Document:

Exhibit 10.27

 

EXHIBIT
10.27

ABITIBI CONSOLIDATED U.S.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE

RETIREMENT PLAN (SERP)

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

EFFECTIVE January 1, 2007

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date	 	 	 	Signature	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date	 	 	 	Signature	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	Table of Contents	 	 	 	 
	 
	Section 1 - Purpose
	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 2 - Definitions
	 	 	3	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 3 - Eligibility
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 4 - Contributions
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 5 - Normal Retirement and Postponed Retirement Benefits
	 	 	14	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 6 - Early Retirement Benefits
	 	 	15	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 7 - Disability
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 8 - Form of Pension
	 	 	17	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 9 - Death Prior to Retirement
	 	 	29	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 10 - Termination of Employment
	 	 	31	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 11 - Increase in Benefits under Qualified Pension Plan
	 	 	37	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 12 - Commutation of Benefits
	 	 	38	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 13 - Service Outside United States
	 	 	39	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 14 - Conditions for Payment
	 	 	40	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 15 - General Provisions
	 	 	42	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 16 - Administration
	 	 	45	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 17 - Future of the Plan
	 	 	46	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	Appendix A

	 	List of Participating Subsidiaries or Associated Companies.
	 	A-l
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Appendix B

	 	Additional Credited Service or Credited Service Date.
	 	B-l
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Appendix C

	 	Executive Employee who held an MSBA and elected to convert his defined
benefit entitlement under the prior Abitibi-Price Inc. Registered Pension Plan to a
defined contribution entitlement on January 1, 1996
	 	C-l
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Appendix D

	 	Formula for calculating the interest rate assumption under Section 2.12 for
lump sum benefit payments made after May 6, 2007
	 	D-l

 

 

Section 1 – Purpose

	1.01	 	The purpose of this Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (hereinafter the “SERP”) is to provide
special retirement benefits to Executive Employees eligible to become a participant thereunder, in
accordance with the terms and provisions of this document. Such special retirement benefits are in
addition to those payable from any qualified pension plan of Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation
or any subsidiary or associated company listed in Appendix A.
	 
	1.02	 	This SERP was established, effective as of January 1, 1999, and as of such date replaced and
cancelled the application of the individual supplementary retirement benefits agreement known
as Memorandum Supplemental Benefit Agreement (“MSBA”) in the case of an Executive Employee who
was a former Abitibi-Price Sales Corporation employee and of the Stone-Consolidated
Corporation Senior Management Retirement Plan (SMRP) in the case of an Executive Employee who
was a former Stone- Consolidated Corporation employee. For greater certainty, this SERP shall
not apply to or otherwise modify supplemental retirement benefits payable or the terms and
conditions for payment of such benefits to any former Executive Employee who has retired from
or otherwise terminated his employment with the Corporation or its predecessors or their
affiliates prior to the effective date of the SERP, nor will it apply to an Executive Employee
who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, has elected to not participate in this SERP. The
provisions of this SERP were amended by an Amendment No. One, effective January 1, 2005, to
comply with U.S. Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) Section 409A. The provisions of this restated
SERP document are adopted, effective as of January 1, 2007, to comply with I.R.C. Section 409A
as interpreted by the U.S. Treasury Department Regulations thereunder, (most of which were
promulgated in 2007). This SERP is intended to be maintained and operated in accordance with
I.R.C. Section 409A and the U.S. Treasury Department Regulations thereunder.
	 
	1.03	 	The provisions of this restated SERP are effective as of January 1, 2007, unless stated
otherwise herein.

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	1.04	 	The name of the Plan shall be the “Abitibi Consolidated U.S. Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan”.

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Section 2 — Definitions

In this SERP, the following words and phrases shall have the following meaning, respectively,
unless a different meaning is specifically required by the context:

	2.01	 	“Actuarial Equivalent Value” shall mean a value deemed to be equal to another value, as
determined on a basis of the SERP provisions in effect on the date such determination is being
made. The Actuarial Equivalent Value of a benefit of a Participant under this SERP shall be
determined in the same manner and using the same assumptions as those used or that would be
used for similar purposes under the Abitibi Consolidated U.S. Retirement Plan (for Salaried
and Certain Non-Bargaining Hourly Employees).
	 
	 	 	For greater certainty, in determining the Actuarial Equivalent Value of a benefit, account
shall not be taken of the income tax consequences that would arise to the recipient of the
benefit.
	 
	2.02	 	“Additional Voluntary Contribution” shall mean a contribution, other than a required
contribution, which may be made by a Participant under a Qualified Pension Plan of the
Corporation.
	 
	2.03	 	“Average Pensionable Earnings” shall mean, in respect of a Participant, the sum of:

	 	a)	 	the average of the Participant’s monthly base salary during the sixty (60)
consecutive months within the one hundred and twenty (120) months of continuous
employment immediately preceding his retirement or termination of employment during
which such base salary was the highest, multiplied by twelve (12); plus
	 
	 	b)	 	the average of the Participant’s annual bonus earned in the five (5) years,
whether consecutive or not, within the ten (10) years of continuous employment
immediately preceding his retirement, disability, or termination of employment, during
which such annual bonus was the highest. For greater certainty, the term “bonus” shall
refer to an award paid under the Corporation’s annual incentive plan as may be adopted
from time to time and shall exclude any special bonus not paid

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	 	 	 	under an annual incentive plan, any amount payable under any long-term incentive
plan of the Corporation, or any stock option benefit.

	2.04	 	“Basic Pension” shall mean the annual lifetime pension which the Participant would otherwise
be entitled to receive from time to time pursuant to any Qualified Pension Plan, in regards
to the period of Credited Service recognized for purposes of this SERP or that would be so
recognized for purposes of this SERP in absence of the 35 year limit on Credited Service as
per Section 2.08, but limited to the period of Credited Service actually recognized in the
Qualified Pension Plan. It shall be assumed that such annual pension is payable from the same
date as supplementary benefits commence to be paid under this SERP and is calculated on the
basis of the following assumptions:

	 	a)	 	where the Qualified Pension Plan is a defined benefit pension plan:

	 	i)	 	the annual pension is in the form of a pension payable under
the normal form provided for under the Qualified Pension Plan, or if the
Participant elects an optional form in accordance with Section 8.03, the
annual pension payable under such optional form;
	 
	 	ii)	 	the Participant has made no Additional Voluntary Contribution; and
	 
	 	iii)	 	the amount of the Basic Pension shall be determined according
to the formula under the Qualified Pension Plan regardless of any reduction in
benefits that may be applied, by operation of statute or otherwise, as a
result of the funded status of such Qualified Pension Plan on the date of such
determination (it being understood that, where the Qualified Pension Plan is a
defined benefit pension plan, the foregoing assumption shall also be
applicable to the determination of the amount of survivor pension payable to
the Spouse under the Qualified Pension Plan following the death of the
Participant (or any survivor pension that would have been payable had the
benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan not been commuted or paid in the
form of a lump sum payment) as referred to in Section 8, and any amount
payable under the Qualified Pension Plan to the

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	 	 	 	Participant’s estate or any designated beneficiary following the death of the
Participant (or any amount that would have been payable had the benefits under the
Qualified Pension Plan not been commuted or paid in a lump sum payment) as
referred to in Section 8; and

	 	b)	 	where the Qualified Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension plan, an annual pension
which is the Actuarial Equivalent, based on the assumptions in Section 2.01 and the form of
pension described in paragraph a) of this Section 2.04, of the amount accumulated since
January 1, 1999 by the Participant under the Qualified Pension Plan, excluding his Additional
Voluntary Contributions, as of the date of his retirement, death or termination of employment
with the Corporation; and
	 
	 	c)	 	where the Qualified Pension Plan is the Abitibi Consolidated U.S. 401(k) Plan for Salaried
Employees or any other 401(k) plan maintained by a sponsor listed in Appendix A of this
document, an annual pension which is the Actuarial Equivalent, based on the assumptions in
Section 2.01 and the form of pension referred to in paragraph a) of this Section 2.04, of the
amount that would have accumulated since January 1, 1999 by the Participant under the
Qualified Pension Plan, excluding his voluntary contributions, if he had participated in the
plan each year so as to receive the maximum contribution from the Corporation, and invested
all of his contributions in the Abitibi Consolidated U.S. 401(k) Plan for Salaried Employees
American Century Stable Value Fund (or a stable value investment option that replaces this
fund), as of the date of his retirement, death or termination of employment with the
Corporation; and
	 
	 	d)	 	in the case of an Executive Employee who is a former Abitibi-Price Inc. employee who held a
MSBA and who elected to convert his defined benefit entitlement under Abitibi-Price Inc.’s
Registered Pension Plan to a defined contribution entitlement, a list of such Executive
Employees being attached hereto as Appendix C, the Basic Pension in respect of such
Participant shall be determined as if the Participant had elected not to convert his defined
benefit entitlement

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	 	 	 	under Abitibi-Price Inc.’s Registered Pension Plan and such defined benefit
entitlement has been determined in accordance with the provisions in effect on
January 1, 1996 of the Abitibi-Price Inc.’s Registered Pension Plan and in
accordance with the assumptions and the form of pension described in paragraph a)
of this Section 2.04; and
	 
	 	e)	 	in all cases, where a Participant’s entitlement under the Qualified Plan has
been divided between the Participant and his Spouse or former Spouse as a result of
divorce, separation or annulment of marriage, his Basic Pension shall be determined as
if no such division of his entitlement had occurred.

	2.05	 	“Change of Control” shall have the meaning described in Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(5), i.e., a
change in the ownership of the Corporation of more than fifty percent (50%), a change in the
effective control of the Corporation of thirty percent (30%) or more, or the sale of a
substantial portion of the Corporation’s assets.
	 
	2.06	 	“Continuous Service” shall mean a Participant’s uninterrupted period of employment, with the
Corporation or with a predecessor company, deemed to have commenced on the first day of the
month coinciding with or immediately following the Participant’s hiring date by the
Corporation, or deemed to have commenced on the Participant’s hiring date by such predecessor
company, as the case may be; for such purpose a predecessor company shall mean Donohue
Industries Inc. or any other company considered to be a predecessor company for such purpose.
The continuous service of a Participant shall not be interrupted as a result of any absence
due to disability, which was approved by the Corporation, or due to temporary absence other
than as a result of disability, which was approved by the Corporation.
	 
	 	 	For Participants hired on or after January 1, 2002, Continuous Service shall mean a
Participant’s uninterrupted period of employment with the Corporation deemed to have
commenced on the Participant’s hiring date.
	 
	 	 	Continuous Service shall be measured in years with proportional allowance for
non-completed years.

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	2.07	 	“Corporation” means Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and its affiliated companies, or any
subsidiary of the Corporation or associated company, provided however, that any reference in
this SERP to action to be taken, consent, approval or opinion to be given, decision to be
made or discretion to be exercised by the Corporation shall refer to Abitibi-Consolidated
Inc., or its successor, acting through its Board of Directors or any person or persons
authorized to act on behalf of the Corporation for the purposes of this SERP, in accordance
with the normal practices of the Corporation.
	 
	2.08	 	“Credited Service” shall mean the Participant’s period of Continuous Service, following the
Participant’s hiring date by the Corporation. However, with respect to those Executive
Employees who were previously employed by Donohue Industries Inc., credited service shall
begin on June 1, 1998. For greater certainty, Credited Service shall not include any period of
service recognized as credited service under any other nonqualified pension plan sponsored by
the Corporation other than this SERP.
	 
	 	 	Subject to the approval of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, the Corporation may also recognize, for newly hired
Executive Employees or any short service Executive Employees, additional service up to a
maximum of five (5) years for purposes of calculating the Participant’s Continuous and
Credited Service, such additional service being as described in Appendix B hereto, as
updated from time to time. Effective from August 23, 2000, such additional service shall
be vested with the Participant on a basis established by the Corporation.
	 
	 	 	Subject to the approval of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, the Corporation may also recognize for Executive Employees
who were previously employed by Donohue Industries Inc., additional service as described
in Appendix B hereto, such additional service to be vested only on the dates specified in
Appendix B.
	 
	 	 	Credited Service shall be measured in years with proportional allowance for non-completed
years. Total years of Credited Service under this SERP and under all other unregistered or
nonqualified pension plans sponsored by the Corporation shall not exceed 35.

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	2.09	 	“Early Retirement Date” shall mean the first day of the month immediately following the
date on which the Participant elects to retire early in accordance with Section 6 hereof,
provided he is then at least 55 years of age.
	 
	2.10	 	“Effective Date” shall mean January 1, 1999. The effective date of this restated SERP is
January 1, 2007.
	 
	2.11	 	“Executive Employee” shall mean an executive employee considered as such by the Corporation
and who is eligible for participation in this SERP in accordance with Section 3 herein.
	 
	2.12	 	“Lump Sum Assumptions” shall mean an interest rate and mortality table used to determine the
value of a lump sum distribution under Section 8 or Section 10. The interest rate for a lump
sum distribution paid before January 1, 2007 shall be based upon Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.’s
(ACI’s) after tax cost of debt derived in accordance with ACI’s administrative policies.
ACI’s treasury department will furnish such rate on an annual basis. The interest rate for
lump sum distributions paid during the period from January 1, 2007 to May 6, 2007 shall be
five and five-tenths percent (5.5%). The interest rate for lump sum distributions paid after
May 6, 2007, shall be calculated by ACI’s treasury department in accordance with the formula
set forth in Appendix D (which is similar to the way the interest rate for a letter of credit
for the Canadian SERP benefit is calculated). This interest rate shall be calculated by ACI,
or its successor’s, treasury department on an annual basis. The mortality table will be
based on the underlying mortality table used for actuarial equivalent benefit calculation
purposes in the Abitibi Consolidated U.S. Retirement Plan for Salaried and Certain Hourly-Paid
Non-Bargaining Employees. However, the table used for purposes of this Section 2.12 will be
used on a sex distinct basis instead of a blended mortality basis. Effective March 1, 2003,
such table is the sex distinct GAR94, projected to 2002, Mortality Table.
	 
