MASTER PLAN DOCUMENT
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
Effective October 7, 1980
Amended March 1, 1986
Amended December 7, 1987
Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 1989
Amended January 1, 1990
Amended and Restated Effective March 5, 1991
Amended and Restated Effective March 2, 1993
Amended and Restated Effective May 10, 1994
Amended and Restated Effective March 1, 1999
Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005
Amended and Restated Effective December 28, 2016
Amended and Restated Effective August 3, 2020

    

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
    

ArticleSubjectPage1Definitions
1
2Eligibility for Participation and Benefits
4
3Amount and Form of Retirement Benefit
5
4Payment of Retirement Benefits
5
5Death Benefits Payable
6
6Disability Benefits
7
7General
7
8Trusts
8
9Termination, Suspension or Amendment810Administration of the Plan
9
11Claims Procedure1012Miscellaneous
15

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MASTER PLAN DOCUMENT
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Plan is to provide specified benefits to a select group of
key Employees who contribute materially to the continued growth, development and
future business success of Southwest Gas Corporation. The Plan is designed to
comply with and shall be administered in a manner consistent with the applicable
requirements of Internal Revenue Code (“IRC” or “Code”) Section 409A and related
Treasury regulations.
The plan is intended and designed to be an unfunded benefit for a select group
of highly compensated key Employees and, as such, to be exempt from the
fiduciary, funding, vesting and plan termination insurance provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”).
The Plan is also designed to eliminate reductions in benefits under the Basic
Plan for those Employees who have participated in the Company’s Executive
Deferral Plans and do not qualify for the full scope of benefits under the Basic
Plan.
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
In the event there is a conflict in the meaning of any defined terms used in
this Plan because of the reference to the Basic Plan, the definition contained
in the Basic Plan shall prevail. For purposes hereof, unless otherwise clearly
apparent from the context, the following words and phrases listed below shall be
defined as follows:
a.“Affiliate” means any corporation, partnership, or other organization which,
during any period of a Participant’s employment, was at least 50 percent
controlled by the Company or an affiliate of the Company.
b.“Average Earnings” means the twelve-month average of the highest consecutive
36 months of Earnings with the Company and its successors and assigns.
c.“Basic Plan” means the qualified defined benefit retirement plans of the
Company and/or PriMerit Bank, its former Affiliate, in effect prior to a Change
in Control, whether maintained by the Company, PriMerit Bank or their successor
or assigns.
d.“Basic Plan Benefits” means the amount of benefit payable from the Basic Plan
to a Participant, including benefits payable from any employer funded defined
benefit plan of any of the Company’s successors or assigns, in the form of a
straight life annuity.
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e.“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Southwest Gas Corporation
and any Successor Corporation.
f.“Change in Control” means the first to occur of any of the following events:
(1)Any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13 and 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) who becomes a beneficial owner
(as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of 50 percent or more of the Company’s capital stock entitled to
vote in the election of Directors; or
(2)During any period of not more than twelve months, not including any period
prior to the adoption of this Plan, individuals who, at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company, 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 (a) of this
definition) whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election
by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least 75 percent 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
approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction immediately after which more than
fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the
surviving or resulting entity immediately after such transaction) is, or will
be, owned, directly or indirectly, by shareholders of the Company or an
affiliate of the Company who own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty
percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, determined
immediately before such transaction, will not constitute a “Change in Control”.
In addition, effective January 1, 2017, “Change in Control” shall, in addition
to the enumerated events contained above involving the Company, the capital
stock of the Company, or the board of directors of the Company, include all such
enumerated events with respect to Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation.
g.“Committee” unless and until the Board of Directors appoints a different
committee, the term “Committee” means the Southwest Gas Corporation Benefits
Committee. The Committee shall manage and administer the Plan in accordance with
the provisions of the Plan. After a Change in Control, the Committee shall cease
to have any powers under the Plan and all powers previously vested in the
Committee under the Plan will then be vested in the Third-Party Fiduciary.
h.“Company” means Southwest Gas Corporation and such of its Affiliates as the
Board of Directors may select to become parties to the Plan. The term “Company”
shall also include any Successor Corporation.
i.“Continuous Service” means a Participant’s Benefit Service with the Company as
defined in the Basic Plan.
