Executive Deferred Compensation Plan – La-Z-Boy Inc.
2005 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
Effective January 1, 2005
Amended and Restated effective November 18, 2008
Table of Contents
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2005 La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
WHEREAS, La-Z-Boy Incorporated (“Company”) previously established and
maintained the La-Z-Boy Incorporated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan, last amended and restated effective
August 1, 2002 (and herein called the “Prior Plan”);
WHEREAS, the Prior Plan was “frozen” effective December 31, 2004;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue providing competitive total
compensation to its Eligible Employees so the Company can attract and retain the
executive talent necessary to drive the success of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries have established qualified
retirement plans which include nondiscrimination and coverage limitations as
imposed under §401(k), §401(m) and §410(b) of the Internal Revenue Code as well
as maximum benefit limitations imposed by §402(g), §415 and §401(a)(17) of the
Internal Revenue Code which may limit the maximum contributions and benefits
which may be made to the tax qualified plans on behalf of some Eligible
Employees of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide a tax-deferred capital accumulation
opportunity to a select group of management or highly compensated Employees
through the deferral of compensation in order to encourage the Employees to
maintain a long-term relationship with the Company and provide flexibility to
the Employee in his financial planning.
THEREFORE, the Company hereby establishes the 2005 La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“Plan”) effective January 1, 2005.
As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter
set forth. The masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include the feminine, and
the singular number shall be deemed to include the plural, and vice versa,
unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context.
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1.1 |
“Account” means an account established on the books of the |
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1.2 |
“Annual Election Period” means the period specified by the |
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Page 1 |
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1.3 |
“Base Compensation” means the Participant153s annual base |
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1.4 |
“Beneficiary” means any person(s) designated in writing (on |
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1.5 |
“Board” means the Board of Directors of La-Z-Boy |
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1.6 |
“Change in Control” means a change in the ownership or |
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1.7 |
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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1.8 |
“Committee” means the group charged with administration of |
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1.9 |
“Company” means La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a Michigan |
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1.10 |
“Company Contribution Account” means the bookkeeping account |
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1.11 |
“Company Discretionary Contribution” means such |
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1.12 |
“Company Matching Contribution” means any addition made by |
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1.13 |
“Compensation” means the Participant153s remuneration as |
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Page 2 |
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1.14 |
“Deferral Account” means the bookkeeping account maintained |
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1.15 |
“Disabled” means the date when a Participant (i) is unable |
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1.16 |
“Distributable Amount” means the vested balance in the |
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1.17 |
“Distributable Event” means the event that triggers a |
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1.18 |
“Effective Date” means January 1, 2005 |
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1.19 |
“Eligible Employee” means any Employee who meets the |
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1.20 |
“Employee” means any individual employed by the Company or |
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1.21 |
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of |
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1.22 |
“Fund” or “Funds” means one or more of the |
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1.23 |
“Incentive Compensation” means that portion of an |
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Page 3 |
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1.24 |
“Initial Election Period” means |
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a) |
for an Eligible Employee who is eligible on the Effective Date, a period |
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b) |
for an Eligible Employee who becomes newly eligible after the Effective Date, |
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1.25 |
“Interest Rate” means, for each Fund, an amount equal to the |
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1.26 |
“Participant” means any individual who has elected to defer |
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1.27 |
“Payment Date” means the first March 31st after a |
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1.28 |
“Plan” means the 2005 La-Z-Boy Incorporated Executive |
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1.29 |
“Plan Year” means the twelve-month period coinciding with |
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1.30 |
“Pre-2005 Participant” means an Employee (including a |
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Page 4 |
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1.31 |
“Prior Account” means the non-vested balance of the |
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1.32 |
“Prior Plan” means the La-Z-Boy Incorporated Executive |
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1.33 |
“Qualified 401(k) Plan” means the La-Z-Boy Incorporated |
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1.34 |
“Qualified Profit Sharing Plan” means the La-Z-Boy |
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1.35 |
“Rabbi Trust” or “Trust” means the 2005 |
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1.36 |
“Salary Deferral” means the amount deferred by the |
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1.37 |
“Scheduled Withdrawal Date” means the distribution date |
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1.38 |
“Separation From Service” means the date upon which a |
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1.39 |
“Subsidiary” means a corporation, domestic or foreign, the |
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1.40 |
“Trustee” means Wachovia Bank, NA, and its successors and |
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1.41 |
“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship |
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Page 5 |
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1.42 |
“Vested” means the nonforfeitable portion of a Participant153s |
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1.43 |
“Year of Service” means the period that is measured on an |
Section II : Eligibility and Participation
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2.1 |
Eligibility |
An Employee will first become eligible to participate in the Plan when he is
selected by the Committee from the Company’s management while earning annual
total compensation sufficient to be classified as a highly-compensated employee
under Code Section 414(q). Once an Employee becomes eligible to participate in
the Plan, he will remain eligible to make Salary Deferrals and to receive
contributions from the Company as described in Section III, until the earliest
of: (i) Separation From Service; (ii) becoming Disabled; (iii) death; or (iv)
upon removal of the Participant from participation by the Committee (e.g.,
because he no longer holds a management position) and subject to completion of
deferrals under previous irrevocable elections; provided, however, that no such
event shall impair the Participant153s right to become vested in and to receive
(upon a permitted distribution event described in Section VI) benefits accrued
under this Plan prior to loss of eligibility (recognizing, however, that the
amount of such benefits may increase or decrease over time, depending on
investment results and other factors).
