Attached files
file | filename |
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10-Q - FORM 10-Q - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237e10vq.htm |
EX-32 - EX-32 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv32.htm |
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv31w1.htm |
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv31w2.htm |
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv99w2.htm |
EX-31.3 - EX-31.3 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv31w3.htm |
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv99w1.htm |
EX-10.1 - EX-10.1 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv10w1.htm |
EX-31.4 - EX-31.4 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv31w4.htm |
EX-99.4 - EX-99.4 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv99w4.htm |
EX-99.3 - EX-99.3 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv99w3.htm |
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO | w77237exv10w3.htm |
Exhibit 10.2
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
RESTORATION PLAN
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
RESTORATION PLAN
Effective as of January 1, 2010
ARTICLE I PURPOSE |
1 | |||
1.1 Establishment and Purpose |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
2.1 Account |
1 | |||
2.2 Base Pay |
1 | |||
2.3 Base Pay Matching Credit |
1 | |||
2.4 Base Pay Restoration Credit |
1 | |||
2.5 Beneficiary(ies) |
1 | |||
2.6 Board |
1 | |||
2.7 Change in Control |
2 | |||
2.8 Code |
2 | |||
2.9 Company |
2 | |||
2.10 Disability |
2 | |||
2.11 Eligible Employee |
2 | |||
2.12 Employee |
2 | |||
2.13 ERISA |
2 | |||
2.14 Measurement Funds |
2 | |||
2.15 Participant |
2 | |||
2.16 Plan |
3 | |||
2.17 Plan Administrator |
3 | |||
2.18 Plan Year |
3 | |||
2.19 Savings Plan |
3 | |||
2.20 Termination of Employment |
3 | |||
2.21 Unforeseeable Emergency |
3 | |||
2.22 Years of Service |
3 | |||
ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION |
3 | |||
3.1 Plan Administrator |
3 | |||
3.2 Duties |
3 | |||
3.3 Agents |
4 | |||
3.4 Binding Effect of Decisions |
4 | |||
ARTICLE IV PARTICIPATION |
4 | |||
4.1 Commencement of Participation |
4 | |||
4.2 Termination of Participation |
4 | |||
ARTICLE V BENEFITS |
4 | |||
5.1 Base Pay Matching Credit |
4 | |||
5.2 Base Pay Restoration Credit |
4 | |||
5.3 Vesting |
5 | |||
ARTICLE VI PARTICIPANT ACCOUNT |
6 | |||
6.1 Establishment and Crediting of Account |
6 | |||
6.2 Investment of Accounts |
6 |
i
6.3 Valuation of Account |
7 | |||
6.4 Statement of Account |
7 | |||
6.5 Separate Accounting |
7 | |||
ARTICLE VII PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPANTS |
7 | |||
7.1 Time and Form of Payment |
7 | |||
7.2 Valuation of Payments |
8 | |||
7.3 Withholding Taxes |
8 | |||
7.4 Effect of Payment |
8 | |||
7.5 Delay of Payment for Specified Employees |
8 | |||
ARTICLE VIII CLAIMS PROCEDURES |
8 | |||
8.1 Claim for Benefits |
8 | |||
8.2 Notice of Denial |
9 | |||
8.3 Review of Claim |
9 | |||
8.4 Decision After Review |
9 | |||
8.5 Legal Action |
10 | |||
8.6 Discretion of the Plan Administrator |
10 | |||
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS |
10 | |||
9.1 Unfunded Status of Plan |
10 | |||
9.2 Nonalienation of Benefits |
10 | |||
9.3 No Contract of Employment |
10 | |||
9.4 No Limitation on Company Actions |
10 | |||
9.5 No Liability for Action or Omission |
11 | |||
9.6 Designation of Beneficiary |
11 | |||
9.7 Payments to Minors, Etc. |
11 | |||
9.8 Code Section 409A |
11 | |||
9.9 Applicable Law and Construction |
11 | |||
9.10 Severability of Provisions |
11 | |||
9.11 Headings and Captions |
12 | |||
9.12 Gender and Number |
12 | |||
9.13 Notice |
12 | |||
9.14 Amendment and Termination |
12 | |||
9.15 Successors |
12 |
ii
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
RESTORATION PLAN
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION
RESTORATION PLAN
ARTICLE I
Purpose
Purpose
1.1 Establishment and Purpose. The Company established the Plan effective January 1,
2010 to provide a select group of management and highly compensated employees of the Company with
supplemental retirement benefits. The Company intends that the Plan constitute an unfunded
deferred compensation plan for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within
the meaning of ERISA sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1). All provisions of the Plan shall be
interpreted and administered to the extent possible in a manner consistent with the stated
intentions. Capitalized terms, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning provided in
Article II.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
Definitions
For ease of reference, the following definitions will be used in the Plan:
2.1 Account. Account means the unfunded bookkeeping account maintained on the books
of the Company used solely to calculate the amount payable to each Participant who is otherwise
entitled to a benefit under ARTICLE V and shall not constitute a separate fund of assets.
