EXHIBIT 10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF

 

January 1, 2014

 

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ARTICLE I

 

DESIGNATION OF PLAN AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                            TITLE AND PURPOSE

 

(a)                   Title.  This Plan shall be known as “The Allstate
Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.”

 

(b)                      Purpose.  This Plan was established by The Allstate
Corporation for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for eligible
employees.  The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained for a select
group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).  With respect to
amounts deferred on or after January 1, 2005, this Plan is intended to be a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained in conformity with the
requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and shall be interpreted
accordingly.

 

(c)                       Effective Date and Plan History.  The Plan was adopted
by Allstate Insurance Company effective January 1, 1995.  The Plan was amended
and restated by the Company, effective January 1, 1996, November 11, 1997,
September 1, 1999, November 1, 2000, November 1, 2001, June 1, 2002, October 7,
2002, May 28, 2004, December 31, 2008, July 31, 2009, January 1, 2011,
January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2014.  The terms of this Plan are effective for
all benefits under the Plan that are not fully distributed as of January 1,
2005, except that actions taken on or after January 1, 2005 and prior to
December 31, 2008, are subject to the terms of the then existing Plan and, as
applicable, a reasonable and good faith interpretation of Code Section 409A and
the transition guidance provided thereunder.

 

 

1.2                            GENERAL DEFINITIONS

 

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the following definitions will apply:

 

(a)                   “Account” shall mean nominal bookkeeping entries made to
state the balance of a Participant’s benefit under the Plan.  A Participant’s
benefit under the Plan shall be comprised of the total of all sub-accounts,
which may include a Pre-2005 Sub-Account and Post-2004 Sub-Account.  “Account”
shall also mean any amounts

 

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deferred by a Participant, as adjusted for earnings and debits, under The
Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employee Agents and The
Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractor
Exclusive Agents.

 

(b)                  “Beneficiary” or “Contingent Beneficiary” shall mean the
person or persons last designated in writing by the Participant to the
Committee, in accordance with Section 8.4 of this Plan.

 

(c)                   “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)                 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, including regulations and guidance of general
applicability issued thereunder.

 

(e)                   “Committee” shall mean the Committee appointed by the
Board of Directors pursuant to Article VI of this Plan, and shall mean those
persons to whom the Committee has delegated administrative duties pursuant to
Section 6.1(g).

 

(f)                    “Company” shall mean The Allstate Corporation.

 

(g)                  “Compensation” shall mean all of the items included in the
term “Annual Compensation” as that term is defined in the Allstate Retirement
Plan sponsored by the Company without regard to the annual compensation limit
imposed by Code Section 401(a)(17).

 

(h)                  “Compensation Floor” shall be the compensation limit in
effect pursuant to Code Section 401(a)(17) for a Plan Year.

 

(i)                      “Controlled Group” shall mean any corporation or other
business entity which is included in a controlled group of corporations, within
the meaning of section 1563(a)(i) of the Code, within which the Company is also
included.

 

(j)                      “Current Plan Year” shall mean the Plan Year in which
amounts are deferred pursuant to a valid deferral election, in accordance with
Section 2.2.

 

(k)                  “Eligible Compensation” shall mean the greater of (i) an
Employee’s projected  Compensation based on his or her Compensation for the
month ending on December 31 of the Prior Plan Year, annualized in such manner as
the Committee shall determine; (ii) an Employee’s projected annualized base
salary based on his or her Compensation for the month ending on December 31 of
the Prior Plan Year,

 

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annualized in such manner as the Committee shall determine; or (iii) an
Employee’s Compensation for the calendar year two years before a Plan Year.  For
purposes of this definition, “Compensation” shall not include any bonus amounts
paid on a monthly, quarterly or other nonannual basis.

 

(l)                      “Eligible Employee” shall mean any Employee who the
Committee determines shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and whose
(i) Eligible Salary is expected to exceed the Compensation Floor, or
(ii) Eligible Compensation is expected to exceed the Compensation Floor for the
Plan Year and, therefore, is eligible to make a deferral under Article II of
this Plan.

 

(m)              “Eligible Salary” shall mean an Employee’s base salary during
the Prior Plan Year annualized in such manner as the Committee shall determine,
plus any bonus amounts paid on a monthly, quarterly or other nonannual basis
included as Compensation during the Prior Plan Year up through the date the
Employee’s eligibility is determined, as set forth by the Committee.

 

(n)                  “Employee” shall mean any regular, full-time employee of
the Employer, but shall in no event include persons classified as agents.  If a
person is not considered to be an “Employee” for purposes of Plan eligibility, a
later change in the person’s status, even if the change in status is applicable
to prior years, will not have a retroactive effect for Plan purposes.