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j.“Disability” means any of the following circumstances, as determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion: (a) the Participant is unable to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to
last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months; (b) the Participant
is, by any reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving replacement benefits
for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan
covering Employees of the Company; (c) the Participant is determined to be
totally disabled by the Social Security Administration; or (d) the Participant
becomes eligible for and is receiving disability benefits under a long-term
disability plan or program maintained by the Company, provided that the
definition of “disability” applicable under such plan or program complies with
the applicable requirements of the IRC.
k.“Earnings” means the yearly compensation paid to a Participant, including
salary deferrals, but excluding bonuses, commissions, overtime, and nonmonetary
awards for employment services to the Company.
l.“Eligible Spouse” means the surviving spouse of a Participant as defined in
the Basic Plan.
m.“Employee” means any full-time employee of Southwest Gas Corporation as
determined under the personnel policies and practices of Southwest Gas
Corporation prior to a Change in Control.
n.“Executive” means any officer of Southwest Gas Corporation prior to a Change
in Control.
o.“Executive Deferral Plan” or “Executive Deferral Plans” means either or both
of the Southwest Gas Corporation Executive Deferral Plans as effective January
1, 2005 and as they may be amended from time to time thereafter.
p.“Master Plan Document” means this legal instrument containing the provisions
of the Plan.
q.“Participant” means any Executive or any Employee who is a participant in the
Executive Deferral Plan prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control.
r.“Plan” means the Supplemental Retirement Plan of the Company evidenced by this
Master Plan Document.
s.“Retire” or “Retirement” means a Participant’s separation from service with
the Company on or after attaining age 55, other than by death, Disability or
Termination of Employment.
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t.“Senior Officer” means an officer of the Company with the title “Senior Vice
President” or an officer of equivalent or higher rank.
u.“Successor Corporation” means any corporation or other legal entity which is
the successor to Southwest Gas Corporation, whether resulting from merger,
reorganization or transfer of substantially all of the assets of Southwest Gas
Corporation, regardless of whether such entity shall expressly agree to continue
the Plan.
v.“Termination of Employment” means a Participant’s voluntary or involuntary
separation from service with the Company, excluding Retirement, Disability or
death.
w.“Third Party Fiduciary” means an independent third party selected by the
Committee, to take over the administration of the Plan upon and after a Change
in Control and to determine appeals of claims denied under the Plan before and
after a Change in Control pursuant to a Third-Party Fiduciary Services
Agreement.
x.“Third Party Fiduciary Services Agreement” means the agreement with the
Third-Party Fiduciary to perform services with respect to the Plan.
y.“Trust Agreement” means an agreement establishing a “grantor trust” of which
the Company is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter
J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the IRC.
z.“Trust Fund or Funds” means the assets of every kind and description held
under any Trust Agreement forming a part of the Plan.
aa.“Trustee” means any person or entity selected by the Company to act as
Trustee under any Trust Agreement at any time of reference.
ARTICLE 2.
ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION AND BENEFITS
a.Selection of Participants – Executives An Executive shall become a Participant
in the Plan as of the effective date of his election by the Board of Directors
as an officer of the Company (unless the Board of Directors determines, at that
time, that such Executive will not be eligible to participate in the Plan).
b.Selection of Participants – Employees Any Employee who is a participant in the
Executive Deferral Plan shall also
be a Participant in this Plan as of the effective date of his selection to
participate in the Executive Deferral Plan.
c.Normal Retirement – Any Participant A Participant with 20 or more years of
Continuous Service will be eligible to Retire and receive benefits under the
Plan upon and after attaining age 55.
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d.Senior Officers – Less Than 20 Years of Service A Senior Officer with ten or
more years of Continuous Service will be eligible to Retire and receive benefits
under the Plan upon and after attaining age 65.
e.Limited Benefit A Participant who is vested under the Basic Plan, but who
fails to satisfy the requirements of Articles 2.3 or 2.4, is eligible to receive
benefits only under the provisions of Article 3.3 of the Plan.
f.Forfeiture Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if a
Participant or Eligible Spouse who is receiving, or may be entitled to receive,
a benefit hereunder engages in competition with the Company (without the Board
of Directors’ prior written authorization), or is discharged for cause, or
performs acts of willful malfeasance or gross negligence in a matter of material
importance to the Company, payments thereafter payable hereunder to such
Participant or such Eligible Spouse will, at the Board of Directors’ discretion,
be forfeited and the Company will have no further obligation to such Participant
or Eligible Spouse. This Article 2.6 shall not apply after a Change in Control.
