compensation is
based on less than 100% and more than 80% of the Taxable Wage Base,
then 5.4% shall be substituted for 5.7% above.
4. With respect to the Employer's Qualified Non-Elective Contribution
made pursuant to Section 4.1D., to each Participant's Qualified Non-
Elective Contribution Account in the same proportion that each such
Participant's Compensation for the year bears to the total
Compensation of all Participants for such year.
5. Regardless of the preceding, a Participant who is not credited with a
Year of Service during a Plan Year shall not share in the allocation
of the Employer's Non-Elective Contribution made pursuant to Section
4.1C. and the Employer's Qualified Non-Elective Contribution made
pursuant to Section 4.1D., unless required pursuant to Section 4.4H.
However, for Plan Years beginning after 1989, and if elected in the
Adoption Agreement, a Participant shall share in the allocation of
such contributions regardless of whether a Year of Service was
completed during the Plan Year.
6. With respect to the Employer's Contribution made pursuant to Section
4.1E., each pilot shall have allocated to their account an amount
equal to 3% of the first $15,000 of Plan Year compensation paid and 2%
of the Plan Year Compensation exceeding $15,000. Said allocation to
each participant shall be limited by IRC Section 415.
If the amount of the Employer's Contribution is not sufficient to make
the above allocation, then the percentage used for the allocation of
compensation in excess of $15,000 (2%) shall be reduced equally for
each participant until the allocation does not exceed the amount
contributed pursuant to section 4.1E. If the above mentioned percent
is reduced to 0% and the allocation exceeds the contribution made in
section 4.1E., then the percentage used for the allocation of the
first $15,000 of compensation (3%) shall be reduced equally for each
participant until the allocation does not exceed the amount
contributed pursuant to section 4.1E.
For the 1994 Plan Year the above paragraphs shall be modified to
replace $15,000 with $3,750.
C. As of each Anniversary Date or other valuation date, before allocation of
Employer contributions and Forfeitures, any earnings or losses (net
appreciation or net depreciation) of the Trust Fund shall be allocated in
the same proportion that each Participant's and Former Participant's
nonsegregated accounts bear to the total of all Participants' and Former
Participants' nonsegregated accounts as of such date. If any
nonsegregated account of a Participant has been distributed prior to the
Anniversary Date or other valuation date subsequent to a Participant's
termination of employment, no earnings or losses shall be credited to
such account.
D. Participants' Accounts shall be debited for any insurance or annuity
premiums paid, if any, and credited with any dividends or interest
received on insurance contracts.
E. As of each Anniversary Date any amounts which became Forfeitures since
the last Anniversary Date shall first be made available to reinstate
previously forfeited account balances of Former Participants, if any, in
accordance with Section 6.4H. or be used to satisfy any contribution that
may be required pursuant to Section 3.5 and/or 6.9. The remaining
Forfeitures, if any, shall be treated in accordance with the Adoption
Agreement. Provided, however, that in the event the allocation of
Forfeitures provided herein shall cause the "annual addition" (as defined
in Section 4.9) to any Participant's Account to exceed the amount
allowable by the Code, the excess shall be reallocated in accordance with
Section 4.10. Except, however, for any Plan Year beginning prior to
January 1, 1990, and if elected in the Adoption Agreement for any Plan
Year beginning on or after January 1, 1990, a Participant who performs
less than a Year of Service during any Plan Year shall not share in the
Plan Forfeitures for that year, unless there is a Short Plan Year or a
contribution required pursuant to Section 4.4H.
F. Minimum Allocations Required for Top Heavy Plan Years: Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for any Top Heavy Plan Year, the sum of the Employer's
contributions and Forfeitures allocated to the Participant's Combined
Account of each Non-Key Employee shall be equal to at least three percent
(3%) of such Non-Key Employee's "415 Compensation" (reduced by
contributions and forfeitures, if any, allocated to each Non-Key Employee
in any defined contribution plan included with this plan in a Required
Aggregation Group). However, if (1) the sum of the Employer's
contributions and Forfeitures allocated to the Participant's Combined
Account of each Key Employee for such Top Heavy Plan Year is less than
three percent (3%) of each Key Employee's "415 Compensation" and (2) this
Plan is not required to be included in an Aggregation Group to enable a
defined benefit plan to meet the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4)
or 410, the sum of the Employer's contributions and Forfeitures allocated
to the Participant's Combined Account of each Non-Key Employee shall be
equal to the largest percentage allocated to the Participant's Combined
Account of any Key Employee. However, for Plan Years beginning after
December 31, 1988, in determining whether a Non-Key Employee has received
the required minimum allocation, such Non-Key Employee's Deferred
Compensation and matching contributions used to satisfy the "Actual
Deferral Percentage" test pursuant to Section 4.5A. or the "Actual
Contribution Percentage" test of Section 4.7A. shall not be taken into
account. Any amounts contributed by the Employer in accordance with
4.1D. shall be taken into account.
If this is an integrated Plan, then for any Top Heavy Plan Year, the
Employer's contribution, and any forfeitures from accounts of Employer
Contributions, shall be allocated as contributions in the following
method:
1. An amount equal to 3% multiplied by each Participant's Compensation
for the Plan Year shall be allocated to each Participant's Account.
If the Employer does not contribute such amount for all Participants,
the amount shall be allocated to each Participant's Account in the
same proportion that his total Compensation for the Plan Year bears to
the total Compensation of all Participants for such year.
2. The balance of the Employer's contribution over the amount allocated
under subparagraph 1. hereof shall be allocated to each Participant's
Account in a dollar amount equal to 3% multiplied by a Participant's
Excess Compensation. If the Employer does not contribute such amount
for all Participants, each Participant will be allocated a share of
the contribution in the same proportion that his Excess Compensation
bears to the total Excess Compensation of all Participants for that
year.
3. The balance of the Employer's contribution over the amount allocated
under subparagraph 2. hereof shall be allocated to each Participant's
Account in the dollar amount equal to 2.7% multiplied by the sum of
each Participant's total Compensation plus Excess Compensation. If
the Employer does not contribute such amount for all Participants,
each Participant will be allocated a share of the contribution in the
same proportion that his total Compensation plus his total Excess
Compensation for the Plan Year bears to the total Compensation plus
the total Excess Compensation of all Participants for that year.
Regardless of the preceding, 1.3% shall be substituted for 2.7% above
if Excess Compensation is based on more than 20% and less than or
equal to 80% of the Taxable Wage Base. If Excess Compensation is
based on less than 100% and more than 80% of the Taxable Wage Base,
then 2.4% Shall be substituted for 2.7% above.
Regardless of the preceding, 1.3% shall be substituted for 2.7% above
if Excess Compensation is based on more than 20% and less than or
equal to 80% of the Taxable Wage Base. If Excess Compensation is
based on less than 100% and more than 80% of the Taxable Wage Base,
then 2.4% Shall be substituted for 2.7% above.
4. The balance of the Employer's contributions over the amount allocated
above, if any, shall be allocated to each Participant's Account in the
same proportion that his total Compensation for the Plan Year bears to
the total Compensation of all Participants for such year
For each Non-Key Employee who is a Participant in this Plan and another
defined contribution plan maintained by the Employer, the minimum 3%
allocation specified above shall be provided as specified in F3 of the
Adoption Agreement.
G. For purposes of the minimum allocations set forth above, the percentage
allocated to the Participant's Combined Account of any Key Employee shall
be equal to the ratio of the sum of the Employer's contributions,
Participant's Salary Deferral contributions and Forfeitures allocated on
behalf of such Key Employee divided by the "415 Compensation" for such
Key Employee.
H. For any Top Heavy Plan Year, the minimum allocations set forth above
shall be allocated to the Participant's Combined Account of all Non-Key
Employees who are Participants and who are employed by the Employer on
the last day of the Plan Year, including Non-Key Employees who have (1)
failed to complete a Year of Service; (2) declined to make mandatory
contributions (if required); (3) salary reduction contributions to the
Plan; or, (4) failed to earn a minimum amount of compensation.
I. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in any Plan Year in
which the Employer maintains both this Plan and a defined benefit pension
plan included in a Required Aggregation Group which is top heavy, the
Employer shall not be required to provide a Non-Key Employee with both
the full separate minimum defined benefit plan benefit and the full
separate defined contribution plan allocations. Therefore, if the
Employer maintains both a Defined Benefit and a Defined Contribution Plan
that are included in a Top Heavy Group, the top heavy minimum benefits
shall be provided as follows:
If a minimum, non-integrated contribution of 5.0% of each Non-Key
Employee's total Compensation shall be provided under this Plan is
specified in F1 of the Adoption Agreement, then the following shall
apply:
1. The requirements of Section 2.1 shall apply except that each Non-Key
Employee who is a Participant in this Plan or another Defined
Contribution and who is also a Participant in the Defined Benefit Plan
shall receive a minimum allocation of five percent (5%) of such
Participant's "415 Compensation" from the applicable Defined
Contribution Plan(s).
2. For each Non-Key Employee who is a Participant only in the Defined
Benefit Plan, the Employer will provide a minimum non-integrated
benefit in the Defined Benefit Plan equal to 2% of his highest five
consecutive year average "415 Compensation" for each Year of Service
while a Participant in the Plan, in which the Plan is top heavy, not
to exceed ten.
3. For each Non-Key Employee who is a Participant only in this Defined
Contribution Plan, the Employer will provide a contribution equal to
3% of his "415 Compensation."
If a minimum, non-integrated contribution of 7.5% of each Non-Key
Employee's total Compensation shall be provided in this Plan is specified
in F1 of the Adoption Agreement, then the following shall apply:
4. The minimum allocation specified in Section 4.4I.1. shall be 7 1/2%
for years in which the Plan is Top Heavy, but not Super Top Heavy.
5. The minimum benefit specified in Section 4.4I.2. shall be 3% for years
in which the plan is Top Heavy, but not Super Top Heavy.
6. The minimum allocation specified in Section 4.4I.3. shall be 4% for
years in which the Plan is Top Heavy, but not Super Top Heavy.
J. For the purposes of this Section, "415 Compensation" shall be limited to
$200,000 (unless adjusted in such manner as permitted under Code Section
415(d)). However, for Plan Years beginning prior to January 1, 1989, the
$200,000 limit shall apply only for Top Heavy Plan Years and shall not be
adjusted.
K. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Participants who
terminated employment during the Plan Year shall share in the salary
reduction contributions made by the Employer for the year of termination
without regard to the Hours of Service credited.
L. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (other than Sections
4.4K. and 6.6H.1.), or any election in the Adoption Agreement, any
Participant who terminated employment during the Plan Year for reasons
other than death, Total and Permanent Disability, or retirement shall
share in the allocations of the Employer's Matching Contribution made
pursuant to Section 4.1B., the Employer's Non-Elective Contribution made
pursuant to Section 4.1D., and Forfeitures as provided in the Adoption
Agreement.
M. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Participants terminating
for reasons of death, Total and Permanent Disability, or retirement shall
share in the allocation of the Employer's Matching Contribution made
pursuant to Section 4.1B., the Employer's Non-Elective Contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.1C, the Employer's Qualified Non-Elective
Contribution made pursuant to Section 4.1D., and Forfeitures as provided
in this Section regardless of whether they completed a Year of Service
during the Plan Year.
N. If a Former Participant is reemployed after five (5) consecutive 1-Year
Breaks in Service, then separate accounts shall be maintained as follows:
1. one account for nonforfeitable benefits attributable to pre-break
service, and
2. one account representing his status in the Plan attributable to post-
break service.
O. Notwithstanding any election in the Adoption Agreement to the contrary,
if this Plan would otherwise fail to meet the requirements of Code
Sections 401(a)(26), 410(b)(1), or 410(b)(2)(A)(i) and the Regulations
thereunder because Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant to
Section 4.1B., Employer Non-Elective Contributions made pursuant to
Section 4.1C or Employer Qualified Non-Elective Contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.1D. have not been allocated to a sufficient number
or percentage of Participants for a Plan Year, then the following rules
shall apply:
1. The group of Participants eligible to share in the Employer's
contribution and Forfeitures for the Plan Year shall be expanded to
include the minimum number of Participants who would not otherwise be
eligible as are necessary to satisfy the applicable test specified
above. The specific participants who shall become eligible under the
terms of this paragraph shall be those who are actively employed on
the last day of the Plan Year and, when compared to similarly situated
Participants, have completed the greatest number of Hours of Service
in the Plan Year.
2. If after application of paragraph 1. above, the applicable test is
still not satisfied, then the group of Participants eligible to share
in the Employer's contribution and Forfeitures for the Plan Year shall
be further expanded to include the minimum number of Participants who
are not actively employed on the last day of the Plan Year as are
necessary to satisfy the applicable test. The specific Participants
who shall become eligible to share shall be those Participants, when
compared to similarly situated Participants, who have completed the
greatest number of Hours of Service in the Plan Year before
terminating employment.
Nothing in this Section shall permit the reduction of a Participant's
accrued benefit. Therefore, any amounts that have previously been
allocated to Participants may not be reallocated to satisfy these
requirements. In such event, the Employer shall make an additional
contribution equal to the amount such affected Participants would have
received had they been included in the allocations, even if it exceeds
the amount which would be deductible under Code Section 404. Any
adjustment to the allocations pursuant to this paragraph shall be
considered a retroactive amendment adopted by the last day of the Plan
Year for the applicable Plan Year only.
4.5 ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE TESTS
A. Maximum Annual Allocation: For each Plan Year beginning after December
31, 1986, the annual allocation derived from Employer Elective
Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions to a Participant's
Elective Account and Qualified Non-Elective Account shall satisfy one of
the following tests:
1. The "Actual Deferral Percentage" for the Highly Compensated
Participant group shall not be more than the "Actual Deferral
Percentage" of the Non-Highly Compensated Participant group multiplied
by 1.25, or
2. The excess of the "Actual Deferral Percentage" for the Highly
Compensated Participant group over the "Actual Deferral Percentage"
for the Non-Highly Compensated Participant group shall not be more
than two percentage points. Additionally, the "Actual Deferral
Percentage" for the Highly Compensated Participant group shall not
exceed the "Actual Deferral Percentage" for the Non-Highly Compensated
Participant group multiplied by 2. The provisions of Code Section
401(k)(3) and Regulation 1.401(k)-1(b) are incorporated herein by
reference.
However, for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988, to prevent the
multiple use of the alternative method described in 2. above and Code
Section 401(m)(9)(A), any Highly Compensated Participant eligible to make
elective deferrals pursuant to Section 4.2 and to make Employee
contributions or to receive matching contributions under this Plan or
under any other plan maintained by the Employer or an Affiliated Employer
shall have his actual contribution ratio reduced pursuant to Regulation
1.401(m)-2, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.
B. For the purpose of this Section, "Actual Deferral Percentage" means, with
respect to the Highly Compensated Participant group and Non-Highly
Compensated Participant group for a Plan Year, the average of the ratios,
calculated separately for each Participant in such group, of the amount
of Employer Elective Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions allocated to each Participant's Elective Account and
Qualified Non-Elective Account for such Plan Year, to such Participant's
"414(s) Compensation" for such Plan Year. The actual deferral ratio for
each Participant and the "Actual Deferral Percentage" for each group, for
Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988, shall be calculated to the
nearest one-hundredth of one percent of the Participant's "414(s)
Compensation." Employer Elective Contributions allocated to each Non-
Highly Compensated Participant's Elective Account shall be reduced by
Excess Deferred Compensation to the extent such excess amounts are made
under this Plan or any other plan maintained by the Employer.
C. For the purpose of determining the actual deferral ratio of a Highly
Compensated Participant who is subject to the Family Member aggregation
rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) because such Participant is either a
"five percent owner" of the Employer or one of the ten (10) Highly
Compensated Employees paid the greatest "415 Compensation" during the
year, the following shall apply:
1. The combined actual deferral ratio for the family group (which shall
be treated as one Highly Compensated Participant) shall be the greater
of: (a) the ratio determined by aggregating Employer Elective
Contributions and "414(s) Compensation" of all eligible Family Members
who are Highly Compensated Participants without regard to family
aggregation; and (b) the ratio determined by aggregating Employer
Elective Contributions and "414(s) Compensation" of all eligible
Family Members (including Highly Compensated Participants). However,
in applying the $200,000 limit to "414(s) Compensation" for Plan Years
beginning after December 31, 1988, Family Members shall include only
the affected Employee's spouse and any lineal descendants who have not
attained age 19 before the close of the Plan year.
2. The Employer Elective Contributions and "414(s) Compensation" of all
Family Members shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the
"Actual Deferral Percentage" of the Non-Highly Compensated Participant
group except to the extent taken into account in paragraph 1. above.
3. If a Participant is required to be aggregated as a member of more than
one family group in a plan, all Participants who are members of those
family groups that include the Participant are aggregated as one
family group in accordance with paragraphs 1. and 2. above.
D. For the purposes of Sections 4.5A and 4.6, a Highly Compensated
Participant and a Non-Highly Compensated Participant shall include any
Employee eligible to make a deferral election pursuant to Section 4.2,
whether or not such deferral election was made or suspended pursuant to
Section 4.2.
E. For the purposes of this Section and Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and
401(k), if two or more plans which include cash or deferred arrangements
are considered one plan for the purposes of Code Section 401(a)(4) or
410(b) (other than Code Section 401(b)(2)(A)(ii) as in effect for Plan
Years beginning after December 31, 1988), the cash or deferred
arrangements included in such plans shall be treated as one arrangement.
In addition, two or more cash or deferred arrangements may be considered
as a single arrangement for purposes of determining whether or not such
arrangements satisfy Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and 401(k). In such
a case, the cash or deferred arrangements included in such plans and the
plans including such arrangements shall be treated as one arrangement and
as one plan for purposes of this Section and Code Sections 401(a)(4),
410(b) and 401(k). For Plan years beginning after December 31, 1989,
plans may be aggregated under this paragraph E. only if they have the
same plan year.
