Document:

The Nielsen Company Deferred Compensation Plan

 Exhibit 10.2 
 THE NIELSEN COMPANY DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN 
 (Originally Effective
April 1, 2003) 
 (As Amended and Restated Effective September 11, 2012) 

 

	 	1.	Purpose; Effectiveness. 

(a) The purpose of The Nielsen Company Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), is to provide certain members of a
select group of management or highly compensated employees of TNC (US) Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and its affiliates a means to defer receipt of compensation and to have such deferred amounts treated as if invested in specified
investment vehicles in order to enhance the competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program and, therefore, its ability to attract and retain key personnel necessary for the continued success and progress of the Company.

 (b) Amounts deferred under any Predecessor Plan prior to April 1, 2003 (“Previously Deferred Amounts”) shall
be governed by the applicable deferral agreement and the terms of such Predecessor Plan in effect on the date of such deferral, provided that the foregoing shall not prevent the Company from depositing or transferring at any time all or any portion
of such Previously Deferred Amounts into any trust or trusts established or designated by the Company to hold assets in connection with this Plan and designating as hypothetical investment vehicles for all or any portion of such Previously Deferred
Amounts the mutual funds or such other investment vehicles as may be specified from time to time by the Company as hypothetical investment vehicles available under this Plan. 

 

	 	2.	Definitions. 

 The
following terms used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth below: 
 (a) “Administrator” shall mean the person
or persons to whom the Company has delegated the authority to take any or all action under the Plan. 
 (b)
“Beneficiary” shall mean any person (which may include trusts and is not limited to one person) designated by the Participant in his or her most recent written Beneficiary designation form filed with the Company to receive the benefits
specified under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death. The spouse of a married Participant shall be required to consent to the designation of a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries other than such spouse, unless such spouse cannot be located
or the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines in a particular case, that it would be appropriate to waive the spousal consent requirement. If no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant’s death, then
“Beneficiary” shall mean any persons(s) entitled by the Participant’s will, or in the absence thereof, the laws of descent and distribution of the Participant’s state of domicile, to receive such benefits. 

  
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 (c) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, except that any
action that may be taken by the Board may also be taken by a duly authorized committee of the Board or the Company or the duly authorized delegees of such duly authorized committee. 

(d) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

(e) “Company” shall mean TNC (US) Holdings, Inc., a New York corporation. 

(f) “Company Account” shall mean the account or subaccount established and maintained by the Company for specified notional
contributions, if any, made by the Company or an affiliate with respect to a Participant, as described in Section 6. A Company Account will be maintained solely as a bookkeeping entry by the Company to evidence unfunded obligations of the
Company or an affiliate. 
 (g) “Deferral Account” shall mean the account or subaccount established and maintained by
the Company for specified deferrals by a Participant, as described in Section 6. A Deferral Account will be maintained solely as a bookkeeping entry by the Company to evidence unfunded obligations of the Company or an affiliate. 

(h) “Deferral Election” shall mean the election made, in accordance with Section 5, on a form, in substance, and at the
time or times satisfactory to the Company, entered into between a Participant and the Company pursuant to which the Participant elects to defer compensation in accordance with the terms of this Plan. 

(i) “Disability” or “Disabled” shall have the meaning of such term as set forth in Section 409A of the Code.

 (j) “Effective Date” shall mean April 1, 2003. 

(k) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, on a given date, (i) with respect to any mutual fund, net asset value with respect to
the date of valuation, and (ii) with respect to any alternative investment, the value, as determined in good faith by the Company, based on all relevant factors for determining the fair market value of an investment of such type and nature. In
determining Fair Market Value, the Company may rely upon a valuation made by independent third party appraisers experienced in the valuation of investments similar to the investment. 

(l) “Financial Hardship” shall mean an “unforeseeable emergency” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii)
of the Code that (i) would result in severe financial 

  
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hardship to the Participant if early withdrawal were not permitted and (ii) is caused by an event beyond the control of the Participant or beneficiary, such as (A) a severe financial
hardship to the Participant caused by a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or a dependent of the Participant (as defined in Code Section 152(a)), of (B) a loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty,
where neither (A) nor (B) is reimbursed or reimbursable through insurance, or (C) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances caused by events beyond the Participant’s control. Financial Hardship shall not include
payment of college tuition or home purchases. 
 (m) “Participant” shall mean any employee of the Company or any
affiliate from among a select group of management or highly compensated employees who is designated by the Company as eligible to participate in the Plan and who makes an election to participate in the Plan. 

(n) “Plan” shall mean The Nielsen Company Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended. 

(o) “Plan Year” shall mean the calendar year. 
 (p) “Predecessor Plan(s)” shall mean, depending on the context, either or both of (i) the VNU USA, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted effective as of February 1, 1994
and as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 1999 (formerly known as the VNU Business Information Services, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan) or (ii) the ACNielsen Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of
April 1, 2000. 
 (q) “Previously Deferred Amounts” shall mean amounts deferred prior to April 1, 2003 under
any Predecessor Plan. 
 (r) “Trust” shall mean any trust or trusts established or designated by the Company to hold
assets in connection with the Plan; provided, however, that the assets of such trusts shall remain subject to the claims of the general creditors of the Company in the event of an insolvency of the Company or, if applicable, its affiliate.
The Company or the affiliate, as the case may be, shall be considered “insolvent” for purposes of this Plan and any Trust if (i) the Company or the affiliate is unable to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) the Company or
the affiliate is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any trust or trusts designated to hold assets in connection with the Plan also may hold Previously
Deferred Assets under any Predecessor Plan or assets previously deferred under other deferred compensation plans of the Company or the affiliate or any predecessor of either. 

