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EXHIBIT 10.8
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME SECURITY PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
The Northwestern Corporation Supplemental Income Security Plan ("Plan")
was adopted by Northwestern Corporation (formerly Northwestern Public Service
Company), effective April 1, 1983 and has been amended and restated from time to
time. Northwestern Corporation now amends and restates the Plan, effective July
1, 1999, as hereinafter set forth:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS. When the following terms are used herein with initial
capital letters, they shall mean:
(a) ADMINISTRATOR. The Company or such individual or committee as
the Company shall designate from time to time. The Administrator shall
have the authority to administer the Plan, to construe its provisions and
to issue rules with respect thereto, and the decisions of the
Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties. The Administrator
shall constitute the "administrator" and "named fiduciary" of the Plan
within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA").
(b) BENEFICIARY. The person or persons, or entity or entities,
designated by a Participant or a Beneficiary to receive a Death Benefit
hereunder pursuant to the terms of Article VI.
(c) BOARD. The Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) COMPANY. Northwestern Corporation.
(e) DEATH BENEFIT. The benefit payable to a Participant's
Beneficiary hereunder, in the event of his death (i) while employed by the
Company or an affiliate, or (ii) following his termination of employment
and either prior to or after the date payment of his Retirement Benefit
commences.
(f) DISABILITY. The total and permanent disability of a Participant
as determined by a doctor of medicine approved by the Company, which event
will be deemed to have occurred on the date of delivery of such doctor's
certificate to such effect to the Company. In lieu of such certification,
the Company may accept, as proof of total and permanent disability, proof
of the Participant's eligibility for disability benefits under the Federal
Social Security Act, as amended from time to time.
(g) EARNINGS. The amount of base compensation paid by the Company or
an affiliate to an Eligible Employee who is a Participant for services
rendered, excluding any bonuses and commissions, or the amount of
director's fees paid to an Outside Director who is a Participant.
(h) EARNINGS LEVEL. Earnings within a prescribed range as shown on
the attached Schedules A, B and C.
(i) ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE. A senior management Employee selected by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company to participate in the Plan.
(j) EMPLOYEE. An individual who customarily works a regularly
scheduled work week with the Company or an affiliate thereof of at least
twenty (20) hours per week.
(k) ENTRY DATE. January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year and any
other date designated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
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(l) OUTSIDE DIRECTOR. A member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(m) PARTICIPANT. An Employee or Outside Director who has become
eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Article II.
(n) PLAN ANNIVERSARY. The first day of a Plan Year which is July 1
of each calendar year.
(o) PLAN YEAR. The twelve (12) month period beginning on July 1 and
ending on June 30.
(p) RETIREMENT BENEFIT. The benefit payable to a Participant
hereunder following his Retirement Date.
(q) RETIREMENT DATE. The later of the Employee's or Outside
Director's (i) 65th birthday, or (ii) retirement from employment with the
Company or service on the Board.
1.2 GENDER AND NUMBER. The pronouns "he", "him" and "his", referring to
an Employee, Outside Director, Participant or Beneficiary, shall also refer to
and include females as well as males, and the singular shall include the plural,
and the plural the singular, except when the context otherwise requires.
ARTICLE II
ELIGIBILITY
2.1 ELIGIBILITY. An individual shall be eligible to participate in the
Plan as of the Entry Date next following either (a) the date he becomes an
Outside Director, or (b) the date he is selected by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company for participation as an Eligible Employee. To be an Eligible
Employee, an individual must:
(a) Be credited with six months or more of service in a qualifying
position as a senior management Employee with the Company or an affiliate;
and
(b) Be in a state of health that would meet customary requirements
at reasonable standard insurance rates.
2.2 WAIVER OF ELIGIBILITY. If an individual who is eligible for
participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 2.1 elects not to participate, he
must execute a written waiver acknowledging his decision not to participate in
the Plan, and further indicating his waiver of the right to participate at any
future date unless he is selected by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
for participation. Any such waiver must be executed by the Participant, and his
spouse if he is married, and delivered to the Administrator as soon as
practicable after he is notified of his eligibility for participation. Any
designated individual who does not deliver such properly executed waiver to the
Administrator within 60 days after the date of his eligibility for
participation, shall be deemed to have elected not to participate in the Plan.
