Document:

abtx-ex42_11.htm

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. has one class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: its common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “common stock”).  As used in this exhibit, the terms “Allegiance,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. and do not refer to its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.

General

The following discussion summarizes some of the important rights of the holders of shares of our common stock. This discussion does not purport to be a complete description of these rights and may not contain all of the information regarding our common stock that is important to you. These rights can be determined in full only by reference to federal and state banking laws and regulations, the Texas Business Organizations Code, or “the TBOC,” and our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws.

We are incorporated in the State of Texas. The rights of our shareholders are generally covered by Texas law and our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws. The terms of our capital stock are therefore subject to Texas law, including the TBOC, and the common and constitutional law of Texas. The following discussion describes the terms of our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this exhibit is a part.

Our amended and restated certificate of formation authorizes us to issue up to 80,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. The authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock will be available for future issuance without shareholder approval, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of any applicable securities exchange.

Voting Rights

Subject to any special voting rights that may be given to any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Shareholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes with respect to the election of directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Dividend Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

Liquidation Rights

On liquidation of the Company, the holders of the common stock are entitled to share pro rata with the holders of shares of other common stock of the Company in any distribution of the assets of the Company after the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any, have received the liquidation preference of their shares as determined by our board of directors plus any declared but unpaid dividends, if any, and after all other indebtedness of the Company has been retired.

Other

Our common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and is not entitled to the benefits of any redemption or sinking fund provision.

 

 

Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of formation permits us to issue one or more series of preferred stock and authorizes our board of directors to designate the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of any such series of preferred stock, in each case, without any further action by our shareholders. While the terms of preferred stock may vary from series to series, holders of our common stock should assume that all shares of preferred stock will be senior to our common stock in respect of distributions and on liquidation. 

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting rights that affect adversely the voting power or other rights of our other classes of stock, including the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock also could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control or causing the market price of our common stock to decline. 

We currently have no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding. 

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ABTX.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Investor Services, c/o Shareholder Services, whose address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA  02021.

Business Combinations under Texas Law

A number of provisions of Texas law, our amended and restated certificate of formation and our bylaws could have an anti-takeover effect and make more difficult the acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise and the removal of incumbent directors. These provisions are intended to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors.

We are subject to the provisions of Title 2, Chapter 21, Subchapter M of the TBOC, or the Texas Business Combination Law, which provides that a Texas corporation may not engage in specified types of business combinations, including mergers, consolidations and asset sales, with a person, or an affiliate or associate of that person, who is an “affiliated shareholder.” For purposes of this law, an “affiliated shareholder” is generally defined as the holder of 20% or more of the corporation’s voting shares, for a period of three years from the date that person became an affiliated shareholder. The law’s prohibitions do not apply if:

	
 
	
•
	
the business combination or the acquisition of shares by the affiliated shareholder was approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the affiliated shareholder became an affiliated shareholder; or

 

	
 
	
•
	
the business combination was approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation not beneficially owned by the affiliated shareholder, at a meeting of shareholders called for that purpose, not less than six months after the affiliated shareholder became an affiliated shareholder.

We have more than 100 shareholders and are considered to be an “issuing public corporation” for purposes of this law. The Texas Business Combination Law does not apply to the following:

	
 
	
•
	
the business combination of an issuing public corporation: where the corporation’s original certificate of formation or bylaws contain a provision expressly electing not to be governed by the Texas Business Combination Law; or that adopts an amendment to its certificate of formation or bylaws, by the affirmative vote of the holders, other than affiliated shareholders, of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, expressly electing not to be governed by the Texas Business Combination Law and so long as the amendment does not take effect for 18 months following the date of the vote and does not apply 

 

 

	
 
		
to a business combination with an affiliated shareholder who became affiliated on or before the effective date of the amendment;

 

	
 
	
•
	
a business combination of an issuing public corporation with an affiliated shareholder that became an affiliated shareholder inadvertently, if the affiliated shareholder divests itself, as soon as possible, of enough shares to no longer be an affiliated shareholder and would not at any time within the three- year period preceding the announcement of the business combination have been an affiliated shareholder but for the inadvertent acquisition;

 

	
 
	
•
	
a business combination with an affiliated shareholder who became an affiliated shareholder through a transfer of shares by will or intestacy and continuously was an affiliated shareholder until the announcement date of the business combination; and

 

	
 
	
•
	
a business combination of a corporation with its wholly owned subsidiary if such subsidiary is a Texas entity and not an affiliate or associate of the affiliated shareholder other than by reason of the affiliated shareholder’s beneficial ownership of voting shares of the corporation.

Neither our amended and restated certificate of formation nor our bylaws contain any provision expressly providing that the Company will not be subject to the Texas Business Combination Law. The Texas Business Combination Law may have the effect of inhibiting a nonnegotiated merger or other business combination involving Allegiance, even if that event would be beneficial to our shareholders.

Action by Written Consent

Under Texas law, no action required or permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting of shareholders without the unanimous written consent of all shareholders entitled to vote on the action unless the certificate of formation specifically allows action to be taken by a written consent of the shareholders holding at least the minimum number of shares necessary to take the action that is subject to that consent at a meeting of shareholders, even though such consent is not signed by all of the corporation’s shareholders. Our amended and restated certificate of formation provides for shareholder action by less than unanimous written consent.

Certain Certificate of Formation and Bylaw Provisions Potentially Having an Anti-takeover Effect

Our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws contain certain provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect and thus discourage potential takeover attempts and make it more difficult for our shareholders to change management or receive a premium for their shares. These provisions include:

	
 
	
•
	
staggered terms for directors, who may be removed from office only for cause ;

 

	
 
	
•
	
a prohibition on cumulative voting in the election of directors;

 

	
 
	
•
	
authority for our board of directors to issue shares of our preferred stock without shareholder approval and upon such terms as our board of directors may determine;

 

	
 
	
•
	
a provision establishing certain advance notice procedures for nomination of candidates for election as directors and for shareholder proposals; and

 

	
 
	
•
	
a provision that any special meeting of our shareholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the President or a holder or group of holders of at least 50 % of our shares entitled to vote at the meeting.

In addition to these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws, banking laws impose notice, approval, and ongoing regulatory requirements on any shareholder or other party that seeks to 

 

 

acquire direct or indirect “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution. These laws include the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act. These laws could delay or prevent an acquisition.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of formation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted under the TBOC and applicable federal laws and regulations, against all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their service for or on our behalf. Our amended and restated certificate of formation also makes mandatory the indemnification permitted under Section 8.101 of the TBOC and makes mandatory the payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses under Section 8.101 of the TBOC, and extends this mandatory indemnification and mandatory payment or reimbursement of expenses to all former or present officers of the Company and all persons who were serving at the request of the Company as the director, officer, partner, agent or trustee of another foreign or domestic entity. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of formation provides that our directors and officers will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors pursuant to which they will be indemnified as described above and will be advanced costs and expenses subject to the condition that such executive officers and directors will reimburse us for all advancements paid if a final judicial determination is made that such executive officer or director is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law or regulation.Document

Exhibit 10.20

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
401(k) PLAN

Restated January 1, 2021
{N4030927.7}

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
						
	INTRODUCTION	1

	ARTICLE I FORMAT AND DEFINITIONS
	2

	Section 1.01 --FORMAT.
	2

	Section 1.02 --DEFINITIONS.
	2

	ARTICLE II PARTICIPATION
	19
	Section 2.01 --ACTIVE PARTICIPANT.
	19
	Section 2.02 --INACTIVE PARTICIPANT.
	19
	Section 2.03 --CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.
	20
	Section 2.04 --ADOPTING EMPLOYERS - SINGLE PLAN.
	20
	ARTICLE III CONTRIBUTIONS
	20
	Section 3.01 --EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.
	21
	Section 3.02 --ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
	24
	Section 3.03 --IN-PLAN ROTH ROLLOVERS.
	25
	Section 3.04 --FORFEITURES.
	26
	Section 3.05 --ALLOCATION.
	27
	Section 3.06 --PROHIBITED ALLOCATIONS OF QUALIFYING EMPLOYER SECURITIES.
	29
	Section 3.07 --CONTRIBUTION LIMITATION.
	30
	Section 3.08 --EXCESS AMOUNTS.
	34
	Section 3.09 --401(k) SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS.
	42
	ARTICLE IV INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS
	45
	Section 4.01 --INVESTMENT AND TIMING OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
	45
	Section 4.02 --INVESTMENT IN QUALIFYING EMPLOYER SECURITIES.
	47
	ARTICLE V BENEFITS
	54
	Section 5.01 --RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
	54
	Section 5.02 --DEATH BENEFITS.
	54
	Section 5.03 --VESTED BENEFITS.
	54
	Section 5.04 --WHEN BENEFITS START.
	55
	Section 5.05 --IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWALS.
	56
	Section 5.06 --LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS.
	57
	Section 5.07 --DISTRIBUTIONS UNDER QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS.
	60
	ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
	61
	Section 6.01 --AUTOMATIC FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION.
	61
	Section 6.02 --OPTIONAL FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION.
	61
	Section 6.03 --ELECTION PROCEDURES.
	61
	Section 6.04 --NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
	63
	Section 6.05 --FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYER   SECURITIES.
	63
	Section 6.06 --PUT OPTION.
	64
	Section 6.07 --RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
	65
	ARTICLE VII REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS
	66
	Section 7.01 --APPLICATION.
	66
	Section 7.02 --DEFINITIONS.
	66
	Section 7.03 --REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS.
	67

    i

						
	ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
	71
	ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
	72
	Section 9.01 --ADMINISTRATION.
	72
	Section 9.02 --EXPENSES.
	72
	Section 9.03 --RECORDS.
	73
	Section 9.04 --INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
	73
	Section 9.05 --CLAIM PROCEDURES.
	73
	Section 9.06 --DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.
	75
	Section 9.07 --EXERCISE OF DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY.
	75
	Section 9.08 --TRANSACTION PROCESSING.
	75
	ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS
	75
	Section 10.01 --AMENDMENTS.
	76
	Section 10.02 --DIRECT ROLLOVERS.
	77
	Section 10.03 --MERGERS AND DIRECT TRANSFERS.
	77
	Section 10.04 --PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE INSURER AND OTHER PARTIES.
	79
	Section 10.05 --EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
	79
	Section 10.06 --RIGHTS TO PLAN ASSETS.
	79
	Section 10.07 --BENEFICIARY.
	79
	Section 10.08 --NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS.
	80
	Section 10.09 --CONSTRUCTION.
	80
	Section 10.10 --LEGAL ACTIONS.
	80
	Section 10.11 --SMALL AMOUNTS.
	80
	Section 10.12 --WORD USAGE.
	81
	Section 10.13 --CHANGE IN SERVICE METHOD.
	81
	Section 10.14 --MILITARY SERVICE.
	83
	ARTICLE XI TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS
	83
	Section 11.01 --APPLICATION.
	83
	Section 11.02 --DEFINITIONS.
	84
	Section 11.03 --MODIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
	86

    ii

INTRODUCTION
The Primary Employer previously established the Investar Holding Company 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) on January 1, 2010.
The Plan is restated effective January 1, 2020. This restated document is substituted in lieu of the prior document with the exception of any amendments that have not been incorporated into this restatement. Such amendment(s) shall continue to apply to this restated Plan until such provisions are integrated into the Plan or such amendment(s) are superseded by another amendment.
It is intended that the Plan, as restated, qualify as a profit sharing plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Employer agrees to operate the Plan according to the terms, provisions, and conditions set forth in this document.
The restated Plan continues to be for the exclusive benefit of employees of the Employer. All persons covered under the Plan before the effective date of this restatement shall continue to be covered under the restated Plan, if they are still Eligible Employees as of the restatement date, with no loss of benefits.
This restated Plan incorporates prior amendments and, where not previously reflected in the amendments, incorporates any applicable legal and regulatory changes since the Plan was last restated, including requirements under Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Notices 2015-84 (“2015 Cumulative List”), 2016-80 (2016 Required Amendment List), 2017-72 (2017 Required Amendment List), 2018-91 (2018 Required Amendment List) and 2019-64 (2019 Required Amendment List), and is intended to comply in operation therewith. The Plan is also intended to be in good faith compliance, to the extent applicable, with the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) of 2017 and the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (“SECURE”) Act of 2019.  The provisions of this Plan apply as of the effective date of the restatement unless otherwise specified.
It is intended that the Plan shall consist of two components. One component of the Plan is intended to qualify as a profit sharing plan under Code Section 401(a) that includes a safe harbor qualified cash or deferred arrangement under Code Section 401(k) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This component includes contributions that are invested in funds other than company stock. This component of the Plan provides for participant-directed investments and is intended to comply with ERISA Section 404(c). This component is to be considered the non-ESOP component of the Plan. The other component is intended to qualify as a qualified stock bonus plan under Code Section 401(a), and as an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) under Code Section 4975(e)(7) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any later amendments to the Code. This component includes contributions invested in company stock and shall be considered the ESOP component of the Plan. The ESOP component of the Plan is intended to primarily invest in common stock of the Employer. The Employer is a C corporation whose stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol “ISTR.” The underlying Trust for both components of the Plan is intended to be exempt from taxation under Code Section 501.

    1

ARTICLE I
FORMAT AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01--FORMAT.
Words and phrases defined in the DEFINITIONS SECTION of Article I shall have that defined meaning when used in this Plan, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. These words and phrases have initial capital letters to aid in identifying them as defined terms.

Section 1.02--DEFINITIONS.
Account means the Participant’s share of the Plan Fund. Separate accounting records are kept for those parts of his Account resulting from:
(a)    Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions
(b)    Roth Elective Deferral Contributions
(c)    Qualified Matching Contributions
(d)    Qualified Nonelective Contributions
(e)    All Other Employer Contributions
(f)    Rollover Contributions
(g)    ESOP Discretionary Contributions
(h)    In-plan Roth Rollovers
(i)    Cash dividends paid on shares of Qualifying Employer Securities credited to the account maintained to reflect Contributions (with a separate dividend source account for each such type of contribution) that are initially reinvested in Qualifying Employer Securities at the election of the Participant.
If the Participant's Vesting Percentage is less than 100% as to any of the Employer Contributions, a separate accounting record will be kept for any part of his Account resulting from such Employer Contributions and, if there has been a prior Forfeiture Date, from such Contributions made before a prior Forfeiture Date.
A Participant's Account shall be reduced by any distribution of his Vested Account and by any Forfeitures. A Participant's Account shall participate in the earnings credited, expenses charged, and any appreciation or depreciation of the Investment Fund. A Participant’s Account is subject to any minimum guarantees applicable under an Annuity Contract or other investment arrangement and to any expenses associated therewith.
Accrual Computation Period means the consecutive 12-month period ending on the last day of each Plan Year, including corresponding consecutive 12-month periods before the effective date of this Plan.
    2

ACP Test means the nondiscrimination test described in Code Section 401(m)(2) as provided for in Section 3.08(d).
ACP Test Safe Harbor means the method described in Section 3.09 for satisfying the ACP Test with respect to Matching Contributions.
Active Participant means an Eligible Employee who is actively participating in the Plan according to the provisions of Section 2.01.
ADP Test means the nondiscrimination test described in Code Section 401(k)(3) as provided for in Section 3.08(c).
ADP Test Safe Harbor means the method described in Section 3.09 for satisfying the ADP Test.
Affiliated Service Group means any group of corporations, partnerships or other organizations of which the Employer is a part and that is affiliated within the meaning of Code Section 414(m) and the regulations thereunder. The term Controlled Group, as it is used in this Plan, shall include the term Affiliated Service Group.
Alternate Payee means any spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a Participant who is recognized by a qualified domestic relations order as having a right to receive all, or a portion of, the benefits payable under the Plan with respect to such Participant.
Annual Compensation means, for a Plan Year, the Employee’s Compensation for the Compensation Year ending with or within the consecutive 12-month period ending on the last day of the Plan Year.
Annuity Contract means the annuity contract or contracts into which the Trustee or the Primary Employer enters with the Insurer for guaranteed benefits, for the investment of Contributions in separate accounts, and for the payment of benefits under this Plan.
Annuity Starting Date means the first day of the first period for which an amount is payable to the Participant as an annuity or any other form.
Beneficiary means the person or persons named by a Participant to receive any benefits under the Plan when the Participant dies in accordance with Section 10.07. 
Catch-up Contributions means Elective Deferral Contributions made to the Plan that are in excess of an otherwise applicable Plan limit and that are made by Participants who are age 50 or older by the end of their taxable year. An otherwise applicable Plan limit is a limit in the Plan that applies to Elective Deferral Contributions without regard to Catch-up Contributions, such as the limits on the Maximum Annual Additions, as defined in Section 3.07, the dollar limitation on Elective Deferral Contributions under Code Section 402(g) (not counting Catch-up Contributions), and the limit imposed by the ADP Test.
Catch-up Contributions are not subject to the limits on the Maximum Annual Additions, as defined in the Section 3.07, are not counted in the ADP Test, and are not counted in determining the minimum allocation under Code Section 416 (but Catch-up Contributions made in prior years are counted in determining whether the Plan is top-heavy). 
Claimant means any person who makes a claim for benefits under this Plan in accordance with Section 9.05. 
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
    3

Compensation means, except for purposes of Section 3.07 and Article XI, the total earnings, except as modified in this definition, from the Employer during any specified period.
"Earnings" in this definition means wages, salaries, Differential Wage Payments, and fees for professional services and other amounts received (without regard to whether or not an amount is paid in cash) for personal services actually rendered in the course of employment with the Employer maintaining the Plan to the extent that the amounts are includible in gross income (including, but not limited to, commissions paid to salespersons, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe benefits, and reimbursements or other expense allowances under a nonaccountable plan (as described in section 1.62-2(c) of the regulations)), and excluding the following:
(a)    employer contributions (other than elective contributions described in Code Section 402(e)(3), 408(k)(6), 408(p)(2)(A)(i), or 457(b)) to a plan of deferred compensation (including a simplified employee pension described in Code Section 408(k) or a simple retirement account described in Code Section 408(p), and whether or not qualified) to the extent such contributions are not includible in the Employee’s gross income for the taxable year in which contributed, and any distributions (whether or not includible in gross income when distributed) from a plan of deferred compensation (whether or not qualified);
(b)    amounts realized from the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option (that is, an option other than a statutory stock option as defined in section 1.421-1(b) of the regulations), or when restricted stock (or property) held by the Employee either becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture;
(c)    amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under a statutory stock option;
(d)    other amounts that receive special tax benefits, such as premiums for group-term life insurance (but only to the extent that the premiums are not includible in the gross income of the Employee and are not salary reduction amounts that are described in Code Section 125); and
(e)    other items of remuneration that are similar to any of the items listed in (a) through (d) above. 
For any Self-employed Individual, Compensation means Earned Income.
Except as provided herein, Compensation for a specified period is the Compensation actually paid or made available (or if earlier, includible in gross income) during such period.
Compensation for a Plan Year shall also include Compensation paid by the later of 2 1/2 months after an Employee’s Severance from Employment with the Employer maintaining the Plan or the end of the Plan Year that includes the date of the Employee’s Severance from Employment with the Employer maintaining the Plan, if the payment is regular Compensation for services during the Employee’s regular working hours, or Compensation for services outside the Employee’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses, or other similar payments, and, absent a Severance from Employment, the payments would have been paid to the Employee while the Employee continued in employment with the Employer.
Any payments not described above shall not be considered Compensation if paid after Severance from Employment, even if they are paid by the later of 2 1/2 months after the date of Severance 
    4

from Employment or the end of the Plan Year that includes the date of Severance from Employment.
Back pay, within the meaning of section 1.415(c)-2(g)(8) of the regulations, shall be treated as Compensation for the Plan Year to which the back pay relates to the extent the back pay represents wages and compensation that would otherwise be included in this definition.
Compensation paid or made available during a specified period shall include amounts that would otherwise be included in Compensation, but for an election under Code Section 125(a), 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), or 457(b).
Compensation shall exclude reimbursements or other expense allowances, fringe benefits (cash and noncash), moving expenses, deferred compensation (other than elective contributions), and welfare benefits.
For purposes of Section 3.08, the Employer may elect to use an alternative nondiscriminatory definition of Compensation in accordance with the regulations under Code Section 414(s).
The Annual Compensation of each Participant taken into account in determining contributions and allocations for any determination period (the period over which Compensation is determined) shall not exceed the annual amount specified in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code ($285,000 for 2020), as adjusted for cost-of-living increases in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(17)(B). The cost-of-living adjustment in effect for a calendar year applies to any determination period beginning with or within such calendar year.
If a determination period consists of fewer than 12 months, the annual compensation limit is an amount equal to the otherwise applicable annual compensation limit multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of months in the short determination period, and the denominator of the fraction is 12.
If Compensation for any prior determination period is taken into account in determining a Participant's contributions or allocations for the current Plan Year, the Compensation for such prior determination period is subject to the applicable annual compensation limit in effect for that determination period.
Compensation means, for a Leased Employee, Compensation for the services the Leased Employee performs for the Employer, determined in the same manner as the Compensation of Employees who are not Leased Employees, regardless of whether such Compensation is received directly from the Employer or from the leasing organization.
Compensation Year means the period used to determine Compensation. The Compensation Year is the consecutive 12-month period ending on the last day of each Plan Year, including corresponding periods before the effective date of the Plan.
Contributions means Employer Contributions and Rollover Contributions as set out in Article III, unless the context clearly indicates only specific contributions are meant. 
Controlled Group means any group of corporations, trades, or businesses of which the Employer is a part that is under common control. A Controlled Group includes any group of corporations, trades, or businesses, whether or not incorporated, which is either a parent-subsidiary group, a brother-sister group, or a combined group within the meaning of Code Section 414(b), Code Section 414(c) and the regulations thereunder and, for purposes of determining contribution limitations under Section 3.07, as modified by Code Section 415(h). The term Controlled Group, as it is used in this Plan, shall include the term Affiliated Service Group and any 
    5

other employer required to be aggregated with the Employer under Code Section 414(o) and the regulations thereunder.
Designated Beneficiary means the individual who is designated by the Participant (or the Participant’s surviving spouse) as the Beneficiary of the Participant’s interest under the Plan and who is the designated beneficiary under Code Section 401 (a)(9) and section 1.401(a)(9)-4 of the regulations.
Designated Roth Account means the portion of a Participant’s Account resulting from Roth Elective Deferral Contributions, In-plan Roth Rollovers, and the portion of a Rollover Contribution from a designated Roth account under another plan and the respective earnings thereon. The Designated Roth Account shall be record kept in a manner that satisfies the separate accounting requirements of section 1.401(k)-1(f) of the regulations.
Differential Wage Payments means any payments that are made by an Employer to an individual with respect to any period during which the individual is performing Qualified Military Service while on active duty for a period of more than 30 days. Such payments shall be made in accordance with Code Section 3401(h) and represent all or a portion of the wages the individual would have received from the Employer if the individual were performing service for the Employer.
Direct Rollover means a payment by the Plan to the Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee.
Discretionary Contributions means discretionary Employer Contributions made pursuant to Section 3.01(d). 
Distributee means an Employee or former Employee. In addition, the Employee's (or former Employee's) surviving spouse and the Employee's (or former Employee's) spouse or former spouse who is the Alternate Payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p), are Distributees with regard to the interest of the spouse or former spouse. A Distributee includes the Employee’s (or former Employee’s) nonspouse Designated Beneficiary, in which case, the distribution can only be transferred to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA established on behalf of the nonspouse Designated Beneficiary and that will be treated as an inherited IRA pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 402(c)(1 1).
Earned Income means, for a Self-employed Individual, net earnings from self-employment in the trade or business for which this Plan is established if such Self-employed Individual’s personal services are a material income producing factor for that trade or business. Net earnings shall be determined without regard to items not included in gross income and the deductions properly allocable to or chargeable against such items. Net earnings shall be reduced for the employer contributions to the employer’s qualified retirement plan(s) to the extent deductible under Code Section 404.
Net earnings shall be determined with regard to the deduction allowed to the employer by Code Section 164(f). 
Elective Deferral Agreement means an agreement between an Eligible Employee and the Employer under which an Eligible Employee may make Elective Deferral Contributions. An Elective Deferral Agreement (or change thereto) must be made in such manner and in accordance with such rules as the Employer may prescribe in a nondiscriminatory manner (including by means of voice response or other electronic system under circumstances the Employer permits). Elective Deferral Agreements cannot relate to Compensation that is payable prior to the later of the adoption or effective date of the cash or deferred arrangement (CODA). 
    6

