exv10w17







Exhibit 10.17




THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE BOARD




DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, AS AMENDED,




EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008




 









 





TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE I TITLE AND DEFINITIONS
	 	 	55	 
	1.1 Definitions
	 	 	55	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II PARTICIPATION
	 	 	57	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III DEFERRAL ELECTIONS
	 	 	57	 
	3.1 Elections to Defer Compensation
	 	 	57	 
	3.2 Investment Elections
	 	 	58	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS AND TRUST FUNDING
	 	 	59	 
	4.1 Deferral Accounts
	 	 	59	 
	4.2 Company Contribution Account
	 	 	59	 
	4.3 Trust Funding
	 	 	60	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V VESTING
	 	 	60	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS
	 	 	60	 
	6.1 Distribution of Deferred Compensation and Discretionary Company Contributions
	 	 	60	 
	6.2 [Reserved.]
	 	 	61	 
	6.3 Hardship Distribution
	 	 	61	 
	6.4 Inability to Locate Participant
	 	 	61	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VII ADMINISTRATION
	 	 	62	 
	7.1 Committee
	 	 	62	 
	7.2 Committee Action
	 	 	62	 
	7.3 Powers and Duties of the Committee
	 	 	62	 
	7.4 Construction and Interpretation
	 	 	62	 
	7.5 Information
	 	 	63	 
	7.6 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity
	 	 	63	 
	7.7 Quarterly Statements
	 	 	63	 
	7.8 Disputes
	 	 	63	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS
	 	 	64	 
	8.1 Unsecured General Creditor
	 	 	64	 
	8.2 Restriction Against Assignment
	 	 	64	 
	8.3 Withholding
	 	 	64	 
	8.4 Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination
	 	 	64	 
	8.5 Governing Law
	 	 	65	 
	8.6 Receipt or Release
	 	 	65	 
	8.7 Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity
	 	 	65	 
	8.8 Limitation of Rights and Employment Relationship
	 	 	65	 
	8.9 Headings
	 	 	65	 
	8.10 Section 409A of the Code
	 	 	65	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Exhibit A
	 	 	66	 






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THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE BOARD




DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN




          The Corporate Executive Board Company (the “Company”) has determined that it is in the best
interests of the Company to establish The Corporate Executive Board Deferred Compensation Plan (the
“Plan”) for a select group of management or highly compensated employees in order to serve as a
vehicle for attracting, incentivizing, and retaining high quality executive employees. The Plan was
originally adopted as of the Effective Date and has been subsequently amended, effective as of
January 1, 2006, to read as follows:




ARTICLE I




TITLE AND DEFINITIONS




     1.1 Definitions.



          Whenever the following words and phrases are used in this Plan, with the first letter
capitalized, they shall have the meanings specified below.




          (a) “Account” or “Accounts” shall mean all of such accounts as are specifically authorized for
inclusion in this Plan.




          (b) “Base Salary” shall mean a Participant’s annual base salary and such commissions and
bonuses as may be designated as deferrable as Base Salary by the Committee and which do not
otherwise meet the definition of Incentive Compensation. Base Salary shall exclude all other bonus,
incentive and all other remuneration for services rendered to Company and shall be determined prior
to reduction for any salary contributions to a plan established pursuant to Sections 125, 132 or
401(k) of the Code. In the case of a Participant who is a member of the Board of Directors, the
term “Base Salary” shall also include any director fees or director retainers otherwise payable to
such Participant.




          (c) “Beneficiary” or “Beneficiaries” shall mean the person or persons, including a trustee,
personal representative or other fiduciary, last designated in writing by a Participant in
accordance with procedures established by the Committee to receive the benefits specified hereunder
in the event of the Participant’s death. No beneficiary designation shall become effective until it
is filed with the Committee. Any designation shall be revocable at any time through a written
instrument filed by the Participant with the Committee with or without the consent of the previous
Beneficiary. No designation of a Beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse shall be valid
unless consented to in writing by such spouse. If there is no such designation or if there is no
surviving designated Beneficiary, then the Participant’s surviving spouse shall be the Beneficiary.
If there is no surviving spouse to receive any benefits payable in accordance with the preceding
sentence, the Participant’s estate, as represented by the duly appointed and currently acting
personal representative of the Participant’s estate (which shall include either the Participant’s
probate estate or living trust) shall be the Beneficiary. In any case where there is no such
personal representative of the Participant’s estate duly appointed and acting in that capacity
within ninety (90) days after the Participant’s death (or such extended period as the Committee
determines is reasonably necessary to allow such personal representative to be appointed, but not
to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days after the Participant’s death), then Beneficiary shall mean
the person or persons who can verify by affidavit or court order to the satisfaction of the
Committee that they are legally entitled to receive the benefits specified hereunder. In the event
any amount is payable under the Plan to a minor, payment shall not be made to the minor, but
instead be paid (a) to that person’s living parent(s) to act as custodian, (b) if that person’s
parents are then divorced, and one parent is the sole custodial parent, to such custodial parent,
or (c) if no parent of that person is then living, to a custodian selected by the Committee to hold
the funds for the minor under the Uniform Transfers or Gifts to Minors Act in effect in the
jurisdiction in which the minor resides. If no parent is living and the Committee decides not to
select another custodian to hold the funds for the minor, then payment shall be made to the duly
appointed and currently acting guardian of the estate for the minor or, if no guardian of the
estate for the minor is duly appointed and currently acting within sixty (60) days after the date
the amount becomes payable, payment shall be deposited with the court having jurisdiction over the
estate of the minor. Payment by Company pursuant to any unrevoked Beneficiary designation, or to
the Participant’s estate if no such designation exists, of all benefits owed hereunder shall
terminate any and all liability of Company.