 

(o)                  “Employer” shall mean the Company, Allstate Insurance
Company, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance
Services, Inc. and any other entity within the Controlled Group that adopts the
terms of the Plan, as agreed to by the entity’s Board of Directors, with the
approval of the Committee.

 

(p)                  “Hardship” shall apply only to a Participant’s Pre-2005
Sub-Account and shall mean a distribution that would satisfy the requirements of
Code section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(IV) from a tax-qualified plan maintained by an
Employer, with the approval of the Committee.

 

(q)                  “Incentive” shall mean the amount actually payable to a
Participant under an annual cash incentive program sponsored by the employer. 
An Incentive earned during a Plan Year becomes payable in the calendar year next
following the Plan Year.  Any bonus amounts earned for periods of less than 12
months or that are payable to a

 

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Participant on a monthly, quarterly or any other nonannual basis under any cash
incentive or award program shall not be considered an Incentive under this Plan.

 

(r)                     “Investment” shall mean the elections made by
Participants, as allowed for in Section 4.3 of the Plan, to allocate and
reallocate deferrals and Account balances among the Investment Options described
in Section 4.3(b), together with accruals and adjustments reflecting the
hypothetical experience of the Investment Options.

 

(s)                    “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Employee who has an
Account balance in the Plan.

 

(t)                     “Plan” shall mean The Allstate Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan as set forth herein, and as amended from time to time in
accordance with Article VII hereof.

 

(u)                  “Plan Year” shall mean the fiscal year of the Company,
which is a calendar year.

 

(v)                  “Post-2004 Sub-Account” shall mean a nominal bookkeeping
sub-account of the Participant’s Account established to state the balance of
(i) Compensation deferred by a Participant under the Plan on or after January 1,
2005, as adjusted pursuant to Article IV of the Plan, (ii) any cash amounts
automatically directed to this Plan on or after January 1, 2005 by action of the
Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation or a committee thereof; and
(iii) earnings and losses on amounts contributed pursuant to (i) and (ii) of
this subsection, pursuant to Article IV.  “Post-2004 Sub-Account shall refer to
the total of the Participant’s benefit under this Plan with respect to amounts
deferred or otherwise credited on or after January 1, 2005, pursuant to
Section 4.2.

 

(w)              “Pre-2005 Sub-Account” shall mean a nominal bookkeeping
sub-account of the Participant’s Account established to state the balance of
(i) Compensation that was fully earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005, and
deferred by a Participant under the terms of the Plan then in effect; (ii) any
cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan and fully earned and vested
prior to January 1, 2005 by action of the Board of Directors of The Allstate
Corporation or a committee thereof; and (iii) subsequent earnings and losses on
amounts contributed pursuant to (i) and (ii) of this subsection, pursuant to
Article IV.

 

(x)                  “Prior Plan Year” shall mean the Plan Year immediately
preceding the Current Plan

 

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Year.

 

(y)                  “Separation from Service” shall mean the termination of
employment or cessation or reduction of services by a Participant that results
in a distribution as specifically defined and determined under Article V of the
Plan.  “Separation from Service” shall have distinct meanings with respect to
the Pre-2005 Sub-Account and the Post-2004 Sub-Account, as set forth in
Article V of the Plan.

 

(z)                   “Unforeseeable Financial Emergency” shall apply only to a
Participant’s Post-2004 Sub-Account and shall mean a severe financial hardship
to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the
Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s beneficiary, or the Participant’s
dependent (as defined in Section 152 of the Code, without regard to Sections
152(b)(1), 152(b)(2) and 152(d)(1)(B) of the Code); loss of the Participant’s
property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable
circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the
Participant; but shall not include any of the foregoing to the extent such
emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from
insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the
extent the liquidation of such assets would not cause severe financial
hardship), or by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.  In making its
determination, the Committee shall be guided by the prevailing authorities
applicable under the Code so as to result in the Participant not being in
constructive receipt or subject to penalties under Code Section 409A with
respect to any distribution or cancellation of a deferral due to an
Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

PARTICIPATION

 

 

2.1                            PARTICIPATION AND DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

An Eligible Employee shall become a Participant upon the filing of an election
to defer base salary or Incentive and shall continue as a Participant until his
or her Account has been fully paid pursuant to the provisions of Article V.  An
election to defer base salary or Incentives shall specify the percentage of
compensation to be deferred under the Plan for a Plan Year.  An election to
defer base salary or Incentive shall be filed in the manner

 

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and at the time that the Committee may specify in its discretion from time to
time.