	2.13	 	“MSBA” shall mean the Memorandum Supplemental Benefit Agreement, an individual
supplementary benefits agreement with an Executive Employee who was a former Abitibi-Price
Sales Corporation employee.

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	2.14	 	“Normal Retirement Date” shall mean the first day of the month coinciding with or next
following the month in which the Participant attains the age of 65 years.
	 
	2.15	 	“Participant” shall mean an Executive Employee who is eligible to participate in this SERP in
accordance with Section 3 herein.
	 
	2.16	 	“Qualified Pension Plan” means any one or more pension plans sponsored by the Corporation
from time to time and qualified under Section 401 (a) of the U. S. Internal Revenue Code. When
used in respect of a Participant, this expression shall refer to the one or more Qualified
Pension Plans under which such Participant is entitled to receive benefits following his
termination of employment, death or retirement from the Corporation with regards to the period
of Credited Service which is recognized for purposes of this SERP.
	 
	2.17	 	“SERP” shall mean the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Executive Employees
of Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation, as described in this document and as it may be
amended from time to time.
	 
	2.18	 	“SMRP” shall mean Stone-Consolidated Corporation Senior Management Retirement Plan, an
individual supplementary benefits agreement of Stone-Consolidated Corporation with an
Executive Employee who was a former Stone-Consolidated Corporation employee.
	 
	2.19	 	“Spouse” shall mean the person who satisfies the definition of spouse as defined under the
Qualified Pension Plan of which the Participant is a member at the time the spousal status
needs to be determined, or would have been a member had his benefits not been commuted or paid
in a lump sum.
	 
	 	 	Spousal status shall be determined on the day proceeding the date of death of the
Participant or on the day when the Participant commences receiving his supplementary
retirement allowance, whichever occurs first.

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For the purpose of this SERP, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to the masculine
include the feminine and vice versa and references to the singular include the plural and vice
versa.

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Section 3 — Eligibility

	3.01	 	An Executive Employee who is in the service of the Corporation on the Effective Date shall
be eligible to become a Participant of this SERP as of the Effective Date subject to the
following conditions:

	 	a)	 	An Executive Employee who was a former Abitibi-Price Sales Corporation employee
and who was party to an MSBA providing for supplementary retirement benefits may elect
to become a Participant under this SERP as of the Effective Date. Upon such election,
he shall cease to accrue benefits under such individual agreement and shall no longer
be entitled to any benefits thereunder. If he elects not to participate in this SERP,
he shall forever forfeit his entitlement to participate hereunder and will continue to
accrue and be entitled to supplementary pension benefits in accordance with the terms
and provisions of his MSBA.
	 
	 	b)	 	An Executive Employee who is a former Stone-Consolidated Corporation employee
and who participated in an SMRP may elect to become a Participant under this SERP as of
the Effective Date. Upon such election, he shall cease to accrue benefits under the
SMRP and shall no longer be entitled to benefits thereunder and shall become a
Participant in this SERP as of the Effective Date. If he elects to not become a
Participant in this SERP, he will forever forfeit his entitlement to participate
hereunder and will continue to accrue and be entitled to supplementary pension benefits
in accordance with the terms and provisions of the SMRP.
	 
	 	c)	 	In the case of an Executive Employee who was in the service of Abitibi
Consolidated Sales Corporation or any subsidiary or associated company listed in
Appendix A as of the Effective Date but was not party to an MSBA with Abitibi- Price
Sales Corporation providing for supplementary pensions or did not participate in an
SMRP, or in the case of an employee of Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation or any
subsidiary or associated company listed in Appendix A who becomes classified as an
Executive Employee after the Effective Date, such Executive Employee shall become
eligible to participate under this SERP upon:

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	 	i)	 	completion of at least two years in a senior position of
the Corporation and demonstration of superior performance; and
	 
	 	ii)	 	designation in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

Participation shall commence as of the date determined in such designation.
At the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the
two-year requirement in part i) above may be waived.

	 	d)	 	Executive Employees who are employed for a temporary period to complete
functions relating to the merger of Abitibi-Price Sales Corporation and/or
Stone-Consolidated Corporation shall not be eligible to participate in this SERP,
unless provided otherwise in a severance compensation agreement with the Corporation.

	3.02	 	The election referred to in Section 3.01 a) or 3.01 b) above shall be made at such time
and in such form as determined by the Corporation.
	 
	3.03	 	An Executive Employee who has become a Participant under this SERP in accordance
with this Section 3 shall remain a Participant as long as he continues to be entitled to
receive benefits hereunder.
	 
	3.04	 	In the event that a Participant remains an employee of the Corporation but ceases to be
classified as an Executive Employee, and unless he is otherwise designated by the
Corporation as eligible to continue to accrue Credited Service under this SERP, the
benefits otherwise payable to or in respect of such Participant under this SERP shall be
payable as of the Participant’s retirement, death or termination of employment, as the case
may be, but shall be based on such Participant’s Credited Service and Average
Pensionable Earnings up to the date he ceases to be classified as an Executive Employee
or as of such later date specified by the Corporation.

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Section 4 — Contributions

	4.01	 	No contribution shall be required from a Participant in respect of benefits payable under
this SERP.
	 
	4.02	 	The Corporation shall pay the full cost of the benefits provided under the SERP.

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Section 5 — Normal Retirement and Postponed Retirement Benefits

	5.01	 	A Participant who retires on his Normal Retirement Date shall be entitled to receive an
annual supplementary retirement allowance payable in equal monthly installments and
commencing on his Normal Retirement Date in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of
a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of years of
Credited Service;
	 
	 	b)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where such Basic Pension
has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received if such
commutation had not taken place.

	5.02	 	In the event a Participant remains in the employ of the Corporation after his Normal
Retirement Date, he shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary retirement
allowance, payable in equal monthly installments and commencing on the first day of the
month following his actual lifetime supplementary retirement allowance benefit
commencement date, equal to the amount determined in accordance with Section 5.01,
and based on his Credited Service and Average Pensionable Earnings as of his Normal
Retirement Date, and his Basic Pension as of his actual lifetime supplementary retirement
allowance benefit commencement date.

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Section 6 — Early Retirement Benefits

	6.01	 	A Participant may retire prior to his Normal Retirement Date, provided he is then at least
55 years of age and has completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service.
For the purpose of this SERP, his Early Retirement Date shall be the first day of the
month coinciding with or next following the date on which the Participant retires.
	 
	6.02	 	Where the Participant is at least 58 years of age and the sum of his age and years of
Continuous or Credited Service totals at least 80, such Participant shall be entitled to an
annual supplementary retirement allowance, payable in equal monthly installments,
determined in accordance with Section 5.01 and commencing on his Early Retirement
Date.
	 
	6.03	 	A Participant other than a Participant referred to in Section 6.02 who retires early in
accordance with Section 6.01 shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
retirement allowance, payable in equal monthly installments, and commencing on his
Early Retirement Date in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of years of
Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5% multiplied by the number of
months that his Early Retirement Date precedes:

	 	i)	 	where the Participant has completed at least 20 years of
Continuous or Credited Service, the date at which the Participant would first
have qualified for an unreduced supplementary retirement allowance in
accordance with Section 6.02 hereof had he continued in the plan;
	 
	 	ii)	 	where the Participant has not completed 20 years of
Continuous or Credited Service, age 65.

	 	b)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where such Basic
Pension
has been commuted or paid in a lump sum, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation or lump sum payment had not taken place.

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Section 7 — Disability

	7.01	 	During a period of disability entitling the Participant to either receive (i) disability
benefits under U.S. Social Security or (ii) disability benefits under a long-term disability
plan maintained by the Corporation from time to time, such Participant shall continue to
accrue Credited Service for the purpose of this SERP. During such period, the
Participant shall be deemed to receive a base salary equal to the annual rate of base salary
he was receiving immediately prior to his becoming disabled.
	 
	7.02	 	If the Participant, for any reason, ceases to be eligible to receive benefits under the
short-term or long-term disability plan maintained by the Corporation prior to his Normal
Retirement Date and within such period as determined by the Corporation:

	 	a)	 	the Participant returns to active employment with the Corporation, then at
the date
of his subsequent termination, death or retirement, he shall be entitled to
supplementary retirement benefits calculated in accordance with the provisions of
this SERP, taking into account the provisions of Section 7.01 above, or
	 
	 	b)	 	the Participant does not return to active employment with the Corporation
then, he
will be deemed to have terminated his employment or retired for the purposes of
this SERP as of the day he ceases to be eligible to receive benefits from the
disability plans maintained by the Corporation and his supplementary retirement
benefits shall be calculated based on the provisions of this SERP, taking into
account the provisions of Section 7.01 above.

	7.03	 	A Participant whose period of disability continues until his Normal Retirement Date shall
be deemed to have retired on his Normal Retirement Date for the purpose of this SERP.
	 
	7.04	 	In the event of the death of a Participant who is accumulating Credited Service while in
receipt of disability benefits as provided in Section 7.01 hereof, the benefits payable
under this SERP shall be determined in accordance with the terms of Section 9 hereof as
if he died while in service of the Corporation.

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Section 8 — Form of Pension

	8.01	 	This Section 8.01 shall only apply to a supplementary retirement allowance that started
prior to January 1, 2005. Such an annual supplementary retirement allowance payable to
a Participant under this SERP shall be paid during the lifetime of the Participant.
Following the death of the Participant while in receipt of such supplementary retirement
allowance, the Participant’s Spouse shall be entitled to receive during his or her lifetime
an annual supplementary survivor allowance, payable in equal monthly installments, and
commencing on the first day of the month following the month in which the Participant
dies, equal to the excess of a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	50% of the annual supplementary retirement allowance that would have been
payable to the Participant under this SERP at the time of his death, if such
supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the Participant’s Basic
Pension;
	 
	 	b)	 	any survivor pension payable to the Spouse under the Qualified Pension Plan
following the death of the Participant, or any survivor pension that would have
been payable had the benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan not been
commuted or paid in a lump sum. Where the Qualified Pension Plan is a plan as
defined in Section 2.04 b) or c), the survivor pension payable to the Spouse shall
be equal to 50% of the Participants Basic Pension as defined in Section 2.04.

	8.02	 	This Section 8.02 shall only apply to a supplementary retirement allowance that started
prior to January 1, 2005. If a Participant, who does not have a Spouse at the start of his
supplementary retirement allowance dies before 120 monthly payments of the
supplementary retirement allowance have been paid to him, his estate shall receive a
lump sum which is the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess of a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	the balance of the 120 monthly payments of the supplementary retirement
allowance that would have been payable to the Participant under this SERP at the time
of his death if such supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the Participant’s
Basic Pension;

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	 	b)	 	any amount payable under the Qualified Pension Plan to his estate or any
designated beneficiary following the death of the Participant, or any amount that
would have been payable had the benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan not been
commuted or paid in a lump sum. Where the Qualified Pension Plan is a plan as
defined in Section 2.04 b) or c), the amount that would have been payable to his
estate or any designated beneficiary following the death of the Participant, had
the Participant elected to receive his Basic Pension as defined in Section 2.04 as
a life annuity with 120 payments guaranteed.

	8.03	 	Optional Form of Pension

          This Section 8.03 shall only apply to a supplementary retirement allowance that started prior
to January 1, 2005 or a lump sum payment that was made prior to January 1, 2005.

	 	a)	 	Instead of receiving his supplementary retirement allowance in accordance with
the normal form of payment described in Sections 8.01 and 8.02, a Participant
may elect to receive his supplementary retirement allowance payable under this
SERP under one of the optional forms determined by the Corporation as eligible
for the purpose of this SERP. In such a case, the Participant must elect the same
optional form for purpose of his benefits under the Qualified Pension Plans.
However, in the case where the Qualified Pension Plan is a plan as defined in
Section 2.04 a) for which the Participant elects a lump sum form of payment or a
plan as defined in Section 2.04 b) or c), the Participant will be deemed to have
elected the same form of payment that is elected for purposes of this SERP.
	 
	 	 	 	If the Participant elects an optional form of pension, then the amount of his
annual supplementary retirement allowance, prior to applying the offset for his
Basic Pension, shall be adjusted on an Actuarial Equivalent Value basis.
	 
	 	b)	 	If a Participant who is an active Participant or who is accruing credited
service on
March 1, 2003 or becomes an active Participant after March 1, 2003, retires or
terminates employment under Sections 5, 6, or 10 of the SERP on or after
March 1, 2003, and prior to January 1, 2005, then such Participant shall be

18

 

entitled to elect to receive the value of his total benefit payable from this SERP in the form of
a lump sum payment in lieu of a lifetime supplementary retirement allowance or any further
lifetime supplementary allowance payments.

If a Participant retires directly from active employment pursuant to Section 5 or 6, then the
election and payment of this lump sum will not be available until two years after such
Participant’s lifetime supplementary retirement allowance benefit commencement date. Furthermore,
upon a Participant’s initial lifetime supplementary retirement allowance benefit commencement date
an election of a monthly annuity will occur in accordance with this Section 8 and will continue
until such time the Participant may elect to receive the lump sum value of his pension as defined
in this Section 8.03 b).

If a Participant voluntarily terminates employment pursuant to Section 10.01 prior to January 1,
2005, then such Participant will have the option to elect to receive the lump sum value of his
pension as defined in this Section 8.03 b) upon his lifetime supplementary retirement allowance
benefit commencement date or two years after such voluntary termination, if later.