Elective Deferral Agreements shall be made, changed, or terminated according to the provisions of Section 3.01. An Elective Deferral Agreement may also be terminated according to the terms of an automatic contribution arrangement.
Elective Deferral Contributions means Employer Contributions made in accordance with an Elective Deferral Agreement or the terms of an automatic contribution arrangement.
Elective Deferral Contributions means Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions and Roth Elective Deferral Contributions, unless the context clearly indicates only one is meant.
Elective Deferral Contributions shall be 100% vested and subject to the distribution restrictions of Code Section 401(k) when made. See Section 5.04.
Eligibility Service means an Employee's Period of Service. Eligibility Service shall be measured from his Employment Commencement Date to his most recent Severance Date. This Period of Service shall be reduced by any Period of Severance that occurred prior to his most recent Severance Date, unless such Period of Severance is included under the service spanning rule below. This period of Eligibility Service shall be expressed as months (on the basis that 30 days equal one month).
However, Eligibility Service is modified as follows: 
Period of Military Duty included:
A Period of Military Duty shall be included as service with the Employer to the extent it has not already been credited.
Period of Severance included (service spanning rule):
A Period of Severance shall be deemed to be a Period of Service under either of the following conditions:
(a)    the Period of Severance immediately follows a period during which an Employee is not absent from work and ends within 12 months; or
(b)    the Period of Severance immediately follows a period during which an Employee is absent from work for any reason other than quitting, being discharged, or retiring (such as a leave of absence or layoff) and ends within 12 months of the date he was first absent.
Controlled Group service included:
An Employee's service with a member firm of a Controlled Group while both that firm and the Employer were members of the Controlled Group shall be included as service with the Employer.
Eligible Employee means any Employee of the Employer excluding the following:
(a)    Bargaining class. Represented for collective bargaining purposes by any collective bargaining agreement between the Employer and employee representatives, if retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining and if two percent or less of the Employees who are covered pursuant to that agreement are professionals as defined in section 1.410(b)-9 of the regulations. For this purpose, the term “employee 
    7

representatives” does not include any organization more than half of whose members are Employees who are owners, officers, or executives of the Employer.
(b)    Nonresident alien, within the meaning of Code Section 7701(b)(1)(B), who receives no earned income, within the meaning of Code Section 911 (d)(2), from the Employer that constitutes income from sources within the United States, within the meaning of Code Section 861(a)(3), or who receives such earned income but it is all exempt from income tax in the United States under the terms of an income tax convention.
(c)    Leased Employee.
However, to the extent an Employee becomes an Employee as a result of a Code Section 410(b)(6)(C) transaction, that Employee shall not be an Eligible Employee during the period beginning on the date of the transaction and ending on the last day of the first Plan Year beginning after the date of the transaction. This period is called the transition period. The transition period may end earlier if there is a significant change in the coverage under the Plan or if the Employer chooses to cover all similarly situated Employees as of an earlier date. A Code Section 410(b)(6)(C) transaction is an asset or stock acquisition, merger, or similar transaction involving a change in the employer of the employees of a trade or business.
Eligible Retirement Plan means an eligible plan under Code Section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state and which agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into such plan from this Plan, a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, an annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a), an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), or a qualified plan described in Code Section 401(a), that accepts the Distributee's Eligible Rollover Distribution. The definition of Eligible Retirement Plan shall also apply in the case of a distribution to a surviving spouse, or to a spouse or former spouse who is the Alternate Payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p).  Effective January 1, 2021, an eligible retirement plan also includes a SIMPLE IRA, provided the rollover is made after the two-year period beginning on the date the Distributee first participated in the SIMPLE IRA plan.
If any portion of an Eligible Rollover Distribution is attributable to payments or distributions from a Designated Roth Account, an Eligible Retirement Plan with respect to such portion shall include only (i) another designated Roth account of the individual from whose Account the payments or distributions were made or (ii) a Roth IRA of such individual.
Eligible Rollover Distribution means any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the Distributee, except that an Eligible Rollover Distribution does not include: (i) any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the Distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the Distributee and the Distributee's Designated Beneficiary, or for a specified period of 10 years or more; (ii) any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code Section 401(a)(9); (iii) any hardship distribution; and (iv) any other distribution(s) that is reasonably expected to total less than $200 during a year. For purposes of the $200 rule, a distribution from a Designated Roth Account and a distribution from other accounts under the Plan shall be treated as made under separate plans. 
Any portion of a distribution that consists of after-tax employee contributions that are not includible in gross income may be transferred only to (i) a traditional individual retirement account or annuity described in Code Section 408(a) or (b) (a “traditional IRA”); (ii) a Roth individual retirement account or annuity described in Code Section 408A (a “Roth IRA”); or (iii) a qualified plan or an annuity contract described in Code Section 401(a) and 403(b), respectively, that agrees to separately account for amounts so transferred (and earnings thereon), including 
    8

separately accounting for the portion of such distribution which is includible in gross income and the portion of such distribution which is not so includible.
Employee means an individual who is employed by the Employer or any other employer required to be aggregated with the Employer under Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o). A Controlled Group member is required to be aggregated with the Employer.
The term Employee shall include any individual receiving Differential Wage Payments.
The term Employee shall include any Self-employed Individual treated as an employee of any employer described in the preceding paragraphs as provided in Code Section 401(c)(1).
The term Employee shall also include any Leased Employee deemed to be an employee of any employer described in the preceding paragraphs as provided in Code Section 414(n) or (o).
An independent contractor is not an Employee. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that an individual who the Employer considered to be an independent contractor, or the employee of an independent contractor, is an Employee, such individual shall be an Employee as of the reclassification date.
Employer means, except for purposes of Section 3.07, the Primary Employer. This will also include any successor corporation, trade or business which will, by written agreement, assume the obligations of this Plan or any Predecessor Employer that maintained this Plan. The Employer is a C corporation.
Employer Contributions means
Elective Deferral Contributions
Matching Contributions
Qualified Nonelective Contributions
Discretionary Contributions
ESOP Discretionary Contributions
as set out in Article III and contributions made by the Employer in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.03, unless the context clearly indicates only specific contributions are meant.
Employment Commencement Date means the date an Employee first performs an Hour of Service.
Entry Date means the date an Employee first enters the Plan as an Active Participant in accordance with Section 2.01. 
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 
ESOP Discretionary Contributions means Contributions contributed by the Employer or an Adopting Employer in the form of Qualifying Employer Securities or in cash designated by the Employer to be invested in Qualifying Employer Securities or designated to repay any outstanding Exempt Loan in accordance with Section 3.01(e). 
Exempt Loan means a loan or other extension of credit to the Plan, made in accordance with Section 4.02, to enable the Plan to acquire shares of Qualifying Employer Securities, or to refinance a prior Exempt Loan.
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Forfeiture means the part, if any, of a Participant's Account that is forfeited in accordance with Section 3.04. 
Forfeiture Date means the date on which a Forfeiture occurs and is the date the Participant incurs five consecutive Vesting Breaks in Service.
Highly Compensated Employee means any Employee who:
(a)    was a 5-percent owner at any time during the year or the preceding year, or
(b)    for the preceding year had compensation from the Employer in excess of $130,000. This amount is adjusted at the same time and in the same manner as under Code Section 415(d).
For this purpose the applicable year of the plan for which a determination is being made is called a determination year and the preceding 12-month period is called a look-back year.
The determination of who is a highly compensated former Employee is based on the rules applicable to determining Highly Compensated Employee status as in effect for that determination year, in accordance with section 1.414(q)-1T, A-4 of the temporary Income Tax Regulations and Internal Revenue Service Notice 97-45.
The determination of who is a Highly Compensated Employee, including the compensation that is considered and the identity of the 5-percent owners, shall be made in accordance with Code Section 414(q) and the regulations thereunder.
For purposes of this definition, the above references to compensation shall mean Compensation as defined in in Section 3.07.
Hour of Service means, for the elapsed time method of crediting service in this Plan, each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, for performing duties for the Employer. Hour of Service means, for the hours method of crediting service in this Plan, the following:
(a)    Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, for performing duties for the Employer during the applicable computation period.
(b)    Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment, by the Employer on account of a period of time in which no duties are performed (irrespective of whether the employment relationship has terminated) due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including disability), layoff, jury duty, military duty or leave of absence. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subparagraph (b), no credit will be given to the Employee:
(1)    for more than 501 Hours of Service under this subparagraph (b) on account of any single continuous period in which the Employee performs no duties (whether or not such period occurs in a single computation period); or
(2)    for an Hour of Service for which the Employee is directly or indirectly paid, or entitled to payment, on account of a period in which no duties are performed if such payment is made or due under a plan maintained solely for the purpose of complying with applicable worker's or workmen's compensation, or unemployment compensation, or disability insurance laws; or
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(3)    for an Hour of Service for a payment which solely reimburses the Employee for medical or medically related expenses incurred by him.
For purposes of this subparagraph (b), a payment shall be deemed to be made by, or due from the Employer, regardless of whether such payment is made by, or due from the Employer, directly or indirectly through, among others, a trust fund or insurer, to which the Employer contributes or pays premiums and regardless of whether contributions made or due to the trust fund, insurer or other entity are for the benefit of particular employees or are on behalf of a group of employees in the aggregate.
(c)    Each hour for which back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages, is either awarded or agreed to by the Employer. The same Hours of Service shall not be credited both under subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (b) above (as the case may be) and under this subparagraph (c). Crediting of Hours of Service for back pay awarded or agreed to with respect to periods described in subparagraph (b) above will be subject to the limitations set forth in that subparagraph.
The crediting of Hours of Service above shall be applied under the rules of paragraphs (b) and (c) of the Department of Labor Regulation 2530.200b-2 (including any interpretations or opinions implementing such rules); which rules, by this reference, are specifically incorporated in full within this Plan. The reference to paragraph (b) applies to the special rule for determining Hours of Service for reasons other than the performance of duties such as payments calculated (or not calculated) on the basis of units of time and the rule against double credit. The reference to paragraph (c) applies to the crediting of Hours of Service to computation periods.
Hours of Service shall be credited for employment with any other employer required to be aggregated with the Employer under Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) and the regulations thereunder for purposes of eligibility and vesting. Hours of Service shall also be credited for any individual who is considered an employee for purposes of this Plan pursuant to Code Section 414(n) or (o) and the regulations thereunder.
Solely for purposes of determining whether a one-year break in service has occurred for vesting purposes, during a Parental Absence an Employee shall be credited with the Hours of Service which would otherwise have been credited to the Employee but for such absence, or in any case in which such hours cannot be determined, eight Hours of Service per day of such absence. The Hours of Service credited under this paragraph shall be credited in the computation period in which the absence begins if the crediting is necessary to prevent a break in service in that period; or in all other cases, in the following computation period.
Inactive Participant means a former Active Participant who has an Account. See Section 2.02. 
In-plan Roth Rollover means the irrevocable rollover of all or any portion of a Participant’s Vested Account (other than a Designated Roth Account) to a Designated Roth Account under the Plan. The rollover shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.03, and made in accordance with Code Section 402A(c)(4) and any subsequent guidance.
Insurer means Principal Life Insurance Company or the insurance company or companies named by (i) the Primary Employer or (ii) the Trustee in its discretion or as directed under the Trust Agreement.
Investment Fund means the total of Plan assets, excluding the guaranteed benefit policy portion of any Annuity Contract and any Unallocated Reserve. All or a portion of these assets may be held under, or invested pursuant to, the terms of a Trust Agreement.
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The Investment Fund shall be valued at current fair market value as of the Valuation Date. The valuation shall take into consideration investment earnings credited, expenses charged, payments made, and changes in the values of the assets held in the Investment Fund.
The Investment Fund shall be allocated at all times to Participants, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan. The Account of a Participant shall be credited with its share of the gains and losses of the Investment Fund. The part of a Participant’s Account invested in a funding arrangement that establishes one or more accounts or investment vehicles for such Participant thereunder shall be credited with the gain or loss from such accounts or investment vehicles. The part of a Participant’s Account invested in other funding arrangements shall be credited with a proportionate share of the gain or loss of such investments. The share shall be determined by multiplying the gain or loss of the investment by the ratio of the part of the Participant’s Account invested in such funding arrangement to the total of the Investment Fund invested in such funding arrangement.
Investment Manager means any fiduciary (other than a Trustee or Named Fiduciary)
(a)    who has the power to manage, acquire, or dispose of any assets of the Plan;
(b)    who (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; (ii) is not registered as an investment adviser under such Act by reason of paragraph (1) of section 203A(a) of such Act, is registered as an investment adviser under the laws of the state (referred to in such paragraph (1)) in which it maintains its principal office and place of business, and, at the time it last filed the registration form most recently filed by it with such state in order to maintain its registration under the laws of such state, also filed a copy of such form with the Secretary of Labor; (iii) is a bank, as defined in that Act; or (iv) is an insurance company qualified to perform services described in subparagraph (a) above under the laws of more than one state; and
(c)    who has acknowledged in writing being a fiduciary with respect to the Plan.
Late Retirement Date means any day that is after a Participant's Normal Retirement Date and on which retirement benefits begin. If a Participant continues to work for the Employer after his Normal Retirement Date, his Late Retirement Date shall be the day he has a Severance from Employment. A later Retirement Date (after a Severance from Employment) may apply if the Participant so elects. See Section 5.04. In modification of the foregoing, a Participant may elect to begin his retirement benefits before he has a Severance from Employment. 
Leased Employee means any person (other than an employee of the recipient) who, pursuant to an agreement between the recipient and any other person ("leasing organization"), has performed services for the recipient (or for the recipient and related persons determined in accordance with Code Section 414(n)(6)) on a substantially full time basis for a period of at least one year, and such services are performed under primary direction or control by the recipient. Contributions or benefits provided by the leasing organization to a Leased Employee, which are attributable to service performed for the recipient employer, shall be treated as provided by the recipient employer.
A Leased Employee shall not be considered an employee of the recipient if:
(a)    such employee is covered by a money purchase pension plan providing (i) a nonintegrated employer contribution rate of at least 10 percent of compensation, as defined in Code Section 415(c)(3), (ii) immediate participation, and (iii) full and immediate vesting, and
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(b)    Leased Employees do not constitute more than 20 percent of the recipient's nonhighly compensated work force.
Loan Administrator means the person(s) or position(s) authorized to administer the Participant loan program.
The Loan Administrator is the Chief Human Resources Officer or his or her designee.
Mandatory Distribution means a distribution to a Participant that is made without the Participant’s consent and is made to the Participant before he attains the older of age 62 or his Normal Retirement Age.
Matching Contributions means Employer Contributions made in accordance with Section 3.01(b) that are contingent on a Participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions. 
Monthly Date means each Yearly Date and the same day of each following month during the Plan Year beginning on such Yearly Date.
Named Fiduciary means the person or persons who have authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan.
The Named Fiduciary is the Primary Employer.
Net Profits means the Employer’s current or accumulated net earnings, determined according to generally accepted accounting practices, before any Contributions made by the Employer under this Plan and before any deduction for Federal or state income tax, dividends on the Employer’s stock, and capital gains or losses.
Nonhighly Compensated Employee means an Employee of the Employer who is not a Highly Compensated Employee.
Nonvested Account means the excess, if any, of a Participant's Account over his Vested Account.
Normal Retirement Age means the age at which the Participant's Account becomes nonforfeitable if he is an Employee. A Participant's Normal Retirement Age is the earlier of (a) or (b) below:
(a)    Age 62, or if later, the Participant’s age on the date five years after the first day of the Plan Year in which his Entry Date occurred.
(b)    Age 65.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Account of a Participant who, as of December 31, 2020: (i) had attained age 60 and (ii) as to whom five years had elapsed after the first day of the Plan Year in which his Entry Date occurred, shall be nonforfeitable. 
Normal Retirement Date means the date the Participant reaches his Normal Retirement Age. Unless otherwise provided in this Plan, a Participant's retirement benefits shall begin on his Normal Retirement Date if he has had a Severance from Employment on such date. Even if the Participant is an Employee on his Normal Retirement Date, he may choose to have his retirement benefit begin on such date.
Parental Absence means an Employee's absence from work:
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(a)    by reason of pregnancy of the Employee,
(b)    by reason of birth of a child of the Employee,
(c)    by reason of the placement of a child with the Employee in connection with adoption of such child by such Employee, or
(d)    for purposes of caring for such child for a period beginning immediately following such birth or placement.
Participant means either an Active Participant or an Inactive Participant.
Period of Military Duty means, for an Employee
(a)    who served as a member of the armed forces of the United States, and
(b)    who was reemployed by the Employer at a time when the Employee had a right to reemployment in accordance with seniority rights as protected under Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the U.S. Code,
the period of time from the date the Employee was first absent from active work for the Employer because of such military duty to the date the Employee was reemployed.
Period of Service means a period of time beginning on an Employee's Employment Commencement Date and ending on his Severance Date.
Period of Severance means a period of time beginning on an Employee's Severance Date and ending on the date he again performs an Hour of Service.
A one-year Period of Severance means a Period of Severance of 12 consecutive months.
Solely for purposes of determining whether a one-year Period of Severance has occurred for eligibility or vesting purposes, the consecutive 12-month period beginning on the first anniversary of the first date of a Parental Absence shall not be a one-year Period of Severance.
Plan means the 401(k) plan of the Employer set forth in this document, including any later amendments to it.
Plan Administrator means the person or persons who administer the Plan, as determined under Article IX.
Plan Fund means the total of the Investment Fund, the guaranteed benefit policy portion of any Annuity Contract, and any Unallocated Reserve. The Investment Fund shall be valued as stated in its definition. The guaranteed benefit policy portion of any Annuity Contract shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the Annuity Contract and, to the extent that such Annuity Contract allocates contract values to Participants, allocated to Participants in accordance with its terms. The total value of all amounts held under the Plan Fund shall equal the value of the aggregate Participants’ Accounts under the Plan.
Plan Year means a consecutive 12-month period beginning on a Yearly Date and ending on the day before the next Yearly Date. If the Yearly Date changes, the change will result in a short Plan Year.
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Predecessor Employer means, except for purposes of Section 3.07, a firm of which the Employer was once a part (e.g., due to a spinoff or change of corporate status) or a firm absorbed by the Employer because of a merger or acquisition (stock or asset, including a division or an operation of such company).
Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions means a Participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions that are not includible in the Participant’s gross income at the time deferred.
Primary Employer means Investar Holding Corporation, which is operating as a C corporation in accordance with applicable state laws of incorporation.
Qualified Matching Contributions means Matching Contributions made in accordance with Section 3.01(b) that are 100% vested when made to the Plan and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution provisions applicable to Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Qualified Matching Contributions can be distributed under such distribution provision. 
Qualified Military Service means any service in the uniformed services (as defined in Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the U.S. Code) by any individual if such individual is entitled to reemployment rights under such chapter with respect to such service.
Qualified Nonelective Contributions means Employer Contributions (other than Elective Deferral Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions) made in accordance with Section 3.01(c) that are 100% vested when made to the Plan and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution provisions applicable to Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Qualified Nonelective Contributions can be distributed under such distribution provision. 
Qualifying Employer Securities means common stock issued by the Employer or any Controlled Group member which is readily tradable (per IRS Notice 2011-19) on an established securities market as defined in section 1.401(a)(35)-1(f)(5)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations. If there is no common stock which meets the requirements in the preceding sentence, Qualifying Employer Securities means common stock issued by the Employer or any Controlled Group member having a combination of voting power and dividend rights equal to or in excess of (i) that class of common stock of the Employer or any Controlled Group member having the greatest voting power, and (ii) that class of common stock of the Employer or any Controlled Group member having the greatest dividend rights.
Noncallable preferred stock shall be treated as Qualifying Employer Securities if such stock is convertible at any time into stock which would meet the requirements stated above, and if such conversion is at a conversion price which (as of the date of the acquisition by the Plan) is reasonable. For purposes of the preceding sentence, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, preferred stock shall be treated as noncallable if after the call there will be a reasonable opportunity for a conversion which meets the requirements of the preceding sentence.
Qualifying Employer Securities Fund means that part of the assets of the Trust Fund that are designated to be held primarily or exclusively in Qualifying Employer Securities for the purpose of providing benefits for Participants. Such fund shall be the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) component of the Plan.
Quarterly Date means each Yearly Date and the third, sixth, and ninth Monthly Date after each Yearly Date that is within the same Plan Year.
Reentry Date means the date a former Active Participant reenters the Plan in accordance with Section 2.01.
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Retirement Date means the date a retirement benefit will begin and is a Participant's Normal or Late Retirement Date, as the case may be.
Rollover Contributions means an amount distributed to an Employee that can be transferred directly or indirectly to this Plan from another Eligible Retirement Plan by an Eligible Employee or an Inactive Participant according to the provisions of Section 3.02.
Roth Elective Deferral Contributions means a Participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions that are not excludible from the Participant’s gross income at the time deferred and have been irrevocably designated as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions by the Participant in his Elective Deferral Agreement. Whether an Elective Deferral Contribution is not excludible from a Participant’s gross income will be determined in accordance with section 1.401(k)-1 (f)(2) of the regulations. In the case of a Self-employed Individual, an Elective Deferral Contribution is not excludible from gross income only if the individual does not claim a deduction for such amount.
Self-employed Individual means, with respect to any taxable year, an individual who has Earned Income for the taxable year (or who would have Earned Income but for the fact the trade or business for which this Plan is established did not have net profits for such taxable year).
Severance Date means the earlier of:
(a)    the date on which an Employee quits, retires, dies, or is discharged, or
(b)    the first anniversary of the date an Employee begins a one-year absence from service (with or without pay). This absence may be the result of any combination of vacation, holiday, sickness, disability, leave of absence, or layoff.
Solely to determine whether a one-year Period of Severance has occurred for eligibility or vesting purposes for an Employee who is absent from service beyond the first anniversary of the first day of a Parental Absence, Severance Date is the second anniversary of the first day of the Parental Absence. The period between the first and second anniversaries of the first day of the Parental Absence is not a Period of Service and is not a Period of Severance.
Severance from Employment means, except for purposes of Section 3.07, an Employee has ceased to be an Employee. An Employee does not have a Severance from Employment if, in connection with a change of employment, the Employee’s new employer maintains such Plan with respect to the Employee. The Plan Administrator shall determine if a Severance from Employment has occurred in accordance with the regulations that are applicable to such determination. 
Totally and Permanently Disabled means that a Participant is actually receiving disability benefits under a separate long-term disability plan maintained by the Employer or that a Participant has been determined eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits.
Trust Agreement means an agreement or agreements of trust between the Primary Employer and Trustee established for the purpose of holding and distributing the Trust Fund under the provisions of the Plan. The Trust Agreement may provide for the investment of all or any portion of the Trust Fund in the Annuity Contract or any other investment arrangement.
Trust Fund means the total funds held under an applicable Trust Agreement. The term Trust Fund when used within a Trust Agreement shall mean only the funds held under that Trust Agreement.
Trustee means the party or parties named in the applicable Trust Agreement.
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Unallocated Reserve means the portion of the Trust Fund that consists of the proceeds of an Exempt Loan, the shares of Qualifying Employer Securities that were acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan and have not yet been allocated to Participant Accounts, the dividends and other investment earnings on the assets held in the Unallocated Reserve, and the proceeds from any sale of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Unallocated Reserve.
Valuation Date means the date on which the value of the assets of the Investment Fund is determined. The value of each Account that is maintained under this Plan shall be determined on the Valuation Date. In each Plan Year, the Valuation Date shall be the last day of the Plan Year. At the discretion of the Plan Administrator, Trustee, or Insurer (whichever applies) and in a nondiscriminatory manner, assets of the Investment Fund may be valued more frequently. These dates shall also be Valuation Dates.
Vested Account means the vested part of a Participant's Account. The Participant's Vested Account is determined as follows.
If the Participant's Vesting Percentage for all Employer Contributions is 100%, his Vested Account equals his Account.
If the Participant's Vesting Percentage for all Employer Contributions is not 100%, his Vested Account equals the sum of (a) and (b) below:
(a)    The part of the Participant's Account resulting from Employer Contributions made before a prior Forfeiture Date and all other Contributions that were 100% vested when made.
(b)    The balance of the Participant's Account in excess of the amount in (a) above multiplied by his Vesting Percentage.
If the Participant has received a distribution of or withdrawn any part of his Account resulting from Employer Contributions, other than the vested Employer Contributions included in (a) above and his Vesting Percentage with respect to such Contributions is less than 100%, the amount determined under this subparagraph (b) shall be equal to P(AB + D) - D as defined below:
P    The Participant's Vesting Percentage.
AB    The balance of the Participant's Account in excess of the amount in (a) above. 
D    The amount of the distribution or withdrawal resulting from Employer Contributions, other than the vested Employer Contributions included in (a) above.
Vesting Break in Service means a Vesting Computation Period in which an Employee is credited with 500 or fewer Hours of Service. An Employee incurs a Vesting Break in Service on the last day of a Vesting Computation Period in which he has a Vesting Break in Service.
Vesting Computation Period means a consecutive 12-month period ending on the last day of each Plan Year, including corresponding consecutive 12-month periods before the effective date of the Plan.
Vesting Percentage means the percentage used to determine the nonforfeitable portion of a Participant's Account attributable to Employer Contributions that are not 100% vested when made.
A Participant's Vesting Percentage is shown in the following schedule opposite the number of whole years of his Vesting Service.
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    VESTING SERVICE    VESTING
    (whole years)    PERCENTAGE

    Less than 2    0
    2    20
    3    40
    4    60
    5    80
    6 or more    100

The Vesting Percentage for a Participant who is an Employee on or after the date he reaches Normal Retirement Age shall be 100%. The Vesting Percentage for a Participant who is an Employee on the date he dies shall be 100%. The Vesting Percentage for a Participant who dies while performing Qualified Military Service shall be 100%. The Vesting Percentage for a Participant who is an Employee on the date he becomes disabled shall be 100%. The Vesting Percentage for a Participant who becomes disabled while performing Qualified Military Service shall be 100%. For purposes of this paragraph, disabled means the disability is subsequently determined to meet the definition of Totally and Permanently Disabled.
The schedule(s) used to determine a Participant’s Vesting Percentage shall provide a percentage of nonforfeitable rights which is not less than the percentage that would have been provided under one of the options under Code Section 411(a)(2).
If the schedule used to determine a Participant's Vesting Percentage is changed, the new schedule shall not apply to a Participant unless he is credited with an Hour of Service on or after the date of the change and the Participant's nonforfeitable percentage on the day before the date of the change is not reduced under this Plan. The provisions of Section 10.01 regarding changes in the computation of the Vesting Percentage shall apply.
Vesting Service means one year of service for each Vesting Computation Period in which an Employee is credited with at least 1,000 Hours of Service.
However, Vesting Service is modified as follows: 
Period of Military Duty included: 
A Period of Military Duty shall be included as service with the Employer to the extent it has not already been credited. For purposes of crediting Hours of Service during the Period of Military Duty, an Hour of Service shall be credited (without regard to the 501 Hour of Service limitation) for each hour an Employee would normally have been scheduled to work for the Employer during such period.
Controlled Group service included:
An Employee's service with a member firm of a Controlled Group while both that firm and the Employer were members of the Controlled Group shall be included as service with the Employer.
Yearly Date means January 1, 2010, and each following January 1.
Years of Service means an Employee's Vesting Service disregarding any modifications that exclude service.

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ARTICLE II
PARTICIPATION

Section 2.01--ACTIVE PARTICIPANT.
(a)    An Employee shall first become an Active Participant (begin active participation in the Plan) on the earliest Quarterly Date on which he is an Eligible Employee and has met both of the eligibility requirements set forth below. This date is his Entry Date.
(1)    He has completed three months of Eligibility Service before his Entry Date.
(2)    He is age 21 or older.
If the Plan’s eligibility requirements are changed, an Employee who was an Active new requirements and his Entry Date shall not change.
Each Employee who was an Active Participant on the day before the effective date of this restatement (as determined in the Introduction) shall continue to be an Active Participant if he is still an Eligible Employee on such restatement effective date and his Entry Date shall not change.
If a person has been an Eligible Employee who has met all of the eligibility requirements above, but is not an Eligible Employee on the date that would have been his Entry Date, he shall become an Active Participant on the date he again becomes an Eligible Employee. This date is his Entry Date.
In the event an Employee who is not an Eligible Employee becomes an Eligible Employee, he shall become an Active Participant immediately if he has satisfied the eligibility requirements above and would have otherwise previously become an Active Participant had he met the definition of Eligible Employee. This date is his Entry Date.
(b)    An Inactive Participant shall again become an Active Participant (resume active participation in the Plan) on the date he again performs an Hour of Service as an Eligible Employee. This date is his Reentry Date.
(c)    A former Participant shall again become an Active Participant (resume active participation in the Plan) on the date he again performs an Hour of Service as an Eligible Employee. This date is his Reentry Date.

Section 2.02--INACTIVE PARTICIPANT.
An Active Participant shall become an Inactive Participant on the earlier of the following:
(a)    the date he ceases to be an Eligible Employee, or
(b)    he effective date of complete termination of the Plan under Article VIII.
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An Employee or former Employee who was an Inactive Participant on the day before the effective date of this restatement (as determined in the Introduction) shall continue to be an Inactive Participant on such restatement effective date. Eligibility for any benefits payable to the Participant or on his behalf and the amount of the benefits shall be determined according to the provisions of the prior document, unless otherwise stated in this document or any subsequent documents.

Section 2.03--CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.
A Participant shall cease to be a Participant on the date he is no longer an Eligible Employee and his Account is zero.

