Document:

Praxair Compensation Deferral Program

 Exhibit 10.07 
 PRAXAIR COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PROGRAM 
 Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2005

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  

					
	 	 	 	  	PAGE
	SECTION 1:	 	PURPOSE	  	1
			
	SECTION 2:	 	DEFINITIONS	  	1
			
	SECTION 3:	 	ADMINISTRATION	  	8
			
	SECTION 4:	 	ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE	  	8
			
	SECTION 5:	 	PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES	  	10
			
	SECTION 6:	 	BENEFICIARIES	  	16
			
	SECTION 7:	 	EARNINGS ACCRUALS	  	16
			
	SECTION 8:	 	GENERAL PROVISIONS	  	17

 PRAXAIR COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PROGRAM 
 SECTION 1: PURPOSE 
 The purpose of the Praxair
Compensation Deferral Program (the “Plan”) is to provide: (i) Eligible Employees an opportunity to annually elect in advance to defer a portion or all of their Variable Compensation Awards granted pursuant to Praxair’s Variable
Compensation Plans; (ii) Designated Employees an opportunity to annually elect in advance to defer a portion or all of their base salaries; and (iii) Eligible Employees with Praxair contributions lost under the Savings Plan because of the
limitations imposed under Code Section 401(a)(17). For Plan Years prior to January 1, 2006, all Eligible Employees were permitted to elect to defer all or a portion of their base salaries. 
 SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS 
 2.1 “Affiliate”
means any entity, whether or not incorporated, which is treated as a single employer with the Corporation under Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o), provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether a Participant has incurred a
Separation from Service under the Plan, Code Sections 414(b) and (c) shall be applied using an “at least 50 percent” common ownership threshold in lieu of the “at least 80 percent” threshold otherwise applicable. 

2.2 “Beneficiary” means the person, persons or estate entitled (as determined under Section 6) to receive payment under the Plan
following a Participant’s death. 
 2.3 “Board” means the Corporation’s Board of Directors. 
  

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 2.4 “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events with respect to
the Corporation: 
 (a) during a 12-month period, a majority of the individuals who constitute the Board are replaced by directors whose
appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; 
 (b) any
one person, or more than one person acting as a group, becomes owner as defined in Section 318(a) of the Code (or has become owner during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group), of stock
of the Corporation possessing 30 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that the event described in this paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the
following acquisitions: (i) by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) by any underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities; or 
 (c) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has
acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) assets from the Corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 80 percent of the total gross fair market
value of all of the assets of the Corporation immediately prior to such acquisition(s); provided, however, that a transfer of assets by the Corporation is not treated as a Change in Control if the assets are transferred to: (i) a shareholder of
the Corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock; (ii) an entity, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation;
(iii) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of all outstanding stock of the Corporation; or (iv) an entity, at least 50 percent of the
total value 

  

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or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in the previous subsection (iii). For purposes of this paragraph,
(1) gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets, and (2) a person’s status is
determined immediately after the transfer of the assets; or 
 (d) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, becomes owner,
as defined in Section 318(a) of the Code, of stock of the Corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of stock of the Corporation;
provided, however, that if any one person or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of stock of the Corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by
the same person is not considered to cause a Change in Control. This paragraph applies only when there is a transfer of stock of the Corporation (or issuance of stock of the Corporation) and stock in the Corporation remains outstanding after the
transaction. 
 For purposes of this definition: 
 (i) a “person” shall be as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act. 
 (ii) persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation,
purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction with the Corporation. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such
shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in the 

  

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corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the Change in Control and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. Persons
will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the Corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering. 
 2.5 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. 
 2.6
“Committee” means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board, or any successor committee of the Board. 
 2.7 “Corporation” means Praxair, Inc., and any successor thereof by merger, consolidation or otherwise. 
 2.8 “Date
of Deferral” means (i) with respect to the deferral of base salary or a Variable Compensation Award, the date on which such amount would have been paid by Praxair absent the Participant’s deferral election, and (ii) with respect
to Praxair Contributions for a given Plan Year, the day following the date that the Committee determines the common stock value for the Praxair Contribution deferral pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.20. 
 2.9 “Disability” means a Participant’s total physical or mental inability to perform any work for compensation or profit in any occupation
for which the Participant is reasonably qualified by reason of training, education or ability, and which inability is adjudged to be permanent, as determined by the Vice President-Human Resources or his or her designee. 
 2.10 “Employee” means an individual who is an employee of Praxair. An Employee shall be an “Eligible Employee” for any Plan Year for
which he or she is on the U.S. payroll of Praxair and is eligible to participate in a Variable Compensation Plan. An Employee shall be a “Designated Employee” for any Plan Year in which he or she in an Eligible Employee and is designated
by the Vice President-Human Resources, in his or her sole discretion, as eligible to elect to defer base salary pursuant to Section 4.1(b). 
  

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 2.11 “Fixed Income Rate” shall be determined for each Plan Year and shall be equal to the
1-year U.S. Treasury Bond rate in effect as of the end of the immediately preceding Plan Year, plus 50 basis points. 
 2.12
“Participant” means an Eligible Employee who: (i) previously elected to defer a portion or all of his or her base salary paid prior to January 1, 2006 to the Plan; (ii) is a Designated Employee and elects in advance under
the Plan to defer all or a portion of his or her base salary for any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 2008; (iii) elects in advance under the Plan to defer a portion or all of any Variable Compensation Award that may be granted to
him or her for a Plan Year, and who is in fact subsequently granted such an Award which is payable for said year on the Date of Deferral; or (iv) is credited with a Praxair Contribution pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Plan with respect to
any Plan Year. 
 2.13 “Plan” means this Praxair Compensation Deferral Program. 
 2.14 “Plan Year” means the calendar year. 
 2.15 “Praxair” means the Corporation and its Affiliates. 
 2.16 “Praxair Contribution” means a credit on a
Participant’s behalf described in Section 4.2. 
 2.17 “Retirement” means a Participant’s Separation from Service,
after attaining age 50 and completing at least five years of service (as such service would be recognized under the Praxair Pension Plan if the Participant is, or had the Participant been, a participant in such Pension Plan). 
  

