Document:

Exh_105_FormofOptionAward

	
		
	Name:
	[●]

	Number of Shares of Stock subject to Option:
	[●]

	Price Per Share:
	$[●]

	Date of Grant:
	[●]

DUNKIN’ BRANDS GROUP, INC. 
2011 OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

This agreement (the “Agreement”) evidences a stock option granted by Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to the undersigned (the “Optionee”), pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference.  

1.Grant of Stock Option.  The Company grants to the Optionee on the date set forth above (the “Date of Grant”) an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase, on the terms provided herein and in the Plan (including, without limitation, the exercise provisions in Section 6(b)(3) of the Plan), the number of shares of Stock of the Company set forth above (the “Shares”) with an exercise price per Share as set forth above, in each case subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan in respect of transactions occurring after the date hereof.  
The Stock Option evidenced by this Agreement is a non-statutory option (that is, an option that is not to be treated as a stock option described in subsection (b) of Section 422 of the Code) and is granted to the Optionee in connection with the Optionee’s employment by the Company and its qualifying subsidiaries.  For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, “qualifying subsidiary” means a subsidiary of the Company as to which the Company has a “controlling interest” as described in Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)(1). 

2.    Meaning of Certain Terms.  Except as otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein have the same meaning as in the Plan.  The following terms have the following meanings:
		
	(a)
	“Beneficiary” means, in the event of the Optionee’s death, the beneficiary named in the written designation (in form acceptable to the Administrator) most recently filed with the Administrator by the Optionee prior to the Optionee’s death and not subsequently revoked, or, if there is no such designated beneficiary, the executor or administrator of the Optionee’s estate.  An effective beneficiary designation will be treated as having been revoked only upon receipt by the Administrator, prior to the Optionee’s death, of an instrument of revocation in form acceptable to the Administrator.  

		
	(b)
	“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following: 

(i) a material diminution in the nature or scope of the Optionee’s responsibilities, duties, authority or status; provided that each of (A) a change in reporting relationships resulting from the direct or indirect control of the Company (or a successor corporation) by another corporation, (B) any diminution of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates and (C) any sale or transfer of equity, property or other assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including any such sale or transfer or any other transaction or series of such transactions that results in a Change in Control) will be deemed not to constitute “Good Reason”; 
(ii) relocation of the Optionee’s place of employment, without the Optionee’s consent, to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from Canton, Massachusetts; or 
(iii) the Company’s failure to perform substantially any material term of this Agreement or any employment agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates to which the Optionee is subject;
provided that, if the Optionee is subject to an employment, severance-benefit or other similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate containing a separate definition of “Good Reason”, the definition contained in such agreement will apply for purposes of this Agreement for so long as such agreement is in effect.  A termination will qualify as a termination for Good Reason only if (1) the Optionee gives the Company notice, within ninety (90) days of its first existence or occurrence (without the Optionee’s consent), of any or any combination of the eligibility conditions specified above; (2) the Company fails to cure the eligibility condition(s) within thirty (30) days of receiving such notice; and (3) the Optionee terminates his or her Employment not later than six months following the end of such 30-day period.
		
	(c)
	“Option Holder” means the Optionee or, if as of the relevant time the Stock Option has passed to a Beneficiary, the Beneficiary.

3.    Vesting; Method of Exercise; Treatment of the Stock Option Upon Cessation of Employment.
		
	(a)
	Vesting.  As used herein with respect to the Stock Option or any portion thereof, the term “vest” means to become exercisable and the term “vested” as applied to any outstanding Stock Option means that the Stock Option is then exercisable, subject in each case to the terms of the Plan.   Unless earlier terminated, forfeited, relinquished or expired, and subject to subsection (b) below, the Stock Option shall become vested as to 25% of the total number of Shares subject to the Stock Option on each of the first four anniversaries of the Date of Grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares subject to the Stock Option shall not vest on any vesting date unless the Optionee has remained in continuous Employment from the Date of Grant through such vesting date.  

		
	(b)
	Change in Control.  If (i) in connection with a Change in Control the Stock Option, to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such Change of Control, is assumed or continued, or a new award is substituted for the Stock Option by the acquiror or survivor (or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor) in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Plan, and (ii) at any time within the 18-month period following the Change in Control, the Optionee’s Employment is terminated by the Company (or its successor) without Cause or the Optionee terminates his or her Employment for Good Reason, the Stock Option (or the award substituted for the Stock Option), to the extent then outstanding but not then vested, will automatically vest in full at the time of such termination.

If in connection with a Change in Control the Stock Option is not assumed or continued, and a new award is not substituted for the Stock Option by the acquiror or survivor (or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor) in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Plan, the Stock Option, to the extent outstanding immediately prior to such Change in Control but not then vested, will automatically vest in full upon the occurrence of such Change in Control.
		
	(c)
	Exercise of the Stock Option.  No portion of the Stock Option may be exercised until such portion vests.  Each election to exercise any vested portion of the Stock Option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and shall be in writing, signed by the Option Holder (or in such other form as is acceptable to the Administrator).  Each such written exercise election must be received by the Company at its principal office or by such other party as the Administrator may prescribe and be accompanied by payment in full as provided in the Plan.  The exercise price may be paid (i) by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, through a broker-assisted cashless exercise program acceptable to the Administrator, (iii) by such other means, if any, as may be acceptable to the Administrator, or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment.  In the event that the Stock Option is exercised by a person other than the Optionee, the Company will be under no obligation to deliver shares hereunder unless and until it is satisfied as to the authority of the Option Holder to exercise the Stock Option and compliance with applicable securities laws.  The latest date on which the Stock Option or any portion thereof may be exercised will be the 7th anniversary of the Date of Grant (the “Final Exercise Date”); provided, however, if at such time the Optionee is prohibited by applicable law or written Company policy applicable to similarly situated employees from engaging in any open-market sales of Stock, the Final Exercise Date will be automatically extended to thirty (30) days following the date the Optionee is no longer prohibited from engaging in such open-market sales.  If the Stock Option is not exercised by the Final Exercise Date the Stock Option or any remaining portion thereof will thereupon immediately terminate.