2.2 Base Pay. Base Pay means a Participants base salary as in effect from time to
time during a Plan Year as shown on the Companys payroll records. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, Base Pay does not include bonuses or incentive compensation, non-cash
compensation or other non-base compensation.
2.3 Base Pay Matching Credit. Base Pay Matching Credit means an amount credited to
a Participants Account by the Company for the benefit of the Participant pursuant to Section 5.1.
2.4 Base Pay Restoration Credit. Base Pay Restoration Credit means an amount
credited to a Participants Account by the Company for the benefit of the Participant pursuant to
Section 5.2.
2.5 Beneficiary(ies). Beneficiary or Beneficiaries means the person or persons
designated by the Participant to receive payments under this Plan in the event of the Participants
death.
2.6 Board. Board means the Board of Directors of Washington Gas Light Company.
1
2.7 Change in Control. Change in Control means a Change in Control pursuant to the
terms of the Washington Gas Light Company Change in Control Policy, which is incorporated by
reference herein.
2.8 Code. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.9 Company. Company means Washington Gas Light Company, a Virginia and District of
Columbia corporation, and any successor to all, or substantially all, of the Companys assets or
business.
2.10 Disability. Disability means, to the extent consistent with Code section 409A,
a physical or mental condition which prevents an Employee from engaging in any substantially
gainful activity as determined by the Companys Medical Director provided such disability is
expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12
months.
2.11 Eligible Employee. Eligible Employee means any Employee (i) who is not a
participant in the Washington Gas Light Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and (ii)
whose Base Pay for a Plan Year exceeds the Code section 401(a)(17) limit.
2.12 Employee. Employee means any person who receives salary, wages or commissions
from the Company and whose wages from the Company are subject to withholding for purposes of
federal income taxes and the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, as determined by the Plan
Administrator.
2.13 ERISA. ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it
may be amended from time to time.
2.14 Measurement Funds. Measurement Funds means the investment alternatives offered
under the Savings Plan unless the Plan Administrator takes an affirmative action, in its sole
discretion, to discontinue, substitute, or modify such investment alternatives solely for purposes
of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the WGL Holdings, Inc. Stock Fund and the Stable
Value Fund offered under the Savings Plan shall not constitute Measurement Funds for purposes of
the Plan. Measurement Funds are used solely to calculate the notional earnings that are credited
to each Participants Account(s) in accordance with Section 6.2 below, and do not represent any
beneficial interest on the part of the Participant in any asset or other property of WGL Holdings,
Inc., the Company or any affiliate thereof. Unless the Plan Administrator otherwise determines in
its discretion, any addition, removal or replacement of investment funds under the Savings Plan
shall automatically result in a corresponding change to the Measurement Funds hereunder.
2.15 Participant. Participant means an individual described in Section 4.1 or a
former Employee who has an Account that is not fully distributed.
2
2.16 Plan. Plan means this Plan, entitled the Washington Gas Light Company Defined
Contribution Restoration Plan, as amended from time to time hereafter.