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 2.18 “Savings Plan” means either the Praxair Retirement Savings Plan, the Praxair Distribution,
Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan, or the Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, as applicable to the Participant. 
 2.19 “Separation from Service” means a Participant’s separation from service with Praxair, determined in accordance with Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder. 
 2.20 “Stock Value Rate” means the difference between the value of the Corporation’s common stock (a) as of the date amounts credited
to the Plan are directed, by initial election or by reallocation, into the Stock Value Rate (or, in the case of initial deferrals of Praxair Contributions or of Variable Compensation Awards, the common stock value determined by the Committee in
accordance with the last sentence of this Section), and (b) the date such amounts are paid out or withdrawn pursuant to Section 5. The Stock Value Rate shall include the value of any dividends paid on the Corporation’s common stock
during the period for which the Stock Value Rate is being determined, as if such dividends were reinvested, when payable, in additional shares of the Corporation’s common stock purchased at the value of the Corporation’s common stock on
the dividend payment date. Except as provided in the next sentence, the value of the Corporation’s common stock for purposes of this Section, shall mean the closing price of the stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the relevant date of
determination. In January of each Plan Year, the Committee shall determine the common stock value to be used in valuing deferrals of Variable Compensation Awards and Praxair Contributions to be awarded with respect to the immediately preceding Plan
Year. 
 2.21 “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from any of the following,
to the extent that the emergency cannot be relieved through 

  

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reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets
would not cause severe financial hardship), or by the cessation of deferrals under the Plan: 
 (a) an illness or accident of the
Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)); 
 (b) the loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; 
 (c) the need to pay medical expenses; 
 (d) the need to pay for the funeral expenses of the
Participant’s spouse, a beneficiary, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)); or 
 (e) any other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstance arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. 
 Whether a Participant has an Unforeseen Emergency shall be determined by the Vice President-Human Resources or his or her designee, based upon the relevant facts and circumstances. 
 2.22 “Variable Compensation Plan” means the Praxair, Inc. Variable Compensation Plan, the Praxair, Inc. Mid-Management Variable Compensation
Plan, and successors to such plans, all as amended from time to time. 
 2.23 “Variable Compensation Award” means a variable
compensation award under a Variable Compensation Plan. 
 2.24 “Vice President-Human Resources” means the Corporation’s Vice
President-Human Resources. 
  

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 SECTION 3: ADMINISTRATION 
 The Committee shall have full discretionary authority to interpret and construe the Plan and shall supervise the administration and interpretation of the Plan, establish administrative regulations to further the
purpose of the Plan and take any other action necessary to the proper operation of the Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or any other person, the right to act on its behalf in any matter connected with the administration
of the Plan and has delegated authority for the Plan’s day-to-day administration to the Corporation’s Human Resources Department. All decisions and acts of the Committee or its designee shall be final and binding upon all Participants,
their beneficiaries and all other persons. 
 SECTION 4: ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE 
 4.1 Participant Deferral Elections. 
 (a) Prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, Eligible Employees shall be informed of the
opportunity to make an election to defer their Variable Compensation Awards under the Plan. An Eligible Employee electing to defer his or her Variable Compensation Award must make an election to do so during the election period ending not later than
December 31st of the Plan Year immediately preceding the Plan Year for which such Variable Compensation Award relates, or such earlier date as
established by the Vice President-Human Resources. An Eligible Employee’s election to defer a Variable Compensation Award shall be irrevocable with respect to the Plan Year and the Variable Compensation Plan for which it is made and shall
become effective only on the applicable Date of Deferral and only if, on such date, the Eligible Employee receives a Variable Compensation Award (or would have received a Variable Compensation Award but for an election to defer under the Plan). An
individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee at any time during a Plan Year is not permitted to make a deferral election with respect to any Variable Compensation Award earned for such Plan Year. 
  

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 (b) Prior to each Plan Year beginning after
December 31, 2008, the Vice President-Human Resources, in his or her sole discretion, shall designate the Designated Employees for such Plan Year and such designation shall be in effect only for the Plan Year to which it applies. Each
Designated Employee for such Plan Year shall be informed of the opportunity to make an election to defer under the Plan all or a portion of his or her base salary earned in such Plan Year. A Designated Employee electing to defer all or any portion
of his or her base salary must make an election to do so during the election period ending not later than December 31st of the Plan Year
immediately preceding the Plan Year in which such base salary will be earned, or such earlier date as established by the Vice President-Human Resources. A Designated Employee’s election to defer base salary shall be irrevocable with respect to
the Plan Year and shall be effective only for such Plan Year and only while such Designated Employee remains employed by the Corporation. An individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee at any time during a Plan Year is not permitted to make a
deferral election with respect to any base salary earned for such Plan Year. 
 (c) Any elections made pursuant to this Section 4.1
shall be made in accordance with such procedures as may be established from time to time by the Vice President-Human Resources. 
 4.2
Praxair Contributions. 
 (a) Shortly after the end of each Plan Year, and without requiring any election to participate in this Plan,
Praxair will credit each Eligible Employee, including an individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee during such Plan Year, with an amount equal to both 

  

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the Praxair matching contribution rate, if any, applicable to such Employee under the Savings Plan (based on his or her actual Savings Plan contribution rate
in effect as of the end of the Plan Year to which such credit relates) and/or the Praxair company contribution rate, if any, applicable to such Employee under the Savings Plan, in each case multiplied by that portion of such Employee’s
compensation (as defined in the Savings Plan but without regard to either Code Section 401(a)(17) or any deferrals under this Plan) for the Plan Year to which such credit relates, which exceeds the maximum amount of compensation permitted to be
taken into account for such Plan Year under Code Section 401(a)(17). 
 (b) The Praxair Contributions shall be credited to each eligible
Participant in arrears, as of the relevant Date of Deferral, provided that such Participant is then employed by Praxair and has not incurred a Separation from Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant has Separated from Service
prior to the relevant Date of Deferral by reason of his or her death, Disability, Retirement, or termination by Praxair other than for cause, Praxair shall credit the Participant as of the relevant Date of Deferral with the appropriate Praxair
Contributions even though such Participant is not employed by Praxair on said Date of Deferral. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1(f), all Praxair Contributions credited on a Participant’s behalf shall become vested at the same
time and to the same extent as comparable contributions made under the applicable Savings Plan. All unvested Praxair Contributions held on a Participant’s behalf as of his or her Separation from Service shall be immediately forfeited.