2.3 SPECIAL STATE OF HEALTH RULE. Participation in the Plan shall be
limited to an Eligible Employees or Outside Director whose state of health at
the time of his entry into the Plan is determined, to the satisfaction of the
Administrator, to be normal for his age group, on the basis of standards
comparable to those customarily employed in the insurance industry for setting
standard premium rates; provided, however, that the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, may permit participation by an Eligible Employee or Outside Director
whose state of health does not meet this requirement on the condition that the
amount of Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit provided to him or his
Beneficiary may be reduced, at the Administrator's discretion, from that which
would otherwise apply to him under the terms of the Plan. An Eligible Employee
or Outside Director who participates in the Plan under the preceding sentence of
this Section shall be advised by the Administrator in a written notice, no later
than sixty (60) days after the determination of his state of health as required
herein, of the dollar amount of Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit to be
provided to him (or his Beneficiary) under the Plan.
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ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) An Eligible Employee who is selected
for participation in the Plan must, as a condition of participation, elect in
writing to reduce his Earnings, during a four year period commencing on the
Entry Date on which his participation in the Plan commences. The amount of such
reduction shall be based upon his Earnings Level as set forth in Schedule A, and
shall be applied to the cost of providing his Retirement Benefit and Death
Benefit. Such election shall be made by the Eligible Employee prior to the Entry
Date on which his participation in the Plan commences and shall apply only to
Earnings that would otherwise be received on or after that Entry Date. Any such
election to reduce Earnings shall be irrevocable for the Plan Year in which such
election is made and for each subsequent Plan Year until revoked by a written
instrument delivered by the Eligible Employee to the Administrator prior to the
first day of the Plan Year with respect to which such revocation is to become
effective. An Eligible Employee's contribution requirement will be based upon
his Earnings Level as set forth in Schedule A for each applicable Plan Year. If
the Eligible Employee's Earnings Level increases during, or at any time after
the end of, the four year period commencing on the Entry Date on which his
initial participation in the Plan commences, his contribution requirement shall
increase by an amount applicable to the increased Earnings Level set forth on
Schedule A, and such increase shall remain in effect for a four year period
commencing on the date of increase of his Earnings Level. An Eligible Employee's
participation in the Plan shall immediately terminate upon the effective date of
a revocation of his election to contribute to the Plan as hereinafter set forth.
Outside Directors shall not be required to contribute to the Plan.
(b) A Participant who is an Eligible Employee may elect to accelerate
payment of his contribution obligation pursuant to paragraph (a) next above by
electing to reduce all or any portion of any bonus payable to him by the Company
or an affiliate. Any such election shall be made by the Participant by a written
instrument delivered to the Administrator prior to the first day of the Plan
Year in which the applicable bonus is payable to the Participant. Such election
shall specify the portion of the bonus that is subject to reduction and such
election shall be irrevocable for the Plan Year in which it is effective. Any
such election shall apply only to the bonus payable to the Participant in the
Plan Year in which the election is effective, and shall not be applicable with
respect to any subsequent Plan Year. An election by a Participant to accelerate
payment of his contribution obligation pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall not
accelerate the period set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.6 after which
a Participant's Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit become non-forfeitable.
3.2 COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS. The Company shall contribute all amounts
necessary to satisfy the cost of a Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit with
respect to a Participant in excess of the amount contributed by the Participant
pursuant to the preceding section.
ARTICLE IV
BENEFITS
4.1 RETIREMENT BENEFIT. A Participant shall be eligible to receive a
Retirement Benefit commencing on the first day of the month next following his
Retirement Date. The monthly amount of the Retirement Benefit shall be set forth
on the Participant's certificate or other record on file with the Company on his
Retirement Date, and shall be generally based upon the guidelines set forth in
Schedule B.
4.2 DEATH BENEFIT. A Death Benefit shall be payable to the Participant's
Beneficiary commencing on the first day of the month next following his date of
death. The monthly amount of the Death Benefit shall be set forth in the
Participant's certificate or other record on file with the Company on his date
of death, and shall generally be based upon the guidelines set forth in Schedule
C.