Section 2.04--ADOPTING EMPLOYERS - SINGLE PLAN.
Each of the Controlled Group members listed below is an Adopting Employer. Each Adopting Employer listed below participates with the Employer in this Plan. An Adopting Employer's agreement to participate in this Plan shall be in writing. 
The Employer has the right to amend the Plan. An Adopting Employer does not have the right to amend the Plan.
If the Adopting Employer did not maintain its plan before its date of adoption specified below, its date of adoption shall be the Entry Date for any of its Employees who have met the requirements under Section 2.01 as of that date. Service with and Compensation from an Adopting Employer shall be included as service with and Compensation from the Employer. Transfer of employment, without interruption, between an Adopting Employer and another Adopting Employer or the Employer shall not be considered an interruption of service.
Contributions made by an Adopting Employer shall be treated as Contributions made by the Employer. Forfeitures arising from those Contributions shall be used for the benefit of all Participants.
An employer shall not be an Adopting Employer if it ceases to be a Controlled Group member. Such an employer may continue a retirement plan for its Employees in the form of a separate document. This Plan shall be amended to delete a former Adopting Employer from the list below.
If (i) an employer ceases to be an Adopting Employer or the Plan is amended to delete an Adopting Employer and (ii) the Adopting Employer does not continue a retirement plan for the benefit of its Employees, partial termination may result and the provisions of Article VIII shall apply.
ADOPTING EMPLOYERS
NAME        EFFECTIVE DATE OF ADOPTION
Investar Bank                                         March 1, 2015

ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTIONS
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Section 3.01--EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.
Employer Contributions shall be made without regard to Net Profits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan shall continue to be designed to qualify as a profit sharing plan for purposes of Code Sections 401(a), 402, 412, and 417. Such Contributions shall be equal to the Employer Contributions as described below:
(a)    Elective Deferral Contributions. 
The amount of each Elective Deferral Contribution for a Participant shall be equal to a portion of Compensation as specified in an Elective Deferral Agreement. Such Elective Deferral Contribution shall not be made before the later of (i) the adoption or effective date of the cash or deferred arrangement (CODA) or (ii) the date the Participant signs the Elective Deferral Agreement. An Employee who is eligible to participate in the Plan for purposes of Elective Deferral Contributions may file an Elective Deferral Agreement with the Employer. The Participant shall modify or terminate an Elective Deferral Agreement by filing a new Elective Deferral Agreement. An Elective Deferral Agreement shall remain in effect until modified or terminated by a Participant. An Elective Deferral Agreement may also be terminated according to the terms of an automatic contribution arrangement.
An Elective Deferral Agreement to start or modify Elective Deferral Contributions shall be effective as soon as administratively feasible on or after the Participant’s Entry Date (Reentry Date, if applicable) or any following Quarterly Date. An Elective Deferral Agreement must be entered into on or before the date it is effective.
An Elective Deferral Agreement to stop Elective Deferral Contributions may be entered into on any date. Such Elective Deferral Agreement shall be effective as soon as administratively feasible following the date on which the Elective Deferral Agreement is entered into.
Elective Deferral Contributions made pursuant to an Elective Deferral Agreement or the terms of an automatic contribution arrangement shall not be made earlier than the date (i) the Participant performs the services that relate to such Elective Deferral Contributions or (ii) the Compensation used to calculate such Elective Deferral Contributions would be payable to the Participant if not contributed to the Plan.
A Participant who is age 50 or older by the end of the taxable year shall be eligible to make Catch-up Contributions.
A Participant may elect to designate all or any portion of his future Elective Deferral Contributions as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions.
The Plan provides for an automatic election to have Elective Deferral Contributions made. The automatic Elective Deferral Contribution shall be Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions and shall be 5% of Compensation. The automatic Elective Deferral Contribution shall be automatically increased as soon as administratively feasible on or after the first day of each Plan Year by 1% up to a maximum automatic Elective Deferral Contribution of 10%. The Participant may affirmatively elect a different percentage or elect not to make Elective Deferral Contributions, and may elect to designate all or any portion of his Elective Deferral Contributions as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions.
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The automatic election shall apply when a Participant first becomes eligible to make Elective Deferral Contributions (or again becomes eligible after a period during which he was not an Active Participant). The higher automatic deferral percentage shall apply to Participants at the time they enter or reenter the Plan on or after the effective date of such increase and to Participants who were already automatically enrolled as of the effective date of such increase. 
Effective January 1, 2018, the automatic Elective Deferral Contribution shall apply to all Active Participants who have not elected to make Elective Deferral Contributions of at least 5% or who are not making Elective Deferral Contributions (have not completed an Elective Deferral Agreement or elected to defer 0%). The automatic Elective Deferral Contributions shall commence as soon as administratively feasible after the beginning of each Plan Year.
Upon becoming eligible and annually thereafter, the Plan shall provide Active Participants a notice that explains the automatic election and his right to elect a different rate of Elective Deferral Contributions or to elect not to make Elective Deferral Contributions, and his/her right to designate all or any portion of his Elective Deferral Contributions as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions. The notice shall include the procedure for exercising that right and the timing for implementing any such election. The Participant shall be given a reasonable period thereafter to elect a different rate of Elective Deferral Contributions or to elect not to make Elective Deferral Contributions, and to designate all or any portion of his Elective Deferral Contributions as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions.
No Participant shall be permitted to have Elective Deferral Contributions, as defined in Section 3.08, made under this Plan, or any other plan, contract, or arrangement maintained by the Employer, during any calendar year, in excess of the dollar limitation contained in Code Section 402(g) in effect for the Participant’s taxable year beginning in such calendar year. The dollar limitation in the preceding sentence shall be increased by the dollar limit on Catch-up Contributions under Code Section 414(v)(2)(B)(i) for the taxable year for any Participant who will be age 50 or older by the end of the taxable year.
The dollar limitation contained in Code Section 402(g) is $19,500 for the 2020 taxable year.  This dollar limit is adjusted annually by the Secretary of the Treasury for cost-of-living increases under Code Section 402(g)(4). Any such adjustments will be in multiples of $500.
Catch-up Contributions for a Participant for a taxable year may not exceed the dollar limit on Catch-up Contributions under Code Section 414(v)(2)(B)(i) for the taxable year. The dollar limit on Catch-up Contributions under Code Section 414(v)(2)(B)(i) is $6,500 for the 2020 taxable year.  This dollar limit is adjusted by the Secretary of the Treasury for cost-of-living increases under Code Section 414(v)(2)(C). Any such adjustments will be in multiples of $500.
Elective Deferral Contributions are 100% vested and nonforfeitable.
(b)    Matching Contributions. 
The Employer shall make Matching Contributions in an amount equal to 100% of Elective Deferral Contributions. Elective Deferral Contributions that are over 4% of Compensation will not be matched. Elective Deferral Contributions that are Catch-up Contributions shall be matched.
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Matching Contributions are calculated based on Elective Deferral Contributions and Compensation for the Plan Year (excluding Elective Deferral Contributions and Compensation for any portion of the Plan Year in which an Employee is not an Active Participant). Matching Contributions shall be made for all persons who were Active Participants at any time during the Plan Year. Matching Contributions are Qualified Matching Contributions and are 100% vested when made.
(c)    Qualified Nonelective Contributions. 
Qualified Nonelective Contributions may be made for each Plan Year in an amount determined by the Employer. Qualified Nonelective Contributions shall be made only for Nonhighly Compensated Employees. Qualified Nonelective Contributions are 100% vested when made.
(d)    Discretionary Contributions. 
Discretionary Contributions may be made for each Plan Year in an amount determined by the Employer. Discretionary Contributions are subject to the Vesting Percentage.
(e)    ESOP Discretionary Contributions. 
ESOP Discretionary Contributions will be made for each Plan Year for which a payment is due on an Exempt Loan, if any. The amount of the ESOP Discretionary Contribution for the Plan Year will be determined at the sole discretion of the Primary Employer, but will not be less than the minimum amount sufficient to enable the Trustee to make the payment due on the Exempt Loan to the extent that such payment cannot be satisfied from cash dividends paid on shares of Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Participants’ Accounts (if the Primary Employer directs that such dividends be applied to the Exempt Loan), or cash dividends paid on shares of Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Unallocated Reserve or other investment earnings of the Unallocated Reserve. ESOP Discretionary Contributions are subject to the Vesting Percentage.
Employer Contributions are allocated in accordance with Section 3.05
The Employer may make all or a part of an annual Employer Contribution before the end of the Plan Year. An annual Employer Contribution is an Employer Contribution that is either (i) allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year or (ii) is based on Annual Compensation or Compensation for the Plan Year. Such Contributions that are made for or allocated to each person who was an Active Participant at any time during the Plan Year shall be allocated when made in a manner that approximates the allocation that would otherwise have been made as of the last day of the Plan Year. Succeeding allocations shall take into account amounts previously allocated for the Plan Year. The percentage of the Employer Contribution allocated to the Participant for the Plan Year shall be the same percentage that would have been allocated to him if the entire allocation had been made as of the last day of the Plan Year. Excess allocations shall be forfeited and reallocated as necessary to provide the percentage applicable to each Participant. Any other annual Employer Contributions made before the end of the Plan Year shall be held unallocated until the last day of the Plan Year. Then, as of the last day of the Plan Year, the advance Contributions (and earnings) shall be allocated in accordance with Section 3.05.
A portion of the Plan assets resulting from Employer Contributions (but not more than the original amount of those Contributions) may be returned if the Employer Contributions are made because of a mistake of fact or are more than the amount deductible under Code Section 404 (excluding any amount which is not deductible because the Plan is disqualified). The amount involved must be returned to the Employer within one year after the date the Employer Contributions are made by mistake of fact or the date the deduction is disallowed, whichever applies. Except as provided under this paragraph and in 
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Article VIII, the assets of the Plan shall never be used for the benefit of the Employer and are held for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to Participants and their Beneficiaries and for defraying reasonable expenses of administering the Plan.

Section 3.02--ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
A Rollover Contribution may be made by an Eligible Employee or an Inactive Participant if the following conditions are met:
(a)    The Contribution is a Participant Rollover Contribution or a direct rollover of an Eligible Rollover Distribution made from the types of plans and types of contributions specified below.
Direct Rollovers. The Plan will accept a direct rollover of an Eligible Rollover Distribution from:
(i)    A qualified plan described in Code Section 401(a) or 403(a), including after-tax employee contributions and including any portion of a designated Roth account.
(ii)    An annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), including after-tax employee contributions and including any portion of a designated Roth account.
(iii)    An eligible plan under Code Section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state, including any portion of a designated Roth account.
Participant Rollover Contributions from Other Plans. The Plan will accept a Participant contribution of an Eligible Rollover Distribution from:
(i)    A qualified plan described in Code Section 401(a) or 403(a), excluding after-tax employee contributions and including distributions of a designated Roth account only to the extent such amount would otherwise be includible in a Participant’s gross income.
(ii)    An annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), excluding after-tax employee contributions and including distributions of a designated Roth account only to the extent such amount would otherwise be includible in a Participant’s gross income.
(iii)    An eligible plan under Code Section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state, including distributions of a designated Roth account only to the extent such amount would otherwise be includible in a Participant’s gross income.
Participant Rollover Contributions from IRAs. The Plan will accept a Participant Rollover Contribution of the portion of a distribution from an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(a) or (b) that is eligible to be rolled over and would otherwise be includible in the Participant’s gross income.
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(b)    The Contribution is of amounts that the Code permits to be transferred to a plan that meets the requirements of Code Section 401(a). 
(c)    The Contribution is made in the form of a direct rollover under Code Section 401 (a)(31) or is a rollover made under Code Section 402(c) or 408(d)(3)(A) within 60 days after an Eligible Employee or Inactive Participant receives the distribution.
(d)    The Eligible Employee or Inactive Participant furnishes evidence satisfactory to the Plan Administrator that the proposed rollover meets conditions (a), (b), and (c) above. Such evidence must be reasonable and cannot effectively eliminate or substantially impair such person’s right to elect a direct rollover.
(e)    In the case of an Inactive Participant, the Contribution must be of an amount distributed from another plan of the Employer or a plan of a Controlled Group member.
Unless otherwise permitted, a Rollover Contribution shall be allowed in cash or in kind from Investar stock and must be made according to procedures set up by the Plan Administrator.
If the Eligible Employee is not an Active Participant when the Rollover Contribution is made, he shall be deemed to be an Active Participant only for the purpose of investment and distribution of the Rollover Contribution. Employer Contributions shall not be made for or allocated to the Eligible Employee until he/she meets all of the requirements to become an Active Participant.
Rollover Contributions made by an Eligible Employee or Inactive Participant shall be credited to his Account. The part of the Participant's Account resulting from Rollover Contributions is 100% vested and nonforfeitable at all times. Separate accounting records shall be maintained for those parts of his Rollover Contributions consisting of (i) voluntary contributions which were deducted from the Participant's gross income for Federal income tax purposes; (ii) after-tax employee contributions, including the portion that would not have been includible in the Participant’s gross income if the contributions were not rolled over into this Plan; and (iii) any portion of a designated Roth account, including the portion that would not have been includible in the Participant’s gross income if the contributions were not rolled over into this Plan.
Notwithstanding the above requirement that rollover contributions to the Plan consist of cash or Investar stock, the Plan Administrator has discretion to accept rollovers that include loans by another qualified plan to a Participant, if such Participant became a Participant in connection with the acquisition of the Participant’s former employer (i.e., the sponsor of the plan under which the Participant obtained the prior plan loan).  The Plan Administrator shall have full discretion whether to authorize rollovers of plan loans under any given merger or acquisition transaction, based on all surrounding facts and circumstances (including, for example, the number of loans at issue, recordkeeping feasibility, and consistency of the loan’s terms with those under the Plan).

Section 3.03--IN-PLAN ROTH ROLLOVERS.
All or any portion of an Eligible Rollover Distribution (an “otherwise distributable amount”) may be rolled over as an In-plan Roth Rollover to a Designated Roth Account under the Plan if the following conditions are met:
(a)    The In-plan Roth Rollover is made by a Participant, a Beneficiary who is a surviving spouse, or a spouse or former spouse who is the Alternate Payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p).
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(b)    Such person shall be provided a written explanation describing the features of the In-plan Roth Rollover.
(c)    The In-plan Roth Rollover is a direct rollover or a 60-day rollover.
(d)    The Plan maintains such records as are necessary for the proper reporting of In-plan Roth Rollovers.
(e)    The In-plan Roth Rollover does not include any outstanding loan balance.
(f)    The Designated Roth Account resulting from an In-plan Roth Rollover shall continue to be included in the account balances for the calculation of the Top-heavy Ratio in Article XI.

Section 3.04--FORFEITURES.
The Nonvested Account of a Participant shall be forfeited as of the earlier of the following:
(a)    the date the record-keeper is notified that the Participant died (if prior to such date he has had a Severance from Employment), or
(b)    the Participant’s Forfeiture Date.
A Participant’s Nonvested Account shall be forfeited before the earlier of (a) or (b) above if, after he has a Severance from Employment, he receives, or is deemed to receive, a distribution of his entire Vested Account under Sections 5.01, 5.03, or 10.11.  The forfeiture shall occur as of the first day of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the Participant receives, or is deemed to receive, the distribution.
A Forfeiture of Matching Contributions that relate to excess amounts shall also occur as provided in Section 3.08.
Forfeitures shall be determined at least once during each Plan Year. Forfeitures may be used to pay administrative expenses or to reduce Employer Contributions (other than Elective Deferral Contributions), made after the Forfeitures are determined. Forfeitures that have not been used to pay administrative expenses or used to reduce Employer Contributions shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year in which such Forfeitures are determined as provided in Section 3.05. Upon their allocation to Accounts, or application to reduce Employer Contributions, Forfeitures shall be deemed to be Employer Contributions.
Any portion of a Participant’s nonvested account balance attributable to Qualifying Employer Securities that were purchased with an Exempt Loan will become a Forfeiture only after the portion of a Participant’s account balance not attributable to Qualifying Employer Securities purchased with an Exempt Loan is forfeited. Forfeitures of Qualifying Employer Securities may be used as described in the previous paragraph.
If a Participant again becomes an Eligible Employee after receiving a distribution which caused all of his Nonvested Account to be forfeited, he shall have the right to repay to the Plan the entire amount of the distribution he received (excluding the portion of the distribution resulting from Rollover Contributions). The repayment must be made in a single sum (repayment in installments is not permitted) before the earlier of the date five years after the date he again becomes an Eligible Employee or the end of the first period of five consecutive Vesting Break in Service periods which begin after the date of the distribution of his entire Vested Account.
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If the Participant makes the repayment above, the Plan Administrator shall restore to his Account an amount equal to his Nonvested Account that was forfeited on the date of distribution, unadjusted for any investment gains or losses. If no amount is to be repaid because the Participant was deemed to have received a distribution or only received a distribution of Rollover Contributions, and he again performs an Hour of Service as an Eligible Employee within the repayment period, the Plan Administrator shall restore the Participant’s Account as if he had made a required repayment on the date he performed such Hour of Service. Restoration of the Participant’s Account shall include restoration of all Code Section 411 (d)(6) protected benefits with respect to the restored Account, according to applicable Treasury regulations. Provided, however, the Plan Administrator shall not restore the Nonvested Account if (i) a Forfeiture Date has occurred after the date of the distribution and on or before the date of repayment and (ii) that Forfeiture Date would result in a complete forfeiture of the amount the Plan Administrator would otherwise restore.
The Plan Administrator shall restore the Participant’s Account by the close of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which repayment is made. The permissible sources for restoration of the Participant’s Account are Forfeitures or special Employer Contributions. Such special Employer Contributions shall be made without regard to profits. The repaid and restored amounts are not included in the Participant’s Annual Additions, as defined in Section 3.07.

Section 3.05--ALLOCATION.
A person meets the allocation requirements of this section if he is an Active Participant on the last day of the Plan Year and has at least 1,000 Hours of Service during the latest Accrual Computation Period ending on or before that date; provided that the foregoing requirement shall not apply to Qualified Matching Contributions made for any Plan Year in which the Plan is designated as a safe harbor plan.
Elective Deferral Contributions shall be allocated to the Participants for whom such Contributions are made under Section 3.01. Such Contributions shall be allocated when made and credited to the Participant’s Account.
Matching Contributions shall be allocated to the persons for whom such Contributions are made under Section 3.01. Such Contributions shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year and shall be credited to the person’s Account; provided that the Employer, in its discretion, may make such Contributions more frequently, in which event such Contributions shall be allocated when made and credited to the Participant’s Account. In the event Qualified Matching Contributions are made prior to the last day of the Plan Year, the Employer shall recalculate the amount of such Contributions as of the last day of the Plan Year based upon each Participant’s annualized Compensation and Contribute any shortfall.
Qualified Nonelective Contributions shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year to each person who was an Active Participant at any time during the Plan Year. Such Qualified Nonelective Contributions shall be allocated only to Nonhighly Compensated Employees. The amount allocated to such person for the Plan Year shall be equal to such Qualified Nonelective Contributions multiplied by the ratio of such person’s Annual Compensation for the Plan Year to the total Annual Compensation of all such persons. This amount shall be credited to the person’s Account.
The ESOP Discretionary Contribution for the Plan Year (if any), plus any Forfeitures of Qualifying Employer Securities, shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year to each person who meets the allocation requirements of this section, but subject to Section 3.06.
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If the Primary Employer directs that cash dividends be applied to an Exempt Loan, the allocation shall also include the cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Participants’ Accounts.
Cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Unallocated Reserve and other investment earnings of the Unallocated Reserve (if any), shall be applied to make the payment due on any Exempt Loan for the Plan Year. The Qualifying Employer Securities released from the Unallocated Reserve as a result of that payment shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year as follows:
STEP ONE: This step one shall apply only if the cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Participants’ Accounts are applied to the Exempt Loan.
The allocation in this step one shall be made to each person who received a cash dividend on Qualifying Employer Securities held in his Account that was applied to the Exempt Loan.
The number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities allocated under this step one shall be the number of shares with a value equal to or greater than the total cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Participants’ Accounts and applied to the Exempt Loan. The number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities allocated to each such person shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities to be allocated under this step one by a fraction, the numerator of which is the cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Account of such person and applied to the Exempt Loan, and the denominator of which is the total cash dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities held in the Accounts of all such persons and applied to the Exempt Loan.
STEP TWO: The number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities allocated under this step two shall be the shares remaining after the allocation in step one.
The number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities allocated to each such person shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Qualifying Employer Securities released from the Unallocated Reserve (and not allocated under step one) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Annual Compensation of such person for the Plan Year, and the denominator of which is the aggregate Annual Compensation of all such persons for the Plan Year. However, if the aggregate amount of Qualifying Employer Securities that would be allocated under this paragraph to Highly Compensated Employees exceeds one-third (1/3) of the total Qualifying Employer Securities allocated, then the amount of Qualifying Employer Securities in excess of one-third (1/3) shall be reallocated to the Nonhighly Compensated Employees in proportion to each Nonhighly Compensated Employee’s Annual Compensation to the total Annual Compensation of all such Nonhighly Compensated Employees.
If the ESOP Discretionary Contributions exceed the amount needed to make the payment for the Exempt Loan for the Plan Year, or if there is no Exempt Loan for the Plan Year in which the ESOP Discretionary Contribution is made, the ESOP Discretionary Contribution shall be allocated in the same manner as STEP TWO above.
Discretionary Contributions plus any Forfeitures shall be allocated as of the last day of the Plan Year, using Annual Compensation for the Plan Year. In years in which the Plan is a Top-heavy Plan, as defined in Section 11.02, and the minimum contribution under Section 11.03 is not being provided by other contributions to this Plan or another plan of the Employer, the allocation shall be made to each person meeting the allocation requirements of this section and each person entitled to a minimum contribution under Section 11.03. In all other years, the allocation shall be made to each person meeting the allocation requirements of this section. The amount allocated shall be equal to the Discretionary Contributions plus any Forfeitures multiplied by the ratio of such person’s Annual Compensation to the total Annual Compensation for all such persons. The allocation for any person who does not meet the 
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allocation requirements of this section shall be limited to the amount necessary to fund the minimum contribution.
In years in which the Plan is a Top-heavy Plan, the minimum contribution under Section 11.03 is not being provided by other contributions to this Plan or another plan of the Employer, and the allocation described above (or any subsequent allocation described below) would provide an allocation for any person less than the minimum contribution required for such person under Section 11.03, such minimum contribution shall first be allocated to all such persons. Then any amount remaining shall be allocated to the remaining persons sharing in the allocation based on Annual Compensation as described above, as if they were the only persons sharing in the allocation for the Plan Year.  This amount shall be credited to the person’s Account.
If Leased Employees are Eligible Employees, in determining the amount of Employer Contributions allocated to a person who is a Leased Employee, contributions provided by the leasing organization that are attributable to services such Leased Employee performs for the Employer shall be treated as provided by the Employer. Those contributions shall not be duplicated under this Plan.

Section 3.06--PROHIBITED ALLOCATIONS OF QUALIFYING EMPLOYER SECURITIES.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, Qualifying Employer Securities will not be allocated under the following circumstances.
(a)    Sale under Code Section 1042. Qualifying Employer Securities that have been acquired by the Plan in a sale to which Code Section 1042 applies shall not be allocated during the non-allocation period directly or indirectly under the Plan (or any qualified plan of any Employer) to the Accounts of:
(1)    The individual who makes the election under Code Section 1042.
(2)    Any individual who is related (within the meaning of Code Section 267(b)) to the individual who makes the election under Code Section 1042. However, this paragraph shall not apply to lineal descendants of the individual who makes the election under Code Section 1042, provided that the aggregate amount allocated to the benefit of such lineal descendants during the non-allocation period does not exceed more than five percent (5%) of the Qualifying Employer Securities (or amounts allocated in lieu thereof) held by the Plan which are attributable to a sale to the Plan by any person related to such descendants (within the meaning of Code Section 267(c)(4)) in a transaction subject to Code Section 1042.
The “non-allocation period” is the period for this purpose beginning on the date of the sale of the Qualifying Employer Securities to the Plan and ending on the later of the date which is ten (10) years after the date of sale or the date of the allocation attributable to the final payment of an Exempt Loan incurred in connection with such sale to the Plan.
Further, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, Qualifying Employer Securities that have been acquired by the Plan in a sale to which Code Section 1042 applies shall not be allocated, during or after the non-allocation period, directly or indirectly under the Plan (or any qualified plan of any Employer) to the Account of any individual who owns (after application of the aggregation rules of Code Section 318(a) applied without regard to the employee trust exception in Code Section 318(a)(2)(B)(i)) 
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more than twenty five percent (25%) of any class of outstanding stock of any Employer, or the total value of any class of outstanding stock of the Employer.