If a Participant involuntarily terminates employment pursuant to Section 10.02 prior to January 1,
2005, then such election and payment of a lump sum will not be available until two years after such
Participant’s termination date. If such Participant chooses not to elect the lump sum at the end of
the SERP’s two-year non-compete agreement, then such Participant will only have such option again
upon his lifetime supplementary retirement allowance benefit commencement date.

To receive a lump sum payment, a Participant who retired or otherwise terminated employment prior
to January 1, 2007 must request the lump sum payment option, in writing, at least one year prior
to the payment.

The lump sum payment will be calculated as of the first day the Participant is eligible for such
payment. No interest will be credited to the lump sum amount

19

 

for the period between the date of the calculation and the date of the actual
payment. Furthermore, such calculation will be based upon the Lump Sum Assumptions
as defined in Section 2.12. For a voluntary termination, such Lump Sum Assumptions
shall be those in effect at the time of the Participant’s lifetime supplementary
retirement allowance benefit commencement date or at the end of the SERP’s two-year
non-compete agreement, if later. For an involuntary termination, such Lump Sum
Assumptions shall be those in effect at the end of the SERP’s two-year non-compete
agreement, unless such Participant chooses not to elect the lump sum at the end of
such two-year period, but later decides to elect such option upon his lifetime
supplementary retirement allowance benefit commencement date, in which event, the
Lump Sum Assumptions will be those in effect at his lifetime supplementary
retirement allowance benefit commencement date.

Payments under this Section 8.03 b) are subject to the conditions as set forth in
Section 14. If the Participant requests the lump sum payment, then the payment is
made and the Corporation does not have the power to refuse payment unless any of
the conditions set forth in Section 14 are violated.

	8.04	 	Form of Pension for a Married Participant whose Supplementary Allowance Starts After
December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2007.

          This Section 8.04 shall apply in determining any supplementary retirement allowance that
starts after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2007 for a married Participant who is entitled
to elect the immediate commencement of a supplementary retirement allowance under Section 5 or
Section 6 of this SERP (because the Participant is married Participant, retires at age 55 or older
and has completed at least two years of Continuous or Credited Service). The amount of the married
Participant’s supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to the Participant’s supplementary
retirement allowance, calculated under Section 5 or Section 6, whichever is applicable, payable in
the form of monthly supplementary retirement allowance for the Participant’s life with a 50% Spouse
supplementary retirement allowance, payable for the Spouse’s life after the Participants death. The
Participant’s monthly supplementary retirement

20

 

allowance shall be payable to the Participant starting on (or as of) the first day of the month
coinciding with or immediately following the Participants retirement. Effective from January 1,
2005 to December 31, 2006, this SERP shall conclusively presume that such a Participant
irrevocably elected the time and form of payment described above. Therefore, the Participant
cannot elect any other time or form of payment. If the married Participant is age 55 or older, but
not age 65, his or her supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be
Participant’s Early Retirement Date under Section 6.01 hereof. If the married Participant retires
on his 65th birthday, his or her supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed
to be the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date under Section 5.01 hereof. If the married
Participant retires after his or her 65th birthday, his or her supplementary retirement allowance
starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s actual supplementary retirement allowance
benefit commencement date under Section 5.02 hereof.

          The married Participant’s supplemental retirement allowance shall be paid for twenty-four
(24) months, unless the Participant dies during such twenty-four month period. If the
Participant dies while in receipt of such monthly supplementary retirement allowance payments, or
before the second anniversary of the start of his or her monthly supplementary retirement
allowance payments, the Participant’s Spouse shall automatically be entitled to receive a lump sum
payment, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12, equivalent to an immediate monthly lifetime
supplementary survivor allowance which is an income amount equal to the excess of a) over b)
below:

	 	a)	 	50% of the monthly supplementary retirement allowance that would have been
payable to the Participant under this SERP at the time of his death, provided such
supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the Participant’s Basic
Pension;
	 
	 	b)	 	any survivor pension payable to the Spouse under the Qualified Pension Plan
following the death of the Participant, or any survivor pension that would have
been payable had the benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan not been
commuted or paid in a lump sum. Where the Qualified Pension Plan is a plan as

21

 

	 	 	 	defined in Section 2.04 b) or c), the survivor pension payable to the Spouse shall
be equal to 50% of the Participants Basic Pension as defined in Section 2.04.

          If the married Participant was an officer of the Corporation, his or her initial
supplementary retirement allowance payment shall be made on the first day of the seventh month
immediately following the married Participant’s retirement. The amount of this initial
supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to seven (7) times the amount of the married
Participant’s monthly supplementary retirement allowance. The married Participant’s supplemental
retirement allowance shall be paid for an additional seventeen (17) months, unless the Participant
dies during the twenty-four (24) month period starting with the date of his retirement, in which
event, the lump sum payment to the Participant’s Spouse described in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be made on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Participant’s death.

          If the Participant’s Spouse dies before the Participant’s death, no survivor’s supplementary
retirement allowance or other death benefit shall be payable under this SERP.

          On or as soon as reasonably practicable after the second anniversary of the start of the
Participant’s twenty-four (24) months of supplementary retirement allowance payments, a lump sum
amount shall be paid to the Participant, if then living, equal to the Participant’s then total
benefit under this SERP, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof. This lump sum payment
shall be paid to the Participant in lieu of any other benefit payments of any kind under this SERP.
If the Participant was an officer of the Corporation whose supplementary retirement allowance
payments did not start until the first day of the seventh month immediately following his/her
retirement, the start of his supplementary retirement allowance, for this purpose, shall be deemed
to be the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the Participant’s
retirement.

          Payments under this section 8.04 are subject to the conditions set forth in Section 14.

22

 

	 	 	8.04A Form of Pension for a Married Participant whose Supplementary Allowance Starts
After December 31, 2006.

          This Section 8.04A shall apply in determining any supplementary retirement allowance that
starts after December 31, 2006 for a married Participant who is entitled to the immediate
commencement of a supplementary retirement allowance under Section 5 or Section 6 of this SERP
(because the married Participant retires, is age 55 or older and has completed two years or more of
Continuous or Credited Service). The amount of the married Participant’s supplementary retirement
allowance shall be equal to the Participant’s supplementary retirement allowance, calculated under
Section 5 or Section 6, whichever is applicable, payable in the form of a monthly supplementary
retirement allowance for the Participant’s life with a 50% Spouse supplementary retirement
allowance, payable for the Spouse’s life after the Participants death. The Participant’s monthly
supplementary retirement allowance shall be payable to the Participant starting on (or as of) the
first day of the seventh month immediately following the Participant’s retirement. The amount of
this initial supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to seven (7) times the married
Participant’s monthly supplemental retirement allowance. Effective from and after January 1, 2007,
this SERP shall conclusively presume that such a Participant irrevocably elected the time and form
of payment described above. Therefore, the Participant cannot elect any other time or form of
payment. If the married Participant is age 55 or older, but not age 65, his or her supplementary
retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be Participant’s Early Retirement Date under
Section 6.01 hereof. If the married Participant retires on his 65th birthday, his or her
supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s Normal
Retirement Date under Section 5.01 hereof. If the married Participant retires after his or her 65th
birthday, his or her supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the
Participant’s actual supplementary retirement allowance benefit commencement date under Section
5.02 hereof.

          If the married Participant dies during such twenty-four month period immediately following
the Participant’s retirement, the Participant’s Spouse shall automatically be entitled to receive
a lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 as of the date of the deceased
Participant’s death, equivalent to an immediate monthly lifetime supplementary survivor allowance
which is an income amount equal to the excess of a) over b) below:

23

 

	 	a)	 	50% of the monthly supplementary retirement allowance that would have been
payable to the Participant under this SERP at the time of his death, provided such
supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the Participant’s Basic
Pension;
	 
	 	b)	 	any survivor pension payable to the Spouse under the Qualified Pension Plan
following the death of the Participant, or any survivor pension that would have
been payable had the benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan not been
commuted or paid in a lump sum. Where the Qualified Pension Plan is a plan as
defined in Section 2.04 b) or c), the survivor pension payable to the Spouse shall
be equal to 50% of the Participants Basic Pension as defined in Section 2.04.

          If the Participant’s Spouse dies before the Participant’s death, no survivor’s supplementary
retirement allowance or other death benefit shall be payable under this SERP.

          On or as soon as reasonably practicable after the first day of the month immediately following
the second anniversary of the Participant’s retirement, a lump sum amount shall be paid to the
Participant, if then living, equal to the Participant’s then total benefit under this SERP,
calculated in accordance with the assumptions specified in Section 2.12 hereof as of the date of
the Participant’s retirement based on the Participant and, if applicable, spouse’s nearest age as
of the second anniversary of the Participant’s retirement. This lump sum payment shall be paid to
the Participant in lieu of any other benefit payments of any kind under this SERP.

          Payments under this Section 8.04A are subject to the conditions set forth in Section 14.

	8.05	 	Form of Pension for an Unmarried Participant whose Supplementary Allowance Starts
After December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2007.

          This Section 8.05 shall apply in determining any supplementary retirement allowance or other
benefit that starts after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2007 for an unmarried
Participant who is entitled to elect the immediate commencement of a supplementary retirement
allowance under Section 5 or Section 6 of this Plan (because the unmarried Participant retires, is
age 55 or older and has at least two years or more of Continuous or Credited Service). The amount
of the unmarried Participant’s supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to the

24

 

supplementary retirement allowance the unmarried Participant is entitled to receive under Section
5 or Section 6, whichever is applicable, payable in the form of a lifetime monthly supplementary
allowance with 120 monthly payments of the supplemental retirement allowance guaranteed. This
supplemental retirement allowance shall be paid to the Participant starting on (or as of) the
first day of the month coinciding with or immediately following the Participant’s retirement.
Effective from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006, this SERP shall conclusively presume that
such a Participant irrevocably elected the time and form of payment described above. Therefore,
the Participant cannot elect any other time or form of payment.

          If the unmarried Participant is age 55 or older, but not age 65 or older, his or her
supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s Early
Retirement Date under Section 6.01. If the unmarried Participant retires on his 65th birthday, his
or her supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s
Normal Retirement Date under Section 5.01. If the unmarried Participant retires after his or her
65th birthday, his or her supplemental retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be
the Participant’s actual supplemental retirement allowance benefit commencement date under Section
5.02 hereof.

          The unmarried Participant’s supplementary retirement allowance shall be paid to the
Participant for twenty-four (24) months, unless the Participant dies during such twenty-four (24)
month period or before the second anniversary of the start of his or her supplementary retirement
allowance, in which event, the deceased Participant’s beneficiary designated under Section 9.02(b)
shall automatically receive a lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 as of
the date of the Participant’s death, in an amount equal to the discounted present value of the
remainder of the guaranteed 120 monthly supplementary allowance payments.

          If the unmarried Participant was an officer of the Corporation, his or her initial
supplementary retirement allowance payment shall be made on the first day of the seventh month
immediately following the unmarried Participant’s retirement. The amount of this initial
supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to seven (7) times the amount of the unmarried
Participant’s monthly supplementary retirement allowance. The unmarried Participant’s supplementary
retirement allowance shall be paid for an additional seventeen (17)

25

 

months, unless the Participant dies during the twenty-four month period starting with the date of
his retirement, in which event, the lump sum payment to the deceased Participant’s beneficiary
designated under Section 9.02(b), calculated as of the date of the Participant’s death, shall be
made on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Participant’s death.

          On or as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the second anniversary of the start of
the Participant’s twenty-four (24) months of supplementary retirement allowance payments, a lump
sum amount shall automatically be paid to the Participant, if then living, equal to the
Participant’s then total benefit under this SERP, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12
hereof. This lump sum amount shall be paid to the Participant in lieu of any other benefit payment
of any kind from this SERP. If the Participant was an officer of the Corporation whose
supplementary retirement allowance payments did not start until the first day of the seventh month
immediately following his/her retirement, the start of his supplementary retirement allowance for
this purpose shall be deemed to be the first day of the month coincident with or immediately
following the Participant’s retirement.

          Payments under this Section 8.05 are subject to the conditions set forth in Section 14.

	8.05A Form of Pension for an Unmarried Participant whose Supplementary Allowance Starts After
December 3, 2006.

          This Section 8.05A shall apply in determining any supplementary retirement allowance or other
benefit that starts after December 31, 2006 for an unmarried Participant who is entitled to the
immediate commencement of a supplementary retirement allowance under Section 5 or Section 6 of this
Plan (because the unmarried Participant retires, is age 55 or older and has at least two years or
more of Continuous Service or Credited Service). The amount of the unmarried Participant’s
supplementary retirement allowance shall be equal to the supplementary retirement allowance the
unmarried Participant is entitled to receive under Section 5 or Section 6, whichever is applicable,
payable in the form of a lifetime monthly supplementary allowance with 120 monthly payments of the
supplemental retirement allowance guaranteed. This supplemental retirement allowance shall be paid
to the Participant starting on (or as of) the first day of the seventh month immediately following
the Participant’s retirement. The amount of this initial supplementary retirement allowance shall
be equal to seven (7) times the unmarried

26

 

Participant’s monthly supplemental retirement allowance. Effective from and after January 1, 2007,
this SERP shall conclusively presume that such a Participant irrevocably elected the time and form
of payment described above. Therefore, the Participant cannot elect any other time or form of
payment.

          If the unmarried Participant is age 55 or older, but not age 65 or older, his or her
supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s Early
Retirement Date under Section 6.01. If the unmarried Participant retires on his 65th birthday, his
or her supplementary retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be the Participant’s
Normal Retirement Date under Section 5.01. If the unmarried Participant retires after his or her
65th birthday, his or her supplemental retirement allowance starting date shall be deemed to be
the Participant’s actual supplemental retirement allowance benefit commencement date under Section
5.02 hereof.