4.3 INCREASE IN RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND DEATH BENEFIT. A Participant whose
Earnings increase following the Entry Date on which he commences participation
in the Plan, so as to be included within a higher Earnings Level, shall become
entitled to the Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit set forth in his
certificate or other record on file with the Company, as adjusted to reflect
such higher Earnings Level, and shall generally be based upon the higher
Earnings Level set forth in Schedules B and C, as of the Plan Anniversary
coincident with or next following such increase in Earnings. The preceding
sentence shall apply with respect to a Participant who is an Eligible Employee
only if he is credited with six or more months of service in a qualifying
position as a senior management Employee with the Company or an affiliate. If
the state of such a Participant's health, is not then determined, to the
satisfaction of the Administrator, to be normal for his age group, on the basis
of standards comparable to those customarily employed by the insurance industry
in setting standards or reasonable premium rates, such increase in Retirement
Benefit and Death Benefit shall apply only to the extent authorized by the
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Administrator. The Administrator shall advise any such Participant in a written
notice no later than 60 days after the determination of the state of his health
as required herein, of the increased amount of Retirement Benefit and Death
Benefit to be provided to him (or his Beneficiary) under the Plan, which amount
shall in no event be less than that to which he was entitled prior to such
notice.
4.4 ELECTION WITH RESPECT TO AMOUNT OF RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND DEATH
BENEFIT.
(a) A Participant, during the period commencing on the Entry Date on
which his participation in the Plan commences and ending on the date 30
days prior to his Retirement Date ("Election Period"), may elect to reduce
the amount of his monthly Retirement Benefit and increase the amount of
his monthly Death Benefit, in 25% increments, based upon the amounts set
forth in his certificate or record on file with the Company, and the
guidelines set forth in Schedules B and C. Any such reduction will be
based upon the following schedule:
<Table>
<Caption>
Elected Amount of Retirement Benefit Elected Amount of Death Benefit
------------------------------------ -------------------------------
100% 0%
75% 25%
50% 50%
25% 75%
0% 100%
</Table>
Any such election may be revoked by the Participant at any time during the
Election Period, and shall become irrevocable on the last day of the
Election Period.
4.5 PAYMENT OF BENEFIT.
(a) The elected amount of Retirement Benefit shall be paid to the
Participant in monthly installments during the 15 year period commencing
on the first day of the month next following his Retirement Date. If the
Participant dies prior to the end of such 15 year period, the monthly
amount of Retirement Benefit shall be continued to be paid to his
Beneficiary for the balance of such 15 year period. A Retirement Benefit
is not payable with respect to a Participant who dies prior to the date
payment of his Retirement Benefit commences.
(b) The elected amount of Death Benefit shall be paid to the
Participant's Beneficiary in monthly installments during the 15 year
period commencing on the first day of the month next following the
Participant's date of death. If such Beneficiary dies during such 15 year
period, the monthly amount of Death Benefit shall continue to be paid to
the secondary Beneficiary designated by the primary Beneficiary for the
balance of such 15 year period.
4.6 FORFEITURES.
(a) The Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit of a Participant who is
an Eligible Employee will be forfeited if the Participant's employment
with the Company and its affiliates terminates before he has either (a)
been employed for a period of 10 years, or (b) participated in the Plan
for a period of five years. However, the Retirement Benefit and Death
Benefit shall not be forfeited if: (1) the Participant retires from
employment with the Company and its affiliates under the terms of the
Northwestern Corporation Pension Plan, (2) the Participant's employment
terminates due to death or Disability, or (3) the Participant's employment
terminates within 12 months following a "Change in Control" or a Major
Transaction, and if at the time of such termination pursuant to this
sentence (other than due to death) the Participant has satisfied all
Participant contributions due under the Plan.
(b) If a Participant terminates employment under conditions that
cause a forfeiture of his Retirement Benefit and his Death Benefit as set
forth in the preceding paragraph, he shall not be entitled to a refund of
any Participant contributions previously made by him pursuant to the Plan.
However, a Participant who has satisfied either the 10 year employment
requirement, or the 5 year participation
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requirement, set forth in the preceding paragraph at the date of his
termination of employment shall be entitled to retain entitlement to his
Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit by continuing to make the remaining
required Participant contributions due under the Plan. In the event of the
death of a Participant, there shall be no remaining Participant
contribution obligation.
(c) The Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit payable with respect to
a Participant who is an Outside Director shall be non-forfeitable at all
times after he becomes a Participant.
