Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial



Exhibit 10.16

 

 

AEARO COMPANY

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

(Effective August 5, 1999)

 

 

 







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AEARO COMPANY

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Article	Section 	         	Page
	 	 	 	 
	I.     	 Purpose
    and Effective Date	1
	 	1.01  	Title	1
	 	1.02	Purpose	1
	 	1.03	Effective
    Date	1
	 	 	 	 
	II.	Definitions
    and Construction of the Plan Document	2
	 	2.01	Base
    Pay	2
	 	2.02	Beneficiary	2
	 	2.03	Board	2
	 	2.04	Board
    Member	2
	 	2.05	Board
    Member Fees	2
	 	2.06	Bonus	2
	 	2.07	Bookkeeping
    Account	2
	 	2.08	Change
    in Control	2
	 	2.09	Code	2
	 	2.10	Company	3
	 	2.11	Deferral
    Agreement	3
	 	2.12	Deferral
    Amount	3
	 	2.13	Deferred
    Compensation	3
	 	2.14	Election
    Date	3
	 	2.15	Executive	3
	 	2.16	Matching
    Contributions	3
	 	2.17	Operating
    Board	3
	 	2.18	Participant	4
	 	2.19	Plan	4
	 	2.20	Plan
    Administrator	4
	 	2.21	Plan
    Year	4
	 	2.22	Salary
    Deferral	4
	 	2.23	Savings
    Plan	4
	 	2.24	Valuation
    Date	4
	 	2.25	Gender
    and Number	4
	 	2.26	Titles	4
	 	 	 	 
	III.	Eligibility
    and Participation	5
	 	 	 	 
	 	3.01	 Eligibility	5
	 	 	 	 
	 	3.02	Participation	5


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	Article	Section 	         	Page
	 	 	 	 
	IV.	 Annual Deferrals	6
	 	4.01	Deferred
    Amounts	6
	 	4.02	Deferral
    Agreement	6
	 	4.03	No
    Deferral Without Agreement	7
	 	4.04 	Duration
    of Deferral Agreement	7
	 	4.05	Effect
    of Election	7
	 	 	 	 
	V.	Additional
    Deferrals	8
	 	5.01	Deferred
    Compensation	8
	 	5.02	Deferral
    Agreement	8
	 	5.03	No
    Deferral Without Agreement	8
	 	5.04	Duration
    of Deferral Agreement	8
	 	5.05	Effect
    of Election	8
	 	 	 	 
	VI.	Deferral
    Account and Crediting	9
	 	6.01	Bookkeeping
    Account	9
	 	6.02	Earnings	9
	 	 	 	 
	VII.	Distribution	10
	 	7.01	Amount
    of Benefits	10
	 	7.02	Method
    of Payment	10
	 	7.03	Time
    of Payment	10
	 	7.04	Participant’s
    Death	11
	 	7.05	Form
    of Payment	11
	 	 	 	 
	VIII.	Vesting	12
	 	8.01	Vesting	12
	 	8.02	Misconduct	12
	 	 	 	 
	IX.	Accelerated
    Distributions	13
	 	9.01	Hardship
    Distribution	13
	 	9.02	Elective
    Accelerated Distribution	13
	 	 	 	 
	X.	Beneficiary	14
	 	10.01	Beneficiary
    Designation	14
	 	10.02	Proper
    Beneficiary	14
	 	10.03	Minor
    or Incompetent Beneficiary	14
	 	 	 	 
	XI. 	Administration
    of the Plan	15
	 	11.01	Finality
    of Determination	15
	 	11.02	Certificates
    and Reports	15
	 	11.03	Indemnification
    and Exculpation	15
	 	11.04	 Expenses	15
	 	 	 	 


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	Article	Section 	         	Page
	 	 	 	 
	XII.	Claims Procedure	16
	 	12.01	Written
    Claim	16
	 	12.02	Denied
    Claim	16
	 	12.03	Review
    Procedure	16
	 	12.04	Plan
    Administrator Review	16
	 	 	 	 
	XIII. 	Nature
    of Company’s Obligations	17
	 	13.01	Company’s
    Obligation	17
	 	13.02	Creditor Status	17
	 	13.03	Change
    of Control	17
	 	 	 	 
	XIV.	Miscellaneous	18
	 	14.01	Written
    Notice	18
	 	14.02	Change
    of Address	18
	 	14.03	Merger,
    Consolidation or Acquisition	18
	 	14.04	Amendment
    and Termination	18
	 	14.05	Employment	18
	 	14.06	Nontransferability	18
	 	14.07	Legal
    Fees	19
	 	14.08	Tax
    Withholding	19
	 	14.09	Applicable
    Law	19
	 	14.10	Remedies	19
	 	14.11	Beneficial
    Interest	19
	 	14.12	Construction	19
	 	 	 	 


 

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ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE

	1.01	
 Title  This Plan shall be known as the Aearo Company Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).


	 	 
	1.02	
 Purpose  The purpose of the Plan is to permit eligible members of the Operating Board and Board of Directors of the Company to defer current Base Pay and annual Bonus or directors fees, and to provide benefits to such employees who, due to the application of United States Internal Revenue Code Sections 402(g) and 401(a)(17), are precluded from receiving full benefits from the Aearo Company Employees’ 401(k) Savings Plan.