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




          (e) [Reserved]




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          (f) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.




          (g) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, which shall administer the
Plan in accordance with Article VII.




          (h) “Company” shall mean The Corporate Executive Board Company.




          (i) “Company Contribution Account” shall mean the bookkeeping account maintained by the
Committee for each Participant that is credited with an amount equal to the Participant’s Company
Discretionary Contribution Amount, if any, and Company Matching Contribution Amount, if any, and
earnings and losses on such amounts pursuant to Section 4.2.




          (j) “Company Discretionary Contribution Amount” shall mean such discretionary amount if
contributed by the Company for a Participant for a Plan Year. Such amount may differ from
Participant to Participant in amount, including no contribution and including differences expressed
as different percentages of Compensation.




          (k) “Company Matching Contribution Amount” shall mean such amount, if any, contributed by the
Company for each Participant for a Plan Year. Such amount may differ from Participant to
Participant in amount, including no contribution and including differences expressed as different
percentages of Compensation.




          (l) “Compensation” shall mean Base Salary, Incentive Compensation and Ad Hoc Awards.




          (m) “Deferral Account” shall mean the bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee for each
Participant that is credited with amounts equal to (1) the portion of the Participant’s
Compensation that he or she elects to defer, and (2) earnings and losses pursuant to Section 4.1.




          (n) “Disabled” or “Disability” shall mean the Participant has, 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 (12) months, received income
replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under a disability program covering
employees of the Company. The Committee shall determine whether or not a Participant has become
Disabled for purposes of the Plan.




          (o) “Distributable Amount” shall mean the vested balance in the Participant’s Deferral Account
and Company Contribution Account.




          (p) “Effective Date” shall be July 1, 2005




          (q) “Eligible Employee” shall mean (i) those employees who job titles are listed in Exhibit A
attached hereto and (ii) any outside director of the Company.




          (r) “Fund” or “Funds” shall mean one or more of the investment funds selected by the Committee
pursuant to Section 3.2(b).




          (s) “Hardship Distribution” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant
resulting from an unforeseeable emergency. An unforeseeable emergency shall mean a severe financial
hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the
Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant,
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. The
circumstances that would constitute an unforseeable emergency will depend upon the facts of each
case, but, in any case, a Hardship Distribution may not be made to the extent that such hardship is
or may be relieved (i) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (ii) by
liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of assets would not itself
cause severe financial hardship, or (iii) by cessation of deferrals under this Plan.




          (t) “Incentive Compensation” shall mean such bonuses and/or commissions as may be designated
as deferrable as Incentive Compensation by the Committee and which are based on services performed
for the Company over a period of at least twelve (12) months and which meet the requirements of
“performance-based compensation” as defined in Section 409A(a)(4)(B)(iii) of the Code.




56









 








          (u) “Initial Election Period” shall mean the thirty (30) day period prior to the Effective
Date of the Plan, or the thirty (30) day period following the time an employee shall first be
designated by the Company as an Eligible Employee.




          (v) “Interest Rate” shall mean, for each Fund, an amount equal to the net gain or loss on the
assets of such Fund determined on a daily basis.




          (w) “Key Employee” shall mean those employees defined under Section 416(i) of the Code without
regard to paragraph (5) thereof.




          (x) “Participant” shall mean any Eligible Employee who becomes a Participant in this Plan in
accordance with Article II.




          (y) “Payment Date” shall be the date selected by the Participant to receive or to commence
receipt of benefits under the Plan, subject to the rules set forth under the Plan or the date on
which the rules of the Plan otherwise provide for a payment to the Participant or the Participant’s
Beneficiary.