Notwithstanding the above, for Plan Years beginning after December 31,
1988, an employee stock ownership plan described in Code Section
4975(e)(7) may not be combined with this Plan for purposes of determining
whether the employee stock ownership plan or this Plan satisfies this
Section and Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and 401(k).
F. For the purposes of this Section, if a Highly Compensated Participant is
a Participant under two (2) or more cash or deferred arrangements (other
than a cash or deferred arrangement which is part of an employee stock
ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7) for Plan Years
beginning after December 31, 1988) of the Employer or an Affiliated
Employer, all such cash or deferred arrangements shall be treated as one
cash or deferred arrangement for the purpose of determining the actual
deferral ratio with respect to such Highly Compensated Participant.
However, for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988, if the cash or
deferred arrangements have different Plan Years, this paragraph shall be
applied by treating all cash or deferred arrangements ending with or
within the same calendar year as a single arrangement.
4.6 ADJUSTMENT TO ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE TESTS
In the event that the initial allocations of the Employer's Elective
Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions made pursuant to
Section 4.4 do not satisfy one of the tests set forth in Section 4.5, for
Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1986, the Administrator shall adjust
Excess Contributions pursuant to the options set forth below:
A. On or before the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of
each Plan Year (but in no event later than the close of the following
Plan Year), the Highly Compensated Participant with the highest actual
deferral ratio shall have his portion of Excess Contributions distributed
to him and/or, at his election, recharacterized as a voluntary Employee
contribution pursuant to Section 4.12 until one of the tests set forth in
Section 4.5 is satisfied, or until his actual deferral ratio equals the
actual deferral ratio of the Highly Compensated Participant having the
second highest actual deferral ratio. This process shall continue until
one of the tests set forth in Section 4.5 is satisfied. For each Highly
Compensated Participant, the amount of Excess Contributions is equal to
the Elective Contributions and Qualified Non-Elective Contributions made
on behalf of such Highly Compensated Participant (determined prior to the
application of this paragraph) minus the amount determined by multiplying
the Highly Compensated Participant's actual deferral ratio (determined
after application of this paragraph) by his "414(s) Compensation."
However, in determining the amount of Excess Contributions to be
distributed and/or recharacterized with respect to an affected Highly
Compensated Participant as determined herein, such amount shall be
reduced by any Excess Deferred Compensation previously distributed to
such affected Highly Compensated Participant for his taxable year ending
with or within such Plan Year. Any distribution and/or
recharacterization of Excess Contributions shall be made in accordance
with the following:
1. With respect to the distribution of Excess Contributions pursuant to
A. above, such distribution:
a. May be postponed but not later than the close of the Plan Year
following the Plan Year in which the Actual Deferral Percentage
test failed;
b. Shall be made first from unmatched Deferred Compensation and,
thereafter, simultaneously from Deferred Compensation which is
matched and matching contributions which relate to such Deferred
Compensation, provided they are included in the Actual Deferral
Percentage test pursuant to E3 of the Adoption Agreement.
c. Shall be made from Qualified Non-Elective Contributions only to the
extent that Excess Contributions exceed the balance in the
Participant's Elective Account attributable to Deferred
Compensation and Employer Matching Contributions;
d. Shall be adjusted for Income; and
e. Shall be designated by the Employer as a distribution of Excess
Contributions (and Income).
2. With respect to the recharacterization of Excess Contributions
pursuant to A. above, such recharacterized amounts:
a. Shall be deemed to have occurred on the date on which the last of
those Highly Compensated Participants with Excess Contributions to
be recharacterized is notified of the recharacterization and the
tax consequences of such recharacterization;
b. For Plan Years ending on or before August 8, 1988, may be postponed
but not later than October 24, 1988;
c. Shall not exceed the amount of Deferred Compensation on behalf of
any Highly Compensated Participant for any Plan Year;
d. Shall be treated as voluntary Employee contributions for purposes
of Code Section 401(a)(4) and Regulation 1.401(k)-1(b). However,
for purposes of Sections 2.2 and 4.4F., recharacterized Excess
Contributions continue to be treated as Employer contributions that
are Deferred Compensation. For Plan Years beginning after December
31, 1988, Excess Contributions recharacterized as voluntary
Employee contributions shall continue to be nonforfeitable and
subject to the same distribution rules provided for in Section
4.9F.;
e. Which relate to Plan Years ending on or before October 24, 1988,
may be treated as either Employer contributions or voluntary
Employee contributions and therefore shall not be subject to the
restrictions of Section 4.2C.;
f. Are not permitted if the amount recharacterized plus voluntary
Employee contributions actually made by such Highly Compensated
Participant, exceed the maximum amount of voluntary Employee
contributions (determined prior to application of Section 4.7A.)
that such Highly Compensated Participant is permitted to make under
the Plan in the absence of recharacterization;
g. Shall be adjusted for Income.
3. Any distribution and/or recharacterization of less than the entire
amount of Excess Contributions shall be treated as a pro rata
distribution and/or recharacterization of Excess Contributions and
Income.
4. Any matching contributions relating to a distribution and/or
recharacterization of Excess Contributions shall be forfeited, and
such forfeiture shall reduce the Employer's Contributions.
5. The determination and correction of Excess Contributions of a Highly
Compensated Participant whose actual deferral ratio is determined
under the family aggregation rules shall be accomplished as follows:
a. If the actual deferral ratio for the Highly Compensated Participant
is determined in accordance with Section 4.5C.1.b., then the actual
deferral ratio shall be reduced as required herein and the Excess
Contributions for the family unit shall be allocated among the
Family Members in proportion to the Elective Contributions of each
Family Member that were combined to determine the group actual
deferral ratio.
b. If the actual deferral ratio for the Highly Compensated Participant
is determined under Section 4.5C.1.a., then the actual deferral
ratio shall first be reduced as required herein, but not below the
actual deferral ratio of the group of Family Members who are not
Highly Compensated Participants without regard to family
aggregation. The Excess Contributions resulting from this initial
reduction shall be allocated (in proportion to Elective
Contributions) among the Highly Compensated Participants whose
Elective Contributions were combined to determine the actual
deferral ratio. If further reduction is still required, the Excess
Contributions resulting from this further reduction shall be
determined by taking into account the contributions of all Family
Members and shall be allocated among them in proportion to their
respective Elective Contributions.
B. Within twelve (12) months after the end of the Plan Year, the Employer
shall make a special Qualified Non-Elective Contribution on behalf of
Non-Highly Compensated Participants in an amount sufficient to satisfy
one of the tests set forth in Section 4.5A. Such contribution shall be
allocated to the Participant's Qualified Non-Elective Account of each
Non-Highly Compensated Participant in the same proportion that each Non-
Highly Compensated Participant's Compensation for the year bears to the
total Compensation of all Non-Highly Compensated Participants.
C. For purposes of this Section, "Income" means the income or loss allocable
to Excess Contributions which shall equal the sum of the allocable gain
or loss for the Plan Year and the allocable gain or loss for the period
between the end of the Plan Year and the date of distribution ("gap
period"). The income or loss allocable to Excess Contributions for the
Plan Year and the "gap period" is calculated separately and is determined
by multiplying the income or loss for the Plan Year or the "gap period"
by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Excess Contributions
for the Plan Year. The denominator of the fraction is the total of the
Participant's Elective Account attributable to Elective Contributions and
the Participant's Qualified Non-Elective Account as of the end of the
Plan Year or the "gap period," reduced by the gain allocable to such
total amount for the Plan Year or the "gap period" and increased by the
loss allocable to such total amount for the Plan Year or the "gap
period."
In lieu of the "fractional method" described above, a "safe harbor
method" may be used to calculate the allocable Income for the "gap
period." Under such "safe harbor method," allocable Income for the "gap
period" shall be deemed to equal ten percent (10%) of the Income
allocable to Excess Contributions for the Plan Year of the Participant
multiplied by the number of calendar months in the "gap period," a
distribution occurring on or before the fifteenth day of the month shall
be treated as having been made on the last day of the preceding month and
a distribution occurring after such fifteenth day shall be treated as
having been made on the first day of the next subsequent month.
Notwithstanding the above, for any distribution under this Section which
is made after March 15, 1992, such distribution shall not include any
income for the "gap period." Further provided, for any distribution
under this Section which is made after March 15, 1992, the amount of
Income may be computed using a reasonable method that is consistent with
Section 4.4C, provided such method is used consistently for all
Participants and for all such distributions for the Plan Year.
Notwithstanding the above, for Plan Years which began in 1987, Income
during the "gap period" shall not be taken into account.
D. Any amounts not distributed or recharacterized within 2 1/2 months after
the end of the Plan Year shall be subject to the 10% Employer excise tax
imposed by Code Section 4979. Distributions made pursuant to 4.6A. and
4.6C. must be made by the close of the Plan Year following the Plan Year
being tested.
4.7 ACTUAL CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE TESTS
A. The "Actual Contribution Percentage," for Plan Years beginning after the
later of the Effective Date of this Plan or December 31, 1986, for the
Highly Compensated Participant group shall not exceed the greater of:
1. 125 percent of such percentage for the Non-Highly Compensated
Participant group; or
2. the lesser of 200 percent of such percentage for the Non-Highly
Compensated Participant group, or such percentage for the Non-Highly
Compensated group plus 2 percentage points. However, for Plan Years
beginning after December 31, 1988, to prevent the multiple use of the
alternative method described in this paragraph and Code Section
401(m)(9)(A), any Highly Compensated Participant eligible to make:
a. Elective deferrals pursuant to Section 4.2 or any other cash or
deferred arrangement maintained by the Employer or an Affiliated
Employer, and
b. Employee contributions or to receive matching contributions under
any plan maintained by the Employer or an Affiliated Employer
shall have his actual contribution ratio reduced pursuant to
Regulation 1.401(m)-2. The provisions of Code Section 401(m) and
Regulations 1.401(m)-1(b) and 1.401(m)-2 are incorporated herein by
reference.
B. For the purposes of this Section and Section 4.8, "Actual Contribution
Percentage" for a Plan Year means, with respect to the Highly Compensated
Participant group and Non-Highly Compensated group, the average of the
ratios (calculated separately for each Participant in each group) of:
1. the sum of Employer Matching Contributions pursuant to Section 4.1B.
(to the extent such matching contributions are not used to satisfy the
tests set forth in Section 4.5), voluntary Employee contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.12 and Excess Contributions recharacterized as
voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. contributed
under the Plan on behalf of each such Participant for such Plan Year;
to
2. the Participant's "414(s) Compensation" for such Plan Year.
C. For purposes of determining the "Actual Contribution Percentage" and the
amount of Excess Aggregate Contributions pursuant to Section 4.8D, only
Employer Matching Contributions (excluding matching contributions
forfeited of distributed pursuant to Section 4.2F, 4.6A, or 4.8A)
contributed to the Plan prior to the end of the succeeding Plan Year
shall be considered. In addition, the Administrator may elect to take
into account, with respect to Employees eligible to have Employer
Matching Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B or voluntary
Employee contributions made pursuant to Section 4.12 allocated to their
accounts, elective deferrals (as defined in Regulation 1.402(g)-1(b)) and
qualified non-elective contributions (as defined in Code Section
401(m)(4)(C)) contributed to any plan maintained by the Employer. Such
elective deferrals and qualified non-elective contribution subject to
Regulation 1.401(m)-1(b)(2) which is incorporated herein by reference.
However, for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988, the Plan Year
must be the same as the Plan Year of the plan to which the elective
deferrals and the qualified non-elective contributions are made.
D. For the purpose of determining the actual contribution ratio of a Highly
Compensated Employee who is subject to the Family Member aggregation
rules of Code Section 414(q)(6) because such Employee is either a "five
percent owner" of the Employer or one of the ten (10) Highly Compensated
Employees paid the greatest "415 Compensation" during the year, the
following shall apply:
1. The combined actual contribution ratio for the family group (which
shall be treated as one Highly Compensated Participant) shall be the
greater of: (a) the ratio determined by aggregating Employer Matching
Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to the extent such
matching contributions are not used to satisfy the tests set forth in
Section 4.5), voluntary Employee contributions made pursuant to
Section 4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as voluntary
Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and "414(s)
Compensation" of all eligible Family Members who are Highly
Compensated Participants without regard to family aggregation; and (b)
the ratio determined by aggregating Employer Matching Contributions
made pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to the extent such matching
contributions are not used to satisfy the tests set forth in Section
4.5), voluntary Employee contributions made pursuant to Section 4.12,
Excess Contributions recharacterized as voluntary Employee
contributions pursuant to Section 4.6(a) and "414(s) Compensation" of
all eligible Family Members (including Highly Compensated
Participants). However, in applying the $200,000 limit to "414(s)
Compensation" for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988, Family
Members shall include only the affected Employee's spouse and any
lineal descendants who have not attained age 19 before the close of
the Plan Year.
2. The Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to
the extent such matching contributions are not used to satisfy the
tests set forth in Section 4.5), voluntary Employee contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as
voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and "414
Compensation" of all Family Members shall be disregarded for purposes
of determining the "Actual Contribution Percentage" of the Non-Highly
Compensated Participant group except to the extent taken into account
in paragraph 1. above.
3. If a Participant is required to be aggregated as a member of more than
one family group in a plan, all Participants who are members of those
family groups that include the Participant are aggregated as one
family group in accordance with paragraphs 1. and 2. above.
E. For purposes of this Section and Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and
401(m), if two or more plans of the Employer to which matching
contributions, Employee contributions, or both, are made are treated as
one plan for purposes of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or 410(b) (other than
the average benefits test under Code Section 410(b)(2)(A)(ii) as in
effect for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988), such plans
shall be treated as one plan. In addition, two or more plans of the
Employer to which matching contributions, Employee contributions, or
both, are made may be considered as a single plan for purposes of
determining whether or not such plans satisfy Code Sections 401(a)(4),
410(b) and 401(m). In such a case, the aggregated plans must satisfy
Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and 401(m) as though such aggregated
plans were a single plan. For plan years beginning after December 31,
1989, plans may be aggregated under this paragraph only if they have the
same plan year.
Notwithstanding the above, for Plan Years beginning after December 31,
1988, an employee stock ownership plan described in Code Section
4975(e)(7) may not be aggregated with this Plan for purposes of
determining whether the employee stock ownership plan or this Plan
satisfies this Section and Code Sections 401(a)(4), 410(b) and 401(m).
F. If a Highly Compensated Participant is a Participant under two or more
plans (other than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code
Section 4975(e)(7) for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988)
which are maintained by the Employer or an Affiliated Employer to which
matching contributions, Employee contributions, or both, are made, all
such contributions on behalf of such Highly Compensated Participant shall
be aggregated for purposes of determining such Highly Compensated
Participant's actual contribution ratio. However, for Plan Years
beginning after December 31, 1988, if the plans have different plan
years, this paragraph shall be applied by treating all plans ending with
or within the same calendar year as a single plan.
G. For purposes of Section 4.7A. and 4.8, a Highly Compensated Participant
and a Non-Highly Compensated Participant shall include any Employee
eligible to have matching contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B.
(whether or not a deferred election was made or suspended pursuant to
Section 4.2E.) allocated to his account for the Plan Year or to make
salary deferrals pursuant to Section 4.2 (if the Employer uses salary
deferrals to satisfy the provisions of this Section) or voluntary
Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.12 (whether or not voluntary
Employee contributions are made) allocated to his account for the Plan
Year.
H. For purposes of this Section, "Matching Contribution" shall mean an
Employer contribution made to the Plan, or to a contract described in
Code Section 403(b), on behalf of a Participant on account of an Employee
contribution made by such Participant, or on account of a participant's
deferred compensation, under a plan maintained by the Employer.
4.8 ADJUSTMENT TO ACTUAL CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE TESTS
A. In the event that for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1986, the
"Actual Contribution Percentage" for the Highly Compensated Participant
group exceeds the "Actual Contribution Percentage" for the Non-Highly
Compensated Participant group pursuant to Section 4.7A., the
Administrator (on or before the fifteenth day of the third month
following the end of the Plan Year, but in no event later than the close
of the following Plan Year) shall direct the Trustee to distribute to the
Highly Compensated Participant having the highest actual contribution
ratio, his portion of Excess Aggregate Contributions (and income
allocable to such Contributions) or, if forfeitable, forfeit such non-
Vested Excess Aggregate Contributions attributable to Employer Matching
Contributions (and Income allocable to such Excess Aggregate
Contributions) until either one of the tests set forth in Section 4.7A.
is satisfied, or until his actual contribution ratio equals the actual
contribution ratio of the Highly Compensated Participant having the
second highest actual contribution ratio. This process shall continue
until one of the tests set forth in Section 4.7A. is satisfied. The
distribution and/or Forfeiture of Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be
made in the following order:
1. Employer Matching Contributions distributed and/or recharacterized
pursuant to Section 4.6A.1.;
2. Voluntary Employee contributions including Excess Contributions
recharacterized as voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to
Section 4.6A.2.;
3. Remaining Employer Matching Contributions.
B. Any distribution or Forfeiture of less than the entire amount of Excess
Aggregate Contributions (and Income) shall be treated as a pro rata
distribution of Excess Aggregate Contributions and Income. Distribution
of Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be designated by the Employer as
a distribution of Excess Aggregate Contributions (and Income).
Forfeitures of Excess Aggregate Contributions shall occur at the same
time as distributions for Excess Aggregate Contributions or, at the same
time such distribution would have occurred if there was not a forfeiture.
Forfeitures shall be treated in accordance with Section 4.4. However,
no such Forfeiture may be allocated to a Highly Compensated Participant
whose contributions are reduced pursuant to this Section.
