exv4w1



 






Exhibit 4.1




BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS




DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN




Amended and Restated Effective as of August 1, 2002




 









 








TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE I - TITLE AND DEFINITIONS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	1.1 Title
	 	 	2	 
	1.2 Definitions
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II - PARTICIPATION
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2.1 Participation
	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III - DEFERRAL ELECTIONS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	3.1 Elections to Defer Compensation
	 	 	5	 
	3.2 Company Contributions
	 	 	7	 
	3.3 Investment Elections
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV - ACCOUNTS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.1 Participant Accounts
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V - VESTING
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.1 Account
	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI - GENERAL DUTIES
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.1 Trustee Duties
	 	 	9	 
	6.2 Company Contributions
	 	 	9	 
	6.3 Department of Labor Determination
	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VII - DISTRIBUTIONS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.1 Distribution of Deferred Compensation — Termination of Employment
	 	 	10	 
	7.2 Scheduled and Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawals
	 	 	12	 
	7.3 Unforeseeable Emergency
	 	 	14	 
	7.4 Inability To Locate Participant
	 	 	14	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VIII - ADMINISTRATION
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	8.1 Committee
	 	 	15	 
	8.2 Committee Action
	 	 	15	 
	8.3 Powers and Duties of the Committee
	 	 	15	 
	8.4 Construction and Interpretation
	 	 	16	 






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	 	 	Page	 
	8.5 Information
	 	 	16	 
	8.6 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity
	 	 	16	 
	8.7 Quarterly Statements
	 	 	17	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	9.1 Unsecured General Creditor
	 	 	18	 
	9.2 Restriction Against Assignment
	 	 	18	 
	9.3 Withholding
	 	 	18	 
	9.4 Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination
	 	 	19	 
	9.5 Governing Law
	 	 	19	 
	9.6 Receipt or Release
	 	 	19	 
	9.7 Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity
	 	 	19	 
	9.8 No Employment Rights
	 	 	19	 
	9.9 Headings, etc.
	 	 	19	 






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BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS




DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN




     Business Objects Americas (the “Company”), having established the Business Objects Americas
Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), originally effective as of March 1, 1999 and amended
effective as of January 1, 2000, hereby amends and restates the Plan, effective as of August 1,
2002. Throughout this Plan, the term “Company” shall include (wherever relevant) any entity that
is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity or investment interest, as determined by the Company.



RECITALS




1. The Company has established the Plan for the benefit of a select group of management and highly
compensated employees of the Company.




2. The Company wishes to provide under the Plan for the payment of accrued vested benefits to Plan
participants and their beneficiaries.




3. Under the Plan, the Company is obligated to pay vested accrued benefits to the Plan participants
and their beneficiaries from the Company’s general assets.




4. The Company has entered into an agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) with First American Trust
Company appointed as trustee (the “Trustee”) under an irrevocable trust (the “Trust”) to be used in
connection with the Plan.




5. The Company intends to make contributions to the Trust so that such contributions will be held
by the Trustee and invested, reinvested and distributed, all in accordance with the provisions of
this Plan and the Trust Agreement.




6. The Company intends that amounts contributed to the Trust and the earnings thereon shall be used
by the Trustee to satisfy the liabilities of the Company under the Plan with respect to each Plan
participant for whom an Account has been established and such utilization shall be in accordance
with the procedures set forth herein.




7. The Company intends that the Trust be a “grantor trust” with the principal and income of the
Trust treated as assets and income of the Company for federal and state income tax purposes.




8. The Company intends that the assets of the Trust shall at all times be subject to the claims of
the general creditors of the Company as provided in the Trust Agreement.




9. The Company intends that the existence of the Trust shall not alter the characterization of the
Plan as “unfunded” for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”), and shall not be construed to provide income to Plan participants under the Plan prior
to actual payment of the vested accrued benefits thereunder.




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     NOW THEREFORE, the Company does hereby establish the Plan as follows and does also hereby
agree that the Plan shall be structured, held and disposed of as follows:



ARTICLE I



TITLE AND DEFINITIONS




1.1 Title




     This Plan shall be known as the Business Objects Americas Deferred Compensation Plan.