		
	(d)
	Treatment of the Stock Option Upon Cessation of Employment.  If the Optionee’s Employment ceases, the Stock Option, to the extent not already vested will be immediately forfeited, and any vested portion of the Stock Option that is then outstanding will be treated as follows:

(i)    Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii) below and Section 4 of this Agreement, the Stock Option, to the extent vested immediately prior to the cessation of the Optionee’s Employment (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting as provided for herein), will remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the date which is three months following the date of such cessation of Employment, or (B) the Final Exercise Date, and except to the extent previously exercised as permitted by this Section 3(c)(i) will thereupon immediately terminate.
(ii)    Subject to clauses (iii) below and Section 4 of this Agreement, the Stock Option, to the extent vested immediately prior to the cessation of the Optionee’s Employment due to death, will remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the Optionee’s death or (B) the Final Exercise Date, and except to the extent previously exercised as permitted by this Section 3(c)(ii) will thereupon immediately terminate.
(iii)    If the Optionee’s Employment is terminated by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with an act or failure to act constituting Cause (as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine), or such termination occurs in circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have entitled the Company and its subsidiaries to terminate the Optionee’s Employment for Cause, the Stock Option (whether or not vested) will immediately terminate and be forfeited upon such termination.
4.    Forfeiture; Recovery of Compensation.  
		
	(a)
	The Administrator may cancel, rescind, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict the Stock Option at any time if the Optionee is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Plan. 

		
	(b)
	The Stock Option is subject to Section 6(a)(5) of the Plan.  The Stock Option (whether or not vested or exercisable) is subject to forfeiture, termination and rescission, and the Optionee will be obligated to return to the Company the value received with respect to the Stock Option (including Shares delivered under the Stock Option, and any gain realized on a subsequent sale or disposition of Shares), (i) upon or in connection with (A) a breach by the Optionee of a non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or similar covenant or agreement with the Company or its subsidiaries or (B) an overpayment to the Optionee of incentive compensation due to inaccurate financial data, (ii) in accordance with Company policy relating to the recovery of erroneously-paid incentive compensation, as such policy may be amended and in effect from time to time, or (iii) as otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  

5.    Transfer of Stock Option. The Stock Option may not be transferred except as expressly permitted under Section 6(a)(3) of the Plan.
6.    Withholding.  The exercise of the Stock Option will give rise to “wages” subject to withholding.  The Optionee expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Optionee’s rights hereunder, including the right to be issued shares upon exercise, are subject to the Optionee promptly paying to the Company in cash (or by such other means as may be acceptable to the Administrator in its discretion) all taxes required to be withheld.  No shares will be transferred pursuant to the exercise of this Stock Option unless and until the person exercising this Stock Option has remitted to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, or local withholding tax requirements, or has made other arrangements satisfactory to the Company with respect to such taxes.  The Optionee authorizes the Company and its subsidiaries to withhold such amount from any amounts otherwise owed to the Optionee, but nothing in this sentence shall be construed as relieving the Optionee of any liability for satisfying his or her obligation under the preceding provisions of this Section.
7.    Effect on Employment.  Neither the grant of the Stock Option, nor the issuance of shares upon exercise of the Stock Option, will give the Optionee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates, affect the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to discharge or discipline such Optionee at any time, or affect any right of such Optionee to terminate his or her Employment at any time.
8.    Stock Ownership Guidelines.  The Stock Option and any Shares delivered under the Stock Option are subject to the Company’s Stock Ownership Guidelines, as adopted on May 15, 2012, as such guidelines may be amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Guidelines”).  The Optionee acknowledges and agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of the Guidelines, including the retention ratios set forth therein.  
9.    Governing Law.  This Agreement and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof will be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
By acceptance of the Stock Option, the undersigned agrees to be subject to the terms of the Plan.  The Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the signature to this Agreement on behalf of the Company is an electronic signature that will be treated as an original signature for all purposes hereunder and (ii) such electronic signature will be binding against the Company and will create a legally binding agreement when this Agreement is countersigned by the Optionee.

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Executed as of the ___ day of [●], [●].

		
	Company:
	DUNKIN’ BRANDS GROUP, INC.

    

By: ______________________________
Name: 
Title: 

		
	Optionee:
	__________________________________

Name:
                    
Address:

-1-Exh_108_NQDCPlan

AMENDED AND RESTATED DUNKIN’ BRANDS, INC. 
NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
March 27, 2013 

ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN    1
ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS    1
ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION    3
3.1. Committee.    3
3.2. Delegation by Committee.    4
3.4. Claims Review Procedure.    4
3.5. Indemnification.    5
3.6. Benefit Funding.    5
ARTICLE 4. SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS    6
ARTICLE 5. DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION    6
5.1. Deferral Elections.    6
5.2. Annual Company Matching Amount.    6
ARTICLE 6. INTEREST EQUIVALENT FACTOR & MEASUREMENT FUNDS    7
6.1. Measurement Funds.    7
6.2. Upon Change of Control.    7
6.3. Crediting/Debiting of Account Balances.    7
ARTICLE 7. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS    10
7.1. Establishment of Accounts.    10
7.2. Adjustments to Accounts.    10
ARTICLE 8. DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNT BENEFITS    10
8.1. Following Separation from Service    10
8.2. In-Service Distribution at Specified Date as Elected by the Participant.    12
8.3. Unforeseeable Emergency.    12
8.4. Disability.    12
8.5. Distributions to Non-Employee Directors.    13
8.6. Change of Control.    13
8.7. Death of Participant.    13
8.8. Tax Withholding.    13
8.9. Default Election.    13
8.10. Compliance with Section 409A.    13
ARTICLE 9. BENEFICIARY BENEFITS    14
ARTICLE 10. NATURE OF CLAIM FOR PAYMENTS    14
ARTICLE 11. ASSIGNMENT OR ALIENATION    14
11.1. Prohibition on Assignment.    14
11.2. Domestic Relations Orders.    15
ARTICLE 12. NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT    16
ARTICLE 13. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN    16
13.1. Right to Amend.    16
13.2. Amendment Required By Law.    16
ARTICLE 14. TERMINATION    16
14.1. Right to Terminate Future Accruals.    16
14.2. Termination and Liquidation of the Plan.    16
ARTICLE 15. MISCELLANEOUS    16
15.1. Entire Agreement.    16
15.2. Payment for the Benefit of an Incapacitated Individual.    17
15.3. Governing Law.    17
15.4. Severability.    17
15.5. Headings and Subheadings.    17

		
	ARTICLE 1.
	ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN 

Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. established the Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective as of January 1, 2005. The purpose of the Plan is to attract, retain and motivate certain executive employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and members of the Board, by providing them with the opportunity to defer receipt of certain amounts of compensation. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained by the employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), 401(a)(1) and 4021(b)(6) of ERISA. It is also intended to be compliant with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan shall be administered in a manner consistent with those intents.
The Plan was amended and restated, effective as of January 1, 2009, to comply with final regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) under Code Section 409A. The Plan is hereby amended and restated, effective as of March [_], 2013 (the “Restatement Date”), to permit members of the Board to participate in the Plan and to permit the deferral of compensation into the Stock Unit Fund.  
		