ARTICLE 3.
AMOUNT AND FORM OF RETIREMENT BENEFIT
a.Amount of Normal Benefit The annual normal benefit payable to a Participant
upon his Retirement will be equal to 50 percent (60 percent for Senior Officers)
of the Participant’s Average Earnings, less any Basic Plan Benefits.
b.Early Retirement If a Participant qualifies for benefits under Article 2.3 of
the Plan and retires before age 60, the benefits he receives under the
provisions of Article 3.1 will be reduced in the same manner as the benefits
under the Basic Plan are adjusted for early retirement.
c.Limited Benefit The annual limited benefit payable to a Participant who only
satisfies the provisions of Article 2.5 of the Plan will be the benefit payable
under the Basic Plan as if compensation, as defined in the Basic Plan, includes
compensation deferred under the Executive Deferral Plans (excluding any
incentive or bonus) and without regard to any statutory limitation on the
compensation that can be considered under the Basic Plan, less any Basic Plan
Benefits.
d.Single Life Annuity The benefits determined under this Plan will be payable in
the form of a single life annuity except as Article 5 otherwise provides.
ARTICLE 4.
PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS
a.Timing of Payment One-half of the annual benefit determined in accordance with
Article 3, plus interest, will be payable on the first day of the month
following the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s Retirement. Thereafter,
one-twelfth of the annual benefit determined in accordance with Article 3 will
be paid on the first day of each succeeding month.
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The last benefit payment will be paid on the first day of the month in which the
retired Participant dies unless otherwise provided in accordance with Article 5
of the Plan.
For those Participants terminating employment after January 1, 2005 who only
qualify for limited benefits under Article 3.3, annual benefits will commence at
age 65, or six months after Termination of Service, whichever is later.
b.Interest Rate For purposes of this Article 4, interest shall be calculated
using the “Moody’s Rate” as defined the Executive Deferral Plan Master Plan
Document.
ARTICLE 5.
DEATH BENEFITS PAYABLE
a.Pre-Retirement Death of Participant If a Participant dies before Retirement,
the Eligible Spouse will receive a death benefit equal to 50 percent of the
amount of the Participant’s benefit under the Plan, determined in accordance
with Article 3 as if the Participant had retired and begun receiving a benefit
in accordance with Article 4 on the first day of the month before the date of
his death. Payment of the death benefit to an Eligible Spouse will commence on
the first day of the month next following the month during which the Participant
dies.
b.Post-Retirement Death of Participant If a Participant dies after Retirement,
the Eligible Spouse will receive a benefit equal to 50 percent of the benefit
the Participant was otherwise eligible to receive under the Plan.
If a Participant dies during the six month period following Retirement and prior
to receiving any benefits under the Plan, the Eligible Spouse (or, if there is
no Eligible Spouse, the Participant’s estate or an alternate recipient, as
directed by the Participant) will also receive the accrued but unpaid portion of
the delayed six month payment plus interest determined in accordance with
Article 4.2 above.
c.Other Death Benefits If a Participant dies before becoming eligible for
Retirement as provided for in Articles 2.3 or 2.4 of the Plan, any benefits
available to the Eligible Spouse under this Plan will be determined using
compensation as defined in Article 3.3 of the Plan less any Basic Plan Benefits.
Payment of the death benefit to an Eligible Spouse will commence on the first
day of the month next following the month during which the Participant dies.
d.Death Benefits – Disabled Participant If a disabled Participant should die
while receiving benefits in accordance with Article 6, such Participant’s
Eligible Spouse will receive a benefit equal to 50 percent of the benefit the
Participant was receiving under the Plan at the time of his death.
e.Adjustments If an Eligible Spouse is less than age 50 and is more than five
years younger than the Participant at the time of the Participant’s death, the
Eligible Spouse benefit described in this Article 5, will be reduced by two
percent for each full year over the five years by which such Eligible Spouse is
younger than the Participant.