1.2 Definitions




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



     “Account” means, for each Participant, the bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee
that is credited with amounts equal to (a) the portion of the Participant’s Salary that he or she
elects to defer, (b) the portion of the Participant’s Commissions that he or she elects to defer,
(c) the portion of the Participant’s Bonus that he or she elects to defer, (d) the portion of the
Participant’s Escrow Payment that he or she elects to defer, (e) the portion of the Participant’s
Retention Plan Payment that he or she elects to defer, (f) Company contributions, if any, made to
the Plan for the Participant’s benefit, and (g) adjustments to reflect deemed earnings pursuant to
Section 4.1(d).



     “Beneficiary” or “Beneficiaries” means the beneficiary last designated in writing by a
Participant in accordance with procedures established by the Committee from time to time 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 during the Participant’s
lifetime.



     “Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.



     “Bonus” means any cash based incentive compensation payable to a Participant on an annual or
quarterly basis, as applicable, in addition to the Participant’s Salary and Commissions.



     “Business Objects Escrow Payment Plan” means the Business Objects Escrow Payment Plan adopted
in connection with the acquisition of Acta Technology, Inc.



     “Business Objects Retention Plan” means the Business Objects Retention Plan adopted in
connection with the acquisition of Acta Technology, Inc.



     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.



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     “Commissions” means any commissions payable to a Participant in addition to the


 Participant’s Salary, Bonus, Escrow Payment and Retention Plan Payment.



     “Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance
with Article VIII.



     “Compensation” means the Bonus, Escrow Payment, Retention Plan Payment, Salary and Commissions
that the Participant earns for services rendered to the Company.



     “Director” means a member of the Board.



     “Distributable Amount” means the amount credited to a Participant’s Account.



     “Distribution Event” means, with respect to each Participant, (a) the Participant’s
termination of employment or directorship with the Company for any reason, including retirement,
death or disability, or (b) a specific date, if specified by the Participant pursuant to Article
VII. A Participant’s Distribution Event election shall be made in writing at such time, on such
form and subject to such procedures as the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion,
specify from time to time.



     “Eligible Employee” means an Employee, or a Director who is not an Employee, who is either
highly compensated or part of a select group of management, as determined by the Committee, in its
discretion.



     “Employee” means a common law employee of the Company, except:



          (a) Leased Employees;




          (b) Employees who are non-resident aliens (within the meaning of Code Section 7701(b)(1)(B))
and who receive no earned income (within the meaning of Code Section 911(d)(2)) from the Employer
which constitutes income from sources within the United States (within the meaning of Code Section
861(a)(3));




          (c) Employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between a union and the
Company or any employers’ association under which retirement benefits were the subject of good
faith bargaining, unless the agreement specifically provides for coverage of such Employees under
the Plan;




          (d) individuals who are classified as Consultants by the Company, whether or not such
classification is upheld upon governmental or judicial review. “Consultants” means individuals
(who may also be referred to as independent contractors) who have specialized knowledge or special
skills and are retained to provide advice or assistance to the Company and who are not Employees of
the Company;




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          (e) individuals who are classified as Agency Workers by the Company, whether or not such
classification is upheld upon governmental or judicial review. “Agency Workers” means individuals
who are employed pursuant to a written agreement with an agency or other third party for a specific
job assignment or project;




          (f) individuals who are Reclassified Employees. “Reclassified Employees” means Employees who
were not initially classified by the Company as Employees, but who were subsequently reclassified
as Employees by a federal, state or local group, organization or agency, or a court; or




          (g) individuals who are parties to an agreement that provides that they shall not be eligible
to participate in the Plan, whether or not such agreement is upheld upon governmental or judicial
review.




     “Escrow Payment” means any cash based compensation payable to a Participant pursuant to the
Business Objects Escrow Payment Plan.



     “Fund” or “Funds” means one or more of the investment funds selected by the Committee pursuant
to Section 3.3.



     “Initial Election Period” means the thirty (30)-day period following the Eligible Employee’s
date of hire or, if later, upon first becoming an Eligible Employee.