 SECTION 5: PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES 
 5.1 Time of Payment. 
 (a) Subject to Sections 5.1(d) and (e): (i) a Participant who Retires
shall receive payment of any vested Praxair Contributions credited on his or her behalf and adjusted 

  

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for any earnings or losses under Section 7, during the January of the Plan Year immediately following his or her Retirement; and (ii) a Participant
who Separates from Service prior to Retirement shall receive payment of any vested Praxair Contributions credited on his or her behalf and adjusted for any earnings or losses under Section 7, as soon as administratively possible following the
date of his or her Separation from Service, but no later than 90 days after such date. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, any vested Praxair Contributions credited on such Participant’s behalf with respect to the Plan
Year in which he or she Retires or otherwise Separates from Service, shall be paid (along with any applicable earnings or losses on such amount as determined under Section 7) as soon as administratively practicable following Date of Deferral of
such Praxair Contribution, but no later than 90 days after such Date of Deferral. 
 (b) Subject to Sections 5.1(c), (d) and (e):
(i) a Participant who Retires shall receive payment of his or her previously deferred Variable Compensation Awards and/or base salary, and any earnings or losses credited with respect to such deferrals under Section 7, during the January
of the Plan Year immediately following his or her Retirement; and (ii) a Participant who Separates from Service prior to Retirement shall receive payment of his or her previously deferred Variable Compensation Awards and/or base salary, and any
earnings or losses credited with respect to such deferrals under Section 7, as soon as administratively possible following the date of his or her Separation from Service, but no later than 90 days after such date. Participants shall be deemed
to have elected to defer all such amounts until their Retirement/Separation from Service in accordance with this Section 5.1(b) unless a contrary election is made pursuant to Section 5.1(c) below. 
  

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 (c) Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant may, at the time of
electing to defer a Variable Compensation Award and/or base salary, make an irrevocable election to receive payment of such deferred amounts during a specific future payment year other than the year including the applicable Date of Deferral. A
Participant making such an election shall receive payment of any such amount in the January of the elected future payment year. A Participant may elect differing future payment dates for each year’s deferrals and may elect differing future
payment dates with respect to deferrals of Variable Compensation Awards and base salary elected for the same Plan Year. 
 (d) A Participant
who has not yet Retired or Separated from Service, but has an Unforeseen Emergency, may elect to receive payment of any or all of his or her vested Praxair Contributions, deferred base salary, deferred Variable Compensation Awards, and any earnings
or losses credited to him or her pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan; provided that the Participant may not receive an amount greater than the amount necessary to meet the Unforeseen Emergency plus any amounts necessary to pay federal, state and
local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from a distribution made under this Section 5.1(d). 
 (e)
Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, and irrespective of any election made by the Participant under the Plan, if a Participant dies at any time before having received payment of his or her entire vested benefit under this Plan
(including payment of remaining installments pursuant to Section 5.2(b)), payment of the Participant’s entire remaining vested benefit shall be made in full to the Participant’s Beneficiary in a single payment as soon as
administratively possible following the date the Participant’s death, but no later than 90 days after such date, provided, however, that any vested Praxair Contributions credited on such Participant’s behalf with respect to the Plan Year
of his or her death, shall be 

  

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paid (along with any applicable earnings or losses on such amount as determined under Section 7) as soon as administratively practicable following Date
of Deferral of such Praxair Contribution, but no later than 90 days after such Date of Deferral. 
 (f) Notwithstanding any provision in this
Plan to the contrary, all Praxair Contributions shall fully vest and each Participant shall receive payment of his or her entire benefit under this Plan at such time as the Board determines that a Change in Control has occurred. Such payment shall
be made in full within 45 days after the Change in Control. 
 (g) Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, with respect
to any Participant who, at the time of his or her Retirement or other Separation from Service, is a “Specified Employee” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)), payment of benefits pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) or
(b) shall commence no sooner than six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s Retirement or other Separation from Service to the extent required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(2). 
 5.2 Form of Payments. 
 (a) Except as
otherwise provided in Section 5.2(b), all benefits payable under this Plan shall be paid in a single lump sum. 
 (b) In the event that,
prior to January 1, 2005, a valid election was received from a Participant to receive payment of all or any portion of his or her Plan benefit in annual installments over a designated period, payment of the portion of such Participant’s
Plan benefit to which such prior election applies shall be made in accordance with such election. Effective as of January 1, 2005, new elections to receive payment of benefits under the Plan in installments are no longer permitted. 

 

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 5.3 Payment in U.S. Dollars or Shares. All amounts which, at the time of payment, were accruing at
the Fixed Income Rate, shall be paid in U.S. dollars and all amounts which, at the time of payment, were accruing under the Stock Value Rate, shall be paid in shares of the common stock of the Corporation. 
 5.4 Reduction of Payments: Share Withholding. 
 (a) All payments under this Plan shall be reduced by any and all amounts that the Committee (or its designee) determines in its sole discretion are required to be withheld pursuant to applicable law. 
 (b) In order to enable Praxair to meet any applicable federal, state or local tax withholding requirements, a Participant (or Beneficiary) who is
receiving payment in shares of common stock of the Corporation, may elect to have Praxair withhold shares that would otherwise be delivered to such Participant (or Beneficiary), or may deliver to Praxair other shares of common stock of the
Corporation owned by the Participant (or Beneficiary). The value of any such shares of common stock so withheld or delivered shall be the closing price of the common stock of the Corporation as reported in the New York Stock Exchange - Composite
Transactions on the date of said payment. 
 5.5 Additional Deferrals. Notwithstanding Sections 5.1 and 5.2, a Participant who has
made an election to defer a Variable Compensation Award and/or base salary in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof, may make a subsequent election to further defer payment of such amount, provided such subsequent deferral election is made in
accordance with the following provisions: 
  