C. Excess Aggregate Contributions attributable to amounts other than
voluntary Employee contributions, including forfeited matching
contributions, shall be treated as Employer contributions for purposes of
Code Sections 404 and 415 even if distributed from the Plan.
D. For the purposes of this Section and Section 4.7, "Excess Aggregate
Contributions" means, with respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
1. the aggregate amount of Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant
to Section 4.1B. (to the extent such contributions are taken into
account pursuant to Section 4.7B.), voluntary Employee contributions
made pursuant to Section 4.6A. and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or elective deferrals taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7C. actually made on behalf of the Highly Compensated
Participant group for such Plan Year, over
2. the maximum amount of such contributions permitted under the
limitations of Section 4.7A.
E. For each Highly Compensated Participant, the amount of Excess Aggregate
Contributions is equal to the total Employer Matching Contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to the extent taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7B.), voluntary Employee contributions made pursuant to Section
4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as voluntary Employee
contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or elective deferrals taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7C. on behalf of the Highly Compensated Participant (determined
after application of this paragraph) by his "414(s) Compensation." The
actual contribution ratio must be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of
one percent for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1988. In no case
shall the amount of Excess Aggregate Contribution with respect to any
Highly Compensated Participant exceed the amount of Employer Matching
Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to the extent taken into
account pursuant to Section 4.7B.), voluntary Employee contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as
voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and any
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or elective deferrals taken into
account pursuant to Section 4.7C. on behalf of such Highly Compensated
Participant for such Plan Year.
F. The determination of the amount of Excess Aggregate Contributions with
respect to any Plan Year shall be made after first determining the Excess
Contributions, if any, to be treated as voluntary Employee contributions
due to recharacterization for the plan year of any other qualified cash
or deferred arrangement (as defined in Code Section 401(k)) maintained by
the Employer that ends with or within the Plan Year or which are treated
as voluntary Employee contributions due to recharacterization pursuant to
Section 4.6A.
G. The determination and correction of Excess Aggregate Contributions of a
Highly Compensated Participant whose actual contribution ratio is
determined under the family aggregation rules shall be accomplished as
follows:
1. If the actual contribution ratio for the Highly Compensated
Participant is determined in accordance with Section 4.7D.1.(a), then
the actual contribution ratio shall be reduced and the Excess
Aggregate Contributions for the family unit shall be allocated among
the Family Members in proportion to the sum of Employer Matching
Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1B. (to the extent taken into
account pursuant to Section 4.7B.), voluntary Employee contributions
made pursuant to Section 4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as
voluntary Employee contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and any
Qualified Non-Elective Contributions or elective deferrals taken into
account pursuant to Section 4.7C. of each Family Member that were
combined to determine the group actual contribution ratio.
2. If the actual contribution ratio for the Highly Compensated
Participant is determined under Section 4.7D.1.a., then the actual
contribution ratio shall first be reduced, as required herein, but not
below the actual contribution ratio of the group of Family Members who
are not Highly Compensated Participants without regard to family
aggregation. The Excess Aggregate Contributions resulting from this
initial reduction shall be allocated among the Highly Compensated
Participants whose Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant to
Section 4.1B. (to the extent taken into account pursuant to Section
4.7B.), voluntary Employee contributions made pursuant to Section
4.12, Excess Contributions recharacterized as voluntary Employee
contributions pursuant to Section 4.6A. and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or elective deferrals taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7C. were combined to determine the actual contribution
ratio. If further reduction is still required, the Excess Aggregate
Contributions resulting from this further reduction shall be
determined by taking into account the contributions of all Family
Members and shall be allocated among them in proportion to their
respective Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant to Section
4.1B. (to the extent taken into account pursuant to Section 4.7B.),
voluntary Employee contributions made pursuant to Section 4.12, Excess
Contributions recharacterized as voluntary Employee contributions
pursuant to Section 4.6A., and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions or elective deferrals taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7C.
H. Notwithstanding the above, within twelve (12) months after the end of the
Plan Year, the Employer may make a special Qualified Non-Elective
Contribution on behalf of Non-Highly Compensated Participants in an
amount sufficient to satisfy one of the tests set forth in Section 4.7A.
Such contribution shall be allocated to the Participant's Qualified Non-
Elective Account of each Non-Highly Compensated Participant in the same
proportion that each Non-Highly Compensated Participant's Compensation
for the year bears to the total Compensation of all Non-Highly
Compensated Participants. A separate accounting shall be maintained for
the purpose of excluding such contributions from the "Actual Deferral
Percentage" tests pursuant to Section 4.5A.
I. For purposes of this Section, "Income" means the income or loss allocable
to Excess Aggregate Contributions which shall equal the sum of the
allocable gain or loss for the Plan Year and the allocable gain or loss
for the period between the end of the Plan Year and the date of
distribution ("gap period"). The Income or loss allocable to Excess
Aggregate Contributions for the Plan Year and the "gap period" is
calculated separately and is determined by multiplying the income or loss
for the Plan Year or the "gap period" by a fraction. The numerator of
the fraction is the Excess Aggregate Contributions for the Plan Year.
The denominator of the fraction is the total Participant's Account and
Voluntary Contribution Account attributable to Employer Matching
Contributions subject to Section 4.7, voluntary Employee contributions
made pursuant to Section 4.12, and any Qualified Non-Elective
Contributions and elective deferrals taken into account pursuant to
Section 4.7C. as of the end of the Plan Year or the "gap period," reduced
by the gain allocable to such total amount for the Plan Year or the "gap
period" and increased by the loss allocable to such total amount for the
Plan Year or the "gap period."
In lieu of the "fractional method" described above, a "safe harbor
method" may be used to calculate the allocable Income for the "gap
period." Under such "safe harbor method," allocable Income for the "gap
period" shall be deemed to equal ten percent (10%) of the Income
allocable to Excess Aggregate Contributions for the Plan Year of the
Participant multiplied by the number of calendar months in the "gap
period." For purposes of determining the number of calendar months in
the "gap period," a distribution occurring on or before the fifteenth day
of the month shall be treated as having been made on the last day of the
preceding month and a distribution occurring after such fifteenth day
shall be treated as having been made on the first day of the next
subsequent month.
The Income allocable to Excess Aggregate Contributions resulting from
recharacterization of Elective Contributions shall be determined and
distributed as if such recharacterized Elective Contributions had been
distributed as Excess Contributions.
Notwithstanding the above, for any distribution under this Section which
is made after March 15, 1992, such distribution shall not include any
Income for the "gap period." Further provided, for any distribution
under this Section which is made after March 15, 1992, the amount of
Income may be computed using a reasonable method that is consistent with
Section 4.4C, provided such method is used consistently for all
Participants and for all such distributions for the Plan Year.
Notwithstanding the above, for Plan Years which began in 1987, Income
during the "gap period" shall not be taken into account.
4.9 MAXIMUM ANNUAL ADDITIONS
A. If the Participant does not participate in, and has never participated in
(1) another qualified plan, (2) a welfare benefit fund (as defined in
Code Section 419(e)), or (3) an individual medical account (as defined in
Code Section 415(l)(2)), or (4) a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan,
which is maintained by the Employer and which provides Annual Additions,
then the amount of Annual Additions which may be credited to the
Participant's accounts for any Limitation Year shall 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 accounts would
cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed the Maximum
Permissible Amount, then the amount contributed or allocated will be
reduced so that the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year will equal
the Maximum Permissible Amount.
1. 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 estimation of
the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation Year, uniformly
determined for all Participants similarly situated.
2. As soon as it is administratively feasible after the end of the
Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for such Limitation
Year shall be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual
compensation for such Limitation Year.
3. If there is an excess amount pursuant to Section A2 or Section 4.10,
the excess will be disposed of in one of the following manners, as
uniformly determined by the Plan Administrator for all Participants
similarly situated:
a. Any Deferred Compensation or non-deductible Voluntary Employee
Contributions, to the extent they would reduce the Excess Amount
will be distributed to the Participant;
b. If, after the application of subparagraph a., 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;
c. If, after the application of subparagraph a., an Excess Amount
still exists, and the Participant is not covered by the Plan at the
end of a 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;
d. If a suspense account is in existence at any time during a
Limitation Year pursuant to this Section, it will not participate
in the allocation of investment gains and losses. If such 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. If, in addition to this Plan, the Participant is covered under (1)
another qualified defined contribution plan maintained by the Employer,
(2) a welfare benefit fund (as defined in Code Section 419(e)), or (3) an
individual medical account (as defined in Code Section 415(1)(2)), or (4)
a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan, which is maintained by the
Employer and which provides Annual Additions during any Limitation Year,
then the Annual Additions which may be credited to a Participant's
accounts under this Plan for any such Limitation Year shall not exceed
the Maximum Permissible Amount reduced by the Annual Additions credited
to a Participant's accounts under the other plans and welfare benefit
funds 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 accounts under this Plan
would cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed this
limitation, then the amount contributed or allocated will be reduced so
that the Annual Additions under all such plans and welfare benefit 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.
1. 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 Section 4.9A.1.
2. As soon as it 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.
3. If, pursuant to Section 4.9B.1. or as a result of the allocation 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
attributable to a welfare benefit fund or individual medical account
will be deemed to have been allocated first regardless of the actual
allocation date.
4. 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 this 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 defined contribution plans.
5. Any Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be disposed of in the
manner described in Section 4.9A.3.
C. If the Participant is covered under another qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Employer, Annual Additions which may
be credited to the Participant's account under this Plan for any
Limitation Year will be limited in accordance with Section 4.9B., unless
the Employer provides other limitations in the Adoption Agreement.
D. 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. 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
Limitation on Allocations Section of the Adoption Agreement.
E. For purposes of applying the limitations of Code Section 415, the
transfer of funds from one qualified plan to another is not an "annual
addition." In addition, the following are not Employee contributions for
the purposes of Section 4.9F.1.b.:
1. Rollover contributions (as defined in Code Sections 402(a)(5),
403(a)(4), 403(b)(8) and 408(d)(3));
2. Repayments of loans made to a Participant from the Plan;
3. Repayments of distributions received by an Employee pursuant to Code
Section 411(a)(7)(B) (cash-outs);
4. Repayments of distributions received by an Employee pursuant to Code
Section 411(a)(3)(D) (mandatory contributions); and
5. Employee contributions to a simplified employee pension excludable
from gross income under Code Section 408(k)(6).
F. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall be defined as
follows:
1. Annual Additions means the sum credited to a Participant's accounts
for any Limitation Year of:
a. Employer contributions,
b. Effective with respect to "limitation years" beginning after
December 31, 1986, Employee contributions,
c. Forfeitures,
d. Amounts allocated, after March 31, 1984, to an individual medical
account, as defined in Code Section 415(1)(2), which is part of a
pension or annuity plan maintained by the Employer, and
e. Amount allocated to a participant in a Simplified
Employee Pension (SEP) Plan which is not excludable
from gross income under Code Section 408(k)(6).
f. Amounts derived from contributions paid or accrued after December
31, 1985, in taxable years ending after such date, which are
attributable to post-retirement medical benefits allocated to the
separate account of a key employee (as defined in Code Section
419A(d)(3)) under a welfare benefit fund (as defined in Code
Section 419(e)) maintained by the Employer. Except, however, the
"415 Compensation" percentage limitation referred to in paragraph
A.1. above shall not apply to: (1) any contribution for medical
benefits (within the meaning of Code Section 419A(f)(2)) after
separation from service which is otherwise treated as an "annual
addition," or (2) any amount otherwise treated as an "annual
addition" under Code Section 415(1)(1). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, for "limitation years" beginning prior to January 1,
1987, only that portion of Employee contributions equal to the
lesser of Employee contributions in excess of six percent (6%) of
"415 Compensation" or one-half of Employee contributions shall be
considered an "annual addition."
For this purpose, any Excess Amount applied under Sections 4.9A.3.
and 4.9B.5. in the Limitation Year to reduce Employer contributions
shall be considered Annual Additions for such Limitation Year.
2. Compensation means a Participant's Compensation as elected in the
Adoption Agreement. However, regardless of any selection made in
the Adoption Agreement, "415 Compensation" shall exclude
compensation which is not currently includible in the Participant's
gross income by reason of the application of Code Sections 125,
402(e)(3), 402(1)(B), or 403(b).
For limitation years beginning after December 31, 1991, for
purposes of applying the limitations of this article, 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 Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) 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 and contributions made on behalf
of such participant are non-forfeitable when made.
a. 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 to the extent such contributions are
excludable from the Employee's gross income, or any distributions
from a plan of deferred compensation;
b. Contributions made by the Employer to a plan of deferred
compensation to the extent that all or a portion of such
contributions are recharacterized as a voluntary Employee
contribution;
c. Amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option,
or when restricted stock (or property) held by an Employee becomes
freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk
of forfeiture;
d. Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of
stock acquired under a qualified stock option; and
e. Other amounts which received special tax benefits, or contributions
made by an Employer (whether or not under a salary reduction
agreement) toward the purchase of an annuity contract described in
Code Section 403(b) (whether or not the contributions are
excludable from the gross income of the Employee).
For purposes of applying the limitations of this Section 4.9,
Compensation for any Limitation Year is the Compensation actually paid
or includible in gross income during such year. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, Compensation for a Participant in a profit-sharing
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 and contributions made on behalf of such
Participant are nonforfeitable when made.
3. Defined Benefit Fraction means 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 his 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 December
31, 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 end of the close of the last Limitation Year beginning before
January 1, 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 the aggregate satisfied the
requirements of Code Section 415 for all Limitation Years beginning
before January 1, 1987.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Top Heavy Plan Year, 100 shall
be substituted for 125 unless a minimum, non-integrated contribution
of 7.5% of each Non-Key Employee's Compensation has been selected in
F1 of the Adoption Agreement. However, for any Plan Year in which
this Plan is a Super Top Heavy Plan, 100 shall be substituted for 125
in any event.
4. Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation means $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.
5. Defined Contribution Fraction means 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 voluntary employee contributions to any
defined benefit plans, whether or not terminated, maintained by the
Employer and the annual additions attributable to all welfare benefit
funds, as defined in Code Section 419(e), a Simplified Employee
Pension (SEP) plan, and the individual medical accounts, as defined in
Code Section 415(1)(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 any
Limitation Year is the lesser of 125 percent of the Defined
Contribution Dollar Limitation or 35 percent of the Participant's
Compensation for such year. For Limitation Years beginning prior to
January 1, 1987, the "annual addition" shall not be recomputed to
treat all Employee contributions as an Annual Addition.
If the Employee was a Participant as of the end of the first day of
the first Limitation Year beginning after December 31, 1986, in one or
more defined contribution plans maintained by the Employer which were
in existence on May 5, 1986, the numerator of this fraction will be
adjusted in 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 (a) the excess of the
sum of the fractions over 1.0 times (b) 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 January 1, 1987, and disregarding any changes in the terms and
conditions of the plan made after May 5, 1986, but using the Code
Section 415 limitation applicable to the first Limitation Year
beginning on or after January 1, 1987.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Top Heavy Plan Year, 100 shall
be substituted for 125 unless a minimum, non-integrated contribution
of 7.5% of each Non-Key Employee's Compensation has been selected in
F1 of the Adoption Agreement. However, for any Plan Year in which
this Plan is a Super Top Heavy Plan, 100 shall be substituted for 125
in any event.
6. Employer means the Employer that adopts this Plan and all Affiliated
Employers, except that for purposes of this Section, Affiliated
Employers shall be determined pursuant to the modification made by
Code Section 415(h).
7. Excess Amount means the excess of the Participant's Annual Additions
for the Limitation Year over the Maximum Permissible Amount.
8. Highest Average Compensation means 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 E1 of the Adoption Agreement which
is used to determine Compensation under the Plan.
9. Limitation Year means the Compensation Year (a 12-consecutive-month
period) as elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. 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.
10. Maximum Permissible Amount means the maximum Annual Addition that
may be contributed or allocated to a Participant's account under the
plan for any Limitation Year, which shall not exceed the lesser of:
a. the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation, or
b. 25 percent 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 Sections
401(h) or 419A(f)(2)) which is otherwise treated as an annual addition
under Code Sections 415(l)(1) or 419A(d)(2).
If a short Limitation Year is created because of an amendment changing
the Limitation Year to a different 12-consecutive-month period, or
because a newly adopted plan's first Limitation Year is a short
Limitation Year as stated in section C2 of the Adoption Agreement, the
Maximum Permissible Amount will not exceed the Defined Contribution
Dollar Contribution multiplied by the following fraction:
number of months in the short Limitation Year
12
11. Projected Annual Benefit means the annual retirement benefit
(adjusted to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity if such
benefit is expressed in a form other than a straight or qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity) to which the Participant would be entitled
under the terms of the plan assuming:
a. the Participant will continue employment until Normal Retirement
Age (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.
G. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section to the contrary, the
limitations, adjustments and other requirements prescribed in this
Section shall at all times comply with the provisions of Code Section 415
and the Regulations thereunder, the terms of which are specifically
incorporated herein by reference.
4.10 ADJUSTMENT FOR EXCESSIVE ANNUAL ADDITIONS
If as a result of the allocation of Forfeitures, a reasonable error in
estimating a Participant's annual Compensation, a reasonable error in
determining the amount of elective deferrals (within the meaning of Code
Section 402(g)(3)) that may be made with respect to any Participant under
the limits of Section 4.9, or other facts and circumstances to which
Regulation 1.415-6(b)(6) shall be applicable, the "annual additions"
under this Plan would cause the maximum provided in Section 4.9 to be
exceeded, the Administrator shall treat the excess in accordance with
Section 4.9A3.