 

 

2.2                            TIMING OF DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

(a)                   In no event shall a Participant be permitted to make a
deferral election with respect to his or her base salary after December 31 of
the calendar year preceding the Plan Year in which such deferral election shall
take effect.  All elections to defer base salary for a Plan Year shall be
irrevocable as of December 31 of the preceding Plan Year (or such earlier date
as may be determined by the Committee from time to time) and, therefore, may not
be changed by either the Committee or the Participant after December 31 (or such
earlier date, if applicable).

 

(b)                  An election to defer Incentive shall be filed no later than
December 31 of the calendar year preceding the Plan Year in which services are
first performed with respect to such Incentive, unless the Committee determines
that a Participant’s Incentive constitutes “performance-based compensation”
within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  In such case, the Committee may
establish a later date for the filing of Incentive deferral elections; provided
that, as of such date established by the Committee, Incentive is not readily
ascertainable within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and further provided that
such date shall in no event be later than 6 months prior to the end of the
applicable performance period for such Incentive.  Such deferral election shall
be irrevocable as of the filing date established by the Committee. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant’s election made in 2008 to defer
Incentive earned in 2008 shall apply to the Participant’s entire Incentive
earned in 2008, including any amounts that may not constitute performance-based
compensation.  To the extent a Participant’s election made in 2008 results in a
deferral of any portion of the Participant’s Incentive that does not constitute
performance-based compensation, such deferral election shall be deemed to be a
transition relief election pursuant to Code Section 409A.

 

(c)                   “Evergreen” Deferral Elections.  The Committee may in its
discretion establish rules from time to time under which deferral elections
provided in this Section  2.2 shall remain in effect for all succeeding Plan
Years in which the Participant is eligible to make a deferral election unless
and until the Participant files a subsequent deferral election.

 

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(d)                 Hardship and Unforeseeable Financial Emergency. 
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section 2.2, the Committee may in
its sole discretion cancel all outstanding deferral elections of a Participant
if the Participant experiences a Hardship or upon the Committee’s determination
that the Participant has experienced an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.  Any
subsequent election to defer shall be subject to the terms of this
Section 2.2(a), (b), and (c).

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

DEFERRALS

 

 

3.1                            AMOUNT OF DEFERRAL

 

(a)                   Elections made pursuant to Section 2.2(a) to defer base
salary shall be made in whole number percentages up to eighty (80) percent and
shall apply only to base salary payable on or after the Participant has earned
Compensation in the Plan Year equal to the Compensation Floor for the Plan Year.

 

(b)                  Elections made pursuant to Section 2.2(b) to defer
Incentive shall be made in whole number percentages up to one hundred (100)
percent.  If a Participant’s Compensation (determined solely for this purpose on
an annualized basis as of the date that such election becomes irrevocable
pursuant to Section 2.2(b)) does not exceed the Compensation Floor, the election
to defer Incentive shall be reduced dollar for dollar until the total of such
Compensation and the Incentive that is not deferred and is payable to the
Participant equals the Compensation Floor.

 

 

3.2                            EFFECTIVE DATE OF DEFERRAL

 

Compensation deferred shall be credited to a Participant’s Account by
bookkeeping entry as set forth in Section 4.2.

 

 

3.3                            USE OF AMOUNTS DEFERRED

 

Amounts credited to Accounts shall be a part of the general funds of the
Company, shall be subject to all the risks of the Company’s business, and may be
deposited, invested or expended in any manner whatsoever by the Company.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

ACCOUNTS AND VESTING

 

 

4.1                            ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

 

The Committee shall establish, by bookkeeping entry on the books of the Company,
an Account for each Participant.  Accounts shall not be funded in any manner.

 

4.2                            CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACCOUNT

 

The Committee shall cause deferred Compensation to be credited by bookkeeping
entry to each Participant’s Account as of the last day of the month in which the
Compensation or any cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan otherwise
would have been payable to the Participant, or as soon thereafter as is
administratively practicable.

 

4.3                            MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNT BALANCES - INVESTMENT

 

(a)                   A Participant may make an Investment with respect to
amounts in his or her Account.  Each Investment shall be made in accordance with
procedures established by the Committee and shall specify that portion of the
Participant’s deferrals on the date of such election to be invested in each
Investment Option (as defined in Section 4.3(b) below).  In its sole discretion,
the Committee may withhold one or more of the Investment Options from Investment
by Participants for a Plan Year or Years.  Investments of deferrals must be made
in whole percentage increments.

 

Each Account shall be adjusted, as applicable, to apply contributions, dividend
equivalents, investment gains and losses net of any Plan administration and
investment expenses, and distributions.  All such adjustments shall be
bookkeeping entries reflecting hypothetical experience for the Investment
Options in which Investments are made.

 

(b)                  The Investment Options in which Investments may be made
are:

 

(1)                  Investment Option #1 – Stable Value Fund. The Stable Value
Fund, managed by Invesco Advisors, Inc., (“Invesco”) includes a number of
investment contracts issued by a diversified group of high quality insurance
companies,

 

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banks, and other financial institutions (excluding Allstate companies), each
backed by one or more diversified bond portfolios.