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 (a) The subsequent deferral election must be made no later than 12 months prior to the date the
Participant would otherwise have commenced receiving payments of the redeferred amounts had the subsequent deferral election not been made; 
 (b) With respect to the subsequent deferral of any amount previously deferred until a specific future payment date in accordance with Section 5.1(c), the subsequent deferral must be for a period of not less than five years from the
date payment would otherwise have been made (or commenced, in the case of installments) had the subsequent deferral election not been made; 
 (c) With respect to the subsequent deferral of any amount previously deferred until Retirement or Separation from Service in accordance with Section 5.1(b), the subsequent deferral must be for a period of not less than five years, nor
more than ten years, from the date payment would otherwise have been made (or commenced, in the case of installments) had the subsequent deferral election not been made; 
 (d) For each original deferral election there may be only one subsequent deferral election made pursuant to this Section 5.5; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section, a Participant’s election to
defer base salary and a Variable Compensation Award payable for the same year shall be treated as two separate deferral elections and one subsequent deferral election may be made with respect to each; and 
 (e) No such subsequent deferral election shall apply to the payment of any Praxair Contributions. 
 5.6 Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, the payment of all or any portion of a
Participant’s Plan benefit may be made to an alternate payee upon or earlier than the time otherwise specified in this Section 5, to the extent necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)
or a successor Section). 
  

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 SECTION 6: BENEFICIARIES 
 A Participant may at any time and from time to time prior to death designate one or more Beneficiaries to receive any payments to be made following the Participant’s death. If no such designation is on file with
Praxair at the time of a Participant’s death, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in the beneficiary designation most recently filed by the Participant under the Savings Plan. If the Participant
has not effectively designated a beneficiary under the Savings Plan, or if no beneficiary so designated has survived the Participant, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the Participant’s surviving spouse, or, if no spouse has survived
the Participant, the estate of the deceased Participant. If an individual Beneficiary cannot be located for a period of one year following the Participant’s death, despite mail notification to the Beneficiary’s last known address, and if
the Beneficiary has not made a written claim for benefits within such period to the Vice President-Human Resources, the Beneficiary shall be treated as having predeceased the Participant. The Vice President-Human Resources may require such proof of
death and such evidence of the right of any person to receive all or part of the benefit of a deceased Participant as the Vice President-Human Resources may consider to be appropriate. The Vice President-Human Resources may rely upon any direction
by the legal representatives of the estate of a deceased Participant, without liability to any other person. 
 SECTION 7: EARNINGS ACCRUALS

 7.1 General. All amounts deferred under the Plan, including elective deferrals and Praxair Contributions, shall be credited with
earnings and losses from the applicable Date of Deferral through the date such amount is paid out, or withdrawn, pursuant to Section 5. Earnings under this Section 7.1 shall accrue at the rate elected in accordance with Section 7.2.

  

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 7.2 Earnings Accrual Rate. 
 (a) Accrual Rates. Earnings accruing in accordance with Section 7.1 shall accrue at the Fixed Income Rate, the Stock Value Rate, or a
combination of the two Rates. 
 (b) Initial Election. Subject to Section 7.2(c), a Participant shall designate at the time of
the election to defer base salary and/or Variable Compensation Awards under Section 4.1, which accrual rate or rates shall apply to each deferral, provided that such elections must be in 10% increments. Such election shall be effective as of
the Date of Deferral. All Praxair Contributions shall at all times accrue earnings and losses at the Stock Value Rate. 
 (c) Election Changes. A Participant may elect to change the accrual rate under this
Section 7.2 with respect to any or all previously deferred base salary and/or Variable Compensation Awards under the Plan from the Fixed Income Rate to the Stock Value Rate. Any such election changes shall be effective as of
January 1st of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the election change is received by Praxair in accordance with procedures
established by the Vice President-Human Resources. No portion of a Participant’s Plan benefit accruing earnings and losses at the Stock Value Rate, including previously deferred base salary, Variable Compensation Awards and any Praxair
Contributions, may be reallocated at any time from the Stock Value Rate to the Fixed Income Rate. 
 SECTION 8: GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 8.1 Prohibition of Assignment of Transfer. Except to the extent necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code
Section 414(p)(1)(B) or a successor Section), any assignment, hypothecation, pledge or transfer of a Participant’s or Beneficiary’s right to receive payments under the Plan shall be null and void and shall be disregarded. 

 

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 8.2 Plan Not To Be Funded. Praxair is not required to, and will not, for the purpose of funding
the Plan, segregate any monies from its general funds, create any trusts, or make any special deposits, and the right of a Participant or Beneficiary to receive a payment under the Plan shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general
creditor of Praxair. 
 8.3 Effect of Participation. Neither selection as an Eligible Employee, nor an election to participate, nor
participation, in the Plan, shall entitle an Eligible Employee to receive a Variable Compensation Award, or affect Praxair’s right to discharge an Eligible Employee or a Participant. 
 8.4 Absence of Liability. No officer, director or employee of Praxair shall be personally liable for any act or omission to act, under the Plan,
of any other person, or, except in circumstances involving bad faith, for such officer’s, director’s or employee’s own act or omission to act. 
 8.5 Titles for Reference Only. The titles given herein to Sections and subsections are for reference only and are not to be used to interpret the provisions of the Plan. 
 8.6 Connecticut Law To Govern. All questions pertaining to the construction, regulation, validity and effect of the provisions of the Plan shall
be determined in accordance with Connecticut law. 
 8.7 Amendment. The Board may amend the Plan at any time, but no amendment may be
adopted which alters the payments due Participants or Beneficiaries, as of the date of the amendment, or the times at which payments are due, without the consent of each Participant affected by the amendment and of each Beneficiary (of a then
deceased Participant) affected by 

  