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f.Payment of Death Benefits Eligible Spouse benefits described in this Article 5
will commence on the first day of the month following the Participant’s death
and continue on the first of each succeeding month, and end on the first day of
the month in which the Eligible Spouse dies. No further benefits under this Plan
will be payable after the deaths of both the Participant and the Eligible
Spouse.
g.No Eligible Spouse If, on the date of death, a Participant has no Eligible
Spouse, no benefits will be payable after the death of the Participant.
ARTICLE 6.
DISABILITY BENEFITS
a.Eligibility for Disability Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 2.3 or
2.4, if the Committee determines that a Participant has become Disabled before
attaining age 65, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a Disability
benefit under this Plan.
b.Disability Benefit A Participant’s annual Disability benefit will be equal to
50 percent (60 percent for Senior Officers) of the Participant’s Average
Earnings less any benefits payable under the Company’s salary continuation and
long-term disability plans and less any Basic Plan Benefits.
c.Benefit Payment Disability benefits will be payable on the same basis as
Retirement benefits under Article 4 of the Plan. The last payment will occur on
the earlier of the first day of the month during which the Participant ceases to
be Disabled, as determined solely by the Committee, or the Participant dies.
d.Death Benefit If a Disabled Participant dies, a death benefit will be paid to
the Eligible Spouse as provided in Article 5.4.
e.Supporting Documentation The Committee may require, no more frequently than
once in any calendar year, that a disabled Participant submit medical evidence
of continuing Disability satisfactory to the Committee. The Committee may
discontinue a Disability benefit after considering such evidence or lack
thereof.
f.Determination of Continuous Service While Disabled If a Participant is
determined to no longer be Disabled, the period of time he was Disabled will be
added to his continuous service for the purpose of determining further benefit
eligibility under the Plan.
ARTICLE 7.
GENERAL
a.Payment Obligation Amounts payable to a Participant or Eligible Spouse shall
be paid from the general assets of the Company or from the assets of a grantor
trust within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle
A of the Code, established for use in funding executive compensation
arrangements and commonly known as a “rabbi trust.”
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b.Limitation on Payment Obligation The Company shall have no obligation under
the Plan to a Participant or Eligible Spouse, except as provided in this Master
Plan Document.
c.Furnishing Information The Participant or Eligible Spouse must cooperate in
furnishing all information requested by the Company to facilitate the payment of
Plan benefits.
d.Unsecured General Creditor Participants and Eligible Spouses, heirs,
successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, claims, or
interest in any specific property or assets of the Company. No assets of the
Company shall be held under any trust, or held in any way as collateral security
for the fulfilling of the obligations of the Company under the Plan. Any and all
of the Company assets, shall be, and remain, the general unpledged, unrestricted
assets of the Company. The Company obligations under the Plan shall be merely
that of an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company to pay money in the
future, and the rights of the Participants and Eligible Spouses shall be no
greater than those of unsecured general creditors. It is the intention of the
Company that this Plan (and the Trust Funds described in Article 8) be unfunded
for purposes of the Code and for the purposes of ERISA.
e.Withholding There shall be deducted from each payment made under the Plan or
other compensation payable to the Participant or Eligible Spouse all taxes which
are required to be withheld by the Company in respect to such payment under this
Plan. The Company shall have the right to reduce any payment (or other
compensation) by the amount of cash sufficient to provide the amount of said
taxes.
f.Future Employment The terms and conditions of this Plan shall not be deemed to
constitute a contract of employment between the Company and a Participant.
Moreover, nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give a Participant the right to
be retained in the service of the Company or to interfere with the right of the
Company to discipline or discharge the Participant at any time.
g.No Assignment To the maximum extent permitted by law, no interest or benefit
under the Plan shall be assignable or subject in any manner to alienation, sale,
transfer, claims of creditors, pledge, attachment, or encumbrances of any kind.
ARTICLE 8.
TRUSTS
a.Trusts The Company may maintain one or more Trust Funds to finance all or a
portion of the benefits under the Plan by entering into one or more Trust
Agreements. Any Trust Agreement is designated as, and shall constitute, a part
of the Plan, and all rights which may accrue to any person under the Plan shall
be subject to all the terms and provisions of such Trust Agreement. A Trustee
shall be appointed by the Committee or the Board of Directors and shall have
such powers as provided in the Trust Agreement. The Committee or the Board of
Directors may modify any Trust Agreement, in accordance with its terms, to
accomplish the purposes of the Plan and appoint a successor Trustee under the
provisions of such Trust Agreement. By entering into such Trust Agreement, the
Committee or the Board of Directors may vest in the Trustee, or in one or more
investment managers (as defined in ERISA), the power to manage and
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control the Trust Fund. The Committee and the Board of Directors authority under
the provisions of this Article 8 will cease upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control.