          If the unmarried Participant dies during such twenty-four (24) month period immediately
following the Participant’s retirement, the deceased Participant’s beneficiary designated under
Section 9.02(b) shall automatically receive a lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with
Section 2.12, calculated as of the date of the Participant’s death, in an amount equal to the
discounted present value of the remainder of the guaranteed 120 monthly supplementary allowance
payments.

          On or as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the first day of the month immediately
following the second anniversary of the start of the Participant’s retirement, a lump sum amount
shall automatically be paid to the Participant, if then living, equal to the Participant’s then
total benefit under this SERP, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof as of the date of
the Participant’s retirement. This lump sum amount shall be paid to the Participant in lieu of any
other benefit payment of any kind from this SERP.

          Payments under this Section 8.05A are subject to the conditions set forth in Section 14.

27

 

	8.06	 	Special 2006 Form of Payment Election.

          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.04 or 8.05 of this SERP, if a Participant’s
supplementary retirement allowance started in 2005 or in the first three months of 2006, pursuant
to the election of a form of payment under either Section 8.01, Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, the
Participant shall be afforded the opportunity to elect in writing on or before March 31, 2006
whether he or she wants to: (i) receive a lump sum payment in an amount equal to his or her then
total benefit under this SERP, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof, determined as of
and payable on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the second anniversary of the start of
his or her supplementary retirement allowance payments; or (ii) continue to receive the form of
supplementary retirement payments he or she elected in 2005 or in the first three months of 2006.
If the retired Participant does not make this election by March 31, 2006 and the written election
is not received by a designated representative of the Corporation by such date, the form of
supplementary retirement allowance payment elected by the Participant in 2005 or in the first three
months of 2006, will continue to be paid after the second anniversary of the start of the
Participant’s supplementary retirement allowance payments. Payments pursuant to any election by a
Participant under this Section 8.06 are subject to the conditions set forth in Section 14 until the
second anniversary of the start of the Participant’s supplementary allowance payments. If the
Participant makes the election described in (ii) above in 2005 or in the first three months of 2006
(i.e., continuation of the supplementary retirement payments elected in 2005 or in the first three
months of 2006), then the provisions of Section 8.01 or Section 8.02 shall continue to apply to
such Participant and his Spouse or, if applicable, beneficiary, notwithstanding the first sentence
in Section 8.01 or Section 8.02, as amended by Amendment No. One to this SERP. A retired
Participant who makes the election described in (ii) above may not later elect to receive a lump
sum payment.

28

 

Section 9 — Death Prior to Retirement

	9.01	 	Death after age 55 but prior to retirement

	 	a)	 	In the event that a Participant dies while in the service of the Corporation
after
having reached age 55 and having completed at least 2 years of Continuous or
Credited Service, his Spouse shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
survivor allowance determined in accordance with Section 8.01 hereof as if the
Participant had retired immediately prior to the date of his death and, in the case
of retirement prior to January 1, 2005, had not elected an optional form of pension
in accordance with Section 8.03. However, where the survivor benefit under the
Qualified Pension Plan is payable in a lump sum, the survivor pension payable to
the Spouse shall be equal to the pension that could be provided by such lump sum,
calculated on an Actuarial Equivalent Value basis over the survivor’s lifetime.
	 
	 	b)	 	In the event of there being no Spouse at the time of death of a Participant
referred
to in paragraph a) of this Section 9.01, his beneficiary or, if he has not
designated
a beneficiary, his estate shall receive a lump sum equal to the lump sum that
would otherwise have been payable under this SERP to the Participant’s estate as
would be determined under Section 8 if the Participant had retired immediately
prior to the date of his death. However, where the benefit payable to the
designated beneficiary or estate under the Qualified Pension Plan is payable in a
lump sum, any amount payable to the designated beneficiary or estate shall be
equal to such lump sum.
	 
	 	c)	 	In the event that a Participant who has terminated his employment and who is
entitled to a deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance in accordance
with Section 10 dies after having reached age 55 and prior to payment
commencement, his Spouse shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
survivor allowance determined in accordance with the applicable provision in
Section 8 hereof as if the Participant had requested payment commencement of
his deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance on the first day of the
calendar month immediately preceding or coinciding with his date of death.

29

 

	 	 	 	If the Participant is not survived by a Spouse at the time of death, his estate
shall receive a lump sum equal to the lump sum that would otherwise have been
payable under the SERP to the Participant’s estate as would be determined under
Section 8 as if the Participant had requested payment commencement of his deferred
annual supplementary retirement allowance on the first day of the calendar month
immediately preceding or coinciding with his date of death.

	9.02	 	Death before age 55

	 	a)	 	In the event that a Participant dies while in service of the Corporation prior
to
having reached age 55 but after having completed at least 2 years of Continuous
or Credited Service, his Spouse or, if he is not survived by a Spouse, his
beneficiary or, if he has not named a beneficiary, his estate, shall receive the
lump
sum value of the deferred supplementary retirement allowance that would
otherwise have been payable under the SERP, determined under the applicable
provision in Section 10 as if the Participant had voluntarily terminated his
employment with the Corporation. Such lump sum value shall be calculated in
accordance with Section 2.12 as of the date of the Participant’s death.
	 
	 	b)	 	In the event that a Participant who has terminated his employment and who is
entitled to a deferred annual supplementary allowance in accordance with the
applicable provision in Section 10 dies prior to having reached age 55, his Spouse
or, if the Participant is not survived by a Spouse, his beneficiary or, if he has
not
designated a beneficiary, his estate shall receive the lump sum value of the
deferred supplementary retirement allowance that would otherwise have been
payable under the SERP. Such lump sum value shall be calculated under Section
2.12 as of the date of the Participant’s death.

	9.03	 	No benefit shall be payable under this SERP following the death of a Participant prior to
having reached age 55 if he has not completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited
Service.

30

 

Section 10 — Termination of Employment

	10.01	 	Voluntary termination after 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service and Before Age 55.

          This Section 10.01 only applies to supplementary retirement allowances that start before
January 1, 2005 or any other benefit that is paid before January 1, 2005.

          A Participant who terminates his service with the Corporation on a voluntary basis prior to
his 55th birthday and provided he has then completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited
Service shall be entitled to receive a deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance the
amount of which shall be determined as provided hereunder.

          The Participant may request that payment commencement of his deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance start on the first day of any calendar month during the period between his
attainment of age 55 and his Normal Retirement Date. The amount of the deferred annual
supplementary retirement allowance payable, shall be established based on the payment commencement
date as follows:

	 	a)	 	if the payment commencement date is the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his
number of years of Credited Service; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where
such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation had not taken place.

	 	b)	 	If the payment commencement date is prior to the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his
number of years of Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5 %
multiplied by the number of months the payment commencement date precedes the
Participant’s Normal Retirement Date; less

31

 

	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where such Basic
Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received if such
commutation had not taken place.

          The deferred annual supplementary allowance shall be paid in the same form and in the same
manner as the supplementary retirement allowance that would have been payable if the Participant
had retired on his Normal Retirement Date.

	10.02	 	Involuntary termination after 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service and Before Age 55.

          This Section 10.02 only applies to supplementary retirement allowances that start before
January 1, 2005 or any other benefit that is paid before January 1, 2005.

          A Participant who, prior to his 55th birthday and provided he has then completed at least 2
years of Continuous or Credited Service, ceases to be employed by the Corporation as a result of
the termination of his employment initiated by the Corporation for any reason other than for
cause, shall be entitled to receive a deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance the
amount of which shall be determined as provided hereunder.

          The Participant may request that payment commencement of his deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance start the first day of any calendar month during the period between his
attainment of age 55 and his Unreduced Early Retirement Date. For such purpose, the Participant’s
Unreduced Early Retirement Date shall correspond to the earliest date he could have been entitled
to an unreduced supplementary early retirement allowance as provided in Section 6.02, established
as if his termination of employment had not occurred.

          The amount of the deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance payable, shall be
established based on the payment commencement date as follows:

	 	a)	 	if the payment commencement date is the Participant’s Unreduced Early
Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by
his number of years of Credited Service; less

32

 

	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where such Basic
Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received if such
commutation had not taken place.

	 	b)	 	If the payment commencement date is prior to the Participant’s
Unreduced Early Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his
number of years of Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5 %
multiplied by the number of months the payment commencement date precedes the
Participant’s Unreduced Early Retirement Date; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Qualified Pension Plan, or where
such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received
if such commutation had not taken place.

               The deferred annual supplementary allowance shall be paid in the same form and in the same
manner as the supplementary retirement allowance that would have been payable if the Participant
had retired on his Normal Retirement Date.

	10.03	 	No benefit shall be payable under this SERP to a Participant who ceases to be in the
employ of the Corporation prior to his 55th birthday:

	 	a)	 	as a result of the termination of his employment by the Corporation for cause, or
	 
	 	b)	 	as a result of the termination of his employment for any reason prior to having
completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service.

	10.04	 	Termination of Employment Before Age 55 and After December 31, 2004 But Before January 1, 2007.
	 
	 	 	Voluntary Termination:

           Effective from and after January 1, 2005 and prior to January 1, 2007, a Participant who
voluntarily terminates his service with the Corporation prior to his 55th birthday and with at
least

33

 

2 years of Continuous or Credited Service shall not be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
retirement allowance upon attaining age 55. Rather, the terminated Participant shall be entitled
on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the later of (i) his 55th birthday, or (ii) the
second anniversary of his termination of employment, to automatically be paid the total value of
his or her then SERP benefit, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof. If such a
terminated Participant dies before the payment of his SERF benefit and is survived by a Spouse,
the then lump sum value of the deceased former Participant’s SERP benefit, calculated in
accordance with Section 2.12 hereof as of the date of the Participant’s death, shall be payable to
the deceased Participant’s Spouse, or, if the Participant is not survived by a Spouse, to his or
her designated beneficiary in accordance with Section 9.02(b) hereof. This death benefit shall be
paid on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the terminated participant’s death. If the
deceased former Participant is not survived by a Spouse and had not designated a beneficiary in
accordance with Section 9.02(b), such benefit shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. Payments
under this Section 10.04 are subject to the conditions in Section 14.

          Involuntary Termination:

          Effective from and after January 1, 2005 and prior to January 1, 2007, a Participant whose
service with the Corporation is involuntarily terminated prior to his 55th birthday and with at
least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service shall not be entitled to receive an annual
supplementary retirement allowance on or after the second anniversary of his or her termination of
employment. Rather, the terminated Participant shall be entitled on or as soon as reasonably
practicable after the second anniversary of his termination of employment, to automatically be paid
the total value of his or her then SERP benefit, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof.
If such a terminated Participant dies before the second anniversary of his termination of
employment and is survived by a Spouse, the then lump sum value of the deceased former
Participant’s SERP benefit, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof as of the date of the
Participant’s death, shall be payable to the deceased Participant’s Spouse, or if the Participant
is not survived by a Spouse, to his or her designated beneficiary in accordance with Section
9.02(b) hereof. This death benefit shall be paid on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the
terminated Participant’s death. If the deceased former Participant is not survived by a Spouse

34

 

and had not designated a beneficiary in accordance with Section 9.02(b), such benefit shall be
paid to the Participant’s estate.

           Payments under this Section 10.04 are subject to the conditions in Section 14.

	10.05	 	Termination of Employment After December 31, 2006 and Before Age 55.
	 
	 	 	Voluntary Termination.

           Effective from and after January 1, 2007, a Participant who voluntarily terminates his service
with the Corporation prior to this 55th birthday and with at least 2 years of Continuous
or Credited Service shall not be entitled to receive an annual supplementary retirement allowance
upon attaining age 55. Rather, the terminated Participant shall be entitled on or as soon as
reasonably practicable after the later of (i) his 55th birthday, or (ii) the second
anniversary of his termination of employment, to automatically be paid the total value of his or
her then SERP benefit, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12. If such a terminated Participant
dies before the payment of his SERP benefit and is survived by a Spouse, the then lump sum value of
the deceased Participant’s SERP benefit, shall be payable to the deceased Participant’s Spouse, or,
if the Participant is not survived by a Spouse, to his or her designated beneficiary, in accordance
with Section 9.02(b) hereof. This death benefit shall be paid on or as soon as reasonably
practicable after the terminated Participant’s death. If the deceased former Participant is not
survived by a Spouse and had not designated a beneficiary in accordance with Section 9.02(b), such
benefit shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. Payments under this Section 10.05 are subject to
the conditions in Section 14.

          Involuntary Termination:

          Effective from and after January 1, 2007, a Participant whose service with the Corporation is
involuntarily terminated prior to his 55th birthday and with at least 2 years of Continuous or
Credited Service shall not be entitled to receive an annual supplementary retirement allowance on
or after the second anniversary of his or her termination of employment. Rather, the terminated
Participant shall be entitled on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the second anniversary
of his termination of employment, to automatically be paid the total value of his or her then SERP
benefit, calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof based on the

35

 

Participant’s nearest age as of the second anniversary of the Participant’s termination of
employment. If such a terminated Participant dies before the second anniversary of his termination
of employment and is survived by a Spouse, the then lump sum value of the deceased former
Participant’s SERP benefit, shall be payable to the deceased Participant’s Spouse, or if the
Participant is not survived by a Spouse, to his or her designated beneficiary in accordance with
Section 9.02(b) hereof. This death benefit shall be paid on or as soon as reasonably practicable
after the terminated Participant’s death. If the deceased former Participant is not survived by a
Spouse and had not designated a beneficiary under Section 9.02(b), such benefit shall be paid to
the Participant’s estate.

             Payments under this Section 10.05 are subject to the conditions in Section 14.