          (z) “Plan” shall be The Corporate Executive Board Deferred Compensation Plan.




          (aa) “Plan Year” shall be January 1 to December 31. The first Plan Year shall be July 1, 2005
to December 31, 2005.




          (bb) “Scheduled Withdrawal Date” shall mean the distribution date elected by the Participant
for an in-service withdrawal of amounts from the Participant’s Accounts which were deferred in a
given Plan Year, and earnings and losses attributable thereto, as set forth on the election form
for such Plan Year.




          (cc) “Trust” shall mean the grantor trust initially established between the Company and First
American Trust, FSB.




          (dd) “Trustee” shall mean First American Trust, FSB.




          (ee) “Ad Hoc Award” shall mean an award in cash or property that is subject to a forfeiture
condition requiring the continued performance of services for a period of at least twelve (12)
months from the date of grant and is also subject to the initial election rules set forth in
Section 3.1(d).




          (ff) “Separation from Service” shall mean the definition set forth in Treas. Reg. §
1.409A-1(h).




          (gg) “Termination of employment” shall mean separation from Separation from Service.




ARTICLE II




PARTICIPATION




          An Eligible Employee shall become a Participant in the Plan by completing certain electronic
enrollment procedures, including any required insurance applications. Effective January 1, 2008, an
Eligible Employee shall first become a Participant in the Plan as of the later of (i) the first
day of the month following the date on which an individual first becomes an Eligible Employee or
(ii) the date upon which the Eligible Employee completes all applicable electronic enrollment
procedures, including any required insurance applications.




ARTICLE III




DEFERRAL ELECTIONS




     3.1 Elections to Defer Compensation.



          (a) Initial Election Period. Subject to the provisions of Article II, each Eligible
Employee may elect to defer Compensation by filing with the Committee an election that conforms to
the requirements of this Section 3.1, following certain electronic election procedures established
by the Committee, no later than the last day of his or her Initial Election Period.




57









 








          (b) General Rule. The amount of Compensation which an Eligible Employee may elect to
defer is such Compensation earned on or after the time at which the Eligible Employee elects to
defer in accordance with Sections 1.1(u) and 3.1(a) and shall be a percentage which shall not
exceed One Hundred Percent (100%) of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation, provided that the total
amount deferred by a Participant shall be limited in any calendar year, if necessary, by the
amounts needed to satisfy Social Security Tax (including Medicare), income tax and employee benefit
plan withholding requirements all as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the
Committee. The minimum contribution which may be made in any Plan Year by an Eligible Employee
shall not be less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), provided such minimum contribution can be
satisfied from any element of Compensation. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the minimum
contribution shall be reduced for the first Plan Year to the amount of Three Thousand Dollars
($3,000).




          (c) Duration of Compensation Deferral Election. In the case of an Eligible Employee
who first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan as of the Effective Date, such Eligible
Employee’s initial election to defer Compensation must be prior to the Effective Date and is to be
effective with respect to Compensation earned after such deferral election is processed. Such
election shall be irrevocable for a Plan Year and shall continue in effect unless and until
modified for subsequent Plan Years. The Committee may, in its discretion and on a year by year
basis, permit a Participant to make separate elections in respect of (i) the component of Base
Salary which does not consist of bonus and/or commissions and (ii) the component of Base Salary
which does consist of bonus and/or commissions. A Participant may increase, decrease or terminate a
deferral election with respect to Base Salary for any subsequent Plan Year by filing a new election
not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the beginning of the next calendar year. A Participant may
increase, decrease or terminate a deferral election with respect to Incentive Compensation for any
subsequent Plan Year by filing a new election within such time frame as may be determined by the
Committee but which shall in no event be less than six months prior to the end of twelve (12) month
performance period on which such Incentive Compensation is based. In the case of an employee who
becomes an Eligible Employee after the Effective Date, such Eligible Employee shall have thirty
(30) days after the date he or she has become an Eligible Employee to make an Initial Election with
respect to Compensation. Such election shall be for the remainder of the Plan Year, in the event
the Plan Year has commenced. In the event that an election which is made in respect of a Plan Year
covers a component of Base Salary which is earned in part during such Plan Year and in part during
the immediately succeeding Plan Year, such election shall not apply to any portion of such
component of Base Salary at the time such component of Base Salary becomes otherwise payable in
such immediately succeeding Plan Year. Instead, any deferral relating to such component of Base
Salary must instead be made (i) through a separate election during the calendar year preceding the
calendar year in which such component of Base Salary otherwise becomes payable or (ii) through a
continuation of the original election into such subsequent Plan Year through a failure to modify or
revoke such original election.