     “Investment Return” means, for each Fund, an amount equal to the pre-tax rate of gain or loss
on the assets of such Fund (net of applicable fund and investment charges) during each valuation
period, but not less frequently than monthly.



     “Participant” means any Eligible Employee who elects to defer Compensation in accordance with
Section 3.1.



     “Payment Commencement Date” means the date that is as soon as reasonably practicable on or
after the first day of the month following the calendar quarter in which the Participant has a
Distribution Event.



     “Plan Year” means the calendar year.



     “Retention Plan Payment” means any cash based compensation payable to a Participant pursuant
to the Business Objects Retention Plan.



     “Salary” means the Employee’s base salary for the Plan Year or, in the case of a Director who
is not also an Employee, his or her retainer and/or meetings and committees fees. Salary excludes
Bonuses, Commissions, Escrow Payments, Retention Plan Payments and any other form of compensation
such as restricted stock, proceeds from stock options or stock appreciation rights, severance
payments, moving expenses, car or other special allowance, or any other amounts included



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in an Eligible Employee’s taxable income that is not compensation for services.




ARTICLE II




PARTICIPATION




2.1 Participation




     An Eligible Employee shall become a Participant in the Plan by electing to defer a portion of
his or her Compensation in accordance with Section 3.1.



ARTICLE III




DEFERRAL ELECTIONS




3.1 Elections to Defer Compensation




     (a) Initial Election Period. Each Eligible Employee may elect to defer Compensation
by filing an election with the Committee that conforms to the requirements of this Section, on a
form approved by the Committee, no later than the last day of his or her Initial Election Period.



     (b) General Rule. The amount of Compensation that an Eligible Employee may elect to
defer is as follows:




	 	(1)  	Any whole percentage of Salary up to eighty-five percent (85%),
except that Directors who are not Employees may defer up to 100% of their Salary;
and/or
	 
	 	(2)  	Any whole percentage of Commissions up to eighty-five percent (85%);
and/or
	 
	 	(3)  	Any whole percentage of Bonus up to one hundred percent (100%);
and/or
	 
	 	(4)  	Any whole percentage of Escrow Payment up to one hundred percent
(100%); and/or
	 
	 	(5)  	Any whole percentage of Retention Plan Payment up to one hundred
percent (100%);





provided, however, that no election shall be effective to reduce the Compensation paid to an
Eligible Employee for a calendar year to an amount that is less than the amount necessary to pay
(i) applicable employment taxes (e.g., FICA, hospital insurance) payable with respect to amounts
deferred hereunder, (ii) amounts necessary to satisfy any other benefit plan withholding
obligations, (iii) any resulting income taxes payable with respect to Compensation that are not so
deferred, and





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(iv) any amounts necessary to satisfy any wage garnishment or similar type
obligations.




     (c) Minimum Deferrals. For each Plan Year during which the Eligible Employee is a
Participant, the minimum Compensation that may be deferred under this Section shall be Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000).



     (d) Effect of Initial Election.



          (1) Salary or Commissions. An election to defer Salary or Commissions made during an
Initial Election Period shall be effective as to Salary or Commissions earned beginning with the
first pay period beginning after the Initial Election Period.




          (2) Annual Bonus. An election to defer an annual Bonus made during an Initial
Election Period that ends on or before June 30 shall be effective as to any annual Bonus earned for
such Plan Year. An election to defer an annual Bonus made during an Initial Election Period that
ends after June 30 shall be effective as to any annual Bonus earned for the Plan Year immediately
following the Plan Year in which the election is made.




          (3) Quarterly Bonus. An election to defer a quarterly Bonus made during an Initial
Election Period shall be effective as to any quarterly Bonus earned for each full calendar quarter
commencing on or immediately following the Initial Election Period and ending with or within the
Plan Year for which such election is effective.




          (4) Escrow Payment. An election to defer an Escrow Payment made during an Initial
Election Period that ends on or before June 30 shall be effective as to any Escrow Payment earned
for such Plan Year. An election to defer an Escrow Payment made during an Initial Election Period
that ends after June 30 shall be effective as to any Escrow Payment earned for the Plan Year
immediately following the Plan Year in which the election is made.