	ARTICLE 2.
	  DEFINITIONS 

As used herein, the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine gender, and the singular shall include the plural, and the plural, the singular, and the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context. 
“Account” means the separate account for a Participant established pursuant to Article VII, §7.1 which consists of the Participant’s Deferrals and the Annual Company Matching Amounts (if any) (including earnings and losses thereon), which may pass to a Beneficiary pursuant to Article 9. 
“Annual Company Matching Amount” for any one Plan Year shall be the amount determined in accordance with Article V, §5.2. 
“Beneficiary” means any person or persons so designated in accordance with the provision of Article 9. 
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Change of Control” means one of the following circumstances, determined in accordance with Section 409A and IRS regulations issued thereunder and, in each case, only to the extent meeting the requirements of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations: (1) a change in ownership, which occurs when one person (or more than one person acting as a group) acquires ownership of corporate stock constituting more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of stock of the Company; (2) a change in effective control, which occurs when any one person (or more than one person acting as a group) acquires (during the 12-month 

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period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition) ownership of corporate stock constituting 35% or more of the total voting power of stock of the Company, or when a majority of the Board of Directors is replaced during a 12-month period and such new appointments are not supported by a majority of the members of the current Board; or (3) a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation, which occurs when one person (or more than one person acting as a group) acquires (during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person) assets from the corporation that have a gross fair market value of at least 40% of the total gross fair market value of all assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisitions. 
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
“Committee” means a committee of no less that two and no more than five persons appointed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or President who is responsible for the administration of the plan and/or, to the extent necessary or desirable under applicable law, including Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Compensation Committee of the Board. 
“Company” means Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. 
“Deferral Date” is defined in Section 8.2. 
“Deferrals” means Eligible Deferral Compensation credited to a Participant’s Account during a calendar year as a result of a Participant’s elections pursuant to Section 5.1, plus, except where the context otherwise requires, amounts attributable to amounts deferred during such calendar year (i.e., earnings and losses). 
“Eligible Deferral Compensation” means (as applicable) a Participant’s base salary, annual cash bonus, executive perquisite allowance, director retainer or meeting fees paid in cash and, if and to the extent designated by the Committee in respect of a Plan Year, with respect to Non-Employee Directors, equity-based awards (other than stock options) and, with respect to all Participants, other designated compensation.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 
“Fixed Rate Fund” means a Measurement Fund, as may be selected by the Committee from time to time, that measures investment performance by an annual interest equivalent factor established by the Committee from time to time. 
“401(k) Savings Plan” means the qualified 401(k) Savings Plan offered by the Company to employees meeting the proper service requirements. 
“Investment Designation Form” means a form prescribed by the Committee and submitted by the Participant in accordance with Section 6.3.

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“Measurement Funds” means the funds, as selected by the Committee, to be used as a performance measure when designated by a Participant for investment of amounts in the Participant’s Account in accordance with Article VI. 
“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
“Participant” means an executive or other senior management-level employee who becomes eligible to participate in the Plan and who is so notified of such eligibility, as provided in Article 4, or a Non-Employee Director, in either case, who elects to participate in the Plan, in accordance with Article 4. 
“Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation, the amount of which or entitlement to which, is contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months; provided that such performance criteria are established in writing not later than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the criteria relate and that the outcome is not substantially certain at the time the criteria are established. 
“Plan” means the Amended and Restated Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan as set forth herein, as amended and in effect from time to time. 
“Plan Year” means the calendar year. 
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
“Stock” means the Company’s common stock or any other equity security of the Company (or its successor) designated by the Committee from time to time.
“Stock Unit” shall mean a unit that is equivalent in value to one share of Stock.
“Stock Unit Fund” means the Measurement Fund notionally invested in Stock.
“Trust” means the trust fund established pursuant to the Plan under the Trust Agreement. 
“Trust Agreement” means the Trust Agreement dated as of May 17, 1999, as subsequently amended, or any successor trust agreement, as in effect from time to time. 
“Trustee” means the trustee named in the Trust Agreement establishing the Trust and such successor and/or additional trustees, as may be named thereafter establishing the Trust
		
	ARTICLE 3.
	   ADMINISTRATION 

3.1.    Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee is the administrator of the Plan and shall have full discretionary authority to (i) interpret the provisions of the Plan, (ii) except as otherwise provided in the Plan, determine the amount of various types of Eligible Deferral Compensation for a Plan Year, and (iii) decide all questions 

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and settle all disputes which may arise in connection with the Plan, including the power to determine the rights of Participants and Beneficiaries, and to remedy any ambiguities, inconsistencies, or omissions in the Plan. All interpretations, decisions and determinations made by the Committee shall be binding on all persons concerned. No action of the Committee may reduce the amount of a Participant’s Account below the amount of such Account immediately before such action. No member of the Committee who is a Participant in the Plan may vote or otherwise participate in any decision or act with respect to a matter relating solely to himself (or to his Beneficiaries). The Committee may adopt such rules of procedure and regulations as may be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan. 
3.2.    Delegation by Committee. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide by written resolution or as required by applicable law or as otherwise set forth herein, the Committee expressly delegates its duties and responsibilities under Section 3.1 (except for the duty to establish eligibility criteria under Article 4) to the Vice President Human Resources or such other person or persons as may be nominated by the Committee, who may further expressly delegate certain of such duties and responsibilities to other employees of the Company or outside persons or entities. For purposes of the Plan, any action taken by any such delegate pursuant to such delegation shall be considered to have been taken by the Committee. 
3.3.    Claims Review Procedure. 
(a)    The Committee shall notify Participants and, where appropriate, Beneficiaries, of their right to claim benefits under the claims procedures, and may, if appropriate, make forms available for filing of such claims, and shall provide the name of the person(s) with whom such claims should be filed. 
(b)    The Committee shall establish procedures for action upon claims initially made and the communication of a decision to the claimant promptly and, in any event, not later than 90 days after the claim is received by the Committee, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If an extension is required, notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the end of the initial 90-day period, which notice shall indicate the reasons for the extension and the expected decision date. The extension shall not exceed 90 days. The claim may be deemed by the claimant to have been denied for purposes of further review described below in the event a decision is not furnished to the claimant within the period described in the three preceding sentences. Every claim for benefits which is denied shall be denied by written notice setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant (i) the specific reason or reasons for the denial, (ii) specific reference to any provisions of the Plan on which denial is based, (iii) description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect his claim with an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) an explanation of the procedures for further reviewing the denial of the claim under the Plan, including the time limits applicable to such procedures, and accompanied by a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review. 
(c)    The Committee shall establish a procedure for review of claim denials, such review to be undertaken by the Committee. The review given after denial of any claim shall be a 