ARTICLE V
ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT BENEFIT
IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION
5.1 PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFIT. An Eligible Employee whose employment
has terminated and whose Retirement Benefit is not forfeited pursuant to Section
4.6, or an Outside Director whose service on the Board has terminated, will be
eligible for a Retirement Benefit.
5.2 DEFINITIONS OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AND MAJOR TRANSACTION.
(a) CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of the Plan, a Change in Control
of the Company shall occur upon the happening of the earliest to occur of
the following:
1. any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial
Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by
such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its
affiliates) representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding securities: or
2. during any period of not more than two consecutive years,
individuals, who at the beginning of such period constitute the
Board and any new director (other than a director designated by a
Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect
a transaction described in clause 1 of this paragraph or clauses 2
or 3 of paragraph (b) below) whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved
or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the
beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved or recommended, cease, for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof.
(b) MAJOR TRANSACTION. For purposes of the Plan, a Major Transaction
shall occur upon the happening of the earliest to occur of the following:
1. the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any corporation or business trust,
other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the
individuals who prior to such merger or consolidation constitute the
Board constituting at least two-thirds (2/3) of the board of
directors of the Company or the surviving or succeeding entity
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the
Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person acquires more
than 20% of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; or
2. the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company; or
3. the shareholders of the Company approve an agreement for
the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets, other than a sale or disposition which
would result in the individuals who prior to such sale or
disposition constitute the Board constituting at least two- thirds
(2/3) of the board of directors of the Person purchasing such assets
immediately after such sale or disposition.
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For purposes of the Plan, "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") and "Person" shall have the meaning given in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) thereof: however: a Person shall not include (i) the
Company, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily
holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a
corporation owned: directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares
of the Company.
ARTICLE VI
DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
6.1 GENERAL. A Participant or a primary Beneficiary, as applicable, shall
designate in writing, in a form acceptable to the Administrator, a person or
persons or entity or entities to receive the Retirement Benefit in the event of
the Participant's death, or the Death Benefit in the event of the primary
Beneficiary's death. Such a designation may be revoked in writing by the
Participant or primary Beneficiary at any time, and the last such designation
executed by the Participant or primary Beneficiary and filed with the
Administrator shall control. A Participant or primary Beneficiary may, by
completing and filing with the Administrator a form provided by the
Administrator for that purpose, waive entirely his right to designate a
Beneficiary hereunder, [or irrevocably assign such right to either the Company
or the Beneficiary].
6.2 PLAN DESIGNATIONS. If there is no Beneficiary designated to receive
any amount that becomes payable to a Beneficiary, or in the event a designated
Beneficiary has predeceased the Participant or a primary Beneficiary, or if the
Participant or primary Beneficiary designated distribution according to the Plan
("Per Plan"), the balance of the Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit shall be
paid in equal shares to the person or persons in the first surviving class of
the following classes of preference Beneficiaries:
(a) The Participant's or primary Beneficiary's surviving spouse,
with a balance of payments that may be payable in the event that the
spouse dies before the end of the fixed payment period, to be paid in
order of preference to those designated in classes (b), (c) or (d)
hereafter, or as the spouse may validly designate during his or her
lifetime,
(b) The Participant's or primary Beneficiary's surviving issue,
(including legally adopted issue), PER STIRPES and not PER CAPITA,
(c) The Participant's or primary Beneficiary's surviving parents in
equal shares,
(d) The Participant's or primary Beneficiary's surviving siblings in
equal shares, and
(e) The legal representative of the Participant's or primary
Beneficiary's estate:
6.3 INTERPRETATIONS. Any ambiguity in the interpretation of a Beneficiary
designation shall be determined by the Administrator:
ARTICLE VII
CLAIMS
A Participant or Beneficiary who has become entitled to a Retirement
Benefit or Death Benefit and who wishes payment to commence shall submit a claim
to the Administrator in writing, in such form and with such supporting documents
and authorizations as the Administrator may require. If a Participant's or a
Beneficiary's claim for benefits is denied in whole or in part, he shall be
entitled to a written explanation from the Administrator setting forth the
specific reasons for the denial, and to a full and fair review by the
Administrator of the decision denying the claim. All such claims shall be
processed pursuant to Section 503 of ERISA and regulations issued thereunder.