36

 

Section 11 — Increase in Benefits under Qualified Pension Plan

	11.01	 	Any ad hoc increases in the pension payments made under the Qualified Pension Plan to
a retired Participant, or in the case of his death, to his surviving Spouse, will not have the
effect of reducing benefits otherwise payable under this SERP.
	 
	11.02	 	Any automatic annual increases in the pension payments made under the Qualified
Pension Plan, or deemed to have been made if the benefits have been commuted or paid
in a lump sum, to a retired Participant, or in the case of his death, to his surviving
Spouse,
will have the effect of reducing benefits otherwise payable under this SERP.
	 
	11.03	 	Effective July 1, 2001, monthly supplementary allowances paid under this SERP, shall be
increased by a percentage per the following table:

	 	 	 	 	 
	Year of Retirement	 	Percentage Increase
	 	1999	 	 	1.72%

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	2000	 	 	1.72% divided by 12 and multiplied by the
number of months between the lifetime
supplementary retirement allowance benefit
commencement date and December 31, 2000.

37

 

Section 12 — Commutation of Benefits

This Section 12 only applies to any commuted lump sum supplementary retirement allowance that
was paid prior to January 1, 2005.

	12.01	 	Any supplementary retirement allowance or deferred supplementary retirement allowance
payable under this SERP in the form of monthly payments may, at the discretion of the
Corporation and subject to the approval of the Participant or, following his death, of his
Spouse, be paid in a lump sum, calculated in accordance with the Corporation’s policy.
	 
	12.02	 	Any commutation of benefits otherwise payable under this SERP shall, unless it is
decided otherwise by the Corporation at its entire discretion, not be permitted during the
first 2 years following the Participant’s retirement or termination of employment.
Furthermore, the corporation may require that the Participant or other beneficiary of a
benefit under this SERP submit satisfactory evidence of good health before any such
benefit is commuted.

38

 

Section 13 — Service Outside United States

	13.01	 	In the event that a Participant’s employment includes periods of service with Abitibi
Consolidated Sales Corporation or any subsidiary or associated company listed in Appendix A
(hereinafter called “U.S. Service”) and periods of service in another country with any
affiliated company or any subsidiary or associated company of the Corporation (hereinafter
called “non-U.S. Service”), for the determination of the Participant’s supplementary benefits
hereunder, the following provisions shall apply:

	 	a)	 	the Participant’s Credited Service shall include his periods of non-U.S.
Service during which he continued to accrue credited service under the Qualified Pension
Plan plus any other period of non-U.S. Service as approved by the Corporation;
	 
	 	b)	 	for purposes of calculating the Participant’s Average Pensionable Earnings, the Participant’s base salary and annual bonus for his non-U.S. Service shall be
established in accordance with the administrative policies and practices of the
Corporation.

39

 

Section 14 — Conditions for Payment

	14.01	 	Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, no amount of benefit shall be
payable or continued to be paid pursuant to this SERP in the event that during his
employment with the Corporation or during a period of 2 years following his termination
of employment or retirement, the Participant, directly or indirectly, without the consent of
the Corporation:

	 	a)	 	engages in or becomes interested as a principal, agent, officer, employee,
manager, advisor, financial backer, shareholder (except as a passive investor in a
public corporation) or in any other capacity whatsoever in a business which may
be fairly regarded as being in competition with the business of the Corporation; or
	 
	 	b)	 	assists financially or in any manner whatsoever any person, firm, association
or
corporation, whether as principal, agent, officer, employee, manager, advisor,
financial backer, shareholder (except as a passive investor in a public corporation)
or in any capacity whatsoever to enter into, develop, carry on or maintain a
business, which may fairly be regarded as being in competition with the business
of the Corporation.

	14.02	 	Furthermore, notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, no amount of
benefit shall be payable or continued to be paid pursuant to this SERP in the event that
during his employment with the Corporation or at any time thereafter, the Participant fails
to keep confidential any information of a confidential or proprietary nature concerning
the Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective operations, assets,
finances, business and affairs or uses such information for personal advantage, provided
that nothing herein shall prevent the Participant from disclosing information which is
publicly available or which is required to be disclosed under appropriate statutes, rules or
law or legal process. Furthermore, in the event that a lump sum has been paid to a
participant pursuant to Section 8 or Section 10 and the provisions of this Section 14.02
have been or subsequently are violated, the participant will be required to remit payment
of the lump sum to Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. or its successor.

40

 

In the event of doubt regarding the confidentiality of any information, the Participant must verify
the confidentiality nature of the information with the Corporation.

41

 

Section 15 — General Provisions

	15.01	 	Proof of Age
	 
	 	 	Any Participant or Spouse entitled to benefits hereunder shall, upon request, furnish proof
of age satisfactory to the Corporation. In the case that the age of the Participant or his
Spouse is found to be inexact, the Corporation is authorized to adjust benefits
accordingly.
	 
	15.02	 	Executive Employee Rights
	 
	 	 	The implementation of this SERP shall not constitute an enlargement of any rights which a
Participant had apart from his membership in this SERP. The benefits conferred herein shall
not be used to increase damages in respect of the dismissal or termination of employment of
any Participant.
	 
	15.03	 	Non Alienation
	 
	 	 	Benefits payable under this SERP are not subject to:

	 	a)	 	assignment, alienation, anticipation, surrender or any other form of transfer (including, but not limited to, an assignment pursuant to a domestic relations
order); or
	 
	 	b)	 	execution, seizure, garnishment, attachment or any other form of attachment.

	 	 	 	Notwithstanding the above, a Participant can waive his entitlement to benefit payments
under this SERP and the Corporation may offset a Participant’s SERP benefits by the amount
of any financial obligation a Participant owes to the Corporation.

	15.04	 	Non Commutability of Benefits
	 
	 	 	The benefits provided under this SERP shall not be capable of surrender or commutation
except as provided herein.

42

 

	15.05	 	Records
	 
	 	 	Wherever the records of the Corporation are used for the purpose of this SERP, such record
shall be considered conclusive of the facts with which they are concerned unless and until
they are proven to be in error.
	 
	15.06	 	In competency
	 
	 	 	If, in the opinion of the Corporation, any person receiving or entitled to receive a
benefit under the terms of this SERP is, as a result of physical and mental infirmity,
incapable of managing his affairs, the Corporation may authorize any payment to which such
person is entitled to be made to a curator or administrator appointed by the Court or in
the absence of any such person, payment shall be made to his Spouse, children or other
person on his behalf and such payment shall be in complete discharge of the obligations of
the Corporation under this SERP to make such payment.
	 
	15.07	 	Interpretation

	 	a)	 	The provisions of this SERP shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York, to the extent not preempted by federal laws, and shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and its successors and
assigns.
	 
	 	b)	 	Headings wherever used herein are for reference purposes only and do not
limit or extend the meaning of any provisions of this SERP.

	15.08	 	Severability

Should any of the provisions of this SERP and/or its conditions be illegal or not
enforceable, it or they shall be considered severable and the SERP and the remaining
conditions shall remain in full force and effect and be binding upon the parties as though
the said provision or provisions have never been included.

43

 

	15.09	 	 Currency
	 
	 	 	All benefits payable under the SERP shall be in United States Currency.
	 
	15.10	 	Taxability of Benefits
	 
	 	 	All benefits under this SERP shall be subject to applicable withholding tax and reporting
pursuant to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and any other applicable law.
	 
	15.11	 	Gender and Number.
	 
	 	 	Except as otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine and
feminine terminology shall include the opposite gender, and the definition of any term in
the singular or plural shall include the opposite number.

44

 

Section 16 — Administration

	16.01	 	The Corporation shall decide on all matters relating to the interpretation, administration
and application of this SERP, consistent with the provisions of this SERP and such
interpretation or performance, fairly and reasonably done, shall be final and conclusive.

45

 

Section 17 — Future of the Plan

	17.01	 	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation reserves the right to
amend or terminate this SERP, including the right to amend the SERP, retroactively, if
necessary, to comply with applicable law including, but not limited to, compliance with
Section 409A of the U. S. Internal Revenue Code. Any amendment or decision to
terminate this SERP shall be communicated in writing by the Corporation to the affected
Participants indicating the effective date of such amendment or termination of this SERP
which shall not precede the date that such communication is given to the Participants
unless a retroactive amendment is required to comply with applicable law including, but
not limited to, Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. No such amendment
shall have the effect of reducing the amount or value of benefits accrued by the
Participants under this SERP prior to the effective date of such amendment.

	17.02	 	In the event this SERP is terminated as of a given date by a decision of the Corporation as
provided for under Section 17.01 and the conditions set forth in Section 17.03 are
satisfied, then the following provisions shall apply:

	 	a)	 	an active Participant who has reached 55 years of age shall be deemed, for
the purpose of this SERP, to have retired on the date of the termination of the SERP
(the “Termination Date”), and shall be entitled to supplementary retirement
benefits determined in accordance with Section 5 or 6, as the case may be;
	 
	 	b)	 	an active Participant who has not yet reached age 55 shall be deemed, for the
purpose of this SERP, to have terminated his employment on the Termination
Date as a result of a Corporation initiated termination of employment and shall be
entitled to supplementary retirement benefits determined in accordance with
Section 10.05 hereof;
	 
	 	c)	 	the supplementary retirement benefits to which a Participant is entitled to
or deemed to be entitled to under to Section 17.02 a) or b), as the case may be, shall
be paid in an amount equal to the lump sum value of such supplementary benefits,
calculated in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof;

46

 

	 	d)	 	any other benefit to which a Participant, Spouse or beneficiary is entitled under
this Plan in a lump sum payment, shall be paid;
	 
	 	e)	 	any annuity benefit to which a Participant, spouse or beneficiary is entitled
under this Plan may, at the sole discretion of the Corporation, be provided by the
purchase of an annuity from a commercial life insurance company.
	 
	 	f)	 	the obligations of the Participant pursuant to Section 14.01 and Section 14.02
shall be waived as of the Termination Date.

	17.03	 	The lump sum payments described in Section 17.02(c) shall only be made if (i) either the
requirements set forth in Section 17.03(a) or Section 17.03(b) are satisfied, and (ii) the
conditions set forth in Section 17.03(c) are also satisfied.

	 	a)	 	the plan termination is made within twelve months of a corporate dissolution,
taxed under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 331 or with the approval of a
bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 503(b)(l)(A), provided the lump
sum payment amounts are included in gross income in the latest of-

	 	(1)	 	the calendar year in which the plan termination occurs;
	 
	 	(2)	 	the first calendar year in which the lump sum payment is no
longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or
	 
	 	(3)	 	the first calendar year in which the payment is
administratively practicable.

	 	b)	 	The plan termination is made within the thirty (30) days preceding or the
twelve months following a Change of Control, as defined in Section 2.05.
	 
	 	c)	 	Additional Conditions

	 	(1)	 	The corporation also terminates all the other non-account
balance plans that apply to the affected participants that are subject to U.S.
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A;

47

 

	 	(2)	 	The plan termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the
financial health of the Corporation or its successor;
	 
	 	(3)	 	The lump sum payments provided in Section 17.02 are not made until at
least twelve months after all the actions required to terminate the Plan
have been taken and are made within twenty-four months after such
actions have been taken;
	 
	 	(4)	 	The Corporation or its successor does not establish a new non-account
balance plan that is subject to U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A at
any time within three years after the date all actions are taken to terminate
this Plan;
	 
	 	(5)	 	The Corporation satisfies any other conditions that may be prescribed by
the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue in this regard that is prescribed
in generally applicable guidance that is published in the Internal Revenue
Bulletin.

48

 

Appendix A

List of Participating Subsidiaries or Associated Companies

Abitibi-Consolidated Corp. (formerly Donohue Industries Inc.)

Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation

Augusta Newsprint Corporation

Alabama River Pulp Company, Inc.

A-1

 

Appendix B

Additional Credited Service or Credited Service

for periods otherwise not covered in this SERP

	 	 	 	 	 
	Participants	 	Additional Credited Service	 	Credited Service Date
	Larry Stanley
	 	—	 	1/1/1984
	 
	 	 	 	 
	John Weaver
	 	5.00 years	 	N/A
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Darryl Wharton
	 	Earns one additional year of	 	N/A
	 
	 	service per year beginning	 	 
	 
	 	January 1, 2003 to a maximum	 	 
	 
	 	of 5 additional years.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Richard Zgol
	 	5.00 years	 	N/A

B-1

 

Appendix C

Executive Employee who held an MSBA and elected to convert his defined benefit

entitlement under the prior Abitibi-Price Inc. Registered Pension Plan to a defined

contribution entitlement on January 1, 1996

Robert Collez

C-1

 

     Appendix D

Formula for calculating the interest rate assumption under Section 2.12 for lump sum

benefit payments made after May 6, 2007

     The interest rate shall be the average of adjusted yields for 10-year and
30-year U.S. Treasury Bonds. The adjustments to each yield shall include:

	 	(1)	 	an annualization rate;
	 
	 	(2)	 	a gross-up of five-tenths percent (0.50%);
	 
	 	(3)	 	a gross-up of the longest Treasury Bond yield of the difference
between the two yields; and
	 
	 	(4)	 	a rounding of the blended yield to the nearest twenty-five one
hundredths of a percent (0.25%).

     This interest rate assumption shall be calculated as of the last business day
of each calendar year to be used in the immediately following calendar year.