Section 3.07--CONTRIBUTION LIMITATION.
Contributions to the Plan shall be limited in accordance with Code Section 415 and the regulations thereunder. 
(a)    Definitions. For the purpose of determining the contribution limitation set forth in this section, the following terms are defined.
Annual Additions means the sum of the following amounts credited to a Participant’s account for the Limitation Year:
(1)    employer contributions, provided that ESOP Discretionary Contributions under this Plan that are applied to pay interest on an Exempt Loan and/or Forfeitures of Qualifying Employer Securities that were purchased with an Exempt Loan will not be an Annual Addition if no more than one-third (1/3) of the ESOP Discretionary Contribution that is applied to pay principal or interest on an Exempt Loan for the Plan Year is allocated to the accounts of Highly Compensated Employees. To the extent Qualifying Employer Securities are allocated to Participants’ Accounts, the lesser of fair market value of the Qualifying Employer Security allocated or the employer contribution used to release such share in the case of repayment of an Exempt Loan, shall be used for purposes of measuring Annual Additions;
(2)    employee contributions; and
(3)    forfeitures.
Annual Additions to a defined contribution plan, as defined in section 1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(i) of the regulations, shall also include the following:
(4)    mandatory employee contributions, as defined in Code Section 411 (c)(2)(C) and section 1.411(c)-1 (c)(4) of the regulations, to a defined benefit plan;
(5)    contributions allocated to any individual medical benefit account, as defined in Code Section 415(l)(2), which is part of a pension or annuity plan maintained by the Employer;
(6)    amounts attributable to post-retirement medical benefits, allocated to the separate account of a key employee, as defined in Code Section 419A(d)(3), under a welfare benefit fund, as defined in Code Section 419(e), maintained by the Employer;
(7)    annual additions under an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b); and
(8)    allocations under a simplified employee pension.
Compensation means wages, salaries, Differential Wage Payments, and fees for professional services and other amounts received (without regard to whether or not an amount is paid in cash) for personal services actually rendered in the course of 
    30

employment with the Employer maintaining the plan to the extent that the amounts are includible in gross income (including, but not limited to, commissions paid to salespersons, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe benefits, and reimbursements or other expense allowances under a nonaccountable plan (as described in section 1.62-2(c) of the regulations)), and excluding the following:
(1)    employer contributions (other than elective contributions described in Code Section 402(e)(3), 408(k)(6), 408(p)(2)(A)(i), or 457(b)) to a plan of deferred compensation (including a simplified employee pension described in Code Section 408(k) or a simple retirement account described in Code Section 408(p), and whether or not qualified) to the extent such contributions are not includible in the employee’s gross income for the taxable year in which contributed, and any distributions (whether or not includible in gross income when distributed) from a plan of deferred compensation (whether or not qualified);
(2)    amounts realized from the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option (that is, an option other than a statutory stock option as defined in section 1.421-1(b) of the regulations), or when restricted stock (or property) held by the employee either becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture;
(3)    amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under a statutory stock option;
(4)    other amounts that receive special tax benefits, such as premiums for group-term life insurance (but only to the extent that the premiums are not includible in the gross income of the employee and are not salary reduction amounts that are described in Code Section 125); and
(5)    other items of remuneration that are similar to any of the items listed in (1) through (4) above.
For any Self-employed Individual, Compensation shall mean Earned Income.
Except as provided herein, Compensation for a Limitation Year is the Compensation actually paid or made available (or if earlier, includible in gross income) during such Limitation Year.
Compensation for a Limitation Year shall also include Compensation paid by the later of 2 1/2 months after an employee’s Severance from Employment with the Employer maintaining the plan or the end of the Limitation Year that includes the date of the employee’s Severance from Employment with the Employer maintaining the plan, if the payment is regular Compensation for services during the employee’s regular working hours, or Compensation for services outside the employee’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses, or other similar payments, and, absent a Severance from Employment, the payments would have been paid to the employee while the employee continued in employment with the Employer.
Any payments not described above shall not be considered Compensation if paid after Severance from Employment, even if they are paid by the later of 2 1/2 months after the date of Severance from Employment or the end of the Limitation Year that includes the date of Severance from Employment.
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Back pay, within the meaning of section 1.415(c)-2(g)(8) of the regulations, shall be treated as Compensation for the Limitation Year to which the back pay relates to the extent the back pay represents wages and compensation that would otherwise be included in this definition. 
Compensation paid or made available during such Limitation Year shall include amounts that would otherwise be included in Compensation but for an election under Code Section 125(a), 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), or 457(b).
Compensation shall not include amounts paid as Compensation to a nonresident alien, as defined in Code Section 7701(b)(1)(B), who is not a Participant in the Plan to the extent the Compensation is excludible from gross income and is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation means $57,000, automatically adjusted under Code Section 415(d), effective January 1 of each year, as published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. The new limitation shall apply to Limitation Years ending with or within the calendar year of the date of the adjustment, but a Participant’s Annual Additions for a Limitation Year cannot exceed the currently applicable dollar limitation (as in effect before the January 1 adjustment) prior to January 1. However, after a January 1 adjustment is made, Annual Additions for the entire Limitation Year are permitted to reflect the dollar limitation as adjusted on January 1.
Employer means the employer that adopts this Plan, and all members of a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Code Section 414(b) as modified by Code Section 415(h)), all commonly controlled trades or businesses (as defined in Code Section 414(c), as modified, except in the case of a brother-sister group of trades or businesses under common control, by Code Section 415(h)), or affiliated service groups (as defined in Code Section 414(m)) of which the adopting employer is a part, and any other entity required to be aggregated with the employer pursuant to Code Section 414(o).
Limitation Year means the consecutive 12-month period ending on the last day of each Plan Year, including corresponding consecutive 12-month periods before the original effective date of the Plan. All qualified plans maintained by the Employer must use the same Limitation Year. If the Limitation Year is other than the calendar year, execution of this Plan (or any amendment to this Plan changing the Limitation Year) constitutes the Employer’s adoption of a written resolution electing the Limitation Year. If the Limitation Year is amended to a different consecutive 12-month period, the new Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation Year in which the amendment is made.
Maximum Annual Addition means, except for Catch-up Contributions, the Annual Addition that may be contributed or allocated to a Participant’s Account under the Plan for any Limitation Year. This amount shall not exceed the lesser of:
(1)    The Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation, or
(2)    100 percent of the Participant’s Compensation for the Limitation Year.
A Participant’s Compensation for a Limitation Year shall not include Compensation in excess of the limitation under Code Section 401(a)(17) that is in effect for the calendar year in which the Limitation Year begins.
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The compensation limitation referred to in (2) shall not apply to an individual medical benefit account (as defined in Code Section 415(l); or a post-retirement medical benefits account for a key employee (as defined in Code Section 419A(d)(1)). 
If a short Limitation Year is created because of an amendment changing the Limitation Year to a different consecutive 12-month period, the Maximum Annual Addition will not exceed the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation multiplied by the following fraction:
Number of months (including any fractional parts of a month)
in the short Limitation Year
12

If the Plan is terminated as of a date other than the last day of the Limitation Year, the Plan is treated as if the Plan was amended to change the Limitation Year and create a short Limitation Year ending on the date the Plan is terminated.
If a short Limitation Year is created, the limitation under Code Section 401(a)(17) shall be prorated in the same manner as the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation.
Predecessor Employer means, with respect to a Participant, a former employer if the Employer maintains a plan that provides a benefit which the Participant accrued while performing services for the former employer. Predecessor Employer also means, with respect to a Participant, a former entity that antedates the Employer if, under the facts and circumstances, the Employer constitutes a continuation of all or a portion of the trade or business of the former entity.
Severance from Employment means an employee has ceased to be an employee of the Employer maintaining the plan. An employee does not have a Severance from Employment if, in connection with a change of employment, the employee’s new employer maintains the plan with respect to the employee.
(b)    If the Participant does not participate in another defined contribution plan, as defined in section 1.415(c)-1 (a)(2)(i) of the regulations (without regard to whether the plan(s) have been terminated) maintained by the Employer, the amount of Annual Additions that may be credited to the Participant’s Account for any Limitation Year shall not exceed the lesser of the Maximum Annual Addition or any other limitation contained in this Plan. If the Employer Contribution that would otherwise be contributed or allocated to the Participant’s Account would cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed the Maximum Annual Addition, the amount contributed or allocated shall be reduced so that the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum Annual Addition.
(c)    If, in addition to this Plan, the Participant is covered under another defined contribution plan, as defined in section 1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(i) of the regulations, (without regard to whether the plan(s) have been terminated) maintained by the Employer that provides an Annual Addition during any Limitation Year, the Annual Additions that may be credited to a Participant’s Account under this Plan for any such Limitation Year will not exceed the Maximum Annual Addition, reduced by the Annual Additions credited to a Participant’s account under the other defined contribution plan(s) for the same Limitation Year. If the Annual Additions with respect to the Participant under the other defined contribution plan(s) maintained by the Employer are less than the Maximum Annual Addition, and the Employer Contribution that would otherwise be contributed or allocated to the Participant’s Account under this Plan would cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed this limitation, the amount contributed or allocated will be reduced so that the Annual Additions under all such plans and funds for the Limitation Year will equal the 
    33

Maximum Annual Addition. If the Annual Additions with respect to the Participant under the other defined contribution plan(s) in the aggregate are equal to or greater than the Maximum Annual Addition, no amount will be contributed or allocated to the Participant’s Account under this Plan for the Limitation Year.
(d)    The limitation of this section shall be determined and applied taking into account the following rules:
(1)    Aggregating Plans. For purposes of applying the limitations of this section for a Limitation Year, all defined contribution plans (as defined in section 1.415(c)-1(a)(2)(i) of the regulations and without regard to whether the plan(s) have been terminated) ever maintained by the Employer and all defined contribution plans of a Predecessor Employer (in the Limitation Year in which such Predecessor Employer is created) under which a Participant receives Annual Additions are treated as one defined contribution plan.
(2)    Break-up of Affiliated Employers. The Annual Additions under a formerly affiliated plan (as defined in section 1.415(f)-1(b)(2)(ii) of the regulations) of the Employer are taken into account for purposes of applying the limitations of this section for the Limitation Year in which the cessation of affiliation took place.
(3)    Previously Unaggregated Plans. The limitations of this section are not exceeded for the first Limitation Year in which two or more existing plans, which previously were not required to be aggregated pursuant to section 1.415(f) of the regulations, are aggregated, provided that no Annual Additions are credited to a Participant after the date on which the plans are required to be aggregated if the Annual Additions already credited to the Participant in the existing plans equal or exceed the Maximum Annual Addition.
(4)    Aggregation with Multiemployer Plan. If the Employer maintains a multiemployer plan, as defined in Code Section 414(f), and the multiemployer plan so provides, only the Annual Additions under the multiemployer plan that are provided by the Employer shall be treated as Annual Additions provided under a plan maintained by the Employer for purposes of this section.

Section 3.08--EXCESS AMOUNTS.
(a)    Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms are defined:
ACP means, for a specified group of Participants (either Highly Compensated Employees or Nonhighly Compensated Employees) for a Plan Year, the average (expressed as a percentage) of the Contribution Percentages of the Eligible Participants in the group.
ADP means, for a specified group of Participants (either Highly Compensated Employees or Nonhighly Compensated Employees) for a Plan Year, the average (expressed as a percentage) of the Deferral Percentages of the Eligible Participants in the group.
Contribution Percentage means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the Eligible Participant’s Contribution Percentage Amounts to the Eligible Participant’s Compensation (excluding Differential Wage Payments) for the Plan Year (whether or not the Eligible Participant was an Eligible Participant for the entire Plan Year). For an Eligible Participant 
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for whom such Contribution Percentage Amounts for the Plan Year are zero, the percentage is zero. 
Contribution Percentage Amounts means the sum of the Participant Contributions and Matching Contributions (that are not Qualified Matching Contributions taken into account for purposes of the ADP Test) made under the plan on behalf of the Eligible Participant for the plan year. Contribution Percentage Amounts shall not include Participant Contributions withheld from Differential Wage Payments and Matching Contributions based on Elective Deferral Contributions and Participant Contributions withheld from such Differential Wage Payments. Matching Contributions cannot be taken into account for a plan year for a Nonhighly Compensated Employee to the extent they are disproportionate matching contributions as defined in section 1.401 (m)-2(a)(5)(ii) of the regulations. Such Contribution Percentage Amounts shall not include Matching Contributions that are forfeited (i) to correct Excess Aggregate Contributions; or (ii) because the contributions to which they relate are Excess Elective Deferrals, Excess Contributions, or Excess Aggregate Contributions. Under such rules as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, in determining the Contribution Percentage the Employer may elect to include Qualified Nonelective Contributions under this Plan that were not used in computing the Deferral Percentage. Qualified Nonelective Contributions cannot be taken into account for a Plan Year for a Nonhighly Compensated Employee to the extent they are disproportionate contributions as defined in section 1.401(m)-2(a)(6)(v) of the regulations. The Employer may also elect to use Elective Deferral Contributions in computing the Contribution Percentage so long as the ADP Test is met before the Elective Deferral Contributions are used in the ACP Test and continues to be met following the exclusion of those Elective Deferral Contributions that are used to meet the ACP Test.
Deferral Percentage means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of Elective Deferral Contributions (other than Catch-up Contributions and Elective Deferral Contributions withheld from Differential Wage Payments) under this Plan on behalf of the Eligible Participant for the Plan Year to the Eligible Participant’s Compensation (excluding Differential Wage Payments) for the Plan Year (whether or not the Eligible Participant was an Eligible Participant for the entire Plan Year). The Elective Deferral Contributions used to determine the Deferral Percentage shall include Excess Elective Deferrals (other than Excess Elective Deferrals of Nonhighly Compensated Employees that arise solely from Elective Deferral Contributions made under this Plan or any other plans of the Employer or a Controlled Group member), but shall exclude Elective Deferral Contributions that are used in computing the Contribution Percentage (provided the ADP Test is satisfied both with and without exclusion of these Elective Deferral Contributions). Under such rules as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, the Employer may elect to include Qualified Nonelective Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions under this Plan in computing the Deferral Percentage. Qualified Matching Contributions cannot be taken into account for a Plan Year for a Nonhighly Compensated Employee to the extent they are disproportionate matching contributions as defined in section 1.401(m)-2(a)(5)(ii) of the regulations. Qualified Nonelective Contributions cannot be taken into account for a Plan Year for a Nonhighly Compensated Employee to the extent they are disproportionate contributions as defined in section 1.401(k)-2(a)(6)(iv) of the regulations. For an Eligible Participant for whom such contributions made on his behalf for the Plan Year are zero, the percentage is zero.
Elective Deferral Contributions means any employer contributions made to a plan at the election of a participant in lieu of cash compensation. With respect to any taxable year, a participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions are the sum of all employer contributions made on behalf of such participant pursuant to an election to defer under 
    35

any qualified cash or deferred arrangement (CODA) described in Code Section 401(k), any salary reduction simplified employee pension plan described in Code Section 408(k)(6), any SIMPLE IRA plan described in Code Section 408(p), any plan described under Code Section 501(c)(18), and any employer contributions made on behalf of a participant for the purchase of an annuity contract under Code Section 403(b) pursuant to a salary reduction agreement. Elective Deferral Contributions include Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions and Roth Elective Deferral Contributions. Elective Deferral Contributions shall not include any deferrals properly distributed as excess annual additions.
Eligible Participant means, for purposes of determining the Deferral Percentage, any Employee who is otherwise entitled to make Elective Deferral Contributions under the terms of the plan for the plan year. Eligible Participant means, for purposes of determining the Contribution Percentage, any Employee who is eligible (i) to make a Participant Contribution or an Elective Deferral Contribution (if the Employer takes such contributions into account in the calculation of the Contribution Percentage), or (ii) to receive a Matching Contribution (including forfeitures) or a Qualified Matching Contribution. If a Participant Contribution is required as a condition of participation in the plan, any Employee who would be a participant in the plan if such Employee made such a contribution shall be treated as an Eligible Participant on behalf of whom no Participant Contributions are made.
Excess Aggregate Contributions means, with respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
(1)    The aggregate Contribution Percentage Amounts taken into account in computing the numerator of the Contribution Percentage actually made on behalf of Highly Compensated Employees for such Plan Year, over
(2)    The maximum Contribution Percentage Amounts permitted by the ACP Test (determined by hypothetically reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly Compensated Employees in order of their Contribution Percentages beginning with the highest of such percentages).
Such determination shall be made after first determining Excess Elective Deferrals and then determining Excess Contributions.
Excess Contributions means, with respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
(1)    The aggregate amount of employer contributions actually taken into account in computing the Deferral Percentage of Highly Compensated Employees for such Plan Year, over
(2)    The maximum amount of such contributions permitted by the ADP Test (determined by hypothetically reducing contributions made on behalf of Highly Compensated Employees in the order of the Deferral Percentages, beginning with the highest of such percentages).
Excess Elective Deferrals means those Elective Deferral Contributions of a Participant that either (i) are made during the Participant’s taxable year and exceed the dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g) or (ii) are made during a calendar year and exceed the dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g) for the Participant’s taxable year beginning in such calendar year, counting only Elective Deferral Contributions made under this Plan and any other plan, contract, or arrangement maintained by the 
    36

Employer. The dollar limitation shall be increased by the dollar limit on Catch-up Contributions under Code Section 414(v).
Excess Elective Deferrals shall be treated as Annual Additions, as defined in Section 3.07, under the Plan, unless such amounts are distributed no later than the first April 15 following the close of the Participant’s taxable year. 
Matching Contributions means employer contributions made to this or any other defined contribution plan, or to a contract described in Code Section 403(b), on behalf of a participant on account of a Participant Contribution made by such participant, or on account of a participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions, under a plan maintained by the Employer or a Controlled Group member.
Participant Contributions means contributions (other than Roth Elective Deferral Contributions) made to the plan by or on behalf of a participant that are included in the participant’s gross income in the year in which made and that are maintained under a separate account to which the earnings and losses are allocated.
Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions means a participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions that are not includible in the participant’s gross income at the time deferred.
Qualified Matching Contributions means Matching Contributions that are nonforfeitable when made to the plan and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution provisions applicable to Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Qualified Matching Contributions can be distributed under such distribution provision.
Qualified Nonelective Contributions means any employer contributions (other than Matching Contributions) that an Employee may not elect to have paid to him in cash instead of being contributed to the plan and that are nonforfeitable when made to the plan and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution provisions applicable to Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Qualified Nonelective Contributions can be distributed under such distribution provision.
Roth Elective Deferral Contributions means a participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions that are not excludible from the participant’s gross income at the time deferred and have been irrevocably designated as Roth Elective Deferral Contributions by the participant in his elective deferral agreement. Whether an Elective Deferral Contribution is not excludible from a participant’s gross income will be determined in accordance with section 1.401(k)-1(f)(2) of the regulations. In the case of a self-employed individual, an Elective Deferral Contribution is not excludible from gross income only if the individual does not claim a deduction for such amount.
(b)    Excess Elective Deferrals. A Participant may assign to this Plan any Excess Elective Deferrals made during a taxable year of the Participant by notifying the Plan Administrator in writing on or before the first following March 1 of the amount of the Excess Elective Deferrals to be assigned to the Plan. A Participant is deemed to notify the Plan Administrator of any Excess Elective Deferrals that arise by taking into account only those Elective Deferral Contributions made to this Plan and any other plan, contract, or arrangement of the Employer or a Controlled Group member. The Participant’s claim for Excess Elective Deferrals shall be accompanied by the Participant’s written statement that if such amounts are not distributed, such Excess Elective Deferrals will exceed the limit imposed on the Participant by Code Section 402(g) (including, if applicable, the dollar limitation on Catch-up Contributions under Code Section 414(v)) for the year in which the deferral occurred. The Excess Elective Deferrals assigned to this Plan cannot 
    37

exceed the Elective Deferral Contributions allocated under this Plan for such taxable year.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, Elective Deferral Contributions in an amount equal to the Excess Elective Deferrals assigned to this Plan, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be distributed no later than April 15 to any Participant to whose Account 
Excess Elective Deferrals were assigned for the preceding year and who claims Excess Elective Deferrals for such taxable year or calendar year.
Distribution of Excess Elective Deferral Contributions shall be made first from the Participant’s Account resulting from Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions were made for the year.
The Excess Elective Deferrals shall be adjusted for any income or loss. The income or loss allocable to such Excess Elective Deferrals shall be equal to the income or loss allocable to the Participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions for the taxable year in which the excess occurred multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Excess Elective Deferrals. The denominator of the fraction is the closing balance without regard to any income or loss occurring during such taxable year (as of the end of such taxable year) of the Participant’s Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions.
For purposes of determining income or loss on Excess Elective Deferrals, no adjustment shall be made for income or loss for the gap period.
Any Matching Contributions that were based on the Elective Deferral Contributions distributed as Excess Elective Deferrals, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be forfeited.
(c)    ADP Test. As of the end of each Plan Year after Excess Elective Deferrals have been determined, the Plan must satisfy the ADP Test. The ADP Test shall be satisfied using the current year testing method described below.
The ADP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for each Plan Year and the ADP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year must satisfy one of the following tests:
(1)    The ADP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not exceed the ADP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year multiplied by 1.25; or
(2)    The ADP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year: 
(i)    shall not exceed the ADP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year multiplied by 2, and
(ii)    the difference between such ADPs is not more than 2.
The election to use the current year testing method cannot be changed unless (i) the Plan has been using the current year testing method for the preceding five (5) Plan Years, or if less, the number of Plan Years the Plan has been in existence; or (ii) if as a 
    38

result of a merger or acquisition described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C)(i), the Employer maintains both a plan using the prior year testing method and a plan using the current year testing method and the change is made within the transition period described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C)(ii).
A Participant is a Highly Compensated Employee for a particular Plan Year if he meets the definition of a Highly Compensated Employee in effect for that Plan Year. Similarly, a Participant is a Nonhighly Compensated Employee for a particular Plan Year if he does not meet the definition of a Highly Compensated Employee in effect for that Plan Year.
The Deferral Percentage for any Eligible Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee for the Plan Year and who is eligible to have Elective Deferral Contributions (and Qualified Nonelective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, if treated as Elective Deferral Contributions for purposes of the ADP Test) allocated to his account under two or more arrangements described in Code Section 401(k) that are maintained by the Employer or a Controlled Group member shall be determined as if such Elective Deferral Contributions (and, if applicable, such Qualified Nonelective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both) were made under a single arrangement. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two or more cash or deferred arrangements of the Employer or of a Controlled Group member that have different plan years, all Elective Deferral Contributions made during the Plan Year shall be aggregated. The foregoing notwithstanding, certain plans shall be treated as separate if mandatorily disaggregated under the regulations of Code Section 401(k).
In the event this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(k), 401(a)(4), or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of such Code sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this section shall be applied by determining the Deferral Percentage of Employees as if all such plans were a single plan. Plans may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code Section 401(k) only if they have the same plan year and use the same testing method for the ADP Test.
For purposes of the ADP Test, Elective Deferral Contributions, Qualified Nonelective Contributions, and Qualified Matching Contributions must be made before the end of the 12-month period immediately following the Plan Year to which the contributions relate.
If the Plan Administrator should determine during the Plan Year that the ADP Test is not being met, the Plan Administrator may limit the amount of future Elective Deferral Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employees.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan, Excess Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be distributed no later than 12 months after the last day of a Plan Year to Participants to whose Accounts such Excess Contributions were allocated for such Plan Year, except to the extent such Excess Contributions are classified as Catch-up Contributions. Excess Contributions are allocated to the Highly Compensated Employees with the largest amounts of employer contributions taken into account in calculating the ADP Test for the year in which the excess arose, beginning with the Highly Compensated Employee with the largest amount of such employer contributions and continuing in descending order until all of the Excess Contributions have been allocated. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two or more cash or deferred arrangements of the Employer or of a Controlled Group member, the amount distributed shall not exceed the amount of the employer contributions taken into account in calculating the ADP test and made to this Plan for the year in which the excess arose. If Catch-up Contributions are allowed for the Plan Year being tested, to the extent a 
    39

Highly Compensated Employee has not reached his Catch-up Contribution limit under the Plan for such year, Excess Contributions allocated to such Highly Compensated Employee are Catch-up Contributions and will not be treated as Excess Contributions. If such excess amounts (other than Catch-up Contributions) are distributed more than 2 1/2 months after the last day of the Plan Year in which such excess amounts arose, a 10 percent excise tax shall be imposed on the employer maintaining the plan with respect to such amounts. 
Excess Contributions shall be treated as Annual Additions, as defined in Section 3.07, even if distributed.
The Excess Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss. The income or loss allocable to such Excess Contributions allocated to each Participant shall be equal to the income or loss allocable to the Participant’s Elective Deferral Contributions (and, if applicable, Qualified Nonelective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both) for the Plan Year in which the excess occurred multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Excess Contributions. The denominator of the fraction is the closing balance without regard to any income or loss occurring during such Plan Year (as of the end of such Plan Year) of the Participant’s Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions (and Qualified Nonelective Contributions or Qualified Matching Contributions, or both, if such contributions are included in the ADP Test).
For purposes of determining income or loss on Excess Contributions, no adjustment shall be made for income or loss for the gap period.
Excess Contributions allocated to a Participant shall be distributed from the Participant’s Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions. If such Excess Contributions exceed the amount of Excess Contributions in the Participant’s Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions, the balance shall be distributed from the Participant’s Account resulting from Qualified Matching Contributions (if applicable) and Qualified Nonelective Contributions, respectively.
Distribution of Excess Contributions shall be made first from the Participant’s Account resulting from Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions, to the extent Pre-tax Elective Deferral Contributions were made for the year.
Any Matching Contributions that were based on the Elective Deferral Contributions distributed as Excess Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be forfeited.
(d)    ACP Test. As of the end of each Plan Year, the Plan must satisfy the ACP Test. The ACP Test shall be satisfied using the current year testing method described below.
The ACP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for each Plan Year and the ACP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year must satisfy one of the following tests:
(1)    The ACP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year shall not exceed the ACP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year multiplied by 1.25; or
(2)    The ACP for a Plan Year for Eligible Participants who are Highly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year:
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(i)    shall not exceed the ACP for Eligible Participants who are Nonhighly Compensated Employees for the Plan Year multiplied by 2, and
(ii)    the difference between such ACPs is not more than 2.
The election to use the current year testing method cannot be changed unless (i) the Plan has been using the current year testing method for the preceding five Plan Years, or if less, the number of Plan Years the Plan has been in existence; or (ii) if as a result of a merger or acquisition described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C)(i), the Employer maintains both a plan using the prior year testing method and a plan using the current year testing method and the change is made within the transition period described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C)(ii).
A Participant is a Highly Compensated Employee for a particular Plan Year if he meets the definition of a Highly Compensated Employee in effect for that Plan Year. Similarly, a Participant is a Nonhighly Compensated Employee for a particular Plan Year if he does not meet the definition of a Highly Compensated Employee in effect for that Plan Year.
The Contribution Percentage for any Eligible Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee for the Plan Year and who is eligible to have Contribution Percentage Amounts allocated to his account under two or more plans described in Code Section 401(a) or arrangements described in Code Section 401(k) that are maintained by the Employer or a Controlled Group member shall be determined as if the total of such Contribution Percentage Amounts was made under each plan and arrangement. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two or more such plans or arrangements that have different plan years, all Contribution Percentage Amounts made during the Plan Year shall be aggregated. The foregoing notwithstanding, certain plans shall be treated as separate if mandatorily disaggregated under the regulations of Code Section 401(m).
In the event this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(m), 401(a)(4), or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of such Code sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then this section shall be applied by determining the Contribution Percentage of Employees as if all such plans were a single plan. Plans may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code Section 401(m) only if they have the same plan year and use the same testing method for the ACP Test.
For purposes of the ACP Test, Participant Contributions are considered to have been made in the Plan Year in which contributed to the Plan. Matching Contributions and Qualified Nonelective Contributions will be considered to have been made for a Plan Year if made no later than the end of the 12-month period beginning on the day after the close of the Plan Year.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan, Excess Aggregate Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss allocable thereto, shall be forfeited, if not vested, or distributed, if vested, no later than 12 months after the last day of a Plan Year to Participants to whose Accounts such Excess Aggregate Contributions were allocated for such Plan Year. Excess Aggregate Contributions are allocated to the Highly Compensated Employees with the largest Contribution Percentage Amounts taken into account in calculating the ACP Test for the year in which the excess arose, beginning with the Highly Compensated Employee with the largest amount of such Contribution Percentage Amounts and continuing in descending order until all of the Excess Aggregate Contributions have been allocated. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in two or more plans or arrangements of the Employer or of a Controlled 
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Group member that include Contribution Percentage Amounts, the amount distributed shall not exceed the Contribution Percentage Amounts taken into account in calculating the ACP Test and made to this Plan for the year in which the excess arose. If such Excess Aggregate Contributions are distributed more than 2 1/2 months after the last day of the Plan Year in which such excess amounts arose, a 10 percent excise tax shall be imposed on the employer maintaining the plan with respect to such amounts.
Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be treated as Annual Additions, as defined in Section 3.07, even if distributed.
The Excess Aggregate Contributions shall be adjusted for any income or loss. The income or loss allocable to such Excess Aggregate Contributions allocated to each Participant shall be equal to the income or loss allocable to the Participant’s Contribution Percentage Amounts for the Plan Year in which the excess occurred multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Excess Aggregate Contributions. The denominator of the fraction is the closing balance without regard to any income or loss occurring during such Plan Year (as of the end of such Plan Year) of the Participant’s Account resulting from Contribution Percentage Amounts.
For purposes of determining income or loss on Excess Aggregate Contributions, no adjustment shall be made for income or loss for the gap period.
Excess Aggregate Contributions allocated to a Participant shall be distributed from the Participant’s Account resulting from Participant Contributions that are not required as a condition of employment or participation or for obtaining additional benefits from Employer Contributions. If such Excess Aggregate Contributions exceed the balance in the Participant’s Account resulting from such Participant Contributions, the balance shall be forfeited, if not vested, or distributed, if vested, on a pro rata basis from the Participant’s Account resulting from Contribution Percentage Amounts.