ARTICLE 9.
TERMINATION, SUSPENSION OR AMENDMENT
a.Plan Amendment Subject to the limits in this Section 9.1(b), to the extent
permitted by the IRC and related regulations, the Board of Directors may, at any
time and without notice, amend or modify the Plan or by resolution reduce the
eligibility requirements or increase the benefits for an individual Participant
at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part; provided, however, that
no amendment or modification will affect or reduce (i) the rights and benefits
available to Participants under terms of the Plan as in effect at the time of
their selection and during their participation in the Plan, (ii) the rights of
an Eligible Spouse to receive death benefits in accordance with this Plan, (iii)
the continued accrual of benefits under the Plan on terms at least as favorable
as the terms of the Plan applicable to each Participant in effect immediately
prior to a Change in Control, taking into account Earnings and employment
service after such an event, or (iv) a retired Participant’s right or the right
of an Eligible Spouse to continue to receive a benefit in accordance with this
Plan as in effect on the date such Participant began to receive a benefit under
this Plan; and (b) effective January 1, 2005, no amendment or modification of
this Article 9, Article 10 or Article 11 of the Plan shall be effective except
to the extent both the Committee and the Board of Directors deem necessary to
comply with applicable law.
b.Plan Termination The Board of Directors shall not terminate the Plan until all
benefits have been paid in full under the provisions of the Plan to the
Participants and Eligible Spouses.
c.Bankruptcy To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A and its related
Treasury regulations, the Board of Directors shall have the authority, in its
sole discretion, to terminate the Plan and distribute each Participant’s
benefits to the Participant or, if applicable, the Eligible Spouse, within
twelve months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Section 331 of the Code or
with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §503(b)(1)(a). The
total accelerated distribution under this Article 9.3 must be included in a
Participant’s gross income in the latest of:
(1)The calendar year in which the Plan is terminated;
(2)The calendar year in which the amount of the benefits are no longer subject
to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or
(3)The calendar year in which distribution of the benefits is administratively
practicable.
ARTICLE 10.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
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a.Committee Duties Except as otherwise provided in this Article 10, and subject
to Article 11, the general administration of the Plan, as well as construction
and interpretation thereof, shall be vested in the Committee. Members of the
Committee may be Participants under the Plan. Specifically, the Committee shall
have the discretion and authority to: (a) make, amend, interpret, and enforce
all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan; and
(b) decide or resolve any and all questions including interpretations of the
Plan. Any individual serving on the Committee who is a Participant shall not
vote or act on any matter relating solely to himself or herself. The number of
members of the Committee shall be established by, and the members shall be
appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board of
Directors.
b.Administration after a Change in Control Upon and after a Change in Control,
the administration of the Plan shall be vested in a Third-Party Fiduciary, as
provided for herein and pursuant to the terms of a Third-Party Fiduciary
Services Agreement. Any Third-Party Fiduciary Services Agreement is designated
as, and shall constitute, a part of the Plan. The Third-Party Fiduciary shall
also have the discretion and authority to: (a) make, amend, interpret, and
enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of the
Plan; and (b) decide or resolve any and all questions including interpretation
of the Plan and the Trust Agreement. Except as otherwise provided for in any
Trust Agreement, the Third-Party Fiduciary shall have no power to direct the
investment of Plan or Trust Funds or select any investment manager or custodial
firm for the Plan or Trust Agreement. The Company shall pay all reasonable
administrative expenses and fees of the Third-Party Fiduciary when it acts as
the administrator of the Plan or pursuant to Article 11. The Third-Party
Fiduciary may not be terminated by the Company without the consent of at least
50 percent of the Participants in the Plan.
c.Agents In the administration of the Plan, the Committee or the Third Party
Fiduciary, as the case may be, may from time to time employ such agents,
consultants, advisors, and managers as it deems necessary or useful in carrying
out its duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly authorized
representative) and may from to time to time consult with counsel to the
Company.