  
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	 	3.	Administration. 

 (a)
Authority. The Administrator (subject to the ability of the Company to restrict the Administrator) shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms, and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish such purpose, including the power and
authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to define the terms used herein, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations, agreements, forms, and notices relating to the administration of the Plan, and to make all other determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Any actions of the Administrator with respect to the Plan shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons interested in the Plan. The Company and Administrator may each appoint agents and
delegate thereto powers and duties under the Plan, except as otherwise limited by the Plan. 
 (b) Limitation of
Liability. Each officer of the Company and the Administrator shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or other employee of the Company or any affiliate, the
Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no
officer of the Company or the Administrator, nor any person to whom ministerial duties have been delegated, shall be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with the interpretation and administration of the
Plan. 
 (c) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, officers of the Company and the Administrator shall
be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with the interpretation or administration of the Plan. 

 

	 	4.	Participation. 

 The
Company will notify each person of his or her eligibility to participate in the Plan not later than 15 days (or such lesser period as may be practicable in the circumstances) prior to any deadline for filing an election form. 

 

	 	5.	Deferrals; Company Contributions. 

 (a) Deferrals. 
 (i) In General. To the extent authorized by the
Company, a Participant may elect to defer the following cash compensation or awards to be received from the Company or an affiliate: base salary, commissions, annual incentive awards, long-term incentive awards and other compensation as determined
by the Company in writing. The Company may 

  
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impose limitations on the amounts permitted to be deferred and other terms and conditions of deferrals under the Plan, including minimum and/or maximum periods of deferral. Any such limitations,
and other terms and conditions of deferral, shall be set forth in the rules relating to the Plan or election forms, other forms, or instructions published by the Company. 
 (ii) Deferral Elections. Except as otherwise may be provided by the Company with respect to annual and long-term incentive awards that otherwise would be payable to the Participant during the first
Plan Year, a Deferral Election must be made by a Participant prior to (A) the first day of the calendar year with respect to which base salary and commission are to be earned and (B) the date that is six months prior to the end of the
applicable performance period (to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(8)), in the case of annual and long-term incentive awards that constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §
1.409A-1(e). Notwithstanding the above, newly hired employees who are advised of their eligibility to participate in the Plan may submit their Deferral Elections no later than 30 days following their first day of employment and such Deferral
Elections will be effective as soon as practicable after the date of such election with respect to amounts earned after the date of such election, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(7). Once a Deferral Election, properly
completed, is received by the Administrator, the elections of the Participant thereon shall be irrevocable; provided, however, that the Company may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to change the form or timing of distribution by
filing a later election form if the following conditions are met: (A) the redeferral election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which such redeferral election is made; (B) the first payment with
respect to which such redeferral election is made must be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made based on the prior deferral election; and (C) the election must be
made at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment pursuant to the prior applicable deferral election. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit Participants to
change their deferral elections under the Plan without meeting the conditions set forth in this Section 5(a)(ii) provided that such deferral election changes comply with transitional relief rules promulgated by the Treasury Department under
Section 409A of the Code. Subject to the minimum deferral period set forth in Section 5(c) hereof, a Participant may elect to receive his or her payout at any time set forth on his or her Deferral Election form, and may, on such form,
elect to receive his or her payout in (I) a lump sum or (II) from one to ten approximately equal annual installments. 

(iii) Deferral Amounts. Participants may, if permitted by the Company, elect to defer (A) up to 75 percent of annual base
salary and/or commissions and (B) up to 100 percent of annual incentive awards and/or long-term incentive awards, subject in each case to any minimum deferral percentages or amounts that the Administrator may impose from time to time. In no
event may a Participant’s Deferral Elections result in a reduction of his or her nondeferred compensation for the period to an amount below that necessary to satisfy applicable employment taxes on deferred and nondeferred compensation, benefit
plan withholding amounts, and income tax withholding for nondeferred compensation. 

  
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 (b) Company Notional Contributions. The Company and any affiliate may, at any time,
in their sole discretion, credit notional contributions to one or more Company Accounts established on behalf of a Participant. Notional contributions need not be subject to any uniform allocation among Participants. In addition, notional
contributions may include any compensation that the Company determines to designate as such, e.g., sign on bonuses, etc. The vesting schedule and other terms and conditions for such notional Company contributions shall be established from
time to time by the Company in its sole discretion. 
 (c) Deferral Period. At the time a Deferral Election is made, the
Participant must specify the deferral period and the first payment date with respect to amounts subject to such deferral. The Company will establish the deferral period for any Company contributions. All Deferral Elections made by the Participant
must be for a minimum of one Plan Year (exclusive of the Plan Year in which the deferred amounts are earned or otherwise realized), and the first payment date may be no sooner than the first day of the second Plan Year following the Plan Year in
which the deferred amounts are earned or otherwise realized. 
  