2.17 Plan Administrator. Plan Administrator means the plan administrator appointed
by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 (or, where the context so requires, any
delegate of the Plan Administrator).
2.18 Plan Year. Plan Year means a period beginning on January 1 of each calendar
year and continuing through December 31 of such calendar year.
2.19 Savings Plan. Savings Plan means the Washington Gas Light Company Savings
Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.20 Termination of Employment. Termination of Employment means a Participants
separation from service with the Company within the meaning of Code section 409A and the
regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.
2.21 Unforeseeable Emergency. Unforeseeable Emergency means a severe financial
hardship to a Participant or the Participants spouse, Beneficiary or dependents within the meaning
of Code section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii) and the regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.
2.22 Years of Service. Years of Service means the total number of years that a
Participant has been employed by the Company as determined in accordance with the Savings Plan and
Treasury Regulation section 1.410(a)-7 as of any determination date.
ARTICLE III
Administration
Administration
3.1 Plan Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by a committee that is
comprised of the members of the Retirement Board appointed by the Companys Board of Directors with
respect to the Washington Gas Light Company Employees Pension Plan, or such other committee or
persons as are selected from time to time by the Board of Directors (the Committee). The Plan
Administrator may delegate any of its duties to such other person or persons from time to time as
it may designate. Members of the Committee may participate in the Plan; however, any individual
serving on the Committee shall not vote or act on any matter relating solely to himself or herself.
3.2 Duties. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole discretion to construe
and interpret all provisions of the Plan and, to the extent permitted by Code section 409A, the
Plan Administrator is authorized to remedy any errors, inconsistencies or omissions, to resolve any
ambiguities, to adopt rules and practices concerning the administration of the Plan, and to make
any determinations and calculations necessary or appropriate hereunder. Benefits under the Plan
will be paid only if the Plan Administrator decides in its discretion that the Participant is
entitled to them, except as reserved to the Human
3
Resources Committee of the Board under Section 7.1(c). The Company shall pay all expenses and
liabilities incurred in connection with Plan administration.
3.3 Agents. The Plan Administrator may engage the services of accountants, attorneys,
actuaries, investment consultants, and such other professional personnel as are deemed necessary or
advisable to assist in fulfilling the Plan Administrators responsibilities. The Plan
Administrator, the Company and the Board may rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any
such persons.
3.4 Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator
with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration,
interpretation and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder
shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan. Neither
the Plan Administrator, its delegates, nor the Board shall be personally liable for any good faith
action, determination or interpretation with respect to the Plan, and each shall be fully protected
by the Company in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.
ARTICLE IV
Participation
Participation
4.1 Commencement of Participation. Each Eligible Employee shall become a Participant
upon the date the Plan Administrator credits a Base Pay Matching Credit or a Base Pay Restoration
Credit to an Account on behalf of the Eligible Employee.
4.2 Termination of Participation. If the Plan Administrator determines in good faith
that a Participant is no longer an Eligible Employee, such Employee shall no longer be eligible to
receive any Base Pay Matching Credits or Base Pay Restoration Credits, and the terms of this Plan
shall continue to govern until amounts previously credited to the Participants Account are paid in
full.
ARTICLE V
Benefits
Benefits
5.1 Base Pay Matching Credit. An Eligible Employee who has elected to defer any
portion of his or her Base Pay under the Savings Plan as of the first day of a Plan Year shall be
entitled to receive a Base Pay Matching Credit commencing the first pay period that the aggregate
amount of the Participants Base Pay paid to date for the Plan Year exceeds the Code section
401(a)(17) limit and each pay period thereafter in the Plan Year. The Base Pay Matching Credit
shall equal 4% of the portion of the Participants Base Pay for the pay period that, when
aggregated with Participants Base Pay paid to date for the Plan Year, exceeds the Code section
401(a)(17) limit.