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full and fair review with the claimant (or his duly authorized representative) having 60 days after receipt of denial of his claim or after the date of the deemed denial, to request in writing to the Committee a review of the denial notice. Upon such request for review, the claim shall be reviewed by the Committee (or its designated representative). In connection with such review, the claimant has the right to review all pertinent documents and the right to submit documents, records, issues, comments and other information in writing, all of which shall be taken into account regardless of whether it was submitted in the initial benefit determination. The claimant shall be provided upon request, and at no charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits. 
(d)    The Committee shall establish a procedure for issuance of a decision by the Committee not later than 60 days after receipt of a request for review from a claimant unless special circumstances, such as the need to hold a hearing, require a longer period of time, in which case the Committee shall furnish a notice of extension to the claimant prior to the termination of the 60 day period; provided, however, that in no case will the extension exceed a period of 60 days from the end of the initial period of review.  The decision on review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant with specific reference to any provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based.   The decision on review shall 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 a statement of the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.  The written decision on review shall be given to the claimant within the applicable time limit discussed above.  If the decision on review is not communicated within the time periods described in the preceding sentences, the claim shall be deemed to have been denied upon review.  All discussions on review shall be final and binding with respect to all concerned parties. 
3.4.    Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and to defend to the fullest possible extent permitted by law any member of the Committee and any Company employee delegatee (including any persons who formerly served as a member of the Committee) against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in settlement of any claims approved by the Company) occasioned by any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan, if such act or omission was made in good faith. 
3.5.    Benefit Funding.  Except as herein provided, the Company shall not be required to set aside or segregate any assets of any kind to meet its obligations hereunder. 
To assist in meeting its obligations under the Plan, the Company has caused the Trust to be established, of which the Company is treated as the owner under Subpart E of Subchapter J, Chapter I of the Code and may deposit funds with the Trustee of the Trust. The Trust is a rabbi trust which allows its assets to be subject to the Company’s creditors in the event of dissolution or insolvency. 
Upon a Change of Control, the Company shall promptly appoint an independent discretionary Trustee (which may not be the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate) for the Trust, and, if at the time of a Change of Control, the Trust has not been fully funded, the 

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Company shall, within the time and manner specified under such Trust, deposit in such Trust amounts sufficient to satisfy all obligations under the Plan as of the date of deposit. 
In all events, the Company shall remain ultimately liable for the benefits payable under this Plan, and to the extent the assets at the disposal of the Trustee are insufficient to enable the Trustee to satisfy all benefits, the Company shall pay all such benefits necessary to meet its obligations under this Plan. 
The obligations of the Company hereunder shall be binding upon its successors and assigns, whether by merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of its business or assets.
		
	ARTICLE 4.
	   SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS 

The Committee shall select, or shall establish the applicable criteria for determining, the executive or other senior management-level employees of the Company (or its subsidiaries) who are, or will remain, eligible to participate in the Plan. When an employee has been selected to participate in the Plan, he will be notified by the Committee in writing and given the opportunity to elect to defer Eligible Deferral Compensation under the Plan.  In addition, all Non-Employee Directors are automatically eligible to participate in the Plan and will be given the opportunity to elect to defer Eligible Deferral Compensation under the Plan.  An eligible employee or Non-Employee Director who elects to participate in the Plan is hereinafter referred to as a “Participant.”
		
	ARTICLE 5.
	   DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION 

5.1.    Deferral Elections. Prior to December 31st of a calendar year, a Participant may irrevocably elect, in accordance with this Article and Article 8, to defer receipt of all or part of his/her Eligible Deferral Compensation to be earned in the succeeding calendar year; provided, however, that unless the Committee consents, such deferred amount for the year may not be less than $5,000. In order to participate in the Plan, an eligible employee or Non-Employee Director must complete and execute (to the satisfaction of the Committee) and return to the Committee a deferral election (in a form prescribed by the Committee) in the time period prescribed by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant’s election to defer Performance-Based Compensation may be made no later than six months before the end of the performance period to which the Performance-Based Compensation relates but in no event after such compensation has become readily ascertainable. In addition, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee, a Participant may elect, within 30 days of obtaining a legally binding right to any Eligible Deferral Compensation that is subject to a requirement that the Participant continue to provide services for a period of at least 12 months from the date the Participant obtains the legally binding right to avoid forfeiture of such Eligible Deferral Compensation, to defer receipt of such Eligible Deferral Compensation; provided, however, that such election must be made at least 12 months in advance of the earliest date at which the forfeiture condition could lapse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, a Participant may also make an election to defer his/her Eligible Deferral Compensation under the Plan within the first 30 days of him or her first becoming eligible to participate in the Plan; 

6

provided, however, that such election will only apply to Eligible Deferral Compensation earned after the date of such election.
5.2.    Annual Company Matching Amount. For each Plan Year, the Company, in its sole discretion, may, but is not required to, credit Annual Company Matching Amounts to the account of any Participant. A Participant’s Annual Company Matching Amount for a Plan Year shall be equal to a contribution of 5% of the amount of his/her Deferrals for the Plan Year that, if not made, would have been taken into account as eligible compensation under the 401(k) Savings Plan or such other amount as is determined by the Committee. If a Participant is not employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries as of the last day of a Plan Year other than by reason of his or her retirement, disability or death, the Annual Company Matching Amount for such Plan Year shall be zero. In the event that a Participant is not employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries on the last day of the Plan Year by reason of retirement, disability or death, a Participant shall be credited with the Annual Company Matching Amount for the Plan Year in which he/she retires, becomes disabled, or dies.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Participant who is a Non-Employee Director during a Plan Year shall not be entitled to an Annual Company Matching Amount for such Plan Year.
		