	 	6.	Accounts. 

 (a)
Establishment of Accounts. One or more Deferral Accounts and one or more Company Accounts will be established for each Participant, as determined by the Company. The amount of base salary and awards deferred with respect to each Deferral
Account will be credited to a Participant’s Deferral Account as of the date on which such amounts would have been paid to the Participant but for the Participant’s election to defer receipt hereunder, unless otherwise determined by the
Company. Notional Company contributions shall be credited to a Participant’s Company Account as of the date determined by the Company. Participant deferrals and notional Company contributions will be deemed to be invested in one or more of the
hypothetical investments, as provided in Section 6(b) hereof, no later than five business days following the date of the deferral or credit, as the case may be. The amounts of hypothetical income and appreciation and depreciation in value of a
Deferral Account or a Company Account will be credited and debited to, or otherwise reflected in, such Deferral Account or Company Account from time to time. Unless otherwise determined by the Company, amounts credited to a Deferral Account or
Company Account shall be deemed invested in a hypothetical investment as of the date so credited. 
 (b) Hypothetical
Investments. Subject to the provisions of Section 6(c), amounts credited to a Deferral Account or Company Account shall be deemed to be invested, at the Participant’s direction, in one or more of such mutual funds as may be specified
from time to time by the Company, and/or such other investment vehicles as may be specified from time to time by the Company. The Company may change or discontinue any hypothetical mutual fund or other investment vehicle available under the Plan in
its discretion. 

  
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 (c) Reallocation of Hypothetical Investments. A Participant may reallocate amounts
credited to his or her Deferral Account or Company Account among the available hypothetical investment vehicles on a basis determined by the Company. The Company may, in its discretion, restrict allocation or reallocation by specified Participants
into or out of specified investment vehicles or specify minimum or maximum amounts that may be allocated or reallocated by Participants. 
 (d) Trusts. The Company may, in its discretion, establish one or more Trusts (including sub-accounts under such Trust(s)), and deposit therein cash or other property in amounts not exceeding the
amount of the Company’s obligations with respect to a Participant’s Deferral Account or Company Account established under this Section 6 provided, however, that no amounts shall be contributed to a Trust in a manner or at any time
that would result in subjecting Participants to additional taxation under Section 409A(b) of the Code. 
 (e)
Restrictions on Participant Direction. The provisions of Sections 6(b), 6(c), and 7(c) notwithstanding, the Company may restrict or prohibit allocation or reallocation of amounts deemed invested in specified investment vehicles, and subject
such amounts to a risk of forfeiture and such other restrictions, in order to conform to restrictions applicable to any award or amount deferred under the Plan and resulting in such deemed investment, to comply with any applicable law or regulation,
or for such other purpose as the Company may determine is not inconsistent with the Plan. 
  

	 	7.	Settlement of Deferral Accounts. 

 (a) Payout of Deferrals. Payout of deferrals and vested notional Company contributions shall be made at the time and in the form elected by the Participant on his or her Deferral Election with
respect to deferrals made and as determined by the Company with respect to vested notional Company contributions (if any) provided that the designated time(s) for payment constitute permissible payment times or events under
Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code. In the event that a Participant or the Company, as applicable, does not specify the timing of payment for a Deferral Account or Company Account, such amounts shall be paid to the Participant in a single
installment upon the Participant’s termination of employment. 
 (b) Payment in Cash. The Company shall settle a
Participant’s Deferral Account(s) and vested Company Account(s), and discharge all of its obligations to pay deferred compensation under the Plan with respect to such Accounts, by payment of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the vested
hypothetical amounts credited to the applicable Deferral Account or Company Account. 

  
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 (c) Forfeitures Under Other Plans and Arrangements. To the extent that any amount or
award (i) is deposited in a Trust pursuant to Section 6 in connection with (A) a deferral of such amount or award or (B) a notional Company contribution and (ii) is forfeited, the Participant shall not be entitled to the
value of such award or amount, or any proceeds thereof or earnings thereon. 
 (d) Timing of Payments. 

(i) Payments in settlement of a Deferral Account or a Company Account shall be made as soon as practicable, and in any event, within 70
days, after the date or dates (including upon the occurrence of specified events), and in such number of annual installments (not to exceed ten), as may be directed by the Participant in his or her election relating to such Deferral Account or
Company Account. The Company may set a minimum amount for each distribution of deferrals and/or Company contributions in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. All amounts needed for a payment will be deemed withdrawn from the investment
vehicle(s) as close in time as is practicable to the requested payment date. If a Participant has elected to receive installment payments, unpaid vested balances will continue to earn gains or losses based upon the performance of the investment
vehicle(s) that such Participant has designated as his or her hypothetical investment(s). 
 (ii) In the event of a
Participant’s death or Disability prior to the payment of all vested amounts remaining in his or her Deferral Accounts or Company Accounts, such amounts shall be paid to the Participant or the Participant’s designated Beneficiary in a
single lump sum as soon as practicable, and in any event, within 70 days, following the Participant’s death or Disability. 
 (iii) Irrespective of any elections made by a Participant, the Company may provide that vested amounts credited to a Participant’s Deferral Account or Company Account may be paid out in a single lump
sum as soon as practicable, and in any event, within 70 days, following the Participant’s termination of employment from the Company or an affiliate (but ignoring transfers of employment between or among the Company or any of its affiliates).

 (iv) Irrespective of any elections made by a Participant, the Company may provide that vested amounts credited to a
Participant’s Deferral Account or Company Account may be paid out in a single lump sum as soon as practicable following a termination of the Plan affecting the Participant, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).