	 	 
	1.03	
 Effective Date  The Effective Date of the Plan shall be the date this Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors and executed.


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ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLAN DOCUMENT

	2.01	
 Base Pay “Base Pay” shall mean regular salary payable to an Executive, exclusive of any Bonus or special payments and exclusive of reimbursements or other expense allowances, fringe benefits (cash and non-cash), moving expenses and welfare benefits. Base Pay does include any amount deferred under this Plan pursuant to Article IV or Article V, any elective deferral as defined in Section 402(g)(3) of the Code and amounts excludible from an Executive’s gross income under Code Section 125.


	 	 
	2.02	
 Beneficiary “Beneficiary” shall mean the natural person or persons, trust or the estate of a Participant designated by the Participant to receive any benefits under this Plan.


	 	 
	2.03	Board “Board” shall
    mean the Board of Directors of Aearo Company.
	 	 
	2.04	
 Board Member “Board Member” shall mean any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company.


	 	 
	2.05	
 Board Member Fees “Board Member Fees” shall mean the annual remuneration paid to a Board Member and any fees paid to a Board Member for attending Board meetings.


	 	 
	2.06	
 Bonus “Bonus” shall mean the annual bonus paid to an Executive under the Aearo Company Annual Incentive Plan. 


	 	 
	2.07	
 Bookkeeping Account “Bookkeeping Account” shall mean the hypothetical account established as a bookkeeping record for each Participant under this Plan and shall include one (1) or more subaccounts to reflect amounts credited to a Participant under each Deferral Agreement pursuant to the terms of this Plan.


	 	 
	2.08  	
 Change in Control “Change in Control” shall mean, prior to the time the Company has publicly traded common securities, (a) the occurrence of (1) the sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities in the Company to a third party (other than Vestar Capital Partners, L.P. (“Vestar”) or an affiliate of Vestar or an entity under the control of Vestar); (2) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a third party (other than Vestar or an affiliate of Vestar or an entity under the control of Vestar); or (3) a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or other corporate restructuring (any of the foregoing referred to a “Transaction”) and (b) following such Transaction, Vestar or
an affiliate of Vestar no longer has the authority (by virtue of voting securities ownership or by agreement with other voting securities owners) to elect or to designate the election of members of the Board (or of the governing board of the entity resulting from such Transaction) or the entity controlling the Company (or such resulting entity).


	 	 
	2.09	
 Code “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.


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	2.10	 Company “Company” shall
    mean Aearo Company, a Delaware corporation.
	 	 
	2.11	
 Deferral Agreement “Deferral Agreement” shall mean the written form which is submitted to the Plan Administrator before the relevant Election Date which indicates whether the Executive wishes to defer a portion of his Base Pay and/or Bonus and indicates the portion of Base Pay and/or Bonus to be deferred. The Deferral Agreement shall also state that the Executive will automatically defer into this Plan any amounts he cannot defer into the Savings Plan due to the application of Code Sections 401(k), 401(m), 402(g), and 401(a)(17).  A Deferral Agreement shall also mean the written form which is submitted to the Plan Administrator before the relevant Election Date which indicates whether the Board Member wishes to defer a portion of his
Board Member Fees and indicates the portion of Board Member Fees to be deferred.   No Deferral Agreement shall be effective until acknowledged, in writing, by the Company.


	 	 
	2.12	
 Deferred Amount “Deferred Amount” shall mean the portion of a Participant's Base Pay or Bonus and, in the case of a Board Member, Board Member Fees that has been deferred pursuant to the Plan for any Plan Year of part thereof.


	 	 
	2.13	
 Deferred Compensation “Deferred Compensation” shall mean such amount that is credited to an Executive Bookkeeping Account pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Plan.


	 	 
	2.14	
 Election Date “Election Date” shall mean the date established by this Plan as the date before which an Executive or Board Member must submit a valid Deferral Agreement to the Plan Administrator.  The applicable Election Dates are as follows:  


	 	 	 
	 	(a)	
 thirty (30) days after adoption of the Plan for Executives and Board Members who are eligible to participate at the time the Plan is adopted; 


	 	 	 
	 	(b)	
 thirty (30) days after a newly eligible Executive or Board Member first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan; or 


	 	 	 
	 	(c)	
 if (a) or (b) do not apply, September 30 preceding the beginning of a Plan Year or such earlier date as determined by the Plan Administrator.