 

The investment contracts are supported by use of investment portfolios holding a
diversified mix of high quality fixed-income securities. To provide some
diversification in the fund by style of fixed income management, Invesco may
from time to time select one or more fixed income sub-advisors to manage
portions of the fund consistent with the fund’s overall objectives.  Derivative
securities may be used for hedging and replication purposes only. U.S. Treasury
securities and U.S. Treasury futures may be used to manage interest rate risk.

 

The Stable Value Fund’s objective is to seek preservation of capital, and to
provide liquidity and a reasonably predictable return that moves gradually
toward the current short- to intermediate- term market interest rates. As the
fund seeks to preserve principal value, Invesco controls risk by diversifying
the fund among a variety of high quality fixed income investments, fixed income
sub-advisors, and investment contracts.

 

The credited rate of interest of the Stable Value Fund is the average return of
all investments held in the fund.

 

(2)                         Investment Option #2 – Bond Fund.  The Bond Fund
invests in the U.S. Bond Index Non-Lending Series Fund - Class A, a collective
fund managed by State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).  The fund’s objective is to
approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the “Barclays Index”) over the long
term.  The Barclays Index is an index representative of well-diversified
exposure to the overall U.S. bond market.  More specifically, it covers the
dollar-denominated investment-grade fixed-rate taxable bond market, including
U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgaged
pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed
securities.  The fund may attempt to invest in the securities comprising the
Barclays Index in the same proportions as they are represented in the Barclays
Index. However, it may not be possible for the fund to purchase some of the
securities comprising the Barclays Index. In such a case, SSgA will select

 

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securities for the fund that SSgA believes will reasonably track the
characteristics of the Barclays Index.

 

(3)                        Investment Option #3 – S&P 500 Fund1.  The S&P 500
Fund invests in the S&P 500 Index Non-Lending Series Fund – Class A, a
collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to approximate as
closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the Standard &
Poor’s (S&P) 500 (the “S&P 500 Index”) over the long term.  The S&P 500 Index
consists of large capitalization stocks across over 24 industry groups and 500
stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. The
fund seeks to maintain the returns of the S&P 500 Index by investing in a
portfolio that replicates the S&P 500 Index by owning securities in
approximately the same proportions as they are represented in the S&P 500 Index
or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will reasonably track the
characteristics of the S&P 500 Index.

 

(4)                        Investment Option #4 – International Equity Fund. 
The International Equity Fund invests in the Global Equity ex U.S. Index
Non-Lending Series Fund - Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA.  The
fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses,
the performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ACWI ex-USA
Index (the “ACWI ex-USA Index”) over the long term. The ACWI ex-USA Index is a
free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to
measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets.  The
ACWI ex-USA Index consists of approximately 1,800 stocks in selected markets
with emerging markets representing approximately 20%.  MSCI attempts to capture
approximately 85% of the total market capitalization in each country. The fund
seeks to maintain the returns of the ACWI ex-USA Index by investing in a
portfolio that replicates the ACWI ex-USA Index by owning securities in
approximately the same proportions as they are

 

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1  Standard & Poor’s ®, S&P®, S&P 500 Index and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index are
trademarks of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and have been licensed for use by
State Street Bank and Trust Company.  The product is not sponsored, endorsed,
listed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and S&P makes no
representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

 

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represented in the ACWI ex-USA Index or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA
believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the ACWI ex-USA Index.

 

Restrictions apply to reallocations or transfers of money into the International
Equity Fund. This means that Participants are prohibited from using the
reallocation or transfer feature to move money into the International Equity
Fund within any 30-calendar day period following the date money is moved out of
the International Equity Fund through reallocation or transfer. Any subsequent
reallocation or transfer of money out of the International Equity Fund during a
30-calendar day restriction period will start a new 30-day restriction period.
The 30-calendar day restriction does not apply to Participant deferrals into the
International Equity Fund or to hardship withdrawals from the International
Equity Fund.

 

Reallocations or transfers of money out of the International Equity Fund are
allowed at any time. The restriction applies only to reallocations or transfers
into the International Equity Fund.

 

(5)                        Investment Option #5 – Russell 2000 Fund2.  The
Russell 2000 Fund invests in the Russell Small Cap Index Non-Lending Series Fund
– Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to
approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the
Russell 2000 Index, over the long term. The Russell 2000 Index measures the
performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe.  It is a
subset of the Russell 3000 Index and includes approximately 2,000 of the
smallest securities based on a combination of their market capitalization and
current index memberships.   The fund seeks to match the return of the Russell
2000 Index by investing in a portfolio that holds the securities of the Russell
2000 Index in approximately the same proportions as they are represented in the
Russell 2000 Index or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will
reasonably track the characteristics of the Russell 2000 Index.