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2.2 |
Participation |
Once an Employee is notified of his eligibility as determined in Section 2.1
above, an Eligible Employee shall become a Participant and begin accruing
benefits upon completion of enrollment (including the completion of any required
insurance application) during the Initial Election Period or any Annual Election
Period thereafter. Beginning January 1, 2006, eligibility shall not become
effective, until the Corporate Benefits Department receives notice of the newly
Eligible Employee.
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Page 6 |
Section III : CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEFERRAL ELECTIONS
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3.1 |
In General |
The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine upon each
Participant153s initial participation in the Plan (and prior to each Annual
Election Period thereafter with respect to allocations to the Company
Contribution Account) which Participant shall be eligible to defer Compensation
(including Incentive Compensation) pursuant to Section 3.4 and/or to receive
allocations under Sections 3.2 and 3.3.
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3.2 |
Company Discretionary Contribution |
To the extent allocations to a Participant under the Company Qualified Profit
Sharing Plan are precluded or limited, the Company may credit a corresponding
amount to such Participant153s Account under this Plan. The Company shall
determine the amount of any other Company Discretionary Contribution to be
credited to the Account of a Participant. Any such amounts may vary by
Participant and each allocation may be subject to a different vesting schedule.
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3.3 |
Company Matching Contribution |
A Participant in this Plan who participates during a Plan Year in the
Qualified 401(k) Plan and who elects to make sufficient 401(k) deferrals to be
entitled to the maximum employer matching contribution under the Qualified
401(k) Plan for that Plan Year, may also be eligible to receive a Company
Matching Contribution under this Plan. If so eligible, the Company shall credit
the Company Contribution Account of the Participant with a matching contribution
amount, within 90 days after the end of the Plan Year. To receive a matching
contribution amount, a Participant must be employed on the date that accounts
are credited. The matching contribution amount shall be equal to the excess, if
any, of A over B, where:
“A” is the amount of matching contribution that would have been contributed
to the applicable Qualified 401(k) Plan for the Plan Year determined without the
limitations imposed by §401(k), §401(m), §401(a)(17), §412(g) or §415 of the
Code; and
“B” is the actual matching contribution made on behalf of the Participant to
the Qualified §401(k) Plan.
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3.4 |
Salary Deferrals and Incentive Compensation |
Each Plan Year, an Employee may irrevocably elect pursuant to election
procedures established by the Committee, to have a percentage reduction of his
Base Compensation for the Plan Year and/or Incentive Compensation for the
performance measurement period, and in lieu thereof, have such elective deferral
percentage credited to a Deferral Account. Effective January 1, 2005, all of the
following conditions must be met for such compensation reduction to become
effective:
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Page 7 |
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a) |
An Employee must elect during the Annual Election Period (or an Initial |
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b) |
An Employee must elect during the Annual Election Period (and under no |
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c) |
A deferral election must be expressed as a percentage which shall not exceed |
Each Eligible Employee who had been participating in the Prior Plan on
December 31, 2004 shall continue as a Participant in this Plan until his
participation ceases pursuant to Section 2.1. Continuing participation during
2005 shall be contingent upon timely enrollment during the applicable Initial
Election Period.