d.Binding Effect of Decisions The decision or action of the Committee or the
Third Party Fiduciary, as the case may be, with respect to any question arising
out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application
of the Plan (and the Trust Agreement to the extent provided for in Article 10.2)
and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and
conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan.
e.Indemnity by Company The Company shall indemnify and save harmless each member
of the Committee, the Third Party Fiduciary, and any employee of the Company to
whom the duties of the Committee may be delegated against any and all claims,
losses, damages, expenses, and liabilities arising from any action or failure to
act with respect to the Plan, except in the case of fraud, gross negligence, or
willful misconduct by the Committee, any of its members, the Third Party
Fiduciary, or any such employee.
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f.Cooperation – Providing Information To enable the Committee and the Third
Party Fiduciary to perform their functions, the Company shall supply full and
timely information to the Committee and the Third Party Fiduciary, as the case
may be, on all matters relating to the compensation of all Participants, their
Retirement, death or other cause for Termination of Service, and such other
pertinent facts as the Committee or the Third Party Fiduciary may require.
ARTICLE 11.
CLAIMS PROCEDURE
a.Presentation of Claims Any Participant or Eligible Spouse (such being referred
to below as a “Claimant”) may deliver to the Committee a written claim for
determination with respect to benefits available to such Claimant from the Plan.
The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the
Claimant.
b.Notification of Decision The Committee shall consider a claim and notify the
Claimant within 90 calendar days after receipt of a claim in writing:
(1)That the Claimant’s requested determination has been made, and that the claim
has been allowed in full; or
(2)That the Committee has reached a conclusion contrary, in whole or in part, to
the Claimant’s requested determination, and such notice must set forth in a
manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant: (i) the specific reason(s)
for the denial of the claim, or any part thereof; (ii) the specific reference(s)
to pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the denial was based; (iii) a
description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant
to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary; and (iv) an explanation of the claim review procedure set forth in
Article 11.3.
c.Review of a Denied Claim Within 60 days after receiving a notice from the
Committee that a claim has been denied, in whole or in part, a Claimant (or the
Claimant’s duly authorized representative) may file with the Third-Party
Fiduciary a written request for a review of the denial of the claim. Thereafter,
the Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) may review
pertinent documents, submit written comments or other documents, and request a
hearing, which the Third-Party Fiduciary, in its sole discretion, may grant.
d.Decision on Review The Third Party Fiduciary shall render its decision on
review promptly, and not later than 60 days after the filing of a written
request for review of a denial, unless a hearing is held or other special
circumstances require additional time, in which case the Third Party Fiduciary’s
decision must be rendered within 120 calendar days after such date. Such
decision must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the
Claimant, and it must contain: (a) the specific reason(s) for the decision; (b)
the specific reference(s) to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the
decision was based; and (c) such other matters as the Third Party Fiduciary
deems relevant.
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e.Claims relating to whether a Participant has incurred a Disability
Notwithstanding any other provision in Article 11, this Section 11.6 shall apply
to claims made on or after April 1, 2018, the adjudication of which revolves
around whether a Participant has incurred a Disability within the meaning of
such term in Article 1 Section 1.10, i.e., is “Disabled”. In the event a claim
involves the issue of whether a Participant is Disabled, the Committee shall
ensure that all claims and appeals relating to such issue are adjudicated in a
manner designed to ensure the independence and impartiality of the persons
involved in making the decision.
(1)Disability If a claim relates to a determination of whether a Participant is
Disabled, and the claim requires an independent determination by the Committee,
the Committee shall notify the Claimant of the Plan’s adverse benefit
determination within a reasonable period of time, but no later than forty-five
(45) days after receipt of the claim. If, due to matters beyond the control of
the Plan, the Committee needs additional time to process a claim, the Claimant
will be notified, within forty-five (45) days after the Committee receives the
claim, of those circumstances and of when the Committee expects to make its
decision, but not beyond seventy-five (75) days. If, prior to the end of the
extension period, due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, a decision
cannot be rendered within that extension period, the period for making the
determination may be extended for up to one hundred five (105) days, provided
that the Committee notifies the Claimant of the circumstances requiring the
extension and the date as of which the Plan expects to render a decision. The
extension notice shall specifically explain the standards on which entitlement
to a disability benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision
on the claim and the additional information needed from the Claimant to resolve
those issues, and the Claimant shall be afforded at least forty-five (45) days
within which to provide the specified information.