	 	 
	2.15	
 Executive “Executive” shall mean any member of the Operating Board of the Company.


	 	 
	2.16	
 Matching Contributions “Matching Contributions” shall mean the contributions made by the Company on behalf of any Participant pursuant to the Savings Plan.


	 	 
	2.17	
 Operating Board “Operating Board” shall mean the group of senior management employees of the Company as designated by the Board to be the Operating Board.


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	2.18	
 Participant “Participant” means an Executive or Board Member who has deferred a portion of his Base Pay or Bonus or, in the case of a Board Member, Board Member Fees pursuant to the terms of this Plan and whose benefits hereunder have not yet been paid in full. Participant shall also mean any Executive who participates in the plan pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Plan.


	 	 
	2.19	
 Plan “Plan” shall mean the Aearo Company Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan as described in this instrument and as amended from time to time.


	 	 
	2.20  	
 Plan Administrator“Plan Administrator” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or such person or persons designated by such Committee from time to time.


	 	 
	2.21	
 Plan Year “Plan Year” shall mean the 12-month period beginning on October 1 of each calendar year; provided, however, that the first Plan Year shall be from date of adoption of this Plan by the Company to September 30, 1999.


	 	 
	2.22	
 Salary Deferral “Salary Deferral” shall mean the amount elected by an Executive as pre-tax contributions to the Savings Plan.


	 	 
	2.23	
 Savings Plan“Savings Plan” means the Aearo Company Employees’ 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended from time to time.


	 	 
	2.24	
 Valuation Date “Valuation Date” shall mean, for purposes of determining the value of any Participant’s Bookkeeping Account, the last day of any Plan Year or such other date or dates as determined by the Plan Administrator.


	 	 
	2.25	
 Gender and Number  Wherever the context so requires, masculine pronouns include the feminine and singular words shall include the plural.


	 	 
	2.26	
 Titles  Titles of the Articles of this Plan are included for ease of reference only and are not to be used for the purpose of construing any portion or provision of this Plan document.


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ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

	3.01	
 Eligibility  Any Executive or Board Member is eligible for participation in this Plan; provided, however, that no Executive shall be eligible for participation in this Plan unless he qualifies as a member of a select group of management or as a highly compensated employee of the Company as those terms are defined or interpreted under Title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).


	 	 
	3.02	
 Participation  An Executive or Board Member shall become a Participant in the plan upon completion and submission to the Plan Administrator of a duly executed Deferral Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, an Executive may become a Participant in the Plan pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Plan regardless of whether he executes a Deferral Agreement for any Plan Year in cases where Matching Contributions cannot be made to the Savings Plan due to the application of Code Section 401(a)(17).


 

 

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ARTICLE IV

ANNUAL DEFERRALS

	4.01  	
 Deferred Amounts  Each Participant in the Plan may have a percentage of his Base Pay or Bonus or, in the case of a Board Member, Board Member Fees, deferred in accordance with the following limits:


	 	 	 
	 	(a)	
 The amount of Base Pay deferred must be at least ten percent (10%) and not more than fifty percent of (50%) of the Executive’s current Base Pay.


	 	 	 
	 	(b)	
 The amount of Bonus deferred must be at least twenty five percent (25%) and not more than one hundred percent of (100%) of the Executive’s Bonus for such Plan Year.


	 	 	 
	 	(c)	
 The amount of Board Member Fees deferred must be at least twenty five percent (25%) and not more than one hundred percent of (100%) of the Board Member’s Fees for such Plan Year.


	 	 
	4.02  	
 Deferral Agreement


	 	 	 
	 	(a)	
 An eligible Executive or Board Member electing to participate in the Plan must submit his written Deferral Agreement to the Plan Administrator on or before the applicable Election Date.  Valid Deferral Agreements entered into under the conditions of Section 2.14(a) or 2.14(b) of the Plan filed by the applicable Election Date shall cause Base Pay, or in the case of a Board Member, Board Member Fees, earned in the remainder of the Plan Year such Deferral Agreement is made to be deferred.  Deferral Agreements entered into under the conditions of Section 2.14(c) of the Plan filed by September 30 shall cause Base Pay or in the case of a Board Member, Board Member Fees, to be deferred beginning with Base Pay or Board Member Fees earned on and after
October 1 of the next Plan Year. Once a Deferral Agreement has been signed and approved by the Company, the Deferred Amount may not be reduced, except as provided in Article VIII.