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3.5 |
Deferral Elections for Company Contribution Accounts |
Vested balances in Company Contribution Accounts will be distributed in a
single lump sum payment upon Separation From Service in accordance with Section
6.1(a) unless an alternative time and/or form of benefit is elected pursuant to
election procedures as established by the Committee. This one-time election,
which will apply to all future Company Contributions, if any, will be made
during the Initial Election Period or the Annual Election Period (but only to
the extent the Annual Election Period coincides with the Initial Election
Period), assuming a contribution is made at all. Elections will be made
according to one of the following three options:
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a. |
Substantially equal annual installments over a period of time not to exceed |
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b. |
Substantially equal annual installments over a period of time not to exceed |
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c. |
A lump sum payment on an anniversary of the Participant153s Payment Date, but |
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Page 8 |
If a Participant decides to make a change with regard to the distribution of
his Company Contribution Accounts, he may do so in accordance with the Plan153s
rules on Election Changes as described in Section 3.7.
For purposes of this Plan, installment elections will be subject to Section
6.1(e). Further, all installments payments shall be treated as a right to a
series of separate payments.
The Participant’s remaining Account balance shall continue to be credited
with earnings pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Plan until all amounts credited to
his Account under the Plan have been distributed.
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3.6 |
Deferral Elections for Deferral Accounts |
A Participant may initially elect the time and form of payment for Base
Compensation, during the Initial Election Period or the applicable Annual
Election Period, whichever corresponds with the first deferral of Base
Compensation, and must elect the time and form of payment for Salary Deferrals
each year thereafter (i.e., including Incentive Compensation), during each
Annual Election Period, from among the following two methods:
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a. |
Upon Separation of Service. A Participant may elect to have the |
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b. |
Scheduled Withdrawal Date Distributions. A Participant may elect to |
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i. |
a lump sum commencing on a Scheduled Withdrawal Date; or |
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ii. |
two (2) to fifteen (15) substantially equal annual installments commencing on |
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3.7 |
Election Changes |
A Participant may elect to change the time and form of a distribution from
the Plan, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
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i. |
an election change will not take effect until at least 12 months after the |
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ii. |
the payment (or first installment) with respect to which such election is |
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Page 9 |
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iii. |
With respect to payments upon a Scheduled Withdrawal Date, an election change |
Notwithstanding (i) through (iii) above, the Committee may provide
Participants with one or more opportunities to make new payment elections in
accordance with transition relief available under IRS Notice 2006-79, as
extended, with respect to both the time and form of distribution, provided that
no such election may apply to amounts that would otherwise be payable in the
year of the election nor cause an amount to be paid in the year of election that
would not otherwise be payable in that year. The Committee may provide such
additional conditions and limitations with respect to any such new payment
elections as the Committee in its discretion shall determine.
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3.8 |
Investment Elections |
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a) |
At the time of initial participation in the Plan under Section II and upon |
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b) |
Although the Participant may designate the type of investments as described |
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4.1 |
Deferral Accounts |
The Committee shall establish and maintain a Deferral Account for each
Participant under the Plan. Each Participant’s Deferral Account shall be further
divided into separate sub accounts (“investment fund sub accounts”), each of
which corresponds to an investment fund elected by the Participant pursuant to
Section 3.8(a). A Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited as follows:
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Page 10 |
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a) |
On the third business day after amounts are deferred, and withheld from a |
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b) |
Each business day, each investment fund sub account of a Participant’s |
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c) |
In the event that a Participant elects for a given Plan Year’s deferral of |
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4.2 |
Company Contribution Account |
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a) |
The Committee shall establish and maintain a Company Contribution Account for |
Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be credited as follows:
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Page 11 |
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b) |
Each business day, each investment fund sub account of a Participant’s |
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4.3 |
Prior Account |
The Committee shall maintain a Prior Account for each Pre-2005 Participant
under the Prior Plan. Each Pre-2005 Participant’s Prior Account shall be further
divided into separate investment fund sub accounts corresponding to the
investment fund(s) elected by the Pre-2005 Participant pursuant to Section
3.8(a). Each business day, each investment fund sub account of a Pre-2005
Participant’s Prior Account shall be credited with earnings or losses in an
amount determined by multiplying the balance credited to such investment fund
sub account as of the prior day plus contributions credited that day to the
investment fund sub account by the Interest Rate for the corresponding Fund
selected by the Company pursuant to Section 3.8(b).