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ARTICLE VIII
EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
8.1 GENERAL. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:
(a) No Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit shall be payable under
the Plan:
(i) on account of a Participant's death by suicide within two
(2) years of the Entry Date on which his initial participation in
the Plan commenced, or
(ii) to a Participant (or Beneficiary) within two (2) years
after the Participant has materially misrepresented the state of his
health to the Company, or to any party designated by the Company, on
the occasion of his entry into the Plan.
(b) In the case of a Participant who has become eligible for an
increase in a Retirement Benefit under Section 4.3, no such increase shall
apply:
(i) in the event of the Participant's suicide within two (2)
years after such increase becomes effective, or
(ii) within two (2) years following the Participant's material
misrepresentation of the state of his health to the Company, or to
any party designated by the Company, on the occasion of his becoming
eligible for an increase in his Retirement Benefit.
(c) No Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit shall be payable to a
Participant (or his Beneficiary) who has materially misrepresented his age
to the Company, except as the Administrator shall authorize in its sole
discretion.
8.2 BENEFIT AS STATED IN CERTIFICATE OR OTHER RECORD. No Retirement
Benefit or Death Benefit shall apply with respect to a terminated or deceased
Participant except as shall be set forth in a certificate or other record on
file with the Company, according to such reasonable rules and procedures as the
Administrator may establish. The amount of Retirement Benefit and Death Benefit
set forth in such certificate or other record shall be binding and conclusive
for all purposes of the Plan and the amounts determined from Schedules B and C
attached hereto shall constitute guidelines only. In the event of any
inconsistency between the amount set forth on such certificate or other record,
and the amount determined by reference to Schedule B or C, the amount set forth
in the certificate or other record shall govern.
8.3 PARTICIPANT COOPERATION. The right of any Eligible Employee or
Outside Director to participate in the Plan is conditioned upon and subject to
his cooperation with the efforts of the Administrator to determine the state of
his health.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
9.1 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. The Company intends the Plan to be permanent
but reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan when, in the sole opinion
of the Company, such amendment or termination is advisable. Any such amendment
or termination shall be made pursuant to a resolution of the Board and shall be
effective as of the date of such resolution.
9.2 EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. No amendment or termination of the
Plan shall directly or indirectly reduce or adversely affect any Retirement
Benefit or Death Benefit payment of which has commenced, or is non-forfeitable
under Section 4.6, as of the effective date of such amendment or termination.
Upon termination of the Plan, payment of each Retirement Benefit and Death
Benefit shall be made to the applicable Participant or Beneficiary in the manner
and at the time described in Articles IV and V of the Plan.
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ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 RIGHTS UNSECURED. The Plan at all times shall be entirely unfunded
and no provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating any
assets of the Company or its affiliates for payment of any Retirement Benefit or
Death Benefit hereunder. The right of a Participant or Beneficiary to receive a
Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit hereunder shall be an unsecured claim
against the general assets of the Company or its affiliates, and neither the
Participant nor a Beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any specific
assets of the Company or its affiliates.
10.2 NO GUARANTEE OF BENEFIT. Nothing contained in the Plan shall
constitute a guaranty by the Company or any affiliate or any other person or
entity that the assets of the Company or any affiliate will be sufficient to pay
any Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit hereunder.
10.3 NO ENLARGEMENT OF BENEFIT RIGHTS. No Participant or Beneficiary shall
have any right to receive a distribution of a Retirement Benefit or Death
Benefit under the Plan except in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
Establishment of the Plan shall not be construed to give any Participant the
right to be retained in the service of the Company or any affiliate or to
continue as a member of the Board.
10.4 SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION. No interest of any person or entity in, or
right to receive a distribution under, the Plan shall be subject in any manner
to sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, attachment, garnishment, or other
alienation or encumbrance of any kind; nor may such interest or right to receive
a distribution be taken, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the
satisfaction of the debts of, or other obligations or claims against, such
person or entity, including claims for alimony, support, separate maintenance
and claims in bankruptcy proceedings.
10.5 APPLICABLE LAW. To the extent the laws of the United States do not
apply, the Plan shall be construed and administered under the laws of the State
of South Dakota, other than its laws respecting choice of law.