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2  Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service
marks, and copyrights relating to the Russell Indexes. Russell  2000®  Index is
a trademark of the Russell Investment Group.

 

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(6)                        Investment Option #6 - The Mid-Cap Fund3.  The
Mid-Cap Fund invests in the S&P Mid-Cap Index Non-Lending Series Fund – Class A,
a collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to approximate as
closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the S&P Mid-Cap 400
Index (the “Mid-Cap Index”) over the long term.  The Mid-Cap Index is a
cap-weighted index that measures the performance of the mid-range sector of the
U.S. stock market.  The fund seeks to match the return of the Mid-Cap Index by
owning securities  in approximately the same proportions as they are represented
in the Mid-Cap Index or constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will
reasonably track the characteristics of the Mid-Cap Index.

 

(c)                   A Participant may change his Investment elections at such
time and in such manner, and with respect to such existing Account balances and
future contributions, as the Committee shall determine; any such changes to be
effective only in accordance with such procedures as established from time to
time by the Committee.  Any reallocations of existing Account balances must be
made in whole percentage increments.  A reallocation election will become
effective as set forth in Plan procedures.  Any reallocations of existing
Account balances made under this Plan will simultaneously apply to any amounts
the Participant may have deferred under either The Allstate Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan for Employee Agents or The Allstate Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan for Independent Contractor Exclusive Agents.

 

 

4.4                            VESTING

 

A Participant shall be fully vested in his or her Account at all times, subject
to Sections 3.3, 8.2 and 8.3.

 

ARTICLE V

 

PAYMENTS

 

 

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3  S&P MidCap 400®  Index is a trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services
LLC.,  and has been licensed for use by State Street Bank and Trust. The product
is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and S&P
makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

 

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5.1                            EVENTS CAUSING ACCOUNTS TO BECOME DISTRIBUTABLE

 

(a)        Pre-2005 Sub-Account.  All references to “Account” in this
Section 5.1(a) shall refer solely to the portion of a Participant’s Account, if
any, that is the Pre-2005 Sub-Account.

 

(1)                      A Participant’s Account shall become distributable upon
notification to the Plan of the Participant’s Separation from Service or, at the
election of the Participant pursuant to Section 5.3(a), in one of the first
through fifth years after Separation from Service.  In either event, the
Participant may elect to receive payment in a lump sum or in annual installments
as provided in Section 5.3(a).

 

For purposes of this Section 5.1(a), “Separation from Service” shall mean the
termination of a Participant’s employment with any company in the Controlled
Group for any reason whatsoever, including retirement, resignation, dismissal or
death, but does not include a transfer of status to an employee agent or to an
Exclusive Agent Independent Contractor or Exclusive Financial Specialist
Independent Contractor for Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey
Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company or for any other member of
the Controlled Group.  “Separation from Service” shall also mean the subsequent
termination of any Exclusive Agent Independent Contractor or Exclusive Financial
Specialist Independent Contractor agreement, unless such termination results
from acceptance of employment with any member of the Controlled Group.

 

(2)                      That portion of a Participant’s Account determined to
be necessary to alleviate a demonstrated Hardship shall become distributable
upon the date of such determination, subject to Section 5.2.

 

(3)                      Special Distribution Rule for Participants Prior to
September 1, 1999.  For those Participants who irrevocably elected to do so on
or before September 1, 1999, such Participants may receive a distribution as of
the first day of any Plan Year prior to his or her Separation from Service. The
portion of the Participant’s Account attributable to Compensation deferred, and

 

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accruals thereon, shall be distributed on the date elected.  Any balance in the
Participant’s Account remaining after any payment under this paragraph and any
balance in the Account attributable to participation in the Plan in any year
subsequent to the year in which a payout on such date certain occurs, shall
become distributable to the Participant as provided in paragraphs (1), (2) or
(3) of this Section 5.1(a).

 

(4)                      Effective September 1, 1999, a Participant may at any
time irrevocably elect to receive a distribution of his or her entire Account
balance, subject to the forfeiture to the Company of 10% of such Account balance
(a “100% In-Service Withdrawal”) provided that any deferral election for the
current Plan Year will continue subject to Section 2.2(a) and the Participant
may not elect to defer any base salary or Incentives earned during the next
succeeding Plan Year (“Suspension Period”). If a Participant elects a 100%
In-Service Withdrawal after the enrollment period for the next succeeding Plan
Year and before the end of the current Plan Year, then any deferral election for
base salary or Incentives earned during the next succeeding Plan Year will be
cancelled.  The Participant’s Account balance shall become distributable subject
to Section 5.2 following the date of such election.