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5.1 |
Vesting In General |
Subject to Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 below, a Participant shall have a
nonforfeitable interest in benefits payable from his Account as follows:
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a) |
Deferral Account – A Participant shall have a 100% nonforfeitable |
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b) |
Company Contribution Account – A Participant shall have a |
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c) |
Prior Account – A Pre-2005 Participant shall vest at a rate of 25% per |
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5.2 |
Vesting upon Plan Termination or Change in Control |
Notwithstanding anything contrary in the above, in the event the Plan is
terminated by the Board, or there is a Change in Control, all Participants who
are actively employed on the date the Plan is terminated or the Change in
Control occurs shall be immediately vested in their benefits under the Plan.
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Page 12 |
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5.3 |
Vesting upon Sale of Company-Owned Retail Store |
Notwithstanding anything contrary in the above, in the event the Company
sells one of its retail stores, and as a result the employment of the manager of
such retail store is terminated by the Company, then such manager shall be
immediately vested in his benefit under the Plan, provided that a Separation
From Service occurs.
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5.4 |
Vesting upon Death or Disability of a Participant |
Notwithstanding anything contrary in the above, in the event a Participant
dies or becomes Disabled, his benefits shall be immediately vested under the
Plan and distributed in accordance with Section 6.1(f) or 6.1(h), as applicable.
SECTION VI : DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
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6.1 |
Distribution Rules |
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a) |
Company Contribution Accounts. Subject to 6.1(d), (e) and (f) below, |
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b) |
Deferral Account Distributions Upon Separation From Service. Subject |
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c) |
Deferral Account Distributions Upon Scheduled Withdrawal Date. All |
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d) |
Distributions Upon Separation From Service. Notwithstanding the |
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Page 13 |
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e) |
Cash-out. Notwithstanding previous installment elections under |
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f) |
Distribution upon Separation From Service due to Death. In the event a |
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g) |
Death Benefit after Separation From Service. In the event a |
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h) |
Distribution upon becoming Disabled. In the event a Participant |
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6.2 |
Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution |
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a) |
General Rule. A Participant may request a distribution from his |
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Page 14 |
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b) |
New Deferral Election. Once a Participant153s deferral election(s) is |
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6.3 |
Tax Withholding |
With respect to any benefit payments under the Plan, the Company shall make
and remit all appropriate income tax withholdings; however, the Participant will
be solely liable for any and all income taxes applicable on such benefit
payments.
The benefits, which accrue and vest under the Plan, are subject to FICA taxes
(which include the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance tax and/or
Medicare tax as the case may be) which may become due before the benefits are
actually paid as provided under Code §3121(v)(2) and related IRS regulations. To
ensure proper compliance with these regulations, the Company will calculate the
amount of FICA tax when it becomes due and notify the Participant of the amount
of his share of such tax. The Company will remit the entire tax to the IRS and
arrange for the collection of the Participant153s share of the tax from the
Participant. The Company may provide the Participant with additional
compensation to offset his share of such tax, however, the Participant will be
solely liable for his share of FICA taxes on benefits accrued and vested under
the Plan.
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6.4 |
Other |
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, if any amounts held in
trust are found, due to the creation or operation of the Trust, in a final
decision by a court of competent jurisdiction, or under a “determination” by the
Internal Revenue Service in a closing agreement or a final refund disposition
(within the meaning of §1313(a) of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended),
to have been includable in the gross income of a Participant or Beneficiary
prior to payment of such amounts from the Trust, the Trustee shall, as soon as
practicable, pay to such Participant or Beneficiary an amount equal to the
amount determined to have been includable in gross income in such determination,
and shall accordingly reduce the Participant153s or Beneficiary153s Account. The
Trustee shall not make any distribution to a Participant or Beneficiary pursuant
to this Section 6.4 unless it has received a copy of the written determination
described above together with any legal opinion which it may request as to the
applicability thereof.
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6.5 |
Inability to Locate Participant |
In the event that the Committee is unable to locate a Participant or
Beneficiary within two (2) years following the required Payment Date, the amount
allocated to the Participant’s Account shall be forfeited. If, after such
forfeiture, the Participant or Beneficiary later claims such benefit, such
benefit shall be reinstated without interest or earnings.