10.6 INCAPACITY OF RECIPIENT. If any person entitled to a distribution
under the Plan is deemed by the Administrator to be incapable of personally
receiving and giving a valid receipt for such payment, then, unless and until
claim therefor shall have been made by a duly appointed guardian or other legal
representative of such person, the Administrator may provide for such payment or
any part thereof to be made to any other person or institution then contributing
toward or providing for the care and maintenance of such person. Any such
payment shall be a payment for the account of such person and a complete
discharge of any liability of the Company, the Administrator and the Plan
therefor.
10.7 CORPORATE SUCCESSORS. The Plan shall not be automatically terminated
by a transfer or sale of assets of the Company, or by the merger or
consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation or other entity,
but the Plan shall be continued after such sale, merger or consolidation only if
and to the extent that the transferee, purchaser or successor entity agrees to
continue the Plan. If the Plan is not continued by the transferee, purchaser or
successor entity, then the Plan shall terminate subject to the provisions of
Article IX.
10.8 UNCLAIMED BENEFIT. In the event that all, or any portion, of a
Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit payable to a Participant or Beneficiary
hereunder shall, at the expiration of five years after it shall become payable,
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 Beneficiary, the amount of the Benefit so distributable shall be
treated as a forfeiture and shall be retained by the Company as part of its
general assets. In the event a Participant or Beneficiary is located subsequent
to his Retirement Benefit or Death Benefit being forfeited, such Benefit shall
be restored.
10.9 LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY. Notwithstanding any of the preceding
provisions of the Plan, none of the Company, the Administrator or any individual
acting as employee or agent of the Company or the Administrator shall be liable
to any Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary or other person for any
claim, loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with the Plan.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Northwestern Corporation has caused this amendment and
restatement of the Plan to be executed in its name, by its duly authorized
officer, on this 1st day of July, 1999, effective as of the first day of July,
1999.
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
By: /s/ Merle D. Lewis
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SCHEDULE A
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME SECURITY PLAN
Participant Contributions
This schedule is prepared to determine the portion of the cost of the Retirement
Benefit and Death Benefit payable with respect to a Participant that will be
deducted from the Participant's base salary for a maximum period of four years.
As the Participant moves to a higher Earnings Level, the cost of the Retirement
Benefit and Death Benefit will increase accordingly.
<Table>
<Caption>
Earnings Level Annual Amount
Deducted Over 4 Years
From Participant's
Earnings At Time
Of Next Earnings Review
=============================================================
A. Directors $-0-
B. Employees up to $39,999 1,500
C. $40,000 to $49,999 2,000
D. $50,000 to $64,999 2,750
E. $65,000 to $79,999 3,500
F. $80,000 to $99,999 4,500
G. $100.000 to $119,999 5,500
H. $120,000 to $144,999 6,750
I. $145,000 to $169,999 8,000
J. $170,000 to $199,999 9,500
K. $200,000 to $229,999 11,000
L. $230,000 to $264,999 12,750
M. $265,000 to $299,999 14,500
N. $300,000 to $339,999 16,500
O. $340,000 to $379,999 18,500
P. $380,000 to $424,999 20,750
Q. $425,000 to $469,999 23,000
R. $470,000 to $519,999 25,500
S. $520,000 to $569,999 28,000
T. $570,000 to $624,999 30,750
</Table>