	 	 
	 	(b)      In the case of Bonuses, the following rules shall apply:


			 	 
			
(i)	
In the case of a valid Deferral Agreement entered into under the conditions of Section 2.14(a), the deferral shall relate to bonuses earned in the Plan Year ending September 30, 1999
	 	 	 	 


			
(ii)	
In the case of valid Deferral Agreements entered into under the conditions of Section 2.14(b), the deferral shall relate to bonuses earned in the Plan Year which includes the Election Date
	 	 	 	 


			
(iii)	
In the case of a valid Deferral Agreement entered into under the conditions of Section 2.14(c), the deferral shall relate to Bonuses earned in the Plan Year beginning after the Election Date


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	 	(c)	
 Each Deferral Agreement shall prescribe the date of distribution and form of payment applicable to amounts deferred under that Deferral Agreement.  If the Deferral Agreement does not specify a date of distribution, then the date of distribution shall be the earlier of the Executive’s termination of employment or death.


	 	 
	4.03  	
 No Deferral Without Agreement  A Participant who has not submitted a valid Deferral Agreement to the Plan Administrator before the relevant Election Date may not defer any amounts under this Article IV for the applicable Plan Year.


	 	 
	4.04  	
 Duration of Deferral Agreement  Deferral Agreements are irrevocable and remain in effect for the Plan Year for which they apply.  A Participant must file a new Deferral Agreement for any subsequent Plan Year.  The terms of any Deferral Agreement may, but need not be, similar to the terms of any prior Deferral Agreement.


	 	 
	4.05	
 Effect of Election  An election under this Article IV shall in no way affect any election made by the Executive under Article V.  


 

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ARTICLE V

ADDITIONAL DEFERRALS

	5.01  	
 Deferred Compensation   With respect to any Executive in the Savings Plan, a portion of the Executive’s compensation  shall be deferred which shall be in addition to any deferral that the Executive may have elected to defer pursuant to Article IV. The amount of such additional deferral shall be an amount that is determined by crediting on a monthly basis the amount of Matching Contributions and Salary Deferrals that cannot be made to an Executive’s account in the Savings Plan as a result of (a) application to that Executive of Code Sections 401(k), 401(m), 402(g) and 401(a)(17) and (b) the deferral to this Plan.  For purposes of this Section 5.02, “compensation” shall have the same meaning as such term is defined
in the Savings Plan. 


	 	 
	5.02  	
 Deferral Agreement  For purposes of this Article V, the amount credited on behalf of any Executive to take into account Salary Deferrals that cannot be made to the Savings Plan because of the limitation under Code Section 402(g) and/or 401(a)(17) must be made pursuant to a Deferral Agreement which conforms with the requirements described in Section 4.02 of this Plan.  In order to receive credits pursuant to such Deferral Agreement, an Executive shall be required to make the maximum employee pre-tax contribution to the Executive’s accounts under the Savings Plan as permitted by the Code and the Savings Plan.


	 	 
	5.03  	
 No Deferral Without Agreement  An Executive who has not submitted a valid Deferral Agreement to the Plan Administrator before the relevant Election Date may not defer any amounts under this Article V for the applicable Plan Year.


	 	 
	5.04  	
 Duration of Deferral Agreement  Deferral Agreements are irrevocable and remain in effect for the Plan Year for which they apply.  An Executive must file a new Deferral Agreement for any subsequent Plan Year.  The terms of any Deferral Agreement may, but need not be, similar to the terms of any prior Deferral Agreement.


	 	 
	5.05	
 Effect of Election  An election under this Article V shall in no way affect any election made by the Executive under Article IV.


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ARTICLE VI

DEFERRAL ACCOUNT AND CREDITING

	6.01  	
 Bookkeeping Account   The Deferred Amount pursuant to a written Deferral Agreement or Deferred Compensation under Section 5.01 of the Plan shall be credited to a separate Bookkeeping Account for each Participant. Deferred Amounts under subsequent written Deferral Agreements by a Participant or Deferred Compensation under Section 5.01 of the Plan shall be credited to separate subaccounts within the Participant’s Bookkeeping Account. Matching Contributions credited under Section 5.021 shall always be credited to a separate subaccount to reflect vesting.


	 	 
	6.02  	
 Earnings  On each Valuation Date each Participant’s Bookkeeping Account shall be credited with an amount equal to the earnings that would have been realized if the amount in such Participant’s Bookkeeping Account at the beginning of the Plan Year, plus fifty percent (50%) of a Participant’s Deferred Amounts or Deferred Compensation credited in the Plan Year, less any distributions made in the Plan Year, had earned one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the total return of the Lehman Brothers Long-Term Treasury Bond Index (Index) for the twelve (12) month period ending on the Valuation Date.  Where a distribution occurs during the Plan Year, the Participant’s Bookkeeping Account shall be credited with additional earnings equal
to one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the total return of the Index based upon the period from the last Valuation Date to the date of distribution.


 

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ARTICLE VII

DISTRIBUTION

	7.01  	
 Amount of Benefits  The Company’s liability to any Participant hereunder shall be an amount equal to the Participant’s Deferred Amounts and vested Deferred Compensation under Section 5.01 of the Plan plus the deemed earnings under Section 6.02 of the Plan, less any payments to the Participant pursuant to this Plan, and such amount shall be the amount credited to each Participant’s Bookkeeping Account.  