Section 3.09--401(k) SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS.
(a)    Rules of Application. 
(1)    The provisions under Section 3.08 do not apply for any Plan Year in which the provisions of this section apply unless the Plan is amended to reduce or suspend the Qualified Matching Contributions during the Plan Year in accordance with the provisions of this section. 
(2)    Short Plan Year Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply unless the Plan Year is 12 months long except as provided below:
(i)    In the case of the first Plan Year of a newly established plan (other than a successor plan), the Plan Year is at least 3 months long (or any shorter period if the Employer is a newly established employer that establishes the Plan as soon as administratively feasible after the Employer came into existence).
(ii)    In the case of a cash or deferred arrangement (CODA) that is added to an existing profit sharing, stock bonus, or pre-ERISA money purchase pension plan for the first time during a plan year, provided the Plan is not a successor plan and the CODA is made effective no later than 3 months 
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prior to the end of the Plan Year. The Plan may not be an ACP Test Safe Harbor for such Plan Year unless the existing Plan did not provide for Matching Contributions and the amendment providing for Matching Contributions is made effective at the same time as the adoption of the CODA.
(iii)    If the Plan has a short Plan Year as a result of changing its Plan Year, provided that:
(A)    the Plan satisfied the safe harbor requirements under section 1.401(k)-3 of the regulations and section 1.401 (m)-3 of the regulations for the immediately preceding Plan Year; and
(B)    the Plan satisfies the safe harbor requirements under section 1.401(k)-3 of the regulations (determined without regard to paragraph (g) of that section) and the safe harbor requirements under section 1.401 (m)-3 of the regulations (determined without regard to paragraph (h) of that section) for the immediately following Plan Year (or the immediately following 12 months if the immediately following Plan Year is less than 12 months).
(iv)    If the Plan has a short Plan Year due to Plan termination, provided that the Plan satisfies the safe harbor requirements of section 1.401(k)-3 of the regulations and section 1.401 (m)-3 of the regulations through the date of termination and either:
(A)    the Plan would satisfy the requirements of section 1.401(k)-3(g) of the regulations and section 1.401(m)-3(h) of the regulations treating the termination of the Plan as a reduction or suspension of safe harbor matching contributions, other than the requirement that Active Participants have a reasonable opportunity to change the amount of their cash or deferred elections; or
(B)    the Plan termination is in connection with a transaction described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C) or the Employer incurs a substantial business hardship comparable to a substantial business hardship described in Code Section 412(c).
(v)    If the Plan has a short Plan Year as a result of changing its Plan Year, provided that:
(A)    the Plan satisfied the safe harbor requirements under section 1.401(k)-3 of the regulations for the immediately preceding Plan Year; and
(B)    the Plan satisfies the safe harbor requirements under section 1.401(k)-3 of the regulations (determined without regard to paragraph (g) of that section) for the immediately following Plan Year (or the immediately following 12 months if the immediately following Plan Year is less than 12 months).
(vi)    If the Plan has a short Plan Year due to Plan termination, provided regulations through the date of termination and either:
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(A)    the Plan would satisfy the requirements of section 1.401(k)-3(g) of the regulations treating the termination of the Plan as a reduction or suspension of safe harbor matching contributions, other than the requirement that Active Participants have a reasonable opportunity to change the amount of their cash or deferred elections; or
(B)    the Plan termination is in connection with a transaction described in Code Section 410(b)(6)(C) or the Employer incurs a substantial business hardship comparable to a substantial business hardship described in Code Section 412(c).
(3)    To the extent that any other provision of the Plan is inconsistent with the provisions of this section, the provisions of this section shall govern.
(b)    ADP Test Safe Harbor. 
(1)    Contributions. The Plan is satisfying the ADP Test Safe Harbor using Qualified Matching Contributions as provided in Section 3.01(b). The Employer shall pay to the Insurer or Trustee, as applicable, such Contributions for each Plan Year not later than the end of the 12-month period immediately following the Plan Year for which they are deemed to be paid.
(2)    Notice Requirement. At least 30 days, but not more than 90 days, before the beginning of the Plan Year, the Employer shall provide each Active Participant a comprehensive notice of his rights and obligations under the Plan, including a description of the Qualified Matching Contributions that will be made to the Plan to satisfy the ADP Test Safe Harbor.
The notice shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average Active Participant.
If an Employee becomes an Active Participant after the 90th day before the beginning of the Plan Year and does not receive this notice for that reason, the notice must be provided no more than 90 days before he becomes an Active Participant but not later than the date he becomes an Active Participant.
(3)    Election Periods. In addition to any other election periods provided under the Plan, each Active Participant may make or modify a deferral election during the 30-day period immediately following receipt of the notice described in (2) above.
(c)    ACP Test Safe Harbor. Matching Contributions are limited as provided in Section 3.01(b).
(d)    ACP Test. The Plan does not provide for Participant Contributions, as defined in Section 3.08. Any provisions relating to the ACP Test in Section 3.08 shall not apply for any Plan Year in which the provisions of this section apply unless the Plan is amended to reduce or suspend the Qualified Matching Contributions during the Plan Year in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(e)    Reduction or Suspension of the 401(k) Safe Harbor Contribution. The Employer may amend the Plan to reduce or suspend the amount of the Qualified Matching Contributions during any Plan Year if the following conditions are met:
(1)    The Employer either
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(i)    is operating at an economic loss as described in Code Section 412(c)(2)(A) for the Plan Year, or
(ii)    includes in the notice described in (b)(2) above a statement that the Plan may be amended during the Plan Year to reduce or suspend the Qualified Matching Contributions and that the reduction or suspension will not apply until at least 30 days after all Active Participants are provided notice of the reduction or suspension.
(2)    All Active Participants shall be provided a supplemental notice that explains the consequences of the amendment, informs them of the effective date of the reduction or suspension of the Qualified Matching Contributions and explains the procedures to change their Elective Deferral Agreement.
(3)    The effective date of the reduction or suspension of the Qualified Matching Contributions is no earlier than the later of (i) 30 days after the Active Participants are given such notice, and (ii) the date the amendment is adopted.
(4)    Active Participants are given a reasonable opportunity (including a reasonable period after receipt of the supplemental notice) prior to the reduction or suspension of the Qualified Matching Contributions to change their Elective Deferral Agreement.
If the Qualified Matching Contributions are reduced or suspended, the Employer shall perform the ADP Test and ACP Test for the entire Plan Year in which the reduction or suspension occurred using the current year testing method described in Section 3.08 of this article, and, if applicable, satisfy the Top-heavy Plan requirements of Article XI. The Employer shall make the Qualified Matching Contributions with respect to Elective Deferral Contributions and Compensation for the portion of the Plan Year prior to the effective date of the reduction or suspension. The annual compensation limit applied to Compensation for purposes of such Contributions shall be adjusted for the short determination period as described in the definition of Compensation in Section 1.02.
(f)    (Top-heavy Rules. The Plan is deemed to not be a Top-heavy Plan, as defined in Section 11.02, for a Plan Year if the exception under Code Section 416(g)(4)(H) applies for such year. 

ARTICLE IV
INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.01--INVESTMENT AND TIMING OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
The handling of Contributions and Plan assets is governed by the provisions of the Trust Agreement and any other relevant document, such as an Annuity Contract (for the purposes of this paragraph alone, the Trust Agreement and such other documents will each be referred to as a “document” or collectively as the “documents”), duly entered into by or with regard to the Plan that govern such matters. To the extent permitted by the documents, the parties named below shall direct the Contributions 
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for investment in any of the investment options available to the Plan under or through the documents, and may request the transfer of amounts resulting from those Contributions between such investment options.
A Participant may not direct the investment of all or any portion of his Account in collectibles. Collectibles mean any work of art, rug or antique, metal or gem, stamp or coin, alcoholic beverage, or other tangible personal property specified by the Secretary of the Treasury. However, certain coins and bullion as provided in Code Section 408(m)(3) shall not be considered collectibles.
If a Participant has provided investment direction for all or certain specific Contributions made to his Account, such Contributions shall be invested in accordance with such direction to the extent possible. If an investment option selected by the Participant in that investment direction is no longer available (or is no longer available for future Contributions only) and a new investment option is not selected by the Participant (in lieu of the one that is no longer available) by the deadline set by a fiduciary of the Plan (or by the date the investment option is no longer available), all amounts currently held in the investment option that is no longer available and/or future Contributions directed to such investment option, as the case may be, by the Participant (and made after such deadline or date) shall be invested in the appropriate default investment option, unless otherwise directed by a fiduciary of the Plan.
To the extent that a Participant who has the ability to provide investment direction (either on an ongoing basis or in response to a notice from a fiduciary of the Plan) fails to give timely investment direction, the amount in the Participant’s Account for which no investment direction is received shall be invested in the appropriate default investment option, unless otherwise directed by a fiduciary of the Plan.
If the Primary Employer has investment direction, the Contributions shall be invested in accordance with such direction. The Employer shall have investment direction for amounts that have not been allocated to Participants. To the extent an investment option is no longer available, a fiduciary of the Plan may require that amounts currently held in such investment option be reinvested in other investment options. To the extent that the Employer has not given investment direction, and no Plan fiduciary gives direction regarding the reinvestment of such amounts, the amounts held in an investment option that is no longer available or which had been directed to be invested in an investment option that is not available for future Contributions shall be invested in the appropriate default investment option.
Default investment options are defined in documents duly entered into by or with regard to the Plan that govern such matters.
At least annually, the Named Fiduciary shall review all pertinent Employee information and Plan data in order to establish the funding policy of the Plan and to determine appropriate methods of carrying out the Plan's objectives. The Named Fiduciary shall inform the Trustee and any Investment Manager of the Plan's short-term and long-term financial needs so the investment policy can be coordinated with the Plan's financial requirements.
The Participant shall direct the investment of all Contributions except Discretionary ESOP Contributions that the Primary Employer shall direct. The Participant shall direct the transfer of amounts resulting from all those Contributions.
However, the Named Fiduciary may delegate to the Investment Manager investment direction for Contributions and amounts that are not subject to Participant direction.
All Contributions are forwarded by the Employer to (i) the Trustee to be deposited in the Trust Fund or otherwise invested by the Trustee in accordance with the relevant documents; or (ii) the Insurer to be deposited under the Annuity Contract, as applicable.

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Section 4.02--INVESTMENT IN QUALIFYING EMPLOYER SECURITIES.
(a)    ESOP Designation. The portion of the Plan that consists of Participants’ Accounts holding Qualified Employer Securities and the Unallocated Reserve is an employee stock ownership plan (within the meaning of Code Section 4975(3)(7)) and is designed to invest primarily in Qualified Employer Securities. All shares of Qualified Employer Securities held under the Plan will be held in the Trust Fund in the name of the Trustee or the nominee of the Trustee. The Employer may make contributions in the form of cash and/or Qualified Employer Securities.
(b)    Diversification. Each Participant is permitted to elect to direct any publicly traded qualifying employer securities (as defined in Code Section 401 (a)(35(G)(v)) held in his Account under the Plan to be reinvested in other investment options offered under the Plan with respect to the portion of his Account that is subject to Code Section 401 (a)(35)(B) or (C). The plan sponsor may permit diversification of amounts invested in qualifying employer securities earlier than required as long as the earlier time period is applied consistently to all employees.
The Plan shall offer at least three investment options, other than Qualifying Employer Securities, to which the applicable individual may direct all or any portion of his Account invested in Qualifying Employer Securities, and each investment option must be diversified and have materially different risk and return characteristics that satisfy the requirements of section 2550.404c-1(b)(3) of the Department of Labor regulations. The Plan may limit the time for divestment and reinvestment to periodic, reasonable opportunities occurring no less frequently than quarterly. The Plan may not impose any restrictions or conditions with respect to the investment of Qualifying Employer Securities that are not imposed on the investment options offered under the Plan.
(c)    Valuation of Qualifying Employer Securities. For purposes of determining the annual valuation of the Plan, and for reporting to Participants and regulatory authorities, the assets of the Plan shall be valued at least annually on the Valuation Date which corresponds to the last day of the Plan Year. The fair market value of Qualifying Employer Securities shall be determined on such Valuation Date. The prices of Qualifying Employer Securities as of the date of the transaction shall apply for purposes of valuing distributions and other transactions of the Plan to the extent such value is representative of the fair market value of such securities in the opinion of the Plan Administrator. The value of a Participant’s Account held in the Qualifying Employer Securities Fund may be expressed in shares of Qualifying Employer Securities.
If the Qualifying Employer Securities are not readily tradable (per IRS Notice 2011-19), or if an extremely thin market exists for such securities so that reasonable valuation may not be obtained from the market place, then such securities must be valued at least annually by an independent appraiser who is not associated with the Employer, the Plan Administrator, the Trustee, or any person related to any fiduciary under the Plan. The independent appraiser may be associated with a person who is merely a contract administrator with respect to the Plan, but who exercises no discretionary authority and is not a plan fiduciary.
If there is a public market for Qualifying Employer Securities of the type held by the Plan, then the Plan Administrator may use as the value of the securities the price at which such securities trade in such market. If the Qualifying Employer Securities do not trade on the relevant date, or if the market is very thin on such date, then the Plan Administrator may use for the valuation the next preceding trading day on which the trading prices are 
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representative of the fair market value of such securities in the opinion of the Plan Administrator.
(d)    Purchases or Sales of Qualifying Employer Securities. The Plan Administrator may direct the Trustee to sell, resell, or otherwise dispose of Qualifying Employer Securities to any person, including the Employer, provided that any such sales to any disqualified person or party-in-interest, including the Employer, will be made at not less than the fair market value and no commission will be charged. Any such sale shall be made in conformance with ERISA Section 408(e). If it is necessary to purchase Qualifying Employer Securities for the Trust Fund, such purchase may be on the open market or from the Employer or any member of the Controlled 
Group. All purchases of Qualifying Employer Securities shall be made at a price, or prices, which, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, do not exceed the fair market value of such securities. If shares are purchased from or sold to the Employer or a member of the Controlled Group, the purchase or sale will be made at the price determined under paragraph (c) above.
In the event that the Trustee acquires Qualifying Employer Securities by purchase from a “disqualified person” as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(2) or from a “party-in-interest” as defined in ERISA Section 3(14), the terms of such purchase shall contain the provision that in the event there is a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, or court of competent jurisdiction that the fair market value of such securities as of the date of purchase was less than the purchase price paid by the Trustee, then the seller shall pay or transfer, as the case may be, to the Trustee an amount of cash or shares of Qualifying Employer Securities equal in value to the difference between the purchase price and such fair market value for all such shares. In the event that cash or shares of Qualifying Employer Securities are paid or transferred to the Trustee under this provision, such securities shall be valued at their fair market value as of the date of such purchase, and interest at a reasonable rate from the date of purchase to the date of payment or transfer shall be paid by the seller on the amount of cash paid.
(e)    Compliance with Securities Laws. The Employer is responsible for compliance with any applicable Federal or state securities law with respect to all aspects of the Plan except for the Trustee’s obligation to report its ownership of Qualifying Employer Securities. If the Qualifying Employer Securities or interest in this Plan are required to be registered in order to permit investment in the Qualifying Employer Securities Fund as provided in this section, then such investment will not be effective until the later of the effective date of the Plan or the date such registration or qualification is effective. The Employer, at its own expense, will take or cause to be taken any and all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effect such registration or qualification. Further, if the Trustee is directed to dispose of any Qualifying Employer Securities held under the Plan under circumstances which require registration or qualification of the securities under applicable Federal or state securities laws, then the Employer will, at its own expense, take or cause to be taken any and all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effect such registration or qualification. The Employer is responsible for all compliance requirements under Section 16 of the Securities Act.
(f)    Dividends. For purposes of determining dividends, shares of Qualified Employer Securities shall be deemed to be credited to the Account of a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee as of the record date of a dividend if they are credited to his Account as of the close of the day prior to the ex-date of such dividend (or, if the ex-date is after the record date, as of the close of the day prior to the record date).
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Dividends paid on Qualifying Employer Securities shall be 100% vested when made.
(1)    Stock Dividend. In the event of any stock dividend or any stock split, such dividend or split shall be credited to the Accounts based on the number of shares of Qualified Employer Securities credited to each Account as of the record date of such dividend or split.
(2)    Cash Dividend. As determined by the Employer, cash dividends paid on shares of Qualified Employer Securities credited to an Account of a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee as of the record date of such dividend will be either (i) paid in cash directly to Participants, (ii) paid to the Plan and distributed to Participants within 90 days after the end of the Plan Year in which such dividend was paid to the Plan, (iii) applied to repay an Exempt Loan then outstanding (but only if such Qualifying Employer Security is attributable to such Exempt Loan); (iv) made subject to the election procedure described in paragraph (3) below; or (v) retained in the Trust and treated as net income of the Trust. The Employer shall not direct that dividends paid on shares of Qualified Employer Securities held in the Participants’ Accounts be applied to repay an Exempt Loan, unless the shares of Qualified Employer Securities released from the Unallocated Reserve will have a value at least sufficient to allow for the full allocation required in step one under the allocation of Discretionary Contributions provisions of Section 3.05 (the Employer may make Discretionary Contributions necessary to allow for such full allocation).
In addition, dividends attributable to Qualified Employer Securities held in the Unallocated Reserve (as a result of an Exempt Loan) shall be allocated to Participants’ Accounts as earnings of the Trust available to repay an Exempt Loan to the extent allowed by ERISA. Such earnings shall be allocated in proportion to the shares of Qualified Employer Securities held in a Participant’s Account as of the record date of the dividend.
(3)    Cash Dividend Election. If the Employer elects, cash dividends paid on shares of Qualified Employer Securities credited to an Account of a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee as of the record date of such dividend will be:
(A)    Paid to the Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee if so elected under the procedure outlined below; or
(B)    Otherwise, added to the balance of his Account as soon as administratively practicable after such dividends are paid into the Trust Fund.
A Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee may elect to have cash dividends on shares of Qualified Employer Securities credited to his Account either paid to him in cash or added to the balance of his Account and reinvested in Qualified Employer Securities. Cash dividends that the Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee elects to receive in cash will be paid on or as soon as administratively practicable following the record date of such dividend. Cash dividends that the Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee elects to have reinvested in Qualified Employer Securities will be credited to a separate source account that reflects only such cash dividends, and shall be reinvested in additional shares of Qualified Employer Securities on or as soon as administratively practicable following the record date of such dividend, which may be after the end of the Plan Year once Qualified Employer Securities can be valued for acquisition purposes.
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Shares in Qualified Employer Securities shall be deemed to be credited to the Account of a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee as of the record date of a dividend if they are credited to his Account as of the close of the day prior to the ex-date of such dividend (or, if the ex-date is after the record date, as of the close of the day prior to the record date).
An election hereunder must be made in such manner and in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed for this purpose by the Plan Administrator (including by means of a voice response or other electronic system under circumstances so authorized by the Plan Administrator). In the absence of an affirmative election received by the deadline established for this purpose by the Plan Administrator (which shall be no less than thirty (30) days after notice of the dividend election is provided), a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee will be deemed to have elected to have cash dividends added to his Account and reinvested in Qualified Employer Securities. To the extent so prescribed by the Plan Administrator, an election hereunder will be “evergreen” - that is, it will continue to apply until changed by the Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee. Under the rules prescribed by the Plan Administrator, a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee shall be allowed to revise his election no less than once a year, and if there is a change in the terms of the Plan governing the manner in which dividends are paid or distributed, a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to make a new election.
The Account of a Participant, Beneficiary or Alternate Payee may be charged with the distribution costs (for example, the actual check-writing fee) of any distribution made at his election under this Section.
(g)    Authorization for Exempt Loan. The Employer may direct that the Plan engage in an Exempt Loan that satisfies the following requirements:
(1)    Lender. The Exempt Loan may be made by the Employer or any lender acceptable to the Employer, and may be made or guaranteed by a party in interest (as defined in ERISA Section 3(14)) or a disqualified person (as defined in Code Section 4975).
(2)    Primary Benefit Requirement. 
(i)    The Exempt Loan must be primarily for the benefit of the Participants and their beneficiaries.
(ii)    At the time that the Exempt Loan is made, the interest rate for the loan and the price of the Qualifying Employer Securities to be acquired should not be such that the assets of the Plan might be drained off.
(iii)    The terms of the Exempt Loan, whether or not between independent parties must, at the same time the Exempt Loan is made, be at least as favorable to the Plan as the terms of a comparable loan resulting from arm’s-length negotiations between independent parties.
(3)    Terms of the Exempt Loan. The Exempt Loan must provide for principal and interest to be paid over a specific term, and not payable upon demand except in the event of default.
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(4)    Use of Loan Proceeds. The Exempt Loan must be used within a reasonable time after receipt to (i) acquire shares of Qualifying Employer Securities, (ii) repay such loan, or (iii) repay a prior Exempt Loan (or for any combination of the foregoing purposes).
(5)    Nonterminable Protections and Rights. No Qualifying Employer Securities acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan may be subject to a put, call, or other option, or buy-sell or similar arrangement while held by and when distributed from the Plan, whether or not the plan is then an ESOP, except as allowed in sections 54.4975-7(b)(10), (11), and (12) of the regulations. Such protections and rights are nonterminable and must continue to exist under the terms of the Plan, regardless of whether or not the Exempt Loan is repaid.
(6)    Liability and Collateral. The Exempt Loan must be without recourse against the Plan. The only assets of the Plan that may be given as collateral on an Exempt Loan are Qualifying Employer Securities that were acquired with the proceeds of the Exempt Loan or that were used as collateral on a prior Exempt Loan repaid with the proceeds of the current Exempt Loan. No person entitled to payment under the Exempt Loan shall have any rights to assets of the Plan other than for (i) collateral give for the loan, (ii) contributions (other than Contributions made in Qualifying Employer Securities) that are made under the Plan to meet its obligations under the loan, and (iii) earnings attributable to such collateral and the investment of such contributions.
(7)    Default. The Exempt Loan must provide that, in the event of default, the fair market value of Qualifying Employer Securities and other assets which can be transferred in satisfaction of the loan must not exceed the amount of the default. If the lender is a party in interest or disqualified person, the loan must provide for a transfer of Plan assets upon default only upon and to the extent of the failure of the Plan to satisfy the payment schedule of the Exempt Loan.
(8)    No Recourse Against Trust Fund. The Exempt Loan must be without recourse against the Plan except that:
(i)    The Qualifying Employer Securities acquired with the proceeds of the Exempt Loan may be pledged or otherwise used to secure repayment of the Exempt Loan, and the Qualifying Employer Securities acquired with the proceeds of a prior Exempt Loan which is repaid with the proceeds of the Exempt Loan may be pledged or otherwise used to secure repayment of the Exempt Loan, and
(ii)    Any Discretionary Contributions that are made for the purpose of satisfying the obligations under the Exempt Loan (and earnings thereon) may be pledged or otherwise used to secure repayment of the Exempt Loan, and
(iii)    The earnings attributable to shares of Qualifying Employer Securities acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan may be used to repay that Exempt Loan or any renewal or extension thereof, and
(iv)    The earnings attributable to unallocated shares of Qualifying Employer Securities that were acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan may be pledged or otherwise used as security for another Exempt Loan.
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(v)    The payments made with respect to an Exempt Loan by the Trust Fund during a Plan Year will not exceed an amount equal to the sum of such contributions and earnings received during or prior to the year less such payments in prior years. Such contributions and earnings will be accounted for separately until the loan is repaid.
(9)    Release of Shares from Unallocated Reserve. The number of shares released each Plan Year shall equal “A” multiplied by “B” where:
“A” =     the number of shares held in the Unallocated Reserve immediately before the release;
“B” =    a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the principal and interest paid on the Exempt Loan for the Plan Year and the denominator of which is equal to the sum of the numerator and the total principal and interest scheduled to be paid on the Exempt Loan for all future Plan Years (without consideration of possible extensions or renewal periods).
If the interest rate under the Exempt Loan is variable, the amount of interest to be paid in future Plan Years shall be calculated by using the interest rate in effect on the last day of the current Plan Year.
Alternatively, “B” may be calculated as a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the principal paid on the Exempt Loan for the Plan Year and the denominator of which is equal to the sum of the numerator and the total principal scheduled to be paid on the Exempt Loan for all future Plan Years (without consideration of possible extensions or renewal periods). This alternative may only be used if the following conditions are met, (i) the loan must provide for annual payments of principal and interest at a cumulative rate that is not less rapid at any time than level annual payments of such amounts for 10 years, (ii) interest included in any payment is disregarded only to the extent that it would be determined to be interest under standard loan amortization tables, and (iii) this alternative is not applicable from the time that, by reason of a renewal, extension, or refinancing, the sum of the expired duration of the exempt loan, the renewal period, the extension period, and the duration of the new exempt loan exceeds 10 years.
If an Exempt Loan is repaid as a result of a refinancing by another Exempt Loan, such repayment shall not be considered a repayment under this subsection and the release of shares thereafter shall be determined by aggregating principal and interest on the loan and any refinancing of the loan.
(10)    Interest Rate. The Exempt Loan must bear interest at a fixed or variable rate that is not in excess of a reasonable rate of interest considering all relevant factors (including, but not limited to, the amount and duration of the loan, the security given, the guarantees involved, the credit standing of the Plan, the Employer, and the guarantors, and the generally prevailing rates of interest).
(11)    Restrictions. Unless required under Code Section 409(h), no options, puts, call, rights of first refusal or other restrictions on alienability will attach to any shares of Qualifying Employer Securities acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan and held in the Trust Fund or distributed from the Plan, whether or not this Plan continues to be an employee stock ownership plan with the meaning of Code Section 4975(e)(7).
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(h)    Voting and Tender Rights. Voting rights with respect to Qualifying Employer Securities will be passed through to Participants. Participants will be allowed to direct the voting rights of Qualifying Employer Securities for any matter put to the vote of shareholders. Before each meeting of shareholders, the Employer shall cause to be sent to each person with power to control such voting rights a copy of any notice and any other information provided to shareholders and, if applicable, a form for instructing the Trustee how to vote at such meeting (or any adjournment thereof) the number of full and fractional shares subject to such person’s voting control. The Trustee may establish a deadline in advance of the meeting by which such forms must be received in order to be effective.
Each Participant shall be entitled to one vote for each share credited to his Account.
If some or all of the Participants have not directed or have not timely directed the Trustee on how to vote, then the Trustee shall vote such Qualifying Employer Securities in the same proportion as those shares of Qualifying Employer Securities for which the Trustee has received proper direction for such matter.
Tender rights or exchange offers for Qualifying Employer Securities will be passed through to Participants. As soon as practicable after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Qualifying Employer Securities, the Employer shall cause each person with power to control the response to such tender or exchange offer to be advised in writing the terms of the offer and, if applicable, to be provided with a form for instructing the Trustee, or for revoking such instruction, to tender or exchange shares of Qualifying Employer Securities, to the extent permitted under the terms of such offer. In advising such persons of the terms of the offer, the Employer may include statements from the board of directors setting forth its position with respect to the offer.
If some or all of the Participants have not directed or have not timely directed the Trustee on how to tender, then the Trustee shall tender such Qualifying Employer Securities in the same proportion as those shares of Qualifying Employer Securities for which the Trustee has received proper direction for such matter.
If the tender or exchange offer is limited so that all of the shares that the Trustee has been directed to tender or exchange cannot be sold or exchanged, the shares that each Participant directed to be tendered or exchanged shall be deemed to have been sold or exchanged in the same ratio that the number of shares actually sold or exchanged bears to the total number of shares that the Trustee was directed to tender or exchange.
The Trustee shall hold the Participant’s individual directions with respect to voting rights or tender decisions in confidence and, except as required by law, shall not divulge or release such individual directions to anyone associated with the Employer. The Employer may require verification of the Trustee’s compliance with the directions received from Participants by any independent auditor selected by the Employer, provided that such auditor agrees to maintain the confidentiality of such individual directions.
The Employer may develop procedures to facilitate the exercise of votes or tender rights, such as the use of facsimile transmissions for the Participants located in physically remote areas. 
(i)    Confidentiality Procedures Regarding Qualifying Employer Securities.  The following shall apply with respect to the investment by Participants, Beneficiaries and Alternate Payees in Qualifying Employer Securities:
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(1)    Information relating to the purchase, holding, and sale of Qualifying Employer Securities, and the exercise of voting, tender and similar rights with respect to Qualifying Employer Securities by Participants, Beneficiaries and Alternate Payees, shall be maintained in accordance with procedures designed to safeguard the confidentiality of such information and shall not be disclosed except as otherwise provided under paragraph (h) or to the extent necessary to comply with Federal laws or state laws not preempted by ERISA.
(2)    The Employer or its designee shall be the Named Fiduciary responsible for (i) establishing and ensuring that the confidentiality procedures are sufficient to safeguard the information described in subparagraph (1) above, (ii) such procedures are being followed, and (iii) appointing when necessary an independent Fiduciary to carry out activities relating to situations that the Named Fiduciary determines involve a potential for undue Employer influence on Participants, Beneficiaries and Alternate Payees with regard to the direct or indirect exercise of shareholder rights. 