 (e) Financial Hardship and Other Emergency Payments. Other provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, if, upon the
written application of a Participant, the Company determines that the Participant has an unforeseeable Financial Hardship of such a substantial nature and beyond the individual’s control that payment of amounts previously deferred under the
Plan is warranted, the Company may direct the immediate lump sum payment to the 

  
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Participant of the applicable portion of the vested balance of such Participant’s Deferral Accounts and/or Company Accounts, not to exceed the amount necessary to meet the Financial Hardship
and the amount necessary to pay the tax on such amount. If a Participant is granted such a withdrawal on account of Financial Hardship, the Participant’s right to make future deferrals under this Plan will be suspended for one Plan Year
following the Plan Year in which the withdrawal occurs. 
 (f) De Minimis Benefit. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Section 7 to the contrary, in the event that the Administrator determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the amount of any benefit (or any balance thereof) is too small to make it administratively practical to begin or continue
paying such benefit in installments, the Company may pay the benefit (or any balance thereof) in the form of a lump sum, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(v). 

 

	 	8.	Statements. 

 The Company
will furnish statements to each Participant reflecting the amount credited to a Participant’s Deferral Accounts and Company Accounts and transactions therein from time to time and not less frequently than once each calendar year. 

 

	 	9.	Amendment/Termination. 

The Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan at any time without the
consent of Participants, stockholders, or any other person; provided, however, that, without the consent of a Participant, no such action shall materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant with respect to any rights to
payment of amounts credited to such Participant’s Deferral Accounts or Company Accounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, terminate the Plan (in whole or in part) with respect to one or more Participants
and distribute to such affected Participants the amounts credited to their Deferral Accounts and Company Accounts in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable following such termination, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. §
1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix). 
  

	 	10.	General Provisions. 

 (a)
Limits on Transfer of Awards. Other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or by appointing a Beneficiary, no right, title or interest of any kind in the Plan shall be transferable or assignable by a Participant (or his or her
Beneficiary) or be subject to alienation, anticipation, encumbrance, garnishment, attachment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process, nor be subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or engagements, or torts of any Participant or his
or her Beneficiary. Any attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, garnish, attach or take any other action subject to legal or equitable process or encumber or dispose of any interest in the Plan shall be void. 

  
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 (b) Receipt of Payments. Payments (in any form) to any Participant or Beneficiary in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims for the awards or other compensation deferred and relating to the Deferral Account and/or Company Account to which the payments relate
against the Company or any affiliate, the Administrator, or the Company. 
 (c) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of
Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for deferred compensation and Participants shall rely solely on the unsecured promise of the Company for payment hereunder. With respect to any payment not yet made to a Participant
under the Plan, nothing contained in the Plan shall give a Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Company may authorize the creation of Trusts or other
arrangements, including but not limited to the Trusts referred to in Section 6 hereof, to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan, which Trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan unless the
Company otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant. 
 (d) Other Participant Rights. No provision
of the Plan or transaction hereunder shall confer upon any Participant any right to be employed by the Company or an affiliate, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an affiliate to increase or decrease the amount of any
compensation payable to such Participant, or affect the right of the Company or any affiliate to discharge any Participant. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10(a) hereof, the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the parties hereto and their successors and assigns. 
 (e) Tax Withholding. The Company and any affiliate shall
have the right to deduct from amounts otherwise payable in settlement of a Deferral Account or Company Account any sums that federal, state, local or foreign tax law requires to be withheld with respect to such payment. 

(f) Offset. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may
offset from the payment or payments otherwise to be made to any Participant of any benefit hereunder, an amount equal to any indebtedness or liability to the Company by such Participant existing at the time of such distribution, including, without
limitation, any amount arising out of conversion or wrongful misappropriation of Company property by such Participant, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(xiii). 

  
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 (g) Incapacity of Participant or Beneficiary. If the Company determines that a
Participant or Beneficiary is unable to care for his or her affairs and a legal representative has not been appointed for such person, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion (and in a manner permitted under Section 409A of the
Code) (i) suspend payment to such Participant or Beneficiary until such legal representative is appointed, or (ii) direct that any benefits payable hereunder shall be paid to the spouse, child, parent or other blood relative of such
Participant or Beneficiary, or (if and as recognized by the state of domicile of the Participant or Beneficiary) to the domestic partner of such Participant or Beneficiary, or to any other person or entity, so long as such payment is permitted under
applicable law and discharges completely all liability of the Company under the Plan to such Participant or Beneficiary. 
 (h)
Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of
laws, and applicable provisions of federal law. 
 (i) Limitation. A Participant and his or her Beneficiary shall assume
all risk in connection with any decrease in value of his or her Deferral Account and/or his or her Company Account, and neither the Company nor the Administrator shall be liable or responsible therefor. 

(j) Construction. The captions and numbers preceding the sections of the Plan are included solely as a matter of convenience of
reference and are not to be taken as limiting or extending the meaning of any of the terms and provisions of the Plan. Whenever appropriate, words used in the singular shall include the plural or the plural may be read as the singular. 

(k) Severability. In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be declared illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality
or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan but shall be fully severable, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted herein. 

(l) Status. The establishment and maintenance of, or allocations and credits to, the Deferral Account or Company Account of any
Participant shall not vest in any Participant any right, title or interest in and to any Plan or Company assets or benefits except at the time or times and upon the terms and conditions and to the extent expressly set forth in the Plan and in
accordance with the terms of any Trust. 
  