	 	 
	7.02  	
 Method of Payment  Payment of benefits attributable to Deferred Amounts or Deferred Compensation under Section 5.01 of the Plan shall be made either (a) in a single lump sum payment or (b) in annual installments over a two (2) to ten (10) year period in accordance with the method of payment elected in the Deferral Agreement for each Plan Year. Installment payments may be elected only if they are to be paid at termination of employment.  Where there is a voluntary termination of employment, and there exist multiple prior Deferral Agreements with different forms of payment elected, then the most recent Deferral Agreement shall govern the form of payment.  In the case of an involuntary termination of employment, the Participant may make a one time
irrevocable election within 30 days after termination occurs and before benefits are paid of the method of payment. Where installment payouts are made, the unpaid balance shall be credited with earnings as prescribed in Section 6.02.  The second and subsequent annual installments shall equal the then unpaid balance divided by the remaining number of annual installment payments. In all cases, the election as to form of payment shall be made before the applicable Election Date; provided, however, that a Participant may change the method of payment one time per Deferral Agreement as long as the Participant notifies the Plan Administrator of his election to change the method of payment at least six (6) months prior to the date on which payments are otherwise scheduled to commence. In the event
an Executive does not elect a method of payment, payment of benefits shall be made in a single lump sum immediately following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.


	 	 
	7.03  	
 Time of Payment  Payment of benefits attributable to Deferred Amounts or Deferred Compensation under Section 5.01 of the Plan shall commence in accordance with the commencement date elected in the Deferral Agreement for each Plan Year but in no event later than termination of employment. Deferrals must remain in the Plan for at least 2 years before they can be distributed, except in the case of a distribution specified in 9.01. In all cases, the election as to time of payment shall be made before the applicable Election Date; provided, however, that a Participant may again defer the commencement of benefit payments subsequent to the date elected in the Deferral Agreement (second election) one time per Deferral Agreement as long as the Participant
notifies the Plan Administrator of his election to defer commencement of benefit payment at least six (6) months prior to the date on which payments are otherwise scheduled to commence, and further provided, that the deferral has lasted at least two (2) years at the time of his second election. In the event an Executive does not elect a commencement date, payment of benefits shall be made in a single lump sum immediately following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.


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	7.04	
 Participant’s Death  Notwithstanding Sections 7.02 and 7.03 above, in the event of the Participant's death prior to the complete payment of an amount equal to the sum credited to the Participant’s Bookkeeping Account, payment of any remaining amount shall be made to the Participant's Beneficiary as soon as administratively practicable after the Participant's death.


	 	 
	7.05  	
 Form of Payment  All payments hereunder shall be made in cash. 


 

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ARTICLE VIII

VESTING

	8.01	
 Vesting  A Participant is always one hundred percent (100%) vested in his subaccounts representing deferrals of Base Salary, Bonus or Salary Deferrals.  Subject to the provisions of Section 8.02 a Participant shall be vested in his Matching Contributions credited under Section 5.01 when they become vested under the terms of the Savings Plan.  Non-vested amounts shall be forfeited and used by the Company in its discretion, when similar amounts are forfeited in the Savings Plan. If the participant reinstates forfeitures in the Savings Plan, those forfeitures will also be reinstated in this Plan. 


	 	 
	8.02	
 Misconduct  If the Plan Administrator finds that any Participant engages in conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Company or misconduct involving dishonesty or moral turpitude which results in detriment or financial loss to the Company or in malicious destruction of Company property, or is convicted of a felony committed and arising out of the Participant’s employment, the Plan Administrator may direct forfeiture of all of the Participant’s subaccount attributable to Matching Contributions credited under Section 5.01. 


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ARTICLE IX

ACCELERATED DISTRIBUTIONS

	9.01  	
 Hardship Distribution  At the request of a Participant before the Executive’s termination of service with the Company or a Board Member’s termination of Board membership, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, accelerate and cause all or part of the value of a Participant's vested Bookkeeping Account to be paid due to financial hardship as defined herein.  An accelerated distribution must be limited to only that amount necessary to relieve the financial hardship, plus the after-tax amount needed to pay federal, state or local income taxes reasonably anticipated to result from the payment.  In the event the Plan Administrator determines the existence of a financial hardship and decides in its sole and absolute discretion to
accelerate payments hereunder, it may in its sole and absolute discretion, reduce or suspend future Deferred Amounts under the Participant’s Deferral Agreement in effect during such Plan Year.  
	 	 
	 	“Financial hardship” shall
    mean an immediate and heavy financial need of the Participant which cannot
    be satisfied from other reasonably available resources and which are caused
    by events that are beyond the control of the Participant.
	 	 