4.11 TRANSFERS FROM QUALIFIED PLANS
A. If specified in the Adoption Agreement and with the consent of the
Administrator, amounts may be transferred from other qualified plans,
provided that the trust from which such funds are transferred permits the
transfer to be made and the transfer will not jeopardize the tax exempt
status of the Plan or create adverse tax consequences for the Employer.
The amounts transferred shall be set up in a separate account herein
referred to as a "Participant's Rollover Account." Such account shall be
fully Vested at all times and shall not be subject to forfeiture for any
reason.
B. Amounts in a Participant's Rollover Account shall be held by the Trustee
pursuant to the provisions of this Plan and may not be withdrawn by, or
distributed to the Participant, in whole or in part, except as provided
in Paragraphs C. and D. of this Section.
C. Amounts attributable to elective contributions (as defined in Regulation
1.401(k)-1(g)(4)), including amounts treated as elective contributions,
which are transferred from another qualified plan in a plan-to-plan
transfer shall be subject to the distribution limitations provided for in
Regulation 1.401(k)-1(d).
D. At Normal Retirement Date, or such other date when the Participant or his
Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive benefits, the fair market value
of the Participant's Rollover Account shall be used to provide additional
benefits to the Participant or his Beneficiary. Any distributions of
amounts held in a Participant's Rollover Account shall be made in a
manner which is consistent with and satisfies the provisions of Section
6.5, including, but not limited to, all notice and consent requirements
of Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417 and the Regulations thereunder.
Furthermore, such amounts shall be considered as part of a Participant's
benefit in determining whether an involuntary cash-out of benefits
without Participant consent may be made.
E. The Administrator may direct that employee transfers made after a
valuation date be segregated into a separate account for each Participant
until such time as the allocations pursuant to this Plan have been made,
at which time they may remain segregated or be invested as part of the
general Trust Fund, to be determined by the Administrator.
F. For purposes of this Section, the term "qualified plan" shall mean any
tax qualified plan under Code Section 401(a). The term "amounts
transferred from other qualified plans" shall mean:
1. Amounts transferred to this Plan directly from another qualified plan;
2. Lump-sum distributions received by an Employee from another qualified
plan which are eligible for tax free rollover to a qualified plan and
which are transferred by the Employee to this Plan within sixty (60)
days following his receipt thereof;
3. Amounts transferred to this Plan from a conduit individual retirement
account provided that the conduit individual retirement account has no
assets other than assets which (a) were previously distributed to the
Employee by another qualified plan as a lump-sum distribution (b) were
eligible for tax-free rollover to a qualified plan and (c) were
deposited in such conduit individual retirement account within sixty
(60) days of receipt thereof other than earnings on said assets; and
4. Amounts distributed to the Employee from a conduit individual
retirement account meeting the requirements of clause 3. above, and
transferred by the Employee to this Plan within sixty (60) days of his
receipt thereof from such conduit individual retirement account.
G. Prior to accepting any transfers to which this Section applies, the
Administrator may require the Employee to establish that the amounts to
be transferred to this Plan meet the requirements of this Section and
also may require the Employee to provide an opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Employer that the amounts to be transferred meet the
requirements of this Section.
H. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a transfer directly to
this Plan from another qualified plan (or a transaction having the affect
of such a transfer) shall only be permitted if it will not result in the
elimination or reduction of any "Section 411(d)(6) protected benefit" as
described in Section 8.1.
I. For purposes of this Section only, "Participant" shall mean any Employee
of the Employer as specified in D1 of the Adoption Agreement. An
Employee shall not be required to be a Participant to establish a
Participant's Rollover Account.
4.12 VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
A. If elected in the Adoption Agreement, each Participant may, at the
discretion of the Administrator acting in a nondiscriminatory manner,
elect voluntarily to contribute a portion of his compensation earned,
while a Participant under this Plan. Such contributions shall be limited
to 10% of the participant's compensation and shall be paid to the Trustee
within a reasonable period of time but in no event later than 90 days
after the receipt of the contribution.
B. The balance in each Participant's Voluntary Contribution Account shall
not be subject to Forfeiture for any reason.
C. A Participant may elect to withdraw his voluntary contributions from his
Voluntary Contributions Account and the actual earnings thereon in a
manner which is consistent with and satisfies the provisions of Section
6.5, including, but not limited to, all notice and consent requirements
of Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417 and the Regulations thereunder. If
the Administrator maintains sub-accounts with respect to voluntary
contributions (and earnings thereon) which were made on or before a
specified date, a Participant shall be permitted to designate which sub-
account shall be the source for his withdrawal. No Forfeitures shall
occur solely as a result of an Employee's withdrawal of Employee
contributions.
In the event such a withdrawal is made, or in the event a Participant has
received a hardship distribution pursuant to Regulation 1.401(k)-
1(d)(2)(iii)(B) from any other plan maintained by the Employer or from
his Participant's Elective Account pursuant to Section 6.11, then such
Participant shall be barred from making any voluntary contributions to
the Trust Fund for a period of twelve (12) months after receipt of the
withdrawal or distribution.
D. At Normal Retirement Date, or such other date when the Participant or his
Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive benefits, the fair market value
of the Voluntary Contribution Account shall be used to provide additional
benefits to the Participant or his Beneficiary.
E. The Administrator may direct that voluntary contributions made after a
valuation date be segregated into a separate account until such time as
the allocations pursuant to this Plan have been made, at which time the
Administrator shall direct the amount attributable to the voluntary
contribution to remain segregated or be invested as part of the general
Trust Fund.
4.13 DIRECTED INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
A. If elected in the Adoption Agreement, all Participants may direct the
Trustee as to the investment of all or a portion of any one or more of
their individual account balances. Participants may direct the Trustee
in writing to invest their account in specific assets as permitted by the
Administrator provided such investments are in accordance with the
Department of Labor regulations and are permitted by the Plan. The
portion of an account a Participant directs as to the investment shall be
considered a Directed Investment Account.
B. A separate Directed Investment Account shall be established for each
Participant who has directed an investment. Transfers between the
Participant's regular account and their Directed Investment Account shall
be charged and credited as the case may be to each account. The Directed
Investment Account shall not share in Trust Fund Earnings, but it shall
be charged or credited as appropriate with the net earnings, gains,
losses and expenses as well as any appreciation or depreciation in market
value during each Plan Year attributable to such account.
C. The Administrator shall establish a procedure, to be applied in a uniform
and nondiscriminatory manner, setting forth the permissible investment
options under this Section, how often changes between investments may be
made, and any other limitations that the Administrator shall impose on a
Participant's right to direct investments.
4.14 QUALIFIED VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
A. If this is an amendment to a Plan that previously permitted deductible
voluntary contributions, then each Participant who made a "Qualified
Voluntary Employee Contribution" within the meaning of Code Section
219(e)(2) as it existed prior to the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of
1986, shall have his contribution held in a separate Qualified Voluntary
Employee Contribution Account which shall be fully Vested at all times.
Such contributions, however, shall not be permitted if they are
attributable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986.
B. A Participant may, upon written request delivered to the Administrator,
make withdrawals from his Qualified Voluntary Employee Contribution
Account. Any distribution shall be made in a manner which is consistent
with and satisfies the provisions of Section 6.5, including, but not
limited to, all notice and consent requirements of Code Sections
411(a)(11) and 417 and the Regulations thereunder.
C. At Normal Retirement Date, or such other date when the Participant or his
Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive benefits, the fair market value
of the Qualified Voluntary Employee Contribution Account shall be used to
provide additional benefits to the Participant or his Beneficiary.
D. Unless the Administrator directs Qualified Voluntary Employee
Contributions made pursuant to this Section be segregated into a separate
account for each Participant, they shall be invested as part of the
general Trust Fund and share in earnings and losses.
ARTICLE V: VALUATIONS
5.1 VALUATION OF THE TRUST FUND
The Administrator shall direct the Trustee, as of each Anniversary Date, and
at such other date or dates deemed necessary by the Administrator, herein
called "Valuation Date," to determine the net worth of the assets comprising
the Trust Fund as it exists on the "Valuation Date." In determining such
net worth, the Trustee shall value the assets comprising the Trust Fund at
their fair market value as of the "Valuation Date" and shall deduct all
expenses for which the Trustee has not yet obtained reimbursement from the
Employer or the Trust Fund.
5.2 METHOD OF VALUATION
In determining the fair market value of securities held in the Trust Fund
which are listed on a registered stock exchange, the Administrator shall
direct the Trustee to value the same at the prices they were last traded on
such exchange preceding the close of business on the "Valuation Date." If
such securities were not traded on the "Valuation Date," or if the exchange
on which they are traded was not open for business on the "Valuation Date,"
then the securities shall be valued at the prices at which they were last
traded prior to the "Valuation Date." Any unlisted security held in the
Trust Fund shall be valued at its bid price next preceding the close of
business on the "Valuation Date," which bid price shall be obtained from a
registered broker or an investment banker. In determining the fair market
value of assets (other than securities for which trading or bid prices can
be obtained), the Trustee may appraise such assets itself, or in its
discretion, employ one or more appraisers for that purpose and rely on the
values established by such appraisers.
ARTICLE VI: DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT
6.1 DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT
Every Participant may terminate his employment with the Employer and retire
for the purposes hereof on or after his Normal Retirement Date or Early
Retirement Date. Upon such Normal Retirement Date or Early Retirement Date,
all amounts credited to such Participant's Combined Account shall become
distributable. However, a Participant may postpone the termination of his
employment with the Employer to a later date, in which event the
participation of such Participant in the Plan, including the right to
receive allocations pursuant to Section 4.4, shall continue until his Late
Retirement Date. Upon a Participant's Retirement Date, or as soon
thereafter as is practicable, the Administrator shall direct the
distribution of all amounts credited to such Participant's Combined Account
in accordance with Section 6.13, or, if this Plan permits annuities pursuant
to E14 of the Adoption Agreement, Section 6.5.
6.2 DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS UPON DEATH
A. Upon the death of a Participant before his Retirement Date or other
termination of his employment, all amounts credited to such Participant's
Combined Account shall become fully Vested. The Administrator shall
direct the distribution of the deceased Participant's accounts to the
Participant's Beneficiary, in accordance with the provisions of Section
6.13, or, if this Plan permits annuities pursuant to E14 of the Adoption
Agreement, Sections 6.6 and 6.7.
B. Upon the death of a Former Participant, the Administrator shall direct
the distribution of any remaining amounts credited to the accounts of
such deceased Former Participant to such Former Participant's
Beneficiary, in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13, or, if
this Plan permits annuities pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement,
Sections 6.6 and 6.7.
C. The Administrator may require such proper proof of death and such
evidence of the right of any person to receive payment of the value of
the account of a deceased Participant or Former Participant as the
Administrator may deem desirable. The Administrator's determination of
death and of the right of any person to receive payment shall be
conclusive.
D. Unless otherwise elected in the manner prescribed in Section 6.6, the
Beneficiary of the Participant's benefits shall be the Participant's
spouse. Except, however, the Participant may designate a Beneficiary
other than his spouse if:
1. the Plan permits annuities, and the Participant and his spouse have
validly waived the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity in the manner
prescribed in Section 6.6, and the spouse has waived his or her right
to be the Participant's Beneficiary, or
2. the Plan does not permit annuities, and the spouse has waived his
right to be the Participant's Beneficiary in accordance with Section
6.5B, or
3. the Participant is legally separated or has been abandoned (within the
meaning of local law) and the Participant has a court order to such
effect (and there is no "qualified domestic relations order" as
defined in Code Section 414(p) which provides otherwise), or
4. the Participant has no spouse, or
5. the spouse cannot be located.
In such event, the designation of a Beneficiary shall be made by the
Participant on a form satisfactory to the Administrator. A Participant
may at any time revoke his designation of a Beneficiary or change his
Beneficiary by filing written notice of such revocation or change with
the Administrator. However, the Participant's spouse must again consent
in writing to any change in Beneficiary unless the original consent
acknowledged that the spouse had the right to limit consent only to a
specific Beneficiary and that the spouse voluntarily elected to
relinquish such right. The Participant may, at any time, designate a
Beneficiary for death benefits payable under the Plan that are in excess
of the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity. In the event no valid
designation of Beneficiary exists at the time of the Participant's death,
the death benefit shall be payable to his estate.
E. If the Plan provides an insured death benefit and a Participant dies
before any insurance coverage to which he is entitled under the Plan is
effected, his death benefit from such insurance coverage shall be limited
to the standard rate premium which was or should have been used for such
purpose.
F. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Plan and the terms
of any Contract issued hereunder, the Plan provisions shall control.
6.3 DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS IN EVENT OF DISABILITY
In the event of a Participant's Total and Permanent Disability prior to his
Retirement Date or other termination of his employment, all amounts credited
to such Participant's Combined Account shall become fully Vested. In the
event of a Participant's Total and Permanent Disability, the Administrator
shall direct the distribution to such Participant of all amounts credited to
such Participant's Combined Account as though he had retired, in accordance
with the provisions of Section 6.13 or, if this Plan permits annuities
pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement, then Sections 6.5 and 6.7.
6.4 DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION
A. On or before the Anniversary Date coinciding with or subsequent to the
termination of a Participant's employment for any reason other than
retirement, death, or Total and Permanent Disability, the Administrator
may direct the Trustee to segregate the amount of the Vested portion of
such Terminated Participant's Combined Account and invest the aggregate
amount thereof in a separate, federally insured savings account,
certificate of deposit, common or collective trust fund of a bank or a
deferred annuity. In the event the Vested portion of a Participant's
Combined Account is not segregated, the amount shall remain in a separate
account for the Terminated Participant and share in allocations pursuant
to Section 4.4 until such time as a distribution is made to the
Terminated Participant. The amount of the portion of the Participant's
Combined Account which is not Vested may be credited to a separate
account (which will always share in gains and losses of the Trust) and at
such time as the amount becomes a Forfeiture shall be treated in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan regarding Forfeitures.
Regardless of whether distributions in kind are permitted, in the event
that the amount of the Vested portion of the Terminated Participant's
Combined account equals or exceeds the fair market value of any insurance
Contracts, the Trustee, when so directed by the Administrator and agreed
to by the Terminated Participant, shall assign, transfer, and set over to
such Terminated Participant all Contracts on his life in such form or
with such endorsements, so that the settlement options and forms of
payment are consistent with the provisions of Section 6.13 or, if this
Plan permits annuities, Section 6.5. In the event that the Terminated
Participant's Vested portion does not at least equal the fair market
value of the Contracts, if any, the Terminated Participant may pay over
to the Trustee the sum needed to make the distribution equal to the value
of the Contracts being assigned or transferred, or the Trustee, pursuant
to the Participant's election, may borrow the cash value of the Contracts
from the Insurer so that the value of the Contracts is equal to the
Vested portion of the Terminated Participant's Combined Account and then
assign the Contracts to the Terminated Participant.
Distribution of the funds due to a Terminated Participant shall be made
on the occurrence of an event which would result in the distribution had
the Terminated Participant remained employed by the Employer (upon the
Participant's death, Total and Permanent Disability, Early or Normal
Retirement). However, at the election of the Participant, the
Administrator shall direct that the entire Vested portion of the
Terminated Participant's Combined Account be distributed to such
Terminated Participant provided the conditions, if any, set forth in the
Adoption Agreement have been satisfied. Any distribution under this
paragraph shall be made in a manner which is consistent with and
satisfies the provisions of Section 6.13 or, if this Plan permits
annuities, then Section 6.5, including but not limited to, all notice and
consent requirements of Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417 and the
Regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the above, if the value of a Terminated Participant's
Vested benefit derived from Employer and Employee contributions does not
exceed, and has never exceeded $3,500 at any time, the Administrator
shall direct the entire Vested benefit be paid to such Participant in a
single lump-sum without regard to the consent of the Participant or the
Participant's spouse. A Participant's Vested benefit shall not include
Qualified Voluntary Employee Contributions within the meaning of Code
Section 72(o)(5)(B) for Plan Years beginning prior to January 1, 1989.
B. The Vested portion of any Participant's Account shall be a percentage of
such Participant's Account determined on the basis of the Participant's
number of Years of Service according to the vesting schedule specified in
the Adoption Agreement.
C. For any Top Heavy Plan Year, one of the minimum Top Heavy vesting
schedules as elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement will
automatically apply to the Plan. The minimum Top Heavy vesting schedule
applies to all 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 decrease in a
Participant's Vested percentage may occur in the event the Plan's status
as Top Heavy changes for any Plan Year. However, this Section does not
apply to the account balances of any Employee who does not have an Hour
of Service after the Plan has initially become Top Heavy and the Vested
percentage of such Employee's Participant's Account shall be determined
without regard to this Section 6.4C.
If any subsequent Plan Year, the Plan ceases to be a Top Heavy Plan, the
Administrator shall continue to use the vesting schedule in effect while
the Plan was a Top Heavy Plan for each Employee who had an Hour of
Service during a Plan Year when the Plan was Top Heavy.
D. Notwithstanding the vesting schedule above, upon the complete
discontinuance of the Employer's contributions to the Plan or upon any
full or partial termination of the Plan, all amounts credited to the
account of any affected Participant shall become 100% Vested and shall
not thereafter be subject to Forfeiture.
E. If this is an amended or restated Plan, then notwithstanding the vesting
schedule specified in the Adoption Agreement, the Vested percentage of a
Participant's Account shall not be less than the Vested percentage
attained as of the later of the effective date or adoption date of this
amendment and restatement. The computation of a Participant's
nonforfeitable percentage of his interest in the Plan shall not be
reduced as the result of any direct or indirect amendment to this
Article, or due to changes in the Plan's status as a Top Heavy Plan.