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Page 15 |
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7.1 |
Unfunded Plan |
Benefits under this Plan shall be paid from the general assets of the Company
or Subsidiary. The Plan shall be administered as an unfunded plan which is
maintained primarily for the purpose of providing supplemental retirement
compensation “for a select group of management or highly compensated employees”
as set forth in Sections 201(2), 301(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, and is not
intended to meet the qualification requirements of §401 of the Code. Any use of
the words “contributions” or “contribute,” or any similar phrase, shall not
require actual contributions or funding of this Plan and is only used for
convenience when describing the deferral and supplemental retirement benefit
activities of this Plan.
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7.2 |
Rabbi Trust |
The Company shall establish a Rabbi Trust and, subject to the rules of this
section and consistent (in form and in operation) with the requirements of Code
§409A(b), may, but is not required to, make contributions to it for the purpose
of providing a source of funds to meet the liabilities of the Plan. It is
generally intended that contributions to the Rabbi Trust will be made by the
Company at least annually in an amount equal to the Salary Deferral
Contributions and any Company Matching Contributions or other Company
Discretionary Contributions related to the Plan for the year as calculated and
approved pursuant to Section III. However, no contribution shall be expected if
the fair value of the assets in the Rabbi Trust exceeds the value of all
benefits under the Plan.
In the event of a Change in Control, to the extent consistent (in form and
operation) with the requirements of Code §409A(b), the Company shall be required
to make additional contributions to the Rabbi Trust within 30 days of the date
of the Change in Control and annually thereafter within 90 days after the end of
each Plan Year, such that the fair value of the assets in the Rabbi Trust are
sufficient to pay the value of all benefits of the Plan accrued at the date of
Change in Control and thereafter at the end of the Plan Year.
Any assets set aside in the Rabbi Trust shall not be deemed to be the
property of the Participant and shall be subject to claims of the Company153s
unsecured general creditors. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any claim
against, right to, or security or other interest in, any fund, account or asset
of the Company from which any payment under the Plan may be made.
Notwithstanding the above provisions, no Rabbi Trust assets shall be located
or transferred outside of the United States and no property shall be transferred
to the Rabbi Trust in connection with an adverse change in the Company153s
financial health.
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Page 16 |
SECTION VIII : PLAN ADMINISTRATION
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8.1 |
General Duty |
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Members of the Committee
shall serve in such capacity until resignation or removal by the Board. It shall
be the principal duty of the Committee to determine that the provisions of the
Plan are carried out in accordance with its terms, for the exclusive benefit of
persons entitled to participate in the Plan.
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8.2 |
Committee Action |
The Committee shall act at meetings by affirmative vote of a majority of the
members of the Committee. Any action permitted to be taken at a meeting may be
taken without a meeting if, prior to such action, a written consent to the
action is signed by all members of the Committee and such written consent is
filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee. A member of the
Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which relates solely to himself
as a Participant. The Chair or any other member or members of the Committee
designated by the Chair may execute any certificate or other written direction
on behalf of the Committee.
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8.3 |
General Powers, Rights and Duties of the Committee |
The Committee shall have full power to administer the Plan in all of its
details, subject to the applicable requirements of the law, on behalf of the
Participants and their Beneficiaries, shall enforce the Plan in accordance with
its terms, shall be charged with the general administration of the Plan, and
shall have all powers necessary to accomplish its purposes, including, but not
by way of limitation, the following:
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(1) |
To select the Funds in accordance with Section 3.8(b) hereof; |
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(2) |
To construe and interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan, and make |
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(3) |
To compute and certify to the amount and kind of benefits payable to |
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(4) |
To maintain all records that may be necessary for the administration of the |
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(5) |
To provide for the disclosure of all information and the filing or provision |
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Page 17 |
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(6) |
To make and publish such rules for the regulation of the Plan and procedures |
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(7) |
To appoint a Plan administrator or any other agent, and to delegate to them |
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(8) |
To take all actions necessary for the administration of the Plan, including |
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8.4 |
Construction and Interpretation |
The Committee shall have full discretion to construe and interpret the terms
and provisions of this Plan, and make findings of fact in connection therewith,
which interpretations, construction or findings, shall be final and binding on
all parties, including but not limited to the Company and any Participant or
Beneficiary. The Committee shall administer such terms and provisions in a
uniform and nondiscriminatory manner and in full accordance with any and all
laws applicable to the Plan. The Plan is intended to comply with Code §409A, and
will therefore be interpreted and administered to maintain intended income tax
deferral in accordance with Code §409A and regulations and other guidance issued
thereunder.