	ARTICLE 6.
	   INTEREST EQUIVALENT FACTOR & MEASUREMENT FUNDS 

6.1.    Measurement Funds. The Participant may elect one or more of the Measurement Funds selected by the Committee from time to time; provided, however, that unless otherwise permitted or required by the Committee (but only to the extent permitted or required, as applicable), all Deferrals by Non-Employee Directors will be allocated to the Stock Unit Fund; and provided, further, that, except to the extent permitted by the Committee, no Participant other than a Non-Employee Director may allocate any portion of his or her Deferrals to the Stock Unit Fund.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion discontinue, substitute, add or delete a Measurement Fund. Each such action will take effect as of the first day of the calendar quarter that follows by thirty (30) days the day on which the Committee gives Participants advance written notice of such change. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may substitute measurement funds at any time as it deems necessary and appropriate for growth or performance reasons. 
6.2.    Upon Change of Control. For the first 12 months after a Change of Control, the annual interest equivalent factor applied to a Fixed Rate Fund, if a Fixed Rate Fund is selected by the Committee prior to a Change of Control, shall not be less than the highest annual interest equivalent factors applicable during the 24 months prior to the Change of Control. Further, for the first 12 months after a Change of Control, any Measurement Funds in existence prior to a Change in Control shall continue to be made available; provided, however, that following a Change in Control there shall be no obligation to make available the Stock Unit Fund. 
6.3.    Crediting/Debiting of Account Balances. In accordance with, and subject to, the rules and procedures that are established from time to time by the Committee, in its sole discretion, amounts shall be credited or debited to a Participant’s Account in accordance with the following rules: 

7

(a)    Election of Measurement Funds. Subject to Section 6.1, a Participant, in connection with his or her initial deferral election in accordance with Section 5.1 above, shall designate, on an Investment Designation Form, one or more Measurement Fund(s) to be used to determine the additional amounts to be credited or debited to his or her Account starting with the first day on which the Participant commences participation in the Plan and continuing thereafter for each subsequent day that the Participant participates in the Plan, unless changed in accordance with the next sentence. On each day that the Participant participates in the Plan, subject to Section 6.1 and except as provided in Section 6.3(d) below as it relates to the Stock Unit Fund, the Participant may (but is not required to) elect, by submitting an Investment Designation Form to the Committee that is accepted by the Committee, to add or delete one or more Measurement Fund(s) to be used to determine the additional amounts to be credited to his or her Account Balance, or to change the portion of his or her Account Balance allocated to each previously or newly elected Measurement Fund.  If an election is made in accordance with the previous sentence, it shall apply to the next day and continue thereafter for each subsequent day in which the Participant participates in the Plan, unless changed in accordance with the previous sentence. 
(b)    Proportionate Allocation. In making any investment designation described in Section 6.3(a) above, the Participant shall specify on the Investment Designation Form, in increments of 1 percentage points (i.e., 1%), the percentage of his Account Balance to be allocated to a Measurement Fund (as if the Participant was making an investment in that Measurement Fund with that portion of his or her Account Balance) 
(c)    Crediting or Debiting Method. The performance of each elected Measurement Fund (either positive or negative) will be determined, by the Committee, in its sole discretion, based on the performance of the Measurement Funds themselves. Subject to Section 6.3(d), a Participant’s Account balance shall be credited or debited on a daily basis based on the performance of each Measurement Fund designated by the Participant, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as though (a) his Account balance were invested in the Measurement Fund(s) designated by the Participant, in the percentages applicable to such calendar quarter, as of the close of business on the first business day of such calendar quarter, at the closing price on such date; (b) the portion of the Annual Deferral Amount that was actually deferred during any calendar quarter were invested in the Measurement Fund(s) selected by the Participant, in the percentages applicable to such calendar quarter, no later than the close of business on the third business day after the day on which such amounts are actually deferred from the Participant’s base annual salary or other Eligible Deferral Compensation through reductions in his or her payroll or reductions in the amounts that otherwise would be paid, at the closing price on such date; (c) the Participant’s Annual Company Matching Amount were invested in the Measurement Fund(s) selected by the Participant, in the percentages applicable to such calendar quarter, as of the close of business on the first business day of the Plan Year following the Plan Year to which it relates; and (d) any distribution made to a Participant that decreases such Participant’s Account Balance ceased being invested in the Measurement Fund(s), in the percentages applicable to such calendar quarter, on the seventh business day prior to the requested distribution date, at the closing price on such date. 

8

(d)    Investment in Stock Unit Fund.  
(i)    Subject to Section 6.1, a Participant may elect at the time of deferral to have a portion or all of his or her Eligible Deferral Compensation credited to the Stock Unit Fund on the date such Eligible Deferral Compensation would otherwise have been paid; it being understood that any Eligible Deferral Compensation that, absent deferral, would be settled in Stock shall automatically be allocated to the Stock Unit Fund and may not be allocated to any other Measurement Fund, except as determined by the Committee and, subject to Section 6.1, all Non-Employee Director Deferrals shall be allocated to the Stock Unit Fund.  The amount credited to the Stock Unit Fund on an applicable date will be a number of Stock Units equal to the number of shares of Stock that could have been purchased on such date with the amount so deferred had such amount been applied to such purchase using the closing price for the Stock reported on the Nasdaq Global Market (or, if the Stock is not then traded on the Nasdaq Global Market, the fair market value of such Stock as determined by the Committee), rounded down to the nearest whole share. Except to the extent permitted by the Committee, amounts credited to the Stock Unit Fund shall not be permitted to be subsequently reallocated to any other Measurement Fund.  Subject to Section 6(d)(iv) below, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, amounts allocated to the Stock Unit Fund shall be distributable in the form of Stock.
(ii)    Notional earnings credited to the Stock Unit Fund, including dividends declared with respect to Stock, shall remain allocated to such Stock Unit Fund and deemed to be reinvested in additional Stock Units until such amounts are distributed to the Participant or reallocated in accordance with Section 6.3(d)(i) above, except as otherwise determined by the Committee. In the case of a stock dividend, the number of additional Stock Units credited to the Stock Unit Fund shall be equal to the number of Stock Units multiplied the by per share Stock dividend (including fractional shares) declared by the Company, rounded down to the nearest whole share. In the case of a cash dividend, the number of additional Stock Units credited to the Stock Unit Fund shall be equal to the cash dividend times the number of Stock Units allocated to the Participant’s Account, divided by the fair market value of a share of Stock as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, rounded down to the nearest whole share.  
(iii)    The number of Stock Units credited to the Participant’s Stock Unit Fund shall be adjusted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights with respect to the portion of his or her Account balance allocated to the Stock Unit Fund in the event of any reorganization, reclassification, stock split, or other corporate transaction or event which, in the Committee’s determination, affects the value of the Stock.
(iv)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent required under applicable law, including applicable listing standards, any Stock Units settled in shares of Stock shall reduce the number of shares available for grant under the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.  To the extent required under applicable law, including applicable listing standards, if the Committee determines that settlement of Stock Units in shares of Stock could reasonably be expected to result in an issuance of shares of Stock in excess of the limit set forth under such plan (as the same may from time to 