5.2 Base Pay Restoration Credit. An Eligible Employee who is not currently
accruing a benefit in the Washington Gas Light Company Employees Pension Plan shall
4
be entitled to receive a Base Pay Restoration Credit commencing the first pay period that the
aggregate amount of the Participants Base Pay paid to date for the Plan Year exceeds the Code
section 401(a)(17) limit and each pay period thereafter in the Plan Year. The amount of the Base
Pay Restoration Credit shall be calculated by multiplying the percentage attributable to the
Participants Years of Service as of the December 31 of the previous Plan Year in accordance with
table set forth in this Section 5.2, by the portion of Participants Base Pay for the pay period
that, when aggregated with Participants Base Pay paid to date for the Plan Year, exceeds the Code
section 401(a)(17) limit.
Percentage of | ||||
Years of Service | Annual Compensation | |||
Less than 5 |
4.00 | % | ||
5 to 9 |
5.00 | % | ||
10 to 14 |
5.50 | % | ||
15 or more |
6.00 | % |
5.3 Vesting.
(a) General. A Participants Account shall be 100% vested at all times.
(b) Exceptions.
(i) Company Initiated Termination. The provisions of Section 5.3(a)
shall not apply if a Participants Termination of Employment occurs as a result of
a Company-initiated action. In such event, the Participants vested interest in
his Account balance shall be calculated in accordance with the following schedule:
Years | ||||
of | ||||
Service | Vested Percentage | |||
1 |
20 | % | ||
2 |
40 | % | ||
3 |
60 | % | ||
4 |
80 | % | ||
5 |
100 | % |
5
(ii) Misconduct. Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary,
if a Participant willfully performs any act or willfully fails to perform any act
of material importance to the Company, that may result in material discredit or
substantial detriment to the Company, then upon a majority vote of the Board, such
Participant and any Beneficiary of such individual shall forfeit any benefit
payments owing on and after the date fixed by the Board and the Company shall have
no further obligation under this Plan to such Participant or any Beneficiary. If a
Participant to which this Section applies received payment of his or her Account
pursuant to Section 7.1, then the Participant or his Beneficiary shall return to
the Company a proportionate share of such payment calculated as follows:
The payment amount shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of full years and months which elapsed from the time of the payment to the
time of the willful act or failure to act described above, and the denominator of
which is the number of full years and months of the Participants life expectancy
determined as of the time of the payment.
ARTICLE VI
Participant Account
Participant Account
6.1 Establishment and Crediting of Account. The Plan Administrator will establish
notional accounts for each Participant as the Plan Administrator deems necessary or advisable from
time to time. The Plan Administrator will establish a Participants Account at the time the
Company first credits a Base Pay Matching Credit or a Base Pay Restoration Credit to the Account.
The Plan Administrator shall, to the extent possible, credit Base Pay Matching Credits and Base Pay
Restoration Credits to Participant Accounts on a per pay period basis. Each Account shall be
credited as appropriate with notional earnings and reduced for notional losses or distributions
from the Account.
6.2 Investment of Accounts. Participants may allocate the credits to their
Account among the various Measurement Funds under procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator. In
default of such designation, credits to a Participants Account shall be allocated to the
Measurement Fund(s) that serves as the default investment option in the Savings Plan, unless the
Plan Administrator makes an affirmative election otherwise in its sole discretion. A Participants
Account shall be credited with all deemed earnings (or losses) generated by the Measurement Funds,
as elected by the Participant, on each business day for the sole purpose of determining the amount
of earnings to be credited or debited to such Account as if the designated balance of the Account
had been invested in the applicable Measurement Fund. Notwithstanding that the rates of return
credited to a Participants Accounts are based upon the actual performance of the corresponding
Measurement Funds, the Company shall not be obligated to invest any amount credited to a
Participants Account under this Plan in such Measurement Funds or in any other
6
investment funds. Upon notice to the Plan Administrator in the manner it prescribes, a
Participant may reallocate the Measurement Funds to which his or her Account is deemed to be
allocated.