     An example of this assumed interest rate, based on December 29, 2006 Treasury Bond
interest rates, adjusted as described above to make the methodology for determining this
assumed interest rate similar to the methodology used for Canadian SERP purposes, is set
forth below:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	10 Years	 	30 Years
	U.S. Treasury Bond Rates:
	 	 	4.704	%	 	 	4.811	%
	Annualization:
	 	 	0.055	%	 	 	0.058	%
	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	4.759	%	 	 	4.869	%
	First Gross Up*
	 	 	0.500	%	 	 	0.500	%
	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	5.259	%	 	 	5.369	%
	Second Gross Up*
	 	 	0.000	%	 	 	0.055	%
	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	5.259	%	 	 	5.424	%

	 	 	 	 	 
	Average	5.289	%**
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Rounded	5.250	%

 

			
	*	 	The two gross up adjustments are intended to make the methodology for determining this
assumed interest rate similar to the methodology used for Canadian SERP purposes.
	 
	**	 	The average interest rate is a weighted average of the resulting adjusted rates with
gross up. The weighting is determined so the weighted modified duration of the
pre-adjusted Treasury yields results in a modified duration similar to the weighted
modified duration of the underlying Canadian yields used for Canadian SERP purposes.

D-1Exhibit 10.28

 

EXHIBIT
10.28

CANADIAN SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE

RETIREMENT PLAN (SERP)

FOR EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES

OF ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC.

(Effective as at January 1, 1999)

CERTIFIED to be a true and complete copy of the text of the Canadian Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan (SERP) for Executive Employees of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

Signature

	 	 	 	December 15, 2003
 

Date
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
 

Signature

	 	 	 	December 15, 2003
 

Date
	 	 

October 2003

 

 

Table of Contents

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 1

	 	-
	 	Purpose
	 	 	1	 
	Section 2

	 	-
	 	Definitions
	 	 	2	 
	Section 3

	 	-
	 	Eligibility
	 	 	8	 
	Section 4

	 	-
	 	Contributions
	 	 	10	 
	Section 5

	 	-
	 	Normal Retirement and Postponed Retirement Benefits
	 	 	11	 
	Section 6

	 	-
	 	Early Retirement Benefits
	 	 	12	 
	Section 7

	 	-
	 	Disability
	 	 	14	 
	Section 8

	 	-
	 	Form of Pension
	 	 	15	 
	Section 9

	 	-
	 	Death Prior to Retirement
	 	 	17	 
	Section 10

	 	-
	 	Termination of Employment
	 	 	19	 
	Section 11

	 	-
	 	Increase in Benefits
	 	 	22	 
	Section 12

	 	-
	 	Commutation of Benefits
	 	 	23	 
	Section 13

	 	-
	 	Service Outside Canada
	 	 	24	 
	Section 14

	 	-
	 	Conditions for Payment
	 	 	25	 
	Section 15

	 	-
	 	General Provisions
	 	 	26	 
	Section 16

	 	-
	 	Administration
	 	 	29	 
	Section 17

	 	-
	 	Future of the Plan
	 	 	30	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Appendix A

	 	 	 	Additional Service	 	 	 	 
	Appendix B	 	 	 	Executive Employee who held an MSBA and elected to convert his defined
benefit entitlement under the prior Abitibi-Price Inc. Registered
Pension Plan to a defined contribution entitlement on January 1, 1996

 

 

Section 1 — Purpose

	1.01	 	The purpose of this Canadian Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (hereinafter
the “SERP”) is to provide special retirement benefits to Executive Employees eligible to
become a participant thereunder, in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
document. Such special retirement benefits are in addition to those payable from any
Registered Pension Plan of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (the “Corporation”).
	 
	1.02	 	This SERP is effective as of January 1, 1999 and as of such date replaces and cancels the
application of the individual supplementary retirement benefits agreement known as
MSBA in the case of an Executive Employee who was a former Abitibi-Price Inc.
employee and of the Stone-Consolidated Corporation Senior Management Retirement
Plan (SMRP) in the case of an Executive Employee who was a former Stone-
Consolidated Corporation employee. For greater certainty, this SERP shall not apply to
or otherwise modify supplemental retirement benefits payable or the terms and conditions
for payment of such benefits to any former Executive Employee who has retired from or
otherwise terminated his employment with the Corporation or its predecessors or their
affiliates prior to the effective date of the SERP, nor will it apply to an Executive
Employee who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, has elected not to participate in this
SERP.
	 
	1.03	 	The provisions of this SERP are effective as of January 1, 1999, unless stated otherwise
herein.

-1-

 

Section 2 — Definitions

In this SERP, the following words and phrases shall have the following meaning, respectively,
unless a different meaning is specifically required by the context:

	2.01	 	“Actuarial Equivalent Value” shall mean a value deemed to be equal to another value, as
determined on a basis of the SERP provisions in effect on the date such determination is
being made. The Actuarial Equivalent Value of a benefit of a Participant under this
SERP shall be determined in the same manner and using the same assumptions as those
used or that would be used for purposes of calculating the commuted value of termination
of employment benefits under the Registered Pension Plan under which the Participant is
entitled to receive benefits following his termination of employment or retirement from
the Corporation.
	 
	 	 	For greater certainty, in determining the Actuarial Equivalent Value of a benefit, account
shall not be taken of the income tax consequences that would arise to the recipient of the
benefit.

	2.02	 	“Additional Voluntary Contribution” shall mean a contribution, other than a required
contribution, which may be made by a Participant under a Registered Pension Plan of the
Corporation.
	 
	2.03	 	“Average Pensionable Earnings” shall mean, in respect of a Participant, the sum of:

	 	a)	 	the average of the Participant’s monthly base salary during the sixty (60)
consecutive months within the one hundred and twenty (120) months of
continuous employment immediately preceding his retirement or his termination
of employment during which such base salary was the highest, multiplied by
twelve (12); plus
	 
	 	b)	 	the average of the Participant’s annual bonus earned in the five (5) years,
whether
consecutive or not, within the ten (10) years of continuous employment
immediately preceding his retirement, disability or his termination of
employment, during which such annual bonus was the highest. For greater
certainty, the term “bonus” shall refer to an award paid under the Corporation’s
annual incentive plan as may be adopted from time to time and shall exclude any

-2-

 

	 	 	 	special bonus not paid under an annual incentive plan, any amount payable under any
long-term incentive plan of the Corporation, or any stock option benefit.

	2.04	 	“Basic Pension” shall mean the lifetime annual pension which the Participant would
otherwise be entitled to receive from time to time pursuant to the Registered Pension Plan
in regards to the period of Credited Service recognized for purposes of this SERP or that
would be so recognized for purposes of this SERP in absence of the 35 year limit on Credited
Service as per Section 2.07, but limited to the period of Credited Service actually
recognized in the Registered Pension Plan. It shall be assumed that such annual pension is
payable from the same date as supplementary benefits commence to be paid under this SERP and
is calculated on the basis of the following assumptions:

	 	a)	 	where the Registered Pension Plan is a defined benefit pension plan:

	 	i)	 	the annual pension is in the form of a pension payable
under the normal form provided for under the Registered Pension Plan, or if the
Participant elects an optional form in accordance with Section 8.03, the annual
pension payable under such optional form;
	 
	 	ii)	 	the Participant has made no Additional Voluntary Contribution; and
	 
	 	iii)	 	the amount of the Basic Pension shall be determined according to the
formula under the Registered Pension Plan regardless of any reduction in
benefits that may be applied, by operation of statute or otherwise, as a
result of the funded status of such Registered Pension Plan on the date of
such determination (it being understood that, where the Registered Pension
Plan is a defined benefit pension plan, the foregoing assumption shall also
be applicable to the determination of the amount of survivor pension payable
to the Spouse under the Registered Pension Plan following the death of the
Participant (or any survivor pension that would have been payable had the
benefits under the Registered Pension Plan not been commuted) as referred to
in Section 8.01 b), and any amount payable under the Registered Pension Plan
to the Participant’s estate or any designated beneficiary following the
death of the Participant (or any amount that would have been payable had the
benefits under the Registered Pension Plan not been commuted) as referred to
in Section 8.02 b)); and

-3-

 

	 	b)	 	where the Registered Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension plan, and
subject to paragraph c) of this Section 2.04, an annual pension which is the
Actuarial Equivalent, based on the assumptions and the normal form of pension
referred to in paragraph a) of this Section 2.04, of the amount accumulated by the
Participant under the Registered Pension Plan, excluding his Additional Voluntary
Contributions, as of the date of his retirement, death or termination of
employment with the Corporation (for greater certainty, the normal form shall be
a lifetime joint and 60% survivor pension for a Participant with a Spouse and the
normal form shall be a lifetime pension with a guarantee of a minimum of 120
monthly payments for a Participant without a Spouse); and
	 
	 	c)	 	in the case of an Executive Employee who is a former Abitibi-Price Inc. employee
who held a MSBA and who elected to convert his defined benefit entitlement
under Abitibi-Price Inc.’s Registered Pension Plan to a defined contribution
entitlement, a list of such Executive Employees being attached hereto as
Appendix B, the Basic Pension in respect of such Participant shall be determined
as if the Participant had elected not to convert his defined benefit entitlement
under Abitibi-Price Inc.’s Registered Pension Plan and such defined benefit
entitlement has been determined in accordance with the provisions in effect on
January 1, 1996 of the Abitibi-Price Inc.’s Registered Pension Plan and in
accordance with the assumptions and the form of pension described in
paragraph a) of this Section 2.04; and
	 
	 	d)	 	in all cases, where a Participant’s entitlement under the Registered Pension Plan
has been divided between the Participant and his Spouse or former Spouse as a
result of divorce, separation or annulment of marriage, his Basic Pension shall be
determined as if no such division of his entitlement had occurred.

	2.05	 	“Continuous Service” shall mean a Participant’s uninterrupted period of employment,
with the Corporation or with a predecessor company, deemed to have commenced on the first
day of the month coinciding with or immediately following the Participant’s hiring date by
the Corporation, or deemed to have commenced on the Participant’s hiring date by such
predecessor company, as the case may be; for such purpose a predecessor company shall mean
Donohue Inc. or any other company considered to be a predecessor company for such purpose.
The continuous service of a Participant shall not be

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interrupted as a result of any absence due to disability, or due to temporary absence other
than as a result of disability, which was approved by the Corporation.

For Participants hired on or after January 1, 2002, Continuous Service shall mean a
Participant’s uninterrupted period of employment with the Corporation deemed to have
commenced on the Participant’s hiring date.

Continuous Service shall be measured in years with proportional allowance for
non-completed years.

	2.06	 	“Corporation” shall mean Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and its affiliated companies, or any
subsidiary of the Corporation or associated company, provided however, that any
reference in this SERP to action to be taken, consent, approval or opinion to be given,
decision to be made or discretion to be exercised by the Corporation shall refer to
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., acting through its Board of Directors or any person or persons
authorized to act on behalf of the Corporation for the purposes of this SERP, in
accordance with the normal practices of the Corporation.
	 
	2.07	 	“Credited Service” shall mean the Participant’s period of Continuous Service with the
Corporation, following the Participant’s hiring date by the Corporation. For greater
certainty, Credited Service shall not include any period of service recognized as credited
service under any other unregistered pension plan sponsored by the Corporation other
than this SERP.
	 
	 	 	Subject to the approval of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, the Corporation may also recognize, for newly hired Executive
Employees or any short service Executive Employees, additional service up to a maximum of
five (5) years for purposes of calculating the Participant’s Continuous and Credited
Service, such additional service being as described in Appendix A hereto, as updated from
time to time. Effective from August 23, 2000, such additional service shall be vested with
the Participant on a basis established by the Corporation.
	 
	 	 	Subject to the approval of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, the Corporation may also recognize for Executive Employees
who were previously employed by Donohue Inc., additional service as

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described in Appendix A hereto, such additional service to be vested only on the dates
specified in Appendix A.

Credited Service shall be measured in years with proportional allowance for non-completed
years. Total years of Credited Service under this SERP and under all other unregistered
pension plans sponsored by the Corporation other than this SERP, shall not exceed 35.

	2.08	 	“Early Retirement Date” shall mean the first day of the month immediately following the
date on which the Participant elects to retire early in accordance with Section 6 hereof,
provided he is then at least 55 years of age.
	 
	2.09	 	“Effective Date” shall mean January 1, 1999.
	 
	2.10	 	“Executive Employee” shall mean an executive employee considered as such by the
Corporation and who is eligible for participation in this SERP in accordance with
Section 3.
	 
	2.11	 	“Normal Retirement Date” shall mean the first day of the month coinciding with or next
following the month in which the Participant attains the age of 65 years.
	 
	2.12	 	“Participant” shall mean an Executive Employee who is eligible to participate in this
SERP in accordance with Section 3 herein.
	 
	2.13	 	“Registered Pension Plan” means any one or more pension plans sponsored by the
Corporation from time to time and registered with Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency. When used in respect of a Participant, this expression shall refer to the one or
more Registered Pension Plans under which such Participant is entitled to receive
benefits following his termination of employment, death or retirement from the
Corporation with regards to the period of Credited Service which is recognized for
purposes of this SERP.
	 
	2.14	 	“SERP” shall mean the Canadian Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Executive
Employees of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., as described in this document and as may be
amended from time to time.

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	2.15	 	“Spouse” shall mean the person who satisfies the definition of spouse as defined
under the Registered Pension Plan of which the Participant is a member at the time the
spousal status needs to be determined, or would have been a member had his benefits not been
commuted.
	 
	 	 	Spousal status shall be determined on the day preceding the date of death of the Participant
or on the day when the Participant commences receiving his supplementary retirement
allowance, whichever occurs first.

For the purpose of this SERP, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to the masculine
include the feminine and vice versa and references to the singular include the plural and vice
versa.