	 	11.	Effective Date. 

 The Plan
was originally effective as of April 1, 2003. 

  
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	 	12.	Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. 

 This Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and will be interpreted in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. In furtherance thereof, no payments may be
accelerated under the Plan other than to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of the Plan violates Section 409A of the Code such that amounts would be taxable to a Participant prior to
payment or would otherwise subject a Participant to a penalty tax under Section 409A, such provision shall be automatically reformed or stricken to preserve the intent hereof. References under the Plan to a Participant’s termination of
employment shall be deemed to refer to the date upon which the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the
time of a Participant’s termination of employment the Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code (and any related regulations or other pronouncements thereunder) and the deferral of the
commencement of any payments or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall defer
the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder until the date that is six months following the Participant’s termination of employment (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code), at
which point all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 12 shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum and (ii) if any other payments due to a Participant hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax
under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a
manner, determined by the Administrator, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. The Administrator shall implement the provisions of this Section 12 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Administrator nor any
of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ employees or representatives shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 12. 

  
 12Nielsen Holdings N.V. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan

 Exhibit 10.3 
 NIELSEN HOLDINGS N.V. 
 DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 ARTICLE I 
 Purpose 
 SECTION 1.01. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to
provide Directors with the ability to defer the receipt of Compensation. 
 SECTION 1.02. Unfunded Plan. The Company
intends that the Plan be an unfunded and unsecured non-qualified deferred compensation plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for Directors. 
 ARTICLE II 
 Definitions 

The following terms when used in this Plan have the designated meanings unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context.

 SECTION 2.01. “Account” means the records maintained on the books of the Company to reflect deferrals of
Compensation by a Director pursuant to Section 3.03. 
 SECTION 2.02. “Administrator” means the
Company’s Executive Compensation Group or such other person or committee designated by the Committee as responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Plan. 
 SECTION 2.03. “Beneficiary” means the person or persons designated pursuant to Article 5 to receive a benefit pursuant to Section 4.03 in the event of a Director’s death before
his benefit under this Plan has been paid. 
 SECTION 2.04. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the
Company. 
 SECTION 2.05. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

SECTION 2.06. “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of the Company or a subcommittee thereof;
provided that any determination involving a Director who is a member of the Committee shall be made by the Board. 

SECTION 2.07. “Company” means Nielsen Holdings N.V. and any successor thereto. 

SECTION 2.08. “Compensation” means, for any Plan Year, any cash-based retainer or any other cash-based fee to be earned
by a Director in respect of services to be performed for the Board or any committee thereof for such Plan Year. 

  
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 SECTION 2.09. “Director” means any member (or designated member) of the
Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 
 SECTION 2.10. “Fund” means any
investment fund selected by the Administrator to be offered as a notional investment for amounts deferred under the Plan. 

SECTION 2.11. “Payment Period” means the date or dates designated pursuant to Section 3.04 for payment of some
portion or all of a Director’s Account. The designated Payment Period may be a specific calendar date (or dates) or may correspond to the date of a Director’s Termination of Service or to other events, in each case, as permitted by the
Administrator from time to time, in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. 
 SECTION 2.12. “Plan”
means this “Nielsen Holdings N.V. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan” as set forth herein and as amended from time to time. 
 SECTION 2.13. “Plan Year” means the calendar year. 
 SECTION
2.14. “Share(s)” means a common share(s) of the Company, par value EUR 0.07 per share. 
 SECTION 2.15.
“Termination of Service” means cessation for any reason of a Director’s service as a member of the Board to the extent such cessation constitutes a separation from service with the Company and its affiliates within the meaning
of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h) thereunder. 
 SECTION 2.16. “Valuation
Date” means the date that the Administrator makes a valuation of an Account. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, each deemed investment alternative within each Account shall be valued as of each day on which a value for such
deemed investment alternative reasonably is available to the Administrator. 
 ARTICLE III 

Eligibility and Deferrals 
 SECTION 3.01. Eligibility. Each Director who receives a retainer or other cash fees in respect of his or her Board service shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. 

SECTION 3.02. Accounts. The Administrator shall establish an Account for each Director who elects to defer Compensation
pursuant to Section 3.03. Amounts deferred pursuant to Section 3.03, and the value thereof determined pursuant to Section 3.05, shall be credited to such Account. 

SECTION 3.03. Deferral of Compensation. A Director may elect to reduce the Compensation otherwise payable to him during or
in respect of a Plan Year and to have such amount credited to his Account. A deferral election pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be made in writing at such time and in such manner as the Administrator shall prescribe but must in any event be
made before the applicable deadline for making such a deferral election pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. Generally, a deferral election with respect to Compensation must be made prior to the first day of the Plan Year in which the services
related to such Compensation 

  
 2 

 
will be rendered. The Administrator will designate an election period prior to the beginning of each Plan Year during which Directors will be given an opportunity to make new deferral elections
with respect to the upcoming Plan Year. A deferral election, once executed and filed with the Administrator, cannot be revoked after the date specified by the Administrator. In the case of the first Plan Year during which this Plan was adopted or in
the case of a Director who is first engaged by the Company during a Plan Year, the Administrator may permit such newly eligible Directors to elect within 30 days after becoming eligible to participate in the Plan to defer any unearned portion
of his Compensation in respect of such Plan Year related to services to be performed after the date of such election, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(7). 