          (5) Retention Plan Payment. An election to defer Retention Plan Payment made during
an Initial Election Period that ends on or before June 30 shall be effective as to any Retention
Plan Payment earned for such Plan Year. An election to defer a Retention Plan Payment made during
an Initial Election Period that ends after June 30 shall be effective as to any Retention Plan
Payment earned for the Plan Year immediately following the Plan Year in which the election is made.




     (e) Duration of Salary Deferral Elections. A Salary deferral election made under
Subsection (a) or (g) of this Section shall remain in effect for the Plan Year to which it applies,
notwithstanding any change in the Participant’s Salary. A Participant’s Salary deferral election
shall terminate with respect to future Salary upon the Participant ceasing to be an Eligible
Employee.



     (f) Duration of Bonus, Commissions, Escrow Payment and Retention Plan Payment Deferral
Election. A Bonus, Commissions, Escrow Payment and Retention Plan Payment deferral election
made under Subsection (a) or (g) of this Section shall remain in effect for the Plan Year to



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which it applies. A Participant’s Bonus, Commissions, Escrow Payment or Retention Plan Payment
deferral election shall terminate with respect to future Bonuses, Commissions, Escrow Payments
or Retention Plan Payments upon the Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Employee.




     (g) Elections Other Than Elections During the Initial Election Period. Any Eligible
Employee who fails to elect to defer Compensation during his or her Initial Election Period may
subsequently become a Participant, and any Eligible Employee who has terminated a prior deferral
election may again elect to defer Compensation, by filing an election to defer Compensation, as
described in Subsection (b) above and on a form approved by the Committee, during the open
enrollment period set by the Committee prior to each Plan Year. An election to defer Compensation
must be filed no later than December 15 (or such other date as the Committee may establish from
time to time) and will be effective for (i) Salary and/or Commissions earned beginning with the
first pay period beginning on and after the beginning of the next succeeding Plan Year, (ii) any
annual Bonus, Escrow Payment and/or Retention Plan Payment earned for the Plan Year for which the
election is made and payable in the next succeeding Plan Year, and (iii) any quarterly Bonus earned
for any calendar quarter commencing on or after the Plan Year for which the election is made.



3.2 Company Contributions




     The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, make discretionary contributions to the
Accounts of one or more Participants at such times and in such amounts as the Board may determine.



3.3 Investment Elections




     The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, provide each Participant with a list
of investment Funds available for hypothetical investment, and the Participant may designate, in a
manner specified by the Committee, one or more Funds that his or her Account will be deemed to be
invested in for purposes of determining the amount of earnings to be credited to that Account. The
Committee may, from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, select a
commercially-available fund to constitute the Fund actually selected. The Investment Return of
each such commercially-available fund shall be used to determine the amount of earnings to be
credited to Participants’ Accounts under Subsection 4.1(d).



     In making the designation pursuant to this Section, the Participant may specify that all or
any one percent (1%) multiple of his or her Account be deemed to be invested in one or more of the
Funds offered by the Committee. Subject to such limitations and conditions as the Committee may
specify, but not more frequently than monthly, a Participant may change the designation made under
this Section in such manner and at such time or times as the Committee shall specify. If a
Participant fails to elect a Fund under this Section, or if the Committee shall not provide
Participants with a list of Funds pursuant to this Section, then the Participant shall be deemed to
have elected a money market or similar fund.



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     The Company may, but need not, acquire investments corresponding to those designated by the
Participants hereunder, and it is not under any obligation to maintain any investment it may
make. Any such investments, if made, shall be Company property in which no Participant shall
have any interest.