6.3 Valuation of Account. The value of a Participants Account as of any date shall
equal the amounts theretofore credited to such Account, including any earnings (positive or
negative) deemed to be earned on such Account in accordance with Section 6.2, less any amounts
theretofore deducted from such Account.
6.4 Statement of Account. The Plan Administrator shall provide or make available to
each Participant (including electronically), not less frequently than quarterly, a statement in
such form as the Plan Administrator deems desirable setting forth the balance standing to the
credit of his or her Account.
6.5 Separate Accounting. If and to the extent required for the proper administration
of the Plan, the Plan Administrator may segregate a Participants Account into subaccounts on the
books and records of the Plan, all of which subaccounts shall, together, constitute the
Participants Account.
ARTICLE VII
Payments to Participants
Payments to Participants
7.1 Time and Form of Payment. The vested portion of a Participants Account will be
distributed upon the first to occur of the Participants Separation from Service, Disability or the
occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency.
(a) Separation from Service. Distributions due to Separation from Service
will be paid in a lump sum to the Participant on the first day of the seventh month
following the Participants Termination of Employment, or, if earlier, within 30 days
following the Participants death. In the event of death, the vested portion of a
Participants Account shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participants Beneficiary.
(b) Disability. Distributions due to a Disability will be paid in a lump sum
30 days following the occurrence of the Disability.
(c) Unforeseeable Emergency. In the event that the Human Resources Committee
of the Board, upon written request of a Participant, determines that the Participant has
suffered an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant will be paid from his or her Account,
within 30 days following such determination, an amount necessary to meet the emergency
(determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A), plus amounts necessary to pay taxes
reasonably anticipated because of the distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a payment is not made on the designated payment date, the payment
shall be made by December 31 of the calendar year in which the designated payment date occurs or,
if later, on or before the 15th day of the third month following
7
the designated payment date. Any payment that complies with this Section shall be deemed for all
purposes to comply with the Plan requirements regarding the time and form of payment.
7.2 Valuation of Payments. Benefits shall be payable in an amount equal to the
balance credited to the Participants Account as of the most recent business day immediately
preceding the date of the actual distribution, with the Measurement Funds being deemed to have been
liquidated on that date to make the payment.
7.3 Withholding Taxes. The Company may make such provisions and take such action as
it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Company is required
by any law or regulation of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local, to
withhold in connection with any benefits under the Plan, including, but not limited to, the
withholding of appropriate sums from any amount otherwise payable to the Participant (or his or her
Beneficiary). Each Participant, however, shall be responsible for the payment of all individual
tax liabilities relating to any such benefits.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by Code section 409A, the Plan
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time of payment if a Participant is
subject to tax under the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) before distributions are to be
made under the Plan to pay the FICA tax imposed under section 3101 of the Code, section 3121(a) of
the Code, and section 3121(v)(2) of the Code, or to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed
under section 3401 of the Code or the corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state,
local, or foreign tax laws as a result of the payment of the FICA amount, and to pay the additional
income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding section 3401 of the Code wages and
taxes. Any payment distributed pursuant to this Section must not exceed the aggregate FICA and
related tax amount permitted under section 409A of the Code.
7.4 Effect of Payment. The full payment of the vested portion of a Participants
Account shall completely discharge all obligations on the part of the Company to the Participant
(and each Beneficiary) with respect to the operation of this Plan, and the Participants (and
Beneficiarys) rights under this Plan shall terminate.
7.5 Delay of Payment for Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Plan to the contrary, in the case of any Participant who is a specified employee within the
meaning of Code section 409A as of the date of such Participants Termination of Employment, no
distribution under this Plan may occur before the date which is six months after the date of such
Participants Termination of Employment (or, if earlier, the date of the Participants death).