9

time be increased by amendment, subject to shareholder approval to the extent required), the Committee may require that a portion or all of the Stock Units in affected Participants’ Accounts be settled in cash.
(e)    Incomplete Investment Designation Forms.  If the Committee receives a Participant’s Investment Designation Form which it finds to be incomplete, unclear or improper, the Participant’s investment designation then in effect shall remain in effect until the next calendar quarter unless the Committee provides for or permits the application of corrective action before that date. 
(f)    Default Investment.  Subject to Section 6.1 and 6.3(d), if the Committee does not receive an Investment Designation Form from the Participant at the time the initial deferral amounts are credited into the Participant’s Account or if the Committee possesses at any time designations as to the investment of less than all of a Participant’s Account balance, the Participant shall be considered to have designated that the undesignated portion of the Account be deemed to be invested in the investment option selected by the Committee from time to time, and the Committee shall not be liable for the investment option(s) it selects. 
(g)    No Actual Investment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan that may be interpreted to the contrary, the Measurement Funds are to be used for measurement purposes only, and a Participant’s designation of any such Measurement Fund, the allocation to his or her Account balance thereto, the calculation of additional amounts and the crediting or debiting of such amounts to a Participant’s Account shall not be considered or construed in any manner as an actual investment of his or her Account in any such Measurement Fund. In the event that the Company or the Trustee (as that term is defined in the Trust), in its own discretion, decides to invest funds in any or all of the Measurement Funds, no Participant shall have any rights in or to such investments themselves. Without limiting the foregoing, a Participant’s Account Balance shall at all times be a recordkeeping entry only and shall not represent any investment made on his or her behalf by the Company or the Trust. The Participant shall at all times remain an unsecured creditor of the Company. No provision in the Plan shall be interpreted so as to give any Participant or Beneficiary any right in any of assets of the Company or the Trust which right it greater than the rights of any general unsecured creditor of the Company. 
		
	ARTICLE 7.
	   PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS 

7.1.    Establishment of Accounts. The Committee shall establish a separate Account for each Participant reflecting the amounts due the Participant under the Plan and shall cause the Company to establish on its books Accounts reflecting the Company’s obligation to pay Participants the amounts due under the Plan. 
7.2.    Adjustments to Accounts. From time to time, the Committee shall adjust each Participant’s Account to credit amounts (i) the Participant has elected to defer under Article 5; (ii) the Annual Company Matching Amounts the Company has contributed under Article 5 (if any); and (iii) amounts based on the annual interest equivalent factors for a Fixed Rate Fund, if a Fixed Rate Fund is selected by the Committee and elected by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and/or gains or losses based on the applicable allocations in the other 

10

Measurement Funds (including the Stock Unit Fund), determined under Article 6. A Participant’s Account shall also be adjusted to reflect benefit payments and withdrawals under Article 8. A Participant’s Account shall continue to be adjusted under this Article 7 until the entire amount credited to the Account has been paid to the Participant or his/her Beneficiary. 
		
	ARTICLE 8.
	   DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNT BENEFITS 

The Participant’s Account benefits may not be distributed earlier than: (i) a separation from service; (ii) disability (as defined in Section 8.4 below); (iii) unforeseeable emergency (as defined in Section 8.3 below); (iv) a Change in Control; or (v) a specified date as elected by the Participant under the terms of the Plan. The manner and form of payment of the Account benefits with respect to each event is described below. 
8.1.    Following Separation from Service 
(h)    Forms of Distribution. Subject to Sections 8.1(b), (c), (d) and (e) and Section 8.5, a Participant may elect in writing the manner in which his/her entire Account (other than amounts distributed prior to separation from service in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.7) is to be distributed, from among the following options: 
	
			
	 
	(i)
	A lump sum within 90 days after the Participant’s separation from service;

 
	
			
	 
	(ii)
	A lump sum within 90 days after the later of (1) the Participant’s separation from service or (2) a specified date which date is not later than the Participant’s 65th birthday; 

 
	
			
	 
	(iii)
	In up to 15 annual installments, commencing within 90 days after the Participant’s separation from service; or

 
	
			
	 
	(iv)
	In up to 15 annual installments, commencing within 90 days after the later of (1) the Participant’s separation from service or (2) a specified date which date is not later than the Participant’s 65th birthday.

	 
	 
	 

(i)    Timing of Distribution Election. A distribution election under Section 8.1(a) must be submitted to the Committee at the time a Participant makes an initial or annual election to defer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who has elected to receive payment at a time and in a form described in Section 8.1(a) may file a changed election with the Committee; provided, however, that: (i) the election is filed with the Committee at least 12 months before the initial distribution date (i.e. , the date the lump sum or the first installment is supposed to be paid); (ii) the changed election does not take effect for 12 months after the date on which the changed election was filed and (iii) the changed election provides that the initial distribution date (i.e., the date the lump sum or the first installment is supposed to be paid) is deferred at least five years from the date it was otherwise scheduled. 