ARTICLE IV




ACCOUNTS




4.1 Participant Accounts




     The Committee shall establish and maintain an Account for each Participant under the Plan.
Each Participant’s Account may be further divided into separate subaccounts (“investment Fund
subaccounts”), corresponding to investment Funds elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 3.3
or as otherwise determined by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate for proper Plan
administration. A Participant’s Account shall be credited as follows:



     (a) On each applicable pay day, the Committee shall credit the investment Fund subaccounts of
the Participant’s Account with an amount equal to Salary deferred by the Participant during each
pay period in accordance with the Participant’s election; that is, the portion of the Participant’s
deferred Salary 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) On the day each Bonus (including any partial Bonus), Commissions, Escrow Payment or
Retention Plan Payment would have been paid, the Committee shall credit the investment Fund
subaccounts of the Participant’s Account with an amount equal to the portion of the Bonus,
Commissions, Escrow Payment or Retention Plan Payment deferred by the Participant’s election; that
is, the portion of the Participant’s deferred Bonus, Commissions, Escrow Payment or Retention Plan
Payment 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.



     (c) As soon as administratively practicable after the last day of the Plan Year or such
earlier time or times as the Committee may determine, the Committee shall credit the investment
Fund subaccounts of the Participant’s Account with an amount equal to the portion, if any, of any
Company contribution made to or for the Participant’s benefit in accordance with Section 3.3; that
is, the portion of the Participant’s Company contribution, if any, 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.




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     (d) Each investment Fund subaccount of a Participant’s Account shall be credited with
deemed earnings daily.



ARTICLE V




VESTING




5.1 Account




     (a) Compensation Deferrals. A Participant’s Account attributable to Compensation
deferred by a Participant pursuant to the terms of this Plan, together with any amounts credited to
the Participant’s Account under Section 4.1(d) with respect to such deferrals, shall be one hundred
percent (100%) vested at all times.



     (b) Company Contributions. The value of a Participant’s Account attributable to any
Company contributions pursuant to Section 3.3 shall vest at such time or times as the Board shall
specify in connection with any such contributions. Unless otherwise specified by the Board,
Participants shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in such amounts together with any amounts
credited to the Participant’s Account under Section 4.1(d) with respect to such amounts.



ARTICLE VI




GENERAL DUTIES




6.1 Trustee Duties




     The Trustee shall manage, invest and reinvest the Trust Fund as provided in the Trust
Agreement. The Trustee shall collect the income on the Trust Fund, and make distributions
therefrom, all as provided in this Plan and in the Trust Agreement.



6.2 Company Contributions




     While the Plan remains in effect, the Company shall make contributions to the Trust Fund at
least once each Plan Year. As soon as administratively practicable after the close of each Plan
Year, the Company shall make an additional contribution to the Trust Fund to the extent that
previous contributions to the Trust Fund for the current Plan Year are less than the total of the
Compensation deferrals made by each Participant plus Company contributions, if any, accrued as of
the close of the current Plan Year.



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6.3 Department of Labor Determination




     In the event that any Participants are found to be ineligible, that is, not members of a
select group of management or highly compensated employees, according to a determination made by
the Department of Labor, the Committee shall take whatever steps it deems necessary, in its sole
and absolute discretion, to equitably protect the interests of the affected Participants.



ARTICLE VII




DISTRIBUTIONS




7.1 Distribution of Deferred Compensation — Termination of Employment




     (a) Termination of Employment.



          (1) In the event a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason other than death,
including (without limitation) retirement or disability, then the Participant’s Distributable
Amount shall be paid to the Participant (and after the Participant’s death to his or her
Beneficiary) in a single, lump-sum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an eligible Participant may, in
accordance with the criteria set forth below, elect from the following optional forms of
distribution: (i) if the Participant has three (3) or more years of service, twenty (20) quarterly
installments, or (ii) if the Participant has five (5) or more years of service, forty (40)
quarterly installments, or (iii) if the Participant has seven (7) or more years of service or is
age sixty-five (65) or greater (or age fifty-five (55) or greater with respect to Compensation
deferred on or after January 1, 2003), sixty (60) quarterly installments. If a Participant elects
a number of quarterly installments for which he or she is ineligible due to insufficient years of
service, he or she will be deemed to elect the maximum number of quarterly installments for which
he or she is eligible.




          (2) A Participant may make such a distribution election by completing a form approved by and
filed with the Committee within thirty (30) days of the date the Eligible Employee first becomes a
Participant. A Participant may change his or her form of distribution under this Section provided
that he or she files the change with the Committee at least one (1) year prior to his or her
Payment Commencement Date.