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the amendment. In addition, any amendment which does not significantly affect the amount of any past or future, benefits under the Plan may be authorized by
the Vice President-Human Resources. 
 8.8 Plan Termination. The Board may terminate the Plan at any time. In the event the Plan is
terminated, a Participant’s entire Plan benefit shall then be distributed to the Participant (or Beneficiary) so long as such termination and distribution meets (a), (b) or (c) below: 
 (a) The termination and liquidation of the Plan takes place within 12 months of the Corporation’s corporate dissolution taxed under Code
Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A), and the deferred amounts are included in Participants’ gross incomes in the earliest of (x) the taxable year in which the amount is
actually received, or (y) the latest of the following: (I) the calendar year in which the Plan termination and liquidation occurs; (II) the first calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture;
or (III) the first calendar year in which the payment is administratively practicable; 
 (b) The termination and liquidation of the Plan is
pursuant to irrevocable action taken by the Corporation within 30 days before, or 12 months following, a Change in Control, provided that all other plans that allow Participants to make non-qualified deferrals that are aggregated with this Plan are
terminated and liquidated such that all deferred compensation under the terminated plans and this Plan is paid out within 12 months of the date the Corporation takes all necessary action to terminate and liquidate the plans; or 
 (c) The Corporation’s determination to terminate and liquidate the Plan does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the
Corporation, the Corporation 

  

 19 

 
terminates and liquidates all plans that would be aggregated with this Plan if the Participants in the Plan had deferrals of compensation under the other
plans, no payments in liquidation of the Plan are made within 12 months of the date the Corporation takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Plan (other than making payments that would be made regardless of whether the
action to terminate and liquidate the Plan had occurred), and payments are made within 24 months of the date the Corporation takes all action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Plan. 
 8.9 409A Compliance. This Plan is intended to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning on Code
Section 409A(d)(1), and is to be construed and administered in a manner consistent therewith. 
  

			
	PRAXAIR, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

		
	Title:	 	Vice President, Human Resources
		
	Date:	 	                    

  

 20Executive Severance Plan, as amended

 Exhibit 10.10 
 CAPELLA EDUCATION COMPANY 
 EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN 
 (As Originally Effective February 1, 2003 and as Amended 
 May 11, 2005, May 25, 2006, September 11, 2006, December 13, 2007, 
 and August 14, 2008) 
  

	I.	INTRODUCTION 

 Capella Education Company
(“CEC”) has established the Capella Education Company Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”) to provide severance pay and other benefits to eligible employees of CEC and its subsidiaries whose employment terminates under certain
covered circumstances. CEC, in its complete and sole discretion, will determine who is an eligible employee, the requirements to receive severance benefits, and the amount of any benefits. 
 The Plan was originally effective February 1, 2003. The Plan was amended effective May 11, 2005, May 25, 2006, September 11,
2006, and December 13, 2007. The Plan, as amended in this document, is effective for eligible employees who terminate on or after August 14, 2008. This Plan supersedes and replaces any policy, plan or practice that may have existed in the
past regarding the payment of severance benefits to eligible employees, with the exception of the Capella Education Company Senior Executive Severance Plan. However, any individual written employment contract or agreement between CEC (or a
subsidiary) and an eligible employee that specifically provides for the payment of severance benefits remains in force, as detailed below. 
 This document is both the “Plan document” and the “Summary Plan Description” for the Plan. 
 Any reference in
this Plan to “Capella” includes CEC and its subsidiaries. 
  

	II.	ELIGIBILITY 

 Only those employees who have
been designated in writing by CEC’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) as eligible to participate in the Plan are eligible to become participants in the Plan. However, any employee who is a participant in the Capella Education Company
Senior Executive Severance Plan is not eligible to participate in this Plan while participating in that plan, regardless of any designation to the contrary. 
 The terms of the written designation by the CEO, not the employee’s job title or classification for other purposes, determine whether an employee is eligible for benefits under the Plan. The written designation
for a particular employee may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the CEO. 

 If you are designated as an eligible employee, you must also complete 90 days of service with Capella,
measured from your most recent date of hire, prior to becoming a participant in the Plan. 
 You will cease to be a participant in this Plan
when you cease to be designated by CEC as an eligible employee. 
  

	III.	SEVERANCE EVENTS 

 In general, if you are an
eligible participant in this Plan, and you comply with all provisions and requirements of the Plan, you will receive severance benefits if your employment with Capella is involuntarily terminated at the initiative of Capella other than for Cause. A
termination by you for Good Reason within 24 months following a qualified Change in Control is also a severance eligible event. These concepts are described in detail below. 
 “For Cause”. You will not be eligible for benefits under this Plan if your employment is terminated by Capella “for Cause.”
“Cause” means 1) employee’s commission of a crime or other act that could materially damage the reputation of Capella; 2) employee’s theft, misappropriation, or embezzlement of Capella property; 3) employee’s falsification
of records maintained by Capella; 4) employee’s failure substantially to comply with the written policies and procedures of Capella as they may be published or revised from time to time (in writing, on the Faculty Center website, or on the
Stella intranet); 5) employee’s misconduct directed toward learners, employees, or adjunct faculty; or 6) employee’s failure substantially to perform the material duties of employee’s Capella employment, which failure is not cured
within 30 days after written notice from Capella specifying the act of non-performance. 
 “Good Reason”. If you initiate the
termination of your employment with Capella, you will be eligible for Plan benefits only if you terminated with Good Reason following a qualified Change in Control, as defined below. “Good Reason” means 1) the material reduction of
your job responsibilities upon or after a Change in Control; 2) the material diminution of your base compensation; or 3) a reassignment of your principal place of work, without your consent, to a location more than 50 miles from your principal
place of work upon or after a Change of Control. 
 To be eligible for Plan benefits, you must terminate employment for Good Reason within 24
months after the date of the qualified Change in Control. In addition, you must have provided written notice to CEC of the asserted Good Reason not later than 30 days after the occurrence of the event on which Good Reason is based and at least 30
days prior to your proposed termination date. CEC may take action to cure your stated Good Reason within this 30-day period. If CEC does so, you will not be eligible for Plan benefits if you voluntarily terminate. 
  