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8.5 |
Information |
To enable the Committee to perform its functions, the Company shall supply
full and timely information to the Committee on all matters relating to the
Compensation of all Participants, their death or other events which cause
termination of their participation in this Plan, and such other pertinent facts
as the Committee may require.
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8.6 |
Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity |
|
a) |
The members of the Committee shall serve without compensation for their |
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b) |
The Committee is authorized at the expense of the Company to employ such |
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c) |
To the extent permitted by applicable state law, the Company shall indemnify |
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Page 18 |
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8.7 |
Claims and Review Procedures |
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a) |
Claim – A person who believes that he is being denied a benefit to |
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b) |
Claim Decision – Upon receipt of a claim, the Company shall advise the |
If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall inform the
Claimant in writing, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant,
setting forth: (A) the specified reason or reasons for such denial; (B) the
specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Plan on which such denial is
based; (C) a description of any additional material or information necessary for
the Claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation of why such material or
such information is necessary; (D) appropriate information as to the steps to be
taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and (E) the time
limits for requesting a review under subsection (c).
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c) |
Request For Review – Within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the |
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d) |
Review of Decision – Within sixty (60) days after the Committee’s |
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Page 19 |
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8.8 |
Furnishing Information or Providing Other Reports |
The Committee shall provide Participant under procedures established by the
Committee (i) a statement with respect to such Participant153s Accounts on at
least a quarterly basis, (ii) a description of the Plan, and (iii) such other
information or notices as required by ERISA or other applicable law. After
payment by the Participant of a reasonable charge, which charge may be waived by
the Committee, the Committee shall provide the Participant with a copy of the
Plan upon written request by the Participant. The Committee shall also file with
government authorities any reports or returns required.
Section IX – Amendment and Discontinuance
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9.1 |
In General |
The Company hereby reserves the right and power, by action of the Board or
the Committee, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, at
any time. Included in the Company153s right to amend, suspend or terminate is the
Company153s right at any time to no longer permit any additional participants
under the Plan, to cease making benefit allocations, and to distribute all
Account balances upon Plan termination, to the extent permitted under Code
§409A. The Committee may promulgate rules and procedures from time to time to
carry out the provisions of this Section IX. However, in no event shall the
Company or Committee have the right to eliminate or reduce any benefit which has
been vested or become nonforfeitable under the Plan pursuant to Section V. No
adopting company other than the Company shall have the right to amend or
terminate the Plan, but a company shall have the right to cease or suspend
participation in the Plan.
SECTION X : GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
10.1 |
Unsecured General Creditor |
Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall
have no legal or equitable rights, claims, or interest in any specific property
or assets of the Company, any Subsidiary, and of the Rabbi Trust. No assets of
the Company shall be held in any way as collateral security for the fulfilling
of the obligations of the Company under this Plan. The Company153s or Subsidiary’s
obligation under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured
promise of the Company or Subsidiary to pay money in the future, and the rights
of the Participants and Beneficiaries shall be no greater than those of
unsecured general creditors. It is the intention of the Company that this Plan
be unfunded for purposes of the Code and for purposes of Title 1 of ERISA.
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Page 20 |
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10.2 |
Restriction Against Assignment |
The Company shall pay all amounts payable hereunder only to the person or
persons designated by the Plan and not to any other person or corporation. No
part of a Participant’s Accounts shall be liable for the debts, contracts, or
engagements of any Participant, his Beneficiary, or successors in interest, nor
shall a Participant’s Accounts be subject to execution by levy, attachment, or
garnishment or by any other legal or equitable proceeding, nor shall any such
person have any right to alienate, anticipate, sell, transfer, commute, pledge,
encumber, or assign any benefits or payments hereunder in any manner whatsoever.