ARTICLE V
BENEFITS

Section 5.01--RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
On a Participant's Retirement Date, his Vested Account shall be distributed to him according to the distribution of benefits provisions of Article VI and the provisions of Section 10.11.

Section 5.02--DEATH BENEFITS.
If a Participant dies before his Annuity Starting Date, his Vested Account shall be distributed according to the distribution of benefits provisions of Article VI and the provisions of Section 10.11.

Section 5.03--VESTED BENEFITS.
If an Inactive Participant’s Vested Account is not payable under Section 10.11, he may elect, but is not required, to receive a distribution of any part of his Vested Account after he has a Severance from Employment. A distribution under this paragraph shall be a retirement benefit and shall be distributed to the Participant according to the distribution of benefits provisions of Article VI.
A Participant may not elect to receive a distribution under the provisions of this section after he again becomes an Employee until he subsequently has a Severance from Employment and meets the requirements of this section.
A Participant who has been performing Qualified Military Service for a period of more than 30 days is deemed to have had a severance from employment (as described in Code Section 414(u)(12)(B)(i)) for purposes of requesting a distribution of his Vested Account resulting from Elective 
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Deferral Contributions. The Plan will suspend Elective Deferral Contributions for six months after receipt of the distribution.
If an Inactive Participant does not receive an earlier distribution, upon his Retirement Date or death, his Vested Account shall be distributed according to Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as applicable.
The Nonvested Account of an Inactive Participant who has had a Severance from Employment shall remain a part of his Account until it becomes a Forfeiture. However, if he again becomes an Employee so that his Vesting Percentage can increase, the Nonvested Account may become a part of his Vested Account.

Section 5.04--WHEN BENEFITS START.
(a)    Unless otherwise elected by the Participant, benefits shall begin no later than the 60th day following the close of the Plan Year in which the latest date below occurs:
(1)    The date the Participant attains age 65 (or Normal Retirement Age, if earlier).
(2)    The 10th anniversary of the Participant’s Entry Date.
(3)    The date the Participant terminates service with the Employer. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a Participant to consent to a distribution while a benefit is immediately distributable, within the meaning of Section 6.03, shall be deemed to be an election to defer the start of benefits sufficient to satisfy this section.
Any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no distributions shall be made under this Plan until after the prescribed distribution application is completed and filed with the Plan Administrator, unless such distribution is payable under Section 10.11. The Participant shall not elect a date for beginning benefits or a form of distribution that would result in a benefit payable when he dies which would be more than incidental within the meaning of governmental regulations.
Benefits shall begin on an earlier date if otherwise provided in the Plan (e.g., the Participant’s Retirement Date or Required Beginning Date, as defined in Section 1.02).
(b)    The Participant’s Vested Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions, Qualified Matching Contributions or Qualified Nonelective Contributions may not be distributed earlier than Severance from Employment, death, or disability. However, such amount may be distributed upon:
(1)    Termination of the Plan, as permitted in Article VIII.
(2)    The attainment of age 59 1/2 as permitted in Section 5.05.
(3)    The attainment of Normal Retirement Age, provided such age is at least age 59 1/2 and such distribution is permitted in the definition of Normal Retirement Date under Section 1.02.
(4)    A federally declared disaster, where resulting legislation authorizes such a distribution.
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The Participant’s Vested Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions may also be distributed:
(5)    As a hardship withdrawal, as permitted in Section 5.05.
(6)    Upon a Participant’s deemed severance from employment as described in Code Section 414(u)(12)(B)(i) and as permitted in Section 5.03.
All distributions that may be made pursuant to one or more of the foregoing Participant according to the distribution of benefits provisions of Article VI. In addition, distributions that are triggered by the termination of the Plan must be made in a lump sum. A lump sum shall include a distribution of an Annuity Contract, if any, under the Plan. 

Section 5.05--IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWALS.
A request for withdrawal shall be made in such manner and in accordance with such rules as the Employer shall prescribe for this purpose (including by means of voice response or other electronic means under circumstances the Employer permits). Withdrawals shall be a retirement benefit and shall be distributed to the Participant according to the distribution of benefits provisions of Article VI. A forfeiture shall not occur solely as a result of a withdrawal.
Withdrawal of Rollover Contributions. A Participant may withdraw any part of his Vested Account resulting from Rollover Contributions. A Participant may make such a withdrawal at any time.
Withdrawal After Age 59 1/2. A Participant who has attained age 59 1/2 may withdraw any part of his Vested Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions, Matching Contributions, Qualified Nonelective Contributions, Discretionary Contributions or ESOP Discretionary Contributions
A Participant may make only one such withdrawal such withdrawals in any 12-month period.
Financial Hardship Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw any part of his Vested Account resulting from:
Elective Deferral Contributions in the event of hardship due to an immediate and heavy financial need. Withdrawals from the Participant's Account resulting from Elective Deferral Contributions shall be limited to the amount of the Participant's Elective Deferral Contributions and, for hardship withdrawals made on or after January 1, 2019, earnings thereon.
Immediate and heavy financial need shall be limited to: 
(i)    expenses incurred or necessary for medical care that would be deductible under Code Section 213(a) (determined without regard to whether the expenses exceed the stated limit on adjusted gross income); 
(ii)    the purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of a principal residence for the Participant; 
(iii)    payment of tuition, related educational fees, and room and board expenses, for up to the next 12 months of post-secondary education for the Participant, his spouse, children, or dependents (as defined in Code Section 152 without regard to Code Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)); 
(iv)    payments necessary to prevent the eviction of the Participant from, or foreclosure on the mortgage of, the Participant’s principal residence; 
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(v)    payments for funeral or burial expenses for the Participant’s deceased parent, spouse, child, or dependent (as defined in Code Section 152 without regard to Code Section 152(d)(1)(B)); 
(vi)    expenses to repair damage to the Participant’s principal residence that would qualify for a casualty loss deduction under Code Section 165 (determined without regard to Code Section 165(h)(5) and whether the loss exceeds 10% of adjusted gross income); 
(vii)    Expenses and losses (including loss of income) incurred by the Participant on account of a disaster declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, provided that the Participant’s principal residence or principal place of employment at the time of the disaster was located in an area designated by FEMA for individual assistance with respect to the disaster; or 
(viii)    any other distribution which is deemed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to be made on account of immediate and heavy financial need as provided in Treasury regulations.
A distribution will be considered to be necessary to satisfy an immediate and heavy financial need of the Participant only if:
(i)    The withdrawal does not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Participant’s immediate and heavy financial need described in the preceding paragraph (a) of this section (including amounts necessary to pay any federal, state or local income taxes and penalties anticipated as a result of the distribution); and
(ii)    The Participant has obtained all distributions, other than hardship distributions, and all nontaxable loans currently available under all plans maintained by the Employer (the requirement to obtain all available nontaxable loans shall not apply to hardship distributions made on or after January 1, 2019;
(iii)    The Participant represents (in writing, by an electronic medium (including via a recorded telephone call), or in such other form as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator) that he or she has insufficient cash or other liquid assets to satisfy the need. The Plan Administrator may rely on the Participant’s representation unless the Plan Administrator has actual knowledge to the contrary.
A Participant who takes a hardship distribution will be suspended from making elective deferrals to any 401(k) plan maintained by the Employer or Controlled Group member for six months following receipt of the hardship distribution. A Participant shall not cease to be an Eligible Participant as defined in Section 3.08 merely because his elective contributions or participant contributions are suspended. This paragraph does not apply to hardship distributions made on or after January 1, 2019.

Section 5.06--LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS.
Loans shall be made available to all Participants on a reasonably equivalent basis. For purposes of this section, and unless otherwise specified, Participant means any Participant or Beneficiary who is a party-in-interest as defined in ERISA. Loans shall not be made to Highly Compensated Employees in an amount greater than the amount made available to other Participants.
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A loan to a Participant shall be a Participant-directed investment of his Account. The loan is a Trust Fund investment but no Account other than the borrowing Participant’s Account shall share in the interest paid on the loan or bear any expense or loss incurred because of the loan.
The number of outstanding loans shall be limited to one.
No more than two (2) loans shall be approved for any Participant in any 12-month period.
The minimum amount of any loan shall be $1,000.
Loans must be adequately secured and bear a reasonable rate of interest.
The amount of the loan shall not exceed the maximum amount that may be treated as a loan under Code Section 72(p) (rather than a distribution) to the Participant and shall be equal to the lesser of (a) or (b) below:
(a)    $50,000, reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance of loans during the one-year period ending on the day before the new loan is made.
(b)    The greater of (1) or (2), reduced by (3) below:
(1)    One-half of the Participant's Vested Account (without regard to any accumulated deductible employee contributions, as defined in Code Section 72(o)(5)(B)).
(2)    $10,000.
(3)    Any outstanding loan balance on the date the new loan is made.
For purposes of this maximum, all qualified employer plans, as defined in Code Section 72(p)(4), of the Employer and any Controlled Group member shall be treated as one plan.
The foregoing notwithstanding, the amount of such loan shall not exceed 50 percent of the amount of the Participant’s Vested Account. For purposes of this maximum, a Participant’s Vested Account does not include any accumulated deductible employee contributions, as defined in Code Section 72(o)(5)(B). No collateral other than a portion of the Participant’s Vested Account (as limited above) shall be accepted. 
The Participant’s outstanding loan balance shall include any deemed distribution, along with accrued interest, that has not been repaid or offset.
Each loan shall bear a reasonable fixed rate of interest to be determined by the Loan Administrator. In determining the interest rate, the Loan Administrator shall take into consideration fixed interest rates currently being charged by commercial lenders for loans of comparable risk on similar terms and for similar durations, so that the interest will provide for a return commensurate with rates currently charged by commercial lenders for loans made under similar circumstances. The Loan Administrator shall not discriminate among Participants in the matter of interest rates; but loans granted at different times may bear different interest rates in accordance with the current appropriate standards.
The loan shall by its terms require that repayment (principal and interest) be amortized in level payments, not less frequently than quarterly, over a period not extending beyond five (5) years from the date of the loan.
The Participant shall make an application for a loan in such manner and in accordance with such rules as the Employer shall prescribe for this purpose (including by means of voice response or other 
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electronic means under circumstances the Employer permits). The application must specify the amount and duration requested.
Each loan shall be fully documented in the form of a promissory note signed by the Participant for the face amount of the loan, together with interest determined as specified above.
There will be an assignment of collateral to the Plan executed at the time the loan is made.
In those cases where repayment through payroll deduction is available, installments are so payable, and a payroll deduction agreement shall be executed by the Participant at the time the loan is made. If the Participant has previously been treated as having received a deemed distribution and the subsequent loan is being made before the deemed distribution, along with accrued interest, has been repaid or offset, a payroll deduction agreement shall be required. If a payroll deduction agreement is required because of a previous deemed distribution and the Participant later revokes such agreement, the outstanding loan balance at the time of the revocation shall be treated as a deemed distribution.
Where payroll deduction is not available, payments in cash are to be timely made. Any payment that is not by payroll deduction shall be made payable to the Employer or the Trustee, as specified in the promissory note, and delivered to the Loan Administrator, including prepayments, service fees and penalties, if any, and other amounts due under the note.
The promissory note may provide for reasonable late payment penalties and service fees. Any penalties or service fees shall be applied to all Participants in a nondiscriminatory manner. Such amounts may be assessed and collected from the Account of the Participant as part of the loan balance.
Each loan may be paid prior to maturity, in part or in full, without penalty or service fee, except as may be set out in the promissory note. 
The Plan may suspend loan payments for a period not exceeding one year during which an approved unpaid leave of absence occurs other than a military leave of absence. The Loan Administrator shall provide the Participant a written explanation of the effect of the suspension of payments upon his loan.
If a Participant separates from service (or takes a leave of absence) from the Employer because of service in the military and does not receive a distribution of his Vested Account, the Plan may suspend loan payments until the Participant’s completion of military service or until the Participant’s fifth anniversary of commencement of military service, if earlier, as permitted under Code Section 414(u). The Loan Administrator shall provide the Participant a written explanation of the effect of his military service upon his loan.
If any payment of principal and interest, or any portion thereof, remains unpaid as of the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter during which a loan payment is missed (or such other longer period as may be prescribed in applicable Treasury Regulations), the loan shall be in default. For purposes of Code Section 72(p), the Participant shall then be treated as having received a deemed distribution regardless of whether or not a distributable event has occurred.
Upon default, the Plan has the right to pursue any remedy available by law to satisfy the amount due, along with accrued interest, including the right to enforce its claim against the security pledged and execute upon the collateral as allowed by law. The entire principal balance whether or not otherwise then due, along with accrued interest, shall become immediately due and payable without demand or notice, and subject to collection or satisfaction by any lawful means, including specifically, but not limited to, the right to enforce the claim against the security pledged and to execute upon the collateral as allowed by law.
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In the event of default, foreclosure on the note and attachment of security or use of amounts pledged to satisfy the amount then due shall not occur until a distributable event occurs in accordance with the Plan, and shall not occur to an extent greater than the amount then available upon any distributable event which has occurred under the Plan.
All reasonable costs and expenses, including but not limited to attorney's fees, incurred by the Plan in connection with any default or in any proceeding to enforce any provision of a promissory note or instrument by which a promissory note for a Participant loan is secured, shall be assessed and collected from the Account of the Participant as part of the loan balance.
If payroll deduction is being utilized, in the event that a Participant's available payroll deduction amounts in any given month are insufficient to satisfy the total amount due, there will be an increase in the amount taken subsequently, sufficient to make up the amount that is then due. If any amount remains past due more than 90 days, the entire principal amount, whether or not otherwise then due, along with interest then accrued, shall become due and payable, as indicated above.
If no distributable event has occurred under the Plan at the time that the Participant’s Vested Account would otherwise be used under this provision to pay any amount due under the outstanding loan, this will not occur until the time, or in excess of the extent to which, a distributable event occurs under the Plan. An outstanding loan will become due and payable in full 60 days after a Participant has a Severance from Employment and ceases to be a party-in-interest as defined in ERISA or after complete termination of the Plan. An outstanding loan shall not be due and payable to the extent a Participant impacted by a business event: (i) elects a Direct Rollover of an Eligible Rollover Distribution that includes the loan note; (ii) the Direct Rollover is paid to another qualified plan; and (iii) the rollover of the loan note is made in accordance with nondiscriminatory procedures set up by the Loan Administrator. For this purpose, a business event means an acquisition, merger, or similar transaction involving a change in the employer of the employees of a trade or business. 

Section 5.07--DISTRIBUTIONS UNDER QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS.
The Plan specifically permits distributions to an Alternate Payee under a qualified domestic relations order as defined in Code Section 414(p), at any time, irrespective of whether the Participant has attained his earliest retirement age, as defined in Code Section 414(p), under the Plan. A distribution to an Alternate Payee before the Participant has attained his earliest retirement age is available only if the order specifies that distribution shall be made prior to the earliest retirement age or allows the Alternate Payee to elect a distribution prior to the earliest retirement age.
Nothing in this section shall permit a Participant to receive a distribution at a time otherwise not permitted under the Plan nor shall it permit the Alternate Payee to receive a form of payment not permitted under the Plan.
The benefit payable to an Alternate Payee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.11, as they apply to the Participant.
The Plan Administrator shall establish reasonable procedures to determine the qualified status of a domestic relations order. Upon receiving a domestic relations order, the Plan Administrator shall promptly notify the Participant and each Alternate Payee named in the order, in writing, of the receipt of the order and the Plan’s procedures for determining the qualified status of the order. Within a reasonable period of time after receiving the domestic relations order, the Plan Administrator shall determine the qualified status of the order and shall notify the Participant and each Alternate Payee, in writing, of its determination. The Plan Administrator shall provide notice under this paragraph by mailing to the 
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individual’s address specified in the domestic relations order, or in a manner consistent with Department of Labor regulations. 
If any portion of the Participant’s Vested Account is payable during the period the Plan Administrator is making its determination of the qualified status of the domestic relations order, a separate accounting shall be made of the amount payable. If the Plan Administrator determines the order is a qualified domestic relations order within 18 months of the date amounts are first payable following receipt of the order, the payable amounts shall be distributed in accordance with the order. If the Plan Administrator does not make its determination of the qualified status of the order within the 18-month determination period, the payable amounts shall be distributed in the manner the Plan would distribute if the order did not exist and the order shall apply prospectively if the Plan Administrator later determines the order is a qualified domestic relations order.
The Plan shall make payments or distributions required under this section by separate benefit checks or other separate distribution to the Alternate Payee(s). 

ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

Section 6.01--AUTOMATIC FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION.
Unless an optional form of benefit is selected pursuant to a qualified election within the election period (see Section 6.03), the automatic form of benefit payable to or on behalf of a Participant is determined as follows:
(a)    Retirement Benefits. The automatic form of retirement benefit for a Participant who does not die before his Annuity Starting Date shall be a single sum payment. However, for any portion of a Participant’s Account that is held in the Qualifying Employer Securities Fund, the automatic form of retirement benefit shall be a distribution in kind.
(b)    Death Benefits. The automatic form of death benefit for a Participant who dies before his Annuity Starting Date shall be a single sum payment to the Participant's Beneficiary.
(c)    Qualifying Employer Securities. That portion of a Participant’s Account held in the Qualifying Employer Securities Fund shall be distributed as a single sum payment.

Section 6.02--OPTIONAL FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION.
(a)    Retirement Benefits.  There shall be no optional forms of distribution.
(b)    Death Benefits. There shall be no optional forms of death benefits,
(c)    Qualifying Employer Securities. There shall be no optional forms of distribution.

Section 6.03--ELECTION PROCEDURES.
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The Participant or Beneficiary shall make any election under this section in writing. The Plan Administrator may require such individual to complete and sign any necessary documents as to the provisions to be made. Any election permitted under (a) and (b) below shall be subject to the qualified election provisions of (c) below.
(a)    Retirement Benefits. A Participant may elect his Beneficiary and may elect to have retirement benefits distributed under any of the optional forms of retirement benefit available under Section 6.02, if any.
(b)    Death Benefits. A Participant may elect his Beneficiary and may elect to have death benefits distributed under any of the optional forms of death benefit available under Section 6.02, if any.
If the Participant has not elected an optional form of distribution for the death benefit payable to his Beneficiary, the Beneficiary may, for his own benefit, elect the form of distribution, in like manner as a Participant.
(c)    Qualified Election. The Participant or Beneficiary may make an election at any time during the election period. The Participant or Beneficiary may revoke the election made (or make a new election) at any time and any number of times during the election period. An election is effective only if it meets the consent requirements below.
(1)    Election Period for Retirement Benefits. The Participant may make an election as to retirement benefits at any time before the Annuity Starting Date.
(2)    Election Period for Death Benefits. A Participant may make an election as to death benefits at any time before he dies. The Beneficiary's election period begins on the date the Participant dies and ends on the date benefits begin.
(3)    Consent to Election. If the Participant’s Vested Account, if any (inclusive of Rollover Contributions) exceeds $5,000, any benefit that is immediately distributable requires the consent of the Participant.
The consent of the Participant to a benefit that is immediately distributable must not be made before the date the Participant is provided with the notice of the ability to defer the distribution. Such consent shall be in writing.
The consent shall not be made more than 180 days before the Annuity Starting Date. The consent of the Participant shall not be required to the extent that a distribution is required to satisfy Code Section 401(a)(9) or 415.
In addition, upon termination of this Plan, if the Plan does not offer an annuity option (purchased from a commercial provider), and if the Employer (or any entity within the same Controlled Group) does not maintain another defined contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7)), the Participant’s Account balance will, without the Participant’s consent, be distributed to the Participant. However, if any entity within the same Controlled Group maintains another defined contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7)) the Participant’s Account will be transferred, without the Participant’s consent, to the other plan if the Participant does not consent to an immediate distribution.
A benefit is immediately distributable if any part of the benefit could be distributed to the Participant before the Participant attains the older of Normal Retirement Age or age 62.
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Spousal consent is needed to name a Beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse. If the Participant names a Beneficiary other than his spouse, the spouse has the right to limit consent only to a specific Beneficiary. The spouse can relinquish such right. Such consent shall be in writing. The spouse's consent shall be witnessed by a plan representative or notary public. The spouse's consent must acknowledge the effect of the election, including that the spouse had the right to limit consent only to a specific Beneficiary and that the relinquishment of such right was voluntary. Unless the consent of the spouse expressly permits designations by the Participant without a requirement of further consent by the spouse, the spouse's consent must be limited to the Beneficiary, class of Beneficiaries, or contingent Beneficiary named in the election.
Spousal consent is not required, however, if the Participant establishes to the satisfaction of the plan representative that the consent of the spouse cannot be obtained because there is no spouse or the spouse cannot be located. A spouse's consent under this paragraph shall not be valid with respect to any other spouse. A Participant may revoke a prior election without the consent of the spouse. Any new election will require a new spousal consent, unless the consent of the spouse expressly permits such election by the Participant without further consent by the spouse. A spouse's consent may be revoked at any time within the Participant's election period.

Section 6.04--NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
Optional Forms of Retirement Benefit and Right to Defer. The Plan Administrator shall furnish to the Participant a written explanation of the right of the Participant to defer distribution until such time it is no longer immediately distributable. Such notice shall include a written explanation of the optional forms of retirement benefit, if any are provided under the Plan, including a general description of the material features of these options.
The Plan Administrator shall furnish the written explanation by a method reasonably calculated to reach the attention of the Participant no less than 30 days, and no more than 180 days, before the Annuity Starting Date.
However, distribution may begin less than 30 days after the notice described in this subparagraph is given, provided the Plan Administrator clearly informs the Participant that he has a right to a period of at least 30 days after receiving the notice to consider the decision of whether or not to elect a distribution (and if applicable, a particular distribution option), and the Participant, after receiving the notice, affirmatively elects a distribution.

Section 6.05--FORMS OF DISTRIBUTION FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYER   SECURITIES.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Article VI to the contrary, distributions from the portion of a Participant’s Account holding Qualifying Employer Securities shall be governed by this section.
(a)    Distribution in Cash or Qualifying Employer Securities. The part of a Participant’s Vested Accounts that is invested in Qualifying Employer Securities will be distributed in the form of Qualifying Employer Securities, with cash distributed in lieu of a fractional share, unless the Participant affirmatively elects under paragraph (b) below to receive the distribution in the form cash. The cash value of Qualifying Employer Securities shall be equal to the fair market value of such stock determined as of the last Valuation Date prior to the date of distribution.
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(b)    Distribution in Qualifying Employer Securities. Unless subsection (c) applies, a Participant may elect to have the Participant’s Vested Accounts holding Qualifying Employer Securities distributed in the form of cash, provided that the value of such Qualifying Employer Securities is $1,000 or less. Any cash or other property in the Participant’s Vested Account (“non-company stock assets”) shall not be used to acquire Qualifying Employer Securities for distribution, but shall be distributed in cash. If more than one class of Qualifying Employer Securities exists, any distribution shall be made on a pro rata basis from the Participant’s Account resulting from each class of Qualifying Employer Securities in the same proportion that such Contributions were made.
(c)    Distribution in Qualifying Employer Securities Prohibited. If the Employer’s corporate charter or by-law provisions restrict ownership of substantially all outstanding Qualifying Employer Securities to Employees or to a plan or trust described in Code Section 401(a), then, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, any distribution of a Participant’s Accounts shall be made in cash, or in shares of Qualifying Employer Securities subject to an immediate put to the Employer pursuant to the Section 6.05.
If the Plan holds Qualifying Employer Securities of an S Corporation, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, distribution of such Participant’s Accounts shall be made in cash, or in shares of Qualifying Employer Securities subject to an immediate put to the Employer pursuant to Section 6.05.