F. If the Plan's vesting schedule is amended, or if the Plan is amended in
any way that directly or indirectly affects the computation of the
Participant's nonforfeitable percentage or if the Plan is deemed amended
by an automatic change to a Top Heavy vesting schedule, then each
Participant with at least 3 Years of Service as of the expiration date of
the election period may elect to have his nonforfeitable percentage
computed under the Plan without regard to such amendment or change.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Plan Years beginning before January 1,
1989, or with respect to Employees who fail to complete at least one (1)
Hour of Service in a Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1988, five
(5) shall be substituted for three (3) in the preceding sentence. If a
Participant fails to make such election, then such Participant shall be
subject to the new vesting schedule. The Participant's election period
shall commence on the adoption date of the amendment and shall end 60
days after the latest of:
1. the adoption date of the amendment,
2. the effective date of the amendment, or
3. the date the Participant receives written notice of the amendment from
the Employer or Administrator.
G. If any Former Participant shall be reemployed by the Employer before a 1-
Year Break in Service occurs, he shall continue to participate in the
Plan in the same manner as if such termination had not occurred.
H. If any Former Participant shall be reemployed by the Employer before five
(5) consecutive 1-Year Breaks in Service, and such Former Participant had
received a distribution of his entire Vested interest prior to his
reemployment, his forfeited account shall be reinstated only if he repays
the full amount distributed to him before the earlier of five (5) years
after the first date on which the Participant is subsequently reemployed
by the Employer or the close of the first period of 5 consecutive 1-Year
Breaks in Service commencing after the distribution. In the event the
Employee does repay the full amount distributed to him, the undistributed
portion of the Participant's Account, which was previously forfeited,
must be restored in full, unadjusted by any gains or losses occurring
subsequent to the Anniversary Date or any other Valuation Date subsequent
to his termination. If a non-Vested Former Participant was deemed to
have received a distribution and such Former Participant is reemployed by
the Employer before five (5) consecutive 1-Year Breaks in Service, then
such Participant will be deemed to have repaid the deemed distribution as
of the date of reemployment.
I. If any Former Participant is reemployed after a 1-Year Break in Service
has occurred, Years of Service shall include Years of Service prior to
his 1-Year Break in Service subject to the following rules:
1. Any Former Participant who under the Plan does not have a
nonforfeitable right to any interest in the Plan resulting from
Employer contributions shall lose credits if his consecutive 1-Year
Breaks in Service equal or exceed the greater of (a) five (5) or (b)
the aggregate number of his pre-break Years of Service;
2. After five (5) consecutive 1-Year Breaks in Service, a Former
Participant's Vested Account balance attributable to pre-break service
shall not be increased as a result of post-break service;
3. A Former Participant who is reemployed and who has not had his Years
of Service before a 1-Year Break in Service disregarded pursuant to 1.
above, shall participate in the Plan as of his date of reemployment;
4. If a Former Participant completes a Year of Service (a 1-Year Break in
Service previously occurred, but employment had not terminated), he
shall participate in the Plan retroactively from the first day of the
Plan Year during which he completes one (1) Year of Service.
J. In determining Years of Service for purposes of Vesting under the Plan,
Years of Service shall be excluded as specified in the Adoption
Agreement.
6.5 DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
A. If annuities are not permitted pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement,
then distributions shall be made in accordance with Section 6.13. If
annuities are permitted, then unless otherwise elected as provided below,
a Participant who is married on the "annuity starting date" and who does
not die before the "annuity starting date" shall receive the value of all
of his benefits in the form of a Joint and Survivor Annuity. The Joint
and Survivor Annuity is an annuity that commences immediately and shall
be equal in value to a single life annuity. Such joint and survivor
benefits following the Participant's death shall continue to the spouse
during the spouse's lifetime at a rate equal to 50% of the rate at which
such benefits were payable to the Participant. This Joint and Survivor
Annuity shall be considered the designated qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity and automatic form of payment for the purposes of this plan.
However, the Participant may elect to receive a smaller annuity benefit
with continuation of payments to the spouse at a rate of seventy-five
percent (75%) or one hundred percent (100%) of the rate payable to a
Participant during his lifetime which alternative Joint and Survivor
Annuity shall be equal in value to the automatic Joint and 50% Survivor
Annuity. An unmarried Participant shall receive the value of his benefit
in the form of a life annuity. Such unmarried Participant, however, may
elect in writing to waive the life annuity. The election must comply
with the provisions of this Section as if it were an election to waive
the Joint and Survivor Annuity by a married Participant, but without the
spousal consent requirement. The Participant may elect to have any
annuity provided for in this Section distributed upon the attainment of
the "earliest retirement age" under the Plan. The "earliest retirement
age" is the earliest date on which, under the Plan, the Participant could
elect to receive retirement benefits.
B. Any election to waive the Joint and Survivor Annuity, Pre-Retirement
Survivor Annuity (Section 6.6), or to change the Beneficiary must be made
by the Participant in writing during the election period and, if the
Participant is married, then it must be consented to by the Participant's
spouse. If the spouse is legally incompetent to give consent, the
spouse's legal guardian, even if such guardian is the Participant, may
give consent as follows:
1. A waiver of Joint and Survivor Annuity or Pre-Retirement Survivor
Annuity shall designate a specific form of benefits in accordance with
Section 6.5E, that may not be changed without spousal consent (unless
the consent of the spouse expressly permits designations by the
Participant without the requirement of further consent by the spouse).
2. A designation of a married Participant's Beneficiary other then his
spouse shall designate a specific non-spouse Beneficiary.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the non-spouse Beneficiary
need not be acknowledged, provided the consent of the spouse
acknowledges that the spouse has the right to limit consent only to a
specific Beneficiary and that the spouse voluntarily elects to
relinquish such right.
Such spouse's consent shall be irrevocable and must acknowledge the
effect of such election and be witnessed by a Plan representative or a
notary public. The above consent shall not be required if it is
established to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the required
consent cannot be obtained because there is no spouse, the spouse cannot
be located, or other circumstances that may be prescribed by Regulations.
The election made by the Participant and consented to by his spouse may
be revoked by the Participant in writing without the consent of the
spouse at any time during the election period. The number of revocations
shall not be limited. Any new election must comply with the requirements
of this paragraph. A former spouse's waiver shall not be binding on a
new spouse.
C. The election period to waive the Joint and Survivor Annuity shall be the
90-day period ending on the "annuity starting date." For purposes of
this Section and Section 6.6, the "annuity starting date" means the first
day of the first period for which an amount is payable as an annuity, or,
in the case of a benefit not payable in the form of an annuity, the first
day on which all events have occurred which entitles the Participant to
such benefit.
D. With regard to the election, the Administrator shall provide to the
Participant no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days before the
"annuity starting date" a written explanation of:
1. the terms and conditions of the Joint and Survivor Annuity, and
2. the Participant's right to make and the effect of an election to waive
the Joint and Survivor Annuity, and
3. the right of the Participant's spouse to consent to any election to
waive the Joint and Survivor Annuity, and
4. the right of the Participant to revoke such election, and the effect
of such revocation.
E. In the event this Plan does not permit annuities pursuant to E14 of the
Adoption Agreement, or a Participant duly elects pursuant to paragraph
6.5B. above not to receive his benefit in the form of a Joint and
Survivor Annuity if the participant is married, or in the form of a life
annuity if the participant is unmarried, the Administrator, pursuant to
the election of the Participant, shall direct the distribution to a
Participant or his Beneficiary any amount to which he is entitled under
the Plan in one or more of the following methods subject to the rules
specified in Section 6.5I., J., K., and L., and the selections made in
E14 of the Adoption Agreement.
1. One lump-sum payment in cash or in property;
2. Payments over a period certain in monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or
annual cash installments. In order to provide such installment
payments, the Administrator may direct that the Participant's interest
in the Plan be segregated and invested separately, and that the funds
in the segregated account be used for the payment of the installments.
The period over which such payment is to be made shall not extend
beyond the Participant's life expectancy (or the life expectancy of
the Participant and his designated Beneficiary);
3. Purchase of or providing an annuity. However, such annuity may not be
in any form that will provide for payments over a period extending
beyond either the life of the Participant (or the lives of the
Participant and his designated Beneficiary) or the life expectancy of
the Participant (or the life expectancy of the Participant and his
designated Beneficiary).
F. The present value of a Participant's Joint and Survivor Annuity derived
from Employer and Employee contributions may not be paid without his
written consent if the value exceeds, or has ever exceeded at any time,
$3,500. Further, if the participant's consent is required, the spouse of
a Participant also must consent in writing to any immediate distribution.
If the value of the Participant's benefit derived from Employer and
Employee contributions does not exceed, and has never exceeded $3,500,
the Administrator may immediately distribute such benefit without such
Participant's consent. No distribution may be made under the preceding
sentence after the "annuity starting date" unless the Participant and his
spouse consent in writing to such distribution. Any written consent
required under this paragraph must be obtained not more than 90 days
before commencement of the distribution and shall be made in a manner
consistent with Section 6.5B.
G. Any distribution to a Participant who has a benefit which exceeds, or has
ever exceeded at any time, $3,500, shall require such Participant's
consent if such distribution commences prior to the later of his Normal
Retirement Age or age 62. With regard to this required consent:
1. No consent shall be valid unless the Participant has received a
general description of the material features and an explanation of the
relative values of the optional forms of benefit available under the
Plan that would satisfy the notice requirements of Code Section 417.
2. The Participant must be informed of his right to defer receipt of the
distribution. If a Participant fails to consent, it shall be deemed
an election to defer the commencement of payment of any benefit.
However, any election to defer the receipt of benefits shall not apply
with respect to distributions which are required under Section 6.5H.
3. Notice of the rights specified under this paragraph shall be provided
no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days before the "annuity
starting date."
4. Written consent of the Participant to the distribution must not be
made before the Participant receives the notice and must not be made
more than 90 days before the "annuity starting date."
5. No consent shall be valid if a significant detriment is imposed under
the Plan on any Participant who does not consent to the distribution.
H. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the
distribution of a Participant's benefits, made on or after January 1,
1985, whether under the Plan or through the purchase of an annuity
Contract, shall be made in accordance with the following requirements and
shall otherwise comply with Code Section 401(a)(9) and the Regulations
thereunder (including Regulation Section 1.401(a)(9)-2), the provisions
of which are incorporated herein by reference:
A Participant's shall begin to have benefits distributed to him not later
than April 1st of the calendar year following the calendar year in which
the Participant attains age 70 1/2.
However, if a Participant had attained age 70 1/2 before January 1, 1988,
then benefits shall begin as determined below:
1. If the Participant is not a 5 percent owner, then benefits shall be
distributed beginning the first day of April of the calendar year in
which the later of retirement, or attainment of age 70 1/2 occurs.
2. If the Participant is a 5 percent owner, then benefits shall be
distributed beginning the first day of April following the later of;
a. the calendar year in which the participant attains age 70 1/2, or
b. the earlier of the calendar year within which, ends the plan year,
in which the participant becomes a 5 percent owner, or the calendar
year in which the participant retires.
However, if a Participant who is not a 5 percent owner attained age 70
1/2 during 1988, and is not retired, then the Participant's benefits
shall begin April 1, 1990.
For purposes of this section, a 5 percent owner shall be any participant
who is considered a 5 percent owner as defined in Code Section 416(i) 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. Once
distributions have begun under this section, they must continue to be
distributed, even if the participant ceases to be a 5 percent owner in a
subsequent year.
Distributions to a Participant must begin no later than the applicable
April 1st as determined under the preceding paragraphs and must be made
over the life of the Participant (or the lives of the Participant and the
Participant's designated Beneficiary) or, if benefits are paid in the
form of a Joint and Survivor Annuity, the life expectancy of the
Participant (or the life expectancies of the Participant and his
designated Beneficiary) in accordance with Regulations.
Distributions to a Participant and his Beneficiaries shall only be
made in accordance with the incidental death benefit requirements of
Code Section 401(a)(9)(G) and the Regulations thereunder.
Additionally, for calendar years beginning before 1989, distributions
also may be made under an alternative method which provides that the
then present value of the payments to be made over the period of the
Participant's life expectancy exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the then
present value of the total payments to be made to the Participant and
his Beneficiaries.
I. For purposes of this Section, the life expectancy of a Participant and a
Participant's spouse (other than in the case of a life annuity) shall be
redetermined annually in accordance with Regulations if permitted
pursuant to the Adoption Agreement. If the Participant or the
Participant's spouse may elect whether recalculations will be made, then
the election, once made, shall be irrevocable. If no election is made by
the time distributions must commence, then the life expectancy of the
Participant and the Participant's spouse shall not be subject to
recalculation. Life expectancy and joint and last survivor expectancy
shall be computed using the return multiples in Tables V and VI of
Regulation 1.72-9.
J. All annuity Contracts under this Plan shall be non-transferable when
distributed. Furthermore, the terms of any annuity Contract purchased
and distributed to a Participant or spouse shall comply with all of the
requirements of this Plan.
K. Subject to the spouse's right of consent afforded under the Plan, the
restrictions imposed by this Section shall not apply if a Participant
has, prior to January 1, 1984, made a written designation to have his
retirement benefit paid in an alternative method acceptable under Code
Section 401(a)(9) as in effect prior to the enactment of the Tax Equity
and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. Such written designation must
comply with Section 242(b) of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 1982, which is hereby incorporated by reference;
1. The distribution by the trust is one which would not have disqualified
such trust under Code Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code
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, and was signed by the employee or the
beneficiary, and was made before January 1, 1984.
4. The employee must have 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.
L. If a distribution is made when a Participant who has not terminated
employment is not fully Vested in his Participant's Account, and the
Participant may increase the Vested percentage in such account, then:
1. A separate account shall be established for the Participant's interest
in the Plan as of the time of the distribution, and
2. The Participant's Vested portion of the separate account shall be
equal to an amount ("X") determined by the formula:
X equals P(AB plus (RxD) ) - (R x D)
For purposes of applying the formula: P is the Vested percentage, AB
is the account balance, D is the amount of distribution, and R is the
ratio of the account balance to the account balance after
distribution.
6.6 DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS UPON DEATH
A. If annuities are not permitted pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement,
then Sections 6.13 and 6.2 shall apply. If annuities are permitted
pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement, then unless otherwise elected
as provided below, then a Vested Participant who dies before the annuity
starting date and who has a surviving spouse shall have the Pre-
Retirement Survivor Annuity paid to his surviving spouse. The
Participant's spouse may direct that payment of the Pre-Retirement
Survivor Annuity commence within a reasonable period after the
Participant's death. If the spouse does not so direct, payment of such
benefit will commence at the time the Participant would have attained the
later of his Normal Retirement Age or age 62. However, the spouse may
elect a later commencement date. Any distribution to the Participant's
spouse shall be subject to the rules specified in Section 6.6H.
B. Any election to waive the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity or designate a
non-spouse Beneficiary before the Participant's death must be made by the
Participant in writing during the election period and shall require the
spouse's irrevocable consent in the same manner provided for in Section
6.5B. However, the Participant may, at any time, designate a Beneficiary
for death benefits under the Plan that are in excess of the Pre-
Retirement Survivor Annuity.
C. The election period to waive the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity shall
begin on the first day of the Plan Year in which the Participant attains
age 35 and end on the date of the Participant's death. An earlier waiver
(with spousal consent) may be made provided a written explanation of the
Pre-Retirement Survivor annuity is given to the Participant and such
waiver becomes invalid at the beginning of the Plan Year in which the
Participant turns age 35. In the event a Vested Participant separates
from service prior to the beginning of the election period, the election
period shall begin on the date of such separation from service.
D. With regard to the election, the Administrator shall provide each
Participant within the applicable period, with respect to such
Participant (and consistent with Regulations), a written explanation of
the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity containing comparable information to
that required pursuant to Section 6.5D. For the purposes of this
paragraph, the term "applicable period" means, with respect to a
Participant, whichever of the following periods ends last:
1. 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;
2. A reasonable period after the individual becomes a Participant. For
this purpose, in the case of an individual who becomes a Participant
after age 32, the explanation must be provided by the end of the
three-year period beginning with the first day of the first Plan Year
in which the individual becomes a Participant;
3. A reasonable period ending after the Plan no longer fully subsidizes
the cost of the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity with respect to the
Participant;
4. A reasonable period ending after Code Section 401(a)(11) applies to
the Participant; or
5. A reasonable period after separation from service in the case of a
Participant who separates before attaining age 35. For this purpose,
the Administrator must provide the explanation during the period
beginning one year before the separation from service and ending one
year after separation.
E. The Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity provided for in this Section shall
apply only to Participants who are credited with an Hour of Service on or
after August 23, 1984. Former Participants who are not credited with an
Hour of Service on or after August 23, 1984 shall be provided with rights
to the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity in accordance with Section
303(e)(2) of the Retirement Equity Act of 1984.
F. If the value of the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity derived from Employer
and Employee contributions does not exceed $3,500 at any time prior to
any distribution, then the Administrator shall direct the immediate
distribution of such amount to the Participant's spouse. No distribution
may be made under the preceding sentence after the annuity starting date
unless the spouse consents in writing. If the value exceeds, or has ever
exceeded at any time, $3,500, then an immediate distribution of the
entire amount may be made to the surviving spouse, provided such
surviving spouse consents in writing to such distribution. Any written
consent required under this paragraph must be obtained not more than 90
days before commencement of the distribution and shall be made in a
manner consistent with Section 6.5B.