(2)Notice of Decision In the case of an adverse benefit determination by the
Committee with respect to whether a Participant is Disabled, the Committee will
provide a notification in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner (as
described in Department of Labor Regulation Section 2560.503-1(o)) that shall
set forth:
(a)The specific reasons for the denial;
(b)A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan or insurance contract on
which the denial is based;
(c)Notice that the Claimant has a right to request a review of the claim denial
and an explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits
applicable to such procedures;
(d)A statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA
Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review, and a
description of any time limit that applies under the Plan for bringing such an
action;
(e)A discussion of the decision, including an explanation of the basis for
disagreeing with or not following:
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(i)The views presented by the Claimant of health care professionals treating the
Claimant and vocational professionals who evaluated the Claimant;
(ii)The views of medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained on
behalf of the Plan in connection with a Claimant’s adverse benefit
determination, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making
the benefit determination; and
(iii)A disability determination regarding the Claimant presented by the Claimant
made by the Social Security Administration.
(f)If the adverse benefit determination is based on a medical necessity or
experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of
the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, applying the terms of
the Plan to the Claimant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such
explanation will be provided free of charge upon request;
(g)Either the specific internal rules, guidelines, protocols, standards or other
similar criteria of the Plan relied upon in making the adverse determination or,
alternatively, a statement that such rules, guidelines, protocols, standards or
other similar criteria of the Plan do not exist; and
(h)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 Claimant’s claim for benefits. Whether a
document, record, or other information is relevant to a claim for benefits shall
be determined by Department of Labor Regulation Section 2560.503-1(m)(8).    
(3)Review Procedure If the initial claim relates to whether a Participant is
Disabled, the claim requires an independent determination by the Committee, and
the Committee denies the claim, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the
opportunity for a full and fair review by the Committee of the denial, as
follows:
(a)Prior to such review of the denied claim, the Claimant shall be given, free
of charge, any new or additional evidence considered, relied upon, or generated
by the Plan, insurer, or other person making the benefit determination in
connection with the claim, or any new or additional rationale, as soon as
possible and sufficiently in advance of the date on which the notice of adverse
benefit determination on review is required to be provided, to give the Claimant
a reasonable opportunity to respond prior to that date.
(b)The Committee shall respond in writing to such Claimant within forty-five
(45) days after receiving the request for review. If the Committee determines
that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the
Committee can extend the response period by an additional forty-five (45) days
by notifying the Claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial 45-day
period that an additional period is required. The
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notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by
which the Committee expects to render its decision.
(c)The Claimant shall be given the opportunity to submit issues and written
comments to the Committee, as well as to review and receive, without charge, all
relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) documents, records and
other information relating to the claim. The reviewer shall take into account
all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant
relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or
considered in the initial benefit determination.
(d)In considering the review, the Committee shall take into account all
comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant
relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted
or considered in the initial benefit determination. Additional considerations
shall be required in the case of a claim for disability benefits. For example,
the claim will be reviewed by an individual or committee who did not make the
initial determination that is subject of the appeal, nor by a subordinate of the
individual who made the determination, and the review shall be made without
deference to the initial adverse benefit determination.
(e)If the initial adverse benefit determination was based in whole or in part on
a medical judgment, the Committee will consult with a health care professional
with appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involving the
medical judgment. The health care professional who is consulted on appeal will
not be the same individual who was consulted during the initial determination or
the subordinate of such individual. If the Committee obtained the advice of
medical or vocational experts in making the initial adverse benefits
determination (regardless of whether the advice was relied upon), the Committee
will identify such experts.