If any Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest is adjudicated bankrupt
or purports to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, commute, assign, pledge,
encumber or charge any distribution or payment from the Plan, voluntarily or
involuntarily, the Committee, in its discretion, may cancel such distribution or
payment (or any part thereof) to or for the benefit of such Participant,
Beneficiary or successor in interest in such manner as the Committee shall
direct.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph,
a. To the extent required under final judgment, decree or order (including
approval of a property settlement agreement) made pursuant to a state domestic
relations law, any portion of a Participant153s Plan benefits may be paid or set
aside for payment to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the Participant. Any
benefit so set aside for a spouse, former spouse, or child shall be paid out as
and when benefits are paid to the Participant, unless the Committee agrees to a
different time and/or form of payment to such recipient(s). Any payment made to
a person other than the Participant pursuant to this Section shall be reduced by
tax withholding, if required by law; the fact that payment is made to a person
other than the Participant may not prevent such payment from being includible in
the gross income of the Participant for withholding and income tax reporting
purposes.
b. The Company153s liability to pay benefits to a Participant shall be reduced
to the extent that amounts have been paid or set aside for payment to a spouse,
former spouse, or child pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this Section. No such
transfer shall be effectuated unless the Company or Committee has been provided
with satisfactory evidence that the Company and the Committee are released from
any further claim with respect to such amounts, in any case in which (i) the
Company or Committee has been served with legal process or otherwise joined in a
proceeding relating to such transfer, (ii) the Participant has been notified of
the pendency of such proceeding in the manner prescribed by law of the
jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending for service of process in such
action or by mail from the Employer or Committee to the Participant153s last known
mailing address, and (iii) the Participant fails to obtain an order of the court
in the proceeding relieving the Company or Committee from the obligation to
comply with the judgment, decree, or order.
c. The Company and Committee shall not be obligated to defend against or set
aside any judgment, decree, or order described in subparagraph (a), or any legal
order relating to the garnishment of a Participant153s benefits, unless the full
expense of such legal action is borne by the Participant. In the event that the
Participant153s action (or inaction) nonetheless causes the Company or Committee
to incur such expense, the amount of the expense may be charged against the
Participant153s Plan benefits and thereby reduce the Company153s obligation to pay
benefits to the Participant. In the course of any proceeding relating to
divorce, separation, or child support, the Company and Committee shall be
authorized to disclose information relating to the Participant153s benefits to the
Participant153s spouse, former spouse, or child (including the legal
representatives of the spouse, former spouse, or child), or to a court.
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Page 21 |
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10.3 |
Receipt or Release |
Any payment to a Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary in accordance
with the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full
satisfaction of all claims against the Committee and the Company. The Committee
may require such Participant or Beneficiary, as a condition precedent to such
payment, to execute a receipt and release to such effect.
|
10.4 |
Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity |
In the event that any amount becomes payable under the Plan to a person who,
in the sole judgment of the Committee, is considered by reason of physical or
mental condition to be unable to give a valid receipt therefore, the Committee
may direct that such payment be made to any person found by the Committee, in
its sole judgment, to have assumed the care of such person. Any payment made
pursuant to such determination shall constitute a full release and discharge of
the Committee and the Company.
|
10.5 |
Limitation of Rights and Employment Relationship |
Neither the establishment of the Plan and/or Rabbi Trust nor any modification
thereof, nor the creating of any fund or account, nor the payment of any
benefits shall be construed as giving to any Participant, or Beneficiary or
other person any legal or equitable right against the Company or the trustee of
the Rabbi Trust except as provided in the Plan and Trust; and in no event shall
the terms of employment of any Employee or Participant be modified or in any way
be affected by the provisions of the Plan and/or Trust.
|
10.6 |
Governing Law |
This Plan shall be construed, governed and administered in accordance with
the laws of the State of Michigan, except to the extent pre-empted by federal
law. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan meets all requirements of
the Code so that the benefits provided are non-taxable during the period of
deferral and until actual distribution is made. Accordingly, the Plan will at
all times, be interpreted and administered to maintain intended income tax
deferral in accordance with Code §409A and regulations and other guidance issued
thereunder.
|
10.7 |
Statutory References |
All references to the Code and ERISA include reference to any comparable or
succeeding provisions of any legislation which amends, supplements or replaces
such section or subsection.
|
Page 22 |
|
10.8 |
Severability |
In case any provisions of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any
reason, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal and
invalid provisions had never been set forth in the Plan.
|
10.9 |
Headings |
Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of
reference only and are not to be considered in the construction of the
provisions hereof. In the event of a conflict between a heading and the content
of a section, the content of the section shall control.
|
10.10 |
Action by the Company |
Any action to be performed by the Company under the Plan shall be by
resolution of its Board, by a duly authorized committee of its Board, or by a
person or persons authorized by resolution of its Board or by resolution of such
committee, or by the Committee.