G. In the event that this Plan does not permit annuities pursuant to E14 of
the Adoption Agreement, or there is an election to waive the Pre-
Retirement Survivor Annuity, and for death benefits in excess of the Pre-
Retirement Survivor Annuity, such death benefits shall be paid to the
Participant's Beneficiary by either of the following methods, as elected
by the Participant (or if no election has been made prior to the
Participant's death, by his Beneficiary) subject to the rules specified
in Sections 6.6H., I., J., K., L., and M., and the selections made in the
Adoption Agreement:
1. One lump-sum payment in cash or in property;
2. Payment in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual cash
installments over a period to be determined by the Participant or his
Beneficiary. After periodic installments commence, the Beneficiary
shall have the right to reduce the period over which such periodic
installments shall be made, and the cash amount of such periodic
installments shall be adjusted accordingly.
3. If death benefits in excess of the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity are
to be paid to the surviving spouse, such benefits may be paid pursuant
to 1. or 2. above, or used to purchase an annuity in order to increase
the payments made pursuant to the Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity;
H. In the event the death benefit payable pursuant to Section 6.2 is payable
in installments, then, upon the death of the Participant, the
Administrator may direct that the death benefit be segregated and
invested separately, and that the funds accumulated in the segregated
account be used for the payment of the installments.
I. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, distributions
upon the death of a Participant made on or after January 1, 1985, shall
be made in accordance with the following requirements and shall otherwise
comply with Code Section 401(a)(9) and the Regulations thereunder.
1. If it is determined, pursuant to Regulations, that the distribution of
a Participant's interest has begun and the Participant dies before his
entire interest has been distributed to him, the remaining portion of
such interest shall be distributed at least as rapidly as under the
method of distribution selected pursuant to Section 6.5 as of his date
of death.
2. If a Participant dies before he has begun to receive any distributions
of his interest in the Plan or before distributions are deemed to have
begun pursuant to Regulations, then his death benefit shall be
distributed to his Beneficiaries in accordance with the following
rules subject to the selections made in the Adoption Agreement and
Subsections 6.6I.3. and 6.6J. below:
a. The entire death benefit shall be distributed to the Participant's
Beneficiaries by December 31 of the calendar year in which the
fifth anniversary of the Participant's death occurs;
b. The 5-year distribution requirement of a. above shall not apply to
any portion of the deceased Participant's interest which is payable
to or for the benefit of a designated Beneficiary. In such event,
such portion shall be distributed over the life of such designated
Beneficiary (or over a period not extending beyond the life
expectancy of such designated Beneficiary) provided such
distribution begins not later than December 31 of the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant
died;
c. However, in the event the Participant's spouse (determined as of
the date of the Participant's death) is his designated Beneficiary,
the provisions of b. above shall apply except that the requirement
that distributions commence within one year of the Participant's
death shall not apply. In lieu thereof, distributions must
commence on or before 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 surviving
spouse dies before distributions to such spouse begin, then the 5-
year distribution requirement of this Section shall apply as if the
spouse was the Participant.
3. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2. above, or any selections made in the
Adoption Agreement, if a Participant's death benefits are to be paid
in the form of a Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity, then distributions
to the Participant's surviving spouse must commence on or before the
later of: (a) December 31 of the calendar year immediately following
the calendar year in which the Participant died; or (b) December 31 of
the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 70
1/2.
J. For purposes of Section 6.6I.2., the election by a designated Beneficiary
to be excepted from the 5-year distribution requirement (if permitted in
the Adoption Agreement) must be made no later than December 31 of the
calendar year following the calendar year of the Participant's death.
Except, however, with respect to a designated Beneficiary who is the
Participant's surviving spouse, the election must be made by the earlier
of: (1) December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the
calendar year in which the Participant died or, if later, the calendar
year in which the Participant would have attained age 70 1/2; or (2)
December 31 of the calendar year which contains the fifth anniversary of
the date of the Participant's death. An election by a designated
Beneficiary must be in writing and shall be irrevocable as of the last
day of the election period stated herein. In the absence of an election
by the Participant or a designated Beneficiary, the 5-year distribution
requirement shall apply.
K. For purposes of this Section, the life expectancy of a Participant and a
Participant's spouse (other than in the case of a life annuity) shall or
shall not be redetermined annually as provided in the Adoption Agreement
and in accordance with Regulations. If the Participant or the
Participant's spouse may elect, pursuant to the Adoption Agreement, to
have life expectancies recalculated, then the election, once made shall
be irrevocable. If no election is made by the time distributions must
commence, then the life expectancy of the Participant and the
Participant's spouse shall not be subject to recalculation. Life
expectancy and joint and last survivor expectancy shall be computed using
the return multiples in Tables V and VI of Regulation Section 1.72-9.
L. In the event that less than 100% of a Participant's interest in the Plan
is distributed to such Participant's spouse, the portion of the
distribution attributable to the Participant's Voluntary Contribution
Account shall be in the same proportion that the Participant's Voluntary
Contribution Account bears to the Participant's total interest in the
Plan.
M. Subject to the spouse's right of consent afforded under the Plan, the
restrictions imposed by this Section shall not apply if a Participant
has, prior to January 1, 1984, made a written designation to have his
death benefits paid in an alternative method acceptable under Code
Section 401(a) as in effect prior to the enactment of the Tax Equity and
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982.
6.7 TIME OF SEGREGATION OR DISTRIBUTION
Except as limited by Sections 6.5 and 6.6, whenever a distribution is to be
made, or a series of payments are to commence, on or as of an Anniversary
Date, the distribution or series of payments may be made or begun on such
date or as soon thereafter as is practicable, but in no event later than 180
days after the Anniversary Date. However, unless a Former Participant
elects in writing to defer the receipt of benefits (such election may not
result in a death benefit that is more than incidental), the payment of
benefits shall begin not later than the 60th day after the close of the Plan
Year in which the latest of the following events occurs: (a) the date on
which the Participant attains the earlier of age 65 or the Normal Retirement
Age specified herein; (b) the 10th anniversary of the year in which the
Participant commenced participation in the Plan; or (c) the date the
Participant terminates his service with the Employer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a Participant and, if
applicable, the Participant's spouse, to consent to a distribution pursuant
to Section 6.5G., shall be deemed to be an election to defer the
commencement of payment of any benefit and shall satisfy this Section.
6.8 DISTRIBUTION FOR MINOR BENEFICIARY
In the event a distribution is to be made to a minor, then the Administrator
may direct that such distribution be paid to the legal guardian, or if none,
to a parent of such Beneficiary or a responsible adult with whom the
Beneficiary maintains his residence, or to the custodian for such
Beneficiary under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act or Gift to Minors Act, if
such is permitted by the laws of the state in which said Beneficiary
resides. Such a payment to the legal guardian, custodian or parent of a
minor Beneficiary shall fully discharge the Trustee, Employer, and Plan from
further liability on account thereof.
6.9 LOCATION OF PARTICIPANT OR BENEFICIARY UNKNOWN
In the event that all, or any portion, of the distribution payable to a
Participant or his Beneficiary hereunder shall, at the later of the
Participant's attainment of age 62 or his Normal Retirement Age, remain
unpaid solely by reason of the inability of the Administrator, after sending
a registered letter, return receipt requested, to the last known address,
and after further diligent effort, to ascertain the whereabouts of such
Participant or his Beneficiary, the amount so distributable shall be subject
to State escheat laws. In the event a Participant or Beneficiary is located
subsequent to his benefit being reallocated, such benefit shall be restored,
first from Forfeitures, if any, and then from an additional Employer
contribution if necessary.
6.10 PRE-RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION
If elected in the Adoption agreement, at such time as a Participant shall
have attained the age specified in the Adoption Agreement, the
Administrator, at the election of the Participant, shall direct the Trustee
to distribute up to the entire amount then credited to the accounts
maintained on behalf of the Participant. However, no such distribution may
be made to any Participant unless his Participant's Account has become fully
Vested. In the event that the Administrator makes such a distribution, the
Participant shall continue to be eligible to participate in the Plan on the
same basis as any other Employee. Any distribution made pursuant to this
Section shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 6.13, or, if
annuities are permitted pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement, Section
6.5, including, but not limited to, all notice and consent requirements
required by Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417 and the Regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the above, pre-retirement distributions from a Participant's
Elective Account and Qualified Non-Elective Account shall not be permitted
prior to the Participant's attaining 59 1/2 except as otherwise permitted
under the terms of the Plan.
6.11 ADVANCE DISTRIBUTION FOR HARDSHIP
A. If allowed in the Adoption Agreement, the Administrator, at the election
of the Participant, shall direct the Trustee to distribute to any
Participant in any one Plan Year up to the lesser of (1) 100% of his
accounts as specified in the Adoption Agreement valued as of the last
Anniversary Date or other valuation date or (2) the amount necessary to
satisfy the immediate and heavy financial need of the Participant. Any
distribution made pursuant to this Section shall be deemed to be made as
of the first day of the Plan Year or, if later, the valuation date
immediately preceding the date of distribution, and the account from
which the distribution is made shall be reduced accordingly. Withdrawal
under this Section shall be authorized only if the distribution is on
account of one of the following or any other items permitted by the
Internal Revenue Service:
1. Medical expenses described in Code Section 213(d) incurred by the
Participant, his spouse, or any of his dependents (as defined in Code
Section 152) or expenses necessary for these persons to obtain medical
care;
2. The purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of a principal residence
for the Participant;
3. Funeral expenses for a member of the Participant's family;
4. Payment of tuition and related educational fees for the next 12 months
of post-secondary eduction for the Participant, their spouse,
children, or dependents; or
5. The need to prevent the eviction of the Participant from his principal
residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of the Participant's
principal residence.
6. The Commissioner may expand the list of deemed immediate and
heavy financial needs and may prescribe additional methods
for distributions to be deemed necessary to satisfy an
immediate and heavy financial need only in revenue rulings,
notices and other documents of general applicability.
B. No such distribution shall be made from the Participant's Account until
such Account has become fully Vested.
C. No distribution shall be made pursuant to this Section unless the
Administrator, based upon the Participant's representation and such other
facts as are known to the Administrator, determines that all of the
following conditions are satisfied:
1. The distribution is not in excess of the amount of the immediate and
heavy financial need of the Participant. The amount of the immediate
and heavy financial need may include any amounts necessary to pay any
federal, state or local income taxes or penalties reasonably
anticipated to result from the distribution;
2. The Participant has obtained all distributions, other than hardship
distributions, and all nontaxable loans currently available under all
plans maintained by the Employer;
3. The Plan, and all other plans maintained by the Employer, provide that
the Participant's elective deferrals and voluntary Employee
contributions will be suspended for at least twelve (12) months after
receipt of the hardship distribution; and
4. The Plan, and all other plans maintained by the Employer, provide that
the Participant may not make elective deferrals for the Participant'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 next taxable year less the amount of such
Participant's elective deferrals for the taxable year of the hardship
distribution.
D. Notwithstanding the above, distributions from the Participant's Elective
Account and Qualified Non-Elective Account pursuant to this Section shall
be limited solely to the Participant's Deferred Compensation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any income attributable to the
Participant's Elective Account and credited to such account as of
December 31, 1988 may be distributed.
E. Any distribution made pursuant to this Section shall be made in a manner
which is consistent with and satisfies the provisions of Section 6.5,
including, but not limited to, all notice and consent requirements of
Code Sections 411(a)(11) and 417 and the Regulations thereunder.
6.12 LIMITATIONS ON BENEFITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
All rights and benefits, including elections, provided to a Participant in
this Plan shall be subject to the rights afforded to any "alternate payee"
under a "qualified domestic relations order." Furthermore, a distribution
to an "alternate payee" shall be permitted if such distribution is
authorized by a "qualified domestic relations order," even if the affected
Participant has not reached the "earliest retirement age" under the Plan.
For the purposes of this Section, "alternate payee," "qualified domestic
relations order" and "earliest retirement age" shall have the meaning set
forth under Code Section 414(p).
6.13 SPECIAL RULE FOR NON-ANNUITY PLANS
If elected in the Adoption Agreement, the following 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 December 31,
1988, from or under a separate account attributable solely to accumulated
deductible employee contributions, as defined in Code Section 72(o)(5)(B),
and maintained on behalf of a participant in a money purchase pension plan,
(including a target benefit plan):
A. The Participant shall be prohibited from electing benefits in the form of
a life annuity;
B. Upon the death of the Participant, the Participant's entire Vested
account balances will be paid in accordance with Sections 6.2 and 6.6G,
and
C. Upon termination, retirement, or disability, the Participant's Vested
account balance will be paid in accordance with Sections 6.5E. and 6.7.
D. Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section and Section
6.5H., then the other provisions of Sections 6.5 and 6.6 shall be
inoperative with respect to this Plan.
This Section shall not apply to any Participant if it is determined that
this Plan is a direct or indirect transferee of a defined benefit plan or
money purchase pension plan, or a target benefit plan, stock bonus or profit
sharing plan which would otherwise provide for a life annuity form of
payment to the Participant.
6.14 DIRECT ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTIONS
This Section applies to distributions made on or after January 1, 1993.
Notwithstanding any provision of the plan to the contrary that would
otherwise limit a Distributee's election under this Section, a Distributee
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 Distributee in a
Direct Rollover.
1. Eligible Rollover Distribution: An Eligible Rollover Distribution is any
distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the
Distributee, 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 Distributee or the joint lives (or joint
life expectancies) of the Distributee and the Distributee's designated
beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more; (b) any
distribution to the extent such distribution is required under section
401(a)(9) of the Coder; 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 the employer
securities).
2. Eligible retirement plan: An eligible retirement plan is an individual
retirement account described in section 408(a) of the Code, an individual
retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the Code, an annuity
plan described in section 403(a) of the Code, or a qualified trust
described in section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts the Distributee's
Eligible Rollover Distribution. However, in the case of an Eligible
Rollover Distribution to the surviving spouse, an eligible retirement
plan is an individual retirement account or individual retirement
annuity.
3. Distributee: A Distributee includes an employee or former employee. In
addition, the employee's or former employee's surviving spouse, the
employee's or former employee's spouse or former spouse who is the
alternate payee under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in
section 414(p) of the Code, are Distributees with regard to the interest
of the spouse or former spouse.
4. Direct Rollover: A Direct Rollover is a payment by the plan to the
eligible retirement plan specified by the Distributee.
Notwithstanding the above, if a distribution is one to which sections 401(a)
and 417 of the Code do not apply, such distribution may commence less than
30 days after the notice required under Section 1.411(a)-11(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.
ARTICLE VII: TRUSTEE
7.1 BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE
The Trustee shall have the following categories of responsibilities:
A. Consistent with the "funding policy and method" determined by the
Employer to invest, manage, and control the Plan assets subject, however,
to the direction of an Investment Manager if the Employer should appoint
such manager as to all or a portion of assets of the Plan;
B. At the direction of the Administrator, to pay benefits required under the
Plan to be paid to Participants, or, in the event of their death, to
their Beneficiaries;
C. To maintain records of receipts and disbursements and furnish to the
Employer and/or Administrator for each Plan Year a written annual report
per Section 7.7; and
D. If there shall be more than one Trustee, they shall act by a majority of
their number, but may authorize one or more of them to sign papers on
their behalf.
7.2 INVESTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE
A. The Trustee shall invest and reinvest the Trust Fund without distinction
between principal and income and in such securities or property, real or
personal, wherever situated, as the Trustee shall deem advisable,
including, but not limited to, stocks, common or preferred, bonds and
other evidences of indebtedness or ownership, and real estate or any
interest therein. The Trustee shall at all times in making investments
of the Trust Fund consider, among other factors, the short and long-term
financial needs of the Plan on the basis of information furnished by the
Employer. In making such investments, the Trustee shall not be
restricted to securities or other property of the character expressly
authorized by the applicable law for trust investments; however, the
Trustee shall give due regard to any limitations imposed by the Code or
the act so that at all times this Plan may qualify as a qualified Plan
and Trust.
B. The Trustee may employ a bank, insurance company, or trust company
pursuant to the terms of its usual and customary bank or insurance agency
agreement, under which the duties of such bank, insurance company or
trust company shall be of a custodial, clerical and record-keeping
nature.
C. The Trustee may from time to time transfer to a common, collective, or
pooled trust fund maintained by any corporate Trustee hereunder pursuant
to Revenue Ruling 81-100, all or such part of the Trust Fund as the
Trustee may deem advisable, and such part or all or the Trust Fund so
transferred shall be subject to all the terms and provisions of the
common, collective, or pooled trust fund which contemplate the
commingling for investment purposes of such trust assets with trust
assets of other trusts. The Trustee may withdraw from such common,
collective, or pooled trust fund all or such part of the Trust Fund as
the Trustee may deem advisable.
D. The Trustee, at the direction of the Administrator and pursuant to
instructions from the individual designated in the Adoption Agreement for
such purpose and subject to the conditions set forth in the Adoption
Agreement, shall ratably apply for, own, and pay all premiums on
Contracts on the lives of the Participants. Any initial or additional
Contract purchased on behalf of a Participant shall have a face amount of
not less than $1,000, the amount set forth in the Adoption Agreement, or
the limitation of the Insurer, whichever is greater. If a life insurance
Contract is to be purchased for a Participant, the aggregate premium for
ordinary life insurance for each Participant must be less than 50% of the
aggregate Contributions and Forfeitures allocated to a Participant's
Combined Account. For purposes of this limitation, ordinary life
insurance Contracts are Contracts with both non-decreasing death benefits
and non-increasing premiums. If term insurance or universal life
insurance is purchased with such Contributions, the aggregate premium
must be 25% or less of the aggregate Contributions and Forfeitures
allocated to a Participant's Combined account. If both term insurance
and ordinary life insurance are purchased with such contributions, then
the amount expended for term insurance plus one-half of the premium for
the ordinary life insurance may not, in the aggregate, exceed 25% of the
aggregate Employer contributions and Forfeitures allocated to a
Participant's Combined Account. The Trustee must distribute the
Contracts to the Participant or convert the entire value of the Contracts
at or before retirement into cash or provide for a periodic income so
that no portion of such value may be used to continue life insurance
protection beyond retirement. Notwithstanding the above, the limitations
imposed herein with respect to the purchase of life insurance shall not
apply, in the case of a Profit Sharing plan, to the portion of a
Participant's Account that has accumulated for at least two (2) Plan
Years.