 

(5)                      In the event of a Participant’s death prior to
distribution of his or her entire Account balance, the remaining Account balance
shall become distributable following the date on which all events have occurred
which entitle the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to payment.

 

(b)                              Post-2004 Sub-Account. All references to
“Account” in this Section 5.1(b) shall refer solely to the portion of a
Participant’s Account, if any, that is the Post-2004 Sub-Account.

 

(1)                      Distributions of the Account shall be made (in the case
of a lump sum) or commence (in the case of installments) on the first day of the
first calendar month that commences after the six (6) month anniversary of the
Participant’s Separation from Service.  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to
Section 5.3, distributions shall be in the form of a single lump sum payment. 
For purposes of this Section 5.1(b), “Separation from Service”

 

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shall mean a termination of employment upon which a Participant ceases
performing services for all entities within the Controlled Group. 
Notwithstanding, a Separation from Service shall also include a reduction in a
Participant’s rate of services to any such entity that is reasonably anticipated
to be a permanent reduction to a rate that is 20 percent or less of the average
rate of services performed by the Participant in the 36 months prior to such
reduction.  If a Participant ceases or reduces services under a bona fide leave
of absence, a Separation from Service occurs after the close of the 6-month
anniversary of such leave; provided, however, that if the Participant has a
statutory or contractual right to reemployment, the Separation from Service
shall be delayed until the date that the Participant’s right ceases or, if the
Participant resumes services, until the Participant subsequently Separates from
Service.  For purposes of determining whether a Participant has a Separation
from Service, services taken into account shall include services performed for
the Company as an independent contractor but not services performed as a
non-employee member of the board of directors of any entity within the
Controlled Group.  Determination of whether a Separation from Service occurs
shall be made in a manner that is consistent with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h).

 

(2)                      In the event of a Participant’s death prior to the full
distribution of his or her Account, the undistributed Account shall be
distributed to the Participant’s Beneficiary within 90 days of the Participant’s
death.

 

(3)                      The Committee retains sole discretion to determine
whether and to what extent all or any portion of an Account may be payable on
account of an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.  If the Committee determines
that such distribution shall be made, payment shall be made within 30 days of
the determination of Unforeseeable Financial Emergency and the Committee may, in
its discretion, determine how any partial distribution of the Account shall be
allocated among the hypothetical Investment options applicable to such Account.

 

(4)                      Payment Dates.  If a payment is due on a nonbusiness
day or a federal or

 

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state holiday, such payment shall be due on the next succeeding business day.

 

 

5.2                            NOTICE OF ACCOUNT PAYMENT AND COMMENCEMENT OF
DISTRIBUTION FOR PRE-2005 SUB-ACCOUNTS

 

The Committee or its appointed representative shall notify a Participant or
Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after the first day of
the month next following the date on which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes
distributable, that he or she is entitled to receive payment from the Pre-2005
Sub-Account, the balance of which shall be computed as of the close of business
on the last day of the month in which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes
distributable.  Distribution of Pre-2005 Sub-Account balances shall commence as
soon as practicable after the first day of the month next following the date on
which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes distributable.

 

 

5.3                            FORM OF PAYMENT

 

(a)                   Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this
Section 5.3 and Article VIII hereof, payments of Account balances to a
Participant shall be in the form of one lump sum payment or annual cash
installment payments over a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 years, at the
election of the Participant.  The provisions of this Section 5.3 apply
separately to the Pre-2005 Sub-Account and the Post-2004 Sub-Account and,
accordingly, different forms of payments may be made from each such sub-account.

 

(b)                  The amount of each annual installment payable to a
Participant who has elected to receive installment payments shall be as
follows:  The first annual installment payment shall, for a Participant who has
elected to receive installment payments commencing upon his or her Separation
from Service, be computed as of the close of business on the last day of the
month in which the Account becomes distributable, and the amount of such payment
shall equal his or her Account balance as of such date, divided by the number of
installments including the one being paid.  The first annual installment payment
shall, for a Participant who has elected to receive installment payments
commencing in one of the first through fifth

 

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years after Separation from Service, be computed as of the close of the first
business day of the year preceding the year in which the Account balance becomes
distributable, and the amount of such payment shall equal his or her Account
balance as of such date, divided by the number of installments including the one
being paid.  Each subsequent installment payment shall be computed as of the
close of the last business day of the year thereafter, and the amount of each
subsequent payment shall equal his or her remaining Account balance, divided by
the number of remaining installments including the one being paid.  Investment
gains or losses and other adjustments shall continue with respect to the entire
unpaid Account balance, as provided in Section 4.3.