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Section 3 — Eligibility

	3.01	 	An Executive Employee who is in the service of the Corporation on the Effective Date shall
be eligible to become a Participant of this SERP as of the Effective Date subject to the
following conditions:

	 	a)	 	An Executive Employee who was a former Abitibi-Price Inc. employee and who
was party to an individual agreement (known as an “MSBA”) providing for
supplementary retirement benefits may elect to become a Participant under this
SERP as of the Effective Date. Upon such election, he shall cease to accrue
benefits under such individual agreement and shall no longer be entitled to any
benefits thereunder. If he elects not to participate in this SERP, he shall forever
forfeit his entitlement to participate hereunder and will continue to accrue and be
entitled to supplementary pension benefits in accordance with the terms and
provisions of his individual agreement.
	 
	 	b)	 	An Executive Employee who is a former Stone-Consolidated Corporation
employee and who participated in the Stone-Consolidated Corporation Senior
Management Retirement Plan may elect to become a Participant under this SERP
as of the Effective Date. Upon such election, he shall cease to accrue benefits
under the Stone-Consolidated Senior Management Retirement Plan and shall no
longer be entitled to benefits thereunder and shall become a Participant in this
SERP as of the Effective Date. If he elects not to become a Participant in this
SERP, he will forever forfeit his entitlement to participate hereunder and will
continue to accrue and be entitled to supplementary pension benefits in
accordance with the terms and provisions of the Stone-Consolidated Corporation
Senior Management Retirement Plan.
	 
	 	c)	 	In the case of an Executive Employee who was in the service of the Corporation
as of the Effective Date but was not party to an individual agreement with Abitibi-Price Inc. providing for supplementary pensions or was not a member of the
Stone-Consolidated Corporation Senior Management Retirement Plan, or in the
case of an employee of the Corporation who becomes classified as an Executive
Employee after the Effective Date, such Executive Employee shall become
eligible to participate under this SERP upon:

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	 	i)	 	completion of at least two years in an eligible position of the
Corporation and demonstration of superior performance; and
	 
	 	ii)	 	designation in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

	 	 	 	Participation shall commence as of the date determined in such designation. At the
discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the two year
requirement in part i) above may be waived.

	 	d)	 	Executive Employees who are employed for a temporary period to complete
functions relating to the merger of Abitibi-Price Inc. and Stone-Consolidated
Corporation shall not be eligible to participate in this SERP unless provided otherwise
in their Severance Compensation Agreement with the Corporation.

	3.02	 	The election referred to in Section 3.01 a) or 3.01 b) above shall be made at such time
and in such form as determined by the Corporation.
	 
	3.03	 	An Executive Employee who has become a Participant under this SERP in accordance
with this Section 3 shall remain a Participant as long as he continues to be entitled to
receive benefits hereunder.
	 
	3.04	 	In the event that a Participant remains an employee of the Corporation but ceases to be
classified as an Executive Employee, and unless he is otherwise designated by the
Corporation as eligible to continue to accrue Credited Service under this SERP, the
benefits otherwise payable to or in respect of such Participant under this SERP shall be
payable as of the Participant’s retirement date, date of death or date of termination of
employment, as the case may be, but shall be based on such Participant’s Credited
Service and Average Pensionable Earnings up to the date as of which he ceases to be
classified as an Executive Employee or as of such later date specified by the Corporation.

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Section 4 — Contributions

	4.01	 	No contribution shall be required from a Participant in respect of benefits payable under
this SERP.
	 
	4.02	 	The Corporation shall pay the full cost of the benefits provided under the SERP.
	 
	4.03	 	For all SERP Participants, except for those who will have elected in writing to be
excluded for taxation purposes, the payment of benefits provided under the SERP shall be
secured in whole or in part, in accordance with the Corporation’s policy. Such security
shall be provided either through contributions paid to a trust fund to be established for
the
purpose of this SERP and/or through the depositing into such trust fund of a letter of
credit issued by a financial institution.

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Section 5 — Normal Retirement and Postponed Retirement Benefits

	5.01	 	A Participant who retires on his Normal Retirement Date shall be entitled to receive an
annual supplementary retirement allowance payable in equal monthly installments and
commencing on his Normal Retirement Date in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of

a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of years of
Credited Service;
	 
	 	b)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or where such Basic Pension
has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received if such
commutation had not taken place.

	5.02	 	In the event a Participant remains in the employ of the Corporation after his Normal
Retirement Date, he shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary retirement
allowance, payable in equal monthly installments and commencing on the first day of the
month following his actual retirement date, equal to the amount determined in accordance
with Section 5.01, and based on his Credited Service and Average Pensionable Earnings
as of his Normal Retirement Date, and his Basic Pension as of his actual retirement date.

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Section 6 — Early Retirement Benefits

	6.01	 	A Participant may retire prior to his Normal Retirement Date provided he is then at least
55 years of age and has completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service.
For the purpose of this SERF, his Early Retirement Date shall be the first day of the
month coinciding with or next following the date on which such Participant so retires.
	 
	6.02	 	Where the Participant is at least 58 years of age and the sum of his age and years of
Continuous or Credited Service totals at least 80, such Participant shall be entitled to an
annual supplementary retirement allowance, payable in equal monthly installments,
determined in accordance with Section 5.01 and commencing on his Early Retirement
Date.
	 
	6.03	 	A Participant other than a Participant referred to in Section 6.02 who retires early in
accordance with Section 6.01 shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
retirement allowance, payable in equal monthly installments, and commencing on his
Early Retirement Date in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of a) over b) below:

	 	a)	 	2% of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of years of
Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5% multiplied by the number of months that his Early Retirement Date precedes:

	 	i)	 	where the Participant has completed at least 20 years of
Continuous or Credited Service, the date at which the Participant would first
have qualified for an unreduced supplementary retirement allowance in
accordance with Section 6.02 hereof had he continued in the plan;
	 
	 	ii)	 	where the Participant has not completed 20 years of
Continuous or Credited Service, age 65.

	 	b)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or where such Basic
Pension
has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have received if such
commutation had not taken place.

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	6.04	 	Where in addition to his Basic Pension, the Participant is entitled to receive a
bridging benefit under the Registered Pension Plan, the amount of his annual supplementary
retirement allowance shall be further reduced by the annual amount of such bridging benefit
during the period for which such bridging benefit continues to be paid.

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Section 7 — Disability

	7.01	 	During a period of disability entitling the Participant to receive disability benefits under
the short-term or long-term disability plan maintained by the Corporation from time to
time, such Participant shall continue to accrue Credited Service for the purpose of this
SERP. During such period, the Participant shall be deemed to receive a salary equal to
the annual rate of base salary he was receiving immediately prior to his becoming
disabled.
	 
	7.02	 	If the Participant, for any reason, ceases to be eligible to receive benefits under the
short-term or long-term disability plan maintained by the Corporation prior to his Normal
Retirement Date and within such period as determined by the Corporation:

	 	a)	 	the Participant returns to active employment with the Corporation, then at
the date
of his subsequent termination, death or retirement, he shall be entitled to
supplementary retirement benefits calculated in accordance with the provisions of
this SERP, taking into account the provisions of Section 7.01 above, or
	 
	 	b)	 	the Participant does not return to active employment with the Corporation
then, he
will be deemed to have terminated his employment or retired for the purposes of
this SERP as of the day he ceases to be eligible to receive benefits from the
disability plans maintained by the Corporation and his supplementary retirement
benefits shall be calculated based on the provisions of this SERP, taking into
account the provisions of Section 7.01 above.

	7.03	 	A Participant whose period of disability continues until his Normal Retirement Date shall
be deemed to have retired on his Normal Retirement Date for the purpose of this SERP.
	 
	7.04	 	In the event of the death of a Participant who is accumulating Credited Service while in
receipt of disability benefits as provided in Section 7.01 hereof, the benefits payable
under this SERP shall be determined in accordance with the terms of Section 9 hereof as
if he died while in service of the Corporation.

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Section 8 — Form of Pension

	8.01	 	The annual supplementary retirement allowance payable to a Participant under this SERP
shall be paid during the lifetime of the Participant. Following the death of the Participant
while in receipt of such supplementary retirement allowance, the Participant’s Spouse
shall be entitled to receive during his or her lifetime an annual supplementary survivor
allowance, payable in equal monthly installments, and commencing on the first day of the
month following the month in which the Participant dies, equal to the excess of a) over b)
below:

	 	a)	 	50% of the annual supplementary retirement allowance that would have
been
payable to the Participant under this SERP at the time of his death, if such
supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the Participant’s Basic
Pension;
	 
	 	b)	 	any survivor pension payable to the Spouse under the Registered Pension Plan
following the death of the Participant, or any survivor pension that would have
been payable had the benefits under the Registered Pension Plan not been
commuted. Where the Registered Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension
plan, and subject to paragraph c) of Section 2.04, the survivor pension payable to
the Spouse shall be equal to 60% of the Participant’s Basic Pension as defined in
Section 2.04.

	8.02	 	If the Participant does not have a Spouse and the Participant dies before 120 monthly
payments of the supplementary retirement allowance have been paid to him, his estate
shall receive a lump sum which is the Actuarial Equivalent of the excess of a) over b)
below:

	 	a)	 	the balance of the 120 monthly payments of the supplementary retirement
allowance that would have been payable to the Participant under this SERP at the
time of his death if such supplementary allowance had not been reduced by the
Participant’s Basic Pension;

-15-

 

	 	b)	 	any amount payable under the Registered Pension Plan to his estate or any
designated beneficiary following the death of the Participant, or any amount that
would have been payable had the benefits under the Registered Pension Plan not been
commuted. Where the Registered Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension plan,
and subject to paragraph c) of Section 2.04, the amount that would have been payable
to his estate or any designated beneficiary following the death of the Participant,
had the Participant elected to receive his Basic Pension as defined in Section 2.04
as a life annuity with 120 payments guaranteed.

8.03 Optional Form of Pension

	 	 	Instead of receiving his supplementary retirement allowance in accordance with the normal
form of payment described in Sections 8.01 and 8.02, a Participant may elect to receive his
supplementary retirement allowance payable under this SERP under one of the optional forms
determined by the Corporation as eligible for the purpose of this SERP. In such a case, the
Participant must elect the same optional form for purpose of his benefits under the
Registered Pension Plans. However, in the case where the Registered Pension Plan is a
defined contribution pension plan, and subject to paragraph c) of Section 2.04, the
Participant will be deemed to have elected the same form of payment that is elected for
purposes of this SERP.
	 
	 	 	If the Participant elects an optional form of pension, then the amount of his annual
supplementary retirement allowance, prior to applying the offset for his Basic Pension,
shall be adjusted on an Actuarial Equivalent Value basis.

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Section 9 — Death Prior to Retirement

	9.01	 	Death after age 55 but prior to retirement

	 	a)	 	In the event that a Participant dies while in the service of the Corporation
after
having reached age 55 and having completed at least 2 years of Continuous or
Credited Service, his Spouse shall be entitled to receive an annual supplementary
survivor allowance determined in accordance with Section 8.01 hereof as if the
Participant had retired immediately prior to the date of his death and had not
elected an optional form of pension in accordance with Section 8.03. However,
with respect to Section 8.01 b), where the survivor benefit under the Registered
Pension Plan is payable in a lump sum, the survivor pension payable to the
Spouse shall be equal to the pension that could be provided by such lump sum,
calculated on an Actuarial Equivalent Value basis over the survivor’s lifetime.
	 
	 	b)	 	In the event of there being no Spouse at the time of death of a Participant
referred
to in paragraph a) of this Section 9.01, his estate shall receive a lump sum equal
to
the lump sum that would otherwise have been payable under this SERF to the
Participant’s estate as would be determined under Section 8.02 if the Participant
had retired immediately prior to the date of his death. However, with respect to
Section 8.02 b), where the benefit payable to the estate or designated beneficiary
under the Registered Pension Plan is payable in a lump sum, any amount payable
to the estate or designated beneficiary shall be equal to such lump sum.
	 
	 	c)	 	In the event that a Participant who has terminated his employment and who is
entitled to a deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance in accordance
with Section 10.01 or Section 10.02 dies after having reached age 55 and prior to
payment commencement, his Spouse shall be entitled to receive an annual
supplementary survivor allowance determined in accordance with Section 8.01
hereof as if the Participant had requested payment commencement of his deferred
annual supplementary retirement allowance on the first day of the calendar month
immediately preceding or coinciding with his date of death.
	 
	 	 	 	In the event of there being no Spouse at the time of death, his estate shall
receive a lump sum equal to the lump sum that would otherwise have been payable
under the SERP to the Participant’s estate as would be determined under Section
8.02 if

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	 	 	 	the Participant had requested payment commencement of his deferred annual
supplementary retirement allowance on the first day of the calendar month
immediately preceding or coinciding with his date of death.

	9.02	 	Death before age 55

	 	a)	 	In the event that a Participant dies while in service of the Corporation prior
to
having reached age 55 but after having completed at least 2 years of Continuous
or Credited Service, his Spouse or, in the absence of a Spouse his estate, shall
receive a lump sum payment which is the Actuarial Equivalent of the deferred
supplementary retirement allowance that would otherwise have been payable
under the SERP to the Participant as would be determined under Section 10.01 if
the Participant had voluntarily terminated his employment with the Corporation.
	 
	 	b)	 	In the event that a Participant who has terminated his employment and who is
entitled to a deferred annual supplementary allowance in accordance with
Section 10.01 or Section 10.02 dies prior to having reached age 55, his Spouse or,
in absence of a Spouse, his estate shall receive a lump sum payment which is the
Actuarial Equivalent of the deferred supplementary retirement allowance.

	9.03	 	No benefit shall be payable under this SERP following the death of a Participant prior to
having reached age 55 if he has not completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service.

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Section 10 — Termination of Employment

	10.01	 	Voluntary termination after 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service

	 	 	A Participant who terminates his service with the Corporation on a voluntary basis prior to
his 55th birthday and provided he has then completed at least 2 years of
Continuous or Credited Service shall be entitled to receive a deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance the amount of which shall be determined as provided hereunder.
	 