          (d) Elections other than Elections during the Initial Election Period. Subject to the
limitations of Section 3.1(b) above, any Eligible Employee who has terminated a prior Compensation
deferral election may elect to again defer Compensation, by filing an election, on a form provided
by the Committee, to defer Compensation as described in Sections 3.1(b) and 3.1(c) above. An
election to defer Compensation must be filed in a timely manner in accordance with Section 3.1(c).




          (e) Elections to defer Ad Hoc Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in
this Section 3.1 to the contrary, any Eligible Employee may elect to defer an Ad Hoc Award pursuant
to certain procedures established by the Committee so long as the initial election is made no later
than thirty (30) days after the date of grant of the Ad Hoc Award. Pursuant to the definition of Ad
Hoc Award, the election must be made at least twelve (12) months before the Eligible Employee has
earned a nonforfeitable right to any portion of such Ad Hoc Award.




     3.2 Investment Elections.



          (a) At the time of making the deferral elections described in Section 3.1, the Participant
shall designate, on a form provided by the Committee, the types of investment funds in which the
Participant’s Account shall be deemed to be invested for purposes of determining the amount of
earnings to be credited to that Account. In making the designation pursuant to this Section 3.2,
the Participant may specify that all or any percentage of his or her Account be deemed to be
invested, in whole percentage increments, in one or more of the types of investment funds provided
under the Plan as communicated from time to time by the Committee. A Participant may change the
designation made under this Section 3.2 by filing an election, on a form provided by the Committee,
which change shall be made effective as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the
Committee of such form. If a Participant fails to elect a type of fund under this Section 3.2, he
or she shall be deemed to have elected the money market type of investment fund.




          (b) Although the Participant may designate the type of investment funds used to measure the
earnings or losses to be credited to the Participant’s Accounts, the Committee shall have the right
to change the range and type of available investment funds for these purposes at any time and from
time to time. The Committee shall select from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion,
commercially available investments of each of the types communicated by the Committee to the
Participant pursuant to Section 3.2(a) above to be the Funds. The Interest Rate of each such
commercially available investment fund shall be used to determine the amount of earnings or losses
to be credited to Participant’s Account under Article IV.




58









 








ARTICLE IV




DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS AND TRUST FUNDING




     4.1 Deferral Accounts.



          The Committee shall establish and maintain a Deferral Account for each Participant under the
Plan. Each Participant’s Deferral Account shall be further divided into separate subaccounts
(“investment fund subaccounts”), each of which corresponds to an investment fund elected by the
Participant pursuant to Section 3.2(a). A Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited as
follows:




          (a) As soon as administratively feasible after amounts are withheld and deferred from a
Participant’s Compensation, the Committee shall credit the investment fund subaccounts of the
Participant’s Deferral Account with an amount equal to Compensation deferred by the Participant in
accordance with the Participant’s election under Section 3.2(a); that is, the portion of the
Participant’s deferred Compensation that the Participant has elected to be deemed to be invested in
a certain type of investment fund shall be credited to the investment fund subaccount corresponding
to that investment fund;




          (b) Each business day, each investment fund subaccount of a Participant’s Deferral Account
shall be credited with earnings or losses in an amount equal to that determined by multiplying the
balance credited to such investment fund subaccount as of the prior day plus contributions credited
that day to the investment fund subaccount minus withdrawals debited that day to the investment
fund subaccount by the Interest Rate for the corresponding fund selected by the Company pursuant to
Section 3.2(b).




          (c) In the event that a Participant elects for a given Plan Year’s deferral of Compensation to
have a Scheduled Withdrawal Date, all amounts attributed to the deferral of Compensation for such
Plan Year shall be accounted for in a manner which allows separate accounting for the deferral of
Compensation and investment gains and losses associated with such Plan Year’s deferral of
Compensation.




     4.2 Company Contribution Account.



          If the Company elects to credit a Company Discretionary Contribution Amount or a Company
Matching Contribution Amount on behalf of a Participant, the Committee shall establish and maintain
a Company Contribution Account for such Participant. Each Participant’s Company Contribution
Account shall be further divided into separate investment fund subaccounts corresponding to the
investment fund elected by the Participant for the purpose of determining the earnings or losses to
be credited under the Participant’s Company Contribution Account pursuant to Section 3.2(a). A
Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be credited as follows:




          (a) As soon as administratively feasible after a Company Discretionary Contribution Amount or
Company Matching Contribution Amount is contributed by the Company, the Committee shall credit the
investment fund subaccounts of the Participant’s Company Contribution Account with an amount equal
to the Company Discretionary Contribution Amount, if any, applicable to that Participant, that is,
the proportion of the Company Discretionary Contribution Amount, if any, or Company Matching
Contribution Amount, if any, which the Participant elected to be deemed to be invested in a certain
type of investment fund shall be credited to the corresponding investment fund subaccount; and




          (b) Each business day, each investment fund subaccount of a Participant’s Company Contribution
Account shall be credited with earnings or losses in an amount equal to that determined by
multiplying the balance credited to such investment fund subaccount as of the prior day plus
contributions credited that day to the investment fund subaccount minus withdrawals debited that
day to the investment fund subaccount by the Interest Rate for the corresponding Fund selected by
the Company pursuant to Section 3.2(b).





59









 








     4.3 Trust Funding.



          The Company has created a Trust with First American Trust, FSB as the Trustee. The Company
shall contribute to the Trust (1) an amount equal to the amount deferred by each Participant; (2)
the aggregate amount of any Company Discretionary Contribution Amounts; and (3) the aggregate
amount of any Company Matching Contribution Amounts.




          Although the principal of the Trust and any earnings thereon shall be held separate and apart
from other funds of Company and shall be used exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan
Participants and Beneficiaries as set forth therein, neither the Participants nor their
Beneficiaries shall have any preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership in, any assets of the
Trust prior to the time such assets are paid to the Participants or Beneficiaries as benefits and
all rights created under this Plan shall be unsecured contractual rights of Plan Participants and
Beneficiaries against the Company. Any assets held in the Trust shall be subject to the claims of
Company’s general creditors under federal and state law in the event of insolvency as defined in
Section 3.1 of the Trust.




ARTICLE V




VESTING




          A Participant shall be 100% vested in any Base Salary deferred under this Plan. A Participant
shall be vested in accordance with the specific governing vesting schedule with respect to any
Incentive Compensation, Company Discretionary Contribution Amount and Company Matching Contribution
Amount announced at the time such contributions, if any, are made by the Company. A Participant
shall be vested in accordance with the specific governing vesting schedule with respect to any Ad
Hoc Awards announced at the time such Awards, if any, are made by the Company.




ARTICLE VI




DISTRIBUTIONS




     6.1 Distribution of Deferred Compensation and Discretionary Company Contributions.



          (a) Distribution Not Due To Scheduled Withdrawal Date. Except for Participants who are
Key Employees pursuant to Section 1.1(w), in the case of a Participant who terminates employment
with the Company for any reason other than death and who has an Account balance of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000) or more, the Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant in the form of
a lump sum payment on the Participant’s Payment Date. An optional form of benefit may be elected by
the Participant, on the form provided by Company, during his or her Initial Election Period
(subject to subsequent amendments as discussed in the next paragraph). Except for Participants who
are Key Employees pursuant to Section 1.1(w), the optional form of benefits shall be substantially
equal annual installments over a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years beginning on the
Participant’s Payment Date.




               In the case of a Participant who terminates employment with Company, who is not a Key Employee
under Section 1.1(w), and has an Account balance of less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), the
Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum distribution on the
Participant’s Payment Date.



               In the case of a Participant who terminates employment with the Company for any reason other
than death and who is a Key Employee under Section 1.1(w), the Distributable Amount under this
Section 6.1(a) shall be paid or payments shall commence to the Participant no sooner than six (6)
months following the date from which such Participant terminates employment with the Company. This
six (6) month restriction shall not apply to a termination of employment due to death.



               The Participant’s Account shall continue to be credited with earnings pursuant to Section 4.1
of the Plan until all amounts credited to his or her Account under the Plan have been distributed.



          (b) Distribution Due To Scheduled Withdrawal Date. In the case of a Participant who
has elected a Scheduled Withdrawal Date for a distribution while still in the employ of the
Company, such Participant shall receive his or her Distributable Amount, but only with respect to
those deferrals of Compensation, vested Matching Contribution Amounts, if any, and vested Company
Discretionary Contribution Amounts, if any, and earnings on such deferrals of Compensation,
Matching Contribution Amounts and Company Discretionary Contribution Amounts as shall have been
elected by the Participant to be subject to the Scheduled Withdrawal Date in accordance with
Section 1.1(bb) of the Plan. A Participant’s Scheduled Withdrawal Date with respect to deferrals of
Compensation,




60









 