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<Table>
U. $625,000 to $679,999 33,500
V. $680,000 to $739,999 36,500
W. $740,000 to $799,999 39,500
X. $800,000 to $864,999 42,750
Y. $865,000 to $929,999 46,000
Z. $930,000 and over 49,500
</Table>
SCHEDULE B
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME SECURITY PLAN
Amount of Retirement Benefit
<Table>
<Caption>
Earnings Level Monthly Annual Total of All
Retirement Retirement Payments
Benefit Benefit
Payable at Payable for
Retirement 15 Years
Date for 15
Years
================================================================================
A. Directors $1,056 $12,672 $190,080
B. Employees up to $39,999 1,584 19,008 285,120
C. $40,000 to $49,999 1,848 22,176 332,640
D. $50,000 to $64,999 2,112 25,344 380,160
E. $65,000 to $79,999 2,640 31,680 475,200
F. $80,000 to $99,999 3,168 38,016 570,240
G. $100,000 to $119,999 3,960 47,520 712,800
H. $120,000 to $144,999 4,752 57,024 855,360
I. $145,000 to $169,999 5,808 69,696 1,045,440
J. $170,000 to $199,999 6,864 82,368 1,235,520
K. $200,000 to $229,999 8,184 98,208 1,473,120
L. $230,000 to $264,999 9,504 114,048 1,710,720
M. $265,000 to $299,999 11,088 133,056 1,995,840
N. $300,000 to $339,999 12,672 152,064 2,280,960
O. $340,000 to $379,999 14,520 174,240 2,613,600
P. $380,000 to $424,999 16,368 196,416 2,946,240
Q. $425,000 to $469,999 18,480 221,760 3,326,400
R. $470,000 to $519,999 20,592 247,104 3,706,560
S. $520,000 to $569,999 22,968 275,616 4,134,240
</Table>
11
<Page>
<Table>
T. $570,000 to $624,999 25,344 304,128 4,561,920
U. $625,000 to $679,999 27,984 335,808 5,037,120
V. $680,000 to $739,999 30,624 367,488 5,512,320
W. $740,000 to $799,999 33,528 402,336 6,035,040
X. $800,000 to $864,999 36,432 437,184 6,557,760
Y. $865,000 to $929,999 39,600 475,200 7,128,000
Z. $930,000 and over 42,768 513,216 7,698,240
</Table>
THIS SCHEDULE IS A GUIDELINE ONLY. THE ACTUAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT IS SET FORTH ON
A PARTICIPANT'S CERTIFICATE OR OTHER RECORD ON FILE WITH THE COMPANY AT THE
LATER OF THE PARTICIPANT'S ATTAINMENT OF AGE 65 OR RETIREMENT DATE.
12
<Page>
SCHEDULE C
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME SECURITY PLAN
Amount of Death Benefit:
<Table>
<Caption>
Earnings Level Monthly Death Annual Death Total of All
Benefit Benefit Payments
Payable To A Payable To A
Named Named
Beneficiary Beneficiary
For 15 Years For 15 Years
================================================================================
A. Directors $2,112 $25,344 $380,160
B. Employees up to $39,999 3,168 38,016 570,240
C. $40,000 to $49,999 3,696 44,352 665,280
D. $50,000 to $64,999 4,224 50,688 760,320
E. $65,000 to $79,999 5,280 63,360 950,400
F. $80,000 to $99,999 6,336 76,032 1,140,480
G. $100,000 to $119,999 7,920 95,040 1,425,600
H. $120,000 to $144,999 9,504 114,048 1,710,720
I. $145,000 to $169,999 11,616 139,392 2,090,880
J. $170,000 to $199,999 13,728 164,736 2,471,040
K. $200,000 to $229,999 16,368 196,416 2,946,240
L. $230,000 to $264,999 19,008 228,096 3,421,440
M. $265,000 to $299,999 22,176 266,112 3,991,680
N. $300,000 to $339,999 25,344 304,128 4,561,920
O. $340,000 to $379,999 29,040 348,480 5,227,200
P. $380,000 to $424,999 32,736 392,832 5,892,480
Q. $425,000 to $469,999 36,960 443,520 6,652,800
R. $470,000 to $519,999 41,184 494,208 7,413,120
S. $520,000 to $569,999 45,936 551,232 8,268,480
T. $570,000 to $624,999 50,688 608,256 9,123,840
U. $625,000 to $679,999 55,968 671,616 10,074,240
V. $680,000 to $739,999 61,248 734,976 11,024,640
W. $740,000 to $799,999 67,056 804,672 12,070,080
X. $800,000 to $864,999 72,864 874,368 13,115,520
Y. $865,000 to $929,999 79,200 950,400 14,256,000
</Table>
13
<Page>
<Table>
Z. $930,000 and over 85,536 1,026,432 15,396,480
</Table>
THIS SCHEDULE IS A GUIDELINE ONLY. THE ACTUAL DEATH BENEFIT IS SET FORTH ON A
PARTICIPANT'S CERTIFICATE OR OTHER RECORD ON FILE WITH THE COMPANY AT THE
PARTICIPANT'S DATE OF DEATH.
14