	 	 	The Participant may request that payment commencement of his deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance start on the first day of any calendar month during the period between
his attainment of age 55 and his Normal Retirement Date. The amount of the deferred annual
supplementary retirement allowance payable, shall be established based on the payment
commencement date as follows:

	 	a)	 	if the payment commencement date is the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date :

	 	i)	 	2 % of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his
number of years of Credited Service; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or
where such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation had not taken place.

	 	b)	 	If the payment commencement date is prior to the Participant’s
Normal
Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2 % of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of
years of Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5 % multiplied by
the number of months the payment commencement date precedes the
Participant’s Normal Retirement Date; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or
where such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation had not taken place.

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The deferred annual supplementary allowance shall be paid in the same form and in the same
manner as the supplementary retirement allowance that would have been payable if the
Participant had retired on his Normal Retirement Date.

	10.02	 	Involuntary termination after 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service
	 
	 	 	A Participant who, prior to his 55th birthday and provided he has then completed
at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service, ceases to be employed by the Corporation
as a result of the termination of his employment initiated by the Corporation for any reason
other than for cause, shall be entitled to receive a deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance the amount of which shall be determined as provided hereunder.
	 
	 	 	The Participant may request that payment commencement of his deferred annual supplementary
retirement allowance start the first day of any calendar month during the period between his
attainment of age 55 and his Unreduced Early Retirement Date. For such purpose, the
Participant’s Unreduced Early Retirement Date shall correspond to the earliest date he could
have been entitled to an unreduced supplementary early retirement allowance as provided in
Section 6.02, established as if his termination of employment had not occurred.
	 
	 	 	The amount of the deferred annual supplementary retirement allowance payable, shall be
established based on the payment commencement date as follows:

	 	a)	 	if the payment commencement date is the Participant’s Unreduced Early
Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2 % of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his
number of years of Credited Service; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or
where such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation had not taken place.

	 	b)	 	If the payment commencement date is prior to the Participant’s Unreduced
Early
Retirement Date:

	 	i)	 	2 % of his Average Pensionable Earnings multiplied by his number of
years of Credited Service, such amount to be reduced by 0.5 % multiplied

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	 	 	 	by the number of months the payment commencement date precedes the
Participant’s Unreduced Early Retirement Date; less
	 
	 	ii)	 	his Basic Pension from the Registered Pension Plan, or
where such Basic Pension has been commuted, the Basic Pension he would have
received if such commutation had not taken place.

The deferred annual supplementary allowance shall be paid in the same form and in the same
manner as the supplementary retirement allowance that would have been payable if the
Participant had retired on his Normal Retirement Date.

	10.03	 	No benefit shall be payable under this SERP to a Participant who ceases to be in the
employ of the Corporation prior to his 55th birthday:

	 	a)	 	as a result of the termination of his employment by the Corporation for cause, or
	 
	 	b)	 	as a result of the termination of his employment for any reason prior to having
completed at least 2 years of Continuous or Credited Service.

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Section 11 — Increase in Benefits

	11.01	 	Any ad hoc increases in the pension payments made under the Registered Pension Plan to a
retired Participant, or in the case of his death, to his surviving Spouse, will not have the
effect of reducing benefits otherwise payable under this SERP.
	 
	11.02	 	Any automatic annual increases in the pension payments made under the Registered Pension
Plan, or deemed to have been made if the benefits have been commuted, to a retired
Participant, or in the case of his death, to his surviving Spouse, will have the effect of
reducing benefits otherwise payable under this SERP.
	 
	11.03	 	Effective July 1, 2001, monthly supplementary retirement allowances paid under this SERP,
shall be increased by a percentage as per the following table:

	 	 	 
	Year of Retirement	 	Percentage Increase
	1999
	 	1.4%
	2000
	 	1.4% divided by 12 and multiplied by

the number of months between the date

of retirement and December 31, 2000

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Section 12 — Commutation of Benefits

	12.01	 	Any supplementary retirement allowance or deferred supplementary retirement allowance payable
under this SERP in the form of monthly payments may, at the discretion of the Corporation and
subject to the approval of the Participant or, following his death, of his Spouse, may be paid
in a lump sum calculated in accordance with the Corporation’s policy.
	 
	12.02	 	Any commutation of benefits otherwise payable under this SERP shall, unless it is decided
otherwise by the Corporation at its entire discretion, not be permitted during the first 2
years following the Participant’s retirement or termination of employment. Furthermore, the
Corporation may require that the Participant or other beneficiary of a benefit under this SERP
submit satisfactory evidence of good health before any such benefit is commuted.

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Section 13 — Service Outside Canada

	13.01	 	In the event that a Participant’s employment includes periods of service with the
Corporation in Canada (hereinafter called “Canadian Service”) and periods of service in
another country with any affiliated company, any subsidiary or associated company of the
Corporation (hereinafter called “Non Canadian Service”), for the determination of the
Participant’s supplementary benefits hereunder, the following provisions shall apply:

	 	a)	 	the Participant’s Credited Service shall include his periods of Non Canadian
Service during which he continued to accrue credited service under the Registered
Pension Plan plus any other period of Non Canadian Service as approved by the
Corporation;
	 
	 	b)	 	for purposes of calculating the Participant’s Average Pensionable Earnings, the
Participant’s base salary and annual bonus for his Non Canadian Service shall be
established in accordance with the administrative policies and practices of the
Corporation.

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Section 14 — Conditions for Payment

	14.01	 	Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, no amount of benefit shall be
payable or continued to be paid pursuant to this SERP in the event that during his
employment with the Corporation or during a period of 2 years following his termination
of employment or retirement, the Participant, directly or indirectly, without the consent of
the Corporation:

	 	i)	 	engages in or becomes interested as a principal, agent, officer, employee,
manager, advisor, financial backer, shareholder (except as a passive investor in a
public corporation) or in any other capacity whatsoever in a business which may be
fairly regarded as being in competition with the business of the Corporation; or
	 
	 	ii)	 	assists financially or in any manner whatsoever any person, firm,
association or corporation, whether as principal, agent, officer, employee, manager,
advisor, financial backer, shareholder (except as a passive investor in a public
corporation) or in any capacity whatsoever to enter into, develop, carry on or maintain
a business, which may fairly be regarded as being in competition with the business of
the Corporation.

	14.02	 	Furthermore, notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, no amount of
benefit shall be payable or continued to be paid pursuant to this SERP in the event that
during his employment with the Corporation or at any time thereafter, the Participant fails
to keep confidential any information of a confidential or proprietary nature concerning
the Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective operations, assets,
finances, business and affairs or uses such information for personal advantage, provided
that nothing herein shall prevent the Participant from disclosing information which is
publicly available or which is required to be disclosed under appropriate statutes, rules or
law or legal process.
	 
	 	 	In the event of doubt regarding the confidentiality of any information, the Participant
must verify the confidentiality nature of the information with the Corporation.

-25-

 

Section 15 — General Provisions

	15.01	 	Proof of Age
	 
	 	 	Any Participant or Spouse entitled to benefits hereunder shall, upon request, furnish proof
of age satisfactory to the Corporation. In the case that the age of the Participant or his
Spouse is found to be inexact, the Corporation is authorized to adjust benefits accordingly.
	 
	15.02	 	Executive Employee Rights
	 
	 	 	The implementation of this SERP shall not constitute an enlargement of any rights which a
Participant had apart from his membership in this SERP. The benefits conferred herein shall
not be used to increase damages in respect of the dismissal or termination of employment of
any Participant.
	 
	15.03	 	Non Alienation
	 
	 	 	Subject to any applicable legal requirement, all benefits payable under the terms of this
SERP are for the Participant’s own use and are subject to the following restriction:

	 	i)	 	any transaction that purports to assign, charge, anticipate, surrender or give as
security any right of a person under this SERP or benefit payable under this SERP
shall not be enforceable against this SERP.

Notwithstanding the above paragraph, a Participant can waive his entitlement under this
SERP.

	15.04	 	Non Commutability of Benefits
	 
	 	 	The benefits provided under this SERP shall not be capable of surrender or commutation
except as provided herein.

-26-

 

	15.05	 	Records
	 
	 	 	Wherever the records of the Corporation are used for the purpose of this SERP, such record
shall be considered conclusive of the facts with which they are concerned unless and until
they are proven to be in error.
	 
	15.06	 	Incompetency
	 
	 	 	If, in the opinion of the Corporation, any person receiving or entitled to receive a benefit
under the terms of this SERP is, as a result of physical and mental infirmity, incapable of
managing his affairs, the Corporation may authorize any payment to which such person is
entitled to be made to a curator or administrator appointed by the Court or in the absence
of any such person, payment shall be made to his Spouse, children or other person on his
behalf and such payment shall be in complete discharge of the obligations of the Corporation
under this SERP to make such payment.
	 
	15.07	 	Interpretation

	 	a)	 	The provisions of this SERP shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws
of the Province of Québec and shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the
Corporation and its successors and assigns.
	 
	 	b)	 	Headings wherever used herein are for reference purposes only and do not
limit or extend the meaning of any provisions of this SERP.

	15.08	 	Severability
	 
	 	 	Should any of the provisions of this SERP and/or its conditions be illegal or not
enforceable, it or they shall be considered severable and the SERP and the remaining
conditions shall remain in full force and effect and be binding upon the parties as thought
the said provision or provisions have never been included.
	 
	15.09	 	Currency
	 
	 	 	All benefits payable under the SERP shall be in Canadian Currency.

-27-

 

	15.10	 	Taxability of Benefits
	 
	 	 	All benefits under this SERP are expressed on a pre-tax basis and shall be subject to
applicable withholding tax and reporting pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any
other applicable law.

-28-

 

Section 16 — Administration

	16.01	 	The Corporation shall decide on all matters relating to the interpretation, administration
and application of this SERP, consistently with the provisions of this SERP and such
interpretation or performance, fairly and reasonably done, shall be final and conclusive.

-29-

 

Section 17 — Future of the Plan

	17.1	 	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation reserves the right to amend
or terminate this SERP. Any amendment or decision to terminate this SERP shall be communicated
in writing by the Corporation to the affected Participants indicating the effective date of
such amendment or termination of this SERP which shall not precede the date that such
communication is given to the Participants. No such amendment shall have the effect of
reducing the amount or value of benefits accrued by the Participants under this SERP prior to
the date of such amendment.
	 
	17.2	 	In the event this SERP is terminated as of a given date by a decision of the Corporation as
provided for under Section 17.01, or otherwise, the following provisions shall apply:

	 	a)	 	an active Participant who has reached 55 years of age shall be deemed, for
the purpose of this SERP, to have retired on the date of termination of the SERP (the
“Termination Date”), and shall be entitled to supplementary retirement benefits
determined in accordance with Section 5 or 6, as the case may be;
	 
	 	b)	 	an active Participant who has not yet reached age 55 shall be deemed, for the
purpose of this SERP, to have terminated his employment on the Termination Date as a
result of a Corporation initiated termination of employment and shall be entitled to
supplementary retirement benefits determined in accordance with Section 10.02 hereof;
	 
	 	c)	 	the supplementary retirement benefits to which a Participant is entitled to,
or deemed to be entitled to under Section 17.02 a) or b), as the case may be, shall be
paid in a lump sum amount equal to the Actuarial Equivalent Value of such
supplementary benefits; and
	 
	 	d)	 	the obligations of the Participant pursuant to Section 14.01 and Section
14.02 shall be waived as of the Termination Date.

-30-

 

Appendix A

Additional Service

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Additional Years of Service	 	Vesting date
	Participants	 	Continuous Service	 	Credited Service	 	 
	Louis-Marie Bouchard

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	December 4, 2005 (1)
	Viateur Camiré

	 	 	—	 	 	 	5.03	 	 	April 18,2002
	Luc Caron

	 	 	—	 	 	 	13.03	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Dave Chown

	 	 	—	 	 	 	1.33	 	 	Fully vested
	Gilbert Demers

	 	 	—	 	 	 	14.21	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Christian Gélinas

	 	 	—	 	 	 	4.97	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Mike Innes

	 	 	—	 	 	 	3.083	 	 	Fully vested
	Denis Jean

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	December 4, 2005 (1)
	Yves Laflamme

	 	 	—	 	 	 	17.10	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Pierre Levasseur

	 	 	—	 	 	 	1.92	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Gordon Oldford

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	Fully vested
	Jocelyn Pépin

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	January 1, 2011(1)(3)
	Daniel Perkins

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	Fully vested
	André Piché

	 	 	—	 	 	 	9.70	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Roger Quesnel

	 	 	—	 	 	 	14.49	 	 	July 1st, 2002
	Luc Ranger

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	January 1,2011(1)(3)
	Pierre Rougeau

	 	 	5.00	 	 	 	5.00	 	 	September 4, 2009(1)(2)

 

			
	(l)	 	Gradual Vesting of one year for each year of employment. Vesting
date represents date from which additional years of service will be fully
vested.
	 
	(2)	 	For purposes of gradual vesting, years of employment are only counted from
September 4, 2004 and onward.
	 
	(3)	 	For purposes of gradual vesting, years of employment are only counted from January
1, 2006 and onward.

Extract from the Canadian Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for Executive
Employees of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.

	 	 	 	 	 
	Approved by:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 
	Date:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

-A-1-

 

Appendix B

Executive Employee who held an MSBA and elected

to convert his defined benefit entitlement

under the prior Abitibi-Price Inc. Registered Pension Plan

to a defined contribution entitlement on January 1, 1996

Jean-Claude Casavant

Allen Dea

Alain Grandmont

Alain Lalonde

Anders Nordin

Ronald Oberlander

William Sheffield

-B-1-

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