          (3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant’s Distributable Amount is less than
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), the Distributable Amount shall automatically be distributed
in the form of a cash lump sum on the Participant’s Payment Commencement Date.




          (4) If the Participant’s Distributable Amount is paid in installments, the Participant’s
Account shall continue to be credited daily with deemed earnings pursuant to





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Section 4.1(d) and the
installment amount shall be adjusted annually to reflect gains and losses until all amounts
credited to his or her Account under the Plan have been distributed.




          (5) An eligible Participant may, in accordance with the criteria set forth below, elect to
defer the Participant’s Distribution Event for between one (1) and five (5) years following the
date of termination, if the Participant has three (3) or more years of service or is age
fifty-five (55) or greater on or before the date of termination.




          (6) A Participant may make such an election to defer the Distribution Event or change his or
her election under this Section by completing a form approved by and filed with the Committee,
provided that he or she files such initial election or any change to such election with the
Committee at least one (1) year prior to his or her Payment Commencement Date.




          (7) If the Participant has elected to defer the Distribution Event pursuant to this Section,
the Participant’s Account shall continue to be credited daily with deemed earnings pursuant to
Section 4.1(d).




          (8) Amounts payable pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the limitation on payout
under Section 7.4.




     (b) Death While an Eligible Employee. If a Participant dies while an Eligible
Employee, his or her Beneficiary shall be paid the Participant’s Account balance in the form
selected by the Participant pursuant to Section 7.1(a).



     (c) Death While Receiving Benefits. If the Participant dies while in pay status, his
or her Beneficiary shall be paid the remaining quarterly installments as they come due.



     (d) Survivor’s Benefit. The Beneficiary of an Eligible Employee shall receive a
survivor’s benefit upon the Eligible Employee’s death of $50,000, unless the Eligible Employee dies
during a year in which he or she was a Participant, that is, he or she deferred income under
Section 3.1, in which case the Beneficiary shall receive a survivor’s benefit of $200,000 instead
of $50,000; provided, that in each case the Eligible Employee has submitted to the Company a
completed life insurance application reasonably acceptable to the Company.



     (e) Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawals. On or after the date of termination
from employment, Participants (and after Participant’s death, his or her Beneficiary) may request
to withdraw amounts from their Accounts prior to their scheduled Payment Commencement Date or may
accelerate the payment of amounts from their Accounts following the Payment Commencement Date
(each, an “Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal”). Upon receiving an Unscheduled
Post-Termination Withdrawal request, the Committee shall authorize such Unscheduled
Post-Termination Withdrawal subject to the following restrictions:



          (1) The election to take an Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal shall be made by
completing a form approved by and filed with the Committee.





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          (2) The amount payable to a Participant (or, after a Participant’s death, to his or her
Beneficiary) in connection with an Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal shall in all cases equal
ninety percent (90%) of the amount requested by the Participant or, if lesser, ninety percent (90%)
of the Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal amount approved by the Committee; provided, however,
that the maximum amount payable to a Participant (or, after a Participant’s death, to his or her
Beneficiary) in connection with an Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal shall be ninety percent
(90%) of the Distributable Amount as of the date on which the Unscheduled Post-Termination
Withdrawal election is made.




          (3) If a Participant or Beneficiary receives an Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal, the
remaining portion of the requested or approved amount, as applicable (i.e., ten percent (10%) of
such amount), shall be permanently forfeited and the Company shall have no obligation to the
Participant or his or her Beneficiary with respect to such forfeited amount.




          (4) An Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal of the Participant’s Distributable Amount
pursuant to this Section shall be made pro rata from his or her deemed investments according to the
balances in such investments. Subject to the foregoing and subject to the Committee’s approval,
payment of any amount with respect to which a Participant (or, after a Participant’s death, his or
her Beneficiary) has filed a request under this Section shall be made in a single cash lump sum as
soon as administratively practicable after the Unscheduled Post-Termination Withdrawal election is
approved.