(4)Notice of Decision after Review In the case of an adverse benefit
determination with respect to whether a Participant is Disabled, the Committee
will provide a notification in a culturally and linguistically appropriate
manner (as described in Department of Labor Regulation Section 2560.503-1(o))
that shall set forth:
(a)The Committee’s decision;
(b)The specific reasons for the denial;
(c)A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan or insurance contract on
which the decision is based;
(d)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 (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the
Claimant's claim for benefits;
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(e)A statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan
and the Claimant’s right to obtain the information about such procedures;
(f)A statement of the Claimant's right to bring a civil action under ERISA
Section 502(a) which shall describe any applicable contractual limitations
period that applies to the Claimant’s right to bring such an action, including
the calendar date on which the contractual limitations period expires for the
claim;
(g)A discussion of the decision, including an explanation of the basis for
disagreeing with or not following:
(i)The views presented by the Claimant of health care professionals treating the
Claimant and vocational professionals who evaluated the Claimant;
(ii)The views of medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained on
behalf of the Plan in connection with a Claimant’s adverse benefit
determination, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making
the benefit determination; and
(iii)A disability determination regarding the Claimant presented by the Claimant
made by the Social Security Administration.
(h)If the adverse benefit determination is based on a medical necessity or
experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of
the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, applying the terms of
the Plan to the Claimant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such
explanation will be provided free of charge upon request; and
(i)Either the specific internal rules, guidelines, protocols, standards or other
similar criteria of the Plan relied upon in making the adverse determination or,
alternatively, a statement that such rules, guidelines, protocols, standards or
other similar criteria of the Plan do not exist.
(5)Exhaustion of Remedies A Claimant must follow the claims review procedures
under this Plan and exhaust his or her administrative remedies before taking any
further action with respect to a claim for benefits.
(6)Failure of Plan to Follow Procedures In the case of a claim with respect to
whether a Participant is Disabled, if the Plan fails to strictly adhere to all
the requirements of this claims procedure with respect to whether a Participant
is Disabled, the Claimant is deemed to have exhausted the administrative
remedies available under the Plan, and shall be entitled to pursue any available
remedies under ERISA Section 502(a) on the basis that the Plan has failed to
provide a reasonable claims procedure that would yield a decision on the merits
of the claim, except where the violation was: (i) de minimis; (ii)
non-prejudicial; (iii) attributable to good cause or matters beyond the Plan’s
control; (iv) in the context of an ongoing good-faith exchange of information;
and (v) not reflective of a pattern or practice of non- compliance. The Claimant
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may request a written explanation of the violation from the Plan, and the Plan
must provide such explanation within ten (10) days, including a specific
description of its basis, if any, for asserting that the violation should not
cause the administrative remedies to be deemed exhausted. If a court rejects the
Claimant’s request for immediate review on the basis that the Plan met the
standards for the exception, the claim shall be considered as re-filed on appeal
upon the Plan’s receipt of the decision of the court. Within a reasonable time
after the receipt of the decision, the Plan shall provide the Claimant with
notice of the resubmission.
f.Legal Action A Claimant’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this
Article 11 is a mandatory prerequisite to a Claimant’s right to commence any
legal action with respect to any claim for benefits under the Plan.
ARTICLE 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
a.Conflicts of Interest No Participant will participate in an action of the
Committee or the Board of Directors on a matter that solely applies to that
Participant. Such matters will be determined by a majority of the rest of the
Committee or the Board of Directors.
b.Plan Documents Each Participant will receive a copy of this Plan and the
Company will make available for any Participant’s inspection a copy of the rules
and regulations used in administering the Plan.
c.Governing Law Except to the extent that federal law applies, the Plan shall be
governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Nevada.
d.Assignment The Plan shall be binding upon the Company and any of its
successors and assigns, and upon a Participant, the Eligible Spouse, and their
assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators.
e.Gender and Number Masculine pronouns wherever used shall include feminine
pronouns and when the context dictates, the singular shall include the plural.
f.Headings Headings in this Master Plan Document are inserted for convenience of
reference only. Any conflict between such headings and the text shall be
resolved in favor of the text.
g.Severability In case any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or
invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the
remaining parts hereof, but the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such
illegal and invalid provisions had never been inserted herein.
h.Notices Any notice given under the Plan shall be in writing and shall be
mailed or delivered to:
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
Supplemental Retirement Plan
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Compensation Committee (LVB-283)
P.O. Box 98510
Las Vegas, NV 89193-8510
and
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
One West Fourth Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Amended and Restated Master
Plan Document to be effective August 3, 2020.
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
By
                                                                                        
John P. Hester
President and Chief Executive Officer    

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