Matching Contribution Amounts and Company Discretionary Contribution Amounts deferred
in a given Plan Year can be no earlier
than two (2) years from the last day of the Plan Year for which the deferrals of Compensation,
Matching Contribution Amounts and Company Discretionary Contribution Amounts are made. Participants
may elect to have such amounts paid in the form of a lump sum distribution or annual installments
not to exceed five (5) years. Such lump sum distribution shall be paid or such installments shall
commence in March of the year specified. Except as set forth under Section 6.5, a Participant may
extend the Scheduled Withdrawal Date for any Plan Year, provided such extension occurs at least one
(1) year before the Scheduled Withdrawal Date and provided that the first payment with respect to
which such election is made is deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date
such payment would otherwise have commenced or have been made (the “one (1) year/five (5) year
rule”). For purposes of the one (1) year/five (5) year rule, installment payments shall be treated
as an entitlement to a single payment. In the event a Participant terminates employment with
Company prior to a Scheduled Withdrawal Date, other than by reason of death or Disability the
portion of the Participant’s Account associated with a Scheduled Withdrawal Date, which has not
occurred prior to such termination, shall be distributed pursuant to the form of benefit elected
under Section 6.1(a) for distributions not due to a Scheduled Withdrawal Date. Finally, if a
Participant Account balance associated with a Scheduled Withdrawal Date is less than Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000) as of the Scheduled Withdrawal Date, such amount shall be paid to the Participant
(and after his or her death to his or her Beneficiary) in a lump sum distribution on the Scheduled
Withdrawal Date.




          (c) Distribution for Termination of Employment due to Death or Disability. In the case
of a Participant who dies or who becomes Disabled while employed by the Company, his or her vested
balance in his or her Account shall be paid as soon as practicable to his or her Beneficiary (in
the case of death) or to the Participant (in the case of Disability) in a lump sum payment, less
any applicable withholding.




          (d) Post-Termination Death Benefit. In the event a Participant dies after his or her
termination of employment and still has a vested balance in his or her Account, the vested balance
of such Account shall be paid as soon as practicable to the Participant’s Beneficiary in a lump sum
payment, less any applicable withholding.




     6.2 [Reserved.]



     6.3 Hardship Distribution.



          A Participant shall be permitted to elect a Hardship Distribution from his or her vested
Accounts in accordance with Section 1.1(s) of the Plan prior to the Payment Date, subject to the
following restrictions:




          (a) The election to take a Hardship Distribution shall be made by filing a form provided by
and filed with Committee prior to the end of any calendar month.




          (b) The Committee shall have made a determination that the requested distribution constitutes
a Hardship Distribution in accordance with Section 1.1(s) of the Plan.




          (c) The amount determined by the Committee as a Hardship Distribution shall be paid in a
single cash lump sum as soon as practicable after the end of the calendar month in which the
Hardship Distribution election is made and approved by the Committee.




     6.4 Inability to Locate Participant.



          In the event that the Committee is unable to locate a Participant or Beneficiary within two
years following the required Payment Date, the amount allocated to the Participant’s Deferral
Account shall be forfeited. If, after such forfeiture, the Participant or Beneficiary later claims
such benefit, such benefit shall be reinstated without interest or earnings.




     6.5 2008 Transition Relief.



          In 2008, Participants were given the opportunity to change the time of payment and/or form of
certain of their benefits under the Plan by filing individualized written election forms with the
Committee (or its designee) before January 1, 2009, provided that the payment of benefits was not
accelerated into 2008 and that the payment of any benefits otherwise scheduled for payment in 2008
was not deferred to a later date. The one (1) year/five (5) year rule set forth in Section 6.2(b)
shall not apply to any change to the time of payment and/or form of benefits under this transition
relief.




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ARTICLE VII




ADMINISTRATION




     7.1 Committee.



          The members of the Committee shall consist of the members of the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors, as such Compensation Committee may be constituted from time to time.




     7.2 Committee Action.



          The Committee shall act at meetings by affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
Committee. Any action permitted to be taken at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if, prior
to such action, a written consent to the action is signed by all members of the Committee and such
written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee. A member of the
Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which relates solely to himself or herself as a
Participant. The Chair or any other member or members of the Committee designated by the Chair may
execute any certificate or other written direction on behalf of the Committee.




     7.3 Powers and Duties of the Committee.



          (a) The Committee, on behalf of the Participants and their Beneficiaries, shall enforce the
Plan in accordance with its terms, shall be charged with the general administration of the Plan,
and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish its purposes, including, but not by way of
limitation, the following:




               (1) To select the Funds in accordance with Section 3.2(b) hereof;



               (2) To construe and interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan, including any ambiguity;



               (3) To compute and certify to the amount and kind of benefits payable to Participants and
their Beneficiaries;



               (4) To maintain all records that may be necessary for the administration of the Plan;



               (5) To provide for the disclosure of all information and the filing or provision of all
reports and statements to Participants, Beneficiaries or governmental agencies as shall be required
by law;



               (6) To make and publish such rules for the regulation of the Plan and procedures for the
administration of the Plan as are not inconsistent with the terms hereof;



               (7) To appoint a Plan administrator or any other agent, and to delegate to them such powers
and duties in connection with the administration of the Plan as the Committee may from time to time
prescribe; and



               (8) To take all actions necessary for the administration of the Plan, including determining
whether to hold or discontinue the Policies.