Section 6.06--PUT OPTION.
If shares of Qualifying Employer Securities are distributed from the Trust Fund, and if such shares are not readily tradable (per IRS Notice 2011-19) when distributed, then such shares shall be subject to an initial and second put option as follows:
(a)    The put option shall be exercisable by the distributee (whether the Participant or a Beneficiary), any person to whom shares of Qualifying Employer Securities have been passed by gift from the distributee, or any person (including an estate or the distributee from an estate) to whom the shares of Qualifying Employer Securities passed upon the death of the distributee (hereinafter referred to as the “holder”).
(b)    The initial put option must be exercised during the 60-day period which begins on the date the shares of Qualifying Employer Securities are distributed from the Trust Fund. If not exercised during that period, the initial put option shall lapse.
(c)    As soon as is reasonably practicable following the last day of the Plan Year in which the initial 60-day period expires, the Employer shall notify all of the non-electing holders of the valuation of such Qualifying Employer Securities as of the most recent Valuation Date. During the 60-day period following the receipt of such valuation notice, any such non-electing holder shall have a second put option.
(d)    The period during which the put option is exercisable shall not include any time when a holder is unable to exercise the put option because the Employer is prohibited from honoring the put option by federal or state law. If the shares of Qualifying Employer Securities are readily tradable (per IRS Notice 2011-19) when distributed but cease to be traded within either of the 60-day periods described herein after distribution, the Employer must notify each holder in writing on or before the tenth day after the date the shares cease to be so traded that for the remainder of the applicable 60-day period the shares are subject to a put option. The number of days between such tenth day and the date on which notice is actually given, if later than the tenth day, must be added to the 
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duration of the put option. The notice must inform the holders of the terms of the put option.
(e)    The put option may be exercised by written notice of exercise to the Employer or its designee made on such form and in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed for this purpose by the Plan Administrator.
Upon receipt of such notice, the Employer shall tender to the holder the fair market value of the Qualifying Employer Securities (as determined under Sections 4.02(e) and (f)) for such shares.
(f)    If the Qualifying Employer Securities were distributed in a total distribution, then the Employer may pay either a lump sum or substantially equal annual installments (bearing a reasonable rate of interest and providing adequate security to the holder) over a period beginning within 30 days following the date the put option is exercised and ending not more than five (5) years after the date the put option is exercised.
If the Qualifying Employer Securities were not distributed in a total distribution then the Employer must pay the holder in a single lump sum payment.
If a distribution is made in installments, the Employer shall, within 30 days of the date the holder exercises the put option, give the holder a promissory note for the full unpaid balance of the option’s price.
(g)    The Plan Trust Fund is not bound to purchase shares of Qualifying Employer Securities pursuant to the put option, but the Employer may direct the Trustee to cause the Plan 
Trust Fund to assume the Employer’s rights and obligations to acquire shares of Qualifying Employer Securities under the put option.
(h)    A “total distribution” for this purpose means a distribution to a Participant or Beneficiary within one taxable year of such recipient to the entire balance to the credit of the Participant.

Section 6.07--RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
(a)    If any Participant, his Beneficiary or any other person to whom shares of Qualifying Employer Securities are distributed from the Plan (the “Selling Participant”) shall, at any time, desire to sell some or all of such shares (the “Offered Shares”) to a third party (the “Third Party”), the Selling Participant shall give written notice of such desire to the Employer and the Administrator, which notice shall contain the number of shares offered for sale, the proposed terms of the sale and the names and addresses of both the Selling Participant and the Third Party. Both the Trust Fund and the Employer shall each have the right of first refusal for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date the Selling Participant gives such written notice to the Employer and the Administrator (such fourteen (14) day period to run concurrently against the Trust Fund and the Employer) to acquire the Offered Shares. As between the Trust Fund and the Employer, the Trust Fund shall have priority to acquire the shares pursuant to the right of first refusal. The selling price and terms shall be the same as offered by the Third Party.
(b)    If the Trust Fund and the Employer do not exercise their right of first refusal within the required fourteen (14) day period provided above, the Selling Participant shall have the right, at any time following the expiration of such fourteen (14) day period, to dispose of 
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the Offered Shares to the Third Party; provided, however, that (i) no disposition shall be made to the Third Party on terms more favorable to the Third Party than those set forth in the written notice delivered by the Selling Participant above, and (ii) if such disposition shall not be made to a third party on the terms offered to the Employer and the Trust Fund, the Offered Shares shall again be subject to the right of first refusal set forth above.
(c)    The closing pursuant to the exercise of the right of first refusal under subparagraph (a) above shall take place at such place agreed upon between the Administrator and the Selling Participant, but not later than ten (10) days after the Employer or the Trust Fund shall have notified the Selling Participant of the exercise of the right of first refusal. At such closing, the Selling Participant shall deliver certificates representing the Offered Shares duly endorsed in blank for transfer, or with stock powers attached duly executed in blank with all required transfer tax stamps attached or provided for, and the Employer or the Trust Fund shall deliver the purchase price, or an appropriate portion thereof, to the Selling Participant.
The provisions of this section shall apply only to Qualifying Employer Securities which are not readily tradable, regardless of whether they are acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan. For purposes of this section, the term “readily tradable” means (i) the security is traded on a national securities exchange that is registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f) or (ii) the security is traded on a foreign national securities exchange that is officially recognized, sanctions, or supervised by a governmental authority and the security is deemed by the SEC as having a “ready market” under SEC Rule 15c3-1 (17 CFR 240.15c3-1). 

ARTICLE VII
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 7.01--APPLICATION.
The timing of any distribution (including any optional form of distribution provided under Article VI) must meet the requirements of this article.

Section 7.02--DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this article, the following terms are defined:
(a)    Distribution Calendar Year means a calendar year for which a minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning before the Participant's death, the first Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year that contains the Participant's Required Beginning Date. For distributions beginning after the Participant's death, the first Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar year in which distributions are required to begin under Section 7.03(b)(2), The required minimum distribution for the Participant’s first Distribution Calendar Year will be made on or before the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. The required minimum distribution for other Distribution Calendar Years, including the required minimum distribution for the Distribution Calendar Year in which the Participant’s Required Beginning Date occurs, will be made on or before December 31 of that Distribution Calendar Year.
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(b)    Eligible Designated Beneficiary means an individual who, as of the date of the Participant’s death, is the Participant’s surviving spouse, the Participant’s minor child (within the meaning of Code Section 401(9)(F)), a disabled person (as determined under Code Section 72(m)(7)),a chronically ill person (as defined in Code Section 7702B(c)(2)), or an individual who is not more than ten (10) years younger than the Participant. 
(c)    5-percent Owner means a Participant who is treated as a 5-percent Owner for purposes of this article. A Participant is treated as a 5-percent Owner for purposes of this article if such Participant is a 5-percent owner as defined in Code Section 416 at any time during the Plan Year ending with or within the calendar year in which such owner attains age 72 (age 701⁄2 for Participants who reached age 701⁄2 prior to January 1, 2020) .
Once distributions have begun to a 5-percent Owner under this article, they must continue to be distributed, even if the Participant ceases to be a 5-percent Owner in a subsequent year.
(d)    Life Expectancy means life expectancy as computed by use of the Single Life Table in Q&A-1 in section 1.401 (a)(9)-9 of the regulations.
(e)    Participant's Account Balance means the Account balance as of the last Valuation Date in the calendar year immediately preceding the Distribution Calendar Year (valuation calendar year) increased by the amount of any contributions made and allocated or forfeitures allocated to the Account as of dates in the valuation calendar year after the Valuation Date and decreased by distributions made in the valuation calendar year after the Valuation Date. The Account balance for the valuation calendar year includes any amounts rolled over or transferred to the Plan either in the valuation calendar year or in the Distribution Calendar Year if distributed or transferred in the valuation calendar year.
(f)    Required Beginning Date means, for a Participant who is a 5-percent Owner, April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which he attains age 70 1/2.
Required Beginning Date means, for any Participant who is not a 5-percent Owner, April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which he attains age 70 1/2 or the calendar year in which he retires.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in determining the Required Beginning Date of a Participant who attains age 70 1/2 on or after January 1, 2020, each reference to “age 70 1/2” that appears in this Section 7.02(f) shall be substituted with “age 72”.

Section 7.03--REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a)    General Rules. 
(1)    The requirements of this article shall apply to any distribution of a Participant’s interest and will take precedence over any inconsistent provisions of this Plan. 
(2)    All distributions required under this article shall be determined and made in accordance with the regulations under Code Section 401(a)(9), including the incidental death benefit requirement in Code Section 401 (a)(9)(G), and the regulations thereunder.
(b)    Time and Manner of Distribution. 
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(1)    Required Beginning Date. The Participant’s entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, to the Participant no later than the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
(2)    Death of Participant Before Distributions Begin. If the Participant dies before distributions begin, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, no later than as follows:
(i)    If the Participant’s surviving spouse is the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary, distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 72 (age 70 1/2 for  deceased Participants who would have attained age 70 1/2 prior to January 1, 2020), if later, except to the extent that an election is made to receive distributions in accordance with the 5-year rule under paragraph (e) below. Under the 5-year rule, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed to the Designated Beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(ii)    If the Participant’s surviving spouse is not the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary, distributions to the Designated Beneficiary will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died, except to the extent that an election is made to receive distributions in accordance with the 5-year rule under paragraph (e) below. Under the 5-year rule, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed to the Designated Beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(iii)    If there is no Designated Beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(iv)    If the Participant’s surviving spouse is the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary and the surviving spouse dies after the Participant but before distributions to the surviving spouse are required to begin, this paragraph (b)(2), other than paragraph (b)(2)(i), will apply as if the surviving spouse were the Participant.
For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2) and paragraph (d) below, unless paragraph (b)(2)(iv) above applies, distributions are considered to begin on the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. If paragraph (b)(2)(iv) above applies, distributions are considered to begin on the date distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under paragraph (b)(2)(i) above. If distributions under an annuity purchased from an insurance company irrevocably commence to the Participant before the Participant’s Required Beginning Date (or to the Participant’s surviving spouse before the date distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under  paragraph (b)(2)(i) above), the date distributions are considered to begin is the date distributions actually commence.
(3)    Forms of Distribution. The Participant’s interest shall be distributed in the form of a single sum on or before the Required Beginning Date.
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(c)    Required Minimum Distributions During Participant’s Lifetime. 
(1)    Amount of Required Minimum Distribution For Each Distribution Calendar Year.  During the Participant’s lifetime, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each Distribution Calendar Year is the lesser of:
(i)    the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant’s Account Balance by the distribution period in the Uniform Lifetime Table set forth in Q&A-2 in section 1.401(a)(9)-9 of the regulations, using the Participant’s age as of the Participant’s birthday in the Distribution Calendar Year; or
(ii)    if the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary for the Distribution Calendar Year is the Participant’s spouse, the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant’s Account Balance by the number in the Joint and Last Survivor Table set forth in Q&A-3 in section 1.401(a)(9)-9 of the regulations, using the Participant’s and spouse’s attained ages as of the Participant’s and spouse’s birthdays in the Distribution Calendar Year. 
(2)    Lifetime Required Minimum Distributions Continue Through Year of Participant’s Death. Required minimum distributions will be determined under this paragraph (c) beginning with the first Distribution Calendar Year and continuing up to, and including, the Distribution Calendar Year that includes the Participant’s date of death.
(d)    Required Minimum Distributions After Participant’s Death. 
(1)    Death On or After Date Distributions Begin. 
(i)    Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary. If the Participant dies on or after the date distributions begin and there is a Designated Beneficiary, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each Distribution Calendar Year after the year of the Participant’s death is the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant’s Account Balance by the longer of the remaining Life Expectancy of the Participant or the remaining Life Expectancy of the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary, determined as follows:
(A)    The Participant’s remaining Life Expectancy is calculated using the age of the Participant in the year of death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.
(B)    If the Participant’s surviving spouse is the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary, the remaining Life Expectancy of the surviving spouse is calculated for each Distribution Calendar Year after the year of the Participant’s death using the surviving spouse’s age as of the spouse’s birthday in that year. For Distribution Calendar Years after the year of the surviving spouse’s death, the remaining Life Expectancy of the surviving spouse is calculated using the age of the surviving spouse as of the spouse’s birthday in the calendar year of the spouse’s death, reduced by one for each subsequent calendar year.
(C)    If the Participant’s surviving spouse is not the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary, the Designated Beneficiary’s remaining 
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Life Expectancy is calculated using the age of the Beneficiary in the year following the year of the Participant’s death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.
(ii)    No Designated Beneficiary.  If the Participant dies on or after the date distributions begin and there is no Designated Beneficiary as of September 30 of the year after the year of the Participant’s death, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each Distribution Calendar Year after the year of the Participant’s death is the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant’s Account Balance by the Participant’s remaining Life Expectancy calculated using the age of the Participant in the year of death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.
(2)    Death Before Date Distributions Begin. 
(i)    Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary.  If the Participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is a Designated Beneficiary, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each Distribution Calendar Year after the year of the Participant’s death is the quotient obtained by dividing the Participant’s Account Balance by the remaining Life Expectancy of the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary, determined as provided in paragraph (d)(1) above, except to the extent that an election is made to receive distributions in accordance with the 5-year rule under paragraph (e) below. Under the 5-year rule, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed to the Designated Beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(ii)    No Designated Beneficiary. If the Participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is no Designated Beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the Participant’s death, distribution of the Participant’s entire interest will be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(iii)    Death of Surviving Spouse Before Distributions to Surviving Spouse Are Required to Begin. If the Participant dies before the date distributions begin, the Participant’s surviving spouse is the Participant’s sole Designated Beneficiary, and the surviving spouse dies before distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under paragraph (b)(2)(i) above, this paragraph (d)(2) will apply as if the surviving spouse were the Participant.
(e)    Election of 5-year Rule. Participants or Beneficiaries may elect on an individual basis whether the 5-year rule in paragraph (b)(2) and paragraph (d)(2) above applies to distributions after the death of a Participant who has a Designated Beneficiary. The election must be made no later than the earlier of September 30 of the calendar year in which the distribution would be required to begin under paragraph (b)(2) above if no such election is made, or by September 30 of the calendar year which contains the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s (or, if applicable, surviving spouse’s) death.
(f)    Requirements for Minimum Distributions Where Participant Dies After December 31, 2019. 
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(1)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 7.03 to the contrary, in the event of the death of a Participant on or after January 1, 2020, if the Participant has a Designated Beneficiary, such Participant’s benefits shall be distributed in full by the end of the tenth calendar year following the calendar year of such Participant’s death.  This provision shall be applicable whether the Participant’s death occurs before or after the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. 
(2)    The life expectancy provisions set forth in this Section 7.03 applicable on the death of the Participant shall continue to apply with respect to distributions to an Eligible Designated Beneficiary, provided, however, that any remaining benefits must be distributed within ten (10) years of the death Eligible Designated Beneficiary’s death and, in the event of a minor child of a Participant who is an Eligible Designated Beneficiary, any remaining benefits must be distributed within ten (10) years of such beneficiary attaining the age of majority. 

 
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Employer expects to continue the Plan indefinitely but reserves the right to terminate the Plan in whole or in part at any time upon giving written notice to all parties concerned.
The Account of each Participant shall be 100% vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective date of the complete termination of the Plan. The Account of each Participant shall also be 100% vested and nonforfeitable upon complete discontinuance of Contributions as of the effective date of the amendment to cease Contributions or the date determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Further, the Account of each Participant who is included in the group of Participants deemed to be affected by a partial termination of the Plan (as determined by the Plan Administrator or a governmental entity authorized to make such determination) shall be 100% vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective date of such event. The Participant’s Vested Account shall continue to participate in the earnings credited, expenses charged, and any appreciation or depreciation of the Investment Fund until his Vested Account is distributed.
A Participant’s Vested Account that does not result from the following Contributions may be distributed to the Participant after the effective date of the complete termination of the Plan:
Elective Deferral Contributions 
Qualified Matching Contributions 
Qualified Nonelective Contributions

A Participant’s Vested Account resulting from such Contributions may be distributed upon complete termination of the Plan, but only if neither the Employer nor any Controlled Group member maintain another defined contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7) or 409(a), a simplified employee pension plan as defined in Code Section 408(k), a SIMPLE IRA plan as defined in Code Section 408(p), a plan or contract that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 403(b), or a plan described in Code Section 457(b) or (f)) at any time during the period beginning on the date of complete termination of the Plan and ending 12 months after all assets have been distributed from the Plan. Such distribution is made in a lump sum. A distribution under this article shall be a retirement benefit and shall be distributed to the Participant according to the provisions of Article VI.
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The Participant’s entire Vested Account shall be paid in a single sum to the Participant as of the effective date of complete termination of the Plan if (i) the requirements for distribution of Elective Deferral Contributions in the above paragraph are met and (ii) consent of the Participant is not required in accordance with Section 6.03 to distribute a benefit that is immediately distributable. This is a small amounts payment. The small amounts payment is in full settlement of all benefits otherwise payable.
Upon complete termination of the Plan, no more Employees shall become Participants and no more Contributions shall be made.
The assets of this Plan shall not be paid to the Employer at any time, except that, after the satisfaction of all liabilities under the Plan, any assets remaining may be paid to the Employer. The payment may not be made if it would contravene any provision of law.

 
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

Section 9.01--ADMINISTRATION.
Subject to the provisions of this article, the Plan Administrator has complete control of the administration of the Plan. The Plan Administrator has all the powers necessary for it to properly carry out its administrative duties. Not in limitation, but in amplification of the foregoing, the Plan Administrator has complete discretion to construe or interpret the provisions of the Plan, including ambiguous provisions, if any, and to determine all questions that may arise under the Plan, including all questions relating to the eligibility of Employees to participate in the Plan and the amount of benefit to which any Participant or Beneficiary may become entitled. The Plan Administrator's decisions upon all matters within the scope of its authority shall be final.
The Plan Administrator shall be the Human Resources Department of Investar Bank. Unless otherwise set out in the Plan or Annuity Contract, the Chief Human Resources Officer of Investar Bank may delegate recordkeeping and other duties that are necessary to assist it with the administration of the Plan to any person or firm which agrees to accept such duties. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon all tables, valuations, certificates and reports furnished by the consultant or actuary appointed by the Plan Administrator and upon all opinions given by any counsel selected or approved by the Plan Administrator.
The Plan Administrator shall receive all claims for benefits by Participants, former Participants and Beneficiaries. The Plan Administrator shall determine all facts necessary to establish the right of any Claimant to benefits and the amount of those benefits under the provisions of the Plan. The Plan Administrator may establish rules and procedures to be followed by Claimants in filing claims for benefits, in furnishing and verifying proofs necessary to determine age, and in any other matters required to administer the Plan.

Section 9.02--EXPENSES.
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Expenses of the Plan, to the extent that the Employer does not pay such expenses, may be paid out of the assets of the Plan provided that such payment is consistent with ERISA. Expenses of the Plan will be paid in accordance with the most recent service and expense agreement or such other documents duly entered into by or with regard to the Plan that govern such matters. Such expenses include, but are not limited to, expenses for bonding required by ERISA; expenses for recordkeeping and other administrative services; fees and expenses of the Trustee or Annuity Contract; expenses for investment education service; and direct costs that the Employer incurs with respect to the Plan. Expenses that relate solely to a specific Participant or Alternate Payee may be assessed against such Participant or Alternate Payee as provided in the service and expense agreement or such other documents duly entered into by or with regard to the Plan that govern such matters.

Section 9.03--RECORDS.
All acts and determinations of the Plan Administrator shall be duly recorded. All these records, together with other documents necessary for the administration of the Plan, shall be preserved in the Plan Administrator's custody.
Writing (handwriting, typing, printing), photostating, photographing, microfilming, magnetic impulse, mechanical or electrical recording, or other forms of data compilation shall be acceptable means of keeping records.

Section 9.04--INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
Any Participant in the Plan or any Beneficiary may examine copies of the summary plan description, latest annual report, any bargaining agreement, this Plan, the Annuity Contract, or any other instrument under which the Plan was established or is operated. The Plan Administrator shall maintain all of the items listed in this section in its office, or in such other place or places as it may designate in order to comply with governmental regulations. These items may be examined during reasonable business hours. Upon the written request of a Participant or Beneficiary receiving benefits under the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall furnish him with a copy of any of these items. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge to the requesting person for the copy.

Section 9.05--CLAIM PROCEDURES.
A Claimant must submit any necessary forms and needed information when making a claim for benefits under the Plan.
If a claim for benefits under the Plan is wholly or partially denied, the Plan Administrator shall provide adequate written notice to the Claimant whose claim for benefits under the Plan has been denied. The notice must be furnished within 90 days of the date that the claim is received by the Plan without regard to whether all of the information necessary to make a benefit determination is received. The Claimant shall be notified in writing within this initial 90-day period if special circumstances require an extension of the time needed to process the claim. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator's decision is expected to be rendered. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period.
The Plan Administrator's notice to the Claimant shall: (i) specify the reason or reasons for the denial; (ii) reference the specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) describe any additional material and information needed for the Claimant to perfect his claim for benefits; (iv) explain why the 
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material and information is needed; and (v) inform the Claimant of the Plan’s appeal procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on appeal.
Any appeal made by a Claimant must be made in writing to the Plan Administrator within 60 days after receipt of the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial of benefits. If the Claimant appeals to the Plan Administrator, the Claimant may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits. The Claimant shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits. The Plan Administrator shall review the claim taking into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.
The Plan Administrator shall provide adequate written notice to the Claimant of the Plan’s benefit determination on review. The notice must be furnished within 60 days of the date that the request for review is received by the Plan without regard to whether all of the information necessary to make a benefit determination on review is received. The Claimant shall be notified in writing within this initial 60-day period if special circumstances require an extension of the time needed to process the claim. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render the determination on review. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of 60 days from the end of the initial 60-day period.
In the event the benefit determination is being made by a committee or board of trustees that hold regularly scheduled meetings at least quarterly, the above paragraph shall not apply. The benefit determination must be made by the date of the meeting of the committee or board that immediately follows the Plan’s receipt of a request for review, unless the request for review is filed within 30 days preceding the date of such meeting. In such case, the benefit determination must be made by the date of the second meeting following the Plan’s receipt of the request for review. The date of the receipt of the request for review shall be determined without regard to whether all of the information necessary to make a benefit determination on review is received. The Claimant shall be notified in writing within this initial period if special circumstances require an extension of the time needed to process the claim. The notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the committee or board expects to render the determination on review. In no event shall such benefit determination be made later than the third meeting of the committee or board following the Plan’s receipt of the request for review. The Plan Administrator shall provide adequate written notice to the Claimant of the Plan’s benefit determination on review as soon as possible, but not later than five days after the benefit determination is made.
If the claim for benefits is wholly or partially denied on review, the Plan Administrator’s notice to the Claimant shall: (i) specify the reason or reasons for the denial; (ii) reference the specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) include a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits; and (iv) include a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a). 
Upon the exhaustion of the administrative remedies provided herein, a Claimant shall be entitled to pursue such additional remedies as may be available under Section 502(a) of ERISA, provided that any such action is undertaken not more than one (1) year from the Plan Administrator’s notice (or from the last day (including any extension) that such notice could have been timely provided).
A Claimant may authorize a representative to act on the Claimant’s behalf with respect to a benefit claim or appeal of an adverse benefit determination. Such authorization shall be made by completion of a form furnished for that purpose. In the absence of any contrary direction from the 
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Claimant, all information and notifications to which the Claimant is entitled shall be directed to the authorized representative.

Section 9.06--DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.
All or any part of the administrative duties and responsibilities under this article may be delegated by the Plan Administrator to a retirement committee. The duties and responsibilities of the retirement committee shall be set out in a separate written agreement.
The Board of Directors of Investar Corporation may establish an investment committee, which shall be delegated the duties and responsibilities described in the Plan and the Trust Agreement related to the investment and reinvestment of the assets comprising the Trust, from time to time. Such duties and responsibilities may be further described in a separate written policy.

Section 9.07--EXERCISE OF DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY.
The Employer, Plan Administrator, and any other person or entity who has authority with respect to the management, administration, or investment of the Plan may exercise that authority in its/his full discretion, subject only to the duties imposed under ERISA. This discretionary authority includes, but is not limited to, the authority to make any and all factual determinations and interpret all terms and provisions of the Plan documents relevant to the issue under consideration. The exercise of authority will be binding upon all persons.

Section 9.08--TRANSACTION PROCESSING.
Transactions (including, but not limited to, investment directions, trades, loans, and distributions) shall be processed as soon as administratively practicable after proper directions are received from the Participant or other parties. No guarantee is made by the Plan, Plan Administrator, Trustee, Insurer, or Employer that such transactions will be processed on a daily or other basis, and no guarantee is made in any respect regarding the processing time of such transactions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Employer, the Plan Administrator, or the Trustee reserves the right to not value an investment option on any given Valuation Date for any reason deemed appropriate by the Employer, the Plan Administrator, or the Trustee, except that such investment option shall be valued as of the last day of the Plan Year as stated in the definition of Valuation Date in Article I.
Administrative practicality will be determined by legitimate business factors (including, but not limited to, failure of systems or computer programs, failure of the means of the transmission of data, force majeure, the failure of a service provider to timely receive values or prices, and correction for errors or omissions or the errors or omissions of any service provider) and in no event will be deemed to be less than 14 days. The processing date of a transaction shall be binding for all purposes of the Plan and considered the applicable Valuation Date for any transaction. 

ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 10.01--AMENDMENTS.
The Employer may amend this Plan at any time, including any remedial retroactive changes (within the time specified by Internal Revenue Service regulations), to comply with any law or regulation issued by any governmental agency to which the Plan is subject. The Employer may delegate the power to amend this Plan to such person or persons or committee as the Employer deems appropriate.
An amendment may not allow reversion or diversion of Plan assets to the Employer at any time, except as may be required to comply with any law or regulation issued by any governmental agency to which the Plan is subject.
An amendment may not eliminate or reduce a benefit that is protected under Code Section 411(d)(6) (“411(d)(6) protected benefit”), protected benefit, as defined in Q&A-1 in section 1.411 (d)-4 of the regulations, that has already accrued, except as provided in section 1.411(d)-3 or 1.411 (d)-4 of the regulations. This is generally the case even if such elimination or reduction is contingent upon the Employee’s consent and includes an amendment that otherwise places greater restrictions or conditions on a Participant’s right to section 411(d)(6) protected benefits, even if the amendment merely adds a restriction or condition that is permitted under the vesting rules in Code Section 411 (a)(3) through (11). However, the Plan may be amended to eliminate or reduce section 411(d)(6) protected benefits with respect to benefits not yet accrued as of the later of the amendment’s adoption date or effective date without violating Code Section 411(d)(6). For purposes of this paragraph, an amendment that has the effect of decreasing a Participant’s Account balance, with respect to benefits attributable to service before the amendment, shall be treated as reducing an accrued benefit.
No amendment to the Plan shall be effective to eliminate or restrict an optional form of benefit. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a Plan amendment that eliminates or restricts the ability of a Participant to receive payment of his Account balance under a particular optional form of benefit if the amendment provides a single sum distribution form that is otherwise identical to the optional form of benefit being eliminated or restricted. For this purpose, a single sum distribution form is otherwise identical only if the single sum distribution form is identical in all respects to the eliminated or restricted optional form of benefit (or would be identical except that it provides greater rights to the Participant) except with respect to the timing of payments after commencement.
If, as a result of an amendment, an Employer Contribution is removed that is not 100% immediately vested when made, the applicable vesting schedule in effect as of the last day such Contributions were permitted shall remain in effect with respect to that part of the Participant’s Account resulting from such Contributions. The Participant shall not become immediately 100% vested in such Contributions as a result of the elimination of such Contribution except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan.
An amendment shall not decrease a Participant's vested interest in the Plan. If an amendment to the Plan changes the computation of the percentage used to determine that portion of a Participant's Account attributable to Employer Contributions which is nonforfeitable (whether directly or indirectly), in the case of an Employee who is a Participant as of the later of the date such amendment or change is adopted or the date it becomes effective, the nonforfeitable percentage (determined as of such date) of such Employee’s right to his Account attributable to Employer Contributions shall not be less than the percentage computed under the Plan without regard to such amendment or change. Furthermore, each Participant or former Participant
(a)    who has completed at least three Years of Service on the date the election period described below ends, and
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(b)    whose nonforfeitable percentage will be determined on any date after the date of the change
may elect, during the election period, to have the nonforfeitable percentage of his Account resulting from Employer Contributions determined without regard to the amendment. This election may not be revoked. If after the Plan is changed, the Participant’s nonforfeitable percentage will at all times be as great as it would have been if the change had not been made, no election needs to be provided. The election period shall begin no later than the date the Plan amendment is adopted and end no earlier than the 60th day after the latest of the date the amendment is adopted or becomes effective, or the date the Participant is issued written notice of the amendment by the Employer or the Plan Administrator.