SECTION 3.04. Payment Period. (a) Designation. Each deferral election given pursuant to Section 3.03 shall
include designation of the Payment Period for the value of the amount deferred, subject to the limitation set forth in Section 3.04(c). 
 (b) Adjustments to Deferral Elections. To the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may permit a Director to irrevocably elect to make additional deferral elections
with respect to amounts previously deferred under the Plan to further delay the relevant Payment Period; provided that the following conditions are met: 
 (i) the redeferral election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which such redeferral election is made; 

(ii) the first payment with respect to which such redeferral election is made must be deferred for a period of not less
than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made based on the prior deferral election; and 
 (iii) the election must be made at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment pursuant to the prior applicable deferral election. 

(c) Limitation. A Director may select an initial Payment Period that begins no sooner than the first anniversary of the
date of such election. 
 (d) Methods of Payments. A Director may elect, at the time a Payment Period is selected,
to receive the amount which will become payable as of such Payment Period in a number of installments as determined by the Administrator. Except as may be elected pursuant to this Section 3.04(d), all amounts becoming payable under this Plan
shall be paid in a single payment. 
 (e) Irrevocability. Except as provided in Section 3.04(b) or as set
forth in Article IV (including with respect to accelerated payment upon a Termination of Service), a designation of a Payment Period and an election of installment payments shall be irrevocable. 

SECTION 3.05. Value of Directors’ Accounts. 
 (a) General. Compensation deferrals shall be allocated to each Director’s Account as soon as practicable following the date such Compensation is withheld from the Director’s Compensation
and shall be deemed invested pursuant to this Section 3.05, as soon as practicable thereafter. 

  
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 (b) Crediting of Income, Gains and Losses. As of each Valuation Date, income,
gain and loss equivalents (determined as if the Account is invested in the manner set forth below) attributable to the period since the preceding Valuation Date shall be credited to and/or deducted from the Account. 

(c) Investment of Account Balance; Notional Investment in Shares. The Administrator shall establish Funds from time to
time, and each participating Director may select from such various Funds made available hereunder the Funds in which all or part of his Account shall be deemed to be invested, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish
from time to time. If multiple Funds are made available by the Administrator, the Director shall make an investment designation on a form provided by the Administrator. The Director may amend his investment designation by giving written direction to
the Administrator in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator. A timely change to a Director’s investment designation shall become effective on the date determined under the applicable procedures established by the
Administrator. Any changes to the Funds to be made available to the Director, and any limitation on the maximum or minimum percentages of the Director’s Account that may be invested in any particular medium, shall be communicated from time to
time to the Director by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Accounts that are notionally invested in Shares (i) may not subsequently be re-invested in an alternative Fund and (ii) shall be credited with dividend
equivalents as and when dividends are paid on the Company’s actual Shares, with such dividend equivalents deemed to be invested in additional Shares credited to the applicable Account as of the corresponding dividend payment dates (provided
that no dividend equivalents shall be credited with respect to any fractional Shares within an Account). Any Accounts that are notionally invested in a Fund other than a notional investment in Shares may subsequently be re-invested in a Share-based
Fund, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. The Shares allocated to a Share-based Fund shall include any fractional Shares that may be credited to the Director’s Account from time to time, with any payments in respect of such
fractional Shares determined in accordance with Section 4.07. 
 (d) Default Provision. Except as provided
below, the Director’s Account shall be deemed to be invested in accordance with his investment designations, provided such designations conform to the provisions of this Section. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
may disregard the Director’s election and determine that all Compensation deferrals shall be deemed to be invested in Shares or in another Fund determined by the Committee. In the event that any Fund under which any portion of the
Director’s Account is deemed to be invested ceases to exist, such portion of the Account thereafter shall be deemed held in the Fund selected by the Director or, in the absence of any instructions from the Director, by the Administrator,
subject to subsequent deemed investment elections. 
 (e) Statements. The Company shall provide an annual
statement to the Director showing such information as is appropriate, including the aggregate amount credited to the Account, as of a reasonably current date. 
 (f) Securities Law Issues; Trading Policies. A Director’s ability to direct investments into or out of a Fund that is notionally invested in Shares shall be subject to such terms,
conditions and procedures as the Administrator may prescribe from time to time to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Rule 16b-3”), and
other applicable requirements. Such procedures also may limit or restrict a Director’s ability to make (or modify previously made) deferral and distribution 

  
 4 

 
elections under the Plan. Any election by a Director to notionally invest in Shares under the Plan, and any elections to transfer amounts from or to a notional Share investment, shall be subject
to all applicable securities law requirements, including but not limited to the those reflected in the prior sentence and Rule 16b-3, as well as all applicable stock trading policies and procedures of the Company. To the extent any election violates
any securities law requirement, applicable trading policies and procedures of the Company, or any terms or conditions established from time to time by the Administrator relating to such elections (whether or not reflected in the Plan), the election
shall be void. 
 ARTICLE IV 
 Payment of Benefits 
 SECTION 4.01. Nonforfeitability. A
Director’s right to a deferred amount of Compensation and his right to the income and gains credited thereon, shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable at all times. 
 SECTION 4.02. Income. Any payment made pursuant to this Article IV shall include the income, gains and losses calculated in the manner described in Section 3.05 through the date of
payment (or, if not administratively practicable, as of the most recent Valuation Date preceding the date of payment). 