     7.4 Construction and Interpretation.



          The Committee shall have full discretion to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of
this Plan, which interpretations or construction shall be final and binding on all parties,
including but not limited to the Company and any Participant or Beneficiary. The Committee shall
administer such terms and provisions in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner and in full
accordance with any and all laws applicable to the Plan.





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     7.5 Information.



          To enable the Committee to perform its functions, the Company shall supply full and timely
information to the Committee on all matters relating to the Compensation of all Participants, their
death or other events which cause termination of their participation in this Plan, and such other
pertinent facts as the Committee may require.




     7.6 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity.



          (a) The members of the Committee shall serve without compensation for their services
hereunder.




          (b) The Committee shall be authorized at the expense of the Company to employ such legal
counsel as it may deem advisable to assist in the performance of its duties hereunder. Expenses and
fees in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.




          (c) To the extent permitted by applicable state law, the Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Committee and each member thereof, the Board of Directors and any delegate of the
Committee who is an employee of the Company against any and all expenses, liabilities and claims,
including legal fees to defend against such liabilities and claims arising out of their discharge
in good faith of responsibilities under or incident to the Plan, other than expenses and
liabilities arising out of willful misconduct. This indemnity shall not preclude such further
indemnities as may be available under insurance purchased by the Company or provided by the Company
under any bylaw, agreement or otherwise, as such indemnities are permitted under state law.




     7.7 Quarterly Statements.



          Under procedures established by the Committee, a Participant shall have access to an
electronic statement with respect to such Participant’s Accounts on a quarterly basis.




     7.8 Disputes.



          (a) Claim.




          A person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she is entitled
under this Plan (hereinafter referred to as “Claimant”) must file a written request for such
benefit with the Committee, setting forth his or her claim. The request must be addressed to the
Chair of the Committee.




          (b) Claim Decision.




          Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be
forthcoming within ninety (90) days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period. The
Committee may, however, extend the reply period for an additional ninety (90) days for special
circumstances.




          If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall inform the Claimant in
writing, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth: (A) the
specified reason or reasons for such denial; (B) the specific reference to pertinent provisions of
this Plan on which such denial is based; (C) a description of any additional material or
information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such
material or such information is necessary; (D) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken
if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and (E) the time limits for requesting a
review under subsection (c).




          (c) Request For Review.




          Within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion described
above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Committee review its prior determination. Such
request must be addressed to the Chair of the Committee. The Claimant or his or her duly authorized
representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in
writing for consideration by the Committee. If the Claimant does not request a review within such
sixty (60) day period, he or she shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Committee’s
determination.




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          (d) Review of Decision.




          Within sixty (60) days after the Committee’s receipt of a request for review, after
considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Committee shall inform the Participant in
writing, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, the decision setting forth the
specific reasons for the decision containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of
this Plan on which the decision is based. If special circumstances require that the sixty (60) day
time period be extended, the Committee shall so notify the Claimant and shall render the decision
as soon as possible, but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request
for review.




ARTICLE VIII




MISCELLANEOUS




     8.1 Unsecured General Creditor.



          Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or
equitable rights, claims, or interest in any specific property or assets of the Company. No assets
of the Company shall be held in any way as collateral security for the fulfilling of the
obligations of the Company under this Plan. Any and all of the Company’s assets shall be, and
remain, the general unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Company. The Company’s obligation 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 Beneficiaries shall be no greater than those of
unsecured general creditors. It is the intention of the Company that this Plan be unfunded for
purposes of the Code and for purposes of Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ERISA”).




     8.2 Restriction Against Assignment.



          The Committee shall cause all amounts payable hereunder to be paid only to the person or
persons designated by the Plan and not to any other person or corporation. No part of a
Participant’s Accounts shall be liable for the debts, contracts, or engagements of any Participant,
his or her Beneficiary, or successors in interest, nor shall a Participant’s Accounts be subject to
execution by levy, attachment, or garnishment or by any other legal or equitable proceeding, nor
shall any such person have any right to alienate, anticipate, sell, transfer, commute, pledge,
encumber, or assign any benefits or payments hereunder in any manner whatsoever. If any
Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest is adjudicated bankrupt or purports to
anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, commute, assign, pledge, encumber or charge any distribution
or payment from the Plan, voluntarily or involuntarily, the Committee, in its discretion, may
cancel such distribution or payment (or any part thereof) to or for the benefit of such
Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest in such manner as the Committee shall direct.