11

(j)    Termination Before Age 50. Notwithstanding Sections 8.1(a) and (b), if a Participant separates from service before age 50, the Participant’s Account will be paid in a lump sum within 90 days after the Participant’s separation from service. 
(k)    Automatic Lump Sums. In the event a Participant’s Account is equal to or less than $10,000 as of the date of separation from service, the Participant’s Account shall be fully paid within 90 days after the Participant’s separation from service. 
(l)    Delay of Distribution to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and IRS regulations issued thereunder, as of the Participant’s separation from service, then the payment of any amounts payable under the Plan shall be postponed in compliance with Section 409A and IRS regulations issued thereunder (without any reduction in such payments ultimately paid or provided to the Participant) until the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six months following the Participant’s separation from service. Any such postponed payments will be paid in a lump sum to the Participant on the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six months following the Participant’s separation from service. If the Participant dies during the postponement period prior to the payment of the postponed amount, the amounts withheld under this Section 8.1(e) shall be paid pursuant to Article 9. 
8.2.    In-Service Distribution at Specified Date as Elected by the Participant. At the time of the initial or annual deferral election in accordance with Article 5, a Participant may elect to receive payment in a lump sum of a selected amount or percentage of the total amounts deferred pursuant to such election and interest earnings credited thereto in accordance with Article 6 at a specified date (“Deferral Date”). Such election shall be effective only if the Participant is providing services to the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates on the Deferral Date. Thus, if the Participant separates from service prior to the Deferral Date, any amount subject to an election made pursuant to this Section 8.2 shall be paid in accordance with the election made by the Participant under Sections 8.1(a) or 8.1(b), if any. If the Participant has not made any election under Section 8.1(a) or 8.1(b), or if the Participant’s separation from service occurs prior to his 50th birthday, any amount subject to an election made pursuant to this Section 8.2 shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum within 90 days following his separation from service. 
Each In-Service Distribution elected shall be paid in the month and Plan Year designated by the Participant that is at least three (3) Plan Years after the Plan Year in which the Annual Deferral Amount is actually deferred. By way of example, if a three year In-Service Distribution is elected for Annual Deferral Amounts that are deferred in the Plan Year commencing January 1, 2013, the three year In-Service Distribution would become payable during the designated month commencing in 2017. 
Participants may file a changed election with the Committee to further defer their In-Service Distributions, provided that: (i) the election is filed with Committee at least 12 months before the initial distribution date; (ii) the changed distribution date is at least 5 years from the date the payment was to be made under the initial election; and (iii) the changed election shall not take effect for 12 months after the date on which the changed election was filed. 

12

8.3.    Unforeseeable Emergency. If prior to separation from service a Participant suffers an unforeseeable emergency due to circumstances beyond his control, the Participant may receive a distribution of all or any part of his Account if he has no other assets available to meet his financial hardship or the financial hardship cannot be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise. An unforeseeable emergency is defined as a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. In no event shall the aggregate amount of the distribution exceed the amount determined by the Committee to be reasonably necessary to alleviate the Participant’s financial hardship and the anticipated taxes thereon. 
8.4.    Disability. Notwithstanding Section 8.1. and 8.2, if prior to separation from service, a Participant becomes totally disabled, the Participant shall within 90 days thereafter receive a lump sum distribution of his Account. For purposes of the Plan, a Participant is totally disabled when the employee is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 
8.5.    Distributions to Non-Employee Directors.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, except as otherwise determined by the Committee and subject to Section 8.6 and Article 14 of the Plan, all distributions made to Participants who are Non-Employee Directors shall be made in a single lump sum within 90 days after the date of the Participant’s separation from service, regardless of the reason for such separation.
8.6.    Change of Control. If upon a Change of Control, the Committee or Company determines to terminate and liquidate the Plan as permitted in Article 14, §14.2, distributions may be made in accordance with that section.
8.7.    Death of Participant.    Unless otherwise provided in Article IX, in the event of the Participant’s death, the entire balance of the Participant’s account will be distributed to the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s estate, as applicable, in a single lump sum within 90 days after the date of the Participant’s death.
8.8.    Tax Withholding.  To the extent required by applicable law, federal, state, and other taxes shall be withheld from a distribution.  In addition, the Committee may require that a Participant’s cash or other compensation be reduced to satisfy any such taxes with respect to any deferral, or vesting of any amount deferred, under the Plan or may require that a Participant make other arrangements for the payment of such taxes (which other arrangements may include, if the Committee so determines, but shall not be limited to, a reduction in the Participant’s Account balance to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code).  
8.9.    Default Election. If a Participant has an Account hereunder but the Committee, for any reason whatsoever, does not have an election made by the Participant under Section 8.1 or 8.2 after reasonable due diligence to locate same, such Participant’s Account shall be paid to him in a lump sum within 90 days following his separation from service. 

13

8.10.    Compliance with Section 409A. 
(a)    For purposes of this Plan, references to termination of employment, retirement, separation from service and similar or correlative terms mean a “separation from service” (as defined at Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations.  The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred.  Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan.
(b)    The Plan is intended to, and shall, be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  If the implementation of any of the foregoing provisions of the Plan would subject the Participants to taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the implementation of such provision shall be modified to avoid such taxes and penalties to the maximum extent possible while preserving to the maximum extent possible the benefits intended to be provided to Participants under the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company nor any subsidiary, nor the Committee, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any subsidiary, or the Committee, will be liable to any Participant or to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of the Plan to satisfy the requirements Section 409A of the Code.
		
	ARTICLE 9.
	   BENEFICIARY BENEFITS 

A Participant, on a form approved by the Committee, may designate a Beneficiary, or change any prior designation, to receive the remaining balance of his Account upon his death.  A distribution election for payment of death benefits under Article 9 must be submitted to the Committee at the time the Participant makes the initial election to defer. 
With respect to Deferrals made prior to the Restatement Date, payments to a Beneficiary under this Article 9 shall be made in the same manner as designated by a Participant upon his death.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if a Participant dies after annual installments have commenced, the Beneficiary shall receive any remaining installments in accordance with the Participant’s installment election. Notwithstanding the preceding two sentences, if a Beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before the Participant’s entire Account has been distributed, the remaining balance of, the Participant’s Account balance shall be distributed in a lump sum to the Beneficiary’s estate as soon as practicable following receipt of notice of the Beneficiary’s death.  If no Beneficiary is designated (or if a designated Beneficiary does not survive the Participant), the Participant’s Account balance shall be paid to the Participant’s estate in a lump sum as soon as practicable following receipt of notice of the Participant’s death.
With respect to Deferrals made on and after the Restatement Date, upon the death of the Participant, the entire balance of the Participant’s Account shall be distributed to the Beneficiary 