	9.02  	
 Elective Accelerated Distribution  A Participant may request an elective accelerated distribution of all or a portion of his vested Bookkeeping Account, prior to the Executive’s termination of service with the Company or a Board Member’s termination of Board membership.  This distribution may be made for any reason or for no reason.  Provided however, that any distribution made under this section shall be reduced by an amount of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the distribution requested, with the reduction irrevocably forfeited and used by the Company in its discretion.


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ARTICLE X

BENEFICIARY


	 10.01	Beneficiary Designation A
        Participant shall designate his Beneficiary to receive benefits under
        the Plan by completing the appropriate form provided by the Plan Administrator.
        If more than one (1) Beneficiary is named, the shares and/or percentage
        of each Beneficiary shall be indicated. A Participant shall have the
        right to change the Beneficiary by submitting to the Plan Administrator
        a Beneficiary Designation Form. However, no change of Beneficiary shall
        be effective until acknowledged, in writing, by the Plan Administrator.
        A Beneficiary may be a natural person or a trust. If no beneficiary is
    designated, then payments shall be made to the Participant’s estate.
	 	 
	 10.02	Proper Beneficiary  If the Company has any doubt as to the proper Beneficiary to receive payments hereunder, the Company shall have the right to withhold such payments until the matter is finally adjudicated.  However, any payment made by the Company, in good faith and in accordance with this Plan, shall fully discharge the Company and the Plan Administrator from all further obligations with respect to that payment.


	 	 
	 10.03	Minor or Incompetent Beneficiary  In making any payments to or for the benefit of any minor or an incompetent Beneficiary, the Plan Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may (a) make a distribution to a legal or natural guardian or other relative of a minor or court appointed committee of such incompetent; or (b) make a payment to any adult with whom the minor or incompetent temporarily or permanently resides.  The receipt by a guardian, committee, relative or other person shall be a complete discharge to the Company and the Plan Administrator.  Neither the Plan Administrator nor the Company shall have any responsibility to see to the proper application of any payments so made.


 

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ARTICLE XI

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

	 11.01	Finality of Determination  Subject to the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall, from time to time, establish rules, forms and procedures for the administration of the Plan.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the Plan Administrator shall have full and absolute discretion to (i) construe and interpret the Plan, (ii) decide all questions arising with respect to the Plan, and (iii) determine the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits to any Participant or Beneficiary.  The respective decisions, actions and records of the Plan Administrator shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and all persons having or claiming to have any right or interest in or under the Plan.


	 	 
	 11.02	Certificates and Reports  The Plan Administrator and the officers and directors of the Company shall be entitled to rely on all certificates, opinions, and reports made by any duly appointed accountants and consultants, and on all opinions given by any duly appointed legal counsel, which legal counsel may be counsel for the Company.


	 	 
	 11.03	Indemnification and Exculpation  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless any person acting on behalf of or pursuant to appointment by the Plan Administrator (hereinafter referred to as “designee”) in connection with the administration of the Plan against any and all expenses and liabilities arising out of his administration of the Plan or any action or failure to act by any such designee, except if such action or failure to act constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Expenses against which any such designee shall be indemnified hereunder shall include, without limitation, the amount of any settlement or judgment, costs, counsel fees, and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a
claim asserted, or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof.  The foregoing rights of indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which any such designee may be entitled as a matter of law.


	 	 
	 11.04	Expenses  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company. 


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ARTICLE XII

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

	 12.01 	Written Claim  Benefits shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.  The Participant, or a designated Beneficiary or any other person claiming through the Participant, shall make a written request for benefits under this Plan.  This written claim shall be mailed or delivered to the Plan Administrator.  Such claim shall be reviewed by the Plan Administrator or his delegate.


	 	 
	12.02 	Denied Claim  If the claim is denied, in full or in part, the Plan Administrator shall provide a written notice within ninety (90) days setting forth the specific reasons for denial and any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary and appropriate information and explanation of the steps to be taken if a review of the denial is desired.


	 	 
	12.03 	Review Procedure  If the claim is denied and a review is desired, the Participant (or Beneficiary) shall notify the Plan Administrator, in writing, within sixty (60) days (a claim shall be deemed denied if the Plan Administrator does not take any action within the aforesaid ninety (90) day period) after receipt of the written notice of denial.  In requesting a review, the Participant or his Beneficiary may request a review of the Plan document or other pertinent documents with regard to the Plan, may submit any written issues and comments, may request an extension of time for such written submission of issues and comments and may request that a hearing be held, but the decision to hold a hearing shall be within the sole
discretion of the Plan Administrator.


	 	 
	12.04	Plan Administrator Review  The decision on the review of the denied claim shall be rendered by the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request for review (or within one hundred twenty (120) days if special circumstances exist). The decision shall be written and shall state the specific reasons for the decision including reference to the specific provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based.