With respect to a Participant’s Account attributable to Employer Contributions accrued as of the later of the adoption or effective date of the amendment and earnings, the vested percentage of each Participant will be the greater of the vested percentage under the old vesting schedule or the vested percentage under the new vesting schedule.

Section 10.02--DIRECT ROLLOVERS.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a Distributee's election under this section, a Distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator, to have any portion of an Eligible Rollover Distribution paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee in a Direct Rollover.
In the event of a Mandatory Distribution of an Eligible Rollover Distribution greater than $1,000 in accordance with Section 10.11 (or which is a small amounts payment under Article VIII at complete termination of the Plan), if the Participant does not elect to have such distribution paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Participant in a Direct Rollover or to receive the distribution directly, the Plan Administrator will pay the distribution in a Direct Rollover to an individual retirement plan designated by the Plan Administrator.
For purposes of determining whether a Mandatory Distribution is greater than $1,000, a Designated Roth Account and all other accounts under the Plan shall be treated as accounts held under two separate plans and shall not be combined.
In the event of any other Eligible Rollover Distribution to a Distributee in accordance with Section 10.11 (or which is a small amounts payment under Article VIII at complete termination of the Plan), if the Distributee does not elect to have such distribution paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee in a Direct Rollover or to receive the distribution directly, the Plan Administrator will pay the distribution to the Distributee.

Section 10.03--MERGERS AND DIRECT TRANSFERS.
The Plan may not be merged or consolidated with, nor have its assets or liabilities transferred to, any other retirement plan, unless each Participant in this Plan would (if that plan then terminated) receive a benefit immediately after the merger, consolidation, or transfer that is equal to or greater than the benefit the Participant would have been entitled to receive immediately before the merger, consolidation, or transfer (if this Plan had then terminated). The Employer may enter into merger agreements or direct transfer of assets agreements with the employers under other retirement plans which are qualifiable under Code Section 401(a), including an elective transfer, and may accept the direct transfer of plan assets, or may transfer plan assets, as a party to any such agreement. The Employer shall not consent to, or be a party to a merger, consolidation, or transfer of assets with a defined benefit plan if such action 
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would result in a defined benefit feature being maintained under this Plan. The Employer will not transfer any amounts attributable to elective deferral contributions, qualified matching contributions, qualified nonelective contributions, and contributions used to satisfy Code Section 401(k)(13) safe harbors unless the transferee plan provides that the limitations of section 1.401(k)-1 (d) of the regulations shall apply to such amounts (including post-transfer earnings thereon), unless the amounts could have been distributed at the time of the transfer (other than for hardships as described in Section 5.05 or deemed severance from employment, as described in Section 5.03, and the transfer is an elective transfer described in Q&A-3(b)(1) in section 1.411(d)-4 of the regulations.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to the extent any optional form of benefit under the Plan permits a distribution prior to the Employee’s retirement, death, disability, or Severance from Employment, and prior to plan termination, the optional form of benefit is not available with respect to benefits attributable to assets (including the post-transfer earnings thereon) and liabilities that are transferred, within the meaning of Code Section 414(l), to this Plan from a money purchase pension plan qualified under Code Section 401(a) (other than any portion of those assets and liabilities attributable to voluntary employee contributions). In addition, benefits attributable to such assets (and post-transfer earnings) from a money purchase plan must be distributed in accordance with the qualified preretirement survivor annuity and qualified joint and survivor annuity requirements (including the spousal consent requirement) of Code Section 401 (a)(1 1) and the regulations thereunder as stated in the money purchase plan from which the assets were transferred.
The limitations of section 1.401(k)-1 (d) of the regulations applicable to elective deferral contributions, qualified matching contributions, qualified nonelective contributions, and contributions used to satisfy Code Section 401(k)(13) safe harbors shall continue to apply to any amounts attributable to such contributions (including post-transfer earnings thereon) transferred to this Plan, unless the amounts could have been distributed at the time of the transfer (other than for hardships as described in Section 5.05 or deemed severance from employment, as described in Section 5.03, and the transfer is an elective transfer described in Q&A-3(b)(1) in section 1.411(d)-4 of the regulations.
The Plan may accept a direct transfer of plan assets on behalf of an Eligible Employee. If the Eligible Employee is not an Active Participant when the transfer is made, the Eligible Employee shall be deemed to be an Active Participant only for the purpose of investment and distribution of the transferred assets. Employer Contributions shall not be made for or allocated to the Eligible Employee, until the time he meets all of the requirements to become an Active Participant.
The Plan shall hold, administer, and distribute the transferred assets as a part of the Plan. The Plan shall maintain a separate account for the benefit of the Employee on whose behalf the Plan accepted the transfer in order to reflect the value of the transferred assets.
A Participant’s section 411(d)(6) protected benefits, as defined in Q&A-1 in section 1.411(d)-4 of the regulations, may not be eliminated by reason of transfer or any transaction amending or having the effect of amending a plan or plans to transfer benefits except as provided below.
A Participant’s section 411(d)(6) protected benefits may be eliminated or reduced upon transfer between qualified defined contribution plans if the conditions in Q&A-3(b)(1) in section 1.411(d)-4 of the regulations are met. The transfer must meet all of the other applicable qualification requirements. 
A Participant’s section 411(d)(6) protected benefits may be eliminated or reduced if a transfer is an elective transfer of certain distributable benefits between qualified plans (both defined benefit and defined contribution) and the conditions in Q&A-3(c)(1) in section 1.411 (d)-4 of the regulations are met. The rules applicable to distributions under the plan would apply to the transfer, but the transfer would not be treated as a distribution for purposes of the minimum distribution requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9). If the Participant is eligible to receive an immediate distribution of his entire Vested Account in a 
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single sum distribution that would consist entirely of an eligible rollover distribution under Code Section 401(a)(31), such transfer will be accomplished as a direct rollover under Code Section 401 (a)(31).

Section 10.04--PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE INSURER AND OTHER PARTIES.
The obligations of an Insurer shall be governed solely by the provisions of the Annuity Contract. The Insurer shall not be required to perform any act not provided in or contrary to the provisions of the Annuity Contract. Each Annuity Contract when purchased shall comply with the Plan. See Section 10.09.
Any issuer or distributor of investment contracts or securities is governed solely by the terms of its policies, written investment contract, prospectuses, security instruments, and any other written agreements entered into with the Trustee with regard to such investment contracts or securities.
Such Insurer, issuer or distributor is not a party to the Plan, nor bound in any way by the Plan provisions. Such parties shall not be required to look to the terms of this Plan, nor to determine whether the Employer, the Plan Administrator, the Trustee, or the Named Fiduciary have the authority to act in any particular manner or to make any contract or agreement.
Until notice of any amendment or termination of this Plan or a change in Trustee has been received by the Insurer at its home office or an issuer or distributor at their principal address, they are and shall be fully protected in assuming that the Plan has not been amended or terminated and in dealing with any party acting as Trustee according to the latest information which they have received at their home office or principal address.

Section 10.05--EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
Nothing contained in this Plan gives an Employee the right to be retained in the Employer's employ or to interfere with the Employer's right to discharge or discipline any Employee.

Section 10.06--RIGHTS TO PLAN ASSETS.
An Employee shall not have any right to or interest in any assets of the Plan upon termination of employment or otherwise except as specifically provided under this Plan, and then only to the extent of the benefits payable to such Employee according to the Plan provisions.
Any final payment or distribution to a Participant or his legal representative or to any Beneficiaries of such Participant under the Plan provisions shall be in full satisfaction of all claims against the Plan, the Named Fiduciary, the Plan Administrator, the Insurer, the Trustee, and the Employer arising under or by virtue of the Plan.

Section 10.07--BENEFICIARY.
Each Participant may name a Beneficiary to receive any death benefit that may arise out of his participation in the Plan. The Participant may change his Beneficiary from time to time. Unless a qualified election has been made, for purposes of distributing any death benefits before the Participant’s Retirement Date, the Beneficiary of a Participant who has a spouse shall be the Participant's spouse. The Participant's Beneficiary designation and any change of Beneficiary shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.03.
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It is the responsibility of the Participant to give written notice to the Plan Administrator of the name of the Beneficiary on a form furnished for that purpose. The Plan Administrator shall maintain records of Beneficiary designations for Participants before their Retirement Dates. However, the Plan Administrator may delegate to another party the responsibility of maintaining records of Beneficiary designations. In that event, the written designations made by Participants shall be filed with such other party. If a party other than the Insurer maintains the records of Beneficiary designations and a Participant dies before his Retirement Date, such other party shall certify to the Insurer the Beneficiary designation on its records for the Participant.
If there is no Beneficiary named or surviving when a Participant dies, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the Participant’s surviving spouse, or where there is no surviving spouse, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate for the benefit of the estate.

Section 10.08--NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS.
Benefits payable under the Plan are not subject to the claims of any creditor of any Participant or Beneficiary. A Participant or Beneficiary does not have any rights to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign such benefits. Such restrictions do not apply in the case of a loan as provided in Section 5.06. The preceding sentences shall also apply to the creation, assignment, or recognition of a right to any benefit payable with respect to a Participant according to a domestic relations order, unless such order is determined by the Plan Administrator to be a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p), or any domestic relations order entered before January 1, 1985. The preceding sentences shall not apply to any offset of a Participant’s benefits provided under the Plan against an amount the Participant is required to pay the Plan with respect to a judgment, order, or decree issued, or a settlement entered into, on or after August 5, 1997, which meets the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(13)(C) or (D).

Section 10.09--CONSTRUCTION.
The validity of the Plan or any of its provisions is determined under and construed according to Federal law and, to the extent permissible, according to the laws of the state in which the Employer has its principal office. In case any provision of this Plan is held illegal or invalid for any reason, such determination shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included.
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the terms of any Annuity Contract issued hereunder, the provisions of the Plan control.

Section 10.10--LEGAL ACTIONS.
No person employed by the Employer; no Participant, former Participant, or their Beneficiaries; nor any other person having or claiming to have an interest in the Plan is entitled to any notice of process. A final judgment entered in any such action or proceeding shall be binding and conclusive on all persons having or claiming to have an interest in the Plan. Should any Participant, Beneficiary or other person claiming an interest in the Plan pursue a legal action against the Plan, such legal action may not be brought more than one (1) year following the date such cause of action or proceeding arose. 

Section 10.11--SMALL AMOUNTS.
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If the value of the Participant’s Vested Account does not exceed $5,000, the Participant’s entire Vested Account shall be distributed as of the earliest of his Retirement Date, the date he dies, or the date he has a Severance from Employment for any other reason (the date the Employer provides notice to the record keeper of the Plan of such event, if later). For purposes of this section, if the Participant’s Vested Account is zero, the Participant shall be deemed to have received a distribution of such Vested Account. This is a small amounts payment.
In the event a Participant does not elect to have a small amounts payment paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Participant in a Direct Rollover or to receive the distribution directly and his Vested Account is greater than $1,000, a Mandatory Distribution will be made in accordance with Section 10.02. If his Vested Account is $1,000 or less, the Participant’s entire Vested Account shall be paid directly to him.
If a small amounts payment is made on or after the date the Participant dies, the small amounts payment shall be made to the Participant’s Beneficiary. If a small amounts payment is made while the Participant is living, the small amounts payment shall be made to the Participant.
A small amounts payment is in full settlement of all benefits otherwise payable. No other small amounts payment shall be made.

Section 10.12--WORD USAGE.
The masculine gender, where used in this Plan, shall include the feminine gender and the singular words, where used in this Plan, shall include the plural, unless the context indicates otherwise.
The words “in writing” and “written,” where used in this Plan, shall include any other forms (such as voice response or other electronic system), as permitted by any governmental agency to which the Plan is subject.

Section 10.13--CHANGE IN SERVICE METHOD.
(a)    Change of Service Method Under This Plan. If this Plan is amended to change the method of crediting service from the elapsed time method to the hours method for any purpose under this Plan, the Employee’s service shall be equal to the sum of (1), (2), and (3) below:
(1)    The number of whole years of service credited to the Employee under the Plan as of the date the change is effective.
(2)    One year of service for the computation period in which the change is effective if he is credited with the required number of Hours of Service. For that portion of the computation period ending on the date of the change (for the first day of the computation period if the change is made on the first day of the computation period), the Employee will be credited with the greater of (i) his actual Hours of Service or (ii) the number of Hours of Service that is equivalent to the fractional part of a year of elapsed time service credited as of the date of the change, if any. In determining the equivalent Hours of Service, the Employee shall be credited with 190 Hours of Service for each month and any fractional part of a month in such fractional part of a year. The number of months and any fractional part of a month shall be determined by multiplying the fractional part of a year, expressed as a decimal, by 12. For the remaining portion of the computation 
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period (the period beginning on the second day of the computation period and ending on the last day of the computation period if the change is made on the first day of the computation period), the Employee will be credited with his actual Hours of Service.
(3)    The Employee’s service determined under this Plan using the hours method after the end of the computation period in which the change in service method was effective.
If this Plan is amended to change the method of crediting service from the hours method to the elapsed time method for any purpose under this Plan, the Employee’s service shall be equal to the sum of (4), (5), and (6) below:
(4)    The number of whole years of service credited to the Employee under the Plan as of the beginning of the computation period in which the change in service method is effective.
(5)    The greater of (i) the service that would be credited to the Employee for that entire computation period using the elapsed time method or (ii) the service credited to him under the Plan as of the date the change is effective.
(6)    The Employee’s service determined under this Plan using the elapsed time method after the end of the applicable computation period in which the change in service method was effective.
(b)    Transfers Between Plans with Different Service Methods. If an Employee has been a participant in another plan of the Employer that credited service under the elapsed time method for any purpose that under this Plan is determined using the hours method, then the Employee’s service shall be equal to the sum of (1), (2), and (3) below:
(1)    The number of whole years of service credited to the Employee under the other plan as of the date he became an Eligible Employee under this Plan.
(2)    One year of service for the applicable computation period in which he became an Eligible Employee if he is credited with the required number of Hours of Service. For that portion of such computation period ending on the date he became an Eligible Employee (for the first day of such computation period if he became an Eligible Employee on the first day of such computation period), the Employee will be credited with the greater of (i) his actual Hours of Service or (ii) the number of Hours of Service that is equivalent to the fractional part of a year of elapsed time service credited as of the date he became an Eligible Employee, if any. In determining the equivalent Hours of Service, the Employee shall be credited with 190 Hours of Service for each month and any fractional part of a month in such fractional part of a year. The number of months and any fractional part of a month shall be determined by multiplying the fractional part of a year, expressed as a decimal, by 12. For the remaining portion of such computation period (the period beginning on the second day of such computation period and ending on the last day of such computation period if he became an Eligible Employee on the first day of such computation period), the Employee will be credited with his actual Hours of Service.
(3)    The Employee’s service determined under this Plan using the hours method after the end of the computation period in which he became an Eligible Employee. 
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If an Employee has been a participant in another plan of the Employer that credited service under the hours method for any purpose that under this Plan is determined using the elapsed time method, then the Employee’s service shall be equal to the sum of (4), (5), and (6) below:

(4)    The number of whole years of service credited to the Employee under the other plan as of the beginning of the computation period under that plan in which he became an Eligible Employee under this Plan.
(5)    The greater of (i) the service that would be credited to the Employee for that entire computation period using the elapsed time method or (ii) the service credited to him under the other plan as of the date he became an Eligible Employee under this Plan.
(6)    The Employee’s service determined under this Plan using the elapsed time method after the end of the applicable computation period under the other plan in which he became an Eligible Employee.
If an Employee has been a participant in a Controlled Group member’s plan that credited service under a different method than is used in this Plan, in order to determine entry and vesting, the provisions in (b) above shall apply as though the Controlled Group member’s plan was a plan of the Employer.

Section 10.14--MILITARY SERVICE.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Plan shall provide contributions, benefits, and service credit with respect to Qualified Military Service in accordance with Code Section 414(u). Loan repayments may be suspended under this Plan as permitted under Code Section 414(u).
A Participant who dies while performing Qualified Military Service is treated as having resumed and then terminated employment on account of death, in accordance with Code Section 401 (a)(37) and any subsequent guidance. The survivors of such Participant are entitled to any additional benefits provided under the Plan on account of death of the Participant. 

ARTICLE XI
TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Section 11.01--APPLICATION.
The provisions of this article shall supersede all other provisions in the Plan to the contrary.
For the purpose of applying the Top-heavy Plan requirements of this article, all members of the Controlled Group shall be treated as one Employer. The term Employer, as used in this article, shall be deemed to include all members of the Controlled Group, unless the term as used clearly indicates only the Employer is meant.
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The accrued benefit or account of a participant resulting from deductible employee contributions shall not be included for any purpose under this article.
The minimum contribution provisions of Section 11.03 shall not apply to any Employee who is included in a group of Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that the Secretary of Labor finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between employee representatives and one or more employers, including the Employer, if there is evidence that retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining between such representatives. For this purpose, the term "employee representatives" does not include any organization more than half of whose members are employees who are owners, officers, or executives.

Section 11.02--DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this article the following terms are defined: 
Aggregation Group means:
(a)    each of the Employer's qualified plans in which a Key Employee is a participant during the Plan Year containing the Determination Date or any of the four preceding Plan Years (regardless of whether the plans have terminated),
(b)    each of the Employer's other qualified plans which allows the plan(s) described in (a) above to meet the nondiscrimination requirement of Code Section 401(a)(4) or the minimum coverage requirement of Code Section 410, and
(c)    any of the Employer's other qualified plans not included in (a) or (b) above which the Employer desires to include as part of the Aggregation Group. Such a qualified plan shall be included only if the Aggregation Group would continue to satisfy the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
The plans in (a) and (b) above constitute the "required" Aggregation Group. The plans in (a), (b), and (c) above constitute the "permissive" Aggregation Group.
Compensation means compensation as defined in Section 3.07. 
Determination Date means as to any plan, for any plan year subsequent to the first plan year, the last day of the preceding plan year. For the first plan year of the plan, the Determination Date is the last day of that year.
Key Employee means any Employee or former Employee (including any deceased Employee) who at any time during the Plan Year that includes the Determination Date is:
(a)    officer of the Employer having Compensation for the Plan Year greater than $185,000 (as adjusted under Code Section 416(i)(1)),
(b)    a 5-percent owner of the Employer, or
(c)    a 1-percent owner of the Employer having Compensation for the Plan Year of more than $150,000.
The determination of who is a Key Employee shall be made according to Code Section 416(i)(1) and the applicable regulations and other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.
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Nonkey Employee means any Employee who is not a Key Employee.
Top-heavy Plan means a plan that is top-heavy for any plan year. This Plan shall be top-heavy if any of the following conditions exist:
(a)    The Top-heavy Ratio for this Plan exceeds 60 percent and this Plan is not part of any required Aggregation Group or permissive Aggregation Group.
(b)    This Plan is a part of a required Aggregation Group, but not part of a permissive Aggregation Group, and the Top-heavy Ratio for the required Aggregation Group exceeds 60 percent.
(c)    This Plan is a part of a required Aggregation Group and part of a permissive Aggregation Group and the Top-heavy Ratio for the permissive Aggregation Group exceeds 60 percent.
Top-heavy Ratio means:
(a)    If the Employer maintains one or more defined contribution plans (including any simplified employee pension plan) and the Employer has not maintained any defined benefit plan that during the five-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) has or has had accrued benefits, the Top-heavy Ratio for this Plan alone or for the required or permissive Aggregation Group, as appropriate, is a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the account balances of all Key Employees as of the Determination Date(s) (including any part of any account balance distributed in the one-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) and distributions under a terminated plan which if it had not been terminated would have been required to be included in the Aggregation Group), and the denominator of which is the sum of all account balances (including any part of any account balance distributed in the one-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) and distributions under a terminated plan which if it had not been terminated would have been required to be included in the Aggregation Group), both computed in accordance with Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder. In the case of a distribution made for a reason other than Severance from Employment, death, or disability, this provision shall be applied by substituting “five-year period” for “one-year period.” Both the numerator and denominator of the Top-heavy Ratio are increased to reflect any contribution not actually made as of the
Determination Date, but which is required to be taken into account on that date under Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder.
(b)    If the Employer maintains one or more defined contribution plans (including any simplified employee pension plan) and the Employer maintains or has maintained one or more defined benefit plans that during the five-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) has or has had accrued benefits, the Top-heavy Ratio for any required or permissive Aggregation Group, as appropriate, is a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the account balances under the aggregated defined contribution plan or plans of all Key Employees, determined in accordance with paragraph (a) above, and the present value of accrued benefits under the aggregated defined benefit plan or plans for all Key Employees as of the Determination Date(s), and the denominator of which is the sum of the account balances under the aggregated defined contribution plan or plans for all participants, determined in accordance with paragraph (a) above, and the present value of accrued benefits under the defined benefit plan or plans for all participants as of the Determination Date(s), all determined in accordance with Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder. The accrued benefits under a defined benefit plan in both the 
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numerator and denominator of the Top-heavy Ratio are increased for any distribution of an accrued benefit made in the one-year period ending on the Determination Date (and distributions under a terminated plan which if it had not been terminated would have been required to be included in the Aggregation Group). In the case of a distribution made for a reason other than Severance from Employment, death, or disability, this provision shall be applied by substituting “five-year period” for “one-year period.”
(c)    For purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the value of account balances and the present value of accrued benefits will be determined as of the most recent Valuation Date that falls within or ends with the 12-month period ending on the Determination Date, except as provided in Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder for the first and second plan years of a defined benefit plan. The account balances and accrued benefits of a participant (i) who is not a Key Employee but who was a Key Employee in a prior year or (ii) who has not been credited with at least one hour of service with any employer maintaining the plan at any time during the one-year period ending on the Determination Date will be disregarded. The calculation of the Top-heavy Ratio and the extent to which distributions, rollovers, and transfers are taken into account will be made in accordance with Code Section 416 and the regulations thereunder. Deductible employee contributions will not be taken into account for purposes of computing the Top-heavy Ratio. When aggregating plans, the value of account balances and accrued benefits will be calculated with reference to the Determination Dates that fall within the same calendar year.
The accrued benefit of a participant other than a Key Employee shall be determined under (i) the method, if any, that uniformly applies for accrual purposes under all defined benefit plans maintained by the Employer, or (ii) if there is no such method, as if such benefit accrued not more rapidly than the slowest accrual rate permitted under the fractional rule of Code Section 411 (b)(1)(C).

Section 11.03--MODIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
During any Plan Year in which this Plan is a Top-heavy Plan, the Employer shall make a minimum contribution as of the last day of the Plan Year for each Nonkey Employee who is an Employee on the last day of the Plan Year and who was an Active Participant at any time during the Plan Year. A Nonkey Employee is not required to have a minimum number of Hours of Service or minimum amount of Compensation in order to be entitled to this minimum. A Nonkey Employee who fails to be an Active Participant merely because his Compensation is less than a stated amount or merely because of a failure to make mandatory participant contributions or, in the case of a cash or deferred arrangement, elective contributions shall be treated as if he were an Active Participant. The minimum is the lesser of (a) or (b) below: 
(a)    3 percent of such person's Compensation for such Plan Year.
(b)    The "highest percentage" of Compensation for such Plan Year at which the Employer's Contributions are made for or allocated to any Key Employee. The highest percentage shall be determined by dividing the Employer Contributions made for or allocated to each Key Employee during the Plan Year by the amount of his Compensation for such Plan Year, and selecting the greatest quotient (expressed as a percentage). To determine the highest percentage, all of the Employer's defined contribution plans within the Aggregation Group shall be treated as one plan. The minimum shall be the amount in (a) above if this Plan and a defined benefit plan of the Employer are required to be included in the Aggregation Group and this Plan enables the defined benefit plan to meet the requirements of Code Section 401 (a)(4) or 410.
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For purposes of (a) and (b) above, Compensation shall be limited by Code Section 401 (a)(17).
If the Employer's contributions and allocations otherwise required under the defined contribution plan(s) are at least equal to the minimum above, no additional contribution shall be required. If the Employer's total contributions and allocations are less than the minimum above, the Employer shall contribute the difference for the Plan Year.
The minimum contribution applies to all of the Employer's defined contribution plans in the aggregate which are Top-heavy Plans. A minimum contribution under a profit sharing plan shall be made without regard to whether or not the Employer has profits.
If a person who is otherwise entitled to a minimum contribution above is also covered under another defined contribution plan of the Employer’s which is a Top-heavy Plan during that same Plan Year, any additional contribution required to meet the minimum above shall be provided in this Plan.
If a person who is otherwise entitled to a minimum contribution above is also covered under a defined benefit plan of the Employer's that is within the Aggregation Group and this Plan is a Top-heavy Plan during that same Plan Year, the minimum benefits for him shall not be duplicated. The defined benefit plan shall provide an annual benefit for him on, or adjusted to, a straight life basis equal to the lesser of:
(c)    2 percent of his average compensation multiplied by his years of service, or
(d)    20 percent of his average compensation.
Average compensation and years of service shall have the meaning set forth in such defined benefit plan for this purpose.
For purposes of this section, any employer contribution made according to a salary reduction or similar arrangement shall not apply in determining if the minimum contribution requirement has been met, but shall apply in determining the minimum contribution required. Matching contributions, as defined in Code Section 401(m), shall be taken into account for purposes of satisfying the minimum contribution requirements of Code Section 416(c)(2) and the Plan. Matching contributions that are used to satisfy the minimum contribution requirements shall be treated as matching contributions for purposes of the actual contribution percentage test and other requirements of Code Section 401(m).
The requirements of this section shall be met without regard to any Social Security contribution. 
By executing this Plan, the Primary Employer acknowledges having counseled to the extent necessary with selected legal and tax advisors regarding the Plan's legal and tax implications.
Executed this __________day of ___________________, 2020.
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 

By:    _________________________________
    _________________________________
Title
    87

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