Notwithstanding anything herein above to the contrary, amounts credited
to a Participant's Qualified Voluntary Employee Contribution Account
pursuant to Section 4.14, shall not be applied to the purchase of life
insurance contracts.
E. The Trustee will be the owner of any life insurance Contract purchased
under the terms of this Plan. The Contract must provide that the
proceeds will be payable to the Trustee; however, the Trustee shall be
required to pay over all proceeds of the Contract to the Participant's
designated Beneficiary in accordance with the distribution provisions of
Article VI. A Participant's spouse will be the designated Beneficiary
pursuant to Section 6.2, unless a qualified election has been made in
accordance with Sections 6.5 and 6.6 of the Plan, if applicable. Under
no circumstances shall the Trust retain any part of the proceeds.
However, the Trustee shall not pay the proceeds in a method that would
violate the requirements of the Retirement Equity Act, as stated in
Article VI of the Plan, or Code Section 401(a)(9) and the Regulations
thereunder.
7.3 OTHER POWERS OF THE TRUSTEE
The Trustee, in addition to all powers and authorities under common law,
statutory authority, including the Act, and other provisions of this Plan,
shall have the following powers and authorities to be exercised in the
Trustee's sole discretion:
A. To purchase, or subscribe for, any securities or other property and to
retain the same. In conjunction with the purchase of securities, margin
accounts may be opened and maintained;
B. To sell, exchange, convey, transfer, grant options to purchase, or
otherwise dispose of any securities or other property held by the
Trustee, by private contract or at public auction. No person dealing
with the Trustee shall be bound to see to the application of the purchase
money or to inquire into the validity, expediency, or propriety of any
such sale or other disposition, with or without advertisement;
C. To vote upon any stocks, bonds, or other securities; to give general or
special proxies or powers of attorney with or without power of
substitution; to exercise any conversion privileges, subscription rights
or other options, and to make any payments incidental thereto; to oppose,
or to consent to, or otherwise participate in, corporate reorganizations
or other changes affecting corporate securities, and to delegate
discretionary powers, and to pay any assessments or charges in connection
therewith; and generally to exercise any of the powers of an owner with
respect to stocks, bonds, securities, or other property;
D. To cause any securities or other property to be registered in the
Trustee's own name or in the name of one or more of the Trustee's
nominees, and to hold any investments in bearer form, but the books and
records of the Trustee shall at all times show that all such investments
are part of the Trust Fund;
E. To borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Plan in such amount, and
upon such terms and conditions, as the Trustee shall deem advisable; and
for any sum so borrowed, to issue a promissory note as Trustee, and to
secure the repayment thereof by pledging all, or any part, of the Trust
Fund; and no person lending money to the Trustee shall be bound to see
the application of the money lent or to inquire into the validity,
expediency, or propriety of any borrowing;
F. To keep such portion of the Trust Fund in cash or cash balances as the
Trustee may, from time to time, deem to be in the best interests of the
Plan, without liability for interest thereon;
G. To accept and retain for such time as the Trustee may deem advisable any
securities or other property received or acquired as Trustee hereunder,
whether or not such securities or other property would normally be
purchased as investments hereunder;
H. To make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all documents of
transfer and conveyance and any and all other instruments that may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers herein granted;
I. To settle, compromise, or submit to arbitration any claims, debts, or
damages due or owing to or from the Plan, to commence or defend suits or
legal or administrative proceedings, and to represent the Plan in all
suits and legal and administrative proceedings;
J. To employ suitable agents and counsel and to pay their reasonable
expenses and compensation, and such agent or counsel may or may not be
agent or counsel for the Employer;
K. To apply for and procure from the Insurer as an investment of the Trust
Fund such annuity, or other Contracts (on the life of any Participant) as
the Administrator shall deem proper; to exercise, at any time or from
time to time, whatever rights and privileges may be granted under such
annuity, or other Contracts; to collect, receive, and settle for the
proceeds of all such annuity, or other Contracts as and when entitled to
do so under the provisions thereof;
L. To invest funds of the Trust in time deposits or savings accounts bearing
a reasonable rate of interest in the Trustee's bank;
M. To invest in Treasury Bills and other forms of United States' government
obligations;
N. To sell, purchase and acquire put or call options if the options are
traded on and purchased through a national securities exchange registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if the options
are not traded on a national securities exchange, are guaranteed by a
member firm of the New York Stock Exchange;
O. To deposit monies in federally insured savings accounts or certificates
of deposit in banks or savings and loan associations;
P. To pool all or any of the Trust Fund, from time to time, with assets
belonging to any other qualified employee pension benefit trust created
by the Employer or any Affiliated Employer, and to commingle such assets
and make joint or common investments and carry joint accounts on behalf
of this Plan and such other trust or trusts, allocating undivided shares
or interests in such investments or accounts or any pooled assets of the
two or more trusts in accordance with their respective interests;
Q. To do all such acts and exercise all such rights and privileges, although
not specifically mentioned herein, as the Trustee may deem necessary to
carry out the purposes of the Plan.
R. Directed Investment Account: The powers granted to the Trustee shall be
exercised in the sole fiduciary discretion of the Trustee. However, if
elected in the Adoption Agreement, each Participant may direct the
Trustee to separate and keep separate all or a portion of his interest in
the Plan; and furthermore, each Participant is authorized and empowered,
in his sole and absolute discretion, to give directions to the Trustee in
such form as the Trustee may require concerning the investment of the
Participant's Directed Investment Account, which directions must be
followed by the Trustee subject, however, to restrictions on payment of
life insurance premiums. Neither the Trustee nor any other persons
including the Administrator or otherwise shall be under any duty to
question any such direction of the Participant or to review any
securities or other property, real or personal, or to make any
suggestions to the Participant in connection therewith, and the Trustee
shall comply as promptly as practicable with directions given by the
Participant hereunder. Any such direction may be of a continuing nature
or otherwise and may be revoked by the Participant at any time in such
form as the Trustee may require. The Trustee may refuse to comply with
any direction from the Participant in the event the Trustee, in its sole
and absolute discretion, deems such directions improper by virtue of
applicable law, and in such event, the Trustee shall not be responsible
or liable for any loss or expense which may result. Any costs and
expenses related to compliance with the Participant's directions shall be
borne by the Participant's Directed Investment Account.
Notwithstanding anything hereinabove to the contrary, the Trustee shall
not, at any time after December 31, 1981, invest any portion of a
Directed Investment Account in "collectibles" within the meaning of that
term as employed in Code Section 408(m).
7.4 LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS
A. If specified in the Adoption Agreement, the Trustee (or, if loans are
treated as Directed Investment pursuant to the Adoption Agreement, the
Administrator) may, in the Trustee's (or, if applicable, the
Administrator's) sole discretion, make loans to Participants or
Beneficiaries under the following circumstances:
1. Loans shall be made available to all Participants and Beneficiaries on
a reasonably equivalent basis;
2. Loans shall not be made available to Highly Compensated Employees in
an amount greater than the amount made available to other
Participants;
3. Loans shall bear a reasonable rate of interest;
4. Loans shall be adequately secured; and
5. Shall provide for periodic repayment over a reasonable period of time.
B. Loans shall not be made to any Shareholder-Employee or Owner-Employee
unless an exemption for such loan is obtained pursuant to Act Section 408
and further provided that such loan would not be subject to tax pursuant
to Code Section 4975.
C. Loans shall not be granted to any Participant that provide for a
repayment period extending beyond such Participant's Normal Retirement
Date.
D. Loans made pursuant to this Section (when added to the outstanding
balance of all other loans made by the Plan to the Participant) shall be
limited to the lesser of:
1. $50,000 reduced by the excess (if any) of the highest outstanding
balance of loans from the Plan to the Participant during the one year
period ending on the day before the date on which such loan is made,
over the outstanding balance of loans from the Plan to the Participant
on the date on which such loan was made, or
2. the greater of (a) one-half (1/2) of the present value of the non-
forfeitable accrued benefit of the Employee under the Plan, or (b), if
permitted pursuant to the Adoption Agreement, $10,000.
For purposes of this limit, all plans of the Employer shall be considered
one plan. Additionally, with respect to any loan made prior to January
1, 1987, the $50,000 limit specified in 1. above shall not be reduced.
E. No Participant loan shall take into account the present value of such
Participant's Qualified Voluntary Employee Contribution Account.
F. Loans shall provide for level amortization with payments to be made not
less frequently than quarterly over a period not to exceed five (5)
years. However, loans used to acquire any dwelling unit which, within a
reasonable time, is to be used (determined at the time the loan is made)
as a principal residence of the Participant shall provide for periodic
repayment over a reasonable period of time that may exceed five (5)
years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, loans made prior to January 1,
1987 which are used to acquire, construct, reconstruct or substantially
rehabilitate any dwelling unit which, within a reasonable period of time
is to be used (determined at the time of the loan is made) as a principal
residence of the Participant or a member of his family (within the
meaning of Code section 267(c)(4)) may provide for periodic repayment
over a reasonable period of time that may exceed five (5) years.
Additionally, loans made prior to January 1, 1987, may provide for
periodic payments which are made less frequently than quarterly and which
do not necessarily result in level amortization.
G. An assignment or pledge of any portion of a Participant's interest in the
Plan and a loan, pledge, or assignment with respect to any insurance
Contract purchased under the Plan, shall be treated as a loan under this
Section.
H. If this Plan permits annuities pursuant to E14 of the Adoption Agreement,
then any loan made pursuant to this Section after August 18, 1985 where
the Vested interest of the Participant is used to secure such loan shall
require the written consent of the Participant's spouse in a manner
consistent with Section 6.5A., provided the spousal consent requirements
of such Section apply to the Plan. Such written consent must be obtained
within the 90-day period prior to the date the loan is made. Any
security interest held by the Plan by reason of an outstanding loan to
the Participant shall be taken into account in determining the amount of
the death benefit or Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity. However, no
spousal consent shall be required under this paragraph if the total
accrued benefit subject to the security is not in excess of $3,500.
I. With regard to any loans granted or renewed on or after the last day of
the first Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1988, a Participant loan
program shall be established which must include, but need not be limited
to, the following:
1. The identity of the person or positions authorized to administer the
Participant loan program;
2. A procedure for applying for loans;
3. The basis on which loans will be approved or denied;
4. Limitations, if any, on the types and amounts of loans offered,
including what constitutes a hardship or financial need if selected in
the Adoption Agreement;
5. The procedure under the program for determining a reasonable rate of
interest;
6. The types of collateral which may secure a Participant loan; and
7. The events constituting default and the steps that will be taken to
preserve plan assets. Upon default of a loan, the plan administrator
shall not seek to obtain the collateral of the note until the
participant has a distributable event.
Such Participant loan program shall be contained in a separate written
document which, when properly executed, is hereby incorporated by
reference and made a part of this plan. Furthermore, such Participant
loan program may be modified or amended in writing from time to time
without the necessity of amending this Section of the Plan.
7.5 DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE REGARDING PAYMENTS
At the direction of the Administrator, the Trustee shall, from time to time,
in accordance with the terms of the Plan, make payments out of the Trust
Fund. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any way for the application
of such payments.
7.6 TRUSTEE'S COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES AND TAXES
The Trustee shall be paid such reasonable compensation as set forth in the
Trustee's fee schedule (if the Trustee has such a schedule) or as agreed
upon in writing by the Employer and the Trustee. An individual serving as
Trustee who already receives full-time pay from the Employer shall not
receive compensation from this Plan. In addition, the Trustee shall be
reimbursed for any reasonable expenses, including reasonable counsel fees
incurred by it as Trustee. Such compensation and expenses shall be paid
from the Trust Fund unless paid or advanced by the Employer. All taxes of
any kind and all kinds whatsoever that may be levied or assessed under
existing or future laws upon, or in respect of, the Trust Fund or the income
thereof, shall be paid from the Trust Fund.
7.7 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE
Within a reasonable period of time after the later of the Anniversary Date
or receipt of the Employer's contribution for each Plan Year, the Trustee,
or its agent, shall furnish to the Employer and Administrator a written
statement of account with respect to the Plan Year for which such
contribution was made setting forth:
A. The net income, or loss, of the Trust Fund;
B. The gains, or losses, realized by the Trust Fund upon sales or other
disposition of the assets;
C. The increase, or decrease, in the value of the Trust Fund;
D. All payments and distributions made from the Trust Fund; and
E. Such further information as the Trustee and/or Administrator deems
appropriate. The Employer, forthwith upon its receipt of each such
statement of account, shall acknowledge receipt thereof in writing and
advise the Trustee and/or Administrator of its approval or disapproval
thereof. Failure by the Employer to disapprove any such statement of
account within thirty (30) days after its receipt thereof shall be deemed
an approval thereof. The approval by the Employer of any statement of
account shall be binding as to all matters embraced therein as between
the Employer and the Trustee to the same extent as if the account of the
Trustee had been settled by judgment or decree in an action for a
judicial settlement of its account in a court of competent jurisdiction
in which the Trustee, the Employer and all persons having or claiming an
interest in the Plan were parties; provided, however, that nothing herein
contained shall deprive the Trustee of its right to have its accounts
judicially settled if the Trustee so desires.
7.8 AUDIT
A. If an audit of the Plan's records shall be required by the Act and the
regulations thereunder for any Plan Year, the administrator shall direct
the Trustee to engage on behalf of all Participants an independent
qualified public accountant for that purpose. Such accountant shall,
after an audit of the books and records of the Plan, in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, within a reasonable period after
the close of the Plan Year, furnish to the Administrator and the Trustee
a report of his audit setting forth his opinion as to whether any
statements, schedules or lists, that are required by Act Section 103 or
the Secretary of Labor to be filed with the Plan's annual report, are
presented fairly, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied consistently.
B. All auditing and accounting fees shall be an expense of and may, at the
election of the Administrator, be paid from the Trust Fund.
C. If some or all of the information necessary to enable the administrator
to comply with Act Section 103 is maintained by a bank, insurance
company, or similar institution, regulated and supervised and subject to
periodic examination by a state or federal agency, it shall transmit and
certify the accuracy of that information to the Administrator as provided
in Act Section 103(b) within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end
of the Plan Year or such other date as may be prescribed under
regulations of the Secretary of Labor.
7.9 RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND SUCCESSION OF TRUSTEE
A. The Trustee may resign at any time by delivering to the Employer, at
least thirty (30) days before its effective date, a written notice of his
resignation.
B. The Employer may remove the Trustee by mailing by registered or certified
mail, addressed to such Trustee at his last known address, at least
thirty (30) days before its effective date, a written notice of his
removal.
C. Upon the death, resignation, incapacity, or removal of any Trustee, a
successor may be appointed by the Employer; and such successor, upon
accepting such appointment in writing and delivering same to the
Employer, shall, without further act, become Vested with all the estate,
rights, powers, discretions, and duties of his predecessor with like
respect as if he were originally named as a Trustee herein. Until such a
successor is appointed, the remaining Trustee or Trustees shall have full
authority to act under the terms of the Plan.
D. The Employer may designate one or more successors prior to the death,
resignation, incapacity, or removal of a Trustee. In the event a
successor is so designated by the Employer and accepts such designation,
the successor shall, without further act, become Vested with all the
estate, rights, powers, discretions, and duties of his predecessor with
the like effect as if he were originally named as Trustee herein
immediately upon the death, resignation, incapacity, or removal of his
predecessor.
E. Whenever any Trustee hereunder ceases to serve as such, he shall furnish
to the Employer and Administrator a written statement of account with
respect to the portion of the Plan Year during which he served as
Trustee. This statement shall be either (1) included as part of the
annual statement of account for the Plan Year required under Section 7.7
or (2) set forth in a special statement. Any such special statement of
account should be rendered to the Employer no later than the due date of
the annual statement of account for the Plan Year. The procedures set
forth in Section 7.7 for the approval by the Employer of annual
statements of account shall apply to any special statement of account
rendered hereunder and approval by the Employer of any such special
statement in the manner provided in Section 7.7 shall have the same
effect upon the statement as the Employer's approval of an annual
statement of account. No successor to the Trustee shall have any duty or
responsibility to investigate the acts or transactions of any predecessor
who has rendered all statements of account required by Section 7.7 and
this subparagraph.
7.10 TRANSFER OF INTEREST
Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Plan, the Trustee, at
the direction of the Administrator, shall transfer the Vested interest, if
any, of such Participant in his account to another trust forming part of a
pension, profit sharing, or stock bonus plan maintained by such
Participant's new employer and represented by said employer in writing as
meeting the requirements of Code Section 401(a), provided that the trust to
which such transfers are made permits the transfer to be made.
If the distribution is made after December 31, 1992, and it has also been
paid in accordance with section 6.14, then the distribution shall be made in
the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer and shall be limited to the
amount of the distribution that would be includible in gross income if not
transferred in accordance with the preceding (determined without regard to
Code Sections 402(c) and 403(a)(4)).
7.11 TRUSTEE INDEMNIFICATION
The Employer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee against any
and all claims, losses, damages, expenses and liabilities the Trustee may
incur in the exercise and performance of the Trustee's powers and duties
hereunder, unless the same are determined to be due to gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
7.12 EMPLOYER SECURITIES AND REAL PROPERTY
The Trustee shall be empowered to acquire and hold "qualifying Employer
securities" and "qualifying Employer real property," as those terms are
defined in the Act. However, no more than 100% of the fair market value of
all the assets in the Trust Fund may be invested in "qualifying Employer
securities" and "qualifying Employer real property."