 -2- 

 Notwithstanding any individual agreement you may have with CEC to the contrary, a termination of
employment for Good Reason under this Plan will be limited to such terminations as would qualify as an involuntary separation from service for good reason under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder. 
 “Change in Control”. For purposes of this Plan, a qualifying “Change in Control” of CEC shall be deemed to occur if any of the
following occur: 
 (1) Any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) acquires or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of CEC representing the following:
(i) 50% or more of the combined voting power of CEC’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) at any time prior to CEC selling any of its shares in a public
offering pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or (ii) 35% or more of the combined voting power of CEC’s then outstanding Voting Securities at any time
after CEC sells any of its shares in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. Provided, however, that the following shall not constitute a Change in Control: 
 (A) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by CEC or a subsidiary; 
 (B) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by CEC or one or more
of its subsidiaries; 
 (C) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by any corporation with respect to which, immediately
following such acquisition, more than 50% of both the combined voting power of CEC’s then outstanding Voting Securities and the Shares of CEC is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the persons who
beneficially owned Voting Securities and Shares of CEC immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of such Voting Securities and Shares, as the case may be, immediately prior to such acquisitions;

 (D) any acquisition of Shares or Voting Securities in CEC’s initial public offering pursuant to a registration
statement filed under the Securities Act. 
 (2) A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of CEC shall not be
Continuing Directors. “Continuing Directors” shall mean: (A) individuals who, 
  

 -3- 

 on the date hereof, are directors of CEC, (B) individuals elected as directors of CEC subsequent to
the date hereof for whose election proxies shall have been solicited by the Board of Directors of CEC or (C) any individual elected or appointed by the Board of Directors of CEC to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors of CEC caused by death
or resignation (but not by removal) or to fill newly-created directorships; 
 (3) Approval by the stockholders of CEC of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of CEC or a statutory exchange of outstanding Voting Securities of CEC, unless, immediately following such reorganization, merger, consolidation or exchange, all or substantially all of the persons who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of Voting Securities and Shares of CEC immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or exchange beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and the then outstanding shares of common stock, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger, consolidation
or exchange in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or exchange, of the Voting Securities and Shares of CEC as the case may be; or 
 (4) Approval by the stockholders of CEC of (x) a complete liquidation or dissolution of CEC or (y) the sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of CEC (in one or a series of transactions), other than to a corporation with respect to which, immediately following such sale or other disposition, more than 50% of, respectively, the combined voting power
of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Voting Securities and Shares of CEC immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition, of the Voting Securities and Shares of CEC, as the case may be. 
 At all times after CEC sells any of its
shares in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, the references to 50% in subsections (1)(C), (3) and (4) above shall be changed to 65%. 
 Timely Release Required. Regardless of the reason for your termination, you will not be eligible for Plan benefits unless you sign an approved
release form after your employment with CEC or a subsidiary actually terminates and timely deliver such signed release form to CEC. You may obtain a copy of the current release form at any time by contacting the CEC Human Resources
Department. However, CEC will determine the contents of the release form, and may revise it from time to time as appropriate to deal with particular severance situations. As such, the release form you will be required to sign to receive benefits
under the Plan may differ from any release form you previously received.  
  

 -4- 

 The release will generally include provisions regarding noncompetition with Capella for a period of time
after your employment terminates, confidentiality, return of Capella property and other topics, including a release of all claims against Capella, its employees and its representatives. The release may also include other topics in a given situation,
including non-solicitation of clients and/or employees and compliance with CEC policies (such as code of conduct, business ethics and insider trading, as applicable). Severance benefits will be paid only after any period for rescinding the release
has expired. If you violate any provisions of the release, CEC will no longer be required to pay you any remaining severance benefits due to you under the Plan. 
 Ineligibility for Benefits. Severance benefits will not be paid under this Plan in any of the following circumstances: 
  

	 	-	You are offered another position with Capella (or the successor/purchasing entity) and you refuse to accept that position, other than for Good Reason in connection with a qualified
Change in Control. 

  

	 	-	You voluntarily terminate your employment with Capella (or the successor/purchasing entity), other than for Good Reason in connection with a qualified Change in Control.

  

	 	-	Your termination of employment does not qualify as a “separation from service” under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A or any guidance issued thereunder.

  

	 	-	Your employment is terminated by Capella (or the successor/purchasing entity) for Cause, whether or not in connection with a Change in Control. 

  

	 	-	You are placed on a temporary layoff. 

  

	 	-	Your employment terminates due to death, disability, or failure to return to work for Capella following a leave of absence, layoff or any other period of authorized absence from
Capella. 

  

	 	-	You refuse to sign the release form prepared by CEC, or you rescind the release before it becomes final. 

  

	 	-	You are a participant in the Capella Education Company Senior Executive Severance Plan at the time of your termination. 

  

	 	-	You leave Capella under any other program in which management solicits and accepts voluntary terminations (in which case, severance pay will be determined and paid only under the
other program). 

  

	 	-	You are covered by an individual written employment contract or agreement with Capella at the time your employment terminates that provides for severance pay or other benefits upon
termination, except as described below. 

  

 -5- 

	IV.	PLAN BENEFITS 

 A Participant who experiences
a qualifying severance event under Section III will be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Plan, including severance pay, outplacement assistance and continuation coverage under certain employee benefit plans. 
 Severance Pay 
 The amount and
type of severance pay provided under the Plan depends on the severance event. 
 Involuntary Termination. If your employment is
involuntarily terminated by Capella, other than for Cause or within 24 months after a qualified Change in Control, you will be entitled to severance pay equal to six months of your base salary. 
 Change in Control. If, within 24 months after a qualified Change in Control, you voluntarily terminate for Good Reason or if you are involuntarily
terminated other than for Cause, you will be entitled to severance pay equal to twelve months of your base salary. You will also be entitled an amount that is equal to 80% of the targeted annual bonus under any annual bonus plan applicable to you
for the year in which you terminate, prorated to the date of termination, without regard to performance.  
 Your “base
salary.” Severance pay under this Plan is calculated using your base salary at the time your employment terminates. Base salary excludes all bonuses (such as signing bonuses and incentive bonuses), stock options, profit sharing, benefits,
taxable fringes, expenses allowances or reimbursements, imputed income, or any other special compensation. 
 Limit on Severance Pay.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event will your severance pay under the Plan exceed two times the lesser of (i) your annualized compensation for the year immediately preceding the year in which your employment terminates; or
(ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified pension plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) for the year in which your employment terminates. However, during the first calendar year you are employed
with CEC, this limitation does not apply. 
 Payment. Generally, you will receive any severance pay you are entitled to (including base
salary and any amount based on targeted bonus) in bi-weekly payments, spread out over the number of months on which your base pay severance amount is based. Severance payments will begin as soon as administratively feasible after the date the
release becomes irrevocable and will continue for the applicable period until fully paid. 
  