SECTION 4.03. Time of Payment. The amount credited to the Account of each Director (which shall include income, gains and
losses credited thereon) shall become payable to the Director (or the Director’s Beneficiary if applicable) during the Payment Period designated pursuant to Section 3.04. If the Director has elected installment payments, such payments
shall begin as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty days, following the commencement of the Payment Period. In any other case, payment shall be made as a single sum as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty days, following
the designated Payment Period. 
 SECTION 4.04. Withdrawal for Emergency Need. (a) Authorization. The
Committee may permit a Director who demonstrates an unforseeable emergency need to withdraw from the Plan an amount no greater than the amount determined by the Committee to be reasonably necessary to satisfy such unforseeable emergency need, to the
extent permitted under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Code. 
 (b) Emergency Need. For purposes of this
Section 4.04, an “unforeseeable emergency” shall be as defined under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Code. A need will not be considered due to an unforseeable emergency to the extent that it is relieved by reimbursement or
compensation by insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of the Director’s assets insofar as such liquidation would not cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of deferrals under the Plan. 

SECTION 4.05. Source of Payment. The Compensation deferred pursuant to this Plan (and the income, gains and losses credited
thereon) shall be a general unsecured obligation of the Company. The claim of a Director or Beneficiary to a benefit shall at all times be merely the claim of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. No trust, security, escrow, or similar
account need be established for the purpose of paying benefits hereunder. The Company shall not be required to purchase, hold or dispose of any investments pursuant to this 

  
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Plan; however, if in order to cover its obligations hereunder the Company elects to purchase or hold any investments the same shall continue for all purposes to be a part of the general assets
and property of the Company, subject to the claims of its unsecured general creditors and no person other than the Company shall by virtue of the provisions of this Plan have any interest in such assets other than an interest as an unsecured general
creditor. 
 SECTION 4.06. Right of Offset. Any amount payable pursuant to this Plan (other than amounts payable
from any Share-based Fund) shall be reduced at the discretion of the Administrator to take account of any amount due, and not paid, by the Director to the Company at the time payment is to be made hereunder, subject to Treas. Reg. §
1.409A-3(j)(4)(xiii). 
 SECTION 4.07. Payment in Cash or Shares. The form of payment for amounts due under the Plan at
the times designated pursuant to the relevant Payment Period or this Article IV shall be (i) Shares, for payments in respect of any Account that is notionally invested in Shares, and (ii) cash, for payments in respect of any Account that
is notionally invested in a Fund that represents a notional investment other than Shares. Any Shares distributed to Directors in accordance with this Section shall be issued under the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as a form of “Other
Stock-Based Award” thereunder. To the extent that a scheduled payment under a Director’s Share-based Fund would include any fractional Shares, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, such payment shall be rounded to the nearest whole
Share. 
 ARTICLE V 
 Beneficiaries 
 SECTION 5.01. Beneficiary Designation.
(a) Designation. A Director may from time to time designate, in the manner specified by the Administrator, a Beneficiary to receive payment pursuant to Section 4.03 in the event of his death. 

(b) Absence of Beneficiary. In the event that there is no properly designated Beneficiary living at the time of a
Director’s death, his benefit hereunder shall be paid to his estate. 
 SECTION 5.02. Payment to Incompetent.
If any person entitled to benefits under this Plan shall be a minor or shall be physically or mentally incompetent in the judgment of the Administrator, such benefits may be paid in any one or more of the following ways, as the Administrator in his
sole discretion shall determine: 
 (a) to the legal representatives of such minor or incompetent person; 

(b) directly to such minor or incompetent person; or 
 (c) to a parent or guardian of such minor or incompetent person, to the person with whom such minor or incompetent person resides, or to a custodian for such minor under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
(or similar statute) of any jurisdiction. 

  
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 Payment to any person in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.02 shall to that
extent discharge the Company, which shall not be required to see to the proper application of any such payment. 
 SECTION 5.03.
Doubt as to Right To Payment. If reasonable doubt exists as to the right of any person to any benefits under this Plan or the amount or time of payment of such benefits (including, without limitation, any case of doubt as to identity,
or any case in which any notice has been received from any other person claiming any interest in amounts payable hereunder, or any case in which a claim from other persons may exist by reason of community property or similar laws), the Administrator
may, in its discretion, direct that payment of such benefits be deferred in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code until such right or amount or time is determined, or pay such benefits into a court of competent jurisdiction in
accordance with appropriate rules of law, or direct that payment be made only upon receipt of a bond or similar indemnification (in such amount and in such form as is satisfactory to the Administrator). 