ARTICLE VIII
Claims Procedures
Claims Procedures
8.1 Claim for Benefits. Any claim for benefits under this Plan shall be made in
writing to the Plan Administrator. If a claim for benefits is wholly or partially
denied,
8
the Plan Administrator, or its delegate, shall so notify the claimant within 90 days after
receipt of the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that an extension is necessary, the
Plan Administrator will notify the claimant within the initial 90-day period that the Plan
Administrator needs up to an additional 90 days to review the claim. In the case of a claim for
disability benefits, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant within 45 days after the
claim is received unless the Plan Administrator determines that an extension of time for processing
is required due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, in which case written notice of the
extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to termination of the original 45-day period.
Such extension shall not exceed 30 days from the end of the initial period. If, prior to the end
of the first 30-day extension period, the Plan Administrator determines that, due to matters beyond
the control of the Plan, an additional extension of time for processing is required, written notice
of a second 30-day extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to termination of the first
30-day extension.
8.2 Notice of Denial. The notice of denial shall be written in a manner calculated to
be understood by the claimant and shall contain (a) the specific reason or reasons for denial of
the claim, (b) specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based,
(c) a description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim together
with an explanation of why such material or information is necessary and (d) an explanation of the
claims review procedure and time limits, including a statement of the claimants right to bring a
civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.
In the case of a claim for disability benefits, the notification shall also advise the claimant
whether the Plan Administrators denial relied upon any specific rule, guideline, protocol or
scientific or clinical judgment. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator shall be final,
conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan, unless a written appeal is
filed as provided in Section 8.3 hereof.
8.3 Review of Claim. Within 60 days after the receipt by the claimant of notice of
denial of a claim, the claimant may (a) file a request with the Plan Administrator that it conduct
a full and fair review of the denial of the claim, (b) receive, upon request and free of charge,
reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the
claim for benefits, and (c) submit questions and comments to the Plan Administrator in writing.
8.4 Decision After Review. Within 60 days after the receipt of a request for review
under Section 8.3, the Plan Administrator, or its delegate, shall deliver to the claimant a written
decision with respect to the claim, except that if there are special circumstances which require
more time for processing, the 60-day period shall be extended to 120 days upon notice to that
effect to the claimant. The decision shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by
the claimant and shall (a) include the specific reason or reasons for the decision, (b) contain a
specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based, (c) a
statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable
access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim for
benefits, and (d) a statement of the claimants right to bring a civil action under section 502(a)
of ERISA.
9
In the case of a claim for disability benefits, the notice shall set forth: (1) whether the
Plan Administrators denial relied upon any specific rule, guideline, protocol or scientific or
clinical judgment; and (2) the following statement: You and your Plan may have other voluntary
alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation. One way to find out what may be
available is to contact your local U.S. Department of Labor Office and your State insurance
regulatory agency.
8.5 Legal Action. A claimant may not bring any legal action relating to a claim for
benefits under the Plan unless and until the claimant has followed the claims procedures under the
Plan and exhausted his or her administrative remedies under such claims procedures.
8.6 Discretion of the Plan Administrator. All interpretations, determinations and
decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect to any claim shall be made in its sole discretion,
and shall be final and conclusive.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
9.1 Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded
deferred and supplemental retirement compensation plan for Participants, with all benefits payable
hereunder constituting an unfunded contractual payment obligation of the Company. The Company
shall reflect on its books the Participants interests hereunder, but no Participant or any other
person shall under any circumstances acquire any property interest in any specific assets of the
Company. A Participants right to receive payments under the Plan shall be no greater than the
right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
9.2 Nonalienation of Benefits. None of the payments, benefits or rights of any
Participant under the Plan shall be subject to any claim of any creditor, and, in particular, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, all such payments, benefits and rights shall be free from
attachment, garnishment, trustees process, or any other legal or equitable process available to
any creditor of such Participant. No Participant shall have the right to alienate, anticipate
commute, pledge, encumber or assign any of the benefits or payments which he or she may expect to
receive, contingently or otherwise, under the Plan.
9.3 No Contract of Employment. Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any
modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any
benefits shall be construed as giving any Participant, or any person whosoever, the right to be
retained in the service of the Company, and all Participants and other employees shall remain
subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.