Executed this _______ day of____________, 2008.
|
LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED |
|
|
By: |
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
Page 23 |
Exhibit A
Change in Control
“Change in Control” means any change required to be reported in Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A issued under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the “Exchange Act”) that qualifies as a change in control event pursuant to
Code §409A. A “change in control event” pursuant to Code §409A includes the
occurrence of a change in the ownership of the Company (as defined in Reg.
§1.409A-3 (i)(5)(v)), a change in effective control of the Company (as defined
in Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)), or a change in the ownership of a substantial
portion of the assets of the Company (as defined in Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii),
and, in particular, any one or more of the following events:
|
a. |
A change in ownership of the Company in which any one person, or more than |
|
b. |
A change in the effective control of the Company, pursuant to which either: |
|
(i) |
Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group acquires (or has |
|
(ii) |
A majority of members of the Company153s board of directors is replaced during |
|
c. |
A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company153s assets |
|
Page 24 |
However a Change in Control shall not include a merger of the Company with
another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets or equity interests of the Company to another
entity if, in any such case, (a) the holders of equity securities of the Company
immediately prior to such event beneficially own immediately after such event
equity securities of the resulting entity entitled to more than fifty percent of
the votes then eligible to be cast in the election of directors (or comparable
governing body) of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions
that they owned the equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such
event or (b) the persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such
event constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting
entity immediately after such event.
For purposes of this definition:
(A) “Beneficial owner” (or “beneficial ownership”) includes ownership by
attribution as provided in Reg. §1.409A.
(B) Where applicable, “person” means a person as defined in Section 3(a)(9)
of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
(C) “Acting as a group” means so acting within the meaning of Reg.
§1.409A-3(i)(5)(B, D or C), whichever pertains. Persons will be considered to be
acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction
with the Company. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both
corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of
stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a
group with other shareholders only with respect to the ownership in that
corporation before the transaction giving rise to the change and not with
respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. Where applicable,
“group” means a group as described in Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange
Act or any successor regulation.
|
Page 25 |
Exhibit B
Separation From Service
A Separation From Service occurs on the date upon which a Participant is no
longer an Employee of the Company, as determined in accordance with Code Section
409A and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
For purposes of this Plan, an Employee Separates From Service with the
Company if the Employee dies, retires or otherwise has a termination of
employment with the Company. However, the employment relationship is treated as
continuing intact while the Employee is on military leave, sick leave, or other
bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six
months, or if longer, so long as the Employee153s right to reemployment with the
Company is provided either by statute or by contract. A leave of absence
constitutes a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable
expectation that the Employee will return to perform services for the Company.
In general, if the period of leave exceeds six months and the Employee153s right
to reemployment is not provided either by statute or by contract, the employment
relationship is deemed to terminate on the first date immediately following such
six-month period.
Whether a termination of employment has occurred is determined based on
whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Company and Employee
reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a
certain date. An Employee is presumed to have Separated From Service where the
level of bona fide services performed decreases to a level equal to 20 percent
or less of the average level of services performed by the Employee during the
immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services to the
Company if the Employee has been providing services to the Company less than 36
months). Facts and circumstances to be considered in making this determination
include, but are not limited to, whether the Employee continues to be treated as
an Employee for other purposes (such as continuation of salary and participation
in Employee benefit programs), whether similarly situated Employees have been
treated consistently, and whether the Employee is permitted, and realistically
available, to perform services for other Companies in the same line of business.
An Employee will be presumed not to have separated from service where the level
of bona fide services performed continues at a level that is 50 percent or more
of the average level of service performed by the Employee during the immediately
preceding 36-month period. No presumption applies to a decrease in the level of
bona fide services performed to a level that is more than 20 percent and less
than 50 percent of the average level of bona fide services performed during the
immediately preceding 36-month period. The presumption is rebuttable by
demonstrating that the Company and the Employee reasonably anticipated that as
of a certain date the level of bona fide services would be reduced permanently
to a level less than or equal to 20 percent of the average level of bona fide
services provided during the immediately preceding 36-month period or full
period of services provided to the Company if the Employee has been providing
services to the Company for a period of less than 36 months (or that the level
of bona fide services would not be so reduced).
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