14

(or if no Beneficiary is designated or the Beneficiary does not survive the Participant, the Participant’s estate) in a single lump sum within 90 days of the date of the Participant’s death.
ARTICLE 10.     NATURE OF CLAIM FOR PAYMENTS 
A Participant shall have no right on account of the Plan in or to any specific assets of the Company or the Trust. Any right to any payment the Participant may have on account of the Plan shall be solely that of a general, unsecured creditor of the Company. 
ARTICLE 11.     ASSIGNMENT OR ALIENATION 
11.1.    Prohibition on Assignment. Except as provided in Section 11.2 or as otherwise required by law, the interest hereunder of any Participant or Beneficiary shall not be alienable by the Participant or Beneficiary by assignment or any other method and will not be subject to be taken by his creditors by any process whatsoever, and any attempt to cause such interest to be so subjected shall not be recognized. 
In the event that a Participant’s Account is garnished or attached by order of any Court, the Company may bring an action for a declaratory judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction to determine the proper recipient of the benefits to be paid under the Plan. During the pendency of said action, any benefits that become payable shall be held as credits to the Participant’s Account or, if the Company prefers, paid into the court to be distributable to the proper recipient. 
11.2.    Domestic Relations Orders. 
(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 9, if the Committee receives a Qualified Domestic Relations Order as described in Section 11.2(b) prior to the Participant’s Account balance being distributed, all or portion of the Participant’s Account balance under the Plan may be paid to the person as specified in such order. 
(b)    A “Qualified Domestic Relations Order” means a judgment, decree, or order (including the approval of a settlement agreement) which: 
	
			
	 
	(i)
	is issued pursuant to a State’s domestic relations law;

 
	
			
	 
	(ii)
	relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of the Participant;

 
	
			
	 
	(iii)
	creates or recognizes the right of a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of the Participant to receive all or a portion of the Participant’s benefits under the Plan;

 

15

	
			
	 
	(iv)
	clearly specifies the name of the Plan to which such order applies and the name and the last known mailing address of the Participant and each alternate payee covered by the order;

 
	
			
	 
	(v)
	clearly specifies the amount or percentage of the Participant’s benefits to be paid by the Plan to each such alternate payee, or the manner in which such amount or percentage is to be determined;

 
	
			
	 
	(vi)
	does not require the payment of benefits to an alternate payee which are required to be paid to another alternate payee under another order previously determined to be a Qualified Domestic Relations order; and

 
	
			
	 
	(vii)
	meets such other requirements as established by the Committee.

	 
	 
	 

(c)    The Committee shall determine whether any order received by it is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order within the meaning of Article 11, §11.2. In making this determination, the Committee may consider (but is not required to): 
 
	
			
	 
	(i)
	the rules applicable to “domestic relations orders” under section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 206(d) of ERISA;

 
	
			
	 
	(ii)
	the procedures used under the 401(k) Savings Plan to determine the qualified status of domestic relations orders; and

 
	
			
	 
	(iii)
	such other rules and procedures as it deems relevant. 

ARTICLE 12.     NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT 
The Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment or other service between the Company and any Participant, or to be consideration for the employment or other service of any Participant. Nothing contained herein shall give any Participant the right to be retained in the employment or other service of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment or other service. 
ARTICLE 13.     AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN 
13.1.    Right to Amend. The Plan may be altered or amended in writing by the Committee or the Company, in any manner and at any time and all parties hereto or claiming any interest hereunder shall be bound by such amendment. However, no such alteration or amendment shall reduce the amount of a Participant’s Account or his or her rights to such 

16

Account as determined under the provisions of the Plan in effect immediately prior to such alteration or amendment. 
13.2.    Amendment Required By Law. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1, the Committee or the Company may amend the Plan any time, retroactively if required, if found necessary in the opinion of legal counsel to the Committee or the Company to ensure that: (i) the Plan is characterized as a non-tax-qualified plan of deferred compensation under Section 409A; (ii) the Participants do not incur tax penalties under Section 409A; (iii) the Trust is characterized as a grantor trust as described in Sections 671-679 of the Code and a rabbi trust as described in Rev. Proc. 92- 64; and (iv) the Plan and the Trust conform to the provisions and requirements of any other applicable law, including Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), 401(a)(1) and 4021(b)(6) of ERISA. 
ARTICLE 14.     TERMINATION 
14.1.    Right to Terminate Future Accruals. The Committee and Company reserve the right, at any time, to terminate future accruals under the Plan; provided, however, that no such termination shall deprive any Participant or Beneficiary of a right accrued hereunder prior to the date of termination. 
14.2.    Termination and Liquidation of the Plan. The Committee and Company reserve the right to terminate and liquidate the Plan through the payment of all benefits hereunder in the circumstances permitted under IRS regulations issued under Section 409A and any such other circumstances specified in guidance of general applicability issued by the Internal Revenue Commissioner. 
ARTICLE 15.     MISCELLANEOUS 
15.1.    Entire Agreement. This plan document for the Plan contains the entire agreement between the Company and the Participants regarding the Plan and there are no promises or understandings of any kind regarding the Plan other than those stated herein. 
15.2.    Payment for the Benefit of an Incapacitated Individual. If the Committee of the 401(k) Savings Plan determines that payments due to a Participant under the 401(k) Savings Plan must be paid to another individual because of a Participant’s incapacitation, benefits under the Plan will be paid to that same individual designated for that purpose under the applicable provisions of the 401(k) Savings Plan. 
15.3.    Governing Law. The Plan will be construed, administered, and governed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to the extent not preempted by federal law. 
15.4.    Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to be fully effective. 

17

15.5.    Headings and Subheadings. Headings and subheadings are inserted for convenience only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions of the Plan. 
[Signature page follows] 

18

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan, as amended and restated hereunder, is adopted by the Committee or the Company on March 27, 2013, and is executed by a duly authorized officer of Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. as of the date indicated below. 
 
	
			
	 
	 
	 

	DUNKIN’ BRANDS, INC.
130 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021

	 

	 /s/ Ted Manley

	 
	 

	By:
	 
	Ted Manley

	Title:
	 
	Vice President, Total Rewards and H.R. Operations

	Date:
	 
	4/29/2013

 

19

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