9.4 No Limitation on Company Actions. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be
construed to prevent the Company from taking any action which is deemed by it to be appropriate or
in its best interest. No Participant, Beneficiary, or other person shall have any claim against
the Company as a result of such action.
10
9.5 No Liability for Action or Omission. Neither the Company, the Plan Administrator
nor any director, officer or employee of the Company shall be responsible or liable in any manner
to any Participant, Beneficiary or any person claiming through them for any benefit or action taken
or omitted in connection with the granting of benefits, the continuation of benefits, or the
interpretation and administration of this Plan.
9.6 Designation of Beneficiary. Each Participant may designate in writing a
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (which Beneficiary may be an entity other than a natural person if
approved by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion) to receive any payments which may be
made under the Plan following the Participants death. No Beneficiary designation shall become
effective until it is in writing and it is filed with the Plan Administrator. A Beneficiary
designation under the Plan may be separate from all other retirement-type plans sponsored by the
Company. Such designation may be changed or canceled by the Participant at any time without the
consent of any such Beneficiary. Any such designation, change or cancellation must be made in a
form approved by the Plan Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Plan
Administrator or its designee. If no Beneficiary has been named, or the designated Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries have predeceased the Participant, the Beneficiary shall be the Participants estate.
9.7 Payments to Minors, Etc.. Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor,
an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipting therefore shall be deemed paid when
paid to such persons guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the
care of such person, and such payment shall be a complete discharge of any liability for such
payment amount.
9.8 Code Section 409A. The Plan is intended to be a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan within the meaning of Code section 409A and shall be interpreted to meet the
requirements of Code section 409A. To the extent that any provision of the Plan would cause a
conflict with the requirements of Code section 409A, or would cause the administration of the Plan
to fail to satisfy Code section 409A, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent
permitted by applicable law. Nothing herein shall be construed as a guarantee of any particular
tax treatment to a Participant.
9.9 Applicable Law and Construction. This Plan shall be governed by, construed
and administered in accordance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, and any other applicable
Federal law, including Code section 409A, and to the extent not preempted by Federal law, this Plan
shall be governed by, construed, and administered in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, without reference to the principles of conflict of laws.
9.10 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this Plan shall be held
invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions
hereof, and the Plan Administrator may elect in its sole discretion to construe such invalid or
unenforceable provisions in a manner that conforms to applicable law or as if such provisions, to
the extent invalid and unenforceable, had not been included.
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9.11 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for
reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed
in the construction of the Plan.
9.12 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any
masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular
and the singular shall include the plural.
9.13 Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted under the Plan shall be
sufficient if in writing and if (i) hand-delivered or sent by telecopy, (ii) sent by registered or
certified mail, or (iii) sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier. Such notice shall be
deemed given as of (i) the date of delivery if hand-delivered or sent by telecopy, (ii) as of the
date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification, if delivery is by
mail, or (iii) on the first business day after dispatch, if sent by nationally-recognized overnight
courier.
9.14 Amendment and Termination. The Plan may be amended, suspended, or terminated at
any time (in whole or in part) by the Company in its sole discretion; provided, however, that no
such amendment, suspension or termination shall result in any reduction in the value of a
Participants Account determined as of the effective date of such amendment. In addition, the
Plan, may be amended at any time and in any respect by the Company (and/or its operation modified
by the Plan Administrator) if and to the extent recommended by Company counsel in order to conform
to the requirements of Code section 409A and regulations thereunder or to any other Code section or
regulation that bears on the tax-deferred character of the benefits provided hereunder. In the
event of any suspension or termination of the Plan (or any portion thereof), payment of
Participants Accounts shall be made under and in accordance with the terms of the Plan (except
that the Plan Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, to accelerate payments to all
Participants if and to the extent that such acceleration is permitted under Code section 409A and
regulations thereunder).
9.15 Successors. This Plan shall bind any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets
of the Company, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under
this Plan if no succession had taken place.
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