7.2 Scheduled and Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawals




     (a) Scheduled In-Service Withdrawals. A Participant may, in connection with his or
her Compensation deferral election for a Plan Year, specify a withdrawal (a “Scheduled In-Service
Withdrawal”) of all of his or her Account attributable to Compensation deferred for such Plan Year,
including any amounts credited with respect to such deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1(d), subject
to the following restrictions:



          (1) A Participant’s Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal election must specify a Scheduled
In-Service Withdrawal date that is at least three (3) years from the date the election is received
by the Company.




          (2) The election to take a Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal shall be made by completing a form
approved by and filed with the Committee.




          (3) The amount payable to a Participant in connection with a Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal
shall in all cases be one hundred percent (100%) of the Compensation deferred for the Plan Year
with respect to which the election applies, together with any earnings credited to such amount
pursuant to Section 4.1(d), determined as of the Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal date.





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          (4) All Scheduled In-Service Withdrawals shall be paid in January of the year specified in the
form of a single, lump-sum payment or, if the Participant so elects, in annual installments (not to
exceed four (4) annual installments) commencing in January of the year specified; provided that if
a Participant’s Distributable Amount is less than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), the
Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal shall be paid in the form of a cash lump sum in January of the year
specified.




          (5) If the Participant’s Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal is paid in installments, the
Participant’s Account shall continue to be credited daily with earnings pursuant to Section 4.1(d)
and the installment amount shall be adjusted annually to reflect gains and losses until all amounts
credited to his or her Account under the Plan have been distributed. Upon termination of the
Participant’s employment with, or service as a Director to, the Company for any reason while
receiving installments of his or her Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal, the remaining portion of the
Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal shall be paid in the form of a single lump-sum distribution as soon
as
administratively practicable following the last day of the month in which the Participant
terminated employment or service as a Director.




          (6) With respect to each Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal election, a Participant may, in each
case at least one (1) year prior to a Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal date: (i) revoke his or her
Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal election in favor of a later Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal date
that is at least two (2) years later; and/or (ii) change the form of his or her Scheduled
In-Service Withdrawal (i.e., between a lump-sum payment and quarterly installments).




          (7) A Participant’s Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal election shall become void and of no
effect upon termination of the Participant’s employment with, or service as a Director to, the
Company for any reason before the Participant’s scheduled withdrawal date period. In such event,
the distribution provisions of Section 7.1 shall apply.




     (b) Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawals. Participants may request to withdraw amounts
from their Accounts attributable to Compensation deferrals prior to termination of employment with
the Company (an “Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal”). Upon receiving an Unscheduled In-Service
Withdrawal request, the Committee shall authorize such Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal subject to
the following restrictions:



          (1) The election to take an Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal shall be made by completing a
form approved by and filed with the Committee.




          (2) The amount payable to a Participant in connection with an Unscheduled In-Service
Withdrawal shall in all cases equal ninety percent (90%) of the amount requested by the Participant
or, if lesser, ninety percent (90%) of the Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal amount approved by the
Committee; provided, however, that the maximum amount payable to a Participant in connection with
an Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal shall be ninety percent (90%) of the Distributable Amount as
of the date on which the Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal election is made.





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          (3) If a Participant receives an Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal, the remaining portion of
the requested or approved amount, as applicable (i.e., ten percent (10%) of such amount), shall be
permanently forfeited and the Company shall have no obligation to the Participant or his or her
Beneficiary with respect to such forfeited amount.




          (4) If a Participant receives an Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal, the Participant shall be
ineligible to participate in the Plan for the balance of the Plan Year in which the Unscheduled
In-Service Withdrawal occurs and all of the following Plan Year.




          (5) An Unscheduled In-Service Withdrawal of the Participant’s Distributable Amount pursuant to
this Section shall be made pro rata from his or her assumed investments according to the balances
in such investments. Subject to the foregoing and subject to the Committee’s approval, payment of
any amount with respect to which a Participant has filed a request under this Section shall be made
in a single cash lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the Unscheduled In-Service
Withdrawal election is approved.




7.3 Unforeseeable Emergency




     (a) Accelerated Distributions. The Committee may, in its sole and absolute
discretion, accelerate the date of distribution of a Participant’s Account because of an
Unforeseeable Emergency at any time. “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean an unforeseeable, severe
financial condition resulting from (1) a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the
Participant or his or her dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)); (2) loss of the
Participant’s property due to casualty; or (3) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable
circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.