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, AND MERGERS
8.1 AMENDMENT
A. The Employer shall have the right at any time to amend this Plan subject
to the limitations of this Section. However, any amendment which affects
the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Trustee and Administrator
may only be made with the Trustee and Administrator's written consent.
Any such amendment shall become effective as provided therein upon its
execution. The Trustee shall not be required to execute any such
amendment unless the amendment affects the duties of the Trustee
hereunder.
B. No amendment to the Plan shall be effective if it authorizes or permits
any part of the Trust Fund (other than such part as is required to pay
taxes and administration expenses) to be used for or diverted to any
purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the Participants or their
Beneficiaries or estates; or causes any reduction in the amount credited
to the account of any Participant; or causes or permits any portion of
the Trust Fund to revert to or become property of the Employer.
C. Except as permitted by Regulations (including Regulation 1.411(d)-4), no
Plan amendment or transaction having the effect of a Plan amendment (such
as a merger, plan transfer or similar transaction) shall be effective if
it eliminates or reduces any "Section 411(d)(6) protected benefit" or
adds or modifies conditions relating to "Section 411(d)(6) protected
benefits" the result of which is a further restriction on such benefit
unless such protected benefits are preserved with respect to benefits
accrued as of the later of the adoption date or effective date of the
amendment. "Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits" are benefits described
in Code Section 411(d)(6)(A), early retirement benefits and retirement-
type subsidies, and optional forms of benefit.
8.2 TERMINATION
A. The Employer shall have the right at any time to terminate the Plan by
delivering to the Trustee and Administrator written notice of such
termination. Additionally, full termination of the plan will occur upon
complete discontinuance of contributions. Upon any full or partial
termination all amounts credited to the affected Participants' Combined
Accounts shall become 100% Vested and shall not thereafter be subject to
forfeiture, and all unallocated amounts shall be allocated to the
accounts of all Participants in accordance with the provisions hereof.
B. Upon the full termination of the Plan, the Employer shall direct the
distribution of the assets to Participants in a manner which is
consistent with and satisfies the provisions of Section 6.5.
Distributions to a Participant shall be made in cash (or in property if
permitted in the Adoption Agreement) or through the purchase of
irrevocable nontransferable deferred commitments from the Insurer.
Except as permitted by Regulations, the termination of the Plan shall not
result in the reduction of "Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits" as
described in Section 8.1.
8.3 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION
This Plan may be merged or consolidated with, or its assets and/or
liabilities may be transferred to any other plan only if the benefits which
would be received by a Participant of this Plan, in the event of a
termination of the plan immediately after such transfer, merger or
consolidation, are at least equal to the benefits the Participant would have
received if the Plan had terminated immediately before the transfer, merger
or consolidation and such merger or consolidation does not otherwise result
in the elimination or reduction of any "Section 411(d)(6) protected
benefits" as described in Section 8.1C.
ARTICLE IX: MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 EMPLOYER ADOPTIONS
A. Any organization may become the Employer hereunder by executing the
Adoption Agreement in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, and it shall
provide such additional information as the Trustee may require. The
consent of the Trustee to act as such shall be signified by its execution
of the Adoption Agreement.
B. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, the affiliation of the
Employer and the participation of its Participants shall be separate and
apart from that of any other employer and its participants hereunder.
9.2 PARTICIPANT'S RIGHTS
This Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract between the Employer
and any Participant or to be a consideration or an inducement for the
employment of any Participant or Employee. Nothing contained in this Plan
shall be deemed to give any Participant or Employee the right to be retained
in the service of the Employer or to interfere with the right of the
Employer to discharge any Participant or Employee at any time regardless of
the effect which such discharge shall have upon him as a Participant of this
Plan.
9.3 ALIENATION
A. Subject to the exceptions provided below, no benefit which shall be
payable to any person (including a Participant or his Beneficiary) shall
be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any attempt to
anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge
the same shall be void; and no such benefit shall in any manner be liable
for, or subject to, the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or
torts of any such person, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal
process for or against such person, and the same shall not be recognized
except to such extent as may be required by law.
B. This provision shall not apply to the extent a Participant or Beneficiary
is indebted to the Plan, for any reason, under any provision of this
Plan. At the time a distribution is to be made to or for a Participant's
or Beneficiary's benefit, such proportion of the amount to be distributed
as shall equal such indebtedness shall be paid to the Plan, to apply
against or discharge such indebtedness. Prior to making a payment,
however, the Participant or Beneficiary must be given written notice by
the Administrator that such indebtedness is to be so paid in whole or
part from his Participant's Combined Account. If the Participant or
Beneficiary does not agree that the indebtedness is a valid claim against
his Vested Participant's Combined Account, he shall be entitled to a
review of the validity of the claim in accordance with procedures
provided in Sections 2.12 and 2.13.
C. This provision shall not apply to a "qualified domestic relations order"
defined in Code Section 414(p), and those other domestic relations orders
permitted to be so treated by the Administrator under the provisions of
the Retirement Equity Act of 1984. The Administrator shall establish a
written procedure to determine the qualified status of domestic relations
orders and to administer distributions under such qualified orders.
Further, to the extent provided under a "qualified domestic relations
order," a former spouse of a Participant shall be treated as the spouse
or surviving spouse for all purposes under the Plan.
9.4 CONSTRUCTION OF PLAN
This Plan and Trust shall be construed and enforced according to the Act and
the laws of the State or Commonwealth in which the Employer's principal
office is located, other than its laws respecting choice of law, to the
extent not pre-empted by the Act.
9.5 GENDER AND NUMBER
Wherever any words are used herein in the masculine, feminine or neuter
gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in another
gender in all cases where they would so apply, and whenever any words are
used herein in the singular or plural form, they shall be construed as
though they were also used in the other form in all cases where they would
apply.
9.6 LEGAL ACTION
In the event any claim, suit, or proceeding is brought regarding the Trust
and/or Plan established hereunder to which the Trustee or the Administrator
may be a party, and such claim, suit, or proceeding is resolved in favor of
the Trustee or Administrator, they shall be entitled to be reimbursed from
the Trust Fund for any and all costs, attorney's fees, and other expenses
pertaining thereto incurred by them for which they shall have become liable.
9.7 PROHIBITION AGAINST DIVERSION OF FUNDS
A. Except as provided below and otherwise specifically permitted by law, it
shall be impossible by operation of the Plan or of the Trust, by
termination of either, by power of revocation or amendment, by the
happening of any contingency, by collateral arrangement or by any other
means, for any part of the corpus or income of any Trust Fund maintained
pursuant to the Plan or any funds contributed thereto to be used for, or
diverted to, purposes other than the exclusive benefit of Participants,
Retired Participants, or their Beneficiaries.
B. In the event the Employer shall make a contribution under a mistake of
fact pursuant to Section 403(c)(2)(A) of the Act, the Employer may demand
repayment of such contribution at any time within one (1) year following
the time of payment and the Trustees shall return such amount to the
Employer within the one (1) year period. Earnings of the Plan
attributable to the contributions may not be returned to the Employer but
any losses attributable thereto must reduce the amount so returned.
9.8 BONDING
Every Fiduciary, except a bank or an insurance company, unless exempted by
the Act and regulations thereunder, shall be bonded in an amount not less
than 10% of the amount of the funds such Fiduciary handles; provided,
however, that the minimum bond shall be $1,000 and the maximum bond,
$500,000. The amount of funds handled shall be determined at the beginning
of each Plan Year by the amount of funds handled by such person, group, or
class to be covered and their predecessors, if any, during the preceding
Plan Year, or if there is no preceding Plan Year, then by the amount of the
funds to be handled during the then current year. The bond shall provide
protection to the Plan against any loss by reason of acts of fraud or
dishonesty by the Fiduciary alone or in connivance with others. The surety
shall be a corporate surety company (as such term is used in Act Section
412(a)(2)), and the bond shall be in a form approved by the Secretary of
Labor. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the Contrary, the cost of
such bonds shall be an expense of and may, at the election of the
Administrator, be paid from the Trust Fund or by the Employer.
9.9 EMPLOYER AND TRUSTEE'S PROTECTIVE CLAUSE
Neither the Employer nor the Trustee, nor their successors, shall be
responsible for the validity of any Contract issued hereunder or for the
failure on the part of the Insurer to make payments provided by any such
Contract, or for the action of any person which may delay payment or render
a Contract null and void or unenforceable in whole or in part.
9.10 INSURER'S PROTECTIVE CLAUSE
The Insurer who shall issue Contracts hereunder shall not have any
responsibility for the validity of this Plan or for the tax or legal aspects
of this Plan. The Insurer shall be protected and held harmless in acting in
accordance with any written direction of the Trustee, and shall have no duty
to see to the application of any funds paid to the Trustee, nor be required
to question any actions directed by the Trustee. Regardless of any
provision of this Plan, the Insurer shall not be required to take or permit
any action or allow any benefit or privilege contrary to the terms of any
Contract which it issues hereunder, or the rules of the Insurer.
9.11 RECEIPT AND RELEASE FOR PAYMENTS
Any payment to any Participant, his legal representative, Beneficiary, or to
any guardian or committee appointed for such Participant or Beneficiary in
accordance with the provisions of this Plan, shall, to the extent thereof,
be in full satisfaction of all claims hereunder against the Trustee and the
Employer.
9.12 ACTION BY THE EMPLOYER
Whenever the Employer under the terms of the Plan is permitted or required
to do or perform any act or matter or thing, it shall be done and performed
by a person duly authorized by its legally constituted authority.
9.13 NAMED FIDUCIARIES AND ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITY
The "named Fiduciaries" of this Plan are (a) the Employer, (b) the
Administrator, (c) the Trustee, and (d) any Investment Manager appointed
hereunder. The named Fiduciaries shall have only those specific powers,
duties, responsibilities, and obligations as are specifically given them
under the Plan. In general, the Employer shall have the sole
responsibility for making the contributions provided for under Section 4.1;
and shall have the sole authority to appoint and remove the Trustee and the
Administrator; to formulate the Plan's "funding policy and method"; and to
amend the elective provisions of the Adoption Agreement or terminate, in
whole or in part, the Plan. The Administrator shall have the sole
responsibility for the administration of the Plan, which responsibility is
specifically described in the Plan. The Trustee shall have the sole
responsibility of management of the assets held under the Trust, except
those assets, the management of which has been assigned to an Investment
Manager, who shall be solely responsible for the management of the assets
assigned to it, all as specifically provided in the Plan. Each named
Fiduciary warrants that any directions given, information furnished, or
action taken by it shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Plan,
authorizing or providing for such direction, information or action.
Furthermore, each named Fiduciary may rely upon any such direction,
information or action of another named Fiduciary as being proper under the
Plan, and is not required under the Plan to inquire into the propriety of
any such direction, information or action. It is intended under the Plan
that each named Fiduciary shall be responsible for the proper exercise of
its own powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations under the Plan. No
named Fiduciary shall guarantee the Trust Fund in any manner against
investment loss or depreciation in asset value. Any person or group may
serve in more than one Fiduciary capacity.
9.14 HEADINGS
The headings and subheadings of this Plan have been inserted for convenience
of reference and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions
hereof.
9.15 APPROVAL BY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, pursuant to a timely
application filed by or on behalf of the Plan, the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue Service or his delegate should determine that the Plan
does not initially qualify as a tax-exempt plan under Code Sections 401
and 501, and such determination is not contested, or if contested, is
finally upheld, then if the Plan is a new plan, it shall be void ab
initio and all amounts contributed to the Plan, by the Employer, less
expenses paid, shall be returned within one year and the Plan shall
terminate, and the Trustee shall be discharged from all further
obligations. An application to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Service shall be considered timely, if filed by the due date of the
Employer's tax return for the taxable year in which the plan is written
and signed by the Employer.
B. Except as specifically stated in the Plan, any contribution by the
Employer to the Trust Fund is conditioned upon the deductibility of the
contribution by the Employer under the Code and, to the extent any such
deduction is disallowed, the Employer may within one (1) year following
the disallowance of the deduction, demand repayment of such disallowed
contribution and the Trustee shall return such contribution within one
(1) year following the disallowance. Earnings of the Plan attributable
to the excess contribution may not be returned to the Employer, but any
losses attributable thereto must reduce the amount so returned.
9.16 UNIFORMITY
All provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted and applied in a
uniform, nondiscriminatory manner.
9.17 PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
Benefits under this Plan shall be paid, subject to Section 6.10 and
Section 6.11 only upon death, Total and Permanent Disability, normal or
early retirement, termination of employment, or upon Plan Termination.
ARTICLE X: PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
10.1 ELECTION TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with the consent of the
Employer and Trustee, any Affiliated Employer may adopt this Plan and all of
the provisions hereof, and participate herein and be known as a
Participating Employer, by a properly executed document evidencing said
intent and will of such Participating Employer.
10.2 REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
A. Each Participating Employer shall be required to select the same Adoption
Agreement provisions as those selected by the Employer other than the
Plan Year, the Fiscal Year, and such other items that must, by necessity,
vary among employers.
B. Each such Participating Employer shall be required to use the same
Trustee as provided in this Plan.
C. The Trustee may, but shall not be required to, commingle, hold and invest
as one Trust Fund all contributions made by Participating Employers, as
well as all increments thereof.
D. The transfer of any Participant from or to an Employer participating in
this Plan, whether he be an Employee of the Employer or a Participating
Employer, shall not affect such Participant's rights under the Plan, and
all amounts credited to such Participant's Combined Account as well as
his accumulated service time with the transferor or predecessor, and his
length of participation in the Plan, shall continue to his credit.
E. Any expenses of the Plan which are to be paid by the Employer or borne by
the Trust Fund shall be paid by each Participating Employer in the same
proportion that the total amount standing to the credit of all
Participants employed by such Employer bears to the total standing to the
credit of all Participants.
10.3 DESIGNATION OF AGENT
Each Participating Employer shall be deemed to be a part of this Plan;
provided, however, that with respect to all of its relations with the
Trustee and Administrator for the purpose of this Plan, each Participating
Employer shall be deemed to have designated irrevocably the Employer as its
agent. Unless the context of the Plan clearly indicates the contrary, the
word "Employer" shall be deemed to include each Participating Employer as
related to its adoption of the Plan.
10.4 EMPLOYEE TRANSFERS
It is anticipated that an Employee may be transferred between Participating
Employers, and in the event of any such transfer, the Employee involved
shall carry with him his accumulated service and eligibility. No such
transfer shall effect a termination of employment hereunder, and the
Participating Employer to which the Employee is transferred shall thereupon
become obligated hereunder with respect to such Employee in the same manner
as was the Participating Employer from whom the Employee was transferred.
10.5 PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTION AND FORFEITURES
Any contribution or Forfeiture subject to allocation during each Plan Year
shall be allocated among all Participants of all Participating Employers in
accordance with the provisions of this Plan. On the basis of the
information furnished by the Administrator, the Trustee shall keep separate
books and records concerning the affairs of each Participating Employer
hereunder and as to the accounts and credits of the Employees of each
Participating Employer. The Trustee may, but need not, register Contracts
so as to evidence that a particular Participating Employer is the interested
Employer hereunder, but in the event of an Employee transfer from one
Participating Employer to another, the employing Employer shall immediately
notify the Trustee thereof.
10.6 AMENDMENT
Amendment of this Plan by the Employer at any time when there shall be a
Participating Employer hereunder shall only be by the written action of each
and every Participating Employer and with the consent of the Trustee where
such consent is necessary in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
10.7 DISCONTINUANCE OF PARTICIPATION
Any Participating Employer shall be permitted to discontinue or revoke its
participation in the Plan at any time. At the time of any such
discontinuance or revocation, satisfactory evidence thereof and of any
applicable conditions imposed shall be delivered to the Trustee. The
Trustee shall thereafter transfer, deliver and assign Contracts and other
Trust Fund assets allocable to the Participants of such Participating
Employer to such new Trustee as shall have been designated by such
Participating Employer, in the event that it has established a separate
pension plan for its Employees provided, however, that no such transfer
shall be made if the result is the elimination or reduction of any "Section
411(d)(6) protected benefits" in accordance with Section 8.1E. If no
successor is designated, the Trustee shall retain such assets for the
Employees of said Participating Employer pursuant to the provisions of
Article VII hereof. In no such event shall any part of the corpus or income
of the Trust Fund as it relates to such Participating Employer be used for
or diverted for purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the
Employees of such Participating Employer.
10.8 ADMINISTRATOR'S AUTHORITY
The Administrator shall have authority to make any and all necessary rules
or regulations, binding upon all Participating Employers and all
Participants, to effectuate the purpose of this Article.
10.9 PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FOR AFFILIATE
If any Participating Employer is prevented in whole or in part from making a
contribution which it would otherwise have made under the Plan by reason of
having no current or accumulated earnings or profits, or because such
earnings or profits are less than the contribution which it would otherwise
have made, then, pursuant to Code Section 404(a)(3)(B), the amount of the
contribution which such Participating Employer was so prevented from making
may be made, for the benefit of the participating employees of such
Participating Employer, by other Participating Employers who are members of
the same affiliated group within the meaning of Code Section 1504 to the
extent of their current or accumulated earnings or profits, except that such
contribution by each such other Participating Employer shall be limited to
the proportion of its total current and accumulated earnings or profits
remaining after adjustment for its contribution to the Plan made without
regard to this paragraph which the total prevented contribution bears to the
total current and accumulated earnings or profits of all the Participating
Employers remaining after adjustment for all contributions made to the Plan
without regard to this paragraph.
A Participating Employer on behalf of whose employees a contribution is made
under this paragraph shall not be required to reimburse the contributing
Participating Employers.
Pension Specialists, Inc. 401(k) V.S. Revised 1/94
Atlantic Coast Airlines