 

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ARTICLE XIII

NATURE OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATION

	 13.01 	Company's Obligation  The Company's payment obligations in connection with Deferred Amounts or Deferred Compensation under this Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay the benefit due in accordance with the Plan and Deferral Agreement.  The Company shall not be obligated under any circumstances to set aside assets to discharge its financial obligations under this Plan, except as provided under Section 13.03 of the Plan, in which event the Company shall establish an irrevocable trust and contribute assets to such trust for the purpose of satisfying its obligations under the Plan.  The Company’s payment obligations hereunder shall be discharged and satisfied to the extent proper payments are made from such
trust to a Participant or Beneficiary.


	 	 
	 13.02 	Creditor Status  Any assets which the Company may acquire or set aside to help cover its financial liabilities under the Plan are and shall remain general assets of the Company subject to the claims of the creditors of the Company.  Neither the Company hereunder nor this Plan gives the Participant or any Beneficiary any ownership interest in any asset of the Company. All rights of ownership in any such assets are, and remain, in the Company.


	 	 
	 13.03 	Change of Control  In the event of a Change in Control, an amount equal to the Participant’s Bookkeeping Account at the time of such Change in Control shall be paid to a trustee designated in advance by the Company and such amounts shall be held in an irrevocable trust for the benefit of Participants pursuant to the terms of the Plan and Participants’ Deferral Agreements. Such trust shall be irrevocable and shall provide that the trustee shall make payments of benefits in accordance with the Plan and the Deferral Agreements, and shall also provide that no assets of the trust may be used for any purpose other than the payment of benefits.  Provided however, that such trust’s assets shall be required to be
delivered to the Company’s trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to the terms of the trust.


 

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ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

	 14.01 	Written Notice  Any notice which shall or may be given under this Plan or a Deferral Agreement shall be in writing and shall be mailed by United States mail, postage prepaid. If notice is to be given to the Company, such notice shall be addressed to the Company at:


	 	 	 
	 	 	5457 West 79th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Attn.:  Vice-President, Human Resources



	 	 
	 	or, if notice is to a Participant, addressed to the last known address shown on the Company’s records.


	 	 
	 14.02 	Change of Address Any party may, from time to time, change the address to which notices shall be mailed by giving written notice of such new address.


	 	 
	 14.03 	Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition  The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its assigns, and any successor company which shall succeed to substantially all of its assets and business through merger, acquisition or consolidation, and upon a Participant, his Beneficiary, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators.


	 	 
	 14.04	Amendment and Termination  Except as provided herein, the Company retains the sole and unilateral right to terminate, amend, modify or supplement this Plan, in whole or in part, at any time.  This right includes the right to make retroactive amendments.  However, in no event shall the Company have the right to amend the Plan in a manner that (i) reduces the amount credited, including earnings, to any Participant’s Bookkeeping Account, as of the later of the date the amendment is adopted or effective, or (ii) reduces or eliminates any benefit, right or feature which has accrued under the terms of the Plan with respect to all amounts deferred or credited under the Plan as of the later of the amendment’s adoption or
effective date. 


	 	 
	 14.05 	Employment  This Plan does not provide a contract of employment between the Company and the Participant, and, except as provided in any other contractual arrangement, if any, between a Participant and the Company, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Participant's employment, for any reason, at any time, notwithstanding the existence of this Plan.


	 	 
	 14.06 	Nontransferability  Except insofar as prohibited by applicable law, no sale, transfer, alienation, assignment, pledge, collateralization or attachment of any benefits under this Plan shall be valid or recognized by the Company or the trustee of any related trust. Neither the Participant, his spouse, or designated Beneficiary, shall have any right to hypothecate, mortgage, commute, modify or otherwise encumber in advance of any receipt of the benefits payable hereunder, nor shall any of said benefits be subject to seizure for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony maintenance, owed by the Participant or his Beneficiary, or be transferable by operation of law in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency or
otherwise.


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	 14.07 	Legal Fees  All reasonable legal fees incurred by any Participant (or former Participant) to successfully enforce his valid rights under this Plan shall be paid by the Company in addition to sums due under this Plan.


	 	 
	 14.08 	Tax Withholding  The Company may withhold from a payment any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment.


	 	 
	 14.09 	Applicable Law  This Plan shall be governed by the laws of the state of Indiana without respect to principles of conflicts of law. 


	 	 
	 14.10 	Remedies  All parties shall have the right to pursue any and all remedies available under law or equity.


	 	 
	 14.11	Beneficial Interest  This Plan is established solely for the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Participants as defined herein. No person other than the Company and each Participant or, if applicable, the Participant’s Beneficiary may claim any rights or benefits under this Plan nor may seek to enforce any of the provisions of this Plan.


	 	 
	 14.12	Construction The following principles apply to the construction of the Plan.


	 	 	 
	 	(a)	
 Interpretation of Plan  The Company has the sole authority and discretion to construe the language of the Plan and to resolve all questions concerning eligibility for benefits, plan administration and interpretation of the plan document.