 -6- 

 Special rule for first year of employment - Notwithstanding the above, if a qualifying severance
event occurs in your first year of employment with CEC, your complete cash severance payments will be paid by March 15 of the calendar year following the year in which your employment terminates, even if bi-weekly payments would otherwise
continue after that date. 
 Outplacement Assistance 
 Participants eligible for benefits under this Plan will be eligible for up to 6 months of outplacement assistance. Any outplacement assistance provided
under this Plan will be paid directly to the outplacement agency. The outplacement assistance must be used by the end of the first calendar year following the calendar year in which you terminated employment (and in no event will CEC’s payment
of such outplacement assistance occur later than the end of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which you terminated employment). 
 Continuation Coverage 
 Federal and state laws require CEC to offer certain departing employees
(and where applicable, their dependents) the right to continue coverage, at their own expense, under our group health, dental and life insurance programs. For health and dental benefits, this continuation coverage is called COBRA. Upon termination
of employment, you will receive information further describing how this continuation coverage works, its limitations, and your rights and duties to maintain coverage. 
 If you are eligible for benefits under this Plan, CEC will pay the regular employer portion towards your continued coverage under CEC’s group health, dental and basic life insurance plans for the number of months
upon which your severance pay is based. For example, if you are a entitled to six months of severance pay, CEC will contribute to your continuation coverage for up to six months, subject to the limitations described below. After that time, you must
pay the entire cost of continuation coverage if it remains available and you wish to continue coverage. 
 To receive this continuation
coverage benefit, you must elect continuation coverage in accordance with the documents you receive. In addition, you must pay the remaining portion of the cost of your continued coverage. If CEC changes the portion it contributes toward benefit
coverage for active employees, it may also change its employer portion for purposes of continuation coverage benefits under this Plan. Any continuation benefit provided under this Plan will be paid directly to the applicable health, dental and/or
basic life insurance program. If you are not eligible for continuation coverage at the time of termination or if you do not properly elect continuation coverage, you will not receive any payments in lieu of this subsidized continuation coverage.

  

 -7- 

 If you lose eligibility for COBRA or other continuation coverage, as described in the COBRA documents
you will receive, CEC will stop paying its portion of the premiums for your continuation coverage. 
 Reductions of Severance
Benefits 
 All severance benefits payable under this Plan will be reduced by the amount of any severance or similar payment required
to be paid to you by CEC under applicable federal, state, and local laws. Cash severance payments are also subject to all applicable withholding, including state and federal income tax withholding and FICA and Medicare tax withholding. 

In addition, in no event will the severance amount you receive exceed two times your yearly salary for the twelve months preceding your termination (or
the amount you would have earned had you worked a full year). 
 Severance pay under this Plan will be reduced (offset) by the amount of any
payment made by CEC to you pursuant to an employment contract, agreement or other severance arrangement, to the extent such payment is called a severance payment or otherwise becomes payable due to a termination of your employment with CEC. If such
an agreement, contract or arrangement provides for severance payments in excess of those provided under this Plan, no severance pay will be due under this Plan. However, you may still be eligible for other benefits under the Plan, to the extent
benefits are not duplicative of what you are receiving under the agreement, contract or arrangement. 
 Termination of Severance
Benefits 
 All severance benefits payable under this Plan (including severance pay, outplacement assistance and continuation coverage
premiums) will be terminated if CEC determines that you have violated the noncompetition or confidentiality provisions contained in your release form or any other agreement you have with CEC. 
  

	V.	AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN 

 Except as provided below, CEC reserves the right in its discretion to amend or terminate this Plan, or to alter, reduce, or eliminate any severance benefit, practice or policy hereunder, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason
without the consent of or notice to any employee or any other person having any beneficial interest in this Plan. Such action may be taken by the Board of Directors of CEC, by the Compensation Committee of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer
of CEC, or by any other individual or committee to whom such authority has been delegated by the Board of Directors. 
  

 -8- 

 However, during the 24-month period following a Change in Control, the Plan may not be amended,
terminated or otherwise altered to reduce the amount (or negatively change the terms) of any severance benefit that becomes payable to a Participant who was a Participant in the Plan on the day prior to the Change in Control. 
 In addition, if a Change in Control occurs within the 6-month period following the effective date of an amendment to terminate the Plan or otherwise
reduce the amount (or negatively alter the terms) of any severance benefit under the Plan, such amendment (or portion of such amendment) will become null and void upon the Change in Control. Upon the Change in Control, the Plan will automatically
revert to the terms in effect prior to the adoption of said amendment. 
 Notwithstanding the above limitations, the Plan may be amended at
any time (and such amendment will be given affect) if such amendment is required to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable law, including but not limited to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. 
 This Plan shall terminate immediately upon CEC’s filing for relief in bankruptcy or on such date as an order for relief in bankruptcy is entered
against CEC. A Participant who experiences a severance event after such termination will not be eligible for benefits under this Plan. 
  