     8.3 Withholding.



          The Committee shall cause to be deducted from each payment made under the Plan or any other
Compensation payable to the Participant (or Beneficiary) all taxes which are required to be
withheld by the Company in respect to such payment or this Plan. The Committee shall have the right
to reduce any payment (or compensation) by the amount of cash sufficient to provide the amount of
said taxes.




     8.4 Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination.



          The Committee may amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, except
that no amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall have any retroactive effect to
reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts. In addition, no amendment may be made to
the Plan to increase or mandate Company Discretionary Contribution Amounts and/or Company Matching
Contribution Amounts absent approval by the Board. The Committee may also effectuate an amendment
to the Plan through written resolution which shall be viewed as part of this Plan. Notwithstanding
the above, the payment of any portion of an Account which is subject to Section 409A may not be
accelerated except in compliance with the provisions of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix) or
such other events and conditions which may be permitted in generally applicable guidelines
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. The Committee reserves any discretion to distribute
benefits in accordance with the requirements of such regulations and/or such guidelines.




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          In the event that this Plan is terminated due to a “Change in Control,” the amounts allocated
to a Participant’s Accounts shall be distributed to the Participant in a lump sum within thirty
(30) days following the date of termination of the Plan. For these purposes,
the term “Change in Control” shall mean either: (a) the “acquisition” by a “person” or “group”
(as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules promulgated thereunder), other than by Permitted
Holders, of beneficial ownership (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13d-3) directly or indirectly, of
any securities of the Company or any successor of the Company immediately after which such person
or group owns securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value
or the combined voting power of the Company or any successor of the Company; (b) within any twelve
(12) month period, the individuals who were directors of the Company as of July 1, 2005 (the
“Incumbent Directors”) ceasing for any reason other than death or disability to constitute at least
a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any director who was not a
director as of July 1, 2005 shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if such director was
appointed or elected to the Board of Directors of the Company by, or on the recommendation or
approval of, at least a majority of directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors, provided
further that any director appointed or elected to the Board of Directors of the Company to avoid or
settle a threatened or actual proxy contest shall in no event be deemed to be an Incumbent
Director; (c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of any merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving the Company, unless either (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately
before such merger, consolidation or reorganization own, directly or indirectly immediately
following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of the company(ies) resulting from such merger, consolidation or
reorganization in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately before such
merger, consolidation or reorganization, or (B) the stockholders of the Company immediately after
such merger, consolidation or reorganization include Permitted Holders; (d) approval by the
stockholders of the Company of a transfer of fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets of the
Company, unless the person to which such transfer is made is either (A) a Subsidiary of the
Company, (B) wholly owned by all of the stockholders of the Company, or (C) wholly owned by
Permitted Holders; or (e) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.




     8.5 Governing Law.



          This Plan shall be construed, governed and administered in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware, except where pre-empted by federal law.




     8.6 Receipt or Release.



          Any payment to a Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims against
the Committee and the Company. The Committee may require such Participant or Beneficiary, as a
condition precedent to such payment, to execute a receipt and release to such effect.




     8.7 Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity.



          In the event that any amount becomes payable under the Plan to a person who, in the sole
judgment of the Committee, is considered by reason of physical or mental condition to be unable to
give a valid receipt therefore, the Committee may direct that such payment be made to any person
found by the Committee, in its sole judgment, to have assumed the care of such person. Any payment
made pursuant to such determination shall constitute a full release and discharge of the Committee
and the Company.




     8.8 Limitation of Rights and Employment Relationship



          Neither the establishment of the Plan and Trust nor any modification thereof, nor the creating
of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving to any
Participant, or Beneficiary or other person any legal or equitable right against the Company or the
trustee of the Trust except as provided in the Plan and Trust; and in no event shall the terms of
employment of any Employee or Participant be modified or in any way be affected by the provisions
of the Plan and Trust.




     8.9 Headings.



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




     8.10 Section 409A of the Code.



          To the extent that such requirements are applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be interpreted and administered in accordance
with that intent. If any provision of the Plan would otherwise conflict
with or frustrate this intent, that provision will be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid
the conflict. The nature of any such amendment shall be determined by the Committee.




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EXHIBIT A




     Effective July 1, 2005, employees with job titles of Senior Director, Practice Manager or
above shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.



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