	 	 	 
	 	(b)	
 Amendment of Qualified Savings Plan  If the Savings Plan is amended or terminated, this Plan must be construed in a manner consistent with such amendment or termination.


	 	 	 
	 	(c)	
 Invalidity of Any Provision  In the event any provision of the Plan is declared to be invalid, in whole or in part, such provision is null and void.  The remaining provisions of the Plan are unaffected and remain in full force and effect.  However, the Company, in its discretion may construe the provision in such a manner that it is valid in the jurisdiction where it is declared to be invalid.


	 	 	 
	 	(d)	
 Enforceability of Any Provision  A provision of the Plan which is invalid in any jurisdiction remains in effect and is enforceable in all jurisdictions in which the provision is valid.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this _____ day of _______________, 19___, effective as set forth herein.

 

	 	AEARO COMPANY
	 	 
	 	By__________________________
	 	 


 

ATTEST:

By:  ________________________________

[SEAL]

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AMENDMENT ONE

TO

THE AEARO COMPANY

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (Plan)

WHEREAS, the Aearo Company (Company) adopted the Plan effective August 5, 1999 to provide selected executives with the opportunity to defere compensation; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to adjust on a prospective basis the interest crediting method under the Plan and to clarify certain other items relating to such interest crediting method; and

WHEREAS, the Company has reserved the right in Section 14.04 of the Plan to amend the Plan;

NOW THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:

	 	1.	Section 6.02 is amended in its entirety as follows:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Earnings
On each Valuation Date beginning October 1, 2003, each Participant’s Bookkeeping Account shall be credited with an amount equal to the earnings that would have been realized if the amount in such Participant’s Bookkeeping Account at the beginning of the Plan Year, plus fifty percent (50%) of a Participant’s Deferred Amounts or Deferred Compensation credited in the Plan Year, less any distributions made in the Plan Year, had earned an amount equal to the average of the actual calendar month-end U.S. prime rates, as published in the Wall Street Journal, as of the end of each of the 12 months ending on the Valuation Date, plus 4.5 points. Where a distribution occurs during the
Plan year, the Participant’s Bookkeeping Account shall be credited with earnings equal to the average of the actual calendar month-end U.S. prime rates, as published in the Wall Street Journal, as of the end of each of the 12 months ending on the Valuation Date, plus 4.5 points, but based only upon actual calendar month end prime rates during the period from the last Valuation Date to the date of distribution.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company by its authorized officer has executed this Amendment as of this 8th day of December, 2003.
  	 	ATTEST: (SEAL)	 	 	Aearo Company
	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	 	 	By:	
	 	
  Secretary	 	 	
  



 







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SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

          WHEREAS, Aearo Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) maintains the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, originally effective August 5, 1999, and as last amended by Amendment One, effective as of October 1, 2003 (the “Plan”); and

          WHEREAS, the Plan’s change in control provisions were triggered on April 7, 2004, due to a change in the Company’s ownership, and a rabbi trust was established with participant-directed accounts; and

          WHEREAS, the Company and all participants under the Plan agreed upon and implemented as of April 8, 2004, a change in the Plan’s earnings provisions contained in Section 6.02 of the Plan;

          NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the amending power reserved to the Company under the Plan, the Plan is amended, effective as of April 8, 2004, in the following particulars:

	 	1.	Section 6.02 is amended in its entirety, to read as follows:	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	“Earnings  On and after April 8, 2004, each Participant shall have the ability to make investment recommendations for his Bookkeeping Account based on certain investments or investment funds made available by the Company, and such earnings/loss shall be credited to his Bookkeeping Account on a periodic basis on and after April 8, 2004. Such investment recommendations shall be on such forms and for such period of time as determined by the Company from time to time. In the event a Participant makes no investment recommendation to the Company, then his Bookkeeping Account shall be invested in the most conservative fund, designed to preserve principal.”	 


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its authorized officer, has caused this Second Amendment to be executed effective as of this 8th day of April, 2004.
  	 	AEARO COMPANY
	 	 	 
	 	By:	
	 	 	

	 	Its:	Senior Vice President, Human Resources





	ATTEST:	 
	 	 	 
	By: 		 
	 	
	 
	Its:	 Corporate Controller	 
	 	
	 


 






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PARTICIPANT CONSENT TO SECOND AMENDMENT

          Each
    of the undersigned participants acknowledges and voluntarily consents to
    this change to the Plan.

	 	
	 	

	 	James H. Bernhardt
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	Bryan J. Carey
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	James H. Floyd
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	Radhul Kapur
	 	 
	 	
	 	

    
	 	Jeffey S. Kulka
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	M. Rand Mallitz
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	Joseph C. Marlette
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	Michael A. McLain
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	James M. Phillips
	 	 
	 	
	 	

	 	D Garrad Warren III