	VI.	SUBMITTING CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS 

 Normally,
CEC will determine an employee’s eligibility and benefit amount on its own and without any action on the part of the terminating employee, other than returning the release form. The severance payments will begin as soon as administratively
feasible after the date the release becomes irrevocable. 
 Formal Claims for Benefits. If you think you are entitled to benefits but
have not been so notified by CEC, if you disagree with a decision made by CEC, or if you have any other complaint regarding the Plan that is not resolved to your satisfaction, you or your authorized representative may submit a written claim for
benefits. The claim must be submitted to CEC’s Human Resources Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota within six months after the date you terminated employment. Claims received after that time will not be considered. 
 CEC will ordinarily respond to the claim within 90 days of the date on which it is received. However, if special circumstances require an extension of the
period of time for processing a claim, the 90-day period can be extended for an additional 90 days by giving you written notice of the extension, the reason why the extension is necessary, and the date a decision is expected. 
 CEC will give you a written notice of its decision if it denies your claim for benefits in whole or in part. The notice will explain the specific reasons
for the decision, 
  

 -9- 

 including references to the relevant plan provision upon which the decision is based, with a description
of any additional material or information necessary for you to perfect your claim, and the procedures for appealing the decision. 
 Appeals. If you disagree with the initial claim determination, in whole or in part, you or your authorized representative can request that the decision be reviewed by filing a written request for review with CEC’s Human
Resources Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota within 60 days after receiving notice that the claim has been denied. You or your representative may present written statements describing reasons why you believe the claim denial was in error, and
should include copies of any documents you want us to consider in support of your appeal. Your claim will be decided based on the information submitted, so you should make sure that your submission is complete. Upon request to CEC, you may review
all documents we considered or relied on in deciding your claim. (You may also receive copies of these documents free of charge.) 
 Any
appeal will be reviewed and decided by person(s) other than the person(s) who made the determination on your original claim. Generally, the decision will be reviewed within 60 days after CEC receives a request for review. However, if special
circumstances require a delay, the review may take up to 120 days. (If a decision cannot be made within the 60-day period, you will be notified of this fact in writing.) You will receive a written notice of the decision on the appeal, which will
explain the reasons for the decision by making specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the decision is based. 
 Limitations
Period. The claims procedure above is mandatory. If an employee has completed the entire claims procedure and still disagrees with the outcome of the employee’s claim, the employee may commence a civil action under § 502(a) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). The employee must commence such civil action within one year of the date of the final denial, or the employee will waive all rights to relief under ERISA.

  

	VII.	PLAN ADMINISTRATION 

 The following
information relates to the administration of the Plan and the determination of Plan benefits. 
 Name of Plan: 
 Capella Education Company Executive Severance Plan 
 Type of Plan: 
 The Plan is a “welfare benefits plan” that provides severance benefits in the event a
participant’s employment with CEC or its subsidiaries terminates under certain circumstances. All benefits are paid from the general assets of CEC. No trust fund, insurance contract or other pool of assets is maintained to provide Plan
benefits. 
  

 -10- 

 Plan Administrator/Plan Sponsor: 
 CEC is the “Plan Sponsor” and “Plan Administrator” of this Plan. Communications to CEC regarding the Plan should be addressed to:

 Capella Education Company 
 ATTN: Human Resources Department 
 225 South Sixth Street, 8th Floor 
 Minneapolis, MN 55402 
 Telephone:
(612) 977-5299 
 As Plan Administrator, CEC has complete discretionary authority to interpret the provisions of the Plan and to
determine which employees are eligible to participate and eligible for Plan benefits, the requirements to receive severance benefits, and the amount of those benefits. CEC also has authority to correct any errors that may occur in the administration
of the Plan, including recovering any overpayment of benefits from the person who received it. 
 Employer Identification Number:
41-1717955 
 Plan Number: 506 
 Plan Year: The calendar year. 
 Agent for Service of Legal Process: 
 Legal process regarding the Plan may be served on CEC at the address listed above. 
 Assignment of Benefits: 
 You cannot
assign your benefits under this Plan to anyone else, and your benefits are not subject to attachment by your creditors. CEC will not pay Plan benefits to anyone other than you (or your estate, if you die after having a qualifying severance event but
before receiving the complete severance amount payable to you up to the date of your death). 
 Governing Law: 
 This Plan, to the extent not preempted by ERISA or any other federal law shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of
Minnesota. 
  

 -11- 

 Internal Revenue Code Section 409A: 
 CEC intends this Plan, and the benefits provided hereunder, to qualify for the exceptions from coverage under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (and
the regulations or other applicable guidance thereunder), such as the exception for “short-term deferrals” under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4), “involuntary” separation pay plans under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9) and
the payment of “reasonable outplacement” and “medical benefits” under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9). To the extent that any provision of this Plan does not qualify for such exceptions due to changes in the regulations,
guidance or interpretation, such provision will be applied in a manner consistent with such requirements, regulations or guidance, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary. 
 Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any severance benefits payable under the “involuntary” separation pay plan exception will
be paid to the Participant no later than the last day of the second year following the year in which the Participant’s employment terminates. 
 Employment Rights: 
 Establishment of the Plan shall not be construed to in any way modify the parties’ at-will
employment relationship, or to give any employee the right to be retained in CEC’s service or to any benefits not specifically provided by the Plan. The right of an employer to terminate the employment relationship of an employee (or to
accelerate the termination date) will not in any way be affected by the terms of this Plan or any release. 
 Statement of Rights of
Participants: 
 As a participant in this Plan, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). ERISA provides that all Plan participants are entitled to: 
  

	 	1.	Examine, without charge, at CEC’s Human Resources Department and at other specified locations, such as worksites, all documents governing the Plan and a copy of the latest
annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, if required. 

  

	 	2.	Obtain, upon written request to CEC’s Human Resources Department, copies of documents governing the operation of the Plan and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500
Series), if required, and updated summary plan description. CEC may make a reasonable charge for the copies. 

  

 -12- 

	 	3.	Receive a summary of the Plan’s annual financial report (if the Plan is required to file such a report). CEC is required by law to furnish each participant with a copy of this
summary financial report. 

 In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are
responsible for the operation of the Plan. The people who operate your Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants and beneficiaries. No one may fire you or
otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA. 
 If
your claim for a welfare benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have the right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all with certain time
schedules. 
 Under ERISA there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of plan documents or
the latest annual report from the Plan and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the court may require CEC to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials,
unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond its control. If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, and you have exhausted your appeal rights under the Plan’s claims procedure, you may
file suit in a state or federal court. If you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in federal court. The court will decide who should pay costs and legal
fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous. 
 If you have any questions about the Plan, you should contact CEC’s Human Resources Department. If you have any questions about this statement or
about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from CEC, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the
Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C., 20210. You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and
responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. 
  

 -13-

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