 

(c)                   In the event of a Participant’s death prior to
distribution of his or her entire Account balance, the remaining Account balance
shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries,
subject to Sections 5.1(a)(5) and 5.1(b)(2).

 

(d)                 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and
(b) above, if the Account balance is $5,000 or less on any date a payment is to
be made to a Participant, the payment shall be the remaining unpaid Account
balance.

 

 

5.4                            DISTRIBUTION ELECTION

 

(a)                   Each Participant shall elect his or her desired form of
payment, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, at the time
of his or her initial participation election set forth in Section 2.1.

 

(b)                  This Section 5.4(b) shall apply solely with respect to
Pre-2005 Sub-Accounts. Except for distribution elections under
Section 5.1(a)(3) and (4), each Participant may from time to time revise the
terms of distribution of the Participants Accounts, in accordance with the
procedures established by the Committee, provided that (i) the revised notice of
the desired form of payment shall be made by the Participant no less than twelve
months prior to the date on which payment is to commence, but in any event no
later than the day before the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service
and (ii) in any event, distribution of the Participant’s Account shall not
commence earlier than twelve months after the Participant’s revised notice of
the desired form of payment is made.

 

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(c)                   This Section 5.4(c) shall apply solely with respect to
Post-2004 Sub-Accounts.  Installments shall be paid only if a Participant filed
an irrevocable election to receive installment payments in a manner acceptable
to the Committee on or before the later of December 31, 2008, or the date of the
Participant’s initial election to defer base salary or Incentive under the
Plan.  Installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate
payments for purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

6.1                            GENERAL ADMINISTRATION; RIGHTS AND DUTIES

 

The Board shall appoint the Committee, which, subject to the express limitations
of the Plan, shall be charged with the general administration of the Plan on
behalf of the Participants.  The Committee shall also be responsible for
carrying out its provisions, and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish
those purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:

 

(a)              To construe and interpret the Plan;

 

(b)             To compute the amount of benefits payable to Participants;

 

(c)              To authorize all disbursements by the Company of Account
balances pursuant to the Plan;

 

(d)            To maintain all the necessary records for the administration of
the Plan;

 

(e)              To make and publish rules for administration and interpretation
of the Plan and the transaction of its business;

 

(f)               To make available to each Participant the current value of his
or her Account;

 

(g)             To delegate the administration of the Plan in accordance with
its terms to officers or employees of the Company, of Allstate Insurance Company
or of an independent consultant retained by the Committee who the Committee
believes to be reliable and competent.  The Committee may authorize officers or
employees of the Company or of Allstate Insurance Company to whom it has
delegated duties under the Plan to appoint other persons to assist the delegate
in

 

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administering the Plan; and

 

(h)             To refuse to accept the deferral of amounts the Committee or its
delegate considers too small to be administratively feasible.

 

The determination of the Committee as to any disputed question or controversy
shall be conclusive.

 

6.2    CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

 

Each Participant or Beneficiary (for purposes of this Section 6.2. referred to
as a “Claimant”) may submit a claim for benefits to the Committee (or other
person designated by the Committee) in writing in such form as is permitted by
the Committee.  A Claimant shall have no right to seek review of a denial of
benefits, or to bring any action in any court to enforce a claim for benefits,
prior to his filing a claim for benefits and exhausting his rights to review in
accordance with this Section 6.2.

 

 

A properly filed claim for benefits shall be evaluated and the Claimant shall be
notified in writing of the approval or the denial within ninety (90) days after
the receipt of such claim unless special circumstances require an extension of
time for processing the claim.  If such an extension of time is required,
written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the
termination of the initial ninety (90) day period, and such notice shall specify
the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which a final
decision will be reached (which date shall not be later than one hundred and
eighty (180) days after the date on which the claim was filed).  Written notice
to a Claimant shall advise whether the claim is granted or denied, in whole or
in part, and if denied, shall contain (1) the specific reasons for the denial,
(2) references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (3) a
description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the
claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and
(4) the Claimant’s rights to seek a review of the denial.

 

If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the right to
request that the Committee (or person designated by the Committee) review the
denial, provided that he files a written request for review with the Committee
within sixty (60) days after the date on which he received written notice of the
denial.  A Claimant (or his duly

 

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authorized representative) may review pertinent documents and submit issues and
comments in writing to the Committee.  Within sixty (60) days after a request
for review is received, the review shall be made and the Claimant shall be
advised in writing of the decision on review, unless special circumstances
require an extension of time for processing the review, in which case the
Claimant shall, within such initial sixty (60) day period, be given a written
notice specifying the reasons for the extension and when such review shall be
completed (provided that such review shall be completed within one hundred and
twenty (120) days after the date on which the request for review was filed). 
The decision on review shall be forwarded to the Claimant in writing and shall
include specific reasons for the decision and references to Plan provisions upon
which the decision is based.  A decision on review shall be final and binding on
all persons for all purposes.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

PLAN AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

7.1                            AMENDMENTS

 

The Company shall have the right to amend this Plan from time to time by
resolutions of the Board or by the Committee, and to amend or rescind any such
amendments; provided, however, that no action under this Section 7.1 shall in
any way reduce the amount of Compensation deferred or reduce the value of any
Account.  All amendments shall be in writing and shall be effective as provided
subject to the limitations in this Section 7.1.