     (b) Distribution Attributable to an Unforeseeable Emergency. Unless the Committee, in
its sole and absolute discretion, determines otherwise, distribution pursuant to this Section of
less than the Participant’s entire interest in the Plan shall be made pro rata from his or her
deemed investments according to the balances in such investments. Subject to the foregoing,
payment of any amount with respect to which a Participant has filed a request under this Section
shall be made in a single cash lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the Committee
approves the Participant’s request. If a Participant receives a distribution pursuant to this
Section, the Participant shall be ineligible to participate in the Plan for the balance of the Plan
Year in which the distribution occurs.



7.4 Inability To Locate Participant



     In the event that the Committee, acting in good faith, is unable to locate a Participant or
Beneficiary within two (2) years following the Participant’s Distribution Event, 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 (calculated immediately prior to
the forfeiture)



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shall be reinstated without interest or earnings.




ARTICLE VIII




ADMINISTRATION




8.1 Committee




     A Committee shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board. The number of
members comprising the Committee shall be determined by the Board which may from time to time vary
the number of members. A member of the Committee may resign by delivering a written notice of
resignation to the Board. The Board may remove any member by delivering a certified copy of its
resolution of removal to such member. Vacancies in the membership of the Committee shall be filled
promptly by the Board.



8.2 Committee Action




     The Committee shall act at meetings by affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
Committee. Any action permitted to be taken at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if 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
chairman or any other member or members of the Committee designated by the chairman may execute any
certificate or other written direction on behalf of the Committee.



8.3 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 to be the Funds in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof;




          (2) To construe and interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan;




          (3) To amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan in accordance with Section 9.4;





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          (4) To compute and certify the amount and kind of benefits payable to Participants and their
Beneficiaries and to direct the Trustee as to the distribution of Plan assets;




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




          (6) 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;




          (7) 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; and




          (8) 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.




8.4 Construction and Interpretation




     The Committee shall have full discretion to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of
this Plan, which interpretation or construction shall be final and binding on all parties,
including but not limited to the Company and any Participant or Beneficiary.



8.5 Information




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



8.6 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity




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



     (b) The Committee is 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.



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     (c) To the extent permitted by applicable state law, the Company shall indemnify and save
harmless the Committee and each member thereof, the Board 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 or gross negligence. 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.



8.7 Quarterly Statements.




     Under procedures established by the Committee, a Participant shall receive a statement with
respect to such Participant’s Account on a quarterly basis.



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ARTICLE IX




MISCELLANEOUS




9.1 Unsecured General Creditor




     Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or
equitable rights, claims, or interests 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.



9.2 Restriction Against Assignment




     The Company shall pay all amounts payable hereunder only to the person or persons designated
by the Plan and not to any other person or corporation. No part of a Participant’s Account 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 Account 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, 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, assign,
pledge, encumber or charge any distribution or payment from the Plan, voluntarily or involuntarily,
the Committee, in its sole and absolute 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.



9.3 Withholding




     There shall be deducted from each payment made under the Plan, all taxes that are required to
be withheld by the Company in respect to such payment. The Company shall have the right to reduce
any payment by the amount of cash sufficient to provide the amount of said taxes.



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9.4 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 Account, provided that a termination or suspension
of the Plan or any Plan amendment or modification that will significantly increase costs to the
Company shall be approved by the Board. In the event that this Plan is terminated, the timing of
the disposition of the amounts credited to a Participant’s Account shall occur in accordance with
Section 7.1, subject to earlier distribution at the discretion of the Committee.



9.5 Governing Law




     This Plan shall be construed, governed and administered in accordance with the laws of the
state of California.



9.6 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.



9.7 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.



9.8 No Employment Rights




     Participation in this Plan shall not confer upon any person any right to be employed by the
Company or any other right not expressly provided hereunder.



9.9 Headings, etc




     Not Part of Agreement.



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



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this restated Plan to be executed by its duly
authorized officer on this 1st day of August, 2002.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Bernard Liautaud
	

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Title: 	  President & CEO
	

	 	 	 	 







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