SECTION 5.04. Spendthrift Clause. No benefit, distribution or payment under the Plan may be anticipated, assigned (either
at law or in equity), alienated or subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process whether pursuant to a “qualified domestic relations order” as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code or
otherwise. 
 ARTICLE VI 
 Administration and Reservation of Rights 
 SECTION 6.01. Powers of the
Committee. The Committee shall have the power and discretion to 
 (a) determine all questions arising in the
interpretation and application of the Plan; 
 (b) determine the person or persons to whom benefits under the Plan shall be
paid; 
 (c) decide any dispute arising hereunder; 
 (d) correct defects, supply omissions and reconcile inconsistencies to the extent necessary to effectuate the Plan; and 
 (e) have all such other powers as may be necessary to discharge its duties hereunder. 
 SECTION 6.02. Powers of the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and discretion to 
 (a) promulgate and enforce such rules, regulations and procedures as shall be proper for the efficient administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the establishment of any Funds and rules
governing the timing and method of deferral elections under the Plan; 

  
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 (b) determine all questions arising in the administration of the Plan; 

(c) compute the amount of benefits and other payments which shall be payable to any Director in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan; 
 (d) make recommendations to the Committee with respect to proposed amendments to the Plan; 

(e) advise the Committee regarding the known future need for funds to be available for distribution; 

(f) file all reports with government agencies, Directors and other parties as may be required by law, whether such reports are initially
the obligation of the Company or the Plan; and 
 (g) have all such other powers as may be necessary to discharge its duties
hereunder. 
 SECTION 6.03. Claims Procedure. If the Committee denies any Director’s or Beneficiary’s
claim for benefits under the Plan: 
 (a) the Committee shall notify such Director or Beneficiary of such denial by written
notice which shall set forth the specific reasons for such denial; and 
 (b) the Director or Beneficiary shall be afforded a
reasonable opportunity for a full and fair review by the Committee of the decision to deny his claim for Plan benefits. 

SECTION 6.04. Consent. By electing to participate in the Plan each Director shall be deemed conclusively to have accepted and
consented to all terms of the Plan and all actions or decisions made by the Administrator, the Committee or the Board with regard to the Plan. Such terms and consent shall also apply to, and be binding upon, the Beneficiaries, distributees and
personal representatives and other successors in interest of each Director. 
 SECTION 6.05. Agents and Expenses.
The Administrator or the Committee may employ agents and provide for such clerical, legal, actuarial, accounting, medical, advisory or other services as it deems necessary to perform its duties under this Plan. The cost of such services and all
other expenses incurred by the Administrator or the Committee in connection with the administration of the Plan (other than any fees charged within a particular non-Share-based Fund, which fees shall be charged against the Director’s
corresponding Account that is notionally invested in such non-Share-based Fund) shall be paid by the Company. 
 SECTION 6.06.
Allocation of Duties. The duties, powers and responsibilities reserved to the Committee may be allocated among its members so long as such allocation is pursuant to written procedures adopted by the Committee, in which case no
Committee member shall have any liability, with respect to any duties, powers or responsibilities not allocated to him, for the acts or omissions of any other Committee member. 

SECTION 6.07. Delegation of Duties. The Administrator and the Committee may delegate any of their respective duties to
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. 

  
 8 

 SECTION 6.08. Actions Conclusive. Any action on matters within the discretion
of the Administrator or the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. 
 SECTION 6.09. Liability and
Indemnification. The Administrator and the Committee shall perform all duties required of them under this Plan in a prudent manner. The Administrator and the Committee shall not be responsible in any way for any action or omission of the
Company, its subsidiaries or their employees in the performance of their duties and obligations as set forth in this Plan. The Administrator and the Committee also shall not be responsible for any act or omission of any of their respective agents
provided that such agents were prudently chosen by the Administrator or the Committee and that the Administrator or the Committee relied in good faith upon the action of such agents. 

SECTION 6.10. Right to Amend or Terminate. The Board may at any time amend the Plan in any respect, retroactively or
otherwise, or terminate the Plan in whole or in part for any reason, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix). However, no such amendment or termination shall reduce the amount standing credited to any Director’s
Account as of the date of such amendment or termination. In the event of the termination of the Plan, the Board, in its sole discretion, may choose to pay out Directors’ Accounts prior to the designated Payment Periods (a “Termination
Distribution”), to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix). Otherwise, following a termination of the Plan, income, gains and losses shall continue to be credited to each Account in accordance with the provisions of
this Plan until the time such Accounts are paid out. 
 SECTION 6.11. Usage. Whenever applicable, the masculine
gender, when used in the Plan, includes the feminine gender, and the singular includes the plural. 
 SECTION 6.12. Governing
Law and Construction. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded and unsecured, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement. Except to the extent preempted by Federal law, all rights under the Plan shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law. No action shall be brought by or on behalf of any Director or Beneficiary for or with respect to benefits due under this Plan unless the
person bringing such action has timely exhausted the Plan’s claim review procedure. 
 SECTION 6.13. Compliance with
Section 409A of the Code. This Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and will be interpreted in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. In furtherance thereof, no payments may be accelerated
under the Plan other than to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of the Plan violates Section 409A of the Code such that amounts would be taxable to a Director prior to payment or would
otherwise subject a Director to a penalty tax under Section 409A, such provision shall be automatically reformed or stricken to preserve the intent hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of a
Director’s Termination of Service the Director is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code (and any related regulations or other pronouncements thereunder) and the deferral of the commencement of any payments
or benefits otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such Termination of Service is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall defer the commencement of the payment
of any such payments or benefits hereunder until the date that is six months following the Director’s Termination of Service (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 

  
 9 

 
409A of the Code) and (ii) if any other payments due to a Director hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such
payments or other benefits shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Committee, that
does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. The Committee and the Administrator shall implement the provisions of this Section 6.13 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Committee, the Administrator nor any of the
Company’s or its subsidiaries’ employees or representatives shall have any liability to Directors with respect to this Section 6.13. 

  
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