 

7.2                            TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

The Company expects that the Plan will continue indefinitely but continuance of
the Plan is not a contractual or other obligation of the Company.  The Company
reserves its right to discontinue the Plan at any time by resolution of the
Board; however, no such action shall reduce the value of an Account or result in
a distribution that does not conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

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8.1                            NOTIFICATION TO COMMITTEE

 

Any election made or notification given by a Participant pursuant to this Plan
shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Committee or its
designated representative, and shall be deemed to have been made or given on the
date received by the Committee or such representative.

 

 

8.2                            PARTICIPANT’S EMPLOYMENT

 

Participation in this Plan shall not give any Participant the right to be
retained in the employ of the Company, Allstate Insurance Company of any member
of the Controlled Group, or any other right or interest other than as herein
provided.  No Participant or Employee shall have any right to any payment or
benefit except to the extent provided in this Plan.

 

 

8.3                            STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS

 

This Plan shall create only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company
and shall not be construed as creating a trust or other fiduciary relationship
with Participants.  Participants will have only the rights of general unsecured
creditors of the Company with respect to Compensation deferred and investment
gains and losses credited to their Accounts.

 

 

8.4                            BENEFICIARIES AND CONTINGENT BENEFICIARIES

 

(a)                               Beneficiary Designation.  Each Participant
shall, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, designate one
or more persons or entities (including a trust or trusts or his or her estate)
to receive distribution of his or her Account that are not distributed prior to
the Participant’s death.  The Participant may also designate a person or persons
as a Contingent Beneficiary who shall succeed to the rights of the person or
persons originally designated as Beneficiary, in case the latter should die. 
The Participant may from time to time change any designation of Beneficiary or
Contingent Beneficiary so made, by submitting a new designation in accordance
with procedures established by the Committee.  The last valid designation made
by a Participant under the Plan, in accordance

 

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with procedures established by the Committee, shall be controlling.

 

 

(b)                              Spousal Consent Required.  In the event a
Participant designates a person other than his or her spouse as Beneficiary of
any interests under this Plan, the Participant’s spouse shall sign a notarized
statement specifically approving such designation and authorizing the Committee
to make payment of such interests in the manner provided in such designation. 
In the absence of such designation by the Participant, or in the absence of
spousal approval and authorization as herein above provided, or in the event of
the death, prior to or simultaneous with the death of the Participant, of all
Beneficiaries or Contingent Beneficiaries, as the case may be, to whom payments
were to be made pursuant to a designation by the Participant, such payments or
any balance thereof shall be paid to the Participant’s spouse or, if there is no
surviving spouse, to the Participant’s estate, or, if there is no estate,
according to the Illinois laws of descent and distribution.

 

(c)                               Death of Beneficiary.  In the event of the
death, subsequent to the death of the Participant, of a Beneficiary or
Contingent Beneficiary, as the case may be, to whom such payments were to be
made or were being made pursuant to a designation under this section, such
payments or any balance thereof shall be paid to the estate of such Beneficiary
or Contingent Beneficiary.

 

 

 

8.5                            TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES

 

To the extent permitted by law, if the whole or any part of a Participant’s
Account shall become the subject of any federal, state or local tax which the
Company shall legally be required to withhold or pay, the Company shall reduce
an Account with respect to such tax paid.

 

 

8.6                            BENEFITS NOT ASSIGNABLE; OBLIGATIONS BINDING UPON
SUCCESSORS

 

Before a Participant’s Account becomes distributable, benefits under this Plan
and rights to receive the amounts credited to the Account of a Participant shall
not be assignable or transferable and any purported transfer, assignment, pledge
or other encumbrance or attachment of any payments or benefits under this Plan
shall not be permitted or recognized.  Obligations of the Company under this
Plan shall be binding upon

 

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successors of the Company.

 

 

8.7                            ILLINOIS LAW GOVERNS; SAVING CLAUSE

 

The validity of this Plan or any of its provisions shall be construed and
governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Illinois.  If any
provisions of this Plan shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be
fully effective.

 

 

8.8                            HEADINGS NOT PART OF PLAN

 

Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only, and are
not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

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